JP2004110571A - Procedure system, its server device, and business form for electronic pen - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify various procedure such as an application using an electronic pen. <P>SOLUTION: A user who takes the procedure, enters necessary matters with the electronic pen on an exclusive business form with a dot pattern printed for the electronic pen. The electronic pen transmits entry data corresponding to entry contents, to a terminal unit, and the terminal unit transmits the entry data to a server device through a network or the like. The server device receives the entry data and performs processing on the business form. Specifically, the server device pads the entry data in an electronic business form corresponding to the business form, to prepare an electronic business form, and stores the electronic business form in a database. The user can thus make an entry in the required business form to carry out the procedure using the electronic pen as an input means. The user can perform business form entry work without a sense of incongruity by a familiar input method with the conventional business form and pen and acquires electronic data on the entry contents simultaneously with the electronic pen. The procedure can thereby be efficiently carried out without requiring special skill and knowledge of the user in comparison with the case of the user inputting an electronic form. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a system that fills in required items on various forms using an electronic pen and processes the entered data electronically.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, users fill in necessary items using application such as ballpoint pen in various documents such as application forms and application forms (hereinafter referred to as “various application documents”) submitted to government offices and financial institutions, etc. Documents had been submitted. In order to manage the submitted documents as electronic data, it is necessary for an operator to input the contents using a keyboard or the like and to make the data electronic.
[0003]
On the other hand, in recent years, instead of a conventional paper form, an electronic form in which the form is digitized has been used. The electronic form is electronic data including entry items of a paper form as a plurality of fields. A user who creates a document such as an application reads an electronic form into a personal computer or the like, displays the electronic form on a display device, and operates an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse to input necessary items in the electronic form. The input items are acquired as electronic data, and can be transmitted to an organization to which the form is submitted through a network or the like.
[0004]
In such a system, the electronic data corresponding to the entry can be obtained from the beginning, so that not only the processing can be made more efficient, but also the navigation (input item, input (Providing guidance information on a method, etc.), so that errors in input data can be prevented. As a result, the efficiency of the entire procedure can be expected.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when creating various forms to be submitted to government offices and financial institutions as electronic forms, users who do not have sufficient knowledge of how to operate a personal computer or users who are not good at keyboard input, etc. It is often difficult to make good use of electronic forms. The information entry method using a pen is one of the most basic means of human communication, and for users who are not very good at operating keyboards and the like, as in the past, paper forms The easiest way is to input with a pen.
[0006]
Further, since the above-described system is based on keyboard input, an environment including a terminal device including a keyboard, such as a personal computer, is required. Therefore, it does not meet the need for easily proceeding with a form in a mobile environment such as when going out.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an environment in which a procedure can be easily performed by creating an electronic form using an electronic pen as an input unit. And
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In one aspect of the present invention, a procedural system includes an electronic pen, a form on which a dot pattern and a pattern printed recognizable by the electronic pen are printed, and a user filling in the form with the electronic pen. The terminal device that receives the entered data from the electronic pen and transmits it to a server device, and a server device that receives the entered data from the terminal device and executes a process related to the form, the server device comprising: Electronic form creation means for creating an electronic form by associating the entry data with an electronic form corresponding to the form, and storage means for saving the entry data in a database.
[0009]
In the above-described procedure system, the user who performs the procedure writes necessary items with the electronic pen on the special form on which the dot pattern for the electronic pen is printed. The electronic pen transmits entry data corresponding to the entry content to the terminal device, and the terminal device transmits the entry data to the server device via, for example, a network.
[0010]
The server device receives the entry data and performs processing relating to the form. Specifically, the server device embeds the entry data in an electronic form corresponding to the form, creates an electronic form, and stores the entry data in a database. The entry data can be stored in a state embedded in the electronic form, or can be stored in a state where the entry data is associated with the identification information of the corresponding electronic form.
[0011]
In this way, the user can use the electronic pen as an input unit to fill in necessary forms and execute procedures. The user can perform the work of filling out the form without feeling uncomfortable by the conventional input method using the form and the pen, and at the same time, it is possible to acquire the electronic data on the contents of the form using the electronic pen. As a result, compared to the case where the user inputs the electronic form, the procedure can be proceeded more efficiently without requiring the user to have special skills and knowledge.
