Method and Apparatus for Viewing and Managing Collaboration Data from Within the Context of a Shared Document

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus are provided for viewing and managing collaboration data from within the context of a shared electronic document. A document editing pane is displayed for editing the shared document. In conjunction with the document editing pane, a collaboration pane is displayed for displaying the collaboration data. Through the collaboration pane, collaboration data such as the identities of one or more collaborators, task, documents, links and other information may be displayed. Actions may also be performed with respect to any aspect of the collaboration data through the collaboration pane.

1 .- 14 . (canceled) 
   
   
       15 . A method for viewing and managing collaboration data from within the context of a shared electronic document, the method comprising:
 providing a first user interface pane for editing the shared electronic document;   providing a second user interface pane in conjunction with the first user interface pane for viewing and managing the collaboration data, the second user interface pane comprising a first user interface object which, when selected, will cause a description of at least one of the following: at least one task to be displayed, at least one additional shared document to be displayed, and at least one link to be displayed.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising
 receiving a selection of the displayed description for the at least one task;   in response to receiving the selection, displaying at least one action configured to be performed with respect to the selected at least one task;   receiving a selection of the at least one action; and   performing the selected at least one action.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one action comprises deleting the selected at least one task. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one action comprises marking the selected at least one task as completed. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the providing second user interface pane further comprises providing a second user interface object which, when selected, will cause a new task to be created. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the second user interface pane further comprises a second user interface object which, when selected, will cause a reminder message to be generated for the at least one task. 
   
   
       21 .- 24 . (canceled) 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising
 receiving a selection of the displayed description for the at least one additional shared document;   in response to receiving the selection, displaying at least one action configured to be performed with respect to the at least one selected document;   receiving a selection of the at least one action; and   performing the selected at least one action.   
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the at least one action comprises deleting the selected at least one document. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one action comprises setting an alert that will cause a notification to be provided in the event the at least one selected document is modified. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein providing the second user interface pane further comprises providing a second user interface object which, when selected, will cause a new document to be added. 
   
   
       29 .- 31 . (canceled) 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising
 receiving a selection of the at least one link as a selected link;   in response to receiving the selection, opening a web browser application program and directing the web browser application program to a network address specified by the selected link.   
   
   
       33 .- 40 . (canceled) 
   
   
       41 . A system for viewing and managing collaboration data from within the context of a shared electronic document, the method comprising:
 a memory storage; and   a processing unit coupled to the memory storage, wherein the processing unit is operative to:
 provide a first user interface pane for editing the shared electronic document; 
 provide a second user interface pane in conjunction with the first user interface pane for viewing and managing the collaboration data, the second user interface pane comprising a first user interface object which, when selected, will cause a description of at least one of the following: at least one task to be displayed, at least one additional shared document to be displayed, and at least one link to be displayed. 
   
   
   
       42 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the processor is further operative to:
 receive a selection of the displayed description for the at least one task;   in response to receiving the selection, display at least one action configured to be performed with respect to the selected at least one task;   receive a selection of the at least one action, wherein the action comprises deleting the selected at least one task; and   perform the selected at least one action.   
   
   
       43 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the processing unit is further operative to:
 receive a selection of the displayed description for the at least one additional shared document;   in response to receiving the selection, display at least one action configured to be performed with respect to the at least one selected document;   receive a selection of the at least one action, wherein the action comprises setting an alert that will cause a notification to be provided in the event the at least one selected document is modified; and   perform the selected at least one action.   
   
   
       44 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the processing unit is further operative to:
 receive a selection of the at least one link as a selected link;   in response to receiving the selection, open a web browser application program and directing the web browser application program to a network address specified by the selected link.   
   
   
       45 . A computer-readable medium having a set of instructions which when executed performs a method for viewing and managing collaboration data from within the context of a shared electronic document, the method executed by the set of instructions comprising:
 providing a first user interface pane for editing the shared electronic document;   providing a second user interface pane in conjunction with the first user interface pane for viewing and managing the collaboration data, the second user interface pane comprising a first user interface object which, when selected, will cause a description of at least one of the following: at least one task to be displayed, at least one additional shared document to be displayed, and at least one link to be displayed.   
   
   
       46 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 45 , further comprising
 receiving a selection of the displayed description for the at least one task;   in response to receiving the selection, displaying at least one action configured to be performed with respect to the selected at least one task;   receiving a selection of the at least one action; and   performing the selected at least one action.   
   
   
       47 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 45 , further comprising:
 receiving a selection of the displayed description for the at least one additional shared document;   in response to receiving the selection, displaying at least one action configured to be performed with respect to the at least one selected document;   receiving a selection of the at least one action; and   performing the selected at least one action.   
   
   
       48 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 45 , wherein the providing second user interface pane further comprises providing a second user interface object which, when selected, will cause a new task to be created. 
   
   
       49 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 45 , wherein providing the second user interface pane further comprises providing a second user interface object which, when selected, will cause a new document to be added.