EP1336155A1 - Procede et dispositif d'adressage de courrier - Google Patents

Procede et dispositif d'adressage de courrier

Info

Publication number
EP1336155A1
EP1336155A1 EP01983019A EP01983019A EP1336155A1 EP 1336155 A1 EP1336155 A1 EP 1336155A1 EP 01983019 A EP01983019 A EP 01983019A EP 01983019 A EP01983019 A EP 01983019A EP 1336155 A1 EP1336155 A1 EP 1336155A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
address
address information
graph
mail
item
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP01983019A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Markus Andreasson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Anoto IP LIC HB
Original Assignee
Anoto AB
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Anoto AB filed Critical Anoto AB
Publication of EP1336155A1 publication Critical patent/EP1336155A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

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
    • G06F3/01—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
    • G06F3/0304—Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means
    • G06F3/0317—Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means in co-operation with a patterned surface, e.g. absolute position or relative movement detection for an optical mouse or pen positioned with respect to a coded surface
    • 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
    • G06F3/03545—Pens or stylus
    • 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
    • G06F3/0304—Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means
    • G06F3/0317—Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means in co-operation with a patterned surface, e.g. absolute position or relative movement detection for an optical mouse or pen positioned with respect to a coded surface
    • G06F3/0321—Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means in co-operation with a patterned surface, e.g. absolute position or relative movement detection for an optical mouse or pen positioned with respect to a coded surface by optically sensing the absolute position with respect to a regularly patterned surface forming a passive digitiser, e.g. pen optically detecting position indicative tags printed on a paper sheet
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F2203/00—Indexing scheme relating to G06F3/00 - G06F3/048
    • G06F2203/038—Indexing scheme relating to G06F3/038
    • G06F2203/0384—Wireless input, i.e. hardware and software details of wireless interface arrangements for pointing devices
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06V—IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING
    • G06V30/00—Character recognition; Recognising digital ink; Document-oriented image-based pattern recognition
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
    • G07B2017/00572—Details of printed item
    • G07B2017/00596—Printing of address

