Distributed information management

• US 20030046256A1
• Filed: 04/20/2001
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Anoto Group AB
• Original Assignee: Anoto Group AB
• Inventors: Andersson, Jan, Ericson, Petter, Burstrom, Stefan, Hugosson, Ola, Astrom, Roger
• Application Number:
  US09/746,780
• Publication Number:
  US 20030046256A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0317 in co-operation with a patterned surface, e.g. absolute position or relative movement detection for an optical mouse or pen positioned with respect to a coded surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0321 by optically sensing the absolute position with respect to a regularly patterned surface forming a passive digitiser, e.g. pen optically detecting position indicative tags printed on a paper sheet constructional details of pen-shaped pointing devices G06F3/03545, G06F3/03542, G06F3/037

Abstract

A system for information management comprises a look-up unit (4), in which are stored particulars about a plurality of regions (5′), each of which represents an area on at least one imaginary surface (5) and is allocated an address. A user unit (2) records electronically information which comprises one or more positions on the imaginary surface (5) and sends all or parts of the recorded information to the look-up unit (4). When the look-up unit (4) receives the recorded information, it identifies, based on the position content of the recorded information, a region (5′) on the imaginary surface (5) and sends the address which is allocated to the identified region to the user unit (2).

A look-up unit, a user unit, a computer program and a method for information management are also described.

Claims

1. A system for information management, characterized by

a look-up unit (4;

302;

402) in which particulars are stored about a plurality of regions (5′

;

101-120), each of which represents an area on at least one imaginary surface (5;

100) and is allocated an address, and

a user unit (2;

301;

401), which is arranged to record electronically information which comprises at least one position on the imaginary surface (5;

100); and

to send said at least one position to the look-up unit (4;

302;

402),

the look-up unit (4;

302;

402) being arranged, in response to the receipt of said at least one position from the user unit (2;

301;

401), to identify to which region said at least one position belongs and to send the address which is allocated to the identified region to the user unit (2;

301;

401).

2. A system according to claim 1, in which each position is defined by at least two coordinates.

3. A system according to claim 1 or 2, in which the information recorded by the user unit (2;

301;

401) comprises a plurality of positions, of which only a first subset (311;

411) is sent to the look-up unit (4;

302;

402).

4. A system according to claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the user unit (2;

301;

401) is arranged, in response to the receipt of said address from the look-up unit (4;

302;

402), to send a second subset (351;

431) of the recorded information to said address.

5. A system according to claim 4, in which the second subset (351;

431) of the recorded information comprises a sequence of positions on the imaginary surface (5;

100), which positions create digital message information, such as interrelated lines.

6. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the user unit (2;

301;

401) has a unique user identity (303;

403) and is arranged, in connection with the transmission of said at least one position, to send the user identity (303;

403) to the look-up unit (4;

302;

402).

7. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the look-up unit (4;

302;

402) is arranged, in response to the receipt of said at least one position from the user unit (2;

301;

401), also to send to the user unit (2;

301;

401) a program file which is allocated to the identified region.

8. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a base (1;

304, 404) on which said at least one position is recorded.

9. A system according to claim 8, in which the user unit (2;

301;

401) is arranged, upon recording of a command field (1F;

308;

406) on the base (1;

304, 404), to initiate transmission of all or parts of the recorded information.

10. A system according to claim 8 or 9, in which the imaginary surface (5;

100) consists of all the positions whose absolute coordinates a position-coding pattern has the capacity to code, in which at least one subset of the position-coding pattern is reproduced on the base (1;

304, 404), and in which the user unit (2;

301;

401) records said at least one position by means of said at least one subset of the position-coding pattern on the base (1;

304, 404).

11. A system according to claim 10, in which the recorded information contains message information (305;

407) which is written on a message field (1A, 1B;

306;

405) on the base (1;

304, 404) by means of the user unit (2;

301;

401), said message field (1A, 1B;

306;

405) containing a first subset of the position-coding pattern which codes positions within a first region on the imaginary surface (5;

100), which first region is dedicated to recording message information (305;

407) in the form of a sequence of positions on the imaginary surface (5;

100).

12. A system according to claim 11, in which the user unit (2;

301;

401) comprises at least one sensor (14) for recording message information (305;

407) on the message field (1A, 1B;

306;

405) and for recording the command field (1F;

308;

406).

13. A system according to claim 12, in which the user unit (2;

301;

401) comprises a single sensor (14) for the recording of the message information (305;

407) and the command field (1F;

308;

406), which sensor (14) is arranged to achieve the recording by recording said at least one subset of the position-coding pattern on the base (1;

304, 404).

14. A system according to claim 11, 12 or 13, in which the command field (1F;

308;

406) is provided with a second subset of the position-coding pattern which codes at least one position within a second region on the imaginary surface (5;

100), which second region is dedicated to initiating transmission of all or parts of the recorded information.

15. A system according to claim 14, in which the second region is dedicated to initiating in the user unit (2;

301;

401) transmission of all or parts of the recorded information to the look-up unit (4;

302;

402).

16. A system according to claim 14 or 15, in which the first region and/or the second region are allocated said address in the look-up unit (4;

302;

402).

17. A system according to claim 14, 15 or 16, in which the second subset of the position-coding pattern is located on a plurality of bases (1;

304, 404) and forms a universal command field (107) for transmission of information to the look-up unit (4;

302;

402).

18. A system according to claim 14, 15 or 16, in which the first and the second region are included in a primary main region (103) which is dedicated to transmission of information to the look-up unit (4;

302;

402).

19. A system according to claim 18, in which the main region (103) contains a plurality of identical standard regions (113), the first and the second regions being included in such a standard region (113).

20. A system according to claim 19, in which the user unit (2;

301;

401) stores particulars about said main region (103) and said standard region (113).

