Method and system for transcribing and editing using a structured freeform editor

• US 6,952,803 B1
• Filed: 12/29/1998
• Issued: 10/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Moran, Thomas P., Bloomberg, Dan S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huynh, Thu V.
• Application Number:
  US09/222,209
• Time in Patent Office: 2,471 Days
• Field of Search: 707/530, 707/531, 707/536, 707/539, 707/540, 707/541, 382/186, 382/198, 382/199, 382/189, 715/530, 715/531, 715/536, 715/539, 715/540, 715/541
• US Class Current: 715/236
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/103 Formatting, i.e. changing of presentation of documents automatic justification G06F40/189; automatic line break hyphenation G06F40/191
• 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

A system and method for editing and transcribing using a structured freeform editor is provided. The method implemented in the system includes interpreting structure of freeform graphic elements and selectively editing the structure and/or selectively transcribing scribble elements to an editable format.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for use with a device that stores free freeform data, comprising:

importing the data from the device;

segmenting the data into freeform graphic elements;

interpreting a structure of the freeform graphic elements;

generating a surrogate element based on the structure;

selectively editing the structure; and

selectively transcribing the freeform graphic elements into an editable text format.

2. The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the selective editing includes editing the surrogate element.

3. A computer implemented method for use with a device that stores free freeform data including scribble elements and text, the method comprising:

importing the data from the device;

segmenting the data into freeform graphic elements;

interpreting a structure of the freeform graphic elements;

generating a surrogate element based on the structure; and

selectively editing the structure.

4. The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein the selective editing includes editing the surrogate element.

5. A computer system for use with a device that stores free freeform data including scribble elements and text, the system comprising:

means for importing the data from the device;

means for segmenting the data into freeform graphic elements;

means for interpreting a structure of the freeform graphic elements;

means for generating a surrogate element based on the structure;

means for selectively editing the structure; and

means for selectively transcribing the freeform graphic elements into an editable text format.

6. The system as set forth in claim 5 further comprising means for editing the surrogate element.