Method and system for annotating documents using an independent annotation repository

Abstract

A method and system for generating workflow messages based on adding annotations to a file repository or database independent of an original document that they annotate. By separately storing the annotations in a searchable annotation repository, original documents can be preserved unchanged while still providing the ability to comment on the original document. By generating workflow messages, a system can track who has reviewed a document, whose proposed changes and/or comments require action by another person, and if everyone has reviewed the documents within the time constraints established.

1 . A computer program product, comprising: 
 a computer storage medium and a computer program code mechanism embedded in the computer storage medium for causing a computer to separately manage an original document and annotations for the original document, the computer program code mechanism comprising:    a first computer code device configured to receive an original document stored in a first file repository;    a second computer code device configured to create at least one of a text annotation and a graphical annotation for the original document;    a third computer code device configured to overlay the original document and the at least one of a text annotation and a graphical annotation without changing a contents of the original document; and    a fourth computer code device configured to send the at least one of a text annotation and a graphical annotation to a second file repository containing a workflow message trigger activated by adding the at least one of a text annotation and a graphical annotation to a second file repository.    
     
     
         2 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second file repository comprises a fifth computer code device configured to add the at least one of a text annotation and a graphical annotation to a database.  
     
     
         3 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first through fourth computer code devices comprise a plug-in to a markup language browser.  
     
     
         4 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the original document comprises an Adobe Acrobat document.  
     
     
         5 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a fifth computer code device configured to authenticate a user to at least one of the first and second file repositories.  
     
     
         6 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first computer code device comprises a fifth computer code device configured to receive a form document illustrating at least one form field; and 
 wherein the second computer code device comprises a sixth computer code device configured to create a text annotation by extracting a contents of the at least one form field.    
     
     
         7 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second computer code device comprises a fifth computer code device configured to specify a corresponding category for the at least one of a text annotation and a graphical annotation.  
     
     
         8 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising a sixth computer code device configured to select a trigger type for execution based on the category specified for the at least one of a text annotation and a graphical annotation.  
     
     
         9 . A computer-implemented method comprising: 
 (a) receiving an original document stored in a first file repository;    (b) creating at least one of a text annotation and a graphical annotation for the original document;    (c) overlaying the original document and the at least one of a text annotation and a graphical annotation without changing a contents of the original document; and    (d) sending the at least one of a text annotation and a graphical annotation to a second file repository containing a workflow message trigger activated by adding the at least one of a text annotation and a graphical annotation to a second file repository.    
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the second file repository comprises a database.  
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the steps (a)-(d) are performed by a plug-in to a markup language browser.  
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the original document comprises an Adobe Acrobat document.  
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising authenticating a user to at least one of the first and second file repositories.  
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the step (a) comprises receiving a form document illustrating at least one form field; and 
 wherein the step (b) comprises creating a text annotation by extracting a contents of the at least one form field.    
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the step (b) comprises specifying a corresponding category for the at least one of a text annotation and a graphical annotation.  
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising selecting a trigger type for execution based on the category specified for the at least one of a text annotation and a graphical annotation.  
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising triggering a category-specific trigger based on the category specified for the at least one of a text annotation and a graphical annotation.  
     
     
         18 . A system for separately managing an original document and annotations for the original document, the system comprising: 
 a receiver configured to receive an original document stored in a first file repository;    an input device configured to create at least one of a text annotation and a graphical annotation for the original document;    an overlay circuit configured to overlay the original document and the at least one of a text annotation and a graphical annotation without changing a contents of the original document; and    a transmitter configured to send the at least one of a text annotation and a graphical annotation to a second file repository containing a workflow message trigger activated by adding the at least one of a text annotation and a graphical annotation to a second file repository.