Method and system for creating and sending a facsimile using a digital pen

• US 7,417,773 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Issued: 08/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Coffy, Jean-Hiram, Braun, John F., Rojas, John W., Norris, James R., Parkos, Arthur, Leung, Alan, Leung, Wendy Chui Fen
• Primary Examiner(s): Haskins; Twyler L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Robinson; Myles D
• Application Number:
  US10/065,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20040061888A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,157 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 358/403
• 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: H04N 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/107 with manual scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio

Abstract

The present application describes systems and methods for composing and sending facsimile messages using a digital pointing instrument. In further configurations, a user utilizes a pen to indicate a reference to a document that is appended to the outgoing facsimile. In another further configuration, the user utilizes a form having pre-defined regions that are used to correlate a pen stroke with a desired action.

Claims

1. A method for composing a facsimile message comprising:

capturing strokes made by a user with a pointing instrument that include indications of data including facsimile message data and command data;

processing the strokes in order to determine a recipient designated by the strokes,

determining a template for a cover page for the facsimile message using the strokes;

processing the strokes in order to determine an attachment identifier relating to at least one attachment requested for the facsimile message;

requesting the at least one attachment from a server that is remote from the pointing instrument using the attachment identifier;

receiving the at least one attachment from the server;

composing the facsimile message using the cover page template, the facsimile message data and the at least one attachment; and

sending the facsimile message to the recipient.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein

the pointing instrument is a digital pen and strokes are provided by the user writing on a paper media having a pattern.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

capturing user authentication information related to the user;

determining user identification data; and

wherein requesting the at least one attachment includes using the user identification data and the attachment identifier to identify the location of the attachment.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein:

the user authentication information includes biometric data.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein:

the biometric data includes pen stroke data including stroke pressure, stroke speed and pen attitude.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein

the pen stroke data includes the attachment identifier identifying the at least one attachment, further comprising:

identifying the at least one attachment using the biometric data;

authenticating the user using the user authentication information; and

verifying user permission to access the at least one attachment file and stopping the facsimile message composition process if the user does not have permission to access the at least one attachment file.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining determined message data using the at least one attachment; and

modifying the facsimile message using the determined message data.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein,

the determined message data comprises the total number of pages of the composed facsimile message;

and

modifying the facsimile message includes updating a number of pages field on the facsimile cover page with the total number of pages.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

unambiguously identifying the at least one attachment using a combination of data including at least the attachment identifier and the user data.

10. The method of claim 2 wherein

the command data includes an indication of a send facsimile command, and

the command data includes profile selection data.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein

the send facsimile command is indicated by the user writing a stroke in a segregated field of the media.

12. The method of claim 2 wherein

the template determination utilizes the pattern.

13. A system for composing a facsimile comprising:

a processor;

a storage device connected to the processor;

the storage device storing a logic program;

the processor operative with the logic program to perform;

capturing strokes made by a user writing with a digital pen on a media having a pattern, the strokes including indications of data including facsimile message data and command data;

processing the strokes in order to determine a recipient designated by the strokes,

determining a template for a cover page for the facsimile message using the strokes and the pattern;

capturing user authentication information related to the user;

wherein the command data includes an indication of a send facsimile command;

processing the strokes in order to determine at least one attachment requested for the facsimile message;

requesting and then receiving the at least one determined attachment from a server that is remote from the digital pen;

composing the facsimile message using the facsimile message data and the at least one attachment; and

sending the facsimile message to the recipient.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein:

the processor is operative with the logic program to perform determining user identification data; and

wherein requesting the at least one determined attachment includes using the user identification data to identify the location of the at least one determined attachment.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein:

the user authentication information includes biometric data; and

the biometric data includes pen stroke data including stroke pressure, stroke speed and pen attitude.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein

the pen stroke data includes an attachment identifier identifying the at least one attachment, further comprising the processor operative with the logic program to perform:

identifying the at least one attachment using the biometric data;

authenticating the user using the user authentication information; and

verifying user permission to access the at least one attachment file and stopping the facsimile message composition process if the user does not have permission to access the at least one attachment file.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising the processor operative with the logic program to perform:

determining determined message data using the at least one attachment; and

modifying the facsimile message using the determined message data.

18. The system of claim 16, further comprising the processor operative with the logic program to perform:

unambiguously identifying the at least one attachment using a combination of data including at least the attachment identifier and the user data.

19. A system for sending a facsimile of a message comprising:

a receiver to receive pen stroke data and user identification data from a digital pen including attachment data indicating at least one attachment;

a processor to process pen stroke data; and

a file server connected to the processor, wherein the processor uses pen stroke data and the user identification data to locate the at least one attachment and uses pen stroke data to verify permission to access the at least one attachments;

the processor further configured to compose the facsimile message using the at least one attachment if permission to access the at least one attachment is verified; and

the processor further configured to send the facsimile message.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein,

the processor uses the user identification data to verify permission to access the at least one attachment.