Asynchronous collaboration via audio/video annotation

• US 20050210393A1
• Filed: 05/16/2005
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tandberg Telecom AS (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Forgent Networks (Asure Software)
• Inventors: Maeng, Joon
• Application Number:
  US11/129,962
• Publication Number:
  US 20050210393A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/751
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4393 Multimedia presentations, e.g. slide shows, multimedia albums
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A system and method is disclosed for asynchronous collaboration between a plurality of remote users. More specifically, a system based on a client/server architecture is disclosed, in which a remote user may create a combined message having an audiovisual message and an image file on which collaboration is to occur. The remote user may then transmit the message and file to a central location, where it is stored and then accessed by other remote users for viewing, replying, and editing.

Claims

1. A method of asynchronous communication by a plurality of users via a network of interconnected computers, comprising:

selecting, at a client site, a file and capturing the file as an image file;

annotating at least one portion of the image file, wherein annotating is selected from the group consisting of editing, mark-up, commenting and highlighting;

creating, at least at the client site, an audiovisual message, the audiovisual message relating to the annotated image file, wherein creating comprises capturing digital information;

appending the annotated image file and the audiovisual message, whereby an annotated combined message results therefrom; and

electronically delivering via the computer network the annotated combined message to at least one of the plurality of users.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of electronically delivering comprises streaming the digital information via the network.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating a reply record, the reply record having audiovisual material, the reply record being in response to the annotated combined message.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the reply record is created by one of the plurality of users, and further wherein the one of the plurality of users annotates the annotated image file.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the annotation of at least one portion of the image file is accomplished by way of a cursor-based highlighter.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the creating comprises accessing a user interface, the user interface having stateful buttons.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting further comprises activating the image file for editing.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronically delivering comprises transmitting the annotated combined message to a central server for storage and further transmission.

9. A method of asynchronous communication by creating and delivering an electronic audiovisual message between a plurality of users over a network of interconnected computers, comprising:

selecting, at a client site, a file and capturing at least a portion of an electronic document as an image file;

annotating at least one portion of the image file, wherein annotating is selected from the group consisting of editing, mark-up, commenting and highlighting;

creating an electronic audiovisual message by capturing, at least at the client site, digital information via at least a plurality of capture devices comprising a camera device and audiovisual playback equipment connected to a computer workstation, wherein the electronic audiovisual message relates to the annotated image file;

appending the annotated image file and the audiovisual message, wherein a graphical user interface (GUI) is utilized to assist in creating and appending the electronic audiovisual message and annotated image file, whereby an annotated combined message results therefrom; and

electronically delivering via the computer network the annotated combined message to at least one of the plurality of users.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the audiovisual playback equipment comprises a video monitor and audio speakers.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the computer workstation comprises audio encoders, video encoders, audio decoders and video decoders.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the audio and image data is compressed utilizing a plurality of compression schemes to save storage space.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the data is encrypted to prevent unauthorized access to the data.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the data is encrypted to prevent unauthorized access to the data.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the GUI comprises a first, second and third state, wherein each of the first, second and third states comprise a plurality of stateful buttons, wherein the buttons are graphical representations of a plurality of functions available via a selection device.

16. A method of creating and delivering an electronic audiovisual message via a network of computing means, comprising:

capturing at least a portion of an electronic document as an image file;

annotating the image file, wherein annotating is selected from the group consisting of editing, mark-up, commenting and highlighting;

creating the electronic audiovisual message, the electronic audiovisual message regarding the annotation of the image file;

combining the annotated image file and the electronic audiovisual message into an annotated combined message; and

delivering the annotated combined message to at least one desired recipient via the network.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising replying to the annotated combined message via the network, wherein the replying comprises creating an audiovisual reply designated for insertion at a predetermined point in the annotated combined message.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of replying comprises delivering the audiovisual reply with an address pointer indicative of the predetermined point.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of delivering comprises storing the annotated combined message at a remote location and sending an electronic notification having, a uniform resource locator corresponding to the location.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of delivering comprises streaming the annotated combined message to the at least one desired recipient via the Internet.

21. A machine-readable storage medium comprising a set of instructions executable by a computer system to implement a method, the method comprising:

providing a graphical user interface to allow a user to select desired content as an image file;

permitting the user to annotate the image file with an annotation, wherein the annotation is selected from the group consisting of editing, mark-up, commenting and highlighting;

capturing audiovisual material responsive to the annotated image file as a digital file;

pairing the digital file and the annotated image file as an annotated combined file; and

delivering the annotated combined file to at least one desired location via the computer system.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the machine-readable storage medium comprises any of magnetic storage medium selected from the group consisting of disk and tape storage medium;

optical storage medium, comprising compact disk memory and digital video disk storage medium;

nonvolatile memory storage memory;

volatile storage medium; and

modulated, electronic signals.