Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02374808 2006-11-27
RECORDING OF INFORM_ATION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a product intended
to be used in connection with the recording of informa-
tion. The
invention also relates to a system for recording infor-
mation, a method for making a product for recording of
information and an electronic storage medium for compu-
ters, on which software for the same purpose is stored.
Background of the Tnvention
In restaurants there are often touch screens showing
various dishzs which a customer may order. The restaurant
staff use these touch screens for entering orders which
they take from the customer and for transmitting the
orders to the kitchen where they are sLbsequently prepar-
ed. However, touch screens are relatively expensive and,
consequently, restaurants usually only have afew of
these screens. Furthermore, the touch screens are usually
stationary, which means that staff members must stand in
a particular location when entering the orders. Accord-
ingly, in most cases customers cannot see which order
is being entered and, consequently, they cannot 'check
that the order they have placed has been entered cor-
rectly. Similar problems exist in, for example, the hotel
industry and other industries where touch screens are
used to take orders.
A solution to this problem, which is adapted to
restaurants, is described in US 4,516,016. The patent
discloses a device intended to be placed on each table
in a restaurant and to be used by customers for entering
their order. The, device comDrises a menu and an optica'
reading pen. In the traditional wav, the menu contains
various food and drink alternatives, each alternative
being associated with a barcode. The customer passes the
optical reading pen across the barcode of the dish she
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wishes to order and the order is transmitted to the
kitchen where staff check whether they can fill the
order. If the order can be filled, a confirmation is
transmitted to the customer in the form of an indicator
light on the pen lighting up in green colour. If the
order cannot be filled, a red light comes on and the
customer is obliged to chose a different dish. When the
order has been filled, a bill is automatically printed
for the customer. In the device according to US 4,516,016
touch screens are thus not used and customers enter their
orders themselves. However, it has certain other draw-
backs. For example, special equipment is required for
producing the barcodes. This equipment can be relatively
expensive. Moreover, many restaurants do not have the use
of this type of equipment, which makes it inconvenient
for the restaurant staff to make temporary or permanent
changes to the menus. Furthermore, problems arise if
standardised barcodes do not exist for the dishes or
beverages which are to be included in the menu.
WO 95/04979 discloses a system which makes it pos-
sible to produce, on the basis of a common check for a
group of guests, a separate check for an individual guest
in the group. On the common check, each partial order is
identified in a traditional manner with a short descrip-
tion and a price. In addition, the partial order is pro-
vided with an ID number which indicates the number of the
table in the restaurant and a serial number of the par-
tial order. The ID number is also coded with a bar code.
When a separate check is to be made, a bar code reader is
used to read the bar codes which correspond to the par-
tial orders for the guest at issue. The bar codes are
transferred to a computer which has stored the partial
orders and which, on the basis of table number and serial
number, can identify the partial order and the price
thereof.
Although in this case it is not necessary to be able
to code the contents of the specific partial orders
CA 02374808 2006-11-27
'Z
direcz=v by means of bar codes buz it is su=ficier_t w--:_h
table number and serial number, the system is jusz the
same limited to precisely a table number and a seria?
number. If additional and/or other ir_=ormation is to
be recorded, additional bar codes must be defined. If
the information is to be rearranqed and be printed_using
another iavout, the system must also be changed so thE_
the bar codes are printea in other pos_tions.
Similar problems occur when various tvpes of pr ofes-
sionals wish to record information, for example, docu:-.ent
what has been done, what is to be done, or what is ava==-
able. One example is a dentist who while treating a
patient wrltes down what he is doing by han d and later
inr)uts the information to his comcuter. Ancther eXamn_=
are warehouse staff who ta}:e stock by walk; ng aroun-d a---;
writing down the i tems which are in stock. Yet anot_~.er
example are staff at motor vehicle inspection facil-Lties
who fill in a form with information about defects which
must be corrected in a car which is being inspected. A_=
these and other types of professionals thus are in nee---:
of recording information in a simple and f?exible manner.
Summarv of the Invention
The object of the present invention is to provice a__
information recording svstem which is flexible at leas=
to the same extent as or preferablv to a greater exter.=
than the above described bar coae system.
According to a first aspect of the inve:Ltion,
thus relates to a product which is intended for use ir
connection with the recording o' information and which
has a surface cn which there are a pluralitv of inform-=-
tion alternatives, each having an associated code area.
