System and method to create a collaborative web-based multimedia contextual document   

Abstract: The present invention relates a method and system for creating a collaborative book in a shared network space including the steps of: logging in from one or more user computers to a shared space in the network from a user application to a host, wherein the shared space is created by interaction of executable codes in a host and a user application and the shared space is described by a session attribute list; loading a media application with a plurality of tools into one or more user computers; inputting multi type content into the shared space; and displaying the content by computers in one of a synchronous or asynchronous mode; providing templates to automatically create pages with specific layouts, for each type content for searching resource information including collaboration and providing automatic page updates using searched resource information; and tracing user changes and searched resource information.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation-in-part of and claims the priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. 120 of U.S. Pat. No. 7,933,956 entitled A System and Method to Create a Collaborative Web-based Multimedia Layered Platform, filed Jan. 24, 2007; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/319,807 entitled System and Method to Create a Collaborative Web-based Multimedia Contextual Dialogue filed on Jan. 13, 2009; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/378,805 filed Feb. 20, 2009 entitled System and Method to Create a Collaborative Web-based Multimedia Contextual Document, now abandoned; and additionally claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119 (e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/761,529, entitled A System and Method to Create a Collaborative Web-Based Multimedia Layered Platform, filed on Jan. 24, 2006, each of the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to the field of asynchronous and synchronous web document production methods and systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the last few years, there has been an explosion in new forms of web based communication within a shared space. The synchronous form is most commonly practiced as Online Chat. With synchronous communication, like Online Chat for example, text is exchanged in real-time between participants. Although images can be provided to a limited extent, links to images or other multimedia is more commonly used. Another common form of synchronous communication is with web conferencing services. These services provide a discrete state synchronicity such that only one image can be shared at one time. Typically, once the session has ended, the images shared are lost. Many of the current online collaboration systems are beginning to record the sessions. However, these recording are only recoding a series of images for play back.

The most common asynchronous forms of collaboration are Forums, blogs and WIKIs. In the asynchronous case, visitors can upload text or images so that all subsequent visitors can browse and see the text or images. Blogs and forums have an advantage over Chat in that conversations can be linked into ‘threads’. This allows the user to follow a set of contributions in a linear and/or nested fashion. Lacking is the real-time aspect as well as the ability to layer media. Currently even if you can upload an image or multimedia clip into a chat room or blog, it is not known for visitors to alter, manipulate or annotate over the original posting. What is common to these forms of shared communication is that they are linear. All information whether text or image, is accessed in order. A comment in a blog about an image does not appear on top of the image, but instead next to it as with ‘threads’. The same holds true for a chat box. Users must cut and paste to refer to a past event.

Lacking is a system that will allow both synchronous and asynchronous communication using discrete media layers such that information can be organized by time and space which in turn can allow for a variety of organizational metaphors.

It will be desirable that multiple users are able to interact with one another and perform a plurality of multimedia tasks in a virtual and synchronized shared environment; or to be able to access and review the performed tasks from local or remote sources at will in any order. It will also be desirable to allow users to set control or restrict the viewing of media layers in the same shared environment through different filtering algorithms. It is also desirable that an original image can seem to be altered or manipulated by overlaying various media-layers together.

The following terminologies used in the application are selectively defined by online dictionaries such as Wikipedia to help understanding:

Account Owner (creator)—The person who owns, creates or maintains or provided stewardship over a particular session and all options, rights relevant to that session.

Annotation—Extra information associated with a particular point in a document or other piece of information.

API—An application programming interface (API) is the interface that a computer system or application provides in order to allow requests for service to be made of it by other computer programs, and/or to allow data to be exchanged between them

Blog—A blog is a website in which journal entries are posted on a regular basis and displayed in reverse chronological order. The term blog is a shortened form for web log. Authoring a blog, maintaining a blog or adding an article to an existing blog is called “blogging”. Individual articles on a blog are called “blog posts,” “posts” or “entries”. A person who posts these entries is called a “blogger”. A blog comprises hypertext, images, and links (to other WebPages and to video, audio and other files). Blogs use a conversational documentation style. Often blogs focus on a particular “area of interest”, such as Washington, D.C.\'s political goings-on. Some blogs discuss personal experiences.

Collection—One or more media-layers that have an organizational structure. Typically this is stored as an XML file.

Converter—Programs for converting audio files, video, animations or applets of varying degrees of interactivity and function, presentations, documents, spreadsheets among other files in the original data format to another format that allows information to be accessible through a browser using a media application.

Common Web Browser—A web browser is a software application, technically a type of HTTP client, that enables a user to display and interact with HTML documents hosted by web servers or held in a file system. Popular browsers available for personal computers include Microsoft Internet Explorer®, Mozilla Firefox®, Opera®, Netscape®, Apple Safari® and Konqueror®A browser is the most commonly used kind of user agent. The largest networked collection of linked documents is known as the World Wide Web. It is assumed that all common web browser will have Macromedia Flash®installed or will support the installation and proper execution of Flash®applications.

Dynamic button—A clickable link that can jump the user to a different page in the same book, a different book, generate a new email in the users local email application, or send the user to a web page in a new browser window.

Event—A set of codes that describe the modification of a media-layer.

Images—defined as photographs, drawings (vector and raster), diagrams, etc.

Media-layer (media layer) (layer)—A media-layer is defined as a container that supports the display and modification of media and plug-ins. Media-layers have meta information, or attributes, such as; author, time/date created, its parent media-container, a list of children media-containers, position within 3D space, stacking order relative to the parent media-layer, size, reference to media or a plug-in that is assigned to the media-layer, etc

Media (multi)—Multimedia is the use of several different media to convey information (text, audio, graphics, animation, video, and interactivity).

Medium—defined as the singular of multimedia. For example, text, a media, is a singular example of multimedia.

Network—A computer network is two or more computers connected together using a telecommunication system for the purpose of communicating and sharing resources. Examples include but are not limited to a WAN or LAN connection or an internet, intranet or extranet connection.

Online Chat—Online chat can refer to any kind of communication over the internet, but is primarily meant to refer to direct 1 on 1 chat or chat rooms, using tools such as instant messenger applications-computer programs, Internet Relay Chat, talkers and possibly MUDs, MUCKs, MUSHes and MOOes.

Plug-in—A plug-in is a computer program that can, or must, interact with another program to provide a certain, usually very specific, function. Typical examples are plug-in to display specific graphic formats (e.g., SVG if the browser doesn\'t support this format natively), to play multimedia files, to encrypt/decrypt email (e.g., PGP), or to filter images in graphic programs. The main program (a web browser or an email client, for example) provides a way for plug-in to register themselves with the program, and a protocol by which data is exchanged with plug-in. Plug-ins are slightly different from extensions, which modify or add to existing functionality. The main difference is that plug-in generally run within a sandbox, rely on the main program\'s user interface, and have a well-defined boundary to their possible set of actions.

Room—A Room is a common reference to a ‘shared space’. A room contains default tools, rules and permissions that are set and controlled by the room administrator.

Space—A shared virtual reference point where as multiple users can interact in real-time upon shared objects.

Space Creator—The User creates an account to which a ‘space’ is allocated where other individuals also using a browser can engage in the synchronized or unsynchronized viewing and annotating of images.

Stage—A reference coordinate system that informs where media should be displayed. The most typical stage is a two dimensional Cartesian coordinate system where 0,0 is position in the upper right of the display area.

Session State—The state of all objects, GUI tools and controls, and media-layers, at any given time.

Sidebar panel—a window within a browser such as Windows® desktop (Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation). Sidebars often perform various tasks, such as displaying the time and date and showing the CPU usage.

Threads—Threads in a forum are either flat (posts are listed in chronological order) or threaded (each post is made in reply to a parent post). Sometimes, community members have a choice on how to display threads.

