Abstract: A system for interactive note-taking is provided having a receiver for receiving interaction data from a note-taking device used to interact with a note-taking form having note-taking information and a plurality of coded tags printed thereon, and a processor for recording or retrieving the note-taking by identifying, from the received interaction data, at least one parameter relating to the note-taking. Each tag encodes data on an identity of the form and a location of that tag on the form. The note-taking device senses the tags and generates the interaction data with data on the sensed form identity and a position of the note-taking device relative to the sensed tags.

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.

Abstract: An application programming interface instantiates an ink analyzer object that receives document data for a document containing electronic ink content from a software application hosting the document and running on a first processing thread. The ink analyzer object then employs the first thread to make a copy of the document data, provides the copy of the document data to an electronic ink analysis process, and returns control of the first processing thread to the analysis process. After the analysis process has analyzed the electronic ink, the ink analyzer object reconciles the results of the analysis process with current document data for the document.

Abstract: An output mechanism of a character recognition device includes a category classifier for classifying image data of characters to be recognized for each category recognized in character recognition processing, a clustering processor for determining feature values related to shapes of characters included in the image data in each category classified by the category classifier, and for classifying the image data into one or more clusters based on the feature values, and a screen creator for creating a confirmation screen for displaying the image data for each cluster classified by the clustering processor.

Abstract: A method and system of line extraction in a digital ink sequence of handwritten text data points is provided in which a stroke sequence comprised of a sequence of strokes is obtained, the strokes are segmented into a sequence of substrokes by applying a stroke segmentation algorithm, angular differences between neighbouring groups of substrokes, in the sequence of substrokes, are calculated, and the positions of the extrema of the angular differences are determined, thereby identifying the substrokes at line breaks and enabling line extraction.

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: The invention improves the appearance of freehand drawn lines and shapes in an electronic document by first recognizing freehand drawn lines and shapes and generating a line made up of sequential straight line segments for the freehand drawn line when the line does not form a closed line and generating a multiple straight-line-segment shape when the line forms a closed line. If a multiple segment shape is being reshaped, a basic shape is selected from reference ideal shapes as the basic shape of the multiple segment shape. The basic shape is adjusted to provide a specific shape as an improved shape for the freehand drawn shape. The recognition of the freehand drawn lines and shapes is accomplished by comparing source segments of a source freehand drawn line to a straight line and substituting a straight line segment for a source segment if the deviation between the source segment and the straight line is below a predetermined value.

Abstract: A mechanism for recognizing and inputting handwritten mathematical expressions into a computer by providing part of a multi-path framework is described. The part of the multi-path framework is tabular structure analysis component that is designed to determine tabular structures, such as ones defined by brackets, within handwritten mathematical expressions. A method for determining tabular structures in a handwritten mathematical expression includes determining whether a symbol representative of input strokes corresponds to a tabular structure associated with a mathematical expression. The tabular structure may be a matrix or multi-line expression. The method includes dividing input strokes into rows and columns and determining the existence of one or more brackets that define a tabular structure.

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: Apparatus and method for handwriting recognition including a hand-held device including at least one accelerometer providing an acceleration indicating output, computation circuitry receiving the acceleration indicating output and providing a velocity indicating output and a handwritten multiple character recognizer receiving the velocity indicating output and providing a multiple character recognition output indication.

Abstract: A system and method for recognition of hand-drawn charts in ink input is provided. A chart recognizer may be provided that may recognize a hand-drawn diagram or chart in ink input. The chart recognizer may include a connectivity-based recognizer for recognizing a hand-drawn chart having connected areas such as a pie chart, a connected container recognizer for recognizing a hand-drawn chart having connected containers such as a cycle diagram, and a curve recognizer for recognizing a hand-drawn chart having a curve. The connected container recognizer may also recognize a hand-drawn chart having intersecting containers such as a Venn diagram or a hand-drawn chart having a container that may include another container such as a target diagram.

Abstract: A biometric handwriting identification system converts characters and a writing sample into mathematical graphs. The graphs comprise enough information to capture the features of handwriting that are unique to each individual. Optical character recognition (OCR) techniques can then be used to identify these features in the handwriting sample so that drafts from two different samples can be aligned to compare to determine if the features in the writing sample correlate with each other.

