Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F40/00—Handling natural language data
  • G06F40/10—Text processing
  • G06F40/166—Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting
  • G06F40/174—Form filling; Merging
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
  • B41J21/00—Column, tabular or like printing arrangements; Means for centralising short lines
  • B41J21/16—Column, tabular or like printing arrangements; Means for centralising short lines controlled by the sensing of marks or formations on the paper being typed, an undersheet, or the platen
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
  • G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
  • G06F3/033—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor
  • G06F3/0354—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor with detection of 2D relative movements between the device, or an operating part thereof, and a plane or surface, e.g. 2D mice, trackballs, pens or pucks

Definitions

• This invention concerns a method m a system comprising at least one printer, for generating a form, a corresponding arrangement, and a digital storage medium containing a corresponding computer program.
• the invention also concerns a method m a computer system for recording form data for an information entry, a corresponding arrangement and a digital storage medium containing a corresponding computer program.
• the invention also concerns a form.
• Forms and the like are used to a considerable extent m today's society.
• the aim of such forms is to ensure that a user fills m the correct information and that this is carried out m a structured way. Therefore forms usually consist of a sheet of paper containing printed form layouts, with instructions concerning what information is to be filled m and directions concerning where on the sheet this is to be carried out.
• OCR technology which can recognise text, both m the layout of the form and m the fields which have been filled m by a user.
• Creating a corresponding database form from a scanned image of a form requires, however, comprehen- sive and complicated image analysis software.
• the identity and orientation of tne form is to be determined and the entries on the form are to be identified and distinguished from the layout of the form.
• An object of this invention is to completely or partially solve the above-mentioned problems.
• a method for generating a form is provided m a system com- prising at least one computer and at least one printer.
• the method comprises the steps, m any order: printout, by means of said printer, of a form layout, comprising at least one entry field, on a base m the form of a sheet, which base is provided with a position-coding pattern, said entry field being intended to be completed using a user unit, which is arranged to optically detect posi- tions on the base utilising the position-coding pattern, for digital recording of the information entered m the entry field; and printout, by means of said printer, of an identity pattern on said base, a marking of the identity pattern using said user unit being intended to be detected by the user unit, utilising the position-coding pattern, as a set of positions, which identify said form layout .
• Such a position-coding pattern can be designed m the way described m Applicant's Patent Applications WO 00/73983 and PCT/SE00/01667 , which are herewith incorporated by reference. Moreover, reference is made to WO 01/16691, the content of which is included m the specification by reference.
• a form which is printed m accordance with the above-mentioned method is thus intended to be completed using a user unit which at the same time records the entered information.
• the identifying pattern is marked or a line is drawn through it using the user unit.
• This operation can link the information entered m the form to a particular database form m the computer system. This means at the same time that the information entered m a particular entry field can be linked to a particular information entry m the database form, that is position information within a particular area on the sheet is connected to a particular entry on the form. The structuring of the completed information is thus carried out automatically.
• Recording of a form created m accordance with the above-mentioned method does not therefore require a flatbed scanner equipped with advanced software for image analysis.
• the completion of the form and recording of the information entered is carried out m a single stage.
• the form does not therefore need to be sent away, but can, for example, be retained as a copy of what was entered on it.
• Mobile recording can be carried out m the field.
• the computer system can process the entered information m a simple and structured way and the danger of errors arising m the recording is reduced.
• the positional relationship of a form layout and a position-coding pattern is established so that they may be co-ordinated. Boxes to be ticked or a set of parallel juxtaposed lines can preferably be part of the identity pattern. These are also found m other contexts and a user understands intuitively how they are to be marked.
• the positions which identify the form layout can preferably also consist of a description of the scale m which said layout has been printed m relation to the position-coding pattern. This makes it possible for a recording system to compensate for a printout which, for example, has been made m too small a scale.
• the printer may be provided with a position- coding pattern reader device, m order to facilitate the printing of a form layout that is adapted to the position-coding pattern.
