Interaction system and method

#The preferred embodiments of the present invention relate to the management of interactions between multiple entities. In some illustrative embodiments, interactions are managed via an online interaction system presenting users with a plurality of different interaction mechanisms, such as some examples, webcasts, e-mail, discussion boards, chat-rooms, video conferencing and more.

#Following the advent of widely used public and other computer networks such as the Internet, the world wide web, various wide area networks and the like, a variety of forms of electronic and other communication and interaction means have been introduced into societies across the globe. Various new methods of communication and interaction include e-mail, webcasts, chat-rooms, threaded discussion boards, video conferencing and more.

#With the rapid emergence of new e-businesses and informational and other web sites, a wide range of electronic communication and interaction mechanisms have been implemented in many contexts, such as in business-to-business websites, consumer-to-business websites and assorted other web applications. Despite the existence of and wide use of numerous communication and interaction mechanisms, there remains a need for new communication and interaction systems and methods improving upon the present state of the art and limitations therein.

#The attached figures are shown by way of example and not limitation, in which:

#FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an interaction domain model according to some embodiments of the invention;

#FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an interaction mechanism domain model according to some embodiments of the invention;

#In some illustrative examples, preferred embodiments of the invention can be applied in the context of an online university (i.e., an e-University) or the like environment. For example, an online university or the like may provide instruction and various teaching and/or administrative functions in an online environment over a computer network, such as a public network, like the world wide web or the Internet, a wide area network, a virtual private network and/or any other network of computers. However, various other embodiments may be applied into any environment which, like an electronic university or the like, supports interactions between a plurality of entities.

#Illustrative embodiments of the present invention can be employed using a computer system having one or more computers. FIG. 5 shows one illustrative computer system in which some embodiments of the present invention can be employed, including a computer network (e.g. such as the world wide web, the Internet, a wide area network (WAN), an intranet, a virtual private network (VPN), any other network of computers, a combination of such networks, or the like) having at least one client computer (e.g., a personal computer, lap top computer, personal digital assistant or any other computer device or system) and at least one server for providing information and/or services to the client computers via the network. As shown, at least one application computer can be provided that may perform various tasks and/or processes. The application computer(s), client computers and server(s) can include any appropriate computers. Illustrative computers can include, e.g.: a central processing unit; memory (e.g., RAM, etc.); digital data storage (e.g., hard drives, etc.); input/output ports (e.g., parallel and/or serial ports, etc.); data entry devices (e.g., key boards, etc.); etc. The client computers may contain browser software for interacting with the server(s), such as, for example, using hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) to make requests of the server(s) via the Internet or the like.

#In an illustrative example, the system shown in FIG. 5 can be used to create an online user interface, such as a website interface, a graphical user interface or the like that is presented to users at client computers to enable users to interact with the system. While the illustrated embodiment shows a client/server system, various other embodiments can include other arrangements of one or more computer(s).