Mobile content collaboration with one click multimedia capability

A method includes performing operations as follows on a processor: receiving a selection of a content item by a first user from a first mobile device, sending an inquiry to the first mobile device comprising collaboration options for the content item, the collaboration options comprising a first option to invite a second user to collaborate asynchronously on the content item and a second option to invite the second user to collaborate synchronously on the content item via a communication session between the first mobile device and a second mobile device associated with the second user, receiving a selection of one of the first option and the second option by the first user from the first mobile device, identifying an address of the second mobile device responsive to receiving the selection of one of the first option and the second option, and sending a message addressed to the address of the second mobile device.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to computing systems, and, in particular, to collaboration between mobile devices.

The proliferation of mobile devices can present both opportunities and areas of concern for an enterprise. Because mobile devices may be more susceptible to being stolen, misplaced, or compromised in some way, enterprises may deploy a set of security tools that may provide a security layer around the mobile applications. Mobile Content Management (MCM) tools may provide the ability for a user to securely access, and collaborate on, content stored by an enterprise. As much of an enterprise's content may be considered sensitive or proprietary, an enterprise may place adopt policies that include restrictions on invoking certain applications or accessing certain types of data or files to ensure that sensitive information is not compromised. These restrictions may include operation limitations, geo fence limitations, time of day/week limitations, and access limitations. Other restrictions may include limitations on copying a file to local storage, e.g., a mobile device or desktop computer, for viewing or modification. The policies may also include requirements that various applications and/or other software components, such as operating systems, be upgraded before certain applications and/or data can be used. While such policies have a valid purpose in enhancing the security of mobile devices, the policies may in some instances, negatively impact use productivity. As a result, an enterprise may look for ways to boost user productivity and output through use of mobile devices. For example, an enterprise may install content and collaboration tools that can be used to provide a platform for users to manage a project including organizing, discussing, and tracking files among members of the project team. These tools may allow users to securely store and share content with version control to avoid having to email content to various members of a project team and manually keep track of the latest versions and changes.

SUMMARY

In some embodiments of the inventive subject matter, a method comprises performing operations as follows on a processor: receiving a selection of a content item by a first user from a first mobile device, sending an inquiry to the first mobile device comprising collaboration options for the content item, the collaboration options comprising a first option to invite a second user to collaborate asynchronously on the content item and a second option to invite the second user to collaborate synchronously on the content item via a communication session between the first mobile device and a second mobile device associated with the second user, receiving a selection of one of the first option and the second option by the first user from the first mobile device, identifying an address of the second mobile device responsive to receiving the selection of one of the first option and the second option, and sending a message addressed to the address of the second mobile device.

In still other embodiments of the inventive subject matter, a system comprises a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, which comprises computer readable program code embodied in the memory that when executed by the processor causes the processor to perform operations comprising: receiving a selection of a content item by a first user from a first mobile device, sending an inquiry to the first mobile device comprising collaboration options for the content item, the collaboration options comprising a first option to invite a second user to collaborate asynchronously on the content item and a second option to invite the second user to collaborate synchronously on the content item via a communication session between the first mobile device and a second mobile device associated with the second user, receiving a selection of one of the first option and the second option by the first user from the first mobile device, identifying an address of the second mobile device responsive to receiving the selection of one of the first option and the second option, and sending a message addressed to the address of the second mobile device.

In still other embodiments of the inventive subject matter, a computer program product comprises a tangible computer readable storage medium comprising computer readable program code embodied in the medium that when executed by a processor causes the processor to perform operations comprising: receiving a selection of a content item by a first user from a first mobile device, sending an inquiry to the first mobile device comprising collaboration options for the content item, the collaboration options comprising a first option to invite a second user to collaborate asynchronously on the content item and a second option to invite the second user to collaborate synchronously on the content item via a communication session between the first mobile device and a second mobile device associated with the second user, receiving a selection of one of the first option and the second option by the first user from the first mobile device, identifying an address of the second mobile device responsive to receiving the selection of one of the first option and the second option, and sending a message addressed to the address of the second mobile device.

