Information management

(54)

PATENT HOLDER Anoto AB, c / o C Technologies AB Scheelevägen 15

INVENTOR'S OFFICE NAME

223 70 Lund SE

Petter Ericson, Malmö SE, Ida Westerberg, Malmö SE AWAPATENT AB

Information management product and method where a removable writing surface with absolute position coding pattern is written and read (56) (57)

CALLED PUBLICATIONS: - - SUMMARY:

An information management product defines a function to be performed with respect to information recorded from a writing surface. The product is provided with an absolute position coding pattern specific to said function so that detection of the pattern makes it possible to automatically identify the function. It is further intended to be affixed to the writing surface and includes means for attaching it to it.

<img file="SE516281C2_D0001.tif" />

The numbers in brackets indicate international identification code, INID code. Letters in clamps indicate international document code.

<td rowspan="2">^? PRA code</td><td colspan="3">J Patent uses the following document codes for its patents</td>

<td>cleartext</td><td>code</td><td>cleartext</td>

<td>A</td><td>widely available patent application</td><td>L</td><td>widely available</td>

<td>B</td><td>pamphlet *</td><td>TI</td><td>translation of the requirements of European patent application</td>

<td>B5</td><td>corrected layout letter *</td><td>T2</td><td>correction of translation of the requirements of European patent application</td>

<td>C</td><td>patent *</td><td>T3</td><td>translation of European patent</td>

<td>Cl</td><td>patent *</td><td>T4</td><td>translation of European patent in amended form</td>

<td>C2</td><td>patent</td><td>T5</td><td>corrected translation of European patent</td>

<td>C3</td><td>corrected patent</td><td>T8</td><td>corrected translation of European patent</td>

<td>C5</td><td>corrected patent *</td><td>T9</td><td>corrected translation of European patent</td>

<td>C8</td><td>corrected front page to patent</td><td></td><td></td>

<td>E</td><td>patent in amended version</td><td></td><td></td>

<td>E8</td><td>corrected front page to patent in amended version</td><td></td><td></td>

<td>E9</td><td>corrected patent in amended version</td><td colspan="2">* Published under older legislation</td>

/ Country Codes

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516 281

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a product, device and method for handling information, in particular information that is digitally recorded by detecting an absolute position coding pattern. Background of the Invention

US 5,852,434 discloses a device that allows a user to enter handwritten and hand-drawn information into a computer at the same time as the information is written / drawn on the writing surface. The device comprises a writing surface on which a position code encoding XY coordinates is provided and a special pen with a writing tip that the user can write or draw on the writing surface. The pen further has a light source for illuminating the position code and a CCD sensor for receiving the light reflected from the position code. The position information received by the CCD sensor is sent to a computer for processing.

Summary of the Invention

It is an object of the present invention to extend the ability to handle information written / drawn on a writing surface while simultaneously digitally registering with a pen.

This object is achieved with a product according to claim 25, a sticker map according to claim 9, a device according to claim 11 and a method according to claim 12. Preferred embodiments are stated in the subclaims.

More specifically, the present invention relates, in a first aspect, to a product for information management. The product defines a function to be performed with respect to information recorded from a writing surface. The product is furthermore provided with an absolute position code 516 281

<img file="SE516281C2_D0002.tif" />

pattern that is specific to said function so that detection of the pattern makes it possible to automatically identify the function. Finally, the product is intended to be affixed to the writing surface and includes means for attaching it to it.

This product can thus be used to define various functions to be performed with regard to recorded information. This increases the functionality of digital pens. A user does not need to first register information using the digital pen and then process the information further on a computer without the user being able to perform all operations solely using his digital pen, a writing surface and the product defining the function to be performed with respect to the digital pen. recorded the information.

For example, suppose a user made a note using a digital pen on a paper with absolute position coding pattern. The listing has been digitally registered using the pen. It refers to a work20 task that the user must remember to perform. The user wants to store the listing in a task list in his computer. He then takes a product that defines the function of storing recorded information in a task list and attaches this product to the paper. He then reads the absolute position coding pattern on the product with his digital pen, which results in the note being stored in the task list of his computer.

