Abstract:
A system and method are provided for sharing information in a distributed peer-to-peer network wherein an information owner invites one or more trusted users to participate in information sharing and wherein the information owner designates permission levels for each of one or more trusted users. Upon accepting the invitation, the one or more trusted users may be granted with complete access, read only access, or blocked access to the shared information. The one or more trusted users may selectively decide to accept or decline to share information on a folder-to-folder basis. Any modifications made to the shared information may be disseminated to all the trusted users in real-time, upon log-in to a central server, or after a predetermined time delay.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The invention is directed to a system and method for creating and selectively sharing data elements in a peer-to-peer network.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Widespread use of the Internet offers great potential for collaborative technologies, both as an enabling infrastructure and as a platform for integrating existing end-user applications. For example, the World Wide Web (WWW) may be employed by dispersed working-groups to jointly author, comment, and annotate shared information.  
         [0003]     Technologies for collaboratively exchanging information among distributed work-groups include electronic mail (e-mail) programs and server-based portals. While e-mail programs enable users to send information to one or more other users, various drawbacks exist.  
         [0004]     For example, e-mail programs provide little support for sharing changes to content after an initial e-mail message is sent. Rather, the sender must send a new e-mail message to recipients every time changes are made to the e-mail content, including any changes made to attachments associated with the e-mail message. As a result, recipients receive both the previously sent e-mail message and the updated e-mail message as separate messages for review. Other drawbacks exist.  
         [0005]     Another technology for collaboratively exchanging and sharing information among distributed work-groups may include using centralized servers that have shared workspaces for providing common document storage and retrieval facilities. The shared workspaces may be implemented on the centralized servers and may be accessed from different platforms using standard WWW clients. Each shared workspace provides workspace members with access to shared information objects therein, which may include documents, links, and folders. Various drawbacks exist with these technologies.  
         [0006]     For example, these approaches typically require a workspace administrator to establish privileges and control who has access to what information. This also requires, in some cases, someone to approve content that is posted to the workspace. In some cases, users must continuously check for new or changed content. In other cases, users get an email alerting them that changes have been made. This requires them to check their email for such notices, and then switch to another application (e.g., a browser) to access the server. Other drawbacks exist.  
         [0007]     Peer-to-peer systems in general are known. In many cases, these systems enable a user to illegally share files created in one application (e.g., music files, videos or graphics). In many cases, such files are available to be shared with any user. The “owner” of the file typically cannot limit with whom the information is to be shared. In some cases, a user must create content using an application separate from the peer-to peer application. Various other drawbacks exist.  
         [0008]     Other drawbacks exist with these and other known systems  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     Various aspects of the invention overcome at least some of these and other drawbacks of existing systems. According to one embodiment, the system comprises a peer-to-peer based system architecture. The system comprises a number of peer terminals, each of which may be connected or connectable to one or more special purpose peers (e.g., via a wired, wireless, and/or combination of wired and wireless connection) and/or one or more networks (e.g., a wired network, a wireless network, a combination of wired and wireless networks or other networks). One or more peers may be connected to the special purpose peer. Also, one or more servers may be connected to the network.  
         [0010]     The special purpose peer may include a routing peer, a back-up peer, an authentication peer, a presence peer, a relay peer, and/or other special purpose peers. In an exemplary embodiment, peer terminals may be configured as special purpose peers. The routing peer may serve as a gateway between peer terminals to provide, for example, indirect communication between two or more peer terminals when a direct connection between peer terminals may not be established. The back-up peer, for example, may store an identical copy of content associated with a selected peer terminal, may mirror changes made to the selected peer terminal in real-time, and/or may be available to synchronize (e.g., send and/or receive) information with the selected peer terminal. The authentication peer, for example, may check credentials of users and validate that users are registered users. The presence peer, for example, may maintain availability information about registered users. The relay peer, for example, may serve as a gateway between peer terminals and may temporarily store and retrieve selected messages when the target peer terminal is operating offline.  
         [0011]     Each of the peer terminals preferably includes at least a processor, a memory, a display, and at least one input mechanism (e.g., keyboard or other input mechanism). Preferably, each peer terminal includes an e-mail program or the ability to access an email account via a network (e.g., the Internet). Other applications may reside on the peer terminal, as desired.  
         [0012]     Each peer terminal is preferably capable of receiving an invitation to install software as described herein and/or is capable of directly installing the software without having to first receive an invitation. In either case, once the software is installed onto the peer terminal, the user may use the peer terminal to perform the functions described herein.  
         [0013]     The software has various purposes. For convenience, each of the related sets of functions performed by the software will be referred to as modules. These modules may be part of a single program or a collection of related components that operate together. In some cases, not all modules will need to be used or are desired to be used. The software is purposefully designed to be flexible to permit modules to be added. Certain functions and features are enabled via peer side software that is loaded onto the peer terminals. Other functions and features are performed by software resident on the special purpose peers and/or server side software. In some cases, the peer side modules interact with the software resident on the special purpose peers and/or server software.  
         [0014]     By way of example, the peer side software may include one or more of the following (and other) modules.  
         [0015]     A user interface module may be provided to enable a user to interact with the application and to provide the display of various data elements and other information, tools and other options to the user.  
         [0016]     A login module may be provided to enable a user to login. When the peer terminal is on-line, part of the login procedure may involve interaction with a login module on the special purpose peer and/or the server. When off-line, the peer side login module performs the login process.  
