Patent ID: 7426693
Filing Date: 2008-09-16
Classification: G06F,G06Q,H04L,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method for visual communication and collaboration comprising: generating via a stand-alone visual communications tool hosted by an end user device a visual arrangement including an image; storing the visual arrangement in a computer data store coupled to the end user device; publishing the visual arrangement to one or more recipients over a data communications network, wherein the publishing invokes an electronic mail application coupled to the visual communications tool for transmitting the visual arrangement to a one or more recipients; receiving by a server the transmitted visual arrangement and forwarding by the server copies of the visual arrangement to the one or more recipients; transmitting by a particular one of the one or more recipients to the end user device a comment and an identifier associated with a portion of the visual arrangement in response to receipt of the visual arrangement forwarded by the server, wherein the comment and identifier are transmitted by the particular recipient without also transmitting a copy of the received visual arrangement; receiving by the visual communications tool the comment and the identifier and automatically correlating, without user intervention, the comment to the portion of the visual arrangement based on the identifier; and invoking the visual communications tool for displaying the portion of the visual arrangement with the correlated comment.