JP2004127198A - Form version recognition system, processing program for recognizing form version, and form for electronic pen - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a form version recognition system enabling a user to recognize the version of a form without being conscious of it, a processing program for recognizing form versions, and a form for an electronic pen. <P>SOLUTION: The form for an electronic pen is provided with a version-recognition area. The user enters necessary items on the form and enters checks or the like in the version-recognition area. The electronic pen creates entry data corresponding to the entries, including data on the entries in the version-recognition area, and supplies the data to a version recognition device. The version recognition device recognizes the version of the form according to the entry data. Because a dot pattern printed on the version-recognition area is different for each version of the form, the version recognition device recognizes the version of the form by using the pattern. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a form used with an electronic pen, a system for processing data obtained from the electronic pen, and the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Many forms used for various applications and the like have their contents updated with time (for example, travel applications and insurance application forms). In particular, at the time of switching, a period occurs in which a plurality of versions (versions) are used together due to a time lag in distributing the form. Usually, when such a version is recognized in a paper form, a version number or the like is printed in advance in one corner of the paper form, and the old or new is discriminated by human eyes.
[0003]
In recent years, pen-type input devices called “electronic pens” and “digital pens” have appeared (hereinafter, referred to as “electronic pens” in the present specification), and a representative one is Swedish Anoto. Anoto pen developed by the company is known. The electronic pen is used as a pair with special paper on which a predetermined dot pattern is printed (hereinafter, referred to as “special paper”). The electronic pen includes, in addition to a normal ink type pen tip, a small camera for reading a dot pattern on a dedicated paper, and a Bluetooth compatible communication unit. When a user writes characters or the like on an exclusive paper with an electronic pen, a small camera reads a dot pattern on the exclusive paper as the pen moves, and entry data such as characters written by the user is acquired. The entry data is transmitted from a digital pen to a nearby terminal device such as a personal computer or a mobile phone by a Bluetooth-compatible communication unit, and further transmitted to a server or the like for management.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when the dedicated paper used in a pair with such an electronic pen is applied to a form used for the various applications described above, characters pre-printed on the form are not obtained by the electronic pen as entry data. Therefore, unless the user enters the version number of the form in some way, the server or the like that receives the entry data entered in the form determines which version of the form the data is. I can't. For this reason, there arises a problem that the processing proceeds, for example, with newly added items left blank in the new version of the form.
[0005]
On the other hand, the version number of the form is unnecessary information for the user, and it is bothersome and difficult for the user to let the user enter this information.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and a form version recognition system, form version recognition processing program, and electronic pen capable of recognizing a form version without making the user conscious of the form It is an object to provide a business form.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In one aspect of the present invention, a form version recognition system includes a form for an electronic pen having a version recognition area on which a different dot pattern is printed for each version, and an optical pen that reads the dot pattern to form an image on the dot pattern. An electronic pen that acquires the entry data written in the electronic pen, and a version recognition device that acquires a version of the form for the electronic pen, the version recognition device sends the entry data for the version recognition area from the electronic pen. Obtain and recognize the version of the electronic pen form based on the obtained entry data.
[0008]
In the above-mentioned form version recognition system, the user fills in necessary items on the form for the electronic pen and makes a check in the version recognition area. The electronic pen generates entry data corresponding to the entry content, including entry data in the version recognition area, and supplies the entry data to the version recognition device. The version recognition device recognizes the version of the electronic pen form based on the entry data. Since the dot pattern printed in the version recognition area is different for each version of the electronic pen form, the version recognition device uses this to recognize the version of the electronic pen form. Accordingly, the user simply enters a check or the like in the version recognition area without being aware of the version of the electronic pen form used, and the version recognition device recognizes the version of the electronic pen form. be able to.
[0009]
In one aspect of the form version recognition system, the form for the electronic pen may further include a common area in which the same dot pattern is printed for all versions. Therefore, entries common to all versions can be entered in the common area.
[0010]
In another aspect of the form version recognition system, the version recognition area may be provided at the same position for all versions of the electronic pen form. Thus, there is no need to change the design of the version recognition area on the electronic pen form for each version.
[0011]
In another aspect of the form version recognition system, the version recognition area may be provided at a different position for each version of the electronic pen form. Thereby, a viewer (for example, an operator) can grasp the version of the electronic pen form based on the position.
