Automated annotation of a resource on a computer network using a network address of the resource

Abstract

A user provides an annotation, such as text or graphics, in relation to a resource available on a computer network. The annotation is automatically stored and/or retrieved without requiring separate action from the user to accomplish the storage or retrieval. An annotation interface may receive the annotation from the user. The annotation is then stored in association with the user and the network address of the resource. The user's annotation may be later retrieved and displayed to the user based on the network address of the resource. In one specific embodiment, a browser toolbar receives and displays user annotations associated with Web sites or Web pages to which the user has navigated. Preferably, the annotation interface remains available to the user throughout the time in which the resource is provided. Further controls may enable the user to make an annotation publicly available to others, and to receive annotations from others.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for automatically linking annotations to resources implemented on a computer network, the method comprising:
 hosting, by a server, an annotation interface;   implementing, by the server, the annotation interface on a first and a second client devices;   displaying, by the server, an indication of a resource having an associated network address on the first client device;   receiving, by the server via a first instance of the annotation interface implemented on the first client device, an indication of a new annotation or a modified annotation associated with the displayed resource and the associated network address,   wherein the new annotation or modified annotation originates from use of a second instance of the annotation interface implemented on the second client device on which the resource is also displayed, and wherein the new annotation or modified annotation is stored with a reference to the network address in a remote annotation database associated with both the first and the second instances of the annotation interface; and   initiating, by the server, a display of the new annotation or modified annotation with the resource on the first client device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, generating, by the server, a history of the new annotation or modified annotation associated with the displayed resource. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, generating, by the server, a list identifying at least one resource for which an annotation is stored in the remote annotation database, wherein the list identifies a plurality of resources and one or more annotations associated respectively with one of the plurality of resources. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, designating, by the server via the annotation interface, the new annotation or modified annotation as to be made available to each of the first client device and second client device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising, displaying, by the server, on the first client device, the list identifying at least one resource for which an annotation is stored in the remote annotation database. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the new annotation or modified annotation is displayed over the resource. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the resource includes a web page, a document, a file, a software process, or hardware device. 
     
     
         8 . A server for automatically linking annotations to resources implemented on a computer network, comprising:
 memory; and   a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured to:   host an annotation interface;   implement the annotation interface on a first and a second client devices;   display an indication of a resource having an associated network address on the first client device;   receive, via a first instance of the annotation interface implemented on the first client device, an indication of a new annotation or a modified annotation associated with the displayed resource and the associated network address,   wherein the new annotation or modified annotation originates from use of a second instance of the annotation interface implemented on the second client device on which the resource is also displayed, and   wherein the new annotation or modified annotation is stored with a reference to the network address in a remote annotation database associated with both the first and the second instances of the annotation interface; and   initiate a display of the new annotation or modified annotation with the resource on the first client device.   
     
     
         9 . The server of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to generate a history of the new annotation or modified annotation associated with the displayed resource. 
     
     
         10 . The server of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to generate a list identifying at least one resource for which an annotation is stored in the remote annotation database, wherein the list identifies a plurality of resources and one or more annotations associated respectively with one of the plurality of resources. 
     
     
         11 . The server of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to designate, via the annotation interface, the new annotation or modified annotation as to be made available to each of the first client device and second client device. 
     
     
         12 . The server of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to display on the first client device the list identifying at least one resource for which an annotation is stored in the remote annotation database. 
     
     
         13 . The server of  claim 8 , wherein the new annotation or modified annotation is displayed over the resource. 
     
     
         14 . The server of  claim 8 , wherein the resource includes a web page, a document, a file, a software process, or hardware device. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing executable instructions that, in response to execution, cause a server to perform operations, comprising:
 hosting an annotation interface;
 implementing the annotation interface on a first and a second client devices; 
   displaying an indication of a resource having an associated network address on the first client device;   receiving via a first instance of the annotation interface implemented on the first client device, an indication of a new annotation or a modified annotation associated with the displayed resource and the associated network address,
 wherein the new annotation or modified annotation originates from use of a second instance of the annotation interface implemented on the second client device on which the resource is also displayed, and wherein the new annotation or modified annotation is stored with a reference to the network address in a remote annotation database associated with both the first and the second instances of the annotation interface; and 
   initiating a display of the new annotation or modified annotation with the resource on the first client device.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , further comprising, instructions that, in response to execution, cause the server to perform operations further comprising:
 generating a history of the new annotation or modified annotation associated with the displayed resource.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , further comprising, instructions that, in response to execution, cause the server to perform operations further comprising: generating a list identifying at least one resource for which an annotation is stored in the remote annotation database, wherein the list identifies a plurality of resources and one or more annotations associated respectively with one of the plurality of resources. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , further comprising, instructions that, in response to execution, cause the server to perform operations further comprising: designating, via the annotation interface, the new annotation or modified annotation as to be made available to each of the first client device and second client device. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , further comprising, instructions that, in response to execution, cause the server to perform operations further comprising: displaying on the first client device, the list identifying at least one resource for which an annotation is stored in the remote annotation database. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the new annotation or modified annotation is displayed over the resource. 
     
     
         21 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the resource includes a web page, a document, a file, a software process, or hardware device.