Method for developing product that has at least one activation area, which is provided with position code by producing digital representation of at least part of product, which digital representation comprises image points

SWEDEN (12) PATENT (13) C2 (11) 519 260 (19) SE (51)

International class ⁷

G06K 11/06, 19/06

<img file="SE519260C2_D0001.tif" />

PATENT AND REGISTRATION (45) (41) (22) (24) (62) (86) (86) (83)

Patent issued 2003-02-04

Application widely available 2002-09-02 The patent application was filed on 01-03 2001

Running day 2001-03-01

Tribal application number

International filing day

Filing date for European patent application

Deposit of microorganism (21) Patent Application Number 0100724-4

Application received as:

Swedish patent application completed international patent application with number □ converted European patent application with number (30) Priority information (72) INVENTOR (74) OMBUD (54) NAME (73) PATENT OWNER Anoto AB, c / o C Technologies AB Scheelevägen 15 223 70 Lund SE

Björn Sahlberg, Stockholm SE, Björn Fransson, Bromma SE, Johan Gustavsson, Huddinge SE, Martin Sandström, Sundbyberg SE, Roger Åström, Stockholm SE, Jan B Andersson, Sunnyvale CA US, Petter Ericson, Malmö SE

AWAPATENT AB

Procedure for the preparation of a product (56) PUBLICATIONS CALLED:

WO Al 9 950 787 (57) SUMMARY:

A method and a computer program for developing a product (110), and services associated with the product, said product having at least one activation region (308) provided with a position code (403), which encodes at least one position on an imaginary surface (601 ), which position causes a device (710) that detects the position code (403) to initiate an operation using the information recorded by the device (710). A digital representation of the product comprising pixels is provided, each pixel in the digital representation of the activation region (308) corresponding to a position on the imaginary surface (601). A digital template that can be used for the preparation is also described.

<img file="SE519260C2_D0002.tif" />

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>BJ</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>TJ</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>CJ</td><td>corrected patent *</td><td>T9</td><td>caged 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> )</td>

<td colspan="2">^ Country Codes</td><td colspan="2">Λ</td>

<td>AP African Regional</td><td>CN China</td><td>KI Kiribati</td><td>RU Russian Federation</td>

<td>Industrial Property</td><td>CO Colombia</td><td>KM Comorema</td><td>RW Rwanda</td>

<td>Organization (.ARIPO)</td><td>CR Costa Rica</td><td>KN St Kitts</td><td>SA Saudi Arabia</td>

<td>EA Euroasian Patent Office</td><td>Cl 'Cuba</td><td>KP Dem. People's Republic of Korea</td><td>$ B Solomon Islands</td>

<td>(E.APO)</td><td>CV Cape Verde</td><td>KR Republic of Korea</td><td>SC Seychelles</td>

<td>EP European Patent Office</td><td>CY Cypem</td><td>KW Kuwait</td><td>SD Sudan</td>

<td>(EPO)</td><td>CZ Czech Republic</td><td>KY Cayman Island</td><td>SE Sweden</td>

<td>OA African Intellectual</td><td>DE Germany</td><td>KZ Kazakhstan</td><td>SG Singapore</td>

<td>Property Organization</td><td>DJ Djibouti</td><td>LA Laos</td><td>SH St. Helena</td>

<td>(O.API)</td><td>DK Denmark</td><td>LB Lebanon</td><td>SI Slovenia</td>

<td>World Intellectual</td><td>DM Dominica</td><td>LC Saint Lucia</td><td>SK Slovakia</td>

<td>Property Organization</td><td>DO Dominican Republic</td><td>LI Liechtenstein</td><td>SL Sierra Leone</td>

<td>(WIPO)</td><td>DZ Algeria</td><td>LK Sri Lanka</td><td>SM San Marino</td>

<td>IB WlPO (in some cases)</td><td>EC Ecuador</td><td>LR Liberia</td><td>SN Senegal</td>

<td></td><td>EE Estonia</td><td>LS Lesotho</td><td>SO Somalia</td>

<td>AD Andoma</td><td>EC Egypt</td><td>LT Lithuania</td><td>SR Suriname</td>

<td>A United Arab Emirates</td><td>ES Spain</td><td>LU Luxembourg</td><td>ST Säo Thomé</td>

