Patent Publication Number: US-2015077404-A1

Title: Paper Medium, Input Device, and Non-Transitory Computer-Readable Medium Storing Computer-Readable Instructions for Input Device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-191320 filed Sep. 17, 2013, the content of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to a paper medium, to an input device that is able to convert the path of a writing instrument on the paper medium into electronic data, and to a non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores computer-readable instructions for the input device. 
     An input device is known that, in a case where writing has been done on a paper medium that has been placed on a base, converts the path of the movement of the writing instrument into information, in electronic form, on a linear figure that has been written on the paper medium. For example, a known writing input device is provided with a handwriting input portion and a code reader. A user places a paper medium on a stage of the handwriting input portion. A bar code is carried on the paper medium. The bar code indicates specified information, such as a document name, a page number, a personal computer name, a personal computer IP address, and the like, for example. The bar code on the paper medium that has been placed on the stage is read by the code reader. When the user writes on the paper medium using an electromagnetic pen, the coordinates of the positions where the writing was done on the paper medium are detected by the handwriting input portion. Revision data indicated by the detected writing positions are appended to document data for the page number that is indicated by the bar code, for example. 
     SUMMARY 
     A method is conceivable by which a frame, for example, that corresponds to the specified information is printed on the paper medium, instead of the bar code being provided on the paper medium. With this method, in a case where the user has filled in the frame to designate the specified information, the specified information is specified based on the position that has been filled in. However, because this method requires the user to fill in the entire frame in order to specify the specified information, it requires considerable effort by the user in some cases. 
     Embodiments of the broad principles derived herein provide a paper medium, an input device, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores computer-readable instructions for the input device, the paper medium, the input device, and the computer-readable medium being able to reduce the effort that is required of the user when the user designates the specified information. 
     Exemplary embodiment provides a paper medium that includes a form and at least one information line. The at least one information line is provided on the form and corresponds to a specified information item. The specified information item pertains to the form. The at least one information line is also set at a predetermined angle. 
     Exemplary embodiment also provides an input device that includes a detection portion, a processor, and a memory. The detection portion detects a path written on a form. The foam is provided on a paper medium, and the paper medium is placed on the input device. The at least one information line is provided on the form. The at least one information line is a line that is set at a predetermined angle and that corresponds to a specified information item. The specified information item pertains to the form. The memory stores the specified information item in a correspondence relationship with an information item that identifies the at least one information line. The memory also stores computer-readable instructions. The computer-readable instructions causing the processor to perform processes comprising acquiring stroke data that indicate the path written on the form, acquiring, based on the acquired stroke data, an angle that the stroke data indicate, determining, based on the acquired angle, whether the path that the stroke data indicate follows the at least one information line, and specifying, in a case where it has been determined that the path that the stroke data indicate follows the at least one information line, the specified information item that is associated with the information item that identifies the at least one information line, based on the correspondence relationship. 
     Exemplary embodiment further provides a storage medium storing a control program. The a control program includes computer-readable instructions that, when executed, cause the input device to perform the steps of acquiring stroke data that indicate a path written on a form that is provided on a paper medium that is placed on the input device, at least one information line being provided on the form, and the at least one information line being a line that is set at a predetermined angle and that corresponds to a specified information item that pertains to the form, acquiring, based on the acquired stroke data, an angle that the stroke data indicate, determining, based on the acquired angle, whether the path that the stroke data indicate follows the at least one information line, and specifying, in a case where it has been determined that the path that the stroke data indicate follows the at least one information line, the specified information item that is associated with an information item that identifies the at least one information line that the path follows, based on a correspondence relationship in which the specified information item is associated with the information item that identifies the at least one information line. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a figure that shows an overview of a handwriting input system  1 ; 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of a reading device  2 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram that shows an electrical configuration of the reading device  2  and a PC  19 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a figure that shows forms  121 ,  122  that are provided with marks  71 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a data configuration diagram for a correspondence data table  95 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged partial view of the form  121 , which has been placed on a sensor circuit board  8 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart of main processing; 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged partial view of the form  121 , which has been placed on the sensor circuit board  8 , in a state in which a linear  FIG. 78  has been written on the mark  71 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a data configuration diagram of a stroke data set  96 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a flowchart of recognition processing; 
         FIG. 11  is a flowchart of partitioning processing; 
         FIG. 12  is a flowchart of angle determination processing; 
         FIG. 13  is a figure that shows the forms  121 ,  122 , which are provided with marks  81 , according to a modified example; 
         FIG. 14  is an enlarged partial view of the form  121 , which is provided with a mark  91 , according to a modified example, in a state in which the form  121  has been placed on the sensor circuit board  8 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a figure that shows the forms  121 ,  122 , which are provided with marks  51 , according to a modified example; and 
         FIG. 16  is a figure that shows the forms  121 ,  122 , which are provided with marks  61 , according to a modified example. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be explained with reference to the drawings. Note that the drawings are used for explaining technological features that the present disclosure can utilize. Accordingly, device configurations, flowcharts for various types of processing, and the like that are shown in the drawings are merely explanatory examples and do not serve to restrict the present disclosure to those configurations, flowcharts, and the like, unless otherwise indicated specifically. An overview of a handwriting input system  1  according to the present embodiment will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In the explanation that follows, the upper left side, the lower right side, the top side, the bottom side, the upper right side, and the lower left side in  FIG. 1  will be explained as respectively defining the left side, the right side, the front side, the rear side, the top side, and the bottom side of a reading device  2 . The left-right axis and the up-down axis of the reading device  2  will be explained as respectively defining an X axis and a Y axis. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the handwriting input system  1  is mainly provided with the reading device  2 , an electronic pen  3 , a PC  19 , and the like. The reading device  2  is a thin, lightweight handwriting input device that can be folded up and carried. In the handwriting input system  1 , a user uses the electronic pen  3  to write a linear figure on a form  111  of a paper medium  100  that is fixed in place on the reading device  2 . The linear figure may be any one of a line, a text character, a numeric character, a symbol, a pictorial figure, and the like. The reading device  2  detects the position of the electronic pen  3 . Based on a plurality of the positions of the electronic pen  3  that have been detected over time, the reading device  2  specifies the path of the electronic pen  3 . Based on data about the path of the electronic pen  3  that has been specified by the reading device  2 , the PC  19  creates and stores an image file in which the linear figure that has been written on the form  111  is converted into electronic form. Hereinafter, the data about the path of the electronic pen  3  that has been specified by the reading device  2  will be called the stroke data. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the reading device  2  is mainly provided with a left reading device  26  and a right reading device  27  that form a left-right pair, a flat cable  6 , and a cover  4 . The left reading device  26  and the right reading device  27  are shaped as thin rectangular plates, and they are disposed such that they can form left and right facing pages on the front face of the cover  4 . The left reading device  26  and the right reading device  27  are electrically connected by the flat cable  6 . The cover  4  is provided with a pouch portion  7  on its left side. The left reading device  26  is removably mounted in the cover  4  by being inserted into the pouch portion  7 . The right reading device  27  is affixed to the right front face of the cover  4  by double-sided tape, an adhesive resin film, or the like. 
