INFORMATION INPUT DEVICE, INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE, INFORMATION INPUT SYSTEM, INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM, TWO-DIMENSIONAL FORMAT INFORMATION SERVER, INFORMATION INPUT METHOD, CONTROL PROGRAM, AND RECORDING MEDIUM

• US 20110188071A1
• Filed: 11/17/2008
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kenji Yoshida
• Original Assignee: Kenji Yoshida
• Inventors: Yoshida, Kenji
• Application Number:
  US12/747,812
• Publication Number:
  US 20110188071A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus

Abstract

An information input device is provided with which a user can easily input information in content for which a link or the like is not set in advance. If a user touches on a medium printed with a dot pattern together with content or a display that displays a dot pattern together with content using a scanner 4, a document ID and an XY coordinate value of the touch position are read out. The content is prepared as DTP data in advance, and DTP data corresponding to the read document ID is selected from plurality pieces of DTP data. A. coordinate conversion unit 30 converts the XY coordinate value into an xy coordinate value on the DTP data. A specific information selecting unit 40 parses a text and analyzes an image in the DTP data and recognizes a constituent element in the DTP data specified by the user based on the xy coordinate value of the touch position according to a predetermined algorithm.

Claims

1. An information input device comprising:

a dot-pattern reading unit whose subject is DTP data, HTML, Flash, CAD data, map data and other two-dimensional format information to be printed on a medium, wherein, among information that is visualized as a text, a figure, an illustration, a photograph, and the like, information that meets a predetermined criterion is determined in advance as specific information and formatted, and the dot-pattern reading unit is used to touch on the medium to read a dot pattern at the touch position when a user specifies, by a predetermined operation, the visualized specific information on a medium printed with the two-dimensional information together with a dot pattern that is made into a pattern with an XY coordinate value and/or a code value based on a predetermined algorithm for a variety of multimedia information output and/or operation instruction;

a two-dimensional format information storing and selecting unit that, using input identification information for identifying the two-dimensional format information, selects the two-dimensional format information corresponding to the identification information among one or more pieces of the two-dimensional format information stored in advance;

a coordinate conversion unit that converts a coordinate value (Xt, Yt) in an XY coordinate system of the dot pattern at the touch position into a coordinate value (xt, yt) in an xy coordinate system of the selected two-dimensional format information; and

a specific information selecting unit that, using the coordinate value (xi, yi) in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information as position information for selection, the coordinate value (xi, yi) being determined when laying out and printing the specific information in order to specify a position of the specific information in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information, calculates a distance from the coordinate value (xt, yt) in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information that is converted from the coordinate value (Xt, Yt) of the dot pattern of the touch position to one or more pieces of position information for selection within a predetermined distance, and selects specific information having coordinates of the closest position information for selection as input into a local device.

2. The information input device according to claim 1, wherein the identification information is the code value of the dot pattern printed on the medium, and printed together with an XY coordinate value of the dot pattern on at least part of a region printed the XY coordinate value of the dot pattern or other region than said region.

3. The information input device according to claim 1, wherein the identification information is an XY coordinate value of the dot pattern that uniquely identifies the two-dimensional format information, and the XY coordinate value is printed on all over a region printed with the XY coordinate value of the dot pattern.

4. The information input device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the medium is a structure that diffusely reflects infrared rays irradiated from an infrared irradiation unit provided on the dot-pattern reading unit, the two-dimensional format information is printed on the medium using an ink made of an infrared transmissive material or an infrared reflective material;

and the dot pattern is printed on the material using an ink made of an infrared absorbing material.

15. The information input device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein a user performs the predetermined operation by touching the visualized specific information using the dot-pattern reading unit.

16. The information input device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein a user performs the predetermined operation by touching the visualized specific information using the dot-pattern reading unit and dragging the dot-pattern reading unit over the specific information.

17. The information input device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein a user performs the predetermined operation by touching the visualized specific information using the dot-pattern reading unit and encircling a region displaying the specific information.

18. The information input device according to claim 17, wherein the specific information selecting unit selects specific information having the position information for selection surrounded by a plurality of coordinate values (xt, yt) in an xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information corresponding to a trajectory obtained by the operation of encircling the region displaying the specific information, and if there are a plurality pieces of the specific information, decides one piece of the specific information by selecting after displaying candidates of the specific information or based on a predetermined algorithm.

19. The information input device according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein if the specific information is a word and a gap exists between letters constituting the word, the specific information has the position information for selection for each letter, while if the specific information is a figure, an illustration, a photograph, and the like and constituted by a plurality of objects, the specific information has the position information for selection for each object.

20. The information input device according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the position information for selection is a coordinate value of a center of a word, that is, specific information, or a center of each letter constituting the word, or a coordinate value of a centroid of a figure, an illustration, a photograph, and the like, that is, specific information, or an object constituting the figure, the illustration, and the photograph.

21. The information input device according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the position information for selection is a combination of a coordinate value of a starting point (xi1, yi1) and a coordinate value of an end point (xi2, yi2) of a line segment indicating a width of a word of specific information or a letter constituting the word between middle points or arbitrary positions in a height direction of the word or the letter, and

the specific information selecting unit selects the specific information having a line segment where a length from a coordinate value of the touch position (xt, xy) to said line segment is within an arbitrary distance and shortest.

22. The information input device according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the positon information for selection is a collection of all coordinate values (xia, yia) included in a mask surrounding a word of the specific information or each letter constituting the word or a collection of all coordinate values (xia, yia) included in a figure, an illustration, a photograph, and the like of the specific information, or an object constituting the figure, the illustration and the photograph, wherein if a coordinate value of the touch position (xt, yt) matches any pair of the all coordinate values (xia, yia), the specific information selecting unit selects the corresponding specific information, and if the coordinate value of the touch position (xt, yt) does not match any pair of the all coordinate values (xia, yia), the specific information selecting unit selects the specific information having a coordinate value (xie, yie) of a contour of the object or mask that is within an arbitrary distance from and closest to the coordinate value (xt, yt).