• this additionally comprises the step: generation of a database form m the computer system, comprising an information entry which corresponds to the entry field of the printed form, information cor- responding to said digital recording of information entered m the entry field being intended to be stored m the information entry.
• a form which is printed can then suitably be provided with an identifying pattern which not only identifies the form layout but also the individual printed form, which is thus given a unique identifying pattern.
• the information which is stored m the information entry can then preferably consist of output data when the computer system applies a rule to input data corresponding to said digital recording of information entered m the entry field.
• the rule's output data is then a processing of its input data. This also permits interpretation of information entered in the information field.
• This aspect of the invention also comprises a corresponding arrangement for the generation of a form and a digital storage medium containing a computer program for generating a form.
• a method is provided in a computer system for inputting form data into an information entry, said form data arising when an entry field m a form, which comprises a form layout printed on a base m the form of a sheet, is completed using a user unit.
• the method comprises the following steps, m any order: recording of a first set of position information corresponding to form data which arises when the entry field is completed by means of the user unit, by the base being provided with a position- coding pattern and by the user unit being arranged to optically detect positions on the base utilising the position-coding pattern; and recording of a second set of position information which arises m the same way when an identity pattern which is printed on the sheet is marked by the user unit, which second set of position information is intended to identify said form layout.
• This aspect of the invention goes together with the first aspect of the invention like a lock and key and thus has corresponding advantages.
• the information entry can preferably be incorporated in a database form. This enables a complete corresponding virtual form to be created in the computer system.
• a rule is suitably applied to the first set of posi- tion information so that output data from the rule which is obtained by processing the first set of position information constitutes input data for the information entry.
• This also permits field-specific interpretation of information entered in the information field.
• the format of the output data of the rule is preferably from the group: Boolean variable, whole number, real number, text string or a graphical format. These formats can then be processed in various general ways by rhe computer system concerned or by another computer system to which this information is transmitted.
• the computer system can preferably be contained in the user unit. This enables both mobile recording and interpretation of information which is entered on a form. Processed data can thereafter be forwarded to other sys- terns.
• a form comprising a form layout, with at least one entry field, which is printed on a base in the form of a sheet.
• the form is characterised in that the base is provided with a position-coding pattern, said entry field being intended to be completed using a user unit, which is arranged to optically detect positions on the sheet, utilising the position-coding pattern, for digital re- cording of information entered in the entry field; and by an identity pattern on said sheet, a marking of the identity pattern using the user unit being intended to be de- tected by the user unit, utilising the position-coding pattern, as a set of positions which identify said form layout .
• the form has advantages corresponding to the metnod according to the first aspect of the invention.
• the base m the form of a sheet preferably consists of a sheet of paper.
• Fig. 1 shows a computer system m which the metnods according to the invention can be carried out, a base m the form of a sheet and a user unit of a preferred type.
• Fig. 2 shows a form according to the invention.
• Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of the identifying pa ⁇ - tern.
• Fig. 4 shows the application of a number of rules with position information as input data.
• Fig. 5 shows a flow chart describing a method for generating forms according to the invention.
• Fig. 6 shows a flow chart describing a method for recording form data for an information entry.
• Fig. 1 shows a computer system 100 m which the methods according to the invention can be carried out, a base 101 m the form of a sheet and a user unit 102 of a preferred type.
• the user unit preferably comprises an optical sensor.
• the described computer system 100 comprises a per- sonal computer 103 to which is connected a display 104 and a keyboard 105.
• the methods according to the invention can, however, be applied m both larger and smaller computer systems.
• a printer 106 This can be a laser printer or an ink-jet printer. Other types of printers are also possible .
• Fig. 1 shows as mentioned also a base 101 m the form of a sheet of the type which is intended to be used m connection with the invention.
• the base 101 can consist of a sheet of paper, but other materials, such as plastic or a laminate of several materials, are also possible .
• the base 101 is provided with a position-coding pattern 107 (shown enlarged) .
• This can be arranged by means of printing. It is, however, also possible to print the position-coding pattern 107 using tne computer systems printer 106.
