Collaboration system

Abstract

A user terminal may be employed to generate a first message and, substantially simultaneously or thereafter, append a first plurality of metadata values to the first message, which metadata values are based on standardized metadata attributes. Subsequent messages may likewise have a second plurality of metadata values appended thereto, which messages are thereafter associated with the first message when the corresponding plurality of metadata values compare favorably. The comparison processing of metadata used to determine when messages should be associated with one another is preferably carried out using a back-end controller. Additionally, one or more content files may also be associated with such messages, which content files assist users of the system in developing context concerning various messages. In this manner, team-wide context may be more readily established, thereby fostering better understanding between team members and, consequently, more efficient collaboration.

1 . In a communication system comprising a plurality of user terminals in communication with each other via at least one communication channel and with a controller, a method for a user terminal of the plurality of user terminals to generate messages that may be associated together, the method comprising:
 creating a first message to be communicated via the at least one communication channel;   appending a first plurality of metadata values to the first message, each of the first plurality of metadata values uniquely corresponding to at least some of a plurality of standardized metadata attributes;   creating a second message to be communicated via the at least one communication channel; and   appending a second plurality of metadata values to the second message, each of the second plurality of metadata values uniquely corresponding to at least some of the plurality of standardized metadata attributes,   wherein the first message may be associated with the second message by the controller when the first plurality of metadata values compares favorably with the second plurality of metadata values.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communication system comprises at least two communication channels, and wherein the first message and the second message are to be communicated via different communication channels of the at least two communication channels. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one communication channel comprises an email channel. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one communication channel comprises an instant messaging channel. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a user-selectable input mechanism corresponding to one of the plurality of standardized metadata attributes, the user-selectable input mechanism comprising at least one selectable predefined metadata input value.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a user-selectable input mechanism corresponding to one of the plurality of standardized metadata attributes, the user-selectable input mechanism comprising a user-definable metadata value input field.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein creating either the first message or the second message further comprises:
 creating a content file; and   associating the content file with either the first message or the second message.   
     
     
         8 . A user terminal for use in a communication system comprising at least one communication channel, the user terminal comprising:
 at least one message creation component operative to create a first message to be communicated via the at least one communication channel, and to create a second message to be communicated via the at least one communication channel; and   a metadata generator, coupled to the at least one message creation component, operative to append a first plurality of metadata values to the first message, each of the first plurality of metadata values uniquely corresponding to at least some of a plurality of standardized metadata attributes, and to append a second plurality of metadata values to the second message, each of the second plurality of metadata values uniquely corresponding to at least some of the plurality of standardized metadata attributes,   wherein the first message may be associated with the second message when the first plurality of metadata values compares favorably with the second plurality of metadata values.   
     
     
         9 . The user terminal of  claim 8 , wherein the communication system comprises at least two communication channels, and wherein the message creation component comprises at least two message creation interfaces, each of the at least two message creation interfaces uniquely corresponding to each of the at least two communication channels. 
     
     
         10 . The user terminal of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one message creation component comprises an email interface. 
     
     
         11 . The user terminal of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one message creation component comprises an instant messaging interface. 
     
     
         12 . The user terminal of  claim 8 , the at least one message creation component comprising a user-selectable input mechanism corresponding to one of the plurality of standardized metadata attributes and providing a selected predefined metadata input value, wherein the metadata generator appends the selected predefined metadata input value to either the first or second message. 
     
     
         13 . The user terminal of  claim 8 , the message creation component comprising a user-selectable input mechanism corresponding to one of the plurality of standardized metadata attributes and providing a user-defined metadata input value, wherein the metadata generator appends the user-defined metadata input value to either the first or second message. 
     
     
         14 . The user terminal of  claim 8 , wherein the metadata generator automatically generates the at least a portion of the first plurality of metadata values and at least a portion of the second plurality of metadata values. 
     
     
         15 . A user terminal for use in a communication system comprising at least one communication channel, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor; and   a storage device, in communication with the at least one processor, having stored thereon executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:   create a first message to be communicated via at least one communication channel;   append a first plurality of metadata values to the first message, each of the first plurality of metadata values uniquely corresponding to at least some of a plurality of standardized metadata attributes;   create a second message to be communicated via the at least one communication channel; and   append a second plurality of metadata values to the second message, each of the second plurality of metadata values uniquely corresponding to at least some of the plurality of standardized metadata attributes,   wherein the first message may be associated with the second message when the first plurality of metadata values compares favorably with the second plurality of metadata values.   
     
     
         16 . The user terminal of  claim 15 , wherein the storage device further comprises executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
 provide a user-selectable input mechanism corresponding to one of the plurality of standardized metadata attributes, the user-selectable input mechanism comprising at least one selectable predefined metadata input value.   
     
