Selective sending of portions of electronic content

• US 6,563,913 B1
• Filed: 08/21/2000
• Issued: 05/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Adrea LLC (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Kaghazian, Leila
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US09/642,713
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93.24, 379/88.13, 379/88.14, 379/88.16, 379/88.17, 379/93.17, 379/93.05, 379/93.06, 379/90.01, 370/352, 709/206
• US Class Current: 379/93.24
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A user of a handheld communication device selects in a foreground process portions of an electronic document. In a background process a new document is prepared that comprises the selected portions. The user selects the address for forwarding the new document, and the new document gets sent in a background process.

Claims

1. A software application for enabling a user to operate on an electronic document, wherein:

the application enables the user in a foreground process to select a portion of information content of the document;

the application prepares in a background process a new electronic document based on the selected portion, including collecting pointers associated with the selected portion and a reference to the document;

the application enables the user in a foreground process to specify a processing of the new document; and

the application processes the new document in a background process as specified by the user.

2. The application of claim 1, wherein:

the document comprises an email message;

the new document comprises a new email message; and

the processing comprises sending the new email message.

3. The application of claim 2, wherein the user has an option of adding an annotation to the new email message before the sending.

4. The application of claim 1, wherein:

the electronic document comprises a Web page; and

the new electronic document comprises a file with an identification of the selected portion.

5. The application of claim 4, wherein the processing comprises sending an email message that enables a receiver to perceive the Web page wherein the selected portion is distinguished.

6. The application of claim 4, wherein:

the application enables the user to add an annotation to the new document; and

the annotation gets rendered when a pointer is positioned within a predetermined area of the Web page when rendered under control of the file.

7. A data processing device comprising a software application for enabling a user to operate on an electronic document, wherein:

the application enables the user in a foreground process to select a portion of information content of the document;

the application prepares in a background process a new electronic document based on the selected portion, including collecting pointers associated with the selected portion and a reference to the document;

the application enables the user in a foreground process to specify a processing of the new document; and

the application processes the new document in a background process as specified by the user.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein:

the document comprises an email message;

the new document comprises a new email message; and

the processing comprises sending the new email message.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the user has an option of adding an annotation to the new email message before the sending.

10. The device of claim 7, comprising a browser, and wherein:

the electronic document comprises a Web page; and

the new electronic document comprises a file with an identification of the selected portion.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the processing comprises sending an email message that enables a receiver to perceive the Web page wherein the selected portion is distinguished.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein:

the application enables the user to add an annotation to the new document; and

the annotation gets rendered when a pointer is positioned within a predetermined area of the Web page when rendered under control of the file.