         [0017]     An invitation module may be provided to enable a user to invite other participants to participate in peer-to-peer communications for a particular project, to share certain data elements or otherwise participate in peer-to-peer communications. An “Invitation” refers to a request from one user to another user to participate in some way. The invitation may be sent via email or otherwise. If the recipient of an invitation has the application software installed on the peer terminal, then the recipient may participate (or decline to do so). If the recipient does not have the application software installed on the peer terminal, the recipient may be prompted to install the application software in order to participate. Preferably, once a user is a registered user, any invitations to participate are done based on direct peer-to peer communication via the application, without the need for use of a separate email application.  
         [0018]     A permission granting module may be provided to enable a user to selectively grant permissions to certain users for specified data elements or other information.  
         [0019]     A synchronization module may be provided to automatically and/or instantaneously propagate changes made to data elements, wherein the changes may be propagated in essentially real-time. Peer terminals may propagate the changes to all or a select number of other peer terminals that are associated with users that have accepted an invitation from the information owner to share the data elements. In some cases, the synchronization is performed directly between peer terminals without intervention by the special purpose peer and/or the server. In other cases, the special purpose peer and/or the server may be involved in some aspects of the synchronization.  
         [0020]     A memory module may be provided to store a local copy of the data elements on the peer terminal, to which a user has access and other information.  
         [0021]     A contact creating module may be provided to enable a user to create and manage contacts. At least two types of contacts may be used. The first, simply referred to as a contact, may be a person, place, thing or other contact about which a user has information. A sharing contact, sometimes referred to as a “Friend,” may be a contact with which a user shares data elements. As detailed below, each user may have direct or indirect control over the contacts with which the user elects to share data elements and the data elements to be shared.  
         [0022]     Contacts may be defined by contact information that may be segmented according to two or more categories of information. For example, the categories may include a first level of information and a second level of information. A first level may include “main” information such as one or more of a nickname, an e-mail address, a first name, a last name, comments, or other information. A second level may include “personal” information such as one or more of a street address, phone numbers, a facsimile number, a mobile number, a pager number, and other personal information. The segmentation of information into levels facilitates the ability to share only selected aspects of a contact&#39;s information with one or more users.  
         [0023]     An integrated communications module (e.g., chat or other communications program) may be provided to enable the user to easily communicate with Friends via the application. Additionally, the communications may be saved and shared.  
         [0024]     The “data elements” may include various types of data elements and other information. Each data element may include other data elements. According to one embodiment, the primary data elements may include one or more Folders, a Folder Hierarchy and one or more Items stored in each folder. By way of example, each Folder may relate to a project, a topic or something else. Other data elements may include Contacts and/or Friends. A Folder of contacts may include a group of related contacts.  
         [0025]     The user interface module may enable a user to select a data element (e.g., a Folder) and cause the contents of that Folder to be displayed in a display area. The folder may contain a list of items, a list of contacts or other data elements.  
         [0026]     According to one embodiment, the peer side software enables information owners to invite selected other users to participate in the peer-to-peer communication and to share selected data elements or other information. By accepting the invitation, the selected other users may become a Friend with whom data elements or other information may be selectively shared.  
         [0027]     According to one aspect of the invention, when a user logs in and is operating online, the user is authenticated; any updated data to which the user may be entitled but which has not yet been received can be downloaded; and any Friends that are currently on line may be identified. Any off line changes the user has made that are to be shared with Friends may be sent to the Friends that are currently online. Otherwise, if the Friends are not operating online, then any changes may remain in the user&#39;s peer terminal for dissemination when the selected Friends and the user are both online. In an alternative embodiment, any changes may be buffered in the special purpose peer and/or the Server for dissemination when the Friend next logs in to the system. When two or more Friends are operating on line and one makes a change to a shared data element, the change made may be automatically propagated to the corresponding Friend in a peer-to-peer fashion, using the application itself, without separate action by the user and without initiation by the special purpose peer and/or server. As detailed below, this facilitates automatic synchronization of shared data elements.  
         [0028]     According to another aspect of the invention, the data elements and other information to be shared may be created and/or modified and shared using a single application rather than needing separate applications.  
         [0029]     According to another aspect of the invention, the invitation to share information may be extended to selected friends for defined folders, sub-folders, items, and/or other data elements. The selected friends may accept or decline the invitation on a folder-by-folder basis, sub-folder-by-sub-folder basis, item-by-item basis, or other data element basis.  
         [0030]     Permissions for modifying the information may be granted to selected friends on a folder-by-folder basis, sub-folder-by-sub-folder basis, item-by-item basis, or other data element basis. Selected friends may be granted, for example, full control, read only access, or blocked access to the defined folders, sub-folders, items, and/or other units of information. Other level of permissions may be used.  
         [0031]     An application UI may include various toolbars and various panes or windows that display and enable interaction with various aspects and features of the application. For example, the application UI may include one or more of a Folders pane, a Contacts pane, an Item View pane, a Comments pane and a Messages pane. Other panes may be provided.  
         [0032]     The Folders pane enables the user to create, select, manage, view, edit and otherwise interact with folders and items within folders. A selected folder may be designated by highlighting, or otherwise, and the contents (e.g., sub-folders and/or items located therein) of the selected folder may be displayed in the Item View pane described below.  
         [0033]     Folders may be created and displayed in a hierarchical format to organize related data elements. Each folder may include associated items that may be created and displayed in the Items View pane.  
         [0034]     The Folders toolbar may have several shortcut buttons (or other icons) for performing various operations associated with the folders. For example, the toolbar functions may enable editing, sharing, printing content from the selected folders, creating a new folder, creating a new item for the selected folder, cutting from the selected folders, copying from the selected folders, pasting to the selected folders, searching for specified text within the selected folders, marking the selected folders as read or unread, and renaming the selected folders, deleting the selected folders, among other options.  
