WO2001050302A2

WO2001050302A2 - Collaboration tool via computer network

Info

Publication number: WO2001050302A2
Application number: PCT/US2000/031336
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jennifer L. David
Original assignee: General Electric Company
Priority date: 1999-12-30
Filing date: 2000-11-15
Publication date: 2001-07-12
Also published as: WO2001050302A3; AU1610801A

Abstract

A method, system, and computer program product for facilitating collaboration over a computer network. A central database is established based on keywords or concepts descriptive of areas of interest to network user, and descriptive of resources known to network users, and the database can be automatically updated after each use or on a periodic basis. The database can be accessed by network users to identify resources known to others, thereby improving efficiency.

Description

COLLABORATION TOOL VIA COMPUTER NETWORK

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Serial No. 60/173,746 filed December 30, 1999, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to computer networking and database management techniques. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method, system, or program for allowing persons associated with a computer network to collaborate on subjects of common interest.

Persons desiring to collaborate with others working on similar projects, and who are affiliated with a computer network are presented with numerous obstacles preventing the efficient exchange of information. As one example, researchers or engineers are often separated geographically, even if working for the same employer. Electronic mail can be useful for colleagues to communicate with each other, but often there are many persons who may have relevant information, or who may need relevant information, who are inadvertently omitted from a list of e-mail addresses.

Further, workers often have experiential based knowledge which is unavailable in any other way than by direct contact with them - knowledge present in the form of program files, laboratory notebooks, personal archives of relevant papers and patents, previous experience through coursework, thesis writing, other work experience, etc. Workers simply are not aware of the resources available company wide and this causes a waste of time and energy in the pursuit of answers already known within a company or organization.

Programs exist which enable multiple users to access the same document over the computer network, and to simultaneously modify the document, with each person's modifications indicated in a different color. However, such programs are limited in the number of persons which can participate, and require simultaneous interaction. Such programs also require the documents and information be accessible over the network. As described above, often may useful resources are not available on a computer network.

U.S. Patent 5,848,396 discloses a method and apparatus for determining a behavioral profile of a computer user. The profile is formed by recording computer activity and viewing habits of the end user. Content of categories of interest and display format in each category are revealed by the profile, based on user viewing of agate information. Using the profile (with or without additional user demographics), advertisements are displayed to appropriately selected users. Based on regression analysis of recorded responses of a first set of users viewing the advertisements, the target user profile is refined. Viewing by and regression analysis of recorded responses of subsequent sets of users continually auto-targets and customizes ads for the optimal end user audience. This technique is not generally directed to collaborative efforts of network users.

U.S. Patent 5,727,129 discloses a network system for profiling and actively facilitating user activities. An archive is maintained of remote sites accessed and instances in which the same remote sites are accessed in sequence. Statistics regarding information such as the number of time a site has been accessed, and the times a given set of sites have been accessed in sequence, are maintained. This information may be displayed upon command. Based on this information, information items are identified which the user is predicted to be likely to want to access. This information is pre- downloaded, without express user command, so that if the user does enter a command, the response time is advantageously fast.

U.S. Patent 5,893,091 discloses a method for distributing timely information over a computer network where a Timely Information Server collects and organizes information from Timely Information Providers and then broadcasts the organized information to end users in the form of an alerts over a plurality of alert channels. The alert is comprised of keywords and arguments, wherein the keywords describe the subject matter of the alert and the arguments provide content of the alert. The Timely Information Server maintains a dictionary of all possible keywords and the end users copy a portion of the dictionary to their local computers to create individual keyword profiles which are comprised of keywords and Boolean operators. When an alert satisfies a Boolean equation in a users keyword profile the headline of the alert (stored as an argument) is displayed and the user is given the option to link his/her web browser to an associated URL (also stored as an argument).

Systems such as those disclosed above are insufficient for collaborative work efforts, and typically require all relevant information to be in electronic format.

It would be desirable to provide a method, system, or program for enabling persons associated with a computer network to easily and effectively participate in collaborative efforts.

