Method of allowing a user to participate in an auction

• US 8,135,637 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2005
• Issued: 03/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Lapstun, Paul, Lapstun, Jacqueline Anne, Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): Colbert, Ella
• Application Number:
  US11/051,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20050131803A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,591 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/37, 705/1, 705/1.1, 705/35, 705/26.1, 235379-381, 235/453, 235/454, 235/462, 235/494, 715/200, 715/224, 715/221, 715/234
• US Class Current: 705/35
• 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 2/17523 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: 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 16/3323 using document space presentation or visualization, e.g. category, hierarchy or range presentation and selection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• 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: 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 20/042 : characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0248 : Avoiding fraud
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 : Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 : Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 : Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 : Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/06 : Asset management; Financial planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 : Electronic negotiation
• 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: G09B 7/00 : Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers mechanically operated G09B3/00; computing arrangements G06F
• 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 1/00334 : with an apparatus processing barcodes or the like arrangements for sensing record carriers G06K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00342 : with a radio frequency tag transmitter or receiver storage of additional information in an RFID tag attached to an image bearing paper sheet H04N1/32138
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/915 : Image
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/917 : Text
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 : Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 : Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 : Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 : Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 : Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 : Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A method of allowing a user to participate in an auction. The method includes, in a computer system, determining, information relating to the auction, and generating coded data indicative of at least one parameter relating to the auction. The computer system then determines a layout defining an arrangement for at least one of the coded data and the information before causing printing of a form by causing printing of the coded data and the information using the layout. The coded data is adapted to be sensed by a sensing device which can generating indicating data indicative of the at least one parameter. The computer is responsive to the indicating data to determine the at least one parameter, thereby allowing the user to participate in the auction.

Claims

1. A system for allowing a user to participate in an auction, the system including:

a computer system; and

a pen sensing device,

wherein the computer system, in response to a request from the user, is configured to;

(i) determine information relating to the auction;

(ii) generate a plurality of tags, each tag encoding a position of the tag on a surface to be printed upon;

(iii) determine a layout defining an arrangement for the tags and the information relating to the auction; and

(iv) print on a printer the tags and the information relating to the auction on the surface using the layout, wherein at least some of the tags are spatially coincident with at least part of the information relating to the auction on the surface;

(v) receive indicating data from a pen sensing device; and

,

(vii) determine, from the indicating data and the layout, at least one criterion relating to the auction; and

wherein the pen sensing device includes;

(a) an image sensor for capturing images of at least some of the tags when the pen sensing device is placed in an operative position relative to the surface; and

(b) a processor configured to;

(bi) identify at least some of the tags from one or more of the captured images;

(bii) decode at least some of the tags; and

(biii) generate the indicating data using at least some of the decoded tags.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further includes a relay device, the relay device being configured to:

receive the indicating data from the pen sensing device; and

,

transfer the indicating data to the computer system.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the relay device is the printer.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the layout includes at least one of:

a page description indicative of an arrangement of the information relating to the auction; and

,

a map indicative of an arrangement of the tags.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the pen sensing device includes a store for storing an identifier of the pen sensing device, the indicating data being at least partially indicative of the identifier of the pen sensing device, and the computer system being further configured to:

determine, using the indicating data, the identifier of the pen sensing device;

identify a user identity associated with the identifier of the pen sensing device; and

,

perform, using the user identity, an action associated with the at least one criterion.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the computer system is further configured to:

determine, from the indicating data, movement of the pen sensing device relative to the surface;

determine, using the movement, a handwritten signature; and

,

determine, using the identity of the pen sensing device, a predetermined signature;

verify the user by comparing the handwritten signature to the predetermined signature.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer system is configured to perform an action associated with the at least one criterion, the action including at least one of:

determining, using the at least one criterion, auction details relating to an item to be auctioned;

generating an auction listing relating to the auction details;

requesting the listing of an item;

attaching a picture of an item being listed;

confirming the listing of an item;

modifying the listing of an item;

cancelling the listing of an item;

determining at least one of a list of items being auctioned, terms of an item auction, a description of an item being listed for auction, categories in which an item can be listed, and subcategories in which an item can be listed, and a bid associated with an item being auctioned;

bidding for an item;

requesting details of an item;

requesting items in a category; and

,

searching for an item.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the computer system is further configured to:

determine, from the indicating data, movement of the pen sensing device relative to the surface;

determine, using the determined movement, at least one character, the character being at least one of a hand-written indicia, alpha-numeral, diagram, and a figure; and

,

convert the at least one character to an electronic form.