The surface is provided with a two-dimensional Dos~'';c-
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code which codes coordinates for a plurality of positions
on the surface in said code areas, which is unrelated to
the information which is to be recorded and which permits
recording of a desired information alternative bv reading
the position code for a position in the code area asso-
ciated with the desired information alternative.
The surface can be any surface to which a position
code can be applied, for example by printing. The code
is preferably applied to the surface from the outset,
before adding the information alternatives. Alternative-
ly, it can be applied simultaneously as the information
alternatives or even after they have been applied.
A code area is associated with each information
alternative. The code area can be adjacent to the infor-
mation alternative or overlap it completely or partially.
The information alternatives and their code areas should
be arranged so that it is obvious to the user which pair
of information alternative and code area belong together,
enabling the user to record an information alternative by
reading the code in the code area associated with the
information alternative.
It should here be pointed out that information
alternative should be interpreted in a wide sense. It
need not be a matter of alternatives which exclude each
other, but all forms of information units are included,
of which the user may want to record one or more or all
the information units.
By two-dimensional position code is further meant
that the code codes coordinates in two dimensions for
positions on the surface. Examples of advantageous posi-
tion codes are stated in the specific description por-
tion. Other two-dimensional position codes are also
conceivable.
The position code is unrelated to the information
that is to be recorded. Thus there is no fixed connection
between code and information alternative. By this is
meant that the code does not code the actual information,
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but merely positions on the surface, so that it is via
the position on the surface that the connection to
various information alternatives can be made. Obviously
the same position code can be used for recording arbi-
5 trary information. No change of the code on the surface
has to be made when changing the information alterna-
tives, but the connection between position and informa-
tion can be available in, for example, the memory of a
computer where the connection is easy to change. In this
way, a very flexible product is obtained.
A further advantage of the product according to
the invention is that the two-dimensional position code
renders it possible to make handwritten notes on the sur-
face and to record these handwritten notes digitally by
continuously reading the position code. The handwritten
notes are thus represented as a number of positions. The
characters or figures which these positions represent can
further be interpreted by software, such as ICR software
(ICR = Intelligent Character Recognition). If a device
that is used to record information by reading the posi-
tion code is provided with a pen point, it can thus be
used to write ordinary handwritten notes on the surface
of the product, to record these handwritten notes digi-
tally, and to record information alternatives that are
stated on the surface. This possibility is very useful
since on many occasions where information is recorded
there is a need to state further information, such as
a number. The information that is being written also
remains in physical form as a confirmation of the
digitally recorded information.
This confirmation can also be obtained when record-
ing merely information alternatives if the device has a
pen point since in that case the pen point will make a
mark in the position in which the user has read the posi-
tion code.
If the position code covers the entire surface from
which the information is to be recorded, in which case
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the position code thus codes positions with a certain
resolution across the entire surface, a user can easily
make products with arbitrary information alternatives and
arbitrary layout, which products allow recording of the
information alternatives by reading the position code.
Various types of professionals can thus produce different
forms with position code and with different information
alternatives which can easily be recorded by reading the
position code.
A user can more easily use a product according to
the invention compared with a corresponding bar code
product since it is sufficient to read the position code
for a single position within the code area of an informa-
tion alternative in order to record the associated infor-
mation alternative.
The two-dimensional position code can advantageously
code a plurality of positions within each code area. All
these positions then identify one and the same informa-
tion alternative and it is thus sufficient that a record-
ing device reads the position code somewhere in the code
area to record the associated information alternative.
The position code can advantageously overlap at
least one, and preferably each, information alternative.
This means that no specific space for the position code
is required. It also renders the product more esthetical-
ly pleasing.
Furthermore it makes the product easier to use for
inexperienced users, first because the user intuitively
points to the information he is interested in and second
because it is sufficient to point to a single spot on the
desired information alternative. However, it may be suf-
ficient to point to a spot adjacent to a desired informa-
tion alternative, if the code area extends outside the
actual information alternative. Thus, any hesitance about
which code to be read in order to record an information
alternative is eliminated.
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As mentioned above, the position code advantageouslv
extends across the entire surface of the product. Conse-
quently, information is recorded from the entire surface
and information alternatives are added later in areas in
which there was no information from the outset.
