Methods for the Electronic Annotation, Retrieval and Use of Electronic Images

Abstract

The present invention provides software for electronically annotating electronic images, such as drawings, photographs, video, etc., through the drag-and-drop of annotations from a pre-defined, but extendable, list. The annotations are placed at a user-selected X, Y location on the image, and stored in a searchable database. Thus, they can be searched in order to retrieve, organize, group, or display desired electronic images or collections of such images. The annotations may be text, images, sounds, etc. The invention provides a flexible, easy to learn, rapid, low error rate and satisfying interface for accomplishing such tasks.

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Description

PTO

Inventor(s)

Ben Shneiderman

Date Issued

03/07/2006

Patent No.

7,010,751