<td>AF Afghanistan</td><td>ET Ethiopia</td><td>LV Latvia</td><td>SV El Salvador</td>

<td>AG Antigua</td><td>Fl Finland</td><td>LY Libya</td><td>SY Syria</td>

<td>Al Anguilla</td><td>FJ Fiji Island</td><td>MA Morocco</td><td>SZ Swaziland</td>

<td>AL Albania</td><td>FK Fatklandsöama</td><td>MC Monaco</td><td>TD Chad</td>

<td>AM Armenia</td><td>FR France</td><td>MD Moldova</td><td>TG Togo</td>

<td>AN Netherlands Antilles</td><td>GA Gabon</td><td>MG Madagascar</td><td>TH Thailand</td>

<td>AO Angola</td><td>GB UK</td><td>MK Macedonia</td><td>TJ Tajikistan</td>

<td>AR Argentina</td><td>DG Grenada</td><td>ML Mali</td><td>TM Turkmenistan</td>

<td>AT Austria</td><td>GE Georgia</td><td>MM Mayanmar</td><td>TN Tunisia</td>

<td>AU Australia</td><td>GH Ghana</td><td>MN Mongolia</td><td>TO Tonga</td>

<td>AZ Azerbaijan</td><td>GI Gibraltar</td><td>MR Mauritania</td><td>TR Turkey</td>

<td>BA Bosnia too</td><td>GM Gambia</td><td>MS Monsterrat</td><td>TT Trinidad and Tobago</td>

<td>Herzegovina</td><td>GN Guinea</td><td>MT Matta</td><td>TV Tuvalu</td>

<td>BB Barbados</td><td>GQ Equatorial Guinea</td><td>MU Mauritius</td><td>TW Taiwan</td>

<td>BD Bangladesh</td><td>GR Greece</td><td>MV Maldivema</td><td>TZ Tanzania</td>

<td>BE Belgium</td><td>GT Guatemala</td><td>MW Malawi</td><td>UA likraina</td>

<td>BF Burkina Faso</td><td>GW Guinea-Bissau</td><td>MX Mexico</td><td>UG Uganda</td>

<td>BG Bulgaria</td><td>GY Guyana</td><td>MY Malaysia</td><td>US United States (USA)</td>

<td>BH Bahrain</td><td>HK Hong Kong</td><td>MZ Mozambique</td><td>UY Uruguay</td>

<td>BI Burundi</td><td>HN Honduras</td><td>NA Namibia</td><td>UZ Uzbekistan</td>

<td>BJ Benin</td><td>HR Croatia</td><td>NG Nigeria</td><td>VA Vatican City</td>

<td>BM Bermuda</td><td>HT Haiti</td><td>NI Nicaragua</td><td>VC St Vincent</td>

<td>BO Bolivia</td><td>HU Ungem</td><td>NL The Netherlands</td><td>VE Venezuela</td>

<td>BR Brazil</td><td>ID Indonesia</td><td>NO Norway</td><td>VG Virgin Islands</td>

<td>BS Bahamas</td><td>IE Ireland</td><td>NP Nepal</td><td>UN Viet Nam</td>

<td>BT Bhutan</td><td>IL Israel</td><td>NR Nauru</td><td>VU Vanuatu</td>

<td>BW Botswana</td><td>IN India</td><td>NZ New Zealand</td><td>WS Samoa</td>

<td>BY Belarus</td><td>IQ Iraq</td><td>OM Oman</td><td>YD South Yemen</td>

<td>BZ Belize</td><td>IR Iran</td><td>PA Panama</td><td>YE Yemen</td>

<td>CA Canada</td><td>IS Island</td><td>PE Peru</td><td>YU Yugoslavia</td>

<td>CF Central African</td><td>ΓΤ Italy</td><td>PG Papua New Guinea</td><td>ZA South Africa</td>

