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US 6,041,335 AGranted
Method of annotating a primary image with an image and for transmitting the annotated primary image
OwnerCharles R. Merritt, Bonnie M. Merrittinventors
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OwnerCharles R. Merritt, Bonnie M. Merrittinventors
Estimating the term…
A method of superimposing a secondary, graphical image on a primary image for annotating the primary image is provided. The secondary image is opened to access underlying information attached thereto, referred to as an annotation. The annotation communicates information that preferably pertains to the primary image. Annotations can be sorted and ordered by criteria including date and author. Preferably, position, shape, form, color, and animation provide information about the secondary image. The secondary image is displayed over the primary image as either a mark or glyph. The glyph is a pictographic icon that conveys information by its position on the primary image and its type. The mark is a simple glyph. A glyph or mark is opened by users enabling the users to annotate the primary image with their annotations. A plurality of marks and glyphs displayed on the primary image are initialized for viewing and inputting annotations and terminated for hiding the annotations, so that the annotations do not interfere with viewing the image. The invention enables users to either sequentially, or in parallel, review and annotate the primary image.
In a computing network comprising a plurality of computing systems with each computing system comprising display means for displaying an image, input means for data entry, data storage means, memory means, and an application program stored on the storage means, the program comprising means for capturing a selected portion of an image displayed on the display means for generating a primary image, means for generating a plurality of secondary images having distinguishable attributes, means for selecting at least one secondary image for positioning the secondary image on the generated primary image and for activating the secondary image, means for selecting desired secondary images positioned on the primary image for activating the secondary image for generating an annotatory data input and display region associated with the secondary image, the annotatory region for inputting annotatory data to annotate the primary image and for displaying annotatory data with an associated activated secondary image for viewing annotations to the primary image, means for selectively displaying and hiding annotatory regions so that the regions do not interfere with viewing the primary image, and means for selectively displaying and hiding secondary images positioned on the primary image, a method of superimposing a secondary image on a primary image for annotating the primary image and for routing the primary image through the computing network, the method comprising the steps of:
In a computing network comprising a plurality of computing systems with each computing system comprising display means for displaying an image, input means for data entry, data storage means, memory means, and an application program stored on the storage means, the program comprising means for capturing a selected portion of an image displayed on the display means for generating a primary image, means for generating a plurality of secondary images having distinguishable attributes, a first type of secondary image comprising a simple graphic icon and a second type of secondary image comprising a pictographic icon, means for selecting at least one secondary image for positioning the secondary image on the generated primary image and for activating the secondary image, means for selecting desired secondary images positioned on the primary image for activating the secondary image for generating an annotatory data input and display region associated with the secondary image, the annotatory region for inputting annotatory data to annotate the primary image and for displaying annotatory data with an associated activated secondary image for viewing annotations to the primary image, means for selectively displaying and hiding annotatory regions so that the regions do not interfere with viewing the primary image, and means for selectively displaying and hiding secondary images positioned on the primary image, a method of superimposing a secondary image on a primary image for annotating the primary image and for routing the primary image through the computing network, the method comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.