Apparatus and method for creating and using documents in a distributed computing network

Abstract

An authoring application for allowing users to create, control and distribute electronic content including a canvas interface for constructing a project of the electronic content from a plurality of resource files, the canvas interface having: a canvas area for constructing screen elements of the selected resource files to create screens; a path area for illustrating a relationship among the screens of the project; and a properties area for adjusting characteristics of the selected screen elements, a reader interface for allowing the users to view the project, the reader interface being accessible from the canvas interface and a resource interface for managing groups, membership in groups, and user accounts, said groups and user accounts having varying levels of control over the project.

1 . A client for authoring an application for allowing users to create, control and distribute electronic content, the client communicating with a distributed computing network, the client comprising:
 a memory storing an instruction set and data representing the electronic content; and   a processor for running the instruction set, the processor in communication with the memory and the distributed computing network, the processor programmed to
 display a resources view on a display of the client, the resources view comprising a resources panel, a shared panel, a folders panel, and a groups and users panel; 
 drag and drop a first resource icon representing a first resource file from the resources panel to the folders panel to create a first folders resource icon displayed in the folders panel; 
 drag and drop a second resource icon representing a second resource file from the shared panel to the folders panel to create a second folders resource icon displayed in the folders panel; 
 display in the groups and users panel one or more groups, and one or more individual members of each group; and 
 drag and drop a selected folders resource icon selected from the first folders resource icon and the second folders resource icon displayed in the folders panel to the groups and users panel to share the selected resource file represented by the selected folders resource icon with a recipient in the groups and users panel. 
   
     
     
         2 . A client as in  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to drag and drop a third resource icon representing a third resource file from the resources panel to the groups and users panel to share the third resource file with the recipient in the groups and users panel. 
     
     
         3 . A client as in  claim 1 , wherein the recipient in the groups and users panel is one of the groups or one of the individual members. 
     
     
         4 . A client as in  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to drag and drop a shared resource icon representing a shared resource file from the shared panel to the folders panel to create a third folders resource icon displayed in the folders panel. 
     
     
         5 . A client as in  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to drag and drop a shared resource icon representing a shared resource file from the shared panel to the resources panel to create a third resource icon representing a third resource file displayed in the resources panel. 
     
     
         6 . A client for authoring an application for allowing users to create, control and distribute electronic content, the client communicating with a distributed computing network, the client comprising:
 a memory storing an instruction set and data representing the electronic content; and   a processor for running the instruction set, the processor in communication with the memory and the distributed computing network, the processor programmed to
 display a resources view on a display of the client, the resources view comprising a resources panel, a shared panel, a folders panel, and a groups and users panel; 
 drag and drop a first project icon representing a first project from the resources panel to the folders panel to create a first folders project icon displayed in the folders panel; 
 drag and drop a second project icon representing a second project from the shared panel to the folders panel to create a second folders project icon displayed in the folders panel; 
 display in the groups and users panel one or more groups, and one or more individual members of each group; and 
 drag and drop a selected project folders icon selected from the first folders project icon and the second folders project icon displayed in the folders panel to the groups and users panel to share the selected project represented by the selected folders project icon with a recipient in the groups and users panel. 
   
     
     
         7 . A client as in  claim 6 , wherein the processor is further programmed to drag and drop a third project icon representing a third project from the resources panel to the groups and users panel to share the third project with the recipient in the groups and users panel. 
     
     
         8 . A client as in  claim 6 , wherein the recipient in the groups and users panel is one of the groups or one of the individual members. 
     
     
         9 . A client as in  claim 6 , wherein the processor is further programmed to drag and drop a shared project icon representing a shared project from the shared panel to the folders panel to create a third folders project icon displayed in the folders panel. 
     
     
         10 . A client as in  claim 6 , wherein the processor is further programmed to drag and drop a shared project icon representing a shared project from the shared panel to the resources panel to create a third project icon representing a third project displayed in the resources panel.