Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02221026 1997-11-07
B~CKGROUND OF THE INVBNTION
FIEL,l:) QF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of collaborative software systems.
More specifically, the invention relates to a system and method for providing internet-
S base groupware application functionality.
Dl~SCRIPI ION OF THE Pl~IOl~ ART
Recently, the need for collal~o~dtiv~ colll~,u~ing envi.~ x has been receivingincreasing attention. People are finding that it is more and more important to share
10 illrol~Lion a~d work together to meet C~ llOl~ goals. With illC~illg spec;~1i7~tinn
in the .~. kt ~ ce, there is rr~u~ need to work together with people from di
offices, ~irreLe.ll olgs~ and even dirr~,;e;ul c~ rs to satisf~ the re luil~,.l~u~
of a particular project or goal. M~n~ging collabolalive iniliali~ of this type is not a
simple matter.
Electronic ~ woll~ based, project m~n~gem~.nt server systems are known. Por
eY~mr1e, United States patent uul~ er 5,548,506 ~SliLuv~sa~] ~ cJose~ an ;1~ J~
electronic network based, project managememt server system for m~n~in~ multiple
work groups. The system colll~lises a core piece of sor~w~, which runs on a hostserver co~ ulel system and interacts with a m~Ss~in~ system such as e.mail or
20 f~rsimile. The system compiles multi-project plans into a multi-project ~t~h~e and
tracks the ownc,~ of ~loje~iLs, tasks and reS~ulCCs within the plans. The systemol..~ ~1y checl~s all lesoul~ L~ue~ and if le~~.uree availability limits are
exceeded then lesuu,~ces are allocated on ~roje~i based on ~liOliliCS and project plans
are f~.h~n~l accol-l~ly. The system is also progl~ll~d to send out remin-lPr.~ and
25 follow-ups and the ~ es are continll~usly u~d based on status ~~h~n~ ~olled
by work group ...~ . Sr~ teaches that the c~ ;on ~t;lwolL may be
cimile, local area ~Lwo.~ ~.N), wide area ll~,tw.Jlk (WAN) or t~lo.rhnn~ lwolh.
One of the disadvantages of known elecL,~ollic ~,twolk-based, col1~hor~tive
server ~y~L~ms is that the user must install all the ~"""".~ on li~es, server
30 t~hn- logy and support sonwaL~ and have e~.L~ n~ . y to implement the system.The in~t~ tion and ~ of such a system is time collsull-~l,g and costly.
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CA 02221026 1997-11-07
It is an object of the present invention to obviate and miti~te at least one of the
disadvantages of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, in one of its aspects, the present invention provides a system for
providing a virtual offilce, the system co~ isillg:
(i) an intelrn~t-conn~cte~ server having input and access capabilities;
(ii) a means on the server for leceivi~lg instructions input from a first remotesite and for creating a cle~lic~ted internet web-site having a unique address based on the
10 received instructions;
(iii) means to co~ -ir~t~ the unique address of the ~lerlir~tf~l web-site to
a noll~i~led second remote site;
(iv) rneans to access contents of the d~~ web-site by the second remote
site via a web-browser installed at the second remote site; and
(v) means to store inro"ll~lion in the cledi~trd web-site input via a web-
browser installed at the first or the second remote site.
In another aspect the present invention provides a system to provide a team of
users with internrt-based ~ou~w~e application filnrtic n~lity, CO~ isiug:
(i) an internet~..~;l~ server having a means to receive an i~itiate
20 instruction from a remote primary user;
(ii) a means to create a d~lir.~t~l web-site on the server in ,e~ollse to the
initiate instr,u~tion;
(iii) means to send i..r~ )n inrllltlinp~ the address of the det1ir~tecl web-
site to at least one secondary user n~ A~l by the primary user;
(iv) means to receive inr,lll~lion at the cle-lie~tecl web-site sent by the at
least one secondary user over the internet;
(v) means to store infolll~li~ll at the d~lir~t~l web-site at the request of the~y and the at least one secondary user;
(vi) means to permit processing of the iuÇ~ lion stored at the clellic~t~
web-site by the primary and the at least one seco~daly user; and
CA 02221026 1997-11-07
.
(vii) means to access stored and processed ill~llllation to the ~li,llaly user
and the at least one secondar,v user for display.
In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method for providing a
virtual offlce, comprising:
(i) providing an internet-connected server having input and access
capabilities;
(ii) receiving instructions input from a first remote site and for creating a
de~ ~ted internet web-site on the server, the cle~lir-~t~ web-site having a unique
address based on the received instructions;
(iii) co~ ting the unique address of the ~letlir~t~l web-site to a
n~ second remote site;
(iv) downlo~-lin~ c~ --lx of the cl~ir~t~ web-site to the second remote site
via a web-browser installed at the second remote site; and
(v) storing i~ru~ lion in the ~1e~ t~l web-site uploaded via a web-
15 browser inct~ll~l at the first or the second remote site.
