U.S. patent application number 12/959931 was filed with the patent office on 2012-06-07 for collaboration management system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Razer (Asia-Pacific) Pte Ltd. Invention is credited to Ping He, Min-Liang TAN.
Application Number | 20120144319 12/959931 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46163453 |
Filed Date | 2012-06-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120144319 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
TAN; Min-Liang ; et
al. |
June 7, 2012 |
Collaboration Management System
Abstract
Known computer peripheral devices are typically interchangeable
and can be used with different computers systems and platforms.
Most computer operating systems are able to automatically configure
the coupled computer peripheral device for use with the computer
operating system without the need for installation of a specific
driver. However, when these peripheral devices are detected by the
computer system, a generic UI control configuration is often
assigned to them and whatever customised settings previously
configured by the user will be lost and replaced with a new set of
unfamiliar settings. Described according to an embodiment of the
invention is a collaboration management system initiating a
collaboration session for a plurality of computing systems having
user-interfaces (UIs) coupled thereto. The collaboration management
system discovers the device profiles corresponding to the UIs for
extracting corresponding configuration specific to each of the UIs
for configuring interactions between the UIs and an application
operating during the collaboration session.
Inventors: |
TAN; Min-Liang; (Singapore,
SG) ; He; Ping; (Singapore, SG) |
Assignee: |
Razer (Asia-Pacific) Pte
Ltd
Singapore
SG
|
Family ID: |
46163453 |
Appl. No.: |
12/959931 |
Filed: |
December 3, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
715/753 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/0484 20130101;
G06F 3/023 20130101; G06F 3/01 20130101; G06Q 10/103 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
715/753 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/01 20060101
G06F003/01; G06F 15/16 20060101 G06F015/16 |
Claims
1. A collaboration management system comprising: a session module
for initiating a collaboration session between a plurality of
computing systems and for managing interactions between the
plurality of computing systems and an application, each of the
plurality of computing system having a user-interface (UI) in
signal communication therewith; and a discovery module for
cooperating with the plurality of computing systems to discover,
for each of the plurality of computing systems, device data being
descriptive of the UI and user interactions identifiable by the UI
in signal communication therewith, the discovery module assigning
one of a plurality of configuration data associated with at least
one of the device data and identifier data providable by a user of
the UI for each of the plurality of computing system; wherein the
configuration data assigned to each of the plurality of computing
system defines interaction of the UI in signal communication
therewith the application during the collaboration session.
2. The collaboration management system as in claim 1, the UI in
signal communication with each of the plurality of computing
systems being a computing peripheral.
3. The collaboration management system as in claim 1, the UI in
signal communication with each of the plurality of computing
systems being at least one device for at least one of input sensing
and providing sensory output.
4. The collaboration management system as in claim 1, the
application for executing a plurality of instructions and the UI of
each of the plurality of computing devices for generating a
plurality of control signals, at least one of the plurality of
configuration data associating at least one of the plurality of
control signals generatable by the UI of one of the plurality of
computing systems with one of the plurality of instructions
executable by the application.
5. The collaboration management system as in claim 4, the
application being substantially concurrently operable by the
plurality of computing system via the UI of each thereof for
manipulating a single dataset.
6. The collaboration management system as in claim 5, manipulating
the single dataset comprises at least one of editing, deleting from
and adding to the single dataset.
7. The collaboration management system as in claim 5, the single
dataset for generating at least one object being provided to the
plurality of computing systems for display by the UI of each
thereof.
8. The collaboration management system as in claim 7, the
configuration data assigned to each of the plurality of computing
systems further determining display preference of the at least one
object by the UI of the each of the plurality of computing
systems.
9. The collaboration management system as in claim 1, further
comprising: a storage module for storing the plurality of
configuration data, each of the plurality of configuration data
having at least one of a configuration profile and a user profile
associated therewith for use in identifying association between one
of the plurality of configuration data with at least one of the
device data and the user data of each of the plurality of computing
systems.