[0012]
According to another aspect of the present invention, a form version recognition system includes an electronic pen form having the same dot pattern printed for all versions, a version recognition area provided at a different position for each version, and an optical pen form. An electronic pen that obtains entry data written on the dot pattern by reading the dot pattern, and a version recognition device that obtains a version of the form for the electronic pen, the version recognition device includes: The entry data for the version recognition area is acquired from the electronic pen, and the version of the electronic pen form is recognized based on the acquired entry data.
[0013]
According to the form version recognition system described above, the user fills in necessary items on the form for the electronic pen and makes a check or the like in the version recognition area. The electronic pen generates entry data corresponding to the entry content, including entry data in the version recognition area, and supplies the entry data to the version recognition device. The version recognition device recognizes the version of the electronic pen form based on the entry data. The version recognition area is provided at a different position for each version, and the entry data includes information indicating a position on the electronic pen form. Therefore, the version recognition device uses the entry data to form the electronic pen form. Recognize version. Accordingly, the user simply enters a check or the like in the version recognition area without being aware of the version of the electronic pen form used, and the version recognition device recognizes the version of the electronic pen form. be able to.
[0014]
In one aspect of the form version recognition system described above, the version recognition areas are provided in a number corresponding to the number of versions of the electronic pen form. Therefore, there is an advantage that the same dot pattern can be used even if the versions are different.
[0015]
In another aspect of the form version recognition system, the version recognition device processes the entry data acquired from the electronic pen according to the recognized version of the form for the electronic pen. Therefore, various processes prepared for each version can be executed according to the version recognized by the version recognition device. The various processes include, for example, a process of temporarily storing acquired entry data in a database, and a process such as a check and a calculation required according to the use of the electronic pen form. Note that these processes can be performed by executing a program prepared for each version of the electronic pen form in advance.
[0016]
According to another aspect of the present invention, a form version recognition processing program is executed on a computer to execute the version recognition process on an electronic pen form having a version recognition area on which a different dot pattern is printed for each version. As entry means written in the area, means for acquiring from the electronic pen acquired by optically reading the dot pattern, based on the acquired entry data, means for recognizing the version of the electronic pen form, Operate the computer.
[0017]
According to another aspect of the present invention, the form version recognition program is executed on a computer, so that the same dot pattern is printed for all versions, and the version recognition program provided at a different position for each version. Means for obtaining entry data written in the version recognition area on the electronic pen form having an area for reading from the electronic pen obtained by optically reading the dot pattern, based on the obtained entry data And causing the computer to function as means for recognizing the version of the electronic pen form.
[0018]
The form version recognition system described above can be realized by executing these form version recognition programs on a computer.
[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 is provided with a version recognition area on which a different dot pattern is printed for each version. Can be When the user fills in the required items and the like in the electronic pen form, if he writes a check or the like in the version recognition area, the user can recognize the version of the electronic pen form based on the entered data.
[0020]
In one aspect of the electronic pen form, the version recognition area can be provided at the same position for all versions. In another aspect, the version recognition area can be provided at a different position for each version.
[0021]
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 has the same dot pattern printed on all versions, Has a version recognition area, and the version recognition area is provided at a different position for each version. When the user fills in the required items and the like in the electronic pen form, if he writes a check or the like in the version recognition area, the user can recognize the version of the electronic pen form based on the entered data.
[0022]
In one aspect of the electronic pen form described above, the version recognition areas may be provided in a number corresponding to the number of versions.
[0023]
In another aspect of the electronic pen report, the version recognition area may be a required input area provided on the electronic pen report, or a new entry box field or a transmission box field. .
[0024]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following description is an embodiment in which a form version recognition system or the like according to the present invention is applied to an application processing system.
[0025]
[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 as a form for an electronic pen 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.
[0026]
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.
[0027]
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.
[0028]
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.
[0029]
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.
[0030]
The processor 11 acquires the pen pressure array data and the X / Y coordinate data while the user performs the entry, and stores them in the memory 12 in association with the time stamp (time information). Therefore, data corresponding to the contents entered by the user is stored in the memory 12 in chronological order. The capacity of the memory 12 can be, for example, about 1 Mbyte.