         [0035]     The Item View pane and/or a Comments pane may display information related to a Selected Folder, item or other data element. The selected folder or other data element may be a folder in the Folders pane, a contact in the Contacts pane or otherwise. For example, the Item View pane may display, for a selected folder, one or more fields such as an item name, creation date, modified by, modified date, owner, and other fields or information.  
         [0036]     Item View pane may include one or more toolbar buttons for performing various operations associated with displayed items such as, for example, adding, editing, and/or deleting an item; and enabling a user to control the fields (or columns) of information displayed for each selected folder/item.  
         [0037]     When more than one item is displayed for a selected folder, a user may select an item. Information associated with the selected items may be displayed in the Comments pane.  
         [0038]     A Messages pane may be provided for enabling communication between Friends. The communications may be implemented via a communications module associated with the software application itself. Users may save communications from the Messages pane. These communications may be stored as data elements (or otherwise). If stored as data elements within the application, they may be stored in folders, shared and otherwise interacted with, as with other data elements described herein.  
         [0039]     The invention has numerous advantages over and avoids many drawbacks of prior systems. A single application may be provided to create, modify and/or share data elements. A user may select and invite Friends to share certain data elements or otherwise participate in peer-to-peer communication. The data elements may be shared among Friends according to selectively granted permissions. The data elements may be made available to users through a variety of devices and media, such as for example, blogs, relational databases, cell phones, and other devices and media. Any changes that are made to the data elements may be automatically and/or instantaneously propagated to selected users that have accepted invitations to share the data elements. Additions and/or changes that are made to the data elements may be flagged and/or visually distinguished for easy identification.  
         [0040]     These and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent through the detailed description of the embodiments and the drawings attached hereto. It is also to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and not restrictive of the scope of the invention. Numerous other objects, features, and advantages of the invention should now become apparent upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, a brief description of which is included below. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0041]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a system diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0042]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary screen-shot of the login user interface according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0043]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary screen-shot of the application user interface according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0044]      FIG. 4  illustrates another exemplary screen-shot of the application user interface according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0045]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate a flow chart schematic of the folder-sharing feature according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0046]      FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary screen-shot of the friend selection user interface according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0047]      FIG. 7  illustrates a flow chart schematic of the friend-creating feature according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0048]      FIG. 1  illustrates an example of the system architecture  100  according to one embodiment of the invention. The peer terminals  120   a - 120   n,  special purpose peer(s)  150 , and server(s)  110  may be connected via a wired network, a wireless network, a combination of the two and/or other networks (for example the Internet) or other network  105 . The system of  FIG. 1  is provided for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered a limitation of the invention. Other configurations may be used.  
         [0049]     The peer terminals  120   a - 120   n  may include any of a number of terminal devices including, for example, personal computers, laptops, PDAS, cell phones, Web TV systems, devices that combine the functionality of one or more of the foregoing or other terminal devices, and various other peer terminal devices capable of performing the functions specified herein.  
         [0050]     Communications may be directed from one peer terminal  120   a - 120   n  to another peer terminal  120   a - 120   n  via a network  105 , such as the Internet. Peer terminals  120   a - 120   n  may be coupled to each other directly and/or indirectly and may communicate via communication media  115  such as, for example, any wireless and/or wired media.  
         [0051]     Communications between respective peer terminals  120   a - 120   n  may occur substantially in real-time if both peer terminals  120   a - 120   n  are operating online. Otherwise, the communications may be delayed for an amount of time if, for example, one or more peer terminals  120   a - 120   n  are not operating online. In one exemplary embodiment, any changes that are made while a peer terminal  120   a - 120   n  is operating offline may be propagated from/to the offline peer terminal  120   a - 120   n  when both the source and target peer terminal  120   a - 120   n  are operating online. Otherwise, in another exemplary embodiment, if one of the source and target peer terminals  120   a - 120   n  is not operating online, then any changes may remain in the corresponding peer terminal  120   a - 120   n  for dissemination, when the source and target peer terminals  120   a - 120   n  are both operating online.  
         [0052]     In an alternative embodiment, any changes may be buffered in the server  110  and/or the special purpose peer  150  for dissemination, when the corresponding target peer terminal  120   a - 120   n  is operating online. The delay may be implemented using a buffer  125  associated with server  110  and/or a buffer  155  associated with special purpose peer  150 . Buffers  125 / 155  may receive and store information from source peer terminals  120   a - 120   n  that is intended for corresponding target peer terminals  120   a - 120   n  that may be temporarily disconnected from the network  105 . Upon reconnection to the network  105 , server  110  and/or special purpose peer  150  may cause information stored in buffer  125 / 155 , respectively, to be forwarded to the corresponding target peer terminals  120   a - 120   n.    
         [0053]     The special purpose peer may include one or more of a routing peer, a back-up peer, an authentication peer, a presence peer, a relay peer, and/or other special purpose peers. In an exemplary embodiment, peer terminals  120   a - 120   n  may be configured as special purpose peers.  
         [0054]     The routing peer may serve as a gateway between peer terminals  120   a - 120   n  to provide, for example, indirect communication between two or more peer terminals  120   a - 120   n  when a direct connection between peer terminals  120   a - 120   n  may not be established.  
         [0055]     The back-up peer, for example, may store an identical copy of content associated with a selected peer terminal  120   a - 120   n,  may mirror changes made to the selected peer terminal  120   a - 120   n  in real-time, and/or may be available to synchronize (e.g., send and/or receive) information with the selected peer terminals  120   a - 120   n.    
         [0056]     The authentication peer, for example, may check credentials of users and validate that users are registered users.  
         [0057]     The presence peer, for example, may maintain availability information about registered users. The presence peer, for example, also may detect whether registered users are operating online or offline and may detect the type of network connection (e.g., dialup, broadband, direct, gateway, etc.) used to participate in the peer-to-peer communication. In an exemplary embodiment, registered users may access the presence peer to determine a status of selected Friends.  
