Patent ID: 8464164

Claim:
A method to collaborate, interact with and perform multimedia tasks in a shared space within a network comprising the steps of: A. logging in from one or more user machines to a shared space in a network from a user application to a host, wherein the shared space is created by interaction of executable codes in the host and the user application and the shared space is described by a session attribute list: a. said logging in step further including: registering the user in a shared virtual environment based on user's credentials and other supplied parameters; b. administrating the shared space by selecting the subset of tools available to an administrator and to one or more guests; c. maintaining a log of the actions and the resulting status of media-layers and their media for all users who are logged into the same session; d. allowing users see who is logged in, send email invitations, set user permissions, lock and unlock the room for the shared session; B. loading a media application with a plurality of tools into one or more user machines; inputting graphical content; and C. displaying the graphical content by other user machines in the shared space in one of a synchronous or asynchronous mode including anchoring a sidebar panel to a region of a web browser; D. creating one or more user messages in the sidebar panel; E. displaying graphical content in the form of one of a document, waveform, or multidimensional graphic on a whiteboard within the browser; F. highlighting points of interest within the graphical content; and G. associating said user messages to the points of interest by one or more persistent lines; H. said highlighting in step further including: a. placing an icon on the point of interest that links to the user message, wherein said icon designates said point of interest within the graphical content that opens the message and related messages that form a thread; b. clicking on message icon that associates the point of interest on the media by the icon to lock down the point of interest; I. replying optionally by a user to the point of interest by adding a new comment that is posted to the sidebar panel forming a message thread.