Tools—GUI applications that affect the state of other tools and media-layers.

Tool: scene manager—specific GUI applications that affect the overall display of the stage.

Web based shared space—This describes a single point of reference for multiple users to access and add and modify information from a web browser for viewing by others via that same point of reference.

WIKI—A website that allows the visitors themselves to easily add, remove, and otherwise edit and change available content, and typically without the need for registration.

Whiteboard—a drawing utility, commonly supplied as part of a collaboration framework to allow distributed users to share a common drawing space.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to the field of collaborative computing, and more particularly to a method for creating a collaborative book in a shared network space comprising the steps of: accessing one or more user computers in a shared space in the network, wherein the shared space is created by interaction of executable codes in a host and a user application and the shared space is described by a session attribute list; loading a media application with a plurality of tools into one or more user computers; using a stage manager tool from the media application to stage and correlate a plurality of media-layers according to spatial, temporal and relational coordinate data in the user application, wherein the media-layers data are described by at least one file descriptor inputting multi type content including one or more of text documents, graphic images, video images, audio or data files into the shared space; and providing templates to create pages with specific layouts, providing plug-ins for each type content; and displaying the content by computers in the shared space in one of a synchronous or asynchronous mode; and searching additional resource information, providing converters for displaying the book including: permitting collaboration among users and providing automatic page updating using searched resource information; and tracing associated user and searched resource information changes to the book.

A computer system for creating a collaborative book in a shared network space comprising: a means for accessing one or more user computers in a shared space in the network, wherein the shared space is created by interaction of executable codes in a host and a user application and the shared space is described by a session attribute list; an executable media application code with a plurality of tools into one or more user computers; a means for inputting multi type content including one or more of text documents, graphic images, video images or data files into the shared space; a stage manager tool from the media application to stage and correlate a plurality of media-layers according to spatial, temporal and relational coordinate data in the user application, wherein the media-layers data are described by a file descriptor inputting multi type content including one or more of text documents, graphic images, video images or data files into the shared space; and a display for displaying the content by computers in the shared space in one of a synchronous or asynchronous mode; executable code for providing (a) templates to create pages with specific layouts, (b) plug-ins for each type content for searching additional resource information, (c) converters for displaying the book including: including a means for permitting collaboration among users and providing automatically created page updates using searched resource information; and tracing associated user and searched resource information changes made to the book.

The invention also relates to a method wherein the media application is a Flash application, Java application or browser based scripts.

The invention also relates to a method of a user moving pages in the book between one or more books in a library and to/from a website on the World Wide Web.

The invention also relates to a method of using a template to permit content creators to decide where to place the content within a book; using the template to dynamically swap in and out pages within the book as dictated by the use to which the books are put; and using the template to permit the use of one or more of dynamic buttons and plug-in features such that users of the book may access books that reside within a library of books.

The invention further relates to methods for publishing the book, storing the book in a library for publication, embedding the master book into in any web property, embedding into the master book an autonomous software agent to trigger one of the creation, duplication and/or publication of copies of the book and filtering to moderate and filter input, viewing permission, copying and publication.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Understanding of the present invention will be facilitated by consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts, and wherein:

FIG. 1A depicts the embodiments of a system to create a session in shared spaces for the collaborative web-based media-layered platform in a network environment in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 1B illustrates the system initiation to create a session of collaboration in media-layers in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 1C1 is an embodiment of a system illustrating the process of establishing and operating a session within a user application such as a web browser using various tools in an application in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 1C2 illustrates another embodiment of various components of a Flash application tools interacting with the user\'s media-layers during a session in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 1D is a screen shot illustrating the construct of a page as a collection of media-layers in a Book metaphor in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 1E illustrates an example of a media-layer as a container for an application or plug-in to create media object elements within the media-layer in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 1F and 1F1 illustrate the construct and functionality of a Book metaphor and a page using media-layers and metaphor specific tools in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 1G illustrates an example of staging and synchronizing media-layers using a Flash application tool for the construct of a page as a collection of media-layers in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2A illustrates an example of collaborative actions in a web conferencing environment in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2B illustrates an example of synchronizing an annotation of a drawing in a shared space through various input devices in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3A to 3E depicts various functions and features of the invention in creating a collaborative multimedia platform in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart depicting a method to collaborate a web browser based media-layered session in a network environment in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5a depicts a diagram illustrating the states of various functions of the invention for creating a collaborative multimedia platform in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5b depicts a diagram illustrating the states of various functions of the invention for creating a collaborative multimedia platform in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 depicts a flow chart for performing various functions of the invention in creating a collaborative multimedia platform in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7a depicts a browser with various functions and features for creating a collaborative multimedia platform in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7b depicts a browser with various functions and features for creating a collaborative multimedia platform in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7c depicts a browser with various functions and features for creating a collaborative multimedia platform in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a system to collaborate using a web browser based media-layered session in a network environment in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 depicts a flow chart of a method for creating a collaborative multimedia platform in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description includes the best mode of carrying out the invention. The detailed description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and should not be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is determined by reference to the claims. Each part is assigned, even if structurally identical to another part, a unique reference number wherever that part is shown in the drawing figures.

The present invention, relates to the field of collaborative computing, and more particularly, to a system and method for providing a browser-based program to create, and configure a shared space whereby multiple users can access this shared space to perform tasks and interact such as input, modify text and delete images, drawings and other multimedia via media-layers in a real-time synchronous manner. A shared space is defined as a virtual reference point whereas multiple users can interact in real-time upon shared objects. It is a conceptual construct created by processing executable computer codes from a plurality of programs or plug-ins typically using Flash Virtual Machine (VM) or Java VM. A session is defined as the state of all objects, GUI tools and controls, and media-layers, at any given time within the shared space. Each media-layer can serve as a container for shapes and objects as well as other programs such as a text editor, thumbnail viewer, MP3 player, games, etc. The invention also allows which media-layer(s) to display via organization metaphors and filtering criteria. The invention also allows for offline or unsynchronized interaction with objects of a session. Offline events are recorded for later integration with the session.

FIG. 1A of the present invention relates to a distributed web based conferencing system, apparatus and method, which includes at least one central processing computer or computer network server. FIG. 1A depicts the basic foundation of the invention of system 100A to create a session 140 in shared spaces 140a to 140c for multiple users to collaborate on a web-based platform with created media-layers 141a to 141c within a network 112 environment. The system 100A is derived from four main components. Client or user computer(s) 130 to 134, host server 170, database 104 storage device, file storage 108 which is accessible through a web server 106. Each component may be on the same computer or separate computers. It is not necessary that each computer is of the same OS, nor CPU, type. Servers 150, 160 include at least one controller (not shown) or central processing unit (CPU or processor), at least one communication port or hub, at least one random access memory (RAM), at least one read-only memory (ROM) and one or more databases such as database 104 or data storage devices 108. All of these later elements are in communication with respective CPUs to facilitate the operation of the host server 170. The server 170 may be configured in many different ways. For example, host server may be a conventional standalone server computer or alternatively, the function of server may be distributed across multiple computing systems and architectures.

Server 170 also may be configured in a distributed architecture, wherein databases and processors are housed in separate units or locations. Some such servers perform primary processing functions and contain at a minimum, a RAM, a ROM, and a general controller or processor. In such an embodiment, each of these servers is attached to a communications hub or port that serves as a primary communication link with other servers such as web server 106, or user computers (e.g., 130, 132, 134) and other related devices. The communications hub or port may have minimal processing capability itself, serving primarily as a communications router establishing a corresponding link 119 with the web server 106. A variety of communications protocols may be part of the system, including but not limited to: Ethernet, SAP, SAS™, ATP, Bluetooth, GSM and TCP/IP.

