System and Methods For Using Short-Hand Interpretation Dictionaries In Collaboration Environments

Abstract

A method for creating and using a short-hand interpretation dictionary in a collaboration environment includes creating or editing a document in a collaboration environment, said document comprising at least one short-hand notation; and replacing the at least one short-hand notation with an interpretation from at least one short-hand dictionary.

1 . A method for creating and using a short-hand interpretation dictionary in a collaboration environment, comprising:
 creating or editing a document in a collaboration environment, said document comprising at least one short-hand notation; and   replacing the at least one short-hand notation with an interpretation from at least one short-hand dictionary.   
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , where an interpretation of a short-hand notation comprises at least one of a corresponding full word, phrase, a definition, a synonym, or a pronunciation for the at least one short-hand notation. 
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said replacing comprises automatically replacing the short-hand notation with an interpretation from the user's personal short-hand dictionary. 
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said replacing comprises automatically suggesting interpretations for the at least one short-hand notation based on the name or domain of the document. 
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said replacing comprises the user choosing an interpretation from a hierarchical list of short-hand dictionaries. 
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein said replacing comprises automatically suggesting interpretations for the at least one short-hand notation based on interpretations found in the hierarchical list of short-hand dictionaries. 
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein said hierarchical list comprises interpretations for the at least one short-hand notation from a user-specific dictionary and at least one of a group, team, or organization short-hand dictionary. 
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one short-hand dictionary comprises interpretations for the at least one short-hand notation categorized by at least one of area, field, or a process associated with at least one user. 
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the user adjusts or selects a categorization for a short-hand notation. 
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising automatically updating the at least one short-hand dictionary when a specific percentage or number of users has a common short-hand notation in their user-specific short-hand dictionaries. 
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the collaboration environment comprises shared web applications, shared web experiences; shared web browsing, web shopping sites, instant messaging, text messaging, online bulletin boards, shared whiteboards, shared document production, discussion forums, discussion threads, or voice over IP. 
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one short-hand dictionary is role-based according to the role of a user of the collaboration environment. 
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein suggested interpretations for the at least one short-hand notation are provided by a spell check of the document. 
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein interpretations for the at least one short-hand notation are automatically suggested based on the first letter of each word in a commonly used phrase or acronym. 
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein interpretations for the at least one short-hand notation are automatically suggested based on the first letter of each syllable of a commonly used word. 
   
   
       16 . A method for searching documents created in a collaboration environment, comprising:
 entering search criteria in a search engine for a database, wherein the search criteria comprises text comprising at least one of a short-hand notation or full words;   searching the user's short-hand dictionary according to the search criteria, wherein if the search criteria comprises a short-hand notation, interpretations for the short-hand notation are obtained from the user short-hand dictionary;   updating the search criteria by adding the interpretations for the short-hand notation; and   passing the revised search criteria to the server.   
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 receiving the updated search criteria;   locating documents in the database comprising the updated search criteria; and   providing a list of located documents to the user.   
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 wherein if the updated search criteria comprises a short-hand notation whose interpretation was not found in the user dictionary, documents are searched for the short-hand notation;   locating documents in the database comprising the short-hand notation; and   combining the located documents with the documents comprising the updated search criteria.   
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the user chooses the level of search by choosing the scope of the at least one short-hand dictionary to be searched. 
   
   
       20 . A system for using a short-hand interpretation dictionary in a collaboration environment, comprising:
 an agent for a collaboration environment;   at least one client; and   at least one database for storing and indexing documents from the collaboration environment.   
   
   
       21 . A system according to  claim 20 , wherein the at least one client comprises:
 an interface module by which users may input and exchange information in the collaboration environment;   a search engine for searching documents in the at least one database; and   a spell check or suggestion tool for suggesting interpretations for a short-hand notation.   
   
   
       22 . A computer program product, comprising:
 a computer useable medium having a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:   create or edit a document in a collaboration environment, said document comprising at least one short-hand notation; and   replace the at least one short-hand notation with an interpretation from at least one short-hand dictionary.