Marking medium area with encoded identifier for producing action through network

• US 6,752,317 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2001
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Dymetman, Marc, Copperman, Max
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Application Number:
  US09/975,122
• Publication Number:
  US 20020020750A1
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/385, 235/393, 235/462.45, 235/462.46, 235/462.49, 235/472.01, 235/472.02, 235/472.03, 235/383
• US Class Current: 235/462.45
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/19594 using a television camera or a still video camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32042 with reading of job-marks on a page
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3214 of a date
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3215 of a time or duration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3253 Position information, e.g. geographical position at time of capture, GPS data

Abstract

Automatic actions can be obtained through a network using an area of marking medium with machine-readable markings that encode an action/medium identifier. The action/medium identifier identifies an action that can be produced through the network, and also identifies the area of marking medium. For example, it may include a globally unique or network-wide page identifier as well as an action identifier that can be used to produce an action described by data associated with a counterpart digital page. Or it can include both a page identifier and a location identifier, with the location identifier also identifying an action that relates to the page'"'"'s digital counterpart. Or it can include a document identifier and an action identifier. Or it can be a globally unique or network-wide sticker identifier that can be used to identify a document, a peripheral device, or another object to which the sticker is attached, and that also produces an action through the network.

Claims

1. A method for producing an action through a network, comprising:

storing in a pointing device a first identifier that identifies a user of the pointing device;

recording with the pointing device machine readable markings at a location on a hardcopy document;

decoding the machine readable markings to obtain a second identifier that identities the hardcopy document arid the location on the hardcopy document;

using the first identifier and the second identifier to produce the action through the network;

wherein the action produced through the network is tailored to;

(a) the location on the hardcopy document identified by the second identifier, and

(b) the user of the pointing device identified by the first identifier.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein a portion of an item is illustrated at the location on the hardcopy document.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the action produced through the network initiates delivery of the item to the user.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the item is an article.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the second identifier further specifies an action device using a globally unique identifier that identifies the hardcopy document.

6. A method according to claim 5, further comprising providing the second identifier through the network to the action device for producing the action.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the action device provides the action automatically in response to receiving a location identifier identifying the location on the hardcopy document identified by the second identifier.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the second identifier includes a page identifier.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the machine-readable markings are visually nonobstructive markings.

10. A method for operating a pointing device to perform an action through a network, comprising:

recording input signals of machine-readable markings from an area of a marking medium using a camera integral with the pointing device;

decoding on a processor integral with the pointing device using the recorded input signals of the machine-readable markings to obtain an identifier;

the identifier identifying the marking medium and a location of the area of the marking medium; and

forwarding the identifier using network connection hardware integral with the pointing device to an action device coupled to the network to perform the action specifically for a user identified by the pointing device.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the identifier is an action/medium identifier.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein the pointing device is handheld.

13. A method according to claim 10, wherein the actions are automatically performed by the action device in response to receiving the identifier.