EP1405167A1 - Procede destine a connecter un dispositif de detection a une unite externe arbitraire - Google Patents

Procede destine a connecter un dispositif de detection a une unite externe arbitraire

Info

Publication number
EP1405167A1
EP1405167A1 EP02744045A EP02744045A EP1405167A1 EP 1405167 A1 EP1405167 A1 EP 1405167A1 EP 02744045 A EP02744045 A EP 02744045A EP 02744045 A EP02744045 A EP 02744045A EP 1405167 A1 EP1405167 A1 EP 1405167A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
coordinates
address
sensor device
subarea
pair
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Withdrawn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
EP02744045A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Stefan Lynggaard
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 AB
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 EP1405167A1 publication Critical patent/EP1405167A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • G06F3/033—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
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K19/00—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
    • G06K19/06—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
    • G06K19/06009—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code with optically detectable marking
    • G06K19/06037—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code with optically detectable marking multi-dimensional coding
    • 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
    • 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
    • G06F3/03542—Light pens for emitting or receiving light

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method, computer program product and a device for establishing a connection of a sensor device to external communication equip- ment without using a computer network.
  • the invention also relates to a method and a device for coding addresses for electronic communication.
  • the first unit such as a sensor device, e.g. an electronic pen
  • the second unit e.g. a second, arbitrary external unit via short range communication
  • the first unit may have a memory function, a database, for previously known addresses.
  • each address is associated with a certain type of function, e.g. printer, modem or mobile phone, and when information is to be sent to, for instance, the printer, the address of the printer is retrieved in the database and used for the communication.
  • a unit When a unit is introduced for the first time in an environment where other units are located, a it may perform an interrogation procedure, by which an interrogat- ing signal is sent at regular intervals from the newly introduced unit . Each unit in the environment answers this signal by sending its address, and in this manner the newly introduced unit makes up a database of addresses of units in the neighbourhood.
  • this procedure may be time-consuming if there are many units in the neighbourhood, especially if connection to a specific unit only is desired. Another problem of this procedure is that it does not always result in the correct unit being found since all units within range may not be available for responding to interrogations .
  • Another fashion of indicating an address for communication is manual input of the address of the specific unit.
  • An object of the present invention thus is to provide a technique for quick, simple and correct connection of a sensor device to a previously unknown communication unit .
  • a first aspect of the invention comprises a method for connecting a sensor device to an arbitrary external unit.
  • the method comprises electronically recording, by means of the sensor device, on a base provided with at least one subset of a position-coding pattern which codes pairs of coordinates on an imaginary surface, a pair of coordinates within a first subarea among a plurality of subareas within an addressing area on the imaginary sur- face, calculating a number for the first subarea based on the pair of coordinates, and connecting the sensor device to the external unit via an address for electronic communication, which corresponds to the number.
  • a pair of coordinates can be precisely a pair of, i.e. two, coordinates which indicate a position in a two-dimensional coordinate system.
  • a pair of coordinates according to the invention should, however, be interpreted in a wider sense, viz. as the set of a number of m coordinates which are necessary in order to determine a position for a dot in an m-dimensional coordinate system.
  • Such sets of coordinates preferably comprise at least two coordinates .
  • the number may be calculated based on a mathematical relationship for the locations of said plurality of sub- areas within the addressing area on the imaginary surface. This enables identification of the number or the address without keeping an excessively large amount of data in the memory of the sensor device.
  • the method may comprise retrieving a reference number for a reference subarea among said plurality of subareas from a memory unit, within the sensor device, and calculating the number based on the reference number, the pair of coordinates and the mathematical relationship for the locations of said plurality of subareas on the imaginary surface.
  • the method may also comprise retrieving a pair of reference coordinates for the reference subarea from the memory of the sensor device, whereby the pair of reference coordinates is utilised when calculating the number.
  • the number may correspond to, or constitute, an address for wireless short- range communication, such as an address for a short range radio link or an address for a short-range infrared link.
  • the method according to the invention may comprise electronically recording by means of the sensor device a second pair of coordinates within a second subarea comprised in the addressing area on the imaginary surface, and calculating based on the second pair of coordinates a second number for the second sub- area, the step of connecting the sensor device to the external unit being carried out based on a combination of said number and said second number.
  • an address for communication may be constructed by a plurality of inputs of pairs of coordinates into the sensor device, which may be advantageous if it is desirable to enable the user to select one out of many external units to be connected to, or if it is desirable to address a very large number of external units using a limited addressing area.
