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Intranet-based system with methods for co-active delivery of information to multiple users

Assignee: Open Text SA
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Filing: 1997-01-31
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Granted: 1999-04-06
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Expires: 2017-01-31
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Abstract

Abstract An Intranet-based system with methods for co-active information delivery is described. The system allows users to manage the distribution and delivery of information across an enterprise Intranet, the Internet, and common communication channels (e.g., printers, fax, pager and e-mail). The system provides a wizard-like user interface which intuitively walks users through various tasks, including distribution of new documents, updating of existing documents, modifying profiles/policies of documents, groups, roles and individuals. The system provides "Adaptive Distribution" methodology so that, as organizational changes occur, the system ensures that the most current, relevant information is always made available to appropriate eligible subscribers; no additional effort is required from either the subscribers or the distributors. Subscriber lists of a distribution automatically respond to changes in group composition, accommodating new or departing individuals within the organization, as well as accommodating changing organizational roles. As an organization changes, newly eligible recipients are electronically contacted with their new profile. At the same time, newly ineligible people are automatically cut off from the information flow. In this manner, the adaptive methodology ensures that all of these profiles are contextually linked together and changed automatically as new information or context for any part of the profile is updated.

Inventors

  • 👤 Charles A. Grasso
  • 👤 Richard Lee Schwartz

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 20:38
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/02; H04L12/16; H04L12/18; H04L12/1859; G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/95; G06F16/953; G06F16/9535; H04L51/00; H04L51/21; H04L51/214; H04L51/48; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04L12/185; H04L67/00; H04L67/01; H04L67/02; H04L69/00; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L69/322; H04L69/329

