Method and apparatus for providing drawing collaboration on a network

US7149959B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Autodesk, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Stuart Jones, JR. · Cambridge, US
• Mark Edward Sweat · Encinitas, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 16, 2000
• Grant date: Dec 12, 2006
• Expiry date: Jul 22, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S707/99952
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for an application programming interface (API) on a client computer that enables access to architectural project information stored across the internet on a server site. The server site maintains an organization for the architectural information in the form of containers for storing, managing, and sharing files for one or more architectural projects, wherein the files comprise drawings, documents, communications, and tasks related to the architectural projects. The API of the invention permits third parties to create custom clients or permit direct access to a site hosted on a server. Such an API operates with both thick (.exe) and thin (.html) clients. The API establishes/obtains a connection between the client and the server to enable such access. For example, if the user desires to store a file on the server site, the user selects the appropriate server site/folder from within an application program executing the API. The API may then require the user to logon and confirms that the user has appropriate access permissions to work with the server site/folder. Once confirmed, the connection session is established. During the session, …