     
         17 . The user terminal of  claim 15 , wherein the storage device further comprises executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
 provide a user-selectable input mechanism corresponding to one of the plurality of standardized metadata attributes, the user-selectable input mechanism comprising a user-definable metadata value input field.   
     
     
         18 . The user terminal of  claim 15 , wherein the storage device further comprises executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
 create a content file; and   associate the content file with either the first message or the second message.   
     
     
         19 . In a controller operating within a communication system comprising at least one communication channel, a method for associating a plurality of messages together, the method comprising:
 receiving a first message relating to a subject from a first user terminal of the communication system via the at least one communication channel, the first message comprising a first plurality of metadata values, each of the first plurality of metadata values uniquely corresponding to at least some of a plurality of standardized metadata attributes;   receiving a second message relating to the subject from a second user terminal of the communication system via the at least one communication channel, the second message comprising a second plurality of metadata values, each of the second plurality of metadata values uniquely corresponding to at least some of the plurality of standardized metadata attributes; and   associating the first message with the second message when the first plurality of metadata values compares favorably with the second plurality of metadata values.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the first message is received via a first communication channel of the at least one communication channel, and wherein the second message is received via a second communication channel of the at least one communication channel. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein associating the first message with the second message further comprises establishing a link between the first message and the second message. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein receiving either the first message or the second message further comprises receiving at least one content file associated with either the first message or the second message. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the second user terminal is the first user terminal. 
     
     
         24 . A controller for use in a communication system comprising at least one communication channel, comprising:
 at least one processor; and   a storage device, in communication with the at least one processor, having stored thereon executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:   receive a first message relating to a subject from a first user terminal of the communication system via the at least one communication channel, the first message comprising a first plurality of metadata values, each of the first plurality of metadata values uniquely corresponding to at least some of a plurality of standardized metadata attributes;   receive a second message relating to the subject from a second user terminal of the communication system via the at least one communication channel, the second message comprising a second plurality of metadata values, each of the second plurality of metadata values uniquely corresponding to at least some of the plurality of standardized metadata attributes; and   associate the first message with the second message when the first plurality of metadata values compares favorably with the second plurality of metadata values.   
     
     
         25 . The controller of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 a first communication channel interface, coupled to the at least one processor, for a first communication channel of the at least one communication channel; and   a second communication channel interface, coupled to the at least one processor, for a second communication channel of the at least one communication channel,   wherein the first message is received via the first communication channel interface and the second message is received via the second communication channel interface.   
     
     
         26 . The controller of  claim 24 , wherein the executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to associate the first message with the second message are further operative to establish a link between the first message and the second message. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to receive either the first message or the second message are further operative to receive at least one content file associated with either the first message or the second message. 
     
     
         28 . In a communication system comprising a plurality of user terminals in communication with each other via at least one communication channel and with a controller, a method for associating a plurality of messages together, the method comprising:
 creating, at a first user terminal of the plurality of user terminals, a first message to be communicated via the at least one communication channel;   appending, at the first user terminal, a first plurality of metadata values to the first message, each of the first plurality of metadata values uniquely corresponding to at least some of a plurality of standardized metadata attributes;   creating, at a second user terminal of the plurality of user terminals, a second message to be communicated via the at least one communication channel;   appending, at the second user terminal, a second plurality of metadata values to the second message, each of the second plurality of metadata values uniquely corresponding to at least some of the plurality of standardized metadata attributes; and   associating, by the controller, the first message with the second message when the first plurality of metadata values compares favorably with the second plurality of metadata values.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the second user terminal is the first user terminal. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein associating the first message with the second message further comprises establishing a link between the first message and the second message. 
     
     
         31 . A system comprising:
 at least one communication channel;   a first user terminal operative to create a first message to be communicated via the at least one communication channel, and further operative to append a first plurality of metadata values to the first message, each of the first plurality of metadata values uniquely corresponding to at least some of a plurality of standardized metadata attributes;   a second user terminal operative to create a second message to be communicated via the at least one communication channel, and further operative to append a second plurality of metadata values to the second message, each of the second plurality of metadata values uniquely corresponding to at least some of the plurality of standardized metadata attributes; and   a controller, in communication with the first user terminal and the second user terminal, operative to receive the first message and the second message and to associate the first message with the second message when the first plurality of metadata values compares favorably with the second plurality of metadata values.   
     
     
         32 . In a project collaboration system, a method for generating a message, the method comprising:
 creating message content using a first application;   creating a content file using a second application;   sending the message content to at least one user of the project collaboration system; and   subsequent to sending the message content, associating the message content and the content file using the second application.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the first application is an email application. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the second application is a web-based application. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 centrally storing the message and the content file within the project collaboration system.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein associating the message content with the content file further comprises uploading the content file to a central storage location and linking the message content and the content file.