System and method for information management using handwritten identifiers

• US 20050246337A1
• Filed: 04/29/2004
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Forman, George H., Kindberg, Timothy P.J.G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,840,571 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/95 structured as a network, e.g. client-server architectures
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/30 Writer recognition; Reading and verifying signatures

Abstract

The method discloses: scanning an original copy of a handwritten identifier; comparing the identifier to a set of prerecorded identifiers; adding the identifier to the set of prerecorded identifiers, if the identifier shares less than a predetermined similarity with any identifier within the set of prerecorded identifiers; linking the identifier to a set of information; scanning the original copy a second time; matching the second scan of the original copy with the first scan of the original copy; and retrieving the set of information in response to the matching. The system discloses: a computer system; a handwritten identifier; an imaging device for scanning an original copy of a handwritten identifier; an image processing and matching module for comparing the identifier to a set of prerecorded identifiers; a linking module for linking the identifier to a set of information.

Claims

1. A method for information management, comprising:

scanning an original copy of a handwritten identifier in response to a first user command;

comparing the identifier to a set of prerecorded identifiers;

adding the identifier to the set of prerecorded identifiers, if the identifier shares less than a predetermined similarity with any identifier within the set of prerecorded identifiers;

linking the identifier to a set of information;

scanning the original copy a second time in response to a second user command;

matching the second scan of the original copy with the first scan of the original copy; and

retrieving the set of information in response to the matching.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

scanning an original copy of a handwritten identifier includes scanning the original copy using a first imaging device; and

scanning the original copy a second time includes scanning the original copy using a second imaging device.

3. The method of claim 1:

wherein the identifier includes a hand-delimited existing mark.

4. The method of claim 1:

wherein the identifier is a human created surface irregularity.

5. The method of claim 1:

wherein the identifier is a hand drawn scribble.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

requesting a new identifier, if the identifier shares more than a predetermined similarity with a prerecorded identifier.

7. The method of claim 1:

wherein scanning includes imaging the identifier and a set of background information; and

further comprising distinguishing the set of background information from the identifier.

8. The method of claim 1:

further comprising,

partitioning the set of prerecorded identifiers into a predefined set of groups;

selecting one of the predefined groups; and

wherein comparing includes comparing the identifier only against prerecorded identifiers within the selected group.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising,

computing a signature of the identifier;

and

requesting a new identifier if the signature shares more than a predetermined similarity with a prerecorded identifier.

10. The method of claim 9:

wherein computing includes selecting a set of identifier features for the signature which are scale and rotation invariant.

11. The method of claim 9:

wherein computing includes normalizing the identifier in scale and rotation.

12. The method of claim 1:

wherein linking includes linking the identifier to a GUID.

13. The method of claim 1:

wherein linking includes linking the identifier to a SKU.

14. The method of claim 1:

wherein linking includes linking the identifier to a URL.

15. The method of claim 1:

wherein linking includes associating the set of information with a set of action types.

16. The method of claim 1:

further comprising, displaying information in response to the set of information.

17. The method of claim 1:

further comprising, effecting an action in response to the set of information.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

placing the identifier on a physical object.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

placing the identifier on paper.

20. A method for information management, comprising:

partitioning a set of prerecorded identifiers into a predefined set of groups;

selecting one of the predefined groups;

scanning an original copy of a handwritten identifier in response to a first user command;

comparing the identifier only against prerecorded identifiers within the selected group;

adding the identifier to the set of prerecorded identifiers, if the identifier shares less than a predetermined similarity with any identifier within the set of prerecorded identifiers;

requesting a new identifier, if the identifier shares more than the predetermined similarity with a prerecorded identifier in the selected group;

linking the identifier to a set of information;

scanning the original copy a second time in response to a second user command;

matching the second scan of the original copy with the first scan of the original copy;

retrieving the set of information in response to the matching; and

effecting actions associated with the set of information.

21. A computer-usable medium embodying computer program code for commanding a computer to effect information management, comprising:

scanning an original copy of a handwritten identifier in response to a first user command;

comparing the identifier to a set of prerecorded identifiers;

adding the identifier to the set of prerecorded identifiers, if the identifier shares less than a predetermined similarity with any identifier within the set of prerecorded identifiers;

linking the identifier to a set of information;

scanning the original copy a second time in response to a second user command;

matching the second scan of the original copy with the first scan of the original copy; and

retrieving the set of information in response to the matching.

22. A system for information management comprising a:

means for scanning an original copy of a handwritten identifier in response to a first user command;

means for comparing the identifier to a set of prerecorded identifiers;

means for adding the identifier to the set of prerecorded identifiers, if the identifier shares less than a predetermined similarity with any identifier within the set of prerecorded identifiers;

means for linking the identifier to a set of information;

means for scanning the original copy a second time in response to a second user command;

means for matching the second scan of the original copy with the first scan of the original copy; and

means for retrieving the set of information in response to the matching.

23. A system for information management, comprising:

a computer system;

a handwritten identifier;

an imaging device for scanning an original copy of a handwritten identifier in response to a first user command;

an image processing and matching module for comparing the identifier to a set of prerecorded identifiers, and adding the identifier to the set of prerecorded identifiers, if the identifier shares less than a predetermined similarity with any identifier within the set of prerecorded identifiers;

a linking module for linking the identifier to a set of information;

wherein the image processing and matching module also scans the original copy a second time in response to a second user command, and matches the second scan of the original copy with the first scan of the original copy; and

wherein the computer system retrieves the set of information in response to the matching.