Interactive printer

• US 7,177,054 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2004
• Issued: 02/13/2007
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Garcia, Gabriel I.
• Application Number:
  US10/962,510
• Publication Number:
  US 20050063007A1
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.1, 358/1.15, 358/1.6, 358/1.3, 358/1.8, 358/537, 358/538, 358/540, 358/402, 358/403, 358/1.16, 358/1.18, 710/8, 710/9, 710/20
• US Class Current: 358/300
• 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 2/16511 Constructions for cap positioning B41J2/16547 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16585 for paper-width or non-reciprocating print heads
• 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 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 3/1284 : Local printer device
• 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 10/10 : Office automation; Time management
• 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: 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 1/00358 : 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 1/23 : Reproducing arrangements
• 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 1/32144 : embedded in the image data, i.e. enclosed or integrated in the image, e.g. watermark, super-imposed logo or stamp
• 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 2201/3201 : Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 : of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3207 : of an address
• 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 2201/3242 : of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups 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: H04N 2201/3271 : Printing or stamping
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 : Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1746 : Plural lines and/or separate means assembling separate sandwiches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1761 : Stacked serially

Abstract

A printer for printing a second interface onto a second surface, in response to sensed coded data received from a sensing device, the sensed data being sensed by the sensing device from first coded data included in a first interface disposed on a first surface. The printer has an input module configured to receive the sensed data, generate indicating data based on the sensed coded data and send the indicating data to a computer system. The printer also includes a printing module, including a printing mechanism, configured to receive response data from the computer system, the response data being derived by the computer system from the sensed coded data, generate the second interface based at least partially on the response data and print the second interface onto the second surface using the printing mechanism.

Claims

1. A printer for printing a second interface onto a second surface, in response to sensed coded data received from a sensing device, the sensed data being sensed by the sensing device from first coded data included in a first interface printed on a first surface, the printer including:

(a) an input module configured to;

(i) receive, from The sensing device, the sensed data;

(ii) generate indicating data based on the sensed coded data;

(iii) send the indicating data to a computer system; and

(b) a printing module, including a printing mechanism, configured to;

(i) receive response data from the computer system, the response data identifying a unique identity of the second interface, the response data being derived by the computer system from the sensed coded data;

(ii) generate the second interface based at least partially on the response data, the second interface comprising second coded data encoding the unique identity; and

(iii) print the second interface onto the second surface using the printing mechanism.

2. A printer according to claim 1, wherein the printing module includes a coded data generator configured to generate the second coded data based on at least part of the response data.

3. A printer according to claim 1, wherein the second interface includes visible information in addition to the second coded data, the visible information being based at least partially on the response data.

4. A printer according to claim 1, wherein the second coded data is also indicative of at least one reference point of the region.

5. A printer according to claim 4, wherein the at least one reference point is determined on the basis of a coded data layout.

6. A printer according to claim 5, wherein the printing module is configured to receive the coded data layout from the computer system.

7. A printer according to claim 5, further including storage means for storing a plurality of the coded data layouts, the printing module being configured to:

receive, from the computer system, layout selection information indicative of one of the coded data layouts; and

use the layout selection information to select one of the stored coded layouts for use in determining the at least one reference point.

8. A printer according to claim 6, further including storage means for storing a plurality of the coded data layouts, the coded data generator being configured to:

receive, from the computer device, layout selection information indicative of one of the coded data layouts; and

generate the second coded data based on the layout selection information.

9. A printer according to claim 1, wherein the indicating data includes location data sensed by the sensing device from the first coded data.

10. A printer according to claim 1, wherein the indicating data includes first region identity data sensed by the sensing device from the first coded data, the first region identity data being indicative of an identity associated with a region of the first interface, the region being at least partially indicative of the response data.

11. A printer according to claim 10, wherein the indicating data includes location data sensed by the sensing device from the first coded data, the location data being indicative of a location within The region, the location within the region being at least partially indicative of the response data.

12. A printer according to claim 1, wherein the second coded data includes at least one tag, each tag being indicative of the identity of the region.

13. A printer according to claim 12, wherein the second coded data includes a plurality of the tags, the coded data generator being configured to ascertain a position of each tag prior to printing, the respective positions being determined on the basis of a coded data layout.

14. A printer according to claim 13, wherein the coded data generator is configured to receive the coded data layout from the computer device prior to printing the second coded data.

15. A printer according to claim 13, wherein each of the tags includes:

first identity data defining a relative position of that tag; and

second identity data identifying the surface.

16. A printer according to claim 1, the printer being configured to print the second interface onto the second surface on demand.

17. A printer according to claim 1, wherein the second interface is printed over a plurality of the pages.

18. A printer according to claim 1, wherein the first and/or second surfaces are defined by a substrate.

19. A printer according to claim 18, wherein the substrate is laminar.