         [0058]     The relay peer, for example, may serve as a gateway between peer terminals  120   a - 120   n  and may temporarily store and retrieve selected messages when the target peer terminal  120   a - 120   n  is operating offline. In an exemplary embodiment, a first registered user may send an invitation to a second registered user requesting the second registered user to participate in a peer-to-peer communication. If the second registered user is operating offline, then the relay peer may store the invitation until a time when the second registered user logs into the system. After the second registered user logs into the system, the relay peer may retrieve and send the invitation to the second registered user. The relay peer may also temporarily store and retrieve a response sent by the second registered user to the first registered user, if the first registered user is operating offline when the response is sent by the second registered user.  
         [0059]     Communications via the network  105  (e.g., the Internet) may be implemented using current and future language conventions and/or current and future communications protocols that are generally accepted and used for generating and/or transmitting messages over the network  105 . Language conventions may include, for example, Hypertext Markup Language (“HTML”) and extensible Markup Language (“XML”), etc. Communication protocols may include, for example, Hypertext Transfer Protocol (“HTTP”), TCP/IP, SSL/TLS, FTP, GOPHER, and/or other protocols.  
         [0060]     Each peer terminal  120   a - 120   n  may include, or be modified to include, a peer side software module  122   a - 122   n.  Peer side software module  122   a - 122   n  may include one or more of a user interface module  130 , a login module  132 , a memory module  134 , a contact creating module  136 , an invitation module  138 , a permission granting module  140 , a synchronizing module  142 , a communication module  144 , and other modules, if desired.  
         [0061]     The special purpose peer(s)  150  may include, or be modified to include one or more of a special purpose peer side login module  152 , an authorization module  154 , a registration module  156 , a status determining module  158 , a data handling module  159 , and other modules, if desired. The server(s)  110  may include, or be modified to include one or more of a server side login module  160 , an authorization module  162 , a registration module  164 , a status determining module  166 , a data handling module  168 , and other modules, if desired.  
         [0062]     Peer side software module  122   a - 122   n,  special purpose peer side login module  152 , and/or server side login module  160  may be of modular construction to facilitate adding, deleting, updating and/or amending modules therein and/or features within modules. It should be readily understood that a greater or lesser number of modules might be used. One skilled in the art will also readily recognize that the invention may be implemented using individual modules, a single module that incorporates the features of two or more separately described modules, individual software programs, and/or a single software program.  
         [0063]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary peer side login user interface (UI)  200  that may be associated with the corresponding peer side software module  122   a - 12   n.  Upon launching the application residing on the peer terminal  120   a - 120   n,  the peer side login UI may be presented to the user. The peer side login UI  200  may prompt a user to enter access information such as, for example, a user identifier (e.g., an e-mail address)  202  and a password  204 . Other information may be required. In some cases, some or all of this information may be stored on the peer terminal  120   a - 120   n  (e.g., in a memory module) and may be presented to the user for confirmation. Other user identification techniques may be used.  
         [0064]     If the user is operating online, the access information may be forwarded to special purpose peer  150  and/or server  110 . The special purpose peer  150  and/or server  110  may perform various functions. In an exemplary embodiment, the special purpose peer side login module  152  may receive access information entered into peer side login UI  200 . Authorization module  154  may compare the access information with existing records and operate as a gatekeeper to system  100 . If the user is determined to be a registered user, the authorization module  154  may attempt to authenticate the registered user by matching the entered access information with access information that exists in the special purpose peer  150 . If the user is not authenticated, then the user may be invited to resubmit the requested registration information or take other action. If the registered user is authenticated, then the special purpose peer  150  may perform other processing. For example, a data handling module  159  on the special purpose peer  150  may load data or other information (e.g., download) to the peer terminal  120   a - 120   n  that the registered user may be permitted to access, but has not yet received from the special purpose peer  150  (e.g., data in buffer  155 ). Furthermore, the peer terminal  120   a - 120   n  may directly receive data or other information from another peer terminal  120   a - 120   n  that the registered user may be permitted to access, but has not yet received from the other peer terminal  120   a - 120   n.    
         [0065]     In another exemplary embodiment, the server side login module  160  may receive access information entered into peer side login UI  200 . Authorization module  162  may compare the access information with existing records and operate as a gatekeeper to system  100 . If the user is determined to be a registered user, the authorization module  162  may attempt to authenticate the registered user by matching the entered access information with access information that exists in the server  110 . If the user is not authenticated, then the user may be invited to resubmit the requested registration information or take other action. If the registered user is authenticated, then the server  110  may perform other processing. For example, a data handling module  168  on the server may load data or other information (e.g., download) to the peer terminal  120   a - 120   n  that the registered user may be permitted to access, but has not yet received from the server  110  (e.g., data in buffer  125 ). Furthermore, the peer terminal  120   a - 120   n  may directly receive data or other information from another peer terminal  120   a - 120   n  that the registered user may be permitted to access, but has not yet received from the other peer terminal  120   a - 120   n.    
         [0066]     The special purpose peer  150  and/or the server  110 , for example, may include a status determining module  158  and  166 , respectively, which identify Friends of the registered user that are currently operating online. In an exemplary embodiment for the special purpose peer  150 , the status determining module  158  may correspond to the presence peer. The status determining module  158 / 166  may identify a list of Friends associated with the registered user and may determine which, if any, Friends are currently available for peer-to-peer communication. The status determining module  158 / 166  also may provide an indication of availability for a list of Friends via an application user interface. To facilitate the status providing feature, a log may be created by the special purpose peer  150  and/or the server  110  to maintain a status of registered users that are online at any given time.  
