Abstract: An information management system is intended for management of digitally represented information which is associated with absolute positions on an imaginary surface (200). The imaginary surface (200) contains at least two regions (201-208), each of which is dedicated to predetermined management of the digitally represented information. In the system the management of the digitally represented information is carried out on the basis of the region affiliation of the absolute positions associated with the information. The system is suitably based on use of a position-coding pattern which defines the imaginary surface (200) and which in parts is applicable on different bases. The system makes possible both digital recording of information and control of how the information thus recorded is to be managed. A database, a method for management of information, a method for compiling a pattern layout, a product and use are also described.

Abstract: In an information management system for handling digital position data recorded by an electronic pen, the pen is controlled to convert recordings of a first code on a product to position data in a coordinate system, to convert recordings of a second code to input data, and to process the position data on the basis of the input data. The input data may define one or more functional areas in the coordinate system, and the pen may map the position data against the input data and take appropriate action if the position data is deemed to fall within a functional area. This allows the pen to be dynamically provided with a description of all or parts of the functional layout of a product, thereby reducing the need of the pen to pre-store such descriptions for all products. Encryption or usage may also be controlled based on data encoded by the second code. The product may be generated, via a computer-implemented method, to include the first code, the second code and any supporting graphics.

Abstract: A miniaturized optical component (36) for a camera pen has the shape of a plate and comprises at least two non-overlapping radiation-transmitting sections: an imaging section (36?) configured to transmit an image of an object plane, and an illuminating section (36?) configured to transmit illuminating radiation towards the object plane. Passive optical elements may be incorporated in the component to provide the imaging and illuminating sections, e.g. an image-generating surface structure, an illumination-controlling surface structure, a radiation filter, a stray light shield, and an aperture stop. These optical elements may be provided as well-defined surface structures and layers on a plate substrate. The optical component may be manufactured as a wafer structure comprising a plurality of these optical components.

Abstract: A product has a surface and a plurality of marks detectable on the surface, wherein each mark is arranged at a predetermined displacement value relative to a raster location, wherein each mark has associated with the mark a displacement value corresponding to each mark's displacement relative to the raster location, and wherein a plurality of displacement values collectively encode a position on the surface.

Abstract: Paper-based playback of media can be performed by electronically recording handwritten notes including pen strokes using a digital pen on a position-coded paper. A plurality of bounding areas is identified, e.g. by generating bounding areas around the pen strokes as they are developed. Each bounding box is provided with a time stamp which indexes a media file, which was recorded simultaneously with the handwritten notes. By placing the digital pen close to a handwritten note on the paper, the part of the media that was recorded when the specific note was written can be recalled. More specifically, the bounding box corresponding to the position of the digital pen is identified and the associated time stamp is used to find the media to recall. This paper-based playback of media can be performed in e.g. a stand-alone device or by a combination of a digital pen and a mobile phone.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method in a computer for creating an electronic document to be printed, said document comprising a page description representing a layout of the document, said method comprising: retrieving a license from a database, said license defining a position-coding pattern, which is capable of encoding positions on a product when printed, selecting at least a portion of the position-coding pattern in the retrieved license to be associated with the page description, forming a sublicense from said license, said sublicense comprising a definition of the selected at least portion of the position-coding pattern, an indication of an origin of the sublicense to enable assuring that the sublicense stems from a trusted actor, and a data record allowing verification of integrity of the sublicense to enable assuring that the sublicense has not been tampered with, and associating said sublicense with said page description.

Abstract: A document editing method includes transferring document information to a printing device capable of printing the document information on a surface coded with a position-coding pattern. Editing information is received from a reading device capable of reading position information from the position-coded surface.

Abstract: An electronic pen has a casing and a tip to be put on a surface. The pen includes a positioning module for detecting the position of the tip on the surface, and an audio module configured to output signals responsive to the detected position of the tip on the surface. The modules form a unitary component mounting unit contained within the casing. The pen also has: an audio box with a speaker, means for connecting the modules, and a locking arrangement for locking the casing.

Abstract: Disclosed methods, computer-readable media, and systems relate to position-coded products and processing data from such products. In one implementation, a computer-readable storage medium stores a program for a computer to perform a method for creating an electronic representation of a position-coded product. The method may access an electronic document file with a set of document pages and map the document pages, copy for copy, within a selected number of copies, to pattern pages according to an ordering of the pattern pages.