23. The information input device according to claim 22, wherein the specific information selecting unit, based on a combination of a coordinate value of a starting point (xi1, yi1) and a coordinate value of an end point (xi2, yi2) of a line segment indicating a width of a word of specific information or each letter constituting the word between middle points or arbitrary positions in a height direction of the word or the letter, and a height of the letter, hi, generates the mask surrounding the word or the letter according to a predetermined algorithm.

24. The information input device according to any one of claims 1 to 23, wherein the specific information selecting unit recognizes one or more pieces of the specific information by parsing a text and/or searching a file and/or analyzing an image of a figure, an illustration, a photograph and the like within an arbitrary distance from the coordinate value of the touch position (xt, yt) in the two-dimensional format information according to a predetermined algorithm, calculates the position information for selection of the specific information according to a predetermined algorithm, and selects the specific information based on the coordinate value (xt, yt), the recognized specific information, and the calculated position information for selection.

25. The information input device according to any one of claims 1 to 23, wherein the specific information is specified in advance by parsing a text and/or searching a file and/or analyzing an image of a figure, an illustration, a photograph, and the like included in the two-dimensional format information, the position information for selection of the specific information is calculated in advance according to a predetermined algorithm, and the two-dimensional format information stores the specific information and the position information for selection.

26. The information input device according to any one of claims 1 to 25, wherein the two-dimensional format information is a figure drawn by CAD and has a text and/or a dot, a line segment, a plane, a three-dimensional object as the specific information.

27. The information input device according to any one of claims 1 to 25, wherein the two-dimensional format information is map data, and the map data has specific information sorted into categories including a text, a road, a feature, and an intersection, and the specific information has a region surrounded by roads, a feature area, a road centerline, and a centroid of a feature as position information for selection.

28. The information input device according to any one of claims 1 to 26, further comprising a print unit that prints the two-dimensional format information displayed on a screen, together with the dot pattern.

29. An information-processing device comprising:

the information input device according to any one of claims 1 to 28; and

a relevant information searching unit that searches relevant information of the specific information selected by the information input device, and outputs the searched relevant information.

30. The information-processing device according to claim 29, wherein the relevant information searching unit searches the relevant information from a preset link table, database, and/or electronic dictionary.

31. The information-processing unit according to claim 30, wherein the link table, the database, and the electronic dictionary are respectively one or more of general-purpose link table, general-purpose database, and general-purpose electronic dictionary, and the relevant information searching unit searches the relevant information from the general-purpose link table, the general-purpose database, and/or the general-purpose electronic dictionary according to a predetermined algorithm.

5. An information input device comprising:

a display whose subject is DTP data, HTML, Flash, CAD data, map data and other two-dimensional format information to be displayed on the display, wherein, among information that is visualized as a text, a figure, an illustration, a photograph, and the like, information that meets a predetermined criterion is determined in advance as specific information and formatted, and the display displays the two-dimensional format information together with a dot pattern that is made into a pattern with an XY coordinate value and/or a code value based on a predetermined algorithm for a variety of multimedia information output and/or operation instruction;

a dot-pattern reading unit that is used to touch on the display to read a dot pattern at the touch position, when a user specifies the visualized specific information on the display by a predetermined operation;

a two-dimensional format information storing and selecting unit that, using input identification information for identifying the two-dimensional format information, selects the two-dimensional format information corresponding to the identification information among one or more pieces of the two-dimensional format information stored in advance;

a coordinate conversion unit that converts a coordinate value (Xt, Yt) in an XY coordinate system of the dot pattern at the touch position into a coordinate value (xt, yt) in an xy coordinate system of the selected two-dimensional format information; and

a specific information selecting unit that, using (xi, yi) in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information as position information for selection, the (xi, yi) being determined when displaying the specific information on the display in order to specify a position of the specific information in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information, calculates a distance from the coordinate value (xt, yt) in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information that are converted from the coordinate value (Xt, Yt) of the dot pattern of the touch position to one or more pieces of position information for selection within a predetermined distance, and selects specific information having coordinates of the closest position information for selection as input into a local device.

6. The information input device according to claim 5, wherein the identification information is the code value of the dot pattern displayed on the display and displayed together with an XY coordinate value of the dot pattern on at least part of a region that displays the XY coordinate value of the dot pattern or other region than said region.

7. The information input device according to either claim 5 or 6, wherein the identification information is an XY coordinate value of the dot pattern that uniquely identifies the two-dimensional format information and the XY coordinate value is displayed all over a region that displays the XY coordinate value of the dot pattern.

8. The information input device according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the display is a structure in which dot part of the dot pattern absorbs or transmits infrared rays irradiated from an infrared irradiation unit provided on the dot-pattern reading unit and other region than the dot part diffusely reflects the infrared rays.

9. The information input device according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the display displays dots of the dot pattern by adjusting RGB values of pixels displayed on a screen.

10. The information input device comprising;

an information input assisting sheet printed with a dot pattern made into a pattern with an XY coordinate value and/or a code value based on a predetermined algorithm for a variety of multimedia information output and/or operation instruction, whose subject is DTP data, HTML, Flash, CAD data, map data and other two-dimensional format information to be printed on a medium, wherein among information that is visualized as a text, a figure, an illustration, a photograph, and the like, information that meets a predetermined criterion is determined in advance as specific information and formatted, and the information input assisting sheet is placed on a medium printed with the two-dimensional format information or attached on a display that displays the two-dimensional format information;

a dot-pattern reading unit that is used to touch on the medium or the display through the information input assisting sheet to read a dot pattern at the touch position, when a user specifies the visualized specific information on the medium or the display by a predetermined operation;

a two-dimensional format information storing and selecting unit that, using input identification information for identifying the two-dimensional format information, selects the two-dimensional format information corresponding to the identification information among one or more pieces of the two-dimensional format information stored in advance;

a coordinate conversion unit that converts a coordinate value (Xt, Yt) in an XY coordinate system of the dot pattern at the touch position into a coordinate value (xt, yt) in an xy coordinate system of the selected two-dimensional format information; and

a specific information selecting unit that, using (xi, yi) in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information as position information for selection, the (xi, yi) being determined when laying out and printing the specific information or determined when displaying the specific information on the display in order to specify a position of the specific information in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information, calculates a distance from the coordinate value (xt, yt) in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information that is converted from the coordinate value (Xt, Yt) of the dot pattern of the touch position to one or more pieces of position information for selection within a predetermined distance, and selects specific information having coordinates of the closest position information for selection as input into a local device.