[0012]
The server device described above can include: means for acquiring form identification information for identifying the form from the entry data; and means for acquiring the electronic form based on the acquired form identification information. Unlike an electronic form in which an electronic form to be used can be specified from the server device, the form used by the user is not basically under the control of the server. Therefore, the server device specifies the type of form to which the entry data is input from the entry data, and processes the entry data correctly.
[0013]
The electronic form creation means may include a conversion means for converting the entry data into text data, and an embedding means for embedding the converted text data in the electronic form. As a result, the entry data obtained from the electronic pen can be converted into a data format used on an electronic form, and can be processed and managed as an electronic form.
[0014]
Preferably, the server device further includes a display unit that displays an electronic form in which the text data is embedded by the embedding unit on a display unit, wherein the display unit includes the entry data before the conversion, The text data corresponding to the entry data is displayed in association with the text data. Thus, even if the operation of converting the entry data into text data cannot be performed correctly, an operator or the like can input the correct text data while viewing the entry data, thereby completing the electronic form.
[0015]
In one display method, the display unit displays the entry data before conversion in an image display area on the display unit, and displays the text data in an electronic form display area different from the image display area. It can be displayed together with.
[0016]
In this display method, since the appearance of the entire electronic form is displayed in the electronic form display area, the operator efficiently inputs and corrects the electronic form while watching the state in which the entry data is reflected on the electronic form. be able to.
[0017]
In another display method, the display unit displays the text data in a state where the text data is embedded in the electronic form, and the display unit displays the text data while a specific input field in the electronic form is selected. Means for displaying the entry data before conversion corresponding to the input field in a window different from the electronic form.
[0018]
In this display method, an electronic form is displayed in a normal state, and when an operator moves a cursor or the like for input, correction, etc. and selects a specific input field, the entry data corresponding to the input field is, for example, It is displayed temporarily in a form such as a pop-up display separately from the electronic form. Therefore, the operator can work efficiently by referring to the entry data by the user only when necessary, while working on the image of the electronic form.
[0019]
According to another aspect of the present invention, a form for an electronic pen written by an electronic pen including an ink pen unit and a reading unit that optically reads a dot pattern includes a dot pattern printed recognizable by the electronic pen and the dot pattern. It has a design printed on the pattern, and an input box for inputting form type specifying information for specifying the type of the form.
[0020]
When the user uses the electronic pen to enter necessary information in the electronic pen form, the electronic pen acquires entry data by reading a dot pattern corresponding to each input box on the form. Since the entry data includes the form type identification information, the server device or the like that has received the entry data can specify which type of form the entry data corresponds to and perform the subsequent processing correctly. .
[0021]
In one aspect of the electronic pen form, the design includes a plurality of input fields, and the plurality of input fields include an image data input field to obtain entry data entered in the input field as image data. A text data input column from which entry data entered in the input column is to be obtained as text data, and a dot pattern in the input column indicates whether the input column is an image data input column or text data. Contains information indicating whether the field is an input field.
[0022]
Thus, the server device or the like that has received the entry data determines whether to process the data corresponding to each input field as image data or text data based on the information included in the entry data. Can be.
[0023]
In another aspect of the present invention, a terminal device uses a digital pen and a form on which a dot pattern and a pattern printed recognizable by the digital pen are printed, and a user uses the digital pen to form the form using the digital pen. An entry data receiving means for receiving the entry data entered above; and a display means for displaying the entry data together with an electronic form corresponding to the form, wherein the display means displays the entry data. And an input unit for performing an input corresponding to the entry data. Thereby, the terminal device can display the entry data entered by the user using the electronic pen and the form on the corresponding electronic form. Further, on the display screen, the entry data and the input unit corresponding to the entry data can be displayed in association with each other.
[0024]
Further, the above terminal device can be realized by executing a corresponding program on a computer.
[0025]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0026]
[Electronic pen]
First, the electronic pen will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a usage form of the electronic pen, and FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a structure of the electronic pen. As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic pen 10 is used in combination with a special paper 20 on which a dot pattern is printed. The electronic pen 10 has a pen tip 17 similar to a normal ink pen, and a user writes characters and the like on the special paper 20 in the same manner as a normal ink pen.
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 2, the electronic pen 10 includes a processor 11, a memory 12, a Bluetooth transceiver 13, a battery 14, an infrared LED 15, a camera 16, and a pressure sensor 18 therein. The electronic pen 10 has an ink cartridge (not shown) as a component similar to a normal ink pen.