In a preferred embodiment, the position code is
based on a first string of symbols which contains a f,_rst
predetermined number of symbols and which has the charac-
teristic that if a second predetermined number of symbols
is taken from the first string of symbols, the location
of these symbols in the first string of symbols is unam-
biguously determined.
This first string of symbols can be used to deter-
mine the position in a first dimension on the surface.
The string of symbols is advantageous since it has a so-
called window characteristic. A window and, thus, a
position are defined by said second predetermined number
of symbols, but it is sufficient to move to the next sym-
bol for a new position to be defined. Thus, it is pos-
sible to provide a high resolution and a code where it
is only necessary to enter exactly the number of symbols
that defines a position.
Furthermore, the position code can advantageousl-~-
be based on a second string of symbols having the same
characteristic as the first string of symbols, the second
string of symbols being used to determine the position in
a second dimension on the surface.
By the position code being based on strings of svm-
bols with a finite number of symbols arranged in a pre-
determined order, it is possible to define a"formula"
for determining the position. In this way, only a smal,~y
amount of memory space is required for storing the
strings of symbols and the position determination can be
carried out quickly and easily.
The position code advantageously has the character-
istic that each arbitrary partial surface which has a
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predetermined magnitude on the surface and contains the
position code defines a position.
Such a position code can be implemented, for exam-
ple, by means of the above-mentioned strings of symbols
and is advantageous to use in this connection since it
is sufficient to read the position code in an arbitrary
position in the code area. The user need not strive to
enter a specific area, which is the case when recording
bar codes.
The position code is advantageously composed of sym-
bols which represent at least two different values, each
symbol comprising a raster point which is included in a
raster extending across the surface, and at least one
marking, the value of each symbol being indicated by the
location of said marking in relation to a raster point.
This design of the position code is advantageous by
being easy to detect and decode by image processing since
only one type of symbol, i.e. one marking, need be locat-
ed. This means that each marking can be made small, which
in turn means that the position code need not blacken the
surface very much and that the position code thus can be
discreet and not disturbing to the human eye.
The position code can advantageously constitute a
subset of a second position code which defines coordi-
nates for points on a larger imaginary surface. The coor-
dinates thus need not have an origin of coordinates on
the product. This gives the advantage that the coordinate
area which is coded by the position code on the product
can be dedicated to a specific application, for example
for inputting information alternatives that are super-
imposed on the position code, or to a specific type of
product. An external unit to which recorded positions are
transferred for identification of associated information
alternatives can then distinguish positions from
different products or applications.
The position code can be implemented in various ways
on the surface, e.g. with the aid of a magnetic or chemi-
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cal material. However, preferably it is implemented in
such a way that it is optically readable. It can be opti-
cally readable in light which is outside the visible
range.
In a preferred embodiment, the product is in the
shape of a sheet. The sheet can, for example, be made
of paper or some other material to which codes can be
applied. In that way, the product will be very inexpen-
sive and can be of the disposable kind. In the example
of the restaurant, the menu and the placemat can, for
example, be combined into one sheet which is replaced
for each new customer.
The information alternatives can be indicated by
means of written characters or graphic symbols or in some
other way which makes it possible for the user to under-
stand which information alternative is intended.
In one embodiment, the surface is provided with at
least one writing area, said position code overlapping
the writing area and coding coordinates for a plurality
of positions in the writing area. As mentioned above, the
writing area can be used to make handwritten notes which
are recorded digitally by means of the position code.
The writing area need not be associated with an
information alternative but can be a specific coordinate
area which is dedicated to handwritten notes.
In one embodiment, however, the writing area is
associated with an information alternative and consti-
tutes part of the code area of the information alterna-
tive. A user can then tick off, for example, a relevant
alternative or write a note, such as a digit, which is
associated with the information alternative. If only the
information alternative is to be recorded, this can be
made later by reading the position code in the relevant
code area. If the actual note is also to be recorded, the
position code must be read while making the note.
The product can be particularly used in connection
with orders and then the information alternatives consti-
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y 0
tute order alternatives. The term order relates to pur-
chase or reservation of a product, such as a dish, a
hoiidav trip, cr reservation of a seat in a theatre.