11. The information input device according to claim 10, wherein the information input assisting sheet is printed, together with the dot pattern, with a plurality of icons that allow a user to input an index for identifying the two-dimensional format information printed on the medium or displayed on the display, and the two-dimensional format information storing and selecting unit converts the index input by touching the icon using the dot-pattern reading unit into the identification information and selects the two-dimensional format information using the converted identification information.

12. The information input device according to either claim 10 or 11, wherein the information input assisting sheet is made by laminating:

an infrared diffuse-reflection layer that has a characteristic that diffusely reflects infrared rays as well as transmits visible light entering from one side;

a dot pattern layer provided on one side of the infrared diffuse-reflection layer and formed by arranging dots of the dot pattern formed of a material that has a characteristic that absorbs infrared rays; and

a protection layer provided on opposite side to the infrared diffuse-reflection layer of the dot pattern layer and having a characteristic that transmits infrared rays and visible light.

13. The information input device according to either claim 10 or 11, wherein the information input assisting sheet is made by laminating:

an infrared diffuse-reflection layer that has a characteristic that diffusely reflects infrared rays entering from each side as well as transmits visible light from each side;

dot pattern layers provided on both sides of the infrared diffuse-reflection layer and formed by arranging dots of the dot pattern formed of a material that has a characteristic that absorbs infrared rays; and

protection layers provided on further external sides of each of the dot pattern layers and have a characteristic that transmits infrared rays and visible light entering from each direction, wherein the coordinate values and/or code values made into a pattern in the dot pattern arranged on each of the dot pattern layers are identical or different from each other.

14. The information input device according to either claim 12 or 13, wherein the dot pattern layer or other layers are superimposed and printed with a text, a figure, an illustration, a photograph, and the like using an ink made of a material having a characteristic that transmits or reflects infrared rays.

32. An information input system composed of an information input device, a two-dimensional format information server, and a network connecting the information input device and the two-dimensional format server, the information input device comprising:

a dot-pattern reading unit whose subject is DTP data, HTML, Flash, CAD data, map data and other two-dimensional format information to be printed on a medium, wherein, among information that is visualized as a text, a figure, an illustration, a photograph, and the like;

information that meets a predetermined criterion is determined in advance as specific information and formatted, and the dot-pattern reading unit is used to touch on the medium to read a dot pattern at the touch position when a user specifies, by a predetermined operation, the visualized specific information on a medium printed with the two-dimensional information together with a dot pattern that is made into a pattern with an XY coordinate value and/or a code value based on a predetermined algorithm for a variety of multimedia information output and/or operation instruction;

a communication unit that transmits input identification information for identifying the two-dimensional format information to the two-dimensional format information server and receives two-dimensional format information corresponding to the identification information from the two-dimensional format information server;

a coordinate conversion unit that converts a coordinate value (Xt, Yt) in an XY coordinate system of the dot pattern at the touch position into a coordinate value (xt, yt) in an xy coordinate system of the received two-dimensional format information; and

a specific information selecting unit that, using (xi, yi) in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information as position information for selection, the (xi, yi) being determined when laying out and printing the specific information in order to specify a position of the specific information in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information, calculates a distance from the coordinate value (xt, yt) in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information that is converted from the coordinate value (Xt, Yt) of the dot pattern of the touch position to one or more pieces of position information for selection within a predetermined distance, and selects specific information having coordinates of the closest position information for selection as input into a local device,

and the two-dimensional format information server comprising;

a two-dimensional format information storing and selecting unit that, using the identification information received from the information input device, selects the two-dimensional format information corresponding to the identification information among one or more pieces of the two-dimensional format information stored in advance; and

a communication unit that receives the identification information from the information input device and transmits the selected two-dimensional format information to the information input device.

41. The information input system according to any one of claims 32, 35, and 38, wherein the specific information selecting unit recognizes one or more pieces of the specific information in the two-dimensional format information by parsing a text and/or searching a file and/or analyzing an image of a figure, an illustration, a photograph and the like within an arbitrary distance from the coordinate value of the touch position (xt, yt) based on a predetermined algorithm, calculates the position information for selection of the specific information based on a predetermined algorithm, and selects the specific information based on the coordinate value (xt, yt), the recognized specific information, and the calculated position information for selection.

43. The information input system according to any one of claims 32, 35, and 38, wherein the specific information is specified in advance by parsing a text and/or searching a file and/or analyzing an image of a figure, an illustration, a photograph, and the like included in the two-dimensional format information, the position information for selection of the specific information is calculated in advance based on a predetermined algorithm, and the two-dimensional format information stores the specific information and the position information for selection.

