Patent ID: 7360164
Filing Date: 2008-04-15
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method of providing collaboration services to a user affiliated with an organization, the method comprising: displaying a plurality of contacts in a collaboration display area; receiving a selection of one or more contacts from the plurality of contacts; displaying in the collaboration display area a plurality of collaboration service options associated with a plurality of collaboration service providers, a choice of collaboration service providers displayed being conditioned by data characterizing the organization's contracts with collaboration service providers and the selection of one or more contacts; displaying a plurality of business objects in the collaboration display area organized or grouped hierarchically or by company, project, or work group, the business objects comprising data structures characterizing a physical or logical object of significance to a business; receiving a collaboration request relating to a displayed collaboration service option and selecting one or more of the business objects; initiating a collaboration session with a selected collaboration service provider including the selected one or more business objects; associating the one or more selected contacts with the initiated collaboration session; and capturing information about the collaboration session, the information comprising an identity of the user, duration of the collaboration session, and the collaboration services and collaboration service providers selected to allow for allocation of costs within the organization.