[0031]
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 Bluetooth transceiver 13 transmits the entry data in the memory 12 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 entry 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.
[0032]
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 entry data in the memory 12 to the Bluetooth transceiver 13 and transmits the data to the terminal device 25. Is performed. 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.
[0033]
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.
[0034]
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.
[0035]
In the above example, data transmission from the electronic pen 10 to the terminal device 25 is performed by Bluetooth wireless transmission. However, instead of this, for example, wired data transmission using a cable, Data transmission from the electronic pen 10 to the terminal device 25 can be performed by various methods, such as data transmission by contact of a terminal or the like provided in a part of the terminal device 25.
[0036]
According to the standard functions of the electronic pen 10, the entry 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 when the ruled lines and frames are printed on the special paper with an ink (not including carbon) other than the special ink, the electronic pen does not recognize them. Therefore, when creating forms such as various application forms using the special paper, input frames, ruled lines, notes, and the like are printed with ink other than the special 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 paper 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 ordinary 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]
FIG. 6 shows an example of a design 34 of a certain application form 36. As shown in FIG. 6, a new entry box column 37, a plurality of entry columns 38, a transmission box column 39, and the like are printed on the application form 36. Although not clearly shown in FIG. 6, a dot pattern is actually printed on the entire surface of the application form 36, and a new entry box column 37, an entry column 38, a transmission box column 39, and the like are formed thereon. Printed with 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 new entry box field 37 and the transmission box field 39 in the example of FIG. 6 correspond to this. Such a new entry box column 37 and transmission box column 39 are, in other words, entry columns indispensable for the dedicated paper 20 to fulfill its function.
[0044]
The transmission box column 39 is used when giving an instruction to transmit the data stored in the memory 12 of the electronic pen 10 to the nearby terminal device 25 as described above. When the user checks the transmission box section 39 with the electronic pen 10, the electronic pen 10 reads the dot pattern in the transmission box section 39. 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. As a result, the Bluetooth transceiver 13 transmits the data stored in the memory 12 to the terminal device 25. When the stored data is transmitted, the processor 11 clears the stored data in the memory 12.
[0045]
The new entry box field 37 clears all data (remaining) stored in the memory 12 of the electronic pen 10 when, for example, the user newly enters necessary items in the application form 36. Used for When the user checks the new entry box section 37 with the electronic pen 10, the electronic pen 10 reads the dot pattern in the new entry box section 37. The pattern is associated with the clear instruction, and the processor 11 in the electronic pen 10 clears the data stored in the memory 12. In other words, if the user does not check the transmission box section 39 with the electronic pen 10, the stored data will remain in the memory 12. The new entry box field 37 is used to clear such stored data.
[0046]
Incidentally, the assignment of the dot pattern is usually performed for each application (paper type). 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.
[0047]
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.
[0048]
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.
[0049]
In the present specification, the term “print” is a concept that includes not only normal printing but also printing by a printer.
[0050]
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.
[0051]
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.
[0052]
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.
[0053]
[Application processing system]
Next, the configuration and functions of the application processing system according to the present embodiment will be described.
[0054]
FIG. 7 shows a schematic configuration of the application processing system. In the application processing system 1 shown in FIG. 7, data received by a user using an electronic pen 10 in an application form is received by a reception server 3 via a terminal device 25, and application reception processing is performed. . In this embodiment, a case where a travel application form 4 is used will be described as an example of the form of the application form.
[0055]
As shown in FIG. 7, the application processing system 1 includes the electronic pen 10 and the travel application form 4 described above, a terminal device 25, a reception server 3 as a version recognition device, and an operator terminal device 6. The terminal device 25, the reception server 3, and the operator terminal device 6 are connected to each other through the network 2. The network 2 can be various networks such as an in-house LAN and the Internet.
[0056]
First, an outline of a travel application receiving method according to the present system will be described. The user first receives information provision such as an application reservation status from the operator terminal device 6 in preparing the travel application form 4. Then, the user uses the electronic pen 10 to fill in the necessary items of the travel application form 4 based on the information provision. There are a plurality of versions of this travel application form 4, and the user fills out the necessary items in any version of the travel application form 4. The entry data corresponding to the content entered by the user in the travel application form 4 is transmitted from the electronic pen 10 to the terminal device 25, and then transmitted from the terminal device 25 to the reception server 3. The entry data received by the reception server 3 is registered in the database 8 according to the version of the travel application form 4. After that, the information of the reception confirmation is transmitted to the operator terminal device 6, and the reception processing ends.
