AU2569301A

AU2569301A - General information management system

Info

Publication number: AU2569301A
Application number: AU25693/01A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Petter Ericson; Christer Fahraeus; Linus Wiebe
Original assignee: Anoto AB
Current assignee: Anoto AB
Priority date: 1999-12-23
Filing date: 2000-12-22
Publication date: 2001-07-09
Also published as: CA2394922A1; MXPA02006340A; WO2001048591A1; EP1244996A1; AU2567801A; BR0016610A; WO2001048678A1; EP1244955A1; EP1259933A2; AU2567901A; JP2003518698A

Description

WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 GENERAL INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the field of management and communication of information. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 5 Information is often written down and communicated by means of pen and paper. Such paper-based information is, however, difficult to manage and communicate effi ciently. Computers are used to an increasing extent for 10 managing and communicating information. The information is entered by means of a keyboard and stored in the com puter's memory, for example on a hard disk. The entry of the information by means of the keyboard is, however, slow and it is easy to make mistakes. Nor is it particu 15 larly convenient to read large amounts of text on a com puter screen. Graphical information, such as drawings or images, is usually entered by means of a separate image reader, such as a scanner or the like, in a procedure which is time-consuming, cumbersome, and as often as not 20 gives unsatisfactory results. However, once the informa tion is in the computer, it is easy to communicate it to others, for example as an e-mail or SMS via an Internet connection or as a fax via a fax modem. In Applicant's Patent Application PCT/SEOO/01895, 25 which claims priority from Swedish Patent Application No. 9903541-2, filed on 1 October 1999, and which is incorporated herewith by reference, a system is describ ed where a pen and paper are used to write down informa tion in the traditional way, while at the same time a 30 digital graph is created consisting of several tracks or lines of the movement of the pen across the paper, which graph can be transmitted to a computer. Such a system combines the advantage of management with pen and paper, which many users are used to, with the computer's supe- WO 01/48685 PCT/SE00/02659 2 rior ability to communicate and store information. The sheet of paper is provided with a coding pattern, for example consisting of dots or other symbols. The pen has a sensor, preferably optical, which records the coding 5 pattern and, by means of a mathematical algorithm, calcu lates the position of the pen on the coding pattern. In this way, the traditional pen becomes an excel lent input device for the computer, and the computer can be used to store the recorded information instead of the 10 sheet of paper having to be archived in a file. In addi tion, the information can easily be communicated by means of the computer. The recorded information contains parts which can be used for different purposes. 15 1) The digital graph contains an image, such as figures or interrelated lines, which can be interpreted by people, for example letters, a symbol, a figure or a drawing. This is the actual message which was written down and which the user wants to manage in some way, for 20 example to archive or to send to a recipient. This infor mation, so-called message information, is stored in some graphical format, for example a vector format or as a collection of pixels. 2) The part of the message information which con 25 sists of letters (handwritten) can be subjected to sub sequent processing in the form of OCR interpretation (Optical Character Recognition) or ICR interpretation (Intelligent Character Recognition) for conversion into a character format which can be used by the computer, for 30 example for searching purposes or for cataloguing. Sym bols can also be interpreted, for example stenography symbols or icons, to which the user predefines a particu lar meaning. In the following, this information is called character information. 35 3) The information can also contain an identifica tion of which pen was used to write down the information.

WO 01/48685 PCT/SE00/02659 3 4) Finally, the graph contains information about where on the surface the graph was written down, so called absolute position information. 5) In addition, a hard copy of the recorded informa 5 tion can be obtained, if the pen makes physical marks on the sheet of paper. Prior-art technique comprises other systems for obtaining absolute or relative position information when writing on a surface. However, these previously 10 known systems only describe the use of such information in order to create message information and/or character information, that is information belonging to the groups 1) and 2) above. Such prior art includes, for example, optical detection of a position-coding pattern on a 15 base according to US-A-5,051,736, US-A-5,442,147, US-A 5,852,434, US-A-5,652,412 and EP-B-0 615 209. Position information can also, as also described in EP-B-0 615 209, be obtained by means of acceleration sensors, or by means of inductive/capacitive/magnetic 20 sensors. Other alternatives are a base incorporating pressure sensors, as described in US-A-5,790,105, trian gulation of signals (light, sound, infrared radiation, etc.) with the use of a plurality of transmitters/ receivers, as described in US-A-5,012,049, or mechanical 25 detection of movement relative to a surface, as describ ed in US-A-4,495,646. Position information can also be obtained by combinations of techniques. For example, a system. is described in WO 00/3168.2 with combined optical detection of symbols for the determination of absolute 30 position information at low resolution, and acceleration sensors, for the determination of relative position information at high resolution. Although, according to prior art, there are several different techniques for recording message and/or charac 35 ter information as described above, there is no system for enabling the user to manage this information in a simple, flexible and structured way.

WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 4 Known systems for managing information, such as the database system as described in US-A-5,842,196, comprise as a rule a central server unit and user units in the form of personal computers or terminals, which communi 5 cate with the server unit. The server unit contains a database with information stored in data records. Search ing these data records and updating the same with new information, are time-consuming operations which should be made as efficient as possible. For this reason the 10 database is often organised in a tree structure, in which the data records, or data fields in these, are given searchable indices or key values. It is, however, unclear how this type of database system would be able to be combined successfully with the techniques for recording 15 message and/or character information described above. US-A-5,932,863 describes a technique for improving the user interface to electronic media. Paper products are provided with a machine-readable symbol, which. is allocated a pre-programmed-command in a computer. When 20 a user reads in the symbol by means of a hand-held scanner, this is transmitted to the computer, where the pre-programmed command is executed, for example to cause the computer to retrieve interactive software from a cen tral databank and to execute this on the computer. Also 25 in this case, it is unclear how this type of user inter face would be able to be combined with the techniques for recording message and/or character information described above. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 30 This invention relates to improving management of information which is recorded by means of a user unit. More specifically, it is an object of this invention to increase the possibilities of managing digitally-recorded information. 35 It is also desirable to show a technique for infor mation management that is easy for the user to use.

WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 5 A further object is to provide a technique which enables rapid, simple and unambiguous management of information. It is also an object to provide a technique which 5 is general, but which permits individual handling of different parties' information. These and other objects, which will be apparent from the following description, have now been achieved com pletely or partially by an information management system 10 according to claims 1 and 12, a database according to claim 22, a method for information management according to claims 31 and 37, a method for compiling a pattern layout according to claim 41, a product according to claim 47 and use according to claim 50. The dependent 15 claims define preferred embodiments. According to a first aspect, the invention relates to an information management system. According to prior-art technique, a position-coding pattern is used locally for the sole purpose of recording 20 handwritten information. The position-coding pattern then needs only to be used to code positions locally on the writing surface on which the information is written. According to the invention, absolute positions are used instead on an imaginary surface which is made up of all 25 the points or positions which can be coded by means of the position-coding pattern. Each position is defined by at least two coordinates. If there are several imaginary surfaces, a third coordinate can be used to define which imaginary surface is in question. By dedicating different 30 parts of the imaginary surface to different types of information management, it is possible both to record information and to control how the information is to be managed by using the position-coding pattern. Different bases are thus provided with different subsets of the 35 position-coding pattern, depending upon how the informa tion which is written on the base is to be managed.

WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 6 The position-coding pattern covers a total surface which is imaginary in as much as it is very large and is therefore never present in its entirety on a base. The .imaginary surface is an imaginary surface which is made 5 up by all the positions that the position-coding pattern can code. The imaginary surface can be divided into main regions, which in turn can be divided into subregions, which in turn can be divided into further subregions, etc. The main regions can be.different sizes and shapes. 10 Together they do not need to cover all of the imaginary surface, but they can do so. Each main region can be dedicated to a particular type of information manage ment. The above-mentioned subregions can be dedicated to variants of the information management to which the 15 associated main region is dedicated. The subregions can also be dedicated to different parties, products, ser vices, operations on recorded information or the like. It must be pointed out that not all of the informa tion which is managed in the system needs to be repre 20 sented by absolute positions on the imaginary surface. The information can be recorded by a combination of techniques, of which one identifies absolute positions and the other identifies relative positions. An example of such a combination is given in the above-mentioned 25 WO 00/31682. In this case, the information may contain only one or a few absolute positions, and a sequence of local positions related to these absolute positions. As the local positions can be converted to absolute posi tions, such digitally represented information which is 30 linked in some way to absolute positions on an imaginary surface can also be managed in the system according to the invention. The system thus increases the possibilities of managing information. A user can write down and at the 35 same time digitally record information on a position coding pattern. The management- of the information recorded digitally in this way is then controlled by WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 7 where on the imaginary surface the information is record ed. The system thus permits information gathering, that is digital recording of information which is written down on a writing surface or the like, and information distri 5 bution, that is communication of information-to and from a user. All or parts of the digitally recorded informa tion, for example in the form of message information, can be sent to a recipient. Alternatively, a user can be sent further information from a particular party, for example 10 about a product or service, by recording information on a part of the imaginary surface designed for the purpose. The system is thus easy to use, as the user does not himself need to define in each situation how the recorded information is to be managed. The management is control 15 led instead by the coordinates of the recorded informa tion, that is its region affiliation on the imaginary surface. The user can work largely as he does at present with paper and pen, but.still make use of all the possi bilities of electronics. The recorded information can be 20 managed quickly, easily, unambiguously and transparently for the user in the system according to the invention. The system according to the invention is general, but permits individual handling of different parties' information, thanks to the fact that different parties 25 with different needs can be given access to different regions on the imaginary surface in the system and can control how their own information is to be managed. As an example, it can be mentioned -that a main region can be dedicated to information which is to be 30 sent to a predetermined address in a computer network. As another example, it can be mentioned than another main region can be dedicated to information in the form of notes which are to be stored in a user's computer. . Different regions on the imaginary surface can be 35 dedicated to different purposes for different periods of time. Different regions can be reserved by a party for WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 8 different periods of time, for special markets and for special applications. The system can be called global, in that the divi sion of the imaginary surface into different unique 5 regions is applied throughout the whole system, which, however, does not need to be global in the sense that it is world-wide. The global information management system can be said to arise and exist when any party utilises the property 10 of a position-coding pattern that different coordinate areas or regions which are coded by different subsets of the pattern can be dedicated to different management of, information purposes. In a preferred embodiment, the information manage 15 ment system comprises a computer system which stores information about the position of the different regions on the imaginary surface. The computer system can com prise one or more computers which store the above-men tioned information. What is essential is to keep track 20 in a coordinated way of where the different regions are located so that the regions are utilised consistently in the system. Information is also suitably stored concern ing unused or unreserved regions and concerning what the different reserved regions are dedicated to. 25 In one embodiment, at least one command region which represents an operation is defined on the imaginary sur face, so that detection of the absolute coordinates for a point within this command region results in the initia tion, and later execution, of said operation. 30 In addition to the regions which are dedicated to different management of information purposes, there can thus be one or more command regions on the imaginary sur face. The former regions are used to record information which is processed in different ways depending upon the 35 region. The command region is used principally not for recording information but to define a command or an ope ration which is to be carried out. The command region can WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 9 in the extreme case comprise a single point, as the com mand region does not need to make possible recording of handwritten information. In the normal case, however, the command region comprises a plurality of points on the 5 imaginary surface for a corresponding subset of the posi tion-coding pattern to be read off with high reliability. The command or operation is typically intended to be car ried out with regard to information which has been or which is to be recorded by means of a subset of the posi 10 tion-coding pattern which codes one of said regions which are dedicated to different management of information pur poses. According to one example, a user writes information on a notepad, the writing surface of which has a writing 15 field provided with a first subset of the position-coding pattern, which first subset codes coordinates within a region on the imaginary surface dedicated to notes. Thereafter the user records absolute -coordinates from a command region, which is coded by a second subset of the 20 position-coding pattern, which second subset is reproduc ed in a box on the writing surface of the notepad. The command can, for example, be to store the recorded infor mation in the user's computer, in which case the box is marked "store". As will be described in greater detail 25 below, the detection of the second subset of the posi tion-coding pattern results in the information written on the first subset being stored in the user's computer. What was.described above regarding the regions for information management also applies to the command 30 regions. The command region can be a universal region on the imaginary surface, that is a corresponding subset of the position-coding pattern can be applied on a number of different bases and combined with other subsets of the 35 position-coding pattern associated with other regions on the imaginary surface.

WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 10 Alternatively, the command region can be part of one of the above-mentioned regions for information manage ment, for example, a primary region which is dedicated to transmission of information to an external unit. The 5. primary region alsb suitably contains at least one mes sage recording region, which is dedicated to digital recording of a sequence of positions on the imaginary surface. The primary region suitably contains a plurality of identical standard regions, each of which comprises at 10 least one command region and at least one message record ing region. The primary region is thus hierarchically structured, which has the advantage that detailed inform mation about this part of the imaginary surface can be stored in compact form, for example as an algorithm-based 15 database. In addition all information which is recorded within a standard region is considered to belong toge ther, which can be an advantage when the recorded infor mation is to be managed in the system. In a preferred embodiment, the information about the 20 position of said at least one command region on the ima ginary surface is stored in the above-mentioned computer system, so that information is collected about where all the different regions on the imaginary surface are posi tioned and consistent utilisation is made possible. 25 The command or operation which is defined by the command region can, for example, be one of the commands to store information, to send information or to convert information. The information can be sent in different formats and via different "transport systems". The infor 30 mation can, for example, be sent as an e-mail message, as an SMS or as a fax. It can be sent from a user unit, for example in the form of a digital pen, via for example a mobile phone, a computer or a PDA to a recipient which, for example, can also be a mobile phone, a PDA, a compu 35 ter, in particular a computer connected to the Internet, or a program in a computer.

WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 11 The information is sent preferably in graphical form, that is as sequences of recorded positions. All the recorded positions which represent information can be sent, or they can be processed into a compressed form or 5 some other format. Character recognition can also be car ried out, so that the information can be sent in charac ter-coded format. The information can be stored in a unit which is synchronised with the user unit, for example a computer, 10 or at a storage location on a server connected to the Internet. The conversion command can comprise a command which means that the information, for example, is to be trans lated into a predetermined language, subjected to charac 15 ter-recognition, encrypted, or converted in some other way. It does not need to be a single party that adminis ters all the information management in the information management system, but different parties can have access 20 to different regions on the imaginary surface. The party that is responsible for the information management system must, however, as mentioned earlier, know which regions on the imaginary surface are reserved and which are free. The computer system stores advantageously information 25 about an owner of at least one of said information management regions. In addition, the computer system can need to com prise information about what particular.information management regions and command regions are dedicated to, 30 so that the computer system can carry out part of the information management. Particular information which is represented by coordinates of positions within particular regions can, for example, always be sent to the computer system, which can carry out particular processing of the 35 information and then forward it to a recipient. In a preferred embodiment, the information manage ment system can also comprise at least one user unit, WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 12 preferably in the form of a hand-held device, such as a digital pen, which is arranged to record absolute posi tions from a base provided with at least one subset of said position-coding pattern, which subset can also be 5 regarded.as at least one subset of the imaginary surface. The user unit can comprise a sensor which can detect the position-coding pattern. As mentioned above, the information can alternatively be recorded by a combina tion of techniques, in which case the user unit can com 10 prise an additional one or more sensors, for example, an acceleration sensor, a mechanical translation sensor, etc. The user unit can advantageously also have an ordi nary pen point, so that information can be written on a 15 base which is provided with a subset of the position coding pattern and can at the same time be recorded digi tally by the sensor. The information which is recorded by the..user unit in the form of absolute positions thus usually represents message information, that is graphical 20 information which is written/drawn on the base using the user unit. However, it can alternatively represent a com mand (an operation). When a command is detected, it causes the user unit to at least initiate a predetermined operation, possibly 25 however with a certain delay. In certain cases the user unit can carry out the whole operation itself. In other cases the user unit can, for example, transfer all or parts of the recorded information and information about which operation is to be carried out to an external unit, 30 for example a computer or mobile phone, which completes the operation. This transmission can be carried out directly or at a later time. By "initiate" is meant here that the user unit ensures that the operation is carried out, even though it does not carry out the operation 35 itself, so that the user does not need to give further commands to the user unit or the external unit in order for the operation to be carried out. However, the user WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 13 many need to supply further information or to confirm the operation/the information. In its simplest embodiment, the user unit is not able to recognise or interpret the coordinates corresponding to different command regions, 5 but it ensures that a required operation is carried out by sending all the coordinates to an external unit which can interpret them. The information management system can also advanta geously comprise at least one base which is provided with 10 at least one subset of said position-coding pattern. The base can constitute or be incorporated in a number of products. Examples of such products are forms, brochures, newspapers, notepads, calendars, desk mats, etc, of paper or plastic material, a writing board of plastic material 15 or a display screen. Products which are particularly suitable for being provided with coordinates are all forms of products with writing surfaces. The writing surfaces do not need to be suitable for writing with an ordinary pen point, but can be writing surfaces on-which 20 writing is carried out by the pen being moved as in writ ing. The products are provided with different subsets of the position-coding pattern, depending upon how the information is to be managed. According to a second aspect, the invention relates 25 to a database which contains information about the above mentioned imaginary surface. In the database at least one position on the imaginary surface is allocated a rule for information management, so that information which is associated with the absolute coordinates for said at 30 least one position is managed on the basis of this rule. This database can, in the information management system described above, be stored in its entirety in a central administration unit and/or be divided between a plurality of units. Different types of database struc 35 tures can be used in different units. All types of con ventional database structures can be used, for example relational, network-based, or hierarchical structures. In WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 14 a user unit, which generally has limited memory and pro cessor capacity, the database structure is preferably algorithm-based. The database suitably contains further information 5 associated with positions on the.imaginary surface, such an owner, a recipient address, an encryption instruction, a link to a program or document file to be executed.or to be sent to a recipient, etc. The advantages of the database according to the 10 invention are apparent from the above description of the system. According to a third aspect, the invention relates, to a method for managing information, the advantages of which are apparent from the above description of the 15 system. According to a fourth aspect of the invention, this relates to a method for compiling a pattern layout which is intended for application on a product. The method permits a party or user to create a pat 20 tern layout that can be used for digital recording and management of information in a system or method according to the invention. The advantages of this method are appa rent from the above description of the system. According to a fifth aspect of the invention, this 25 relates to a product which is intended to be used in an information management system as described above. The product has a message field which is provided with a first subset of the position-coding pattern to enable digital recording of graphical information which is writ 30 ten on said first subset, and a command field which is provided with a second subset of the position-coding pat tern, which second subset defines an operation which is to be carried out concerning the ~recorded graphical information. 35 The advantages of this product are apparent from the above description of the system.

WO 01/48685 PCT/SE00/02659 15 According to a sixth aspect of the invention, this relates to use of positions on at least one imaginary surface divided into regions for control of management of information. There is a rule associated with each region 5 for how information which contains the coordinates of at least one position within the region is to be managed. The advantages of this use are apparent from the above description of the system. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 10 This invention and its distinctive features, objects and advantages will be described in greater detail in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings,, which for the purpose of exemplification show currently preferred embodiments. 15 Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram that shows an informa tion management system according to the invention. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram that shows a first imaginary surface with main regions that are dedicated to different purposes. 20 Fig. 3 is a schematic internal view of a digital pen which can be used in an information management system according to the invention. Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram that shows in greater detail a second imaginary surface with main regions that 25 are dedicated to different purposes. Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram that shows in greater detail subregions in a hierarchically organised main region on.the imaginary surface in Fig. 4-. Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram that shows an example 30 of the layout of the subregions at the lowest level of the main region in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram that shows a product which is provided with a position-coding pattern accord ing to a preferred embodiment. 35 Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram that shows how the marks can be designed and positioned in a preferred embo diment of the position-coding pattern.

WO 01/48685 PCT/SE00/02659 16 Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram that shows examples of 4*4 symbols which are used to code a position. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS By way of introduction, the overall construction of 5 an information management system according to the inven tion will be described, with reference to Figs 1 and 2. Thereafter components which are part of the system will be described, among other things with reference to Fig. 3, and a number of examples of applications with 10 reference to Fig. 2. This is followed by examples of different forms of communication and localised data pro cessing in the information management system. Finally, a more detailed example is given of the layout of the ima ginary surface which is part of the information manage 15 ment system, with reference to Figs 4-6. Fig. 1 shows an example of how a system according to the invention can be constructed. The system comprises .principally a plurality of products, a plurality of user units and one or more external units. For the sake of 20 clarity, however, only one product 1, one user unit 2 and one external unit 3 are shown in Fig. 1. The product 1 in Fig. 1 is provided with a message field 1A to receive graphical information, for example text, numbers or figures, which are written using the 25 user unit 2, and a command field 1B for initiating/ implementing different operations using the user unit 2. The system permits structured management of the information which a user-records on the product 1 using the user unit 2. The product 1 is provided with a posi 30 tion-coding pattern which is interpreted by the user unit 2 as absolute coordinates on the surface of the product 1. The position-coding pattern, which is described in greater detail below, is such that it codes positions on a total surface or imaginary surface which is much larger 35 than the surface of the product 1. When the user passes the user unit 2 across the surface of the product 1, information is recorded containing one or more pairs of WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 17 absolute coordinates. This recorded information is com municated, automatically (on-line) or upon command, to the external unit 3 for storage and/or processing. In the system according to the invention, management 5 of the recorded.information is dependent upon where on the imaginary surface the information has been recorded, that is the coordinate content of the recorded informa tion. This system permits structured processing of infor 10 mation. Different parties with different needs can have access to different parts of the imaginary surface and can control how their own information is to be managed. The system is general but also permits individual manage ment of different parties' information. 15 Fig. 2 shows schematically an example of an imagi nary surface 100 which consists of or is made up by all the points or positions whose absolute coordinates a position-coding pattern can code. Four different coordinate areas or main regions 20 101-104 are defined on the imaginary surface 100. The main regions 101-104 are different sizes and different shapes. They are spaced from each other and do not over lap. The main regions can in turn be divided into sub regions (not shown), which in turn can be divided into 25 further subregions, etc. The main regions can be more or less regular in shape, not only rectangular as shown in the example, and the relationship between the size of the main regions.and the size of the imaginary surface can be completely dif 30 ferent to the one shown. Nor do the regions need to be separated from each other, but can physically overlap each other and be defined by mathematical relations or associations. The different main regions 101-104 are dedicated 35 to different purposes. In this example, the first main region 101 can be dedicated to recording notes, the second main region 102 can be dedicated to recording WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 18 calendar information, that is information which is to be stored associated with a particular time or a particular interval of time, the third main region 103 can be dedi cated to recording handwritten information which is 5 always to be sent to a predetermined -server unit on the Internet and the fourth main region 104 can be dedicated to one or more specific commands. In an actual information management system the num ber of dedicated main regions can be much larger. 10 Information about the extent of the imaginary sur face and about the location and extent of the different main regions which have been dedicated to different information management purposes or different commands, which are to be carried out with regard to the informa 15 tion which is managed in the system, is stored completely or partially in one or more computer systems, for example the external unit 3 in Fig. 1. Said computer system can be a passive part of the information management system. It does not need to carry out any part of the actual 20 information management and thus does not need to be con nected to the other units in the information management system. The computer system is, however, suitably an interacting part of the information management system, as will be shown in greater detail below. 25 The Position-Coding Pattern The information management system is based, as shown above, on use of a position-coding pattern. This pattern can be constructed in various ways, but has the general property that if an arbitrary part of the pattern of a 30 particular minimum size is recorded, then the position of this part in the position-coding pattern can be determin ed unambiguously. The position-coding pattern can be of the type which is disclosed in the above-mentioned US A-5,852,434, where 35 each position is coded by a specific symbol. It is, however, desirable for the position-coding pattern to be used to record information at high resolu- WO 01/48685 PCT/SE00/02659 19 tion and in addition to be used in a system which permits varied processing of the information. Therefore the pat tern should be designed in such a way that it can code a very large number of positions given by pairs of absolute 5 coordinates. In addition, the position-coding pattern should be coded graphically in such a way that it does not dominate or interfere with the visual impression of the surface of the product. It should also be possible to detect the position-coding pattern with high reliability. 10 Therefore the position-coding pattern is advanta geously of the type which is disclosed in the Published International Patent Application WO 00/73983 filed on 26 May 2000, or in the International Patent Application PCT/SE00/01895 filed on 2 October 2000, both applications 15 being assigned to the present Applicant. In these pat terns each position is coded by a plurality of symbols or marks, and each symbol contributes to the coding of seve ral positions. The position-coding pattern is constructed of a small number of types of symbols. 20 An example is shown in PCT/SEOO/01085 where a larger dot represents a "one" and a smaller dot represents a "zero". The currently most preferred pattern is shown in PCT/SEOO/01895, where four different displacements of a 25 dot or mark in relation to a nominal raster point code four different values. This pattern is constructed of small dots at a nominal spacing of approximately 0.3 mm. Any part of the pattern which contains 6 x 6 such dots defines a pair of absolute coordinates. Each pair of 30 absolute coordinates is thus defined by an approximately 1.8 mm x 1.8 mm large subset of the position-coding pat tern. By means of determination of the position of the 6 x 6 dots on the sensor in the user unit which is used to read off the pattern, an absolute position on the ima 35 ginary surface can be calculated by interpolation with a resolution of approximately 0.03 mm. A more complete WO 01/48685 PCT/SE00/02659 20 description of the position-coding pattern according to PCT/SE00/01895 is given in the Appendix. This position-coding pattern is able to code a large number of absolute positions. As each position is coded 5 by 6 x 6.dots, each of which can have ohe of four values, 4 positions can be coded, which with the above-mentioned nominal distance between the dots corresponds to a sur face of 4.6 million km 2 . The position-coding pattern can be printed on any 10 base which allows a resolution of approximately 600 dpi. The base can be any size and shape, depending upon its planned use. The pattern can be printed by standard off set printing technology. Ordinary black carbon-based printing ink or some other printing ink which absorbs 15 infrared light can advantageously be used. This means that other inks, including black ink which is not carbon based and which does not absorb infrared light, can be used to superimpose other printing on the- position-coding pattern without interfering- with the reading off of this. 20 A surface which is provided with the above-mentioned pattern printed with a carbon-based black printing ink will be perceived by the eye as only a pale grey shading of the surface (1-3% density), which is user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing. 25 Of course, fewer or more symbols can be used to define a position than described above, and larger or smaller distances between the symbols can be used in the pattern. The examples are only given to show a currently preferred realisation of the pattern. 30 The position-coding pattern described above can be applied on all imaginable products on which information is to be recorded by the recording of coordinates. Exam ples of such products are forms, notepads, calendars, desk mats, writing boards, etc. The products can be dif 35 ferent materials, such as paper, plastic, etc. Alterna tively the position-coding pattern can be integrated into or arranged upon a computer screen. As a result, diffe- WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 21 rent positions on the screen can be read off by means of a digital pen which detects the pattern. In this way a screen is provided with the same function as a touch screen, but with the advantages that it is unaffected by 5 the environment and that the screen can be bent. The position-coding pattern can alternatively be displayed electronically on a computer screen. The currently most preferred embodiment is, however, that the pattern is applied onto paper. 10 The User Unit Fig. 3 shows an example of a user unit, which in a preferred embodiment is used to record electronically, graphical information which is produced on a writing sur face and to initiate/execute commands or operations on 15 this information. The user unit comprises a casing 11 which is the same shape as a pen. A short side of the casing defines an opening 12 and is intended to be held in contact with or a short distance from a base provided with a position 20 coding pattern. The user unit, below called a digital pen, contains essentially an optics part, an electronic circuitry part and a power supply. The optics part forms a digital camera and comprises 25 at least one infrared light-emitting diode 13 for illumi nating the surface which is to be imaged and a light-sen sitive area sensor 14, for example a CCD or CMOS sensor, for recording a two-dimensional image. The pen may also contain a lens system (not shown). The infrared light is 30 absorbed by the symbols in the position-coding pattern and in this way makes them visible to the sensor 14. The sensor records advantageously at least 100 images per second. The power supply for the pen is obtained from a bat 35 tery 15 which is mounted in a separate compartment in the casing. Alternatively, however, the pen can be connected to an external power source.

WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 22 The electronic circuitry part comprises a signal processor 16 for determining a position on the basis of the image recorded by the sensor 14 and more specifically a processor unit with a microprocessor which is program 5 med to read in images from the sensor and to determine in real time absolute coordinates for points on the imagi nary surface on the basis of the imaged subset of the position-coding pattern. In an alternative embodiment, the signal processor 16 is realised as an ASIC (Applica 10 tion Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA (Field Pro grammable Gate Array). The position determination is thus carried out by the signal processor 16, which thus must have software to enable it to locate and decode the symbols in an image 15 and to enable it to determine positions from the codes thus obtained. A person skilled in the art would be able to design such software from the description in the above-mentioned Patent Applications WO 00/73983 and PCT/SE00/01895. 20 The signal processor 16 can also have limited infor mation about the different regions of the imaginary sur face and about what these are dedicated to. The signal processor 16 can, for example, advantageously contain information which makes it possible for it to recognise 25 that certain points or regions on the imaginary surface represent certain commands or operations which are to be initiated and/or implemented, for example with regard to information'which has been or.will be recorded. Preferred commands which can be recognised by the pen are "store", 30 "send", "to do", "address" and other similar basic com mands. The pen has advantageously indicating means (not shown), for example a light-emitting diode, a buzzer or a vibrator, which gives a signal when the pen detects a command. The signal serves to make the user aware that a 35 command has been recorded. of course these indicating means can also be used to give an indication that the pen has recorded handwritten information.

WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 23 The pen can advantageously also contain information which makes it possible for it to distinguish between, for example, information which is to be stored in the pen, information which is to be transferred to the user's 5 personal computer; information which is to be sent to a fax number via a modem and information which is to be sent to a server at a predetermined IP address. More specifically, as described above, a main region on the imaginary surface can-be dedicated in order that 10 information which is recorded by means of a subset of the position-coding pattern which corresponds to this main region, and is thus represented by coordinates for points which lie within the main region will always to be sent to said IP address for further management. 15 The digital pen comprises in this embodiment a pen point 17, using which the user can carry out ordinary pigment-based writing on the surface provided with the position-coding pattern. The pen point 17 can be extended and retracted so that the user can control whether or not 20 it is to be used. A button (not shown) for extending and retracting the pen point, in the same way as in an ordi nary ball-point pen, can also function as an on/off but ton for the pen, so that the pen is activated when the pen point is extended. 25 The digital pen can also comprise buttons 18 by which it is activated and controlled. It also has a transceiver 19 for short-distance wireless transmission, for example using infrared light or radio waves, of information to and from the pen. In the currently most 30 preferred embodiment the transceiver 19 is a Bluetooth transceiver. The digital pen is also suitably provided with a pressure sensor 20 which measures the pressure on the pen point 17 when this is used. 35 The signal processor 16 can comprise software which determines the angle between the pen point and the paper and also the rotation of the pen on the basis of the WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 24 recorded images. Software for this purpose is described in Applicant's Swedish Patent Application No. 0000952-2. In a preferred embodiment, the signal processor 16 determines the following information on the basis of each 5 recorded image: a pair of coordinates, the angle between the pen and the paper, the rotation of the pen, the pres sure on the paper and in addition a time-stamp on the basis of the time of the recording of the image. Depend ing upon how the information management system is con 10 structed, it can, however, be sufficient to record the pair of coordinates, possibly together with one of the other parameters. The recorded pair of coordinates can be processed and stored in a compressed format. The signal processor 15 16 can, for example, be programmed to analyse a sequence of pairs of coordinates and convert these into a train of polygons which constitutes a description of how the pen has been moved across the surface which is provided with the position-coding pattern. 20 All the recorded data can be stored in a buffer memory 21 awaiting transmission to an external unit. The digital pen can thereby work in stand-alone mode, that is the pen sends the information when it has the opportu nity, for example when it makes contact with an external 25 unit, whereupon it retrieves recorded information from the buffer memory 21. It must also be pointed out that the signal processor 16 does not need to forward all the information-to an external unit, but can be programmed to analyse the recorded coordinat-es and only to forward 30 information which is represented by coordinates within a particular coordinate area. The information can also be forwarded immediately on-line. The signal processor 16 can also have software for encrypting the information which is sent to external 35 units. The pen can have, but thus does not need to have, knowledge of what all the different regions on the ima- WO 01/48685 PCT/SE00/02659 25 ginary surface are dedicated to. In fact, no individual unit in the system needs to have this knowledge, but it can be distributed over a number of different units. For the administration of the system there should, however, 5 be gathered knowledge of which main regions (and sub regions thereof) are already dedicated and which main regions (and subregions thereof) are free. However, only the party that at the time has the sole right to use a particular region (main region or subregion) has informa 10 tion about its precise use. Of course, as an alternative, all information can be collected in a central unit, such as in a memory 3' of the unit 3 in Fig. 1. It is also desirable for only simpler, less time consuming and memory-intensive processing of the recorded 15 information and processing of security-sensitive informa tion to be carried out in the pen. More complicated pro cessing can be carried out in a local computer, with which the pen communicates and in which software is installed for processing information from the pen, and/or 20 in a server unit which can contain very powerful software for, among other things, character recognition (OCR), a larger amount of memory, for example for database infor mation, and faster signal processors for more advanced processing of the information. 25 Such distribution of the information processing makes it possible to manufacture pens at a relatively low cost. In addition, new applications can be added to the information management system. without the existing pens needing to be upgraded. Alternatively, the user can 30 update his pen at regular intervals so that it receives information about new dedicated regions and about how information which is related to these regions is to be managed and also new functionality. The above example is only given to show a currently 35 preferred realisation of the digital pen. In an alterna tive embodiment, the pen operates only as an image gene rator, that is the images recorded by the sensor 14 are WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 26 transmitted to an external unit, for example a computer, which processes the images to determine the coordinates as above, and which communicates if necessary with other external units. 5 In the embodiment above, the pattern is optically readable and the sensor is thus optical. The pattern can, however, be based on a parameter other than an optical parameter. In such a case the sensor must of course be of a type which can read the parameter concerned. Examples 10 of such parameters are chemical, acoustic or electromag netic marks. Capacitive or inductive marks can also be used. However, it is preferable for the pattern to be optically readable, as it is then relatively simple to apply it onto different products and in particular onto 15 paper. Examples of Applications in the Information Management System In the following, the information management system according to the invention is illustrated by means of a 20 number of examples of applications with reference to the imaginary surface in Fig. 2. The applications in an information management system according to this invention can be divided into three groups or types: 1) Applications with analogue input sig 25 nal and digital output signal; 2) Communication applica tions and 3) Service applications. Applications belonging to the first group use the digital pen and a writing surface with a position-coding pattern principally for inputting of information to a 30 computer, a PDA or a mobile phone. A product with a writing surface, for example a notepad, can be provided on the actual writing surface with a position-coding pattern taken from a first region, which pattern codes coordinates for points within a main 35 region which is dedicated to notes, such as the main region 101 in Fig. 2. The product can also be provided with a box which is marked "store" and contains a posi- WO 01/48685 PCT/SE00/02659 27 tion-coding pattern from a second main region which is dedicated to commands, such as the main region 104 in Fig. 2. When the user writes on the writing surface, the pen 5 records. a representation of what is written.in the form of a sequence of pairs of coordinates for points within the first region on the imaginary surface by continually recording images of that part of the position-coding pattern which is within the field of view of the pen. The 10 pen stores these absolute coordinates in its buffer memo ry. When the user then places the pen in the box marked "store" or ticks this box, the pen records coordinates. for at least one point in the main region 104 and stores these in the buffer memory. At the same time the pen 15 notes that these coordinates represent a command. In the pen's memory it is stored that precisely this command (will be explained in greater detail below) means that the information is to be stored in a nearby computer. As soon as the pen starts communicating with the computer 20 with which it is synchronised, the pen transfers the recorded coordinate information to the computer via its transceiver. The computer stores the received information as an image, which for example can be displayed directly on the computer's screen. Searching the stored informa 25 tion can be carried out afterwards on the basis of the time of storing (or recording) the information and on the basis of key words which were written in capital letters on the writing -surface and which could thus'be stored in character-coded format (ASCII) after character recogni 30 tion (OCR). Other commands which can be found on a product of the type described above are, for example, "address book", which is a box provided with a different subset of the position-coding pattern which codes a subregion 35 of the main region 104, which subregion is dedicated to an address book command. When the pen recognises the coordinates for this command, it sends address informa- WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 28 tion which was written by hand, for example in capital letters, on a subset of the position-coding pattern intended for this purpose to the computer which stores the address information in a digital address book. Dif 5 ferent subregions of the subregion dedicated to the address book command on the imaginary surface can be dedicated to different address information. Information with a content which requires interpre tation in order for certain measures to be carried out 10 in the system is currently written preferably in capital letters in special character recognition fields, so called "combs", which are provided with a subset of the position-coding pattern which is dedicated to character interpretation. This means that the user is caused to 15 write legible characters, which facilitates their inter pretation. The communication applications, that is applica tions belonging to the second group above, are somewhat more demanding. They also usually require access to the 20 Internet. Loose pages, pages in a calendar, a notebook or the like can be designed as forms for the transmission of graphical e-mail, SMS, fax or the like. Fields are print ed on the page which are intended for indication of address, subject and message text. Address and subject 25 are intended to be written in capital letters so that they can easily be converted into character-coded format and can be understood by other digital units which are designed for managing information in.character-coded format. The information in the message field can consist 30 of any graphical information. The page is also provided with a tick box which, when it is ticked, causes the pen to make contact via its transceiver with the mobile phone with which it is synchronised. The mobile phone identi fies the message as a graphical e-mail message which is 35 intended for a predetermined server unit which is incor porated in the information management system. The identi fication can be carried out by means of information which WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 29 is stored in the pen, or in some unit with which the mobile phone is in communication, while the mobile phone preferably only functions as a link or a modem. The mobile phone transfers the message to the base station by 5 the use of GSM or GPRS, etc, and then by'means of TCP/IP to the predetermined server unit which decodes the address field and sends the message via the Internet to the addressee. A confirmation of delivery can be sent to the mobile phone and shown on its display. 10 The above-mentioned page can be provided with a sub set of the position-coding pattern which codes a.main region on the imaginary surface which is dedicated to transmission of (graphical) e-mail. Different parts of this main region can then represent the different fields 15 and the tick boxes. This type of hierarchical layout of a main region will be described in greater detail below with reference to Figs 5-6. Alternatively, the different fields and tick boxes can be provided with different subsets of the position 20 coding pattern which code coordinates for points within main regions on the imaginary surface which are dedicated to address information, subject indication, transmission, etc. This type of general layout of main regions on the imaginary surface will be described in greater detail 25 below with reference to Fig. 4. The advantage of using a universal "send" box is that this can then be represented by the same subset each time it is used, irrespective of whether it is, for example, on a note sheet or on an e-mail form. This is more economical with the available 30 imaginary surface. Another advantage is that the decoding in the pen is simple, as the pen only needs to recognise that it is a "send" box that has been ticked, whereupon the pen is to initiate an operation. The service applications, that is those belonging 35 to the third group above, are applications where the information management is controlled via one or more predetermined server units. An example is an advertise- WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 30 ment in a newspaper which is provided with a subset of the position-coding pattern, which codes coordinates for points within a main region on the imaginary surface which is dedicated to information which is to be sent to 5 a predetermined server unit. This particular subset codes coordinates for points within a particular subregion of the main region, to which subregion the advertiser has acquired the sole right. As is apparent from this, there can thus be larger main regions on the imaginary surface 10 which are dedicated to a particular information manage ment purpose. These main regions can then be subdivided into subregions to which different parties can have the sole right. In the server unit, which in this example also administers the main regions, it is noted which 15 party has the right to the different subregions. A subset of the position-coding pattern can thus also make pos sible identification of an owner of the subregion within which the pattern codes points. In the case of the advertisement, a user can place 20 an order using his digital pen by specifying a recipient address in the field intended for this and by ticking a "send" box. If the order requires a payment to be made, a credit card number can be given. If the order is for the user, no recipient address needs to be given as an 25 address for the pen previously stored can be used. If the order concerns a gift to another recipient, a handwritten greeting to the recipient can be added in a writing area for free-form graphical information in the advertisement. When the user ticks the "send" box, the user unit 2 30 identifies that information was recorded within the main region 104 and therefore sends the recorded information to the predetermined server unit on the Internet. In the server unit it is determined that the recorded informa tion is situated in a particular subregion, whereupon the 35 owner of this subregion is identified. Thereafter the decoded information, together with any greeting, is sent WO 01/48685 PCT/SE00/02659 31 to the owner who handles the delivery of the ordered pro duct or service. Communication Between the Pen and External Units Certain operations can be carried out in their 5 entirety by the pen itself, for example storing of a note in the pen and input of information for a user program in the pen. These operations can always be carried out by the pen in stand-alone mode. Other operations require communication with the out 10 side world. These operations can be commenced in stand alone mode, but are not completed until the pen is con nected to the outside world. Alternatively, the opera-. tions can be carried out on line. In local applications, for example recording of 15 notes or calendar notes, the pen communicates suitably directly with a local unit, such as a computer, mobile phone or PDA. In communication and service applications, the pen can transmit the recorded information, suitably together 20 with information about which operation is to be carried out, to a nearby computer which, for example, arranges the information as an e-mail message and sends this to a predetermined address or to an address which is record ed by the pen. Alternatively, the pen can communicate 25 directly via its transceiver with a nearby external unit, for example a fax machine, printer or the like, which is also provided with a transceiver, in order to cause this. to carry.out the required operation utilising the record ed information. 30 Alternatively, the pen can communicate via its transceiver with a mobile phone, which acts as a modem for the pen, for forwarding the recorded information to, for example, a server unit, another mobile phone or a fax machine. 35 As a further example, the pen can comprise or be integrated in a mobile phone transceiver so that it can WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 32 carry out the operations which require communication directly. In the above, wireless transmission of information from the pen is described. However, the transmission can 5 alternatively be via cables. For example, the user unit 2 can be connected via a cable to a network connection unit, such as a mobile phone, a PDA, a computer or some other suitable unit which has an interface to a computer network, for example the Internet or a local company net 10 work. Alternatively, the network connection unit can be designed as a docking unit (not shown) which can be con nected via cables to a communication network, such as a telephone network or a computer network. Such a docking unit can advantageously be designed as a pen stand. When 15 the pen is placed in the docking unit, the pen is caused, automatically or upon command, to communicate with the outside world. The docking unit can also be designed to charge the battery 15 (Fig. 3) in the pen. According to another alternative, the docking unit is designed to 20 establish wireless connection with the outside world. The above communication can be achieved by a subset of the position-coding pattern coding coordinates for points within a main region on the imaginary surface which is dedicated to the pen sending all the recorded 25 information, or parts thereof, to the external unit when it detects coordinates within this main region. The pen can be arranged to send information to the external unit immediately or after a particular period of time. Alter natively, the pen can send the information after the 30 detection of a "send" box. The "send" box can, in this case, be located within said main region, the pen storing information which relates coordinates within this main region to the address of the external unit, for example, its Bluetooth address. 35 Alternatively, as discussed above, the "send" box can be located in a special command region, the "send" box being allocated an instruction which causes the pen WO 01/48685 PCT/SE00/02659 33 to send information to the external unit. In this case, no main region is required which is dedicated to sending recorded information to the external unit, as the infor mation can, for example, be recorded in a writing field 5 whose- position-coding pattern codes coordinates for points within a main region which is dedicated to hand written notes, an address field whose position-coding pattern codes coordinates for points within a main region which is dedicated to OCR interpretation, etc. According 10 ly, the pen only needs to store information which relates coordinates within the "send" box or a subregion with several different command boxes, to the address of the, external unit. Information Processing in the System 15 The recorded information can be processed in the system according to the invention. The processing can be implemented in different parts of the system, depending upon the application and/or capabilities of communication with external units. 20 The recorded information can be finally processed in the pen itself. Alternatively, only preliminary processing can be carried out in the pen, such as decoding of a recorded image into a pair of coordinates, compression of the 25 recorded information or conversion in the form of charac ter interpretation, translation, encryption, etc. The recorded information can then be sent to a local unit for processing in'this, for example a local computer or a PDA. The local unit can contain information about the 30 imaginary surface, or at least part thereof, and can be designed in such a way that, in response to the receipt of the recorded information, it identifies to which region its coordinates belong and determines, based on the region affiliation, how the information is to be 35 processed. Alternatively, the pen contains such informa tion about the imaginary surface, or a part thereof, that it is able to identify to which region the coordinates WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 34 belong and to determine, based on the region affiliation, how the information is to be processed. In this case, the pen suitably sends a processing instruction to the local unit. 5 The recorded information can alternatively be pro cessed by an external service provider that only has information about its part of the imaginary surface. Such an external service provider, which has the sole right to a part (main region/subregion) of the imaginary surface 10 and does not have information about other parts, can, for example, be a telecommunications operator which provides communication services or a company which offers goods or services via advertisements. The pen can contain information to the effect that a 15 particular part of the imaginary surface belongs to such an external service provider, in which case the pen sends the recorded information directly to this service pro vider for further processing. Alternatively, the pen can be designed to send the 20 recorded information to a predetermined central unit, typically a server unit, which contains information about all or parts of the imaginary surface. The central unit can be arranged to identify, in response to the receipt of the recorded information, to which region its coordi 25 nates belong and to determine, based on the region affi liation, how the information is to be processed. The cen tral unit can then forward the information to the exter nal service provider.'Alternatively, the central unit can implement the service or communication application in 30 question. According to a further alternative, the pen can be designed to send the recorded information, preferably only one or a few pairs of coordinates thereof, to a look-up unit, typically a server unit or a local compu 35 ter, which contains information about all or parts of the imaginary surface. In this embodiment, the look-up unit is designed to identify, in response to the receipt of WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 35 information from the pen, to which region the received information belongs and to return to the pen an address for the external service provider which is allocated the identified region. The pen is designed to send the 5 recorded information to this address for final process ing, in response to the receipt of the address. Detailed Example of Imaginary Surface Fig. 4 shows schematically, in a similar way to Fig. 2, an imaginary surface -200 which constitutes or is 10 made up by all the points or positions whose absolute coordinates can be coded by a position-coding pattern. A number of different main regions 201-206 are defined on the imaginary surface 200. The main regions are in gene ral divided into subregions (not shown), which in turn 15 can be divided into further subregions, etc. In the discussion of the embodiment shown in Fig. 4 it is assumed that the total surface 200 is made up of pairs of x-y-coordinates of binary type, that is consist ing of ones and zeros, where the pairs of coordinates 20 have a length of 36 bits for both the x-coordinate and the y-coordinate. The position-coding pattern thus codes coordinates which make up an imaginary surface with 436 points or positions. The number of positions in this example can possibly be increased further by interpola 25 tion. In the example according to Fig. 4, a "send" region 201 is dedicated to be used for the generation of "send" commands from the digital pen. The "send" region can, for example, be defined as all pairs of coordinates whose 30 x-value starts with 0001 and whose y-value starts with 0001. For example, the four first bits in a pair of coor dinates thus indicate its affiliation to a main region. With a division according to this example, 256 main regions are obtained. 35 In the example concerned, the four first bits thus indicate the main region affiliation, and a particular number of the last bits indicates the size of the sub- WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 36 regions in the main region..In the "send" region 201, the size of the subregions 207 is the minimum, a so-called atom, consisting of 64*64 positions or corresponding to the six last bits. With a distance of approximately 5 0.3 mm between the dots in the position-coding pat tern, this corresponds to a pattern surface of appro ximately 20*20 mm 2 . The other 26 bits (36 - 4 - 6) address the different subregions 207 (corresponding to a "send" box) in the "send" region. The total number 10 of subregions is then 42, that is over 4500 billion (4 503 599 627 370 496). Each subregion 207 ("send" box) can thereby be identified by a number which consists of the 5th to the 30th bit of the x- and y-coordinates. The four first bits in each recorded pair of coordinates thus 15 indicate in which main region the pen is situated, the following 26 bits identify a subregion (for example, a particular "send" box) within the main region, and the six last bits indicate where in the subregion the pen is situated. 20 These "send" boxes suitably belong to different recipients in a network which is connected to an infor mation management system according to this invention. Information about such affiliation is stored in the information management system, either in the pen itself 25 or in an external unit communicating with the pen, such as a local computer, a mobile phone or a server unit. The second main region 202 is dedicated to notepad information and also comprises a large number of sub regions 208 (corresponding to writing fields). Informa 30 tion about the position of these subregions 208 is pre ferably stored in a computer with which one or more pens communicate, or in the pens themselves. The position of the subregions 208 is predetermined, so that all users of the system know in advance that notes made in these sub 35 regions 208 belong to the main region 202 which is dedi cated to the notepad.

WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 37 For the notepad region 202 it is desirable that each subregion 208 (writing field) is larger than an A4 page, for example approximately 1 m 2 in size, corresponding to approximately 12 bits, to provide for essentially all 5 formats of notepad. The number of subregions 208 (writ ing fields) in the main region 202 for the notepad is thus equal to 420, that is approximately 1 billion (1 099 511 627 776). The third main region 203 is dedicated to general 10 availability. Information about the position of this main region is stored in a server unit with which one or more pens communicate. No user can reserve any part of this, main region for his own use. This main region can also be divided into subregions, but the user can also decide for 15 himself the sizes of the subregions. The fourth main region 204 is, in contrast to the general main region 203, dedicated to giving the owner exclusive availability, that is the subregions are assum ed only to be available for one pen at a time or in the* 20 way determined by the owner. Information about the posi tion of this main region 204 and its subregions is stored in a server unit with which one or more pens communicate. The fact that the owner can reserve parts of this main region for his own use means that collisions are avoided, 25 as two or more pens cannot simultaneously use an identi cal copy of the same part of the printed position-coding pattern which makes up this main region, or at least that the owner has full control over this. A large number of private subregions in one or more 30 private main regions 205 can be regarded as subscription objects, that is they can be reserved for a user for a shorter or longer period of time. Information about the positions of the main regions 205 or their subregions can be stored, together with the identity of a pen, in 35 a server unit with which one or more pens communicate. In principle each person and each company in the world WO 01/48685 PCT/SE00/02659 38 can have their own private area (subregion) with a size of 1 M 2 . The sixth main region 206 is intended to be avail able for local management of communication between a pen 5 and a local computer; without necessarily having to be :Un contact with a computer/server unit in a network. Since the pen suitably communicates directly with the local computer, the pen should contain information about the position of this main region 206. 10 Of course, this can be achieved by the pen contain ing information about the division of all the imaginary surface. It is, however, desirable to minimise the infor mation that must be stored in the pen, as this means lower requirements for memory in the pen and greater 15 speed for its data processing. A preferred structure for the main region 206 intended for local communication is shown in Fig. 5 and described below. It must, however, be pointed out that the structure described below can equally well-be used 20 for service and communication applications, particularly when there is a need for the pen to be able to carry out operations itself on the recorded information and it must therefore contain detailed information about the imagi nary surface. 25 In the embodiment according to Fig. 5, the main region 206 is divided into subregions 210-213 which con tain basic elements in the form of pages 213. Each page 213 is particular size and has a number of fields for predefined information management, as will be described 30 in greater detail in connection with Fig. 6. For example, each main region 206 can be divided into a number of sec tions 210, each of which is divided into a number of shelves 211, each of which is divided into a number of books 212, each of which contains the above-mentioned 35 pages 213. At a particular level within the subregions 210-212, all the pages 213 have an identical size and layout. For example, the sections 210 can contain diffe- WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 39 rent pages, while each section 210 contains shelves 211 and books 212 with identical pages 213. Alternatively, each section's 210 shelves 211 can contain different pages 213, while all books 212 within each shelf 211 have 5 identical pages.213. Alternatively, the different books. 212 can contain different pages 213, while the pages within each book 212 are identical. As a further alterna tive, the whole main region 206 can, of course, contain identical pages 213 in all the subregions 210-212. 10 The embodiment with a large number of identical pages permits the use of a simplified, preferably algo rithm-based, database in the pen's memory. The pen stores a number of page templates, which define the size and layout of the pages for the different subregions 210-212 15 in the main region 206. Such a page template can be allo cated to the highest subregion level which contains iden tical pages. With such a reduced database the pen can .independently and quickly calculate which information is to be sent to the local computer, for example all infor 20 mation which has been recorded on one or more pages. Suitably each section, shelf, book and page has an iden tifying designation, for example a number. A particular subregion, for example a page, can thus be addressed simply by giving a sequence of numbers, as follows: 25 section.shelf.book.page. For example, 35.100.4.0 can be interpreted as all the pages in book number 4 on shelf number 100 in section number 35. In addition, the diffe rent fields on each page can be addressed in a corre sponding way: section.shelf.book.page.field. 30 Each section 210 can be dedicated to a particular type of information management, for example notes, calendar information, etc. Within each section one or more shelves, books or pages can be allocated to an owner. For example, a calendar manufacturer can lease 35 a shelf with 1024 books with 16384 pages of A9 format. Alternatively, each hierarchically organised main region can be dedicated to a particular type of informa- WO 01/48685 PCT/SE00/02659 40 tion management, for example notepads, calendars, gra phical messages, etc, or for a particular owner. It is realised that each such main region can be divided into any number of subregion levels. 5 As.mentioned above, each section 210, shelf 211., book 212, page 213 or field can be allocated particular properties. In addition to the above-mentioned layout of the pages, these properties can, for example, indicate how long the pen is to store information which has been 10 recorded without having been sent to an external unit, for example the above-mentioned local computer. Other properties can be that all recorded information is to be sent to a predetermined address, for example a Bluetooth node, that all recorded information is to be character 15 interpreted (ICR), that all recorded information is to be sent directly, that is without the recording of a "send" box. Each page 213 is coded by a subset of the position coding pattern, which subset is intended to be applied 20 onto the surface of the intended product. This subset can be applied either continuously or discontinuously on the surface of the product, as will be explained in greater detail with reference to Fig. 6 which shows an example of the layout of a page 213 on the imaginary surface. The 25 example shown is not restricted to recording of informa tion which is to be stored in a local computer, but also makes possible communication and service applications. The page 213.in Fig. 6 is rectangular, and can thus be identified by the coordinates for two opposite corner 30 points, C1, C2. The page 213 contains a number of fields 214-220 with completely or partially predetermined func tion. A central writing field 214 is dedicated to record ing of graphical information. ICR fields 215 are dedicat 35 ed to character interpretation of the information record ed therein, where one or more ICR fields can be predefin ed to concern address information, for example an e-mail WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 41 address, a fax number or a street address or can be dedi cated to decoding only numbers or only letters. "Send" boxes 216 are dedicated to initiating sending of recorded information, where certain "send" boxes can have pre 5 defined properties, for example initiating the sending of an e-mail message, a fax message or an SMS message. If a general "send" box 216 is used, this can instead be allo cated service selection fields 216', which indicate the different "transport systems" that can be used, for exam 10 ple e-mail, fax or SMS. Local command fields 217 are dedicated to initiating operations in the pen's memory, for example to delete all previously recorded information on the page in question from the pen's memory, to com press existing information in the pen's memory, to insert 15 a bookmark in order to make possible the recreation of the sequence of coordinates which was recorded in the writing field when the bookmark was recorded, or to show previously recorded information on the page in question on a display, for example on a mobile phone or a local 20 computer. The property field 218 is dedicated to initiat ing sending of information stored in the pen to an exter nal unit, for example a local computer or a server unit. Such a property field 218 can, for example, initiate sending of the user's credit card number, postal address, 25 e-mail address, etc. General command fields 219 are dedi cated to initiating operations which are common to many different applications, for example, that the information which is to be sent is to be encrypted or allocated a particular priority, or that the information recorded in 30 the writing field 214 is to be given certain visual pro perties, for example regarding colour, line thickness or line type, which is reproduced when the information recorded in the writing field 214 is displayed, for exam ple on a computer screen, or when it is printed out. A 35 signature field 220 is dedicated to recording pairs of coordinates, the angle between the pen and the base, the rotation of the pen and the pressure on the base.

WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 42 In the example above, the page 213 thus contains a plurality of message fields, such as writing field 214, ICR field 215 and signature field 220, a plurality of command fields, such as "send" boxes 216, local command 5 fields 217, property fields 218 and.general command fields 219, and a plurality of selection fields 216', for example for choice of service. The pen can, as mentioned above, store information about the page 213 in the form of an algorithm-based page 10 template. More specifically, the different fields 214-220 can be identified as one or more positions on the page 213. For example, each "send" box can have a particular extent and can be located in a particular position on each page 213. Similarly, each ICR field can have a par 15 ticular extent and a particular position on each page 213. An advantage of this type of hierarchical structure is that the pen can identify and initiate the operations which are indicated by the above fields 214-220 indepen 20 dently and simply. Thus the result of these operations can be shown to the user on a display, for example on a mobile phone, a computer or on or in association with the pen itself. The user has thus the opportunity to confirm that the result is correct before the recorded informa 25 tion is managed further in the system. The owner of a particular page, book or shelf has the opportunity to design a product surface with a -position-coding pattern, based on a page of' the above mentioned type. This can be carried out in two different 30 ways. The product surface can be constructed of a posi tion-coding pattern which has a discontinuous layout. This can be regarded as if all or parts of the different fields 214-220 on the above page 213 are "cut out" and 35 arranged into a required appearance. The actual location of the fields on the product surface is thus not related to the position of the fields on the imaginary surface, WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 43 as different subsets of the position-coding pattern on the surface of the product are taken from different parts of the imaginary surface. Such a discontinuous layout makes possible any plac 5 ing and dimensioning of different fields on the surface. of the product, as position-coding patterns which code parts of a "send" box, a writing field, etc, can be located anywhere on the surface of the product. This case is analogous with what was described above in connection 10 with the command regions in Figs 2 and 4. The surface of the product can alternatively be con structed of a position-coding pattern which has a conti nuous layout. This can be regarded as if a part of the above page is "cut out" to create a finished layout, so 15 that the whole surface of the product is provided with a position-coding pattern which codes coordinates for a continuous coordinate area on the imaginary surface. Three such layouts are indicated in Fig. 6 by broken lines. The reference A concerns a notepad page, the 20 reference B concerns a note sheet of the type which is marketed under the trademark "Post-It", and the reference C concerns a form for sending any graphical message. The continuous position-coding pattern is preferable in certain situations. The discontinuous layout of the 25 position-coding pattern often requires the boundary between adjacent fields on the surface of the product to have no position-coding pattern for a certain distance, typically approximately 1 mm, so that the subsets which code coordinates on each side of the boundary can be 30 detected unambiguously. Such boundary areas without posi tion-coding pattern can be undesirable, particularly when the product is small. In these cases a continuous layout of the position-coding pattern can be preferable. It must also be pointed out that when designing the 35 surface of the product, regardless of whether the pattern layout is continuous or discontinuous, the owner can have WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 44 the opportunity to define in detail what the properties of each field are to be. With both continuous and discontinuous layouts of the position-coding pattern the advantage is obtained 5 that the information which is to be sent to the external unit is defined by the corner points C1, C2 for the page concerned. The pen can thus, automatically or upon com mand, send to the external unit all information which has been recorded within the corner points C1, C2 on the ima 10 ginary surface. A person skilled in the art will realise that there are many alternative ways of dividing the imaginary sur.

face. It is common to the embodiments described above that different regions on the imaginary surface are dedi 15 cated to different purposes. In this way both recording of information and control of the management of informa tion can be carried out.

WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 45 APPENDIX In the following the description is reproduced of a preferred position-coding pattern according to the International Patent Application PCT/SEO0/01895. 5 Fig. 7 shows a part of a production the form of a sheet of paper Al, which on at least part of its surface A2 is provided with an optically readable position-coding pattern A3 which makes possible position determination. The position-coding pattern comprises marks A4, 10 which are systematically arranged across the surface A2, so that it has a "patterned" appearance. The sheet of paper has an X-coordinate axis and a Y-coordinate axis., The position determination can be carried out on the whole surface of the product. In other cases the surface 15 which enables position determination can constitute a small part of the product. The pattern can, for example, be used to achieve an electronic representation of information which is written or drawn on the surface. The electronic representation 20 can be achieved while writing on the surface with a pen, by continually determining the position of the pen on the sheet of paper by reading off the position-coding pat tern. The position-coding pattern comprises a virtual 25 raster, which is thus neither visible to the eye nor can be detected directly by a device which is to determine positions on the surface, and a plurality of marks A4, each of' which, depending upon its position, represents one of four values "1" to "4" as described below. In this 30 connection it should be pointed out that for the sake of clarity the position-coding pattern in Fig. 7 is greatly enlarged. In addition, only a part of the sheet of paper is shown. The position-coding pattern is so arranged that the 35 position of a partial surface on the total writing sur face for any partial surface of a predetermined size is determined unambiguously by the marks on this partial WO 01/48685 PCT/SE00/02659 46 surface. A first and a second partial surface A5a, A5b are shown by broken lines in Fig. 7. The second partial surface partly overlaps the first partial surface. The part of the position-coding pattern (here 4*4 marks). 5. which is situated on the first partial surface Asa codes a first position, and the part of the position-coding pattern which is found on the second partial surface A5b codes a second position. The position-coding pattern is thus partly the same for the adjoining first and second 10 positions. Such a position-coding pattern is called "floating" in this application. Each partial surface codes a specific position. Figs 8a-d show how a mark can be designed and how it can be positioned relative to its nominal position 15 A6. The nominal position A6, which can also be called a raster point, is represented by the intersection of the raster lines A8. The mark A7 has the shape of a circular dot. A mark A7 and a raster point A6 can together be said to constitute a symbol. 20 In one embodiment, the distance between the raster lines is 300 pm and the angle between the raster lines is 90 degrees. Other raster intervals are possible, for example 254 pm to suit printers and scanners which often have a resolution which is a multiple of 100 dpi, which 25 corresponds to a distance between points of 25.4 mm/100, that is 254 pm. The value of the mark thus depends upon where the mark is located relative to the nominal position. In the example in Fig. 8 there are four possible locations, one 30 on each of the raster lines extending from the nominal position. The displacement from the nominal position is the same size for all values. Each mark A7 is displaced relative to its nominal position A6, that is no mark is located at the nominal 35 position. In addition, there is only one mark per nominal position and this mark is displaced relative to its nomi nal position. This applies to the marks which make up the WO 01/48685 PCT/SE00/02659 47 pattern. There can be other marks on the surface which are not part of the pattern and thus do not contribute to the coding. Such marks can be specks of dust, uninten tional points or marks and intentional marks, from for 5 example a picture or.figure on the surface. Because the position of the pattern marks on the surface is so well defined, the pattern is unaffected by such interference. In one embodiment, the marks are displaced by 50 pm relative to the nominal positions A6 along the raster 10 lines A8. The displacement is preferably 1/6 of the raster interval, as it is then relatively easy to deter mine to which nominal position a particular mark belongs. The displacement should be at least approximately 1/8 of the raster interval, otherwise it becomes difficult to 15 determine a displacement, that is the requirement for resolution becomes great. On the other hand, the dis placement should be less than approximately 1/4 of the raster interval, in order for it to be possible to deter mine to which nominal position a mark belongs. 20 The displacement does not need to be along the raster line, but the marks can be positioned in separate quadrants. However, if the marks are displaced along the raster lines, the advantage is obtained that the distance between the marks has a minimum which can be used to 25 recreate the raster lines, as described in greater detail below. Each mark consists of a more or less circular dot with a radius which is approximately the same size as the displacement or somewhat less. The radius can be 25% to 30 120% of the displacement. If the radius is much larger than the displacement, it can be difficult to determine the raster lines. If the radius is too small, a greater resolution is required to record the marks. The marks do not need to be circular or round, but 35 any suitable shape can be used, such as square or trian gular, etc.

WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 48 Normally, each mark covers several pixels on a sen sor chip and, in one embodiment, the centre of gravity of these pixels is recorded or calculated and used in the subsequent processing. Therefore the precise shape of the .5 mark is of minor significance. Thus relatively simple printing processes can be used, provided it can be ensur ed that the centre of gravity of the mark has the requir ed displacement. In the following, the mark in Fig. 8a represents the 10 value 1, in Fig. 8b the value 2, in Fig. 8c the value 3 and in Fig. 8d the value 4. Each mark can thus represent one of the four values "1 to 4". This means that the position-coding pattern can be divided into a first position code for the x-coordi 15 nate and a second position code for the y-coordinate. The division is carried out as follows: Mark value x-code y-code 1 -l 1 2 0 1 3 1 0 4 0 0 The value of each mark is thus converted into a 20 first value, here bit, for the x-code and a second value, here bit, for the y-code. In this way two com pletely independent bit patterns are obtained by means of the pattern. Conversely, .two or more bit patterns can be combined into a common pattern which is coded graphi 25 cally by means of a plurality of marks in accordance with Fig. 8. Each position is coded by means of a plurality of marks. In this example, 4*4 marks are used to code a position in two dimensions, that is an x-coordinate and 30 a y-coordinate. The position code is constructed by means of a num ber series of ones and zeros, a bit series, which has the WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 49 characteristic that no four-bit-long bit sequence occurs more than once in the bit series. The bit series is cyclic, which means that the characteristic also applies when the end of the series is connected to its beginning. 5 A four-bit sequence has thus always an unambiguously determined position number in the bit series. The bit series can be a maximum of 16 bits long if it is to have the characteristic described above for bit sequences of four bits. In this example, however, only a 10 seven-bit-long bit series is used, as follows: "0 0 0 1 0 1 0". This bit series contains seven unique bit sequences of four bits which code a position number in the series as follows: 15 Position number in the series Sequence 0 0001 1 0010 2 0101 3 1010 4 0100 5 1000 6 0000 To code the x-coordinate, the bit series is written sequentially in columns over all the surface which is to be coded, where the left column KO corresponds to the 20 x-coordinate zero (0) . In one column the bit series can thus be repeated several times in succession. The coding is based on differences or position dis placements between adjacent bit series in adjacent columns. The size of the difference is determined by the 25 position number (that is the bit sequence) in the bit series with which adjacent columns commence. More specifically, if we take the difference A, modulo seven between, on the one hand, a position number which is coded by a four-bit sequence in a first column WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 50 K, and which can thus have the value 0 to 6, and, on the other hand, a position number which is coded by an adja cent four-bit sequence at a corresponding "height" in an adjacent column K,41, the difference will be the same 5 regardless of where, that is at what "height", on the two columns the difference is taken. Using the difference between the position numbers for two bit sequences in two adjacent columns, it is thus possible to code an x-coor dinate which is independent of and constant for all 10 y-coordinates. As each position on the surface is coded by a par tial surface consisting of 4*4 marks in this example, there are four vertical bit sequences available and thus three differences, each with the value 0 to 6, for coding 15 the x-coordinate. The pattern is divided into code windows F with the characteristic that each code window consists of 4*4 marks. There are thus four horizontal bit sequences and four vertical bit sequences available, so that three 20 differences can be created in the x-direction and four position numbers can be obtained in the y-direction. These three differences and four position numbers code the position of the partial surface in the x-direction and the y-direction. Adjacent windows in the x-direction 25 have a common column, see Fig. 7. Thus the first code window Fo,o contains bit sequences from the columns Ko, Ki, K2, K3, and bit sequences from the rows Ro, R 1 , R 2 , R 3 . As differences are used in the x-direction, the next window diagonally in the x-direction and y-direction, the window 30 F 1

,

1 , contains bit sequences from the columns K3, K 4 , Ks,

K

6 , and the rows R 4 , Rs, R6, R 7 . Considering the coding in just the x-direction, the code window can be considered to have an unlimited extent in the y-direction. Corre spondingly, considering the coding in just the y-direc 35 tion, the code window can be considered to have an unlimited extent in the x-direction. Such a first and second code window with unlimited extent in the y-direc- WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 51 tion and x-direction respectively together form a code window of the type shown in Fig. 7, for example Foo. Each window has window coordinates F,, which give the position of the window in the x-direction, and Fy, 5 which give the position of the window in the y-direction. Thus the correspondence between the windows and columns is as follows: Ki = 3 F . Ri = 4 Fy 10 The coding is carried out in such a way that for the three differences, one of the differences Ao always has the value 1 or 2, which indicates the least significant digit So for the number which represents the position of the code window in the x-direction, and the other two 15 differences A,, A 2 , have values in the range 3 to 6, which indicates the two most significant digits S 1 , S 2 , for the coordinate of the code window. Thus no difference can be zero for the x-coordinates, as that would result in too symmetrical a code pattern. In other words, the columns 20 are coded so that the differences are as follows: (3 to 6); (3 to 6); (1 to 2); (3 to 6); (3 to 6); (1 to 2); (3 to 6); (3 to 6); (1 to 2); (3 to 6); (3 to 6); ... Each x-coordinate is thus coded by two differences Al, A2 of between 3 and 6 and a subsequent difference Ao 25 which is 1 or 2. By subtracting one (1) from the least difference Ao and three (3) from the other differences, three digits are obtained, S 2 , S 1 , So, which in a mixed base directly give the position number of the code window in the x-direction, from which the x-coordinate can then 30 be determined directly, as shown in the example below. The position number of the code window is:

S

2 * (4*2) + Si * 2 + So * 1 Using the principle described above, it is thus pos sible to code code windows 0, 1, 2, ..., 31, using a posi 35 tion number for the code window consisting of three digits which are represented by three differences. These differences are coded by a bit pattern which is based on WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 52 the number series above. The bit pattern can finally be coded graphically by means of the marks in Fig. 8. In many cases, when a partial surface is inputted consisting of 4*4 marks, a complete position number which 5 codes the x-coordinate will not be obtained, but parts of two position numbers, as the partial surface in many cases does not coincide with one code window but covers parts of two adjacent code windows in the x-direction. However, as the difference for the least significant 10 digit So of each number is always 1 or 2, a complete position number can easily be reconstructed, as it is known what digit is the least significant. The y-coordinates are coded in accordance with approximately the same principle as that used for the 15 x-coordinates by means of code windows. The cyclic num ber series, that is the same number series as is used for the x-coding, is written repeatedly in horizontal rows across the surface which-is to be position coded. Pre cisely as for the x-coordinates, the rows are made to 20 start in different positions, that is with different bit sequences, in the number series. For the y-coordinates, however, differences are not used, but the coordinates are coded by values which are based on the start position of the number series in each row. When the x-coordinate 25 has been determined for a partial surface with 4*4 marks, the start positions in the number series can in fact be determined for the rows which are included in the y-code for the 4*4 marks. In the y-code, the least significant digit So is 30 determined by letting this be the only digit which has a value in a particular range. In this example, one row of four starts in position 0 to 1 in the number series, in order to indicate that this row concerns the least sig nificant digit So in a code window, and the three other 35 rows start in any of the positions 2 to 6 in order to indicate the other digits S 1

