Method and system for searching information using processing sensor

• US 20030103034A1
• Filed: 11/12/2002
• Published: 06/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, Lapstun, Paul, Lapstun, Jacqueline Anne
• Granted Patent: US 6,865,570 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/103 for the sheet feeding section
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/106 for the sheet output section
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17503 Ink cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17523 Ink connection
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17546 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17556 Means for regulating the pressure in the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17563 Ink filters
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/2114 Ejecting transparent or white coloured liquids, e.g. processing liquids B41J2/211 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 19/02 starting with single sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 9/0006 by applying adhesive to a stack of sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 9/0081 applying adhesive to individual sheets for binding them together by fusing, welding B42C9/0093
• CPC Class Codes: B42P 2261/04 Producing books by printing sheets in following order, e.g. for ordering via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 29/34 from supports slid from under the articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 37/04 for securing together articles or webs, e.g. by adhesive, stitching or stapling adhering replacement to expiring web during change of web roll B65H19/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3323 using document space presentation or visualization, e.g. category, hierarchy or range presentation and selection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 : for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 : Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 : characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0248 : Avoiding fraud
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 : Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 : Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 : Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 : Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/06 : Asset management; Financial planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 : Electronic negotiation
• 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: G09B 7/00 : Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers mechanically operated G09B3/00; computing arrangements G06F
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 : Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 : with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 : with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00326 : with a data reading, recognizing or recording apparatus, e.g. with a bar-code apparatus arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus G11B31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00334 : with an apparatus processing barcodes or the like arrangements for sensing record carriers G06K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00342 : with a radio frequency tag transmitter or receiver storage of additional information in an RFID tag attached to an image bearing paper sheet H04N1/32138
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00358 : Type of the scanned marks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00376 : Means for identifying a mark sheet or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00567 : Handling of original or reproduction media, e.g. cutting, separating, stacking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00968 : by scanning marks on a sheet mark-sheet input means H04N1/00355; sensing record carriers G06K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 : Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 : in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32128 : attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32771 : in response to a request, e.g. for a particular document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32778 : using a mark-sheet or machine-readable code request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 : Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3243 : of type information, e.g. handwritten or text document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3247 : Data linking a set of images to one another, e.g. sequence, burst or continuous capture mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3249 : data relating to a linked page or object, e.g. hyperlink
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3269 : of machine readable codes or marks, e.g. bar codes or glyphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/327 : which are undetectable to the naked eye, e.g. embedded codes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/915 : Image
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/917 : Text
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 : Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 : Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 : Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 : Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 : Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 : Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a system for enabling searching of stored information, the system including

a search request form including information relating to a search request, the search request form including coded data indicative of an identity of the search request form and of at least one reference point of the search request form; and

a computer system for receiving indicating data from a sensing device for identifying at least one parameter relating to the search request, the indicating data being indicative of the identity of the search request form and a position of the sensing device relative to the search request form, the sensing device sensing the indicating data using at least some of the coded data.

In one particular embodiment, the present invention provides a method of enabling users to search stored information, the method includes the steps of

providing a user with a search request form including information relating to a search request, the search request form including coded data indicative of an identity of the search request form and of at least one reference point of the search request form;

receiving in a computer system, indicating data from a sensing device, operated by the user, regarding the identity of the search request form and a position of the sensing device relative to the search request form, the sensing device, when placed in an operative position relative to the search request form, sensing the indicating data using at least some of the coded data; and

identifying, in the computer system and from the indicating data, at least one parameter relating to the search request.

Claims

1. A method of enabling users to search stored information the method including the steps of

providing a user with a search request form including information relating to a search request, the search request form including coded data indicative of an identity of the search request form and of at least one reference point of the search request form;

receiving in a computer system, indicating data from a sensing device, operated by the user, regarding the identity of the search request form and at least one of a position and a movement of the sensing device relative to the search request form; and

identifying, in the computer system and from the indicating data, at least one parameter relating to the search request,

wherein the sensing device comprises;

(a) an image sensor adapted to capture images of at least some of the coded data when the sensing device is placed in an operative position relative to the search request form; and

(b) a processor adapted to;

(i) identify at least some of the coded data from one or more of the captured images;

(ii) determine an orientation, within the captured images, of at least some of the coded data;

(iii) decode at least some of the coded data; and

(iv) generate the indicating data using at least some of the decoded coded data.

2. The method of claim 1 in which said at least one parameter relating to the search request is associated with at least one zone of the search request form, and in which the method includes identifying, in the computer system and from the zone relative to which the sensing device is located, said at least one parameter.

7. The method of claim 1, claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the processor is housed within the sensing device.

8. The method of claim 1, claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the processor is adapted to operate at processing speeds ranging from 1 instruction per second to 1×

10¹² instructions per second.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the processor is adapted to operate at processing speeds ranging from 10 instructions per second to 1×

10⁶ instructions per second.

