Patent · US Expired

Method and system for identifying users in a collaborative computer-based system

US5337407A · kind A · utility

121Cited by
14References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 31, 1991
Grant dateAug 9, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 31, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06Q10/10
  • WIPO fieldIT methods for management
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The method may be utilized for providing identification of blocks of text or other portions of a shared data object in a collaborative computer based system. The collaborative computer based system includes a plurality of workstations. Each workstation includes an output display device and a user input device. The system includes a shared data object, simultaneously accessible by a plurality of users of the system. Responsive to a user obtaining access to the shared data object, the user is assigned a cursor for display on the visual display devices of other users. The assigned cursor has a user related visual characteristic. Responsive to user selection, previously unselected portions of the shared data object may be associated to a user. Upon such association of a portion of the shared data object, a user related visual characteristic of the establishing user is extended to the newly associated portion. Further, a second visual attribute is extended to the object to identify the nature of the association, such as whether other users are to be locked out of modifying these associated portions.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.