Patent ID: 8566398
Filing Date: 2013-10-22
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. A server comprising: a memory to store instructions; and a controller coupled to the memory, wherein responsive to executing the instructions, the controller performs operations comprising: communicating data over a network to facilitate establishment of a virtual extranet community among a plurality of communication devices associated with a plurality of entities and to facilitate establishment of secure communications within the virtual extranet community, wherein the plurality of entities are unrelated; and providing access for the plurality of communication devices to a software application that enables managing contact information for the plurality of entities, managing messages provided in the virtual community and managing collaborative sharing of documents, wherein the access is based on the plurality of communication devices being associated with a workgroup defined from among the plurality of communication devices associated with the plurality of entities, and wherein the secure communications comprise first communications between an entity router of each of the plurality of entities communicatively coupled to a network router remotely located from each of the plurality of entities, and second communications between the network router and the server via a firewall remotely located from each of the plurality of entities.