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to methods and devices for automatic application of an address on an item of mail.
  • Order forms are often used by advertisers to make possible simple ordering of a product or further information, by the reader writing an order on the form, for example ticking an order option, writing his name and address and sending the form in a stamped envelope through the normal postal channels to, for example, the advertiser or some other specified recipient.
  • An object of the present invention is therefore to remedy said problems from a number of different aspects. This is achieved by a method according to claim 1, a computer program according to claim 7, a device according to claim 8, a storage medium according to claim 14 and a computer according to claim 15.
  • a first aspect of the invention is a method for addressing an item of mail .
  • the method comprises obtaining address information, preferably utilizing one or more suitably programmed computers, where the address information comprises a digitally represented graph of a handwritten address, written by a user.
  • the method comprises automatically providing the address information to a device adapted to apply the address information on the item of mail.
  • a suitable way of obtaining the address information is via a wireless interface from a mobile communication unit, connected to a digitizing pen via, for example, a further wireless interface such as the standardized interface Bluetooth ® .
  • a digitizing pen suitable for this purpose can generate a data sequence which, by means of suitable coding, represents the pen's instantaneous position in a coordinate system.
  • Such a pen is disclosed in the publication WO 01/26032, which comprises a device for position determination is shown.
  • the pen reads a position-coding pattern which has a number of intrinsic advantages.
  • Other examples of digitizing devices comprise those which calculate the movement of a digitizing pen when handwriting is carried out, by means of acceleration sensors or by means of radio-based or ultrasound-based triangulation devices or by means of devices similar to trackballs.
  • the present invention assumes only that a data sequence of position coordinates is obtained, where the data sequence represents a graph of the movement of the pen when writing an address.
  • the information obtained is then preferably printed out on an item of mail such as a letter, postcard or address label intended for a parcel.
  • This printout has thereby essentially the same appearance as the originally handwritten address.
  • certain processing can be carried out on the address information obtained, i.e. the sequence of movement coordinates for the pen, for example with the aim of making the handwriting clearer or evening out digitizing effects.
  • Other aspects of the invention are devices such as a computer that comprises means for carrying out program instructions in accordance with the method according to the invention, and also storage mediums that contain software comprising program instructions intended to be executed for the implementation of the method according to the invention.
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic view showing a system in which a method according to an embodiment of the invention is implemented.
  • Fig. 2 is a schematic view and shows a flow diagram for the implementation of a method according to the invention.
  • the starting point is a user who reads an advertisement in a magazine that gives the opportunity to order, for example, a brochure or other information about the company or advertiser.
  • the advertisement is printed on a surface in the magazine that is at least partly provided with a position-coding pattern according to the above- mentioned publication WO 01/26032.
  • the user puts a tick or a cross in a box to order the brochure and writes the address to which the brochure is to be sent.
  • the writing is carried out using a digitizing pen with a pen point, exemplified, as already mentioned, by the device in the publication WO 01/26032.
  • a digitized and coded information quantity, representing the graph followed by the pen when writing, is sent from the pen via a radio interface, for example Bluetooth, via the user's mobile phone to the company that had the advertisement printed in the magazine and that is allocated the part of the position-coding pattern to be found in the advertisement.
  • the digitizing pen thus sends the address information via the mobile phone and the Internet to the company's computer or server.
  • Other modem-connected devices can also be used.
  • Software in the pen sends the coded information quantity to the company using standardized data transmission procedures, in real time or at a later time, via a mobile telephone network operator's server or similar server installation connected to the Internet.
  • the company thereby obtains for its information management system the address information entered by the user.
  • the handwritten address is then printed out by the company's information management system on, for example, an item of mail or on an address label that is attached to the item of mail, and the item of mail is then sent to a postal service of traditional type.
  • a postman at the postal service then reads the address on the item of mail in the normal way and delivers it to the recipient, i.e. the user who placed the order.
  • a major technical advantage of the invention as discussed above in these different aspects is that the handling of items of mail is simplified, more rapid and more reliable.
  • the invention involves the simplification that the handwritten text, i.e. the address that is to be attached to the item of mail, does not need to be analyzed at any stage by, for example, processing-intensive optical character recognition (OCR) .
  • OCR optical character recognition
  • ICR intelligent character recognition
  • ICR intelligent character recognition
  • ICR intelligent character recognition
  • it is a postman who interprets the address information that was written by the user.
  • the requirement for the address information to be legible is the responsibility of the user/person placing the order, instead of the company.
  • a further advantage is that the handling of the address information within the company can be carried out completely automatically and is transparent to the company. That is, manual interference can be avoided and hence the addressing procedure can be seen, from the point-of-view of the user, as a conveniently available remote-control address label printer.
  • the advantageous simplification afforded by the invention has in turn the more commercially-oriented advantage that it is easier for an advertiser or publisher of a publication to tempt or persuade a reader/person placing an order to order a product or information, for example.
  • FIG. 1 shows schematically the communicating units in the embodiment and, to a certain extent, brief explanations of the signals that are sent between the units .
  • a user 100 reads a publication 101 in which an advertisement 102 is printed on one of the pages in the publication 101.
  • the surface on which the advertisement 102 is printed has been provided with a position-coding pattern (not shown in the figure) as described in WO 01/26032.
  • At least the part of the advertisement 102 that contains an order coupon 103 has been provided with the pattern.
  • the position-coding pattern is unique over a very large area, which enables one or more parts of the area to be reserved by and thereby to be allocated to the company or the advertiser that had the advertisement printed.
  • the user 100 finds that he is interested in obtaining more information from the advertiser who had the advertisement 102 printed, and so he fills in his name and address on the order coupon 103 in a writing step 201, using a digitizing pen 105 provided with a pen point. If he knows that a friend needs the information, he writes the friend's address.
  • the user 100 After having written the name and address, the user 100 makes a mark with the pen 105 in a send box 104 on the order coupon 103.
  • the digitizing pen 105 has functions for reading off the position-coding pattern along the graph 120 that the point of the pen 105 makes when the user writes his name and address on the order coupon 103.
  • the read-off and digitized graph 120 comprises a data sequence of position coordinates and is sent in coded form, after having been coded in a suitable way in a coding step 202, via a radio interface 106 and onwards via a mobile terminal 107 owned by the user 100, to a server, via the Internet.
  • the mobile terminal thus acts only as a modem for the pen.
  • the user 110 making a mark in the send box 104 initiates the transmission that is carried out in a sending step 203.
  • the server contains information about which company is allocated the pattern in the send box and ensures that the digitized graph 120 is forwarded via a radio interface such as GSM/GPRS, via a mobile communication network 109, to a computer 110, where the graph 120 is received in a receiving step 204.
  • the received, digitized and coded graph 120 is decoded in the computer 110 in an identifying step 205 where the allocation to the advertiser has been carried out in the above-mentioned server.
  • the graph 120 can be analyzed and improved with regard to legibility and edge definition, after which the graph 120 is printed out in a printing step 206 using a printer 111 connected to the computer 110.
  • the printout 113 can be in the form of an address label intended to be attached to an item of mail or in the form of a direct printout 113 on an item of mail 112.
  • the label is automatically attached to an item of mail. Thus, no manual intervention is needed at the server side.
  • the only manual step is the writing of the address at the advertisement by the user.
  • the printout 113 showing the address written by the user 110, is interpreted in the traditional way by a postman 114 who delivers the item of mail 112 to a mailbox 115 that is located, for example, at the premises of the user 110.
  • the method can comprise carrying out all the described steps in real time and an address label can be printed out more or less immediately when the user writes with the pen, so-called remote printout on-line.
  • the method preferably comprises delaying the transmission of the address information during one or more of the steps.
  • a user will use the invention in places where communication with a server via the Internet is impossible, such as when the user's mobile phone is incapable of communicating or is not available.
  • the delay can involve a buffering of the information in the pen.
  • the information can be buffered on the Internet and, in yet other cases, the server/computer can delay the printing-out of the address information.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
  • Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
  • Information Transfer Between Computers (AREA)

