System and Method for Using Individualized Mixed Document

• US 20070165904A1
• Filed: 07/31/2006
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Graham, Jamey, Erol, Berna, Hart, Peter, Weyl, Stephen, Hull, Jonathan, Nudd, Geoffrey
• Granted Patent: US 7,551,780 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/40 Document-oriented image-based pattern recognition

Abstract

A Mixed Media Reality (MMR) system and associated techniques are disclosed. The MMR system provides mechanisms for forming a mixed media document that includes media of at least two types (e.g., printed paper as a first medium and digital content and/or web link as a second medium). In one particular embodiment, the mixed media document may also include hotspot images that uniquely identify a user associated with the mixed media document. Such individualized mixed media documents are used to identify users of the mixed media document, when orders for products or services are made using the mixed media documents through the MMR system.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of using a printed document, comprising:

receiving a captured image of at least a portion of a printed document, the portion including information uniquely identifying the printed document as well as a user of the printed document; and

comparing a plurality of features extracted from the image with a plurality of indices to find a matching index identifying the printed document and the user.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the information comprises a printed name of the user.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the information comprises a printed identification number or a printed bar code corresponding to the user.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the information comprises text of the printed document having varied appearance that uniquely identifies the user.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving user information associated with the identified user.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the printed document describes goods or services, and the method further comprises:

retrieving user information associated with the identified user;

causing an order form displayed on a capture device of the identified user to be pre-populated with the user information.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, further comprising:

obtaining processing schedule information of an order of the goods or services made by the identified user; and

updating a calendar application running on the capture device with the processing schedule information.

8. A computer program product stored on a computer readable medium and adapted to perform a computer-implemented method of using a printed document, the method comprising:

receiving a captured image of at least a portion of a printed document, the portion including information uniquely identifying the printed document as well as a user of the printed document; and

comparing a plurality of features extracted from the image with a plurality of indices to find a matching index identifying the printed document and the user.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the information comprises a printed name of the user.

10. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the information comprises a printed identification number or a bar code corresponding to the user.

11. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the information comprises text of the printed document having varied appearance that uniquely identifies the user.

12. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises:

retrieving user information associated with the identified user.

13. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the printed document describes goods or services, and the method further comprises:

retrieving user information associated with the identified user;

causing an order form displayed on a capture device of the identified user to be pre-populated with the user information.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises:

obtaining processing schedule information of an order of the goods or services made by the identified user; and

updating a calendar application running on the capture device with the processing schedule information.

15. A system for using a printed document, comprising:

a memory for storing computer instructions;

a storage device storing a plurality of indices corresponding to a plurality of documents; and

a processor for executing the computer instructions,

wherein the memory includes a document fingerprint matching module for receiving a captured image of at least a portion of the printed document, the portion including information uniquely identifying the printed document as well as a user of the printed document, and comparing a plurality of features extracted from the image with the plurality of indices stored in the storage device to find a matching index identifying the printed document and the user.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the information comprises a printed name of the user.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the information comprises a printed identification number or a bar code corresponding to the user.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the information comprises text of the printed document having varied appearance that uniquely identifies the user.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the printed document describes goods or services, and the memory further includes an order processing module for retrieving user information associated with the identified user and causing an order form displayed on a capture device of the identified user to be pre-populated with the user information.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the memory further includes a calendar synchronization module for obtaining processing schedule information of an order of the goods or services made by the identified user and updating a calendar application running on the capture device with the processing schedule information.