Patent Publication Number: US-2007114288-A1

Title: System and method for implementing an action based on a written mark

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application claims priority benefits under 35 § U.S.C. 119(e) of the U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/738,060, filed on Nov. 21, 2005. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The invention relates to electronic reading and reporting of information, and more specifically to a system and method for the reading and reporting information in response to a written mark.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Some writing devices or digital pens capable of recording handwritten marks made on position-coded paper are known in the art. Such writing devices generally detect position codes on the paper where the mark is made in order to electronically record the mark. Methods of recording and communicating handwritten information are similarly known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,698,660 discloses a method of recording and managing information wherein information is written on a surface using a handheld writing device and recorded electronically. The information may then be interpreted via optical character recognition, refined and transmitted to a storage or addressee.  
      While such known devices and methods provide for the translation of handwritten information, there is a need for systems to receive information from multiple devices and/or multiple surfaces and effectively manage and execute actions based on received information. What is desired therefore is a system for processing data received from multiple digital pens and/or multiple surfaces and automatically executing actions.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      According, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for automatically implementing one or more actions based on written marks. It is a further object to provide a system and method of aggregating information from any number of writing devices, forms, and/or databases and executing actions based on the aggregated information such as deploying reports and dashboards to a client company&#39;s management in real time. It is a further object to provide a system and method for triggering processes, macros, stored procedures and other actions to convert the aggregated information into actionable information in real time.  
      These and other objects of the present invention are achieved by providing a system a system for implementing an action based on written mark, including a writable surface having one or more predefined locations thereon for receiving a written mark, a device for making the written mark on the writable surface and reading information, the information including both the written mark and the location in which it is made, and software executing on a controller for implementing an action upon reading the information, the action being based on the read information and information from at least one other source.  
      Further provided is a system for implementing an action based on written mark, including a writable surface having two or more predefined locations thereon for receiving written marks, a device for making a first written mark in a first location and a second written mark in a second location, and for reading first information from the first location and second information from the second location, the first and second information each including both the respective written mark and the respective location in which it was made, software executing on a controller for interpreting the first information, a database including a plurality of fields, software executing on the controller for storing at least a portion of the second information in a field corresponding to the second location, and software executing on the controller for implementing an action represented by the interpreted first information.  
      Further provided is a method of implementing an action based on a written mark, including the steps of making a written mark to one or more predefined locations of a writable surface, receiving information from the writable surface, interpreting the information, storing the information in a field of a database, the field corresponding to the location in which the written mark was made, and implementing an action based on the information and information stored in the database from at least one other source. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a system for implementing an action in response to a written mark in accordance with present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is another schematic view of a system for implementing an action in response to a written mark in accordance with present invention.  
       FIG. 3A  is side view of a device for making a mark and reading information in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 3B  is front view of an exemplary device for making a mark and reading information in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 4A  is schematic view of an exemplary writable surface in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 4B  is schematic view of an exemplary writable surface in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 4C  is schematic view of an exemplary writable surface in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 4D  is schematic view of an exemplary writable surface in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 5  is schematic view of an exemplary report in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 6  is method for implementing an action in response to a written mark employable by the system shown in  FIGS. 1-2 .  
       FIG. 7  is another method for implementing an action in response to a written mark employable by the system shown in  FIGS. 1-2 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  shows a schematic view of a system for implementing an action in response to a written mark in accordance with present invention. The system includes at least one writing device  102 . The writing device  102  may be any known writing device or digital pen for making a mark  106  on a surface  108  and reading information from the surface  108 . For example, the writing device  102  may be a Logitech® digital pen. The writing device  104  may be activated and/or manipulated by a user  104 .  
      The surface  108  according to the present invention may be position-coded paper or any other surface including position-coding. For example, the surface  108  may be position-coded paper as manufactured or licensed by Anoto®. The surface  108  may further be a form customized for a particular type of data entry and/or action. As such, the surface  108  may have any number of predefined locations for receiving a written mark. For example, the surface  108  may be a product order form. In other embodiments, the surface  108  may be one surface of product container having position-coding thereon.  
      As shown in  FIG. 1 , the system of the present invention further includes a controller  114 . The controller  114  may be any device, system, or part thereof that controls at least one operation or receives and/or execute one or more software programs. The controller  114  may, for example, be one of a digital signal processor, a microcontroller, a microprocessor, or a computer programmable logic device. It should be noted that the functionality associated with the controller  114  may be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely. Mark information  110  including the written mark and the location in which it was made is received (e.g., read) by the writing device  102 . The controller  114  of system may then receive information  112  (e.g., device information) from the writing device  102  either periodically in a batch or in real time (e.g., wirelessly). The device information  112  includes the mark information  110  and, in some cases, other information stored in the writing device  102 . For example, the device information  112  may include mark information stored from a previous mark. The device information  112  may further include information identifying the device  102  and/or a user  104  of the device  102 .  