Abstract

Un utilisateur lit dans un magazine une annonce publicitaire lui offrant par exemple la possibilité de commander un produit ou d'obtenir des informations supplémentaires sur la société/l'annonceur. L'annonce publicitaire est imprimée sur une surface dotée d'un motif de codage de positionnement. L'utilisateur peut par exemple cocher une case pour commander une brochure et inscrire l'adresse à laquelle il souhaite que la brochure soit adressée, par exemple, sa propre adresse. La rédaction s'effectue au moyen d'un stylo de numérisation muni d'un stylet. Une quantité d'informations numérisées et codées représentant le graphique que suit le stylo pendant la rédaction est envoyée depuis le stylo par le biais d'une interface radio, par exemple Bluetooth, ou par le biais du téléphone portable de l'utilisateur, à la société qui a fait publier l'annonce dans le magazine et à laquelle on a attribué la partie du motif de codage de positionnement utilisée dans l'annonce. Le graphique numérique de l'adresse manuscrite est ensuite imprimé, avec l'équipement informatique de la société susmentionnée, par exemple sur un courrier ou une étiquette d'adresse, et le courrier est envoyé à un service postal de type classique. Un facteur du service postal lit alors l'adresse inscrite sur le courrier, comme à l'habitude, et le délivre à son destinataire, qui peut être l'utilisateur ayant passé la commande.
EP01983019A 2000-11-10 2001-11-09 Procede et dispositif d'adressage de courrier Withdrawn EP1336155A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE0004121A SE517071C2 (sv) 2000-11-10 2000-11-10 Förfarande och anordning för adressering av postförsändelse
SE0004121 2000-11-10
PCT/SE2001/002481 WO2002039373A1 (fr) 2000-11-10 2001-11-09 Procédé et dispositif d'adressage de courrier

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1336155A1 true EP1336155A1 (fr) 2003-08-20

Family

ID=20281776

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP01983019A Withdrawn EP1336155A1 (fr) 2000-11-10 2001-11-09 Procede et dispositif d'adressage de courrier

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1336155A1 (fr)
AU (1) AU2002214475A1 (fr)
SE (1) SE517071C2 (fr)
WO (1) WO2002039373A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2391644A (en) * 2002-08-01 2004-02-11 Neilson Stuart Mason Auty System for providing further information on published advertisements
DE10345056A1 (de) * 2003-09-26 2005-04-28 Deutsche Post Ag Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Erstellen einer Postsendung
FR2919937B1 (fr) * 2007-08-09 2009-10-02 Jacques Cinqualbre Procede de confection et d'envoi automatique d'un message electronique ecrit a la main a un destinataire designe manuellement au moyen de l'instrument d'ecriture et moyens pour sa mise en oeuvre
DE102008015652A1 (de) 2008-03-25 2009-10-29 Vodafone Holding Gmbh Digitaler Stift mit Mobilfunkschnittstelle
US10620754B2 (en) 2010-11-22 2020-04-14 3M Innovative Properties Company Touch-sensitive device with electrodes having location pattern included therein
DE202012011093U1 (de) 2012-11-09 2013-02-18 Jens Hansen Schreibeinrichtung
DE102011119014A1 (de) 2011-11-14 2013-05-16 Jens Hansen Schreibeinrichtung
WO2013071917A2 (fr) 2011-11-14 2013-05-23 Jens Hansen Dispositif d'écriture

