Multi-document context aware annotation system
First Claim
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1. A method for document annotation, comprising:
- providing a contextual framework extending over multiple electronic documents and multiple software applications, wherein the framework is independent of the software applications that are used to create and view the documents;
receiving annotations input to a computer by a user with respect to two or more of the documents, while the user views the documents on a computer screen, the two or more of the documents comprising at least a first document that is viewed by the user using a first software application on the computer, and a second document that is viewed by the user using a second software application on the computer, the annotations comprising an input from the user selecting at least one of the documents and indicating a location in the at least one of the documents at which at least one of the annotations is to be made;
storing each of the annotations together with respective context information in a memory of the computer, the context information comprising multiple fields defined by the framework, the fields comprising a file name of the at least one of the documents and the location indicated by the user in the at least one of the documents;
sorting the annotations with respect to the two or more documents according to one or more of the multiple fields of the respective context information; and
outputting the sorted annotations for viewing by the user in an annotation listing comprising user-operable links from the annotations to the documents with respect to which the annotations were received.
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Abstract
A method for document annotation includes providing a contextual framework extending over multiple electronic documents. Annotations are input to a computer by a user with respect to two or more of the documents, while the user views the documents on a computer screen. Each of the annotations is stored together with respective context information in a memory of the computer, the context information including multiple fields defined by the framework. The annotations are sorted with respect to the two or more documents according to one or more of the multiple fields of the respective context information, and the sorted annotations are output for viewing by the user.
99 Citations
51 Claims
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1. A method for document annotation, comprising:
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providing a contextual framework extending over multiple electronic documents and multiple software applications, wherein the framework is independent of the software applications that are used to create and view the documents; receiving annotations input to a computer by a user with respect to two or more of the documents, while the user views the documents on a computer screen, the two or more of the documents comprising at least a first document that is viewed by the user using a first software application on the computer, and a second document that is viewed by the user using a second software application on the computer, the annotations comprising an input from the user selecting at least one of the documents and indicating a location in the at least one of the documents at which at least one of the annotations is to be made; storing each of the annotations together with respective context information in a memory of the computer, the context information comprising multiple fields defined by the framework, the fields comprising a file name of the at least one of the documents and the location indicated by the user in the at least one of the documents; sorting the annotations with respect to the two or more documents according to one or more of the multiple fields of the respective context information; and outputting the sorted annotations for viewing by the user in an annotation listing comprising user-operable links from the annotations to the documents with respect to which the annotations were received. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. Apparatus for document annotation, comprising:
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a workstation processor; a memory; a display, coupled to be driven by the workstation to display documents for viewing by a user; and a user input device, which is coupled to receive annotations input by the user while viewing two or more of the documents on the display, the two or more of the documents comprising at least a first document that is viewed by the user using a first software application on the computer, and a second document that is viewed by the user using a second software application on the computer, the annotations comprising an input from the user selecting at least one of the documents and indicating a location in the at least one of the documents at which at least one of the annotations is to be made, wherein the processor is arranged to provide a contextual framework extending over multiple electronic documents and multiple software applications, wherein the framework is independent of the software applications that are used to create and view the documents, such that upon receiving the annotations input by the user with respect to the two or more of the documents, the processor stores each of the annotations in the memory together with respective context information comprising multiple fields defined by the framework, the fields comprising a file name of the at least one of the documents and the location indicated by the user in the at least one of the documents, the processor being further arranged to sort the annotations with respect to the two or more of the documents according to one or more of the multiple fields of the respective context information, and to output the sorted annotations for viewing by the user in an annotation listing comprising user operable links from the annotations to the documents with respect to which the annotations were received. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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- 35. A computer software product, comprising a computer readable medium in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a computer, cause the computer to provide a contextual framework extending over multiple electronic documents and multiple software applications, wherein the framework is independent of the software applications that are used to create and view the documents, and further cause the computer to receive annotations input to the computer by a user with respect to two or more of the documents, while the user views the documents on a computer screen, the annotations comprising an input from the user selecting at least one of the documents and indicating a location in the at least one of the documents at which at least one of the annotations is to be made, the two or more of the documents comprising at least a first document that is viewed by the user using a first software application on the computer, and a second document that is viewed by the user using a second software application on the computer, and to store each of the annotations together with respective context information in a memory of the computer, the context information comprising multiple fields defined by the framework, the fields comprising a file name of the at least one of the documents and the location indicated by the user in the at least one of the documents, wherein the instructions further cause the computer to sort the annotations with respect to the two or more documents according to one or more of the multiple fields of the respective context information, and to output the sorted annotations for viewing by the user in an annotation listing comprising user-operable links from the annotations to the documents with respect to which the annotations were received.
Specification