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:
providing a software resident application configured to provide and integrate a plurality of collaboration tools;
implementing the software resident application for a plurality of users;
establishing communications via a plurality of network connections between the software resident applications and a server that supports collaboration among the users;
managing interactions in another application of the users via the server;
synchronizing activity in the other application via a back channel connection of the network connections, wherein the back channel is dedicated to pushing content to the software resident application; and
storing information related to the activity on the server.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the software resident application is configured to provide a collaboration place.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the managing comprises managing sequential co-editing activity among the users.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the managing comprises managing simultaneous co-editing activity among the users.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the storing comprises storing user identifier information.
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the storing comprises storing a history of interactions.
7 . The method of claim 1 further comprising providing access to the stored information to the user who participated in the interactions for later retrieval.
8 . The method of claim 1 further comprising distributing a software development kit for the software resident application.
9 . The method of claim 8 further comprising providing an application program interface for implementing co-editable objects.
10 . A system for collaboration, comprising:
a computer that is configured for:
providing a software resident application configured to provide and integrate a plurality of collaboration tools;
implementing the software resident application for a plurality of users;
establishing communications via a plurality of network connections between the software resident applications and a server that supports collaboration among the users;
managing interactions in another application of the users via the server;
synchronizing activity in the other application via a back channel connection of the network connections, wherein the back channel is dedicated to pushing content to the software resident application; and
storing information related to the activity on the server.
11 . The system of claim 10 wherein the software resident application is configured to provide a collaboration place.
12 . The system of claim 10 wherein the managing comprises managing sequential co-editing activity among the users.
13 . The system of claim 10 wherein the managing comprises managing simultaneous co-editing activity among the users.
14 . The system of claim 10 wherein the storing comprises storing user identifier information.
15 . The system of claim 10 wherein the storing comprises storing a history of interactions.
16 . The system of claim 10 wherein the computer is further configured for providing access to the stored information to the user who participated in the interactions for later retrieval.
17 . The system of claim 10 wherein the computer is further configured for distributing a software development kit for the software resident application.
18 . The system of claim 17 wherein the computer is further configured for providing an application program interface for implementing co-editable objects.
19 . A computer readable medium having instructions thereon for performing steps for collaboration, the steps comprising:
providing a software resident application configured to provide and integrate a plurality of collaboration tools;
implementing the software resident application for a plurality of users;
establishing communications via a plurality of network connections between the software resident applications and a server that supports collaboration among the users;
managing interactions in another application of the users via the server;
synchronizing activity in the other application via a back channel connection of the network connections, wherein the back channel is dedicated to pushing content to the software resident application; and
storing information related to the activity on the server.
20 . The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the software resident application is configured to provide a collaboration place.
21 . The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the managing comprises managing sequential co-editing activity among the users.
22 . The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the managing comprises managing simultaneous co-editing activity among the users.
23 . The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the storing comprises storing user identifier information.
24 . The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the storing comprises storing a history of interactions.
25 . The computer readable medium of claim 19 , the steps further comprising providing access to the stored information to the user who participated in the interactions for later retrieval.
26 . The computer readable medium of claim 19 , the steps further comprising distributing a software development kit for the software resident application.
27 . The computer readable medium of claim 26 , the steps further comprising providing an application program interface for implementing co-editable objects.