It would further be desirable to allow persons interested in a specific subject to easily identify other persons associated with the computer network who are interested in the same specific subject. It would still further be desirable to allow such persons to easily identify other persons associated with the network who are aware of resources relevant to the same specific subject, and to identify those resources for all interested persons.

It would also be desirable to automatically notify interested persons of new persons or resources, or of documents stored on the computer network which are relevant to the specific subject.

It would additionally be desirable to allow users post a message, such as a question or a proposed meeting time, which would be automatically transmitted to all person interested in the same specific subject.

It would further be desirable if databases storing subject-related data or resource-related data could be generated or searched based on keywords or based on natural language searching of information input to the databases.

It would also be desirable for users associated with the network to engage in real-time "chat" discussions on area of common interest. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the problems noted above, and achieves additional advantages by providing for a method, system, program, or technique which advantageously enables persons associated with a computer network to easily and efficiently collaborate on topics or subjects of interest. According to exemplary embodiments disclosed below, a second database can be generated which includes data indicative of current network user interests, past experience of network users, and/or information available in a central repository. Once the central data base is established, current users can access, or automatically receive information relevant to their areas of interest, including identification of persons and other resources having relevant information. The tool efficiently facilitates collaboration of researchers or resembles or other network users having common interests.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of the present invention can be understood more fully by reading the following Detailed Description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a computer network suitable for implementing an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart describing a method according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a blank diagram of a central database according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following description assumes that the exemplary embodiments of the present invention are to be implemented in a limited access computer network which supports the hypertext transfer protocol (http), as is used on the Internet. Such a computer network can be a limited-access company "intranet" accessible only by persons employed by the company but which supports communication according to an Internet protocol. It will be appreciated that the examples below can be adapted for implementation in other types of computer networks.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a computer network 10 is generally illustrated in FIG. 1. A conventional client computer system 12, executing a client browser application that supports the HTTP protocol, is connected typically through an Internet or intranet service provider to the internet or intranet 14. A server computer system 16 is also coupled typically through an Internet Service Provider to the Internet 14. The server computer system 16, controlled by a local console 18, executes a Web server application conventionally known as a HTTP server. In addition, the server computer system 16 preferably provides local storage for at least one, though typically many, Web pages.

The client computer system requests a Web page by issuing a URL request through the Internet or intranet 14 to the server system 16. A URL consistent with the present invention may be a simple URL of the form:

A "protocol identifier" of "http" specifies the conventional hyper-text transfer protocol. A URL request for a secure network transaction typically utilizes the secure protocol identifier "https," assuming that the client browser and Web server are presumed to support and implement the secure sockets layer. The "server path" is typically of the form "prefix.domain," where the prefix is typically "www" to designate a Web server and the "domain" is the standard Internet sub-domain.top- level-domain of the server system 16. The optional "web page path" is provided to specifically identify a particular hyper-text page maintained by the Web server.

In response to a received URL identifying an existing Web page, the server system 16 returns the Web page, subject to the HTTP protocol, to the client computer system 12. This Web page typically incorporates both textural and graphical information including embedded hyper-text links that permit the client user to readily select a next URL for issuance to the Internet or intranet 14. The URL issued from the client system 12 may also be of a complex form that identifies a common gateway interface (CGI) program on a server system 16. Such a HTML hyperlink reference is typically of the form:

A hyper-text link of this form directs the execution of the logon.cgi program on an

HTTP server in response to a client side selection of an hyperlink. A logon form supported by a logon CGI program is typically used to obtain a client user login name and password to initiate an authenticated session between the client browser and Web server for purposes of supporting, for example, a purchase transaction.

Networks supporting Internet communication can also support other applications, such as message boards and chat rooms. A message board is a web page or pages which record messages submitted by network users.

