Method and system for note taking using a form with coded marks

• US 6,718,061 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2002
• Issued: 04/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, Lapstun, Paul, Lapstun, Jacqueline Anne
• Primary Examiner(s): MARIAM, DANIEL G
• Application Number:
  US10/291,517
• Publication Number:
  US 20030091233A1
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 382/115, 382/119, 382/181, 382/186-189, 382/202, 382/209, 382/217-218, 382/305-306, 382/313-314, 178/18.01, 178/18.03, 178/18.09, 178/19.01, 178/19.05, 235/462.01, 235/472.01, 235/487, 235/494, 345/173, 345/179
• US Class Current: 382/187
• 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 2/17526 Electrical contacts to the cartridge
• 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: B41J 29/02 Framework
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/13 Cases or covers
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/60 for printing on both faces of the printing material
• 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: B43K 23/008 Holders comprising finger grips B43K23/004, B43K23/012 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 24/06 operated by turning means
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 25/02 : Clips
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 29/00 : Combinations of writing implements with other articles
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 29/003 : with optical equipment, e.g. magnifier, viewer
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 29/004 : with more than one object
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 29/08 : with measuring, computing or indicating devices
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 29/093 : with calculators
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 29/10 : with illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 7/005 : Pen barrels
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 7/02 : Ink reservoirs; Ink cartridges B43K7/01 takes precedence
• 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: C09D 11/50 : Sympathetic, colour changing or similar inks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4393 : Multimedia presentations, e.g. slide shows, multimedia albums
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 : Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 : using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0337 : Status LEDs integrated in the mouse to provide visual feedback to the user about the status of the input device, the PC, or the user
• 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: G06F 3/1204 : resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1265 : Printing by reference, e.g. retrieving document/image data for a job from a source mentioned in the job
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 : Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 : Form filling; Merging
• 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 20/3821 : Electronic credentials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3829 : involving key management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 : Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 : Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 : Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/19 : by sensing codes defining pattern positions
• 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: G07D 7/005 : Testing security markings invisible to the naked eye, e.g. verifying thickened lines or unobtrusive markings or alterations
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/128 : Viewing devices
• 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 1/00206 : Transmitting or receiving computer data via an image communication device, e.g. a facsimile transceiver H04N1/00236 takes precedence
• 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 1/00278 : with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• 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 1/00355 : Mark-sheet input sensing record carriers G06K7/00; character recognition G06V30/10; document-oriented image-based pattern recognition G06V30/40
• 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 1/107 : with manual scanning
• 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 1/32133 : on the same paper sheet, e.g. a facsimile page header
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32771 : in response to a request, e.g. for a particular document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32776 : using an interactive, user-operated device, e.g. a computer terminal, mobile telephone H04N1/32782, H04N1/32784 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32778 : using a mark-sheet or machine-readable code request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/001 : Sharing resources, e.g. processing power or memory, with a connected apparatus or enhancing the capability of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 : By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 : Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 : of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 : of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image
• 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 2201/3264 : of sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3266 : of text or character information, e.g. text accompanying an image H04N2201/3226 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3267 : of motion picture signals, e.g. video clip
• 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: H04N 2201/3278 : Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 : Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 : adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 : Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 : Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1798 : with liquid adhesive or adhesive activator applying means

Abstract

A method and system for enabling handwritten note taking and retrieval, whereby a user is able to electronically capture, manage and search notes handwritten on paper by the user using one or more forms printed on paper and using a sensing device which senses coded data included in the printed forms.

Claims

1. A method of enabling handwritten note taking and retrieval, the method including the steps of:

providing a user with at least one form printable on a surface, the form containing information relating to a notebook activity and including coded data indicative of an identity of the form and of at least one reference point of the form, the coded data comprising a plurality of substantially undifferentiated marks positioned relative to a set of predetermined nominal mark positions, each mark representing one of a plurality of coded values, the coded value represented by a mark being at least partially determined by the position of the mark relative to the set of predetermined nominal mark positions;

receiving, in a computer system, indicating data from a sensing device operated by said user, said indicating data regarding the identity of the form and at least one of a position and a movement of the sensing device relative to the form, the sensing device, when placed in an operative position relative to the form, sensing at least some of the coded data and generating at least part of the indicating data from the sensed coded data; and

identifying in the computer system and from the indicating data, at least one parameter relating to the notebook activity.

2. The method of claim 1 in which said at least one parameter relating to the notebook activity is associated with at least one zone of said form, and in which the method includes identifying, in the computer system and from the zone relative to which the sensing device is located, said at least one parameter.

3. The method of claim 2 which includes:

receiving, in the computer system, data regarding at least one of the movement and the position of the sensing device relative to said form, the sensing device sensing at least one of its movement and its position relative to said form using at least some of the coded data; and

identifying, in the computer system and from at least one of said movement and said position being at least partially within said at least one zone, said at least one parameter of the notebook activity.

