Systems and methods for context specific annotation of electronic files

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9483454-B2
Application number	US-201113269164-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 7, 2011
Priority date	Oct 7, 2011
Publication date	Nov 1, 2016
Grant date	Nov 1, 2016

Abstract

Embodiments described herein are directed to an annotation system having a remote processor, and a client processor in data communication with the remote processor. The client processor is adapted to send a first request for an electronic file to the remote processor, receive the electronic file from the remote processor, define at least one new annotation about the electronic file, and define at least one anchor associated with the at least one annotation. The at least one of the remote processor and the client processor is adapted to store the at least one anchor and the at least one annotation in an annotation file that is separate from the electronic file.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented annotation method comprising:
sending a first request for a first electronic file to a remote processor;
receiving the first electronic file from the remote processor;
defining at least one annotation about the first electronic file;
defining at least one anchor associated with the at least one annotation, the at least one anchor also associated with a control input object on the first electronic file, wherein the control input object includes one or more of radio buttons, check boxes, buttons, and drop down lists;
storing the at least one annotation and the at least one anchor in an annotation file that is different from the first electronic file;
sending a second request for a second electronic file that is different from the first electronic file, the second electronic file having the same control input object as the first electronic file;
receiving the second electronic file;
receiving a plurality of annotations and a plurality of anchors associated with the control input object, wherein the plurality of annotations include the at least one annotation and the plurality of anchors include the at least one anchor, and wherein the plurality of annotations correspond to annotations submitted by a plurality of users associated with a learning management system;
displaying the second electronic file, wherein the display of the second electronic file includes displaying at least one of the plurality of annotations according to at least one respective characteristic of the plurality of users corresponding to the plurality of annotations in relation to the learning management system, and wherein the at least one of the plurality of annotations is associated with the control input object;
receiving an account identifier and associating the at least one annotation with the account identifier and wherein the at least one annotation received in response to the second request comprises a plurality of annotations that are associated with a plurality of account identifiers and the control input object; and
wherein the plurality of annotations received in response to the second request are ranked based on at least one heuristic criteria.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one annotation and the at least one anchor are transmitted to the remote processor and stored remotely and the at least one annotation is received from the remote processor in response to the second request.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one annotation and the at least one anchor are stored locally on a client device and the at least one annotation and the at least one anchor are received locally from the annotation file in response to the second request.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving an account identifier and associating the at least one annotation with the account identifier.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating annotation metadata associated with the annotation.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the annotation metadata includes at least one of at least one account identifier associated with the annotation and contextual information about the control input object associated with the annotation.

7. A computer-implemented annotation method comprising:
receiving a first request for a first electronic file from a client processor;
sending the first electronic file to the client processor;
receiving at least one annotation about the first electronic file;
receiving at least one anchor associated with the at least one annotation, each anchor also associated with a control input object on the first electronic file, wherein the control input object includes one or more of radio buttons, check boxes, buttons, and drop down lists;
storing the at least one annotation and the at least one anchor in an annotation file that is different from the first electronic file;
receiving a second request for a second electronic file that is different from the first electronic file, the second electronic file having the same control input object as the first electronic file;
sending the second electronic file to the client processor;
sending a plurality of annotations and a plurality of anchors associated with the control input object to the client processor, wherein the plurality of annotations include the at least one annotation and the plurality of anchors include the at least one anchor, and wherein the plurality of annotations correspond to annotations submitted by a plurality of users associated with a learning management system, and wherein the client processor can display at least one of the plurality of annotations according to at least one respective characteristic of the plurality of users corresponding to the plurality of annotations in relation to the learning management system, and wherein the at least one of the plurality of notations is associated with the control input object on the second electronic document;
receiving an account identifier and associating the at least one annotation with the account identifier and wherein the at least one annotation received in response to the second request comprises a plurality of annotations that are associated with a plurality of account identifiers and the control input object; and
wherein the plurality of annotations received in response to the second request are ranked based on at least one heuristic criteria.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the at least one annotation includes an account identifier associated therewith.

9. The method of claims 8 , wherein the second request for the at least one electronic file includes the account identifier and the annotations are retrieved based at least partially upon the account identifier.

10. The method of claim 7 , further comprising generating annotation metadata associated with the at least one annotation.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the annotation metadata includes at least one of at least one account identifier associated with the at least one annotation and contextual information about the control input object associated with the at least one annotation.

12. An annotation system comprising:
at least one remote processor; and
at least one client processor in data communication with the at least one remote processor, the at least one client processor adapted to:
i. send a first request for a first electronic file to the remote processor,
ii. receive the first electronic file from the remote processor,
iii. define at least one annotation about the first electronic file, and
iv. define at least one anchor associated with the at least one annotation, each anchor also associated with a control input object on the first electronic file, wherein the control input object includes one or more of radio buttons, check boxes, buttons, and drop down lists;
wherein at least one of the remote processor and the client processor is adapted to store the at least one annotation and the at least one anchor associated therewith in an annotation file that is separate from the electronic file; and
wherein the remote processor is further adapted to:
receive a second request from the client processor for a second electronic file that is different from the first electronic file, the second electronic file having the same control input object as the first electronic file;
send the second electronic file to the client processor;
send associated with the control input object to the client processor, wherein the plurality of annotations include the at least one annotation and the plurality of anchors include the at least one anchor, and wherein the plurality of annotations correspond to annotations s

Assignees

• Auger Jeremy
• Cepuran Brian
• Teskey Matthew
• Chapman Kenneth
• D2L Corp

Inventors

• Auger Jeremy
• Cepuran Brian
• Teskey Matthew
• Chapman Kenneth

Classifications

• G09B7/00

  Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers (mechanically operated G09B3/00; computing arrangements G06F) · CPC title

• G06F40/169 Primary

  Annotation, e.g. comment data or footnotes · CPC title

• G06Q10/10 Primary

  Office automation; Time management · CPC title

• H04L67/02

  based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP] · CPC title

• G06F17/241 Primary

  Physics · mapped topic