10. The method of claim 1, claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the image sensor is housed within the sensing device.

11. The method of claim 1, claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the image sensor is adapted to capture images at rates ranging from 1 image per second to 1,000 images per second.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the image sensor is adapted to capture images at rates ranging from 10 images per second to 200 images per second.

13. The method of claim 1, claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the coded data comprises non-barcode coded data.

14. The method of any one of claims 2, 3 or 5 in which the parameter is an action parameter of the search request, the method including effecting, in the computer system, an operation in respect of the action parameter.

15. The method of claim 14 in which the action parameter of the search request is selected from the group including:

commencing a search of stored information; and

requesting a blank search request form.

16. The method of any one of claims 1, 3 or 5 in which the parameter is an option parameter of the search request, the method including identifying, in the computer system, that the user has entered a hand-drawn mark by means of the sensing device and effecting, in the computer system, an operation associated with the option parameter.

17. The method of claim 16 in which the option parameter is associated with at least one of:

selecting the store of information to search;

selecting a topic category to search; and

selecting the maximum number of returned matches to provide.

18. The method of any one of claims 1, 3 or 5 in which the parameter is a text parameter of the search request, the method including identifying, in the computer system, that the user has entered handwritten text data by means of the sensing device and effecting, in the computer system, an operation associated with the text parameter.

19. The method of claim 18 which includes converting, in the computer system, the handwritten text data to computer text.

20. The method of claim 19 which includes converting, in the computer system, the handwritten text data to computer text using an online handwriting recognition program.

21. The method of claim 19 in which the text parameter is associated with at least one of:

search text;

a sorting preference of the results;

a preferred language;

a range of relevant dates; and

an author of a document.

22. The method of any one of claims 1, 3 or 5 in which the parameter is an authorisation parameter of the search request, the method including identifying, in the computer system, that the user has entered a handwritten signature by means of the sensing device and effecting, in the computer system, an operation associated with the authorisation parameter.

23. The method of claim 22 which includes verifying, in the computer system, that the signature is that of the user.

24. The method of claim 23 in which the authorisation parameter is associated with search authorisation.

25. The method of any one of claims 1, 3 or 5 in which the parameter is a picture parameter of the search request, the method including identifying, in the computer system, that the user has entered a hand-drawn picture by means of the sensing device and effecting, in the computer system, an operation associated with the picture parameter.

26. The method of claim 25 in which the picture parameter is associated with a picture search parameter of the search request.

27. The method of any one of claims 1, 3 or 4 in which the search request form contains information relating to at least one of:

the available stores of information; and

the available topic categories.

3. A method of enabling searching of stored information, the method including the steps of

providing a user with a search request form including information relating to a search request, the search request form including coded data indicative of at least one parameter of the search request;

receiving, in a computer system, data from a sensing device regarding said at least one parameter and regarding at least one of a movement and a position of the sensing device relative to the search request form; and

interpreting, in the computer system, at least one of the movement and the position of the sensing device as it relates to said at least one parameter,

wherein the sensing device comprises;

(a) an image sensor adapted to capture images of at least some of the coded data when the sensing device is placed in an operative position relative to the search request form; and

(b) a processor adapted to;

(i) identify at least some of the coded data from one or more of the captured images;

(ii) determine an orientation, within the captured images, of at least some of the coded data;

(iii) decode at least some of the coded data;

(iv) generate the data regarding said at least one parameter using at least some of the decoded coded data; and

(v) generate the data regarding at least one of the movement and position of the sensing device relative to the search request form using at least some of the decoded coded data.

4. A method of enabling searching of stored information, the method including the steps of

providing a user with a search request form including coded data indicative of an identity of the search request form;

receiving, in a computer system, data from a sensing device regarding an identity of the user and regarding the identity of the search request form; and

identifying, in the computer system and from the data regarding the identity of the user and the identity of the search request form, a search request,

wherein the sensing device is adapted to contain the data regarding the identity of the user and comprises;

(a) an image sensor adapted to capture images of at least some of the coded data when the sensing device is placed in an operative position relative to the search request form; and

(b) a processor adapted to;

(i) identify at least some of the coded data from one or more of the captured images;

(ii) determine an orientation, within the captured images, of at least some of the coded data;

(iii) decode at least some of the coded data, and

(iv) generate the data regarding the identity of the search request form using at least some of the decoded coded data.

5. The method of claim 4 in which the coded data is also indicative of at least one parameter of the search request, and the method includes receiving, in the computer system, indicating data from the sensing device regarding said at least one parameter of the search request, the sensing device sensing the indicating data using at least some of the coded data.

6. The method of claim 4 which includes receiving, in the computer system, data from the sensing device regarding at least one of a movement and a position of the sensing device relative to the search request form, the sensing device generating data regarding at least one of the movement and the position relative to the search request form using at least some of the coded data.