As mentioned above, several positions within a code
area can de]':-ine one and the same information alternative.
In other words, these positions jointly define a partial
surface or a field on the surface. if the code area over-
laps the information alternative, the nosition code in
the code area will thus aefine the field on the surface
in which the information alternative with which the
positio:i code is associated is s'ated.
The invention can also be described as a system for
record i r.g of i r_formati on . The svstem comcrises on the one
hand a producr- ; ana
on the other hand a device for recording one of said
information alternatives, said device comprising a sense;-
for reading the pcsition code in the code area associated
with said information alternative and processor means
with software for interpreting the read position code fcr
identifyinq the position which corresponds to the read
position code.
This svstem has essentially the same advantages as
stated above for the producz. The device can, as its out-
put signal, give oosit:on coordinates. The nosition coor-
dinates are preferably transferred to an external unit
with software which on the basis oF the position coordi-
nates determines the corresponding information alterna-
tive. Alternatively, the device itself can contain soft-
ware for determining which information alternative corre-
sponds to the position coordinates. The svstem may con-
tain a table cr some cther memorv structure which can
store an ir.fermation alternative for each code area on the surface. The
memory structure can be available in the
recording device or ir_~ the external un;t. As described
above, the device can be provided with a pen point. In
this case, the svstem is suitablv provided with software
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for interpreting notes that are made with the pen poir.::~
and recorded by means of the position code.
According to a third aspect, the invention relates
to a method of making a product for recording of informa-
tion, comprising the steps of creating a surface with a
two-dimensional position code, which codes coordinates
for a plurality of positions on the surface, applying a
plurality of information alternatives which are unrelated
to the position code on the surface, determining, for
each information alternative, a code area in which read-
ing of the position code is to result in recording of
this information alternative, and associating this code
area with the information alternative in a memory struc-
ture.
The advantages of the method are evident from the
discussion above regarding the product.
The step of creating a surface with a two-dimen-
sional position code can be carried out by the user
obtaining, for example, a sheet of paper with a pre-
printed position code. Alternatively, the position code
can be written on the sheet by means of a printer and a
computer before or after applying the information alter-
natives.
The method can comprise additional steps that are
used to make a product which besides has one or more of
the additional features described above.
According to a fourth aspect, the invention relates
to a storage medium for a computer, on which software is
stored for carrying out the steps according to the method
above.
The storage medium can be any storage medium for
computer programs, such as a RAM, a diskette, disk or
some other type of memory with which a computer can
cooperate.
The advantages of this software are evident from
that stated above.
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The present invention can obviously be applied
within a number of different areas where graphical user
interfaces are used. Examples of such areas are travel
bookings, cinema ticket reservations, and hotel reserva-
tions.
The invention can also be used for all types for
recording of information, particularly in cases where the
information is normally first recorded on paper and then
input to a computer and in cases where touch screens are
used. In this case, preprinted forms with position code
and information alternatives can be generated and the
information alternatives then be easily recorded by read-
ing the position code. Handwritten notes can also be
made.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The invention will be described in more detail below
with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings
which, by way of example, show a presently preferred
embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 1 shows an empty menu with code areas with a
2-dimensional code.
Fig. 2 shows the same menu as in Fig. 1, but with
added order alternatives which overlap the code areas.
Fig. 3 shows schematically a sheet of paper which is
provided with a subset of an absolute position-coding
pattern.
Fig. 4 shows schematically how symbols included in
the absolute position-coding pattern can be composed.
Fig. 5 shows schematically an example of 4 x 4 sym-
bols that are used to code a position.
Fig. 6 shows a device for recording an order alter-
native from the menu in Fig. 2.
Fig. 7 shows schematically a system according to an
embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 8 shows schematically a flow chart for software
for making the product.
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Fig. 9 shows a menu with order alternatives and
associated code areas which do not overlap the order
alternatives.
Description of Preferred Embodiments
Now follows first a description of two embodiments
where the invention is used for recording orders at a
restaurant or the like. In this case the information
alternatives thus consist of order alternatives and the
product is a menu. Then follows a description of examples
of two different two-dimensional position codes which can
advantageously be used to code coordinates for positions
on different products. Subsequently, a device which can
be used to record information and a system in which the
device can be included are described. Finally, the way in
which a product according to the invention can be made is
described and a further example of a menu is stated.
