Recording and communication of handwritten information

• US 7,577,317 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2005
• Issued: 08/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Lapstun, Paul, Walmsley, Simon Robert, Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang, Duy M
• Application Number:
  US11/298,474
• Publication Number:
  US 20060088230A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,345 Days
• Field of Search: 382/188, 382/312, 382/313, 382/314, 382/317, 345/169, 345/179, 358/1.15, 358/1.18, 235/375, 178/19.05, 713/182
• US Class Current: 382/313
• 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 transparent or white coloured liquids, e.g. 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: 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 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: G06V 30/10 Character recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/142 : using hand-held instruments; Constructional details of the instruments
• 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 30/1444 : Selective acquisition, locating or processing of specific regions, e.g. highlighted text, fiducial marks or predetermined fields
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/1448 : based on markings or identifiers characterising the document or the area
• 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 2201/3269 : 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 hand-held user unit, which can be part of a network-based information management system, allows for the writing down and recording of handwritten information. The user unit has a memory for storing the recorded information. The memory comprises a first memory part located in the user unit and a second memory part located in an external data storage device, which memory parts are connected in such a way that, from the point of view of a user, they form a coherent memory unit. Methods for memory management in such a user unit are also described.

Claims

1. A pen system for recording a track of handwritten information, said system comprising:

(A) a handheld pen device comprising;

an image sensor for optically sensing a position-coding pattern printed on a surface, said position-coding pattern identifying an identity of the surface;

a processor for decoding imaged portions of the position-coding pattern and generating digital ink representative of the track of handwritten information and the identity of the surface; and

a first memory unit, located in the pen device, for storing said digital ink; and

(B) a second memory unit located in an external data storage device,

wherein said memory units are connected in such a way that a transmission of said digital ink is caused to occur automatically from the first memory unit to the second memory unit as the digital ink is formed, and wherein receipt of said digital ink by said second memory unit causes said second memory unit to associate the track of handwritten information with a stored description of said surface, said stored description being identified and retrieved using said surface identity.

2. A pen system according to claim 1, further comprising a means for transmission of the digital ink between the first and the second memory units, the first memory unit being arranged to receive and store the digital ink from the recording means and the information transmission means being arranged to transfer the digital ink from the first to the second memory unit for storage therein.

3. A pen system according to claim 2, wherein said pen is configured to automatically transfer the digital ink when the pen is within range of the second memory unit.

4. A pen system according to claim 2, in which the information transmission means is arranged to carry out wireless transmission of information from the pen device.

5. A pen system according to claim 2, in which the information transmission means is arranged to transfer all the digital ink to the second memory unit.

6. A pen system according to claim 1, wherein said external data storage device is a computer system.

7. A pen system according to claim 1, in which the digital ink comprises a plurality of absolute positions that form an electronic version of the handwritten information.

8. A pen system according to claim 1, in which the second memory unit has a data storage capacity that is considerably larger than the data storage capacity of the first memory unit.

9. A method for memory management in a pen device, which is arranged to record a track of handwritten information created by the pen device, comprising the steps of:

imaging a position-coding pattern printed on a surface as the pen writes handwritten information on the surface, said position-coding pattern identifying an identity of the surface;

decoding imaged portions of the position-coding pattern;

generating digital ink representative of the track of handwritten information and the identity of the surface;

storing said digital ink in a first memory unit in the pen device;

transferring at least some of the digital ink from the first memory unit to a second memory unit in an external computer system in such a way that a transmission of said recorded information is caused to occur automatically from the first memory unit to the second memory unit as the digital ink is formed; and

associating the track of handwritten information with a stored description of said surface, said stored description being identified and retrieved using said surface identity.