Digital pen and a method of storing digital records of the use made of the digital pen

• US 20050207823A1
• Filed: 03/17/2005
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: MacKenzie, Andrew, Adams, Guy de Warrenne Bruce
• Granted Patent: US 8,081,171 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 401/195
• 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

Abstract

A digital pen of the kind having means to sense and create a digital record of the use made of the pen and a memory in which the digitised record is stored also includes a reader for communication with memory tags by inductive coupling. The means to sense and create a digital record of the use made of the pen may include a camera. Preferably the reader for communication with memory tags is located at the opposite end of the pen from a nib for convention writing, and the pen includes a battery power supply.

Claims

1. A digital pen having means to sense and create a digital record of the use made of the pen and a memory in which the digital record is stored, wherein the pen further includes a reader for communication with memory tags by inductive coupling, which coupling also powers the memory tags.

2. A digital pen according to claim 1 wherein it further includes a nib and the reader for communication with memory tags is located at the opposite end of the pen from the nib.

3. A digital pen according to claim 1 wherein the means to sense and create a digital record of the use made of the pen includes a camera.

4. A digital pen according to claim 1 wherein the means to sense and create a digital record of the use made of the pen includes a pressure sensor.

5. A digital pen according to claim 1 wherein it includes a battery power supply.

6. A digital pen according to claim 1 wherein it includes a switch for control of the reader for communication with memory tags.

7. A digital pen according to claim 1 wherein the control of the reader for communication with memory tags is provided by the standard functionality of the digital pen.

8. A digital pen according to claim 1 wherein it includes a feedback device to inform the user of when the reader couples to a memory tag.

9. A digital pen according to claim 8 wherein the feedback device also informs the user of when a data download to or upload from a memory tag has been completed.

10. A digital pen according to claim 8 wherein the feedback device includes a light source which is illuminated to provide the feedback to the user.

11. A digital pen according to claim 8 wherein the feedback device includes a sound generator which is activated to provide the feedback to the user.

12. A digital pen according to claim 8 wherein the feedback device includes a vibration unit which is activated to provide the feedback to the user.

13. A digital pen according to claim 1 wherein it includes within the memory a set of standard data which is included in any data download to a memory tag.

14. A digital pen according to claim 13 wherein the standard set of data is a unique unmodifiable identifier put into memory during the manufacture of the digital pen.

15. A digital pen according to claim 14 wherein a private/public key pair is associated with the unique unmodifiable identifier of the pen, and the private key is used to encrypt the digital record made of the use made of the pen.

16. A digital pen according to claim 13 wherein it further includes within the memory a plurality of additional sets of standard data and further includes a means by which a required set of standard data may be selected for inclusion in a data download to a memory tag.

17. A digital pen according to claim 16 wherein the additional sets of standard data relate to different users of the pen and/or different roles of a user of the pen and function as user identifiers.

18. A digital pen according to claim 17 wherein each user identifier has associated with it a public/private key pair, and the private key is used to encrypt the digital record made of the use made of the pen.

19. A digital pen according to claim 16 wherein the means by which a required set of standard data may be selected includes a switch and a display.

20. A digital pen according to claim 16 wherein the means by which a required set of standard data may be selected includes the user logging in when stating a writing sessions with the pen and logging out when they have finished the writing session.

21. A digital pen according to claim 16 wherein the means by which a required set of standard data may be selected includes the use of biometrics.

22. A digital pen according to claim 21 wherein the use of biometrics includes identifying the user of the pen by identifying the handwriting being created by the use of the pen.

23. A digital pen according to claim 22 wherein the use of biometrics includes identifying the user of the pen using their fingerprint.

24. A digital pen according to claim 15 wherein the means by which a required set of standard data may be selected includes reading information from a memory tag associated with a document on which the pen is being used.

25. A digital pen according to claim 15 wherein the means by which a required set of standard data may be selected includes detecting the use made of the pen on a document.

26. A method of capturing and storing a digital record of the use made of a digital pen including using the digital pen to write or draw, sensing the movement of the pen and creating a digital record of that use, downloading the digital record of the use of the pen to a memory tag using inductive coupling.

27. A method according to claim 26 wherein the digital pen includes a nib at one end and a memory tag reader, capable of communication with a memory tag by inductive coupling, at the other end such that the method includes turning the pen around after using it to write or draw in order to be able to download the digital record to the memory tag.

28. A method according to claim 27 wherein the use of the pen is made on a piece of paper or the like and the memory tag is adhered to or incorporated in the piece of paper or the like.

29. A method according to claim 28 wherein the digital record of the use made of the pen includes information relating to where on the piece of paper or the like the use was made.

30. A method according to claim 26 wherein the digital record of the use made of the pen includes a unique identifier of the pen.

31. A method according to claim 30 wherein a public/private key pair is associated with the unique identifier of the pen, and the digital record of the use made of the pen is encrypted using the private key.

32. A method according to claim 26 wherein the digital record of the use made of the pen includes an identifier of the user of the pen and where appropriate their role in which they used the pen.

33. A method according to claim 32 wherein a public/private key pair is associated with the identifier of the user of the pen, and the digital record of the use made of the pen is encrypted using the private key.

34. A method according to claim 26 wherein it further includes downloading the e-signature of the user to the memory tag to sign the digital record.

35. A method according to claim 34 wherein the e-signature is downloaded from a personal identification device.

36. A method according to claim 34 where the e-signature is downloaded to the pen from a personal computer, personal digital assistant, mobile phone or other personal electronic device.

37. A personal identification device having stored therein an e-signature of the user.

38. A personal identification device according to claim 37 in the form of a wearable item.

39. A personal identification device according to claim 38 in the form of a ring for wearing on a finger.

40. In combination a digital pen having means to sense and create a digital record of the use made of the pen and a memory in which the digital record is stored, wherein the pen further includes a reader for communication with memory tags by inductive coupling, which coupling also powers the memory tags and a personal identification device having stored therein an e-signature of the user.

41. A digital pen having:

means to sense and create a digital record of the use made of the pen, said means including a camera and a pressure sensor,

a memory in which is stored a unique unmodifiable identifier of the pen and in which the digital record is stored, and

a reader for communication with memory tags by inductive coupling, which coupling also powers the memory tags.

42. A digital pen having:

means to sense and create a digital record of the use made of the pen, said means including a camera and a pressure sensor,

a memory in which is stored a unique unmodifiable identifier of the pen, a plurality of standard sets of data relating to users of the pen and their roles, and in which the digital record is stored,

means to select an appropriate standard set of data relating to a particular user of the pen and their role, and

a reader for communication with memory tags by inductive coupling, which coupling also powers the memory tags.

43. A method of capturing and storing a digital record of the use made of a digital pen including:

using the digital pen to write or draw on a piece of paper or the like,

sensing the movement of the pen and creating a digital record of that use,

downloading the digital record of the use of the pen to a memory tag adhered to or incorporated in the piece of paper or the like using inductive coupling, the digital record including a unique identifier of the pen and an identifier of the user,

downloading the e-signature of the user to the memory tag to sign the digital record.