Patent ID: 8085249
Filing Date: 2011-12-27
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method of converting a pre-assembled part for use as an electronic transcription apparatus that uses a set of sensors to determine the location of a pointing device that transmits, the method comprising: upgrading the pre-assembled part to cause the pre-assembled part to be configured as the electronic transcription apparatus having at least one transcription capability, the pre-assembled part including built-in components including built-in electronics, and having associated therewith a surface or a frame for a surface, wherein the upgrading includes a user adding at least one external module, the adding of one or more particular external modules causing the pre-assembled apparatus to be configured, using the built-in components and the one or more particular external modules, as an electronic transcription apparatus having at least one particular set of transcription capabilities including the capability that when a pointing device that includes at least one transmitter of energy transmits energy, the transmitted energy is sensed at least some of the set of sensors, and the sensed energy is used to determine the position of the pointing device on or near the surface, wherein either the pre-assembled part or the external module includes a plurality of sensors, wherein the built-in components include one or more identifiable characteristics, and connecting to an external module includes automatically identifying a particular set of one or more of the identifiable characteristics, such that when connected to the external module, the identified one or more identifiable characteristics cause a particular set of one or more of the capabilities of the resulting transcription apparatus to be automatically defined from a plurality of possible sets of capabilities, wherein the at least one external module includes at least one of: at least one of the sensors; a video component; an audio component; a component to match a built-in RFID component; a USB connector; a network component; a component with a processor storage with software in the storage; a projector; a small display; one or more interaction elements to provide a user interface; one or more input devices; one or more environmental sensors; and a stylus, and wherein the particular set of one or more of the identifiable characteristics include at least one of: the number and nature of the sensors, whether the built-in or the external module has the plurality of sensors, whether or not a projection surface, one or more identifiable characteristics of a connector; identifiable wireless connection characteristics of components for a wireless connection to an external module; RFID component to provide an identifiable connection using RFID; at least one of data encryption and a unique key; one or more authorization characteristics.