System for entering handwritten data into computer generated forms

• US 5,459,796 A
• Filed: 01/10/1994
• Issued: 10/17/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: The Watt Stopper Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Boyer, Monty L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Boudreau, Leo H.
• Application Number:
  US08/179,991
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 382/3, 382/13, 382/59, 382/61, 382/9, 382/25, 382/48, 345/17, 358/473
• US Class Current: 382/187
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging

Abstract

A method for entering data into a computer generated form including field areas of preselected height and width includes the steps of converting handwritten characters of arbitrary height which may be greater than the preselected height formed on the screen to computer generated characters and displaying the computer generated characters within a field area. Additionally, handwritten characters to be entered into several field areas are grouped, converted, and displayed in selected field areas.

Claims

1. A method for entering data into a computer having a dual function screen for displaying images stored in the computer and for sensing screen coordinates selected by a pointer device, said method comprising the steps of:

displaying, on the screen, a computer generated image including a displayed field area disposed at a predetermined, fixed location on the screen for the entry of at least two handwritten characters or symbols, the field area having a preselected and fixed height and width;

writing or drawing at least first and second handwritten characters or symbols by moving the pointer device inside and outside the field area while the pointer is touching the screen;

maintaining the preselected height and width of the field area as the pointer device moves inside and outside the field area;

determining screen coordinates of points, disposed inside and outside the field area and located under the pointer, as the pointer moves inside and outside the field area;

storing, as stroke data, the coordinates of points inside and outside the field area determined from where the pointer touches the screen;

processing, in the computer, the stored stroke data to identify said first and second handwritten characters or symbols and to decode each identified handwritten character or symbol into a corresponding computer generated character or symbol; and

displaying, under control of the computer, each computer generated character or symbol within the field area so that each computer generated character or symbol is disposed entirely within the field area.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

detecting when the pointer touches the screen;

detecting when the pointer stops touching the screen;

measuring, in the computer, a time interval starting when the pointer stops touching the screen and resetting the time interval when the pointer retouches the screen; and

wherein the step of processing the stored strokes to identify handwritten characters is performed when the time interval exceeds a predetermined duration.

3. A method for entering data into a computer having a dual function screen for displaying images stored in the computer and for sensing screen coordinates selected by a pointer device, said method comprising the step of:

displaying, on the screen, a computer generated image including first and second displayed field areas disposed at predetermined locations on the screen for the entry of at least two handwritten characters or symbols and each field area having a preselected and fixed height and width;

detecting when the pointer device touches the screen;

detecting when the pointer device stops touching the screen;

writing or drawing with the pointer device a plurality of handwritten characters or symbols by moving the pointer device inside and outside at least one of the first and second field areas while the pointer device is touching the screen;

maintaining the preselected height and width of the first and second field areas as the pointer device moves inside and outside the at least one of the first and second field areas;

determining screen coordinates of points, disposed both inside and outside of the first and second field areas and located under the pointer device, as the pointer device is moved along the screen to write or draw said plurality of handwritten characters or symbols;

storing, as stroke data, said screen coordinates;

measuring, in the computer, a time interval starting when the pointer device stops touching the screen;

resetting, in the computer, the time interval when the pointer device retouches the screen;

if the time interval exceeds a predetermined duration, processing, in the computer, the stored stroke data to identify said plurality of handwritten characters and symbols and to decode each identified handwritten character or symbol into a corresponding computer generated character or symbol;

grouping, in the computer, those computer generated characters or symbols decoded from stroke data disposed nearest to the first field area into a first group;

displaying, under control of the computer, the first group of decoded computer generated characters or symbols within the first field area so that each computer generated character or symbol in the first group is disposed entirely within the first field;

grouping, in the computer, those computer generated characters or symbols decoded from stroke data disposed nearest to the second field area into a second group; and

displaying, under control of the computer, the second group of decoded computer generated characters or symbols within the second field area so that each computer generated character or symbol in the second group is disposed entirely within the second field.

4. A method for entering data into a computer having a dual function screen for displaying images stored in the computer and for sensing screen coordinates selected by a pointer device, said method comprising the steps of:

displaying, on the screen, a computer generated image including first and second field areas disposed at predetermined locations on the screen for the entry and display of information, said first field area for entering at least two handwritten characters and said first field area having a preselected and fixed first height and first width defining a first field boundary, said second field area for entering at least two handwritten characters and said second field area having a preselected and fixed second height and second width defining a second field boundary;

writing or drawing with the pointer device a first set of handwritten characters within or near said first field area, said first set of handwritten characters including at least two handwritten characters and where at least a portion of one of said two handwritten characters extends beyond said first field boundary;

digitizing signals representative of said first set of handwritten characters;

grouping, in the computer, said digitized signals of said first set of handwritten characters into a first group of digitized signals, wherein some of said digitized signals grouped in said first group correspond to said portion of a handwritten character extending beyond said first field boundary; and

processing thereafter, in the computer, the first group of digitized signals to identify the first set of handwritten characters as a first group of computer generated characters.

5. The method set forth in claim 4 further comprising the step of:

displaying, under control of the computer, said first group of computer generated characters within said first field area.

6. The method set forth in claim 4 further comprising the step of:

measuring, in the computer, a time interval starting when the pointer device stops touching the screen; and

wherein said processing step begins if the time interval exceeds a predetermined duration.

7. The method set forth in claim 4 further comprising the steps of:

writing or drawing with the pointer device a second set of handwritten characters within or near said second field area, said second set of handwritten characters including at least two handwritten characters and where at least a portion of one of said two handwritten characters extends beyond said second field boundary;

digitizing signals representative of said second set of handwritten characters;

grouping, in the computer, said digitized signals of said second set of handwritten characters into a second group of digitized signals wherein some of said digitized signals grouped in said second group correspond to said portion of a handwriting character extending beyond said second field boundary;

processing thereafter, in the computer, the second group of digitized signals to identify the second set of handwritten characters as computer generated characters.

