Image capture device with handwritten annotation

• US 20020051262A1
• Filed: 04/30/2001
• Published: 05/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Sobol, Robert E., Nuttall, Gordon R.
• Application Number:
  US09/845,389
• Publication Number:
  US 20020051262A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/537
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1696 the I/O peripheral being a printing or scanning device
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/235 based on user input or interaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/1423 the instrument generating sequences of position coordinates corresponding to handwriting preprocessing or recognising digital ink G06V30/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00392 Other manual input means, e.g. digitisers or writing tablets
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32144 embedded in the image data, i.e. enclosed or integrated in the image, e.g. watermark, super-imposed logo or stamp
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3245 of image modifying data, e.g. handwritten addenda, highlights or augmented reality information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3273 Display

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an image data capture device for editing captured image data, the device generally including at least one image data capture element, an image data processor for generating image files from image data acquired by the capture element, and a user data entry device for enabling a user to modify image files. Preferably, one or more image data capture elements, the image data processor, and the user data entry device are disposed within a portable container.

Claims

1. An image data capture device for editing captured image data, the device comprising:

at least one image data capture element;

an image data processor for generating image files from image data acquired by said capture element; and

a user data entry device for enabling a user to modify said generated image files, wherein said at least said one image data capture element, said image data processor, and said user data entry device are disposed within a portable container.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said image data capture element is included in a digital camera.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said image data capture element is included in a scanner.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said user data entry device comprises:

a pressure-sensitive tablet.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said user data entry device comprises:

an electromagnetically coupled pen and writing surface.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said user data entry device comprises:

means for entering text annotation data into said generated image files.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said user data entry device comprises:

means for entering graphical annotation data into said generated image files.

8. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

means for entering image file processing instructions to said device.

9. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

means for converting handwritten user entries employing said user data entry device into machine recognizable data.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein said user data entry device enables superimposition of user data entry on a display of an image file of said generated image files.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein said user data entry device enables annotation of said generated image files by direction.

12. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a communication interface for coupling said device to a network.

14. The method of claim 13 comprising the further step of:

providing a network interface within said portable assembly.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said annotating step comprises the steps of:

displaying a first image file of selected captured image data;

superimposing said user-entered data on said displayed first image file; and

providing a continuously updated display of said first image file as modified by said user-entered data.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of:

electronically mailing said annotated selected ones of said at least one image files to at least one recipient, said recipient specified in said annotating step.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of:

saving said annotated selected ones of said image data.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said step of saving comprises the step of:

transmitting said annotated selected ones of said image data over a public network to a node on said public network.

20. The optical scanner of claim 19 further comprising:

a communication interface for enabling said optical scanner to communicate over a data communication network, under at least partial control of said means for annotating.

21. The optical scanner of claim 19 wherein the means for receiving comprises:

means for receiving handwritten graphical data.

13. A method for annotating information in an image capture device, the method comprising the steps of:

capturing image data within said image capture device;

receiving user-entered data in connection with selected captured ones of said image data;

annotating said selected ones of said captured image data with said received user-entered data; and

performing said steps of capturing, receiving, and annotating within a portable assembly.

19. An optical scanner comprising:

means for capturing image data;

means for displaying selected image data;

means for receiving user-entered data in connection with said selected image data;

means for superimposing said received user-entered data on said displayed selected image data; and

means for annotating said displayed selected image data with said superimposed received user-entered data.