A chat room is an interactive application in which multiple users carry out real time discussions related to their mutually common interests. According to an aspect of the present invention, a user can set up a chat room discussion on a topic, such as,

"new flame retardant additives for use in polymers". In this example, the user would register the keywords associated with the topic and the time chosen for the chat to occur. The system would then send notices to those people whose keyword profiles matches, alerting them to the upcoming discussion and explaining how to log on. Likewise a user can post a specific question on a message board by registering the question and keywords associated with it in the system. The question and/or a notice about the presence of the question are then sent to those users with matching keyword profiles. All responses return to the message board and users are instructed how to access it to view responses and comments from colleagues.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a flow chart describing a method according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The method can be implemented as a software program residing on a machine-readable storage medium which is accessible to, for example, the server 16 of FIG. 1. The method of FIG. 2 begins in step 200, where a central database is established which resides in, or is accessible by, a server in an intranet (a secure network accessible only by a limited number of persons having certain network credentials). The central database comprises keyword information from electronic documents (or other similar sources) created by or stored by intranet users. The keyword data can be descriptive of memos, filed reports, company patent documents, related competitive patents or other competitive literature, upcoming meetings or "chat room" discussion times pages messages on message boards, or other relevant company information. Depending upon the size of the network, the database can include information from all documents stored on the network, or can include information only from documents identified for inclusion in the database. The database information can be obtained by automatically scanning electronic documents included in the database to extract relevant keywords, by automatically scanning the relevant electronic documents using natural language searching techniques to extract keywords, phrases, and concepts, or by receiving information from network users identifying the most relevant keywords or concepts for each document submitted by that user.

In step 202, the network grants access to a network user having proper credentials. The user accesses the network, for example by logging onto the network or logging on to an application suitable for accessing the database established in step

200. In step 204, the user is presented with a page of relevant information which is preferably customized by the user according to his or her individual preferences. The relevant information can include, whether provided entirely on the web page or whether accessible by hypertext or other "links" to separate web pages containing the relevant information, keywords or concepts entered by the user, the user's individual preferences for receiving information indicating that the database has been updated, etc. The user can also be provided with an interface having fields which allow the user to set or modify keywords or natural-language descriptions of concepts important to the user. The interface can also include a field or fields to allow the user to select a frequency for requiring notifications of up dates to the database. The user can also be provided with a list of words, concepts, or projects, any one of which can be selected by the user to access additional relevant information in the database such as memos, reports, etc. Such a list may be a part of an information profile previously entered by the user and stored in the central database, electronic mail message.

Additionally, the user's information page can include a place where the actual "hit" results or links from the requested keywords are displayed, including:

• A) contact lists for each project - containing contact name, background, list of other projects registered by that user in the system, whether the contact is currently working in the related project area or not, etc.;

• B) links or listings for all electronic holding "hits" stored within database (memo reports, project files, company and competitive patents, etc.;

• C) questions posted to relevant current message boards, times set for relevant chat room discussions etc.; and other similar information.

In step 206, an information update is performed. This step can be performed each time an individual users modifies information in his or her personal profile, submits a new electronic document, or otherwise modifies information stored in the network. To ensure that periodic modification occurs, this step can be executed by software instructions which automatically perform scanning to extract keywords from any electronic documents not previously scanned (or any message board or chat room postings), automatically send electronic mail messages to persons identified in the database (or to all network users) requesting updated information, or other suitable update activities. Such an automatic update can be performed periodically at a frequency determined by a network administrator, or at a frequency specified by an individual network user.

In step 208, the server notifies all relevant users of modifications to the central database which occurred during step 206. This notification can be provided as an electronic mail message (automatically or at a frequency set by the user) or as a modification to a relevant user's individual page, so that the user can determine that an update has been performed when the user logs on to the network. Referring now to FIG. 3, a block diagram of the database content associated with the server of FIG. 1 is shown. In this example, the database includes a first database 30, based on a first type of data obtained from network users. This data can be data descriptive of projects assigned to each of the network users (i.e., current project data). For example, a network user involved with the implementation of a specific technology can provide to the database, while setting up a personal information file or at some other convenient time, keywords specific to the technology of interest to the user.