The writing surface may be a paper, a whiteboard, a magnetic board or any other writing surface on which it is possible to write or draw information by hand.

The means for affixing the product to the writing surface can be any means that allow the product to be fixed temporarily or permanently on the writing surface. They may be, for example, mechanical means which engage the writing surface, magnetic means which adhere to the writing surface by means of magnetic forces or adhesive agents which cause the product to adhere to the writing surface.

516 281

<img file="SE516281C2_D0003.tif" />

As stated above, the product may conveniently be used in conjunction with a writing surface provided with an absolute position coding pattern which allows the recording of handwritten information in digital form. In this case, the same digital pen used to record the information from the writing surface can be used to identify which function is to be performed with respect to the information, since the pen in both cases detects an absolute position coding pattern.

However, the product can also be used in conjunction with an arbitrary writing surface and a digital pen that records handwritten text in ways other than reading an absolute position coding pattern. An example of such a digital pen is a pen that has one or more accelerometer romers that sense the pen's movement. In this case, however, the pen must be equipped with an optical sensor that can detect the absolute position coding pattern on the product. Another example is a digital pen that registers handwritten text in the manner described in the applicant's Swedish patent application SE 9801535-7.

In a preferred embodiment, the absolute position coding pattern on the product is a first subset of a larger virtual absolute position coding pattern which encodes coordinates for a large number of points on an imaginary surface, and encodes the absolute position coding pattern on the product coordinates for at least one of said points which is within a first coordinate region. is dedicated for said function.

You can see it as having cut out a small part of the larger absolute position coding pattern and placed it on the product. This portion may correspond to the entire coordinate area dedicated to the product's function or a subset thereof. Thus, it is not absolute positions on the local product that are coded but absolute positions on the global imaginary surface.

Since the said coordinate area is dedicated for this particular function, the function can be identified.

516 281.;·

<img file="SE516281C2_D0004.tif" />

<img file="SE516281C2_D0005.tif" />

<img file="SE516281C2_D0006.tif" />

Furthermore, the product can be placed on writing surfaces with the same type of absolute position coding pattern and yet a digital pen that records coordinates from both the writing surface and from the product can differentiate how the coordinates are to be treated.

Conveniently, the first coordinate region is spaced from a second coordinate region on the imaginary surface containing points whose coordinates are encoded by a second subset of the larger virtual absolute position coding pattern, which second subset is on the writing surface. In this way, the product is more easily distinguished from the writing surface.

The function that the product defines can be a function of the group to send the registered information, for example as an e-mail, a fax or an SMS, to convert the registered information and to store the registered information, preferably in a predetermined application. The application can be, for example, a to-do list, a calendar, an address book or a similar application in which you want to store preferably shorter notes of the type that you would like to write by hand on a piece of paper. The conversion of the recorded information may consist of character interpretation, encryption, conversion of drawing format, translation or the like.

Different products can define different functions. Therefore, a product is advantageously provided with a visual indication indicating the function associated with the product, so that the user clearly sees which product he should choose when he wants to perform a predetermined function.

The absolute position coding pattern can be constructed in different ways. For example, the aforementioned US 5,852,434 describes an absolute position coding pattern that encodes each position with a unique symbol. Consequently, this symbol 35 becomes quite complex and thus difficult to detect correctly.

516 281

<img file="SE516281C2_D0007.tif" />

<img file="SE516281C2_D0008.tif" />

In a preferred embodiment, the absolute position coding pattern of the product is formed by a plurality of identical markings offset relative to a regular raster. The advantage of this graphic design of the pattern is that the detection of positions using the pattern becomes more secure.

Some of the features that can be defined with the product require that information be sent to a recipient whose address must be specified in some way. For this purpose, the product may include a write range for address information. This writing area may have a special absolute position coding pattern that is dedicated to address information.