Examples of Application in a Restaurant
Fig. 1 shows a sheet 1, constituting an empty menu
and having a surface 2, which is divided into twelve
fields 3, to which different order alternatives can be
added. All the fields 3 comprise a two-dimensional posi-
tion code 4 of a type that will be described in more
detail below. The position code is located in code areas
5 which in this case completely overlap the fields 3. For
the sake of clarity, the position code 4 is only drawn in
one part of one of the fields, but it is meant to extend
across the entire surface 2. It codes the coordinates for
a plurality of positions in each field 3. The fields 3
can be predefined or they can be defined by the user.
Order alternatives can be written in the fields on
the sheet 1 by hand or with the aid of a computer, in
which case the sheet is placed in a printer. Any order
alternative can be written in the fields 5. The only
thing the user must do is to connect the fields to the
order alternatives, which can preferably be carried out
by means of a simple computer program. In this case, the
connection is effected by associating, with the aid of
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a table structure, all the positions which are located
within a certain field and which are coded by the posi-
tion code in this field with the order alternative writ-
ten in this field on the menu. In some fields no order
alternatives are added and these are associated with a
suitable indication of the fact that there is no order
alternative in that field.
Fig. 2 shows an example of a menu with order alter-
natives added in the form of various dishes and beverages
which are written in text format. In this case, all the
positions coded by the position code in the fourth field
from the top are associated with the order alternative
"Vegetable Soup". If the restaurant wishes, it can sub-
sequently change the order alternative in the same field
to, for example, "Avocado" without changing the coding
on the sheet, by simply changing the connection from the
positions coded by the position code in the field from
"Vegetable Soup" to "Avocado".
In this example, the position code in Figs 1 and 2
is made up of symbols of a first and second type 6a, 6b
and more specifically of dots of two different sizes, the
dots 6a having the larger diameter representing a one and
the dots 6b having the smaller diameter representing a
zero. As mentioned above, for the sake of clarity the
position code is only shown on a small part of the menus
in Figs 1 and 2. Moreover, the symbols 6a, 6b have been
very much enlarged and made clearly visible. In practice,
the code can be completely invisible to the eye or at
least a great deal more discreet in order not to spoil
the appearance of the product. Furthermore, in practice
the symbols can be much smaller in order to achieve a
better position resolution.
The position code is arranged so that if a device
images the dots on an arbitrary partial surface of a pre-
determined size, the position of the partial surface on
the surface of the sheet can be determined automatically
with the aid of image processing means in the device. If,
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for example, a device images the dots on the partial sur-
face 10 in Fig. 1, a processor in the device can deter-
mine, with the aid of the position code which the dots
represent, the position of the partial surface 10 on the
5 menu.
Position Coding - Example 1
An example of a position code, hereinafter also
called a position-coding pattern, which enables the posi-
tion determination will be described below. The pattern
10 is adapted for position determination by the imaging of
a partial surface containing 5 x 5 symbols. The symbols
represent a binary coding. It is assumed below that the
position-coding pattern is available on a sheet of paper.
The sheet has an x-direction and a y-direction. In
15 order to code the position in the x-direction, a 32-bit
number series of ones and zeros is generated in a first
step. In a second step, a 31-bit number series of ones
and zeros is generated by removing the final bit of the
32-bit series. Both number series, hereinafter called the
x-number series, should have the characteristic that if
five successive bits are selected anywhere in the series
a unique group of five bits is obtained which does not
exist anywhere else in the series. They should also have
this characteristic if one "connects" the end of the
series to the beginning of the series. The five-bit group
thus provides an unambiguous coding of the location in
the series.
An example of a 32-bit number series having the above
characteristic is "00001000110010100111010110111110". If
the last zero is removed from this number series, a 31-bit
number series having the same characteristic is obtained.
The first five bits in the above number series, i.e.
00001, constitute the code for position 0 in the number
series, the next five bits, i.e. 00010, constitute the
code for position 1, etc. The positions in the x-number
series as a function of the five-bit groups are stored in
a first table. Naturally, position 31 only exists in the
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32-bit series. Table 1 below shows the position coding
for the example described above.