33. An information input device comprising:

a dot-pattern reading unit whose subject is DTP data, HTML, Flash, CAD data, map data and other two-dimensional format information to be printed on a medium, wherein, among information that is visualized as a text, a figure, an illustration, a photograph, and the like, information that meets a predetermined criterion is determined in advance as specific information and formatted, and the dot-pattern reading unit is used to touch on the medium to read a dot pattern at the touch position when a user specifies, by a predetermined operation, the visualized specific information on a medium printed with the two-dimensional information together with a dot pattern that is made into a pattern with an XY coordinate value and/or a code value based on a predetermined algorithm for a variety of multimedia information output and/or operation instruction;

a communication unit that transmits input identification information for identifying the two-dimensional format information to a two-dimensional format information server and receives two-dimensional format information corresponding to the identification information from the two-dimensional format information server;

a coordinate conversion unit that converts a coordinate value (Xt, Yt) in an XY coordinate system of the dot pattern at the touch position into a coordinate value (xt, yt) in an xy coordinate system of the received two-dimensional format information; and

a specific information selecting unit that, using the coordinate value (xi, yi) in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information as position information for selection, the coordinate value (xi, yi) being determined when laying out and printing the specific information in order to specify a position of the specific information in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information, calculates a distance from the coordinate value (xt, yt) in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information that is converted from the coordinate value (Xt, Yt) of the dot pattern of the touch position to one or more pieces of position information for selection within a predetermined distance, and selects specific information having coordinates of the closest position information for selection as input into a local device.

42. The information input device according to any one of claims 33, 36, and 39, wherein the specific information selecting unit recognizes one or more pieces of the specific information in the two-dimensional format information by parsing a text and/or searching a file and/or analyzing an image of a figure, an illustration, a photograph and the like within an arbitrary distance from the coordinate value of the touch position (xt, yt) based on a predetermined algorithm, calculates the position information for selection of the specific information based on a predetermined algorithm, and selects the specific information based on the coordinate value (xt, yt), the recognized specific information, and the calculated position information for selection.

34. A two-dimensional format information server comprising:

a two-dimensional format information storing and selecting unit that, using identification information received from an information input device, selects two-dimensional format information corresponding to the identification information among one or more pieces of the two-dimensional format information stored in advance; and

a communication unit that transmits the selected two-dimensional format information to the information input device, the information input device comprising;

a dot-pattern reading unit whose subject is DTP data, HTML, Flash, CAD data, map data and other two-dimensional format information to be printed on a medium, wherein, among information that is visualized as a text, a figure, an illustration, a photograph, and the like, information that meets a predetermined criterion is determined in advance as specific information and formatted, and the dot-pattern reading unit is used to touch the medium to read a dot pattern at the touch position when a user specifies, by a predetermined operation, the visualized specific information on a medium printed with the two-dimensional information together with a dot pattern that is made into a pattern with an XY coordinate value and/or a code value according to a predetermined algorithm for a variety of multimedia information output and/or operation instruction;

a communication unit that transmits input identification information for identifying the two-dimensional format information to the two-dimensional format information server and receives two-dimensional format information corresponding to the identification information from the two-dimensional format information server;

a coordinate conversion unit that converts a coordinate value (Xt, Yt) in an XY coordinate system of the dot pattern at the touch position into a coordinate value (xt, yt) in an xy coordinate system of the received two-dimensional format information; and

a specific information selecting unit that, using (xi, yi) in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information as position information for selection, the (xi, yi) being determined when laying out and printing the specific information in order to specify a position of the specific information in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information, calculates a distance from the coordinate value (xt, yt) in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information that is converted from the coordinate value (Xt, Yt) of the dot pattern of the touch position to one or more pieces of position information for selection-within a predetermined distance, and selects specific information having coordinates of the closest position information for selection as input into a local device.

44. The two-dimensional format information server according to any one of claims 34, 37, and 40, wherein the specific information is specified in advance by parsing a text and/or searching a file and/or analyzing an image of a figure, an illustration, a photograph, and the like included in the two-dimensional format information, the position information for selection of the specific information is calculated in advance according to a predetermined algorithm, and the two-dimensional format information stores the specific information and the position information for selection.

35. An information input system composed of an information input device, a two-dimensional format information server, and a network connecting the information input device and the two-dimensional format server, the information input device comprising:

a display whose subject is DTP data, HTML, Flash, CAD data, map data and other two-dimensional format information to be displayed on the display, wherein, among information that is visualized as a text, a figure, an illustration, a photograph, and the like, information that meets a predetermined criterion is determined in advance as specific information and formatted, and the display displays the two-dimensional format information together with a dot pattern that is made into a pattern with an XY coordinate value and/or a code value based on a predetermined algorithm for a variety of multimedia information output and/or operation instruction;

a dot-pattern reading unit that is used to touch on the display to read a dot pattern at the touch position, when a user specifies the visualized specific information on the display by a predetermined operation;

a communication unit that transmits input identification information for identifying the two-dimensional format information to a two-dimensional format information server and receives two-dimensional format information corresponding to the identification information from the two-dimensional format information server;

a coordinate conversion unit that converts a coordinate value (Xt, Yt) in an XY coordinate system of the dot pattern at the touch position into a coordinate value (xt, yt) in an xy coordinate system of the received two-dimensional format information; and

a specific information selecting unit that, using (xi, yi) in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information as position information for selection, the (xi, yi) being determined when displaying the specific information on the display in order to specify a position of the specific information in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information, calculates a distance from the coordinate value (xt, yt) in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information that is converted from the coordinate value (Xt, Yt) of the dot pattern of the touch position to one or more pieces of position information for selection within a predetermined distance, and selects specific information having coordinates of the closest position information for selection as input into a local device,

and the two-dimensional format information server comprising;

a two-dimensional format information storing and selecting unit that, using the identification information received from the information input device, selects the two-dimensional format information corresponding to the identification information among one or more pieces of the two-dimensional format information stored in advance; and

a communication unit that receives the identification information from the information input device and transmits the selected two-dimensional format information to the information input device.

