Patent ID: 7707249

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for collaboration, the method comprising: providing a database for storing data associated with two or more independent collaboration places; providing a collaboration place interface to a first client that is configured to (a) connect the first client to each of the two or more independent collaboration places to locate the first client in the collaboration place to which the first client is connected, and (b) generate a portion of the data based on at least one or more events in the collaboration place, wherein the portion of the data is persistent and available for access by a second client after the first client has disconnected from the collaboration place and is no longer located in the collaboration place; administering collaboration activities among participating clients in each of the two or more independent collaboration places; based on administering the collaboration activities, generating activity data about events in each of the two or more independent collaboration places; implementing peripheral vision schemes corresponding to different forms of place-based awareness for the two or more independent collaboration places, wherein the peripheral vision schemes comprise a plurality of individual collaboration objects that: (a) define different event categories representing a state of change in the two or more collaboration places, and (b) track the state of change represented by the defined event categories at least in one or more unconnected places of the two or more collaboration places other than that which the first client is currently located; applying the one or more peripheral vision schemes to the activity data to detect one or more events contemporaneous to their occurrence; and in response to applying the one or more peripheral visions schemes, providing one or more indicia communicating a form of place-based awareness in a collaboration interface to inform the first client of a recent state of change in the two or more collaboration places in the different event categories including information sufficient to inform the first client of a category of at least one of the events and the related activity data about at least one of the events.