BUILDING METAPHOR

摘要

The present invention concerns a software-based metaphor for a building which is represented as data which is located on a distributed computer network. The building metaphor includes a template which defines an arrangement of elements to be included in a virtual office and defines how those elements are queried in a database. The database contains information which relates to a plurality of specific virtual offices. A station connected to a distributed computer network submits virtual office data to a software engine. The software engine responds by accessing the database and populating the template with information relating to one of a plurality of specific virtual offices. A plurality of virtual offices in a building metaphor are definable by processing a respective virtual office address.