Method and system for telephone control using coded marks

The method according to any one of claims 1, 4 or 5, wherein the predetermined nominal mark positions are arranged relative to a plurality of nominal lines.

The method according to any one of claims 1, 4 or 5, wherein the marks have centers and wherein the relative spacing of the centers of at least one pair of adjacent marks is less than 12 millimeters.

The method according to any one of claims 1, 4 or 5 wherein each mark has a minimum radius and a maximum radius and wherein the length of a mark's minimum radius is greater than 40% of the length of that mark's maximum radius.

The method according to claim 1, wherein any 10 millimeter diameter area of the coded data indicative of the identity of the control interface includes sufficient information to identify the control interface.

The method according to claim 1, wherein any 10 millimeter diameter area of the coded data indicative of the at least one reference point of the control interface includes sufficient information to identify the at least one reference point.

The method according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein any 10 millimeter diameter area of the coded data indicative of the at least one operation relating to the at least one command includes sufficient information to identify the at least one operation.

The method of any one of claims 1, 4 or 5 in which the at least one operation relating to the at least one command is selected from the group comprising:

• issuing the at least one command to the telephone to cause the telephone to perform the at least one function;
• and
• issuing the at least one command to a telephone control system to cause the telephone to perform the at least one function, the telephone being operatively connected to the telephone control system.

The method of any one of claims 1, 4 or 5, wherein the sensing device is embedded in the telephone.

A system for enabling at least one function of a telephone to be controlled, the telephone being operative to perform the at least one function in response to at least one command, the system including:

• a control interface containing information relating to the at least one function, the control interface including coded data indicative of an identity of the control interface and of at least one reference point of the control interface, the coded data comprising a plurality of substantially undifferentiated marks positioned relative to a set of predetermined nominal mark positions;
• and
• a computer system operative to receive indicating data from a sensing device for effecting at least one operation relating to the at least one command, the indicating data being indicative of the identity of the control interface and at least one of a position and a movement of the sensing device relative to the control interface, the sensing device generating the indicating data using at least some of the coded data.

A system for enabling at least one function of a telephone to be controlled, the telephone being operative to perform the at least one function in response to at least one command, the system including:

• a control interface containing information relating to the at least one function, the control interface including coded data indicative of at least one operation relating to the at least one command, the coded data comprising a plurality of substantially undifferentiated marks positioned relative to a set of predetermined nominal mark positions;
• and
• a computer system operative to receive, from a sensing device, indicating data regarding said at least one operation and at least one of movement data and position data regarding at least one of a movement and a position of the sensing device relative to the control interface, and for effecting, from the indicating data and at least one of the movement data and the position data, the at least one operation relating to the at least one command, the sensing device, when moved relative to the control interface, generating the indicating data using at least some of the coded data and generating at least one of the movement data and the position data.

A system for enabling at least one function of a telephone to be controlled, the telephone being operative to perform the at least one function in response to at least one command, the system including:

• a control interface including coded data indicative of an identity of the control interface, the coded data comprising a plurality of substantially undifferentiated marks positioned relative to a set of predetermined nominal mark positions;
• and
• a computer system operative to receive, from a sensing device, identity data regarding an identity of a user and indicating data regarding the identity of the control interface, and for effecting, from the identity data and the indicating data, at least one operation relating to the at least one command, the sensing device containing the identity data and generating the indicating data using at least some of the coded data.