36. An information input device comprising:

a display whose subject is DTP data, HTML, Flash, CAD data, map data and other two-dimensional format information to be displayed on the display, wherein, among information that is visualized as a text, a figure, an illustration, a photograph, and the like, information that meets a predetermined criterion is determined in advance as specific information and formatted, and the display displays the two-dimensional format information together with a dot pattern that is made into a pattern with an XY coordinate value and/or a code value based on a predetermined algorithm for a variety of multimedia information output and/or operation instruction;

a dot-pattern reading unit that is used to touch on the display to read a dot pattern at the touch position, when a user specifies the visualized specific information on the display by a predetermined operation;

a communication unit that transmits input identification information for identifying the two-dimensional format information to a two-dimensional format information server and receives two-dimensional format information corresponding to the identification information from the two-dimensional format information server;

a coordinate conversion unit that converts a coordinate value (Xt, Yt) in an XY coordinate system of the dot pattern at the touch position into a coordinate value (xt, yt) in an xy coordinate system of the received two-dimensional format information; and

a specific information selecting unit that, using (xi, yi) in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information as position information for selection, the (xi, yi) being determined when displaying the specific information on the display in order to specify a position of the specific information in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information, calculates a distance from the coordinate value (xt, yt) in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information that is converted from the coordinate value (Xt, Yt) of the dot pattern of the touch position to one or more pieces of position information for selection within a predetermined distance, and selects specific information having coordinates of the closest position information for selection as input into a local device.

37. A two-dimensional format information server comprising:

a two-dimensional format information storing and selecting unit that, using identification information received from an information input device, selects two-dimensional format information corresponding to the identification information among one or more pieces of the two-dimensional format information stored in advance; and

a communication unit that transmits the selected two-dimensional format information to the information input device, the information input device comprising;

a display whose subject is DTP data, HTML, Flash, CAD data, map data and other two-dimensional format information to be displayed on the display, wherein, among information that is visualized as a text, a figure, an illustration, a photograph, and the like, information that meets a predetermined criterion is determined in advance as specific information and formatted, and the display displays the two-dimensional format information together with a dot pattern that is made into a pattern with an XY coordinate value and/or a code value according on a predetermined algorithm for a variety of'"'"'multimedia information output and/or operation instruction;

a dot-pattern reading unit that is used to touch on the display to read a dot pattern at the touch position, when a user specifies the visualized specific information on the display by a predetermined operation;

a communication unit that transmits input identification information for identifying the two-dimensional format information to a two-dimensional format information server and receives two-dimensional format information corresponding to the identification information from the two-dimensional format information server;

a coordinate conversion unit that converts a coordinate value (Xt, Yt) in an XY coordinate system of the dot pattern at the touch position into a coordinate value (xt, yt) in an xy coordinate system of the selected two-dimensional format information; and

a specific information selecting unit that, using (xi, yi) in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information as position information for selection, the (xi, yi) being determined when displaying the specific information on the display in order to specify a position of the specific information in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information, calculates a distance from the coordinate value (xt, yt) in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information that is converted from the coordinate value (Xt, Yt) of the dot pattern of the touch position to one or more pieces of position information for selection within a predetermined distance, and selects specific information having coordinates of the closest position information for selection as input into a local device.

38. An information input system composed of an information input device, a two-dimensional format information server, and a network connecting the information input device and the two-dimensional format server, the information input device comprising:

an information input assisting sheet printed with a dot pattern made into a pattern with an XY coordinate value and/or a code value based on a predetermined algorithm for a variety of multimedia information output and/or operation instruction, whose subject is DTP data, HTML, Flash, CAD data, map data and other two-dimensional format information to be printed on a medium, wherein among information that is visualized as a text, a figure, an illustration, a photograph, and the like, information that meets a predetermined criterion is determined in advance as specific information and formatted, and the information input assisting sheet is placed on a medium printed with the two-dimensional format information or attached on a display that displays the two-dimensional format information;

a dot-pattern reading unit that is used to touch on the medium or the display through the information input assisting sheet to read a dot pattern at the touch position, when a user specifies the visualized specific information on the medium or the display by a predetermined operation;

a communication unit that transmits input identification information for identifying the two-dimensional format information to the two-dimensional format information server and receives two-dimensional format information corresponding to the identification information from the two-dimensional format information server;

a coordinate conversion unit that converts a coordinate value (Xt, Yt) in an XY coordinate system of the dot pattern at the touch position into a coordinate value (xt, yt) in an xy coordinate system of the received two-dimensional format information; and

a specific information selecting unit that, using (xi, yi) in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information as position information for selection, the (xi, yi) being determined when laying out and printing the specific information or determined when displaying the specific information on the display in order to specify a position of the specific information in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information, calculates a distance from the coordinate value (xt, yt) in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information that is converted from the coordinate value (Xt, Yt) of the dot pattern of the touch position to one or more pieces of position information for selection within a predetermined distance, and selects specific information having coordinates of the closest position information for selection as input into a local device,

and the two-dimensional format information server comprising;

a two-dimensional format information storing and selecting unit that, using the identification information received from the information input device, selects the two-dimensional format information corresponding to the identification information among one or more pieces of the two-dimensional format information stored in advance; and

a communication unit that receives the identification information from the information input device and transmits the selected two-dimensional format information to the information input device.

39. An information input device comprising:

an information input assisting sheet printed with a dot pattern made into a pattern with an XY coordinate value and/or a code value based on a predetermined algorithm for a variety of multimedia information output and/or operation instruction, whose subject is DTP data, HTML, Flash, CAD data, map data and other two-dimensional format information to be printed on a medium, wherein among information that is visualized as a text, a figure, an illustration, a photograph, and the like, information that meets a predetermined criterion is determined in advance as specific information and formatted, and the information input assisting sheet is placed on a medium printed with the two-dimensional format information or attached on a display that displays the two-dimensional format information;

a dot-pattern reading unit that is used to touch on the medium or the display through the information input assisting sheet to read a dot pattern at the touch position, when a user specifies the visualized specific information on the medium or the display by a predetermined operation;

a communication unit that transmits input identification information for identifying the two-dimensional format information to a two-dimensional format information server and receives two-dimensional format information corresponding to the identification information from the two-dimensional format information server;

a coordinate conversion unit that converts a coordinate value (Xt, Yt) in an XY coordinate system of the dot pattern at the touch position into a coordinate value (xt, yt) in an xy coordinate system of the received two-dimensional format information; and

a specific information selecting unit that, using (xi, yi) in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information as position information for selection, the (xi, yi) being determined when laying out and printing the specific information or determined when displaying the specific information on the display in order to specify a position of the specific information in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information, calculates a distance from the coordinate value (xt, yt) in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information that is converted from the coordinate value (Xt, Yt) of the dot pattern of the touch position to one or more pieces of position information for selection within a predetermined distance, and selects specific information having coordinates of the closest position information for selection as input into a local device.