<td>Republic</td><td>JM Jamaica</td><td>PH Philippines</td><td>ZM Zambia</td>

<td>CG Congo</td><td>JO Jordan</td><td>PK Pakistan</td><td>ZR Zaire</td>

<td>CH Switzerland</td><td>JP Japan</td><td>PL Poland</td><td>ZW Zimbabwe</td>

<td>Cl Ivory Coast</td><td>KE Kenya</td><td>PT Portugal</td><td></td>

<td>CL Chile</td><td>KG Kyrgyzstan</td><td>PY Paraguay</td><td></td>

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

519 260

Technical area

The present invention relates to a method of producing a product having at least one activation region provided with a position code encoding at least one position on an imaginary surface, which position causes a device detecting the position code to initiate a predetermined operation utilizing the position code. the position recorded by the device. Technical background

Many people use paper and pen instead of computer to write shorter texts, especially memos from phone calls and meetings. The reason may be, for example, that there is no computer available, that you need both hands to efficiently enter text via the computer keyboard, or that it takes a long time to start the correct program in the computer. Even though the notes are written on a piece of paper, you often still want to enter selected parts of them into a computer, for example a note about a meeting to a digital calendar or an address information to a digital address book.

US 5,852,434 and US 5,477,012 disclose a device which allows a user to enter handwritten and hand drawn information into a computer while 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 illumination of 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. This device seems to require that a computer be started and a certain one

519 260 programs are opened before writing on the writing surface can begin.

Similar devices are shown in US 5,661,506.

US 5,051,736, US 5,652,412 and US 5,442,147.

US 5,932,863 shows how a user can access an electronic medium by reading a symbol, code or the like in a printed matter, for example a book, with a device. The device sends a signal with the read symbol to a controller, which executes a command corresponding to the symbol.

When producing products with a position code and symbols corresponding to a command, one must have access to a sample product and a pen to test the product. This is a disadvantage because you must then produce the product before you can start testing it. Summary of the Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and a computer program that simplifies the preparation and testing of products with a position code.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a simplified method for developing products having an activation area having a position code wherein an operation is coupled to the activation area.

These objects are met by a method and a memory medium according to the pending independent claims.

Further advantages are obtained with the features of the dependent claims.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for developing a product having at least one activation region provided with a position code which encodes at least one position on an imaginary surface, which position causes a device detecting the position code to initiate an operation utilizing the position recorded by the device. The process is characterized by the step of providing a digital representation of

519 260, the representation comprising pixels, each pixel in the digital representation of the activation region corresponding to a position on the imaginary surface.

The information recorded by the device is advantageously converted to a position which is used to initiate the operation.

Thus, there is a link between pixels on the display and points on the digital representation of the product. A point on the digital representation of the product is in turn associated with a position on the imaginary surface.

Using a digital representation of the product facilitates the design and testing of the product. Furthermore, the programming of an operation that is activated is facilitated by detecting the position code in an activation area with a device intended for detecting the position code.

The position code is designed such that an arbitrary subset of the position code, which subset has a predetermined size, encodes the absolute coordinates of a position on an imaginary surface.

The position code is preferably arranged to be optically recordable, but it is within the scope of the invention that it is arranged to be recorded with, for example, electromagnetic radiation at any wavelength.

Advantageously, the position code is encoded with at least one position sequence of position symbols, which is arranged such that a partial sequence of predetermined length clearly defines the location of the partial sequence in the position sequence.

This means that each symbol only needs to encode a few different values. Because each symbol encodes few values, the symbol becomes simple for its structure.

Advantageously, each of the position symbols contributes to the coding in two orthogonal directions. The interpretation of

519 The 260 coding pattern thus becomes relatively simple since each of the two directions can be interpreted separately.

Preferably, each of the position symbols is comprised of at least one marker, said at least one marker position relative to a raster defining the value of the symbol.

Alternatively, each of the position symbols may be a marker, the size of the marker defining the value of the symbol.

In this context, product means all possible articles to which a position code can be applied. Primarily, papers are referred to in magazines, books and as leaflets, but also other articles, such as message boards, can be provided with a position code.

Advantageously, the method of the invention also includes the steps of testing the product by, marking a pixel, converting the pixel to a position on the imaginary surface, and initiating the operation using the position.

Because there is a link between pixels and positions on the imaginary surface, it is relatively easy to test the operation associated with the position code in the activation area. The conversion of the pixel to a position allows you to test the operation associated with the position without having to produce a physical product. This allows a considerable saving in both time and money.

