Server-Client Interaction and Information Management System

Abstract

An information-sharing system includes a server in a wide-area network coupled to a data repository, software executing on the server, providing services for a first person, wherein the first person is enabled to create one or more personae stored in the data repository, at least one interactive window associated with individual ones of the personae and deployable to one or more electronic appliances, and one or more rule sets associated with individual ones of the personae, the rule sets defining and limiting server functions that may be initiated through individual ones of deployed interactive windows, the interactive windows and rule sets enabling the first person to control identity and contact information made available to users of deployed interactive windows.

1 . An information-sharing system, comprising:
 a server in a wide-area network coupled to a data repository;   software executing on the server, providing services for a first person;   wherein the first person is enabled to create one or more personae stored in the data repository, at least one interactive window associated with individual ones of the personae and deployable to one or more electronic appliances, and one or more rule sets associated with individual ones of the personae, the rule sets defining and limiting server functions that may be initiated through individual ones of deployed interactive windows, the interactive windows and rule sets enabling the first person to control identity and contact information made available to users of deployed interactive windows.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein deployment of an interactive window is through creation of code modules or identifiers associated with the interactive window, the code module executable by an electronic appliance to insert second code into a specific application, which second code when executed by the application causes the electronic appliance to establish communication with the server identifying at least the electronic appliance and the application, to retrieve third code and data from the server, which the electronic appliance uses to display the interactive window. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the at least one interactive window comprises first indicia identifying one of the personae and at least one link having second indicia identifying a mode of action, the at least one link selectable by a second person using the electronic appliance and viewing the interactive window to initiate a request for action to the server. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein one or both of the identity indicia of the persona and the modes of action displayed by an interactive window may be varied by the server dependent on one or both of the identity of the electronic appliance and the identity of the application. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 3  wherein modes of action include at least one of a request for communication with the first person associated at the server with the persona identified in the interactive window and a request for information associated with the first person. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the request for action identifies a mode of communication. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the modes of communication include one of establishing a live voice call, a text messaging channel, a voice mailbox, and email. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 6  wherein indication of presence of a first person for receiving a communication is provided in the interactive window. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 3  wherein a group persona may be created defining a group of individual personae related by any one or more of activity, family, formal membership, political affiliation, or other relationship. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein modes of action may comprise sending a message to all or selected ones of the persons in a group identified by the group persona or publishing information to all or selected ones of the persons associated by persona in a group identified by the group persona. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the server, in response to an action link being selected by a person viewing an interactive window, may request additional information from the person initiating the action link, and may vary and restrict server functions according to the additional information provided or not provided. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the code modules or identifiers may be copied from appliance to appliance, such that, when inserted into a new appliance and used, the identity of the new appliance and the application executing the code is provided to the server, which may vary response accordingly. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1  comprising an interactive configuration window that may be used by authorized persons to view statistics of usage of services of the system. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 1  wherein authorized persons may view statistical activity and status of individual personae and group personae. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 3  wherein an interactive window may comprise a commercial display or brand. 
   
   
       16 . A method for sharing information, comprising steps of:
 (a) creating in a server in a wide-area network, a persona associated with a first person and stored in a data repository coupled to the server;   (b) creating in the server an interactive window deployable to electronic appliances, the interactive window associated with the persona and comprising one or more interactive links for initiating server functions;   (c) creating a rule set associated with the persona and operable on the server, the set of rules defining and limiting the server functions that may be initiated through a deployed interactive window, the rule sets enabling the first person to control identity and contact information made available to users of deployed interactive windows.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein deployment of an interactive window is through creation of a code module associated with the interactive window, the code module executable by an electronic appliance to paste second code into a specific application, which second code when executed by the application causes the electronic appliance to establish communication with the server identifying at least the electronic appliance and the application, to retrieve third code and data from the server, which the electronic appliance uses to display the interactive window. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the interactive window comprises first indicia identifying the personae and at least one link having second indicia identifying a mode of action, the at least one link selectable by a second person using the electronic appliance and viewing the interactive window, to initiate a request for action to the server. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein one or both of the identity indicia of the persona and the modes of action displayed by the interactive window may be varied by the server dependent on one or both of the identity of the electronic appliance and the identity of the application. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein modes of action include at least one of a request for communication with the first person associated at the server with the persona identified in the interactive window and a request for information associated with the first person. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the request for action identifies a mode of communication. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the modes of communication include establishing one of a live voice call, a text messaging channel, a voice mailbox, or an email. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein indication of presence of a first person for receiving a communication is provided in the interactive window. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 18  wherein a group persona may be created defining a group of individual personae related by any one or more of activity, family, formal membership, political affiliation, or other relationship. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein modes of action may comprise sending a message to all or selected ones of the persons in a group identified by the group persona or publishing information to all or selected ones of the persons associated by persona in a group identified by the group persona. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the server, in response to an action link being selected by a person viewing an interactive window, may request additional information from the person initiating the action link, and may vary and restrict server functions according to the additional information provided or not provided. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the code modules or identifiers may be copied from appliance to appliance, such that, when pasted into a new appliance and used, the identity of the new appliance and the application executing the code is provided to the server, which may vary response accordingly. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 16  comprising a step for viewing by authorized persons, statistics of usage of services of the system through an interactive configuration window. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 16  wherein authorized persons may view statistical activity and status of individual personae and group personae. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 18  wherein an interactive window may comprise a commercial display or brand.