Abstract: The present invention is a method, system and apparatus for the policy based provisioning and management of a collaborative context. A policy based application provisioning system for use in a collaborative environment can include a policy having rules for limiting collaborative context creation and operation in the collaborative environment. A context provisioning process can be coupled to the policy and configured to create collaborative contexts in the collaborative environment limited by the rules in the policy. Finally, a context management process can be coupled to a data store of usage data for created ones of created collaborative contexts in the collaborative environment.

Abstract: The present invention is a method, system and apparatus for combining synchronous and asynchronous collaborative components in a single collaborative content. A named collaborative context can include a selection of collaborators in a membership and at least one role applied to the collaborators. The named collaborative context can further include a selection of resources for use by the collaborators. Most importantly, the named collaborative context can include an ad hoc mix of synchronous and asynchronous tools. Preferably, the named collaborative can also include a template defining the selection of collaborators, the role or roles applied to the collaborators, the selection of resources, and the ad hoc mix.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for previewing images and image file information without opening and running an application in working memory. The previewing of a user-selected file includes a summary of file characteristics and contents including images. The summary synopsizes file information and characteristics such as height, width, length, color type, resolution, compression type used for storing and forming the file, annotation graphics of the file and the like. The preview also provides display of the file images, preferably in a reduced size manner for ease of user previewing. The file preview apparatus and method of the present invention include operating system means coupled to a display assembly for generating display of indications of file characteristics of the user-selected files. The operating system means obtains and enables display of file characteristics indicia, external to and outside of an application program opened and running in the working memory.

Abstract: The present invention is a method, system and apparatus for event notification framework in a system of dynamically aggregated logical components. In accordance with the present invention, an event notification and management system can include one or more logical components coupled to corresponding dynamic proxies. An event notification service can be communicatively linked to one or more subscribing processes. Finally, an event queue can be disposed between the dynamic proxies and the event notification service.

Abstract: A method and system for the establishment of a named collaborative space in a collaborative computing environment in which a named space defining a place within the collaborative computing environment is provided. A membership set for the collaborative space is identified in which the membership set includes one or more members. At least one business process accessible within the named space is provided. The at least one business process can provide a business component instance which provides a specific business function within the named space. The business component instance can be in the form of a portlet.

Abstract: The present invention is a method, system and apparatus for hierarchically grouping a community of users within in a directory structure. for hierarchically grouping a community of users within a directory structure. A hierarchical grouping system can include a collaborative context having a community of subscribers, one or more roles assigned to the subscribers, and one or more tools and resources configured for access by the subscribers the access being limited by the roles. The system further can include a directly having entries associated with the subscribers. Notably, the directory can have a single hierarchical structure. Finally, the system can include a mapping between the directory and the roles in the collaborative context. Notably, the collaborative context can be a named collaborative space disposed in a portal environment and the directly can include an LDAP directory.

Abstract: A method and system for integrating an instance of a third party application into a collaborative computing environment instance are provided. One or more data interfaces between the third party application instance and the collaborative computing environment are created. The third party application instance is exposed within the collaborative computing environment. A template within the collaborative computing environment that uses the third party application instance is created. A migration tool is used to create collaborative computing environment instances which reference existing instances within the third party application.

Abstract: The present invention is a method, system and apparatus for managing external data sources in a discussion forum resource. A discussion forum resource can include at least one topic thread disposed in the discussion resource forum and created for externally sourced content in the discussion forum resource. The discussion forum resource further can include a data aggregator coupled to the topic thread and configured to manage the externally sourced content in the topic thread. Notably, the externally sourced content can include text, audio, imagery or video.

