Arrangement in a computer system

(54) NAME (56) PUBLICATIONS TO BE CALLED:

WO A 0 000 928 (G06K 11/18), US A 5 793 365 (G06F 17/00), US A 5 852 434 (G08C 21/00), EP A 0 893 698 (G01R 31/28) (57) SUMMARY:

The present invention relates to arrangements and methods for providing an electronic information service in a computer system connected to a network, where a plurality of users can enter information into and read information from the information service in the computer system over the network. The arrangement includes means for creating a first information object, which contains a sub-surface from a virtual pixel surface. The pixel surface contains information entered by users among the several users. Further, means for transmitting the first information object over the network to a first of said plurality of users and means for receiving a second information object from the first user towards responding to at least a portion of said pixel surface, and means for updating the pixel surface using the received second information object.

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

<td colspan="4">PRV Patent uses the following document codes for its patent documents</td><td rowspan="2"></td>

<td>code</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></td>

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

<td>B5</td><td>corrected layout letter *</td><td>T2</td><td colspan="2">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></td>

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

<td>V⁹</td><td>corrected patent in amended version</td><td colspan="2">* Published under older legislation</td><td>J</td>

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<td>CM</td><td>Cameroon</td><td>KH</td><td>Cambodia</td><td>RO Romania</td><td></td><td></td>

519 013

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an arrangement for providing an electronic information service in accordance with the preamble of claims 1 and 12. The invention also relates to the corresponding methods of claims 11 and 14, respectively.

Technical background

A large number of interactive information services are offered to users connected to the Internet. These web services allow users to read information entered in the service by other users and also to enter information themselves, for example as a post on a current topic, or as a comment on a previous post written by another user.

An example of such services is so-called BBSs. Another example consists of so-called chat web pages. In the latter example, if the service is well-visited, messages from users are continuously entered. The last posted message is added at the bottom of the service page and previously posted messages are rolled up in the image. Users can perform written conversations in real time with such a service.

Chat-type web pages, hereafter referred to as chat pages, have become very popular, although they are subject to some restrictions. If new posts are posted at a high pace, previous posts quickly roll away. This can make it difficult to follow a conversation on the talk page. It can also be difficult to see which of the earlier posts comments on a later post, although a note on this can be made at the beginning of the later post. This is because a number of other posts may end up between a commenting post and the comment being commented.

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If a talk page is heavily loaded, a conversation on this can be very difficult to follow. Therefore, some websites now offer a number of so-called chat rooms, ie chat rooms for users with certain interests or within certain age groups. This reduces the load on each of the talk pages, as users can spread out.

Known talk pages are based on written text and are thus primarily a verbal expression. However, there are examples of using non-verbal character combinations, for example or to indicate moods and the like.

Summary of the Invention

It is an object of the present invention to completely or partially eliminate the aforementioned limitations.

This object is achieved by an arrangement for providing information service in a computer system according to claim 1 and claim 12, and by corresponding methods according to claims 11 and 14 respectively.

More particularly, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an arrangement and a corresponding method in a computer system. The event aims to provide an electronic information service in the computer system, which is connected to a network. A number of users can enter information in and read information from the electronic information service in the computer system via the network. The arrangement is characterized by means for creating a first information object containing a sub-surface from a virtual pixel surface. The pixel surface contains information entered by users among the several users. Further, means for transmitting the first information object over the network to a first of said plurality of users, means for receiving a second information object from the first user corresponding to at least a portion of said sub-surface of the virtual pixel surface, and means for updating

519 013 den. the virtual pixel area using the received information object.

Thus, a user can download a certain portion of the pixel surface, read messages on that sub-surface and add their own messages to the same. Thereafter, the user can return this modified sub-surface, after which the pixel surface is updated with the added messages.

In such an information service, messages can be placed at selectable positions in the pixel area. The messages are not moved, but can remain in the same place on the surface. A user can thus more easily relate his message to a previous message, by placing the message near it. It will then also be much easier to overlook a conversation, as messages that are not related to the conversation can be moved to another location on the pixel surface.

