Abstract:
The present invention pertains to an input system for inputting information from a user, the input device system including at least one sheet of a writing medium having a unique identifier located thereon, a stylus input device for writing on the writing medium and emitting one or more signals, a detector for detecting said unique page identifier and stroke information from said emitted signal and local storage for storing said detected stroke information, in association with the unique identifier of said writing medium.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is related to U.S. patent application “EXTENDING THE GUI DESKTOP/PAPER METAPHOR TO INCORPORATE PHYSICAL PAPER INPUT”, Ser. No.______, filed on even date herewith for D. Dumarot, et al.; U.S. patent application “DATA STEERING FLIP PEN SYSTEM”, Ser. No.______, filed on even date herewith for D. Dumarot, et al.; U.S. patent application “IMPROVED FRONT OF SCREEN, USER INTERFACE, AND NATIONAL LANGUAGE SUPPORT BY DOWNLOADING BITMAPS FROM PC TO COMPANION DEVICE”, Ser. No. ______, filed on even date herewith for D. Dumarot, et al; and U.S. patent application “DIGITIZER COMPANION SYSTEM TO EXTEND PC BATTERY LIFE”, Ser. No.______, filed on even date herewith for D. Dumarot, et al. 
     
    
     
         [0002]    BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
           [0003]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0004]    The present invention relates to data input devices, and more particularly pertains to data input devices using an electronic pen input device.  
           [0005]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0006]    Traditional computer system user interfaces have a limited range and type of acceptable inputs. Some newer types of user interfaces incorporate features that allow for some intuitive control of the computer devices and inputs thereto, but their functionality is limited by the discontinuity between the physical world in which the user is located and the virtual, electronic realm of computing devices.  
           [0007]    Physical, written paper documents are easy to create using pen and paper, do not require a source of electric power, and allow free form drawing. Electronic documents, however, are becoming increasingly popular because they are easy to store, manipulate, duplicate, and transfer. Prior art systems have attempted to allow users to create free form documents using a paper and pen, and then convert the physical document to an electronic (virtual) form. It is known, for example, to scan a physical document, such as a sheet of typed or handwritten text into a computer system using a scanner, and to then convert the scanned sheet of text into a virtual document for display, storage, and manipulation of the virtual document.  
           [0008]    It is known that digitizer systems can acquire handwritten input to render an electronic version of a physical writing. In digitizer systems heretofore, it is difficult to associate pages of a physical writing with pages of an electronic representation of the physical writings. For example, there exists the difficulty of accurately identifying and associating pages of a physical writing generated using the pen input device of the digitizer system with the proper pages of the electronic representation of the physical writing. Thus, accurate navigation of the electronic representation of the physical writing is difficult. A solution in a known digitizer system prohibits user access to a page after an electronic representation of that page has been created. Another purported solution of digitizer systems heretofore displays an image of the electronic representation of the written page on a display device so that a user can visually compare an image of the electronic representation of the writing and the physical writing for a match.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    It is an objective of this invention to provide an input device system that accurately associates physical written information with an electronic representation thereof.  
           [0010]    It is another objective of this invention to provide an input device system that allows as a user to intuitively and accurately access representations of a physical writing stored in memory of the input device system.  
           [0011]    The foregoing and other problems are overcome and the objects of the invention are realized by methods and apparatus in accordance with the invention disclosed herein. The present invention pertains to an input system for acquiring handwritten input information from a user, the input device system including at least one sheet of a writing medium having a unique identifier located thereon, an electronic pen input device for writing on the writing medium and emitting one or more signals for generating stroke information from the emitted signal, a detector for detecting the unique page identifier and the stroke information, and local storage for storing the stroke information in association with the unique identifier of the writing medium.  
