US5893126A — Method and apparatus for annotating a computer do…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 150 words

A method for annotating a document window on a display device of a computer-based system, said computer-based system having a central processor, memory and said display device, said method comprising the steps of: displaying an annotation window over a selected portion of said document window, said annotation window defined by a transparent window area bounded by a border, said annotation window enabling said selected portion of said document window to be visible through said annotation window; displaying annotations within said annotation window, said annotations having a transparent background enabling said selected portion of said document window to be visible through said transparent background of said annotations; closing said annotation window; and in response to closing said annotation window, embedding an annotation object into a container document shown in said document window so that said annotations and said container document are visible simultaneously in said selected portion of said document window.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 150 words

A method for annotating a document window on a display device of a computer-based system, said computer-based system having a central processor, memory and said display device, said method comprising the steps of: displaying an annotation window over a selected portion of said document window, said annotation window defined by a transparent window area bounded by a border, said annotation window enabling said selected portion of said document window to be visible through said annotation window; displaying annotations within said annotation window, said annotations having a transparent background enabling said selected portion of said document window to be visible through said transparent background of said annotations; closing said annotation window; and in response to closing said annotation window, embedding an annotation object into a container document shown in said document window so that said annotations and said container document are visible simultaneously in said selected portion of said document window.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 60 words

The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of: initiating recording of sound either before or after the step of displaying an annotation window; and stopping recording of said sound automatically following and substantially simultaneously with the step of closing said annotation window wherein said recorded sound data is stored as associated sound data within said annotation object.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method according to claim 2 wherein upon opening said annotation window after the step of embedding, at least a second drawing is added into said annotations.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method according to claim 2 wherein said annotations and said sound are deleted in a single delete operation.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method according to claim 2 wherein more sound is added during an edit operation.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method according to claim 1 wherein upon playing said annotation object, said associated annotations are displayed on said display device synchronously with said associated sound as it is played.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 12 words

The method according to claim 1 wherein said annotations comprise freehand drawings.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method according to claim 1 wherein at least one color selected from a plurality of colors is used to display said annotations.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method according to claim 1 wherein at least one line width selected from a plurality of line widths is used to display said annotations.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method according to claim 1 wherein at least one stroke of said annotations is deleted during an edit operation.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 43 words

The method according to claim 1 wherein an initial location of said annotation window is determined by the location of a cursor within said selected portion of said document window on said display device prior to the step of displaying said annotation window.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 138 words

A system for annotating a document window on a display device of a computer-based system, said computer-based system having a central processor, memory and said display device, said system comprising: means for displaying an annotation window over a selected portion of said document window wherein the selected area of said display device is visible through said window; means for displaying annotations within said annotation window wherein said annotations has a transparent background enabling said selected portion of said document window to be visible through said transparent background of said annotations; means for closing said annotation window after displaying said annotations in said annotation window; and means for embedding an annotation object into a container document shown in said document window wherein said annotations and said container document are visible simultaneously in said selected portion of said document window.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 138 words

A system for annotating a document window on a display device of a computer-based system, said computer-based system having a central processor, memory and said display device, said system comprising: means for displaying an annotation window over a selected portion of said document window wherein the selected area of said display device is visible through said window; means for displaying annotations within said annotation window wherein said annotations has a transparent background enabling said selected portion of said document window to be visible through said transparent background of said annotations; means for closing said annotation window after displaying said annotations in said annotation window; and means for embedding an annotation object into a container document shown in said document window wherein said annotations and said container document are visible simultaneously in said selected portion of said document window.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 47 words

The system according to claim 12 further comprising: means for recording sound; and means for stopping recording of said sound automatically following and substantially simultaneously with the closing of said annotation window wherein said recorded sound data is stored as associated sound data within said annotation object.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 21 words

The system according to claim 13 further comprising means for deleting said annotations and said sound in a single delete operation.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 17 words

The system according to claim 13 further comprising means for adding more sound during an editing operation.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 26 words

The system according to claim 12 further comprising means for adding at least a second drawing into said annotations after embedding said object into said document.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-04-05	2002-10-05	2003-04-06	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-04-05	2006-10-05	2007-04-06	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-04-05	2010-10-05	2011-04-06	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for annotating a computer document incorporating sound

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