  • the method according to the invention may also comprise deriving further addresses corresponding the respective subareas of the addressing area. It is also conceivable that the modi- fication of the number comprises a calculating operation, which results in a number of secondary numbers. In this way, connection or attempted connection to a plurality of external units may be enabled based on a recording of one or a few pairs of coordinates .
  • the method may be implemented as a computer program product for carrying out connection of a sensor device to an arbitrary external unit .
  • the computer program product may comprise instructions for the sensor device.
  • Such a com- puter program product may be distinguished in that the instructions, when executed, cause the sensor device to perform the method described above .
  • a device for carrying out connection of a sensor device to an arbitrary external unit may comprise means for receiving a pair of coordinates, which is electronically recorded from a base provided with at least a subset of a position-coding pattern, which codes pairs of coordinates on an imaginary surface, means for calculating an address for electronic communication based on the position of the pair of coor- dinates within an addressing area on the imaginary surface, and means for connecting the sensor device to the external unit via the calculated address.
  • the means for calculating may be arranged to calculate, if the pair of coordinates is situated within the addressing area on the imaginary surface, a number for said pair of coordinates, based on its belonging to one of a plurality of subareas within the addressing area, and converting this number into said address.
  • the device may further comprise memory means in which a mathematical relationship for the locations of said plurality of subareas on the imaginary surface is stored, said means for calculating being arranged to calculate said number using said relationship.
  • the method may be performed by application-specific circuits, such as ASICs.
  • the invention may also be implemented in other manners, such as with a software controlled processor, or a combination of software and hardware.
  • the reception of the pair of coordinates preferably takes place in the same physical unit as the calculation, but it is also possible for different parts of the method to be performed by different physical units.
  • the step of receiving a pair of coordinates may, in this context, be interpreted as receiving the pair of coordinates from a sensor or from an image processing unit, which based on information from the sensor has extracted the pair of coordinates.
  • reading and interpretation of read data may be performed in a separate unit, while calculation of the address is performed in the sensor device. It is also possible to let the sensor device be the unit that inputs the pair of coordinates, in which case calculation and connection take place in another unit . It is also conceivable to implement the invention as a combination of said second and third aspects, certain parts being implemented as computer programs and other parts being implemented in the form of application-speci- fie circuits.
  • a method for coding addresses for electronic communication is distinguished by allocating an addressing area on an imaginary surface, which is defined by all pairs of coordinates which a position- coding pattern is capable of coding, and dividing said addressing area into a plurality of subareas, assigning a number to each subarea, said number being calculable based on a predetermined mathematical relationship for the locations of the subareas within the addressing area on the imaginary surface, and, with each number, associating an address for electronic communication.
  • This method enables coding of a large number of addresses for electronic communication by means of an existing position-coding pattern and with a minimum storing requirement in the device that is to be connected. Moreover, quick and simple connection of units is allowed when the interrogation procedure is avoided wholly or partly in favour of direct connection to deriv- ed addresses.
  • the method according to this fourth aspect can comprise the act of assigning a reference number to a reference subarea among said plurality r of subareas, the reference number being used for calcula- tion of the number.
  • the reference number is preferably stored in the devices that should be able to derive the addresses .
  • the method can also comprise the act of determining a calculable relationship between the address and the number.
  • the calculable relationship can also be stored in the devices that should be able to derived the addresses, so that the devices with a minimum of stored information can calculate the number and, thus, derive the address for electronic communication.
  • the address may, but need not necessarily, be identical with the number.
  • Said plurality of subareas are may be formed in such manner that the subareas are arranged as a sequence of neighbouring subareas on the imaginary surface. As a result, the calculable relationship between the subareas is easy to calculate and survey.
  • the invention concerns a device for addressing electronic communication equipment.
  • the device comprises a base provided with at least one subset of a position-coding pattern which codes pairs of coordinates on an imaginary surface.
  • the device is distinguished in that the subset of the position-coding pattern, which is arranged on the base, corresponds to a subarea among a plurality of subareas within an addressing area on the imaginary surface, whereby a number is assigned to each such subarea, said number being calculable based on an arbitrary pair of coordinates within the subarea and a predetermined mathematical relationship for the locations of the subareas within the addressing area, and whereby the number is associated with an address for electronic communication.
  • the device can be a base with printed information, where at least a part of the base is provided with a subset or a portion of an extensive machine-readable position-coding pattern.
  • the base can consist of paper, cardboard, plastic or some other suitable material.
  • the subset of the position-coding pattern that is applied on the base may be applied on the base in a suitable fashion such as by, for example, graphic printing or printing by a data printer.