Data storage devices such as file storage 108 may include a hard magnetic disk drive, optical storage units, CD-ROM drives, or flash memory. Data storage devices contain databases such as database 104 used in processing transactions and/or calculations in accordance with the present invention, including at least a user subscriber database and a user content database. In one embodiment, database software creates and manages these databases. Conference related calculations and/or algorithms of the present invention are stored in storage device and executed by the corresponding CPU.

The controller comprises a processor, such as one or more conventional microprocessors and one or more supplementary co-processors such as math co-processors. The processor is in communication with a communication port through which the processor communicates with other devices such as other servers, user terminals or devices. The communication port may include multiple communication channels for simultaneous communication with, for example, other processors, servers or client terminals. As stated, devices in communication with each other need not be continually transmitting to each other. On the contrary, such devices need only transmit to each other as necessary, may actually refrain from exchanging data most of the time, and may require several steps to be performed to establish a communication link between the devices.

The processor also is in communication with a data storage device. The data storage device may comprise an appropriate combination of magnetic, optical and/or semiconductor memory, and may include, for example, RAM, ROM, flash drive, an optical disc such as a compact disc and/or a hard disk or drive. The processor and the data storage device each may be, for example, located entirely within a single computer or other computing device; or connected to each other by a communication medium, such as a USB port, serial port cable, a coaxial cable, an Ethernet type cable, a telephone line, a radio frequency transceiver or other similar wireless or wired medium or combination of the foregoing.

The data storage device may store, for example, (i) a program (e.g., computer program code and/or a computer program product) adapted to direct the processor in accordance with the present invention, and particularly in accordance with the processes described in detail hereinafter; (ii) a database adapted to store information that may be utilized to store information required by the program. The database includes multiple records, each record including fields specific to the present invention such as membership rates, subscribers, sessions, etc.

The program may be stored, for example, in a compressed, an uncompiled and/or an encrypted format, and may include computer program code. The instructions of the program may be read into a main memory of the processor from a computer-readable medium other than the data storage device, such as from a ROM or from a RAM. While execution of sequences of instructions in the program causes the processor to perform the process steps described herein, hard-wired circuitry may be used in place of, or in combination with, software instructions for implementation of the processes of the present invention. Thus, embodiments of the present invention are not limited to any specific combination of hardware and software.

Suitable computer program code may be provided for performing numerous functions such as alternative steps of invention. The computer program code required to implement the above functions (and the other functions described herein) can be developed by a person of ordinary skill in the art, and is not described in detail herein.

The term “computer-readable medium” as used herein refers to any medium that provides or participates in providing instructions to the processor of the computing device (or any other processor of a device described herein) for execution. Such a medium may take many forms, including but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media. Non-volatile media include, for example, optical or magnetic disks, such as memory. Volatile media include dynamic random access memory (DRAM), which typically constitutes the main memory. Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM or EEPROM (electronically erasable programmable read-only memory), a FLASH-EEPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave as described hereinafter, or any other medium from which a computer can read.

Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions to the processor (or any other processor of a device described herein) for execution. For example, the instructions may initially be borne on a magnetic disk of a remote computer. The remote computer can load the instructions into its dynamic memory and send the instructions over an Ethernet connection, cable line, or even telephone line using a modem. A communications device local to a computing device (or, e.g., a server) can receive the data on the respective communications line and place the data on a system bus for the processor. The system bus carries the data to main memory, from which the processor retrieves and executes the instructions. The instructions received by main memory may optionally be stored in memory either before or after execution by the processor. In addition, instructions may be received via a communication port as electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals, which are exemplary forms of wireless communications or data streams that carry various types of information.

Server 170 of the present invention may also interact and/or control one or more user devices or terminals (e.g., 130, 132, 134). The user device or terminal may include any one or a combination of a personal computer, a mouse, a keyboard, a computer display, a touch screen, LCD, voice recognition software, or other generally represented by input/output devices required to implement the above functionality. The program also may include program elements such as an operating system, a database management system and “device drivers” that allow the processor to interface with computer peripheral devices (e.g., a video display, a keyboard, a computer mouse, etc.).

The shared spaces 140a to 140c emulate and share the contents of the session 140 where executable computer codes in both the client or user computers 130 to 134 and the host 102. The executable codes in each computer may be different, but the intended results of the invention are achieved. The state of the session 140 is maintained on the host 102 during a live session 140 then the database 104 at the end of a session. All client or user computers 130 to 134 that are logged into a session 140 are constantly updated with changes to the session 140 in real time. If permissions are granted, any client can initiate a change to the state of the live session. Once this change has been sent, all client computers 130 to 134 are updated with the change.

The system 100A comprises of a host 102 in synchronous communication with one or more user computers 130 to 134. In an embodiment, the host is a server in communication with a database 104; where the host is also in communication with a web server 106 that communicates with a file storage 108. The database 104 can be in a separate server, or can be part of the host 102 within the same server 150. Similarly, the web server 106 and the file storage 108 can be separate units or can be integrated into a server 160. Yet in another embodiment, a host 170 is a server including the functions of the database 104, the web server 106 and the file storage 108. The physical location of the database 104, file storage 108 and the method of writing the computer executable codes being integrated into the host server 102 is not important to the invention as long as the functions are accessible to the host 102 and to the user computers 130 to 134.

In an embodiment, each of the user computers 130 to 134 has an operating system 142a to 142c such as the Microsoft Windows XP®, Linux®, Macintosh OSX® or any third party operating system. The operating system in each of the user computers 130 to 134 need not be the same as long as it supports a web browser or other application to access the internet and supports the execution of codes to facilitate the intended media functions of the invention. In another embodiment, compiled Flash VM executable codes of the application 110 are downloaded before the creation of a shared space 140a to 140c to each of the user computers 130 to 134 from the host session 140 through the network 112 and links 124 to 128. Yet in another embodiment, the application 110 can be native to each of the user computers 130 to 134 as media applications 110a to 110c.

One or more media layers 141a to 141c are created and respective media tools are from media applications 110a to 110c is generated by the interaction of the codes in the user computers 130 to 134 and the codes from the host server 180. The network 112 and the corresponding links 114, 118, 120 to 128 are part of the Wide Area Networks (WAN), Local Area Network (LAN) through Ethernet connections or wireless connections. Yet in other embodiments, the network and the links can be Local Optical Networks (LON) or direct fiber optic links or direct terminal connections or plain old telephone service (POTS). In all forms of link communications within the network 112, the communications can be enhanced with known encryption protocols to improve security.

All services as contained within the host server 180 are equipment selected from the list to include a server, work station, personal computer, laptop computer, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), an Intelligent Electronic Device (IED) or any suitable computing platform with sufficient memory and processing power to perform the functions as a server in a network environment. The user computers 130 to 134 are equipment selected from the list to include a server, work station, terminal, personal computer, lap top computer, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), electronic tablet, handheld wireless device, a cellular phone, an Intelligent Electronic Device (IED) or any suitable computing platform with sufficient memory and processing power to perform the functions as a user computer to perform media inputs in a network environment.

Yet in others embodiments, the system 100A can be extended to include broad applications such as web conferencing, local conference presentations projecting synchronized annotations or pointing tool to contents on multiple screens to mass audience, on line interactive courses and tutoring, live interactive interviews to multiple interviewees in different geographical locations, interactive debate forums using multimedia, interactive cellular phone chats and games, secured synchronized interactive voting method combined with secured voter identification, live military battlefield operational command, remote interactive clinical instructions and operation training procedure; and electric power utility interactive service, support and trouble shooting etc. Said examples and the contents desired for the execution of said example can be assembled before and during synchronized events. Content can also be made available in an unsynchronized fashion such that independent content review or read only publishing can be supported.