40. A two-dimensional format information server comprising:

a two-dimensional format information storing and selecting unit that, using identification information received from an information input device, selects two-dimensional format information corresponding to the identification information among one or more pieces of the two-dimensional format information stored in advance; and

a communication unit that transmits the selected two-dimensional format information to the information input device, the information input device comprising;

an information input assisting sheet printed with a dot pattern made into a pattern with an XY coordinate value and/or a code value based on a predetermined algorithm for a variety of multimedia information output and/or operation instruction, whose subject is DTP data, HTML, Flash, CAD data, map data and other two-dimensional format information to be printed on a medium, wherein among information that is visualized as a text, a figure, an illustration, a photograph, and the like, information that meets a predetermined criterion is determined in advance as specific information and formatted, and the information input assisting sheet is placed on a medium printed with the two-dimensional format information or attached on a display that displays the two-dimensional format information;

a dot-pattern reading unit that is used to touch on the medium or the display through the information input assisting sheet to read a dot pattern at the touch position, when a user specifies the visualized specific information on the medium or the display by a predetermined operation;

a communication unit that transmits input identification information for identifying the two-dimensional format information to a two-dimensional format information server and receives two-dimensional format information corresponding to the identification information from the two-dimensional format information server;

a coordinate conversion unit that converts a coordinate value (Xt, Yt) in an XY coordinate system of the dot pattern at the touch position into a coordinate value (xt, yt) in an xy coordinate system of the received two-dimensional format information; and

a specific information selecting unit that, using (xi, yi) in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information as position information for selection, the (xi, yi) being determined when laying out and printing the specific information or determined when displaying the specific information on the display in order to specify a position of the specific information in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information, calculates a distance from the coordinate value (xt, yt) in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information that is converted from the coordinate value (Xt, Yt) of the dot pattern of the touch position to one or more pieces of position information for selection within a predetermined distance, and selects specific information having coordinates of the closest position information for selection as input into a local device.

45. An information input method comprising:

a dot pattern reading step whose subject is DTP data, HTML, Flash, CAD data, map data and other two-dimensional format information to be printed on a medium, wherein, among information that is visualized as a text, a figure, an illustration, a photograph, and the like, information that meets a predetermined criterion is determined in advance as specific information and formatted, and the dot pattern reading step, using a dot pattern reading unit to touch on the medium, reads a dot pattern at the touch position when a user specifies, by a predetermined operation, the visualized specific information on a medium printed with the two-dimensional information together with a dot pattern that is made into a pattern with an XY coordinate value and/or a code value based on a predetermined algorithm for a variety of multimedia information output and/or operation instruction;

a two-dimensional format information storing and selecting step that, using input identification information for identifying the two-dimensional format information, selects the two-dimensional format information corresponding to the identification information among one or more pieces of the two-dimensional format information stored in advance;

a coordinate conversion step that converts a coordinate value (Xt, Yt) in an XY coordinate system of the dot pattern at the touch position into a coordinate value (xt, yt) in an xy coordinate system of the selected two-dimensional format information; and

a specific information selecting step that, using (xi, yi) in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information as position information for selection, the (xi, yi) being determined when laying out and printing the specific information in order to specify a position of the specific information in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information, calculates a distance from the coordinate value (xt, yt) in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information that is converted from the coordinate value (Xt, Yt) of the dot pattern of the touch position to one or more pieces of position information for selection within a predetermined distance, and selects specific information having coordinates of the closest position information for selection as input into a local device.

48. The information input method according to any one of claims 45, 46, and 47, wherein the specific information selecting step further comprising steps of:

recognizing one or more pieces of the specific information by parsing a text and/or searching a file and/or analyzing an image of a figure, an illustration, a photograph and the like within an arbitrary distance from the coordinate value of the touch position (xt, yt) according to a predetermined algorithm in the two-dimensional format information;

calculating the position information for selection of the specific information according to a predetermined algorithm; and

selecting the specific information based on the coordinate value (xt, yt), the recognized specific information, and the calculated position information for selection.

49. The information input method according to any one of claims 45, 46, and 47, wherein the specific information is specified in advance by parsing a text and/or searching a file and/or analyzing an image of a figure, an illustration, a photograph, and the like included in the two-dimensional format information, the position information for selection of the specific information is calculated in advance based on a predetermined algorithm, and the two-dimensional format information stores the specific information and the position information for selection.

46. An information input method comprising:

a dot pattern reading step whose subject is DTP data, HTML, Flash, CAD data, map data and other two-dimensional format information to be displayed on a display, wherein, among information that is visualized as a text, a figure, an illustration, a photograph, and the like, information that meets a predetermined criterion is determined in advance as specific information and formatted, and the dot pattern reading step, using a dot pattern reading unit to touch on the display, reads a dot pattern at the touch position when a user specifies, by a predetermined operation, the visualized specific information on the display that displays the two-dimensional information and a dot pattern that is made into a pattern with an XY coordinate value and/or a code value based on a predetermined algorithm for a variety of multimedia information output and/or operation instruction;

a two-dimensional format information storing and selecting step that, using input identification information for identifying the two-dimensional format information, selects the two-dimensional format information corresponding to the identification information among one or more pieces of the two-dimensional format information stored in advance;

a coordinate conversion step that converts a coordinate value (Xt, Yt) in an XY coordinate system of the dot pattern at the touch position into a coordinate value (xt, yt) in an xy coordinate system of the selected two-dimensional format information; and

a specific information selecting step that, using (xi, yi) in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information as position information for selection, the (xi, yi) being determined when displaying the specific information on the display in order to specify a position of the specific information in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information, calculates a distance from the coordinate value (xt, yt) in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information that is converted from the coordinate value (Xt, Yt) of the dot pattern of the touch position to one or more pieces of position information for selection within a predetermined distance, and selects specific information having coordinates of the closest position information for selection as input into a local device.

