Patent ID: 7562115
Filing Date: 2009-07-14
Classification: G06Q,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for connecting a collaboration system to a system external to the collaboration system, the collaboration system allowing collaboration between a plurality of collaborating members, each collaborating member interacting with a collaborating computer, the collaboration system also being adapted for each collaborating member to use tools to modify a local copy of a shred space on a collaborating computer, and each collaborating computer communicating data change requests representing changes to the copy of the shared space on the collaborating computer to other collaborating computers, and each collaborating computer being configured with a dynamics manager, the dynamics manager examining data change requests received from other collaborating computers, coordinating the execution of the data change requests, and directing a data-change engine to make changes to the copy of the shared space on the collaborating computer based on the data change requests, the method comprising: (a) replicating on a server a copy of an existing shared space based on information obtained from at least one collaborating member of the plurality of collaborating members; (b) creating on the server an agent for a tool, the tool requiring a connection to the external system; (c) using the agent to exchange data between the external system and the tool; (d) modifying, with the tool, the copy of the shred space on the server based on the exchanged data; and (e) communicating data change requests representing the modifications to the copy of the shred space on the server to a plurality of the collaborating computers.