[0028]
The electronic pen 10 does not convert the locus of the ink drawn on the special paper 20 by the pen tip portion 17 into data, but converts the locus coordinates of the movement of the electronic pen 10 on the special paper 20 into data. While the infrared LED 15 illuminates the vicinity of the pen tip 17 on the dedicated paper 20, the camera 16 reads the dot pattern printed on the dedicated paper 20 and converts it into data. That is, the electronic pen 10 can acquire, as image data or vector data, a stroke generated when the user moves the electronic pen 10 on the special paper 20.
[0029]
The pressure sensor 18 detects the pressure applied to the pen tip portion 17 when the user writes a character or the like on the special paper with the electronic pen 10, that is, the pen pressure, and supplies the detected pressure to the processor 11. The processor 11 switches on / off the infrared LED 15 and the camera 16 based on the pen pressure data provided from the pressure sensor 18. That is, when a user writes a character or the like on the dedicated paper 20 with the electronic pen 10, pen pressure is applied to the pen tip portion 17. Therefore, when the writing pressure equal to or more than the predetermined value is detected, it is determined that the user has started the description, and the infrared LED 15 and the camera 16 are operated.
[0030]
The camera 16 reads the dot pattern on the special paper 20 and supplies the pattern data to the processor 11. The processor 11 calculates X / Y coordinates on the dedicated paper 20 from the supplied dot pattern.
[0031]
The processor 11 acquires the pen pressure array data and the X / Y coordinate data while the user is being described, and stores them in the memory 12 in association with the time stamp (time information). Therefore, data corresponding to the description content of the user is stored in the memory 12 in chronological order. The capacity of the memory 12 can be, for example, about 1 Mbyte.
[0032]
All acquired data is held in the memory 12 until a transmission instruction is issued by the user. When the user gives a transmission instruction, the data in the memory 12 is transmitted by the Bluetooth transceiver 13 to the terminal device 25 located within a predetermined distance from the electronic pen 10. Basically, once a transmission instruction is given, the electronic pen 10 transmits all data stored in the memory 12 to the terminal device 25, so that the memory 12 is cleared. Therefore, when the user wants to transmit the same information to the terminal device 25 again after the transmission, the user needs to write the information on the special paper 20 again. In this case, the user only has to trace characters written with the ink pen on the dedicated paper 20.
[0033]
The electronic pen 10 itself does not have a function button such as a transmission button, and a transmission instruction and other instructions are provided by a user checking a special box provided at a predetermined position on the special paper 20 with the electronic pen 10. Be executed. A transmission instruction is previously associated with the position coordinates of the dedicated box. When the processor 11 receives the position coordinates of the dedicated box, the processor 11 supplies the data in the memory 12 to the Bluetooth transceiver 13 and transmits the data to the terminal device 25. Let it do. Note that the electronic pen 10 does not have a display, buttons, or the like, but the completion of data transmission can be indicated by vibration of the electronic pen.
[0034]
The battery 14 is for supplying power to each element in the electronic pen 10, and for example, the power of the electronic pen 10 itself can be turned on / off by a cap (not shown) of the electronic pen.
[0035]
As described above, the electronic pen 10 has a function of acquiring coordinate data and writing pressure data corresponding to characters written on the dedicated paper 20 by the user and transmitting the data to the nearby terminal device 25. Since the pen tip portion 17 is a normal ink pen, the contents described on the special paper 20 remain as original originals. That is, at the same time as describing the original paper, the contents can be digitized in real time in the form of coordinate data or the like.
[0036]
According to the standard functions of the electronic pen 10, the data obtained by the electronic pen 10 is in principle in the form of coordinate data or vector data, not text data. However, the electronic pen 10 has a function of converting only alphanumeric characters into text by describing it in a dedicated area provided on the dedicated paper 20 as a standard function. In the terminal device 25 and the like, it is of course possible to obtain text data from the coordinate data and vector data transmitted from the electronic pen 10 using a character recognition application.
[0037]
The electronic pen 10 can hold property information (pen information and pen owner information) on the pen itself and its owner, and can be referred to from an application. As the pen information, a battery level, a pen ID, a pen manufacturer number, a pen software version, a subscription provider ID, and the like can be held. The pen owner information can include a nationality, a language, a time zone, an email address, a free memory capacity, a name, an address, a fax / telephone number, a mobile phone number, and the like.
