Systems and methods for retrieving data

Abstract

A system and method for providing a data collaboration environment that changes dynamically based on the occurrence of events external to the data collaboration environment is provided. The collaboration environment is defined to include roles, activities and external event specifications. Each role defines data access privileges granted to a user during a session, each activity defines with whom the user can share data, and each external event specification defines an event external to the collaboration environment which must occur before an activity is permitted for a defined role during a session. Data sharing privileges granted to a user change dynamically in response to the occurrence of an external event identified in one of the defined external event specifications.

1 . A method of providing a data collaboration environment that changes dynamically based on occurrence of events external to the data collaboration environment, the method comprising:
 (a) defining a collaboration environment that includes at least roles, activities and external event specifications;   (b) wherein each role defines data access privileges granted to a user during a session;   (c) wherein each activity defines with whom the user can share data;   (d) wherein each external event specification defines an event external to the collaboration environment which must occur before an activity is permitted for a defined role during a session; and   (e) dynamically changing data sharing privileges granted to a user in response to the occurrence of an external event identified in one of the defined external event specifications.   
     
     
         2 . A system of providing a data collaboration environment that changes dynamically based on occurrence of events external to the data collaboration environment, the system comprising:
 (a) at least one repository that defines a collaboration environment by storing information that specifies at least roles, activities and external event specifications; wherein each role defines data access privileges granted to a user during a session; each activity defines with whom the user can share data; and each external event specification defines an event external to the collaboration environment which must occur before an activity is permitted for a defined role during a session; and   (b) at least one software agent, coupled to the at least one repository, that dynamically changes data sharing privileges granted to a user in response to the occurrence of an external event identified in one of the defined external event specifications.