Xerox Corporation

Mark A Howard

Ian E Smith

Nicolas B Ducheneaut

Richard R Burton

Christine M Neuwirth

Trevor F Smith

Victoria C Bellotti

Victoria M E Bellotti

Victoria M Bellotti

Karen Marcelo

An Internet-scale file sharing system includes a client-side file sharing application that allows file-sharing users to identify files to share and transmit metadata corresponding to those files to a metadata repository. A server-side application operating on the metadata repository tracks metadata received from associated file-sharing users, as well as metadata from other affiliated metadata repositories. Each metadata repository acts as a search engine for any querying users and can provide search results based on locally stored metadata alone. Each metadata repository may additionally choose to locally-store popular files from an associated file-sharing user so as to alleviate transmission burdens on that file-sharing user. Associated metadata repositories each periodically synchronize their stored metadata so that all metadata repositories may generate similar search results. In such manner, file-sharing queries need only be performed by the metadata repository receiving the query, and not by all associated metadata repositories.

Multi-tiered structure for file sharing based on social roles

A method for providing emergent and flexible workflow management to a user. The user communicates with other users, using a message-based system having embedded information management resources. The message-based system has a viewer. A message is generated at the message-based system. The message has metadata. The metadata of the message is updated using the embedded information management resources. The metadata include at least one of the group of a deadline, a reminder, a deferral and an obligation. The message is sent to the other users. Some of the metadata of the message are displayed on the viewer of the message-based system. Some of the metadata of the message are tracked at the message-based system.

Method and system for flexible workflow management

A method, system, and article of manufacture for performing computation on an electronic message without the involvement of a user is provided. By including a command instruction in an electronic message which identifies an application provider for performing the computation and includes parameters and values to indicate what information is to be provided to the application provider, the message can be sent by a user and computation can be performed without the involvement of the user. The method, system, and article of manufacture is designed to intercept the message, control the computation, modify the message, and deliver it to the intended recipients.

Active electronic messaging system

A method for managing and tracking information items within a message-based system. The message-based system has a viewer which include a first, a second and a third viewing panes. A plurality of thrasks is generated. Each of the thrasks includes at least one information item having a set of metadata. A new information item is sorted into one of the thrasks in accordance with at least one criterion. Some of the thrasks are displayed in the first viewing pane. A list of the information items of a thrask selected from the displayed thrasks is displayed in the second viewing pane. For each of the displayed information items at least one of the respective metadata is displayed. Some of the content of an information item selected from the list of the displayed information items is displayed in the third viewing pane.

User interface for a message-based system having embedded information management capabilities

A method and a system for managing and tracking information items within a message-based system on a user system are disclosed. The message-based system has a viewer. A thrask is generated. The thrask includes at least one information item having a set of metadata. A new information is sorted into the thrask in accordance with at least one criterion. The thrask and at least one of the metadata of one of the information items in the thrask are displayed in the viewer.

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San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Mark A Howard