      The controller  114  may include software for executing an action from the mark information  110  and/or device information  112 . Shown in  FIG. 2 , the controller  114  may receive the device information  112  and identify data  202  for storage and/or an action  204  for implementation. An identified action  204  is preferably based on or related to the mark information  110  and information from at least one other source. For example, the action  204  may be also based on other information stored in the writing device  102  such as information received from a second surface. The action  204  may further be based on or related to information from a second writing device and/or information stored in a database.  
      Shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the system further includes at least one storage  116 . The storage  116  may include any number of data records, e.g., data records  220  and  230 . Each data record  220 / 230  may also include any number of data fields, e.g.,  222 , for storing portions of the information  110 / 112 . The system also includes software executing on the controller  114  for storing a portion of the information  110 / 112  in a data field corresponding to a location on the surface  108  in which the written mark  106  was made. The storage  116  (and/or data records or fields thereof) further includes information from at least one other source (e.g., surface, device, and/or user).  
      Data or information in the storage  116  may be organized in any manner, such as by information category. For example, the storage  116  may be organized by user, by writing device, and/or by surface. The storage  116  may further be organized by accounts associated or indicated in read information and/or managers or subscribers of the particular accounts. In one exemplary embodiment, the storage  116  may include at least one data record for each of a group of sales representatives. Each data record my also be grouped by a particular manager associated with the group of sales representatives.  
      As discussed above, the controller  104  receives device information  112  including data  202  for storage and/or actions (e.g.,  204 ) for implementation. The action  204  to be implemented by the system may include any number of actions triggered by and/or based on the read information  110 / 112 . For example, the action  204  may include aggregating data (e.g., from the device  102  and/or other sources) and generating or updating a report  118 . The report  118  may be a written report, electronic mail, dashboard display, text message, audible transmission, or any other type of report. In some embodiments, the system may generate a report  118  including a category of information from the storage  116  (e.g., stored data  240 ). For example, the system may periodically and/or in real time generate and distribute a report  118  to subscriber of one or more categories of information. For example, in one embodiment the present invention allows a manager to receive real time reports of the activities of a group of sales representatives. Such reports communicate real time sales made by each representative and/or total sales for a given time period or product. The reports may further indicate the client locations and times of sales and therefore the location and working hours of particular sales representatives or real time verification that a critical task has been completed.  
      The action  204  may further include storing a portion of the device information  112  and/or data  202  in a particular location of the storage  116 . For example, a portion of the surface  108  may be indicative of a field (e.g.,  222 ) of the storage  116 . The action  204  may therefore include storing a portion of the device information  112  and/or data  202  in the particular field. In some embodiments, the stored data  202  further includes a record of completed action or an action to be implemented. Further, the device information  112  may include other indicators of particular storage locations. For example, the text of the written mark may include a customer or account name interpreted by the controller  114  to indication association with one or more data records. As discussed above, the device information  112  may also including information about the writing device  102  or a user  104  thereof which may also indicate particular storage locations or other actions to be taken.  
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  show an exemplary device  302  for making a mark and reading information in accordance with the present invention. The device  302  includes a writing element  304  such an ink and or graphite tip. The device  302  further includes an optical element  306  for receiving and/or reading the mark  106  and the location in which it is made. The device  302  may also include a device storage (not shown). In some embodiments, the device  302  communicates device information (e.g.,  112 ) via a docking station. However, the device  302  according to the present invention preferably includes an antenna  308  (either internal or external) to enable wireless communication of information. The device  302  may communicate via any known wireless means including, but not limited to, Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi (e.g., including long range broadband communication), RF, PCS, and/or cellular.  
       FIGS. 4A-4D  show several exemplary surfaces or forms according to the present invention. It should be noted, however, that these forms are only exemplary and many other customized forms may be employed by the present invention.  FIG. 4A  shows a surface or form  400  according to the present invention. The form  400  may, for example, be an inspection form. The form  400  includes any number of locations such as location  402 ,  408  and  412 . As shown, a mark  404  may be made in the location  402 . Upon making the mark  404 , the writing device  102  may receive mark information  110  including the mark  404  and indication of the location  402  in which it was made. In this particular example, the location  402  is indicative of the completion of a “Task  2 .” 
      The controller  114 , upon receiving device information  112  containing such mark information  110 , may implement a corresponding action. For example, the controller  114  may generate a report evidencing the completion of the Task  2 . The controller  114  may further access stored data  240  for use in implementing the action. In this case, the stored data  240  may include further information related to the Task  2 , the user  104 , information regarding the type of report to generate and/or the proper recipients of the report. The generated report may therefore include information related to other tasks completed by the user and/or other instances of the task  2  being completed (e.g., by any user).  
