Electronic Book Version and Annotation Maintenance

Abstract

A method includes transmitting a first signal associated with a first version of an electronic book. The method also includes detecting an indication of a second version of the electronic book and generating, in response to detecting, and transmitting a second signal associated with an addition instruction and the second version, wherein the addition instruction is adapted to retain the first version and add the second version. Another embodiment includes receiving a copy signal associated with a copy instruction adapted to copy a first set of annotations corresponding to the first version of the electronic book. Another embodiment includes generating and transmitting a delivery signal associated with a second set of annotations and a correlation instruction adapted to correlate the second set of annotations corresponding to the first version to the second version where the second set of annotations is associated with a copy of the first set of annotations.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 a. transmitting a first signal, the first signal associated with a first version of an electronic book;   b. detecting an indication of a second version of the electronic book;   c. generating, in response to detecting, a second signal, the second signal being associated with an addition instruction and the second version, wherein the addition instruction is adapted to retain the first version and add the second version; and   d. transmitting the second signal.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a. detecting an indication of at least one different version of the electronic book; 
 b. generating, in response to detecting, a different signal, the different signal being associated with a different instruction and the at least one different version, wherein the different instruction is adapted to retain at least one other version and add the at least one different version, the at least one other version comprising at least one of the first version and the second version; and 
 c. transmitting the different signal. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the at least one different version is at least one retroactive version and the at least one other version is the first version. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the electronic book is at least one court rule. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the electronic book is at least one statute. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein generating the first signal is associated with a onetime purchase transaction. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein generating the second signal is associated with a subscription account. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising receiving a copy signal, the copy signal being associated with a copy instruction adapted to copy a first set of annotations corresponding to the first version of the electronic book. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a. generating a delivery signal, the delivery signal being associated with a second set of annotations and a correlation instruction adapted to correlate the second set of annotations corresponding to the first version to the second version, the second set of annotations associated with a copy of the first set of annotations; and 
 b. transmitting the delivery signal. 
 
     
     
         10 . An access device comprising:
 a. a processor;   b. a memory coupled to the processor; and   c. an eReader software program stored in the memory for execution by the processor, the eReader software program comprising:
 i. an eReader content storage module configured to receive a first signal, the first signal being associated with a first version of an electronic book; 
 ii. a detection module configured to receive a detection indication of a second version of the electronic book; and 
 iii. the eReader content storage module configured to receive, responsive to the indication, a second signal, the second signal being associated with an addition instruction and the second version, wherein the addition instruction is adapted to retain the first version and add the second version. 
   
     
     
         11 . The access device of  claim 10  wherein the detection module is further configured to receive a detection indication of a different version of the electronic book and the eReader content storage module is further configured to receive, responsive to the detection indication, a different signal, the different signal being associated with a different instruction and the different version, wherein the different instruction is adapted to retain at least one other version and add the different version, the at least one other version comprising at least one of the first version and the second version. 
     
     
         12 . The access device of  claim 11  therein the at least one different version is at least one retroactive version and the at least one other version is the first version. 
     
     
         13 . The access device of  claim 10  wherein the electronic book is at least one court rule. 
     
     
         14 . The access device of  claim 10  wherein the electronic book is at least one statute. 
     
     
         15 . The access device of  claim 10  wherein the first signal is associated with a onetime purchase transaction. 
     
     
         16 . The access device of  claim 10  wherein the second signal is associated with a subscription account. 
     
     
         17 . The access device of  claim 10  further comprising an annotation storage module configured to:
 a. generate a storage signal, the storage signal associated with a storage instruction adapted to store a first set of annotations corresponding to the first version of the electronic book; and 
 b. transmit the storage signal. 
 
     
     
         18 . The access device of  claim 17  wherein the annotation storage module is further configured to:
 a. generate a copy signal, the copy signal associated with a copy instruction adapted to copy the first set of annotations corresponding to the first version of the electronic book; 
 b. transmit the copy signal; and 
 c. receive a delivery signal, the delivery signal associated with a second set of annotations and a delivery instruction adapted to correlate the second set of annotations corresponding to the first version to the second version, the second set of annotations associated with a copy of the first set of annotations.