METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ACCESSING AN ELECTRONIC RESOURCE BASED UPON A HAND-DRAWN INDICATOR

• US 20130044954A1
• Filed: 08/18/2011
• Published: 02/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Ashbrook, Daniel L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,718,374 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/187
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation

Abstract

A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for permitting access to an electronic resource that is associated with a hand-drawn indicator. In the context of a method, a method is provided that includes receiving an image of a hand-drawn indicator, such as a free-form hand-drawn indicator or a grid having a plurality of selectively fillable grid elements. The method may also identify an electronic resource associated with the hand-drawn indicator and permit access to the electronic resource associated with the hand-drawn indicator.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an image of a hand-drawn indicator;

identifying, with a processor, an electronic resource associated with the hand-drawn indicator; and

permitting access to the electronic resource associated with the hand-drawn indicator.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein identifying an electronic resource comprises:

identifying the hand-drawn indicator to be a representation of a reference indicator; and

determining the electronic resource that is associated with the reference indicator, thereby associating the electronic resource with the hand-drawn indicator.

3. A method according to claim 2 further comprising maintaining a plurality of associations between reference indicators and corresponding electronic resources.

4. A method according to claim 2 further comprising establishing an association between a reference indictor and a corresponding electronic resource, wherein establishing the association comprises receiving an image of the reference indictor, receiving an indication of the corresponding electronic resource and associating the reference indicator to the corresponding electronic resource.

5. A method according to claim 1 further comprising receiving an indication of a portion of the image that includes the hand-drawn indicator.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein receiving the image comprises receiving the image of a free-form hand-drawn indicator.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein receiving the image comprises receiving the image of the hand-drawn indicator in a form of a grid having a plurality of selectively fillable grid elements.

8. A method according to claim 1 further comprising receiving an indication of an account with which the hand-drawn indicator is related.

9. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

receive an image of a hand-drawn indicator;

identify an electronic resource associated with the hand-drawn indicator; and

permit access to the electronic resource associated with the hand-drawn indicator.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to identify an electronic resource by:

identifying the hand-drawn indicator to be a representation of a reference indicator; and

determining the electronic resource that is associated with the reference indicator, thereby associating the electronic resource with the hand-drawn indicator.

11. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to maintain a plurality of associations between reference indicators and corresponding electronic resources.

12. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to establish an association between a reference indictor and a corresponding electronic resource by receiving an image of the reference indictor, receiving an indication of the corresponding electronic resource and associating the reference indicator to the corresponding electronic resource.

13. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to receive an indication of a portion of the image that includes the hand-drawn indicator.

14. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to receive the image by receiving the image of a free-form hand-drawn indicator.

15. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to receive the image by receiving the image of the hand-drawn indicator in a form of a grid having a plurality of selectively fillable grid elements.

16. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to receive an indication of an account with which the hand-drawn indicator is related.

17. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable program code instructions stored therein, the computer-executable program code instructions comprising program code instructions to:

receive an image of a hand-drawn indicator;

identify an electronic resource associated with the hand-drawn indicator; and

permit access to the electronic resource associated with the hand-drawn indicator.

18. A computer program product according to claim 17 wherein the program code instructions for receiving the image comprise program code instructions for:

identifying the hand-drawn indicator to be a representation of a reference indicator; and

determining the electronic resource that is associated with the reference indicator, thereby associating the electronic resource with the hand-drawn indicator.

19. A computer program product according to claim 17 wherein the program code instructions for receiving the image comprise program code instructions for receiving the image of a free-form hand-drawn indictor.

20. A computer program product according to claim 17 wherein the program code instructions for receiving the image comprise program code instructions for receiving the image of the hand-drawn indicator in a form of a grid having a plurality of selectively fillable grid elements.