S

2

S

3 in the code window. In WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 53 the y-direction there is thus a series of values as fol lows: (2 to 6); (2 to 6); (2 to 6); (0 to 1); (2 to 6); (2 to 6); (2 to 6); (0 to 1); (2 to 6); 5 Each code.window is thus coded by three-values between 2 and 6 and a subsequent value between 0 and 1. If zero (0) is subtracted from the low value and two (2) from the other values, a position in the y-direction S3 S 2 S1 SO in mixed base is obtained in a corresponding 10 way as for the x-direction, from which the position number of the code window can be determined directly, which is: S3 * (5*5*2) + S2 * (5*2) + Si * 2 + So * 1 Using the method above, it is possible to code 15 4 * 4 * 2 = 32 position numbers in the x-direction for the code windows. Each code window comprises bit sequences from three columns, which gives 3 * 32 = 96 columns or x-coordinates. In addition, it is possible to code 5 * 5 * 5 * 2 = 250 position numbers in the 20 y-direction for the code windows. Each such position number comprises horizontal bit sequences from 4 rows, which gives 4 * 250 = 1000 rows or y-coordinates. In total it is thus possible to code 96000 coordinate posi tions. 25 As the x-coding is based on differences, it is, however, possible to select the position in which the first number series in the first code window is to start. If it is taken into account that this first number series can start in seven different positions, it is possible to 30 code 7 * 96000 = 672000 positions. The start position of the first number series in the first column KO can be calculated when the x- and y-coordinates have been deter mined. The above seven different start positions for the first series can code different pages or writing surfaces 35 on a product. Theoretically, a partial surface with 4*4 symbols, which each have four values, can code 44*4 positions, that WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 54 is 4,294,967,296 positions. In order to make possible floating determination of the position of a partial sur face, there is thus a redundancy factor in excess of 6000 (4294967296/672000). 5 The redundancy consists partly in the restrictions on the size of the differences, and partly in only 7 bits out of 16 being used in the position code. This latter fact can, however, be used to determine the rotational position of the partial surface. If the next bit in the 10 bit series is added to the four-bit sequence, a five-bit sequence is obtained. The fifth bit is obtained by read ing off the adjacent bit immediately outside the partial surface which is being used. Such an additional bit is usually easily available. 15 The partial surface which is read off by the sensor can have four different rotational positions, rotated through 0, 90, 180 or 270 degrees relative to the code window. In those cases where the partial surface is rotated, the reading off of the code will, however, be 20 such that the code read off will be inverted and reversed in either the x-direction or the y-direction or both, in comparison to if it had been read off at 0 degrees. This assumes, however, that a slightly different decoding of the value of the marks is used according to the table 25 below. Mark value x-code y-code 1 0 0 2 1 0 3 1 1 4 0 1 The above-mentioned five-bit sequence has the char acteristic that it only occurs the right way round and 30 not in inverted and reversed form in the seven-bit series. This is apparent from the fact that the bit series (0 0 0 1 0 1 0) contains only two "ones". There- WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 55 fore all five-bit sequences must contain at least three zeros, which after inversion (and any reversing) result in three ones, which cannot occur. Thus if a five-bit sequence is found which does not have a position number 5. in the bit series, it can be concluded that the partial surface should probably be rotated and the new position tested. In order to further illustrate the invention according to this embodiment,- here follows a specific 10 example which is based on the described embodiment of the position code. Fig. 9 shows an example of an image with 4*4 marks which are read off by a device for position determina tion. 15 These 4*4 marks have the following values: 4 4 4 2 3 2 3 4 4 4 2 4 1 3 2 4 20 These values represent the following binary x- and y-codes: x-code: y-code: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 The vertical bit sequences in the x-code code the following positions in the bit series: 2 0.4,6. The dif ferences between the columns are -2 4 2, which modulo 7 30 gives: 5 4 2, which in mixed base codes the position number of the code window: (5-3) * 8 + (4-3) * 2 + (2-1) = 16 + 2 + 1 = 19. The first coded code window has the position number 0. Thus the difference which lies in the range 1 to 2 and which appears in the 4*4 marks of the 35 partial surface is the twentieth such difference. As additionally there are in total three columns for each such difference and there is a start column, the verti- WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 56 cal sequence furthest to the right in the 4*4 x-code belongs to the 61st column (column 60) in the x-code (3 * 20 + 1 = 61) and the vertical sequence furthest to the left belongs to the 58th column.(column 57). 5 The horizontal bit sequences.in the y-code code the positions 0 4 1 3 in the number series. As these horizon tal bit sequences start in the 58th column, the start position of the rows is these values minus 57 modulo 7, which gives the start positions 6 3 0 2. Converted to 10 digits in mixed base, this becomes 6-2, 3-2, 0-0, 2-2 = 4 1 0 0, where the third digit is the least significant digit in the number concerned. The fourth digit is then the most significant digit in the next number. It must in this case be the same as in the number concerned. 15 (The exception is when the number concerned consists of highest possible digits in all positions. Then it is known that the commencement of the next number is one larger than the commencement of the number concerned.) The position number is in mixed base 0*50 + 4*10 + 20 1*2 +0*1 = 42. The third horizontal bit sequence in the y-code thus belongs to the 43rd code window which has a start posi tion 0 or 1, and as there are four rows in total for each such code window, the third row is number 43*4=172. 25 In this example, the position of the top left corner of the partial surface with 4*4 marks is (58,170). As the vertical bit sequences in the x-code in the 4*4 group start at row 170, the whole pattern's x-columns start in the number series' positions ((2 0 4 6) -169) 30 mod 7 = 1 6 3 5. Between the last start position (5) and the first start position the numbers 0-19 are coded in mixed base, and by adding the representations of the numbers 0-19 in mixed base the total difference between these columns is obtained. A primitive algorithm for 35 doing this is to generate these twenty numbers and directly add their digits. Call the sum obtained s. The page or writing surface is then given by (5-s)modulo7.

WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 57 An alternative method for determining which bit is the least significant in a partial surface, in order to be able to identify a code window in this way, is as follows. The least significant bit (LSB) is defined as 5 the digit which is the lowest in a partial surface's differences or row position number. In this way, the reduction (redundancy) of the maximum useable number of coordinates is relatively small. For example, the first code windows in the x-direction in the example above can 10 all have LSB=1 and other digits between 2 and 6, which gives 25 code windows, the next can have LSB=2 and other digits between 3 and 6, which gives 16 code windows, the next can have LSB=3 and other digits between 4 and 6, which gives 9 code windows, the next can have LSB=4 and 15 other digits between 5 and 6, which gives 4 code windows, the next can have LSB=5 and other digits 6, which gives 1 code window, that is a total of 55 code windows, compared to 32 in the example above. In the example above, an embodiment has been 20 described where each code window is coded by 4*4 marks and a number series with 7 bits is used. This is, of course, only one example. Positions can be coded by more or fewer marks. There does not need to be the same number in both directions. The number series can be of different 25 lengths and does not need to be binary, but can be based on a different base, for example hex code. Different num ber series can be used for coding in the x-direction and coding in the y-direction. The marks can represent diffe rent numbers of values. The coding in the y-direction can 30 also be carried out by differences. In a practical example, a partial surface is used consisting of 6*6 marks and where the bit series as a maximum can consist of 26 bits, that is 64 bits. However, a bit series consisting of 51 bits is used, and conse 35 quently 51 positions, in order to have the possibility of determining the rotational position of the partial surface. An example of such a bit series is: WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 58 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 Such a partial surface consisting of six by six marks can code 46*3 positions, which with the above raster 5 dimensions of 0.3 mm is an extremely large surface. In a similar way as described above for the seven bit series, according to this invention the characteris tic is utilised that the partial surface is enlarged to include one bit on each side of the partial surface, at 10 least at its centre, so that for the third and fourth rows in the partial surface of 6*6 symbols, 8 symbols are read off, one on each side of the partial surface, and similarly in the y-direction. The above-mentioned bit series which contains 51 bits has the characteristic that 15 a bit sequence of 6 bits occurs only once and that a bit sequence of 8 bits which contains said bit sequence of 6 bits occurs only once and never in an inverted position or reversed and inverted. In this way., the rotational position of the partial surface can be determined by 20 reading off 8 bits in row 3, row 4, column 3 and/or column 4. When the rotational position is known, the partial surface can be rotated to the correct position before the processing is continued. It is desirable to obtain a pattern which is as 25 random as possible, that is where areas with excessive symmetry do not occur. It is desirable to obtain a pat tern where a partial surface with 6*6 marks contains marks with all the different positions in accordance with Figs 8a to 8d. In order to increase the randomness fur 30 ther or avoid repetitive characteristics, a method can be used which is called "shuffle". Each bit sequence in a code window starts in a predetermined start position. However, it is possible to displace the start position in the horizontal direction for each row, if the displace 35 ment is known. This can be carried out by each least sig nificant bit (LSB) being allocated a separate displace ment vector for the adjacent rows. The displacement vec- WO 01/48685 PCT/SE00/02659 59 tor states by how much each row is displaced in the hori zontal direction. Visually it can be regarded as if the y-axis in Fig. 7 is "spiky". In the example above, with a 4*4 code window, the 5 displacement vector can be 1, 2, 4, 0 for LSB=0 and 2, 2, 3, 0 for LSB=1. This means that after subtracting the numbers 2 and 0 respectively, the above displacement is to be subtracted (modulo five) from the bit sequence's position number, before the calculating continues. In the 10 example above, for the y-coordinate, the digits 4 1 0 0

(S

2 , S 1 , SO, S 4 ) are obtained in mixed base, where the second digit from the right is the least significant digit, LSB. As the displacement vector 1, 2, 4, 0 is to be used (LSB=0) for the digits 4 and 1, 2 is subtracted 15 from 4 to give S 2 =2 and 4 is subtracted from 1 (modulo five) to give S 1 =2. The digit So=0 remains unchanged (the displacement vector's component for the least significant digit is always zero). Finally, the digit S 4 belongs to the next code window, which-must have LSB=l, that is the 20 second displacement vector is to be used. Thus 2 is sub tracted from 0 (modulo five) which gives S 4 =3. A similar method can be used to change the codes for the x-coordinates. However, there is less need to change the x-coordinates, as they are already relatively random 25 ly distributed, as the difference zero is not used, in the example above. In the example above, the mark is a dot. Naturally it can have a different appearance. It can, for example, consist of a line or an ellipse, which starts at the 30 virtual raster point and extends from this to a particu lar position. Other symbols than a dot can be used, such as a square, rectangle, triangle, circle or ellipse, filled-in or not. In the example above, the marks are used within a 35 square partial surface for coding a position. The partial surface can be another shape, for example hexagonal. The marks do not need to be arranged along the raster lines WO 01/48685 PCT/SE00/02659 60 in an orthogonal raster but can also have other arrange ments, such as along the raster lines in a raster with 60 degree angles, etc. A polar coordinate system can also be used. 5 Rasters in the form of triangles or hexagons.can also be used. For example, a raster with triangles enables each mark to be displaced in six different direc tions, which provides even greater possibilities, corre sponding to 6 6* partial surface positions. For a hexago 10 nal raster, a honeycomb pattern, each mark can be dis placed in three different directions along the raster lines. As mentioned above, the marks do not need to be dis placed along the raster lines but can be displaced in 15 other directions, for example in order to be located each in a separate quadrant of a square raster pattern. In the hexagonal raster pattern the marks can be displaced in four or more different directions,.for example in six directions along the raster lines and along lines which 20 make 60 degrees with the raster lines. In order for the position code to be detected, it is necessary for the virtual raster to be determined. This can be carried out, in a square raster pattern, by exa mining the distance between the different marks. The 25 shortest distance between two marks must originate from two adjacent marks with the values 1 and 3 in the hori zontal direction or 2 and 4 in the vertical direction, so that the marks lie on the same raster line between two raster points. When such a pair of 'Marks has been detect 30 ed, the associated raster points (the nominal positions) can be determined using knowledge of the distance between the raster points and the displacement of the marks from the raster points. Once two raster points have been located, additional raster points can be determined using 35 the measured distance to other marks and from knowledge of the distance between the raster points.

WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 61 If the marks are displaced 50 Am along the raster lines, which are a distance of 300 pm apart, the least distance between two marks will be 200 pm, for example between marks with the values 1 and 3. The next smallest 5 distance arises between, for example, marks with the values 1 and 2, and is 255 pm. There is therefore a rela tively distinct difference between the least and the next smallest distance. The difference in any diagonals is also great. However, if the displacement is larger than 10 50 pm, for example more than 75 pm (1/4), diagonals can cause problems and it can be difficult to determine to which nominal position a mark belongs. If the displace ment is less than 50 pm, for example less than approxi mately 35 pm (1/8), the least distance will be 230 pm, 15 which does not give a very large difference to the next distance, which is then 267 ym. In addition, the demands on the optical reading off increase. The marks-should not cover their own -raster point and should therefore not have a larger diameter than 20 twice the displacement, that is 200%. This is, however, not critical, and a certain overlapping can be permitted, for example 240%. The least size is determined initially by the resolution of the sensor and the demands of the printing process used to reproduce the pattern. However, 25 the marks should not have a smaller diameter than appro ximately 50% of the displacement in practice, in order to avoid problems with particles and noise in the sensor. In the embodiment above, the raster is an orthogonal grid. It can also have other forms, such as a rhombic 30 grid, for example with 60 degree angles, a triangular or hexagonal grid, etc. Displacement in more or less than four directions can be used, for example displacement in three directions along a hexagonal virtual raster. In an orthogonal raster 35 only two displacements can be used, in order to facili tate the recreation of the raster. However, a displace- WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 62 ment in four directions is preferred, but six or eight directions are also possible. In the embodiment above, the longest possible cyclic number series is not used. Thus. a degree of redundancy is 5 obtained, which can be used in various ways, for example to carry out error correcting, replace missing or hidden marks, etc.