Other methods, systems, articles of manufacture, and/or computer program products according to embodiments of the inventive subject matter will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon review of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, articles of manufacture, and/or computer program products be included within this description, be within the scope of the present inventive subject matter, and be protected by the accompanying claims. Moreover, it is intended that all embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented separately or combined in any way and/or combination.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used herein, a “service” includes, but is not limited to, a software and/or hardware service, such as cloud services in which software, platforms, and infrastructure are provided remotely through, for example, the Internet. A service may be provided using Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and/or Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) delivery models. In the SaaS model, customers generally access software residing in the cloud using a thin client, such as a browser, for example. In the PaaS model, the customer typically creates and deploys the software in the cloud sometimes using tools, libraries, and routines provided through the cloud service provider. The cloud service provider may provide the network, servers, storage, and other tools used to host the customer's application(s). In the IaaS model, the cloud service provider provides physical and/or virtual machines along with hypervisor(s). The customer installs operating system images along with application software on the physical and/or virtual infrastructure provided by the cloud service provider.

As used herein, the term “data processing facility” includes, but it not limited to, a hardware element, firmware component, and/or software component. A data processing system may be configured with one or more data processing facilities.

As used herein, the term “mobile terminal” or “mobile device” may include a satellite or cellular radiotelephone with or without a multi-line display; a Personal Communications System (PCS) terminal that may combine a cellular radiotelephone with data processing, facsimile and data communications capabilities; a PDA or smart phone that can include a radiotelephone, pager, Internet/intranet access, Web browser, organizer, calendar and/or a global positioning system (GPS) receiver; and a conventional laptop and/or palmtop receiver or other appliance that includes a radiotelephone transceiver. Mobile terminals or mobile devices may also be referred to as “pervasive computing” devices.

As used herein, data are raw, unorganized facts that need to be processed. Data can be something simple and seemingly random and useless until it is organized. When data are processed, organized, structured or presented in a given context so as to make it useful, it is called content or information. Examples of content or information include, but are not limited to, word processing files, slide presentation program files, spreadsheet files, video files, audio files, picture files, and document exchange files.

Some embodiments of the inventive subject matter stem from a realization that a mobile real time collaboration tool can be used to provide content collaboration applications on mobile devices and a content collaboration application on an enterprise server to allow users of the mobile devices to collaborate on enterprise content. A first user can select a content item and a window will pop-up presenting the first user with an option of sending a second user a message that identifies the content item and inviting the second user to asynchronously collaborate on the content item. The first user may also be presented with the option of contacting the second user so as to invite the second user to synchronously collaborate on the content item via an audio and/or video communication session in real time. This may allow the two parties to collaborate on the content item through a multi-media communication session. The content collaboration application on the enterprise server, for example, may provide various features to assist the first and second users in collaborating, whether synchronously or asynchronously, on the content item including, but not limited to, change control, version control, and comment capability, such as metadata associated with the content item and/or links to social media applications both public and internal to the enterprise.

FIG. 1is a block diagram of a system for facilitating mobile content collaboration in accordance with some embodiments of the inventive subject matter. Employees of an enterprise, for example, may use mobile devices, such as smart phones, tablets, laptops, and the like to access various types of content belonging to the enterprise to do their work. As shown inFIG. 1, a first user of a mobile device105may communicate with various servers of an enterprise125to access content thereon. Likewise, a second user of a mobile device112may communicate with the various servers of the enterprise125to access content thereon. The enterprise125may have numerous servers that are responsible for the various operations of the enterprise and for storing the enterprise content. The particular functional responsibilities and the storage of content can be combined or divided in a variety of ways. Moreover, the enterprise servers may be implemented as separate servers on individual hardware platforms or as virtual servers on a common hardware platform. In addition, the functionality of various servers may be combined in a single server or separated into additional servers in accordance with various embodiments of the inventive subject matter.

Employees of an enterprise may often work in teams or groups and multiple people may wish to provide input and/or comment on various content that the group or team is working on. The Mobile Content Management (MCM) server130may download mobile collaboration modules110and115to mobile devices105and112, respectively, and may download an enterprise collaboration module127to the enterprise125server(s). The mobile collaboration modules110and enterprise collaboration module127may facilitate mobile content collaboration between the users of the mobile devices105and112for content stored on the enterprise125server(s). The enterprise collaboration module127is configured to manage access to content residing on the enterprise125server(s) in response to requests from users via the mobile collaboration modules110and115. In some embodiments, a first user can select a content item residing on the enterprise125server(s) via the mobile collaboration module110and a window will pop-up presenting the first user with a first option of sending a second user (e.g., the user of mobile device112) a message that identifies the content item and inviting the second user to collaborate on the content item asynchronously. The first user may also be presented with a second option of contacting the second user so as to invite the second user to collaborate on the content item synchronously via an audio and/or video communication session in real time. This may allow the two parties to collaborate on the content item through a multi-media communication session.