     The paper medium  100  is removably mounted on the front face of the reading device  2 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the paper medium  100  has a booklet shape that can be opened into left and right facing pages. In the paper medium  100 , a pair of covers (a front cover  112  and a back cover  113 ) and a plurality of the forms  111  are bound along portions of their respective edges. For example, the paper medium  100  may be an A5 size notebook. A format that indicates the layout and the like of a pre-printed pattern on the form  111  may differ according to the type of the paper medium  100  or according to the page of the form  111 . The paper medium  100  is mounted on the reading device  2  such that the front cover  112  is placed on the top face of the left reading device  26  and the back cover  113  is placed on the top face of the right reading device  27 . In the present embodiment, the paper medium  100  is mounted in a state in which its position on the reading device  2  is fixed by double-sided tape, an adhesive resin film, or the like. The user can use the electronic pen  3  to write a linear figure on the form  111  of the paper medium  100 . 
     The electronic pen  3  is a known electromagnetic induction type of electronic pen and is mainly provided with a cylindrical body  30 , a core  31 , a coil  32 , a variable capacitance capacitor  33 , a circuit board  34 , a capacitor  35 , and an ink storage portion  36 . The cylindrical body  30  has a circular cylindrical shape, and it contains in its interior a portion of the core  31 , the coil  32 , the variable capacitance capacitor  33 , the circuit board  34 , the capacitor  35 , and the ink storage portion  36 . The core  31  is provided in the tip portion of the electronic pen  3  (the lower end in  FIG. 1 ). The core  31  is energized toward the tip of the electronic pen  3  by an elastic member that is not shown in the drawings. The tip portion of the core  31  protrudes to the outside of the cylindrical body  30 . The back end of the core  31  (the upper end in  FIG. 1 ) is connected to the ink storage portion  36 , within which ink is stored. The ink storage portion  36  supplies the ink to the core  31 . When the user uses the electronic pen  3  to write on the form  111 , a linear figure is formed by the ink on the form  111 . 
     The coil  32  is held between the core  31  and the variable capacitance capacitor  33  in a state in which it is wound around the ink storage portion  36 . The variable capacitance capacitor  33  is fixed in place in the interior of the electronic pen  3  by the circuit board  34 . The capacitor  35  is carried on the circuit board  34 . The capacitor  35  and the variable capacitance capacitor  33  are connected in parallel with the coil  32  to configure a known resonance (synchronization) circuit. 
     The PC  19  is a general-purpose notebook type of personal computer. The PC  19  is provided with an input portion  191  and a display  192 . The input portion  191  is used for inputting various types of commands. The display  192  displays an image. In the handwriting input system  1 , a known information terminal (a tablet PC, a smart phone, or the like) may also be used as the PC  19  instead of the personal computer. 
     An electrical configuration of the handwriting input system  1  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 3 . An electrical configuration of the reading device  2  and an overview of the principles by which the reading device  2  acquires the stroke data will be explained first. The reading device  2  is provided with sensor circuit boards  8 ,  9 , a main circuit board  20 , and sensor control circuit boards  28 ,  29 . The sensor circuit boards  8 ,  9  are provided inside the left reading device  26  and the right reading device  27 , respectively. 
     The main circuit board  20  is provided with a CPU  21 , a RAM  22 , a flash ROM  23 , and a wireless communication portion  24 . The RAM  22 , the flash ROM  23 , and the wireless communication portion  24  are electrically connected to the CPU  21 . The CPU  21  performs control of the reading device  2 . The RAM  22  temporarily stores various types of data such as computation data and the like. Various types of programs that the CPU  21  executes to control the reading device  2  are stored in the flash ROM  23 . A correspondence data table  95  (refer to  FIG. 5 ) is also stored in the flash ROM  23 . The stroke data and the like are also stored in the flash ROM  23 . The wireless communication portion  24  is a controller for performing wireless communication with an external electronic device. Note that in a case where the reading device  2  transmits the stroke data to an e-mail address, the reading device  2  may transmit the stroke data by connecting to a network (not shown in the drawings) through the wireless communication portion  24 . The reading device  2  may also transmit the stroke data to the PC  19  and issue a command for the PC  19  to transmit the stroke data to an e-mail address. 
     In each one of the sensor circuit boards  8 ,  9 , a plurality of long, thin loop coils are arrayed along both an X axis and a Y axis. The sensor circuit board  8  is electrically connected to an ASIC  281  of the sensor control circuit board  28 . In a case where a writing operation is performed by the electronic pen  3  on the sensor circuit board  8 , the ASIC  281  performs processing that creates the stroke data based on the writing operation. The sensor circuit board  9  is electrically connected to an ASIC  291  of the sensor control circuit board  29 . In a case where a writing operation is performed by the electronic pen  3  on the sensor circuit board  9 , the ASIC  291  performs processing that creates the stroke data based on the writing operation. The ASIC  281  is the master and is connected directly to the CPU  21 , while the ASIC  291  is the slave and is connected to the CPU  21  through the ASIC  281 . 
     The principles by which the stroke data are acquired in a case where a writing operation is performed by the electronic pen  3  on the sensor circuit boards  8 ,  9  will be explained in general terms. The CPU  21  controls the ASICs  281 ,  291  such that they cause an electric current of a specific frequency (a sending current for excitation) to flow through each of the loop coils in the corresponding one of the sensor circuit boards  8 ,  9  one at a time. This causes a magnetic field to be generated by each one of the loop coils in the sensor circuit boards  8 ,  9 . With this state in existence, if the user uses the electronic pen  3  to perform an operation of writing a linear figure on the form  111  of the paper medium  100  that is fixed in place in the reading device  2 , for example, the electronic pen  3  will come close to the sensor circuit boards  8 ,  9 . The resonance circuit of the electronic pen  3  therefore resonates due to electromagnetic induction and generates an induced magnetic field. 
     Next, the CPU  21  controls the ASICs  281 ,  291  such that they stop the generating of the magnetic fields by the individual loop coils in the sensor circuit boards  8 ,  9 . Each one of the loop coils in the sensor circuit boards  8 ,  9  receives the induced magnetic field that is generated by the resonance circuit of the electronic pen  3 . The CPU  21  controls the ASICs  281 ,  291  such that they detect signal currents (received currents) that flow through the individual loop coils in the sensor circuit boards  8 ,  9 . By performing this operation for all of the loop coils one at a time, the ASICs  281 ,  291  detect the position of the electronic pen  3  in the form of coordinate information, based on the received currents. 
