Method for enabling users to perform a search

• US 20050108220A1
• Filed: 12/27/2004
• Published: 05/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, Lapstun, Paul, Lapstun, Jacqueline Anne
• Granted Patent: US 7,693,828 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 enabling users to perform a search using a search request form. The search request form has coded data indicative of an identity of the search request form and of a plurality of reference points, with some of the coded data being coincident with a search field. In use, the computer system receives indicating data from a sensing device, which is generated when the sensing device is moved within the search field. The indicating data is indicative of the identity of the search request form, movement of the sensing device within the search field and, an identifier stored in a store within the sensing device. The computer system determines the movement of the sensing device within the search field and uses this to perform the search, with the results being provided to the user using the identifier.

Claims

1. A method of enabling users to perform a search, the method including, in a computer system:

providing a user with a search request form including information relating to a search request, the search request form having disposed therein or thereon coded data at least partially indicative of an identity of the search request form and of a plurality of reference points, at least some of the coded data being coincident with at least one search field;

receiving indicating data from a sensing device, the sensing device being responsive to movement of the sensing device at least partially within the search field to sense at least some of the coded data and generate the indicating data, the indicating data being at least partially indicative of;

the identity of the search request form;

movement of the sensing device at least partially within the at least one search field; and

,

an identifier, the identifier being stored in a store within the sensing device;

determining, using the indicating data, movement of the sensing device within the at least one search field;

determining, using the determined movement, a search request;

performing a search using the determined search request; and

,

providing results of the search to the user using the identifier.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the movement is representative of a handwritten text input, and wherein the method includes, in the computer system:

identifying, using the determined movement, the handwritten text input; and

,

performing an operation associated with the handwritten text input, the operation including at least one of;

utilising handwriting recognition of the handwritten text input to determine the search request; and

,

utilising digital ink stroke matching of the handwritten text input.

3. The method of claim 2, in which the handwritten text parameter is associated with at least one of:

the search query text;

a sorting preference of the results;

a preferred language;

a range of relevant dates; and

,

an author of a document.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the movement of the sensing device is indicative of a handwritten signature, and wherein the method includes, in the computer system:

determining, using the determined movement, the handwritten signature; and

,

verifying, using the identifier and a predetermined stored signature, that the handwritten signature is that of the user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the movement of the sensing device is indicative of at least one of a hand-drawn image and a picture, wherein the method includes, in the computer system:

identifying, using the indicating data, that the user has entered at least one of a hand-drawn image and a picture; and

,

performing an operation associated with the hand-drawn image or picture.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the method includes performing a search of the image or picture using a digital ink stroke machine.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier is encrypted using an encryption key, wherein the method includes, in the computer system:

determining the encryption key; and

,

decrypting the identifier.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes, in the computer system, receiving the indicating data from a relay device, the relay device being adapted to communicate wirelessly with the sensing device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the relay device is a printer, and wherein the method includes, in the computer system, transferring the search results to the printer thereby causing the printer to print the search results.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes, in the computer system:

determining, using the identity, a page description, the page description being indicative of a layout of the coded data and the information; and

,

determining, from the page description and the determined movement, the search request.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes, in the computer system:

determining, using the indicating data, a parameter selected by the user; and

,

performing an operation associated with the determined parameter.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the parameter is an action parameter, the operation including at least one of:

commencing a search of stored information; and

,

requesting a blank search request form.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the parameter is an option parameter, the operation including at least one of:

selecting the store of information to search;

selecting a topic category to search; and

,

selecting the maximum number of returned matches to provide.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the search request form contains information relating to at least one of:

the available stores of information;

or

the available topic categories.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the search request form contains a plurality of interactive elements, each interactive element being indicative of a respective index, and wherein the method includes, in the computer system:

determining, using the indicating data, an indication of a selected index; and

,

providing details of the index to the user.

16. A method of enabling users to perform a search, the method including, in a sensing device:

sensing coded data provided on a search request form, the search request form including information relating to a search request and having disposed therein or thereon coded data at least partially indicative of an identity of the search request form and of a plurality of reference points, at least some of the coded data being coincident with at least one search field, the coded data being sensed in response to movement of the sensing device at least partially within the search field;

generating indicating data, the indicating data being at least partially indicative of;

the identity of the search request form;

movement of the sensing device at least partially within the at least one search field; and

,

an identifier, the identifier being stored in a store within the sensing device;

transferring the indicating data to a computer system, the computer system being responsive to the indicating data to;

determine, using the indicating data, the at least one search field and movement of the sensing device within the at least one search field;

determine, using the determined movement within the search field, a search request;

perform a search using the search request;

provide results of the search to the user using the identifier.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the method includes, in the sensing device, encrypting the identifier using an encryption key.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the method includes, in the sensing device, transferring the indicating data to a relay device, the relay device being adapted to communicate wirelessly with the sensing device.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the store is a non-volatile memory in the sensing device.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the movement is in the form of at least one stroke, and wherein the method includes, in the sensing device:

determining a number of time-stamped positions representing each stroke; and

,

generating the indicating data using the time-stamped pen positions.