As shown inFIG. 1, the connections between the enterprise125, MCM server130, and the mobile devices105,112may include wireless and/or wireline connections and may be direct or include one or more intervening local area networks, wide area networks, and/or the Internet. The network120may be a global network, such as the Internet or other publicly accessible network. Various elements of the network120may be interconnected by a wide area network, a local area network, an Intranet, and/or other private network, which may not be accessible by the general public. Thus, the communication network120may represent a combination of public and private networks or a virtual private network (VPN). The network120may be a wireless network, a wireline network, or may be a combination of both wireless and wireline networks.

AlthoughFIG. 1illustrates a system for mobile content collaboration according to some embodiments of the inventive subject matter, it will be understood that embodiments of the present invention are not limited to such configurations, but are intended to encompass any configuration capable of carrying out the operations described herein.

Referring now toFIG. 2, a data processing system200that may be used to implement the MCM server130ofFIG. 1, in accordance with some embodiments of the inventive subject matter comprises input device(s)202, such as a keyboard or keypad, a display204, and a memory206that communicate with a processor208. The data processing system200may further include a storage system210, a speaker212, and an input/output (I/O) data port(s)214that also communicate with the processor208. The storage system210may include removable and/or fixed media, such as floppy disks, ZIP drives, hard disks, or the like, as well as virtual storage, such as a RAMDISK. The I/O data port(s)214may be used to transfer information between the data processing system200and another computer system or a network (e.g., the Internet). These components may be conventional components, such as those used in many conventional computing devices, and their functionality, with respect to conventional operations, is generally known to those skilled in the art. The memory206may be configured with a MCM tools module216that may be configured to provide the mobile collaboration modules110,115and the enterprise collaboration module127ofFIG. 1according to some embodiments of the inventive subject matter.

FIG. 3illustrates a processor300and memory305that may be used in embodiments of data processing systems, such as the MCM server130ofFIG. 1and the data processing system200ofFIG. 2, respectively, for facilitating mobile content collaboration according to some embodiments of the inventive subject matter. The processor300communicates with the memory305via an address/data bus310. The processor300may be, for example, a commercially available or custom microprocessor. The memory305is representative of the one or more memory devices containing the software and data used for facilitating mobile content collaboration in accordance with some embodiments of the inventive subject matter. The memory305may include, but is not limited to, the following types of devices: cache, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash, SRAM, and DRAM.

As shown inFIG. 3, the memory305may contain up to two or more categories of software and/or data: an operating system315and a MCM tools module320. In particular, the operating system315may manage the data processing system's software and/or hardware resources and may coordinate execution of programs by the processor300. The MCM tools module320may comprise a mobile collaboration module325, an enterprise collaboration module330, and a communication module335. The mobile collaboration module325corresponds to the mobile collaboration modules110and115ofFIG. 1and the enterprise collaboration module330corresponds to the enterprise collaboration module127ofFIG. 1. As described above, the enterprise collaboration module330is configured to manage access to content residing on the enterprise125servers in response to requests from users via the mobile collaboration modules325.

The communication module335may be configured to facilitate communication between the MCM server130and other entities, such as the mobile devices105,112and the enterprise125.

AlthoughFIG. 3illustrates hardware/software architectures that may be used in data processing systems, such as the MCM server130ofFIG. 1and the data processing system200ofFIG. 2, respectively, for facilitating mobile content collaboration according to some embodiments of the inventive subject matter, it will be understood that the present invention is not limited to such a configuration but is intended to encompass any configuration capable of carrying out operations described herein.

Referring now toFIG. 4, an exemplary mobile terminal400that may be used to implement the mobile terminals105,112ofFIG. 1, in accordance with some embodiments of the inventive subject matter, includes a video recorder402, a camera405, a microphone410, a keyboard/keypad415, a speaker420, a display425, a transceiver430, and a memory435that communicate with a processor440. The transceiver430comprises a transmitter circuit445and a receiver circuit450, which respectively transmit outgoing radio frequency signals to base station transceivers and receive incoming radio frequency signals from the base station transceivers via an antenna455. The radio frequency signals transmitted between the mobile terminal400and the base station transceivers may comprise both traffic and control signals (e.g., paging signals/messages for incoming calls), which are used to establish and maintain communication with another party or destination. The radio frequency signals may also comprise packet data information, such as, for example, cellular digital packet data (CDPD) information. The foregoing components of the mobile terminal400may be included in many conventional mobile terminals and their functionality is generally known to those skilled in the art.