A method according to the invention advantageously also comprises the steps of loading a digital template with a digital representation of at least one activation area with a position code, and selecting at least one of said activation areas to generate the digital representation of the product.

By using a template when creating the digital representation of the product, you can easily produce a product for a specific purpose. For example, templates are provided from a company

519 260 licensing templates. By licensing out different templates for different purposes, the said company can control such that a licensee buys a special template for each application.

The template also advantageously includes a digital representation of a writing surface having a position code, each pixel of the digital representation of the writing surface corresponding to a position on the imaginary surface. The writing surface encodes a continuous area on the imaginary surface.

The writing surface is advantageously included in all templates that are expected to use an input field for handwritten information. A user who wants to create a digital representation of a product selects at least part of the writing surface.

The template also advantageously includes a digital representation of a character interpretation field with a position code, each pixel of the digital representation of the character interpretation field corresponding to a position on the imaginary surface.

By having character interpretation fields in the template, it is possible to select such fields for the product. Such fields are, for example, good to have if the template is intended for a purpose where, for example, you have to enter an address or something similar, such as e-mail address, telephone number or fax number. The character interpretation fields advantageously have a position code which is part of a special area of ​​the imaginary area. This makes it possible for a device that detects the position code to be able to directly determine that the information entered in the character interpretation field should be interpreted as a character.

Advantageously, the method also includes the steps of displaying the digital representation of the product on a multi-pixel display, each pixel being assigned one or more pixels or each pixel being assigned one or more pixels, that when a pixel on the display is highlighted, convert it to the corresponding image 519 260 points and convert each pixel to a position on the imaginary surface, and to initiate the operation using the position on the imaginary surface.

This is a simple way to test the product and enables testing without the need to manufacture the product.

The testing is advantageously done with the aid of a computer where the digital representation of the product is displayed on a display. Advantageously, the method also includes the steps of displaying the digital representation of the product on a multi-pixel display, each pixel being assigned one or more pixels or each pixel being assigned one or more pixels, that when a pixel on the display is highlighted, convert it to the corresponding image15 points and convert each pixel to a position on the imaginary surface, and to initiate the operation using the position on the imaginary surface.

Advantageously, the method also includes the step of defining and linking an operation to at least one of said activation areas. Thus, for example, a programming of a computer is performed so that the positions of the activation area are linked to a certain operation.

When a user loads positions from a finished product in the form of, for example, a paper using a device for registering the position code, the device will send signals to a server where the operation is initiated.

In the case of having a write area, it is also possible to define part of the write area as an activation area and to associate an operation with the activation area thus defined.

The method also advantageously includes the steps of sending the digital representation of the product to a printer and printing it on the printer.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a memory medium on which is stored a computer program for developing a product which

519 260 has at least one activation region provided with a position code which encodes at least one position on an imaginary surface, which position causes a device detecting the position code to initiate a predetermined operation utilizing the position recorded by the device. The memory medium is characterized in that when executed on a computer, the program causes the computer to produce a digital representation of the product, which representation comprises pixels, each pixel in the digital representation of the activation region corresponding to a position on the imaginary surface.

The program is advantageously arranged, in response to marking a pixel in the digital representation, as an output to output information about the position on the imaginary surface corresponding to the selected pixel.

The program is advantageously arranged to load a digital template with at least one digital representation of an activation area with a position code, to display the template on a display, to receive a signal with information on selecting at least one of said at least one activation area, and to generate a digital representation of the product using the information signal.

The program is advantageously arranged to receive information for coupling an operation to at least one of said at least one activation area.