The product is advantageously a sticker, the means for affixing the sticker to the writing surface comprising a layer of adhesive capability. Sticker here shall include all types of thin, sheet-like products with adhesive capacity.

The adhesive layer may be an adhesive layer which adheres the sticker substantially permanently to the writing surface. A sticker of this type needs to be provided with a protective paper which is removed during use. Alternatively, the layer may be slightly adherent so that the mark can be loosened and reused. As a further alternative, the layer may be of a type that needs to be activated, for example, moistened, for adhesion to occur. Other alternatives are also conceivable.

The stickers may advantageously be assembled into a sticker map which includes a plurality of stickers 30 of the type described above. For example, they may be collected in a similar manner as in a stamp map with tear lines between the stickers or on a common protective sheet from which the stickers are detached one at a time.

Conveniently, a plurality of stickers associated with different functions are gathered in a map so that the user can access a whole set of different functions.

516 281

<img file="SE516281C2_D0009.tif" />

According to a further aspect of the invention, this relates to an information management device comprising a product according to any one of claims 1-8 and a writing surface, which is provided with a second absolute position coding pattern and to which the product is attached.

This device thus arises when the product is attached to the writing surface. The advantages of the device are shown above.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, this relates to a method for handling information, including the steps of recording information written on a writing surface, in digital form, to affix a sticker with a first absolute position coding pattern on the writing surface, which first absolute position coding pattern defines a predetermined function to be performed with respect to the digitally recorded information and to initiate the execution of said predetermined function by detecting the first absolute position coding pattern.

The advantages of the procedure are shown above.

Brief description of the drawings

The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Fig. 1 schematically shows a first embodiment of a product according to the invention.

Fig. 2 schematically shows an embodiment of a device according to the invention.

Fig. 3 schematically shows the location of a first and a second coordinate area on an imaginary surface.

Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of a digital pen which can be used with the product and device according to the invention.

Fig. 5 is a flow chart of an example of a method according to the invention.

Fig. 6 schematically shows a second embodiment of a product according to the invention.

516 281·_;

Description of preferred embodiments

In Figure 1, a sticker 1 is shown. The sticker 1 consists of a small piece of paper, which is provided on its back with an adhesive layer 3. On the front side of the sticky label there is a visual indication 4 of the function of the sticker, which in this case is to store a sticker. task in a digital task list. On the front side, there is also a first absolute position coding pattern 5, which is made up of a large number of points 6. Each point encodes one of four values ​​(00.01,10 or 11). The value of the point is determined by its position in relation to a regular virtual grid, ie an imaginary grid that is not visible on the product. A plurality of points, for example 5x5 points, encode coordinates for a position on an imaginary surface, the first binary bit of the point values ​​together encoding an x ​​coordinate and the second binary bit of the point values ​​together encoding a y coordinate. Each such area with 5x5 points encodes a unique position on the imaginary surface, which means that the pen only needs to read any arbitrary area containing 5x5 points to determine a position. Each point thus contributes to the coding of the coordinates for several positions.

The dots can be so small that for the human eye they are only perceived as a shade of gray on the sticker.

An example of an absolute position coding pattern of this type is described in the applicant's Swedish patent application no. 9903541-2, which was filed on October 1, 1999. This application shall by this reference be considered part of the present application. An alternative absolute position coding pattern similar to the above is shown in the applicant's Swedish patent application No. 9901954-9, which was filed May 28, 1999 and which is also to be considered part of the present application.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the absolute position coding pattern extends over the whole of the sticker.

516 281 front. However, for the sake of clarity, it is only shown on a small part of the sticker in Fig. 1.

The absolute position coding pattern 5 on the sticker is a subset of a larger virtual absolute position coding pattern which encodes the coordinates of a large number of points on an imaginary surface. By this is meant that the entire larger virtual absolute position coding pattern is not printed anywhere, but it corresponds to the entire unique absolute position coding pattern which can in principle be built up with the coding used.