           [0012]    The writing medium can be a pad of sheet material, such as paper, located on a digitizer tablet. The writing medium has a unique identifier located on the sheets thereof. The unique identifier of a sheet of the writing medium is detected by the input device system for association with the writings created the sheet using the electronic pen input device. Thus, specific pages of writings created using the electronic pen input device and stored by the input device system can be accurately referenced and accessed using the unique identifiers associated pages of the stored writings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    The above set forth and other features of the present teachings are made more apparent in the ensuing Detailed Description of the Invention when read in conjunction with the attached Drawings, wherein:  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 depicts a computing system embodying user interface input systems in accordance with the teachings herein;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram that illustrates the digitizer input system of FIG. 1 in greater detail; and  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method used by the digitizer input system to associate pages of a physical writing with an electronic representation of the writing in accordance with the teachings herein. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is depicts an overview of an integrated computing system  10 . Computing system  10  includes a computing device such as, but not limited to, a PC (personal computer)  200  interfaced with an input device system. The input device system is, in the presently preferred embodiment, a digitizer input system  100 . PC  200  and digitizer input system  100  are shown configured in an integrated unit. The computing system  10  may be laid open as shown; folded shut; and folded over onto itself so that either PC  200  or digitizer input system  100  is operatively exposed for use by a user. Although shown together in an integrated unit, PC  200  and digitizer input system  100  can optionally be housed independently of one another. Integration of the two systems facilitates the portable nature of computing system  10 , but is not a requirement for computing system  10 .  
         [0018]    PC  200  preferably includes a display screen  20 , a keyboard  15 , a CPU for executing operating system and application instructions, random access memory (RAM) for temporary storage of data, read only memory (ROM) for permanent storage of data, which can include instructions for implementing the PC operating system, and an internal battery (not shown) for providing an electrical source of power to PC  200 . PC  200  may also include, or provide means for coupling to, peripheral devices, such as, but not limited to a network card, memory storage/playback devices (e.g., a removable magnetic disk, readable/writeable DVD and CD-ROM players), etc.  
         [0019]    Digitizer input system  100  includes a digitizer grid  30  that extends, preferably, substantially over the entire area of the digitizer input system  100 , or a large portion thereof as depicted in FIG. 2, in order to provide a maximum input working area. The size of the digitizer grid  30  can be varied to meet the constraints of various applications. Digitizer input system  100  operates to track and determine the position of input pen  40  based on RF (radio frequency) signal(s) emitted by input pen  40 . As used herein, input pen  40  is an electronic input pen. Digitizer grid  30  detects the position of input pen  40  based on the relative strength and position of the RF signals emitted by the input pen  40  in relation to digitizer grid  30 . Note that the signal(s) emitted and detected by digitizer system  100  need not be limited to RF signals. Other signals such as, for example, ultrasonic and infrared signals (IR) can be employed.  
         [0020]    The general operation of digitizer pads is known to those skilled in the art of computer input devices, and as such, will not be discussed in detail herein. Digitizer input system  100  tracks, determines, and records pen positions and pen strokes of input pen  40 .  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2 provides a detailed view of the exemplary computing system  10  depicted in FIG. 1. With reference to FIG. 2, it is shown that digitizer input system  100  includes a CPU  60  and a memory  70 . CPU  60  may be a general purpose microprocessor, though not limited to such, for providing system logic and control of digitizer input system  100 . Memory  70  is preferably flash RAM, but other forms of memory storage may be used such as, but not limited to, static RAM or a hard drive. Memory  70  provides storage capability for storing pen positions and pen strokes of input pen  40 . Digitizer input system  100  also preferably includes a display, such as an LCD display  45 , for displaying information related to input data provided by input pen  40 , a menu scroll bar  25 , and a menu bar  35 .  
         [0022]    CPU  60  and memory  70  provide local processing and storage, respectively, of input data provided by input pen  40 . Since digitizer input system  100  has its own local memory and processing means, PC  200  coupled to digitizer input system  100  need not be relied upon for processing and/or storage of input data received by digitizer input system  100 .  
