Leapfrog Enterprises, Inc.

Livescribe Inc.

Anoto Ab

James L Marggraff

Michael C Wood

Tracy L Edgecomb

Matthew James Brown

Andy Van Schaack

Alexander Chisholm

Matt Fishbach

Stefan Burstrom

Mark B Flowers

Dan Zacharias Gärdenfors

Larry Lynch

Dave Conroy

Tom Musolf

Andrew J Van Schaack

Teresa Cameron

Alexander Sasha Pesic

Gabriel Acosta-Mikulasek

Anders Svensson

Nicole Wrubel

Steve Baldzikowski

A method, a user interface, and an educational content server for assisting a user in learning using interactive learning appliances are disclosed. The performance information of the user, which may be in the form of a user log file in an interactive learning appliance, may be received at a server computer from a site where the user is present. The performance information and profile information can then be presented in the user interface and used to generate an electronic content package. The electronic content package can then be received and loaded into the interactive learning appliance.

Method and system for providing content for learning appliances over an electronic communication medium

A 'self-addressing' writing surface, such as paper, includes an encoded identifier that is uniquely associated with the recipient or a group of recipients. A pen-based computing system is used to capture writing made on the writing surface. The captured writing and the recipient identifier are sent electronically to a routing system, which identifies the recipient to which the content is to be routed based on the recipient identifier. The routing system forwards the message to the identified recipient, thereby enabling communication from the writer to the recipient associated with the writing surface.

Self-addressing paper

In a pen-based computing system, a user-specific smart pen application is created from a template application using customer authoring tools. The template application contains computer program code that is to be executed by a processor of a smart pen. Application content and a representation for printed content are received. The application content, provided by user or customer, defines functional interactions between the printed content representation and a smart pen. The template application is combined with application content to generate a user-specific application comprising instructions for being executed on a processor of a smart pen. The user-specific application is stored on a storage medium.

Customer authoring tools for creating user-generated content for smart pen applications

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

System and method for recalling media

Interactive digital content for printed materials is provided using applications executing in a smart pen computing system. The applications and the printed materials may be developed by separate entities but appear well integrated from the perspective of a user of the smart pen computing system. Printed content produced by a first entity is obtained. The printed content is associated with a dot pattern. An application associated with the printed content and linked to the dot pattern is produced by a separate second entity. The application includes computer program instructions for, responsive to a selection within the dot pattern, invoking a function related to the printed content. The selection within the dot pattern may be made using a smart pen device, and the function may include presenting output to a user through an output device (e.g., a display or speaker) of the smart pen device.

Decoupled applications for printed materials

A device user interface in which computer functionality is invoked by user interaction with dynamically generated interface regions of a writing surface. A computer system identifies a marking written on the writing surface or a user selection of an existing written marking. Adjacent to the marking, the computer system automatically generates one or more interface regions associated with the marking. User interaction with one of these regions automatically invokes computer functionality related to the interacted region. A different function may be invoked by each region. The computer system dynamically positions and may dynamically size the interface regions based on the position (and size) of the marking. Multiple markings yield multiple regions, with different regions associated with respective markings. In one embodiment, the regions are established in front of and/or after a written word. Regions may also be established on top of and/or below the written word, for example. In another embodiment, the computer system is a pen-based interactive computer system.

Method and system for invoking computer functionality by interaction with dynamically generated interface regions of a writing surface

A method for audibly instructing a user to interact with a function. A function is associated with a user-written selectable item. The user-written selectable item is recognized on a surface. In response to recognizing the user-written selectable item, a first instructional message related to the operation of the function is audibly rendered without requiring further interaction from the user.

Method and device for audibly instructing a user to interact with a function

A method and system for implementing a user interface for a device through user created graphical elements. The method includes recognizing a graphical element icon created by a user. Once recognized, a function related to the graphical element icon is accessed and an output in accordance with the function is provided. The function is persistently associated with the graphical element icon. Menu selection and navigation is implemented through interaction with the graphic element icon. A listing of options associated with the graphical element icon is audibly rendered. In response to a selection of one of the options, the selected option is invoked.

Method and system for implementing a user interface for a device employing written graphical elements

The present invention relates to a novel interactive information system which can be used to make a traditional print medium such as a magazine, 'interactive'. When the traditional print medium is placed on a print media receiving unit in a predetermined position, a user can interact with the traditional print medium. Printed matter elements on the printed medium can be made 'selectable' by the user.

Print media information systems and methods

An interactive apparatus is disclosed. The interactive apparatus has an audio recording mode and an audio playback mode. Further, the interactive apparatus includes a writing tool for manually writing on an encoded writing medium, an audio input device for recording audio, an audio output device for playing the recorded audio. Moreover, the interactive apparatus has an optical unit for determining position on the encoded writing medium of the writing tool and for recognizing information on the encoded writing medium, wherein recognition of a recording-enabling graphical element on the encoded writing medium activates the audio recording mode and enables time-synchronization of creation of writing on the encoded writing medium with the writing tool and recording of the audio, and further wherein recognition of a playback-enabling graphical element on the encoded writing medium activates the audio playback mode and enables multiple techniques to control playback of the recorded audio.

Interactive apparatus with recording and playback capability usable with encoded writing medium

A method for assisting a user in learning is provided. The method may comprise receiving performance information of a user after the user uses an interactive learning appliance. The user performance information is generated by the user's use of the interactive learning appliance which is adapted to educate the user about one or more predetermined subjects. The performance information, which may be in the form of a user log file, may be received at a server computer from a site where the user is present.

Interactive learning appliance

The present invention relates to a novel interactive information system which can be used to make a traditional print medium such as a magazine, &ldquo;interactive&rdquo;. When the traditional print medium is placed on a print media receiving unit in a predetermined position, a user can interact with the traditional print medium. Printed matter elements on the printed medium can be made &ldquo;selectable&rdquo; by the user.

Print media information system with a portable print media receiving unit assembly

A print media receiving unit is disclosed. In one embodiment, the print media receiving unit comprises a platform that includes a surface adapted to receive a print medium comprising a spine. The spine may be disposed in a spine receiving portion in the platform. A location detection system capable of determining a location of a selected region of the print medium may be associated with the platform.

Growing community of inventors

Oakland, CA, United States of America

James L Marggraff