System and method for dynamic linking between graphic documents and comment data bases

1. A system comprising:

a data store configured to record a base graphic representation of a project;

a standard comments data store;

a computer processor;

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium which stores programmatic instructions that, when executed by the computer processor cause the system to perform operations comprising:

process a user supplied PDF format graphic to a web support format graphic for web access as a base graphic representation;

link a coordinate overlay grid to the base graphic representation;

enable a user to associate a coordinate position on the coordinate overlay grid with a graphic and text, including a graphic boundary box that encloses a portion of the base graphic representation;

enable a comment to be accessed from the standard comments data store;

record at least a text comment data record and a graphic comment data record;

link a same graphic comment data record to a plurality of graphic overlay representations;

enable the user to:

make a comment correction,

add a comment,

delete a comment, and

add an approval annotation;

enable differences between the base graphic representation of the project and at least one other graphic representation to be identified;

enable a base graphic thumbnail to be rendered; and

selectively search and access a plurality of database records and return database records;

interface with third party software;

provide access to a knowledge base data store;

enable a plurality of users to collaborate, view, and markup the base graphic representation via respective web interfaces;

transmit automatic email update notifications to project specific users; and

communicate text and/or graphic comment data records for display in a worldwide web format.

2. The system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to enable a plurality of users to collaborate, view, and markup the base graphic representation via respective web interfaces.

3. The system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a knowledge base data store.

4. The system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the system is configured with a thumbnail graphic image program configured to utilize a base graphic thumbnail image file database.

5. The system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a symbol data store configured to store a plurality of predetermined symbols.

6. The system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a software link program module that interfaces with third party document manipulation software.

7. The system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to transmit automatic email update notifications to project specific users.

8. The system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to communicate text and/or graphic comment data records for display in a worldwide web format.

9. A computer implemented method, comprising:

receiving, at a computer system, a user supplied graphic and enabling a corresponding base graphic representation to be accessed as a web document;

enabling, using the computer system, a coordinate overlay grid to be linked to the base graphic representation;

enabling, using the computer system, a user to associate a coordinate position on the coordinate overlay grid with a graphic and text, including a graphic boundary box that encloses a portion of the base graphic representation;

enabling a comment to be accessed from a standard comments data store;

recording in computer readable memory at least a text comment data record or a graphic comment data record;

linking a same graphic comment data record to a plurality of graphic overlay representations;

enabling the user to:

make a comment correction,

add a comment,

delete a comment, and

add an approval annotation;

enabling a base graphic thumbnail to be rendered;

selectively searching and accessing a plurality of database records and return database records;

providing user access to the standard comments data store;

providing access to a knowledge base data store;

enabling a plurality of users to collaborate, view, and markup the base graphic representation via respective web interfaces;

transmitting automatic email update notifications to project specific users; and

communicating text and/or graphic comment data records for display in a worldwide web format.

10. The computer implemented method as defined in claim 9 , the method further comprising enabling a plurality of users to collaborate, view, and markup the base graphic representation via respective web interfaces.

11. The computer implemented method as defined in claim 9 , the method further comprising providing user access to a knowledge base data store.

12. The computer implemented method as defined in claim 9 , the method further comprising accessing a base graphic thumbnail image database.

13. The computer implemented method as defined in claim 9 , the method further comprising transmitting automatic email update notifications to project specific users.

14. The computer implemented method as defined in claim 9 , the method further comprising communicating text and/or graphic comment data records for display in a worldwide web format.

15. A system comprising:

a data store configured to record a base graphic representation of a project;

a standard comments data store;

a computer processor;

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium which stores programmatic instructions that, when executed by the computer processor cause the system to perform operations comprising:

enable a user to associate a coordinate position of the base graphic representation with at least one of a graphic or text, including a graphic boundary box that encloses a portion of the base graphic representation;

enable a comment to be accessed from the standard comments data store;

record at least a text comment data record or a graphic comment data record, including a user text or graphic comment, referenced to a coordinate position on the base graphic representation;

link a same first text or graphic comment data record to a plurality of graphic overlay representations;

enable the user to:

make a comment correction,

add a comment,

delete a comment, and

add an approval annotation;

transmit automatic update notifications to project specific users;

enable a graphic thumbnail to be rendered;

selectively search and access a plurality of database records and return database records;

provide access to a knowledge base data store;

enable a plurality of users to collaborate, view, and markup the base graphic representation via respective web interfaces;

transmit automatic email update notifications to project specific users; and

communicate text and/or graphic comment data records for display in a worldwide web format.

16. The system as defined in claim 15 , wherein the system is configured to enable a plurality of users to collaborate, view, and markup the base graphic representation together via respective web interfaces.

17. The system as defined in claim 15 , wherein the system is configured to link a first text or graphic comment data record to a plurality of graphic overlay representations.

18. The system as defined in claim 15 , wherein the system is configured to enable differences between the base graphic representation of the project and at least one other graphic representation to be identified.

19. The system as defined in claim 15 , wherein the system comprises a knowledge base data store.

20. The system as defined in claim 15 , wherein the system is configured to store a base graphic thumbnail.

21. The system as defined in claim 15 , wherein the system comprises a symbol data store configured to store a plurality of predetermined symbols.

22. The system as defined in claim 15 , wherein the system comprises a software link program module that interfaces with third party software.

23. The system as defined in claim 15 , wherein the base graphic representation comprises a PDF document.

24. The system as defined in claim 15 , wherein the system is configured to enable the user to define a graphic boundary box that encloses a portion of the base graphic representation.

25. The system as defined in claim 15 , wherein the system is configured to communicate text and/or graphic comment data records for display in a worldwide web format.