Semantic Note Taking System

• US 20120111936A1
• Filed: 01/17/2012
• Published: 05/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Brown, Stephen J., Schobel, Andreas
• Application Number:
  US13/351,254
• Publication Number:
  US 20120111936A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/95 Retrieval from the web
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9554 by using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10554 Moving beam scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1413 1D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• 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/or 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 and enriching said information, comprising:

(a) providing a note taking function to multiple users of mobile devices for allowing each of said users to create notes on said respective mobile device;

(b) providing an information capture function to said users of said mobile devices for capturing information;

(i) from a physical object or (ii) of said physical object, wherein said captured information is;

(j) an image of said physical object, (jj) information obtained from said image, (jjj) data obtained via one or more radio-frequencies, (jv) a code pertaining to said physical object, (v) information obtained from said code, (vj) context traits related to said physical object, or (vjj) any combination thereof;

(c) providing a sharing function to said users of said mobile devices for streaming over a communication network and therewith sharing among said users said notes and said captured information; and

(d) providing a categorizing function to said users of said mobile device or operable by an application server and communicatively operable to said users on said mobile devices for categorizing said streamed notes and said streamed information with one or more categories.

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 one or more context traits comprises a location, a place, a time, a source, a related note, a person, people, a group, a tag, an identity, sensor data, a media file, an audio file, physical data relating to one or more of said mobile devices, derived data, or any combination thereof.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said streaming is streaming among said mobile devices, over an Internet, using Cloud sharing over said Internet, or a combination thereof.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said categorizing is based on cross-referencing:

(k) one or more of said context traits, (kk) one or more of said notes, (kkk) one or more said images, (kv) one or more aspects of said obtained information from said images, (k) one or more codes pertaining to said physical objects, (vk) information obtained from said codes, or (vkk) any combination thereof.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said one or more of said notes is enriched with one or more of said context traits, one or more aspects of said captured information, or a combination thereof.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said one or more aspects of said captured information is enriched with one or more of said context traits, one or more of said notes, or a combination thereof.

8. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said one or more radio frequencies pertain to near-field communications or an RF ID code.

9. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said image comprises a quick response (QR) code or a bar code.

10. A system for collection information and enriching the information, comprising:

(a) a note taking function operable to multiple users of mobile devices for allowing each of said users to create notes on said respective mobile device;

(b) an information capture function operable to said users of said mobile devices for capturing information;

(i) from a physical object or (ii) of said physical object, wherein said captured information is;

(j) an image of said physical object, (jj) information obtained from said image, (jjj) data obtained via one or more radio-frequencies, (jv) a code pertaining to said physical object, (v) information obtained from said code, (vj) context traits related to said physical object, or (vjj) any combination thereof;

(c) a sharing function operable to said users of said mobile device for streaming and therewith sharing among said multiple users said notes and said captured information; and

(d) a categorizing function operable to said users of said mobile device or operable by an application server and communicatively operable to said users on said mobile devices for categorizing said streamed notes and said streamed information with one or more categories.

11. The system as set forth in claim 10, 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.

12. The system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said one or more context traits comprises a location, a place, a time, a source, a related note, a person, people, a group, a tag, an identity, sensor data, a media file, an audio file, physical data relating to one or more of said mobile devices, derived data, or any combination thereof.

13. The system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said streaming is streaming among said mobile devices, over an Internet, using Cloud sharing over said Internet, or a combination thereof.

14. The system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said categorizing is based on cross-referencing:

(k) one or more of said context traits, (kk) one or more of said notes, (kkk) one or more said images, (kv) one or more aspects of said obtained information from said images, (k) one or more codes pertaining to said physical objects, (vk) information obtained from said codes, or (vkk) any combination thereof.

15. The system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said one or more of said notes is enriched with one or more of said context traits, one or more aspects of said captured information, or a combination thereof.

16. The system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said one or more aspects of said captured information is enriched with one or more of said context traits, one or more of said notes, or a combination thereof.

17. The system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said one or more radio frequencies pertain to near-field communications or an RF ID code.

18. The system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said image comprises a quick response (QR) code or a bar code.