System and method for synchronizing collaborative form filling

Abstract

A system and method for synchronizing collaborative web applications, such as collaborative form filling, including using a message bus server and HTTP protocol.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process for co-browsing by a first user and a second user wherein the first user is an agent and the second user is a participant and each of the first and second users having their own respective web browser and input device, the method comprising the steps of:
 downloading a web page data to a container of the agent;   passing the web page data from the container of the agent to a message bus server component;   delivering the web page data from the message bus server component to a container of the participant;   receiving an input from an input device of the agent resulting in a change to the web page data in the container of the agent and sending, a notification of the change to the container of the participant, so that the container of the participant is substantially synchronized with the container of the agent;   the agent receiving a notification of one or more changes to the container of the participant following an input from an input device of the participant for changing the container of the participant, and updating the container of the agent based on the notification, so that the container of the agent is substantially synchronized with the container of the participant;   wherein during the co-browsing, the containers reside in the volatile member of the respective users; and   the agent container has functionality that differs from the participant container.   
     
     
         2 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ability for the participant to enter any modification to the container of the participant using an input device of the participant is controlled by the agent. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the container of the agent has a scroll position of the web page being the same as a scroll position of the web-page of the participant. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the input device of the participant is a mouse or touchpad. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the input device of the participant is a keyboard. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more changes includes one or more characters. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the container of the agent includes the mouse location of the participant. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the container of the participant is different from the container of the agent. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the container of the agent has one or more functionalities that is not in the container of the participant. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the container of the participant has one or more functionalities that is not in the container of the agent. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the process includes a step of sending the location of a cursor or pointing device of the container of the customer to the container of the agent 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the container of the agent is an application that runs a network browser. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the container of the agent controls the flow of messages or other information to the application that runs the network browser. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the container contains one or more plug-ins. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the first user and the second user both include a display unit, and the process includes synchronizing the appearance of a window on the display units 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the input device of the participant includes a keyboard, and the input device of the agent includes a keyboard, and the one or more changes includes one or more characters. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the container of the agent includes the mouse location of the participant. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the container of the participant is different from the container of the agent. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the ability for the participant to enter any modification to the container of the participant using an input device of the participant is controlled by the agent; the container of the agent has one or more functionalities that is not in the container of the participant; the process includes a step of sending the location of a cursor or pointing device of the container of the agent to the container of the participant; and the container of the agent is an application that runs a network browser. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the container of the agent controls the flow of messages or other information to the application that runs the network browser; the container contains one or more plug-ins; and wherein the first user and the second user both include a display unit, and the process includes synchronizing the appearance of a window on the display units