US6178431B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and system for providing side notes in word processing
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1994-10-05
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Granted: 2001-01-23
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Expires: 2014-10-05
Abstract
Abstract A word processing object on a data processing system has a body consisting of text (and perhaps graphics). The body has right and left side margins. A user can select a location in the body and provide an annotation in a side margin. The annotation is located adjacent to the selected body location. The annotation is associated with the selected body location so that subsequent editing or pagination of the body maintains the annotation adjacent to the selected body location. The annotation can contain text and graphics. The annotation can be edited. The annotation can be displayed and printed either by itself or in context with the body. The annotation can also be formatted to be displayed or printed in a form different from the body. The annotation can be made to appear in alternating side margins (for example, left margin, right margin, left margin, etc.) of successive pages of the body.
Inventors
- 👤 Gavin L. Douglas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 11:07
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F40/00; G06F40/10; G06F40/166; G06F40/169
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
A computer implemented method of annotating a word processing object on a data processing system, said word processing object having a body with at least one side margin, comprising the steps of: a) selecting a location in said body of said word processing object; b) associating an annotation with said location; c) providing said word processing object to an output means with said annotation being located in said side margin and adjacent to said selected location in said body of said word processing object; d) revising said body; e) after revising said body, aligning said annotation with said selected location such that said annotation remains adjacent to said selected location and in said side margin; f) wherein said step of aligning said annotation with said selected location, further comprises the step of moving a portion of said annotation to a next page.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
142 words
A computer implemented method of annotating a word processing object on a data processing system, said word processing object having a body with at least one side margin, comprising the steps of: a) selecting a location in said body of said word processing object; b) associating an annotation with said location; c) providing said word processing object to an output means with said annotation being located in said side margin and adjacent to said selected location in said body of said word processing object; d) revising said body; e) after revising said body, aligning said annotation with said selected location such that said annotation remains adjacent to said selected location and in said side margin; f) wherein said step of aligning said annotation with said selected location, further comprises the step of moving a portion of said annotation to a next page.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
150 words
A computer implemented method of annotating a word processing object on a data processing system, said word processing object having a body with at least one side margin, comprising the steps of: a) selecting a location in said body of said word processing object; b) associating an annotation with said location; c) providing said word processing object to an output means with said annotation being located in said side margin and adjacent to said selected location in said body of said word processing object; d) revising said body; e) after revising said body, aligning said annotation with said selected location such that said annotation remains adjacent to said selected location and in said side margin; f) wherein said step of aligning said annotation with said selected location, further comprises the step of adding space in said body so as to maintain the alignment of said annotation and said selected location.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
150 words
A computer implemented method of annotating a word processing object on a data processing system, said word processing object having a body with at least one side margin, comprising the steps of: a) selecting a location in said body of said word processing object; b) associating an annotation with said location; c) providing said word processing object to an output means with said annotation being located in said side margin and adjacent to said selected location in said body of said word processing object; d) revising said body; e) after revising said body, aligning said annotation with said selected location such that said annotation remains adjacent to said selected location and in said side margin; f) wherein said step of aligning said annotation with said selected location, further comprises the step of adding space in said body so as to maintain the alignment of said annotation and said selected location.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
179 words
A computer implemented method of annotating a word processing object on a data processing system, said word processing object having a body with at least one side margin, comprising the steps of: a) selecting a location in said body of said word processing object; b) associating an annotation with said location; c) providing said word processing object to an output means with said annotation being located in said side margin and adjacent to said selected location in said body of said word processing object; d) revising said body; e) after revising said body, aligning said annotation with said selected location such that said annotation remains adjacent to said selected location and in said side margin; f) determining if two selected locations are contained in a single line of said body; and g) if two selected locations are in a single line of said body, moving at least one of said annotations associated with said two selected locations in said side margin within a predetermined number of lines of said body so that said annotations can be read without overlap.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
179 words
A computer implemented method of annotating a word processing object on a data processing system, said word processing object having a body with at least one side margin, comprising the steps of: a) selecting a location in said body of said word processing object; b) associating an annotation with said location; c) providing said word processing object to an output means with said annotation being located in said side margin and adjacent to said selected location in said body of said word processing object; d) revising said body; e) after revising said body, aligning said annotation with said selected location such that said annotation remains adjacent to said selected location and in said side margin; f) determining if two selected locations are contained in a single line of said body; and g) if two selected locations are in a single line of said body, moving at least one of said annotations associated with said two selected locations in said side margin within a predetermined number of lines of said body so that said annotations can be read without overlap.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
144 words
