Abstract: A computer-implemented method comprising receiving, at a tablet display unit of a first tablet that is coupled to a host computer, image data representing a selected portion of a common display file that is stored on an administrator computer; displaying the image data on a stroke-sensitive display of the tablet display unit; receiving user input from the stroke-sensitive display of the tablet display unit and representing handwritten strokes; transmitting the user input to the administrator computer; receiving, from the administrator computer, second image data representing strokes that other users have applied to the same image data using other tablets that are coupled to the administrator computer over a network; displaying, on the stroke-sensitive display, the second image data; storing, in a memory of the tablet display unit, a data file based at least upon the user input and the image data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for appliance host supported network-based application delivery is described. In one embodiment, a local client device requests access to a network-based application for use with data stored locally by the client. In one embodiment, an appliance host retrieves the network-based application from a remote server based upon the client request and negotiated access terms. In one embodiment, the appliance host operates much like a cache in that rather than automatically retrieving the client-requested network-based application from a remote server, the appliance host first determines if a local copy of the application is stored on the appliance host. If the network-based application is stored on the appliance host, whether pre-installed by the vendor or remaining from a previous client request, then the appliance host executes the locally stored version of the application rather than retrieving a copy from the remote server.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing paper-based upload and tracking of documents is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises scanning a version of a document to obtain an image, the document having machine readable information, decoding the machine readable information from the image to obtain a destination specification, and uploading information corresponding to the image to a destination host specified by the destination specification.

Abstract: A tilt-sensitive viewfinder indicates the area of an object plane within view of the camera using a visible signal projected from the camera. A direction sensor determines the camera orientation and modifies the visible signal as the camera orientation changes. Changes in appearance of the visible signal reflect changes in the camera field of view. Data from the direction sensor describing camera orientation may be stored in a data storage device and may be associated with data describing the captured image. The stored camera orientation data improves processing of captured images by providing information about angular components of the captured images.

Abstract: The present invention overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art with a system for varying hand-drawn line width as a function of geometric or temporal properties such as curvature or time of the strokes as the user draws them. In one embodiment, the system of the present invention includes a stroke control module, a velocity adjustment module, a curvature adjustment module, a smoothing module, an adjacency verification module and a stroke dominance module. A stroke control module is operable on a processor to modify the width of input strokes and adjust them based on their curvature and/or the velocity at which they were received. The stroke control module cooperates with and controls the velocity adjustment module, a curvature adjustment module, the smoothing module and the other modules to provide overall width adjustment of strokes input by the user automatically to reflect the needs and intentions of the user and provide a natural-feeling drawing experience similar to that provided by paper.

Abstract: A printing system enables the printing of multimedia received from a media source that is communicatively coupled to the printer. Based on the received multimedia data, the printing system produces a paper or other printed output as well as a related electronic output. Together, the printed and electronic outputs provide a representation of the multimedia. The printer is also capable of communicating and controlling the functionality of the media source. Depending on the desired application for the printer, the printer may include any combination of mechanisms for receiving media data, printing the printed output, and producing the electronic output.

Abstract: A file management appliance (“FMA”) is a device that utilizes multiple processes and queues to provide document capture and indexing services as part of a document management system. Through the document capture and indexing services of an FMA-based system, documents are archived into one or more data storage devices, thereby forming a document database. One mechanism by which users may search for and access such archived data from one or more document databases is by formulating and submitting one or more queries to the FMA system. Queries formulated with an FMA system are treated as documents within the FMA system and accordingly may be archived within the document database for later retrieval and execution.

Abstract: A printing system for time-based data enables the printing of time-based media by sharing processing resources on a printer and on an external media processing system such as an external service, for example, a web service. The media processing may similarly be shared, as determined by a resource allocation module, between the printer and an external media processing system coupled via a communication interface to the printer or via a network. An example of such an external media processing system is an external device such as a personal computer or an external service such as a web service. A stand-alone version of the printer with embedded time based data in multiple media is described with a display and user interface so that a user can walk up to the printer and perform multimedia processing at the printer.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for self-labeling access points with their geographic location from received beacon frames. In particular, the present invention transmits beacon frames including temporary location information from mobile devices. The beacon frames are received by an access point, filtered by the access point and then used to determine a location. Once the location has been determined, the access point uses the determined location to self-label itself by converting the location information to a geographic code and inserting it as part of the SSID of the access point's beacon signal. The present invention also includes a number of methods using geographic codes including a method for generating and transmitting geographic codes for mobile devices, a method for determining a location of an access point, a method for self-labeling an access point, and a method for filtering beacon frames.

