System for Establishing Online Collaborators for Collaborating on a Network-Hosted Project

Abstract

A system for hosting multiple collaborators in real time, the collaborators contributing content and or edits to content in an image and or text-based project hosted on a data network through a Website accessible to the collaborators by computer browser includes a server connected to the data network, the server having access to a digital medium containing an executable graphics user interface (GUI) for contributing content and for editing content, and a collaborator configuration interface available through the Website enabling a user to designate one or more other users as approved for collaboration on a given project. Users who are approved to collaborate have real time access to the image and or text-based project through their own versions of the network-based GUI.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED DOCUMENTS[0001]The present application is a divisional application of co-pending application Ser. No. 12 / 838,347, filed Jul. 16, 2010, which is a non-provisional application to provisional application 61 / 227,042, filed Jul. 20, 2009. Priority is claimed to the priority date of the parent application, and the entire disclosure of the parent application is incorporated herein at least by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention is in the field of electronic commerce and pertains particularly to systems for establishing online collaborators for online projects.[0004]2. Discussion of the State of the Art[0005]In the field of electronic commerce also known as ecommerce, there are project-oriented Websites where users may create and edit works including models, poems, art, and photo-based products. Websites catering to photo-based editing promote online publishing and online transacting relative to printed w...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]The present inventor realized in an inventive moment that if, during editing, work could be reduced by enabling multiple users to simultaneously work on the project, a significant increase in efficiency and reductions in print errors might result. The inventor therefore constructed a unique system that allowed users to collaborate and contribute to a project in real time, but constrained time delays and potential errors to an absolute minimum. A significant improvement in the user experience results, with no impediment to the overall process created.

Problems solved by technology

The problem stated above is that efficiency and flexibility are desirable in creating and editing photo-based projects over a data network, but many of the conventional means for photo editing, such as Photoshop type editors, also create inefficiencies and can result in error-prone finished products.

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