Device, method, and system for providing an electronic reading environment
First Claim
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1. A method of assisting in the assimilation of electronic information, the method comprising:
- selecting a portion of an electronic document that is to remain visible to a user;
generating a window that displays the selected portion of the electronic document;
converting the electronic document into a hyper-document so that each word in the hyper-document comprises an access point;
selecting a first access point from the hyper-document;
performing a first electronic search in response to selecting the first access point;
selecting a second access point from search results provided by the first electronic search;
generating a map that graphically represents a user-guided exploratory path from the first access point to the second access point;
performing a second electronic search in response to selecting the second access point;
selecting a third access point from search results provided by the second electronic search; and
updating the map so that the map is shaped by a user-guided exploratory path from the first access point to the second access point to the third access point so as to only indicate the search results that the user has viewed.
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Abstract
A device, method, and system for providing an electronic reading environment are described herein. The device, method, and system convert standard electronic text into a hyper-text document. The hyper-text document transforms standard electronic text into access points that allow a reader to further explore each word, group of words, or image in the hyper-text document. Navigational aids and features assist in combining the advantages of paper-based and electronic-based text into one electronic reading environment for reading any electronic text.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of assisting in the assimilation of electronic information, the method comprising:
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selecting a portion of an electronic document that is to remain visible to a user; generating a window that displays the selected portion of the electronic document; converting the electronic document into a hyper-document so that each word in the hyper-document comprises an access point; selecting a first access point from the hyper-document; performing a first electronic search in response to selecting the first access point; selecting a second access point from search results provided by the first electronic search; generating a map that graphically represents a user-guided exploratory path from the first access point to the second access point; performing a second electronic search in response to selecting the second access point; selecting a third access point from search results provided by the second electronic search; and updating the map so that the map is shaped by a user-guided exploratory path from the first access point to the second access point to the third access point so as to only indicate the search results that the user has viewed. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method of simulating paper-based text in an electronic environment, the method comprising:
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converting an electronic document into a hyper-document in order to provide a first access point; displaying the electronic document; a user marking the electronic document, wherein marking includes writing electronic textual notes on the electronic document; maintaining an accessible view of the marked document so that the marked document may be brought into view at any point during an exploratory search; exploring the first access point by using an electronic reference source to return a second electronic document that is related to the first access point; and graphically relating the marked document, the second electronic document, and electronic documents subsequently returned by further exploring in a manner that allows the user to view relationships between all of the electronic documents and to return to any of the electronic documents. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of assisting in the assimilation of electronic information, the method comprising:
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promoting a user'"'"'s focus on a main electronic document by; (i) converting the main document into a hyper-document, wherein the conversion creates a first access point that leads to a plurality of access points within a plurality of electronic documents; (ii) receiving a first user annotation related to the main document; (iii) storing the first user annotation on the main document in a graphical manner; and (iv) graphically displaying the main document during a user'"'"'s exploratory search away from the main document; and supporting the user'"'"'s exploratory search away from the main document by; (i) providing the first access point in the main document; (ii) upon selection of the first access point, creating in real-time a route map that is centered on the main document; (iii) upon selection of the second access point, updating the route map, wherein the route map provides access to the first access point and every electronic document previously accessed in the exploratory search; (iv) receiving a second user annotation related to the second access point; and (v) storing the second user annotation on the second document in a graphical manner. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification