Comment Object Masking for Electronic Document Collaboration

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Solution Overview

Problem

In collaborative environments where multiple users review and edit electronic documents, existing systems face challenges in efficiently organizing and dynamically updating comments across open documents, lacking an intuitive and organized user interface for managing comments.

Innovation Solution

A client-server architecture system with a commenting tool that allows users to insert, revise, or remove comments, synchronizing these changes across all open copies of a document, using a comment object data structure with action, unique identifier, reference specification, and comment content fields, and implementing asynchronous updating to propagate changes without manual saving.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual saving is required to update comments, then data loss is prevented, but productivity is reduced due to additional user actions required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomment updating efficiencyVSAvoidoperation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs automatic saving of comments without requiring user intervention. The commenting tool automatically detects when a comment is added, edited, or deleted and saves it to the server, eliminating the need for users to manually trigger save operations while maintaining data integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system establishes automatic save functionality in advance, so that comments are saved immediately upon creation or modification without waiting for user action. This preliminary automation of the saving process resolves the contradiction between requiring manual confirmation and maintaining high productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If comments are synchronized across all open copies immediately, then data consistency is maintained, but loss of time occurs due to network communication overhead

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata consistencyVSAvoidsynchronization delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses periodic polling where the commenting tool checks for updates from the server at regular intervals rather than continuously monitoring. This periodic synchronization maintains data consistency while reducing the time overhead compared to continuous real-time synchronization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The synchronization mechanism dynamically adjusts between immediate updates for critical changes and periodic polling for less time-sensitive data. The system can switch between synchronous and asynchronous update modes based on the specific operation, optimizing both reliability and time efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If a comprehensive comment management system is implemented, then functionality is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomment management capabilityVSAvoidsystem architecture complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The commenting tool is designed as a universal component that can be integrated into any electronic document viewing or editing application. It provides multiple functions (adding comments, editing comments, deleting comments, synchronizing comments) through a single unified interface, avoiding the need for separate specialized tools for each function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces a server as an intermediary between multiple users and their local applications. The server centralizes comment storage and management, allowing complex synchronization and collaboration features without requiring complex peer-to-peer communication logic in each client application, thus reducing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Productivity

If asynchronous updating is implemented, then productivity is improved by eliminating manual saves, but loss of information may occur if updates are not properly synchronized

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworkflow efficiencyVSAvoidcomment data integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The asynchronous updating system implements feedback mechanisms where the commenting tool continuously monitors for unsaved changes and prompts users before closing documents or switching applications. The system also provides visual indicators of synchronization status, allowing users to track and resolve any potential data loss scenarios while maintaining productive asynchronous operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS9176943B2Comment presentation in electronic documents

Publication Date: 2015.11.03 ADOBE INC

AI summary

Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to present a comment object in an electronic document, receive an indication that the comment object is selected, determine content in the electronic document that corresponds with the selected comment object, and apply a mask to obscure portions of the content that do not correspond to the comment object. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.