[0038]
Next, a method of acquiring X / Y data of the content described by the user using the electronic pen will be described. As described above, a predetermined dot pattern is printed on the dedicated paper 20. The camera 16 of the electronic pen 10 reads a dot pattern on the special paper 20 instead of reading a locus of ink written on the special paper 20 by the user. Actually, as shown in FIG. 1, the illumination area by the infrared LED 15 and the imaging area of the camera 16 (located in the illumination area) are shifted from the position where the pen tip 17 contacts the special paper 20.
[0039]
The dot pattern is printed with a special ink containing carbon or the like, and the camera 16 can recognize only the pattern using the special ink. Even if a ruled line, a frame, or the like is printed on a dedicated paper using an ink (not including carbon) other than the dedicated ink, the electronic pen does not recognize them. Therefore, when creating forms such as various application forms using dedicated paper, input frames, ruled lines, notes, and the like are printed with ink other than the dedicated ink.
[0040]
In the dot pattern, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the position of each dot is associated with data. In the example of FIG. 3, two-bit information of 0 to 3 is displayed by shifting the position of the dot vertically and horizontally from the grid reference position (the intersection of the vertical line and the horizontal line). The position coordinates on the dedicated paper are determined by the combination of the information thus expressed. As illustrated in FIG. 4A, 36 dots are arranged in a grid within a range of 2 mm in length and width, and an array of data indicated by these dots (FIG. 4B) is printed on the dedicated paper. Are associated with the position coordinates. Therefore, when the camera 16 of the electronic pen 10 captures a dot pattern as shown in FIG. 4A, the processor 11 changes the data array shown in FIG. The acquired position coordinates on the dedicated paper (that is, the position of the dot pattern on the dedicated paper) corresponding thereto are calculated in real time. Note that the minimum unit for recognizing the dot pattern is 2 mm × 2 mm, and the camera 16 shoots about 100 times per second.
[0041]
Next, the special paper will be described. FIG. 5 shows an example of the structure of the special paper. As shown in the drawing, the special paper 20 has a dot pattern 32 printed on a backing sheet 30, and a pattern 34 such as a ruled line printed thereon. The backing sheet 30 is usually paper, and the dot pattern 32 is printed with a special ink containing carbon as described above. In addition, the design 34 is printed with normal ink or the like. The dot pattern and the design may be printed at the same time, or one of them may be printed first.
[0042]
An example of the design 34 is shown in FIG. FIG. 6 shows an example of a certain application form 36 in which a plurality of entry fields 38 and a transmission box 39 are printed. Although not clearly shown in FIG. 6, a dot pattern is actually printed on the entire surface of the application form 36, and an entry box 38 and a transmission box 39 are printed thereon with ordinary ink. The user may use the electronic pen 10 to fill in the required items in the entry fields 38 of the application form 36 in the same manner as a conventional application form, without being conscious of the dot pattern.
[0043]
The area on the special paper 20 can be roughly divided into two types of areas. One is an entry area, in which the contents described by the electronic pen 10 are directly handled as information. In the example of FIG. 6, a plurality of entry fields 38 correspond to this. The other is a functional element, which executes an action, an instruction, and the like defined in advance for the area when the corresponding area is checked with the electronic pen 10. The transmission box 39 in the example of FIG. 6 corresponds to this.
[0044]
The transmission box 39 is used when giving an instruction to transmit data stored in the electronic pen 10 to the nearby terminal device 25 as described above. When the user checks the transmission box 39 with the electronic pen 10, the electronic pen 10 reads the dot pattern in the transmission box. The pattern is associated with the transmission instruction, and the processor 11 in the electronic pen 10 issues a transmission command of the data stored in the memory 12 to the Bluetooth transceiver 13.
[0045]
The assignment of the dot pattern is usually performed for each application (type of paper). That is, the dot patterns in a certain application do not overlap in one sheet, but the same application is printed with the same dot pattern. Therefore, when the user inputs necessary items with the electronic pen 10, it is possible to specify which item of the application is for the input item from the coordinate data on the application.
[0046]
As described above, by printing a predetermined design on the special paper on which the dot pattern is printed, various applications using the special paper can be created. If the user uses the electronic pen 10 to fill in the necessary items in the usual manner, the electronic data is automatically obtained.