• the position-coding pattern 107 is so arranged that if a part of the pattern of a certain minimum size is recorded optically then this part of the pattern's position m the pattern and nence on the base can be determined unambiguously.
• the position-coding pattern can advantageously be of such a type as shown m Applicant's previous Applications WO 00/73983 and PCT/SEOO/01667, where each position is coded by a plurality of symbols and where one symbol is used to code a plurality of positions.
• the position-coding pattern 107 shown is constructed as shown m WO 00/73983, where a larger dot represents a "one" and a smaller dot represents a "zero". It is, however, also possible to design the position-coding pattern 107 as described m PCT/SEOO/01667, where different displacements of a dot m relation to a raster code different symbol values.
• Fig. 1 also shows a user unit 102 designed as a pen.
• the user unit 102 has a pen point 108 which can be used to write text and numbers or draw figures on the base.
• the user unit 102 also comprises optics which, utilising the position-coding pattern 107 on the base 101, can detect positions on this.
• a figure 109 is drawn on the base 101, a sequence of positions on the base 101 are therefore detected, corresponding to the movement of the user unit 102 over the base 101.
• This sequence of positions forms a digital record of the figure 109 drawn on the base 101.
• hand-written numbers and letters can also be recorded digitally.
• the information recorded by the user unit 102 can be transmitted to another unit, such as a personal computer or a cellular mobile telephone, for further processing, storage or transmission.
• This can be carried out using a cable, by means of an infrared link, or preferably via a short-range radio link, for example m accordance with the BLUETOOTH (trademark) standard.
• the information which is transmitted can be the direct sequence of positions m the form of a set of pairs of co-ordinates or a polygon tram which represents this set .
• the information may also be stored locally m the user unit and transmitted later, when a connection is established.
• Fig. 2 shows a form 200 according to the invention.
• the form 200 consists of a base (or other surface) 201 of the type previously described, provided with a position- coding pattern (not shown) , as described m connection with Fig. 1.
• a form layout 203 is printed on the base 201.
• the form layout 203 comprises a plurality of entry fields 204-207.
• the form 200 is used to collect information.
• the information arises when a user writes, for example, text or a number m any of the entry fields 204-207.
• This can con- cern a piece of text such as a name or an address. It can be a whole number, such as the age of a person m whole years, or a real number, for example a patient's body temperature m degrees Celsius to two decimal places. It can also be the reply to a multi-choice question.
• the user may preferably download the form layout from an Internet server.
• the layout may also be stored m other computer systems, such as a user unit of the above-mentioned type. The user unit may then communicate directly with the printer. While the surface disclosed m the figure comprises a single, discrete surface such as a sheet of paper, the term surface as used herein may refer to multiple surfaces or multiple pages of a multi-page form.
• the user unit When an entry field 204-207 is completed by a user using a user unit of tne type described m connection with Fig. 1, the user unit records a sequence of positions corresponding to a digital record of the entered information. The user completes all the required entry fields in the form. The recorded information can then be processed or stored locally m the user unit. Alterna- tively, it can be transmitted to another computer system for processing or storage. The whole of the recording computer system can be incorporated m the user unit.
• the form 200 also comprises an identifying pattern or identity pattern 208, which is marked when the entry fields 204-207 of the form layout 203 are completed. The marking can, for example, consist of parts of the identifying pattern being marked with a cross, a line being drawn through it or by it being circled. Alternatively, the user could for example be invited to fill in a missing feature in a figure.
• the identifying pattern consists of four boxes 209-212 to be marked with a cross.
• a set of positions is recorded which identifies the form layout 203 which has been completed.
• the recording computer system is informed about which coordinates the position-coding pattern codes. If the pattern is continuous over the form, the computer is also informed about the coordinates for the complete form.
• the sequence of completing the entry fields 204-207 and the identifying pattern 208 can be reversed.
• the entry fields 204- 207 and the four boxes may be completed m any order and the information is still usable.
• the identifying pattern 208 can also be utilised to record the scale m which the form layout has been printed m relation to the position-coding pattern.