  • the subset of the position-coding pattern, which is arranged on the base may correspond to a subarea included in a predetermined sequence of subareas within the addressing area on the imaginary surface, so that the location of each subarea in the addressing area is cal- culable in relation to a reference subarea, which is also a part of the addressing area.
  • An address for electronic communication may be calculable based on the number. The number may itself be an address for electronic communica- tion, which reduces the amount of data that has to be stored in the sensor device and/or the amount of calculations that must be made by the sensor device in order to derive the address .
  • FIG. 1 shows a system in which the method according to the invention can be used.
  • Fig. 2 schematically illustrates an embodiment of an addressing area on an imaginary surface, which is defined by those coordinates that are coded by the position-coding pattern.
  • Fig. 3 schematically shows the connection between a position-coded field on a base and an addressing area on the imaginary surface.
  • Fig. 4 shows a sensor device according to an embodi- ment of the invention.
  • Fig. 5 shows a flow chart of a method according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • Fig. 6 illustrates a detail of the flow chart in Fig. 5.
  • Fig- 7 shows a flow chart of a method according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
  • the present invention has a large number of applica- tions, which have the feature in common that a sensor device is to be connected to a previously unknown unit.
  • the invention will first be placed in a context in order to illustrate its applicability. Subsequently suitable hardware will be described, and after that the principles and methods on which the solu- tion according to the invention is based. Finally, three exemplifying embodiments of the present invention will be outlined.
  • an order form 2 such as a menu at a restau- rant, is used in Fig. 1 as an illustrative example.
  • the order form 2 consisting of a base - usually a sheet of paper - on which a number of options are presented, is provided with fields 3 intended to be marked by an orderer.
  • each such field 3 is provided with a subset of a position-coding pattern P.
  • the position-coding pattern P codes a plurality of positions which together defines a two-dimensional coordinate system, which in the following is referred to as an imaginary surface .
  • the position-coding pattern P is shown only sche- matically as a dotted surface in the drawings. This position-coding pattern is used to record what is being written on the base in electronic form. Different kinds of position-coding patterns that can be used for this purpose are previously known. US-5, 477, 012 , which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses, for instance, a position-coding pattern where each position is coded with a unique symbol. The position-coding pattern can be read with a pen which optically detects the position code, decodes the position code and gene- rates pairs of coordinates which describe the movement of the pen across the surface.
  • WO 00/73983 and WO 01/26032 which are hereby incorporated by reference, and which have both been assigned to the applicant of the present application, describe a different position-coding pattern where each position is coded by means of a plurality of symbols of a simpler type, each symbol contributing to the coding of more than one position.
  • dots of different sizes are used to code ones and zeros in the position-coding pattern which is binary.
  • WO 01/26032 use is made of four different displacements of a dot from a nominal position in order to code four different bit pairs in the position-coding pattern. A certain number of dots, for instance 6*6 dots, code a unique position. The position can be calculated based on the bit values corresponding to the dots .
  • the position-coding patterns according to WO 00/73983 and WO 01/26032 can be detected optically with a pen which decodes the dots and generates a pair of coordinates for each set of e.g. 6*6 dots. If the position-coding pattern is read while the pen is writing on the position-coded base, a sequence of pairs of coor- dinates is thus obtained, which describes the movement of the pen across the position-coding pattern and which thus constitutes an electronic representation of what is being written on the base.
  • the sensor device 1 can then also be of a type as disclosed in WO 01/26032. An example of the construction of such a device will be described below with reference to Fig. 4.
  • the sensor device 1 comprises a casing 11 having approximately the same shape as a pen. In one short side of the casing there is an opening 12. The short side is intended to abut against or be placed a short distance from the surface on which the position determination is to take place.
  • the casing essentially contains an optics part, an electronic circuitry part and a power supply.
  • the optics part comprises at least one light-emitting diode 13 for illuminating the surface which is to be imaged, and a light-sensitive area sensor 14, such as a CCD or a CMOS sensor, for recording a two-dimensional image.
  • the device may also comprise an optical system, such as a mirror and/or lens system (not shown) .
  • the light-emitting diode can be an infrared light-emit- ting diode, and the sensor can be sensitive to infrared light.
  • the power supply for the device is obtained from a battery 15 which is mounted in a separate compartment in the casing. It is also conceivable to achieve the power supply via a cable from an external power source (not shown) .
  • the electronic circuitry part comprises a signal processor 16 which comprises a processor 16a having a working store 16b and a program store 16c.
  • the processor 16a is programmed to input images from the sensor, to detect the position-coding pattern in the images and to decode this to positions in the form of pairs of coordinates, and to process the information thus recorded in electronic form in the manner that will be described in more detail below for transfer to the external unit 5 (Fig. 1) .
  • This unit 5 may be a computer or any other unit provided with a processor, which in response to data from the sensor device 1 is programmed to perform certain actions. Recapturing the above illustrated example with the order form, the unit 5 may be programmed to initiate an order procedure in a logistics system based on information from the sensor device 1.