[0047]
In the above example, the dot pattern is printed on the dedicated paper with ink containing carbon, but it is also possible to print the dot pattern on ordinary paper using a printer and ink containing carbon. Further, the design on the special paper can be formed not by printing but by a printer. When dot patterns are formed on paper by a printer, different dot patterns can be formed on each sheet. Therefore, it is possible to identify and discriminate these sheets one by one based on the difference between the formed dot patterns.
[0048]
In the present specification, the term “print” is a concept that includes not only normal printing but also printing by a printer.
[0049]
Next, transmission processing of data acquired by the electronic pen will be described. As described above, the communication function of the electronic pen 10 is based on Bluetooth. The communication function of the electronic pen 10 is based on a service server that handles data input to the dedicated paper 20 (in the case of a specific application, the application server is the server of the application). Therefore, data cannot be transmitted directly from the electronic pen 10. Therefore, the data acquired by the electronic pen 10 is transmitted from the terminal device 25 to the service server.
[0050]
The process at that time will be described with reference to FIG. The data obtained by the electronic pen 10 is mainly data of items input by the user, but usually does not include information on the service server to which the data is transmitted. Instead, information for specifying an application or service related to the special paper is included in a dot pattern on the special paper, and the information is obtained from the special paper during a user input operation. Therefore, the terminal device 25 that has received the input data from the electronic pen 10 first makes an inquiry to the inquiry server 26 to which service server 27 the data input for the dedicated paper should be transmitted. The inquiry server 26 has information of a corresponding service server for each dedicated paper, and in response to an inquiry from the terminal device 25, stores information (a URL or the like) of the service server 27 that performs services related to the dedicated paper. Reply to terminal device 25. Then, the terminal device 25 transmits the input data obtained from the electronic pen to the service server 27.
[0051]
In the above example, the terminal device 25, the inquiry server 26, and the service server 27 are configured separately, but some or all of them may be configured as one device.
[0052]
[Procedure system]
Next, as an embodiment of the present invention, in order to perform a series of procedures in which a user fills in a required matter on an application created using a dedicated paper using an electronic pen, and accepts the filled-in data at a server. The following describes the procedure system.
[0053]
FIG. 7 shows a schematic configuration of a procedure system using an electronic pen. The user uses the above-described electronic pen 10 to input a form (in this example, a certain application form) 4. The form 4 has the configuration described with reference to FIGS. The contents entered in the form 4 are acquired as stroke data by the electronic pen 10 and transmitted to the terminal device 25 by Bluetooth communication. Hereinafter, the stroke data output by the electronic pen 10 is referred to as “entry data”. The entry data is transmitted from the terminal device 25 to the reception server 3 of the application via the network 2. The reception server 3 is a server that receives an application procedure based on an application form created by a user, and includes a database 8 for storing application data or the like in which application contents are recorded.
[0054]
Next, the flow of a procedure using the above procedure system will be described. FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of the application processing by the present procedure system. In FIG. 8, first, a user (in this case, an applicant who performs a specific application procedure) uses the electronic pen 10 and the application form 4 to fill in items necessary for application on the application form 4. . The application form 4 is made of a special paper illustrated in FIG. That is, the dot pattern 32 is printed on the mount 30 with ink containing carbon that can be recognized by the electronic pen 10, and the design pattern 34 of the application form is printed thereon with ink that cannot be recognized by the electronic pen 10. An example of the design 34 is shown in FIG. 6, and includes a plurality of input fields and the like.
[0055]
When completing the necessary items, the user checks the transmission box 39 of the application form 4 (see FIG. 6) and transmits the entry data to the reception server 3 via the terminal device 25 (step S2). That is, when the user checks the transmission check box 39 of the application form 4, the stroke data stored in the memory 12 of the electronic pen 10 at that time is transmitted to the terminal device 25 as entry data for one application form 4. Is done. The entry data is stroke data (a set of coordinate data) such as characters entered by the user in the application form 4. The terminal device 25 transmits the entry data to the reception server 3 via the network 2.
[0056]
Upon receiving the entry data from the terminal device 25, the reception server 3 executes a reception process based on the entry data (Step S4). Details of the reception process will be described later. Upon completion of the reception process, the reception server 3 stores the electronic form of the application in the database 8 (Step S5). Here, the “electronic form” includes an electronic form of the form itself and entry data for the electronic form. This refers to data in a state where entry data entered by a user using the electronic pen 10 is embedded in an electronic form of an application form prepared in advance. As a method of storing the data used in the reception processing, in addition to the above method, there is also a method of associating the data entered by the user with the identification information of the corresponding electronic form and storing the data in the database 8.