There is also established a second database 32 based on a second type of data received persons having prior experience in certain areas. The second database can be descriptive of resources known to various network user. For example, network users can provide to the database 32, while setting up a personal information profile or at some other convenient time, with data descriptive of projects with which each user has been involved, and specific reports, patents, literature, or other documentation known to each user which is relevant to each project. Users identifies in the second database would typically be provided with less frequent updates (for example, only chat room or message board information), as these persons are generally not involved in current projects.

Optionally, there can also be provided a third database 34 to enable central repository holdings to be added to the system if any exist. It may be unrealistic to assume that people of the second group will take the time to scan in their past reports, lab notebooks, filed documents, etc. Probably they will simply enter the titles of projects they have worked on along with several keywords. However, may of these historical documents may reside at a central company repository. By including a third database, those holdings can be added to the system by a third group of users who have neither current nor prior knowledge of the work. These users will typically not receive updates on the topics of these submissions. It is important, however, to maintain a distinction between these groups and third since users in the second group are included in the contact lists (as prior workers in the filed) whereas users in the third group are not. Once databases 30, 32 and 34 have been established within a central database 36 accessible by a server on the limited-access network, software instructions can be executed to create useful lists of, for example, network users having overlapping areas of interest based on a keyword matching within the first database 30, or network users having previous experience with subject matter of interest to other network users.

These lists can be automatically provided to all network users or any relevant subset. These lists can be provided as electronic mail messages, or each recipient's personal information page can be updated to indicate the availability of a list. Preferably, the personal information pages contain lists of (1) personal contacts, (2) electronic database holdings, and (3) message board notices and chat room discussion times.

It should be apparent from the above description that a method, system, and computer program can be implemented which allows individuals associated with a computer network to collaborate on projects and to share relevant information which may be derived from the same project or from other related projects. The invention can be particularly advantageous in a limited access computer network, as in a limited access computer network fewer electronic reports are generally available and thus contact lists, message boards, and chat rooms can become increasingly important as a means of collaboration.

While the foregoing description includes many details, it is to be understood that these are provided for purposes of explanation only, and that these do not constitute limitations of the invention. The specific embodiments and details provided above can be modified in a wide variety of ways which are still within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims and their legal equivalents.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method comprising the steps of:

creating a first database based on first data specific to a subject of interest, the first data supplied by a first plurality of persons through a computer network;

compiling a first list of persons who have supplied common portions of the first data to the first database; and

sending the list to each of the persons on the list.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

creating a second database, linked to the first database so as to allow communication therebetween, the second database based on second data provided by a

second plurality of persons, the second data being specific to resources known to persons in the second plurality;

creating a second list of persons who have provided data common to the common portions of the first data from which the first list was compiled; and

sending the second list to all persons on the first list.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

contacting a third database based on third data provided by a third plurality of persons, the third data being specific to resources in a repository of an organization which includes the first, second, and third pluralities of persons.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

updating the first, second, or third databases, and the first or second lists based on changes in the subject of interest to the persons in the first plurality, or changes in the resources known to the persons in the second plurality, respectively; and sending the updated lists to the persons on the first list.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of updating includes the step of automatically analyzing electronic documents prepared by persons on the first list, and stored on the computer network, to determine relevance to data in the first database.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of automatically transmitting a message to all persons on the first list, the message indicating the presence of a relevant electronic document on the computer network.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the message includes a reply link [html/internet] which, if activated by the person receiving the message, causes an electronic copy of the relevant electronic document to be automatically transmitted to the person receiving the message.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the first and second data include keywords.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein the first, second, and third data include keywords.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein the first and second data are compiled by natural language searching of information input by the persons in the first and second pluralities of persons, respectively.

11. The method of claim 3, wherein the first, second and third data are compiled by natural language searching of information input by the persons in the first, second and third pluralities of persons, respectively.

12. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

providing an interface to each person on the first list via the computer network, the interface allowing each person to enter a message relating to data contained in the first databases;

notifying each person on the first list of each message entered through one of the interfaces without updating the databases or lists.

