Method and system for creating temporary visual indicia

Abstract

The present invention relates to new and improved embodiments of systems and methods for using a “pen” input as a temporary pointer to highlight a portion of a document and having the “ink” disappear. In embodiments, a method and system for temporarily marking a portion of a document comprises sending a marking directive that produces a visual indicia on a document being viewed on two or more display devices connected over a network, waiting a period of time, and automatically erasing the visual indicia on the document being viewed on the two or more display devices.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A computing system, comprising:
 at least one processing unit; and   at least one memory storing computer-readable instructions that when executed by the at least one processor cause the computing system to perform a method of generating temporary visual indicia on a document, the method comprising:
 displaying the document in a first display window on a first computer, wherein the document is concurrently displayed in a second display window on a second computer, and wherein the first computer and the second computer are connected over a network; 
 receiving, at the first computer, a cursor input within a portion of the document from the second computer; 
 displaying, at the first computer, a visual indicator on the portion of the document where the cursor input was received at the second computer; and 
 automatically erasing, at the first computer, the visual indicator on the portion of the document after a predetermined amount of time, wherein the document continues to be displayed in the first display window on the first computer and in the second display window on the second computer. 
   
     
     
         22 . The computing system of  claim 21 , wherein the first visual indicator is automatically erased on the portion of the document in the first display window and in the second display window at substantially the same time. 
     
     
         23 . The computing system of  claim 21 , wherein the visual indicator is automatically erased on the portion of the document in the first display window and in the second display window at a different time. 
     
     
         24 . The computing system of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 receiving, at the first computer, a directive from the second computer to erase the visual indicator.   
     
     
         25 . The computing system of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 receiving a second edit within a second portion of the document from the second computer at the first computer; and   displaying, at the first computer, a second visual indicator on the second portion of the document where the second edit was received at the second computer.   
     
     
         26 . The computing system of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 automatically erasing, at the first computer, the second visual indicator on the second portion of the document after a second predetermined amount of time, wherein the document continues to be displayed in the first display window on the first computer and in the second display window on the second computer.   
     
     
         27 . The computing system of  claim 26 , wherein the first predetermined amount of time and the second predetermined amount of time are substantially the same. 
     
     
         28 . A computer storage device comprising computer-executable instructions that upon execution cause a computing system to perform a method of generating temporary visual indicia on a document, the method comprising:
 displaying the document in a first display window on a first computer, wherein the document is concurrently displayed in a second display window on a second computer, and wherein the first computer and the second computer are connected over a network;   receiving, at the first computer, a cursor input within a portion of the document from the second computer;   displaying, at the first computer, a visual indicator on the portion of the document where the cursor input was received at the second computer; and   automatically erasing, at the first computer, the visual indicator on the portion of the document after a predetermined amount of time, wherein the document continues to be displayed in the first display window on the first computer and in the second display window on the second computer.   
     
     
         29 . The computer storage device of  claim 28 , wherein the first visual indicator is automatically erased on the portion of the document in the first display window and in the second display window at substantially the same time. 
     
     
         30 . The computer storage device of  claim 28 , wherein the visual indicator is automatically erased on the portion of the document in the first display window and in the second display window at a different time. 
     
     
         31 . The computer storage device of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 receiving, at the first computer, a directive from the second computer to erase the visual indicator.   
     
     
         32 . The computer storage device of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 receiving an edit within a second portion of the document from the second computer at the first computer; and   displaying, at the first computer, a second visual indicator on the second portion of the document where the edit was received at the second computer.   
     
     
         33 . The computer storage device of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 automatically erasing, at the first computer, the second visual indicator on the second portion of the document after a second predetermined amount of time, wherein the document continues to be displayed in the first display window on the first computer and in the second display window on the second computer.   
     
     
         34 . The computer storage device of  claim 33 , wherein the first predetermined amount of time and the second predetermined amount of time are substantially the same. 
     
     
         35 . A method of generating temporary visual indicia on a document, the method comprising:
 displaying the document in a first display window on a first computer, wherein the document is concurrently displayed in a second display window on a second computer, and wherein the first computer and the second computer are connected over a network;   receiving, at the first computer, a cursor input within a portion of the document from the second computer;   displaying, at the first computer, a visual indicator on the portion of the document where the cursor input was received at the second computer; and   automatically erasing, at the first computer, the visual indicator on the portion of the document after a predetermined amount of time, wherein the document continues to be displayed in the first display window on the first computer and in the second display window on the second computer.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the first visual indicator is automatically erased on the portion of the document in the first display window and in the second display window at substantially the same time. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the visual indicator is automatically erased on the portion of the document in the first display window and in the second display window at a different time. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 receiving, at the first computer, a directive from the second computer to erase the visual indicator.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 receiving an edit within a second portion of the document from the second computer at the first computer; and   displaying, at the first computer, a second visual indicator on the second portion of the document where the edit was received at the second computer.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising:
 automatically erasing, at the first computer, the second visual indicator on the second portion of the document after a second predetermined amount of time, wherein the document continues to be displayed in the first display window on the first computer and in the second display window on the second computer.