[0057]
When the reception processing is completed in this way, the reception server 3 transmits the electronic form to the user terminal device 25 for confirmation by the user (step S6). When the electronic form received by the terminal device 25 is displayed (step S7), the user checks the electronic form displayed on the terminal device 25 (the content corresponding to the application procedure performed by the user) and checks the content. I do.
[0058]
Thereafter, when the user who has performed the application process confirms the application content, the content confirmation process is performed (step S8). Details of the content confirmation processing will be described later.
[0059]
Next, details of the reception process in step S4 will be described. FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of the reception process. Upon receiving the entry data from the user, the reception server 3 first performs a form type identification process (step S20). This process is a process for specifying which form the entry data was entered on based on the entry data transmitted from the terminal device 25. The entry data is stroke data input by the electronic pen 10 as described above, and basically does not include data of the form itself. Therefore, even if the reception server 3 receives only the entry data, the reception server 3 cannot know to which form the data is input. For this reason, the reception server 3 executes a form type identification process.
[0060]
The form type specifying process can be performed, for example, by the following method. First, as a first method, when a different dot pattern is printed for each type of form, the receiving server 3 inputs the entry data to any form based on the dot pattern included in the entry data. Can be specified.
[0061]
In the second method, a form is provided in a form in which a user enters information indicating the type of the form. When the user enters information (for example, a form type number assigned to each form type) for identifying the form to be input into the form, the identification information is included in the entry data. It is transmitted to the reception server 3. The reception server 3 can specify which form the entry data is for by referring to a correspondence table (showing the correspondence between the form type and the identification information) prepared in advance. .
[0062]
In addition, when there are new and old versions of a specific form, not only the form type but also version information of the form used by the user is required. Such version information can also be obtained in the same manner as the form identification information described above.
[0063]
Next, the reception server 3 executes a writer identification process (step S21). The writer identification process is a process of identifying the user who has created the entry data (ie, the user who has input the form 4 with the electronic pen 10). When the form 4 includes entry fields such as a user name and a user ID, for example, the entry can be specified based on entry data for those entry fields. Further, in an environment where each user has one digital pen 10 one by one, if the electronic pen 10 transmits the owner information stored therein together with the entry data, the reception server No. 3 can specify the writer.
[0064]
Next, the reception server 3 performs a conversion process from the stroke data to the image or text data (Step S22). In the conventional electronic form input, the input information is information that is coded (coded) from the beginning, but when the electronic pen 10 is used, the input data obtained from the electronic pen 10 is Basically, it is coordinate data obtained by subdividing a stroke. Therefore, in order to convert this into information that can be determined by a person, a process of converting the information into an image or text data is required.
[0065]
When entry data needs to be acquired as image data, an area where entry data is to be acquired as image data and an area where text data are to be acquired are defined in advance on the form. In the case of converting the image data into image data, the reception server 3 performs a process of extracting a stroke data group written in the image data area on the form and storing the stroke data group as image data in a specific format.
[0066]
On the other hand, when the entry data is acquired as text data, a stroke data group entered in a text data area (usually an entry field for entries) on a form is extracted and converted into text data. Convert. The conversion processing into text data can be executed by using a handwritten character recognition engine or the like. Alternatively, the option can be printed together with the check box on the form, and the user can check the check box to specify the text data of the corresponding option.
[0067]
Next, the reception server 3 performs an embedding process into the electronic form (step S23). This process is a process of embedding entry data converted into image data or text data in a corresponding entry column or the like in an electronic form corresponding to the form 4. As described above, the dot pattern recognizable by the electronic pen 10 is printed on the form 4, and the dot pattern does not overlap on one form. Therefore, the reception server 3 can specify, based on the information corresponding to the dot pattern, where in the form the entry data has been entered. That is, it is possible to specify in which entry column the entry data is entered based on the dot pattern. Thereby, the reception server 3 embeds the image data and / or text data obtained in step S22 in a corresponding input field on the electronic form.
[0068]
Next, by embedding the information thus received as the entry data on the electronic form, an electronic form (data in which the entry data is embedded on the electronic form) is obtained. The reception server 3 issues a reception number to the electronic form (step S24), and registers the electronic form in the database 8 (step S25). Thus, a series of procedures is completed.