     When the operation of writing a linear figure on the form  111  is being performed using the electronic pen  3 , a writing pressure is imparted to the core  31 . The inductance in the coil  32  varies according to the writing pressure that is imparted to the core  31 . This causes the resonance frequency of the resonance circuit of the electronic pen  3  to vary in accordance with the writing pressure that is imparted to the core  31 . The CPU  21  detects the changes (phase changes) in the resonance frequency and specifies the writing pressure that is imparted to the core  31 . In other words, the CPU  21  is able to determine, according to the specified writing pressure, whether a state exists in which a linear figure is being written on the form  111  of the paper medium  100 . In a case where the CPU  21  has determined that a linear figure is being written on the form  111 , the CPU  21  acquires the stroke data that indicate the path of the electronic pen  3  and stores the stroke data in one of the RAM  22  and the flash ROM  23 . The stroke data include information on a plurality of sets of coordinates that indicate a plurality of positions on the path of the electronic pen  3 . 
     Next, an electrical configuration of the PC  19  and an overview of processing in a case where the PC  19  has acquired the stroke data from the reading device  2  will be explained. The PC  19  is mainly provided with a CPU  41 , a hard disk drive (HDD)  42 , a RAM  43 , a wireless communication portion  44 , an input circuit  45 , an output circuit  46 , the input portion  191 , and the display  192 . The CPU  41  performs control of the PC  19 . The CPU  41  is electrically connected to the HDD  42 , the RAM  43 , the wireless communication portion  44 , the input circuit  45 , and the output circuit  46 . Various types of programs that the CPU  41  executes are stored in the HDD  42 . 
     The PC  19  is provided with a media reading device (for example, a CD-ROM drive) that is not shown in the drawings. The PC  19  is able to read a program that is stored in a storage medium (for example, a CD-ROM) with the media reading device and to install the program on the HDD  42 . The PC  19  may also receive a program from an external device (not shown in the drawings) that is connected to the PC  19 , or from a network, and then install the program on the HDD  42 . 
     The RAM  43  stores various types of data temporarily. The wireless communication portion  44  is a controller for performing wireless communication with an external electronic device. The input circuit  45  performs control that sends commands to the CPU  41  from the input portion  191  (for example, a mouse, a keyboard, a touch panel, or the like). The output circuit  46  performs control that displays an image on the display  192  in response to a command from the CPU  41 . 
     The CPU  41  performs near field communication with the reading device  2  through the wireless communication portion  44 . The stroke data that are stored in the flash ROM  23  of the reading device  2  are transmitted from the reading device  2  to the PC  19 . The CPU  41  takes the stroke data that have been transmitted from the reading device  2  and stores them in one of the RAM  43  and the HDD  42 . The communication in a case where the stroke data are transmitted from the reading device  2  to the PC  19  is not limited to being wireless communication, and it may also be wired communication. 
     The CPU  41  is able to specify a character string based on the stroke data that are stored in one of the RAM  43  and the HDD  42 . When specifying the character string, the CPU  41  performs optical character recognition (OCR) processing. 
     Forms  121 ,  122 , which are examples of the form  111 , will be explained with reference to  FIG. 4 . The forms  121 ,  122  are examples of the form  111 , and they are forms for writing memos. In the explanation that follows, the top side, the bottom side, the left side, and the right side in  FIG. 4  will be explained as respectively defining the top side, the bottom side, the left side, and the right side of the forms  121 ,  122 . The form  121  is the form on the left page of the two facing pages of the paper medium  100 , and the form  122  is the form on the right page. An edge  123  on the right side of the form  121  is affixed to the paper medium  100  by being bound. An edge  124  on the left side of the form  122  is affixed to the paper medium  100  by being bound. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , a mark  71  is provided in the upper left portion of each of the forms  121 ,  122 . The mark  71  is provided with three frames  711 ,  712 ,  713  and three information lines  721 ,  722 ,  723 . The frames  711  to  713  are printed as solid lines on the forms  121 ,  122 , and the information lines  721  to  723  are printed as broken lines on the forms  121 ,  122 . Each one of the frames  711  to  713  is rectangular, with its long axis extending in the up-down direction. Each one of the information lines  721  to  723  is a line that is set at a predetermined angle and that corresponds to an item of specified information (described later). Combinations of two or more of the information lines  721  to  723  correspond to items of the specified information that are different from the items of the specified information to which the individual information lines  721  to  723  correspond. The relationships between the information lines  721  to  723  and the items of the specified information will be described later with reference to  FIG. 5 . Note that in the present embodiment, the angles of the information lines  721  to  723  may be angles in relation to a horizontal line that extends from left to right. The angles of the information lines  721  to  723  may also be the slopes of line segments of the information lines  721  to  723  when a coordinate in the left-right direction is an X coordinate and a coordinate in the up-down direction is a Y coordinate. 
     The information lines  721  to  723  are respectively provided within the frames  711  to  713 . The angles of the information lines  721  to  723  differ from one another. The information line  721  is inclined diagonally in relation to the left-right direction such that it links the upper left corner and the lower right corner of the frame  711 . The information line  722  is inclined diagonally in relation to the left-right direction such that it links the lower left corner and the upper right corner of the frame  712 . The information line  723  is inclined diagonally in relation to the left-right direction such that it links the upper left corner and the midpoint of the right edge of the frame  713 . 
     The correspondence data table  95  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 5 . The correspondence data table  95  is stored in the flash ROM  23 . The items of the specified information are stored in the correspondence data table  95  in association with information that indicates the information lines. Note that the correspondence data table  95  also includes the marks  71 , in each of which a linear figure is drawn in the form of a solid line for at least one of the information lines  721  to  723 . However, the marks  71  are shown for explanatory purposes, and the marks  71  do not actually need to be recorded in the correspondence data table  95 . 
     Variables Line1, Line2, Line3 indicate information that pertains to the information lines  721 ,  722 ,  723 , respectively. The variable Line1 corresponds to the specified information item “Store stroke data in flash ROM  23 .” The variable Line2 corresponds to the specified information item “Transmit stroke data to PC  19 .” The variable Line3 corresponds to the specified information item “Store stroke data in external memory.” Note that the external memory has been omitted from the drawings. 
     The combination of the variable Line1 and the variable Line2 corresponds to the specified information item “Transmit stroke data to aaa@bbb.ne.jp.” The combination of the variable Line1 and the variable Line3 corresponds to the specified information item “Transmit stroke data to ccc@ddd.ne.jp.” The combination of the variable Line2 and the variable Line3 corresponds to the specified information item “Transmit stroke data to eee@fff.ne.jp.” The combination of the variable Line1, the variable Line2, and the variable Line3 corresponds to the specified information item “Transmit stroke data to ggg@hhh.ne.jp.” 
     As will be described later, in a case where a linear figure has been drawn along at least one of the information lines  721  to  723 , at least one of variables Line1, Line2, Line3 is set to “True” in accordance with the at least one information line where the linear figure has been drawn (refer to Steps S 34 , S 36 , and S 38  in  FIG. 10 ). The correspondence data table  95  is then referenced, the specified information item that corresponds to the combination of the variables Line1, Line2, Line3 that have been set to “True” is specified (refer to Step S 21  in  FIG. 7 ), and an operation is performed based on the specified information item (refer to Step S 22  in  FIG. 7 ). In this manner, in a case where a linear figure has been drawn along at least one of the information lines  721  to  723 , whose angles are all different, the specified information item is specified, and the corresponding operation is performed. In other words, the angles of the information lines  721  to  723  are set in advance, in correspondence to the specified information items. 
