Mark-coded surface with function flags

• US 7,299,969 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2002
• Issued: 11/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, Paul, Lapstun
• Primary Examiner(s): ST CYR, DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US10/291,660
• Publication Number:
  US 20030088468A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,841 Days
• Field of Search: 235/494, 235/462.03, 235/375, 345/175, 345/179, 345/166, 345/574, 345/168, 178/18.09, 178 1901- 1905, 178/19.09
• US Class Current: 235/375
• 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 2/1752 Mounting within the printer
• 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 16/00 Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• 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 3/04883 : 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: G06Q 20/346 : Cards serving only as information carrier of service
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 : Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 : Commerce
• 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 30/1426 : by sensing position defining codes on a support
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/1448 : based on markings or identifiers characterising the document or the area
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 : Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• 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 2201/3243 : 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

Abstract

A region having coded data thereon, wherein at least some of the coded data includes data indicative of a functional attribute of a part of the region. A sensing device for use with such a region, the sensing device for sensing and reacting to data indicative of a functional attribute of a part of the region.

Claims

1. A region having coded data thereon or therein, wherein the coded data is defined by a plurality of tags, each tag containing a plurality of substantially undifferentiated marks positioned relative to a set of predetermined nominal mark positions, and at least some of the tags encoding:

a unique identity of the region;

a location within the region; and

a functional attribute of a part of a region

wherein the functional attribute distinguishes between a submit button and at least one of a drawing field, a text field, a signature field, a hyperlink and a hypertext link,

and wherein any 10 millimeter diameter area of the coded data indicative of the functional attribute of apart of the region includes sufficient information to identify the functional attribute.

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

3. The region 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. The region according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined nominal mark positions are arranged relative to a plurality of nominal lines.

5. The region 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. The region 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. The region 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. The region according to claim 1, wherein each tag within a region, includes data indicative of a functional attribute of a part of a region.

9. A method of coding a region including applying coded data to a least a part of the region, the coded data being defined by a plurality of tags, each tag containing a plurality of substantially undifferentiated marks positioned relative to a set of predetermined nominal mark positions, and at least some of the tags encoding:

a unique identity of the region;

a location within the region; and

a functional attribute of a part of a region

wherein the functional attribute distinguishes between a submit button and at least one of a drawing field, a text field, a signature field, a hyperlink and a hypertext link,

and wherein any 10 millimeter diameter area of the coded data indicative of the functional attribute of a part of the region includes sufficient information to identify the functional attribute.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein each mark represents one of a plurality of coded values.

11. The method according to claim 10, 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.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined nominal mark positions are arranged relative to a plurality of nominal lines.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein at least one pair of the lines are spaced apart from one another by a distance of less than 100 millimeters.

14. The method according to claim 9, 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.

15. The method according to claim 9, 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.

16. A sensing device for use with a region having coded data thereon, the coded data being defined by a plurality of tags, each tag containing a plurality of substantially undifferentiated marks positioned relative to a set of predetermined nominal mark positions, and at least some of the tags encoding:

a unique identity of the region;

a location within the region; and

a functional attribute of a part of a region

wherein the functional attribute distinguishes between a submit button and at least one of a drawing field, a text field, a signature field, a hyperlink and a hypertext link,

and wherein any 10 millimeter diameter area of the coded data indicative of the functional attribute of a part of the region includes sufficient information to identify the functional attribute.

17. The sensing device according to claim 16, wherein each mark represents one of a plurality of coded values.

18. The sensing device according to claim 17, 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.

19. The sensing device according to claim 16, wherein the predetermined nominal mark positions are arranged relative to a plurality of nominal lines.

20. The sensing device according to claim 19 wherein at least one pair of the lines are spaced apart from one another by a distance of less than 100 millimeters.

21. The sensing device according to claim 16, 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.

22. The sensing device according to claim 16, 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.

23. The sensing device of claim 16 wherein the sensing device provides at least one indication to a user when it senses data indicative of a functional attribute of a part of the region.

24. The sensing device of claim 23 wherein the indication is selected from the group comprising a visual, aural, haptic, tactile, vibratory and any other human sensory modality.

25. The sensing device of claim 16, wherein when the sensing device senses data indicative of a functional attribute of a part of the region, the sensing device transmits, to a computer system, said sensed data or data based at least partially on said sensed data.

26. A system including:

computer system, and

a sensing device for use with a region having coded data thereon, the coded data comprising a plurality of substantially undifferentiated marks positioned relative to a set of predetermined nominal mark positions and at least some of the coded data including data indicative of an identity of the region and a functional attribute of a part of the region,

the sensing device for sensing coded data indicative if a functional attribute of a part of the region and for transmitting, to the computer system, said sensed data or data based at least partially on said sensed data,

wherein the computer system executes, or commences execution of, a function related to the functional attribute of the sensed data,

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.