IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,949,950
Granted Patent B2
US 7,949,950 · App. 11/112,981 · Granted May 24, 2011

Systems and methods for enhanced document composition features

Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,949,950
App. No.
11/112,981
Granted
May 24, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods for enhanced document composition features which can be utilized by a user are described. One method imports user-selected pages into a digital document platform. The method protects content of individual pages while allowing pages to be moved relative to one another and allows new content to be added between the user-selected pages.

Claims (34)

1. A computer-implemented method comprising computer- executable instructions, the method comprising:

invoking a message composition window on a computing device;

enabling a user, via the message composition window, to select a desired document for importation into a message body of a fax which the user is composing;

responsive to the user selecting the desired document, accessing, via the message composition window, the document, wherein the accessing is performed by a page integrity document sharing mechanism and comprises:

obtaining the document from a native application;

rasterizing the document into bit-mapped pages; and

importing rendered pages of the desired document into the message body such that content of the imported individual pages is protected while allowing the user to add content between individual pages, wherein the added content is composed content using at least one of typing on a keyboard, a drag-and-dropping text, images, graphics, and a cutting-and-pasting, wherein the imported individual pages are a sub-set of a file; and

tracking metadata associated with the document.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the importing comprises importing the individual pages so that content of individual pages is visible to the user within the message body.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the enabling comprises allowing the user to select the desired document from at least one of a plurality of command options exposed on a user-interface.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the user can manipulate the relative order of the imported pages within the message body.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the rasterizing is accomplished by a fax application.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the rasterizing is accomplished by a print driver.

7. One or more computer-readable storage media having computer-readable instructions which, when executed, implement a method, comprising:

importing user-selected pages into a digital document platform utilizing page integrity document sharing mechanism, wherein the importing comprises:

calling a native application which generated the user-selected pages and converting the user-selected pages into bit maps prior to importing the user- selected pages into the digital document platform as imported inline content; and

grouping the user-selected pages, the user-selected pages originating from more than one native application;

tracking metadata associated with each of the user-selected pages; and

protecting content of imported individual user-selected pages while allowing the imported individual user-selected pages to be moved relative to one another and allowing new content to be added between the imported individual user-selected pages, wherein the new content is composed content using at least one of typing on a keyboard, a drag-and-dropping text, images, graphics, and a cutting-and-pasting, wherein the imported individual user-selected pages are a sub-set of a file.

8. The computer readable media as recited in claim 7 , wherein the digital document platform comprises one or more of: a fax application, an email application, and a unified fax and email application.

9. The computer readable media as recited in claim 7 , wherein the importing comprises calling a native application which generated the user-selected pages and converting the user-selected pages into bit-maps prior to importing the user-selected pages into the digital document platform as imported inline content.

10. The computer readable media as recited in claim 7 , wherein the protecting comprises:

accessing the user-selected pages in a native format; and,

sending the user-selected pages to a printer driver to be rasterized.

11. A system, comprising:

a system memory;

a processor coupled to the system memory;

means for importing a plurality of pages into a digital document platform, wherein the digital document platform comprises at least one of a page integrity document sharing mechanism and a content destination;

means for maintaining intra-page content of the plurality of pages while allowing an inter-page relationship of the plurality of pages to be manipulated by a user, wherein the means for maintaining comprises the page integrity document sharing mechanism configured to rasterize individual pages into a bit-map before importing the pages into the digital document platform as imported inline pages; and

means for tracking metadata associated with the plurality of pages in the digital document platform.

12. The system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the means for maintaining is configured to cause the plurality of pages to be exported from a native application to a print driver for conversion into a non-native format such that content of individual pages cannot be manipulated by the user.

13. The system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the plurality of pages comprise a file.

14. The system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the means for importing comprises one or more of: a fax application, an email application, and a unified email and fax application.

15. The system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the means for importing is configured to create a message composition window and to import the plurality of pages into the message composition window as imported inline pages such that the individual pages are viewable to the user in the message composition window.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 9, 2014
From: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
To: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
Reel/Frame 034543/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 13, 2005
From: HOOF, HUBERT VAN
To: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 016326/0932 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20060238795A1 · Oct 26, 2006