         [0067]     A registration module  156 / 164  may also be provided on the corresponding special purpose peer  150  and/or server  110  to register the various modules that reside in peer terminal  122   a - 122   n.  If a new version or features of the application and/or modules are available, the registered user may be prompted to download the new version or features. For example, an alert may be sent to the registered user via e-mail correspondence or other communication indicating that the new version or features are available for download. In response to the alert, the registered user may elect to download the new version or features.  
         [0068]     A checklist of these features associated with the peer side login user interface (UI)  200  is illustrated as elements  210 - 216  in  FIG. 2 . Not all of these functions need to be performed and other functions may also be performed. The functions need not be performed in the specified order.  
         [0069]     If, at login, the user is online and a determination is made that the user has not previously registered (e.g., with the special purpose peer  150 , the server  110 , or otherwise), then the user may be provided with a registration UI to prompt the user to register. Requested registration information may include, for example, submission of access information, contact information, and/or other registration information. Upon receipt of the registration information, the registration module  156 / 164  may add the user to a list of registered users.  
         [0070]     If, at login, the user is offline, the peer side login module  132  may handle the login request. In an exemplary embodiment, the peer side login UI may be presented to the user. The peer side login UI  200  may prompt the user to enter access information such as, for example, a user identifier (e.g., an e-mail address)  202  and a password  204 . Other information may be required. In some cases, some or all of this information may be stored on the peer terminal  120   a - 120   n  (e.g., in a memory module) and presented to the user for confirmation. Other user identification techniques may be used.  
         [0071]     The peer side login module  132  may process and/or store the access information. If the user is determined to be a registered user, then login module  132  may enable the registered user to access the features of the peer side software application as described below. If the user is determined not to be a registered user, then the user may be invited to resubmit the requested registration information or take other action. After the user enters the registration information, then the registered user may be allowed to access the features of the peer side software application as described below.  
         [0072]     Whether the registered user is operating online or offline, the user interface (UI) module  130  is the primary mechanism for interaction between the registered user and the peer side software application. The UI module  130  provides the layout of panes, tools, and other components with which the user interacts with the peer side software application.  
         [0073]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary layout of a peer side application UI  300 . Application UI  300  may include toolbars ( 302 , 304 ) and various panes ( 310 , 320 , 330 , 340 , 350 ) that illustrate several aspects and features of the application. According to one embodiment, the application UI  300  may include one or more components, such as various panes and/or toolbars. For example, the application UI  300  may include one or more of a Folders pane  310 , a Contacts pane  320 , an Item View pane  330 , a Comments pane  340  and a Messages pane  350 . Other panes may be provided.  
         [0074]     Folders pane  310  enables the registered user to select folders  314   a - 314   n  that are illustrated therein. A selected folder may be designated by highlighting or some other distinguishing feature. The contents (e.g., sub-folders and/or items located therein) of the selected folder may be displayed in the Item View pane  330  and/or Comments pane  340 .  
         [0075]     In an exemplary embodiment, toolbar  302  may include various pull down menus that enable several operations to be performed by the application. For example, toolbar  302  may include pull down menus related to File, Edit, View, Tools and Help operations. Furthermore, toolbar  304  may include several shortcut buttons for performing various operations such as, for example, printing, cutting, copying, and/or pasting of information. Toolbar  304  may also include several buttons that enable the registered user to control, for example, a display of various panes ( 310 , 320 , 330 , 340 , 350 ) associated with the application and/or that enable the registered user to initiate modules associated with, for example, creating new friends, invoking chat, among other features.  
         [0076]     Folders may be created and displayed in a hierarchical format as illustrated in Folders pane  310  and Contacts pane  320  to organize related data elements. Each folder may include associated items that may be created and stored in Items View pane  330 . Additionally, subfolders may be created from and may be associated with a parent folder to further define characteristics of the parent folder. The parent folders and the subfolders may each include respective items defined by the registered user.  
         [0077]     Folders pane  310  may include a toolbar  312  and a graphical display of a hierarchical folder structure. The toolbar  312  may have several shortcut buttons (or other icons) for performing various operations associated with the folders  314   a - 314   n.  For example, the toolbar functions may enable adding folders, editing folders, deleting folders, sharing folders, and/or other operations. Registered users may also interact with the displayed folder structure to select additional options related to the folders. The additional options may include, for example, editing, sharing, printing content from the selected folders, creating a new folder, creating a new item for the selected folder, cutting from the selected folders, copying from the selected folders, pasting to the selected folders, searching for specified text within the selected folders, marking the selected folders as read or unread, and renaming the selected folders, deleting the selected folders, and/or other options.  
         [0078]     Item View pane  330  and/or Comments pane  340  may be displayed in the software application to provide registered users with additional information relating to Folders pane  310  or Contacts pane  320 .  FIG. 3  illustrates an embodiment where Folders pane  310  is highlighted and Item View pane  330  and Comments pane  340  both display information corresponding to Folders pane  310 .  
