Automated annotation of a resource on a computer network using a network address of the resource
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.
1. A method for automatically linking annotations to resources implemented on a computer network, the method comprising:
displaying, by a first client device, an indication of a resource having an associated network address unique to the resource;
receiving, by a first instance of an 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 unique to the resource, wherein the new annotation or modified annotation originates from use of a second instance of the annotation interface implemented on a 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
displaying, by the first client device, the new annotation or modified annotation along with the resource.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, receiving, by the first client device, a history of the new annotation or modified annotation associated with the displayed resource.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, receiving, by the first client device, from a 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 3 , further comprising, displaying, by the first client device, the list identifying at least one resource for which an annotation is stored in the remote annotation database.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, designating, by the first client device 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.
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 new annotation or modified annotation is stored with the reference to the network address in the remote annotation database by a server in communication with the remote annotation database.
8. A client device for automatically linking annotations to resources implemented on a computer network, comprising:
memory; and
a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured to:
display an indication of a resource having an associated network address unique to the resource,
receive, by a first instance of an annotation interface implemented on the client device, an indication of a new annotation or a modified annotation associated with the displayed resource and the associated network address unique to the resource, wherein the new annotation or modified annotation originates from use of a second instance of the annotation interface implemented on another 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
display the new annotation or modified annotation along with the resource.
9. The client device of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive a history of the new annotation or modified annotation associated with the resource.
10. The client device of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive 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 client device of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to display the list identifying at least one resource for which an annotation is stored in the remote annotation database.
12. The client device 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 client device and another client device.
13. The client device of claim 8 , wherein the new annotation or modified annotation is displayed over the resource.
14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing executable instructions that, in response to execution, cause a first client device to perform operations, comprising:
displaying, by the first client device, an indication of a resource having an associated network address unique to the resource;
receiving, by a first instance of an 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 unique to the resource, wherein the new annotation or modified annotation originates from use of a second instance of the annotation interface implemented on a 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
displaying, by the first client device, the new annotation or modified annotation along with the resource.
15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 , further comprising, instructions that, in response to execution, cause the first client device to perform operations further comprising:
receiving, by the first client device, a history of the new annotation or modified annotation associated with the resource.
16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 , further comprising, instructions that, in response to execution, cause the first client device to perform operations further comprising:
receiving, by the first client device, from a 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.
17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 , further comprising, instructions that, in response to execution, cause the first client device to perform operations further comprising:
displaying, by the first client device, the list identifying at least one resource for which an annotation is stored in the remote annotation database.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 , further comprising, instructions that, in response to execution, cause the first client device to perform operations further comprising:
designating, by the first client device via the annotation interface, 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 14 , wherein the new annotation or modified annotation is displayed over the resource.