     A portion of coordinate information that is stored in the flash ROM  23  in advance will be explained with reference to  FIG. 6 . Regions  751 ,  752 ,  753 ,  754  are stored in the HDD  42 . On the sensor circuit board  8 , the region  751  is an assemblage of coordinate information for a circular region of a specified size that is centered on a position that corresponds to the upper left end of the information line  721 . On the sensor circuit board  8 , the region  752  is an assemblage of coordinate information for a circular region of a specified size that is centered on a position that corresponds to the lower right end of the information line  721  and the lower left end of the information line  722 . On the sensor circuit board  8 , the region  753  is an assemblage of coordinate information for a circular region of a specified size that is centered on a position that corresponds to the upper right end of the information line  722  and the upper left end of the information line  723 . On the sensor circuit board  8 , the region  754  is an assemblage of coordinate information for a circular region of a specified size that is centered on a position that corresponds to the lower right end of the information line  723 . Note that four regions on the sensor circuit board  9  that are disposed on the form  122  are stored in the flash ROM  23  in the same manner as are the regions  751  to  754 , but drawings and explanations have been omitted. 
     Main processing that is performed by the CPU  21  of the reading device  2  will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 7 to 12 . When the power supply to the reading device  2  is turned on, the CPU  21  starts the main processing by operating based on a program that is stored in the flash ROM  23 . 
     In the explanation that follows, to facilitate the explanation, an example will be explained in which the user has written a linear figure on the form  121 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , using the electronic pen  3 , the user has written “Meeting” on the form  121  and has then written a linear  FIG. 78  along the information lines  721  to  723 . A stroke data set  96  that is shown in  FIG. 9  contains stroke data that are acquired through the sensor circuit board  8  and that indicate the path of the linear  FIG. 78 . The stroke data set  96  includes a series of sets of coordinates that follow the linear  FIG. 78 . The coordinates (X1, Y1) designate the point where the writing of the linear  FIG. 78  starts (refer to  FIG. 8 ). The coordinates (X21, Y21) designate the point where, after the linear  FIG. 78  has been written to the lower right along the information line  721 , the linear  FIG. 78  bends to be written to the upper right along the information line  722  (refer to  FIG. 8 ). The coordinates (X45, Y45) designate the point where, after the linear  FIG. 78  has been written to the upper right along the information line  722 , the linear  FIG. 78  bends to be written to the lower right along the information line  723  (refer to  FIG. 8 ). The coordinates (X60, Y60) designate the point where the linear  FIG. 78  ends after being written along the information line  723  to the midpoint of the right edge of the frame  713 . 
     In the main processing, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the CPU  21  acquires the stroke data (Step S 11 ). The CPU  21  stores the acquired stroke data in the RAM  22 . Hereinafter, to facilitate the explanation, a case in which the linear  FIG. 78  (refer to  FIG. 8 ) has been written and the stroke data set  96  have been acquired will be explained first. Note that a case in which the stroke data for “Meeting” are acquired will be explained later. 
     The CPU  21  sets each one of the variables Line1, Line2, and Line3 to “False” (Step S 12 ). The CPU  21  stores the variables Line1, Line2, and Line3 in the RAM  22 . Note that various types of variables that are set in the present embodiment are stored in the RAM  22 , although that is not specifically explained in the explanation that follows. 
     The CPU  21  sets a variable i to “1” and sets a variable k to “2” (Step S 13 ). The CPU  21  sets a variable n1 to the number of the stroke data sets that were acquired at Step S 11  (Step S 14 ). In the current example, the linear  FIG. 78  has been written continuously, so the number of the stroke data sets is 1. In this case, the variable n1 is set to “1”. 
     The CPU  21  specifies the i-th stroke data set (Step S 15 ). The CPU  21  sets a variable n2 to the number of sets of coordinates in the stroke data set that was specified at Step S 15  (Step S 16 ). In the current example, the stroke data set  96  is the only stroke data set, so the stroke data set  96  is specified as the first stroke data set (Step S 15 ). The number of sets of coordinates in the stroke data set  96  is 60 (refer to  FIG. 9 ), so the variable n2 is set to “60” (Step S 16 ). Next, the CPU  21  performs recognition processing (refer to  FIG. 10 ) (Step S 17 ). 
     The recognition processing is processing that specifies the information lines, among the information lines  721  to  723 , where the user has written a linear figure. As shown in  FIG. 10 , the CPU  21  performs partitioning processing (Step S 31 ). The partitioning processing will be explained with reference to  FIG. 11 . The partitioning processing is processing that, based on the linear  FIG. 78  that has been written continuously along the information lines  721  to  723 , specifies a starting point S and an ending point E for the path of each individual linear figure that follows one of the information lines  721 ,  722 ,  723 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , the CPU  21  sets a variable m to “k−1” (Step S 41 ). The CPU  21  defines the starting point S as the m-th set of coordinates (Xm, Ym) in the stroke data set (Step S 42 ). When the processing at Step S 42  is performed for the first time, the variable k has been set to “2” (Step S 13 ), and the variable m has been set to “1” (Step S 41 ). Therefore, the starting point S is defined as the first set of coordinates (X1, Y1) in the stroke data set  96 . 
     The CPU  21  sets a variable Ypre to the Y coordinate Ym in the m-th set of coordinates in the stroke data set  96  (Step S 43 ). The CPU  21  sets a variable preslope to zero (Step S 44 ). The CPU  21  determines whether a variable Yk that indicates the value of the Y coordinate is greater than the variable Ypre, which indicates the value of the Y coordinate in the preceding round of the processing (Step S 45 ). In a case where the variable Yk is not greater than the variable Ypre (NO at Step S 45 ), the CPU  21  determines whether the variable Yk is less than the variable Ypre (Step S 46 ). In a case where the variable Yk is not less than the variable Ypre (NO at Step S 46 ), the CPU  21  performs Step S 52 , which will be described later. 
     Note that in the present embodiment, the value of the variable Yk is substituted for the variable Ypre at Step S 52 , which will be described later, the variable k is incremented at Step S 54 , which will be described later, and Steps S 45  and S 46  are then repeated. Therefore, the variable Yk becomes the next Y coordinate in the stroke data set  96  after the variable Ypre. Then, by comparing the variable Yk and the variable Ypre, the CPU  21  determines whether the Y coordinate in the stroke data set has moved in a positive direction (toward the top of the paper medium  100 ), has moved in a negative direction (toward the bottom of the paper medium  100 ), or has moved along the X axis (to the left or right on the paper medium  100 ). In the current example, the linear  FIG. 78  (refer to  FIG. 8 ) tracks toward the lower right between Y1 and Y21. Therefore, the variable Yk is less than the variable Ypre. Accordingly, when the processing at Step S 46  is performed for the first time, the value “Y2” of the variable Yk is less than the value “Y1” of the variable Ypre, so the determination is made that the variable Yk is less than the variable Ypre (YES at Step S 46 ). The CPU  21  sets a variable curslope, which indicates the slope of the linear  FIG. 78 , to “−1” (Step S 48 ). 
