Systems and methods for collaboration
In some embodiments, the disclosed systems and methods provide a client-server infrastructure capable of supporting a variety of asynchronous and synchronous collaboration activities in a so-called collaboration place. Some of these activities include chatting, viewing and/or editing one or more data files, and sharing one or more applications, data files, and/or displays. The client-server infrastructure supports seamless navigation between the supported asynchronous and synchronous activities in the collaboration place. Additionally, the client-server architecture supports data persistence, so that data files associated with the collaboration place can be stored for subsequent access.
1 . A method for collaboration, comprising:
implementing a collaboration tool through which networked users collaborate;
storing artifacts of the collaboration in a database associated with a particular instance of the collaboration tool;
providing access to the database to the users through the collaboration tool so that artifacts can be manipulated; and
displaying a user-selectable option for viewing the state of one or more artifacts corresponding to a time selected by a user.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the collaboration tool includes a collaboration place.
3 . The method of claim 1 further comprising playing back information on how one of the artifacts evolved over time.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the artifact is a document.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the displaying comprises displaying a calendar.
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the displaying comprises displaying a slide bar.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the database is displayed in a things window in association with a chat window.
8 . The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying the artifact in its previous state.
9 . A system for collaboration, comprising:
a computer that is configured for:
implementing a collaboration tool through which networked users collaborate;
storing artifacts of the collaboration in a database associated with a particular instance of the collaboration tool;
providing access to the database to the users through the collaboration tool so that artifacts can be manipulated; and
displaying a user-selectable option for viewing the state of one or more artifacts corresponding to a time selected by a user.
10 . The system of claim 9 wherein the collaboration tool includes a collaboration place.
11 . The system of claim 9 further comprising playing back information on how one of the artifacts evolved over time.
12 . The system of claim 9 wherein the artifact is a document.
13 . The system of claim 9 wherein the displaying comprises displaying a calendar.
14 . The system of claim 9 wherein the displaying comprises displaying a slide bar.
15 . The system of claim 9 wherein the database is displayed in a things window in association with a chat window.
16 . The system of claim 9 further comprising displaying the artifact in its previous state.
17 . A computer readable medium having instructions thereon for performing steps for collaboration, the steps comprising:
implementing a collaboration tool through which networked users collaborate;
storing artifacts of the collaboration in a database associated with a particular instance of the collaboration tool;
providing access to the database to the users through the collaboration tool so that artifacts can be manipulated; and
displaying a user-selectable option for viewing the state of one or more artifacts corresponding to a time selected by a user.
18 . The computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the collaboration tool includes a collaboration place.
19 . The computer readable medium of claim 17 , the steps further comprising playing back information on how one of the artifacts evolved over time.
20 . The computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the artifact is a document.
21 . The computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the displaying comprises displaying a calendar.
22 . The computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the displaying comprises displaying a slide bar.
23 . The computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the database is displayed in a things window in association with a chat window.
24 . The computer readable medium of claim 17 , the steps further comprising displaying the artifact in its previous state.