13. The method of claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the message includes one or more questions.

15. A database management system, comprising:

a computer network having user interface terminals associated with a plurality of users;

a first database storing data derived from subject- specific information input by a first portion of the plurality of users;

a processor programmed to generate a first list of persons in the first portion of the plurality of users who have provided common data, and to electronically send the first list to each person on the list.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a second database storing second data derived from subject-specific information input by a second portion of the plurality of persons, the second data identifying resources known to persons in the second portion,

wherein the processor is further programmed to generate a second list of persons in the second portion who have input data common to the common data, and to electronically send the second list to each person on the first list.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising: a third database storing third data derived from information input by a third portion of the plurality of person, the third data identifying resources in a repository of an organization including the plurality of persons.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor is further programmed to update the first or second databases, and the first or second lists based on changes in the subject of interest to the persons in the first plurality, or changes in the resources known to the persons in the second plurality, respectively; and to send the updated lists to the persons on the first list.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor performs the updating by automatically analyzing electronic documents prepared by persons on the first list, and stored on the computer network, to determine relevance to data in the first database.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the processor is further programmed to automatically transmit a new document message to all persons on the first list, the new document message indicating the presence of a relevant electronic document on the computer network.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the message includes a reply link [html/internet] which, if activated by the person receiving the message, causes an electronic copy of the relevant electronic document to be automatically transmitted over the computer network to the person receiving the message.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the first and second data include keywords.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the first, second, and third data include keywords.

24. The system of claim 16, wherein the first and second data are compiled by the processor performing natural language searching of information input by the persons in the first and second pluralities of persons, respectively.

25. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor further provides an interface to each person on the first list via the computer network, the interface allowing each person to enter a message relating to data contained in the first or second databases; and

notifies each person on the first list of each message entered through one of the interfaces without updating the databases or lists.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the message includes one or more questions.

27. A computer program stored on a machine-readable medium, the computer program including:

instructions for analyzing first data, stored in a first database, derived from first subject-specific information input via a computer network by a first plurality of persons, and for identifying a first portion of the first plurality of persons who have input common first data;

instructions for generating a list of the first portion, and for automatically sending an electronic copy of the list to each person on the list via the computer network.

28. The program of claim 27, further comprising:

instructions for analyzing second data in a second database, linked to the first database so as to allow communication therebetween, the second data derived from second subject-specific information input via the computer network by a second plurality of persons, the second data being specific to resources known to persons in the second plurality, and for creating a second list of persons who have provided data common to the common portions of the first data from which the first list was generated; and

instructions for automatically sending an electronic copy of the second list to all persons on the first list via the computer network.

29. The program of claim 28, further comprising: instructions for updating the first or second databases, and the first or second lists based on changes in the subject of interest to the persons in the first plurality, or changes in the resources known to the persons in the second plurality, respectively; and

instructions for sending the updated lists to the persons on the first list.

30. The program of claim 29, wherein the instructions for updating include instructions for automatically analyzing electronic documents prepared by persons on the first list, and stored on the computer network, to determine relevance to data in the first database.

31. The program of claim 30, further comprising instructions for automatically transmitting a new document message to all persons on the first list, the new document message indicating the presence of a relevant electronic document on the computer network.

32. The program of claim 31, wherein the new document message includes a reply link which, if activated by the person receiving the message, causes an instruction for transmitting an electronic copy of the relevant electronic document to the person receiving the new document message to be executed.

33. The program of claim 27, wherein the first and second data include subject- specific keywords.

34. The program of claim 28, further comprising instructions for performing natural language searching of the first and second subject-specific information, respectively, to generate the first and second data.

35. The program of claim 27, further comprising:

instructions for providing an interface to each person on the first list via the computer network, the interface allowing each person to enter a message relating to data contained in the first or second databases; instructions for notifying each person on the first list of each message entered through one of the interfaces without updating the databases or lists.

36. The program of claim 35, wherein the message includes one or more questions.