Abstract: A method for recognition of a handwritten pattern comprises the steps of forming (4) a representation of the handwritten pattern, forming (6) at least two subconfigurations by dividing the representation of the handwritten pattern, and processing the subconfigurations. The step of processing comprises the steps of comparing (8) each subconfiguration with reference configurations, selecting (10) at least one subconfiguration candidate for each subconfiguration among the reference configurations based on said step of comparing, and determining (12) at least one candidate pattern consisting of one selected subconfiguration candidate for each subconfiguration. The method further comprises the steps of comparing (14) the representation of the handwritten pattern to the candidate pattern, and computing (16) a cost function in order to find a closest matching candidate pattern.

Abstract: A character input apparatus, includes a detection unit configured to detect coordinate data of handwriting, a handwriting display unit configured to sequentially display styled handwriting obtained by styling the handwriting during handwriting operation in accordance with a designated text style and the coordinate data, a recognition unit configured to recognize a character corresponding to the handwriting, and a character display unit configured to display a styled character obtained by styling the recognized character in accordance with the text style and the coordinate data.

Abstract: A handwriting apparatus includes unit acquiring first-handwriting data, unit storing one-stroke-handwriting data and a first command as an instruction, the instruction corresponding to the one-stroke-handwriting data and being executed with a device, unit, when the first-handwriting data corresponds to one stroke, searching the storage unit for the first command corresponding to the one-stroke-handwriting data corresponding to the one stroke, unit planning to execute the first command when the corresponding first command is searched out from the storage unit, unit storing one-stroke-handwriting data and a second command as an instruction which corresponds to the one-stroke-handwriting data, the second command being different from the first command, unit regarding the first-handwriting data as one-stroke-handwriting data at time intervals and search the storage unit for the second command corresponding to the one-stroke-handwriting data, and unit, when the corresponding second command is searched out from the

Abstract: A method for recognizing shapes is disclosed. A computer, such as a handheld computer with pen input, is used to receive a drawing from a user. The user's drawing is then analyzed to identify the location of potential vertices of angles or knots of splines using a technique of hypothesizing lines between known important points and calculating the distance between other points and that Postulated line. This process is repeated until all important points are located. Also disclosed is a method for determining whether a set of points is straight or curved.

Abstract: An electronic ink object is preprocessed for improving handwriting recognition results. An electronic ink object, possibly having multiple lines of non-horizontal ink, is preprocessed by segmenting or separating the electronic ink object into one or more lines, computing a writing angle of each line, and rotating each line so that it is horizontal.

Abstract: A system and method for editing ink objects recognized in ink input is provided. An ink parser may recognize an ink object in ink input and then an ink editing user interface may edit the ink object recognized by the ink parser. The ink parser may include a chart detector, shape recognizer, and various ink object recognizers such as a chart recognizer, a list detector and a table detector. The various ink object recognizers may recognize particular ink objects. The ink editing user interface may edit the ink object recognized by the ink parser. The ink editing user interface may include a chart editor, list editor, table editor, mode switcher, and a visualizer. The mode switcher may switch the ink editing system between inking mode and ink editing mode.

Abstract: Displaying a writing guide for a free-form document editor by detecting electronic ink, classifying the detected ink as corresponding to handwriting or a drawing, and displaying a handwriting guide or a drawing guide in response to classifying the detected ink as handwriting or a drawing, respectively. The writing guides can provide feedback regarding the classification of the detected ink and can be resized as additional ink is detected. The handwriting guide can comprise a writing area, writing guide portion, bullet guide, indent marker, character notches, gesture guide, or sacrificial guide to create meaningful structure within an outline object of an electronic document.

Abstract: A system and method for recognition of hand-drawn charts in ink input is provided. A chart recognizer may be provided that may recognize a hand-drawn diagram or chart in ink input. The chart recognizer may include a connectivity-based recognizer for recognizing a hand-drawn chart having connected areas such as a pie chart, a connected container recognizer for recognizing a hand-drawn chart having connected containers such as a cycle diagram, and a curve recognizer for recognizing a hand-drawn chart having a curve. The connected container recognizer may also recognize a hand-drawn chart having intersecting containers such as a Venn diagram or a hand-drawn chart having a container that may include another container such as a target diagram.

Abstract: The present invention provides a handwritten character input device and handwritten input character processing method enabling easy selection of a text input area and reliable input of handwritten characters, regardless of where the text input area is located.