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5661506A (en) 1994-11-10 1997-08-26 Sia Technology Corporation Pen and paper information recording system using an imaging pen
US5852434A (en) 1992-04-03 1998-12-22 Sekendur; Oral F. Absolute optical position determination

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6081261A (en) * 1995-11-01 2000-06-27 Ricoh Corporation Manual entry interactive paper and electronic document handling and processing system
GB2329300B (en) * 1997-09-16 2002-07-17 Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd Mobile telephone with handwritten data input
SE9800851D0 (sv) * 1998-03-16 1998-03-16 Johan Ullman Anordning för teckeninmatning
US6311042B1 (en) * 1998-06-27 2001-10-30 Deschrijver Stefaan Apparatus and methods for imaging written information with a mobile telephone set
AU5572799A (en) * 1998-08-18 2000-03-14 Digital Ink, Inc. Handwriting device with detection sensors for absolute and relative positioning

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5852434A (en) 1992-04-03 1998-12-22 Sekendur; Oral F. Absolute optical position determination
US5661506A (en) 1994-11-10 1997-08-26 Sia Technology Corporation Pen and paper information recording system using an imaging pen

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
DYMETMAN M; COPPERMAN M: "Intelligent paper", LECTURE NOTES IN COMPUTER SCIENCE, vol. 1375, March 1998 (1998-03-01), pages 392 - 406, XP002328425
See also references of WO0239373A1

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
SE0004121D0 (sv) 2000-11-10
SE0004121L (sv) 2002-04-09
SE517071C2 (sv) 2002-04-09
WO2002039373A1 (fr) 2002-05-16
AU2002214475A1 (en) 2002-05-21

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7035429B2 (en) Method and device for addressing mail items
US5938727A (en) Communication system and method via digital codes
US7710408B2 (en) Centralized information management based upon position information
CA2414805A1 (fr) Procedes et systemes de recherche d'offres
EP2056233B1 (fr) Système de gestion d'information
US7953824B2 (en) Image sensors worn or attached on humans for imagery identification
US5978773A (en) System and method for using an ordinary article of commerce to access a remote computer
US7002559B2 (en) Method, system and product for information management
US20030046256A1 (en) Distributed information management
US20030046184A1 (en) Electronic pen catalog ordering system and method of using the catalog to stimulate electronic pen use
CA2371566A1 (fr) Methode de remise de carte de voeux et systeme correspondant
JP2003529985A (ja) 情報の関連付けのための方法及びシステム
WO1998040823A1 (fr) Procede permettant de recueillir des adresses url provenant de supports imprimes
JP2002215768A (ja) 顧客サービス方法、サービスシステム、通信教育サービス方法及び通信教育サービスシステム
CA2384464A1 (fr) Cartes professionnelles sous forme de jeton de courrier electronique
US20010038383A1 (en) Method and apparatus for information management
US20020026425A1 (en) Method and apparatus for managing valuable documents
EP1336155A1 (fr) Procede et dispositif d'adressage de courrier
EP0881601A3 (fr) Méthode et système de reconnaissance automatique des images indices numeriques délibérément distordues pour les rendre non-lisibles
US20110199343A1 (en) Method for generating and automatically sending a handwritten electronic message
WO2005024617A3 (fr) Impression de documents numeriques
US20020138366A1 (en) Method and device for issuing and redeeming gift certificates on an e-commerce site
JP2008102796A (ja) 個人情報管理システム及び個人情報管理方法
US6347319B1 (en) Methods of obtaining listings of information from databases
US20030066892A1 (en) System for reading text display information

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20030610

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: AL LT LV MK RO SI

RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: ANOTO IP LIC HB

111L Licence recorded

Free format text: 0100 LEAPFROG ENTERPRISES INC.

Effective date: 20050530

RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: ANOTO AB

TPAC Observations filed by third parties

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNTIPA

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20071227

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 20080708