Active annotation mechanism for document management systems

• US 6,950,982 B1
• Filed: 11/19/1999
• Issued: 09/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Dourish, James P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, MAIKHANH
• Application Number:
  US09/443,702
• Time in Patent Office: 2,139 Days
• Field of Search: 715/512, 715/501.1, 715/500.1, 715/515, 715/526, 715/511, 715/524, 709/217, 709220-222, 713/1, 713/100
• US Class Current: 715/234
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/169 Annotation, e.g. comment data or footnotes

Abstract

An active annotation mechanism detects annotations on a document which may be in the form of in-line annotations and out-of-band annotations, which may be inputted through a variety of input devices. The active annotation mechanism detects the annotations added to a document and determines whether the annotation of the document requires further action or whether the annotation is simply commentaries on the text, a note of other related items, etc. When it is determined that annotations require further action, the annotation is detected. The active annotation will carry an indication of an activity to be carried out, or a parameter that configures the activity, or both. The active annotation which has been detected, is then carried out by the document management system.

Claims

1. A method of annotating a document of a document management system, the method comprising:

generating executable code to detect an annotation which requires an action to be undertaken;

assigning the executable code configured to an active property for dynamically changing a system configuration of the document to include a desire configuration which achieves a desired operation; and

attaching the active property to the document, the property identifying the desired operation to be undertaken in connection with the document as required by the annotation;

electronically scanning the document;

detecting the annotation added to the scanned document;

decoding the detected annotation;

examining content of the decoded annotation;

determining an action to be undertaken with reference to the document, based on the content of the annotation; and

performing the action required by the content of the annotation, wherein the document management system is configured to dynamically charge the system configuration of the document.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the annotation is detected by an active annotation mechanism configured to be aware of a nature of the annotation content and applications whose behavior is coordinated to perform the action required by the annotation, and wherein operation of the active annotation mechanism permits performance of the action required by the content of the annotation without user intervention.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the active annotation mechanism is invoked when the document is stored.

4. The method according to claim 2 wherein the active annotation mechanism is invoked at predetermined time intervals.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the annotation carries at least one of an activity to be carried out and a parameter that configures that activity.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the annotation is stored with the document.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the annotation is stored separate from the document.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the active annotation mechanism operates over at least plain text, files, program source code and presentations.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the annotation is placed on the document at least as one of an in-line annotation and an out-of-band annotation.

10. The method according to claim 1, further including, assigning a triggering event to the active property such that the property invokes the executable code in response to the triggering event;

and

upon an occurrence of the triggering event, invoking the executable code of the actual property and dynamically changing the system configuration of the document to include the desired configuration, as required by the annotation.