47. An information input method comprising:

a dot pattern reading step that reads a dot pattern of a touch position using;

an information input assisting sheet printed with a dot pattern made into a pattern with an XY coordinate value and/or a code value based on a predetermined algorithm for a variety of multimedia information output and/or operation instruction, whose subject is DTP data, HTML, Flash, CAD data, map data and other two-dimensional format information to be printed on a medium, wherein among information that is visualized as a text, a figure, an illustration, a photograph, and the like, information that meets a predetermined criterion is determined in advance as specific information and formatted, and the information input assisting sheet is placed on a medium printed with the two-dimensional format information or attached on a display that displays the two-dimensional format information; and

a dot-pattern reading unit that is used to touch on the medium or the display through the information input assisting sheet to read a dot pattern at the touch position, when a user specifies the visualized specific information on the medium or the display by a predetermined operation;

a two-dimensional format information storing and selecting step that, using input identification information for identifying the two-dimensional format information, selects the two-dimensional format information corresponding to the identification information among one or more pieces of the two-dimensional format information stored in advance;

a coordinate conversion step that converts a coordinate value (Xt, Yt) in an XY coordinate system of the dot pattern at the touch position into a coordinate value (xt, yt) in an xy coordinate system of the selected two-dimensional format information; and

,

a specific information selecting unit that, using (xi, yi) in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information as position information for selection, the (xi, yi) being determined when laying out and printing the specific information or determined when displaying the specific information on the display in order to specify a position of the specific information in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information, calculates a distance from the coordinate value (xt, yt) in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information that is converted from the coordinate value (Xt, Yt) of the dot pattern of the touch position to one or more pieces of position information for selection within a predetermined distance, and selects specific information having coordinates of the closest position information for selection as input into a local device.

50. A control program for operating a computer as each unit of an information input device, the information input device comprising:

a dot-pattern reading unit whose subject is DTP data, HTML, Flash, CAD data, map data and other two-dimensional format information to be printed on a medium, wherein, among information that is visualized as a text, a figure, an illustration, a photograph, and the like, information that meets a predetermined criterion is determined in advance as specific information and formatted, and the dot-pattern reading unit is used to touch on the medium to read a dot pattern at the touch position when a user specifies, by a predetermined operation, the visualized specific information on a medium printed with the two-dimensional information together with a dot pattern that is made into a pattern with an XY coordinate value and/or a code value based on a predetermined algorithm fora variety of multimedia information output and/or operation instruction;

a two-dimensional format information storing and selecting unit that, using input identification information for identifying the two-dimensional format information, selects the two-dimensional format information corresponding to the identification information among one or more pieces of the two-dimensional format information stored in advance;

a coordinate conversion unit that converts a coordinate value (Xt, Yt) in an XY coordinate system of the dot pattern at the touch position into a coordinate value (xt, yt) in an xy coordinate system of the selected two-dimensional format information; and

a specific information selecting unit that, using (xi, yi) in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information as position information for selection, the (xi, yi) being determined when laying out and printing the specific information in order to specify a position of the specific information in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information, calculates a distance from the coordinate value (xt, yt) in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information that is converted from the coordinate value (Xt, Yt) of the dot pattern of the touch position to one or more pieces of position information for selection within a predetermined distance, and selects specific information having coordinates of the closest position information for selection as input into a local device.

51. A control program for operating a computer as each unit of an information input device, the information input device comprising:

a display whose subject is DTP data, HTML, Flash, CAD data, map data and other two-dimensional format information to be displayed on the display, wherein, among information that is visualized as a text, a figure, an illustration, a photograph, and the like, information that meets a predetermined criterion is determined in advance as specific information and formatted, and the display displays the two-dimensional format information together with a dot pattern that is made into a pattern with an XY coordinate value and/or a code value based on a predetermined algorithm for a variety of multimedia information output and/or operation instruction;

a dot-pattern reading unit that is used to touch on the display to read a dot pattern at the touch position, when a user specifies the visualized specific information on the display by a predetermined operation;

a two-dimensional format information storing and selecting unit that, using input identification information for identifying the two-dimensional format information, selects the two-dimensional format information corresponding to the identification information among one or more pieces of the two-dimensional format information stored in advance;

a coordinate conversion unit that converts a coordinate value (Xt, Yt) in an XY coordinate system of the dot pattern at the touch position into a coordinate value (xt, yt) in an xy coordinate system of the selected two-dimensional format information; and

a specific information selecting unit that, using (xi, yi) in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information as position information for selection, the (xi, yi) being determined when displaying the specific information on the display in order to specify a position of the specific information in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information, calculates a distance from the coordinate value (xt, yt) in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information that is converted from the coordinate value (Xt, Yt) of the dot pattern of the touch position to one or more pieces of position information for selection within a predetermined distance, and selects specific information having coordinates of the closest position information for selection as input into a local device.

52. A control program for operating a computer as each unit of an information input device, the information input device comprising:

an information input assisting sheet printed with a dot pattern made into a pattern with an XY coordinate value and/or a code value according to a predetermined algorithm for a variety of multimedia information output and/or operation instruction, whose subject is DTP data, HTML, Flash, CAD data, map data and other two-dimensional format information to be printed on a medium, wherein, among information that is visualized as a text, a figure, an illustration, a photograph, and the like, information that meets a predetermined criterion is determined in advance as specific information and formatted, and the information input assisting sheet is placed on a medium printed with the two-dimensional format information or attached on a display that displays the two-dimensional format information;

a dot-pattern reading unit that is used to touch on the medium or the display through the information input assisting sheet to read a dot pattern at the touch position, when a user specifies the visualized specific information on the medium or the display by a predetermined operation;

a two-dimensional format information storing and selecting unit that, using input identification information for identifying the two-dimensional format information, selects the two-dimensional format information corresponding to the identification information among one or more pieces of the two-dimensional format information stored in advance;

a coordinate conversion unit that converts a coordinate value (Xt, Yt) in an XY coordinate system of the dot pattern at the touch position into a coordinate value (xt, yt) in an xy coordinate system of the selected two-dimensional format information; and

,

a specific information selecting unit that, using (xi, yi) in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information as position information for selection, the (xi, yi) being determined when laying out and printing the specific information or determined when displaying the specific information on the display in order to specify a position of the specific information in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information, calculates a distance from the coordinate value (xt, yt) in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information that is converted from the coordinate value (Xt, Yt) of the dot pattern of the touch position to one or more pieces of position information for selection within a predetermined distance, and selects specific information having coordinates of the closest position information for selection as input into a local device.

53. A computer-readable storage medium storing a control program for operating a computer as each unit of an information input device, the information input device comprising:

a dot-pattern reading unit whose subject is DTP data, HTML, Flash, CAD data, map data and other two-dimensional format information to be printed on a medium, wherein, among information that is visualized as a text, a figure, an illustration, a photograph, and the like, information that meets a predetermined criterion is determined in advance as specific information and formatted, and the dot-pattern reading unit is used to touch on the medium to read a dot pattern at the touch position when a user specifies, by a predetermined operation, the visualized specific information on a medium printed with the two-dimensional information together with a dot pattern that is made into a pattern with an XY coordinate value and/or a code value based on a predetermined algorithm for a variety of multimedia information output and/or operation instruction;

a two-dimensional format information storing and selecting unit that, using input identification information for identifying the two-dimensional format information, selects the two-dimensional format information corresponding to the identification information among one or more pieces of the two-dimensional format information stored in advance;

a coordinate conversion unit that converts a coordinate value (Xt, Yt) in an XY coordinate system of the dot pattern at the touch position into a coordinate value (xt, yt) in an xy coordinate system of the selected two-dimensional format information; and

,

a specific information selecting unit that, using (xi, yi) in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information as position information for selection, the (xi, yi) being determined when laying out and printing the specific information in order to specify a position of the specific information in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information, calculates a distance from the coordinate value (xt, yt) in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information that is converted from the coordinate value (Xt, Yt) of the dot pattern of the touch position to one or more pieces of position information for selection within a predetermined distance, and selects specific information having coordinates of the closest position information for selection as input into a local device.

54. A computer-readable storage medium storing a control program for operating a computer as each unit of an information input device, the information input device comprising:

a display whose subject is DTP data, HTML, Flash, CAD data, map data and other two-dimensional format information to be displayed on the display, wherein, among information that is visualized as a text, a figure, an illustration, a photograph, and the like, information that meets a predetermined criterion is determined in advance as specific information and formatted, and the display displays the two-dimensional format information together with a dot pattern that is made into a pattern with an XY coordinate value and/or a code value based on a predetermined algorithm for a variety of multimedia information output and/or operation instruction;

a dot-pattern reading unit that is used to touch on the display to read a dot pattern at the touch position, when a user specifies the visualized specific information on the display by a predetermined operation;

a two-dimensional format information storing and selecting unit that, using input identification information for identifying the two-dimensional format information, selects the two-dimensional format information corresponding to the identification information among one or more pieces of the two-dimensional format information stored in advance;

a coordinate conversion unit that converts a coordinate value (Xt, Yt) in an XY coordinate system of the dot pattern at the touch position into a coordinate value (xt, yt) in an xy coordinate system of the selected two-dimensional format information; and

,

a specific information selecting unit that, using (xi, yi) in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information as position information for selection, the (xi, yi) being determined when displaying the specific information on the display in order to specify a position of the specific information in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information, calculates a distance from the coordinate value (xt, yt) in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information that are converted from the coordinate value (Xt, Yt) of the dot pattern of the touch position to one or more pieces of position information for selection within a predetermined distance, and selects specific information having coordinates of the closest position information for selection as input into a local device.

55. A computer-readable storage medium storing a control program for operating a computer as each unit of an information input device, the information input device comprising:

an information input assisting sheet printed with a dot pattern made into a pattern with an XY coordinate value and/or a code value based on a predetermined algorithm for a variety of multimedia information output and/or operation instruction, whose subject is DTP data, HTML, Flash, CAD data, map data and other two-dimensional format information to be printed on a medium, wherein, among information that is visualized as a text, a figure, an illustration, a photograph, and the like, information that meets a predetermined criterion is determined in advance as specific information and formatted, and the information input assisting sheet is placed on a medium printed with the two-dimensional format information or attached on a display that displays the two-dimensional format information;

a dot-pattern reading unit that is used to touch on the medium or the display through the information input assisting sheet to read a dot pattern at the touch position, when a user specifies the visualized specific information on the medium or the display by a predetermined operation;

a two-dimensional format information storing and selecting unit that, using input identification information for identifying the two-dimensional format information, selects the two-dimensional format information corresponding to the identification information among one or more pieces of the two-dimensional format information stored in advance;

a coordinate conversion unit that converts a coordinate value (Xt, Yt) in an XY coordinate system of the dot pattern at the touch position into a coordinate value (xt, yt) in an xy coordinate system of the selected two-dimensional format information; and

,

a specific information selecting unit that, using (xi, yi) in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information as position information for selection, the (xi, yi) being determined when laying out and printing the specific information or determined when displaying the specific information on the display in order to specify a position of the specific information in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information, calculates a distance from the coordinate value (xt, yt) in the xy coordinate system of the two-dimensional format information that is converted from the coordinate value (Xt, Yt) of the dot pattern of the touch position to one or more pieces of position information for selection within a predetermined distance, and selects specific information having coordinates of the closest position information for selection as input into a local device.