With the use of a pixel area, the information service can, if desired, be released from the text format, which allows more expressive messages to be sent. For example, figures of various kinds may be included.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the virtual pixel surface contains a position coding pattern. Alternatively, the means for creating the first information object can also add a position coding pattern to this. This allows the user to write a message after printing the selected sub-surface by means of a drawing device which uses position-encoded substrates, ie substrates provided with position-encoding patterns. Such a position coding pattern can be designed as described in the applicant's patent applications SE 9901954-9 and SE 9903541-2, which by this reference are to be regarded as part of the present application. These were filed on May 28 and October 1, 1999, and were therefore not public at the time of filing the present application. A drawing device may then comprise a drawing pin which deposits ink on the substrate at the same time as an optical sensor detects positions on the substrate.

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Preferably, the means for creating the first information object also includes means for receiving a request from the first user for transmitting a certain sub-surface from the virtual surface. This part area is inserted into the information object. This allows the user to read and write messages anywhere on the surface.

In accordance with further preferred embodiments, the virtual pixel surface contains a background image. Alternatively, the means for creating the first information object can also add a background image to this. This facilitates the user to orient himself to the surface.

The virtual pixel area may consist of a graphic file. Preferably, however, the surface consists of a plurality of graphic files, which allows very large total pixel surfaces to be used effectively.

Preferably, the means for creating a first information object also adds an information image to this information object. This enables the system, for example, to send advertising to the user, which can be used as a source of revenue. The information bit is preferably selected based on user parameters specific to the first user and available to the computer system. This enables, for example, customized advertising.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the computer system further comprises means for notifying a second user when a pixel surface portion has been updated. This allows a user to keep abreast of what is being written within a certain sub-area without any work on his part.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an arrangement and a corresponding method in a computer system which is connected to a network and wherein the system comprises an electronic information service. Users can send messages to and read messages from the information service over the network.

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The arrangement is characterized in that the service comprises a virtual surface consisting of a least two-dimensional array of pixels, as well as means for receiving a message from a user, means for receiving a position indication, associated with the message from the user and means for placing the message on a position in the surface, which position depends on the position indication. The advantages of this aspect of the invention are apparent from the discussion above.

According to a preferred embodiment, the arrangement also includes means for removing the message after a certain time. This prevents the information service from being filled so that new messages cannot be entered.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates an arrangement in a computer system according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows the operation of an arrangement in a computer system of the type shown in Figure 1.

Fig. 3 shows the work of a simplified form of an arrangement in a computer system according to the invention.

Fig. 4 shows preferred embodiments of a virtual pixel surface according to the invention.

Fig. 5 shows the function of a preferred form of the invention where position coding is used.

Description of preferred embodiments

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates an arrangement in a computer system 1 according to the invention. The computer system 1 is connected via the Internet 3 to a number of users' personal computers 5. These users can communicate with the computer system 1 and are allowed to both read and write information in an electronic information service 7 in the computer system 1. The information service 7 is designed as a virtual pixel area 9, which will be described in more detail later. The pixel surface 9, in its simplest form, consists of a two-dimensional array of pixels 11 which can assume at least two states one / black or

519 013 zero / white. The size of the pixel surface 9 is preferably considerably larger than the pixel surface of a conventional computer monitor. The size can therefore be, for example, 10000 * 10000 pixels, but it can also be much larger. Thus, a user equipped with an ordinary personal computer 5 can only see a small portion of the pixel surface 9 at a time in full resolution. However, the large format of the pixel surface 9 allows a large amount of messages 13 of different kinds to be accommodated at any given time.