     The CPU  21  determines whether the variable preslope, which indicates the slope of the linear  FIG. 78  in the preceding round of the processing, is set to zero. When the processing at Step S 49  is performed for the first time, the variable preslope has been set to zero at Step S 44 . Accordingly, the determination is made that the variable preslope is set to zero (YES at Step S 49 ), and the CPU  21  substitutes the value of the variable curslope for the variable preslope (Step S 50 ). In the current example, the variable curslope is set to “−1”. 
     Next, in order to perform the processing for the next set of coordinates in the stroke data set, the CPU  21  substitutes the value of the variable Yk for the variable Ypre (Step S 52 ). The CPU  21  determines whether the variable k is less than the variable n2, that is, determines whether the processing has been completed for all of the sets of coordinates (Step S 53 ). In a case where the variable k is less than the variable n2, that is, the processing has not been completed for all of the sets of coordinates (YES at Step S 53 ), the CPU  21  increments the variable k (Step S 54 ) and returns the processing to Step S 45 . 
     In the current example, the variable k is set to “3” (Step S 54 ). Then the determination is made that the variable Yk “Y3” is less than the variable Ypre “Y2” (YES at Step S 46 ), and the variable curslope is set to “−1” (Step S 48 ). Then the determination is made that the variable preslope is not zero (NO at Step S 49 ). 
     The CPU  21  determines whether the variable curslope is not equal to the variable preslope (Step S 51 ). In a case where the variable curslope is equal to the variable preslope (NO at Step S 51 ), the CPU  21  performs the processing at Step S 52 . The processing sequence of NO at Step S 45 , YES at Step S 46 , Step S 48 , NO at Step S 49 , and Steps S 51  to S 54  is repeated until the set of coordinates along the information line  721  in the linear  FIG. 78  (refer to  FIG. 8 ) becomes (X21, Y21) (that is, until the variable k becomes “21”). When the variable k becomes “22” (Step S 54 ), the determination is made that the variable Yk is greater than the variable Ypre (YES at Step S 45 ), because the coordinate Y22 is located on the path of the linear figure that is written along the information line  722 . The CPU  21  sets the variable curslope to “1” (Step S 47 ). In this case, the determination is made that the variable curslope “1” is not equal to the variable preslope “−1” (YES at Step S 51 ), and the CPU  21  sets the variable m to “k−1” (Step S 55 ). 
     The CPU  21  defines the ending point E as (Xm, Ym). In the current example, the variable m is set to “21” (Step S 55 ), so the ending point E is set to (X21, Y21) (Step S 56 ). The starting point S (X1, Y1) and the ending point E (X21, Y21) of the path of the linear figure that is written along the information line  721  are thus specified (Steps S 42  and S 56 ). The CPU  21  terminates the partitioning processing and performs angle determination processing (Step S 32 ), as shown in  FIG. 10 . The angle determination processing is processing that, for example, by computing the angle of a line segment that links the starting point S and the ending point E that were specified by the partitioning processing (Step S 31 ), specifies the one of the information lines  721  to  723  along which the linear figure is written. 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , the CPU  21  sets a variable ret to zero (Step S 61 ). The CPU  21  computes an angle b of a line segment that links the starting point S and the ending point E (Step S 62 ). Next, the CPU  21  determines whether the angle b that was computed at Step S 62  is in the range of being greater than a value t1 and less than a value t2 (Step S 63 ). The values t1 and t2 are stored in the flash ROM  23  in advance, and they are set such that they define the limits of a specified range of angle values, in the center of which range is the angle of the information line  721 . Note that the values t1 and t2, as well as values t3 and t4 that will be described later and values t5 and t6 that will be described later, are each set such that the angle ranges whose limits they define do not overlap with one another. 
     In a case where the angle b is in the range of being greater than the value t1 and less than the value t2 (YES at Step S 63 ), the CPU  21  determines whether one of the starting point S and the ending point E is within the region  751  and whether the other of the starting point S and the ending point E is within the region  752  (Step S 64 ). In a case where at least one of the starting point S and the ending point E is not within the regions  751 ,  752  (NO at Step S 64 ), the CPU  21  terminates the angle determination processing and performs the processing at Step S 33  (refer to  FIG. 10 ), which will be described later. 
     In the case of the current example, a value of “b1” is computed for the angle b of the line segment that links the starting point S (X1, Y1) and the ending point E (X21, Y21). In this case, the determination is made that the angle b “b1” is in the range of being greater than the value t1 and less than the value t2 (YES at Step S 63 ). Further, the starting point S (X1, Y1) is within the region  751 , and the ending point E (X21, Y21) is within the region  752  (refer to  FIG. 8 ). Therefore, one of the starting point S and the ending point E is within the region  751 , and the other is within the region  752  (YES at Step S 64 ), so the CPU  21  sets the variable ret to “1” (Step S 65 ). In other words, by performing the processing at Steps S 63  and S 64 , the CPU  21  uses the angle b that was computed at Step S 62  to determine whether the path of the linear  FIG. 78  that is indicated by the stroke data set  96  follows the information line  721 . Furthermore, if the path of the linear  FIG. 78  does follow the information line  721 , the variable ret is set to “1”. 
     Next, the CPU  21  terminates the angle determination processing and, as shown in  FIG. 10 , determines whether the variable ret is set to “1” (Step S 33 ). In the current example, the variable ret is set to “1” (YES at Step S 33 ), so the CPU  21  sets the variable Line1 to “True” (Step S 34 ). The CPU  21  determines whether the variable k is less than the variable n2 (Step S 39 ). In other words, the CPU  21  determines whether all of the sets of coordinates in the i-th stroke data set that was specified at Step S 15  have been checked. In a case where the variable k is less than the variable n2, that is, in a case where not all of the sets of coordinates have been checked (YES at Step S 39 ), the CPU  21  returns the processing to Step S 31 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , in the current example, the variable k is set to “22”, so the variable m is set to “21” (Step S 41 ), and the starting point S is set to (X21, Y21) (Step S 42 ). The variable Ypre is set to “Y21” (Step S 43 ). Then the processing at Steps S 45  to S 54  is repeated. At this time, the determination is made that the variable Yk is greater than the variable Ypre (YES at Step S 45 ), and the variable curslope is set to “1” (Step S 47 ). When the variable k becomes “46”, the variable Yk “Y46” becomes less than the variable Ypre “Y45” (YES at Step S 46 ), so the variable curslope is set to “−1” (Step S 48 ). Therefore, the determination is made that the variable curslope “−1” is not equal to the variable preslope “1” (YES at Step S 51 ), and the CPU  21  sets the ending point E to (X45, Y45) (Step S 56 ). Thus the starting point S (X21, Y21) and the ending point E (X45, Y45) of the path of the linear figure that is written along the information line  722  in the linear  FIG. 78  (refer to  FIG. 8 ) are specified. 