[0069]
Next, the process of embedding in an electronic form in step S23 will be described in detail. FIG. 10 shows a flowchart of the embedding process. 10, first, the reception server 3 acquires an electronic form corresponding to the form type specified in step S20 from the database 8 or the like, and embeds and displays the entry data on the electronic form. The entry data at this time is data that has already been converted to image data or text data in step S22.
[0070]
FIGS. 11A to 11D show examples of display screens when entry data is embedded and displayed on an electronic form. FIG. 11A shows an example in which the text data obtained in step S22 is embedded in the corresponding input field of the electronic form and displayed. In step S22, if the entry data can be correctly converted to text data by a handwritten character recognition engine or the like, the converted text data is embedded in all input fields as shown in FIG. It is displayed in the state.
[0071]
However, there may be cases where the stroke data obtained as entry data cannot be correctly converted to text due to the characteristics of the user using the electronic pen 10 in writing. In this case, the reception server 3 displays the entry data as it is as stroke data, and the operator looks at the stroke data on the display screen and inputs text. Display examples at that time are shown in FIGS.
[0072]
FIG. 11B shows an example in which stroke data obtained as entry data is displayed in a display column 70, and a key input column 71 is provided in the vicinity thereof. In this example, the operator inputs the corresponding text while looking at the stroke data of the handwriting of the user displayed in the display column 70. Since the display field 70 and the corresponding key input field 71 are displayed close to each other in pairs, the correspondence between them is clear. The efficiency of operator input work is increased, and errors are reduced.
[0073]
FIG. 11C shows an example in which the display screen is divided into an image display area 72 for displaying stroke data of entry data and an electronic form display area 73 for displaying the electronic form itself. In this example, since the entry data and the corresponding text entry field are separated on the display screen, the correspondence between the two at the time of input is somewhat less evident than in the example of FIG. However, since an image of the electronic form itself is displayed in the electronic form display area 73, it is possible to easily and easily grasp what state the entry data will be in when it is actually embedded in the electronic form. There are advantages.
[0074]
FIG. 11D shows an example in which image data of an electronic form is displayed on a display screen in a normal display state. That is, only the key input field 74 by the operator is displayed, and the entry data by the user is not displayed. However, when the operator places the cursor 76 in each key input field 74, the entry data entered by the user in the key input field 74 is displayed as a pop-up window 75 during that time. Therefore, the operator can make an input by referring to the entry data displayed in a pop-up as needed, while being aware of the configuration of the electronic form. This pop-up function can be provided in the electronic form itself.
[0075]
Although not shown in FIGS. 11B to 11D, the text conversion in step S22 is successful (aside from whether or not the converted character itself is correct, the conversion process itself may be performed). If it is possible, the obtained text data can be displayed in each corresponding key input box. Then, since the correct text data is embedded in the input field in which the text conversion is correctly performed, the operator does not need to do anything to the input field. On the other hand, if the result of the text conversion is incorrect, the operator only needs to input the correct entry text in the key input field.
[0076]
Next, the confirmation processing will be described. The confirmation process is a process for the user to later confirm the contents of the application, etc., regarding the procedure for which the reception has been completed by the above-described reception process. Specifically, the user fills in a required form on a form for confirmation, and transmits the entry data, so that an electronic form such as an application form can be displayed on the terminal device 25 owned by the user.
[0077]
When the user fills out a form for confirmation processing and transmits the required data, the reception server 3 receives the data (step S30). Then, in the same way as the reception process described above, the form type is specified by the form type specification process (step S31), and the user who has made the entry is specified by the writer specification process (step S32).
[0078]
Next, the reception server 3 recognizes the reception number of the electronic form specified by the user as an object of confirmation from the entry data received in step S30 (step S33), and refers to the database 8 to check the corresponding electronic form. Data is acquired (step S34). Then, the reception server 3 transmits the acquired electronic form data to the terminal device 25 of the user (step S35), and displays the data on the terminal device 25 (step S36).
[0079]
In this way, the user who has once performed the procedure can check the contents of the application and the like thereafter. Even in this case, the user can perform the confirmation process using the electronic pen 10 and the form 4.
[0080]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, by using an electronic pen and a form made of dedicated paper, a user can simply fill in a form in the same manner as a conventional pen input, and can respond to the entered contents. Input data can be obtained. Since a conventional interface such as a paper form can be used as it is, there is no need to educate users on how to use it compared to using a personal computer, and anyone can easily perform the procedure. It can be carried out. At the same time, it is possible to automatically confirm the data for the entry data.