FIG. 1B illustrates the system 100B initiation to create a session 140 of collaboration in media-layered 141d to 141f within space 140d that holds media elements 115a, tools 110d (Flash application tools) or plug-ins 115b and 115c. Plug-ins 115b and 115c are independent applications that must conform to the system\'s API 143a, 143b as well as be compatible with the system\'s runtime environment. For example, if the client system is a macromedia Flash application, then the plug-in 115b and 115c must also be a Flash application. Said plug-ins 115b and 115c can be accessible either locally from the client computer 136, or through a local connection, or a network 112a. A plug-in 115b or 115c can, however, manage the execution of the tools of an application not of the same executable code base as the client application. For example, a Flash plug-in 115b or 115c can manage the execution of the Java application as relevant to the client computer 136.

In an embodiment, the initialization of the system 100B (in the synchronized state) requires that the user\'s or client\'s computer 136 has internet access through link 124a to network 112a and the ability to support compiled Flash based applications. A typical configuration will involve the use of a common web browser with a flash plug-in and JavaScript enabled. Through the use of a URL, the user or client makes a request to join a session 140 by sending login credentials to the host 102a. The host 102a in turn will query the database 104a to determine the tools 110d that must be downloaded and the current session 140 state parameters. In addition, plug-ins 115b and 115c are sometimes downloaded from third party servers 107a and 107b. Instruction and location of said plug-ins 115b and 115c are provided by the host 102a.

The host 102a first sends a base application that provides a synchronizing connection between that user 136 and the host 102a. A standard socket connection is established. Should this fail, High Ports are tested for the ability to exchange data. Should this fail, ports 80 and 81 are checked via standard HTTP protocols. Once a connection by links 114a and 124a from the user 136 to the host 102a has been established, the host 102a will send a list of required application tools 110d to be loaded by the user computer 136. By only loading those tools 110d that are required, the system in the user\'s computer 136 will start faster with a lower memory requirement. Should the user choose to run in ‘thin’ mode, those tools 110d that are only needed on demand will be loaded into memory during their use and unloaded after their use is no longer required.

FIG. 1C1 is an embodiment of a system 100C illustrating the process of establishing and operating a session within a user application such as a web browser 140j using various tools in Flash application 110e. When a user 135 logs onto the system 100C via the internet, LAN or WAN 112b, the user 135 is registered in a shared virtual environment (session 140k) based on user\'s credentials and other parameters supplied at log on. In this exemplary example, the flash application 110e is loaded on to the client\'s computer 135 by the client\'s web browser 140j. This flash application 110e in turn, loads a communication synchronizer application 113 that contacts the Host\'s server synchronization service 102d and requests to be registered with a particular shared space for a session. Once this connection has been established, all communication between the client application 110e and the host sync service 102d happen between these two applications.

Based on user credentials and other parameters supplied, a list of tools and their location(s) on the file storage server(s) 108a is generated. This list is passed to the flash application 110e. The flash application 110e then loads a stage manager tool 1100b into the buffer memory from the web server 106a. This tool 1100b creates and manages the stage 1102b. Once this is done, the flash application 110e then sends a message back to the file storage server 108a via sync application 113.

One of the tools that are loaded is the stage manager 1100b. This tool 1100b, once loaded, looks at the attribute list of the current room for the session. One item on that list is the type of layout to be used on the stage. If any other layout is defined besides ‘default’, additional tools 1104b are downloaded to support the additional features. The stage manager 1100b is then provided a list of media-layers 1108b to 1112b. Those media-layers that are listed as ‘active’ should be currently displayed. Active media-layers 1108b and 1112b are accessed, loaded and displayed on the stage 1102b. Once complete, non-active media-layer(s) 1110b are downloaded and stored in cache memory in a prescribed order if this option was selected. All of the media-layers together, both loaded and unloaded, 1108b to 1112b are called a ‘collection’.

The relationship of all media-layers 1108b to 1112b to each other can be stored in an XML file known as the ‘collection’. The most exemplary example is the default stage manager system where all media-layers are displayed using the Cartesian coordinate system where the y axis is inverted. An example XML collection file follows: TABLE-US-00001 . . . <collection type=‘book_simple’ label=‘my book’ authorID=‘23jkl4johnsmith’ . . . ><tools><page_navigator pluginRef=“ . . . /plugins/book_nav.swf”/><page_thumbnail_viewer pluginRef=“ . . . /plugins/thumb_view.swf”/> . . . <tools/><layer ID=‘a’ label=‘title page’ parent=‘top’ z=0 . . . ><children 0=‘b’/> . . . <layer/><layer ID=‘b’ label=‘title page’ parent=‘a’ z=1 . . . >< . . .

The stage manager tool 1100b then checks to see what type of collection has been loaded. In this case, it is a ‘book_simple’ type collection. The tools 1104b required for this type of layout is listed in the ‘tools’ section of the XML. The client flash application 110e then downloads into memory those tools 1104b listed.

FIG. 1C2 illustrates another embodiment of various components of the Flash application 110e interacting with the user\'s media-layers 1108 to 1112 on the stage 140f. Although there are a number of possible combinations of tools that can be loaded, the one tool that is always loaded is the stage manager 1100. The stage manager tool 1100, among other things, established the coordinate system and layout format that will be populated by media-layers 1108 to 1112. The most typical configuration of the stage 1102 is a two dimensional cardinal system where 0,0 is located on the upper left most side of the application window placed just under the displays for session and user information and controls. These controls are typically displayed at the top of the application window. The list of active media-layers 1108, 1112 are passed to the stage manager 1100. The media-layers 1108 and 1112 that are tagged as ‘visible’ are loaded first and then displayed in a stage 1102.

A media-layer is a container that serves as a reference point for media as well as other media-layers. Since media-layers 1108,1110 can be attached to another media-layer 1112, nesting of media-layers can occur. For example, a ‘parent’ media-layer 1112 contains an image of a human face on it. A ‘child’ media-layer 1110 is nested on top with a mustache drawn over the face, and another ‘child’ media-layer 1108 is nested on top with eye glasses drawn. When the parent media-layer\'s 1112 object is moved or hidden, the two child media-layer\'s 1110 1108 objects will also move or be hidden, thus maintaining their visual relationship. Each child however can have its visibility setting changed by a parent or another media-layer in the patriarchy. A media-layer from outside the patriarchy cannot modify a media-layer unless such functionality is support by the system\'s API.

A screen shot is taken from the product Vyew® in FIG. 1D to illustrate the construct of a page 140h. In FIG. 1D, page 140h is a collection of media-layers 141g to 141l. A media-layer such as 141h is a container to execute the codes of an application or a plug-in. For example, media-layer 141h contains a plug-in 146d where a plurality of media object elements can be executed, such as 146b to execute an mp3 music player in the media-layer 141h. Another example, media-layer 141g is a gif image, which is currently selected. It has the ability to render bitmaps and vector information (images or animations) directly to the display. Media-layers can also display other compliant applications. The scale and position of a media layer 141g can be modified by using tool 146a which is part of toolset 141l within the page 140h. Each of the media layers 141g to 141l is referenced to a space coordinate origin of (0,0,0) at the upper left corner of the page 140h. The attributes of the media-layers 141g to 141l are referenced in a collection file descriptor such as in a XML file.

FIG. 1E further illustrates another example of a media-layer 141ha as a container to a media application or thumbnail viewer plug-in 146da creating a plurality of media object elements within a media-layer 141ha. For example the thumbnail viewer plug-in 146da is referenced on a media-layer. Once this plug-in 146da had been initialized, a popup tool 146ba will assist the user in configuring the plug-in 146da. In this example; how to access images 190a to 190d that are stored on a third party server. The user selects a set of images from the third party server 140ha. Those images 190a to 190d are then place in new media-layer(s) or a reference of these images 190a to 190d are passed to the thumbnail viewer 146d via the systems API set shown in FIG. 1B.