Abstract: A product and method for decoding information is provided. The product includes a sensor for detecting a plurality of marks on a surface to obtain associated mark location data, at least a first group of the plurality of marks being arranged on the surface so as to define an invisible raster with predetermined dimensions and marks in at least a second group of the plurality of marks are displaced from raster locations in a manner encoding information, and a processor for receiving from the sensor at least some of the mark location data, the processor determining, using the received mark location data, a position of the invisible raster on the surface, and decoding information based on positions of at least some of the marks in the second group of the plurality of marks relative to locations on the invisible raster.

Abstract: A control device is used in a method for controlling the pen based on an analog measuring signal from the force sensor by a processor comparing the analog measuring signal with a fixed reference signal and, based on the comparison, selectively initiating conversion of the analog measuring signal into a sequence of digital force values.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for generating a printout of a section of a global position-coding pattern in a system comprising a computer unit and a printer unit connected to the computer unit. The method is characterized by the steps of generating in the computer unit boundary information that describes the boundaries of the section in the global position-coding pattern; transmitting the boundary information from the computer unit to the printer unit; generating graphical information in the printer unit by means of an algorithm that defines the global position-coding pattern and on the basis of the boundary information, which graphical information describes pattern symbols in the section; and printing out the graphical information on a base by the printer unit.

Abstract: An electronic pen capable of recording position data representative of its movement runs a time handling method. In this method, a counter is operated to sequentially generate a monotonous sequence of counter values. Further, a time calculator is operated to generate a current time value. Also, a control device is operated to derive a current counter value from the counter and the current time value from the time calculator, and to associate at least a subset of the position data with the current counter value and the current time value. If each subset defines a pen stroke, counter values may represent the order in which pen strokes were created. The pen may allow an external device to arbitrarily adjust the time calculator, e.g. to reflect a local time, since the resulting time values need not be used to determine the mutual order of the pen strokes.

Abstract: A digital pen, which comprises an ink cartridge with a writing tip for marking a surface; a camera system for capturing images of the surface in order to digitally record pen strokes formed on the surface, and a detachable cap to be placed at a writing end of the digital pen, is selectively operable as a non-marking pen with the cap placed at the writing end or as a marking pen without the cap placed at the writing end and configured to digitally record pen strokes both when operated as a non-marking pen and as a marking pen.

Abstract: A combined position and information code, which could be applied on a base, comprises a position code, which comprises a plurality of coding marks and which codes a plurality of positions. Each position in the position code is coded by a predetermined number of coding marks. Groups of coding marks are defined in the position code. The number of coding marks in each group is larger than the predetermined number of coding marks. At least some of the coding marks in each group are used for coding an information item. When decoding the combined code, part areas of the combined code are imaged. A position is decoded from each imaged part area, whereas the information item has to be decoded from at least two part areas.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method in creating a two-dimensional symbol pattern which may be utilized to determine a position in a large area covered by the pattern, for example for recording handwritten information by means of a pen-like instrument. The invention is useful for creating a symbol pattern having desired properties, namely that any sufficiently large observed part of the pattern is unique, enabling an unambiguous determination of position. The symbol pattern is based on a non-repeating sequence of symbol values Sk that each corresponds to a fixed linear combination of the coefficients of the monomials in xk mod P(x), where P(x) is any polynomial of degree n in the field Fq. The symbol pattern is generated by folding the sequence according to a wrapping scheme. The invention also relates to methods and systems for finding the position of a group of observed symbol values in this symbol pattern and computer program products performing the methods.

Abstract: In a method for position decoding, a position is calculated on the basis of information determined from a partial area, imaged by a sensor, of a position-coding pattern. If the position calculation fails, the information from the partial area recorded by the sensor is matched with information about how the position-coding pattern is designed in a plurality of matching partial areas, which each define a position in the position-coding pattern. The position of the positions defined by the matching partial areas, which according to the matching step is the most probable position in the position-coding pattern for the imaged partial area is accepted as the decoded position. A device and a computer program for carrying out the method are also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for carrying out a game of the type comprising the steps of noting written information on a writing surface with the aid of a writing means. The writing surface is provided with a position-coding pattern and the writing means is a combined writing and reading unit, which continually reads its movement across the writing surface. The information is converted into digital signals and is sent via a communication system to a recipient which returns feedback on the received information. Examples of games that can be performed by means of such a method are pools, lotto, betting and various other games comprising the use of pen and paper to be carried out.