Patent ID: 8230326

Claim:
A method for associating annotations with a data source family, comprising: receiving a request to create a first annotation for data content in an initial version of a data source; generating a family identifier, wherein the family identifier is associated with the initial version of the data source and with subsequent versions of the data source; obtaining annotation content for a first annotation associated with a portion of data content in the initial version of the data source; associating the first annotation with the family identifier and with the initial version of the data source; storing the family identifier in the initial version of the data source; receiving a request to create a second annotation for a modified version of the initial data source; obtaining annotation content for the second annotation; associating the second annotation with the family identifier and with the modified version of the data source; storing in an annotation store, (i) the annotation content, (ii) the family identifier and (iii) an indication of the version of the data source corresponding to the modified version of the data source; and storing the family identifier in the modified version of the data source.