# US 8,542,952 B2 · Contextual information encoded in a formed expression

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- Number: US 8,542,952 B2
- Document ID: US8542952B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/806,054
- Filed: 2010-08-04
- Published: 2012-04-05
- Granted: 2013-09-24
- Earliest claimed: 2005-03-18
- Assignees: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC
- Applicants: Alexander J. Cohen; B. Isaac Cohen; Ed Harlow; Eric C. Leuthardt; Royce A. Levien; Mark A. Malamud
- Inventors: Alexander J. Cohen; B. Isaac Cohen; Ed Harlow; Eric C. Leuthardt; Royce A. Levien; Mark A. Malamud
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8542952B2

## CPC

- G06F 3/03: Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
- G06F 3/002: {Specific input/output arrangements not covered by G06F3/01 - G06F3/16 (other optical apparatus G02B27/00)}
- G06F 3/013: {Eye tracking input arrangements (G06F3/015 takes precedence)}
- G06F 3/017: {Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures (interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883)}
- G06F 3/03545: {Pens or stylus}
- G06F 3/038: Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
- G06F 3/0425: {using a single imaging device like a video camera for tracking the absolute position of a single or a plurality of objects with respect to an imaged reference surface, e.g. video camera imaging a display or a projection screen, a table or a wall surface, on which a computer generated image is displayed or projected (tracking a projected light spot to determine a position on a display surface G06F3/0386)}
- G06F 3/04883: for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
- G06F 40/169: Annotation, e.g. comment data or footnotes
- G06F 40/174: Form filling; Merging
- G06V 10/12: Details of acquisition arrangements; Constructional details thereof
- G06V 30/1423: {the instrument generating sequences of position coordinates corresponding to handwriting (preprocessing or recognising digital ink G06V30/32)}
- G06V 30/32: Digital ink
- H04L 67/04: specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

Embodiments include a method, a manual device, a handheld manual device, a handheld writing device, a system, and an apparatus. An embodiment provides a manual device operable in a context. The manual device includes a writing element operable to form a mark on a surface in response to a movement of the writing element with respect to the surface. The manual device also includes a controller operable to encode information corresponding to the context of the manual device by regulating the formation of the mark.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device operable in a context, the device comprising:
a writing element operable to form a mark on a surface in response to a movement of the writing element with respect to the surface, the mark following a contour of the movement of the writing element; and
a controller operable to encode information into the mark corresponding to the context of the device by regulating the formation of the mark, the encoded information not being included in a content otherwise formed on the surface by the writing element.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the writing element operable to form a mark on a surface in response to a movement of the writing element with respect to the surface further includes:
a writing element operable to discharge a marking substance on a surface in response to a movement of the writing element with respect to the surface.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the writing element operable to form a mark on a surface in response to a movement of the writing element with respect to the surface further includes:
a writing element operable to initiate a visible marking action on a surface in response to a movement of the writing element with respect to the surface.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the writing element operable to form a mark on a surface in response to a movement of the writing element with respect to the surface further includes:
a writing element operable to discharge a first instance of a marking substance on a surface in response to a movement of the writing element with respect to the surface and to discharge a second instance of the marking substance on the surface in response to the controller.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the writing element operable to form a mark on a surface in response to a movement of the writing element with respect to the surface further includes:
a writing element operable to form a mark on at least one of a skin, layer, paper, metal, plastic, and/or composite surface in response to a movement of the writing element with respect to the surface.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the writing element operable to form a mark on a surface in response to a movement of the writing element with respect to the surface further includes:
a writing element operable to form a mark on a surface of at least one of a container, a package container, a living body, a human body, and/or an object in response to a movement of the writing element with respect to the surface.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the writing element operable to form a mark on a surface in response to a movement of the writing element with respect to the surface further includes:
a writing element operable to form a mark on a surface in response to a movement of the writing element with respect to the surface, the mark including a single mark and/or a succession of marks left by a passage of the writing element.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the writing element operable to form a mark on a surface in response to a movement of the writing element with respect to the surface further includes:
a writing element operable to form a track on a surface in response to a movement of the writing element with respect to the surface.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the writing element operable to form a mark on a surface in response to a movement of the writing element with respect to the surface further includes:
a writing element operable to cause a thermal marking process on a surface in response to a movement of the writing element with respect to the surface.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the writing element operable to form a mark on a surface in response to a movement of the writing element with respect to the surface further includes:
a writing element operable to cause a marking interaction with a media in response to a movement of the writing element with respect to the media.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the controller operable to encode information corresponding to the context of the device by regulating the formation of the mark further includes:
a controller operable to encode information corresponding to the context of the device by regulating a discharge of a marking substance.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the controller operable to encode information corresponding to the context of the device by regulating the formation of the mark further includes:
a controller operable to encode information corresponding to at least one of time, location, global position, temperature, acceleration of the writing element, user identification and/or user data context of the device by regulating a discharge of a marking substance.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the controller operable to encode information corresponding to the context of the device by regulating the formation of the mark further includes:
a controller operable to encode information corresponding to at least one of an identification of a human being proximate to the device, and/or an identification of a physical object proximate to the device by regulating a discharge of a marking substance.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the controller operable to encode information corresponding to the context of the device by regulating the formation of the mark further includes:
a controller operable to encode information corresponding to the context of the device by regulating at least one of volume, continuity, color, and/or pattern of a discharge of a marking substance.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the controller operable to encode information corresponding to the context of the device by regulating the formation of the mark further includes:
a controller operable to encode information corresponding to the context of the device by regulating a width of a line formed on the surface by a discharge of a marking substance.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the controller operable to encode information corresponding to the context of the device by regulating the formation of the mark further includes:
a controller operable to encode information corresponding to the context of the device by regulating an orthogonal aspect of the mark relative to a movement of the writing element.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The device of claim 16, wherein the controller operable to encode information corresponding to the context of the device by regulating an orthogonal formation of the mark relative to a movement of the writing element further includes:
a controller operable to encode information corresponding to the context of the device by regulating at least one of amplitude, frequency, differential shift, and/or parameter of an orthogonal formation of the mark relative to a movement of the writing element.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the controller operable to encode information corresponding to the context of the device by regulating the formation of the mark further includes:
a controller operable to encode information corresponding to the context of the device by regulating the formation of the mark, the regulated formation corresponding to a user-unique movement of the writing element with respect to the surface.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the controller operable to encode information corresponding to the context of the device by regulating the formation of the mark further includes:
a controller operable to encode information corresponding to the context of the device by regulating the formation of the mark, the regulated formation of the mark being machine differentiatable from a user movement formation of the writing element with respect to the surface.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the controller operable to encode information corresponding to the context of the device by regulating the formation of the mark further includes:
a controller operable to encode information in a machine-readable form and corresponding to the context of the device by regulating the formation of the mark.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the controller operable to encode information corresponding to the context of the device by regulating the formation of the mark further includes:
a controller operable to encode information in a human-readable form and corresponding to the context of the device by regulating the formation of the mark.