8. The method set forth in claim 7 further comprising the step of:

displaying, under control of the computer, said second group of computer generated characters within said second field area.

9. The method set forth in claim 7 further comprising the step of:

measuring, in the computer, a time interval starting when the pointer device stops touching the screen; and

wherein said processing steps begin if the time interval exceeds a predetermined duration.

10. A method for entering data into a computer having a dual function screen for displaying images stored in the computer and for sensing screen coordinates selected by a pointer device, said method comprising the steps of:

displaying, on the screen, a computer generated image including first and second field areas disposed at predetermined locations on the screen for the entry and display of information, said first field area for entry of at least two handwritten symbols and said first field area having a preselected and fixed first height and first width, said second field area for entry of at least two handwritten symbols and said second field area having a preselected and fixed second height and second width;

using the pointer device to write or draw a plurality of handwritten symbols in each field area wherein at least a portion of the symbols in the first field area extends beyond the first field area and not into the second field area;

digitizing signals representative of said plurality of handwritten symbols;

grouping, in the computer, said digitized signals positioned within and near the first field area into a first group of digitized signals where at least a portion of said digitized signals corresponds to the portion of said plurality of handwritten symbols outside the first field area; and

processing thereafter, in the computer, the first group of digitized signals to identify at least two handwritten symbols as a first group of computer generated symbols characters.

11. A method for entering data into a computer having a dual function screen for displaying images stored in the computer and for sensing screen coordinates selected by a pointer device, said method comprising the steps of:

displaying, on the screen, a computer generated image including first and second field areas disposed at predetermined locations on the screen for the entry and display of information, said first field area for the entry of at least two handwritten characters and said first field area having a first horizontal boundary having a fixed vertical position on the screen, said second field area for the entry of at least two handwritten characters and said second field area having a second horizontal boundary having a second fixed vertical position on the screen;

writing or drawing with the pointer device a first set of handwritten characters within or near said first field area, said first set of handwritten characters including at least two handwritten characters and where at least a portion of one of said two handwritten characters extends across said first horizontal boundary;

digitizing signals representative of said first set of handwritten characters;

grouping, in the computer, said digitized signals of said first set of handwritten characters into a first group of digitized signals, wherein at least a portion of said digitized signals grouped in said first group correspond to said portion of a handwritten character extending across said first horizontal boundary; and

processing thereafter, in the computer, the first group of digitized signals to identify the first set of handwritten characters as a first group of computer generated characters.

12. The method set forth in claim 11 further comprising the step of:

displaying, under control of the computer, said first group of computer generated characters within said first field area.

13. The method set forth in claim 11 further comprising the step of:

measuring, in the computer, a time interval starting when the pointer device stops touching the screen; and

wherein said processing step begins if the time interval exceeds a predetermined duration.

14. The method set forth in claim 11 further comprising the steps of:

writing or drawing with the pointer device a second set of handwritten characters within or near said second field area, said second set of handwritten characters including at least two handwritten characters;

digitizing signals representative of said second set of handwritten characters;

grouping, in the computer, said digitized signals of said second set of handwritten characters into a second group of digitized signals;

processing thereafter, in the computer, the second group of digitized signals to identify the second set of handwritten characters as computer generated characters.

15. The method set forth in claim 14 further comprising the step of:

displaying, under control of the computer, said second group of computer generated characters within said second field area.

16. The method set forth in claim 14 further comprising the step of:

measuring, in the computer, a time interval starting when the pointer device stops touching the screen; and

wherein said processing steps begin if the time interval exceeds a predetermined duration.

17. The method according to claim 11 wherein the horizontal boundary comprises a lower horizontal boundary.

18. The method according to claim 11 wherein the horizontal boundary comprises an upper horizontal boundary.

19. The method according to claim 11 further comprising the step of:

measuring, in the computer, a time interval starting when the pointer stops touching the screen and ending when the pointer retouches the screen; and

wherein the step of processing the stored strokes to identify handwritten characters is performed when the time interval exceeds a predetermined duration.

20. A method for entering data into a computer having a dual function screen for displaying images stored in the computer and for sensing screen coordinates selected by a pointer device, said method comprising the steps of:

displaying, on the screen, a computer generated image including first and second field areas disposed at predetermined locations on the screen for the entry and display of characters, said first field area for entering at least two handwritten characters and said first field area having a preselected and fixed first height and first width, said second field area for entering at least two handwritten characters and said second field area having a preselected and fixed second height and second width;

writing or drawing with the pointer device a first set of at least two handwritten characters, wherein at least one of said first set of handwritten characters is at least partially outside said first field area;

writing or drawing with the pointer device a second set of at least two handwritten characters, wherein at least one of said second set of handwritten characters is at least partially outside said second field area;

digitizing signals representative of said first and second sets of handwritten characters irrespective of whether portions of said first or second sets of handwritten characters are within said first or second field areas;

grouping, in the computer, said digitized signals corresponding to said first set of handwritten characters into a first group of digitized signals;

grouping, in the computer, said digitized signals corresponding to said second set of handwritten characters into a second group of digitized signals;

thereafter, processing, in the computer, the first group of digitized signals to identify the first set of handwritten characters as a first group of computer generated characters and processing, in the computer, the second group of digitized signals to identify the second set of handwritten characters as a second group of computer generated characters;

displaying, in said first field area, said first group of computer generated characters; and

displaying, in said second field area, said second group of computer generated characters.