Method and apparatus for annotating an electronic document

Abstract

A method and apparatus to mark-up an electronic document (i.e., a second electronic document) that is superimposed on a first electronic document keeping the first electronic document unchanged. The second electronic document is optionally viewed concurrently with the first electronic document. The second electronic document is capable of being viewed or modified using different application programs so long as the different application programs process the format used by the second electronic document. The second electronic document is saved as a separate document independent of the first electronic document.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method, comprising:
 at an electronic device with a display and one or more input devices:   while displaying a first document on the display:
 receiving annotations that correspond to content in the first document via the one or more input devices, wherein the annotations are superimposed on the first document; 
 storing the annotations in a second document, wherein the second document is an electronic document that is different from the first document; 
 saving the second document independently of the first document; and 
   after saving the second document:
 redisplaying the first document; and 
 while redisplaying the first document redisplaying the second document superimposed on the first document. 
   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising: copying at least a portion of the first document into at least a portion of the second document. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising: optionally preventing any changes to the first document. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein redisplaying the first document and redisplaying the second document is performed by an operating system that is different from a first operating system of the electronic device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein redisplaying the first document and redisplaying the second document is performed using any browser application. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising: adjusting the background of the second document so that the first document is any one of invisible, partially visible, and totally visible. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first document is a word processing file. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first document is a spreadsheet file. 
     
     
         10 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that are executable to cause a computer system with a display and one or more input devices to perform operations comprising:
 while displaying a first document on the display:
 receiving annotations that correspond to content in the first document via the one or more input devices, wherein the annotations are superimposed on the first document; 
 storing the annotations in a second document, wherein the second document is an electronic document that is different from the first document; 
 saving the second document independently of the first document; and 
   after saving the second document:
 redisplaying the first document; and 
 while redisplaying the first document redisplaying the second document superimposed on the first document. 
   
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , the operations further comprising: copying at least a portion of the first document into at least a portion of the second document. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , the operations further comprising: optionally preventing any changes to the first document. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein redisplaying the first document and redisplaying the second document is performed by an operating system that is different from a first Operating system of the computer system. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein redisplaying the first document and redisplaying the second document is performed using any browser application. 
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , the operations further comprising: adjusting the background of the second document so that the first document is any one of invisible, partially visible, and totally visible. 
     
     
         16 . A computer system, comprising:
 a processor;   a display;   one or more input devices; and   a data storage device having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the computer system to perform operations comprising:
 while displaying a first document on the display:
 receiving annotations that correspond to content in the first document via the one or more input devices, wherein the annotations are superimposed on the first document; 
 storing the annotations in a second document, wherein the second document is an electronic document that is different from the first document; 
 saving the second document independently of the first document; and 
 
 after saving the second document:
 redisplaying the first document; and 
 while redisplaying the first document redisplaying the second document superimposed on the first document. 
 
   
     
     
         17 . The computer system of  claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 copying at least a portion of the first document into at least a portion of the second document.   
     
     
         18 . The computer system of  claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 optionally preventing any changes to the first document.   
     
     
         19 . The computer system of  claim 16 , wherein redisplaying the first document and redisplaying the second document is performed by an operating system that is different from a first operating system of the computer system. 
     
     
         20 . The computer system of  claim 16 , wherein redisplaying the first document and redisplaying the second document is performed using any browser application. 
     
     
         21 . The computer system of  claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 adjusting the background of the second document so that the first document is any one of invisible, partially visible, and totally visible.