Thus, the program is intended for a developer of a product and services linked to the product. According to one embodiment of the program, a user of the program initiates the loading of a template from a network server, for example, connected to the Internet, from which server the user has purchased a license to retrieve a template by which the user can create a digital representation of a product by choose different parts from the template. The user can then create different operations and connect them to different activation areas on the digital representation of the product. Finally, at 519 260 the user presents the product, for example by printing a calendar or other product.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the present invention relates to a method and a computer program for developing a service coupled to a product having at least one activation area provided with a position code encoding at least one position on an imaginary surface, which position causes a device detecting the position code to initiate an operation utilizing the position recorded by the device. The method and computer program are characterized by the step of displaying a digital representation of the product on a display, each pixel in the digital representation of the activation area corresponding to a position on the imaginary surface. A computer program and method according to this aspect of the invention are intended for the development of a service linked to the product, the service being advantageously set up on a server with which a user can contact, for example, with the aforementioned device.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital template for developing a product having at least one activation region provided with a position code encoding at least one position on an imaginary surface, which position causes a device detecting the position code initiate an operation that utilizes the information recorded by the device. The template is characterized in that it comprises pixels, each pixel in the digital representation of the activation region corresponding to a position on the imaginary surface.

The various features described in connection with the method according to the first aspect above can also be implemented in the memory medium, the method, the computer program and the digital template according to the other aspects of the present invention with the same advantages as mentioned above.

519 260

Of course, the different features described above can be combined in the same embodiment.

In order to further illustrate the invention, in the following detailed embodiments of the invention will be described, however, the invention shall be considered limited thereto.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1 illustrates the process for generating a product according to the invention.

Fig. 2 shows a template for generating a digital representation of a product.

Figure 3 shows a digital representation of a product generated from the template.

Fig. 4 shows part of the position code.

Fig. 5 shows individual symbols in relation to a virtual grid.

Fig. 6 illustrates the imaginary region within which the position code encodes different positions.

Fig. 7 shows a device for recording the position code.

Figure 8 illustrates a program for testing the digital representation of the product.

Description of preferred embodiments

Fig. 1 shows the flow for developing a product according to the invention. A user buys a license to develop and sell a product with a position code that encodes at least one position on an imaginary surface. The license is registered in a name server 101, in which information about the user's identity is stored as well as the locations on the imaginary surface that the user has licensed. The information about the user is sent from the name server 101 to a template server 102, from which the user can retrieve a template to develop his product. In block 103, a template is retrieved from the template server 102. In Fig. 2, the template 201 is retrieved by the user from the template server 102. The template 201 is intended for development of a note sheet. The template includes a digital representation of a writing surface 203,

519 260 a digital representation of a command field 204 and a digital representation of a character interpretation area A.

Figure 1 shows in the upper half the steps performed by someone who creates the product itself. The lower half of the figure shows the steps performed by someone programming a server to perform a service linked to the product.

It is enough that either those who create the service associated with the product or those who create the product license the position code.

It is thus possible that different companies create the service and the product respectively.

According to the preferred embodiment, the license defines which positions on the imaginary surface to which a licensee has access.

The digital representation consists of pixels where each pixel is assigned a symbol and thus a position on the imaginary surface. The pixels are displayed on a screen, each pixel in the digital representation corresponding to a pixel on the screen. However, on low-resolution screens, each pixel can be assigned multiple pixels, such as 4, 9, or 16 adjacent pixels, while in other cases, each pixel can be assigned multiple pixels, for example, in large magnification of the digital representation on the monitor. When marking a track on the screen, for example with a mouse, a number of pixels are highlighted, and corresponding pixels on the digital representation are highlighted.

On the digital representation of the writing surface 203 there is a position code, which is made up of symbols. Each symbol comprises a mark in the form of a point 206. The position of the point 206 relative to an imaginary grid extending over the writing surface determines the value of the symbol. For the sake of clarity, the position code is shown schematically on only a small part of the writing surface and this part of the position code has been enlarged next to the template. There is a link between pixels

519 260 on the screen and the positions that the corresponding product encodes.

The position code will be described in more detail below.

The position code makes it possible to electronically record graphical information, such as handwritten text and numbers and hand-drawn figures, while at the writing surface 203. Specifically, the position of a pen tip providing the graphic information is recorded continuously by reading the position code locally at the pen tip. In this way, a digital representation of the pen tip's movement across the writing surface is provided.