7. The method of claim 2, 4 or 6, in which the parameter is an action parameter of the notebook activity, the method including effecting, in the computer system, an operation in respect of the action parameter.

8. The method of claim 7, in which the action parameter of the notebook activity is selected from the group comprising:

listing a user'"'"'s notebooks;

searching at least one of a user'"'"'s notebooks;

ordering a new notebook;

printing a new notebook;

reprinting at least one notebook page;

printing a certification copy of at least one notebook page; and

printing a representation of the history of at least one notebook page.

9. The method of claim 2, 4 or 6 in which the parameter is an option parameter of the notebook activity, the method including identifying, in the computer system, that the user has entered a hand-drawn mark by means of a sensing device and effecting, in the computer system, an operation associated with the option parameter.

10. The method of claim 2, 4 or 6 in which the parameter is a text parameter of the notebook activity, the method including identifying, in the computer system, that the user has entered handwritten text data by means of the sensing device and effecting, in the computer system, an operation associated with the text parameter.

11. The method of claim 10 which includes converting, in the computer system, the handwritten text data to computer text.

12. The method of claim 11 which includes converting, in the computer system, the handwritten text data to computer text using an online handwriting recognition program.

13. The method of claim 10 in which the text parameter is associated with at least one of:

a user'"'"'s name;

a notebook name;

a required number of notebook pages;

a page style;

a notebook page number;

a handwritten notebook entry

a certification signature;

an item of search text;

a notebook entry date; and

a notebook entry time.

14. The method of claim 2, 4 or 6 in which the parameter is a graphical parameter of the notebook activity, the method including identifying, in the computer system, that the user has entered hand-drawn graphical information by means of the sensing device and effecting, in the computer system, an operation associated with the graphical parameter.

15. The method of claim 14 in which the graphical parameter is associated with a hand drawn notebook entry.

16. The method of claim 2, 4 or 6 in which at least one of the one or more forms contains information relating to at least one of:

a user'"'"'s notebook menu;

ordering a new notebook;

a notebook name;

a user name;

a notebook page number;

a certifying entity for a notebook page;

a notebook page reference number;

a notebook search;

a notebook list; and

a notebook search result.

17. The method of claim 2, 4 or 6 in which said form is a notebook page.

18. The method of claim 2, 4 or 6 in which said form is provided an multiple pages.

19. The method of claim 2, 4 or 5 in which the predetermined nominal mark positions are ranged relative to a plurality of nominal lines.

20. The method of claim 19 in which at least one pair of the lines are spaced apart from one another by a distance of less than 100 millimeters.

21. The method of claim 2, 4 or 5 in which the marks have centers and wherein the relative spacing of the centers of at least one pair of adjacent marks is less than 12 millimeters.

22. The method of claim 2, 4 or 5 in which each mark has a minimum radius and a maximum radius and wherein the length of a mark'"'"'s minimum radius is greater than 40% of the length of that mark'"'"'s maximum radius.

23. The method of claim 2, 4 or 5 in which any 10 millimeter diameter area of the coded data indicative of an interactive element includes sufficient information to identify said at least one parameter of the notebook activity.

4. A method of enabling handwritten note taking and retrieval, the method including the steps of:

providing a user with, at least one from printable on a surface, said form containing information relating to a notebook activity and including coded data indicative of at least one parameter of the notebook activity, the coded data comprising a plurality of substantially undifferentiated marks positioned relative to a set of predetermined nominal mark positions, each mark representing one of a plurality of coded values, the coded value represented by a mark being at least partially determined by the position of the mark relative to the set of predetermined nominal mark positions;

receiving, in a computer system, data from a sensing device operated by said user regarding said at least one parameter and regarding at least one of movement and position of the sensing device relative to said form, the sensing device, when moved relative to said form, sensing the data regarding said at least one parameter using at least some of the coded data and generating the data regarding at least its own movement and its own position relative to said form; and

interpreting, in the computer system, at least one of said movement and said position of the sensing device as it relates to said at least one parameter.

5. A method of enabling handwritten note taking and retrieval, the method including the steps of:

providing a notebook user with a form including coded data indicative of an identity of said form, the coded data comprising a plurality of substantially undifferentiated marks positioned relative to a set of predetermined nominal mark positions, each mark representing one of a plurality of coded values, the coded value represented by a mark being at least partially determined by the position of the mark relative to the set of predetermined nominal mark positions;

receiving, in a computer system, data from a sensing device regarding an identity of the user and regarding the identity of said form, the sensing device containing the data regarding the identity of the user and sensing the data regarding the identity of said form using at least some of the coded data; and

identifying, in the computer system and from the data regarding the identity of the user and the identity of the form, a notebook activity.

6. The method of claim 5 which includes receiving, in the computer system, data from the sensing device regarding at least one of movement and position of the sensing device relative to the form, the sensing device generating data regarding at least one of its own movement and its own position relative to the form.