FIGS. 1F and 1F1 illustrate the construct of a Book metaphor using media-layers created and managed by tools 1116c. After the stage manager 1100c invokes the book metaphor toolset 1116c, a media-layer 144a labeled as ‘cover’ 144a of a book image 144b is loaded into a tool 116c that supports the book metaphor.

Another media-layer 141m could then be created as a page. The media layer of the page 141m holds object elements such as a graphic of paper texture 140d. This media-layer of page 141m would be set as a child to the media-layer of the book 144a as well as have the attribute of ‘page=2’ 145a. A third media-layer 141n would contain an image and this media-layer 141n will have a Z value of “1” placing it over the page 141m media-layer and then set as a child to this page 141m media-layer. Other media-layers 141p with annotation and media can be added as children to either the page 141m media-layer or one of the media-layers 141n that has been already set as a child to the page 141m media-layer. When the book 144a media-layer is displayed on the stage (not shown), the other children media-layers 141m to 141p would be hidden. When the user ‘opens’ the book 144a, the cover 144b media-layer would hide and the page 141m media-layer with its children and subsequent generations 141n, 1441p would appear. Because we are employing a book metaphor 144a, tools 1116c of FIG. F1 would be provided to the user that would assist in the visibility, ordering and the setting of relationships between media-layers 144a, 144b, 141m to 141p. The user would not know about child or parent or media-layers, only that they created a book 144a, and that they can add pages, and then add content to those pages. In another example, other metaphors not shown could be one of a 2.5D environment where media-layers are expressed as 2D planes intermixed with 2.5D objects. A set of such as six media-layers can be set as children to a parent media-layer thus creating a cube for the 2.5D environment. These metaphors are supported with graphics that support the navigation and ordering of the multimedia elements that appear on each media-layer. Since all media is displayed using media-layers and all media-layers can have their visibility, stacking order, position, relationships, etc. modified; then various tools and GUI (Graphical User Interface) elements in the menu tool bars can be created to managed these attributes in a more user friendly method. Typically, metaphors that humans are familiar with are used.

The issue of concurrent users in making an annotation to the media layer is addressed next. Unique to this invention is that ability to share in real-time, near real-time as well as maintaining persistence, the ability to create, modify and delete media-layers and the media elements associated with those media-layers and regulate access to those media-layers. In addition, all tools and User Interface (UI) elements can be controlled at runtime based on commands from the stage manager. As such, not all users logged into a shared space will see that same thing if such modifications are selected. For example, the administrator of the shared space may wish to have all the tools made available to him or her. However, all other users who are of type ‘guest’ will not see any tools. Those users who are of type=“invited” may see only a subset of tools that the administrator sees.

When a user is logged into the system, actions that are performed on the media or changes to the media-layer\'s attributes are tracked and sent to the server. The server maintains a log of the actions and the resulting status of media-layers and their media. The server then repeats the actions to all users who are logged into the same session. When users enter in to a session, they immediately load all active media-layers, media and plug-ins. In this way, every user who is logged into the system has a copy of the media elements and only has to execute the actions that were sent by the server. Since all users can (if allowed by the administrator) have their action communicated back to the server, everyone\'s actions within the space is reflected on the display of all concurrent users. If the administer allows more then one user access to a media-layer, then only one action may occur at one time within a media-layer. In other words, if a user initiates an action, no other actions can take place until the first action is complete. Concurrent actions can occur on separate media-layers. The administrator can select that all actions on media-layers are NOT locked. This means that if two users click on the same media-layers media, then whomever\'s event is sent last, will have said event respected unless the object is deleted or somehow unable to execute the later event.

A whiteboard tool perform the unique function of creating a new media-layer every time a line is started and then stopped. Each line and/or shape in the whiteboard tool library is treated like an individual object on its own media-layer.

For whatever metaphor employed, the information required to create and support an ordering construct is managed by the stage manager. All rights to what media-layers and tools are loaded, seen and how they function is controlled by the user or administrator who created the space (account). The administrator can pass the rights of a media-layers and tools to anyone(s) or to everyone.

FIG. 1G illustrates an example of staging and synchronizing media layers using a Flash application tool for the construct of a page 004 as a collection of media-layers 001 and 002. Each media-layer 001 or 002 has attached to it, a set of corresponding attributes 147 or 149 that inform the stage manager 1100a also shown as 1100b in FIG. 1C1 on how to manage a respective media-layer. For example, media-layers with the media-layer ID 001 and 002 respectively have been placed on the stage 1102a of a Flash application 110f to be displayed. Media-layer 001 may have the following attributes: Layer ID (001), Position X1 (30), Position Y1 (30), Position Z (0), Scale in X (100), Scale in Y (100), Scale in Z (100), Rotation (0), location of media object ( . . . //arch_exmpl.jpg), type of media object (image), Date Created (some date), Date last modified (some date), Date deleted (some date), ID of the user that created this layer (jones43), etc. From this information, the stage manager will know to load a jpg image from a given location and display that image, unaltered 30 units to the right and 30 units down. Media-layer 002 may have the similar attributes with Position X as (40), Position Y (40) and Position Z (1). In this case, the text field would appear within the application with the image in media-layer 001 under the text of media-layer 002. If another user with a client computer 137 or 138 accesses this same session, then the same steps will repeat, thus assuring that both client computers 137 and 138 are displaying the same thing.

Interacting with media objects in a synchronized mode is discussed next. The stage manager tool 1104a of the system 110b insures that all changes in state of a media-layer or actions that are passed to the media-layer from that media-layer\'s contents, is communicated to the host server 102c to either be recorded, or sent to some or all of the other client computers 137 and 138. This is accomplished by the host server 102c maintaining a list of all subscribed client computers 137 to 139. As an event is received from a client computer 139, that event is logged and stored either on the host server 102c and/or on the database 104b. This event is then passed to the rest of the client computers 137, 138 on the subscriber list. The event is then replicated on all client computers 137, 138, however, in rare cases, an exception rule can intercept the event and then follow a defined action which may or may not mimic the original event. For example, a client computer 137 may click on an object in a media-layer 002 thus making that object interactive. The client 137 then moves the object 002 from one location to another, thus creating an event. The changed media-layer attribute 149 information, in this case Position X, Position Y, date last modified, to the host server 102c as an event. The host server 102c records this new information and then sends this event information to all subscribed client computers 137 to 139. Users on the client computers 137 to 139 would then see the same object from the original location to the new location as indicated by the terms of the event.

FIG. 2A illustrates an example of collaborative actions in a web conferencing environment 200A. Users 230 Client, 232 Contractor and 234 Architect hold a teleconference in separate geographical locations. A virtual shared space is created when users 230 to 234 are logged into a common session through synchronous communication links 224 to 228 with host server 202.

FIG. 2B illustrates an example of synchronizing an annotation of a drawing in a shared virtual space 244a to 244c through various input devices 240a to 240e during a web conferencing environment 200B. In an embodiment, the shared space 244a to 244c is a web-based shared environment such as a web browser where multiple users 230 to 234 can create, transform and delete a wide variety of media as well as annotate over or under said media. The example in FIG. 2B illustrates that user 230 as client Mike annotating a circle 242a over an image of a floor plan displayed on the computer monitor using an electronic or optical pen 240a. This action is synchronized and displayed on those sharing the same virtual space 244b as 244c in user 232 contractor John and user 234 Architect\'s computer monitors. All actions from any of the users 230 to 234 are also stored on the server 202 for later retrieval. If users 230 to 234 annotate the floor plan drawing at same location at the same time, the last input to the shared space 244a to 244c will be recorded and shown on the computer monitors.