• the boxes 209- 212 may be placed near the different corners of the sheet m order to facilitate this and provide higher resolution. The information can then be used to normalise the position information which arises, so that the correct position information is associated with the correct information entry.
• the printer can be provided with a position-coding pattern reading device, m order to allow the printer to adapt the form layout to the position- coding pattern.
• a position-coding pattern reading device m order to allow the printer to adapt the form layout to the position- coding pattern.
• another solution is to print the form m the normal manner and, during the printing process, sense the position coordinates and feed back to the computer system, the position coordinates corresponding to a reference position at the form layout and some scale information.
• Such a method then generally involves the steps of: printout, by means of a printer, of a form layout, com- prising at least one entry field, on a base m the form of a sheet; detecting, m connection with the printout, of positions m a position-coding pattern with which the base is provided, by means of a reading device m the printer, and transferring of information, regarding the positional relationship between the form layout and the position-coding pattern, to a computer system.
• the identifying pattern is preferably overspecifled, that is, a marked identifying pattern results m more position information than what is required to identify a form layout unambiguously. This makes possible the above- mentioned recording of scale or other information.
• a user who wants to generate a number of forms preferably acquires a pack of sheets which are already provided with the preferred position-coding pattern and loads a number of such sheets into his/her printer. All the sheets m such a pack can be identical but it is also possible for each sheet a pack to be unique and code a separate coordinate area. The user can also m principle print the position-coding pattern himself using a printer having sufficiently high printing resolution.
• the position-coding patterns described m Applicant's previous applications WO 00/73983 and PCT/SEOO/01667 are able to define a very large total area (for example counted in the number of A4 pages) with good resolution.
• the areas which are used m the packs of sheets that a user can acquire are preferably known to the computer system which records the form information. It could be appropriate to reserve a certain part of the above- mentioned total area for form applications.
• the system knows where on a sheet a position m the position-coding pattern is located. If a pack contains unique sheets (at least pack- unique) , the system also knows on which sheet a position m the position-coding pattern is located.
• Parallel recording can also be achieved when all the sheets are identical by recording the identities of the user units so that the system can connect the information from different user units with different database forms. This can also be achieved without knowledge of user unit identity, if all users mark their (unique) identifying patterns after each form field entry.
• Such a database form may be contained m an Internet server.
• the printer can print the form layout and ldenti- fymg pattern accurately, the absolute positions m the position-coding pattern which are recorded when the boxes are marked with a cross can be utilised to identify the document. If the accuracy s insufficient, the relative positions of the different items, such as boxes, the position-coding pattern can be used instead.
• the identifying pattern 208 can be boxes 209-212 which are mar, ⁇ ed with a cross. However, it can also consist of, for example, dots which are to be circled.
• An advantage of marking boxes 209-212 with a cross is that the width and intensity of the four lines which make up the box can be made such that the position recording temporarily ceases when the lines of the box are passed when a cross is marked m the box. This means that the system can determine more precisely where the position-coding pattern the box is located.
• the identifying pattern 300 which is shown m Fig. 3.
• the pattern 300 consists of a set of parallel lines 301, 302, etc., of different widths arranged beside each other as a bar-code. If these are printed on a position-coding pattern and marked by having a line drawn through them essentially at right angles to the lines 301, 302 etc. using a user unit of the type described, the position recording can be commenced and terminated several times. The positions which are recorded can be used to identify a form layout .
• the above-described method for generating a form may be used m connection with a large number of different activities such as market surveys, tests, income-tax returns, etc.
• Fig. 4 shows the application of a number of rules or functions with position information as input data.
• a number of entry fields 401-404 which are completed by a user.
• the information 405-408 which is inserted in the corresponding information entries a database form when fleld-specifIC rules 409-412 of various kinds are applied to the items of position information that are generated when the form is complet- ed.
• Output data from such a rule is generally cota ed by processing the rule's input data.
• a user has entered a name 413 m a first entry field 401.
• a rule 409 is applied, whicn corresponds to OCR recognition of text on a sheet of paper.
