Fixed Format Viewing Mode for Digital Content Annotation Integrity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices with touch screens, such as tablets and eReaders, face issues when users add annotations to digital content, as formatting changes cause annotations to become mangled or hidden, lacking an intuitive way to maintain their original position relative to the content.
Innovation Solution
A fixed format viewing mode is implemented, where virtual ink annotations remain in their original position even after formatting changes, allowing users to adjust font, size, and other settings without hiding annotations, with a stylus icon for toggling visibility and managing annotations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If formatting changes are applied to digital content, then readability and adaptability are improved, but annotations become mangled or hidden
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the digital content into fixed format pages and flowable format pages. Pages containing annotations are converted to fixed format to preserve annotation integrity, while other pages remain flowable to maintain formatting adaptability. This segmentation allows the system to simultaneously support both annotation reliability and formatting versatility.
2Ease of operation
If annotations are kept visible, then user reference is improved, but content formatting flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic formatting system where pages automatically switch between fixed and flowable formats based on annotation presence. The system dynamically adjusts the format of individual pages while maintaining overall document flow, allowing annotations to remain visible on relevant pages without permanently restricting formatting flexibility throughout the entire document.
3Stability of the object's composition
If fixed format pages are created for annotations, then annotation position stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service automation where pages automatically detect the presence of annotations and convert to fixed format without manual intervention. The application autonomously manages the conversion between fixed and flowable formats based on annotation data, eliminating the need for complex manual page format management while maintaining annotation position stability.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are disclosed for providing a fixed format viewing mode in electronic computing devices. The fixed format viewing mode may be engaged upon receiving virtual ink annotations at the touch screen of the electronic device. The annotations may be input using an active stylus. Upon receiving virtual ink annotations, the current page of digital content may be converted into a fixed format page wherein the formatting characteristics are held constant and the annotations remain in the same location with respect to the underlying digital content. Formatting characteristics for other pages of the digital content may be altered, however the fixed format page maintains the same format as when the annotations were added. The user may hide and/or edit virtual ink annotations, and when the annotations are hidden the content of the fixed format page may flow normally and match the formatting characteristics of the rest of the digital content.