Shared annotation system and method

Abstract

The invention relates generally shared annotation systems. More particularly, the invention provides a method for automatically navigating a document in a display having at least a first portion and a second portion, the method comprising: receiving an annotation related to the document, the annotation generated by a user at a first client; associating the annotation with a first indication in the document; receiving, from a user at a second client, an input to navigate a first portion of a display at the second client, the input causing the first indication to be displayed in the first portion of the display; and in response to the input, automatically displaying the annotation in a second portion of the display at the second client.

Description

COPYRIGHT NOTICE [0001] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosures, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The inventions disclosed herein relate generally to collaborative systems and more particularly to shared annotation systems. [0003] Users often wish to collaborate on shared documents in a network. For example, in a business environment, users at different companies may collaborate on a business agreement such as creating a contract or a license agreement. [0004] One issue associated with network collaboration is synchronicity. For example, users often collaborate by exchanging versions of documents via e-mail or other similar means. A first user edits or otherw...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

One issue associated with network collaboration is synchronicity.

While the first user is editing the document, however, the second user cannot provide input since they do not possess the current version of the document (currently being edited by the first user) and therefore do not know what changes the first user might be making.

Similarly, the first user cannot provide further input while the document is being edited by the second user.

Another issue associated with network collaboration is application heterogeneity.

Many users find this technically challenging to configure or simply inconvenient.

Thus, if a user desires to use a media item in a discussion, they must first upload the item to a separate web server or else the link in the '564 patent system database to the item will be invalid.

This presents users with a significant inconvenience.

Discussions are thus limited to hanging off of paragraphs, lists, images, tables, etc. and a user is not, for example, able to link a discussion to an arbitrary word or phrase within the document.

This lack of flexibility limits the user's ability to freely comment within a document and also presents a significant limitation with respect to the level of granularity at which a given document may be discussed.

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