     Next, as shown in  FIG. 12 , a value of “b2” is computed for the angle b of the line segment that links the starting point S (X21, Y21) and the ending point E (X45, Y45) (Step S 62 ). In this case, the determination is made that the angle b is not in the range of being greater than the value t1 and less than the value t2 (NO at Step S 63 ). The CPU  21  determines whether the angle b “b2” that was computed at Step S 62  is in the range of being greater than the value t3 and less than the value t4 (Step S 66 ). The values t3 and t4 are stored in the flash ROM  23  in advance, and they are set such that they define the limits of a specified range of angle values, in the center of which range is the angle of the information line  722 . 
     In a case where the angle b is in the range of being greater than the value t3 and less than the value t4 (YES at Step S 66 ), the CPU  21  determines whether one of the starting point S and the ending point E is within the region  752  and whether the other of the starting point S and the ending point E is within the region  753  (Step S 67 ). In a case where at least one of the starting point S and the ending point E is not within the regions  752 ,  753  (NO at Step S 67 ), the CPU  21  terminates the angle determination processing and performs the processing at Step S 33  (refer to  FIG. 10 ). 
     In the current example, the determination is made that the angle b “b2” is in the range of being greater than the value t3 and less than the value t4 (YES at Step S 66 ). Further, the starting point S (X21, Y21) is within the region  752 , and the ending point E (X45, Y45) is within the region  753  (refer to  FIG. 8 ). Therefore, one of the starting point S and the ending point E is within the region  752 , and the other is within the region  753  (YES at Step S 67 ), so the CPU  21  sets the variable ret to “2” (Step S 68 ). In other words, by performing the processing at Steps S 66  and S 67 , the CPU  21  uses the angle b that was computed at Step S 62  to determine whether the path of the linear  FIG. 78  that is indicated by the stroke data set  96  follows the information line  722 . Furthermore, if the path of the linear  FIG. 78  does follow the information line  722 , the variable ret is set to “2”. 
     The CPU  21  terminates the angle determination processing and, as shown in  FIG. 10 , determines that the variable ret is not set to “1” (NO at Step S 33 ). Next, the CPU  21  determines whether the variable ret is set to “2” (Step S 35 ). In the current example, the determination is made that the variable ret is set to “2” (YES at Step S 35 ), so the CPU  21  sets the variable Line2 to “True” (Step S 36 ). The CPU  21  advances the processing to Step S 39 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , in the current example, the variable k is set to “46”, so the variable m is set to “45” (Step S 41 ), and the starting point S is set to (X45, Y45) (Step S 42 ). Then the processing at Steps S 45  to S 46  is repeated. At this time, the determination is made that the variable Yk is less than the variable Ypre (YES at Step S 46 ), so the variable curslope is set to “−1” (Step S 48 ). When the variable k becomes “60”, the determination is made that the variable k “60” is not less than the variable n2 “60” (NO at Step S 53 ). The CPU  21  sets the ending point E to (Xn2, Yn2) (Step S 57 ). In the current example, the ending point E is set to (X60, Y60). Next, the CPU  21  terminates the partitioning processing and advances the processing to Step S 32  (refer to  FIG. 10 ). 
     Next, as shown in  FIG. 12 , a value of “b3” is computed for the angle b of the line segment that links the starting point S (X45, Y45) and the ending point E (X60, Y60) (refer to  FIG. 8 ) (Step S 62 ). In this case, the determination is made that the angle b is not in the range of being greater than the value t1 and less than the value t2 (NO at Step S 63 ), and the determination is made that the angle b is not in the range of being greater than the value t3 and less than the value t4 (NO at Step S 66 ). The CPU  21  determines whether the angle b that was computed at Step S 62  is in the range of being greater than the value t5 and less than the value t6 (Step S 69 ). The values t5 and t6 are stored in the flash ROM  23  in advance, and they are set such that they define the limits of a specified range of angle values, in the center of which range is the angle of the information line  723 . 
     In a case where the angle b is in the range of being greater than the value t5 and less than the value t6 (YES at Step S 69 ), the CPU  21  determines whether one of the starting point S and the ending point E is within the region  753  and whether the other of the starting point S and the ending point E is within the region  754  (Step S 70 ). In a case where at least one of the starting point S and the ending point E is not within the regions  753 ,  754  (NO at Step S 70 ), the CPU  21  terminates the angle determination processing and performs the processing at Step S 33  (refer to  FIG. 10 ). 
     In the current example, the determination is made that the angle b “b3” is in the range of being greater than the value t5 and less than the value t6 (YES at Step S 69 ). Further, the starting point S (X45, Y45) is within the region  753 , and the ending point E (X60, Y60) is within the region  754 . Therefore, one of the starting point S and the ending point E is within the region  753 , and the other is within the region  754  (YES at Step S 70 ), so the CPU  21  sets the variable ret to “3” (Step S 71 ). In other words, by performing the processing at Steps S 69  and S 70 , the CPU  21  uses the angle b that was computed at Step S 62  to determine whether the path of the linear  FIG. 78  that is indicated by the stroke data set  96  follows the information line  723 . Furthermore, if the path of the linear  FIG. 78  does follow the information line  723 , the variable ret is set to “3”. 
     The CPU  21  terminates the angle determination processing and, as shown in  FIG. 10 , determines that the variable ret is not set to “1” (NO at Step S 33 ) and determines that the variable ret is not set to “2” (NO at Step S 35 ). Next, the CPU  21  determines whether the variable ret is set to “3” (Step S 37 ). In a case where the variable ret is not set to “3” (NO at Step S 37 ), the CPU  21  advances the processing to Step S 39 . In the current example, the determination is made that the variable ret is set to “3” (YES at Step S 37 ), so the CPU  21  sets the variable Line3 to “True” (Step S 38 ). The CPU  21  advances the processing to Step S 39 . The determination is made that the variable k “60” is not less than the variable n2 “60” (NO at Step S 39 ), that is, that all of the sets of coordinates have been processed, so the CPU  21  terminates the recognition processing. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the CPU  21  determines whether the variable i is less than the variable n1 (Step S 18 ). In a case where the variable i is less than the variable n1 (YES at Step S 18 ), the CPU  21  increments the variable i (Step S 19 ). Next, the CPU  21  returns the processing to Step S 15 . In a case where the variable i is not less than the variable n1 (NO at Step S 18 ), a determination is made as to whether at least one of the variables Line1, Line2, Line3 has been set to “True” (Step S 20 ). In a case where none of the variables Line1, Line2, Line3 has been set to “True” (NO at Step S 20 ), the CPU  21  returns the processing to Step S 11 . 