         [0023]    Digitizer input system  100  and PC  200  are, in the presently preferred embodiment, coupled together through a bi-directional wired serial communication link  210 . Communication link  210  is not limited to a wired connection or a serial communication protocol. Accordingly, communication link may be a wired or wireless communication link (e.g., IR or RF).  
         [0024]    Paper pad  80  can be a conventional pad of paper having multiple pages is positioned during use on top of digitizer input system  100 . Paper pad  80 , positioned atop digitizer grid  30 , can be written on by a user of computing system  10 . Each time the tip of input pen  40  is pressed to paper pad  80 , the digitizer input system  100  begins recording the positional data points detected from the emitted RF signals from input pen  40  and continues to record the input pen  40  positional data until the tip of input pen  40  is lifted from paper pad  80 . The set of input pen  40  positional data points from the time of tip press to the time of tip lift is considered to be a pen stroke. Pen strokes written and drawn on paper pad  80  are communicated to digitizer input system  100 , even through multiple pages of paper pad  80 , by the RF signals emitted from input pen  40 . The RF signals emitted from input pen  40  include positional data of the “pen strokes” executed by the user of input pen  40 . Thus, the writings and drawings made on paper pad  80  can be conveyed by input pen  40 , processed by CPU  60 , and stored in memory  70  as an electronic (i.e., virtual) representation of writings and drawings created by the user on paper pad  80 .  
         [0025]    Input pen  40  preferably has two different tips, tip  42  and tip  44 . Dual-tipped input pen  40 , as shown in FIG. 2, preferably emits a unique RF signal  110  from tip  42  that is detected by digitizer input system  100 . Detected RF signal  110  is used for determining the position of input pen  40  when tip  42  is active. Preferably, input pen  40  emits a different RF signal  115  from tip  44  that is detected by digitizer input system  100 . Detected RF signal  110  is used for determining the position of input pen  40  when tip  42  is active. Tip  42  can be, though not necessarily, an inking tip for writing and drawing on paper pad  80 . Tip  44 , emitting RF signal  115 , preferably, but not necessarily, contains a non-inking tip that is used for controlling user input functions of PC  200  coupled to digitizer input system  100 . Each of tips  42  and  44  preferably includes a mechanism for detecting when the tip  42  or  44  is active. That is, each tip includes a mechanism for detecting when the tip is pressed down on paper pad  80  (or other writing medium) or digitizer grid  30  directly.  
         [0026]    An exemplary RF signal  110  emitted by tip  42  can be a 500 kHz RF signal that is modulated to 480 kHz when tip  42  is active. Exemplary RF signal  115  emitted by tip  42  can be a 450 kHz RF signal that is modulated to 460 kHz when tip  42  is actively used. Digitizer grid  30  detects the relative strength and position of the input pen&#39;s emitted RF signals as discussed above. Digitizer grid  30  also detects which tip  42  or  44  is being actively used as indicated by the modulated RF signal detected by digitizer grid  30 . The positional data of input pen  40  is communicated to a data control device. In computing system  10  of the present example, the data control device is implemented by microprocessor unit CPU  60 . CPU  60 , in the presently preferred embodiment, can be programmed to perform different functions. CPU  60  can control the transfer of input data to, for example, local memory  70  or to PC  200 .  
         [0027]    While input pen  40  shown in FIG. 2 has two tips located on opposite ends of input pen  40 , input pen  40  may have one or more tips located on the same end thereof. The various tips of input pen  40 , or other control mechanisms, may generate additional signals detectable and useable by digitizer input system  100  and/or computing system  10 . Selection amongst the various input pen tips by the user preferably only requires a natural, intuitive user action, such as, for example, pressing a small switch located on the barrel of the input pen, in accordance with the teachings herein.  
         [0028]    As was stated above, the signals emitted by tips  42  and  44  are not restricted to RF signals, other types of energy signals may be emitted, such as but not limited to, IR (infrared) and ultrasonic signals. The type of control and user manipulation used for control of the data transfer may be varied.  