         [0079]     In an exemplary embodiment, Item View pane  330  may display content associated with a folder selected from the Folders pane  310 . Item View pane  330  may include one or more toolbars  332  having several shortcut buttons (or icons) for performing various operations associated with selected folders such as, for example, adding, editing, deleting an item, and/or other operations. Toolbar  332  may also include an Available Columns drop down menu (or other tool)  334  to enable a user to control the columns of information displayed for items  333   a - 333   n.  For example, the Item View pane  330  may illustrate one or more fields such as an item name, creation date, modified by, modified date, owner, and/or other fields or information. The selected columns may be displayed in a body  336  of Item View pane  330 . Furthermore, the items  333   a - 333   n  may be organized and/or searched according to the options in the selected columns  
         [0080]     A registered user may select an item  333   a - 333   n.  For the selected item, the contents may be illustrated in Comments pane  340 . Options may be provided to manipulate the items  333   a - 333   n  and may include, for example, editing content from the selected item  333   a - 333   n,  creating a new folder, creating a new item, cutting content from the selected item  333   a - 333   n,  copying content from the selected item  333   a - 333   n,  pasting content to the selected item  333   a - 333   n,  marking the selected item  333   a - 333   n  as unread, deleting the selected item  333   a - 333   n,  and/or other options. In another exemplary embodiment, Comments pane  340  may be provided to display comments associated with corresponding items  333   a - 333   n  and/or other content associated with selected item  333   a - 333   n.    
         [0081]     Messages pane  350  may be provided for enabling communication between registered users, such as exchanging information. The communications may be implemented via e-mail, chat, instant messaging (IM), or other communication techniques. Registered users may save communications from the Messages pane  350 . In one exemplary embodiment, the communications may be saved as items. These items may be stored in folders within the Folders pane  310  and/or the Contacts pane  320  and may be associated with corresponding folders. This feature facilitates collaboration through organizing the information and/or sharing the information with the one or more Friends.  
         [0082]      FIG. 4  illustrates another exemplary embodiment of the peer side application UI  300 . Contacts pane  320  enables the registered user to select folders  324   a - 324   n  therein. A selected folder  324   a - 324   n  may be designated by highlighting or some other distinguishing feature. The contents (e.g., sub-folders and/or items located therein) of the selected folder may be displayed in the Item View pane  430  and/or Comments pane  440 .  
         [0083]     In an exemplary embodiment, the folders in Contact pane  320  may include data elements or items  433   a - 433   n  configured as a Contact and/or a Friend. Items  433   a - 433   n  may include contact information or other information associated with persons or entities about whom information is known and stored. For example, items  433   a - 433   n  may be defined by contact information that may be segmented based on categories of information. A first category may include, for example, main information such as a nickname, an e-mail address, a first name, a last name, comments, and other main information. A second category may include personal information such as a street addresses, a phone numbers, a facsimile number, a mobile number, a pager number, and other personal information. A folder of Contacts and/or Friends may include a group of related Contacts and/or Friends.  
         [0084]     Contacts pane  320  may include a toolbar  322  and a graphical display of a hierarchical folder structure. Toolbar  322  may include several shortcut buttons (or other icons) for performing various operations on folders  324   a - 324   n.  For example, the toolbar functions may enable adding folders, editing folders, deleting folders, sharing folders, and/or other operations. Registered users may interact with the displayed folder structure to select additional options related to the folders. The additional options may include, for example, editing the selected folders, sharing the selected folders, printing content from the selected folders, creating a new folder, creating a new contact for the selected folder, creating a new friend for the selected folder, cutting content from the selected folder, copying content from the selected folder, pasting content to the selected folder, searching for specified text within the selected folder, marking the selected folders as read or unread, renaming the selected folders, deleting the selected folders, and/or other options.  
         [0085]     Item View pane  430  and/or Comments pane  440  may be displayed in the software application to provide registered users with additional information relating to Contacts pane  320 .  FIG. 4  illustrates an embodiment where Contacts pane  320  is highlighted and Item View pane  430  and Comments pane  440  both may display information corresponding to Contacts pane  320 .  
         [0086]     In an exemplary embodiment, Item View pane  430  may display content associated with a folder selected from Contacts pane  320 . Item View pane  430  may include one or more toolbars  432  having several shortcut buttons (or icons) for performing various operations associated with selected folders such as, for example, creating a new friend, creating a new contact, editing an item, deleting the item, initiating chat, and/or other operations. Toolbar  432  may also include an Available Columns drop down menu (or other tool)  434  to enable a user to control the columns of information displayed for items  433   a - 433   n.  For example, the Items View pane  430  may illustrate one or more fields such as an item name, city, country, creation date, e-mail address, fax, first name, last name, and/or other fields or information. The selected columns may be displayed in a body  436  of Item View pane  430 . Furthermore, the items  433   a - 433   n  may be organized and/or searched according to the options in the selected columns.  
         [0087]     A registered user may select an item  433   a - 433   n.  For the selected item, the contents may be illustrated in Comments pane  440 . Options may be provided to manipulate item  433   a - 433   n  and may include, for example, editing content from the selected item  433   a - 433   n,  initiating chat with selected friends, adding selected friends to a conversation, creating a new folder, creating a new contact, creating a new friend, cutting content from the selected item  433   a - 433   n,  copying content from the selected item  433   a - 433   n,  pasting content to the selected item  433   a - 433   n,  marking the selected item  433   a - 433   n  as unread, renaming the selected item  433   a - 433   n,  deleting the selected item  433   a - 433   n,  and/or other options. In another exemplary embodiment, Comments pane  440  may be provided to display comments associated with corresponding items  433   a - 433   n  and/or other content associated with selected item  333   a - 333   n.    
         [0088]     In an exemplary embodiment, Contacts may be designated as sharing contacts, or Friends, by enabling a sharing feature associated with the Contact. The sharing feature allows Friends to view selected data elements and/or to modify the selected data elements based on permissions granted by the data element owner.  
