Annotation Anchoring via Topographic Pattern Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for annotating electronic documents face challenges such as annotation conflicts and consolidation issues in collaborative environments, particularly in single-file and file-broadcast models, where simultaneous editing and annotation management across multiple users and document versions become complex.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that separates annotation information from the document file, creating annotation metadata and anchoring it to a target document at specific locations using topographic patterns, allowing for seamless sharing and compatibility across different document formats and versions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If annotations are physically anchored in the document file, then annotation placement is stable, but annotation consolidation becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the annotation system into two independent components: document content and annotation metadata. Annotations are stored as separate metadata objects rather than being physically embedded in the document file, allowing independent management and consolidation without affecting document integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (annotation metadata with topographic patterns) that mediates between the document content and annotation placement. This intermediary layer uses pattern matching to automatically anchor annotations to relevant document sections, eliminating manual consolidation efforts.
2Productivity
If multiple collaborators work on the same document simultaneously, then collaboration efficiency is improved, but annotation conflicts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables collaborators to work on copies of the document with their own annotations independently. Annotation metadata from different collaborators can be consolidated by matching topographic patterns without requiring sequential check-in/check-out operations, eliminating annotation conflicts while maintaining collaboration efficiency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If annotations are stored in a separate annotation file, then document flexibility is improved, but annotation anchoring complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the anchoring problem from physical position-based to pattern-based matching. By using topographic patterns (structural, semantic, and contextual parameters) instead of fixed positions, the system achieves document flexibility while automating the anchoring process through pattern comparison algorithms.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method of annotating an electronic document may include receiving annotation information corresponding to a first electronic document file and creating annotation metadata that is associated with the annotation information. The method may further include storing the annotation information and associated annotation metadata in an annotation file that is separate from the first electronic document file, and anchoring the annotation information to a target electronic document file at an anchor location corresponding to the annotation metadata. The annotation metadata may be generated by assigning a target offset value to individual neighboring tokens defining an annotation neighborhood, wherein the target offset values correspond to positions of the neighboring tokens with respect to an annotation location within the first electronic document file. The annotation metadata may also comprise topographic patterns that are compared between source and target documents to determine the anchor location.