Method and system for creating and sending a facsimile using a digital pen

• US 20040061888A1
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Published: 04/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Coffy, Jean-Hiram, Braun, John F., Rojas, John W., Norris, James R., Parkos, Arthur, Leung, Alan, Leung, Wendy Chui Fen
• Granted Patent: US 7,417,773 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• 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: H04N 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/107 with manual scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio

Abstract

The present application describes systems and methods for composing and sending facsimile messages using a digital pointing instrument. In further configurations, a user utilizes a pen to indicate a reference to a document that is appended to the outgoing facsimile. In another further configuration, the user utilizes a form having pre-defined regions that are used to correlate a pen stroke with a desired action.

Claims

1. A method for composing a facsimile message comprising:

capturing strokes made by a user with a pointing instrument that include indications of data including message data and command data;

processing the strokes in order to determine a recipient designated by the strokes, and

determining a template for the message using the strokes.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the pointing instrument is a digital pen and strokes are provided by a user writing on a media having a pattern.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

capturing user authentication information related to the user.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein:

the user authentication information includes biometric data.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein:

the biometric data includes pen stroke data including stroke pressure, stroke speed and pen attitude.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the command data includes an indication of a send facsimile command.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the send facsimile command is indicated by the user writing a stroke in a segregated field of the media.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein the template determination utilizes a pattern.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein the data includes an attachment identifier, further comprising:

identifying the at least one attachment using the biometric data;

authenticating the user using the user authentication information; and

verifying user permission to access the attachment file.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining determined message data using the attachment; and

modifying the facsimile message using the determined message data.

11. A system for composing a facsimile comprising:

a processor;

a storage device connected to the processor;

the storage device storing a logic program;

the processor operative with the logic program to perform;

capturing strokes made by a user writing with a digital pen on a media having a pattern, the strokes including indications of data including message data and command data;

processing the strokes in order to determine a recipient designated by the strokes,

determining a template for the message using the strokes and the pattern;

capturing user authentication information related to the user; and

wherein the command data includes an indication of a send facsimile command.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein:

the user authentication information includes biometric data.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein:

the biometric data includes pen stroke data including stroke pressure, stroke speed and pen attitude.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the data includes an attachment identifier, further comprising the processor operative with the logic program to perform:

identifying the at least one attachment using the biometric data;

authenticating the user using the user authentication information; and

verifying user permission to access the attachment file.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising the processor operative with the logic program to perform:

determining determined message data using the attachment; and

modifying the facsimile message using the determined message data.

16. A system for sending a facsimile of a message comprising:

a receiver to receive pen stroke data from a digital pen including attachment data indicating at least one attachment;

a processor to process pen stroke data; and

a file server connected to the processor, wherein the processor uses pen stroke data to locate the at least one attachment and uses pen stroke data to verify permission to access the at least one attachments.