Abstract: A pen-based computing system supports organizing, editing, and rendering handwritten digital ink. A given page of text may include several word flows, but the flows may be prevented from overlapping one another, and each word and stroke may be assigned to only one flow on the page. Various functions are available to open up additional space in a flow, to reflow the words in a flow, and to normalize the spacing between words in a flow.

Abstract: A system for enabling user interaction with computer software which includes a computer system which transfers print data to a printer, the printer being responsive to the print data to print a form by printing information indicative of a text field coincident with coded data indicative of the text field, so that when a sensing device is moved in an operative position relative to the text field, the sensing device can sense the coincident coded data and generate the indicating data indicative of movement of the sensing device relative to the text field. The computer system uses the indicating data to determine movement of the sensing device relative to the text field and then perform an action associated with the text field based on the movement. The indicating data is indicative of a stroke which defines a sequence of sensing device positions determined from the sensed coded data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to storing electronic ink. Ink is stored in a data structure that permits later retrieval by applications. The ink includes stroke information and property information. Properties may be associated globally with the ink strokes and/or with each stroke individually. The disclosed embodiments include a data structure that supports ink for multiple applications. Using the disclosed storage system, method, and data structure, various applications may expand on ink to include additional attributes while permitting the ink to be used in applications not supporting the additional attributes. When encountering an unknown tag, the applications will skip past the end of the tag and its associated data to start reading the next tag.

Abstract: Electronic ink layout analysis systems and methods provide flexibility and efficiency in organizing, analyzing, and processing digital ink. These layout analysis systems and methods allow users substantial freedom in entering electronic ink into a pen-based computer system. Using these systems and methods, a user's input digital ink is not constrained by requirements that a user write in a specific screen orientation, that a user write in one specific orientation on all portions of a page, or that a user write using a specific minimum or maximum sized stroke. Rather, the systems and methods freely allow the user to write anywhere on a given page, in any orientation or size, while still enabling effective and efficient handwriting recognition and other processing of the input digital ink.

Abstract: A system and method for editing ink objects recognized in ink input is provided. An ink parser may recognize an ink object in ink input and then an ink editing user interface may edit the ink object recognized by the ink parser. The ink parser may include a chart detector, shape recognizer, and various ink object recognizers such as a chart recognizer, a list detector and a table detector. The various ink object recognizers may recognize particular ink objects. The ink editing user interface may edit the ink object recognized by the ink parser. The ink editing user interface may include a chart editor, list editor, table editor, mode switcher, and a visualizer. The mode switcher may switch the ink editing system between inking mode and ink editing mode.

Abstract: A system and method for recognition of hand-drawn charts in ink input is provided. A chart recognizer may be provided that may recognize a hand-drawn diagram or chart in ink input. The chart recognizer may include a connectivity-based recognizer for recognizing a hand-drawn chart having connected areas such as a pie chart, a connected container recognizer for recognizing a hand-drawn chart having connected containers such as a cycle diagram, and a curve recognizer for recognizing a hand-drawn chart having a curve. The connected container recognizer may also recognize a hand-drawn chart having intersecting containers such as a Venn diagram or a hand-drawn chart having a container that may include another container such as a target diagram.

Abstract: A method for classifying an input character, the method comprising the steps of, in a processing system, for a plurality of character models, decomposing the input character into one or more segments in accordance with a segmentation scheme associated with the character model, and evaluating the one or more segments against a segment model associated with the character model, by using fuzzy logic rules to produce a score indicative of the conformity with the segment model, the method further including selecting the character model that produced the highest score, and classifying the input character as a character associated with the character model that produced the highest score.

Abstract: A cursive character handwriting recognition system includes image processing means for processing an image of a handwritten word of one or more characters and classification means for determining an optimal string of one or more characters as composing the imaged word. The processing means segments the characters such that each character is made up of one or more segments and determines a sequence of the segments using an over-segmentation-relabeling algorithm. The system also includes feature extraction means for deriving a feature vector to represent feature information of one segment or a combination of several consecutive segments. The over-segmentation-relabeling algorithm places certain segments considered as diacritics or small segments so as to immediately precede or follow a segment of the associated main character body.

Abstract: An improved system and method for personalizing recognition of an input method is provided. A trainable handwriting recognizer may be personalized by using ink written by the user and text authored by the user. The system includes a personalization service engine and a framework with interfaces for collecting, storing, and accessing user ink and authored information for training recognizers. The trainers of the system may include a text trainer for augmenting a recognizer's dictionary using text content and a shape trainer for tuning generic recognizer components using ink data supplied by a user. The trainers may load multiple trainer clients, each capable of training one or more specific recognizers. Furthermore, a framework is provided for supporting pluggable trainers. Any trainable recognizer may be dynamically personalized using the harvested information authored by the user and ink written by the user.

Abstract: A gesture related to portions of handwritten text is recognized. Furthermore, an action is performed against the portions of the handwritten text. The action is associated with the recognized gesture.

Abstract: A biometric handwriting identification system converts characters and a writing sample into mathematical graphs. The graphs comprise enough information to capture the features of handwriting that are unique to each individual. Optical character recognition (OCR) techniques can then be used to identify these features in the handwriting sample so that drafts from two different samples can be aligned to compare to determine if the features in the writing sample correlate with each other.

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: The present invention provides a method and system for tapping to create document structure, such as writing. A tapping gesture received from the user is interpreted by a writing application to indicate that the user is about to write in a certain location on the page. While in pen mode, the user taps the pen, the gesture recognizer tells the writing application that a “tap” has occurred, and the writing application creates a new paragraph with an active writing guide attached to it at that location. A tap below text creates a new paragraph. The new paragraph may be located at any available indent level depending on the location of the tap. The tapping gesture may also be used for clearing or moving selections.

Abstract: There are provided new and improved methods and systems for producing machine-generated handwriting having realistic human appearance. In various embodiments, the handwriting may include characteristics of particular classes and/or characteristics of particular individuals. The handwriting includes an appropriate degree of randomness so as to be realistic in appearance. In a particular embodiment of the invention, at least one sample of a particular individual's handwriting is scanned and analyzed to determine the characteristics thereof. The handwriting characteristics include a degree of randomness representative of the scanned handwriting sample(s). The handwriting may be printed on a conventional printer, for example to generate a communication for a recipient.

Abstract: A tool that allows a user, such as a software developer, to create test data that can consistently be employed to simulate the operation of a hardware pen or stylus. Raw pen data, such as position coordinates, pen angle and pen properties, is captured. This data is then later injected into a system being tested in place of pen data from a device driver. The raw pen data may be captured through an application programming interface invoked by a host application. The captured data can then subsequently be injected through another application programming interface invoked by a host application, such as a software testing application for testing a variety of operations of another software application. Alternately, a stand-alone utility may be used for capturing and then injecting raw pen data.

Abstract: A handwriting recognition system interprets handwritten text and produces a typed interpretation of that text. When the initial interpretation of the handwritten text is inaccurate, the handwriting recognition system alters the initial recognition by reinterpreting the handwritten text in view of a correction made by a user and constraints (e.g., derived by assumptions in user behavior). The handwriting recognition system intelligently reinterprets and renews its text recognition each time the user implements a correction. In effect, a single correction can trigger multiple adjustments to the text recognition. Therefore, with the use of a reinterpretation algorithm, the handwriting recognition system helps the user obtain the desired result in fewer correction steps.

Abstract: A process and system are provided for determining a most likely combination of characters. In particular, character data which includes information indicative of at least one handwritten character is obtained. The character data includes at least one set of segmentation points for the handwritten character. Then, a score can be provided for each particular character of a set of previously stored characters based on a comparison between the character data and the previously stored particular character. In addition, it is possible to compare visual aspects of the handwritten character to visual aspects of each of the previously stored characters for determining likely characters. Also, a Fisher Matching procedure can be used on the character data to ascertain the likely characters. A plurality of handwritten characters can include a first character that is connected to a second character of the handwritten characters via a ligature.

Abstract: A data capturing module combined with a portable data terminal of the hand-held type to record handwritten data. Using a digitized pad, the module can provide for direct input of handwritten data into the system, or a peripheral digital scanner can be employed to provide for data entry. Depending upon the particular application, the module therefore provides for data entry of handwritten text or graphics using the data terminal and other components of a portable data system to enter, display, print or otherwise communicate the handwritten data.

Abstract: A system and method for determining skew of a document image. An image processing system is provided, comprising: an image segmentation system that identifies and segments a line of printed characters; and a skew processing system that determines the skew by calculating slope values for pairs of characters in the line.

Abstract: A system and method for translating a written document into a computer readable document by recognizing the character written on the document aim at recognizing typed or printed, especially hand-printed or handwritten characters, in the various fields of a form. Providing a pixel representation of the written document, the method allows translating a written document into a computer readable document by i) identifying at least one field into the pixel representation of the document; ii) segmenting each field so as to yield at least one segmented symbol; iii) applying a character recognition method on each segmented symbol; and iii) assigning a computer-readable code to each recognized character resulting from the character recognition method. The character recognition method includes doing a vector quantization on each segmented symbol, and doing a vector classification using a vector base. A learning base is also created based on the optimal elliptic separation method.

Abstract: There have thus been provided new and improved methods and systems for producing machine-generated handwriting having realistic human appearance. In various embodiments, the handwriting may include characteristics of particular classes and/or characteristics of particular individuals. The handwriting includes an appropriate degree of randomness so as to be realistic in appearance. The handwriting may be printed on a conventional printer, for example to generate a communication for a recipient.

Abstract: A pen-based computing system supports organizing, editing, and rendering handwritten digital ink. A given page of text may include several word flows, but the flows may be prevented from overlapping one another, and each word and stroke may be assigned to only one flow on the page. Various functions are available to open up additional space in a flow, to reflow the words in a flow, and to normalize the spacing between words in a flow.

Abstract: Ink is stored in a data structure that permits later retrieval by applications. The ink includes stroke information and property information. Properties may be associated globally with the ink strokes and/or with each stroke individually. Aspects include a data structure that supports ink for multiple applications. Using the storage system, method, and data structure, various applications may expand on ink to include additional attributes while permitting the ink to be used in applications not supporting the additional attributes. When encountering an unknown tag, the applications will skip past the end of the tag and its associated data to start reading the next tag.

Abstract: Ink is stored in a data structure that permits later retrieval by applications. The ink includes stroke information and property information. Properties may be associated globally with the ink strokes and/or with each stroke individually. Aspects include a data structure that supports ink for multiple applications. Using the storage system, method, and data structure, various applications may expand on ink to include additional attributes while permitting the ink to be used in applications not supporting the additional attributes. When encountering an unknown tag, the applications will skip past the end of the tag and its associated data to start reading the next tag.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recognition of handwritten symbols. A plurality of strokes is received at a common input region of an electronic device, wherein the plurality of strokes in combination defines a plurality of symbols. Sequential combinations of the plurality of strokes are analyzed with a plurality of symbol recognition engines to determine at least one possible symbol of the plurality of symbols defined by the plurality of strokes, wherein at least one of the plurality of symbol recognition engines is configured to identify symbols comprising a particular number of strokes.

Abstract: Ink is stored in a data structure that permits later retrieval by applications. The ink includes stroke information and property information. Properties may be associated globally with the ink strokes and/or with each stroke individually. Aspects include a data structure that supports ink for multiple applications. Using the storage system, method, and data structure, various applications may expand on ink to include additional attributes while permitting the ink to be used in applications not supporting the additional attributes. When encountering an unknown tag, the applications will skip past the end of the tag and its associated data to start reading the next tag.

Abstract: A character recognition device recognizing characters with low power consumption includes a data input unit for entering handwriting data representing a character to be recognized, a character recognition dictionary storing character recognition information required for character recognition as well as operating frequency information concerning the operating frequency of the character recognition device that is set in connection with the recognition processing, a character recognition processing unit recognizing the character based on the handwriting data and the character recognition information, a recognition result output unit which outputs the character recognized by the character recognition processing unit, and a power management unit changing the operating frequency of the character recognition processing unit based on the operating frequency information stored in the character recognition dictionary.

Abstract: A method for recognition of a handwritten pattern comprises the steps of forming (4) a representation of the handwritten pattern, forming (6) at least two sub-configurations by dividing the representation of the handwritten pattern, and processing the subconfigurations. The step of processing comprises the steps of comparing (8) each subconfiguration with reference configurations, selecting (10) at least one subconfiguration candidate for each subconfiguration among the reference configurations based on said step of comparing, and determining (12) at least one candidate pattern consisting of one selected subconfiguration candidate for each subconfiguration. The method further comprises the steps of comparing (14) the representation of the handwritten pattern to the candidate pattern, and computing (16) a cost function in order to find a closest matching candidate pattern.

Abstract: A method of compressing a digital ink input is disclosed. The digital ink includes a sequence of strokes, each stroke being represented as a series of digital words representing x and y co-ordinates, the compressed digital ink data including, 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 formula (1); where are coefficients dependent on the nature of the digital ink, and ? represents either an x or a y co-ordinate.