US5337407A — Method and system for identifying users in a coll…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 138 words

A method of operating a collaborative computer-based editing system having a plurality of display devices for the display of private views of a shared data object, the method comprising the steps performed by a computer of: establishing, responsive to user selection a user associative region positionally independent of a cursor for the user within the shared data object; defining a first visually distinguishing characteristic for the user associative region identifying the user; defining responsive to user selection of an association type, a second visually distinguishing characteristic for the user associative region identifying the nature of the association; and causing display, on at least a first display device, of a private view of the shared data object including part of the user associative region, wherein the user associative region is indicated by said first and second visually distinguishing characteristics.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 138 words

A method of operating a collaborative computer-based editing system having a plurality of display devices for the display of private views of a shared data object, the method comprising the steps performed by a computer of: establishing, responsive to user selection a user associative region positionally independent of a cursor for the user within the shared data object; defining a first visually distinguishing characteristic for the user associative region identifying the user; defining responsive to user selection of an association type, a second visually distinguishing characteristic for the user associative region identifying the nature of the association; and causing display, on at least a first display device, of a private view of the shared data object including part of the user associative region, wherein the user associative region is indicated by said first and second visually distinguishing characteristics.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 27 words

A method of operating a collaborative computer-based system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first visually distinguishing characteristic is a color associated with the user.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 33 words

A method of operating a collaborative computer-based system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second visually distinguishing characteristic indicates the nature of the association with said user is an ownership association.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 34 words

A method of operating a collaborative computer-based system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second visually distinguishing characteristic indicates the nature of the association with said user is a cursor lock association.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 35 words

A method of operating a collaborative computer-based system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second visually distinguishing characteristic indicates the nature of the association with said user is a user selectable lock association.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 51 words

A method of operating a collaborative computer-based system as set forth in claim 1, the method comprising the additional step performed by a computer of: responsive to user movement of a user cursor into a displayed portion of the data object, generating display of the user cursor in the displayed portion.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 46 words

A method of operating a collaborative computer-based system as set forth in claim 6, the method comprising the additional step performed by a computer of: applying a color as said first visually distinguishing characteristic to user associative regions and to a cursor associated with a user.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 22 words

A method of operating a collaborative computer-based system as set forth in claim 7, wherein the collaborative computer-based system is an editor.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 107 words

A computer-based editing system for collaborative user action on a data object, comprising: a plurality of workstations interconnected for data transmission, each workstation including a display device and a user input device; a shared data object; means for presenting private views of the shared data object on the display devices; means responsive to user selection of a level of association for associating segments of the shared data object to particular users which are positionally independent of the cursors for the users; and means for determining a visually distinguishing characteristic for each associated segment based upon the identity of the particular user and the nature of the association.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 107 words

A computer-based editing system for collaborative user action on a data object, comprising: a plurality of workstations interconnected for data transmission, each workstation including a display device and a user input device; a shared data object; means for presenting private views of the shared data object on the display devices; means responsive to user selection of a level of association for associating segments of the shared data object to particular users which are positionally independent of the cursors for the users; and means for determining a visually distinguishing characteristic for each associated segment based upon the identity of the particular user and the nature of the association.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 34 words

A computer-based editing system for collaborative user action, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the visually distinguishing characteristic determined for at least a first user is a color associated with the particular user.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 48 words

A computer-based editing system for collaborative user action as set forth in claim 9, further comprising: means, responsive to user movement of a cursor into any displayed portion of the data object, for displaying the cursor, wherein the cursor includes a visually distinguishing characteristic associated with its user.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 27 words

A computer-based editing system for collaborative user action as set forth in claim 11, and further comprising means for applying a color as the visually distinguishing characteristic.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 32 words

A computer-based system for collaborative user action is set forth in claim 11, and further comprising means for allowing local selection of visually distinguishing characteristics for the users and the association types.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 22 words

A computer-based editing system for collaborative user action as set forth in claim 13, wherein the computer-based system is a graphics editor.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 22 words

A computer-based editing system for collaborative user action as set forth in claim 13, wherein the computer-based system is a text editor.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 154 words

A method of providing identification of blocks in a shared data object which are locked against manipulation in a collaborative computer based system, wherein the collaborative computer based system includes a plurality of workstations, each workstation including an output display device and a user input device, the method comprising the steps performed by a computer of: responsive to a user request, granting access to a user to the shared data object; responsive to the user obtaining access to the shared data object, assigning the user a cursor available for display on the visual display devices of all users, wherein the assigned cursor has a user related visual characteristic; responsive to user selection, associating a previously unselected block positionally independent of any cursor in the shared data object with said user; and responsive to associating the block of the shared data object, extending the user related visual characteristic of the current user to the block.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 154 words

A method of providing identification of blocks in a shared data object which are locked against manipulation in a collaborative computer based system, wherein the collaborative computer based system includes a plurality of workstations, each workstation including an output display device and a user input device, the method comprising the steps performed by a computer of: responsive to a user request, granting access to a user to the shared data object; responsive to the user obtaining access to the shared data object, assigning the user a cursor available for display on the visual display devices of all users, wherein the assigned cursor has a user related visual characteristic; responsive to user selection, associating a previously unselected block positionally independent of any cursor in the shared data object with said user; and responsive to associating the block of the shared data object, extending the user related visual characteristic of the current user to the block.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 52 words

A method of providing identification of blocks in a shared data object as set forth in claim 16, wherein the user related visual characteristics are global and comprising the additional step of: responsive to local user selection, modifying the user related visual characteristics in accordance with a map on a local terminal.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 26 words

A method of providing identification of blocks in a shared data object as set forth in claim 16, wherein the user related visual characteristics are colors.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 30 words

A method of providing identification of blocks in a shared data object as set forth in claim 16, wherein the user related visual characteristics are shades in a gray scale.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 134 words

A method of operating a collaborative computer-based editing system having a plurality of display devices, each of said display devices having access to a shared data object, said editing system also having means for presenting a private view of the shared data object on each of the display devices, the method comprising the steps performed by a computer of: establishing, responsive to user selection, user associative regions within the shared data object which are positionally independent of any user cursor; defining a visually distinguishing characteristic for a first user associative region identifying the user; and causing display, on at least a first display device, of a private view of the shared data object including part of the first user associative region, wherein the first user associative region is indicated by said visually distinguishing characteristic.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 134 words

A method of operating a collaborative computer-based editing system having a plurality of display devices, each of said display devices having access to a shared data object, said editing system also having means for presenting a private view of the shared data object on each of the display devices, the method comprising the steps performed by a computer of: establishing, responsive to user selection, user associative regions within the shared data object which are positionally independent of any user cursor; defining a visually distinguishing characteristic for a first user associative region identifying the user; and causing display, on at least a first display device, of a private view of the shared data object including part of the first user associative region, wherein the first user associative region is indicated by said visually distinguishing characteristic.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1997-08-08	1998-02-07	1998-08-09	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2001-08-08	2002-02-07	2002-08-09	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2005-08-08	2006-02-07	2006-08-09	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and system for identifying users in a collaborative computer-based system

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