Alternately, other input devices such as but not limited to a wireless PDA or electronic tablet 240a, a keyboard 240c, a mouse 240d, optical pointer, USB flash memory, stylus, audio or video equipment 240e such as a video camera or microphone or both can also be sent as inputs to the shared space 244a to 244c. The cellular phones 246a to 246c voice input can be integrated as a media layer over the other text or graphic layers during the teleconferencing.

The shared environment is multi dimensional thus allowing users 230 to 234 to sort information by not only content, but spatial, temporal and inter relationships between the media-layers created. Because the shared space 244a to 244c is virtual and not restricted to one image, more then one media can be placed within the same shared space 244a to 244c.

FIG. 3A to 3E are various browser screenshots 300A to 300F of a Graphical User Interface (GUI) illustrating a plurality of executable tool functions including the stage manager tools available for the collaborative media-layered platform. In an embodiment, the GUI shown in FIG. 3A includes standard window\'s editing tools 304a. The shared media workspace 310 acts as a container to support a plurality of media file formats and plug-in applications where layer-based authoring content can be easily moved, scaled, copied, pasted, layered and deleted. On-demand access to different content or sessions—saved and organized by topic, audience or version for example. A user list 306 and chat configurations 308 are also shown. Some examples include the Microsoft Office® and Adobe® PDF files, real time desktop sharing, photos, etc. shared media workspace 310 can import and export (to PowerPoint or PDF) for asynchronous work or archiving offline. Operation and UI of the client application in an offline mode is similar. This characteristic allows the user to continue annotating the media layer objects when offline (temporarily leaving the session), re-synching to the latest changes on the media layer or to the session when back online. The time and space synchronization of content changes and annotations enable users to publish content anywhere on the web, have presence awareness capabilities to know when other users are interacting with that content, and then interact with that user in real-time.

FIG. 3B illustrates another window opened from the tool bar where the upload of files from a file storage remotely 318 or locally from a hard drive 316. For remote locations, files can be uploaded directly by providing a valid URL. A tree structure 320 shows the organization of the files through a web service 106a from a remote file storage 108a such as one shown in FIG. 1C1 or from the local hard drive 316 or other storage devices accessible from a client computer. In FIG. 3C, new media 322 and text 324 can be created as new media-layers using the tools 304b. 326 shows a shared pointer object that maintains its position across all clients in real-time functioning as a surrogate mouse pointer. FIG. 3D illustrates GUI tools invoked to support the book typical metaphor. Using the main menu 328 to open, create or save a collection, illustrated here as a ‘book’ to be shared and viewed by the users in the session. Books 332a to 332d can be switched during a session by the users.

FIG. 3E illustrates the user management 334 function can be invoked by selecting meeting option from the main menu tool bar 328. The user management function allows user to see who is logged in, send email invitations, set user permissions, lock and unlock the room for the shared session. The option of using teleconferencing 336 by using online VoIP (Voice Over IP), cell or common POTS while interacting in real time with users during the session can be done by providing an VoIP client or phone number and access code for those users given permission to access said voice service. FIG. 3F illustrates a ‘filter by user’ tool 338 where a window 338a is opened to display the ID labels (name) of all users that have created a media-layer on the current page. Objects can be hidden or unhidden based on the selection of one or more names. This same filtering is also achieved based on the time when media-layers were created and/or modified. Another select media window 340 allows the selection of media-layers based on the media-layer\'s ID label.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart 400 depicting a method to collaborate a web browser based media-layered session between two or more users in a shared environment. In an embodiment, the shared environment is an Ethernet WAN or LAN network, a fiber optic communication direct link, a Flash application is loaded on each registered client computer in step 402. In step 404 the flash application on the client computer connect to a host server after being authenticated. The host registers the users and opens a session to support synchronous communication. In step 406, the host retrieves from a database the identity of user and sends a tool list to be loaded by the flash application on the client. In step 408, the flash application will load one or more media-layers in response to the receipt of a session attribute list from the host. If no specific attribute is specified, a default media-layer is loaded. One of such tools is the stage manager tool. In step 410 a plurality of media-layers form a collection; where the collection is managed by the stage manager tool, only the active layers are viewable by users, the inactive layers are hidden from view. In step 412, the collection is correlated with information including time last modified and 3D space coordinates into a file descriptor suitable for network equipment communication such as an XML file. In step 414, the user web browser loads staging tools from the stage manager according to the user\'s collection file descriptor received. The collection file descriptor can be a file from a remote file storage location or from the user\'s local hard drive. If no particular format is specified, the staging tool will load one or more default media-layers for the session. In step 416, the user can load an existing file with a collection of media-layers from a remote location on the web by specifying URL address or from a local hard drive. The user can also generate new or modify the loaded media-layers. In step 418, the modifications that are user\'s inputs include annotation, delete, insert, copying, pasting or drawing to the media-layers. The updated collection file descriptor can be stored for later retrieval by the users in step 420, or can be accessed by other users logged in the same session in step 422. In step 424, if all tools and media-layers loads are completed, the process ends until further inputs from any of the users in the session.

In one embodiment of the invention multimedia content serves as the centerpiece for the creation of an interactive set of documents that are virtually bound into a file characterized as a master book 1601 as illustrated in FIG. 5a. In an exemplary application, the book 1601 may be designed to offer an entire course on an academic or trade subject. In this application, an instructor (i.e., principle 1607 in this instance) may provide lectures, complete with graphic (e.g., animation, charts, 3-D), video, voice and textual information. One or more students (i.e., client 1619 in this instance) interact with the instructor pedagogically and interact by way of supplying inputs, such as content that demonstrate a grasp of the subject or requesting further instructions on a point. In another exemplary application, the book 1601 represents a collaborative planning document. In yet another exemplary application the book 1601 may represent collaborative document preparation as between lawyers, coauthors, musicians, etc. Generation of book 1601 begins by loading a media application (e.g., Flash application) such as 110a to 110c as designated FIG. 1A as generated by the interaction of the codes in the user computers 130 to 134 and the codes from the host server 180. The book 1601 may be part of a larger environment referred to as a library 1623. The books are searchable either by collaborators involved in the use or the production of the book or by other persons or autonomous agents on the World Wide Web. In overview, the book 1601 contains pages having multiple multi media layers and interactive features allowing a user, such as principle 1607, agent 1613 and client 1619 to move between pages, between books in a library 1623 and between the pages and the larger World Wide Web, where principle 1607, agent 1613 or client 1619 can obtain resource information 1605, 1611 as further described below. In another embodiment, a conversion program 1609b, FIG. 5b, resident on a server 180 may be required to display the page on a conventional computer display. The pages may be created utilizing any appropriate technology, such as may be required to create text documents, graphic images, video images or data files. In functional block 1609 the principle 1607 has several technologies from which draw upon in creating the master book 1601, content or functionality, necessary for authorship of the principle\'s version of the master book 1601. For example, the principle 1607 may create content utilizing a standard word processor and upload the content of the word processor into the master book 1601. In one embodiment as shown in the principle 1607 may import or utilize a conversion program that may by way of example be required to convert display data if needed into a format that can display master book 1601 on a computer display terminal.