10. The collaboration management system as in claim 1, the one of
the plurality of configuration data assigned to each of the
plurality of computing system being at least one of editable and
replaceable with another of the plurality of configuration data
during the collaboration session.
11. A collaboration management method comprising: initiating a
collaboration session between a plurality of computing systems, the
collaboration being initiated by a session module for managing
interactions between the plurality of computing systems and an
application, each of the plurality of computing system having a
user-interface (UI) in signal communication therewith; and
discovering, by a discovery module for each of the plurality of
computing systems, device data being descriptive of the UI and user
interactions identifiable by the UI in signal communication
therewith, the discovery module assigning one of a plurality of
configuration data associated with at least one of the device data
identifier data providable by a user of the UI for each of the
plurality of computing system; wherein the configuration data
assigned to each of the plurality of computing system defines
interaction of the UI in signal communication therewith the
application during the collaborative session.
12. The collaboration management method as in claim 11, the UI in
signal communication with each of the plurality of computing
systems being a computing peripheral.
13. The collaboration management method as in claim 11, the UI in
signal communication with each of the plurality of computing
systems being at least one device for at least one of input sensing
and providing sensory output.
14. The collaboration management method as in claim 11, the
application for executing a plurality of instructions and the UI of
each of the plurality of computing systems for generating a
plurality of control signals, at least one of the plurality of
configuration data associating at least one of the plurality of
control signals generatable by the UI of one of the plurality of
computing systems with one of the plurality of instructions
executable by the application.
15. The collaboration management method as in claim 14, the
application being substantially concurrently operable by the
plurality of computing system via the UI of each thereof for
manipulating a single dataset.
16. The collaboration management method as in claim 15,
manipulating the single dataset comprises at least one of editing,
deleting from and adding to the single dataset.
17. The collaboration management method as in claim 15, the single
dataset for generating at least one object being provided to the
plurality of computing systems for display by the UI of each
thereof.
18. The collaboration management method as in claim 17, the
configuration data assigned to each of the plurality of computing
systems further determining display preference of the at least one
object by the UI of the each of the plurality of computing
systems.
19. The collaboration management method as in claim 11, the
plurality of configuration data being stored on a storage module,
each of the plurality of configuration data having at least one of
a configuration profile and a user profile associated therewith for
use in identifying association between one of the plurality of
configuration data with at least one of the device data and the
user data of each of the plurality of computing system.
20. The collaboration management method as in claim 11, the one of
the plurality of configuration data assigned to each of the
plurality of computing system being at least one of editable and
replaceable with another of the plurality of configuration data
during the collaboration session.
21. A machine readable medium having stored therein a plurality of
programming instructions, which when executed, cause the machine
to: initiate a collaboration session between a plurality of
computing systems, the collaboration being initiated by a session
module for managing interactions between the plurality of computing
systems and an application, each of the plurality of computing
system having a user-interface (UI) in signal communication
therewith; and discover, by a discovery module for each of the
plurality of computing systems, device data being descriptive of
the UI and user interactions identifiable by the UI in signal
communication therewith, the discovery module assigning one of a
plurality of configuration data associated with at least one of the
device data and identifier data providable by a user of the UI for
each of the plurality of computing system; wherein the
configuration data assigned to each of the plurality of computing
system defines interaction of the UI in signal communication
therewith the application during the collaborative session.
22. The machine readable medium as in claim 21, the UI in signal
communication with each of the plurality of computing systems being
a computing peripheral.
23. The machine readable medium as in claim 21, the UI in signal
communication with each of the plurality of computing systems being
at least one device for at least one of input sensing and providing
sensory output.
24. The machine readable medium as in claim 21, the application for
executing a plurality of instructions and the UI of each of the
plurality of computing systems for generating a plurality of
control signals, at least one of the plurality of configuration
data associating at least one of the plurality of control signals
generatable by the UI of one of the plurality of computing systems
with one of the plurality of instructions executable by the
application.