         [0089]     In an exemplary embodiment, the data element owner may enable a Friend to grant permissions to another Friend for sharing the data elements, wherein the other Friend may or may not be a Friend of the data element owner. This may occur when the data element owner grants “right to share” privileges in “X degrees” to the Friend. For example, the data element owner may enable a first Friend to share the data element in a first degree. In this case, the first Friend may be allowed to share the data element with a second Friend, which may not be a Friend of the data element owner. Since the sharing is enabled pursuant to a first degree, the second Friend would not be able to share the data element with anyone else. In a case where the sharing degree equals two, the second Friend would be able to share the data element once with a third Friend, wherein the third Friend may not be a Friend of the owner or the first Friend. A sharing degree of zero would not allow a first Friend to share the data element with anybody. Other numbers of sharing degrees may be granted.  
         [0090]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate a flow diagram of a generalized method for implementing the folder sharing feature. In operation  510 , the folder owner may select folders to share. The folder owner may initiate the share folder feature using a menu item, toolbar button, a shortcut key, or other selector. In operation  512 , the folder owner may select one or more Friends to share the folder contents. In operation  514 , a determination may be made regarding whether or not the selected folder is being shared for a first time. If the selected folder is being shared for the first time, a history object may be created and associated with the selected folder in operation  516 , to enable tracking of changes to the selected folder.  
         [0091]     In an exemplary embodiment, invoking the share folder feature may cause a dialog box  600  to appear on the display as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . The dialog box  600  includes a listing of friends&#39; box  610 . The folder owner may select the names of one or more Friends with which to share folders and place the names in selected friends box  620 . When the one or more Friends are selected, the folder owner may grant access permissions  630  to each of the one or more selected Friends. The access permissions  630  may include options such as, for example, full control, read only status, or blocked status. In an exemplary embodiment, only the folder owner may be granted rights to permanently delete the folder. In an exemplary embodiment, the application may compile and distribute identifying information regarding the one or more selected Friends to each of the one or more selected Friends.  
         [0092]     In operation  520 , the folder owner may send an invitation to all Friends inviting them to share the content of the selected folder or to all Friends that are selected to share the folder, but have not previously received and declined the invitation to share the folder.  
         [0093]     In an exemplary embodiment, the authentication peer may receive the invitation that is intended for the selected Friends. The authentication peer may determine whether the selected Friends are registered users. Furthermore, the presence peer may determine whether the selected Friends are operating online or offline. If the selected Friends are validated and determined to be operating online, then the invitation may be forwarded to the peer terminals  120   a - 120   n  associated with the selected Friends. If the selected Friends are validated, but determined to be operating offline, then the invitation may be forwarded to the relay peer for processing when the selected Friends log in to the system.  
         [0094]     If a determination is made that the selected Friends have not previously registered, the selected Friends may not be validated and may be prompted to register with the special purpose peer  150 , the server  110 , or otherwise. The selected Friends may be provided with a registration UI to facilitate registration. Requested registration information may include, for example, submission of access information, contact information, and other registration information. Upon receipt of the registration information, the registration module  156 / 164  may add the selected Friends to a list of registered users.  
         [0095]     In operation  522 , a determination may be made regarding whether any Friends were removed from the list of Friends previously selected to share the folder contents. In operation  524 , the removed Friends may be informed of their removal via an unsubscribe message. In operation  526 , the subscription privileges may be revoked from selected Friends. If the unsubscribe feature is selected, then the corresponding one or more selected Friends may cease to receive further correspondence related to the selected folders and the folder owner may receive an unsubscribe acknowledgment message. Furthermore, if the selected folder already existed in the application of the respective one or more selected Friends, then the selected folder may be removed. The folder owner may receive a message acknowledging removal of the selected folder.  
         [0096]     Alternatively, in operation  530 , the one or more selected Friends may choose whether or not to accept the invitation to share the contents of a folder. If the Friend declines to share the contents of a folder, then the folder owner may be informed of the non-acceptance via a non-acceptance response received from the Friend. If the one or more selected Friends choose to accept the invitation to share the folder contents, then the Friends may be provided with an indication of the permission that has been granted to them by the folder owner in operation  534 . The permissions granted to the one or more selected Friends for the selected folders may be changed at any time by the folder owner. When the changes to the granted permissions are implemented, the folder owner may receive an acknowledgment message confirming the change. When sharing nested sub-folders with the one or more selected friends, the subfolders may automatically receive a same permission that is granted to parent folders. Alternatively, the subfolders may receive different permissions than are granted to parent folders. Furthermore, the same permissions may be granted simultaneously to a group of selected Friends.  
         [0097]     In an exemplary embodiment, a determination may be made regarding whether or not the selected folders have been previously shared with the one or more selected Friends. If a determination is made that the selected folders are being shared with the one or more selected Friends for a first time, then the selected folder may be added to a root folder in the corresponding folders window  310  or contacts window  320 , for example. The content of the selected folder may be forwarded to the corresponding root folder of the one ore more selected Friend&#39;s application and acknowledgement of receipt may be returned to the folder owner in operation  536 .  
         [0098]     If a determination is made that the selected folders are being shared other than the first time, then only modifications to the content of the selected folder may be forwarded to the corresponding folders of the one or more selected Friends. Information regarding the existence of selected folders in the root directory of the one or more selected Friends&#39; application may be provided during the initial exchange between the peer terminals  120   a - 120   n.    
         [0099]     In addition to enabling folder owners to share selected folders with one or more selected Friends, folder owners may also elect to revoke sharing privileges from the one or more selected Friends. In a case where all of the Friends are removed from the list of selected Friends, the history object of the associated folder may be cleared.  
         [0100]      FIG. 7  illustrates a flow diagram of a generalized method for adding new Friends that may be invited to participate in interactive activities. In operation  710 , identifying information may be entered for prospective Friends. In operation  712 , a determination may be made regarding whether or not the identifying information for the prospective Friends has been previously entered into the system. For example, the special purpose peer  150  and/or the server  110  may compare the e-mail address provided for the prospective Friends against e-mail addresses stored in the special purpose peer  150  and/or the server  110 .  