Similarly, the imaginary surface corresponds to the imagined surface formed by all the unique points that can be coded using the absolute position coding pattern.

The sticker 1 defines a function to be performed with respect to information recorded from a writing surface. The function is determined by the coordinates encoded by the absolute position coding pattern on the sticker.

The sticker in Figure 1, as already mentioned, defines the function of storing a task in a digital task list. For this purpose, the absolute position coding pattern 5 on the sticker encodes coordinates for points which are within a first coordinate region of the imaginary surface. This first coordinate area is dedicated to the function of storing a task in a digital task list.

The above is schematically illustrated in Fig. 2 which shows an imaginary surface 7, which comprises the first coordinate area 8, which is dedicated for the function of storing a task in a digital task list. The imagi30 near the surface further has a second coordinate area 9 which is dedicated to handwritten notes. For example, the subset of the absolute position coding pattern that encodes coordinates of points within the second coordinate region can be applied to a note paper. It further has a third coordinate region 10 which is dedicated to the function of sending an e-mail.

<img file="SE516281C2_D0010.tif" />

2819

Of course, other areas of the imaginary surface may be dedicated to other functions that can be defined by other stickers.

In Fig. 3, a digital pen is shown which can be used to record information written on a writing surface with absolute position coding pattern and to read the absolute position coding pattern on the sticker in Fig. 1.

The digital pen comprises a housing 11, which at its short end has an opening 12. The short end is intended to abut against or is kept at a small distance from the surface from which the absolute position coding pattern is to be read.

The housing mainly contains an optics section, an electronics section and a power supply.

The optics portion includes at least one LED 13 to illuminate the area to be imaged and a photosensitive area sensor 14, such as a CCD or CMOS sensor, for recording a two-dimensional image. The user unit may also contain a lens system.

The power supply to the user unit is obtained from a battery 15 mounted in a separate compartment in the housing.

The electronics section contains a processor 16 which is programmed to load an image from the sensor 14, identify points in the image, determine which two coordinates the points encode, and store those coordinates in their memory. As will be seen below, the processor may be programmed to subsequently handle the stored coordinates in different ways.

The digital pen further includes a pen tip

17, with which the user can write ordinary dye-based font which is simultaneously registered by the pen using the absolute position coding pattern. The pen tip 17 is retractable and retractable so that the user can control whether or not to use it.

The pen further comprises buttons 18 with which the unit is activated and controlled. It also has a transceiver

516 281 for wireless communication, such as via IR or short-range radio link (eg Bluetooth), with external devices.

The pen may further comprise means for delivering a signal when the pen detects that it has registered coordinates defining a function. The means 20 may, for example, comprise a buzzer that emits an audible signal or an LED emitting an audible signal.

With reference to Figures 3-5, it will now be described how the sticker in Fig. 1 can be used. Suppose that a user has a note paper 30 provided with a second absolute position coding pattern which encodes coordinates 31 within the second coordinate region 9 of FIG. 2 and thus is dedicated for recording handwritten / hand drawn notes. Suppose further that the user 15 talks on the phone with Kalle and they agree that the user should call Kalle on Friday. The user makes a note 32 of this on his note paper 30 with his digital pen, which records the note digitally by continuously detecting the portion of the second absolute position coding pattern within the field of view of the image sensor 14 and storing the detected coordinates in memory, step 41 of FIG. .

When the user ends the telephone call, he wants to store the information that he has recorded on the notepad in his digital task list in his computer.

He then creates a sticker 1 with the indication to do and pastes on the note paper, step 42. Then he associates the information he wants to store as a task in the digital task list with the function to 30 do by placing the digital pen on the sticker and drawing a dash 32 from this and around the information and back to the sticker, step 43. The digital pen then detects the coordinates encoded by the first absolute position coding pattern on the sticker35 mark. Using these coordinates, the function of the sticker can be identified, step 44, and the function initiated, step 45.