Abstract: A system for storing discussion threaded relationships includes a character map tree model tree for representing relationships of a topic and its descendent responses; an adjacency model for storing for each node in the tree a next key, a parent key, and root identifier; and an application server responsive to the character map tree model and adjacency model for selectively retrieving a topic and all descendants, including their relationships, creating a response and adding it as a child to a topic or response, deleting a topic or response and all its descendants, and retrieving topics in a folder.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for previewing images and image file information without opening and running an application in working memory. The previewing of a user-selected file includes a summary of file characteristics and contents including images. The summary synopsizes file information and characteristics such as height, width, length, color type, resolution, compression type used for storing and forming the file, annotation graphics of the file and the like. The preview also provides display of the file images, preferably in a reduced size manner for ease of user previewing. The file preview apparatus and method of the present invention include operating system means coupled to a display assembly for generating display of indications of file characteristics of the user-selected files. The operating system means obtains and enables display of file characteristics indicia, external to and outside of an application program opened and running in the working memory.

Abstract: A system is provided for integrating online meeting materials, including an asynchronous place server; a synchronous meeting server; a first user client; a meeting creation user interface presented at the first user client by the place server for receiving from the user meeting indicia including meeting information, meeting description, and meeting attachments; the asynchronous place server responsive to the user submitting the meeting indicia for storing the meeting description and the meeting attachments, and for forwarding to the meeting server the meeting information for creating the meeting; and during meeting viewing, the synchronous meeting server serving meeting information to a plurality of users viewing the meeting, and the asynchronous place server serving the meeting description and the meeting attachments to the plurality of users.

Abstract: A system and method for hierarchically invoking reentrant methods on XML objects includes a first store for storing XML objects as an input tree; a second store for storing a resultant tree; a processor for processing the input tree to generate the resultant tree; action attribute indicia representing an API to be invoked associated with at least one object; the processor executing a depth first search through the input tree for generating the resultant tree selectively including action status child nodes for XML objects having an action attribute and new script generated from processing selective action attributes; while generating the resultant tree, the processor removing the action attribute from XML action objects successfully processed; and a reentrant processing path through the processor for processing the resultant tree as a new input tree responsive to the resultant tree including said new script or failure status child nodes.

Abstract: A system for aggregating data descriptive of a plurality of projects and servers includes a host catalog; a host catalog server; a plurality of project servers; a plurality of project databases; a cluster including a master server and a plurality of project servers; a project database associated with each project server; an entry in the host catalog for each project server and each project database. The place catalog server executes simple aggregation on behalf of a project server which is a master non-virtual server selectively by immediate updating and scheduled updating of an entry in the host catalog for the project server; and executes complex aggregation on behalf of a cluster of servers by executing immediate updates to a master entry in the host catalog database and by executing non-immediate updates to an entry in the host catalog database for a non-virtual, non-master project server.

Abstract: Data on place objects in a distributed environment are generated in a system including a plurality of server objects instantiated in the environment in the same address domain, which share a same user directory and authentication system, are on a same user network, and are administered by a single administration team. A service catalog is provided for cataloging a plurality of place objects as nodes on a tree, place objects including the plurality of servers objects within the distributed environment. A document file is provided for encapsulating cataloged relationships of server objects in the distributed environment and for storing object attributes generated by traversing the tree.

Abstract: Methods on objects in a distributed environment are accessed and invoked on a system including a plurality of server objects instantiated in the environment in the same address domain, which share a same user directory and authentication system, are on a same user network, and are administered by a single administration team. A service catalog is provided for cataloging a plurality of objects as nodes on a tree, objects including the plurality of servers objects within the distributed environment. A document file is provided for encapsulating cataloged relationships of server objects in the distributed environment and for storing object attributes generated by traversing the tree.

Abstract: Collaboration space object model provides for a place consisting of rooms created by users interacting with a client browser. A skin (i.e., theme) may be used as template for creating places. PlaceBots (i.e., agents) provide for accessing, processing and managing data in a place. HTML may be dragged and dropped into a place, where it is parsed and corresponding place fields created. MS Excel or Word documents may be dragged and dropped into a place, which creates a corresponding form, and users may create new documents using that form. A place type comprising a template of an entire place, or collaboration space, may be used to create new places. Changes made to a place may be reported, subject to security controls, by selecting what's new. Task fields are provided allowing web browser creation of forms for work flow. Place enabled objects are provided for synchronous communications. A quick browse feature provides a simplified format for browser windows based on selection of HTML links.