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim 112 words
In a computer system, a method for distributing information among members of an organization, the method comprising: defining a logical set of recipients, said logical set including at least some of the members of the organization on a basis other than a member's identify as an individual; defining a distribution specifying information which is to be distributed to the logical group of recipients; and based on the defined distribution, distributing the information to recipients of the organization by: (i) determining a target distribution list by identifying those individuals of the organization currently within the logical set of recipients, and (ii) transmitting the information to those individuals identified on the target distribution list.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 112 words
In a computer system, a method for distributing information among members of an organization, the method comprising: defining a logical set of recipients, said logical set including at least some of the members of the organization on a basis other than a member's identify as an individual; defining a distribution specifying information which is to be distributed to the logical group of recipients; and based on the defined distribution, distributing the information to recipients of the organization by: (i) determining a target distribution list by identifying those individuals of the organization currently within the logical set of recipients, and (ii) transmitting the information to those individuals identified on the target distribution list.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said logical set of recipients includes individuals, groups, and roles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 21 words
The method of claim 2, wherein a given individual is a particular member of the group identified by that member's name.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method of claim 3, wherein a member's name is based, at least in part, on the member's given name.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of claim 2, wherein a given group is a particular collection of individuals, the given group being collectively identified by a user-provided group name.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 23 words
The method of claim 5, wherein a given group name is based, at least in part, on a descriptive purpose for the group.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method of claim 2, wherein a given group is a particular collection of individuals, roles, or other groups, the given group being collectively identified by a user-provided group name.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising: modifying a selected group, so that at least one individual is automatically removed from the target distribution list when the information is distributed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising: modifying a selected group, so that at least one individual is automatically added to the target distribution list when the information is distributed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 58 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising: modifying a particular group so that at least one individual is no longer a member of the particular group for the distribution, yet said at least one individual continuing as an individual within the logical set of recipients and thereby remaining on the target distribution list when the information is distributed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 61 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising: modifying a particular group so that at least one individual is no longer a member of the particular group for the distribution, yet said at least one individual continuing as an individual fulfilling a role within the logical set of recipients and thereby remaining on the target distribution list when the information is distributed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 48 words
The method of claim 2, wherein a given role is a particular function fulfilled by at least one individual of the organization, the given role being identified by a role name descriptive of what functions said at least one individual performs for the organization in that given role.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of claim 12, wherein a given role name is based, at least in part, on an organizational title for the role within the organization.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising: modifying a selected role, so that at least one individual is automatically removed from the target distribution list when the information is distributed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising: modifying a selected role, so that at least one individual is automatically added to the target distribution list when the information is distributed.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 58 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising: modifying a particular role so that at least one individual is no longer a member of the particular role for the distribution, yet said at least one individual continuing as an individual within the logical set of recipients and thereby remaining on the target distribution list when the information is distributed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 61 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising: modifying a particular role so that at least one individual is no longer a member of the particular role for the distribution, yet said at least one individual continuing as an individual fulfilling another role within the logical set of recipients and thereby remaining on the target distribution list when the information is distributed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 61 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising: modifying a particular role so that at least one individual is no longer a member of the particular role for the distribution, yet said at least one individual continuing as an individual fulfilling another role within the logical set of recipients and thereby remaining on the target distribution list when the information is distributed.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 65 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising: modifying a particular role so that at least one individual is no longer a member of the particular role for the distribution, yet said at least one individual continuing as an individual who is a member of a group within the logical set of recipients and thereby remaining on the target distribution list when the information is distributed.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: selecting a default format for distributing the information.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: additionally selecting an alternate format for distributing the information.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: selecting for each recipient, a preferred format for distributing the information.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: selecting for each recipient, a preferred delivery address for sending the information.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 25 words
The method of claim 23, wherein said delivery address is a selected one of an e-mail address, a facsimile device destination, and a pager destination.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: when defining the logical set of recipients, also defining a policy for each recipient specifying how the recipient is to receive the information.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 25 words
The method of claim 25, wherein a given policy specifies that a recipient is to be notified when information of a distribution is made available.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method of claim 25, wherein a given policy specifies that a recipient is to immediately receive information of a distribution when such information is made available.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 40 words
The method of claim 25, wherein a given policy specifies that information of a distribution is to be made available to a recipient, without sending the information to the recipient and without notifying the recipient that the information is available.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 35 words
The method of claim 25, wherein a given individual has multiple memberships in the logical set of recipients and wherein the system distributes information to the given individual based on that individual's greatest access policy.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 34 words
The method of claim 29, wherein the system resolves a given recipient's access policy when the given recipient has multiple memberships in the logical set of recipients according to a precedence order of individual>role>group.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 219 words
An adaptive information delivery system for distributing information among members of an organization comprising: a plurality of client computers in communication with a server computer; a transport layer for transmitting requests from the client computers to the server computer and for transmitting information from the server computer to the client computers; means for defining a logical set of recipients, said logical set including at least some of the members of the organization on a basis other than a member's identify as an individual; means for defining at one of said client computer a distribution specifying information which is to be distributed to the logical group of recipients present at other client computers and transmitting the defined distribution to the server computer; and means for distributing, based on the defined distribution, the information to recipients of the organization, said means including; adaptive means for determining at the server computer a target distribution list by identifying those individuals of the organization currently within the logical set of recipients, said system adapting the distribution in response to any new individuals added to the logical set of recipients and any existing individuals removed from lo the logical set of recipients, and means for transmitting from the server computer the information to the client computers of those individuals identified on the target distribution list.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 219 words
An adaptive information delivery system for distributing information among members of an organization comprising: a plurality of client computers in communication with a server computer; a transport layer for transmitting requests from the client computers to the server computer and for transmitting information from the server computer to the client computers; means for defining a logical set of recipients, said logical set including at least some of the members of the organization on a basis other than a member's identify as an individual; means for defining at one of said client computer a distribution specifying information which is to be distributed to the logical group of recipients present at other client computers and transmitting the defined distribution to the server computer; and means for distributing, based on the defined distribution, the information to recipients of the organization, said means including; adaptive means for determining at the server computer a target distribution list by identifying those individuals of the organization currently within the logical set of recipients, said system adapting the distribution in response to any new individuals added to the logical set of recipients and any existing individuals removed from lo the logical set of recipients, and means for transmitting from the server computer the information to the client computers of those individuals identified on the target distribution list.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 16 words
The system of claim 31, wherein said logical set of recipients includes individuals, groups, and roles.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 30 words
The system of claim 32, wherein a given group is a particular collection of individuals, roles, or other groups, the given group being collectively identified by a user-provided group name.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 32 words
The system of claim 31, wherein said adaptive means includes: removal means for automatically removing from the target distribution list any individual who is no longer within the logical set of recipients.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim 38 words
The system of claim 34, wherein said removal means includes: means for automatically removing from the target distribution list any individual who is no longer an individual, a group, or a role within the logical set of recipients.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim 18 words
The system of claim 31, wherein said definition means includes: means for issuing new versions of the information.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim 34 words
The system of claim 36, wherein said issuing means includes: means for setting a version depth of the information, for establishing how many prior versions of the information the server computer is to retain.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim 32 words
The system of claim 32, further comprising: means for modifying a selected role, so that at least one individual is automatically removed from the target distribution list when the information is distributed.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim 60 words
The system of claim 32, further comprising: means for modifying a particular role so that at least one individual is no longer a member of the particular role for the distribution, yet said at least one individual continuing as an individual within the logical set of recipients and thereby remaining on the target distribution list when the information is distributed.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim 34 words
The system of claim 32, wherein said adaptive means includes: means for mapping, prior to each distribution, said individuals, groups, and roles into a final set of individuals who are to receive the distribution.

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2002-04-05 2002-10-05 2003-04-06 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2006-04-05 2006-10-05 2007-04-06 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2010-04-05 2010-10-05 2011-04-06 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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