In certain cases converters, such as by way of examples converters, convert content into layers that are then displayed on a browser on a computer display. Templates may be provided to automatically create pages, place the pages within the book with specific layouts and with the assistance of converters display the pages on a browser on a computer display. For example, a template 1609, 1617 may include or contain hotlinks, and meta tags an other computer code placed in a directory, such as associated with a layer (see, reference 141, FIG. 1), but more generally any directory that is associated with the content of text documents, graphic images, video images, audio or data files that provide means by which certain data contained on a page can, for search purposes be retrieved using a search engine that provides resource information 1605, 1611 as requested. Other aspects of function feature 1609 are templates (see FIG. 5b 1609c), and similar functional feature 1617 templates that may specify where images are placed within a series of pages that comprises book 1601, or its sequential relationship to the pages that may include text, video, captions and data files. The templates 1609c in the functional feature 1609 and the similar templates in 1617 are not limited to specifying sequential placement of documents, but may also have features for the creation of dynamic buttons and installation of plug-ins. The dynamic button and plug-in features permit users of the book to click into other books that may reside within a library 1623 of books such as one containing book 1601. The pages within book 1601 are in one embodiment dynamically swapped in and out or updated as dictated by the use to which the book is put. Software means that provide for template creation, converters and plug ins are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art of computer programming for web browser applications and associating database content containing information pertinent to the application.

In one embodiment as shown in FIG. 5b, the principle 1607 may import through an API followed by a conversion that may by way of example be required to convert content 1609d to display data if needed into a format that can display master book 1601 on a computer display terminal.

In the description to follow, a principle, client and agent are referred to as elements in process described in FIGS. 5a, 5b; however, as will be apparent the roles of theses elements are interchangeable depending on the functions performed. For example at a point in the collaboration the client may take on the role of a principle or an agent, and the principle may take on the role of the client. However, to gain a clear appreciation of the invention herein the following description will not interchange roles. Therefore, assume for the sake of explanation that the principle 1607 requires services, information or other resources through agent 1613 as shown in FIG. 5a. In FIG. 5b, functional feature 1629 labeled resource request contains customized content 1629a that defines the services, information or other resources requested by the principle. In satisfying the request the content 1629a utilizes a plug-in 1629b to transfer the content. The plug in may include an API 1631. The agent 1613 then utilizes the customized content 1629a to access a service or resource 1611 to satisfy the request initiated by principle 1607. When the agent obtains the resource information it inserts the information into the book via functional block 1615 (i.e., content, plug-in and appropriate API). In satisfying the request the resource 1611 utilizes functional block 1615 where a plug-in 1642 serves to imbed the resource 1611 information 1611a for inclusion in the book 1601. The plug in 1642 may include an API 1643. In another embodiment, the agent 1613 may bypass functional feature 1629 and obtain the information from viewing the master book 1601 and manually, i.e., through phone or other separate device, provide the service of obtaining the necessary service, information or resource requested by the principle 1607. The agent 1613 may thereafter electronically update the master book 1601 by providing necessary service, information or resource requested by the principle 1607. For example, the agent 1613 can recalculate a hotel stay or flights based on a revised date, or calculate a computer cost based on selected parts based upon directly accessing and viewing the request to provide such information in the master book 1601.

With further reference to FIG. 5a, and FIG. 5b, the invention herein finds applications where a group of users, such as depicted by client 1619, plan to travel as a group, at least during a part of an extended trip. This serves as one example how a master book 1601 unifies collaboration among a community of users. An individual, referred to as the principle 1607, may initially construct an itinerary steps 5-6 and 7-8, where major aspects of the itinerary are presented on the pages of book 1601, also referred herein as a master book 1601, as described above. As illustrated, the principle 1607 may draw upon resources 1605 (steps 1-2) to which it may have access. For discussion purposes assume that the pages of the book 1601 provide information regarding air line fares, schedules, points of interest to be visited with corresponding pictures and/or video graphics, and calendars having listed individual appointments to be kept during the course of the trip. Before the itinerary or some other aspect of the mission is completed, the principle 1607 may electronically notify the agent 1613 of the availability of pages requiring service. The selected pages or the entire book 1601 are accessibly viewable by agent 1613 and further capable of being used to search resources 1611 by inclusion of the functional feature resource request 1629 (See FIG. 5b, steps 30-33) through its user browser and then accesses a searchable data base to supply needed resource content 1615 (steps 11-12) that supplies in steps 9-10 information that the principle 1607 requires to complete the itinerary. For example, the principle 1607 may decide that the group (i.e., client 1619) desires to leave from a certain airport for a destination on a specific date and time. By making a page available to agent 1613 (steps 15-16) by using a plug-in 1629b specially designed for this purpose, the agent 1613 would in turn supply (steps 13-14) the date, time, airline, price that the principle 1607 requires, and the information would automatically be incorporated the book 1601 as a page dealing with the itinerary.

Following completion of the draft itinerary, the book 1601 would be made available (steps 21-22) for viewing and uploading to the other trip participants, (e.g., client 1619), for review, copying and alteration in steps 17-18, if desired would be available and used by the client 1619 for the purposes set forth above. Note that the creation of the itinerary may be a completely collaborative process among the principle and one or more clients and therefore, some or all may already have the master book available and my in fact be viewing the master book as progress towards completion is made. The content and or template modifications to book 1601 are indicated in steps 19-20. The client 1619 may incorporate their own special pick up, arrival and departure ground transportation, air line fares, schedules, points of interest to be visited and individual appointments to be kept during the course of the trip.

In the course of master book 1601 creation, a client 1619 may desire to copy the book as in step 27-28 to create a derived or derivative master copy 1621 and later augment the derivative master copy 1621 with planned side trips or a diary. However, the principle 1607 has access to a filter 1604 (FIG. 5b) used to moderate and filter input, viewing permission, copying, adding and swap out content and publication and generally any of the rights that are granted vis-a-vis the U.S. Copyright Laws, Title 17 of the United States Code.

The system 1600 (FIG. 5a) can track and trace all generations of duplications of a master book 1601 and its derivative master copies 1621. As is well know by those skilled in the art of computer programming access policies may establish whether the principle 1607 has access to a client\'s derivative master copy 1621. However, more generally, each time specific pages from a master book 1601 or derivative master book 1621 are inserted into a derivative master copy 1621, the new version will be traced and filed in trace 1625, step 23-24. In one embodiment, trace 1625 records the author, time and content of the change allowing all modifications to be tracked. The principle through a permissions filter 1604 controls the copy addition, deletion, changes or modification of a page in the master book 1601, or a page in a derivative copy of the book 1621. The invention herein also provides that the principle 1607, may employ a rules based logic engine to auto copy or modify pages (e.g., update information) or as indicated in steps 25-26 the master book 1601 and derivative books may be placed in library 1623 as the specific application may require. Those of ordinary skill in the art of computer programming understand the technologies needed to create rules based logic engines to auto copy and modify pages based upon logical inputs.

Based upon the foregoing, any derivative copy may be regarded as a master copy having the same principle or client or different principles and different clients. Additionally, there may be multiple clients as indicated above, each interacting with master book 1601 and each creating its own derivative master copy 1621. Essentially the system 1600 may be utilized without detracting from the description herein for any master copy that is resident in the library 1623 or any derivative master copy 1621 in process or being changed or updated or has finally been edited.

Any master book 1601, derivative master book 1621 or master book stored in the library 1623 may be published. In FIG. 5a, steps 34-35 indicated the publication of master book 1601 on the World Wide Web. Additionally, the principle or client may embed the master book 1601 or derivative master book 1621 into any web property. These embedded master books can have various collaboration tools exposed for use. Any input into a later generation published master book 1601 may serve as an input into the first master book, such as master book 1601. The filter 1604 as indicated previously can be used to moderate and filter such backward and forward alteration of generational master books, as regards input, viewing permission, adding and swap out content and copying of the publication 1628 and generally any of the rights that are granted vis-à-vis the U.S. Copyright Laws, Title 17 of the United States Code.