  • the sensor device 1 comprises in this embodiment a pen point 17 by means of which the user can write ordinary pigment-based writing on the surface on which the position determination is to take place.
  • the pen point 17 can be retractable and extendable so that the user can control whether it is to be used or not. In some applications, the device need not have a pen point at all .
  • the pigment-based writing is of a type that is transparent to infrared light and the position- coding pattern is absorbing infrared light.
  • the detection of the pattern takes place without the above-men- tioned writing interfering with the pattern.
  • the sensor device 1 may also comprise buttons 18, by means of which the user can activate and control the device.
  • the device can also have a transceiver 19 for wireless transfer, for instance using IR light, radio waves or ultrasound, of information to and from the device.
  • the device may further comprise a display 20 for showing positions or recorded information.
  • the sensor device 1 can be divided into different physical casings, e.g. a first casing containing compo- nents which are necessary to take images of the position- coding pattern and to transfer these to components which are positioned in a second casing and which carry out the position determination based on the recorded image or images .
  • a first casing containing compo- nents which are necessary to take images of the position- coding pattern and to transfer these to components which are positioned in a second casing and which carry out the position determination based on the recorded image or images .
  • the user marks the field 3 associated with the desired option by means of the pen point of the sensor device 1, while at the same time the sensor device 1 locally reads the position-coding pattern and converts this to one or more pairs of coordinates.
  • at least one pair of coordinates, or a part thereof must be transferred from the sensor device 1 to the unit 5.
  • This unit 5 has knowledge of the imaginary surface, or at least a relevant part thereof, and can thus identify an order, e.g. options marked by the user of the sensor device 1, by mapping received pairs of coordinates to the imaginary surface. To be able to transfer the pairs of coordinates to the unit 5, it is necessary to establish communication between them.
  • the unit 5 is provided with a short-range transceiver 4 (Fig. 4) , e.g. a radio tran- sceiver according to the Bluetooth® standard, which is described in more detail at, for instance, www.bluetooth.com, or according to a WLAN-standard (e.g. IEEE 802.11).
  • transceivers are conceivable such as infrared transceivers according to the IrDA standard, which is described in more detail at www.irda.org. The example below, however, assumes that the communication is according to the Bluetooth ® standard.
  • the sensor device 1 communicates, according to the embodiment described below, wirelessly with external units via its transceiver 19 (Fig. 4), in a manner known to the person skilled in the art .
  • each transceiver Since each transceiver, according to the Bluetooth® standard has a unique 48 bit address (according to IEEE 802) through which communication takes place, it is necessary for the transceiver 19 in the sensor device 1 to obtain the address of the transceiver 4 of the unit 5.
  • a total of 2 32 different addresses can be coded according to the standard.
  • the address of a unit is used as part of almost all transmitted data that is intended to be picked up by the unit .
  • An address according to the Bluetooth® standard consists of one part which is company specific and assigned to each company which is to supply products based on the standard. Moreover, the address consists of one part which is product specific and determined by the company that supplies the product.
  • the base 2 (Fig. 1) is provided with an addressing field 6, which contains a subset of the position-coding pattern, the subset being formed such that the sensor device 1, based on the pairs of coordinates coded by the subset, can calculate an address to the transceiver 4 of the unit 5. Subsequently, the sensor device 1 may connect itself directly to the unit 5, without any interrogation procedure according to the prior art .
  • a two- dimensional imaginary surface I which is defined by the position-coding pattern P and which is thus constituted by all absolute positions, each having an x-coordinate and a y-coordinate, that the position-coding pattern is capable of coding.
  • the position-coding pattern described in WO 01/26032 may define an imaginary surface which is 4.6 million km 2 , where each position is given with a resolution of 0.3 mm.
  • an addressing area 10 on the imaginary surface I is divided into a series of subareas S 0 -S n .
  • the sub- areas which in this example are square, are defined by a plurality of pairs of coordinates. Each pair of coordinates thus has a unique belonging to a subarea S 0 -S n within the addressing area 10.
  • a specific subarea S 4 in the series of subareas S 0 -S n within the addressing area 10 on the imaginary surface I, shown in Fig. 2 is connected to a base. This is done by providing the address field 6 of the base 2 with a subset of the posi- tion-coding pattern P, which codes one or more pairs of coordinates within the specific subarea S 4 on the imaginary surface I .
  • the subareas S 0 -S n within the addressing area 10 are in the example according to Figs 2 and 3 arranged as a linear sequence of neighbouring rectangles. All rectangles within the addressing area 10 may be of equal size.
  • a first rectangle S 0 constitutes a starting point for the linear sequence of subareas S 0 -S n .
  • This first subarea, S 0 or any one else of the subareas S 0 -S n , may constitute a reference subarea.
  • Between the position contents of the subareas S 0 -S n is a predetermined mathematical relationship. In the addressing area 10 of Fig. 2, the relationship assumes that the subareas S 0 -S n are arranged adjacent to each other, in a linear sequence .
  • the distance on the imaginary surface I from the recorded pair of coordinates to the reference subarea S 0 may be calculated. Having knowledge of this distance and the size and mutual position of the subareas S 0 -S n , the number of subareas S 0 -S n between the recorded pair of coordinates and the reference subarea S 0 may be calculated, whereupon a number may be obtained, which corresponds to the location in the linear sequence of the subarea which contains the recorded pair of coor- dinates .
