Computer system control with user data via interface and sensor with identifier

• US 7,437,671 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2002
• Issued: 10/14/2008
• 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): Hong; Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): PITARO, RYAN F
• Application Number:
  US10/291,546
• Publication Number:
  US 20030090459A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,163 Days
• Field of Search: 715/792, 715/856, 715/701, 715/702, 463/30, 382/114
• US Class Current: 715/702
• 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 specialized liquids, e.g. transparent or 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 user interaction with computer software running in a computer system. The user is provided with an interface surface containing information relating to the computer software and including coded data indicative of at least one interactive element relating to the computer software. A sensing device in the form of an optically sensing stylus contains identifying data indicative of an identity of the user. When the user writes with the stylus, or uses it as a pointer, an operative end of the stylus is brought into contact with the interface surface. The sensing device senses indicating data indicative of the at least one interactive element using at least some of the coded data. The computer system receives the identifying data and the indicating data from the sensing device. The interactive element is identified in the computer system using the indicating data, and user data is identified using the identifying data. The computer software is operated at least partly in reliance on the user data, and in accordance with instructions associated with the at least one interactive element.

Claims

1. A method of enabling user interaction with computer software running in a computer system via:

a first interface surface containing first information relating to the computer software and including first coded data indicative of at least one first interactive element relating to the computer software, said first coded data being printed as a collection of first tags, each first tag identifying an identity of the first surface and a location of the first tag on the first surface; and

a sensing device which;

contains identifying data indicative of an identity of the user; and

, when placed in an operative position relative to the first interface surface, senses at least some of the coded data and generates indicating data indicative of the identity of the first surface and of the position of the sensing device relative to the first surface;

the method including the steps of, in the computer system;

(a) receiving the identifying data from the sensing device;

(b) receiving the indicating data from the sensing device when placed in an operative position relative to the first interface surface;

(c) identifying the at least one first interactive element from the indicating data;

(d) identifying user data from the identifying data;

(e) operating the computer software at least partly in reliance on the user data, and in accordance with instructions associated with the at least one first interactive element; and

(f) instructing a printer to print a second interface surface representing the output of the computer software operating in accordance with the instructions, said second interface including second information and second coded data indicative of at least one second interactive element relating to the computer software, said second coded data being printed as a collection or second tags, each second tag identifying an identity of the second surface and a location of the second tag on the second surface,

wherein the sensing device is further adapted to store a sensing device identifier which is adapted to distinguish the sensing device from other sensing devices of the same type.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user data is identified from both the identifying data and the indicating data.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensing device generates at least one of movement data and position data, the movement data being indicative of the movement of the sensing device relative to the first interface surface, the position data being indicative of the position of the sensing device relative to the first interface surface, the method including the step of receiving, in the computer system, at least one of the movement data and the position data.

4. The method according to claim 1, further including the step of receiving, in the computer system, the sensing device identifier.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of receiving, in the computer system, the sensing device identifier comprises receiving the sensing device identifier as an encrypted sensing device identifier.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the encrypted sensing device identifier is encrypted using an encryption key.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of receiving, in the computer system, the sensing device identifier comprises receiving the sensing device identifier via a radio frequency signal.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of receiving, in the computer system, the sensing device identifier comprises receiving the sensing device identifier via a relay device adapted to receive the radio frequency signal.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensing device is adapted to store the sensing device identifier in a non-volatile memory in the sensing device.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first interactive element is a checkbox field relating to the computer software, the method including the steps of identifying, in the computer system, that the user has entered a hand-drawn mark by means of the sensing device and effecting, in the computer system, an operation associated with the checkbox field.

11. The method according to claim 10, including the step of associating, in the computer system, a true value with the checkbox field.

12. The method according to claim 10, including the step of sending, in the computer system, data to the computer software indicative of at least the checkbox field.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first interactive element is a text field relating to the computer software, the method including the steps of 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 field.

14. The method according to claim 13, including the step of converting, in the computer system, the handwritten text data to computer text.

15. The method according to claim 14, including the step of associating, in the computer system, the computer text with the text field.

16. The method according to claim 13, including the step of sending, in the computer system, data to the computer software indicative of at least the text field.

17. The method according to claim 14, including the step of converting, in the computer system, the handwritten text data to computer text using an online handwriting recognition program.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first interactive element is a signature field relating to the computer software, the method including the steps of identifying, in the computer system, that the user has entered a handwritten signature by means of the sensing device and effecting, in the computer system, an operation associated with the signature field.

19. The method according to claim 18, including the step of verifying, in the computer system, that the signature is that of the user.

20. The method according to claim 19, including the step of generating, in the computer system and using a signature key of the user, a digital signature of at least data indicative of a name and/or value of at last one field related to the computer software.

21. The method according to claim 20, including the step of associating, in the computer system, the digital signature with the signature field.

22. The method according to claim 18, including the step of sending, in the computer system, data to the computer software indicative of at least the signature field.

23. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first interactive element is a drawing field related to the computer software, the method including the steps of identifying, in the computer system, that the user has entered a hand-drawn picture by means of the sensing device and effecting, in the computer system, an operation associated with the drawing field.

24. The method according to claim 23, including the step of sending, in the computer system, data to the computer software indicative of at least the drawing field.

51. The method of claim 9, wherein the sensing device is adapted to store the sensing device identifier in a read-only memory in the sensing device.

25. A system for enabling user interaction with computer software running in a computer system, via:

a first interface surface containing first information relating to the computer software and including first coded data indicative of at least one first interactive element relating to the computer software, said first coded data being printed as a collection of first tags, each first tag identifying an identity of the first surface and a location of the first tag on the first surface; and

a sensing device which;

contains identifying data indicative of an identity of the user; and

, when placed in an operative position relative to the first interface surface, senses at least some of the coded data and generates indicating data indicative of the identity of the first surface and of the position of the sensing device relative to the first surface;

the system being configured to, in the computer system;

(a) receive the identifying data from the sensing device;

(b) receive the indicating data from the sensing device;

(c) identify the at least one first interactive element from the indicating data;

(d) identify user data from the identifying data;

(e) operate the computer software at least partly in reliance on the user data, and in accordance with instructions associated with the at least one first interactive element; and

(f) instruct a printer to print a second interface surface representing the output of the computer software operating in accordance with the instructions said second interface including second information and second coded data indicative of at least one second interactive element relating to the computer software, said second coded data being printed as a collection of second tags, each second tag identifying an identity of the second surface and a location of the second tag on the second surface,

wherein the sensing device is further adapted to store a sensing device identifier which is adapted to distinguish the sensing device from other sensing devices of the same type.

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein the user data is identified from both the identifying data and the indicating data.

27. The system according to claim 25, wherein the sensing device generates at least one of movement data and position data, the movement data being indicative of the movement of the sensing device relative to the first interface surface, the position data being indicative of the position of the sensing device relative to the first interface surface, the method including the step of receiving, in the computer system, at least one of the movement data and the position data.

28. The system according to claim 25, the system further including the sensing device.

29. The system according to claim 28, wherein the sensing device is configured to sense at least one of a movement and a position of the sensing device relative to the first interface surface.

30. The system according to claim 25, wherein the computer system is adapted to receive the sensing device identifier from the sensing device.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the computer system is adapted to receive the sensing device identifier as an encrypted sensing device identifier.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the encrypted sensing device identifier is encrypted using an encryption key.

33. The system of claim 30, wherein the computer system is adapted to receive the sensing device identifier via a radio frequency signal.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the computer system is adapted to receive the sensing device identifier via a relay device adapted to receive the radio frequency signal.

35. The system of claim 28, wherein the sensing device is adapted to store the sensing device identifier in a non-volatile memory in the sensing device.

36. The system according to claim 25, wherein the first interactive element is a checkbox field relating to the computer software, the method including the steps of identifying, in the computer system, that the user has entered a hand-drawn mark by means of the sensing device and effecting, in the computer system, an operation associated with the checkbox field.

37. The system according to claim 36, including the step of associating, in the computer system, a true value with the checkbox field.

38. The system according to claim 36, including the step of sending, in the computer system, data to the computer software indicative of at least the checkbox field.

39. The system according to claim 25, wherein the first interactive element is a text field relating to the computer software, the method including the steps of 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 field.

40. The system according to claim 39, wherein the computer system is adapted to convert the handwritten text data to computer text.

41. The system according to claim 40, including the step of associating, in the computer system, the computer text with the text field.

42. The system according to claim 39, including the step of sending, in the computer system, data to the computer software indicative of at least the text field.

43. The system according to claim 40, wherein the computer system is adapted to convert the handwritten text data to computer text using an online handwriting recognition program.

44. The system according to claim 25, wherein the first interactive element is a signature field relating to the computer software, the method including the steps of identifying, in the computer system, that the user has entered a handwritten signature by means of the sensing device and effecting, in the computer system, an operation associated with the signature field.

45. The system according to claim 44, including the step of verifying, in the computer system, that the signature is that of the user.

46. The system according to claim 45, including the step of generating, in the computer system and using a signature key of the user, a digital signature of at least data indicative of a name and/or value of at last one field related to the computer software.

47. The system according to claim 46, including the step of associating, in the computer system, the digital signature with the signature field.

48. The system according to claim 44, including the step of sending, in the computer system, data to the computer software indicative of at least the signature field.

49. The system according to claim 25, wherein the first interactive element is a drawing field related to the computer software, the method including the steps of identifying, in the computer system, that the user has entered a hand-drawn picture by means of the sensing device and effecting, in the computer system, an operation associated with the drawing field.

50. The system according to claim 49, including the step of sending, in the computer system, data to the computer software indicative of at least the drawing field.

52. The system of claim 35, wherein the sensing device is adapted to store the sensing device identifier in a read-only memory in the sensing device.