The principle 1607 has the ability through the use of plug-ins, content, template and converters as described in connection with functional feature 1609 (FIG. 5b) to embed within the master book an autonomous software agent that may trigger the creation, duplication and/or publication of copies of the master book 1601 to both known and unknown clients (e.g., general public). Using availably technology, known to those of ordinary skill in the art of computer programming, the master book may be published 1628 by the principle 1607, to one or more clients 1619 with permission to further embed added content. The client 1619 users add the content and return the related master books (i.e., derivative versions of the master book 1601). Note, that the clients 1619 can add content to the master book directly from the published books.

In FIG. 6, a flow chart details a method 1700 that two collaborators may employ as during a research project where outside research may be required. With reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, in step 1705 principle 1607 (e.g., one of the researchers) uploads content to the master book 1601 in accordance with the process indicated in connection with FIG. 5. At step 1707, the principle decides if the client 1619 (e.g., the other researcher) needs to view the master book 1601 at this time. If the principle 1607 decides that the client needs to view the book 1601, then the client 1619 is prompted or notified 1733. The prompt or notification can be any electronic notification. If the client 1619 needs no prompting then the principle 1607 decides if agent resources are required 1709 and if the answer is “Yes” then the agent is prompted 1711 through plug-in 1629b and it proceeds to fulfill the information request and updates 1715 the book 1601. In decision blocks 1717, 1721 if the information provided by the principle 1607, agent 1613 or client 1619 requires a viewing of then either the principle 1607 or client 1619 is prompted 1719, 1733, respectively. When a client 1619 is prompted 1733, decision block 1731 allows the client to make changes 1729, continuing working on or decide 1724 to make a copy 1725 of the master book 1601. In block 1727 the method permits the principle 1607 or the client 1619 to library the master book 1601. Note, that the foregoing description regards the agent as an autonomous agent, that is, one that essentially is a computer program that carries out the requirements to locate resources and update the master book. However, the invention herein also regards those instances where the agent 1613 is assisted by a person that manually locates resources and updates the master book. Additionally in these instances when a person carries out the requirements to locate resources and update the master book, then the “agent function” is essentially performed by the actions described for the client 1619.

FIGS. 7a, 7b, 7c illustrate various browser images 1800 as provided for by loading a media application such as 110a to 110c as designated in FIG. 1A, which as earlier described is generated by the interaction of the codes in the user computers 130 to 134 and the codes from the host server 180, with a plurality of tools into a one or more user computers such as allowing the accessing or logging in and accessing one or more user computers in a shared space in the network. Throughout the description in this specification the step of accessing includes logging in if the user is not already connected to the host server. As indicated, the application of the present invention described in FIG. 5, 6 comprises means to up load and/or view text documents, graphic images, and video images, audio or data files. In FIG. 7a a user such as a principle 1807 by way of example J. J. Jones will have a designated home defining its space containing multimedia residing in database files on host server 108 referred to as My Books 1808 containing one or more specific files or books as may be listed in block 1820 as by way of example book names such as “College Course 101”. In block 1815 the principle may invite people to view a book or the principle itself may delete a book. In block 1825 are books that the principle has been invited to view and/or update. As is apparent, as an invitee, the principle becomes client. Principle 2 and Principle 3 have in the present example invited Principle J. J. Jones, to view and update “New Bus Plan” and “Travel Itinerary”, respectively. In block 1810, Principle J. J. Jones may (a) upload content, (b) create a New Book or (c) schedule a meeting. In other features described above, a user may engage in a public chat. Other features may be included such as publishing the book, creating a new book, scheduling a meeting, listing meetings, etc. without detracting from the spirit of the intention of the invention herein.

In FIG. 7b a principle 1607 will have a designated home defining its space containing multimedia residing in database files on host server 108 referred to as University Engineering Courses. Note, FIG. 7b may also be considered in yet other examples of the operation herein as a library, such library 1623. The library itself may be the collaborative contribution of master books from many such principles. The courses each take on the feature of a published master book 1601 (FIG. 5a). Note that in certain applications the master book in a library may include various filter attributes such as read only. The purpose of the master book 1601 with the courses is displayed in a browser window 1841. A user such as a client 1619 may view and create duplicates of the courses 1842 selected by clicking a dynamic button associated with reference courses 1842. In yet another embodiment of the present invention shown in n FIG. 7c a principle 1607 will have a designated home defining its space containing multimedia residing in database files on host server 108 referred to as University Engineering Course Selection 1850. The courses 1864 each take on the feature of a master book 1601 (FIG. 5a). The user, a student or client 1619 is again invited to duplicate 1860 the course content selection from courses 1864. Alternatively, the client 1619 may use the dynamic buttons 1854, 1856 or 1853 to perform one of: viewing a lecture video, obtaining a lecture transcript or accessing course handouts, respectively. In the example illustrated the client 1617 must click dynamic button 1862 and read the license pertaining to the materials.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention FIG. 8 illustrates a system 1400 for the creation of an interactive set of documents that are virtually bound into a file characterized as a master book 1601 in a shared space within a network as described in connection with FIG. 1A through FIG. 1G, and FIG. 5 through FIG. 8 including: a host server 1410 for communicating with database 1412 and file storage 1414 through network 1405; one or more user computers 1416a through 1416n with associated user applications for accessing and/or logging onto the host server and then accessing if the user is not already connected to the host, to join a shared space session with other user computers running user applications; and wherein the shared space session is generated by interaction of executable codes in the host 1410 and the user applications and the shared space session described by a session attribute list; an executable media application, such as an appropriately configured converter with a plurality of tools loaded into the user computers; at least one user provided content 1420a, 1420n installed into media-layers 1418a, 1418n; and a stage manager 1422a, 1422n to facilitate the display of media-layer updates to other users in the shared space in one of a synchronous or asynchronous mode as described in connection with FIG. 5 through FIG. 8, of a user computer, whereby at least a portion of the message relates to text documents, graphic images, video images, audio or data files displayed in a master book 1601, accessible via browsers 1424a, 1424n, and whereby code for templates, plug ins, and converters 1411 may be provided to automatically create pages with specific layouts, and communicate text documents, graphic images, video images, audio or data files to other computers for displaying and searching additional resource information. The system 1400 of the present invention further includes the means to create one or more archived books, and traces of all changes, updates, and additionally added information.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention FIG. 9 illustrates a method 1500 for the creation of an interactive set of documents that are virtually bound into a file characterized as a master book 1601 in a shared space within a network as described in connection with FIG. 1A through FIG. 1G, and FIG. 5 through FIG. 9 having a host server 1410 for communicating with database 1412 and file storage 1414 through network 1405. The method 1500 to create master books and provide for interactive alteration among invited participants includes the steps of: accessing 1510 or logging in if not already connected to the host server, and/or one or more user computers in a shared space in a network, wherein the shared space is created by interaction of executable codes in the host and the user application and the shared space is described by a session attribute list; loading an executable media application 1515 with a plurality of tools into one or more user computers; using a stage manager tool 1518 from the media application to stage and correlate a plurality of media-layers according to spatial, temporal and relational coordinate data in the user application, wherein the media-layers data are described by a file descriptor inputting multi type content including one or more of text documents, graphic images, video images, audio or data files into the shared space; inputting multi type content including one or more of text documents, graphic images, video images or data files into the shared space 1520; and providing templates, plug-ins and converters 1525 to automatically create pages or manually input with specific layouts, whereby pages additionally contain computer code to display and interface text documents, graphic images, video images or data files with other computers; displaying the content 1530 by other user computers in the shared space in one of a synchronous or asynchronous mode; and searching additional resource information including: permitting collaboration among users and providing automatically created page updates to the book using searched resource information 1535; and tracing associated user and searched resource information changes 1540; and making derivative copies 1545 of the master book.

While the foregoing invention has been described with reference to the above embodiments, additional modifications and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, such modifications and changes are considered to be within the scope of the appended claims.