Semantic note taking system

• US 8,096,477 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2009
• Issued: 01/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Catch Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Brown, Stephen J., Schobel, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THIEN MINH
• Application Number:
  US12/381,594
• Publication Number:
  US 20100191772A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,040 Days
• Field of Search: 235/472.01, 235/472.02, 235/472.03, 23546201-46225
• US Class Current: 235/462.09
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A semantic note taking system and method for collecting information, enriching the information, and binding the information to services is provided. User-created notes are enriched with labels, context traits, and relevant data to minimize friction in the note-taking process. In other words, the present invention is directed to collecting unscripted data, adding more meaning and use out of the data, and binding the data to services. Mutable and late-binding to services is also provided to allow private thoughts to be published to a myriad of different applications and services in a manner compatible with how thoughts are processed in the brain. User interfaces and semantic skins are also provided to derive meaning out of notes without requiring a great deal of user input. Linking physical objects to notes are also provided, such as through QR codes.

Claims

1. A method for collecting information, enriching the information, and binding the information to services, said method comprising:

(a) providing a note taking function to allow a user to create a note on a user device, wherein said created note is stored, wherein said note is a shared note, wherein said shared note is accessible by multiple users, wherein said shared note comprises a conversation between said multiple users, and wherein said shared note comprises a chronological list of comments of said conversation;

(b) providing a categorizing function to label said note with one or more categories, wherein one or more of said categories of said note is changeable;

(c) generating a code to label a physical object, wherein said code is associated with said note;

(d) imaging said code, wherein said code is placed on or near said physical object; and

(e) linking said physical object with said note based on said imaged code.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said note comprises text, audio media, visual media, audio-visual media, recorded data, a weblink, a pointer to an information source, or any combination thereof.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said user device comprises a mobile device, and wherein said note is communicated over a wireless network.

4. The method as set forth in claim 3, wherein said code is imaged with said mobile device.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said code is a two-dimensional code.

6. The method as set forth in claim 5, wherein said two-dimensional code is a Quick Response (QR) code.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising encrypting said code.

8. The method as set forth in claim 7, wherein authorization is required to link said physical object labeled with said code to said note, and wherein said authorization requires a key to said encryption.

9. The method as set forth in claim 7, wherein said physical object is located in a public location.

10. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said code is automatically generated upon creation of said note.

11. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising generating a private URL for said note, wherein said private URL provides access to the contents of said note.

12. A system for collection information, enriching the information, and binding the information to services, said system comprising:

an application server, wherein a plurality of users are communicatively connected to said application server to create one or more notes, wherein a plurality of services are communicatively connected to said application server, and wherein said notes can be bound to one or more of said services;

a database for storing said notes created by said users; and

a camera for imaging a code, wherein said code is placed on or near a physical object, wherein said code is used for linking said physical object with one or more of said notes,

wherein said application server operates a plurality of functions, said functions comprising;

(a) a note taking function for allowing each of said users to create one or more of said note, wherein said note is a shared note, wherein said shared note is accessible by said users, wherein said shared note comprises a conversation between said users, and wherein said shared note comprises a chronological list of comments of said conversation, wherein each of said notes comprises text, audio media, visual media, audio-visual media, recorded data, a weblink, a pointer to an information source, or any combination thereof;

(b) a categorizing function for labeling each of said notes with one or more categories, wherein one or more of said categories is changeable;

(c) a code generating function for generating a code to label a physical object, wherein said code is associated with said note; and

(d) a linking function for linking said physical object labeled with said code with one or more of said notes.

13. The system as set forth in claim 12, wherein said code is a two-dimensional code.

14. The system as set forth in claim 13, wherein said two-dimensional code is a Quick Response (QR) code.