Local metadata embedding solution

• US 7,505,982 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2005
• Issued: 03/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Wang, Qiang, Dang, Yingnong, Wu, Jiang, Wang, Jian, Zhang, Chunhui
• Primary Examiner(s): To; Baoquoc N
• Application Number:
  US11/121,442
• Publication Number:
  US 20060123049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,413 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: G06K 19/00 Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

In accordance with embodiments of the invention, local metadata is embedded into, and extracted from, an embedded interaction code document. A plurality of local-metadata values are assigned, in accordance with a set of local-metadata conflict-resolution rules, via a plurality of respective partial-share channels, to a plurality of respective local-metadata fields. The local metadata is decoded by decoding the partial-share channels and by resolving potentially conflicting decoded local-metadata values according to the set of local-metadata conflict-resolution rules. A local metadata value of a region to the left may be smaller than a local metadata value of a potentially conflicting region to the right, and the values may be non-continuous. A local metadata value of an upper region may be smaller than a local metadata value of a potentially conflicting lower region, and the values may be continuous.

Claims

1. A method performed by a computer having a memory and a processor for decoding local metadata from an embedded interaction code surface comprising:

assigning, in accordance with a set of local metadata conflict-resolution rules, a first local metadata value to a first local metadata field, the first local metadata field being associated with a first plurality of embedded interaction code symbols, each embedded interaction code symbol including a plurality of dots;

assigning, in accordance with the set of local metadata conflict-resolution rules, a local metadata value to a second local metadata field, the second local metadata field being associated with a second plurality of embedded interaction code symbols, each embedded interaction code symbol including a plurality of dots;

embedding the first local metadata field and the second local metadata field into the embedded interaction code surface, wherein the first local metadata field and the second local metadata field are coterminous such that at least one of the first plurality of associated embedded interaction code symbols and at least one of the second plurality of associated embedded interaction code symbols have a dot in common;

capturing an image of a portion of the embedded interaction code surface, the image including embedded position information and local metadata;

identifying by the processor the first local metadata field and the second local metadata field from the captured image;

decoding a first local metadata value from the first local metadata field;

decoding a second local metadata value from the second local metadata field; and

selecting, in accordance with the set of local metadata conflict-resolution rules, a conflict-resolved local metadata results,

the set of local metadata conflict-resolution rules comprising one or more rules selected from the group consisting of;

when two continuous local metadata values have been decoded from the embedded interaction code surface, when a pen-tip position is above the center of the captured image, selecting the smaller decoded local metadata value of the two continuous local metadata values as the conflict-resolved decoded local metadata result,

when two continuous local metadata values have been decoded from the embedded interaction code surface, when a pen-tip position is below the center of the captured image, selecting the larger decoded local metadata value of the two continuous local metadata values as the conflict-resolved decoded local metadata result,

when two non-continuous local metadata values have been decoded from the embedded interaction code surface, when a pen-tip position is to the left of the center of the captured image, selecting the smaller decoded local metadata value of the two non-continuous local metadata values as the conflict-resolved decoded local metadata result, and

when two non-continuous local metadata values have been decoded from the embedded interaction code surface, when a pen-tip position is to the right of the center of the captured image, selecting the larger decoded local metadata value of the two non-continuous local metadata values as the conflict-resolved decoded local metadata result.

2. A method performed by a computer having a memory and a processor for decoding local metadata from an embedded interaction code surface comprising:

assigning, in accordance with a set of local metadata conflict-resolution rules, four local metadata values to four local metadata fields, the local metadata fields being associated with embedded interaction code symbols, each embedded interaction code symbol including a plurality of dots;

embedding the four local metadata fields into the embedded interaction code surface, wherein the local metadata fields are coterminous such that at least one of the associated embedded interaction code symbols associated with a local metadata field and at least one of the associated embedded interaction code symbols associated with another local metadata field have a dot in common;

capturing an image of a portion of the embedded interaction code surface, the image including embedded position information and local metadata;

with the processor, identifying a first local metadata field and a second local metadata field from the captured image;

decoding four local metadata values from the four local metadata fields; and

selecting, in accordance with a set of local metadata conflict-resolution rules, a conflict-resolved local metadata result,

