Paper based mailing and shipping user interface

• US 20060138210A1
• Filed: 12/23/2004
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Coffy, Jean-Hiram, Parkos, Arthur J., Hasbani, Jacques E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,404,521 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• 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 1/00355 Mark-sheet input sensing record carriers G06K7/00; character recognition G06V30/10; document-oriented image-based pattern recognition G06V30/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0036 Alphanumeric symbols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00366 Marks in boxes or the like, e.g. crosses or blacking out H04N1/0036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00968 by scanning marks on a sheet mark-sheet input means H04N1/00355; sensing record carriers G06K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0097 Storage of instructions or parameters, e.g. customised instructions or different parameters for different user IDs

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing paper based user interfaces to machines are described. In one example, a business machine receives user input from a digital pen and paper system and determines if such input is authorized. In another example, a business machine processes a batch of prewritten user inputs from a digital pen and paper system when the digital pen is collocated operatively connected to the business machine.

Claims

1. A method for processing digital paper based machine instructions from a user having a digital pen comprising:

receiving digital paper based user input data;

determining if the user can be authenticated;

if the user is authenticated, obtaining a user profile;

using the user profile to determine if the user has privileges required to process the digital paper based input date; and

if the user has the privileges required to process the digital paper based input data, causing the machine to process the digital paper based input data.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the user is authenticated by processing authentication data present in the digital paper based user input data.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein:

the authentication data includes biometric data relating to digital pen strokes.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the machine is disabled if the user cannot be authenticated.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

if the user is not privileged, determining if a privilege exception is warranted.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

sending the digital paper based user input data to a server.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the digital paper based user input data includes summary data.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

using the summary data to obtain complete data.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein:

authenticating the user comprises authenticating the digital pen.

10. The method of claim 2 wherein:

the authentication data comprises a user signature.

11. A method for processing digital paper based machine instructions from a user having a digital pen comprising:

receiving digital paper based user input data and storing it in a batch data file;

determining if a batch processing condition is satisfied;

if the batch processing condition is not satisfied, return to the step of receiving digital paper based user input data;

if the batch processing condition is satisfied, causing the machine to process the batch data file.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein:

the batch processing condition is satisfied when the digital pen is docked in the machine.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein:

the batch processing condition is satisfied when the digital pen is collocated with the machine.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

sending the digital paper based user input data to a server.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

sending the batch data file to a server after the batch processing condition is satisfied.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein:

the digital paper based user input data comprises an intended recipient email address.

17. A system for processing digital paper based input commands from a user for a machine comprising:

a processor;

memory connected to the processor, the memory storing a program for controlling the processor and storing user data; and

the processor operative with the program operative for;

receiving digital paper based user input commands;

authenticating the user; and

if the user is authenticated, causing the machine to process the digital paper based user input commands.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein:

if the user is not authenticated, the machine is disabled.