Method and device for associating a user writing with a user-writable element

• US 20060127872A1
• Filed: 11/01/2005
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Marggraff, James
• Application Number:
  US11/264,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20060127872A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/353
• 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 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance

Abstract

A method and device for associating a user writing with a user-writable element. The method includes audibly prompting a user to draw a user-writable element on a surface. A user writing is detected on the surface. A position on the surface of the user writing is recorded. The position is associated with the user-writable element.

Claims

1. A method for associating a user writing with a user-writable element, said method comprising:

audibly prompting a user to draw a user-writable element on a surface;

detecting a user writing on said surface;

recording a position of said user writing on said surface; and

associating said position with said user-writable element.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said detecting said user writing on said surface is performed without processing said user writing.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising, in response to detecting interaction with said user writing, wherein said interaction comprises a writing element contacting said user writing at said location, executing an action associated with said user-writable element.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

recognizing a second user writing associated with an enter function on said surface; and

in response to detecting interaction with said second user writing, executing an enter function associated with said user-writable element.

5. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein said second user writing comprises a check mark.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said audibly prompting said user to draw said user-writable element on said surface comprises audibly prompting said user to draw said user-writable element within a particular region of said surface.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said user-writable element is a text string.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said user-writable element is a word.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said user-writable element is a symbol.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said user-writable element is a graphic element.

11. A computer-usable medium having computer-readable program code embodied therein for causing a computer system to perform a method for associating a user writing with a user-writable element, said method comprising:

audibly prompting a user to draw a user-writable element on a surface;

detecting a user writing on said surface;

recording a position of said user writing on said surface; and

associating said position with said user-writable element.

12. The computer-usable medium as recited in claim 11 wherein said detecting said user writing on said surface is performed without processing said user writing.

13. The computer-usable medium as recited in claim 11 wherein said method further comprises, in response to detecting interaction with said user writing, wherein said interaction comprises a writing element contacting said user writing at said location, executing an action associated with said user-writable element.

14. The computer-usable medium as recited in claim 11 wherein said method further comprises:

recognizing a second user writing associated with an enter function on said surface; and

in response to detecting interaction with said second user writing, executing an enter function associated with said user-writable element.

15. The computer-usable medium as recited in claim 14 wherein said second user writing comprises a check mark.

16. The computer-usable medium as recited in claim 11 wherein said audibly prompting said user to draw said user-writable element on said surface comprises audibly prompting said user to draw said user-writable element within a particular region of said surface.

17. The computer-usable medium as recited in claim 11 wherein said user-writable element is a text string.

18. The computer-usable medium as recited in claim 11 wherein said user-writable element is a word.

19. The computer-usable medium as recited in claim 11 wherein said user-writable element is a symbol.

20. The computer-usable medium as recited in claim 11 wherein said user-writable element is a graphic element.

21. An interactive device comprising:

a bus;

an audio output device coupled to said bus;

a user writing element for allowing a user to write on a writable surface;

an optical detector coupled to said bus for detecting positions of said user writing element with respect to said writable surface;

a processor coupled to said bus; and

a memory unit coupled to said bus, said memory storing instructions that when executed cause said processor to implement a method for associating a user writing with a user-writable element, said method comprising;

audibly prompting a user to draw a user-writable element on a surface;

detecting a user writing on said surface;

recording a position of said user writing on said surface; and

associating said position with said user-writable element.

22. The interactive device as recited in claim 21 wherein said detecting said user writing on said surface is performed without processing said user writing.

23. The interactive device as recited in claim 21 wherein said method further comprises, in response to detecting interaction with said user writing, wherein said interaction comprises a writing element contacting said user writing at said location, executing an action associated with said user-writable element.

24. The interactive device as recited in claim 21 wherein said method further comprises:

recognizing a second user writing associated with an enter function on said surface; and

in response to detecting interaction with said second user writing, executing an enter function associated with said user-writable element.

25. The interactive device as recited in claim 24 wherein said second user writing comprises a check mark.

26. The interactive device as recited in claim 21 wherein said audibly prompting said user to draw said user-writable element on said surface comprises audibly prompting said user to draw said user-writable element within a particular region of said surface.

27. The interactive device as recited in claim 21 wherein said user-writable element is a text string.

28. The interactive device as recited in claim 21 wherein said user-writable element is a word.

29. The interactive device as recited in claim 21 wherein said user-writable element is a symbol.

30. The interactive device as recited in claim 21 wherein said user-writable element is a graphic element.

31. A method for associating a user writing with a user-writable element, said method comprising:

audibly prompting a user to draw a user-writable element on a surface;

detecting that a user writing on said surface has occurred in response to said audibly prompting and without verifying that said user writing is said user-writable element;

recording a position of said user writing on said surface;

associating said position with said user-writable element; and

in response to detecting interaction with said user writing, wherein said interaction comprises a writing element contacting said user writing at said location, executing an action associated with said user-writable element.

32. The method as recited in claim 31 further comprising:

recognizing a second user writing associated with an enter function on said surface; and

in response to detecting interaction with said second user writing, executing an enter function associated with said user-writable element.

33. The method as recited in claim 31 wherein said audibly prompting said user to draw said user-writable element on said surface comprises audibly prompting said user to draw said user-writable element within a particular region of said surface.