System for entering handwritten data into computer generated forms

• US 6,282,315 B1
• Filed: 07/02/1997
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Boyer, Monty L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancuso, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bayat, Ali
• Application Number:
  US09/376,222
• Time in Patent Office: 1,518 Days
• Field of Search: 382/179, 382/185, 382/187, 382/312, 382/313, 382/182, 382/314, 382/315, 382/175, 379/368, 379/396, 345/173
• US Class Current: 382/177
• 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 multi-function screen for displaying images stored in the computer, for sensing screen coordinates selected by a pointer device, and for recognizing a handwritten entry drawn or written on the screen using a pointing device, said method comprising the steps of:

displaying, on the screen, a computer generated image including first and second field areas of predetermined size disposed at predetermined locations on the screen for the entry and display of at least two handwritten characters;

entering at least first and second handwritten characters into said first field by using said pointing device for drawing or writing portions of the at least first and second handwritten characters within said first field area and a portion of at least one of the first and second handwritten characters outside of said first field area;

entering at least third and fourth handwritten characters into said second field area by using said pointing device for drawing or writing portions of the at least third and fourth handwritten characters within said second field area and a portion of at least one of the third and fourth handwritten characters outside of said second field area;

determining screen coordinates of points under the pointing device disposed inside and outside the first field area as the pointing device is used to draw or write the at least first and second handwritten characters;

determining screen coordinates of points under the pointing device disposed inside and outside the second field area as the pointing device is used to draw or write the at least third and fourth handwritten characters;

decoding, using the computer, at least the first and second handwritten characters into corresponding first and second computer generated characters;

decoding using the computer the at least third and fourth handwritten characters entered into corresponding third and fourth computer generated characters;

displaying under control of the computer the first and second computer generated characters in the firs field area; and

displaying under control of the computer the third and fourth computer generated characters in the second field area.

2. A method of entering data into a computer having a screen for displaying an image stored in the computer, said method comprising:

displaying, on the screen, a computer generated image, including a first data entry field visually defined by a first boundary and a second data entry field defined by a second boundary for the entry and display of at least two handwritten characters into each of the first and the second data entry fields;

inputting, using a pointer, first and second handwritten characters by drawing the first and second handwritten characters so that a portion of each of the first and second handwritten characters is drawn within the first data entry field and a portion of each of the first and second handwritten characters is drawn outside the first data entry field;

determining pointer coordinates as the first and second handwritten characters are being drawn;

converting, using the computer, the first and second handwritten characters into corresponding first and second computer generated characters based on the pointer coordinates; and

displaying the corresponding first and second computer generated characters within the first data entry field boundary.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said first boundary is rectangular in shape.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said first data entry field is a numeric data field.

5. A method according to claim 3, wherein said first data entry field is an alphabetic data field.

6. A method according to claim 3, wherein said first data entry field is an alphanumeric data entry field and said first and second handwritten characters include alphanumeric data.

7. A method according to claim 3, wherein the first data entry area is configured to receive a customer name.

8. A method according to claim 2, wherein the first and second data entry areas are displayed as part of a computer generated form displayed on the computer screen.

9. A method according to claim 2, wherein the computer executes a program comprising a series of execution phases.

10. A method according to claim 2, wherein inputting said first and second characters includes lifting the pointer from the screen for a minimum amount of time immediately after drawing the first and second characters.

11. A method according to claim 2, wherein inputting said first character includes touching of the screen with said pointer outside of a control area.

12. A method according to claim 2, further comprising drawing in electronic ink the first handwritten character as the first handwritten character is being inputted.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein said computer generated image includes a first user selectable list.

14. A method according to claim 12, wherein said computer generated image is restored after the pointer is lifted from the screen for a predetermined amount of time.

15. A method according to claim 2, wherein said pointer comprises a pen device movable over said screen.

16. The method according to claim 2, further comprising displaying an electronic ink representation of the first and second handwritten characters as they are drawn or written.

17. The method according to claim 16 further comprising writing or drawing with the pointer a handwritten entry partly within a third data entry field.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein writing or drawing a handwritten entry partly within said third data entry field further comprises writing a portion of said handwritten entry over a fourth data entry field.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising:

digitizing said handwritten entry;

displaying an electronic ink representation of the handwritten entry as the entry is drawn or written;

processing said digitized entry into a corresponding third computer generated symbol; and

replacing said electronic ink representation of the handwritten entry with said corresponding third computer generated symbol within said third data entry field.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein said step of writing or drawing a handwritten entry comprises the step of writing said handwritten entry adjacent to a displayed field name for the third data entry field.

21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising the steps of:

digitizing said handwritten entry;

detecting when the pointer stops touching the screen after said handwritten entry is written or drawn;

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

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

if the time interval exceeds a predetermined duration, processing said digitized handwritten entry into a corresponding computer generated symbol.

22. Apparatus for entering data into a computer, said apparatus comprising:

first storage means for storing an image to be displayed;

display means for displaying said image;

second storage means storing a plurality of field area images, each having a predetermined height and width;

handwriting recognition means for recognizing handwritten entries drawn partly within and partly outside of said at least one of said field areas when said field areas are displayed on a computer screen and for identifying computer generated characters corresponding to the handwritten entries;

input means for inputting handwritten characters;

means for causing display of said corresponding computer generated characters by said display means; and

a pointing device for drawing or writing a handwritten entry within and outside of said field areas for entering information into the computer.

23. Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said input means comprises said pointing device.

24. A computer according to claim 23 arranged to execute a program having a plurality of phases.

25. A computer comprising:

a display for displaying an image;

a memory for storing a plurality of entry field area images configured to receive at least two handwritten characters;

an input device used to input a plurality of handwritten characters drawn partly in and partly outside of the entry field area images displayed on the display;

a handwriting recognition device for recognizing the plurality of handwritten characters drawn partly in and partly outside of the entry field area images and configured to decode the plurality of handwritten characters into corresponding computer generated characters;

a pointing device for writing or drawing with said pointing device a handwritten entry within and outside of said entry field area images for entering information into the computer.

26. A computer according to claim 25 wherein said pointing device comprises a stylus.

27. A computer according to claim 25 arranged to input numeric data into one of the plurality of entry fields.

28. 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:

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 first height and a first width, said second field area for entering at least two handwritten characters and said second field area having a second height and a second width;

receiving a first set of at least first and second handwritten characters drawn with the pointer device, wherein a first portion of the first handwritten character is drawn outside first field area and a second portion of the first handwritten character is drawn inside said first field area;

receiving a second set of at least second and third handwritten characters drawn with the pointer device, wherein a third portion of the third handwritten character is drawn outside said second field area and a fourth portion of the third handwritten character is drawn inside said second field area;

digitizing signals representative of said first and second sets of handwritten characters including the first portion, outside the first field area, and the third portion, outside the second field area;

processing in the computer the digitized signals representative of said first and second sets of handwritten characters to identify corresponding computer generated characters;

displaying, in said first field area, the computer generated characters identified as corresponding to the first set handwritten characters; and

displaying, in said second field area, the computer generated characters identified as corresponding to the second set handwritten characters.