EP0473960A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hierarchical shared books with database
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1991-08-07
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-08-07
Abstract
Abstract A representation of a shared structured container type data object with related data bases can be used to present information in a hierarchy or multi-level mode about the activities and status relating to the shared container type structured data object and related data bases and its content of a plurality of structured data objects as well as other information affecting or tracking the shared container type structured data object content in multi-levels. Further, user access control is also provides exclusivity or privacy to invoked changes to parts of the shared container type structured data object and related data bases without interference from other users but with an indication to the other users of access control attributes thereby providing coordinated consistency among users relative to changes to all parts of the shared container type structured data object. There is also the provision for sharing a container with related data base and for Quick Query access to the data base allowing the sharing of multiple objects within the container and the capability of populating and querying the various objects within the container as well as within the data base.
Inventors
- 👤 Henry G. Pajak
- 👤 Kenneth C. Byrne
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 21:36
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/10; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/93
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
In a multi-user collaborative system in which the contents of a shared structured data object representing one or more entries and the contents of a related data base can be concurrently accessed by different users at a plurality of workstations comprising the steps of displaying at each workstation a representation of the shared structured data object including data relative to any related structured data objects therein, the step of displaying including in said representation a visual indication of activity occurring at other workstations affecting the shared structured data object's status and the occurrence of modifications to the contents of said entries, exhibiting an inquiry means to the related data base, tracking said entries as accessed and modified by respective users and posting the status thereof in said representation at any other workstations upon user completion of modification to any of said entries when a user invokes an operation relative said other workstation representation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 1 including the steps of locking up one or more of said entries preventing access by other users of said locked entries, and displaying at each workstation an indication at said representation the status of any locked up entries including an indication of the locking user.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
117 words
In a multi-user collaborative system, a shared structured data object having related structured data objects capable of being concurrently accessed by different users respectively at different workstations on a networked workstation environment and including a shared, related data base, said shared structured data object and said data base accessible by said users at each of said workstations, means displayed at each of said workstations comprising a current status of predetermined attributes relating to the current status and modifications made to said related structured data objects, and means included in said current status means visually indicative of the denial of access to one or more of said related structured data objects by one or more of said users.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
218 words
In a multi-user collaborative system, a shared structured data object having related structured data objects and a related common data base capable of being concurrently accessed by different users respectively at different workstations on a networked workstation environment, said shared structured data object accessible by said users at each of said workstations and at remote locations on said networked environment, a representation of said structured data object displayed at each of said workstations comprising a current status of predetermined attributes of said users, means at each of said workstations to periodically update the status of said representations as maintained at each of said workstations, means to prevent access to said representation at said remote file services by other users at other workstations when said updating means is operational relative to a respective user at a respective workstation, said updating means operational only on a demand notification basis each time a respective user at a respective workstation invokes an operation on said shared structured data object if the nature of execution of said operation is dependent on the currency of said representation such that if the version of said representation at said respective workstation is not current with the version of said representation at said remote locations said invoked operation will be aborted and said representation will be updated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The multi-user collaborative system of claim 4 wherein on of said operations is the limiting of access of at least one of said related structured data objects to the control of said respective user.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
76 words
In a user interface representation for use in a networked workstation environment to provide a library metaphor abstraction for shared display representation to a plurality of users at different workstations on a network of collaborative activities being carried out among the users, said representation comprising a plurality of fields indicative of the status of said activities and their currency, means at said workstation to update said representation upon a user invoked operation relative to said representation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
166 words
In a electronic workstation device having a keyboard and display screen desktop, the workstation being electrically interconnected to a remote, shared data base and to shared structured data objects, the screen display desktop being provided with a plurality of window options for access to the data base through the use of screen text and icon representations, a method of access to the data base and the structured data objects comprising the steps of: entering a quick query access mode, selecting an information query window to provide a plurality of text or graphic symbol prompts, at least one of the text prompts including a query window, providing search text in said query window, selecting a least one of said plurality of text or graphic prompts to display additional prompts, initiating a common search of the shared data base according to selected graphic symbol prompts and search text, and displaying the results of the search of the shared data base in a results table on said display screen.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
146 words