Table 1:
Position Five-bit Group
0 00001
1 00010
2 00100
3 01000
4 10001
5 00011
6 00110
7 01100
8 11001
9 10010
10 00101
11 01010
12 10100
13 01001
14 10011
15 00111
16 01110
17 11101
18 11010
19 10101
20 01011
21 10110
22 01101
23 11011
24 10111
25 01111
26 11111
27 11110
28 11100
29 11000
30 10000
31 00000
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It is only possible to code 32 positions, i.e. posi-
tions 0-31, with the aid of the 32-bit series. However,
if one writes the 31-bit series 32 times in succession on
a first row and the 32-bit series 31 times in succession
on a second row below the first row, the series will be
displaced in relation to each other in such a way that
two five-bit groups written one above the other can be
used to code 31 x 32 = 992 positions in the direction of
the rows.
For example, suppose that the following code is
written on the sheet:
000...11111000001000110010100111010110111110...
000...11111000010001100101001110101101111100...
If the five-bit groups are translated into positions
according to Table 1, the following positions of the 32-
and 31-bit series are indicated on the sheet.
0 1 2...30 31 0 1 2...29 30 31 0 1 2
0 1 2...30 0 1 2 3...30 0 1 2 3 4
The coding in the X-direction is thus based on using
a number series consisting of n bits which is made up in
such a way that if m successive numbers are taken from
the series, these m numbers will code the position in the
series unambiguously. The number of codable positions is
increased by using a second number series, which is a
subset of the first number series and which is thus of a
different length than the first series. In this way, a
displacement between the series is obtained in the lon-
gitudinal direction of the rows.
The coding in the Y-direction is based on the same
principle. A number series is created, hereinafter called
the Y-number series, which consists of p numbers, the
series being made up in such a way that if r successive
numbers are taken from the series, these r numbers will
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code the position in the series and thus the position in
the Y-direction unambiguously. The numbers in the Y-num-
ber series are coded in the pattern on the sheet as a
difference between the positions in the X-direction in
two rows which is calculated in a special way.
More specifically, alternate rows of the 31-bit
series and the 32-bit series are written as follows:
Row 1: (31) (31) (31) (31) . .
Row 2: (32) (32) (32) (32) . .
Row 3: (31) (31) (31) (31) . .
Row 4: (32) (32) (32) (32) . .
Row 5: (31) (31) (31) (31) . .
Naturally, on the sheet, the series are written
using the different sizes of dots. The rows start in
different positions in the X-number series. More
specifically, one begins two successive rows in such a
way that if one determines the difference modulo 32
between two position numbers located one above the other,
expresses the difference by means of a five-bit binary
number, and takes the two most significant bits of said
five-bit binary number, this number shall be the same
regardless of where one is in the row. In other words,
one starts the series in such a way that the displace-
ments between the series in two successive rows remain
within a specific interval along the entire row. In this
example, the maximum displacement can be 31 positions or
bits and the minimum displacement can be 0 positions or 0
bits. The displacements along each pair of rows is then
within one of the intervals 0-7, 8-15, 16-23, or 24-31
positions/bits.
For example, suppose that the series are written as
follows (expressed in position numbers):
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Row 1: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7.... 30 0 1 2 3
Row 2: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7....30 31 0 1 2
Row 3: 25 26 27 28 29 30 0 1....24 25 26 27 28
Row 4: 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24....16 17 18 19 20
Row 5: 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 0....23 24 25 26 27
If the difference is determined in the above way, it
will be 0 between rows 1 and 2, 0 between rows 2 and 3, 1
between rows 3 and 4, and 3 between rows 4 and 5. Take,
for example, 26-18 in rows 3 and 4, which equals 8, which
is 01000 in binary code. The two most significant numbers
are 01. If instead one takes 0 - 23 in the same rows,
which modulo 32 equals 9, the two most significant num-
bers are 01 just like in the previous example. In this
example, four difference numbers 0,0,1,3 are obtained.
Now, if in same way as for the X-direction, one has
created a Y-number series from the numbers 0, 1, 2, and
3 which has the characteristic that if four successive
numbers are taken from the series, the position in the
series will be determined unambiguously, it is possible
by looking up the number 0013 in a table to unambiguously
determine the position in the Y-direction. In this way,
it is possible to determine 256 unique positions in the
Y-direction.
