Patent ID: 7231597

Claim:
A method for creating an aside within an electronic document, the method comprising: receiving a first input placing an insertion point in an outline object at a first location within a viewable portion of the electronic document; receiving and displaying a second input at the insertion point; determining whether the second input includes a key command requesting that the aside be created within the electronic document; in response to determining that the second input includes the key command, identifying a second location within the viewable portion of the electronic document for a first new object such that the first new object is created in a non-overlapping fashion with respect to the outline object; creating the first new object at the second location such that the first new object is viewable; moving the insertion point to within the first new object; receiving and displaying a third input at the insertion point; determining that the third input received and displayed at the insertion point is greater than a predetermined size; in response to determining that the third input received and displayed at the insertion point is greater than the predetermined size, identifying a third location within the viewable portion of the electronic document for a second new object such that the second new object is created in a non-overlapping fashion with respect to the outline object and the first new object; creating the second new object at the third location such that the second new object is viewable; moving the insertion point to within the second new object; receiving and displaying a fourth input at the insertion point; determining whether the fourth input includes the key command; and in response to determining that the fourth input includes the key command, returning the insertion point to the outline object.