Abstract: A method of providing information to a user via a printed substrate. The substrate chas a graphic image and coded data indicative of a region identity associated with the substrate and of a plurality of locations on the substrate. The method includes the steps of: (i) receiving interaction data indicative of the region identity and a position of a sensing device relative to the image; (ii) identifying and retrieving a page description corresponding to the printed substrate using the region identity; (iii) generating a query expression including search terms; (iv) forming a request using the query expression; and sending the request to the user. At least one of the search terms is associated, in the page description, with a zone of the graphic image containing the position of the sensing device.

Abstract: A method of performing an action is disclosed. The method starts by sensing a print medium to obtain data encoded on a surface of the print medium. The data encodes at least a print media identifier. The print medium has a representation of a document printed thereon. The print media identifier is determined from the data and a digital copy of the document corresponding to the representation is retrieved. The digital copy is associated with the print media identifier and includes one or more hyperlinks. The digital copy of the document is displayed and a selection of one of the hyperlinks is received from a user. A predefined action designated by the selected hyperlink is then performed.

Abstract: A system for providing information to a user via a printed substrate. The system includes the printed substrate, an optically imaging pen device and a display device. The optically imaging pen device is configured for reading coded data from the substrate; generating interaction data using the coded data; and sending the interaction data to a computer system. Receipt of the interaction data by the computer system causes the computer system to: identify and retrieve a page description corresponding to the printed substrate; generate a query expression including one or more search terms; form a request using the query expression; and send the request to the display device.

Abstract: A method of interacting with a substrate and communicating with a computer system using an optical sensing device operable in a plurality of modes including a cursor control mode and a hyperlinking mode. The method includes the steps of: actuating a nib switch of the optical sensing device when a nib force exceeds a predetermined threshold; optically imaging coded data printed on the substrate; generating cursor control data when the optical sensing device is in said cursor control mode; generating interaction data using the imaged coded data when the optical sensing device is in the hyperlinking mode; and communicating the cursor control data or the interaction data to a computer system. The cursor control data initiates a cursor control response in the computer system while the interaction data initiates a hyperlinking response in the computer system.

Abstract: A printer driver for printing a document at a printer. The printer driver is configured to: (i) receive a visual description for the document from a first memory, the visual description describing a graphic impression for printing; (ii) send print data corresponding to the graphic impression to the printer; and (iii) archive the visual description for a page of the document in a second memory.

Abstract: A system for retrieving contact details using a print medium is disclosed. A sensor module senses data encoded on a surface of the print medium is sensed using. The sensed data encodes a print media identifier which uniquely identifies the print medium, and a two-dimensional position with respect to the surface of the print medium. A processor determines from the sensed data the print media identifier and the position of the sensor module relative to the surface of the print medium. The processor then retrieves contact details referenced by the print media identifier and the position of the sensor module from a database.

Abstract: A computer system for printing a page at a printer. The computer system is configured to: (i) receive a visual description for the page, the visual description describing a graphic impression for printing; (ii) identify a URI text string in the visual description; (iii) generate a corresponding input description for the visual description, the input description describing a URI corresponding to the URI text string and a spatial extent of the URI text string on the page; and (iv) archive the visual description and the corresponding input description.

Abstract: A system for providing information via an interactive surface is provided. The surface has information for searching and coded data. The coded data encodes coordinates on the surface and a region identity associated with the surface. A sensing device interacted with the surface senses the coded data and generates interaction data indicative of the region identity and a coordinate position of the sensing device relative to the surface. The system identifies and retrieves a page description corresponding to the surface using the region identity received from the sensing device, determines the information for searching corresponding to a zone of the page description containing the coordinate position of the sensing device, creates a query expression having a search term(s) based on the determined information for searching, form a request using the query expression, and sends the request, or a results resource including search results from the request, to a display device.

Abstract: A method of providing information to a user via a printed substrate, said substrate comprising user information and coded data indicative of a region identity associated with the substrate and of a plurality of locations on the substrate, said method comprising the steps of: receiving, in a computer system, interaction data indicative of the region identity and at least one position of a sensing device relative to the substrate, the sensing device generating the interaction data, when operatively positioned or moved relative to the substrate, by reading at least some of the coded data; identifying and retrieving at least part of a page description corresponding to the printed substrate using the region identity; generating a query expression comprising one or more search terms, at least one of said search terms being identified using the page description and the at least one position of the sensing device; forming a request using the query expression; and sending the request, or a results resource including s

Abstract: A system for providing information to a user via a printed substrate. The substrate comprises user information and coded data. The coded data is indicative of a region identity associated with the substrate and of a plurality of locations on the substrate. The system includes an optically imaging sensing device for sensing the coded data and generating interaction data. Receipt of the interaction data by a computer system causes the computer system to identify and retrieve a page description corresponding to the printed substrate; determine whether the sensing device is positioned within a zone of a hyperlink on the substrate; and (i) if the sensing device is positioned within the zone of the hyperlink: send a hyperlink URI or a hyperlinked resource corresponding to the hyperlink to the user; or (ii) if the sensing device is positioned outside the zone of the hyperlink: generate a query expression, form a request and send search results to the user.

Abstract: A method of interacting with a substrate and communicating with a computer system using a sensing device operable in a plurality of modes including a cursor control mode and a hyperlinking mode. The method includes the steps of: actuating a nib switch of the sensing device when a nib force exceeds a predetermined threshold; optically imaging coded data printed on the substrate; generating cursor control data when the sensing device is in said cursor control mode; generating interaction data using the imaged coded data when the sensing device is in the hyperlinking mode; and communicating the cursor control data or the interaction data to a computer system. The cursor control data initiates a cursor control response in the computer system while the interaction data initiates a hyperlinking response in the computer system.

Abstract: A sensing device for enabling a user to interact with a computer system. The sensing device is operable in a cursor control mode and a substrate-interaction mode. The sensing device includes: a nib; a nib switch configured to effect a mode change between the cursor control mode and the substrate-interaction mode; an optical sensor for sensing coded data printed on a substrate; a processor for generating cursor control data or interaction data; and a transceiver for communicating the cursor control data or the interaction data to a computer system. The cursor control data initiates a cursor control response in the computer system, while the interaction data initiates a substrate interaction response in the computer system.

Abstract: A system for retrieving contact details using a print medium is disclosed. A sensor module senses data encoded on a surface of the print medium is sensed using. The sensed data encodes a print media identifier which uniquely identifies the print medium, and a two-dimensional position with respect to the surface of the print medium. A processor determines from the sensed data the print media identifier and the position of the sensor module relative to the surface of the print medium. The processor then retrieves contact details referenced by the print media identifier and the position of the sensor module from a database.

Abstract: A method of retrieving contact details using a print medium is disclosed. Data encoded on a surface of the print medium is sensed using a sensor module. The sensed data encodes a print media identifier which uniquely identifies the print medium, and a two-dimensional position with respect to the surface of the print medium. The print media identifier and the position of the sensor module relative to the surface of the print medium are determined from the sensed data. Contact details referenced by the print media identifier and the position of the sensor module are then retrieved from a database.

Abstract: A method of associating an electronic object with a sticker placed on a surface is disclosed. The sticker has first and second regions. The first region has disposed thereon coded data encoding an identity of the sticker. The second region exposes a position on the surface. The position on the surface has disposed thereon coded data which encodes an identity of the surface and data identifying the position on the surface. A sensing device senses the coded data on the first region and, through the second region, the coded data on the surface, and then generates indicating data from the sensed coded data. The indicating data is indicative of the identity of the sticker, the identity of the surface and the position on the surface exposed by the second region. The method receives the indicating data from the sensing device, and identifies, using the indicating data, the identity of the sticker, the identity of the surface and the position on the surface exposed by the second region.

Abstract: A system for generating an association between a software object and a sticker on a surface, and then retrieving the software object, is disclosed. The sticker has disposed thereon coded data indicative of a sticker identity. A sensing device is provided for sensing the coded data in order to determine the sticker identity, and to generate indicating data at least partially indicative of the sticker identity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of copying, using a substrate, object data to a clipboard of a graphical user interface operating system, the substrate having a graphical representation of the object data disposed therein or thereon, the substrate also having coded data disposed therein or thereon, the coded data identifying a plurality of locations on the substrate, the coded data also identifying a layout of the graphical representation of the object data, the method including the steps of: receiving, from a sensing device and in a computer system, indicating data, the indicating data describing movement of the sensing device relative to the substrate, the indicating data also identifying the layout of the graphical representation of the object data, the sensing device, when moved relative to the substrate, adapted to read at least some of the coded data and generate, from the at least some coded data, the indicating data; retrieving, in the computer system and using the indicating data, the object

Abstract: An encoded, reusable sticker is provided for temporary adhesion to a support surface. The sticker has coded data that is indicative of a sticker identity that is recorded in a computer system. The coded data is a two dimensional pattern and has an interactive element and a generation element. The interactive element is an area of the two dimensional pattern in which the coded data is also indicative of an action to be performed by the computer system. The generation interactive element is an area of the two dimensional pattern that is also indicative of an instruction for the computer system to generate an association between the sticker identity and an object stored in an object repository in the computer system. The sticker also has a visual representation of the action to be performed by the computer system and a visual representation of the generation of an association between the sticker identity and an object.

Abstract: A method of providing search results to a user via user interaction with a printed substrate, said substrate comprising user information and coded data enabling the user interaction, said method comprising: (a) a user performing the user interaction with the substrate using a sensing device, said sensing device reading at least some of the coded data when operatively positioned or moved relative to the substrate and generating interaction data using the read coded data, said interaction data being indicative of the user interaction; and (b) said user interaction initiating a search and causing a first resource to be displayed on a display device, said first resource comprising search-results content wherein at least one parameter of said user interaction determines a search provider for performing said search.

Abstract: A system for providing information to a user via a printed substrate. The substrate comprises user information and coded data. The coded data is indicative of a region identity associated with the substrate and of a plurality of locations on the substrate. The system includes an optically imaging sensing device for sensing the coded data and generating interaction data. Receipt of the interaction data by a computer system causes the computer system to identify and retrieve a page description corresponding to the printed substrate; determine whether the sensing device is positioned within a zone of a hyperlink on the substrate; and (i) if the sensing device is positioned within the zone of the hyperlink: send a hyperlink URI or a hyperlinked resource corresponding to the hyperlink to the user; or (ii) if the sensing device is positioned outside the zone of the hyperlink: generate a query expression, form a request and send search results to the user.