Identifying a form used for data input through stylus movement by means of a traced identifier pattern
First Claim
1. In a computer system having a user interface including a stylus for marking surfaces of markable media and location sensing means for detecting locations of said stylus as said stylus is moved along a surface of said markable media, a method for selecting a format for placement of data derived from said location sensing means, wherein said method comprises:
- sensing a format identifying pattern of movement of said stylus along a markable medium within a format identifying area of said markable medium;
generating a format identifying data pattern representing said format identifying pattern of movement of said stylus; and
searching a data structure including a plurality of format identifying data patterns and formatting data associated with each of said format identifying data patterns for a match between said format identifying data pattern representing said pattern of movement of said stylus and a format identifying data pattern within said plurality of format identifying data patterns.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computing system includes a user interface for supplying data by filling in a form with a marking stylus, with movement of the stylus across the paper being tracked to produce input data signals. The form includes a form identifying area in which form identifying information unique to the type of form is printed to be traced by the stylus, causing the system to recognize the type of form being filled in. After the type of form is recognized, input data from the form is stored for subsequent processing in locations determined according to the type of form. Marking within a termination area may be used to indicate completion of an individual form.
54 Citations
29 Claims
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1. In a computer system having a user interface including a stylus for marking surfaces of markable media and location sensing means for detecting locations of said stylus as said stylus is moved along a surface of said markable media, a method for selecting a format for placement of data derived from said location sensing means, wherein said method comprises:
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sensing a format identifying pattern of movement of said stylus along a markable medium within a format identifying area of said markable medium;
generating a format identifying data pattern representing said format identifying pattern of movement of said stylus; and
searching a data structure including a plurality of format identifying data patterns and formatting data associated with each of said format identifying data patterns for a match between said format identifying data pattern representing said pattern of movement of said stylus and a format identifying data pattern within said plurality of format identifying data patterns. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for processing input data provided through a computer system user interface including a stylus for marking surfaces of markable media and location sensing means for detecting locations of said stylus as said stylus is moved along a surface of said markable media, wherein said method comprises:
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sensing a plurality of input patterns of movement of said stylus along said markable medium in an area outside a termination identifying area of said markable medium;
generating a data input structure representing each of said input patterns of movement of said stylus;
storing each said data input structure;
sensing a termination pattern of movement of said stylus along said markable medium in said termination identifying area of said markable medium; and
after sensing said termination pattern of movement of said stylus along said markable medium, transmitting each said data input structure for processing. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for processing input data provided through a computer system user interface including a stylus for marking surfaces of markable media and location sensing means for detecting locations of said stylus as said stylus is moved along a surface of said markable media, wherein said method comprises:
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sensing a format identifying pattern of movement of said stylus along said markable medium within a format identifying area of said markable medium;
generating a format identifying data pattern representing said format identifying pattern of movement of said stylus; and
searching a data structure including a plurality of format identifying data patterns and formatting data associated with each of said format identifying data patterns for a match between said format identifying data pattern representing said pattern of movement of said stylus and a format identifying data pattern within said plurality of format identifying data patterns, sensing a plurality of input patterns of movement of said stylus along said markable medium in an area outside a termination identifying area of said markable medium;
generating a data input structure representing each of said input patterns of movement of said stylus; and
storing each said data input structure in a location for processing according to said formatting data associated with said format identifying data pattern representing said pattern of movement of said stylus. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. Apparatus comprising:
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a markable medium having an upper surface including a format identifying area;
a stylus having a point visibly marking said markable medium as said point is slid along said upper surface of said markable medium;
location sensing means providing a stylus location signal representing locations of said point as said point is slid along said upper surface of said markable medium;
data storage including and output data structure and an input data structure having a plurality of format identifying data patterns and formatting data associated with each of said format identifying data patterns;
processor means programmed to generate input data patterns representing movement of said stylus along said upper surface in response to said stylus location signal, wherein said input data patterns include a format identifying data pattern representing movement of said stylus along said upper surface within said format identifying area, search said input data structure for a match between said format identifying data pattern representing movement of said stylus along said upper surface within said format identifying area and a format identifying data pattern stored within said input data structure; and
store said input data for processing in locations according to said formatting data associated with said format identifying data pattern stored within said input data structure and associated with said format identifying data pattern representing movement of said stylus along said upper surface within said format identifying area. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A computer readable medium having recorded thereon program instructions causing a processor within a computing system having a user interface including a stylus for marking a surface of markable media and location sensing means for generating a stylus location signal indicating locations of said stylus as said stylus is moved along a surface of said markable media to:
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generate input data patterns representing movement of said stylus along an upper surface of said markable medium in response to said stylus location signal, wherein said input data patterns include a format identifying data pattern representing movement of said stylus along said upper surface within a format identifying area, search an input data structure for a match between said format identifying data pattern representing movement of said stylus along said upper surface within said format identifying area and a format identifying data pattern stored within said input data structure; and
store said input data for processing in locations according to formatting data associated with said format identifying data pattern stored within said input data structure and associated with said format identifying data pattern representing movement of said stylus along said upper surface within said format identifying area. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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28. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave, comprising program instructions causing a processor within a computing system having a user interface including a stylus for marking a surface of markable media and location sensing means for generating a stylus location signal indicating locations of said stylus as said stylus is moved along a surface of said markable media to:
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generate input data patterns representing movement of said stylus along an upper surface of said markable medium in response to said stylus location signal, wherein said input data patterns include a format identifying data pattern representing movement of said stylus along said upper surface within a format identifying area, search an input data structure for a match between said format identifying data pattern representing movement of said stylus along said upper surface within said format identifying area and a format identifying data pattern stored within said input data structure; and
store said input data for processing in locations according to formatting data associated with said format identifying data pattern stored within said input data structure and associated with said format identifying data pattern representing movement of said stylus along said upper surface within said format identifying area. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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Specification