A user using the service can request to see different sub-surfaces in different resolution. Thus, for example, a user can begin a session by viewing the entire surface at very low resolution. The messages placed on the surface are then probably not readable. Instead, areas with messages appear as darker areas in the image that the user sees. A pixel on the user's screen may then represent an average of hundreds of pixels in the virtual area. The user can then mark a smaller part of the surface that he wants to look at. Then, a request is sent to the computer system that creates and returns a new file containing the contents of this area. The user can also jump around the surface, for example with arrow keys on his personal computer until he finds a place on the surface where he wants to write a message. Preferably, the system only allows writing in images displayed at the highest resolution, that is, when a one-to-one ratio prevails between pixels on the virtual pixel surface of the computer system and pixels in the image displayed on the user's personal computer. Preferably, a background image is provided, for example in the form of a map, on the pixel surface, to facilitate the user to orientate himself on the surface. This also provides intuitive chat rooms, such as a neighborhood, a city or a mountain chain.

Fig. 2 shows the work 21 of an arrangement in a computer system 1 of the type shown in Fig. 1 with reference to this figure as well. In a first step 23, a request is then received from a user via the network 3

519 013 to transmit a certain portion of the virtual pixel area 9. The computer system 1 is equipped with means i to receive this request. By means of the computer system is meant general software, which contains program steps, which cause the system to perform certain operations. Conversely, performing certain operations means that the system includes software to perform them. The arrangement further includes means for, in a second step, to create an information object 17 in the form of a file containing a copy 15 'of the requested sub-surface 15 of the virtual pixel surface 9 of the computer system 1.

The created file 17 can have different formats. The simplest form includes a copy of the requested sub-surface of the virtual pixel surface. If a sub-area of ​​the pixel surface has been requested that is larger than the user's screen can show in full resolution, the system can handle this in different ways. Either the sub-surface can be included in existing condition in the created information object 17 or the resolution in the image area is reduced so that it can be displayed in its entirety on the screen of the requesting user. In the first case, the user can instead choose to display different parts of the image area, for example by using arrow keys on his personal computer 5.

In the eventual third step 27, a position coding pattern and / or a background image may be added to the created information object. Alternatively, these may be embedded in the virtual pixel surface. The use of pixel surface and background image will be described in more detail later.

In a possible fourth step 29, an information image 19 is added to the created information object 17. This too can be overlaid, but preferably it is linked with the copy 15 'of the requested sub-surface 15 to a composite image comprising two sub-surfaces. The added information message 19 may preferably consist of an advertising message or other information that the owner of the computer system 1 wishes to send to the user. Preferably

519 013, the information bit can be selected based on parameters specific to the user, for example his age, hobbies etc. It is then assumed that such parameters are available for the computer system 1.

In a fifth step 31, the system 1 transmits the created information object 17 to the user via the network 3. The latter can then read messages inscribed on the requested sub-surface as well as text and figures in the added information bias. The user can also add information with different input devices himself. Either this can be done in a copy of the transmitted information object or it can be done directly in the same. The information added can be text or figures.

If the user has made an addition to the sub-area of ​​the transmitted information object and wants it to be included in the virtual pixel surface of the computer system, an information object is sent back to the computer system. This may be the information object that the user received and in which he has introduced changes or a new information object, generated from this. It is only necessary to return the portion of the sub-surface 15 transmitted to the user in which the user has made changes.

Thus, in a sixth step 33, the computer system receives a second information object from the user. The received object also contains an indication of which sub-area of ​​the virtual pixel area is referred to by the received object, ie the location of the received sub-surface in the pixel surface. Then, in a seventh step, the computer system updates the virtual pixel surface 9 using the received information object so that the user's added message becomes readable to other users of the system.

In a possible seventh step 37, the computer system notifies another user that a sub-area it wishes to monitor has been updated.

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Fig. 3 shows the work 41 of a simplified form of an arrangement in a computer system according to the invention. The invention here also includes a virtual pixel surface. In a first step 43, a message is then received from a user. In a second step 45, an indication is received in the form of a position indication of where on the virtual pixel surface the user wishes the received message to be placed. The order of these two steps can be reversed. In a third step 47, the message is placed at the location of the virtual pixel area indicated by the position indicator.

