Methods and systems for facilitating the distribution, sharing, and commentary of electronically published materials
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for managing electronic content, including:
- receiving primary and layered content at a client device, each item of layered content associated with a particular paragraph or a portion thereof in the primary content;
enabling each of a plurality of users to view a particular paragraph or a portion thereof in the primary content, and any layered content associated with that particular paragraph or a portion thereof in the primary content; and
displaying to each of the plurality of users at least one indicator in juxtaposition with the particular paragraph or portion thereof in the primary content viewed by another one of the plurality of users;
updating the position of each displayed indicator as each one of the plurality of users views a new paragraph or portion thereof;
receiving a request from a first user of the plurality of users to communicate with a second user of the plurality of users by selecting the indicator displayed in juxtaposition with the particular paragraph or portion thereof in the primary content viewed by the second user; and
enabling the exchange of information between the first user and the second user.
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Abstract
The present invention shows methods and systems for facilitating the distribution, sharing and commentary of electronically published materials such as educational textbooks. The system incorporates a common system for receiving and publishing the documents. Features of the system including layering, iconic mark-up, user notes and comments, user communication and documents/action sharing.
93 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for managing electronic content, including:
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receiving primary and layered content at a client device, each item of layered content associated with a particular paragraph or a portion thereof in the primary content; enabling each of a plurality of users to view a particular paragraph or a portion thereof in the primary content, and any layered content associated with that particular paragraph or a portion thereof in the primary content; and displaying to each of the plurality of users at least one indicator in juxtaposition with the particular paragraph or portion thereof in the primary content viewed by another one of the plurality of users; updating the position of each displayed indicator as each one of the plurality of users views a new paragraph or portion thereof; receiving a request from a first user of the plurality of users to communicate with a second user of the plurality of users by selecting the indicator displayed in juxtaposition with the particular paragraph or portion thereof in the primary content viewed by the second user; and enabling the exchange of information between the first user and the second user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for managing electronic content, including:
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receiving electronic primary content; identifying a plurality of users; authorizing each of the plurality of users to view the electronic primary content; authorizing each of the plurality of users to add layered content to the electronic primary content; authorizing each of the plurality of users to view the layered content and the electronic primary content; authorizing each of the plurality of users to view at least one indicator in juxtaposition with the particular paragraph or portion thereof in the primary content viewed by another one of the plurality of users; updating the position of each displayed indicator as each one of the plurality of users views a new paragraph or portion thereof; receiving a request from a first user of the plurality of users to communicate with a second user of the plurality of users by selecting the indicator displayed in juxtaposition with the particular paragraph or portion thereof in the primary content viewed by the second user; and enabling the exchange of information between the first user and the second user, whereby each item of layered content is associated with a particular paragraph or portion thereof in the primary content. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for managing electronic content, including:
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a server computer for storing primary and layered content and for communicating with a plurality of client computers, each client device including software operable by a user for downloading and processing the primary and layered content, the server computer comprising; an authorization system for controlling the access of each of the plurality of client devices to the primary and layered content; a user action broadcasting system for enabling each of the client devices to add layered content associated with a particular paragraph or a portion thereof in the primary content and for enabling each of the plurality of client devices to display the layered content associated with a particular paragraph or a portion thereof in the primary content; a user location broadcasting system for enabling each of the client devices to display at least one indicator in juxtaposition with the particular paragraph or portion thereof in the primary content displayed by another one of the plurality of other client devices displaying the primary content; and a user communication system receiving a request from a first client device to communicate with a second client device by selecting an indicator displayed in juxtaposition with the particular paragraph or portion thereof displayed by the second client device and enabling the exchange of information between the first client device and the second client device, wherein the user location broadcasting system updates the at least one displayed indicator as each of the plurality of client devices displays a new paragraph or portion thereof.
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17. A method for dynamically sharing published electronic content amongst a plurality of users, comprising:
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identifying a main, a second, and a third group of electronic contents; authorizing a plurality of users to access the main group of electronic content; authorizing at least a first group of the plurality of users to access the main group of electronic content and the second group of electronic content; and authorizing at least a second group of the plurality of users to access the main group of electronic content and the third group of electronic content; displaying to each of the plurality of users at least one indicator in juxtaposition with the particular paragraph or portion thereof in the main group of electronic content viewed by another one of the plurality of other users; updating the position of each displayed indicator as each one of the plurality of users views a new paragraph or portion thereof; receiving a request from a first user of the plurality of users to communicate with a second user of the plurality of users by selecting the indicator displayed in juxtaposition with the particular paragraph or portion thereof in the primary content viewed by the second user; and enabling the exchange of information between the first user and the second user, whereby the second and third group of electronic contents are layered content, the main group is primary content, and each item of layered content is associated with a particular position in the primary content. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification