ONLINE GRAPHICAL MESSAGE SERVICE
First Claim
1. A method for providing an electronic information service in a computer system connected to a network, the method comprising:
- creating a first information object comprising at least part of a virtual whiteboard into which a plurality of users can write information and from which the plurality of users can read information;
transmitting the first information object via the network to a first user included in the plurality of the users;
receiving a second information object from the first user including a modification of at least part of the virtual whiteboard, said second information object comprising position information obtained from a printed position-coding pattern, said position-coding pattern having sufficient resolution to define strokes of a drawing device when the drawing device is moved over the position-coding pattern; and
updating the virtual whiteboard utilizing the second information object, wherein the position information obtained from the position-coding pattern is used to provide a graphical image which is created by moving the drawing device over the position-coding pattern.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for achieving an electronic information service (also called an online graphical message service) hosted by a computer system (e.g., a server) connected to a network. Remote users can write information into and read information from the information service over the network. In response to a request from a first user, the service may create a first information object that comprises a virtual whiteboard. The virtual whiteboard may include information written by the remote users. Then, the service may transmit the first information object via the network to the first user. Later, the service may receive a second information object from the first user corresponding to part of the virtual whiteboard. The second information object may include modifications the first user made to the virtual whiteboard. The service may then update the virtual whiteboard utilizing the received second information object.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for providing an electronic information service in a computer system connected to a network, the method comprising:
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creating a first information object comprising at least part of a virtual whiteboard into which a plurality of users can write information and from which the plurality of users can read information; transmitting the first information object via the network to a first user included in the plurality of the users; receiving a second information object from the first user including a modification of at least part of the virtual whiteboard, said second information object comprising position information obtained from a printed position-coding pattern, said position-coding pattern having sufficient resolution to define strokes of a drawing device when the drawing device is moved over the position-coding pattern; and updating the virtual whiteboard utilizing the second information object, wherein the position information obtained from the position-coding pattern is used to provide a graphical image which is created by moving the drawing device over the position-coding pattern. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for providing an online graphical message service, the method comprising:
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receiving from a first user a request for at least a portion of a graphical image; transmitting the portion of the graphical image over a computer network to the first user and printing the graphical image together with a position-coding pattern having sufficient resolution to define a track of a drawing device when the drawing device is moved over the position-coding pattern; receiving over the computer network a modification of the graphical image from the first user, said modification comprising position information obtained from the position-coding pattern; updating the graphical image to include the modification; and making the updated graphical image available for viewing and modification by a second user, wherein the position information obtained from the position-coding pattern is used to provide a graphical image which is created by moving the drawing device over the position-coding pattern. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for providing an electronic information service in a computer system connected to a network, the method comprising:
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receiving a message from a user comprising position information obtained from a position-coding pattern having sufficient resolution to define a track of a drawing device when the drawing device is moved over the position-coding pattern; receiving from the user an indication of a position for the message on a virtual area; placing the message in the position on the virtual area; and making at least portions of the virtual area available for viewing and modification by a second user, wherein the position information obtained from the position-coding pattern is used to provide a graphical image which is created by moving the drawing device over the position-coding pattern. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A method for participating in an online graphical message service, the method comprising:
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sending a request over a computer network to a computer server for at least a portion of a graphical image that is available for modification and viewing by a plurality of users; receiving the portion of the graphical image over the computer network; displaying the portion of the graphical image to a first user included in the plurality of users; printing the portion of the graphical image together with a position-coding pattern, detectable by an optical sensor, in a known relationship to the portion of the graphical image; receiving a modification of the portion of the graphical image from the first user comprising a set of locations generated as a result of the first user moving an optical sensor over the position-coding pattern; and sending the modification over the computer network to the computer server. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification