Apple is working on methods for electronic text manipulation and display based on a new patent (20120311438) at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.
Per the patent, information is presented to a user by accessing a library of electronic publications that includes a first publication, generating a representation of the first publication in an electronic bookshelf, determining a state for the first publication and modifying the representation of the first publication to reflect the state of the first publication.
Here’s Apple’s background on the invention: “This disclosure relates to displaying and facilitating the manipulation of electronic text, for example, the text of an electronic book (‘eBook’) being read on an electronic device. Much like an ordinary printed book, electronic books (‘eBooks’) can be used to present text and pictures to readers. Instead of ink and paper, however, an electronic book is a collection of digital data that software, known as an electronic book reader application, can interpret and present on a display.
“A variety of devices run electronic book reader software such as desktop and notebook computers, eBook readers, smart phones and/or other mobile devices. One available format for eBooks is defined by the “ePub” standard, which is maintained by The International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF).”
The inventors are Elizabeth Caroline Furches Cranfill, David Heller, Jeffrey Robbin, Alan C. Cannistraro, William Martin Bachman, Timothy B. Martin, Matt Evans and Joe R. Howard.