     In a case where at least one of the variables Line1, Line2, Line3 has been set to “True” (YES at Step S 20 ), the CPU  21  refers to the correspondence data table  95  (refer to  FIG. 5 ) and specifies the specified information item that is associated with the combination of the variables Line1, Line2, Line3 that have been set to “True” (Step S 21 ). Next, the CPU  21  performs an operation based on the specified information item that was specified at Step S 21  (Step S 22 ). In the current example, all of the variables Line1, Line2, Line3 have been set to “True”, so the specified information item “Transmit stroke data to ggg@hhh.ne.jp” is specified (Step S 21 ). The CPU  21  performs the operation that was specified at Step S 21  (Step S 22 ). In this manner, the stroke data set that indicates the word “Meeting” is transmitted to the e-mail address ggg @hhh.ne.jp. 
     Note that the user has written the word “Meeting” prior to writing the linear  FIG. 78  along the information lines  721  to  723 . The main processing is performed while the word “Meeting” is being written, but the determinations that are made at Steps S 64 , S 67 , S 69 , and S 70  that are shown in  FIG. 12  are all NO, so the variable ret is set to zero. Accordingly, the processing at Steps S 34 , S 36 , and S 38  that are shown in  FIG. 10  is not performed, and the specifying of the specified information item at Step S 21  that is shown in  FIG. 7  is not performed. 
     Furthermore, in a hypothetical case where a linear figure is drawn only along the information line  722 , the performing of the main processing causes the specified information item “Transmit stroke data to PC  19 ” to be specified (Step S 21 ), such that the stroke data set that indicates the word “Meeting” is transmitted to the PC  19  (Step S 22 ). In other words, by writing a linear figure along at least one of information lines  721  to  723 , the user is able to designate the operation that the CPU  21  will be made to perform. 
     The processing in the present embodiment is performed as described above. In the present embodiment, in order for the user to designate the specified information item, it is sufficient for the user to write only the linear figure along the information lines  721  to  723 . 
     Therefore, the amount of effort that is required of the user in order to designate the specified information item can be reduced from what it would be in a case where the user has to fill in the frames  711  to  713 . 
     Furthermore, the information lines  721  to  723  are provided inside the frames  711  to  713 . The information lines  721  to  723  therefore stand out more than they would in a case where the frames  711  to  713  are not provided, so the user can visually recognize the information lines  721  to  723  more easily. The user is also able to recognize the angles of the information lines  721  to  723  while visually comparing the information lines  721  to  723  to the shapes of the frames  711  to  713 . The user can therefore easily recognize the angles of the information lines  721  to  723  and can write the linear figure along the information lines  721  to  723  at the desired angles. 
     Moreover, in the present embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 5 , combinations of two or more of the variables Line1, Line2, Line3 are associated with specified information items that are different from the specified information items with which the individual variables Line1, Line2, Line3 are associated. The variables Line1, Line2, Line3 are respectively associated with the information lines  721 ,  722 ,  723 . Therefore, combinations of two or more of the information lines  721  to  723  that are provided on the form  121  are associated with specified information items that are different from the specified information items with which the individual information lines  721  to  723  are associated. It is thus possible to express different specified information items by using combinations of two or more of the information lines  721  to  723 . Therefore, the space on the form  111  where the information lines  721  to  723  are located can be made smaller than it would be in a case where the number of the information lines that are provided is the same as the number of the specified information items. 
     The angle b of the line segment that links the starting point S and the ending point E is acquired at Step S 62  (refer to  FIG. 12 ). Therefore, even in a case where the path of the linear figure between the starting point S and the ending point E has deviated from the information lines  721  to  723 , the determination as to whether the path of the linear  FIG. 78  that the stroke data set  96  indicates follows the information lines  721  to  723  can be determined at Steps S 63 , S 64 , S 66 , S 67 , S 69 , and S 70 . Accordingly, it is not necessary for the user to use the electronic pen  3  to write the linear figure precisely along the information lines  721  to  723 , so the burden on the user is reduced. 
     Note that a linear  FIG. 78  is written in the mark  71  from the upper left end of the information line  721  to the lower right end of the information line  723 , following the information lines  721 ,  722 ,  723  in that order. However, the linear  FIG. 78  may also be written in the reverse order, that is, from the lower right end of the information line  723  to the upper left end of the information line  721 , following the information lines  723 ,  722 ,  721  in that order. 
     Note that that present disclosure is not limited to the in the embodiment that is described above, and various types of modifications can be made. For example, the frames  711  to  713  are indicated by solid lines, but the type of the lines is not restricted, and they may also be broken lines. The information lines  721  to  723  are indicated by broken lines, but the type of the lines is not restricted, and they may also be solid lines. It is also acceptable for the frames  711  to  713  not to be provided. The three information lines  721  to  723  are provided, but it is acceptable for any number of the information lines that is not less than one to be provided. The specified information items are also not limited to the items in the present embodiment, and they may also be items about the format of the form  111 , such as a schedule format, a memo format, a to do list format, and the like, for example. 
     Furthermore, because the mark  71  is provided with the frames  711  to  713 , another device may also use the frames  711  to  713  to recognize the specified information items. More specifically, instead of recognizing the specified information items based on the angles of a linear figure that is written along the information lines, as in the embodiment that is described above, in a case where the frames  711  to  713  have been filled in, the other device can specify the specified information items based on the positions of the frames that have been filled in. Assume, for example, that the user fills in at least one of the frames  711  to  713 . The other device is provided with a camera, and the camera captures an image of the form  121 . Based on captured image of the form  121 , the other device specifies the position of the frame that has been filled in. The other device refers to a storage device, specifies the specified information item that is associated with the position of the specified frame, and performs an operation. 
     The unit that performs the main processing is the CPU  21  of the reading device  2 , but it may also be the CPU  41  of the PC  19 . In that case, the program for performing the main processing and the correspondence data table  95  may be stored in the HDD  42 . The specified information items in the correspondence data table  95  may also be changed to items for operations that the CPU  41  will perform. In the present modified example, the reading device  2  transmits the stroke data to the CPU  41  of the PC  19 . The CPU  41  receives the stroke data (Step S 11  in  FIG. 7 ), then uses the received stroke data in performing the processing. 
     The shape of the mark  71  is not limited. For example, it is acceptable not to provide the frames  711  to  713 . The number of the information lines may also be one. A mark  81  that is shown in  FIG. 13  may also be used. The mark  81  is provided in the upper left portion of each of the forms  121 ,  122 . The mark  81  is provided with three frames  811 ,  812 ,  813  and three information lines  821 ,  822 ,  823 . Each one of the frames  811  to  813  is rectangular, with its long axis extending in the left-right direction. The frames  811  to  813  are disposed such that they are arrayed in the up-down direction, which is the direction in which the edges  123 ,  124 , which are each affixed to the paper medium  100 , extend. Each one of the information lines  821  to  823  is a line that corresponds to one of the specified information items and that is set at a predetermined angle, the angle being different for each one of the information lines  821  to  823 . In the same manner as with the information lines  721  to  723 , combinations of two or more of the information lines  821  to  823  correspond to specified information items that are different from those to which the individual information lines  821  to  823  correspond, although that is not shown in the drawings. 