[0081]
The user does not need to carry a personal computer or the like, and if he has an electronic pen, a form, and a small portable terminal, he can fill out the form at any time and place to perform the procedure. Further, since stroke data corresponding to the handwriting entered by the user can be obtained, the present invention can be suitably applied to not only text but also a form requiring entry of a chart or the like.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a usage pattern of an electronic pen.
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating the structure of an electronic pen. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a method of expressing information by a dot pattern printed on a dedicated paper.
FIG. 4 shows an example of a dot pattern and information corresponding to the dot pattern.
FIG. 5 shows a structure of a form formed of dedicated paper.
FIG. 6 shows an example of a form.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a procedure system using an electronic pen and dedicated paper.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a flow of an application procedure by the procedure system.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a reception process performed during an application procedure.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an embedding process during a receiving process.
FIG. 11 is an example of a display screen displayed on the reception server during the embedding process.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a confirmation process.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 Network 3 Reception server 4 Application form 8 Database 10 Electronic pen 11 Processor 12 Memory 13 Transceiver 14 Battery 15 LED
16 Camera 17 Pen Tip 20 Dedicated Paper 25 Terminal Device

Claims (13)

An electronic pen,
A dot pattern printed recognizable by the electronic pen, and a form printed with a design,
A terminal device that receives, from the electronic pen, data entered by the user on the form with the electronic pen, and transmits the data to a server device;
A server device that receives the entry data from the terminal device and executes a process related to the form, the server device comprising:
An electronic form creation unit that creates the electronic form by associating the entry data with an electronic form corresponding to the form,
Storing means for storing the entry data in a database. The procedure system according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores the entry data as the electronic form. 2. The procedure system according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores the entry data and identification information of a corresponding electronic form in association with each other. Using an electronic pen and a form on which a dot pattern and a pattern printed recognizable by the electronic pen are printed, a user receives entry data written on the form by the electronic pen using the electronic pen. Means,
Electronic form creation means for creating the electronic form by embedding the entry data in an electronic form corresponding to the form,
And a storage unit for storing the entry data in a database. Means for acquiring form identification information for identifying the form from the entry data,
The server device according to claim 4, further comprising: means for acquiring the electronic form based on the acquired form identification information. The electronic form creation means,
Conversion means for converting the entry data into text data,
The server device according to claim 4, further comprising: an embedding unit that embeds the converted text data in the electronic form. Further comprising a display means for displaying an electronic form in which the text data is embedded by the embedding means on a display unit,
The server device according to claim 6, wherein the display unit displays the entry data before conversion and the text data corresponding to the entry data in association with each other. The display means displays the entry data before conversion in an image display area on the display unit, and displays the text data together with an image of an electronic form in an electronic form display area different from the image display area. The server device according to claim 7, wherein The display means,
Means for displaying the text data in a state embedded in the electronic form,
Means for displaying entry data before conversion corresponding to the input field in a window different from the electronic form while a specific input field in the electronic form is selected. The server device according to claim 7. An electronic pen form written by an electronic pen including an ink pen unit and a reading unit that optically reads a dot pattern,
A dot pattern printed recognizable by the electronic pen,
A pattern printed on the dot pattern,
A form for an electronic pen, comprising: an input field for inputting form type specifying information for specifying the type of the form. The design includes a plurality of input fields,
The plurality of input fields include an image data input field for acquiring entry data entered in the input field as image data, and a text data entry for acquiring entry data entered in the input field as text data. Field, and
11. The electronic pen form according to claim 10, wherein the dot pattern in the input field includes information indicating whether the input field is an image data input field or a text data input field. Using an electronic pen and a form on which a dot pattern and a pattern printed recognizable by the electronic pen are printed, a user receives entry data written on the form by the electronic pen using the electronic pen. Means,
Display means for displaying the entry data together with an electronic form corresponding to the form,
The terminal device, wherein the display unit displays a display unit for displaying the entry data and an input unit for performing an input corresponding to the entry data. When executed on a computer, the computer
Using an electronic pen and a form on which a dot pattern and a pattern printed recognizable by the electronic pen are printed, a user receives entry data written on the form by the electronic pen using the electronic pen. means,
The entry data, function as a display means to display along with the electronic form corresponding to the form,
The computer program according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays a display unit for displaying the entry data and an input unit for performing an input corresponding to the entry data.

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