24. A system for enabling handwritten note taking and retrieval, the system including:

at least one form printable on a surface, said form containing information relating to a notebook activity and including coded data indicative of an identity of said form and of at least one reference point of said form, the coded data comprising a plurality of substantially undifferentiated marks positioned relative to a set of predetermined nominal mark positions, each mark representing one of a plurality of coded values, the coded value represented by a mark being at least partially determined by the position of the mark relative to the set of predetermined nominal mark positions; and

a computer system fix receiving indicating data from a sensing device operated by a user involved in the notebook activity;

said indicating data regarding the identity of said form and at least one of a position and a movement of the sensing device relative to said form, the sensing device, when placed in an operative position relative to said form, sensing at least some of the coded data and generating at least part of the indicating data from the sensed coded data, said computer system including means for identifying, from the indicating data, at least one parameter relating to the notebook activity.

25. The system of claim 24 in which said at least one parameter relating to the notebook activity is associated with at least one zone of said form.

26. The system of claim 24 including the sensing device, the sensing device sensing at least one of its movement and position relative to said form, using at least some of the coded data.

32. The system of claim 24, 27 or 31 in which said at least one parameter of the notebook activity is selected from the group comprising an action parameter of the notebook activity, an option parameter of the notebook activity, a text parameter of the notebook activity, an authorization parameter of the notebook activity, and a graphical parameter of the notebook activity.

33. The system of claim 32, in which the action parameter of the notebook activity is selected from the group comprising:

listing a user'"'"'s notebooks;

searching at least one of a user'"'"'s notebooks;

ordering a new notebook;

printing a new notebook;

reprinting at least one notebook page;

printing a certification copy of at least one notebook page; and

printing a representation of the history of at least one notebook page.

34. The system of claim 32 in which the text parameter is associated with at least one of:

a user'"'"'s name;

a notebook name;

a required number of notebook pages;

a page style;

a notebook page number;

a handwritten notebook entry;

a certification signature;

an item of search text;

a notebook entry date; and

a notebook entry time.

35. The system of claim 32 in which the graphical parameter is associated with a hand drawn notebook entry.

36. The system of any one of claims 24, 27 and 31 in which any 10 millimeter diameter area of the coded data includes sufficient information to identify said at least one parameter relating to the notebook activity.

37. The system of claim 24, 27 or 31 in which the sensing device includes a marking nib.

38. The system of claim 24, 27 or 31 in which the surface is a printed paper page.

40. The system of any one of claims 24, 27 and 30 in which the predetermined nominal mark positions are arranged relative to a plurality of nominal lines.

41. The system of any one of claims 24, 27 and 30 in which at least one pair of the lines are spaced apart from one another by a distance of less than 100 millimeters.

42. The system of any one of claims 24, 27 and 30 in which the marks have centers and wherein the relative spacing of the centers of at least one pair of adjacent marks is less than 12 millimeters.

43. The system of any one of claims 24, 27 and 30 in which each mark has a minimum radius and a maximum radius and wherein the length of a mark'"'"'s minimum radius is greater than 40% of the length of that mark'"'"'s maximum radius.

27. A system for enabling handwritten note taking and retrieval, the system including:

at least one form printable on an interactive surface, said from containing information relating to a notebook activity and including coded data indicative of at least one parameter of the notebook activity, the coded data comprising a plurality of substantially undifferentiated marks positioned relative to a set of predetermined nominal mark positions, each mark representing one of a plurality of coded values, the coded value represented by a mark being at least partially determined by the position of the mark relative to the set of predetermined nominal mark positions; and

a computer system for receiving data from a sensing device operated by the notebook user, said data regarding at least one of a movement and a position of the sensing device relative to said form, and for interpreting at least one of said movement and said position of the sensing device as it relates to said at least one parameter, the sensing device, when moved relative to said form, sensing the data regarding said at least one parameter using at least sonic of the coded data, and generating the data regarding at least one of its own movement and its own position relative to said form.

28. The system of claim 27 in which said at least one parameter relating to the notebook activity is associated with at least one zone of said form.

29. The system of claim 27 including the sensing device.

30. A system for enabling handwritten note taking and retrieval, the system including:

a feint including coded data indicative of an identity of the form, the coded data comprising a plurality of substantially undifferentiated marks positioned relative to a set of predetermined nominal mark positions, each mark representing one of a plurality of coded values, the coded value represented by a mark being at least partially determined by the position of the mark relative to the set of predetermined nominal mark positions; and

a computer system for receiving from a sensing device data regarding an identity of a notebook user and the identity of said form, and for identifying, from said received data, a notebook activity, the sensing device containing the data regarding the identity of the user and sensing the data regarding the identity of the form using at least some of the coded data.

31. The system of claim 30 in which the coded data is also indicative of at least one parameter of the notebook activity, the computer system receiving indicating data from the sensing device regarding said at least one parameter of the notebook activity, and the sensing device sensing the indicating data using at least some of the coded data.

39. The system of claim 30 including a sensing device, the sensing device sensing at least one of its movement and its position relative to the form.