         [0101]     If the e-mail address for the prospective Friends is determined to already exist in special purpose peer  150  and/or server  110 , then, in operation  714 , contact information may be extracted from the associated identifying information and stored in a corresponding contact folder for the prospective Friend. In operation  716 , an invitation may be created and sent to the prospective Friend, wherein the invitation may include, for example, information regarding the registered user&#39;s Internet Protocol Address and additional protocol to enable establishing a peer-to-peer connection.  
         [0102]     If the e-mail address of the prospective Friend is determined not to exist in special purpose peer  150  and/or server  110 , then the registered user may be notified of this result in operation  718 . The registered user also may be prompted in operation  720  to send an invitation to the prospective Friend via e-mail, for example.  
         [0103]     If the registered user decides to send an invitation to the prospective Friends, then an e-mail template may be provided to the registered user requesting additional information and/or comments, for example. The registered user may elect to send the invitation to the prospective Friend now or to postpone sending the invitation until a later date. In either case, contact information may be extracted from the associated identifying information and stored in a corresponding contact folder for the prospective Friends. The application may create and send an invitation to the prospective Friends that includes, for example, information regarding the registered user&#39;s Internet Protocol (IP) Address and additional protocol to enable establishing a peer-to-peer communication.  
         [0104]     If the registered user decides not to send an invitation to the prospective Friend, then contact information may be extracted from the associated identifying information and stored in a corresponding contact folder for the prospective Friend.  
         [0105]     In an exemplary embodiment, the authentication peer may receive the invitation that is intended for the prospective Friend. The authentication peer may determine whether the prospective Friend is a registered user. Furthermore, the presence peer may determine whether the prospective Friend is operating online or offline. If the prospective Friend is validated and determined to be operating online, then the invitation to share information may be forwarded to the peer terminals  120   a - 120   n  associated with the prospective Friend. If the prospective Friends is validated, but determined to be operating offline, then the invitation to share information may be forwarded to the relay peer for processing when the prospective Friends log in to the system.  
         [0106]     If a determination is made that the prospective Friend has not previously registered, the prospective Friend may not be validated and may be prompted to register with the special purpose peer  150 , the server  110 , or otherwise. The prospective Friend may be provided with a registration UI to facilitate registration. Requested registration information may include, for example, submission of access information, contact information, and other registration information. Upon receipt of the registration information, the registration module  156 / 164  may add the prospective Friends to a list of registered users.  
         [0107]     The invitation may be configured to include the registered user&#39;s IP Address and additional protocol, for example, to enable the prospective Friends to establish peer-to-peer communication.  
         [0108]     If the prospective Friend accepts the invitation, then an acceptance message may be returned to the registered user. The prospective Friend may become a Friend of the registered user. Additionally, the system  100  may monitor for the acceptance message and disable sending the invitation the Friend again. Furthermore, a contact folder may be created in the application of respective Friends. The contact folder may include identifying information of the registered user. The Friends also may review and update their identifying information, which is received from the registered user. Any changes to the identifying information may be automatically disseminated to the registered user and all associated Friends.  
         [0109]     If the prospective Friend declines the invitation, then the system  100  may delete the invitation. Furthermore, no additional information may be shared between the registered user and the prospective Friends.  
         [0110]     The invitation module  138  may be provided to enable the registered user associated with a client terminal  120   a - 120   n  to invite Friends associated with other client terminals  120   a - 120   n  to participate in sharing and/or exchanging data elements.  
         [0111]     The synchronizing module  142  may be configured to propagate changes to information made within the corresponding client terminals  120   a - 120   n  to all, or a selected number, of the other client terminals  120   a - 120   n  that are associated with registered users and that have accepted invitations to share the information. The synchronizing module  142  also may be configured to receive changes to information implemented by other registered users associated with corresponding client terminals  120   a - 120   n  that have accepted invitations to share the information. In an exemplary embodiment, the synchronizing module  142  may be configured to exchange and/or share information between client terminals  120   a - 120   n  in real-time, upon login, or after a specified delay. The synchronizing module  142  may be configured to only provide the most recent changes to data elements, to send and/or receive the contents of entire folders, items, etc., when the folder is created/shared for a first time, to sent the last state of modified folders, items, etc. when the changes are incremental, to request data elements from a random client terminal  120   a - 120   n,  when necessary, to request an acknowledge indication for changes sent to other client terminals  120   a - 120   n,  to re-send changes until the acknowledge indication is received from the other client terminals  120   a - 120   n,  and to identify changes made to the information by other registered users associated with the corresponding client terminals  120   a - 120   n  as “new” until reviewed.  
         [0112]     In another embodiment, privileges for sharing information may be granted through a common friend when users wishing to share information are not themselves friends. To implement this feature, the common friend and a first and second registered users must all be on-line. Information may be passed from the first registered user to the common friend and forwarded from the common friend to the second registered user.  
         [0113]     In an exemplary embodiment, the client terminals  120   a - 120   n  may be implemented using personal computers, personal digital assistants, cell phones, video game consoles, kiosks, etc., or combinations thereof. Furthermore, a select function may be implemented by positioning an indicator over selected folders and manipulating an input device, such as a keyboard, mouse, track ball, joystick, etc., to select additional options related to the folders.  
         [0114]     While the preferred forms of the invention have been disclosed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made that will achieve some of the advantages of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It will be apparent to those reasonably skilled in the art that other components performing the same function may be suitably substituted. Further, the methods of the invention may be achieved in either all software implementations, using the appropriate processor instructions, or in hybrid implementations that utilize a combination of hardware logic and software logic to achieve the same results. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be determined solely by the appended claims.