  • each subarea S ⁇ -S n may be assigned a transceiver address which is a function of the transceiver address or reference number of the reference subarea S 0 .
  • each subarea' s S 0 -S n offset in relation to the location of a reference subarea S 0 on the imaginary surface I may be utilised for modifying a reference number, such that a number for the subarea So-S ⁇ is obtained.
  • This number may directly yield a transceiver address, which corresponds to the subarea S 0 -S n .
  • it may be modified to provide a transceiver address, which corresponds to the subarea S 0 -S n .
  • the subareas S 0 -S n constituting the addressing area 10 may be dedicated for sending, such that the sensor device, when recording a pair of coordinates within any of the subareas S 0 -S n , calculates the address and initiates connection and/or sending, without further involvement on the part of the user.
  • Figs 5-7 schematically illustrate flow charts for computer programs which can be stored in a memory 16b, 16c in the signal processor 16 of the sensor device 1 and which can be executed in the processor 16a of the sensor device.
  • Fig. 5 shows a schematic flow chart for software in a computer program product according to the invention.
  • the software Via the sensor device, the software records a pair of coordinates on the base 2 in a step 30. Based on the pair of coordinates, a unique number is calculated in step 32 and constitutes the basis for connecting to the external unit 5 in a step 33.
  • Fig. 6 shows in more detail how step 32 proceeds.
  • a reference number 42 is retrieved in a step 40 from the memory 16b, 16c of the sensor device.
  • a pair of reference coordinates 43 is retrieved in a step 41 from the memory 16b, 16c of the sensor device.
  • the calculation in step 32a of the unique number takes place based on the recorded pair of coordinates, the reference number and the pair of reference coordinates.
  • Fig. 7 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention.
  • a first and a second pair of coordinates will be recorded in steps 30, 31, the unique number being calculated in a step 32' based on the two pairs of coordinates and connection taking place based on the unique number in a step 33' .
  • three calculation examples will be given below, which illustrate different aspects of the invention.
  • the decimal number system with 10 as a base will be used.
  • the invention is also applicable to other number systems, such as binary or hexadecimal number systems .
  • the x coordinate of the point can be disregarded, whereby the transceiver address will be as follows
  • the transceiver address associated with the recorded position is according the example thus 095 085.
  • the calculated transceiver address is based on inputs of more than one pair of coordinates.
  • the transceiver address will be a function of pairs of coordinates within several subareas S 0 -S n and a reference subarea .
  • the transceiver address according to the second embodiment of the invention based on two recorded pairs of coordinates, will thus be 095 125.
  • the two, or more, pairs of coordinates can be inputted in many different ways.
  • One way implies that they are recorded within a certain interval and thus interpreted by the sensor device as being associated with each other.
  • Another way implies that the sensor device quite simply accumulates inputs of pairs of coordinates from different subareas S 0 -S n until a send command is received or until pairs of coordinates have been inputted from enough sub- areas S 0 -S n to obtain a valid address.
  • the user may, by means of the sensor device 1, connect a plurality of subsets of the position- coding pattern with a line, by passing the sensor device 1 in a continuous movement across the base 2.
  • a sequence of pairs of coordinates is generated, which extends over and interconnects two or more subareas S 0 -S n , in which case a pair of coordinates for each sub- area S 0 -S n may be extracted and used for the calculation of the unique number.
  • Yet another way may be to set the sensor device in a special mode of operation for calculating a send address. This can take place, for instance, by a button on the sensor device 1 being pressed or by recording a command square on the base.
  • the order in which the inputs are made may be used to indi- cate how the recorded pairs of coordinates are to be interpreted.
  • the pairs of coordinates can be weighted differently depending on the order in which they are inputted.
  • the position in the number that is coded can be determined by the order in which the coordinates are inputted.
  • a sixteen digit number may be inputted by recording four pairs of coordinates, which each represent a four digit group, the first recorded pair of coordinates representing the first four digits, the second inputted pair of coordinates representing the next four digits etc.
  • the number that is calculated based on the pair of coordinates of the position recorded by the sensor device 1 is multiplied by a factor 10 according to
  • the first transceiver address is assigned to the subarea containing the pair of coordinates (5,852) which is thus 095 850.
  • the applied subset may code positions within a part of the subarea, if e.g. the address field on the base is smaller than the sub- area corresponding to the subset of the position-coding pattern. If, on the other hand, the address field on the base is larger than the subset of the position-coding pattern corresponding to the subarea, it is conceivable to repeat the subset within the address field.
  • the con- necting method according to the invention can also be combined with the interrogation procedure according to prior art. For instance, part of an address can be coded according to the invention, in which case a limited number of addresses are obtained, against which interrogation can take place in prior-art manner. This allows, for instance, coding of addresses for a certain type of units or for units of a certain manufacturer.
  • the invention is also applicable to most conceivable position-coding patterns and sensor devices.
  • embo- diments it is also possible to combine the different embo- diments and to extend them to comprise, for instance, more inputs to make up the unique number, alternatively a larger or smaller number of address per subarea.

