Patent ID: 8478717

Claim:
A method for providing collaboration using reusable content, the method comprising: identifying a content item to be included in a first workspace of a plurality of workspaces of a collaboration environment; creating a first proxy representing the identified content item, the first proxy having a unique identifier within the first workspace, wherein the first proxy comprises a view of the first content item specific to the first workspace but without requiring the first content item to be replicated within the first workspace; and creating a mapping table record for the first proxy, the mapping table record linking the first proxy to the content item; creating a cross-reference table record for the first proxy, the cross-reference record identifying a relationship of the first proxy to another content item in the first workspace; receiving a selection of a content item to be accessed in the first workspace; searching the mapping table for a record of a proxy for the selected content item; determining based on searching the mapping table whether the selected content item is a new content item in the first workspace; in response to determining the selected content item is a new content item in the first workspace; creating a new proxy representing the identified content item, the new proxy having a unique identifier within the first workspace, wherein the new proxy comprises a view of the new content item specific to the first workspace but without requiring the new content item to be replicated within the first workspace; in response to determining the selected content item is not a new content item; accessing the selected content item through a proxy for the selected content item; determining whether to update the selected content item in the first workspace; and in response to determining to update the selected content item in the first workspace, updating the proxy, mapping table and the cross reference table of the selected content item; said proxy comprises a view of the first content item specific to the first workspace but without requiring the first content item to be replicated within the first workspace.