In command field 204 there are seven different digital representations of activation fields 207a-g that can be used to control a device to initiate and / or perform various operations. The fields 207a-g comprise, on the one hand, an activation area 208 which is the area within which a user can place a device, such as a reading pen, to register the field and thus initiate an operation, and a visual indication 209 of the function of the field which is so graphical. designed that the user understands which operation is activated by the field. The visual indications 209 in this example are images, but they may also include text and / or numbers and / or other symbols. They are further located in the activation areas 208, but they can also be placed outside, but adjacent to them, if they are not used for the detection of the field.

In the embodiment shown, the activation areas are provided with the same position code as the writing surface, but the position code encodes one or more other positions than those encoded by the position code on the writing surface. The position code is shown schematically on only a small part of one of the activation areas and this part has been enlarged.

Each field responds to an operation to be initiated when the field is activated, ie detected by one

519 260 device for this purpose. The fields in this embodiment are just examples. The person skilled in the art can construct a variety of other fields with associated operations.

For example, those skilled in the art will create their own activation areas 5 by linking operations to predefined areas of the writing surface. These predefined regions have the reference numeral 220 in Figure 2. The device that records the position code recognizes the positions that exist in these predefined regions. An advantage of this is that the device reads a continuous position code more easily.

At the bottom of the page there is a character interpretation field A. This is primarily intended for address information such as fax numbers, telephone numbers or e-mail addresses that are required in connection with various operations initiated with the activation areas and which need to be interpreted, but it can also be used for keywords and other text that needs to be interpreted. The character interpretation field A is visually delimited from the writing surface so that its extent is clear to the user. In this embodiment, furthermore, the area is divided into sections B each intended to receive a character. The character interpretation area is provided with the same position code as the writing surface and the activation areas, but the position code in the address area encodes positions other than the position code on the writing surface and the activation areas. The position code is shown schematically only on a small part of the area A. This part has been enlarged.

Fig. 3 shows an image of a product in the form of a note sheet generated from the template of Figs

2nd The notebook in Fig. 3 can be seen as a product as well as a digital representation of a notebook and will be dealt with in both ways in the following text. The note sheet 301 has a writing surface 303 which is provided with a position code which enables the detection of positions from the writing surface. The digital representation of the note sheet 301 has been created by selecting a subset from the template 201. In the flowchart

519 260 in Figure 1, this is done in block 104. In block 104, not only different portions of the template are selected to generate the digital representation of the product. Block 104 also incorporates other graphical information such as the text over the sign interpretation field A, which text informs a user that he is expected to enter his address and telephone number in the fields. In block 104, any colors and other graphic information are also inserted to give the product an appealing appearance. The user sees what the digital representation looks like on the display 111.

After the digital representation of the note sheet 301 is created in block 104, it is sent to block 105 for programming an operation or application associated with the note sheet 301.

Of course, it is possible to program the operation / application before creating the graphic appearance of the product.

From block 104 comes as output a digital representation of the product sent to block 105 and a digital representation in the form of a printer file sent for printing in block 109 to create the product 110.

For example, the operation / application may be such that it is initiated by a user of the note sheet registering the position code at the letter symbol 307c. A pen that reads the position code at the letter symbol will then recognize that the positions encoded by the position code belong to an activation area and will then contact the name server 101. The name server will send information to the pen that it should contact the application server 108 associated with the note sheet. The application server 108 will in turn request information from the pen according to a pre-programmed program.

Thus, in block 105, the operation / application is developed by programming what information it needs from a pen that calls it. You can also

519 260 program how the operation / application on the application server should use the data it received from the pen. The application can then be tested using the digital representation of the product without having to produce any product.

An example of how the operation / application is tested in block 107 will now be described with the aid of Fig. 3.

When testing the application, it is done using the digital representation of the product 301 shown in Fig. 3. When a user enters text, for example with a mouse, in the digital representation of the writing field 303, on the display showing the digital representation of the product, the various pixels that have been written are transformed into positions in the imaginary area associated with the digital representation of the product. The various positions are then stored in a memory. When the pixels in the digital representation of the activation region 308 are detected by a device intended for the product, the pixels are converted to positions by means of points 306 in the position code which is interpreted as a message to send something to the application associated with the position code. The visual indication 309 is in this case a letter symbol.