Claims

1. A global information management system, which is .5 intended for management of information represented in the form of absolute coordinates and which is based on use of a position-coding pattern which defines an imaginary sur face (100; 200) consisting of all the positions whose absolute coordinates the position-coding pattern has the 10 capacity to code, wherein at least two unique regions (101-104; 201-213) are defined on the imaginary surface (100;200), each of which is dedicated to a predetermin ed management of information, so that the management of information represented by the absolute coordinates of at 15 least one position on the imaginary surface (100;200) is carried out dependent upon the region affiliation of said at least one position.

2. An information management syst-em according-to claim 1, in which said'information comprises a sequence 20 of positions on the imaginary surface (100;200), which positions form message information, such as interrelated lines.

3. An information management system according to claim 1 or 2, in which at least one command region (104; 25 201, 207; 216-219) which represents an operation is defined on the imaginary surface (100; 200), so that detection of the absolute coordinates for a position within -this command region (104; 201, 207; 216-219) results in initiation of said operation. 30 4. An information management system according to claim 3, in which said operation is one of the operations to store information, to send information and to convert information.

5. An information management system according to 35 claim 2, 3 or 4, in which a primary region (206) on the imaginary surface (100; 200) is dedicated to a predeter mined management of information and contains said at WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 64 least one command region (216-219) and at least one mes sage recording region (214, 215, 220), which is dedicated to digital recording of a sequence of positions on the imaginary surface (200), which positions form message 5 information, such as interrelated lines.

6. An information management system according to claim 5, in which the primary region (206) contains a plurality of identical standard regions (213), said at least one message recording region (214, 215, 220) and 10 said at least one command region (216-219) being includ ed in such a standard region (213).

7. An information management system according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a com puter system (3) which is arranged to store information 15 about the division of the imaginary surface (100; 200) into said regions.

8. An information management system according to claim 7, in which the computer system (3) is arranged to store information about an owner of at least one of said 20 regions.

9. An information management system according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one user unit (2) which is arranged to record said abso lute coordinates from a base (1) which is provided with 25 at least one subset of said position-coding pattern.

10. An information management system according to claim 9, in which the absolute coordinates recorded by means of the user unit (2) represent graphical informa tion which was written using the user unit (2) on said 30 at least one subset of the position-coding pattern.

11. An information management system according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one base (1) which is provided with at least one subset of said position-coding pattern, said at least one 35 subset coding at least one position within at least one region on the imaginary surface (100; 200). WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 65

12. An information management system intended for management of digitally represented information which is associated with absolute positions on an imaginary sur face.(100; 200), wherein the imaginary surface (100; 200) 5 contains at least two regions (101-104; 201-213),'each of which is dedicated to predetermined management of said information, so that the management of said information is carried out dependent upon the region affiliation of the absolute positions associated with said information. 10 13. An information management system according to claim 12, in which at least one command region (104; 201, 207; 216-219) is defined on the imaginary surface (100; 200), which command region represents an operation, so that detection of at least one absolute position within 15 said command region (104; 201, 207; 216-220) results in initiation of said operation.

14. An information management system according to claim.13, in which said operation is one of the opera tions to store information,' to send information and to 20 convert information.

15. An information management system according to any one of claims 12-14, comprising a computer system (3) which is arranged to store information about which abso lute positions belong to a particular region. 25 16. An information management system according to claim 15, in which the computer system (3) is arranged to store information about an owner who is allocated at least one of said regions.

17. An information management system according to 30 any one of claims 12-16, further comprising a held-held device (2) which is arranged to record at least one abso lute position on a base (1) which is provided with at least one subset of said imaginary surface (100; 200).

18. An information management system according to 35 claim 17, in which said at least one absolute position which is recorded by the hand-held device (2) is asso- WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 66 ciated with graphical information which was written with the hand-held device (2) on the base (1).

19. An information management system according to claim 17 or 18, in which a position-coding pattern is 5 arranged to define said at least one absolute position, and in which the hand-held device (2) is arranged to detect and decode the position-coding pattern to deter mine said at least one absolute position on the imaginary surface (100; 200) and said region affiliation. 10 20. An information management system according to claim 19, in which the position-coding pattern comprises marks (A7) which are arranged with a displacement from. their nominal position (A6).

21. An information management system according to 15 any one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one base (1) whose surface is provided with at least one subset of said imaginary surface (100; 200).

22. A database containing an imaginary surface (100; 200) which consists of positions'defined by absolute 20 coordinates, wherein at least one position on the imagi nary surface (100; 200) is allocated a rule for informa tion management, so that information which is associated with the absolute coordinates of said at least one posi tion is managed on the basis of said rule. 25 23. A database according to claim 22, in which the imaginary surface (100; 200) consists of all the posi tions that a position-coding pattern has the capacity to code.

24. A database according to claim 22 or 23, in which 30 the imaginary surface (100; 200) is divided into at least two regions (101-104; 201-213) which are each allocated a rule for information management.

25. A database according to any one of claims 22-24, in which the imaginary surface (100; 200) comprises at 35 least one message recording region (101-103; 202-215, 220) which is allocated a rule for digital recording of a sequence of positions on the imaginary surface (100; WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 67 200), which positions form message information, such as interrelated lines.

26. A database according to any one of claims 22-25, in which the imaginary surface (100; 200) comprises at 5 least one command region (104; 201, 207; 216-219) which is allocated a rule which represents an operation, so that detection of the absolute coordinates for a position within this command region (104; 201, 216-219) results in initiation of said operation. 10 27. A database according to claims 25 and 26, in which at least one message recording region (214, 215, 220) and at least one command region (216-219) are incor porated in a primary region (206) which is allocated a rule for predetermined information management. 15 28. A database according to claim 27, in which the primary region (206) contains a plurality of identical standard regions (213), said at least one message record ing region (214, 215, 220) and said at least one command region (216-219) being incorporated in such a standard 20 region (213).

29. A database according to any one of claims 26-28, in which said operation is one of the operations to store information, to send information and to convert informa tion. 25 30. A database according to any one of claims 22-29, which is stored completely or partially in a memory (21; 3') in a unit (2; 3) which is incorporated in an informa tion management system.

31. A method for management of information which 30 is represented by absolute coordinates, comprising the step of defining at least two unique regions (101-104;

201-213), each of which is dedicated to predetermined information management, on an imaginary surface (100; 200) which consists of all the positions whose absolute 35 coordinates a position-coding pattern has the capacity to code, so that information which is represented by the absolute coordinates of at least one position on the ima- WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 68 ginary surface (100; 200) is managed dependent upon the region affiliation of said at least one position. 32. A method according to claim 31, further com prising the step of giving a party the sole right to use 5 a subset of the position-coding pattern, which subset codes at least one position within a predetermined region (101-104; 201-220) on the imaginary surface (100; 200). 33. A method according to claim 31 or 32, comprising the step of creating said information by moving a held 10 held device (2) across a base (1) which is provided with at least one subset of a position-coding pattern, which subset codes absolute positions on the imaginary surface (100; 200), said information being formed as a sequence of absolute positions on the imaginary surface (100; 15 200), which absolute positions form message information, such as interrelated lines. 34. A method according to any one of claims 31-33, comprising the step of initiating an operation, when said at least one position is situated within a command region 20 (104; 201, 216-219) on the imaginary surface (100; 200). 35. A method according to claims 33 and 34, in which said operation concerns all or parts of the recorded mes sage information. 36. A method according to claim 34 or 35, in which 25 said operation is one of the operations to store informa tion, to send information and to convert information. 37. A method for management of digitally represented information associated with at least one absolute posi tion on an imaginary surface (100; 200), which contains 30 at least two regions (101-104; 201-220), comprising the steps of determining whether said at least one absolute position, which is associated with said information, is situated within one of said regions (101-104; 201-220) and managing said information in a predetermined way 35 dependent upon to which region (101-104; 201-220) said at least one absolute position belongs. WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 69 38. A method according to claim 37, comprising the steps of producing said information by moving a hand-held device (2) across a base (1) provided with a subset of said imaginary surface (100; 200), of determining the 5 absolute position of the -hand-held device (2) during at least part of.said movement and of associating said information with the absolute position thus determined. 39. A method according to claim 38, in which said information comprises a graph which represents said move 10 meant. 40. A method according to claim 38, in which said information is characters which correspond to said move ment after interpretation by means of a character inter pretation program. 15 41. A method for compiling a pattern layout which is intended to be applied on a product (1) and which codes absolute positions on an imaginary surface (100; 200), which surface (100; 200) -consists of all the absolute positions that a position-coding pattern has the capacity 20 to code and is divided into regions (101-104; 201-220), of which at least one first region is allocated a rule for how information which contains at least one position within the first region is to be managed, comprising the step of creating the pattern layout from at least one 25 subset of the position-coding pattern so that the pattern layout codes positions within said first region on the imaginary surface (100; 200). 42. A method according to claim 41, in which said at least one first region comprises a message recording 30 region (101-103; 202-215, 220) which is allocated a rule for digital recording of a sequence of positions on the imaginary surface (100; 200), which positions form mes sage information, such as interrelated lines. 43. A method according to claim 41 or 42, in which 35 said regions (101-104; 201-220) comprise at least one second region, (104; 201, 216-219) which is allocated a rule which represents an operation, so that detection WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 70 of the absolute coordinates for a position within said second region (104; 201, 216-219) results in initiation of said operation. 44. A method according to claim 43, comprising the. 5 step of creating the-pattern layout to code positions within one of a plurality of identical standard regions (213) on the imaginary surface (100; 200), which stan dard region (213) contains said at least one first and at least one second region (214-220). 10 45. A method according to any one of claims 41-44, comprising the step of creating the pattern layout from a single coherent subset of the position-coding pattern. 46. A method according to any one of claims 41-44, comprising the step of creating the pattern layout by 15 combining at least two separate subsets of the position coding pattern. 47. A product which is intended to be used in a sys tem according to any one of claims 1-11, which product (1) has a message field (1A) which is provided with a 20 first subset of the position-coding pattern to enable digital recording of graphical information which is writ ten on said first subset, and a command field (1B) which is provided with a second subset of the position-coding pattern, which second subset defines an operation which 25 is to be carried out with regard to the recorded graphi cal information. 48. A product according to claim 47, in which the first subset of the position-coding pattern in the mes sage field (1A) is continuous with the second subset of 30 the position-coding pattern in the command field (1B), so that the product (1) is provided with a position-coding pattern which codes positions within a coherent coordi nate area on the imaginary surface (100; 200). 49. A product according to claim 47, in which the 35 first subset of the position-coding pattern in the mes sage field (1A) is discontinuous with the second subset of the position-coding pattern in the command field (1B), WO 01/48685 PCT/SEOO/02659 71 by the first and second subsets coding positions within separate coordinate areas on the imaginary surface (100; 200). 50. Use of positions on an imaginary surface (100; 5 200) for control.of.management of information, which sur face (100; 200) consists of a large number of positions and is divided into regions (101-104; 201-213), in which a rule is associated with each region (101-104; 201-213) for how the information which contains coordinates for at 10 least one position within this region (101-104; 201-213) is to be managed. 51. Use according to claim 50, which comprises pro viding a product (1) with at least one subset of a posi tion-coding pattern which codes a large number of posi 15 tions on the imaginary surface (100; 200), which subset codes at least one position within at least one of said regions (101-104; 201-220). 52. Use according to claim 51, in which the imagi nary surface (100; 200) consists of all the positions 20 which the position-coding pattern has the capacity to code.