Systems and methods for sharing information between a user group and associated document

Abstract

Systems and methods of the present invention connect a group of users who are involved in a common project. The information on this project will be stored in an electronic document. Each member of the group has an exact copy of the document and the method of this invention is what ensures that such copies are exact. Each user may incorporate modifications into their copy, which will later be shared by the rest after a synchronization stage. Systems and methods further allow the information to be shared between the various members of the group and which include a series of stages during which it is mainly a question of transferring the modifications from a specific user to the rest of the group, thus avoiding the use of a dedicated client-server structure.

1 . A method for sharing information comprising: 
 providing for a plurality of devices on a network; and    distributing modification information to each of the plurality of devices on the network, wherein upon receiving a synchronization order, the modification information is encoded, packaged into data packets and transmitted to each of the plurality of devices, wherein the modification information is used to automatically update a document.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of devices on the network is designated as the administrative device, wherein the user at the administrative device creates the document and defines attributes of each of the plurality of devices.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of devices on the network is designated as the back up device, wherein a user at the back up device manages a copy of any document sent by users in the network and controls mechanisms to restore information eventually lost by the users.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data packets are transmitted to each of the plurality of device using an electronic mail application.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data packets are transmitted upon establishing a point-to-point connection with each of the plurality of devices.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a daemon function is utilized to facilitate transmission of the data packets.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the initiation of the transmission is incorporated in a shell.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the document incorporates a mark-up language.  
   
   
       9 . A system for sharing information the system comprising: 
 a processor; and    a memory for storing instructions, executed by the processor to perform the following:    providing a plurality of devices on a network; and    distributing modification information to each of the plurality of devices on the network, wherein upon receiving a synchronization order, the modification information is encoded, packaged into data packets, sequenced and transmitted to each of the plurality of devices, wherein the modification information is used to automatically update a document.    
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein one of the plurality of devices on the network is designated as the administrative device, wherein the user at the administrative device creates the document and defines attributes of each of the plurality of devices.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein one of the plurality of devices on the network is designated as the back up device, wherein a user at the back up device manages a copy of any document sent by users in the network and controls mechanisms to restore information eventually lost by the users.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the data packets are transmitted to each of the plurality of device using an electronic mail application.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the data packets are transmitted upon establishing a point-to-point connection with each of the plurality of devices.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein a daemon function is utilized to facilitate transmission of the data packets.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the initiation of the transmission is incorporated in a shell.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the document incorporates a mark-up language.  
   
   
       17 . A computer-readable medium including instructions, executed by a processor, for performing a method of sharing information, the method comprising: 
 providing for a plurality of devices on a network; and    distributing modification information to each of the plurality of devices on the network, wherein upon receiving a synchronization order, the modification information is encoded, packaged into data packets, sequenced and transmitted to each of the plurality of devices, wherein the modification information is used to automatically update a document.    
   
   
       18 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein one of the plurality of devices on the network is designated as the administrative device, wherein the user at the administrative device creates the document and defines attributes of each of the plurality of devices.  
   
   
       19 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein one of the plurality of devices on the network is designated as the back up device, wherein a user at the back up device manages a copy of any document sent by users in the network and controls mechanisms to restore information eventually lost by the users.  
   
   
       20 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the data packets are transmitted to each of the plurality of device using an electronic mail application.  
   
   
       21 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the data packets are transmitted upon establishing a point-to-point connection with each of the plurality of devices.  
   
   
       22 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein a daemon function is utilized to facilitate transmission of the data packets.  
   
   
       23 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the initiation of the transmission is incorporated in a shell.  
   
   
       24 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the document incorporates a mark-up language.