21. A system according to claim 20, in which the user unit (2;

301;

401) stores the second region as one or more positions within a standard region (113).

22. A system according to claim 19, 20 or 21, in which the position-coding pattern on the base (1;

304, 404) is a coherent part of said standard region (113).

23. A system according to any one of claims 19-22, in which the user unit (2;

301;

401) is arranged to send the information which is recorded on at least one of said standard regions (113) to said address.

24. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, in which said address identifies a recipient unit (6;

313;

413), such as a computer, a server unit, a mobile phone or a PDA.

25. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the user unit (2;

301;

401) is arranged, in response to the receipt of said address from the look-up unit (4;

302;

402), to send said address to a recipient unit (6;

313;

413).

26. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the look-up unit is a server unit (4;

302;

402) included in a computer network.

27. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a network connection unit (3), such as mobile phone, a PDA, a cable-connected modem or a computer, the network connection unit (3) being arranged to connect the user unit (2) to the look-up unit (4).

28. A system according to claim 27, in which the network connection unit (3) is designed as a docking unit for receiving the user unit (2).

29. A look-up unit, which is arranged to be included in a system for information management, characterized in that the look-up unit has a memory (7) which stores particulars about a plurality of regions (5′

), each of which corresponds to an area on an imaginary surface (5;

100) and is allocated an address, and that the look-up unit is arranged, in response to the receipt of at least one position from a user unit (2;

301;

401), to determine to which region said at least one position belongs, and to send an address which is allocated to the identified region to the user unit (2;

301;

401).

30. A look-up unit according to claim 29, which is arranged, in response to the receipt of said at least one position from the user unit (2;

301;

401), also to send to the user unit (2;

301;

401) a program file which is allocated to the identified region.

31. A look-up unit according to claim 29 or 30, which is a server unit (4;

302, 402) included in a computer network.

32. A user unit for electronic recording of information which comprises at least one position, characterized in that the user unit is arranged to send said at least one position to a look-up unit (4;

302;

402) for finding an address and to receive said address, and in response to the receipt of said address from the look-up unit (4;

302;

402), to send all or parts of the recorded information to said address.

33. A user unit according to claim 32, in which the information recorded by the user unit comprises a plurality of positions, of which only a first subset (311;

411) is sent to the look-up unit (4;

302;

402).

34. A user unit according to claim 32 or 33, which is arranged, in response to the receipt of said address from the look-up unit (4;

302;

402), to send a second subset (351;

431) of the recorded information to said address.

35. A user unit according to claim 34, in which the second subset (351;

431) of the recorded information comprises a sequence of positions on the imaginary surface (5;

100), which positions create digital message information (305;

407), such as interrelated lines.

36. A user unit according to any one of claims 32-35, which has a unique user identity (303;

403) and is arranged to send the user identity (303;

403) to the look-up unit (4;

302;

402) in connection with the transmission of said at least one position.

37. A user unit according to any one of claims 32-36, which consists of a hand-held device (2;

301;

401), such as a digital pen.

38. A computer program, characterized by instructions which cause a processor (7′

), in response to the receipt of at least one position from a user unit (2;

301;

401), to determine to which of a plurality of regions, each of which corresponds to an area on an imaginary surface (5;

100), said at least one position belongs and to send an address which is allocated to the identified region to the user unit (2;

301;

401).

39. A method for management of information which comprises at least one position and which is recorded electronically by a user by means of a user unit (2;

301;

401), characterized in that

the user unit (2;

301;

401) sends said at least one position to a look-up unit (4;

302;

402),

on the basis of said at least one position, the look-up unit (4;

302;

402) identifies one of a plurality of regions on an imaginary surface (5;

100), about which the look-up unit (4;

302;

402) stores particulars and which is defined by a large number of positions,

on the basis of the identified region, the look-up unit (4;

302;

402) determines an address, and

the look-up unit (4;

302;

402) sends the determined address to the user unit (2;

301;

401).

40. A method according to claim 39, comprising the steps of the user unit (2;

301;

401) recording a plurality of positions which create said information, and the user unit (2;

301;

401) only sending a first subset (311;

411) of said plurality of positions to the look-up unit (4;

302;

402).

41. A method according to claim 40, comprising the step of the user unit (2;

301;

401) sending a second subset (351;

431) of the recorded information to said address, when it receives said address from the look-up unit (4;

302;

402).

42. A method according to claim 41, comprising the steps of said address and/or the second subset of the recorded information being at least partially displayed to the user, before the second subset (351;

431) is sent to said address, and the second subset (351;

431) being sent to said address after confirmation from the user.

43. A method according to any one of claims 39-42, comprising the steps of said information being recorded on a base (1;

304, 404) which is provided with at least one subset of a position-coding pattern which codes all the positions on the imaginary surface (5;

100), in which the user unit (2;

301;

401) records said at least one position using said at least one subset of the position-coding pattern on the base (1;

304, 404).

44. A method according to claim 43, comprising the step of initiating transmission of all or parts of the recorded information when the user unit (2;

301;

401) records a command field (1F;

308;

406) on the base (1;

304, 404).

45. A method according to claim 43 or 44, comprising the step of the user writing message information (305;

407) on a message field (1A, 1B;

306;

405) on the base (1;

304, 404), said message field (1A, 1B;

306;

405) containing a first subset of the position-coding pattern which codes positions within a first region on the imaginary surface (5;

100), which first region is dedicated to recording of message information in the form of a sequence of positions on the imaginary surface (5;

100).

46. A method according to claim 45, comprising the step of the user unit (2;

301;

401) initiating transmission of all or parts of the recorded information when it detects a second subset of the position-coding pattern which codes at least one position within a second region on the imaginary surface (5;

100), which second region is dedicated to initiating transmission of all or parts of the recorded information.