Patent ID: 6342906
Filing Date: 2002-01-29
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A work space independent user interface for a real-time collaboration system implemented on computers connected in a network, the real-time collaboration system augmented with the user interface continues to support every work space that it could previously support, the user interface comprising:a shared transparent annotation layer built in the real-time collaboration system, the shared transparent annotation layer being placed between each participant and a shared work space, the shared transparent annotation layer overlying the work space so that each participant can view the work space through the shared transparent annotation layer; means for choosing and changing a mode of operation during a collaborative session between a discussion mode and an edit mode, wherein in the discussion mode only the annotation layer is directly manipulated and/or modified and wherein in the edit mode only the work space is directly manipulated and/or modified, the shared transparent annotation layer in the discussion mode providing to the collaboration session a convenience of variously viewing and discussing the work space by participants of the collaboration session, including marking the shared transparent annotation layer in different ways without actually modifying the work space itself, the marking of the shared transparent annotation layer not being limited to markings supported by the work space itself; and means for supporting enforcement of synchrony between any work space and the work space's covering transparent annotation layer wherein, for any work space, when the work space and its covering transparent annotation layer are synchronized, scrolling the work space also scrolls the transparent annotation layer and vice versa, expanding the work space by adding data to the work space also expands the transparent annotation layer in corresponding regions, and contracting the work space by deleting data from it also contracts the transparent annotation layer by truncating corresponding regions.