28. A system for enabling searching of stored information, the system including

a search request form including information relating to a search request, the search request form including coded data indicative of an identity of the search request form and of at least one reference point of the search request form;

and

a computer system for receiving indicating data from a sensing device for identifying at least one parameter relating to the search request, the indicating data being indicative of the identity of the search request form and at least one of a position and a movement of the sensing device relative to the search request form,

the sensing device comprising;

(a) an image sensor adapted to capture images of at least some of the coded data when the sensing device is placed in an operative position relative to the search request form; and

(b) a processor adapted to;

(i) identify at least some of the coded data from one or more of the captured images;

(ii) determine an orientation, within the captured images, of at least some of the coded data;

(iii) decode at least some of the coded data; and

(iv) generate the indicating data using at least some of the decoded coded data.

29. The system of claim 28 in which said at least one parameter relating to the search request is associated with at least one zone of the search request form.

30. The system of claim 28 which includes the sensing device, the sensing device sensing at least one of the movement and the position of the sensing device relative to the search request form using at least some of the coded data.

35. The system of claim 28, claim 31 or claim 32, wherein the processor is housed within the sensing device.

36. The system of claim 28, claim 31 or claim 32, wherein the processor is adapted to operate at processing speeds ranging from 1 instruction per second to 1×

10¹² instructions per second.

37. The system of claim 36 wherein the processor is adapted to operate at processing speeds ranging from 10 instructions per second to 1×

10⁶ instructions per second.

38. The system of claim 28, claim 31 or claim 32, wherein the image sensor is housed within the sensing device.

39. The system of claim 28, claim 31 or claim 32, wherein the image sensor is adapted to capture images at rates ranging from 1 image per second to 1,000 images per second.

40. The system of claim 39 wherein the image sensor is adapted to capture images at rates ranging from 10 images per second to 200 images per second.

41. The system of claim 28, claim 31 or claim 32, wherein the coded data comprises non-barcode coded data.

42. The system of any one of claims 28, 31 or 33 in which said at least one parameter of the search request is selected from the group comprising an action parameter of the search request, an option parameter of the search request, a text parameter of the search request, an authorisation parameter of the search request, and a picture parameter of the search request.

43. The system of claim 42 in which the action parameter of the search request is selected from the group comprising:

commencing a search of stored information; and

requesting a blank search request form.

44. The system of claim 42 in which the option parameter is associated with at least one of:

selecting the store of information to search;

selecting a topic category to search; and

selecting the maximum number of returned matches to provide.

45. The system of claim 42 in which the text parameter is associated with at least one of:

search text;

a sorting preference of the results;

a preferred language;

a range of relevant dates; and

an author of a document.

46. The system of claim 42 in which the authorisation parameter is associated with search authorisation.

47. The system of claim 42 in which the picture parameter is associated with a picture search parameter of the search request.

31. A system for enabling searching of stored information, the system including

a search request form including information relating to a search request, the search request form including coded data indicative of at least one parameter of the search request;

and

a computer system for receiving data from a sensing device regarding said at least one parameter and regarding at least one of a movement and a position of the sensing device relative to the search request form, and for interpreting at least one of the movement and the position of the sensing device as it relates to said at least one parameter,

the sensing device comprising;

(a) an image sensor adapted to capture images of at least some of the coded data when the sensing device is placed in an operative position relative to the search request form; and

(b) a processor adapted to;

(i) identify at least some of the coded data from one or more of the captured images;

(ii) determine an orientation, within the captured images, of at least some of the coded data;

(iii) decode at least some of the coded data;

(iv) generate the data regarding said at least one parameter using at least some of the decoded coded data; and

(v) generate the data regarding at least one of the movement and position of the sensing device relative to the search request form using at least some of the decoded coded data.

32. A system for enabling searching of stored information, the system including

a search request form including coded data indicative of an identity of the search request form;

and

a computer system for receiving from a sensing device data regarding an identity of the user and the identity of the search request form, and for identifying, from said received data, a search request, the sensing device adapted to contain the data regarding the identity of the user and comprising;

(a) an image sensor adapted to capture images of at least some of the coded data when the sensing device is placed in an operative position relative to the search request form; and

(b) a processor adapted to;

(i) identify at least some of the coded data from one or more of the captured images;

(ii) determine an orientation, within the captured images, of at least some of the coded data;

(iii) decode at least some of the coded data; and

(iv) generate the data regarding the identity of the search request form using at least some of the decoded coded data.

33. The system of claim 32 in which the coded data is also indicative of at least one parameter of the search request, the computer system receiving indicating data from the sensing device regarding said at least one parameter of the search request, and the sensing device sensing the indicating data using at least some of the coded data.

34. The system of claim 32 which includes the sensing device, the sensing device sensing at least one of a movement and a position of the sensing device relative to the search request form.