In the real case of a real product, the read pen had sent a request to the name server to find out the address of the application server to which the position code registered in the activation area is associated. Thereafter, the reader had sent a signal to the application server to initiate a dialogue with the application server. The application server had then announced what information it wanted the pen to provide. However, any contact with the name server is charged, so try to avoid this when testing the product.

Therefore, in the case of testing the application on the digital representation of the product, the cont519 260 file is initiated with the application server directly by the program where the digital representation of the product is tested. For example, the application server requests the characters entered in the character interpretation field A and interprets the characters as an address. The application server requests the locations of the pixels marked in the digital representation of the write field 303 and also sends the locations to the address specified in the character interpretation field A.

In the real case of a real product and a real user device, the device with which the user registers the position codes, similarly accesses the address of the application server that requests the positions of the message entered on the writing surface, the characters entered in the character interpretation field and the identity of the device. The application server can then send the message entered on the writing surface to the address entered in the character interpretation field and charge the user associated with the identity of the device.

There may be several different companies that create products that fit a particular service.

A program for developing and testing the digital representation of the product is illustrated in FIG

Eighth The program preferably includes a development module that loads a template from the template server as well as a development module that is intended to develop the program in the application server. In the development module, various operations are linked to the digital representation of the product so that the network server knows how to process the data when it receives a message that the sending activation area is registered by a pen. A graphical user interface module 801 is used to test the application. The user interface module 801 has access to the digital representation of the product. As described above in connection with Fig. 3, the marking of pixels in the digital representation of the product comes

519 260 to cause the pixels to be converted into a set of positions sent to a pen emulator 802 which processes the positions in the same way as a pen. A pen protocol module is connected to the pen modulator

803 which ensures that the information from the pen simulator is sent out in the same way as from a real pen. To test that everything works as it should, the pen emulator sends the information from the pen to the name server 806 which has a similar pen protocol module 804 for interpreting the information from the pen emulator. The name server 804 provides information to the pen simulator that it should contact the application server 807, which is also connected to a pen protocol module to interpret the information from the pen simulator. The Pen Protocol Module, Pen Penulator and Graphical User Interface Module are retrieved from the software server 106 shown in Figure 1.

It is also possible for a user to get the pen protocol module, the pen emulator, the graphical user interface module and all other software on a CD.

The position code can be of different types. A possible type of position code where each position is coded with a unique symbol is described in the aforementioned US 5,852,434.

However, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each position is advantageously encoded by a plurality of symbols and the coding is such that each symbol in the position code contributes to the coding of more than one position. This means that two adjacent positions have partially common symbols. In this way, a higher resolution is achieved and the detection becomes simpler as the individual symbols can be less complex. This type of overlapping or floating position code can be provided by a computer. A particular way of generating such a floating position code is described in the applicant's previous PCT application no.

SE00 / 01085 and which is incorporated into this application by this reference.

519 260

The following describes an alternative type of floating position code which is currently the most preferred position code. This position code is the subject of the applicant's PCT applications SE00 / 01895, SE00 / 01897 and

SE00 / 01898th

A notepad that uses position code is described in the applicant's previous PCT application SE00 / 01667 and the corresponding Swedish application 9903051-2 which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Fig. 4 shows an enlarged portion of the note paper

401 in Fig. 1, which on its surface 402 is provided with the position code 403 with a plurality of symbols 406. The paper has an x-coordinate axis and a y-coordinate axis.

The position code includes a virtual screen that is neither visible to the human eye nor can be detected directly by a device to determine positions on the surface, and a plurality of symbols 406, each of which can assume one of four values ​​as described below.

The position code is arranged so that the symbols on a sub-surface of the paper encode absolute coordinates of a point on an imaginary surface, which will be described below. A first and a second sub-surface 425a, 425b are shown in broken lines in Fig. 4. The part of the position code (here 4x4 symbols) located on the first sub-surface 425a encodes the coordinates of a first point, and the part of the position code found on the second sub-surface 425b encodes the coordinates of a second point on the imaginary surface. The position code is thus partially common to the adjacent first and second points. Such a position code is referred to in this application as floating.