     In a case where the mark  71  that is shown in  FIG. 6  is used, in the partitioning processing ( FIG. 11 ), the starting point S and the ending point E are specified by comparing the Y coordinates (the variable Yk and the variable Ypre). However, in a case where the mark  81  that is shown in  FIG. 13  is used, the starting point S and the ending point E are specified by comparing the X coordinates. Specifically, a variable Xpre may be set to the value of Xm at Step S 43 , a variable Xk may be compared to the variable Xpre at Steps S 45  and S 46 , and the variable Xk may be substituted for the variable Xpre at Step S 52 . 
     Furthermore, as shown in  FIG. 13 , the forms  121 ,  122  are affixed to the paper medium  100  by the binding of the edges  123 ,  124 . Therefore, the forms  121 ,  122  are more resistant to shifting in the direction in which the affixed edges  123 ,  124  extend (that is, the up-down direction) than in the direction that is orthogonal to the direction in which the affixed edges  123 ,  124  extend (that is, the left-right direction). The plurality of the frames  811  to  813  are arrayed along the direction in which the affixed edges  123 ,  124  extend. Therefore, in a case where the forms  121 ,  122  have shifted, the possibility that one of the frames  811  to  813  will shift to the position of another frame can be reduced. Accordingly, the possibility can be reduced that a user who tries to write a linear figure along the information line that is located in a certain frame will mistakenly write the linear figure along the information line in another frame. The possibility can also be reduced that the CPU  21  will incorrectly recognize the path of a linear figure that is written along the information line inside one frame as being the path of a linear figure that is written along the information line inside another frame, due to tilting of the one frame such that it shifts to the position of the other frame. 
     A mark  91  that is shown in  FIG. 14  may also be used instead of the mark  71 . The mark  91  is shaped like the pattern of the British Union Jack flag. More specifically, the mark  91  is provided with a single rectangular frame  911  that forms the outline of the mark  91  and is also provided with a plurality of information lines  921  to  924  inside the frame  911 . The information line  921  is a broken line that links the center of the upper edge of the frame  911  to the center of the lower edge. The information line  922  is a broken line that links the center of the left edge of the frame  911  to the center of the right edge. The information line  923  is a broken line that links the upper left corner of the frame  911  to the lower right corner. The information line  924  is a broken line that links the lower left corner of the frame  911  to the upper right corner. The information lines  921  to  924  intersect one another in the center of the frame  911 . In the same manner as the information lines  721  to  723 , each one of the information lines  921  to  924  is a line that corresponds to one of the specified information items and that is set at a predetermined angle, the angle being different for each one of the information lines  921  to  924 . Combinations of two or more of the information lines  921  to  924  correspond to specified information items that are different from those to which the individual information lines  921  to  924  correspond. By writing a linear figure along one or more of the information lines  921  to  924 , the user is able to designate the specified information item. 
     The mark  91  that is shown in  FIG. 14  includes the one frame  911  and the plurality of the information lines  921  to  924 . Therefore, the number of lines that form the frame is less than in a case where the number of frames is not less than the number of the information lines, so the user can recognize the positions of the information lines  921  to  924  more easily. Note that with the one frame  911 , it is sufficient for the number of the information lines to be a plurality. For example, two, three, five, or more information lines, each with a different angle, may be provided inside the frame  911 . 
     Each one of the information lines  721  to  723  is a line that corresponds to one of the specified information items and that is set at a predetermined angle. However, each one of the information lines may also be a line that corresponds to one of the specified information items and that is provided at a predetermined position, for example. For example, a mark  51  that is shown in  FIG. 15  is provided with frames  511  to  513  and with information lines  521  to  523 . The shapes and the positional relationships of the frames  511  to  513  are the same as those of the frames  711  to  713  (refer to  FIG. 6 ). Each one of the information lines  521  to  523  is a line that corresponds to one of the specified information items and that is provided at a predetermined position, the position being different for each one of the information lines  521  to  523 . More specifically, the information line  521  is positioned inside the upper portion of the frame  511  and extends in the left-right direction. The information line  522  is positioned inside the vertically central portion of the frame  512  and extends in the left-right direction. The information line  523  is positioned inside the lower portion of the frame  513  and extends in the left-right direction. Each one of the information lines  521  to  523  is in a different position in the up-down direction, which is the direction in which the edges  123 ,  124 , which are each affixed to the paper medium  100 , extend. 
     In the same manner as with the information lines  721  to  723 , combinations of two or more of the information lines  521  to  523  correspond to specified information items that are different from those to which the individual information lines  521  to  523  correspond, although that is not shown in the drawings. By writing a linear figure along one or more of the information lines  521  to  523 , the user is able to designate the specified information item. 
     In the present modified example, based on the stroke data, the CPU  21  specifies the starting points S and the ending points E of the paths of the linear figures that have been drawn along the corresponding information lines  521  to  523 . Then, in the same manner as in the processing at Steps S 64 , S 67 , and S 70  (refer to  FIG. 12 ), the information lines  521  to  523  that have been designated by the user may be specified by determining whether the specified starting points S and ending points E are within regions at the centers of which are the left and right ends of the corresponding information lines  521  to  523 . 
     Even in the present modified example, the user can designate the specified information item by writing a linear figure along the information lines  521  to  523 . Further, as described previously, the forms  121 ,  122  are more resistant to shifting in the direction in which the edges  123 ,  124  that are affixed to the paper medium  100  extend (that is, the up-down direction) than in the direction that is orthogonal to the direction in which the affixed edges  123 ,  124  extend (that is, the left-right direction). Each one of the information lines  521  to  523  is in a different position in the up-down direction, which is the direction in which the affixed edges  123 ,  124  extend. Therefore, in a case where the forms  121 ,  122  have shifted, the possibility that one of the information lines  521  to  523  will shift to the position of another information line can be reduced. Accordingly, the possibility can be reduced that a user who tries to write a linear figure along one of the information lines will mistakenly write the linear figure along another of the information lines. The possibility can also be reduced that the CPU  21  will incorrectly recognize the path of a linear figure that is written along one of the information lines as being the path of a linear figure that is written along another of the information lines, due to the shifting of the one information line to the position of the other information line. 
     A mark  61  that is shown in  FIG. 16  may also be used as a modified example of the mark  51 . The mark  61  is provided with a single frame  611  and with information lines  621  to  623 . The frame  611  is rectangular, with its long axis extending in the up-down direction. Each one of the information lines  621  to  623  is a broken line that corresponds to one of the specified information items and that is provided at a predetermined position, the position being different for each one of the information lines  621  to  623 . More specifically, each one of the information lines  621  to  623  is positioned inside the frame  611  and extends in the left-right direction. Each one of the information lines  621  to  623  is in a different position in the up-down direction, which is the direction in which the edges  123 ,  124 , which are each affixed to the paper medium  100 , extend. Even in the present modified example, the same sort of effect can be achieved as with the mark  51 .