The processor440communicates with the memory435via an address/data bus. The processor440may be, for example, a commercially available or custom microprocessor. The memory435is representative of the one or more memory devices containing the software and data used to facilitate mobile content collaboration in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. The memory435may include, but is not limited to, the following types of devices: cache, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash, SRAM, and DRAM.

As shown inFIG. 4, the memory435may contain up to four or more categories of software and/or data: an operating system465, a mobile collaboration module470, a GUI display module475, and a communication module480. The operating system465generally controls the operation of the mobile terminal400. In particular, the operating system465may manage the mobile terminal's software and/or hardware resources and may coordinate execution of programs by the processor440. The mobile collaboration module470corresponds to the mobile collaboration modules110,115ofFIG. 1, which has been described above. The Graphical User Interface (GUI) display module475may be configured to cooperate with the mobile collaboration module470to present collaboration options to a user of the mobile device400when the user accesses enterprise content. As described above, in some embodiments, the mobile collaboration module470may present the user of the mobile device through the GUI display module475a first option of sending a second user of a mobile device a message that identifies a particular content item and invites the second user to collaborate on the content item asynchronously. The first user may also be presented with a second option of contacting the second user so as to invite the second user to collaborate on the content item synchronously via an audio and/or video communication session in real time. This may allow the two parties to collaborate on the content item through a multi-media communication session.

The communication module480may be configured to facilitate communication between the mobile terminal105/400and other entities, such as the enterprise125and MCM server130.

AlthoughFIG. 4illustrates an exemplary software and hardware architecture that may be used for facilitating mobile content collaboration according to some embodiments of the inventive subject matter, it will be understood that embodiments of the present invention are not limited to such a configuration, but are intended to encompass any configuration capable of carrying out the operations described herein.

Moreover, the functionality of the MCM server130, data processing system200, hardware/software architecture ofFIG. 3, enterprise125servers and mobile device105,112/400ofFIGS. 1 and 4may each be implemented as a single processor system, a multi-processor system, a multi-core processor system, or even a network of stand-alone computer systems, in accordance with various embodiments of the inventive subject matter. Each of these processor/computer systems may be referred to as a “processor” or “data processing system.”

FIGS. 5 and 6are flowcharts that illustrate operations for facilitating mobile content collaboration in accordance with some embodiments of the inventive subject matter. Referring toFIG. 5, operations begin at block500where a first user, e.g., a user of mobile device105, selects a content item from the enterprise125server(s) via the mobile collaboration module110. The selection is received at the enterprise collaboration module127residing on the enterprise125server(s). An inquiry is sent from the enterprise collaboration module127to the mobile collaboration module110at block505comprising collaboration options for the first user. The mobile collaboration module115displays the options via the GUI display module475. These options may include a first option of sending a second user (e.g., the user of mobile device112) a message that identifies the content item and inviting the second user to collaborate on the content item asynchronously. The first user may also be presented with a second option of contacting the second user so as to invite the second user to collaborate on the content item synchronously via an audio and/or video communication session in real time. This may allow the two parties to collaborate on the content item through a multi-media communication session. The enterprise collaboration module127may receive a selection of one of the collaboration options at block510. An address of the mobile device of the second user may be identified responsive to receiving the selection of the first option of the second option and a message may be send addressed to the address of the second mobile device that comprises an alert for the second user.

The content collaboration options will be described in further detail, according to some embodiments of the inventive subject matter with respect toFIG. 6. Operations begin at block600where a user of a mobile device (e.g., mobile device105) may select a particular collaboration option for collaborating on a content item identified from the enterprise125server(s).FIG. 7Aillustrates a user interface provided by the GUI module475for mobile devices105,112according to some embodiments of the inventive subject matter. As shown inFIG. 7A, the mobile device700device comprises a display705on which thumbnail icons A through L (FIG. 7A) are used to represent native and downloaded applications. The user interface comprises multiple pages as represented by the page icon715where the particular circle highlighted represents a particular page currently being displayed. The mobile device700includes a home button710that can be invoked to return the user interface page one of the display705, which may be considered a home page that the mobile device700displays when powered on or when awakened from a sleep or inactive state. The user interface may further include a static display portion720, which remains displayed on all pages of the user interface. As shown inFIG. 7A, icons corresponding to applications X, Y, and Z are assigned to the static display portion720. One of the icons A-L or X-Z may be used to invoke the mobile collaboration module110.