~3RIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
An embodiment of the present illvelllioll will be described, by way of example
20 only, with l~,f~,.e,lce to the ~e~~ yillg drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is s~h~ 1ir- r~lcse~ on of a system in accol-l~ce with one
embodiment of the present illvt;~n;
Figure 2 is an flow~l u~ the Op~,.dliOIl of the system; and
Figures 3a-3g are reproductions of web-pages from a web-site created in
accordance with the present invention.
~ETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBOI)IMENT
A system to provide a team of users with internet-based ~. u~w;ue appli~tion
filn-tion~lity in acco~ ce with the present iuv~ n is shown s~ ly in Figure
1.
3~1q~q~ lE-' Fl~O~l F~ FII ~ llFP.FI I [~CIrlFF~E~ TO ql~l~qq,~l3~ p.l~ CA 02221026 1997-11-07
15.20 Server 10 compns~ a me~ns to crcate a decl~ed wel~s~e 2~; Old the se~et
in ~esponse f~om an ~iate r~ om a fir~ ~ user 30 ~tff~ w~s~:
5 3~ ha~. a ~e internet ad~,s. Serve~ 10 fi~er cO..~S a ~ms ~ send
info~tion, indudi~ e rm~qlle ~d~ess of ~e ~ir~t~l w~S~t~, tt> ~t least one
secondaIy user 40, nvll~t~ by the ~
For ease of u~ , "p~ use~ 30" w~ll he~ d to as
"Grou~ I~er" a~d "at least one se~-nd~y ~er 4~" will be~i~ be ~d tt~ as
~0 "Wor~er I't. Other s~cond~ ~sers ~ill be iefel~l to ~s "Wor~r ~", "Wc~ier ~"
etc.
~ o~ Grwp ~er ~nd Worker I c~ co...~ te ~ sen~ 10 ~3r me~s
of a ~I;~i~d internet b~ such as Net~p~ Navi~atorm or M~ro~f~ ~P,
i~e., the~e is no r~h~e~L t~l;lt eIther Gro~ der or Wo~r ~ve ;~;ess to
15 ~;peei~ 7.~1 $~e~p~ ro~er to lllili~thf~sy~ep~ ~:~
O~ce oomlect~d to de~ d web-sitc 25 c~te~l on ~e~ ~p Leader
~d Wor'~e~ b~h have aooess to at k~st svme of t ~L~ s~ at tl~ w~i$e.
~he abil~ty to acc~ and prwe~s at ~ea~t solIle of t~ nfo~ti~ d the ~r to ~t
aud store processed andlor new i~o~ ion. All the s~i~ w~c
20 pro~des t~e fu~lio~l ~ ~ to ~ive ~roup ~der an~l ~or~er ~e a~
is prov~ded by server 10 ~a d~t~:l we~site 25 Once a~ C~rwp L0~ and
Worker do not ~ulre ~ny s~lized sof~ware applica~îons other ~m a sta~d
internet b~3w~er.
It wi~ ~ t~t, ~s the syste~n o~ the pre~t illv~ i~erDet~?
25 the sature of C~ iOIl l~es. such ~ line 15 betweeD sen~s l0 ~nd C~
L,ead~r? is uot p~rticul~rly lm~it~d. Suitable ~:nterrlet-~daptable c~...~ t.o~ ~es
i:uclude p~blic telepl~one ~lwull~, private telep~e netwo~k~, s~ll~ ~;, e~e~
links, etc These ~unic:~lioll l~es a~e already i~ place i~ C~ Le~
W~ker have exi~ng i~et access As stated ~o~e7 serve~ 10 ~s i~e~~o~ ~3.
30 ~s wîll als~ Jp~ e~:lt, the geographic loca~io~s of S~ up Le3der7 Wo~ ~d se~
TOTfiL P. ~-'
CA 02221026 1997-11-07
10 are only limited by internet ~ssihility, i.e., all three need not be in the same city,
county or even contin~nt
The web-site created in response to the initiate request can be thought of as
being a virtual private office suite. The virtual office suite is effectively rentable from
S the server on which it is created for a period of time desired by the rentor, after which
time the offlce suite ceases to exist. The offlce comes complete with all the application
software required to permit group activity within the virtual office. The operator of
the server can construct a particular virtual private office suite to include the specific
applications requested by the user. Thus, an advantage of the present system is that
10 the user is providedl with a ,;~ ";,~l, secure offlce site in which the user and his/her
team can access applications software without the need for each team member to have
individual copies of each applic~tion.~ sofhvare. The system of the present invention
is "end-user friendly~, i.e., neither Group Leader or Worker need specialist co~ ul.,,
knowledge to make use of the system. There is no re(lui,c,lleuL for the user to have an
15 in-house Il~o. ,~ ;on Technology spec~ t
The system of the present invention is further understood when described by
its mode of operation and with lert;,cuce to Figure 2.