[0057]
Next, the function of each component of the application processing system 1 will be described.
[0058]
First, the travel application form 4 will be described together with the electronic pen 10. FIG. 8 shows travel applications (4a to 4c) of versions 1 to 3 as an example of the travel application 4. Version 3 of the travel application 4c is the most recent version.
[0059]
Each of the travel application forms 4a to 4c is a paper medium on which a pattern such as a plurality of characters and entry fields such as the name, address and destination of the applicant is printed. Each of the travel application forms 4a to 4c is created using the dedicated paper 20 as the electronic pen form described above. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 5, a predetermined dot pattern 32 is printed on the backing sheet 30, and a plurality of characters such as the name, address, and destination of the applicant, and a design 34 such as an entry field are printed thereon. ing.
[0060]
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the travel application forms 4a to 4c have new entry box fields 40a to 40c for checking that they are new travel applications, respectively, and the name and the name of the applicant. A plurality of entry fields 41a to 41c for the user to enter, such as an address, a destination and a schedule, and at the stage when the entry of the travel application is completed, the entry data corresponding to the entered content is entered into the terminal device 25 of the travel agency. There are provided transmission box columns 42a to 42c to be checked for transmission to the user.
[0061]
Here, the new entry box fields 40a to 40c are provided on the second area where a different dot pattern is printed for each version of the travel application form 4. On the other hand, the plurality of entry fields 41a to 41c and the transmission box fields 42a to 42c are provided on the first area on which the same dot pattern is printed for each version of the travel application form 4.
[0062]
The new entry box fields 40a to 40c are required entry fields for the user to first check with the electronic pen 10 before the user enters the entry fields 41a to 41c of the travel application forms 4a to 4c. Function as an area. When the user checks the boxes of the new entry box columns 40 a to 40 c using the electronic pen 10, the electronic pen 10 reads the dot patterns in the boxes of the new entry box columns 40. Then, as described above, since the dot pattern is associated with the clear instruction, the processor 11 in the electronic pen 10 clears the data stored in the memory 12.
[0063]
Further, in the present embodiment, the processor 11 in the electronic pen 10 acquires stroke data of the checked X / Y coordinates in the frames of the new entry box fields 40a to 40c, and acquires the stroke data of the memory 12 in the electronic pen 10. Is stored as entry data. Such entry data is data represented by the read dot pattern. Since the dot pattern in the new entry box column 40 differs for each version of the travel application form 4, the travel application form 4 can be recognized.
[0064]
The entry columns 41a to 41c are frames for the user to enter with the electronic pen 10 in accordance with a plurality of entry items such as the applicant's name / address, destination and schedule. As illustrated in FIG. 5, in the entry columns 41a to 41c, the design, the entry position, the content, and the like are different depending on the version. For example, at the position where the address is entered in the entry column 41b of the version 2 travel application 4b, a resident card code is entered in the entry column 41c of the version 3 travel application 4c. Since the dot pattern at this position is the same in the travel application form 4b for version 2 and the travel application form 4c for version 3, it is essential to recognize the version of the travel application form 4 as described later.
[0065]
Then, when the user uses the electronic pen 10 to enter necessary information in the boxes of the entry boxes 41a to 41c, the electronic pen 10 reads the dot patterns in the boxes of the entry boxes 41a to 41c. Then, the processor 11 in the electronic pen 10 acquires the stroke data of the X / Y coordinates entered in the frames of the entry columns 41a to 41c, and stores it in the memory 12 in the electronic pen 10 as entry data.
[0066]
The transmission box fields 42a to 42c are frames for checking with the electronic pen 10 after the user has filled out the travel application form 4 and transmitted the data to the terminal device 25. When the user puts a check in the frames of the transmission box columns 42a to 42c with the electronic pen 10, the electronic pen 10 reads the dot patterns in the frames of the transmission box columns 42a to 42c. Then, the processor 11 in the electronic pen 10 acquires stroke data of the checked X / Y coordinates in the frames of the transmission box columns 42a to 42c, and stores the stroke data in the memory 12 in the electronic pen 10 as a transmission command code. At the same time, all data stored in the memory 12 in the electronic pen 10 at that time is transmitted to the terminal device 25.