25. The machine readable medium as in claim 24, the application
being substantially concurrently operable by the plurality of
computing system via the UI of each thereof for manipulating a
single dataset.
26. The machine readable medium as in claim 25, manipulating the
single dataset comprises at least one of editing, deleting from and
adding to the single dataset.
27. The machine readable medium as in claim 25, the single dataset
for generating at least one object being provided to the plurality
of computing systems for display by the UI of each thereof.
28. The machine readable medium as in claim 27, the configuration
data assigned to each of the plurality of computing systems further
determining display preference of the at least one object by the UI
of the each of the plurality of computing systems.
29. The machine readable medium as in claim 21, the plurality of
configuration data being stored on a storage module, each of the
plurality of configuration data having at least one of a
configuration profile and a user profile associated therewith for
use in identifying association between one of the plurality of
configuration data with at least one of the device data and the
user data of each of the plurality of computing system.
30. The machine readable medium as in claim 21, the one of the
plurality of configuration data assigned to each of the plurality
of computing system being at least one of editable and replaceable
with another of the plurality of configuration data during the
collaboration session.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to an online
collaboration management system. In particular, the invention
relates to a system and method for managing concurrent manipulation
of data set by different computer peripherals utilising different
setting configurations.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Known computer peripheral devices are typically
interchangeable and can be used with different computers systems
and platforms. Most computer operating systems are able to
automatically configure the coupled computer peripheral device for
use with the computer operating system without the need for
installation of a specific driver. However, when these peripheral
devices are detected by the computer system, a default UI control
configuration is often assigned to them and whatever customised
settings previously configured by the user will be lost and
replaced with a new set of unfamiliar settings.
[0003] Similarly, in a video-conference setting, where multiple
users from various terminals have access to a single set of data, a
generic UI control configurations is often assigned to the various
devices plugged into the terminals. These control configurations
allow for manipulation of the single dataset, be it to rotate one
or more objects generated from the dataset or to edit the dataset.
However, due to the random assignment of control configurations to
the various devices, users will have to test out these
configurations in order to have a good grasp in using the device
for manipulation of the dataset. An alternative would be to
re-configure the control settings to one which the users are
familiar with. These approaches pose much inconvenience especially
if the users do not have the luxury of time to deal with these
configuration settings.
[0004] In the gaming context, multiple users may access a gaming
terminal from different access point to collaborate in a game play.
Frequent gainers often have a preferred control configuration, for
example, the keys to press for initiating a punch or to engage a
weapon. Familiarity in these configurations would confer speed and
accuracy in the game play. Other garners have their preferred
devices for example, a gaming mouse, keyboard, keypad or a
joystick, for use in a particular game. When multiple users utilise
different gaming devices in a single game play, their preferred
configurations are lost and replaced with an unfamiliar set of
control configurations. There is therefore an apparent need for a
system and method whereby multiple users are able to concurrently
interact with a single set of data from different terminals in
their preferred manner using different devices.
SUMMARY
[0005] In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is
disclosed a collaboration management system comprising a session
module and a discovery module. The session module is for initiating
a collaboration session between a plurality of computing systems
and for managing interactions between the plurality of computing
systems and an application. Each of the plurality of computing
system has a user-interface (UI) in signal communication therewith.
The discovery module is for cooperating with the plurality of
computing systems to discover, for each of the plurality of
computing systems, device data being descriptive of the UI and user
interactions identifiable by the UI in signal communication
therewith. The discovery module assigns one of a plurality of
configuration data associated with at least one of the device data
and identifier data providable by a user of the UI for each of the
plurality of computing system. The configuration data assigned to
each of the plurality of computing system defines interaction of
the UI signal communication therewith the application during the
collaboration session.
