Dynamic collaboration in social networking environment

Abstract

A method and system for facilitating collaboration between two groups without impairing or affecting the structure of the two groups is provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for facilitating collaboration by a first group comprising at least two members and a second group comprising at least two members, the method comprising the steps of:
 creating a collaboration group based at least in part on a request related to the first group, wherein a processing device stores data representative of the collaboration group in a memory operatively connected to the processing device;   linking the first group of at least two members to the collaboration group based at least in part on the request, wherein the processing device stores data in the memory representative of the link between the first group and the collaboration group;   linking the second group of at least two members to the collaboration group, wherein the processing device stores data in the memory representative of the link between the second group and the collaboration group in the memory;   facilitating collaboration by the first and second groups, wherein a first structure of the first group remains unchanged by the collaboration and a second structure of the second group remains unchanged by the collaboration, wherein the first group is created to comprise one or more members and at least a first owner, and the second group is created to comprise one or more other members and at least a second owner; and notifying the second owner of an invitation from the first owner to join the collaboration group, wherein the linking of the second group to the collaboration group is based at least in part on the notifying or on an indicated acceptance of the invitation by the second owner.   
     
     
         2 . A method for facilitating collaboration by a first group comprising at least two members and a second group comprising at least two members, the method comprising the steps of:
 creating a collaboration group based at least in part on a request related to the first group, wherein a processing device stores data representative of the collaboration group in a memory operatively connected to the processing device;   linking the first group of at least two members to the collaboration group based at least in part on the request, wherein the processing device stores data in the memory representative of the link between the first group and the collaboration group;   linking the second group of at least two members to the collaboration group, wherein the processing device stores data in the memory representative of the link between the second group and the collaboration group in the memory; and   facilitating collaboration by the first and second groups, wherein a first structure of the first group remains unchanged by the collaboration and a second structure of the second group remains unchanged by the collaboration,   wherein the first group is created to comprise one or more members and at least a first owner, and the second group is created to comprise one or more other members and at least a second owner, and wherein the creating of the collaboration group comprises setting the first owner and the second owner as co-owners of the collaboration group.   
     
     
         3 . A method for facilitating collaboration by a first group comprising at least two members and a second group comprising at least two members, the method comprising the steps of:
 creating a collaboration group based at least in part on a request related to the first group, wherein a processing device stores data representative of the collaboration group in a memory operatively connected to the processing device;   linking the first group of at least two members to the collaboration group based at least in part on the request, wherein the processing device stores data in the memory representative of the link between the first group and the collaboration group;   linking the second group of at least two members to the collaboration group, wherein the processing device stores data in the memory representative of the link between the second group and the collaboration group in the memory; and facilitating collaboration by the first and second groups, wherein a first structure of the first group remains unchanged by the collaboration and a second structure of the second group remains unchanged by the collaboration, wherein the creating of the collaboration group further comprises sending a message to each of the at least two members in the first group and each of the at least two members in the second group including a link related to the collaboration group.