System and method for annotating web-based document

• US 20040210833A1
• Filed: 05/19/2004
• Published: 10/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Hurst-Hiller, Oliver, Lerner, Matthew Rubin, Kocher, Jesse Gardner, Peck, David Keel
• Application Number:
  US10/848,047
• Publication Number:
  US 20040210833A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/512
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/169 Annotation, e.g. comment data or footnotes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/171 by use of digital ink

Abstract

Computer users may integrate any annotation, including ink, highlighter, text-based notes and audio, directly into a Web-based document (WBD) displayed by a Web browser. This integration enables others to view the personalized annotated WBD, which retains its original active links and properties, over the Internet without the need for specialized software. Annotations are integrated into WBDs by freezing the WBD, overlaying an image file containing the annotations onto the WBD, and enabling browser events to pass through the image layer. Annotations may also be integrated into WBDs by using component object technology. By collecting and organizing annotated WBDs, users can be provided with an intuitive Web-based interface for accessing, viewing and searching the annotated WBDs. Users may annotate blank WBDs, effectively converting their Web browsers into online notebooks/scrapbooks. Users may also be provided with many interface techniques, such as dog-ears and its associated navigation tools, splitting pages, turning pages, selecting and copying various portions of a WBD (including shaking out a copy), and marking menus suited for right-handed or left-handed users.

Claims

1. A method for annotating a Web-based document and viewing the annotated document, comprising the steps of:

(a) generating annotation data by processing user input provided to annotation client software by a first user of the annotation client software;

(b) associating the annotation data with the document to create the annotated document, the document being displayed via a Web browser;

(c) providing the annotated document to an annotation server;

(d) with the annotation server, generating a graphic data file corresponding to a visual layout of the annotation data;

(e) when a second user of the annotation client software attempts to view the annotated document, generating the annotated document for the second user as a function of the document and the associated annotation data; and

(f) when a third user not employing the annotation client software attempts to view the annotated document, generating the annotated document and providing the annotated document to the third user as a function of the document, the graphic data and predetermined programming codes.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the annotation data includes at least one of ink marks, highlight marks, text-based note windows and audio dictations.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the document is a blank document.

4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of:

(g) before step a, preventing elements of the document from moving when the document is being one of resized and manipulated.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of steps (b) and (e) includes the sub-step of utilizing at least one ActiveX control to draw ink images and text-based note windows over the document based on the annotated data.

6. A computer arrangement for annotating a Web-based document and viewing the annotated document, comprising:

an input device;

an output device;

a communication device; and

a processor receiving user input from the input device, the user input being provided by interaction of a first user with the annotation client software, the processor associating the annotation data with the document to create the annotated document, the document being displayed via a Web browser, the processor providing the annotated document to an annotation server via the communication device,

wherein the annotation server generates graphic data corresponding to a visual layout of the annotation data,

wherein when a second user of the annotation client software attempts to view the annotated document, the processor generates the annotated document as a function of the document and the associated annotation data, and when a third user without access to the annotation client software attempts to view the annotated document, the processor generates the annotated document and provides the annotated document to the third user as a function of the document, the graphic data and predetermined programming codes.

7. A method for sharing annotated Web-based document, comprising the steps of:

(a) generating an annotated document as a function of a Web-based document and associated annotation data using client annotation software stored on a first user computer;

(b) storing the annotated document on a server computer; and

(c) providing access to the annotated document to a second user computer for viewing, the second user computer not including the client annotation software.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

(d) generating a particular address associated with the annotated document using the client annotation software, the particular address indicating a location of the annotated document on the server computer;

(e) providing the particular address to the second user computer; and

(f) providing access to the annotated document to the second user computer using the particular address.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the particular address includes a Uniform Resource Locator generated from a content hash of the annotated document.