Abstract:
In one embodiment, the systems and methods detect content shared during a collaboration session; assign a time stamp to the content; and automatically record the content and the time stamp.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     The present invention is related to, and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/695,716, filed on Jun. 29, 2005 entitled “Methods and Apparatuses For Recording A Collaboration Session,” by Eric Yuan and David Knight. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to recording content and, more particularly, to recording content during a collaboration session.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     There has been an increased use in collaboration sessions that are Internet or web-based to communicate with employees, vendors, and clients. During these collaboration sessions, information is typically exchanged between multiple participants. This exchanged information or content may include audio, graphical, and/or textual information.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0004]     In one embodiment, the systems and methods detect content shared during a collaboration session; assign a time stamp to the content; and automatically record the content and the time stamp.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate and explain one embodiment of the methods and apparatuses for recording a collaboration session. In the drawings,  
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an environment within which the methods and apparatuses for recording a collaboration session are implemented;  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is a simplified block diagram illustrating one embodiment in which the methods and apparatuses for recording a collaboration session are implemented;  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is a simplified block diagram illustrating a system, consistent with one embodiment of the methods and apparatuses for recording a collaboration session;  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  is a flow diagram consistent with one embodiment of the methods and apparatuses for recording a collaboration session;  
         [0010]      FIGS. 5A, 5B , and  5 C are flow diagrams consistent with one embodiment of the methods and apparatuses for recording a collaboration session; and  
         [0011]      FIG. 6  is a flow diagram consistent with one embodiment of the methods and apparatuses for recording a collaboration session.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0012]     The following detailed description of the methods and apparatuses for recording a collaboration session refers to the accompanying drawings. The detailed description is not intended to limit the methods and apparatuses for recording a collaboration session. Instead, the scope of the methods and apparatuses for recording a collaboration session is defined by the appended claims and equivalents. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many other implementations are possible, consistent with the present invention.  
         [0013]     References to a device include a device utilized by a user such as a desktop computer, a portable computer, a personal digital assistant, a video phone, a landline telephone, a cellular telephone, and a device capable of receiving/transmitting an electronic signal.  
         [0014]     References to content include audio, video, graphical, and/or textual data.  
         [0015]     References to a collaboration session include a plurality of devices that are configured to view content submitted by one of the devices.  
         [0016]     References to a participant device include devices that are participating in the collaboration session.  
         [0017]     References to a presenter device include a device that is participant and shares content shared with other participants.  
         [0018]     References to an attendee device include a device that is a participant and receives content shared by another participant device. The attendees are capable of view content that is offered by the presenter device. In some instances, the attendee devices are capable of modifying the content shared by the presenter device.  
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an environment within which the methods and apparatuses for recording a collaboration session are implemented. The environment includes an electronic device  110  (e.g., a computing platform configured to act as a client device, such as a computer, a personal digital assistant, and the like), a user interface  115 , a network  120  (e.g., a local area network, a home network, the Internet), and a server  130  (e.g., a computing platform configured to act as a server).  
         [0020]     In one embodiment, one or more user interface  115  components are made integral with the electronic device  110  (e.g., keypad and video display screen input and output interfaces in the same housing such as a personal digital assistant. In other embodiments, one or more user interface  115  components (e.g., a keyboard, a pointing device such as a mouse, a trackball, etc.), a microphone, a speaker, a display, a camera are physically separate from, and are conventionally coupled to, electronic device  110 . In one embodiment, the user utilizes interface  115  to access and control content and applications stored in electronic device  110 , server  130 , or a remote storage device (not shown) coupled via network  120 .  
         [0021]     In accordance with the invention, embodiments of recording a collaboration session below are executed by an electronic processor in electronic device  110 , in server  130 , or by processors in electronic device  110  and in server  130  acting together. Server  130  is illustrated in  FIG. 1  as being a single computing platform, but in other instances are two or more interconnected computing platforms that act as a server.  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a simplified diagram illustrating an exemplary architecture in which the methods and apparatuses for recording a collaboration session are implemented. The exemplary architecture includes a plurality of electronic devices  202 , a server device  210 , and a network  201  connecting electronic devices  202  to server  210  and each electronic device  202  to each other. The plurality of electronic devices  202  are each configured to include a computer-readable medium  209 , such as random access memory, coupled to an electronic processor  208 . Processor  208  executes program instructions stored in the computer-readable medium  209 . In one embodiment, a unique user operates each electronic device  202  via an interface  115  as described with reference to  FIG. 1 .  