the set of local metadata conflict-resolution rules comprising one or more rules selected from the group consisting of;

when a pen-tip position is above and to the left of the center of the captured image, selecting the smallest decoded local metadata value of the four local metadata values as the conflict-resolved decoded local metadata result,

when a pen-tip position is above and to the left of the center of the captured image, selecting the smallest decoded local metadata value of the four local metadata values as the conflict-resolved decoded local metadata result,

when a pen-tip position is below and to the left of the center of the captured image, selecting the second smallest decoded local metadata value of the four local metadata values as the conflict-resolved decoded local metadata result,

when a pen-tip position is above and to the right of the center of the captured image, selecting the second lamest decoded local metadata value of the four local metadata values as the conflict-resolved decoded local metadata result, and

when a pen-tip position is below and to the right of the center of the captured image, selecting the lamest decoded local metadata value of the four local metadata values as the conflict-resolved decoded local metadata result.

3. A computer-readable storage medium containing computer-executable instructions for embedding local metadata into, and extracting the local metadata from, an embedded interaction code document by performing steps comprising:

assigning, in accordance with a set of local metadata conflict-resolution rules, a first local metadata value to a first local metadata field, the first local metadata field being associated with a first plurality of embedded interaction code symbols;

assigning, in accordance with the set of local metadata conflict-resolution rules, a local metadata value to a second local metadata field, the second local metadata field being associated with a second plurality of embedded interaction code symbols;

embedding the first local metadata field and the second local metadata field into the embedded interaction code document, wherein the first local metadata field and the second local metadata field at least partially overlap such that at least one of the first plurality of embedded interaction code symbols and at least one of the second plurality of embedded interaction code symbols have at least one point in common;

capturing an image of the embedded interaction code document, the captured image including a portion of the first local metadata field and a portion of the second local metadata field;

decoding the local metadata values assigned to the first local metadata field and the second local metadata field; and

resolving potentially conflicting decoded local metadata values according to the set of local metadata conflict-resolution rules,

the set of local metadata conflict-resolution rules that apply when four local metadata values have been decoded comprising one or more rules selected from the group consisting of;

when a pen-tip position is above and to the left of a center of the captured image, then the smallest decoded local metadata value of the four local metadata values is selected as the conflict-resolved decoded local metadata result,

when a pen-tip position is below and to the left of a center of the captured image, then the second smallest decoded local metadata value of the four local metadata values is selected as the conflict-resolved decoded local metadata result,

when a pen-tip position is above and to the right of a center of the captured image, then the second lamest decoded local metadata value, of the four local metadata values is selected as a conflict-resolved decoded local metadata result, and

when a pen-tip position is below and to the right of a center of the captured image, then the largest decoded local metadata value of the four local metadata values is selected as the conflict-resolved decoded local metadata result.

4. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 3, wherein:

when the first local metadata field is located to the left of the second local metadata field, the first local metadata value is less than the second local metadata value and the first local metadata value and the second local metadata value are non-continuous;

when a third local metadata field is located above a fourth local metadata field, the third local metadata value is less than the fourth local metadata value and the third local metadata value and the fourth local metadata value are continuous; and

the rules that pertain to the first and second local metadata fields take precedence over the rules that pertain to the third and fourth local metadata fields.

5. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 3, wherein:

when two continuous local metadata values have been decoded and a pen-tip position is above a center of the captured image, then the smaller decoded local metadata value of the two continuous local metadata values is selected as a conflict-resolved decoded local metadata result; and

when two continuous local metadata values have been decoded and a pen-tip position is below a center of the captured image, then the larger decoded local metadata value of the two continuous local metadata values is selected as a conflict-resolved decoded local metadata result.

6. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 5, wherein:

when two non-continuous local metadata values have been decoded and a pen-tip position is to the left of a center of the captured image, then the smaller decoded local metadata value of the two non-continuous local metadata values is selected as a conflict-resolved decoded local metadata result; and

when two non-continuous local metadata values have been decoded and a pen-tip position is to the right of a center of the captured image, then the larger decoded local metadata value of the two non-continuous local metadata values is selected as a conflict-resolved decoded local metadata result.