[0067]
Next, the terminal device 25 will be described. The terminal device 25 is preferably installed at a travel application receiving place such as a business contact of a travel company. The terminal device 25 includes a Bluetooth-compatible communication unit and the like, and receives entry data transmitted from the electronic pen 10. Further, the terminal device 25 has a function of transmitting the received entry data to the reception server 3 via the network 2. Note that a personal computer (PC), a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or the like can be applied to the terminal device 25.
[0068]
Next, the reception server 3 will be described. The reception server 3 is preferably installed in an information management section of a travel agency. The reception server 3 includes a processing unit mainly configured by a CPU, a storage unit (ROM, RAM, hard disk, etc.) for storing various data and programs (including a form version recognition processing program according to the present invention), and And a communication unit for performing data communication with other devices via the network 2, receives (acquires) entry data transmitted from the terminal device 25, and according to the form version recognition processing program 3a, a travel application form 4 It has a function of performing a form version recognition process for recognizing the version of the document. Details of the version recognition processing program will be described later.
[0069]
In the storage unit of the reception server 3, a database 8 for registering (storing) the received entry data and the like is constructed, and further, the dot pattern and the travel application in each of the above-mentioned new entry box columns 40a to 40c. A form version correspondence table indicating the relationship with the version of the document 4 is stored.
[0070]
Further, the reception server 3 has a function of transmitting reception confirmation information to the operator terminal device 6 and, when there is a data inquiry from the operator terminal device 6 such as an application reservation status, accesses the requested data to the database 8. It has a function of reading and replying to the operator terminal device 6.
[0071]
Next, the operator terminal device 6 will be described. The operator terminal device 6 is preferably installed in the same premises as the terminal device 25 described above. Then, the operator terminal device 6 provides the user with necessary information such as an application reservation status when making a travel application, and when a travel application is accepted, a reception confirmation returned from the reception server 3. Issue a travel ticket based on Specifically, the operator operates the operator terminal device 6 to access the database 8 connected to the reception server 3 and display necessary data such as the application reservation status registered therein on the screen. In addition, data can be checked and travel tickets can be issued, for example, by printing with a printer.
[0072]
[Report version recognition processing program]
Next, a description will be given of a form version recognition process (method) for recognizing the version of the travel application form 4 by executing the form version recognition processing program 3a by the reception server 3.
[0073]
FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing a flowchart of the form version recognition processing program 3a. As shown in FIG. 9, in order to perform the form version recognition processing, the form version recognition processing program 3a installed in the reception server 3 is started (step S1). Then, the reception server 3 receives and acquires the entry data transmitted from the electronic pen 10 (Step S2).
[0074]
Next, the reception server 3 specifies the dot pattern from the acquired entry data, and refers to the form version correspondence table to determine which version of the travel application form 4 is the acquired entry data. Is recognized (step S3).
[0075]
Then, the reception server 3 converts the acquired entry data (entry data corresponding to the contents entered in the plurality of entry fields of the travel application form 4) according to the recognized version of the travel application form 4 (for example, data conversion or the like). Is registered in the database 8 (step S4).
[0076]
Thereafter, the reception server 3 executes necessary processing according to the recognized version of the travel application form 4. When the processing is executed by a predetermined program, the processing is performed by a processing program suitable for each version.
[0077]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the version of the completed travel application form 4 can be recognized without the user being aware of it. It is possible to specify what information the input information is (for example, whether it is an address or a resident card code), and the entry data can be registered in the database 8 accurately. In addition, thereby, for example, the operator terminal device 6 can prompt the user to enter missing information for each version.
[0078]
Further, in this example, since the versions are distinguished by changing the dot pattern, the positions of the new entry box columns 40a to 40c can be the same in the travel application forms 4a to 4c, and the design of that portion can be changed. There is also the advantage that there is no need to change.
[0079]
Note that the positions of the new entry box fields 40a to 40c may be configured to be different in each of the travel application forms 4a to 4c. In this case, a viewer (for example, an operator) can grasp the version of the electronic pen form based on the position.