         [0023]     The server device  130  includes a processor  211  coupled to a computer-readable medium  212 . In one embodiment, the server device  130  is coupled to one or more additional external or internal devices, such as, without limitation, a secondary data storage element, such as database  240 .  
         [0024]     In one instance, processors  208  and  211  are manufactured by Intel Corporation, of Santa Clara, Calif. In other instances, other microprocessors are used.  
         [0025]     In one embodiment, the plurality of client devices  202  and the server  210  include instructions for a customized application for selectively sharing a portion of a display during a collaboration session. In one embodiment, the plurality of computer-readable media  209  and  212  contain, in part, the customized application. Additionally, the plurality of client devices  202  and the server  210  are configured to receive and transmit electronic messages for use with the customized application. Similarly, the network  210  is configured to transmit electronic messages for use with the customized application.  
         [0026]     One or more user applications are stored in media  209 , in media  212 , or a single user application is stored in part in one media  209  and in part in media  212 . In one instance, a stored user application, regardless of storage location, is made customizable based on recording a collaboration session as determined using embodiments described below.  
         [0027]      FIG. 3  illustrates one embodiment of a system  300 . In one embodiment, the system  300  is embodied within the server  130 . In another embodiment, the system  300  is embodied within the electronic device  110 . In yet another embodiment, the system  300  is embodied within both the electronic device  110  and the server  130 .  
         [0028]     In one embodiment, the system  300  includes a collaboration session detection module  310 , a content recording module  320 , a storage module  330 , an interface module  340 , a control module  350 , a text extraction module  360 , a text archive module  370 , and a time stamp module  380 .  
         [0029]     In one embodiment, the control module  350  communicates with the collaboration session detection module  310 , the content recording module  320 , the storage module  330 , the interface module  340 , the text extraction module  360 , the text archive module  370 , and the time stamp module  380 . In one embodiment, the control module  350  coordinates tasks, requests, and communications between the collaboration session detection module  310 , the content recording module  320 , the storage module  330 , the interface module  340 , the text extraction module  360 , the text archive module  370 , and the time stamp module  380 .  
         [0030]     In one embodiment, the collaboration detection module  310  detects a collaboration session between multiple participants. In one embodiment, the collaboration session includes sharing content among the participants through a phone line and/or through a display device. For example, voice and data content may be carried through the phone line and displayed through the display device such as a computer system, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, and the like.  
         [0031]     Further, the content may include graphical and textual data through word processors, chat windows, documents, and the like.  
         [0032]     In one embodiment, the content recording module  320  records the content that is exchanged during the collaboration session.  
         [0033]     In one embodiment, the storage module  330  stores the content that is recorded within the content recording module  320 . Further, the storage module  330  is also configured to store information corresponding to the participants of the collaboration session.  
         [0034]     In one embodiment, the interface detection module  340  detects when the text messages are being transmitted from one of the devices participating in the collaboration session. In another embodiment, the interface detection module  340  monitors the voice transmissions originating from one of the devices participating in the collaboration session. In yet another embodiment, the interface detection module  340  detects any activity by one of the devices participating in the collaboration session.  
         [0035]     In one embodiment, the interface module  340  receives a signal from one of the electronic devices  110 . In one embodiment, the electronic devices  110  are participating in a collaboration session. In another embodiment, the interface module  340  delivers a signal to one of the electronic devices  110 .  
         [0036]     In one embodiment, the content detection module  360  monitors the content that is exchanged between participants within the collaboration session.  
         [0037]     In one embodiment, the content detection module  360  detects the different types of content that is exchanged during the collaboration session such as text messages through instant messaging, voice information, application sharing, and the like.  
         [0038]     In one embodiment, the text archive module  370  receives the text messages that are transmitted among the participants during the collaboration session and saves them within the storage module  330 . In one embodiment, the text archive module  370  formats the individual text messages into a single file and denotes the author of each text message.  
         [0039]     In another embodiment, the text archive module  370  receives voice data streams and converts these voice data streams into a textual representation. Further, the text archive module  370  formats the individual textual representations into a single file and denotes the author of each textual representation.  
         [0040]     In one embodiment, the time stamp module  380  assigns a time to discrete portions of the content exchanged among the participants during the collaboration session. For example, when the content is text messaging through instant messaging, then the time stamp module  380  assigns a time stamp to each text message transmitted based on the time of transmission. In another example, when content is streamed during the collaboration session, the time stamp module  380  assigns a time stamp to a portion of the streamed content at a predetermined frequency.  
