Method and arrangement in a digital communication system

• US 20030011578A1
• Filed: 06/25/2002
• Published: 01/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anoto Group AB
• Original Assignee: Anoto Group AB
• Inventors: Bergovist, Eva, Wiebe, Linus
• Granted Patent: US 7,154,056 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/179
• 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

Abstract

A user of a digital pen in an information management system is allowed to have a number of aliases when communicating in the system. The system includes a plurality of products, which are provided with a position code, a plurality of digital pens capable of reading the position code, and a server communicating with said digital pens. The server includes a position database which associates positions coded by the position code with rules for information management. A pen identifier is associated with a digital pen and at least one alias is associated with the pen identifier, the alias being indicative of a role of a pen user when the user communicates via the digital pen in the information management system. The alias information is communicated to the system, e.g., when the digital pen is operated to mark an activation icon on a product, which includes position codes whose associated rules manage the association between alias and pen identifier.

Claims

1. A method for handling information in an information management system, said system including at least one digital pen capable of reading information and communicating at least part thereof in at least one communication network, wherein each at least one digital pen is associated with a respective pen identifier, the method including:

associating an alias with a pen identifier in dependence on information that is registered on a product in the form of at least one position code which is coded by a position code, said alias being indicative of a role of a pen user when the user communicates via a digital pen in the information management system.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of associating an alias includes associating one alias out of at least two different possible aliases with the pen identifier.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said alias corresponds to a role profile which is pre-stored in the information management system.

4. A method according to claim 1, including:

associating a plurality of aliases with the pen identifier, each alias among said aliases being indicative of a different role of a pen user when the user communicates via the digital pen in the information management system.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said alias is a temporary alias used by a temporary user for communication in the information management system.

6. A method according to claim 1, including:

associating a plurality of aliases with the pen identifier, each alias among said aliases being indicative of a role of different pen users when the users communicates via the digital pen in the information management system.

7. A method according to claim 1, including:

associating a role profile with said alias, said role profile including data to be at least partly communicated with actors (SH) in the information management system.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the association of a role profile with said alias includes associating any of a name, an address, a telephone number, electronic mail address, or any other identification data with said alias.

9. A method according to claim 1, including:

receiving user input, said input providing data for at least one alias association.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the reception of user input includes receiving data via the pen.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the reception of user input includes receiving data via an interface unit which is arranged for connection to a host unit providing a site on a public network.

12. A method according to claim 1, including:

providing, on request from the user, data relating to at least the user alias.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the provision of data includes providing data to the user via the pen.

14. A method according to claim 12, wherein the provision of data includes providing data via an interface unit which is arranged for connection to a host unit providing a site on a public network.

17. A system according to claim 16, the system being arranged to associate an alias by associating one alias out of at least two different possible aliases with the pen identifier.

18. A system according to claim 16, wherein said alias corresponds to a role profile which is pre-stored in the information management system.

19. A system according to claim 16, the system being arranged to:

associate a plurality of aliases with the pen identifier, each alias among said aliases being indicative of a different role of the pen user when the user communicates via the digital pen in the information management system.

20. A system according to claim 16, wherein said alias is a temporary alias used by a temporary user for communication in the information management system.

21. A system according to claim 16, the system being arranged to:

associate a plurality of aliases with the pen identifier, each alias among said aliases being indicative of a role of different pen users when the users communicates via the digital pen in the information management system.

22. A system according to claim 16, the system being arranged to:

associate a role profile with said alias, said role profile including data to be at least partly communicated with actors in the information management system.

23. A system according to claim 22, the system being arranged to associate a role profile with said alias, which includes associating any of a name, an address, a telephone number, electronic mail address, or any other identification data with said alias.

24. A system according to claim 16, the system being arranged to:

receive user input, said input providing data for at least one alias association.

25. A system according to claim 24, the system being arranged to receive user input by way of receiving data via the pen.

26. A system according to claim 24, the system being arranged to receive user input by way of receiving data via an interface unit which is arranged for connection to a host unit providing a site on a public network.

27. A system according to claim 16, the system arranged to:

provide, on request from a user, data relating to at least a user alias.

28. A system according to claim 27, the system being arranged to provide data to the user via the pen.

29. A system according to claim 27, the system being arranged to provide data via an interface unit which is arranged for connection to a host unit providing a site on a public network.

30. A system according to claim 16, comprising server means communicating with said at least one digital pen, said server means including a position database which associates positions coded by said position code with rules for information management, said server means further including an interface unit by means of which actors in said system are allowed to enter data into, and retrieve data from, the system.

15. A computer readable medium containing instructions, executed by a processor, for performing a method for handling information in an information management system, said system including at least one digital pen capable of reading information and communicating at least part thereof in at least one communication network, wherein each at least one digital pen is associated with a respective pen identifier, the method including:

associating an alias with a pen identifier in dependence on information that is registered on a product located in the form of at least one position code which is coded by a position code, said alias being indicative of a role of a pen user when the user communicates via a digital pen in the information management system.

16. An information management system including at least one digital pen capable of recording information and communicating at least part thereof in at least one communication network, wherein each at least one digital pen is associated with a respective pen identifier, the system being arranged to:

associate an alias with a pen identifier in dependence on information that is registered on said products in the form of at least one position which is coded by a position code, said alias being indicative of a role of a pen user when the user communicates via a digital pen in the information management system.

31. A product for use in an information management system, which product is provided with information that is registered on the product in the form of at least one position which is coded by a position code, said system including at least one digital pen being capable of reading said information and communicating at least part thereof in at least one communication network, wherein each at least one digital pen is associated with a respective pen identifier, and wherein said information, when processed in the system, enables:

association of an alias with a pen identifier in dependence on said information, said alias being indicative of a role of a pen user when the user communicates via a digital pen in the information management system.

32. A product according to claim 31, wherein the association of the alias includes association of one alias out of at least two different possible aliases with the pen identifier.

33. A product according to claim 31, wherein said alias corresponds to a role profile which is pre-stored in the information management system.

34. A product according to claim 31, including information which, when processed in the system, enables:

association of a plurality of aliases with the pen identifier, each alias among said aliases being indicative of a different role of a pen user when the user communicates via the digital pen in the information management system.

35. A product according to claim 31, wherein said alias is a temporary alias used by a temporary user for communication in the information management system.

36. A product according to claim 31, including information which, when processed in the system, enables:

association of a plurality of aliases with the pen identifier, each alias among said aliases being indicative of a role of different pen users when the users communicates via the digital pen in the information management system.

37. A product according to claim 31, including information which, when processed in the system, enables:

association of a role profile with said alias, said role profile including data to be at least partly communicated with actors in the information management system.

38. A product according to claim 37, including information which, when processed in the system, enables:

association of any of a name, an address, a telephone number, electronic mail address, or any other identification data with said alias.

39. A product according to claim 31, including information which, when processed in the system, enables:

provision of data relating to at least a user alias.

40. A product according to claim 39, wherein the information enabling provision of data includes information enabling provision of data via the pen.

41. A product according to claim 39, wherein the information enabling provision of data includes information enabling provision of data via an interface unit which is arranged for connection to a host unit providing a site on a public network.