Recording writing movements
First Claim
1. A method of reporting the writing motion of a hand, pen or stylus via a digital communications link, such reporting taking the form of packets of digital data, such packets containing position information, such packets also containing real-time information.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The writing motion of a hand, pen or stylus is reported via a digital communications link, such reporting taking the form of packets of digital data, such packets containing position information, such packets also containing real-time information. Apparatus is described for recording the movement of a stylus during handwriting, for example in the execution of a handwritten signature. The apparatus comprises digitizer means, capable of sensing the position of a stylus, and defining an active signing area. A control circuit is capable of sampling at least orthogonal X and Y coordinates, in the plane of the active signing area, of a stylus in proximity to the digitizer means, and of then transmitting information regarding said coordinates together with real-time information via a digital communications link. The real-time information is represented either as a sequential number or in absolute form as clock-time.
26 Citations
28 Claims
- 1. A method of reporting the writing motion of a hand, pen or stylus via a digital communications link, such reporting taking the form of packets of digital data, such packets containing position information, such packets also containing real-time information.
-
5. Apparatus for recording the movement of a stylus during handwriting, for example in the execution of a handwritten signature, the apparatus comprising:
-
digitizer means, capable of sensing the position of a stylus, and defining an active signing area; and
a control circuit capable of sampling at least orthogonal X and Y coordinates, in the plane of the active signing area, of a stylus in proximity to the said digitizer means, and of then transmitting information regarding said coordinates together with real-time information via a digital communications link, such real-time information being represented either as a sequential number or in absolute form as clock-time. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
11. Apparatus for recording the movement of a stylus during handwriting, for example in the execution of a handwritten signature, the apparatus comprising:
-
digitizer means capable of sensing the position of a stylus, the digitizer device defining a signing area;
an LCD device having an LCD display substantially coextensive with the digitizer means and lying substantially in the same plane, the LCD device having driver circuitry offset to the side of, and out of the plane of, the signing area; and
a control circuit capable of sampling at least orthogonal X and Y coordinates, in the plane of the active signing area, of a stylus in proximity to the said digitizer means. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 25, 26, 27, 28)
-
-
12. Apparatus for recording the movement of a stylus during handwriting, for example in the execution of a handwritten signature, the apparatus comprising:
-
a stylus having a tip;
digitizer means capable of sensing the position of the stylus, the digitizer means defining a signing area;
an LCD device having an LCD display substantially coextensive with the digitizer means and lying substantially in the same plane; and
a control circuit capable of sampling at least orthogonal X and Y coordinates, in the plane of the active signing area, of the tip of the stylus in proximity to the said digitizer means;
the signing area being provided with a textured surface, the resistance of which to passage of the tip of the stylus thereacross is substantially the same as that of paper to passage of the tip of a pen or pencil thereacross.
-
-
19. A system for recording handwritten signatures, comprising:
-
a host computer system; and
at least one peripheral devices, adapted to record signatures;
each of said at least one peripheral devices comprising an apparatus for recording the movement of a stylus during execution of a handwritten signature, which apparatus comprises;
digitizer means, capable of sensing the position of a stylus and defining an active signing area; and
a control circuit capable of sampling at least orthogonal X and Y coordinates, in the plane of the active signing area, of a stylus in proximity to the said digitizer means, and of then transmitting information regarding said coordinates together with real-time information via a digital communications link to said host computer, such real-time information being represented either as a sequential number or in absolute form as clock-time;
the control circuits of individual said peripheral devices each containing a non-volatile memory means incorporating an identifier for that peripheral device; and
each said control circuit (s) each being adapted to communicate its said identifier to said host computer together with said co-ordinates and said real-time information, whereby said host computer may identify both when and at which said peripheral device a particular signature was written. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
-
- 23. A method of encrypting communication between a peripheral device and a host computer to which it may be connected, the method including generation of an encryption key for the said peripheral device by providing the peripheral device with a random number generator adapted on receipt of a pre-set signal to generate a random number encryption key for that peripheral device, the key so generated for the said peripheral device being required to be directly input into said host computer to allow the host computer to read data from said peripheral device.
Specification