         [0029]    Written input may be forwarded for storage in a device coupled to digitizer input system  100 , such as PC  200 , optionally without buffering or caching in local memory  70 , as the user writes on paper pad  80 . To provide this functionality, CPU  60  can be programmed to route written input to PC  200  for storage as an electronic version of the user&#39;s physical writings.  
         [0030]    In accordance with the present invention, information written on the pages of paper pad  80  is accurately correlated with an electronic representation of the physical page stored in digitizer input system  100 . Digitizer input system  100 , accurately associates information written on a page of paper pad  80  having a unique identifier so that an accurate representation of the written page can be generated, recorded, and retrieved by the digitizer input system  100 . The written information is preferably stored in local memory  70  but can be forwarded to PC  200  for storage. Although the writing medium is preferably a paper pad, the present invention is not constrained to using paper as the writing medium. Accordingly, paper, Mylar, or other materials can be used.  
         [0031]    In order to accurately track the pages of paper pad  80  being written on by a user, the sheets of paper pad  80  are preferably provided with a unique identifier pre-printed thereon. The unique identifier can be any type of a graphic or alphanumeric, or a combination thereof. Thus, the unique identifier printed on the individual pages of paper pad  80  can be, but is not limited to, a number, a bar code, an outline of a number, a coded dot pattern, an image of a form, etc.  
         [0032]    In accord with the present invention, the unique page identifier is printed in a specified region of paper pad  80 . The particular region of the paper pad  80  having the unique page identifier printed thereon can be a predetermined location or the location can be specified by the user. A user can specify the location for the unique identifier region by designating a region of paper pad  80  as the unique identifier region using input pen  40  and/or a control. The control for specifying the unique identifier region can be presented in the form of an icon and selectable from menu bar  35 . For example, the unique identifier region can be designated by selecting the appropriate icon from menu bar  35  and by touching the tip of input pen  40  to the desired region of paper pad  80 . The user may also specify the location for the unique identifier by performing a particular sequence of operations with the input pen device  40 , such as, double-tapping paper pad  80  with input pen  40 .  
         [0033]    In an aspect of the present invention, the unique identifier located on a sheet of paper pad  80  is specified to digitizer system  100  by tracing over the number or other unique identifier provided on paper pad  80 . It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other methods of specifying the unique identifier to digitizer system  100  can include, but are not limited to verbally identifying the unique identifier to digitizer input system  100  optionally equipped for speech recognition, scanning the unique identifier with input pen  40  thus provided with a scanning tip (not shown), entering the unique identifier via a keypad, and entering the unique identifier through a menu selection or a control manipulated by the user.  
         [0034]    Whether the user specifies the location for the unique identifier or the location is predetermined by digitizer system  100 , it is preferable that when the input pen  40  is detected in the region of paper pad  80  specified for containing the unique identifier that the pen stroke information received from input pen  40  is interpreted by CPU  60  as unique identifier information. Thus, when a number “2” is written in the unique identifier region (e.g., the lower left hand comer of paper pad  80 ), CPU  60  automatically interprets the received pen stroke information to determine that a number “2” is the unique identifier for the sheet of paper pad  80  being written on. Therefore, digitizer input system  100  will associate subsequently received pen stroke information with page 2 of paper pad  80  (until another page identifier is specified). The unique identifier, in the present example, the number two (2), is associated with the written input on page two (2) of paper pad  80  and the stroke information recorded by digitizer input system  100 .  
         [0035]    The determination and storage of unique page identifiers for the sheets of paper pad  80  allows the digitizer input system  100  to accurately correlate input information written on the sheets paper pad  80  having unique identifiers with the electronic representations thereof that are generated by stroke information from input pen  40  and digitizer input system  100 . Thus, the digitizer input system  100  is able to create and accurately correlate writings made on a page of paper pad  80  using input pen  40  with an electronic representation of the page. Furthermore, an electronic version of a physical writing can thus be accurately reconstructed and accessed by the digitizer input system  100  by referencing the unique identifier.  
