Patent ID: 6182115
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: G06F,G06Q

Abstract:
Within a networked environment containing multiple client application processes each coupled to a collaboration infrastructure library through a Shared Data API, a method for enabling the sharing of a data element wherein at least two of the multiple client applications which share the data element carry out the steps of:selecting a Locking strategy from a plurality of locking strategies provided by the Shared Data API for use with a GUI element of a corresponding one of the at least two of the multiple client applications associated with the shared data element;selecting an Unlocking strategy from a plurality of unlocking strategies provided by the Shared Data API for use with the GUI element of a corresponding one of the at least two of the multiple client applications associated with the shared data element;selecting an Updating strategy from a plurality of updating strategies provided by the Shared Data API for use with the GUI element of a corresponding one of the at least two of the multiple client applications associated with the shared data element; andutilizing the Shared Data API to control access to the shared data element through the corresponding GUI element of the corresponding one of the at least two of the multiple client applications as specified by the selected Locking strategy, Unlocking strategy and Updating strategy.