• Output data 405 from this rule is thus a text string which can be stored or processed m the computer system. It is also possible to store the position information m an unprocessed state, for example if a signature is to oe able to be reproduced.
• a second entry field 402 the form layout consisted of a scale 414 from 1 to 10 where a user were to describe, for example, how satisfied he was with a particular product. The user has here put a line 415 slight- ly to the right of the centre.
• the output data 406 is a real number 6.5 which can be stored m an information entry m a database form.
• a third entry field 403 a user was to answer yes or no to a question.
• the form layout 416 consists of the words "yes" and "no" with associated boxes to be marked with a cross. The user has put a cross m the cox signifying no.
• the output data 407 is a logical or Boolean zero.
• a user was to answer, for example, how many items of a particular product he wants to order.
• the form layout 417 consists of a number of circles in which the user is to mark a cross. The user has marked a cross m three circles.
• the output data 408 is the whole number 3.
• Fig. 5 shows a flow chart, which describes a method 500 for generating of forms according to the invention.
• the invention also concerns a corresponding arrangement and corresponding software. In a simple embodiment this comprises three steps which can be carried out m any order.
• a first step 501 the required form layout is printed. Needless to say, the actual form layout may be accompanied by graphics and text, that is not necessarily strictly related to the form functionality.
• the identifying pattern is printed, which corresponds to the form layout .
• a database form is created an associated computer system.
• the database form comprises a virtual copy of the real form now created.
• printing of the layout and printing of the identifying pattern could be performed simultaneously.
• the position- coding pattern could be printed simultaneously.
• the layout may m principle also be printed before the position-coding pattern.
• the printer prints both the form layout and the position-coding pattern m one run, no identifying pattern is required, since the computer program already is aware of the relationship between the form layout and the position-coding pattern. However, if the position- coding pattern is printed m a first run, and the form layout is printed m a second run, some kind of calibration is required.
• the printer may be a conventional laser printer or mk-jet printer having a desired resolution for printing the form layout, such as 300 dpi.
• the position-coding pattern is preferably printed with a colour material which absorbs infrared light and the form layout may be printed with a colour which does not absorb infrared light. If the sensor is arranged to sense the pattern by means of infrared light only, the layout print does not disturb the reading of the position-coding pattern.
• the position coding pattern is preferably arranged on the paper advance, for instance by an offset printer having a required resolution such as above 1000 dpi, and the paper is inserted m the printer for printing the form layout on top of the pattern.
• the position-coding pattern may be applied to the paper by a separate printer after printing the form layout, or with the same printer m the second run. It is also possible to use a copying machine for providing the paper with the form layout and/or the position-coding pattern.
• Fig. 6 shows a flow chart which describes a method 600 for recording form data for an information entry.
• the invention also concerns a corresponding arrangement and corresponding software.
• the method comprises at least two steps which can be carried out m any order.
• a first step 601 a first set of position information is recorded, that is the information which arises when an entry field is completed using a user unit.
• a second step 602 a second set of position information is recorded, which arises when an identifying pattern is marked using the user unit .

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
• Computational Linguistics (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Audiology, Speech & Language Pathology (AREA)
• Artificial Intelligence (AREA)
• Record Information Processing For Printing (AREA)
• Character Input (AREA)
• Multi-Process Working Machines And Systems (AREA)
• Electrical Discharge Machining, Electrochemical Machining, And Combined Machining (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

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Citations (2)

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• 2000
  • 2000-04-05 SE SE0001236A patent/SE519356C2/sv not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2001
  • 2001-03-21 JP JP2001573382A patent/JP2003529852A/ja active Pending
  • 2001-03-21 CN CNB018068057A patent/CN100483313C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2001-03-21 WO PCT/SE2001/000586 patent/WO2001075779A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2001-03-21 KR KR1020027013285A patent/KR20030005259A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2001-03-21 CA CA002400604A patent/CA2400604A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-03-21 AU AU2001239654A patent/AU2001239654A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-03-21 EP EP01914308A patent/EP1275080A1/en not_active Withdrawn

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