Figures 5a-d show an embodiment of a symbol which can be used in the position code. The symbol includes a virtual raster point 530, which is represented by the intersection point between the raster lines, and a marker 506 which is in the shape of a dot. The value of the symbol depends on where the marker is placed. In the example of Figure 5 there are four

519 260 possible placements, one on each of the grid lines starting from the grid points. The offset from the raster point is the same for all values. In the following, the symbol in Figure 5a has the value 1, in Figure 5b the value 2, in Figure 5c the value 3 and in Figure 5d the value 4. In other words, there are four different types of symbols.

It should be pointed out that the dots can of course have a different shape.

Each symbol can thus represent four values ​​1 to 4. This means that the position code can be divided into a first position code for the x coordinate, and a second position code for the y coordinate. The breakdown is done as follows:

<td>Symbol value</td><td>X code</td><td>y-code</td>

<td> 1</td><td> 1</td><td> 1</td>

<td> 2</td><td> 0</td><td> 1</td>

<td> 3</td><td> 1</td><td> 0</td>

<td> 4</td><td> 0</td><td> 0</td>

Each symbol's value is thus translated into a first digit, this bit, for the x code and a second digit, this bit, for the y code. In this way you get two completely independent bit patterns. The patterns can be combined into a common 20 as well as patterns which are graphically encoded using a variety of symbols according to Figure 5.

Figure 6 illustrates how different portions of the imaginary surface 601 encoded by the position code can be used for various purposes. A first subarea 602 is intended for activation regions 208, 308 (Figs. 2 and 3) and a device intended for detecting the position code recognizes the portion of the imaginary region constituted by the first subarea. A second subarea 603 defines activation areas associated with sending. A licensee who is to develop a notepad such as that shown in Fig. 3 may be assigned a subarea area 604 which is a small part of it.

519 260 second subarea 603. Similarly, a second subarea 605 is a portion of a third subarea 606 associated with text recognition. Thus, the device that registers a position code that is part 5 of the third subarea 606 can directly determine whether the registered position sequence should be interpreted as a character.

Fig. 7 shows a pen that can be used to register a position code as described above.

The device comprises a housing 711 which is shaped much like a pen. At the short end of the housing there is an opening 712. The short end is intended to abut or be kept at a small distance from the writing surface 303, the address area A and the activation fields 307a-307g (cf. Fig. 3).

The housing mainly contains an optics section, an electronics section and a power supply. The optics portion includes at least one IR LED 713 for illuminating the area to be imaged and a photosensitive area sensor 714, such as a CCD or CMOS sensor, for recording a two-dimensional image. The device may additionally contain a lens system (not shown).

The power supply to the device is obtained from a battery 715 mounted in a separate compartment in the housing.

The electronics section contains a signal processor 716.

The signal processor 716 is realized by a suitably programmed microprocessor. It contains software for analyzing images from the sensor for providing a digital representation of the graphical information provided on the writing surface and for detecting the activation areas. It further includes software to initiate and / or perform the operations determined by the activation areas. It may also contain user software, such as address book programs for the user to keep track of address information, calendar programs for the user to keep track of calendar information, such as meetings, birthdays and other

519 260 tasks that are entered in a calendar or calendar, as well as a task list program for the user to be able to enter tasks that she should perform.

The signal processor 716 also advantageously includes an ICR software that can be used to interpret registered characters so that they can be stored, handled and / or forwarded in character encoded format.

The signal processor further includes a memory 717 for storing information recorded from the writing surface

703 and the address area A.

Further on the device housing is a pen tip 718, with which the user can write ordinary dye-based writing on the writing surface. The pen tip 718 is retractable and retractable so that the user can control whether or not to use it. The pen tip is offset relative to the sensor 714. Thus, the sensor does not detect the exact position of the pen tip. However, if desired, this can be calculated with knowledge of the position of the pen tip relative to the sensor.

The device further comprises buttons 719 with which the device can be activated and controlled for operations not controlled by the activation fields.

It also has a transceiver 720 for wireless transmission via short-range radio link according to the Bluetooth standard of short-range information. This wireless transmission can be utilized when the device cannot perform the entire initiated operation itself, but needs to forward the recorded information and information on which operation to perform to an external unit.

Finally, the device may include a display 721 for displaying, for example, recorded information. The display is not necessary. Display can be performed on a display on an external device to the extent that it needs to be performed at all.

519 260