Fig. 4 shows preferred embodiments of a virtual pixel surface 51 in accordance with the invention. The surface is then preferably comprised of a plurality of files 53, 53 ', 53 etc, stored on a digital storage medium in the computer system. Each file then consists of a preferably two-dimensional array of pixels 55. In its simplest form, each pixel can assume the value one and the value zero, corresponding to black and white when a sub-area of ​​the pixel surface is displayed. However, the pixels may preferably assume more values ​​and thus be made to represent colors and grayscale. Each pixel can also be given a time value, ie the time when the value of the pixel was last changed by entering a message. This makes it possible to introduce functions into the system so that a message is erased after a certain time, in order to avoid that the virtual pixel area is completely filled so that the entry of new messages is prevented. It is also possible to have a message fade away after a certain time by allowing incoming pixels to adopt increasingly lighter grayscale values. The virtual pixel surface can also be a matrix in more than two dimensions, whereby more layers can also be provided. A layer may then contain a background image, which is displayed to users, which, however, are not able to enter information into that layer. Instead, users can enter information into a drawing layer that is overlaid on the background layer when it is displayed.

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The advantage of allowing virtual surface 51 to consist of a plurality of graphical files 53, 53 ', 53 lies in the fact that only a set of smaller files needs updating when a user adds information instead of updating a very large file. When updating a sub-surface 57 from the virtual surface, only one to four files (53 ', 53) are normally updated, although the pixel surface may consist of hundreds of files. Thus, very large pixel surfaces can be utilized without updating the surface for a very long time. A transmitted sub-surface is usually much smaller than the virtual pixel surface.

The pixel surface file format can be a compressed graphical format, such as .jpg or .gif. Preferably, however, it is a non-compressed format, such as .bmp or .tiff. The advantage of this is that uncompressed files can be opened faster to enable editing when updating the pixel area. Also, there are no major benefits in compressing these files, since they are not transmitted over narrow-band channels. In contrast, the information objects (17, Fig. 1) created at the request of a user based on a sub-surface of the virtual surface can preferably be compressed files since they are transmitted over the computer network (3, Fig. 1).

Fig. 5 shows the function of a preferred form of the invention where position coding is used. As a first alternative, the pixel surface 61, preferably in a separate layer, contains a position coding pattern 63. As a second alternative, this pattern can be superimposed on the sub-surface 65 of the system's pixel surface 61, which a user selects when the information object is created, which is intended to be transmitted. to the user. As a third alternative, this pattern can be added by an application in the personal computer 67 used by the user.

When the user prints the requested part area on a printer in his vicinity, the position coding pattern 63 appears on the printed surface 69. The position coding pattern 519 013 may advantageously be of a type as shown in the applicant's applications SE 9901954-9 and SE 9903541-2, where each position is coded by a plurality of symbols and a symbol is used to encode a plurality of positions. The shown position coding pattern 63 is constructed as shown in SE 9901954-9, where a larger dot represents one and a smaller dot represents a zero. However, it is also possible to design the position coding pattern 7 as described in SE 9903541-2, where different offsets of a dot relative to a raster point encode different symbol values.

A drawing device 71 is arranged to detect positions of the printed surface 69 using the position coding pattern 63. As the drawing device 71 is moved relative to the surface 69, and adjacent thereto, the drawing device 71 therefore records a sequence of positions of the surface 69, which is subsequently transmitted to the user's personal computer. 67. The transmission of position information can take place by means of different types of wires or by means of an IR link. Preferably, however, a short-held radio link is used, for example in accordance with the BLUETOOTH standard. The position information can be transmitted as a set of coordinate pairs, but preferably the drawing device first converts the sequence of coordinate pairs into a polygon train, which is then transmitted. Therefore, when the user draws on the printed surface 71, what is drawn can be recorded by an application in the user's personal computer 67. The registrations 73 made can then be utilized to update the virtual pixel area 61 of the information service as previously shown.

As a further option, the user can map a position-encoded substrate he already has to a sub-area that he has downloaded. Subsequently, messages can be added to a sub-area downloaded by writing on the substrate with a drawing device such as the one described above.

519 013

The scope of the claimed patent protection is not limited by the above described examples. The invention can be varied and modified in a number of ways within the scope of the appended claims.

519 013