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Method of annotating a primary image with an image and for transmitting the annotated primary image

  • US 6,041,335 A
  • Filed: 02/10/1997
  • Issued: 03/21/2000
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1997
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. In a computing network comprising a plurality of computing systems with each computing system comprising display means for displaying an image, input means for data entry, data storage means, memory means, and an application program stored on the storage means, the program comprising means for capturing a selected portion of an image displayed on the display means for generating a primary image, means for generating a plurality of secondary images having distinguishable attributes, means for selecting at least one secondary image for positioning the secondary image on the generated primary image and for activating the secondary image, means for selecting desired secondary images positioned on the primary image for activating the secondary image for generating an annotatory data input and display region associated with the secondary image, the annotatory region for inputting annotatory data to annotate the primary image and for displaying annotatory data with an associated activated secondary image for viewing annotations to the primary image, means for selectively displaying and hiding annotatory regions so that the regions do not interfere with viewing the primary image, and means for selectively displaying and hiding secondary images positioned on the primary image, a method of superimposing a secondary image on a primary image for annotating the primary image and for routing the primary image through the computing network, the method comprising the steps of:

  • (1) invoking the application program for running the program;

    (2) generating a display image on the display means;

    (3) capturing a selected portion of the display image to generate a primary image;

    (4) repeating step (3) for generating desired additional primary images;

    (5) selecting a desired secondary image;

    (6) positioning the selected secondary image on the primary image;

    (7) activating the secondary image for generating the annotatory data input and display region of the associated secondary image;

    (8) inputting annotatory data into the annotatory region;

    (9) deactivating the associated secondary image for closing the annotatory data region of the associated secondary image;

    (10) deselecting the secondary image;

    (11) repeating steps (5) through (10) for each desired annotation to the primary image;

    (12) generating a routing list of a plurality of users including a first user and subsequent users for transmitting at least one primary image from the first user to subsequent users in a predetermined sequence;

    (13) transmitting at least one primary image from the first user to the subsequent users in the sequence prescribed by the routing list;

    (14) notifying each subsequent user upon receipt of at least one primary image transmitted from the first user;

    (15) upon notification of receipt of at least one primary image, a subsequent user invoking the application program stored on their computer for running the program to perform the following steps;

    (16) calling a received primary image into memory for displaying the image on the display means;

    (17) selecting a desired secondary image positioned on the primary image for activating the secondary image;

    (18) activating the selected secondary image for generating the associated annotatory data region for displaying annotatory data in the region, the annotatory data in the region representative of annotations from the first user;

    (19) deactivating the secondary image for closing the associated annotatory data region of the secondary image for hiding the annotatory data;

    (20) deselecting the secondary image;

    (21) repeating steps (17) through (20) for displaying desired annotations input by the first user;

    (22) selecting a desired secondary image;

    (23) positioning the selected secondary image on the primary image for activating the secondary image and activating the image for generating the associated annotatory data region for displaying annotatory data in the region;

    (24) inputting additional annotatory data into the annotatory region to append the data to the annotatory data input by the first user;

    (25) deactivating the associated secondary image for closing the annotatory data region for hiding the annotatory data and appended annotatory data from the primary image;

    (26) deselecting the secondary image;

    (27) repeating steps (22) through (26) for each desired appended annotation to the primary image;

    (28) repeating steps (5) through (10) for each desired new annotation to the primary image;

    (29) repeating steps (16) through (28) for each primary image received by the user; and

    (30) transmitting each received and annotated primary image to a subsequent next user prescribed by the routing list.

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