[0006] In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there
is disclosed a collaboration management method comprising
initiating a collaboration session between a plurality of computing
systems. The collaboration is initiated by a session module for
managing interactions between the plurality of computing systems
and an application. Each of the plurality of computing system has a
user-interface (UI) in signal communication therewith. The
collaboration management method further comprises discovering, by a
discovery module for each of the plurality of computing systems,
device data being descriptive of the UI and user interactions
identifiable by the UI in signal communication therewith. The
discovery module assigning one of a plurality of configuration data
associated with at least one of the device data and identifier data
providable by a user of the UI for each of the plurality of
computing system. The configuration data assigned to each of the
plurality of computing system defines interaction of the UI in
signal communication therewith the application during the
collaborative session.
[0007] In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, there is
disclosed a machine readable medium having stored therein a
plurality of programming instructions, when executed, cause the
machine to initiate a collaboration session between a plurality of
computing systems. The collaboration is initiated by a session
module for managing interactions between the plurality of computing
systems and an application. Each of the plurality of computing
system has a user-interface (UI) in signal communication therewith.
The plurality of programming instructions, when executed, further
cause the machine to discover, by a discovery module for each of
the plurality of computing systems, device data being descriptive
of the UI and user interactions identifiable by the UI in signal
communication therewith. The discovery module assigning one of a
plurality of configuration data associated with at least one of the
device data and identifier data providable by a user of the UI for
each of the plurality of computing system. The configuration data
assigned to each of the plurality of computing system defines
interaction of the UI in signal communication therewith the
application during the collaborative session.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 shows a system diagram of a collaboration management
system residing on a computing cloud according to an exemplary
embodiment of the invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 shows a system diagram of the collaboration
management system of FIG. 1 with user-interfaces in signal
communication with computing systems coupled thereto; and
[0010] FIG. 3 shows a process flow diagram of a collaboration
management method for implementation by the collaboration
management system of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] Reference will now be made in detail to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will
be described in conjunction with the embodiment of the invention,
it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the
invention to the embodiment. On the contrary, the invention is
intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents,
which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention
as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, in the following
detailed description of embodiments of the present invention,
numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a
thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will
be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art that the present
invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other
instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, and circuits
have not been described in detail as not to unnecessarily obscure
aspects of the embodiments of the present invention
[0012] For purposes of brevity and clarity, descriptions of
embodiments of the present invention are limited hereinafter to the
collaboration and management of a single data set by a plurality of
users using different computer peripherals with different
configuration settings. This however does not preclude embodiments
of the invention where fundamental principals prevalent among the
various embodiments of the invention such as operational,
functional or performance characteristics are required.
[0013] An exemplary embodiment of the invention, a collaboration
management system 20, is described hereinafter and shown in FIG. 1.
The collaboration management system 20, residing on a computing
cloud 22, is preferably for managing interactions between a
plurality of computing systems 24 and an application 26 in
communication with a computing cloud 22. Further described is a
collaboration management method 100 applied by the collaboration
management system 20 for its intended purpose.
[0014] Preferably, the computing cloud 22 comprises one or multiple
server systems 28 inter-networked and configured to function as the
collaboration management system 20. Communication pathway between
the computing cloud 22 and the computing system 24 is preferably
provided by a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN),
the Internet, cellular networks, data networks, dedicated networks
or a combination of any thereof.
[0015] The collaboration management system 20 comprises a session
module 30 for initiating a collaboration session between a
plurality of computing systems 24 and an application 26, a
discovery module 32 to discover, for each of the plurality of
computer systems 24, device data 34 of a user interface 35 (UI 35)
in signal communication therewith and to thereby assign one of the
plurality of configuration data 36 stored on the collaboration
management system 20 to the computing system 24 for defining
interactions between each of computing systems 24 and the UI 35 in
signal communication therewith. Each of the plurality of computing
systems 24 in signal communication with the device data 34 is able
to download one of the configuration data 36 unique to their
devices for manipulation of a single dataset 38 managed by the
application 26.
[0016] The collaboration management system 20 further comprises a
storage module 40 for storing the plurality of configuration data
36. Each of the plurality of configuration data 36 has at least one
of a device profile 42 and a user identifier 44 associated
therewith for use in identifying association between one of the
plurality of the configuration data 36 with at least one of the
device data 34 and an identifier data 48 receivable from each of
the plurality of the computing system 24.
