METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IDENTIFYING USERS IN A COLLABORATIVE COMPUTER-BASED SYSTEM

摘要

The method of the present invention may be utilized for providing identification of blocks of text or other portions of a shared data object in a collaborative computer based system. The collaborative computer based system includes a plurality of workstations. Each workstation includes an output display device and a user input device. The system includes a shared data object, simultaneously accessible by a plurality of users of the system. Responsive to a user obtaining access to the shared data object, the user is assigned a cursor for display on the visual display devices of other users. The assigned cursor has a user related visual characteristic. Responsive to user selection, previously unselected portions of the shared data object may be associated to a user. Upon such association of a portion of the shared data object, a user related visual characteristic of the establishing user is extended to the newly associated portion. Further, a second visual at tribute is extended to the object to identify the nature of the association, such as whether other users are to be locked out of modifying these associated portions.