TellTable: a Server for Collaborative Office Applications
Andy Adler, John C. M. Nash, Tony K. Quon · 2004
TellTable is a Linux-based application server which allows collaborative editing using single-user office productivity applications. Users log into the application via an SSLenabled and Java-enabled web browser. Files to edit or view are opened in a VNC session on the server, the screen image is exported to a Java client in the user's browser, and all keyboard and mouse activity is then transmitted to the server. Editing conflicts are prevented using a locking protocol. In principle, TellTable allows any single user GUI application to be managed this way; we have tested it with OpenOffice, Microsoft Excel, and Gnumeric. Pilot tests showed that TellTable is usable over dialup and highlatency internet connections, but works best over higher speed connections. This paper reviews the technical design of TellTable and the interactions of the various components, as well as security issues.