[0017] The collaboration management method 100 comprises a step 102
of initiating a collaboration session by the session module 30
between the plurality of computing systems 24 and the application
26. The collaboration management method 100 further comprises a
step 104 of discovering, by the discovery module 32 for each of the
plurality of computer systems 24, device data 34 in signal
communication therewith and thereby assigning the corresponding
configuration data 36 stored in the collaboration management system
20 to the computing system 24.
[0018] When a plurality of computing system 24 is in network
communication with the computing cloud 22 and logged onto the
collaboration management system 20, the session module 30 performs
the step 102 and manages interactions between the plurality of
computing systems 24 and the application 26. The application 26 can
be one of a gaming application, where a plurality of garners are
concurrently involved in a gaming session or any other software
application whereby a single dataset 38 is presented for access or
concurrent manipulation by each of the plurality of users at each
of the plurality of computer systems 24 in network communication
with the collaboration management system 20. Device type of the UI
35 coupled to one of the computing systems, wired or wirelessly,
may differ from the device type of the UI 35 coupled to another of
the computing systems 24. Therefore, device-specific configuration
settings are required for different devices to effect similar
control signals to manipulate the single dataset 38 or virtual
objects generated therefrom. The device data 34 is descriptive of
user interactions identifiable by the UI 35. For example, if the UI
35 is a 3D mouse, the user interactions identifiable by the 3D
mouse would include free-space movement or position, scrolling
actions and actuation of specific buttons existing on the 3D mouse.
However, if the UI 35 is a multi-touch interface, the user
interactions identifiable by the multi-touch interface would
include locations of one or more points and gestures generatable by
the one or more touch points on the multi-touch interface.
Therefore, the user interactions identifiable and hence the device
data when the UI 35 is a 3D mouse differs from when the UI 35 is a
multi-touch interface.
[0019] Preferably, the UI 35 in signal communication with each of
the plurality of computing systems 24 is a computer peripheral.
Alternatively, the UI 35 is at least one of device for at least one
of input sensing and providing sensory output. Examples of the UI
35 include but are not limited to gaming console, joystick,
computer mouse, keyboard and speakers. Alternatively, the UI 35
includes devices which are connectable for use with or forms part
of the computer system 24, for example, the touch screen interface
of a cell phone and smart phones.
[0020] Preferably, the step 104 occurs in response to or in
preparation for the initiation of the collaboration session. The
computing system 24 generates the device data 34 for the UI 35 when
the UI 35 is recognised thereby. During the step 104, the user may
be required to manually log-onto the collaboration management
system 20 by providing the identifier data 48 for extraction of
device profile 42 associated therewith. The discovery module 32
then assigns one of the plurality of configuration data 36
associated with at least one of the device data 34 and the
identifier data 48 to each of the plurality of computing system 24.
The configuration data 36 assigned to each of the plurality of
computing systems 24 defines interaction of the UI 35 in signal
communication therewith the application 26 during the collaboration
session.
[0021] At least one of the plurality of configuration data 36
associates control signals generatable by the UI 35 of one of the
plurality of the computing systems 24 with one of the plurality of
instructions executable by the application 26. Consequently,
different types of the UIs 35 in signal communication with the
plurality of computing systems 24 will consequently be able to
provide control signals to the application 26 for execution of at
least one of the plurality of substantially identical instructions
using different configuration data 36. For example, the generation
of control signals to rotate an object can be effected by either a
rotational gesture on the multi-touch screen device coupled to one
of the computing systems 24 and rotational movement on a joystick
connected to another of the computing systems 24. Preferably, the
configuration data 36 are editable or replaceable with another of
the plurality of configuration data 36 during the collaboration
session.