In a electronic workstation device having a keyboard and display screen desktop, the workstation including a plurality of structured data objects, the workstation being electrically interconnected to a remote, shared data base, the screen display desktop being provided with a plurality of window options for access to the data base through the use of screen icon representations, the shared data base and the workstation device combining to provide a metaphor for accessing the information in the data base, the metaphor including the plurality of structured data objects, a method of access to the data base comprising the steps of: entering a quick query access mode, selecting an information management window to provide a plurality of structured data object related prompts and filing attribute prompts, selecting a given structured data object for access, and optionally displaying a plurality of icons representing attributes of the structured data object.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 8 including the step of preventing access to selected structured data objects.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
162 words
In an electronic workstation device having a keyboard and display screen desktop, the workstation being electrically interconnected to a shared data base and including a plurality of structured data objects, the screen display desktop being provided with a plurality of options for access to the data base and the structured data objects through the use of screen text and icon representations, the structured data objects including containers of other structured data objects, the method of access and display comprising the steps of: entering an access mode, selecting an information query to provide a plurality of text or graphic symbol prompts, providing search text for the information query, selecting a least one of said plurality of text or graphic prompts to display additional prompts, initiating a common search of the shared data base or the structured data objects according to selected graphic symbol prompts and search text, and displaying the results of the search of the shared data base on said display screen.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
115 words
In a electronic workstation device having a keyboard and display screen desktop, the workstation including a plurality of structured data objects with related data bases, the structured data objects including containers, the screen display desktop being provided with a plurality of options for access to the structured data objects through the use of screen icon representations, the method of access to the structured data objects with related data base comprising the steps of: entering an access mode, selecting an information window to provide a plurality of attribute prompts, selecting a given structured data object for access, and preventing access to selected structured data objects and displaying a manifestation of said access that has been prevented.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
153 words
A method of accessing data objects with related data base In a electronic workstation device having a keyboard and display screen desktop wherein the workstation is electrically interconnected to the remote, shared data base and the screen display desktop is provided with a plurality of window options for access to the data objects and the data base through the use of screen text and icon representations including the steps of selecting a window to provide a plurality of text or graphic symbol prompts, at least one of the text prompts including a query window, providing search text in said query window, selecting a least one of said plurality of text or graphic prompts to display additional prompts, initiating a search of the data objects and shared data base according to selected graphic symbol prompts and search text, and displaying the results of the search of the shared data base on said display screen.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
143 words
In an electronic workstation device having a keyboard and display screen desktop, the workstation including a plurality of structured data objects with related data bases, the screen display desktop being provided with a plurality of window options for access to the data objects through the use of screen icon representations, the structured data objects and the workstation device combining to provide a metaphor for accessing the information in the data base, the metaphor including a collection of books, the books including files and containers of the files, a method of access to the data objects comprising the steps of: entering a quick query access mode, selecting a window to provide a plurality of book related prompts and filing attribute prompts, defining a search based on logical operations, and conducting the search across a plurality of said books, and inhibiting access to predetermined books.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
155 words
In a multi-user collaborative system in which the contents of a hierarchy of shared structured data objects representing one or more entries and the contents of a related data base can be concurrently accessed by different users at a plurality of workstations comprising the steps of displaying at each workstation a representation of the shared structured data object including data relative to any related structured data objects therein, the step of displaying including in said representation a visual indication of activity occurring at other workstations affecting the shared structured data object's status and the occurrence of modifications to the contents of said entries, exhibiting an inquiry means to the related data base, tracking said entries as accessed and modified by respective users and posting the status thereof in said representation at any other workstations upon user completion of modification to any of said entries when a user invokes an operation relative said other workstation representation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 14 wherein a shared structured data object is a file and its attributes including filing abstractions such as fields, tables, graphics and data attachments.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 14 including the step of locking up one or more of said entries preventing access by other users of said locked entries.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the step of locking up one or more of said entries preventing access by other users of said locked entries includes the step of allowing access to the entry by a plurality of users but change to the entry by only one user.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
109 words
In a multi-user collaborative system in which the contents of a shared structured data object representing one or more entries and the contents of a related data base can be concurrently accessed by different users at a plurality of workstations comprising the steps of displaying at each workstation a representation of the shared structured data object including data relative to any related structured data objects therein, and the step of displaying including in said representation a visual indication of activity occurring at other workstations affecting the shared structured data object's status and the occurrence of modifications to the contents of said entries, the visual indication being a hierarchial display.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 18 including the steps of exhibiting an inquiry means to the related data base, tracking said entries as accessed and modified by respective users and posting the status thereof in said representation at any other workstations upon user completion of modification to any of said entries when a user invokes an operation relative said other workstation representation.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the hierarchial display includes Open Next To, Open Within, and Show All Levels.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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