         [0041]     In one embodiment, the time stamp corresponds to an actual time of day. In another embodiment, the time stamp corresponds to a time that the collaboration session was initiated.  
         [0042]     The system  300  in  FIG. 3  is shown for exemplary purposes and is merely one embodiment of the methods and apparatuses for recording a collaboration session. Additional modules may be added to the system  300  without departing from the scope of the methods and apparatuses for recording a collaboration session. Similarly, modules may be combined or deleted without departing from the scope of the methods and apparatuses for recording a collaboration session.  
         [0043]     The flow diagrams as depicted in  FIGS. 4, 5A ,  5 B,  5 C, and  6  are one embodiment of the methods and apparatuses for recording a collaboration session. The blocks within the flow diagrams can be performed in a different sequence without departing from the spirit of the methods and apparatuses for recording a collaboration session. Further, blocks can be deleted, added, or combined without departing from the spirit of the methods and apparatuses for recording a collaboration session.  
         [0044]     The flow diagram in  FIG. 4  illustrates recording a collaboration session according to one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0045]     In Block  410 , a collaboration session is detected. In one embodiment, the collaboration session is detected when an attendee device initiates the session.  
         [0046]     In another embodiment, the collaboration session is detected when an invitee attends the collaboration session. In one embodiment, the collaboration session is detected by the collaboration session detection module  310 .  
         [0047]     In Block  420 , content that is exchanged during the collaboration session is detected. In one embodiment, the content is detected through the content detection module  360 . In one embodiment, the content includes documents, applications, voice data, audio data, textual data, graphical data, and the like. In Block  430 , if the content is not detected, then detection continues in the Block  420 .  
         [0048]     In Block  430 , if the content is detected, then the content is time stamped in the Block  440 . In one embodiment, the time stamp is applied to the content in the time stamp module  380 . In one embodiment, the time stamp indicates a temporal relationship between the content and the collaboration session. For example, if the content is detected towards the beginning of the collaboration session, then the time stamp associated with this content represents a time period towards the beginning of the collaboration session.  
         [0049]     In Block  450 , the content is recorded with the associated time stamp. In one embodiment, the content recording module  320  records the content and the associated time stamp into the storage module  330 .  
         [0050]     The flow diagram in  FIG. 5A  illustrates a method for recording content shared during collaboration session according to one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0051]     In Block  505 , content that is exchanged during the collaboration session is detected. In one embodiment, the content is detected through the content detection module  360 . In one embodiment, the content includes documents, applications, voice data, audio data, textual data, graphical data, and the like.  
         [0052]     In Block  510 , the content identified in the Block  505  is analyzed to determine the type of the content. For example, the content types include documents, applications, voice data, text messages, and the like.  
         [0053]     In Block  515 , if the content is considered a text message, then the content is further processed in Block  520 . If the content is not considered a text message, then the content is further processed in Block  535  ( FIG. 5B ). In one embodiment, the text message utilizes a SMS format. In another embodiment, the text message is provided by a service known as “Instant Messaging”. In yet another embodiment, the text messages are messages containing text and other content in real time from a participant to another participant of the collaboration session.  
         [0054]     In the Block  520 , in the event that there are multiple text messages, each text message is separated into discrete messages. For example, there can be multiple text messages sent by different or common participants of the collaboration session.  
         [0055]     In Block  525 , a time stamp is associated with each text message and is utilized to determine when the text message was sent relative to the collaboration session. For example, the time stamp may indicate an actual time of day. In another example, the time stamp may indicate a time count that is relative to the initiation of the collaboration session. In one embodiment, the time stamp module  380  forms the time stamp for each text message.  
         [0056]     In Block  530 , each of the text messages are stored and archived. In one embodiment, the text archive module  370  combines each of the separate text messages and incorporates the time stamp and the author with each text message. Further, the combined text messages are formatted as a text file in one embodiment.  
         [0057]     In one embodiment, all the text messages transmitted within the collaboration session are combined within a single text file. In another embodiment, all the text messages transmitted within the collaboration session are stored in multiple text files.  
         [0058]     In one embodiment, the text file is searchable for keywords, authors, time stamps, and the like.  
         [0059]     In one embodiment, the text messages are stored in the storage module  330 .  
         [0060]     The flow diagram in  FIG. 5B  illustrates a method for recording content shared during collaboration session according to one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0061]     In Block  535 , if the content is considered voice data, then the content is further processed in Block  540 . If the content is not considered a voice data, then the content is further processed in Block  560  ( FIG. 5C ). In one embodiment, the voice data is carried over a plain old telephone service (POTS). In another embodiment, the voice data is carried over voice over internet protocol (VoIP). In some instances, the voice data is transmitted among the participants of the collaboration session where the participants utilize a combination of POTS and VoIP services.  
