Handwritten text capture via interface surface having coded marks

• US 6,982,703 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2002
• Issued: 01/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Livescribe Incorporated (Anoto Group AB)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Lapstun, Paul, Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Xiao
• Assistant Examiner(s): Abdulselam, Abbas I
• Application Number:
  US10/291,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20030080948A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,148 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/179, 345/180, 345/181, 345/182, 345/183, 345/177, 345/153, 345/768, 345/780, 345/862, 345/863, 345/166, 345/18.09, 178/18.01, 178/18.03, 178/18.04, 178/19.01, 178/19.04, 178/19.05, 382/312, 707/101, 717/106, 717/142, 717/141, 717/101, 700/224, 700/222
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/103 for the sheet feeding section
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/106 for the sheet output section
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17503 Ink cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17523 Ink connection
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17546 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17556 Means for regulating the pressure in the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17563 Ink filters
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/2114 Ejecting specialized liquids, e.g. transparent or processing liquids B41J2/211 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 19/02 starting with single sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 9/0006 by applying adhesive to a stack of sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 9/0081 applying adhesive to individual sheets for binding them together by fusing, welding B42C9/0093
• CPC Class Codes: B42P 2261/04 Producing books by printing sheets in following order, e.g. for ordering via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 29/34 from supports slid from under the articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 37/04 for securing together articles or webs, e.g. by adhesive, stitching or stapling adhering replacement to expiring web during change of web roll B65H19/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/608 Secure printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0384 Wireless input, i.e. hardware and software details of wireless interface arrangements for pointing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2153 Using hardware token as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0321 by optically sensing the absolute position with respect to a regularly patterned surface forming a passive digitiser, e.g. pen optically detecting position indicative tags printed on a paper sheet constructional details of pen-shaped pointing devices G06F3/03545, G06F3/03542, G06F3/037
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 : Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03546 : using a rotatable ball at the tip as position detecting member
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 : Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0386 : for light pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 : for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1204 : resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1265 : Printing by reference, e.g. retrieving document/image data for a job from a source mentioned in the job
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1284 : Local printer device
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 : Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/10 : Character recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/1423 : the instrument generating sequences of position coordinates corresponding to handwriting preprocessing or recognising digital ink G06V30/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/1444 : Selective acquisition, locating or processing of specific regions, e.g. highlighted text, fiducial marks or predetermined fields
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/56 : Financial cryptography, e.g. electronic payment or e-cash
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/603 : Digital right managament [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/805 : Lightweight hardware, e.g. radio-frequency identification [RFID] or sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 : involving digital signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3263 : involving certificates, e.g. public key certificate [PKC] or attribute certificate [AC]; Public key infrastructure [PKI] arrangements network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using certificates in a packet data network H04L63/0823
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 : Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 : with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 : with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00326 : with a data reading, recognizing or recording apparatus, e.g. with a bar-code apparatus arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus G11B31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00358 : Type of the scanned marks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00376 : Means for identifying a mark sheet or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00567 : Handling of original or reproduction media, e.g. cutting, separating, stacking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00968 : by scanning marks on a sheet mark-sheet input means H04N1/00355; sensing record carriers G06K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 : Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 : in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32128 : attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32771 : in response to a request, e.g. for a particular document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32778 : using a mark-sheet or machine-readable code request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 : Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 : of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3207 : of an address
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 : of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3242 : of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3243 : of type information, e.g. handwritten or text document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3247 : Data linking a set of images to one another, e.g. sequence, burst or continuous capture mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3249 : data relating to a linked page or object, e.g. hyperlink
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3269 : of machine readable codes or marks, e.g. bar codes or glyphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/327 : which are undetectable to the naked eye, e.g. embedded codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3271 : Printing or stamping
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 : Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 : Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation

Abstract

A method and system for enabling user interaction with computer software running in a computer system via an interface surface and a sensing device. The interface surface contains information relating to the computer software and coded data indicative of a text field. When placed in an operative position relative to the interface surface, the sensing device senses indicating data indicative of the text field and generates movement data indicative of the sensing device'"'"'s movement relative to the interface surface. The indicating data and movement data are received in the computer system and the text field is identified from the indicating data. The computer software is operated at least partly in reliance on the movement data, and in accordance with instructions associated with the text field.

Claims

1. A method of enabling user interaction with computer software running in a computer system via:

a printed interface surface containing information relating to the computer software and including coded data indicative of a text field, the coded data comprising a plurality of substantially undifferentiated marks positioned relative to a set of predetermined nominal mark positions; and

a sensing device which, when placed in an operative position relative to the interface surface;

senses at least some of the coded data,

generates indicating data indicative of the text field, and

generates movement data, the movement data being indicative of the sensing device'"'"'s movement relative to the interface surface;

the method including the steps of, in the computer system;

(a) receiving the Indicating data from the sensing device;

(b) receiving to movement data from the sensing device;

(c) identifying the text field from the indicating data; and

(d) operating the computer software at least partly in reliance on the movement data and in accordance with instructions associated with the text field.

2. A meted according to claim 1, wherein each mark represents one of a plurality of coded values.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the coded value represented by a mark is at least partially determined by the position of the mark relative to the set of predetermined nominal mark positions.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined nominal mark positions are arranged relative to a plurality of nominal lines.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein at least one pair of the lines are spaced apart from one another by a distance of less than 100 millimeters.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the marks have centers and wherein the relative spacing of the centers of at least one pair of adjacent marks is less than 12 millimeters.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein each mark has a minimum radius and a maximum radius and wherein the length of a mark'"'"'s minimum radius is greater than 40% of the length of that mark'"'"'s maximum radius.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein any 10 millimeter diameter area of the coded data indicative of an interactive element includes sufficient information to identify the text field.