A computer implemented method of annotating a word processing object on a data processing system, said word processing object having a body with at least one side margin, comprising the steps of: a) selecting a location in said body of said word processing object; b) accepting an annotation from a user; c) incorporating said annotation into said word processing object by associating said annotation with said selected location in said body of said word processing object; d) providing said annotation in typed form in said word processing object; and e) providing said word processing object to an output means with said annotation being located in said side margin and adjacent to said selected location in said body of said word processing object; f) formatting said annotation independently of said body and providing said word processing object to said output means with said formatted annotation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
144 words
A computer implemented method of annotating a word processing object on a data processing system, said word processing object having a body with at least one side margin, comprising the steps of: a) selecting a location in said body of said word processing object; b) accepting an annotation from a user; c) incorporating said annotation into said word processing object by associating said annotation with said selected location in said body of said word processing object; d) providing said annotation in typed form in said word processing object; and e) providing said word processing object to an output means with said annotation being located in said side margin and adjacent to said selected location in said body of said word processing object; f) formatting said annotation independently of said body and providing said word processing object to said output means with said formatted annotation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said step of formatting said annotation further comprises the step of setting a format parameter for said annotation from the group of parameters consisting of width of said annotation, one or more border lines around said annotation, typeface, typesize, typestyle, line spacing, line density, line adjusting, paragraph indenting, paragraph aligning, widow/orphan control, tabs and zone width.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
153 words
A computer implemented method of annotating a word processing object on a data processing system, said word processing object having a body with at least one side margin, comprising the steps of: a) selecting a location in said body of said word processing object; b) accepting an annotation from a user; c) incorporating said annotation into said word processing object by associating said annotation with said selected location in said body of said word processing object; d) providing said annotation in typed form in said word processing object; and e) providing said word processing object to an output means with said annotation being located in said side margin and adjacent to said selected location in said body of said word processing object; f) segmenting said body into pages, said pages having right and left side margins; g) locating a plurality of said annotations in alternating right and left side margins on sequential pages.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
153 words
A computer implemented method of annotating a word processing object on a data processing system, said word processing object having a body with at least one side margin, comprising the steps of: a) selecting a location in said body of said word processing object; b) accepting an annotation from a user; c) incorporating said annotation into said word processing object by associating said annotation with said selected location in said body of said word processing object; d) providing said annotation in typed form in said word processing object; and e) providing said word processing object to an output means with said annotation being located in said side margin and adjacent to said selected location in said body of said word processing object; f) segmenting said body into pages, said pages having right and left side margins; g) locating a plurality of said annotations in alternating right and left side margins on sequential pages.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
143 words
A data processing system for annotating a word processing object, said word processing object having a body with at least one side margin, comprising: a) means for selecting a location in said body of said word processing object; b) means for associating an annotation with said location; c) means for providing said word processing object to an output means with said annotation being located in said side margin and adjacent to said selected location in said body of said word processing object; d) means for revising said body; e) means for aligning said annotation with said selected location, after revising said body, such that said annotation remains adjacent to said selected location and in said side margin; f) wherein said means for aligning said annotation with said selected location, further comprises means for moving a portion of said annotation to a next page.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
143 words
A data processing system for annotating a word processing object, said word processing object having a body with at least one side margin, comprising: a) means for selecting a location in said body of said word processing object; b) means for associating an annotation with said location; c) means for providing said word processing object to an output means with said annotation being located in said side margin and adjacent to said selected location in said body of said word processing object; d) means for revising said body; e) means for aligning said annotation with said selected location, after revising said body, such that said annotation remains adjacent to said selected location and in said side margin; f) wherein said means for aligning said annotation with said selected location, further comprises means for moving a portion of said annotation to a next page.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
151 words
A data processing system for annotating a word processing object, said word processing object having a body with at least one side margin, comprising: a) means for selecting a location in said body of said word processing object; b) means for associating an annotation with said location; c) means for providing said word processing object to an output means with said annotation being located in said side margin and adjacent to said selected location in said body of said word processing object; d) means for revising said body; e) means for aligning said annotation with said selected location, after revising said body, such that said annotation remains adjacent to said selected location and in said side margin; f) wherein said means for aligning said annotation with said selected location, further comprises means for adding space in said body so as to maintain the alignment of said annotation and said selected location.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
151 words
