US 8700996

A technical analysis of U.S. Patent 8,700,996 reveals a focus on user interface technology for previewing document changes in real-time. A search of the dockets for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) for the year 2026 shows no pending or decided cases for this specific patent number.

Summary of U.S. Patent 8,700,996

• Title: Real time preview
• Assignee: Corel Software LLC. The original assignee was Corel Corp.
• Inventors: Kevin C. Unbedacht, Bruce G. Woodward, Eric D. Johnson
• Filing Date: March 22, 2013
• Issue Date: April 15, 2014
• Abstract: The patent describes a method for software applications to show a user the full impact of a command on an entire document in real-time, as the command is identified but before it is formally executed. This allows the user to cycle through different commands and see their effects without needing to repeatedly open and close menus. The invention covers general commands, text editing, moving margins or guidelines, and repositioning graphic objects.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims

An independent claim represents the broadest definition of the invention.

• Independent Claim 1: This claim outlines a method where a computer displays a document with specific formatting (like font, line spacing, margins, color, and justification). When a user highlights or "identifies" a formatting command without actually clicking to apply it, the system automatically updates the document's display to show a preview of what that change would look like.

• Independent Claim 14: This claim focuses on content that includes both text and an object (like an image). It describes a method where, if a user identifies a command for wrapping text around the object without formally executing the command, the system updates the display to show how the text would flow around the object in real-time.

• Independent Claim 22: This claim is specific to content that includes a table. It describes a method where the system displays a menu of table-formatting commands (such as text alignment, sorting, border styles, and positioning). When the user identifies one of these commands without executing it, the system updates the table's appearance on the screen to preview the effect of that command.