In order to create a virb~al office suite, a Group Leader contacts the home pageof a remote int~rn~t conn~ct~l server (110) and the server cl~ s whether the20 Group Leader is an eYi~ting system user (120). If the Group Leader is not an ~Yi~ting
user, the server enters an ~ . d~ion ~ulJ~y~l~lll 130 which feg~ (140) the user.
~ fl...;..i~l.a~ion sub~y~le~ 130 controls all the day to day management of
subscriber ~cco~lnts on the system. It contains all the code and script lc~lui~ to
,...I.~...~le billing, for invoice ge~ ion, for WOl~ vu~ size IllOl~ilC~lillg and ~l~t~h~e
25 size ll~oml. Ih~g. Further, the ~lmini~tration sub~y~lelll is lesl)ollsible for mol~ilo~iug
server traffic and hit counts and the control of the offering of additional subscriber
applications.
If the Group Leader is an exi~cting user, the server d~ s whether the
Group Leader wishes to enter an ç~i~tin~ WOI~ OU~) with a pre-defined web-site or
30 whether the Group Leader wishes to create a new WlJll~lOU~) with a new, unique web-
site (150).
CA 02221026 1997-11-07
If the Group Leader wishes to enter an existing workgroup the server permits
access to the pre-delSned web-site (160). As will be apparcllL, the Group Leader could
enter the pre-defined web-site directly from his/her web 1)l'OWSC1. It is not n~r~ss~. y
to enter the server home page before entering a wolh~,roup once a dedi~ted web-site
S has been set up.
If the Group Leader wishes to create a new wolhyl~ou~, he/she is provided with
a wc~lh~,loup creation template form (170) which permits the Group Leader to define
parameters (e.g., the scope of the projection being undertaken) of the wolhg~oup, such
as the name of the workgroup and the web-site to be created.
Once this form has been completed, the server creates a d~ir~terl web-site
(180) having the name chosen by Group Leader and the Group Leader is plo--~Lcd to
identify the llulllber and contact addresses of the group Illculb-,-s and the types of user
applications which are to be utilized during the project. The server then sends details
of the newly created ~ie~lir~tP~d web-site to the members of the group (Workers)I~.".,i~ by the Group Leader (190). The details of the web-site are generally sent
in the form of an E-mail mPc~e which provides each Worker with the address of the
web-site, an invita~ion to join the wOl~ou~ and, if ~plical~'-, the p~w~Jld lc~luihcd
for gaining access to the site (see later). In an ~ ive system, it is envisioned that
Workers m~y be n-~tifiPsl of the details of the Web-site by f~r~imile or by pager.
Once the Workers have been notified of the Gxi~ r-e of the web-site, the
wolh~,loup LC~iJi S operational until all WOl~iou~ a~;livilies have been completed
(200). When the Group Leader decides that there is no longer a re~ui~ llGu~ for the
woll~up, the WUlhgl~Up iS closed (210) and the ~lP~lir~t~l web-site is deleted from
the server (220). Prior to closure and deletion of the we~site, Group Leader is given
the option of downloa~lin~ and storing all the data from the site for archive purposes.
During the creation of a web-site, Worker nomin~tion, WUlhglOU~) activity and
eventual closure of the wc lhglvul, and deletion of the web-site, all the ~ aLi~e
details of the W~JI~OUP activity are ~-llo---~ r~lly fed into the ~ alivG
~ulJ~y~Glll for proc~ing
Security is an hll~l~ feature of most of IJusiuess activity and the system of
the present invention provides rnany levels of se ;u ily which can be selected by the
CA 02221026 1997-11-07
Group Leader to suit his/her individual needs. For example, a basic form of security
is to provide the ~ t~d web-site created with a pas~word must be entered by boththe Group Leader and the Workers to gain access to the workgroup. This password
may be the same for the Group Leader and all the Workers, or every Worker may be5 provided with a unique password. Providing each Worker with a unique password also
permits Group Leader to set up ~lirr~ul levels of il~fol ul~lion which can be ~cessecl
within the wc ,~-ou~ by each Worker, i.e., ~he workgroup can be created on a "need
to know" basis. Examples of other security Çealu~es include the ability of the Group
Leader to decide: who has the authority to add new Workers to and/or delete existing
10 Workers from the group after its creation; who has access to the ~ il . ali~e records
of the woL~ou~; and when and if p~s~.wo,ds and/or se~;u,ily levels are to be el,~
As will be ~ e,l~, there are many dirre,eu~ types of wulhg,vup activities
which can be ~1Ç~ ed on a system in acco~ ce with the present invention. In fact,
it is envisioned th~t the present system could be adapted to perform many of the tashs
15 of conventional LAN- or WAN-based group collaboration ~y~ s. P,erell~d
wulhg~ou~ a~;livily appli~tion~ of the present system include project collaboration,
sj~n, issue m~na~emlont, change control and sof~w~e management.
