IP Library Granted Patent US 8,042,053
Granted Patent B2
US 8,042,053 · App. 11/903,716 · Granted Oct 18, 2011

Method for making digital documents browseable

Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,042,053
App. No.
11/903,716
Granted
Oct 18, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for making one or more digital documents browseable. In one implementation, the digital documents may be automatically, topically segmented into one or more topical segments. A topical segment may be selected from the topical segments. One or more topical segments that are substantially similar to the selected topical segment may be identified. One or more links between the selected topical segment and the identified topical segment may be established. The established links may be displayed.

Claims (50)

1. A computer system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory comprising program instructions executable by the processor to:

topically segment digital documents into topical segments;

extract key concepts from the topical segments;

extract key phrases from the topical segments;

select a first one of the key phrases that is included in a first one of the digital documents;

compare the first key phrase with the key concepts for similarities;

rank the compared key concepts by the similarities;

identify, from the topical segments, those topical segments in the first digital document and a second one of the digital documents that have ranked key concepts with individual similarities above a specified similarity threshold;

establish navigation links between the first key phrase in the first digital document and the identified topical segments in the first digital document and the second digital document to enable a user to navigate within the first digital document or from the first digital document to the second digital document; and

concurrently display at least:

a currently viewed topical segment in the first digital document,

first individual navigation links to a previous identified topical segment in the first digital document and a subsequent identified topical segment in the first digital document, and

a second individual navigation link to an identified topical segment in the second digital document.

2. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the digital documents are digital books.

3. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the digital documents are mostly flat digital documents.

4. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the similarities are determined by one or more similarity algorithms.

5. A method comprising:

topically segmenting digital documents into topical segments;

extracting key concepts from the topical segments;

extracting key phrases from the topical segments;

selecting a first one of the key phrases that is included in a first one of the digital documents;

comparing the first key phrase with the key concepts for similarities;

ranking the compared key concepts by the similarities;

identifying, from the topical segments, those topical segments in the first digital document and a second one of the digital documents that have ranked key concepts with individual similarities above a specified similarity threshold;

establishing navigation links between the first key phrase in the first digital document and the identified topical segments in the first digital document and the second digital document to enable a user to navigate within the first digital document or from the first digital document to the second digital document; and

concurrently displaying at least:

a currently viewed topical segment in the first digital document,

first individual navigation links to a previous identified topical segment in the first digital document and a subsequent identified topical segment in the first digital document, and

a second individual navigation link to an identified topical segment in the second digital document.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the digital documents are digital books.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the digital documents are mostly flat digital documents.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the similarities are determined by one or more similarity algorithms.

9. One or more computer-readable storage devices comprising computer-executable instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform:

topically segmenting digital documents into topical segments;

extracting key concepts from the topical segments;

extracting key phrases from the topical segments;

selecting a first one of the key phrases that is included in a first one of the digital documents;

comparing the first key phrase with the key concepts for similarities;

ranking the compared key concepts by the similarities;

identifying, from the topical segments, those topical segments in the first digital document and a second one of the digital documents that have ranked key concepts with individual similarities above a specified similarity threshold;

establishing navigation links between the first key phrase in the first digital document and the identified topical segments in the first digital document and the second digital document to enable a user to navigate within the first digital document or from the first digital document to the second digital document; and

concurrently displaying at least:

a currently viewed topical segment in the first digital document,

first individual navigation links to a previous identified topical segment in the first digital document and a subsequent identified topical segment in the first digital document, and

a second individual navigation link to an identified topical segment in the second digital document.

10. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim 9 , wherein the digital documents are digital books.

11. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim 9 , wherein the digital documents are mostly flat digital documents.

12. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim 9 , wherein the similarities are determined by one or more similarity algorithms.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 9, 2014
From: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
To: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
Reel/Frame 034542/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 12, 2007
From: DARWISH, KAREEM MOHAMED; MORSY, AHMED
To: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 019950/0853 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090083677A1 · Mar 26, 2009