         [0062]     In Block  540 , a time stamp is periodically attached to the voice data throughout the stream of voice data. In one embodiment, the frequency of the time stamp being attached to the voice data is selectable. For example, the frequency of the time stamp is selected as every second, every 10 seconds, every minute, and the like. In one embodiment, the time stamp is correlated to the timing of the collaboration session. For example, in one embodiment, the time stamp indicates an actual time of day. In another embodiment, the time stamp is relative to the initiation of the collaboration session.  
         [0063]     In one embodiment, the voice data and the time stamp(s) are stored within the storage module  330 .  
         [0064]     In Block  545 , the voice data is converted into text data. For example, the voice data stream is detected and converted into text data that represents the voice data stream. In one embodiment, after the conversion of the voice data into the text data, the time stamps are retained and associated with the corresponding text data.  
         [0065]     In Block  550 , the text data representing the voice data are stored and archived. Further, the time stamps are integrated and stored with the text data in one embodiment. In one embodiment, the text data are stored in the storage module  330 .  
         [0066]     The flow diagram in  FIG. 5C  illustrates a method for recording content shared during collaboration session according to one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0067]     In Block  560 , if the content is shared with one of the participants during the collaboration session, then the content is further processed in Block  565 . In one embodiment, the content includes animations, video, documents, applications that are shared during the collaboration session.  
         [0068]     In Block  565 , the content is captured at a time interval. In one embodiment, the time interval is selected to adequately capture the content. For example, to adequately capture video, the periodic time interval is set to capture at 15 times per second. Further, to adequately capture static documents, the periodic time interval is set to capture at 1 time per second.  
         [0069]     In Block  570 , a time stamp is attached to the content at each time interval. In one embodiment, the time stamp is correlated to the timing of the collaboration session. For example, in one embodiment, the time stamp indicates an actual time of day. In another embodiment, the time stamp is relative to the initiation of the collaboration session.  
         [0070]     In Block  550 , the captured content and the associated time stamps are stored and archived. In one embodiment, the captured content and the associated time stamps are stored in the storage module  330 .  
         [0071]     The flow diagram in  FIG. 6  illustrates accessing content that was previously recorded during a collaboration session according to one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0072]     In Block  610 , a text file corresponding to a collaboration session is detected. In one embodiment, the text file represents text messages, voice data, documents, applications that were shared during the collaboration session. In another embodiment, the text file may correspond to multiple collaboration sessions.  
         [0073]     In Block  620 , a key search term is utilized to search the text file. For example, a search term may include “manager” when the collaboration session pertains to interfacing with customers and resolving customer service issues. By doing a search for the term “manager”, a user may be able to search instances during the collaboration session that one of the participants requested assistance from a manager in this example.  
         [0074]     In another example, if the collaboration session include participation from a financial institution, key search terms that are searched may include buy, sell, transfer, deposit, withdraw, and the like. In this example, by searching for these terms, a user is capable of identifying instances within the collaboration session that may need further review.  
         [0075]     In Block  630 , if the searched term is not found, then additional search terms may be utilized in the Block  620 .  
         [0076]     If the search term is found, then the time stamp associated with the location of the search term within the text file detected in Block  640 .  
         [0077]     In Block  650 , additional content that was shared during the collaboration session is also identified. For example, voice data identified in the Block  535  and shared content identified in the Block  560  that share the detected time stamp from the Block  640  are also identified.  
         [0078]     In one embodiment, additional time stamps within a predetermined amount of time of the time stamp identified in the Block  640  are also identified. Further, shared content that correspond to these additional time stamps are also identified.  
         [0079]     In use, if the collaboration session involves a financial institution, the shared content that occurs prior to and after the time stamp associated with a search term is identified. In this example, the shared content prior to and after the search term provides background and context to the specific search term found within the collaboration session. The actual number of time stamps that are identified in the Block  650  prior to and after the search term depends on the frequency of the time stamps.  
         [0080]     Although the Blocks  610  and  620  utilize a text file, different types of files can be substituted in other embodiments. For example, a voice data file may be searched within the Block  620  for a key term. Further, once the key term is found within the voice data file, a corresponding time stamp is identified through the Block  540 .  
         [0081]     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. The invention may be applied to a variety of other applications.  
         [0082]     They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise embodiments disclosed, and naturally many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents.