Abstract: A method of compressing digital ink input including a sequence of strokes is provided. Each stroke is represented as a series of digital words representing x and y co-ordinates. The compressed digital ink data includes, for each stroke, at least one reference co-ordinate expressed in absolute terms, with subsequent co-ordinates being expressed in terms of an offset from a co-ordinate, estimated using linear prediction, such that a given co-ordinate may be determined on the basis of the previous m co-ordinates as: ? ~ n = ? i = 1 m ? c i ? ? n - i where ? represents either an x or a y co-ordinate of the digital ink input and ci are coefficients calculated as: c=A†? where A† is the pseudo inverse matrix of sample co-ordinates used for the linear prediction.

Abstract: A method and system for improving the accuracy of digital ink (310) searches is disclosed. The method includes receiving a search input query (370) from a user via a user terminal and determining a specialized format of digital ink, by a variety of means, then, based on the determined specialized format of digital ink, a digital ink searching algorithm is selected. A search (380) of a digital ink database (350) can then be performed for a match to the search input query (370) by utilising the digital ink searching algorithm, which is selected from a variety of algorithms so as to improve the accuracy of the search.

Abstract: A method and system for computer-based recognition of natural language data. The method is implemented on a distributed computer network and includes obtaining natural language data, such as digital ink handwriting, using an input device (415), receiving the natural language data on a server via a network, processing the natural language data using a recognizer (440) residing on the server (430) to produce intermediate format data (445), transmitting the intermediate format data (445) to an application (450), and decoding the intermediate format data 445 into computer-readable format data using the application (450) and context information associated with the application (450).

Abstract: The invention provides a method of interpreting data input to a form-based data entry system, including decoding data entered into a particular form field such that its information content can be determined, said information content being in a consistent machine-readable format, wherein said decoding of data includes determining one or more possible values of information content, certain pre-defined possible outcomes being given a relatively higher probability of being correct, and said pre-defined possible outcomes being dependent on the context of the particular form field.

Abstract: The invention provides a method/system for estimating the orientation of a segment of digital ink using pen orientation information. In one form, the invention is a method of estimating the orientation of a segment of digital ink, the method including the steps of: measuring the azimuth of the pen at a sampling rate during writer generation of the segment of digital ink; and estimating the orientation of the segment of digital ink using the measured azimuth of the pen at sampled points.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of identifying a string formed from a number of hand-written characters, such as hand-written words. In order to achieve this, the method operates to determine character probabilities for each character in the string, as well as to determine the probability of the string corresponding to a predetermined form of template. In this regard, each template represents a respective combination of character types. The template and character probabilities are then combined to determine string probabilities, with the character string being identified in accordance with the determined string probabilities.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of performing written character recognition, including sequentially comparing a given input character with one of a series of stored character models. The step of comparing further includes the steps of: decomposing the given input character into one or more segments in accordance with a segmentation scheme associated with the present character model; evaluating the segment or segments against a segment model associated with the present character model, such that the evaluation produces a score which measures the degree of conformity with the model; repeating said step of comparing for a plurality of character models in the series of character models; and selecting the character model which is assigned the highest score and classifying the input character as the character associated with that character model.

Abstract: A method of providing an electronic filing system which is searchable using a handwritten search query, the method including the steps of: obtaining the handwritten search query using an input device; performing a search of at least one database based on a comparison between the handwritten search query and handwritten annotations made on interactive pages stored in the at least one database; and, providing the results of the search to a user and facilitating access to at least one interactive page identified in the results of the search. An apparatus is also disclosed. Preferably, the interactive page is provided to the user in the form of printed paper, and the handwritten annotations are user handwriting, symbols, drawings, indicia or the like.

Abstract: A method and system for computer-based recognition of natural language data. The method is implemented on a distributed computer network and includes obtaining natural language data, such as digital ink handwriting, using an input device 415, receiving the natural language data on a server 430 via a network, processing the natural language data using a recognizer 440 residing on the server 430 to produce intermediate format data 445, transmitting the intermediate format data 445 to an application 450, and decoding the intermediate format data 445 into computer-readable format data using the application 450 and context information associated with the application 450.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of modifying a classification scheme for classifying hand-written characters to thereby make the classification scheme user dependent. The classification scheme includes a number of allographs, each allograph representing a respective style of a respective letter. The method includes obtaining at least one hand-written character, and then selecting an allograph representing the character. One or more of the allographs are then modified in accordance with the selection, to thereby reflect the fact that the allograph corresponds to a style of letter used by the user.