The following is an example of the beginning and the
end of a Y-number series containing the numbers 0-3:
Table 2:
0 0000
1 0001
2 0010
3 0100
4 1000
5 0002
6 0020
7 0200
8 2000
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9 0003
10 0030
5 251 2333
252 3333
253 3330
254 3300
255 3000
10 The following is a description of how the position
determination is carried out. Suppose that one has a
sheet as described above which across its surface has a
pattern made up of a first symbol representing a one and
a second symbol representing a 0. The symbols are arrang-
15 ed in rows and columns and in 32-bit and 31-bit series as
described above. Furthermore, suppose that one wishes to
determine the position on the sheet where one places a
device equipped with a sensor which can record an image
containing 5 x 5 symbols.
20 Suppose that an image recorded by the sensor looks
as follows:
1 1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1 1
0 1 0 1 0
0 0 1 0 1
0 0 1 0 1
In a first step, the device translates these five-
bit groups into positions with the aid of Table 1. The
following positions are obtained:
26 (11010)
26 (11010)
11 (01011)
10 (01010)
05 (00101)
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Subsequently, the magnitude of the displacement
between the position numbers in the different rows is
determined by taking the difference modulo 32. The two
most significant numbers of the differences determined
in this manner expressed as five-bit binary numbers are
0, 1, 0, 0. According to Table 2, this difference number
equals position 3 in the Y-direction. Thus, the coordi-
nate for the second dimension on the sheet is 3.
A third table stores the starting position of each
row, i.e. the position in the numbers series where each
row starts. In this case, with the aid of the y-coordi-
nate 3 it is possible to look up the starting positions
of the rows from which the recorded five-bit groups have
been taken. Knowing the starting positions of the rows
from which the two uppermost five-bit groups have been
taken and the X-positions to which these two five-bit
groups correspond, i.e. positions 26 and 26, it is pos-
sible to determine the x-coordinate, or the position in
the first dimension, of the recorded image. For example,
suppose that the starting positions of the two uppermost
rows are 21 and 20 respectively. In this case, the two
rows from which the two uppermost five-bit groups in the
recorded image are taken will thus look as follows:
Row 3: 21 22 23....29 30 31 0 1 2...25 26 27..
Row 4: 20 21 22....28 29 30 0 1 2...25 26 27..
It follows from the fact that the y-coordinate is 3
that the two first five-bit groups are taken from rows 3
and 4. It follows from the fact that odd rows are made up
of the 31-bit number series and even rows are made up of
the 32-bit number series that row 3 is made up of a
32-bit number series while row 4 is made up of a 31-bit
number series.
On the basis of this information, it is possible to
determine that the x-coordinate is 35. This can be veri-
fied by repeating the above steps for the remaining pairs
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of five-bit groups in the recorded image. There is thus a
certain amount of error tolerance.
The accuracy of the position determination can be
further increased by determining the location of the
middle dot in the 5 x 5 group in relation to the centre
of the image. The position resolution can thus be better
than the distance between two symbols.
Naturally, the above steps are carried out by soft-
ware, which in this example gives the coordinates 3 and
35 as its output signal. The software can either be
located in the device the customer or waiter is using
to read the position-coding pattern on the menu or in
another device to which the image(s) is(are) transferred.
The above description relates to an example and can
thus be generalised. There need not be 32 numbers in the
first X-number series. The number depends on how many
different symbols are to be used in the pattern in combi-
nation with the number of symbols which are recorded in
the x-direction in connection with the position determi-
nation. For example, if the number of different symbols
is 3 and the number of recorded symbols is 3, the maximum
number of numbers in the X-number series will be 3x3x3=27
instead of 32. The same type of reasoning applies to the
Y-number series. The bases of these number series can
thus be different and the number of symbols which code
a position, and consequently also the number of positions
coded by the number series, can vary. Moreover, the
series can be based on symbols other than numbers and can
therefore be described as strings of symbols.
As mentioned above, the symbols can be of many dif-
ferent kinds. They can also be numbers, but in that case
OCR software is required for carrying out the position
determination, which makes the device for interpreting
the position-coding pattern more expensive and more com-
plicated. It also leads to increased error sensitivity.