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un procédé destiné à connecter un dispositif de détection (1), par ex. un stylo électronique, à une unité externe arbitraire (5). Le procédé comprend: l'enregistrement électronique au moyen du dispositif de détection (1), sur une base fournie avec au moins un sous-ensemble de motifs de codage de position (P) qui code pour des paires de coordonnées sur une surface imaginaire (I), d'une paire de coordonnées à l'intérieur d'une première sous-zone parmi une pluralité de sous-zones (So-Sn) à l'intérieur d'une zone d'adressage (10) sur la surface imaginaire (I); le calcul d'un nombre pour la première sous-zone, en se basant sur la paire de coordonnées; et la connexion du dispositif de détection (1) à l'unité externe (5) via une adresse de communication électronique, qui correspond au nombre. L'invention a également pour objet un dispositif et un produit de programme informatique destinés à la connexion d'un dispositif de détection à une unité externe, et un procédé et un dispositif destinés au codage d'adresses de communication électronique.
EP02744045A 2001-06-27 2002-06-26 Procede destine a connecter un dispositif de detection a une unite externe arbitraire Withdrawn EP1405167A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE0102279A SE0102279L (sv) 2001-06-27 2001-06-27 Förfarande för trådlös uppkoppling
SE0102279 2001-06-27
PCT/SE2002/001262 WO2003003188A1 (fr) 2001-06-27 2002-06-26 Procede destine a connecter un dispositif de detection a une unite externe arbitraire

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Families Citing this family (2)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2413677A (en) * 2004-04-28 2005-11-02 Hewlett Packard Development Co Digital pen and paper system using a pattern which encodes communication parameters
GB2510273A (en) * 2011-09-22 2014-07-30 Hewlett Packard Development Co Soft button input systems and methods

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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

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CA2374811C (fr) * 1999-05-28 2012-04-10 Anoto Ab Determination de position
CA2374808C (fr) * 1999-05-28 2008-05-20 Anoto Ab Enregistrement d'informations
WO2000073887A1 (fr) * 1999-05-28 2000-12-07 Anoto Ab Calendrier
EP1214641B1 (fr) * 1999-08-30 2010-05-05 Anoto AB Bloc-notes electronique
AU2001246996A1 (en) * 2000-04-05 2001-10-15 Anoto Ab Method and system for information association

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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)

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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 WO03003188A1

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WO2003003188A1 (fr) 2003-01-09
SE0102279L (sv) 2002-12-28
SE0102279D0 (sv) 2001-06-27

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