       FIG. 4B  shows another exemplary surface or form  420  according to the present invention. The form  420  is a sample distribution form such as one which may be used in the pharmaceutical industry. The form  420  includes any number of locations, e.g.,  422 ,  428 ,  432  for receiving a mark (e.g.,  424 ). Mark information received from some of the locations may be interpreted for inclusion of an action, while mark information from some other locations may only be stored. For example, the mark  424  in location  422  may be indicative of an action, such as to generate (e.g., or update) a report evidencing all distributions of item  2 . In some other embodiments, such a mark  424  may indicate an action to deliver  250  item  2   s  to the physician indicated therein and/or replenish inventory of item  2 . Another mark  434  made in the location  432  may only be stored (e.g., as an image file) with a data record associated with the user, the physician and/or items (e.g.,  2 ,  5 ,  7 , and/or  8 ). In other embodiments, the presence of a mark  434  (e.g., signature) in the location  432  may trigger any number of actions.  
       FIG. 4C  shows another exemplary surface or form  440  according to the present invention. The form  440  may be a product order form. The form  470  includes any number of locations (e.g.,  442 ,  446 ,  452 ,  454 ,  458 ,  460 , and  462 ). A mark made in at least some of the locations may be interpreted to determine an action. For example, a mark made in the location  452  may indicate that a product identified elsewhere on the form is to be delivered via FedEx. The mark may further trigger an action to retrieve stored data such as a FedEx account number for the client identified elsewhere on the form. Marks made in at least some other locations may only be read and stored. For example, a mark made in location  462  may only be stored with a report associated with the order, representative or client.  
       FIG. 4D  shows another exemplary surface  470  according to the present invention. The surface  470  does not include particular locations for the receipt of written marks. Alternatively, the system may interpret all mark information received from the surface  470  to determine actions contained therein. A user may write a mark  472  including at least code or symbol indicative of an action to be implemented upon interpretation by the controller. For example, the code or code words “update contact” may indicate that the following portion of the mark is to be saved in a contact (e.g., Outlook or Entourage contact) for an identified individual (e.g., Dr. Bill Smith). Other codes may indicate other actions such as to generate a report of a product distribution (e.g., mark  478 ), to generate an expense report (e.g., mark  484 ), and to generate a reminder (e.g., Outlook or Entourage reminder).  
       FIG. 5  shows an exemplary report  500  according to the present invention. The report  500  may be generated or updated upon the receipt of device information evidencing a sale made by any one a group of sales representatives. For example, upon each sale made by a representative, a manager may be sent such a report  500  in real time including past and present sales data for the group. Further, the report  500  may be in the form of a dashboard displayed on the manager&#39;s desktop being updated in real time as each sale is executed.  
       FIG. 6  shows one exemplary method of implementing an action in response to a written mark. In a first step, a mark is provided to a surface and/or form as described herein (step  601 ). Information is then received from the surface, e.g., including the written mark and the location in which it was made (step  603 ). The information may be transmitted to the controller and stored (step  605 - 607 ). An action is then implemented (step  609 ). The present may be useful when the location of a mark alone provides the information necessary to implement an action. For example, a mark made in the location  402  of the form  400  may indicate that a report evidencing the completion of the task  2  is to be generated.  
       FIG. 7  shows another exemplary method of implementing an action in response to a written mark. In a first step, a mark is provided to a surface and/or form as described herein (step  701 ). Information is then received from the surface, e.g., including the written mark and the location in which it was made (step  703 ). The information is then transmitted to the controller and interpreted (step  705 - 607 ). For example, the controller may interpret the information to determine if the information includes an indicator (e.g., code) of a particular action. Any actions represented by the information may then be implemented (step  711 ).  
      In operation, the present invention may, for example, be useful in the pharmaceutical industry. As those in the industry will appreciate, pharmaceutical sale representatives visit numerous health care practitioners on a daily basis. The representatives often distribute samples of various pharmaceuticals to the practitioners as well. Each distribution must be documented and recorded. Therefore, representatives often fill out a form evidencing each distribution and including the practitioner&#39;s signature.  
      The present invention therefore may provide numerous advantages in this industry. First, a customized form may be used for evidencing the distribution (e.g., form  420 ). In some embodiments, the surface  108  may simply be the box or container in which the distributed sample is contained. The writing device  102  may record information relating the distribution, e.g., including the practitioner&#39;s signature, and wirelessly transmit it to a remotely located controller and/or server for processing and storage. The controller  114  may receive the information and store at least a portion of the information. For example, the controller  114  may identify the user (i.e., sales representative), the practitioner, and the quantities and types of distributed samples. The controller  114  may then store the information accordingly, e.g., in data records associated with one or all of the particular user, practitioner, type of sample (e.g., pharmaceutical), and/or data records.  
      The controller  114  may also generate and distribute reports based on device information and/or information from at least one other source (e.g., a second representative, a second device, a second form, etc). For example, the controller  114  may generate a report of each representative&#39;s distributions over a period of time. A manager of the representatives may then receive real time reports and/or updated reports on the progress and activities of each representative (e.g., report  500 ). The frequency and content of the reports may be dictated by the manager&#39;s system preferences (e.g., set via a user interface) and/or predefined business rules.  
      Although the invention has been described with reference to a particular arrangement of parts, features and the like, these are not intended to exhaust all possible arrangements or features, and indeed many modifications and variations will be ascertainable to those of skill in the art.