Collaborate it: Development of an Architectural Framework for a Collaborative System in an Academic Environment

Abstract

Abstract
The current state of Information and Communication Systems coupled with recent advances in software tools have opened up the opportunities that have enhanced the development of computer collaborative and conference systems. Computer collaborative systems allow users and participants to collaborate and share information/resources over the network from geographically dispersed locations. The floor of a collaborative system is made up of the users currently participating in a collaborative session. Floor control is the mechanism for managing which user(s) is (are) allowed to speak/text/access resources (to) the participants during a session.
Floor control as an essential ingredient in collaboration, is lacking in most of the current systems and has been identified as the most essential aspect of result oriented collaboration and resource sharing in several studies. This paper addresses three floor control policies; free floor, Queue and Bids policies. The architectural framework for CollaborateIT; a moderator-based Desktop Collaborative system capable of managing a seminar with pre-defined participants and roles is presented. The proposed collaborative system architectural framework allows participants seamless access to the floor with strict compliance with the floor control policy and ensuring system state consistency during sessions