ONLINE GRAPHICAL MESSAGE SERVICE

• US 20090024935A1
• Filed: 09/17/2008
• Published: 01/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, Lapstun, Paul, Lapstun, Jacqueline Anne
• Granted Patent: US 7,904,514 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/753
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/56 Financial cryptography, e.g. electronic payment or e-cash
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/608 Watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/805 Lightweight hardware, e.g. radio-frequency identification [RFID] or sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3231 Biological data, e.g. fingerprint, voice or retina network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using biometrical features in a packet data network H04L63/0861
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 118/15 Roller structure

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.

Claims

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. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a request from the first user for at least part of the virtual whiteboard.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual whiteboard comprises a plurality of graphical images.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising notifying a second user when the virtual whiteboard has been updated.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual whiteboard has an associated end time.

6. A computer system adapted to perform the method of claim 1.

7. A method for providing an online graphical message service, the method comprising:

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.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising transmitting the modification to a second user who has previously been provided with a portion of the graphical image affected by the modification.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the position-coding pattern is detectable by an optical sensor for identifying locations on the portion of the graphical image.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein receiving over the computer network the modification of the graphical image from the first user comprises receiving a set of locations determined with respect to the position-coding pattern having a known relationship to the portion of the graphical image.

11. A computer system adapted to perform the method of claim 7.

12. A method for providing an electronic information service in a computer system connected to a network, the method comprising:

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.

13. A computer system adapted to perform the method of claim 12.

14. A method for participating in an online graphical message service, the method comprising:

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.

15. A computer system adapted to perform the method of claim 14.