System, computer software program product, and method for producing a contextual electronic message from an input to a pen-enabled computing system

• US 20040236710A1
• Filed: 06/21/2004
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ADS Software Mgmt LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Digital Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Jolley, Edward V., Clary, Gregory J.
• Application Number:
  US10/873,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20040236710A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 706/46
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging

Abstract

A system for producing a contextual electronic message generally comprises a handwriting capture device, a user interface, a central processing unit, and a communications interface. The handwriting capture device is capable of receiving and capturing an electronic handwriting input. The user interface is adapted to interact with a user and is further capable of receiving a user input to initiate a processing function. The central processing unit is capable of determining the context of the handwriting input and application-specific information associated therewith, as well as process the handwriting input in accordance with the context and/or the initiated processing function. A contextual electronic message is thereby produced which may comprise a portion of the application-specific information and/or a portion of the handwriting input. The communications interface is adapted to interact with a message recipient through a communications link and is further capable of transmitting the electronic message thereto.

Claims

1. A system for producing a contextual electronic message from an input received by a handwriting capture device, said system comprising:

a handwriting capture device capable of receiving and capturing an electronic handwriting input, the electronic handwriting input being associated with a form having at least one form identifier;

a central processing unit in communication with the handwriting capture device, the central processing unit being capable of determining the context of the handwriting input based upon at least one form identifier of the form, the central processing unit also being capable of processing the handwriting input in accordance with the context to produce a contextual electronic message, the contextual electronic message comprising at least one of a portion of the handwriting input and application-specific information associated with the handwriting input context; and

a communications interface in communication with the central processing unit and adapted to interact with a message recipient through a communications link such that the electronic message is transmittable thereby.

2. A system according to claim 1 further comprising a computer software program product executing in at least one of the handwriting capture device and the central processing unit, the computer program product for capturing the handwriting input, determining the context thereof, processing the handwriting input according to the context to produce the corresponding contextual electronic message, and transmitting the message via the communications interface.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein the central processing unit comprises at least one of a pen-enabled computer, a personal digital assistant, a smart phone, a desktop personal computer, a laptop personal computer, and a central server.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein the electronic message further comprises at least one of a source address, a destination address, a subject, a time stamp, and a payload, wherein at least a portion of the payload comprises at least one of the application-specific information and at least a portion of the handwriting input.

5. A computer software program product executing within a messaging system, the computer program product capable of producing a contextual electronic message from an input received by a handwriting capture device, the computer program product comprising:

a first executable portion capable of receiving and capturing a handwriting input entered into a handwriting capture device, the handwriting input being associated with a form having at least one form identifier;

a second executable portion capable of determining the context of the handwriting input based upon at least one form identifier of the form;

a third executable portion capable of processing the handwriting input based on the handwriting input context to form a contextual electronic message comprising at least one of a portion of the handwriting input and application-specific information associated with the handwriting input context; and

a fourth executable portion capable of transmitting the message via a communications interface, the communications interface being adapted to interact with a message recipient through a communications link.

6. A computer software program product according to claim 5 wherein at least one executable portion is capable of associating the application-specific information with an executable function.

7. A computer software program product according to claim 5 wherein at least one executable portion is capable of assigning at least one of a time stamp and a date stamp to the handwriting input.

8. A method for producing a contextual electronic message from a handwriting input to a handwriting capture device, the method comprising:

receiving and capturing a handwriting input entered into a handwriting capture device, the handwriting input being associated with a form having at least one form identifier;

determining the context of the handwriting input based upon at least one form identifier of the form;

forming a contextual electronic message based on the handwriting input context, the electronic message comprising at least one of a portion of the handwriting input and application-specific information associated with the handwriting input context; and

transmitting the message via a communications interface adapted to interact with a message recipient through a communications link.

9. A method according to claim 8 further comprising assigning at least one of a time stamp and a date stamp to the handwriting input.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein forming a contextual electronic message further comprises forming a contextual electronic message based on and comprising at least one of the time stamp and the date stamp.

11. A method according to claim 8 wherein forming a contextual electronic message further comprises forming a contextual electronic message comprising at least one of a source address, a destination address, a subject, a time stamp, and a payload, wherein at least a portion of the payload comprises at least one of a portion of the handwriting input and the application-specific information.

12. A system for producing a contextual electronic message from an input received by a handwriting capture device, said system comprising:

a handwriting capture device capable of receiving and capturing an electronic handwriting input;

a user interface adapted to interact with a user, the user interface being capable of receiving a user input to initiate a processing function;

a central processing unit in communication with the handwriting capture device and the user interface, the central processing unit being capable of determining the context of the handwriting input and application-specific information associated therewith, the central processing unit also being capable of processing the handwriting input in accordance with the context to produce a contextual electronic message, the contextual electronic message comprising at least one of a portion of the application-specific information and a portion of the handwriting input; and

a communications interface in communication with the central processing unit and adapted to interact with a message recipient through a communications link such that the electronic message is transmittable thereby.

13. A system according to claim 12 further comprising a computer software program product executing in at least one of the handwriting capture device and the central processing unit, the computer program product for capturing the handwriting input, determining the context thereof, determining the application-specific information associated with the handwriting input context, processing the handwriting input according to the context and the initiated processing function to produce the corresponding contextual electronic message, and transmitting the message via the communications interface.

14. A system according to claim 12 wherein the central processing unit comprises at least one of a pen-enabled computer, a personal digital assistant, a smart phone, a desktop personal computer, a laptop personal computer, and a central server.

15. A system according to claim 12 wherein the electronic message further comprises at least one of a source address, a destination address, a subject, a time stamp, and a payload, wherein at least a portion of the payload comprises at least one of the application-specific information and at least a portion of the handwriting input.

16. A system according to claim 12 wherein the handwriting input is associated with a preprinted form having at least one form identifier, the central processing unit being capable of determining the context of the handwriting input based on at least one form identifier of the preprinted form.

17. A computer software program product executing within a messaging system, the computer program product capable of producing a contextual electronic message from an input received by a handwriting capture device, the computer program product comprising:

a first executable portion capable of receiving and capturing a handwriting input entered into a handwriting capture device, the handwriting input having a predetermined input parameter;

a second executable portion capable of determining the context of the handwriting input based at least partially upon the input parameter and determining application-specific information associated with the handwriting input context;

a third executable portion capable of processing the handwriting input based on the handwriting input context to form a contextual electronic message comprising at least one of a portion of the application-specific information and a portion of the handwriting input; and

a fourth executable portion capable of transmitting the message via a communications interface, the communications interface being adapted to interact with a message recipient through a communications link.

18. A computer software program product according to claim 17 wherein the input parameter comprises a form identifier and the second executable portion is capable of determining the handwriting input context at least partially from the form identifier.

19. A computer software program product according to claim 17 wherein at least one executable portion is capable of associating the application-specific information with an executable function.

20. A computer software program product according to claim 17 wherein at least one executable portion is capable of assigning at least one of a time stamp and a date stamp to the handwriting input.

21. A method for producing a contextual electronic message from a handwriting input to a handwriting capture device, the method comprising:

receiving and capturing a handwriting input entered into a handwriting capture device, the handwriting input having a predetermined input parameter;

determining the context of the handwriting input based at least partially upon the input parameter;

determining application-specific information associated with the handwriting input context;

receiving a user input from a user interface;

forming a contextual electronic message based on the handwriting input context, the electronic message comprising at least one of a portion of the application-specific information and a portion of the handwriting input; and

transmitting the message via a communications interface adapted to interact with a message recipient through a communications link.

22. A method according to claim 21 wherein the input parameter comprises a form identifier and the method further comprises determining the handwriting input context at least partially from the form identifier.

23. A method according to claim 21 further comprising assigning at least one of a time stamp and a date stamp to the handwriting input.

24. A method according to claim 23 wherein forming a contextual electronic message further comprises forming a contextual electronic message based on and comprising at least one of the time stamp and the date stamp.

25. A method according to claim 21 wherein forming a contextual electronic message further comprises forming a contextual electronic message comprising at least one of a source address, a destination address, a subject, a time stamp, and a payload, wherein at least a portion of the payload comprises at least one of the application-specific information and at least a portion of the handwriting input.