A project collaboration application provides the Group Leader and Workers
with a cc,~ lcte ellvilul~ nl in which to collaborate on a particular project. The
20 Group Leader can assign tasks with due dates and effort ~e~ if)n~. Workers receive
E-mail ~ yi~g them of the wulh~u~'s web-site address as well as their user name
and p~ 7~1VUl'IL Workers see only those tasks ~ ~l to them (in a "need to know" set
up) and they may give fee~ aclr as to plu~,l'eS., e~l~;tel completion date as well as
time spent on their tasks. The project collaboration application provides all the
25 discussion and doc~ .e.,~ "~ f~-~iliti~s to support the entire collaboration
process.
A f~ sion application allows the Group Leader and Workers to Cf~""..l~ir~te
and share ideas in a secure central location. Central ~ cll~sion~ are much more
efficient than E-mail. Rather than all ~ ci~ 1~ i~u~ n e~ ting in ~c;l;.onal E-
30 mail in-box, available only to the individual, the data resides in a central knowledge
base for all to benefit from. User ~nth~ntir~tion helps ensure that only the original
_
CA 02221026 1997-11-07
author of a docl-mrnt or 11iecn~jon item may edit or delete it. A variety of i~ llalion
displays are available and include, for example, showing date in date order, by author
or by category. Full text searching of the data is also an option.
An issue m~n~gPmPnt application is a collaborative group application designed
5 to manage the raising and resolution of issues. In workgroups it is preferable that
every Worker of the group of Workers has the ability to raise, track, assign andevaluate the impact of issues. Efficient tracking and resolution within the team ensures
faster and better results. This application allows the Group Leader and/or Workers to
compose an issue which ~uLo..-~ir-~lly notifies the other Workers by E-mail. The10 Group Leader can then assign the issue to one of the Workers in the group and follow
the status through to resolution.
A change control application provides a process for identifying, e~ and
approving cl~u~es to a project plan and provides a clear framework for management
of project scope.
A software m~n~gf mrnt application is a specialist application aimed at softwareand ihlr.-.-~i1lion technology dc;p~L~ ~. The software management application
permits such o~ n~ to provide cnstom~rs with a secure, completely interactive
web-site for ~ iug their software products or intrrn~l applications. Customers and
users can log feature requests and bugs, download current software versions, askquestions a~d probe a knowledge base easily, using only a standard web-browser.
An example of the use of the system of the present invention is shown in
Figures 3a-3g. The Figures provided a step-by-step look at how a Group Leader
(here~lel referred to as Terri) created a ~ r~tecl~ secure "virtual office" for a
project. team"ltili7.ing a project collaboration application.
Terri first contacts the server, clicks on a Create Workgroup icon and fills outa registration forrn, in~1ir~tinp the name she wishes to use for the ~le(lic.~tecl web-site
(nwww.involv.netll~ .. n.efl'). Within a matter of seconds, the web-site is created
and Terri is linked to her team's new, secure collaborative project site. Terri is
f~ 1y r.h~ .n~1 for her user name and pas~wold (Figure 3a). When user name
30 and password have been verified, Terri is aUowed to access her group's home page
(Figure 3b). Terri's web-page is provided with a "Toolbar" to facilitate operation, a
CA 02221026 1997-11-07
"Navigator" to f~-.ilit5~t~ o,g~ni~ )n and a "Workspace" p~ information to be
input and ~ccesse~l by Terri and the other group members (Figure 3c).
One of Terri's first tasks is to enter details of all the team members in the
"Member Profile" . Each team member is aUlU~ l ir~lly sent an e.mail invitation to join
5 the group (Figure 3d).
Once details of all the team members have been entered, Terri can start to
create projects (Figure 3e) and assign tasks within each project to individual members
of the team (Figure 3f~. The Navigator allows easy tracking of group activities and
allows details to be displayed in a variety of formats (Figure 3g).
Once all projects have been completed, Terri can permanently close the
wor~ up and delete the "I~l,iLealll" web-site form the server.