Referring now toFIG. 7B, upon selection of a content item from the enterprise125server(s) via the mobile collaboration module110, the enterprise collaboration module127may send an inquiry back to the mobile collaboration module110with the collaboration options for the first user. Such options are illustrated, for example, inFIG. 7Bwhere the user is presented with an asynchronous collaboration option and a synchronous (e.g., real time) collaboration option. Responsive to the user selecting the asynchronous option, operations continue at block610ofFIG. 6where the mobile collaboration module110sends an alert with an invitation for asynchronous collaboration on the content item to the user associated with the mobile device112by way of the enterprise collaboration module127and the mobile collaboration module115on the mobile device112.FIG. 8Aillustrates a user interface provided by the GUI module475for mobile devices105,112when they receive an invitation to collaborate on a content item from another mobile device. Reference designators800,805,810,815, and820correspond to reference designators700,705,810,815, and820described above with reference toFIG. 7A. Referring toFIG. 8A, the collaboration invitation is displayed on the mobile device112along with a link to the content item on the enterprise125server(s). In accordance with various embodiments of the inventive subject matter, the invitation may be sent via Short Message Service (SMS) message containing the link or an email message containing the link. Moreover, when the user of the mobile device112accesses the content item via the link (or other type of identifier) provided in the invitation, the enterprise collaboration module127may provide various features to assist both the first and second users of the mobile devices105and112in collaboration on the content item including, but not limited to, change control, version control, and comment capability, such as metadata associated with the content item and/or links to social media applications both public and internal to the enterprise.

Returning toFIG. 6, responsive to the user selecting the synchronous option, operations continue at block605where the mobile collaboration module110sends an alert with an invitation for synchronous (e.g., real time) collaboration on the content item to the user associated with the mobile device112by way of the enterprise collaboration module127and the mobile collaboration module115on the mobile device112. This is illustrated inFIG. 8Bwhere the collaboration invitation is displayed on the mobile device112along with a link to the content item on the enterprise125server(s). In addition, the user of the mobile device112is presented with an option of establishing a communication session with the user of the mobile device105by way of the enterprise collaboration module127to collaborate on the content item in real time via audio and/or video. In accordance with various embodiments of the inventive subject matter, the invitation may be sent via Short Message Service (SMS) message containing the link or an email message containing the link. Moreover, when the user of the mobile device112accesses the content item via the link (or other type of identifier) provided in the invitation, the enterprise collaboration module127may provide various features to assist both the first and second users of the mobile devices105and112in collaboration on the content item including, but not limited to, change control, version control, and comment capability, such as metadata associated with the content item and/or links to social media applications both public and internal to the enterprise.

Embodiments of the present inventive subject matter may provide a mobile real time collaboration capability to provide collaboration applications on mobile devices and enterprise server(s) to allow users of mobile devices in an enterprise to collaborate on enterprise content. The content collaboration application on the enterprise server is configured to manage access to content stored on enterprise server(s) via the collaboration applications residing on the mobile devices and to facilitate collaborative communication connections between users via the collaborative applications running on the respective mobile devices. In some embodiments, a first user can select a content item residing on the enterprise server and a window will pop-up presenting the first user with a first option of sending a second user a message that identifies the content item and inviting the second user to collaborate on the content item. The first user may also be presented with a second option of contacting the second user so as to invite the second user to collaborate on the content item via an audio and/or video communication session. This may allow the two parties to collaborate on the content item through a multi-media communication session.

Selection of the first option results in a message, such as an email, SMS message, or other type of alert being transmitted to the second user. When the second user receives the message and proceeds to access the content item identified in the alert via a link or other type of identifier, the content collaboration application on the enterprise server receives a request for the content item and provides access to the content item to the second user. The content collaboration application on the enterprise server may provide various features to assist the first and second users in collaborating on the content item including, but not limited to, change control, version control, and comment capability, such as links to social media applications both public and internal to the enterprise.

Selection of the second option results in a message to the second user that invites the second user to participate in an audio and/or video communication session to collaborate on the content item. If the second user accepts the invitation, the content collaboration application on the enterprise server facilitates the establishment of a communication session between the respective mobile devices of the two users and associates the communication session with the content item on the enterprise server. The two users may then view, discuss, and modify the content item while maintaining an audio and/or video communication session with each other. The content collaboration application on the enterprise server may provide the same or similar features described above with respect to change control, version control, comment capability, and the like.

Further Definitions and Embodiments