### Claim 22 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, further comprising:
a receiver operable to acquire the information corresponding to the context of the device.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The device of claim 22, wherein the receiver operable to acquire the information corresponding to the context of the device further includes:
a receiver operable to directly sense the information corresponding to the context of the device.

### Claim 24 (depends on 22)

The device of claim 22, wherein the receiver operable to acquire the information corresponding to the context of the device further includes:
a receiver operable to receive information sent by a transmitting sensor, the received information corresponding to the context of the device.

### Claim 25 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, further comprising:
a sensor operable to acquire the information corresponding to the context of the device.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The device of claim 25, wherein the sensor operable to acquire the information corresponding to the context of the device further includes:
a sensor operable to sense the information corresponding to the context of the device.

### Claim 27 (depends on 25)

The device of claim 25, wherein the sensor operable to acquire the information corresponding to the context of the device further includes:
a sensor operable to capture information corresponding to a visual aspect of the surface.

### Claim 28 (depends on 25)

The device of claim 25, wherein the sensor operable to acquire the information corresponding to the context of the device further includes:
a sensor operable to capture information corresponding to an acoustical aspect of the surface.

### Claim 29

A method comprising:
acquiring information corresponding to a context of a device having a writing element;
marking a surface in response to a movement of the writing element with respect to the surface, the mark following a contour of the movement of the writing element; and
encoding information into the mark corresponding to a context of the device by regulating the marking of the surface, the encoded information not being included in a content otherwise formed on the surface by the writing element.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The method of claim 29, wherein the acquiring information corresponding to a context of a device having a writing element further includes:
sensing information corresponding to a context of a device having a writing element.

### Claim 31 (depends on 29)

The method of claim 29, wherein the acquiring information corresponding to a context of a device having a writing element further includes:
receiving information corresponding to a context of a device from a sensor not physically associated with the device.

### Claim 32 (depends on 29)

The method of claim 29, wherein the encoding information corresponding to a context of the device by regulating the marking of the surface further includes:
encoding information corresponding to a context of the device by regulating the marking of the surface with a stylus.

### Claim 33 (depends on 29)

The method of claim 29, wherein the encoding information corresponding to a context of the device by regulating the marking of the surface further includes:
encoding information corresponding to a context of the device by regulating the discharge of the marking substance on the surface.

### Claim 34 (depends on 29)

The method of claim 29, wherein the encoding information corresponding to a context of the device by regulating the marking of the surface further includes:
encoding information corresponding to a context of the device by regulating an orthogonal component of the marking of the surface.

### Claim 35 (depends on 29)

The method of claim 29, wherein encoding information corresponding to a context of the device by regulating the marking of the surface further includes:
encoding information corresponding to a context of the device by regulating least one of amplitude, frequency, and/or differential shift parameter of the marking of the surface.

### Claim 36

A device operable in a context, the device comprising:
means for marking a surface in response to a movement of the writing element with respect to the surface, the mark following a contour of the movement of the writing element; and
means for encoding information into the mark corresponding to a context of the device by regulating the marking of the surface, the encoded information not being included in a content otherwise formed on the surface by the writing element.

### Claim 37 (depends on 36)

The device of claim 36, wherein the means for marking a surface in response to a movement of the writing element with respect to the surface further includes:
means for discharging from the writing element a marking substance onto a surface in response to a movement of the writing element with respect to the surface.

### Claim 38 (depends on 36)

The device of claim 36, wherein means for encoding information corresponding to a context of the device by regulating the marking of the surface further includes:
means for encoding information corresponding to a context of the device by regulating a discharge of a marking substance.