         [0036]    Referring to FIG. 1, LCD screen  45  displays, among other items, the unique identifier currently associated with a sheet of paper pad  80 . The unique identifier is automatically displayed in LCD  45 . LCD screen  45  is preferably positioned in close proximity to paper pad  80  and, in particular, in close proximal relationship to the region of paper pad  80  specified for containing the unique page identifier. Thus located, the user can readily confirm that digitizer input system  100  is correctly associating written input with the proper unique page identifier. The user need not reference a connected computing device, such as, for example, PC  200  or a monitor to confirm that the unique identifier is correctly associated with the intended physical page.  
         [0037]    Slider bar  25  provides a control for the user to indicate the page they are working on, as well a control to “jump” from one page to another page of a stored electronic document. For example, if the user touches a tip of input pen  40  to the top of slider bar  25 , the CPU  60  determines that the user wishes to write on page one (1) of paper pad  80  and will associate pen strokes subsequently entered on paper pad  80  with page one (1) of the electronic document in its memory  70 . Similarly, if the user touches a tip of input pen  40  to the bottom of slider bar  25 , CPU  60  determines that the user wishes to write on, for example, page fifty (50) of paper pad  80 . To select any other page, the user can selectively slide a tip of input pen  40  within slider bar  25  to scroll among the pages of the stored stroke information.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 3 is a logical flow diagram showing an exemplary method of the present invention. In a first step, the digitizer input system  100  receives stroke information from input pen  40  (step  300 ). A determination is then made as to whether the received stroke information is from the area of paper pad  80  specified, either by the user or predetermined, as the unique identifier location region (step  305 ). A determination by CPU  60  that the stroke information is not from the unique identifier location region causes CPU to interpret the received stroke information as handwritten input (step  310 ). However, a determination that the stroke information is from the unique identifier location region in step  305  causes CPU  60  to interpret the received stroke information as unique identifier indicating information (step  315 ). Thus, input digitizer  100  will attempt to correlate the received stroke information to a unique identifier. Therefore, receipt of a number “5” will be interpreted as the identifier, number “5”. The number “5” is then associated with written input and recorded by input digitizer system  100  (step  320 ). As stroke information is received, it is evaluated and interpreted. A change in the identifier (i.e., entry of a new and different identifier) will result in the written input being associated with the new identifier.  
         [0039]    In addition to accurately associating a unique identifier with the physical pages of paper pad  80  and the representations thereof, digitizer input system  100  can also associate other information, such as a time stamp, with the written input information. Associated unique identifiers and input information detected and recorded by the digitizer input system  100  can be used by the input system  100  and/or PC  200 .  
         [0040]    Although described above in the context of specific input device systems and companion system, those skilled in the art should appreciate that these are exemplary and indicative of presently preferred embodiments of these teachings, and are not to be read or construed in a limiting sense upon these teachings. For example, the input pen  40  may have one or more tips located on the same or opposite ends; the writing medium for use in an input device system is not limited to paper, as the writing medium may also include other materials, such as a transparency.  
         [0041]    The present invention may be implemented by a storage medium (e.g., a removable memory card or hard disk) having computer readable program instructions embodied therein for executing the methods of the present invention. The computer readable medium can be read and executed by the CPU  60 . Accordingly, the association of a unique identifier on a sheet of paper pad  80  and written information generated thereon using input pen  40  is accomplished by program instructions, responsive to an indication of a unique identifier located on a sheet of the paper pad  80  in a specified region of the pad and a detection of the unique identifier in the region; program instructions for associating the representation of the written information generated with pen input device  40  on paper pad  80  with the unique identifier; and recording the association of the unique identifier and the representation of the written information in memory of digital input system  100 .  
         [0042]    The various aspects of the teachings herein may or may not be combined in accordance with the scope of the teachings herein and the claims appended hereto. Thus, while the invention has been particularly shown and described with respect to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.