A data processing system for annotating a word processing object, said word processing object having a body with at least one side margin, comprising: a) means for selecting a location in said body of said word processing object; b) means for associating an annotation with said location; c) means for providing said word processing object to an output means with said annotation being located in said side margin and adjacent to said selected location in said body of said word processing object; d) means for revising said body; e) means for aligning said annotation with said selected location, after revising said body, such that said annotation remains adjacent to said selected location and in said side margin; f) wherein said means for aligning said annotation with said selected location, further comprises means for adding space in said body so as to maintain the alignment of said annotation and said selected location.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
185 words
A data processing system for annotating a word processing object, said word processing object having a body with at least one side margin, comprising: a) means for selecting a location in said body of said word processing object; b) means for associating an annotation with said location; c) means for providing said word processing object to an output means with said annotation being located in said side margin and adjacent to said selected location in said body of said word processing object; d) means for revising said body; e) means for aligning said annotation with said selected location, after revising said body, such that said annotation remains adjacent to said selected location and in said side margin; f) means for determining if two selected locations are contained in a single line of said body; and g) means for moving at least one of said annotations associated with said two selected locations in said side margin within a predetermined number of lines of said body so that said annotations can be read without overlap, if two selected locations are in a single line of said body.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
185 words
A data processing system for annotating a word processing object, said word processing object having a body with at least one side margin, comprising: a) means for selecting a location in said body of said word processing object; b) means for associating an annotation with said location; c) means for providing said word processing object to an output means with said annotation being located in said side margin and adjacent to said selected location in said body of said word processing object; d) means for revising said body; e) means for aligning said annotation with said selected location, after revising said body, such that said annotation remains adjacent to said selected location and in said side margin; f) means for determining if two selected locations are contained in a single line of said body; and g) means for moving at least one of said annotations associated with said two selected locations in said side margin within a predetermined number of lines of said body so that said annotations can be read without overlap, if two selected locations are in a single line of said body.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
147 words
A data processing system for annotating a word processing object, said word processing object having a body with at least one side margin, comprising: a) means for selecting a location in said body of said word processing object; b) means for accepting an annotation from a user; c) means for incorporating said annotation into said word processing object by associating said annotation with said selected location in said body of said word processing object; d) means for providing said annotation in typed form in said word processing object; e) means for providing said word processing object to an output means with said annotation being located in said side margin and adjacent to said selected location in said body of said word processing object; f) means for formatting said annotation independently of said body and providing said word processing object to said output means with said formatted annotation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
147 words
A data processing system for annotating a word processing object, said word processing object having a body with at least one side margin, comprising: a) means for selecting a location in said body of said word processing object; b) means for accepting an annotation from a user; c) means for incorporating said annotation into said word processing object by associating said annotation with said selected location in said body of said word processing object; d) means for providing said annotation in typed form in said word processing object; e) means for providing said word processing object to an output means with said annotation being located in said side margin and adjacent to said selected location in said body of said word processing object; f) means for formatting said annotation independently of said body and providing said word processing object to said output means with said formatted annotation.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
61 words
The system of claim 10 wherein said means for formatting said annotation further comprises means for setting a format parameter for said annotation from the group of parameters consisting of width of said annotation, one or more border lines around said annotation, typeface, typesize, typestyle, line spacing, line density, line adjusting, paragraph indenting, paragraph aligning, widow/orphan control, tabs and zone width.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
158 words
A data processing system for annotating a word processing object, said word processing object having a body with at least one side margin, comprising: a) means for selecting a location in said body of said word processing object; b) means for accepting an annotation from a user; c) means for incorporating said annotation into said word processing object by associating said annotation with said selected location in said body of said word processing object; d) means for providing said annotation in typed form in said word processing object; e) means for providing said word processing object to an output means with said annotation being located in said side margin and adjacent to said selected location in said body of said word processing object; f) means for segmenting said body into pages, said pages having right and left side margins; g) means for locating a plurality of said annotations in alternating right and left side margins on sequential pages.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
158 words
A data processing system for annotating a word processing object, said word processing object having a body with at least one side margin, comprising: a) means for selecting a location in said body of said word processing object; b) means for accepting an annotation from a user; c) means for incorporating said annotation into said word processing object by associating said annotation with said selected location in said body of said word processing object; d) means for providing said annotation in typed form in said word processing object; e) means for providing said word processing object to an output means with said annotation being located in said side margin and adjacent to said selected location in said body of said word processing object; f) means for segmenting said body into pages, said pages having right and left side margins; g) means for locating a plurality of said annotations in alternating right and left side margins on sequential pages.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-01-23 | 2004-07-24 | 2005-01-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-01-23 | 2008-07-24 | 2009-01-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-01-23 | 2012-07-24 | 2013-01-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |