Method and system for conducting a collaboration session over the internet

Abstract

A method of conducting an interactive design conference over the Internet, comprises: selectively admitting clients communicating through web browsers over the Internet to an interactive design conference; receiving a graphics file indicative of a design from one of the clients; and transmitting the graphics file to the other clients so as to be viewable as a graphics image through graphics file readers in the client web browsers. The graphics file is generated by a snapshot program previously transmitted to a client initiating the design conference and controlling the design database. Java applets are transmitted to each of the design conference participants to facilitate communicating annotations of the graphics image and messages between clients through their web browsers.

1 - 22 . (cancelled).  
   
   
       23 . A method of conducting a collaboration session over the Internet, comprising: generating a snapshot of a display screen of one of a plurality of clients participating in a collaboration session over the Internet, and transmitting said snapshot to others of said plurality of clients so as to display said snapshot on display screens of said others of said plurality of clients through web browsers residing on said others of said plurality of clients.  
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the transmission of said snapshot comprises: converting said snapshot into a graphics file, and transmitting said graphics file to said others of said plurality of clients so as to display said snapshot on display screens of said others of said plurality of clients through said web browsers residing on said others of said plurality of clients.  
   
   
       25 . The method according to  claim 24 , the conversion of said snapshot into said graphics file comprises: capturing pixel information from a frame buffer of said one of said plurality of clients, and converting said pixel information into a selected graphics file format.  
   
   
       26 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein said graphics file format is JPEG.  
   
   
       27 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein said graphics file format is GIF.  
   
   
       28 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein said graphics file is TIF.  
   
   
       29 . The method according to  claim 23 , further comprising: receiving an annotation of said snapshot from one of said plurality of clients, and transmitting said annotation to individual of said plurality of clients so as to be viewable as an overlay over said snapshot being displayed on said display screens of said individual of said plurality of clients.  
   
   
       30 . The method according to  claim 23 , further comprising: receiving a message from one of said plurality of clients, and transmitting said message to individual of said plurality of clients so as to be viewable in an area adjacent to said snapshot being displayed on said display screens of said individual of said plurality of clients.  
   
   
       31 . The method according to  claim 23 , further comprising: selectively admitting said plurality of clients to said collaboration session according to pre-established criteria.  
   
   
       32 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein said selective admission of said plurality of clients comprises: assigning a session identification number to said collaboration session, and admitting each of said plurality of clients to said collaboration session only after receiving said session identification number from said client.  
   
   
       33 . The method according to  claim 31 , further comprising updating an attendee list to include each of said plurality of clients admitted to said collaboration session.  
   
   
       34 . The method according to  claim 33 , further comprising updating said attendee list to delete each of said plurality of clients logging off said collaboration session.  
   
   
       35 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein said selective admission of said plurality of clients comprises: receiving a list of authorized participants to said collaboration session, and admitting each of said plurality of clients to said collaboration session only after confirming that said client is on said list of authorized participants.  
   
   
       36 . A system for conducting a collaboration session over the Internet, comprising: 
 a plurality of clients participating in a collaboration session over the Internet; and    a server for managing said collaboration session;    wherein at least one of said plurality of clients is configured to generate a snapshot of its display screen, convert said snapshot into a graphics file, and transmit said graphics file to said server; and    wherein said server is configured to receive said graphics file from said at least one of said plurality of clients, and transmit said graphics file to others of said plurality of clients so as to display said snapshot on display screens of said others of said plurality of clients through web browsers residing on said others of said plurality of clients.    
   
   
       37 . The system according to  claim 36 , wherein said at least one of said plurality of clients is further configured to capture pixel information from a frame buffer of said at least one of said plurality of clients, and convert said pixel information into a selected graphics file format.  
   
   
       38 . The system according to  claim 36 , wherein said server is further configured to receive an annotation of said snapshot from one of said plurality of clients, and transmit said annotation to individual of said plurality of clients so as to be viewable as an overlay over said snapshot being displayed on said display screens of said individual of said plurality of clients.  
   
   
       39 . The system according to  claim 36 , wherein said server is further configured to receive a message from one of said plurality of clients, and transmit said message to individual of said plurality of clients so as to be viewable in an area adjacent to said snapshot being displayed on said display screens of said individual of said plurality of clients.  
   
   
       40 . The system according to  claim 36 , wherein said server is further configured to selectively admit said plurality of clients to said collaboration session according to pre-established criteria.  
   
   
       41 . The system according to  claim 40 , wherein said server is further configured to assign a session identification number to said collaboration session, and admit each of said plurality of clients to said collaboration session only after receiving said session identification number from said client.  
   
   
       42 . The system according to  claim 40 , wherein said server is further configured to receive a list of authorized participants to said collaboration session, and admit each of said plurality of clients to said collaboration session only after confirming that said client is on said list of authorized participants.