System and method for annotating web-based documents

• US 6,859,909 B1
• Filed: 03/07/2000
• Issued: 02/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Hurst-Hiller, Oliver, Lerner, Matthew Rubin, Kocher, Jesse Gardner, Peck, David Keel
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Maikhanh
• Application Number:
  US09/521,022
• Time in Patent Office: 1,813 Days
• Field of Search: 715/512, 715/501.1, 715/530, 715/526, 715/500, 345/440, 709/203, 709/217
• US Class Current: 715/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• 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

The present invention allows computer users to integrate any annotation, including ink, highlighter, text-based notes and audio, directly into a Web-based document (WBD) displayed by a Web browser. This integration enables others to view the personalized annotated WBD, which retains its original active links and properties, over the Internet without the need for specialized software. Annotations are integrated into WBDs by freezing the WBD, overlaying an image file containing the annotations onto the WBD, and enabling browser events to pass through the image layer. Annotations may also be integrated into WBDs by using component object technology. The present invention collects and organizes annotated WBDs, and provides users with an intuitive Web-based interface for accessing, viewing and searching the annotated WBDs. Users may annotate blank WBDs, effectively converting their Web browsers into online notebooks/ scrapbooks. The present invention also provides users with many novel interface techniques, such as dog-ears and its associated navigation tools, splitting pages, turning pages, selecting and copying various portions of a WBD (including shaking out a copy), and marking menus suited for right-handed or left-handed users.

Claims

1. A method for annotating a Web-based document and viewing the annotated document, comprising the steps of:

(a) generating annotation data by processing first user input provided to annotation client software by a first user of the annotation client software;

(b) associating the annotation data with the document to create the annotated document, the document being displayed via a Web browser;

(c) providing the annotated document to an annotation server;

(d) with the annotation server, generating a graphic data file corresponding to a visual layout of the annotation data;

(e) when a second user of the annotation client software attempts to view the annotated document, generating the annotated document for the second user as a function of the document and the associated annotation data including

(i) enclosing the annotated document inside a fixed-sized layer of the Web browser,

(ii) examining each element of the annotated document to detect particular properties which cause the element to move relative to a predetermined corner of the annotated document during resizing of the Web browser, and

(iii) modifying the particular properties to prevent such movements;

(f) when a third user not employing the annotation client software attempts to view the annotated document, generating the annotated document and providing the annotated document to the third user as a function of the document, the graphic data and predetermined programming codes; and

(g) before step a, preventing elements of the document from moving when the document is being one of resized and manipulated.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the annotation data includes at least one of ink marks, highlight marks, text-based note windows and audio dictations.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the document is a blank document.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined corner is a top left corner of the document.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of steps (b) and (e) includes the sub-step of utilizing at least one ActiveX control to draw ink images and text-based note windows over the document based on the annotated data.

6. A method wherein the graphical data file situated on a top of the annotated document is transparent in every location of the annotated document except locations which include ink marks, for annotating a Web-based document and viewing the annotated document, comprising the steps of:

(a) generating annotation data by processing user input provided to annotation client software by a first user of the annotation client software;

(b) associating the annotation data with the document to create the annotated document, the document being displayed via a Web browser;

(c) providing the annotated document to an annotation server;

(d) with the annotation server, generating a graphic data file corresponding to a visual layout of the annotation data;

(e) when a second user of the annotation client software attempts to view the annotated document generating the annotated document for the second user as a function of the document and the associated annotation data; and

(f) when a third user not employing the annotation client software attempts to view the annotated document, generating the annotated document and providing the annotated document to the third user as a function of the document, the graphic data and predetermined programming codes, and wherein step (f) further includes the substeps of;

(i) inserting a further layer into the document to overlay each text-based note window of the annotated document,

(ii) overlaying four identical copies of the graphical data file on top of the annotated document, and

(iii) changing clipping rectangles of the four identical copies in response to the user input to provide proper passage of the user input to the annotated document.