US Patent 5,008,853: Representation of collaborative multi-user activities relative to shared structured data objects in a networked workstation environment (Xerox Corporation)

Title: Representation of collaborative multi-user activities relative to shared structured data objects in a networked workstation environment
Patent Number: US Patent 5,008,853
Issued: April 16, 1991
Filed: December 2, 1987
Related applications:

This application contains subject matter related, in certain aspect, to the subject matter of patent application Ser. No. 07/127,814, filed Dec. 2, 1987, entitled, "Small-Scale Workspace Representations Indicating Activities by Other Users", also assigned to Xerox Corporation. In US Patent 4,974,173 (Xerox Corporation) the parent case states "This is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 07/127,814, filed Dec. 2, 1987 now abandoned."

Inventor(s): Bly, Sara A. et al.
Assignee: Xerox Corporation
Referenced after issuance: US Patent 4,974,173 (Xerox Corporation)Φ,  US Patent 5,220,657 (Xerox Corporation)Φ, US Patent 5,515,491 (IBM Corporation), US Patent 6,088,702 (Plantz, Scott H. et al.), and US Patent 6,573,907 (Obvious Technology).
Blogger comment:

There were 16 prior US patents referenced at issuance, none of which are deemed remarkable for the scope and purposes of this blog.

An advanced search at USPTO online on May 9, 2008 for references to this patent after issuance using ref/5008853 reveals 388 references. A more refined search reveals US Patent 4,974,173, US Patent 5,220,657, US Patent 5,515,491, US Patent 6,088,702, and US Patent 6,573,907.

Other inventor comments:

Structured Data Objects: US Patent 6,088,702 commenting on US Patent 5,220,657 Φ

Structured Data Objects: US Patent 5,428,729 commenting on US Patent 5,008,853 Φ

Controlling security of industrial process data elements when many processes over an extended period of time, and a plurality of users Φ

Collaborative Data Sharing Environments: Comment by US Patent 7,028,074 Φ

Abstract:

A multi-user collaborative system in which the contents as well as the current status of other user activity of a shared structured data object representing one or more related structured data objects in the form of data entries can be concurrently accessed by different users respectively at different workstations connected to a common link.

Independent claims (as numbered):

1. A method for operating a collaborative system that includes a plurality of workstations each having a respective display and a respective user input device, the collaborative system further including shared data, each of the workstations being connected for accessing the shared data, the shared data including a set of parts, the method comprising the steps of:

presenting on the respective display of a first one of the workstations a local representation of the shared data; the local representation of the shared data including, for each of the parts of the shared data, a respective small-scale representation occupying a small part of the first workstation's respective display;

presenting on the respective display of a second one of the workstations a full-scale representation of a first one of the parts of the shared data, the full-scale representation occupying a substantial part of the second workstation's respective display; and

after receiving from the second workstation's respective user input device a signal requesting an operation affecting the first part of the shared data, including in the first part's respective small-scale representation an indication of the operation affecting the first part.

18. A collaborative system comprising:

a plurality of workstations each having a respective display and a respective user input device;

shared data means for storing shared data, the shared data including a set of parts; and

user interface means connected for accessing the shared data stored by the shared data storing means and for presenting on the respective display of each of the workstations a respective local representation of the shared data; the local representation of the shared data including, for each of the parts of the shared data, a respective small-scale representation occupying a small part of the respective display; the user interface means further being for presenting on the respective display of any of the workstations a full-scale representation of any of the parts of the shared data, the full-scale representation occupying a substantial part of the respective display; the user interface means further being for receiving from the respective user input device of any of the workstations at which the full-scale representation of a first one of the parts of the shared data is presented a signal requesting an operation affecting the first part of the shared data and, after receiving the signal requesting the operation, including in the first part's respective small-scale representation on the respective display of each workstation an indication of the operation affecting the first part.