System and Method to Create a Collaborative Web-based Multimedia Contextual Document

Abstract

The present invention relates a method and system for creating a collaborative book in a shared network space including the steps of: logging in from one or more user computers to a shared space in the network from a user application to a host, wherein the shared space is created by interaction of executable codes in a host and a user application and the shared space is described by a session attribute list; loading a media application with a plurality of tools into one or more user computers; inputting multi type content into the shared space; and displaying the content by computers in one of a synchronous or asynchronous mode; providing templates to automatically create pages with specific layouts, for each type content for searching resource information including collaboration and providing automatic page updates using searched resource information; and tracing user changes and searched resource information.

1 . A method for creating a collaborative book in a shared network space comprising the steps of:
 accessing one or more user computers in a shared space in the network, wherein the shared space is created by interaction of executable codes in a host and a user application and the shared space is described by a session attribute list;   loading a media application with a plurality of tools into one or more user computers; using a stage manager tool from the media application to stage and correlate a plurality of media-layers according to spatial, temporal and relational coordinate data in the user application,   wherein the media-layers data are described by at least one file descriptor inputting multi type content including one or more of text documents, graphic images, video images, audio or data files into the shared space;   and providing templates to create pages with specific layouts, providing plug-ins for each type content;   providing converters for displaying the book;   and displaying the content by computers in the shared space in one of a synchronous or asynchronous mode;   and searching additional resource information including:   permitting collaboration among users, and providing automatic page updating using searched resource information; and tracing associated user and searched resource information changes to the book.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of a user moving pages in the book between one of (a) one or more books in a library or a website on the World Wide Web. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of a template containing one or more: hotlinks, meta tags and computer code placed in the directory of text documents, graphic images, video images, audio or data files. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a template specifies where images are placed among the pages of the book. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a template contains one or more of dynamic buttons and plug-ins to permit users of the book to access books that reside within a library of books. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of dynamically swapping in and out pages within the book as dictated by the use to which the books are put. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of a user electronically notifying another user of the availability of pages for one or more of viewing, changing or accessing an information resource. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of creating a derivative copy of the book. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of a user augmenting the derivative copy. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of installing a conversion program for accessing through a browser text documents, graphic images, video images, audio or data files. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the trace records the author, time and content of the change. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of using a browser for one of uploading content, creating a new book or scheduling a meeting. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of utilizing and conversion program to convert display data into the book. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of publishing the book. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising the step of storing the book in the library for collaborating and copying. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of embedding the book into in any web property. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of one or more of: embedding into the book an autonomous software agent to trigger one of the creation, duplication and/or publication of copies or pages of a book. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of one or more of: filtering to moderate and filter input, viewing permission, copying and publication. 
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions for creating a collaborative file in a shared network space comprising the steps of: accessing one or more user computers in a shared space in the network, wherein the shared space is created by interaction of executable codes in a host and a user application and the shared space is described by a session attribute list;
 loading a media application with a plurality of tools into one or more user computers; using a stage manager tool from the media application to stage and correlate a plurality of media-layers according to spatial, temporal and relational coordinate data in the user application, wherein the media-layers data are described by at least one file descriptor inputting multi type content including one or more of text documents, graphic images, video images, audio or data files into the shared space;   and providing templates to create pages with specific layouts, providing plug-ins for each type content;   providing converters for displaying the book;   and displaying the content by computers in the shared space in one of a synchronous or asynchronous mode;   and searching additional resource information including:   permitting collaboration among users, and providing automatic page updating using searched resource information; and tracing associated user and searched resource information changes to the book.   
     
     
         20 . A computer system for creating a collaborative book in a shared space within a network comprising: a host server that communicates to a database and a file storage through a network; a user machine with a user application that logs to the host server to join a shared space session with other user machines running user applications, wherein the shared space session is generated by interaction of executable codes in the host and the user application and the shared space session is described by a session attribute list;
 a first memory for storing application code with a plurality of tools into one or more user computers;   an input device for inputting multi type content including one or more of text documents, graphic images, video images, audio or data files into the shared space; a stage manager tool from the media application to stage and correlate a plurality of media-layers according to spatial, temporal and relational coordinate data in the user application, wherein the media-layers data are described by a file descriptor inputting multi type content including one or more of text documents, graphic images, video images or data files into the shared space;   and a display for displaying the content by computers in the shared space in one of a synchronous or asynchronous mode;   a second memory for storing (a) templates to create pages with specific layouts, (b) plug-ins for each type content for searching additional resource information, (c) converters for accessing through a browser the content of the book.