Unified Message Stream for Collaborative Document Editing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity of managing messages and comments in collaborative editing of electronic documents across different applications increases user productivity issues due to the need for frequent context switching and disjointed communication channels.
Innovation Solution
An electronic document system integrates activity data, including messages, with both end-user applications and communication applications, allowing message data to be stored in a stream accessible across multiple documents, enabling notification of new messages and seamless access within the document context.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If users communicate about electronic documents through separate communication applications outside the document context, then communication flexibility is improved, but user productivity deteriorates due to frequent context switching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges communication functionality with document editing by integrating message streams directly into the document interface. Users can send and receive messages related to specific document locations without leaving the document context, combining what were previously separate communication and document editing applications into a unified system.
Solution Approach 2:
The document interface is enhanced to serve multiple functions: it acts as both a document editor and a communication platform. The same interface that displays document content also displays message streams, allowing users to perform editing and communication tasks within a single application context.
2Adaptability or versatility
If users switch between end user application and communication application to manage document-related messages, then communication capability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to context switching
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines document viewing and message communication into a single integrated interface. Message streams are displayed alongside or within the document view, eliminating the need to switch between applications and making the system easier to operate while maintaining full communication capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If messages are distributed across multiple communication channels outside the document, then communication flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases due to managing multiple applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple communication channels and document editing functionality into a single integrated system. Instead of requiring separate communication applications and document editors, the system provides message streams within the document interface, reducing the number of separate applications users must manage while maintaining communication flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
To manage complexity related to messages and comments about collaboratively edited electronic documents, an electronic document has associated activity data and comment data, where a type of activity data includes messages among users. Message data is stored in a stream of activity data in a format that is accessible both to communication applications outside of the electronic document, and to end user applications for editing the electronic document. The message data can include a document identifier, a user identifier for a sender and/or a receiver, and content of the message. A communication application, given a user identifier, can access document messages for that user, from a single electronic document or over multiple electronic documents. Further, the communication application can be notified when new document messages related to a user identifier are added to one or more electronic documents. Additionally, the end user application, given a document identifier, can access document messages associated with that document identifier for inclusion in the activity data for the document.