[0022] Preferably, the application 26 is substantially concurrent
and operable by the plurality of computing systems 24 via the UI 35
of each for manipulating a single dataset 38. Manipulation of a
single dataset 38 comprises at least one of editing, deleting from
and adding to the single dataset 38. Preferably, the single dataset
38 is able to generate at least one object to be provided to the
plurality of computing systems 24 for display by the UI 35 with
display capability. The configuration data 36 is further able to
determine the display preference of at least one object by the UI
35 with display capability of each of the corresponding computing
systems 24.
[0023] When a plurality of users log onto the collaboration
management system 20, the collaboration management system 20
detects the UI 35 in signal communication with each of the
plurality of the computing systems 24 and thereafter assigns one of
the configuration data 36 in association with at least one of the
device data 34 and the identifier data 48 to the respective
computing system 24. Assignment of the configuration data 36 can
either be automated upon detection of UI 35 by the collaboration
management system 20 or be manually controlled by the user. Each
user further has the option to edit or replace the configuration
data 36 assigned during the collaboration session. Each
configuration data 36 is associated with at least one of a
plurality of device profile 42. At least one of a plurality of
device profile 42 is associated with an user identifier 44 such
that a single user may have more than one device profile 42
associated with the configuration data 36 stored in the storage
module 40 in the collaboration management system 20.
[0024] The collaboration management system 20 allows each user to
concurrently manipulate a single dataset 38, or virtual objects
generated from the single dataset, with their preferred device
configuration settings. For new users of the collaboration
management system 20, the new user is able to download default
configuration settings, specifically one of the configuration data
36, substantially matching with the device data 34 provided to the
computing system 24, from the collaboration management system
20.
[0025] The collaboration management system 20 can also function
with a single computing system 24 where a plurality of users are
able to manipulate a single dataset 38 using different UI 35. The
collaboration management system 20 enables the users to download
their preferred configuration settings to the computing system 20
wherewith their UIs 25 are coupled. This way, even a single
terminal is able to translate the different configuration settings
to execute similar control signals to manipulate a single dataset
38. In an example of use of the collaboration management system 20,
a first user couples a 3D mouse to a first one of the computing
systems 24 while a second user couples a 2D mouse with a second one
of the computing systems 24 during a collaboration session for
viewing a 3D object generated by the application 26 from the
dataset 38. The default configurations for rotating the 3D object
about its x-axis may be rotating the 3D mouse about its x-axis or
displacing the 2D mouse along its y-axis while depressing a left
button thereon. These may be interactions unfamiliar or
counter-intuitive to the first and second users. By providing the
user name as the identifier data 48 of each of the first and second
users and the device data 34 descriptive of each of the 3D mouse
and the 2D mouse during log-on to the collaboration management
system 20, the configuration data 36 corresponding to the first
user for the 3D mouse and for the second user for the 2D mouse can
be provided to respectively the first one and the second one of the
computing systems 24. The configuration data 36 contains the
preferred configurations of the first user and the second user.
When the corresponding configuration data 36 is applied to each of
the first one and second one of the computing systems 24, rotating
the 3D mouse about its z-axis now rotates the 3D object about its
x-axis while displacing the 2D mouse along its y-axis without
depressing its left button will rotate the 3D object about its
x-axis. The configuration data 36 for any of the 2D mouse and the
3D mouse could include one or more of button configuration,
scroll-wheel and mouse displacement sensitivity and lighting or
haptic feedback response to the gaming mouse. The availability of
the configuration data 36 allows the user to quickly configure the
gaming mouse, or other UIs 35, when used on a different
computer.
[0026] The collaboration management method 100 preferably exists on
the collaboration management system 20 as a plurality of
instructions stored on a machine readable medium constituting part
of the computing cloud 22. It is preferred that the instructions,
when executed, cause the profile management system to perform the
step of the collaboration management method 100.
[0027] In a forgoing manner, a collaboration management system and
a collaboration management method are described according to
exemplary embodiments of the invention. Although only a number of
embodiments of the invention are disclosed in this document, it
will be apparent to one skilled in the art in view of this
disclosure that numerous changes and/or modifications can be made
to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope and
spirit of the invention.
* * * * *