System for utilizing object oriented approach in a portable pen-based data acquisition system by passing digitized data by data type to hierarchically arranged program objects

A pen activated object oriented computer comprising:

• a pen having a transmitter means and power source for generating input signals;
• a digitizer matrix activated by said transmitter means, and said digitizer converting said input signals into digitized data;
• a video screen overlaying said digitizer to generate images substantially coextensive with the position of said pen on said video screen and connected to at least one microprocessor controlled by at least one program from said object oriented database;
• at least one removable nonmagnetic storage means for storing code used for controlling said microprocessor;
• data storage means including a plurality of object mailboxes for storing said digitized data according to data type;
• said one program from said object oriented database stored in a program storage means for controlling said microprocessor for characterizing said digitized data according to data type such that said digitized data is passed to hierarchically arranged program objects and accepted or rejected by one of said objects dependent on said data type;
• and
• wherein said accepted digitized data is stored in at least one said object mailbox associated with said data type.

An object oriented database means comprising:

• a pen and digitizer interface means for interfacing through context independent viewers and editors, said pen generating input signals and said digitizer converting said input signals into digitized data;
• data storage means including a plurality of object mailboxes for storing said digitized data according to data type;
• wherein pen inputs to said interface means generate substantially coextensive images on a video screen controlled by at least one program from said object oriented database stored in a program storage means for controlling a microprocessor for characterizing said digitized data according to data type such that said digitized data is passed to hierarchically arranged program objects and accepted or rejected by one of said objects dependent on said data type;
• and
• wherein said accepted digitized data is stored in at least one said object mailbox associated with said data type.