[0080]
[Modification 1]
In the example of FIG. 8 described above, the dot pattern of each new entry box column in each travel application form 4 is configured to be different for each version. However, as another example, the dot pattern of each travel application form 4 is newly entered. All the boxes including the box columns may be the same, and the positions of the new entry box columns may be different from each other in each travel application form 4.
[0081]
FIG. 10 shows a travel application form (4d to 4f) of versions 1 to 3 as a first modification of the travel application form 4. In the first modification, as shown in FIG. 10, the positions of the new entry box fields 40d to 40f in the travel application forms 4d to 4f are different from each other. As described above, since the dot patterns in a certain application form do not overlap in one sheet, the dot patterns at the positions of the new entry box columns 40d to 40f are different.
[0082]
As a step prior to filling in the entry fields 41a to 41c of the travel application forms 4d to 4f (the contents are the same as those of the travel application forms 4a to 4c and are denoted by the same reference numerals), the user may use an electronic Using the pen 10, a check is made in the boxes of the new entry box fields 40d to 40f. In addition, other operations of the electronic pen 10 and the like are the same as those of the travel application forms 4a to 4c, and thus description thereof is omitted.
[0083]
Also in the first modification, the version of the travel application form 4 can be recognized by the processing in FIG. That is, after receiving and acquiring the entry data transmitted from the electronic pen 10 in step S2, the reception server 3 specifies a dot pattern from the acquired entry data in step S3, and refers to the version association table. Then, it recognizes which version of the travel application form 4 is the acquired entry data. Further, in the first modification, since the positions of the new entry box fields 40d to 40f are different from each other, the position (X / Y coordinates) of the stroke data is specified from the entry data, and the version correspondence table (in this case, a travel application form) 4 shows the relationship between the position (X / Y coordinate) and the version), it is possible to recognize which version of the travel application form 4 the acquired entry data is. it can.
[0084]
As described above, also in the first modification, since the reception server 3 can recognize the version of the completed travel application form 4 without making the user aware, the entry fields in the travel application form 4 of each version can be recognized. It is possible to specify what information the information entered in is entered, and to register the entered data in the database 8 accurately.
[0085]
Thereafter, the reception server 3 executes necessary processing according to the recognized version of the travel application form 4. When the processing is executed by a predetermined program, the processing is performed by a processing program suitable for each version.
[0086]
Further, in the first modification, the design of the portion of the new entry box fields 40d to 40f needs to be changed for each of the travel application forms 4d to 4f, but since the dot pattern is the same for each of the travel application forms 4d to 4f. Even if the version of the travel application form 4 is different, the same dot pattern can be used.
[0087]
[Modification 2]
In the example of FIG. 10, it is necessary to change the design of the new entry box fields 40d to 40f for each of the travel application forms 4d to 4f. However, as another example, the design may be unified. Good.
[0088]
FIG. 11 shows a travel application form (4g to 4i) of versions 1 to 3 as a modified example 2 of the travel application form 4. In this modified example 2, as shown in FIG. 11, each of the travel application forms 4g to 4i is provided with a new entry box field by the number corresponding to the number of versions of the travel application form 4 (here, three). I have.
[0089]
The user uses the electronic pen 10 as a pre-stage for filling in the entry fields 41a to 41c of the travel application forms 4g to 4i (the contents are the same as those of the travel application forms 4a to 4c and are denoted by the same reference numerals). Thus, a check is put in the frame of the new entry box columns 40g to 40i at the position corresponding to each version. For example, in the case of the version 1 travel application form 4g, the leftmost new entry box field 40g is checked, and in the case of the version 3 travel application form 4i, the rightmost new entry box field 40i is entered. Will check.
[0090]
In addition, other operations of the electronic pen 10 and the like are the same as those of the travel application forms 4a to 4c, and thus description thereof is omitted. Also in the modified example 2, the version of the travel application form 4 can be recognized by the processing of FIG. 9 described above, and the processing is the same as that of the modified example 1, so that detailed description is omitted.
[0091]
As described above, in the second modification, it is not necessary to change the design of the portion of the new entry box column for each of the travel application forms 4g to 4i, and the dot pattern is the same for each of the travel application forms 4g to 4i. Even if the version of the travel application form 4 is different, the same dot pattern can be used.
