Method, system and computer program for redaction of material from documents

Abstract

A method of redacting content from a document in electronic form includes the steps of selecting a geometric area on the document for redaction, representing the selected geometric area as one or more annotation objects, identifying information in the document representing content and location and nature of content, representing the identified information as one or more content objects, identifying content having the same geometric location as the annotation objects and creating a file with the identified content removed to produce a redacted document.

1 . A method of redacting content from a document in electronic form, comprising the steps of:
 selecting a geometric area on the document for redaction;   representing said geometric area as one or more annotation objects;   identifying information in the document representing content and location and nature of content;   representing said identified information as one or more content objects;   identifying content having the same geometric location as said annotation objects and creating a file with said identified content removed to produce a redacted document.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one or more items of information are associated with said annotation object. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the content is text. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the redacted text is not found in the redacted document. 
   
   
       5 - 16 . (canceled) 
   
   
       17 . A system for redacting content from a document in electronic form, comprising:
 means for permitting a user to select a geometric area on the document for redaction;   means for representing said geometric area as one or more annotation objects;   means for identifying information in the document representing content and location and nature of content;   means for representing said identified information as one or more content objects; and   means for identifying content having the same geometric location as said annotation objects and creating a file with said identified content removed to produce a redacted document.   
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein one or more items of information are associated with said annotation object. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the content is text. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the information to be redacted is not found in the redacted document. 
   
   
       21 . A system for designating portions of a document for redaction, comprising the steps of:
 means for displaying all or a portion of the document;   means for permitting a user to designate a geographic region of the document for redaction; and   means for saving the designations with the document.   
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising means for associating one or more codes with each of said designations. 
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said means for permitting a user to designate further comprises means for permitting a user to manipulate a frame displayed on the document. 
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said means for permitting a user to designate comprises permitting a user to select content for batch designation and means for designating all geographic regions containing said selected content.