516 281.:=

The registered coordinates, which thus consist of the coordinates representing the handwritten note, partly the coordinates of the sticker and partly the coordinates of the dash 32 can be handled in different ways.

An alternative is that the digital pen itself contains information about different areas of the imaginary surface and that the digital pen can thus identify that the sticker defines the function of storing a note in a task list. In this case, the digital pen can send the coordinates representing the task along with an indication of the function via the transceiver 19 to the user's computer, when the pen contacts the computer. In addition, the pen may then also contain an ICR software that converts the coordinates into characters, so that the data can be sent and stored in character-encoded format.

Another alternative is that the user's computer contains software that performs the above-mentioned steps, whereby the digital pen processor is programmed to send all the coordinates that are within the first, second and third coordinate areas of Fig. 2 to the user's computer for further processing there.

A further alternative is that some of the processing of the coordinates is performed or controlled from a server in a computer network. This server may then contain information about different coordinate areas or domains on the imaginary surface 7. The digital pen may then be programmed to send all registered information to this server which processes the information, interprets it and sends it to a relevant location. According to a further variant, the digital pen sends only a portion of the registered information to the server, which then returns instructions to the digital pen on how to process the information. The digital pen can communicate with the server via a computer, a mobile phone

516 281 or any other device that allows connection to a computer network, such as the Internet.

As can be seen above, the registered coordinates can be processed to varying degrees in the pen and in external units with which the pen can communicate.

Fig. 6 shows a second embodiment of a sticker defining a function to be performed with respect to information recorded from a writing surface to which the sticker is affixed. This embodiment is specifically intended for functions that require registered information to be sent to a particular recipient.

The sticker 1 'shown in Fig. 6, like the sticker in Fig. 1, has a backside 3' with an adhesive layer, a front side 4 'with a visual indication of what function the sticker indicates and a first absolute position coding pattern 5' which encodes coordinates defining at least a position in a coordinate area dedicated to this function. The sticker of FIG

6 however, also has a write area 50 which is intended for address information that the user writes by hand. The write range can either be provided with the same absolute position coding pattern as the other part of the sticker or with a fourth absolute position coding pattern 51 which encodes coordinates for at least one position within a coordinate area dedicated for address information.

The address information can of course be entered in other ways. It can, for example, be written in immediate connection to the line 32 in Fig. 4, or in a specified relation to the information. As a further alternative, it can be marked with a special address sign.

In a further variant, a user may have personalized stickers, whereby in a server, the desired address information is associated with the coordinates or coordinate area (s) encoded by the absolute position coding pattern on the user's personalized stickers. He can

516 281 then define that his personal e-mail address must be associated with some of his stickers, after which he can distribute these stickers to persons whom he wishes to receive e-mail from.

The invention has been described above by examples which can be varied in many ways. The product of the invention need not be a sticker affixed to a paper, but it may, for example, be a magnetic product affixed to a magnetic board on which the user can write erasable information. In the example above, the user writes a handwritten note. The listing can of course also consist of hand-drawn figures or any graphic information. The pen tip of the digital pen is not absolutely necessary as the pen notes the information without the aid of what is written with dye on the writing surface. The absolute position coding pattern may be of a different type than described above. Suffice it to encode a single coordinate pair for a point on the imaginary surface when it comes to defining the function of the sticker. The code can therefore be constructed so that the same position is read regardless of where on the function-defining surface of the sticker that the digital pen is placed.

Instead of the absolute position coding pattern, some other pattern specific to the function would be detectable. It can basically be any pattern, for example a geometric pattern or an image. However, this embodiment of the product is less preferred as it is expected to require more processing power for detection.

Furthermore, it should be pointed out that the function of a product must first be defined when it is to be used. For example, one might consider selling products that are labeled with numbers and allowing the user to define the function himself by means of a program in his computer.

Finally, it should be noted that the association of the registered information with the function can be made on

516 281 other ways than that shown above. It can be done, for example, using different symbols.

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