[0092]
In the above-described embodiment, the required entry field that functions as a version recognition area where the user is indispensable to enter is a new entry box field. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The same effect as described above can be obtained.
[0093]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the form version recognition processing program 3a is installed and activated in the reception server 3, and the version recognition processing is performed. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Alternatively, the form version recognition processing program 3a may be installed in the terminal device 26 to execute the form version recognition processing of the form as a version recognition apparatus. Further, the electronic pen 10 may be configured to execute the version recognition process.
[0094]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the version of the electronic pen form can be recognized without the user's awareness by changing the dot pattern in the required entry column for version recognition for each version of the electronic pen form. it can.
[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 showing a 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 is a diagram showing an example of a design of a certain application form.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an application processing system.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a travel application form of versions 1 to 3 as an example of a travel application form.
FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing a flowchart of a form version recognition processing program.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a travel application form of versions 1 to 3 as a first modification of the travel application form.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a travel application form of versions 1 to 3 as a modified example 2 of the travel application form.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 Network
3 reception server
3a Form version recognition processing program
4 Application Form
6 Operator terminal device
8 Database
10 Electronic pen
11 processor
12 memory
13 Transceiver
14 Battery
15 LED
16 Camera
17 Pen tip
20 Exclusive paper
25 Terminal device

Claims (16)

A form for an electronic pen having a version recognition area on which a different dot pattern is printed for each version,
An electronic pen that optically reads the dot pattern to obtain entry data written on the dot pattern,
A version recognition device that obtains a version of the electronic pen form, wherein the version recognition device obtains entry data for the version recognition area from the electronic pen, and, based on the acquired entry data, A form version recognition system for recognizing a pen form version. 2. The form version recognition system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic pen form further includes a common area on which the same dot pattern is printed for all versions. The form version recognition system according to claim 1, wherein the version recognition area is provided at the same position for all versions of the electronic pen form. The form version recognition system according to claim 1, wherein the version recognition area is provided at a different position for each version of the electronic pen form. The same dot pattern is printed for all versions, and a form for an electronic pen having a version recognition area provided at a different position for each version,
An electronic pen that optically reads the dot pattern to obtain entry data written on the dot pattern,
A version recognition device that obtains a version of the electronic pen form, wherein the version recognition device obtains entry data for the version recognition area from the electronic pen, and, based on the acquired entry data, A form version recognition system for recognizing a pen form version. 5. The form version recognition system according to claim 4, wherein the number of the version recognition areas is provided by a number corresponding to the number of versions of the electronic pen form. 7. The form version recognition according to claim 1, wherein the version recognition device processes the entry data obtained from the electronic pen in accordance with the recognized version of the form for the electronic pen. 8. system. By running on a computer,
Entry data written in the version recognition area on the electronic pen form having a version recognition area in which a different dot pattern is printed for each version, from an electronic pen obtained by optically reading the dot pattern. Means to obtain,
A form version recognition processing program that causes the computer to function as means for recognizing a version of the electronic pen form based on the acquired entry data. By running on a computer,
The same dot pattern is printed for all versions, and the entry data written in the version recognition area on the electronic pen form having version recognition areas provided at different positions for each version is written optically. Means for obtaining from the electronic pen obtained by reading the dot pattern,
A form version recognition program for causing the computer to function as means for recognizing the version of the electronic pen form based on the acquired entry data. 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 form for an electronic pen, wherein a version recognition area on which a different dot pattern is printed for each version is provided. 11. The electronic pen form according to claim 10, wherein the version recognition area is provided at the same position for all versions. 11. The electronic pen form according to claim 10, wherein the version recognition area is provided at a different position for each version. An electronic pen form written by an electronic pen including an ink pen unit and a reading unit that optically reads a dot pattern,
The same dot pattern is printed for all versions, a version recognition area is provided on the dot pattern, and the version recognition area is provided at a different position for each version. Form. 14. The electronic pen form according to claim 13, wherein the number of the version recognition areas is provided by a number corresponding to the number of versions. The electronic pen form according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein the version recognition area is a required input area provided on the electronic pen form. 15. The electronic pen form according to claim 10, wherein the version recognition area is a new entry box field or a transmission box field provided on the electronic pen form. 16.

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