Abstract: A system for geographic tagging of network access points comprises a plurality of access points that have been configured to provide location information as part of their beacon. Each access point provides a service set identifier (SSID) that includes an encoded value that represents the location of the access point. The use of an encoded location value in the SSID of the access point is particularly advantageous because it does not require any additional hardware be added to the access point or the portable computing device. Moreover, location can be determined by any portable device without establishing a connection to the access point. The portable computing devices are adapted to receive the beacon, extract the location information from the beacon and decode the beacon.

Abstract: Applications and uses for geographic coded of network access points includes a method for generating a geographic code and an associated graphical user-interface; a method for rejecting or filtering out geographic codes of inaccurately labeled access points; a method for using geographic codes as part of network service discovery; a method for using geographic codes as part of resource discovery and display; a method for using geographic codes for asset tracking; a method for using geographic codes for file transfer and an associated user interface; a method for using geographic codes for location tracking; a method for using geographic codes as part of a domain name registry; and a method for sending geographic codes automatically.

Abstract: A printing system for time-based data enables the printing of time-based media by sharing processing resources on a printer and on an external media processing system such as an external service, for example, a web service. The media processing may similarly be shared, as determined by a resource allocation module, or as indicated by a user via a user interface, between the printer and an external media processing system coupled via a communication interface to the printer or via a network. An example of such an external media processing system is an external device such as a personal computer or an external service such as a web service. A stand-alone version of the printer with embedded time based data in multiple media is described with a display and user interface so that a user can walk up to the printer and perform multimedia processing at the printer.

Abstract: A multimedia output device having embedded encryption functionality enables the outputting of content in an encrypted form. The multimedia output device receives the content to be encrypted, encrypts the content, and generates an electronic output of the encrypted content. The multimedia output device also generates an associated paper output that provides information about the decryption, such as a key, an identification of the electronic output of the encrypted content, and optionally a description of the contents of the content encrypted.

Abstract: A system and method for a printer that can detect characteristics of a printed document and trigger an action in response, in addition to or instead of the action of printing the document.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for recording transactions with a portable logging device are described. In one embodiment, examining a first log stored on a first, portable device and a second log associated with a second device; and determining that the portable device interacted with the second device based on one or more entries in the first and second logs.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for process logging are described. In one embodiment, the method comprises accessing a log having one or more log entries that contain a first data indicative of a set of one or more processing operations, a second data indicative of an input to the one or more processing operations, and a third data indicative of an output of the one or more processing operations; and verifying one or more processing operations were performed based on information in one or more of the log entries of the log.

Abstract: A system for using accelerometer-based detection of physical movement for document sharing provides easy and intuitive ways to securely share documents, even without passwords, between computing devices. The system of the present invention includes: at least two computing devices that each have a motion detection device capable of detecting sudden movements and generating a unique signature. The unique signature can then be used to generate signatures or shared secrets for controlling the transfer of data between devices. The motion detection device is capable of detecting sudden movement such as the tapping of the two computing devices together, tapping a stack of computing devices, tossing a computing device in the air. The system may optionally include an intermediary device such as a server for transferring the documents or files between computing devices such that only a small decryption key and file pointer is needed to share records between computing devices.

Abstract: A tilt-sensitive viewfinder indicates the area of an object plane within view of the camera using a visible signal projected from the camera. A direction sensor determines the camera orientation and modifies the visible signal as the camera orientation changes. Changes in appearance of the visible signal reflect changes in the camera field of view. Data from the direction sensor describing camera orientation may be stored in a data storage device and may be associated with data describing the captured image. The stored camera orientation data improves processing of captured images by providing information about angular components of the captured images.

Abstract: A printing system includes embedded functionality for performing media content recognition and processing. Based on the results of the content recognition and processing performed on the media content, the printing system can generate a paper-based or other printed representation thereof. The printing system may further produce a corresponding electronic representation of the media content, which in combination with the printed representation can be used to view and access the media content. A printing system may also include a media renderer application having a print functionality for printing selected media content.

Abstract: The present invention overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art with a system for varying hand-drawn line width as a function of geometric or temporal properties such as curvature or time of the strokes as the user draws them. In one embodiment, the system of the present invention includes a stroke control module, a velocity adjustment module, a curvature adjustment module, a smoothing module, an adjacency verification module and a stroke dominance module. A stroke control module is operable on a processor to modify the width of input strokes and adjust them based on their curvature and/or the velocity at which they were received. The stroke control module cooperates with and controls the velocity adjustment module, a curvature adjustment module, the smoothing module and the other modules to provide overall width adjustment of strokes input by the user automatically to reflect the needs and intentions of the user and provide a natural-feeling drawing experience similar to that provided by paper.