9. A method according to claim 1, the method further including the steps of, in the computer system, performing text recognition on the handwritten user input, thereby to generate computer text.

10. A method according to claim 9, the method further including the steps of, in the computer system, performing text recognition on the handwritten user input using an online bandwriting recognition program, thereby to generate computer text.

11. A method according to claim 1, including the step of sending, in the computer system, data to the computer software indicative of at least the text field.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the text field is associated with a visible text zone defined on the interface surface.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein position elements are disposed on the interface surface, the sensing device being configured to periodically sense position elements as it is used to write the handwritten user input onto the surface, the method including the step of generating the movement data in the form of a locus of the sensing device in relation to the surface by ascertaining relative displacement of the sensing device over time with respect to at least one of the position elements.

14. A system tar enabling user interaction with computer software running in a computer system via:

a printed interface surface containing information relating to the computer software and including coded data indicative of a text field, the coded data comprising a plurality of substantially undifferentiated marks positioned relative to a set of predetermined nominal mark positions; and

a sensing device which, when placed in an operative position relative to the interface surface;

senses at least some of the coded data,

generates indicating data indicative of the text field, and

generates movement data, the movement data being indicative of the sensing device'"'"'s movement relative to the interface surface;

the computer system being configured to;

(a) receive the indicating data from the sensing device;

(b) receive the movement data from the sensing device;

(c) identify the text field from the indicating data; and

(d) operate the computer software at least partly in reliance on the movement data and in accordance with instructions associated with the text field.

15. A system according to claim 14, wherein each mark represents one of a plurality of coded values.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein the coded value represented by a mark is at least partially determined by the position of the mark relative to the set of predetermined nominal mark positions.

17. A system according to claim 14, wherein the predetermined nominal mark positions are arranged relative to a plurality of nominal lines.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein at least one pair of the lines are spaced apart from one another by a distance of less tan 100 millimeters.

19. A system according to claim 14, wherein the marks have centers and wherein the relative spacing of the centers of at least one pair of adjacent marks is less than 12 millimeters.

20. A system according to claim 14, wherein each mark has a minimum radius and a maximum radius and wherein the length of a mark'"'"'s minimum radius is greater than 40% of the length of that mark'"'"'s maximum radius.

21. A system according to claim 14, wherein any 10 millimeter diameter area of the coded data includes sufficient information to identify the text field.

22. A system according to claim 14, wherein the computer system is configured to perform text recognition on the handwritten user input, thereby to generate computer text.

23. A system according to claim 22, wherein the computer system is configured to perform text recognition on the handwritten user input using an online handwriting recognition program, thereby to generate computer text.

24. A system according to claim 14, wherein the computer system is configured to send data to the computer software indicative of at least the text field.

25. A system according to claim 14, wherein the text field is associated with a visible text zone defined on the interface surface.

26. A system according to claim 14, wherein position elements are disposed on the interface surface, the sensing device being configured to periodically sense position elements as it is used to write the handwritten user input onto the surface, the system being configured to generate the movement data in the form of a locus of the sensing device in relation to the surface by ascertaining relative displacement of the sensing device over time with respect to at least one of the position elements.

27. A system for enabling user interaction with computer software running in a computer system, the system including:

a printed interface surface containing information relating to the computer software and including coded data indicative of a text field relating to the computer software, the coded data comprising a plurality of substantially undifferentiated marks positioned relative to a set of predetermined nominal mark positions;

the system being configured to, in the computer system;

(a) receive indicating data from a sensing device, the indicating data being indicative of the text field, wherein the sensing device, when placed in an operative position relative to the interface surface;

senses at least some of the coded data,

generates the indicating data, and

generates movement data, the movement data being indicative of the sensing device'"'"'s movement relative to the interface surface;

(b) receive the movement data from the sensing device;

(c) identify the text field on the basis of the indicating data; and

(d) operate the computer software at least partly in reliance on the movement data and in accordance with instructions associated with the text field.

28. A system according to claim 27, wherein each mark represents one of a plurality of coded values.

29. A system according to claim 28, wherein the coded value represented by a mark is at least partially determined by the position of the mark relative to the set of predetermined nominal mark positions.

30. A system according to claim 27, wherein the predetermined nominal mark positions are arranged relative to a plurality of nominal lines.

31. A system according to claim 30 wherein at least one pair of the lines are spaced apart from one another by a distance of less than 100 millimeters.

32. A system according to claim 27, wherein the marks have centers and wherein the relative spacing of the centers of at least one pair of adjacent marks is less than 12 millimeters.

33. A system according to claim 27, wherein each mark has a minimum radius and a maximum radius and wherein the length of a mark'"'"'s minimum radius is greater than 40% of the length of that mark'"'"'s maximum radius.

34. A system according to claim 27, wherein any 10 millimeter diameter area of the coded data includes sufficient information to identify the text field.

35. A system according to claim 27, the computer system being configured to perform text recognition on the handwritten user input, thereby to generate computer text.

36. A system according to claim 27, the computer system being configured to perform text recognition on the handwritten user input using an online handwriting recognition program, thereby to generate computer text.

37. A system according to claim 27, the computer system being configured to send data to the computer software indicative of at least the text field.

38. A system according to claim 27, wherein the computer system is configured to send data to the computer software indicative of at least the text field.

39. A system according to claim 27, wherein the text field is associated with a visible text zone defined on the interface surface.

40. A system according to claim 27, wherein position elements are disposed on the interface surface, the sensing device being configured to periodically sense position elements as it is used to write the handwritten user input onto the surface, the system being configured to generate the movement data in the form of a locus of the sensing device in relation to the surface by ascertaining relative displacement of the sensing device over time with respect to at least one of the position elements.