The above method of coding positions on a surface
and of carrying out the position determination on the
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surface is advantageous in that it only requires a very
small amount of memory and processor capacity. In the
above example, it is only necessary to store Table 1 with
32 rows, Table 2 with 256 rows, and Table 3 with 256
rows. The position determination can be carried out by
means of three table look-ups and a simple calculation.
When the position has been determined, it is necessary to
search the table one more time in order to determine the
order alternative to which the position corresponds. How-
ever, this can be carried out in a central computer to
which the position is transferred.
It should be emphasised that it is, of course, pos-
sible to let the rows be columns and the columns be rows
in the above Example.
Position Coding - Example 2
Now follows the description of an Example of a
second two-dimensional position coding which can be used
to accomplish the invention.
Fig. 3 shows a part of a product in the form of a
sheet of paper 101, which on its surface 102 is provided
with an optically readable, two-dimensional position cod-
ing 103 (below referred to as position-coding pattern)
enabling position determination, more specifically deter-
mination of absolute coordinates for points on the sheet
101. The position-coding pattern consists of symbols 104
which are systematically arranged across the surface 102
so as to make its appearance "patterned". Depending on
the size of the symbols, the patterning can be perceived
as a grey hue. The sheet has an x-coordinate axis and a
y-coordinate axis.
The position-coding pattern comprises a virtual
raster, which thus neither is visible to the human eye
nor can be detected directly by a device which is to
determine positions on the surface, and a plurality of
symbols 4, which each are capable of assuming one of four
values "1"-"4" as will be described below. It should here
be emphasised that, for the sake of clarity, the posi-
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tion-coding pattern in Fig. 3 has been enlarged to a con-
siderable extent. Moreover, the position-coding pattern
is shown only on part of the sheet.
The position-coding pattern is arranged in such man-
ner that absolute coordinates for a poin-_ on the imagi-
nary surface are coded by the symbols on a partial sur-
face of the sheet, and thus by the position-coding pat-
tern, of a predetermined size. A first and a second par-
tial surface 105a, 105b are indicated by dashed lines in
Fig. 3. That part of the position-coding pattern (in this
case 3x3 symbols) which is to be found on the first
partial surface 105a codes the coordinates for a first
point, and that part of the position-coding pattern which
is to be found on the second partial surface 105b codes
the coordinates for a second point on the sheet. Thus
the position-coding pattern is partially shared by the
adjoining first and second points. Such a position-coding
pattern is in this application referred to as "floating".
Figs 4a-d show an embodiment of a symbol which can
be used in the position-coding pattern. The symbol com-
prises a virtual raster point 106 which is represented by
the intersection between the raster lines, and a marking
107 which has the form of a dot. The value of the symbol
depends on where the marking is located. In the example
in Fig. 4, there are four possible positions, one on each
of the raster lines extending from the raster points.
The displacement from the raster point is equal to all
values. In the following, the symbol in Fig. 4a has the
value 1, in Fig. 4b the value 2, in Fig. 4c the value 3
and in Fig. 4d the value 4. Expressed in other words,
there are four different types of symbols.
Each symbol can thus represent four values 111-411.
This means that the position-coding pattern can be divid-
ed into a first position code for the x-coordinate, and a
second position code for the y-coordinate. The division
is effected as follows:
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Symbol value x-code y-code
1 1 1
2 0 1
3 1 0
4 0 0
Thus, the value of each symbol is translated into
a first digit, in this case bit, for the x-code and a
second digit, in this case bit, for the y-code. In this
manner, two completely independent bit patterns are
obtained. The patterns can be combined to a common pat-
tern, which is coded graphically by means of a plurality
of symbols according to Fig. 4.
The coordinates for each point are coded by means of
a plurality of symbols. In this example, use is made of
4x4 symbols to code a position in two dimensions, i.e. an
x-coordinate and a y-coordinate.
The position code is made up by means of a number
series of ones and zeros which have the characteristic
that no sequence of four bits appears more than once in
the series. The number series is cyclic, which means that
the characteristic also applies when one connects the end
of the series to the beginning of the series. Thus a
four-bit sequence always has an unambiguously determined
position in the number series.
The series can maximally be 16 bits long if it is
to have the above-described characteristic for sequences
of four bits. In this example, use is, however, made of
a series having a length of seven bits only as follows:
"0 0 0 1 0 1 0" .
This series contains seven unique sequences of four
bits which code a position in the series as follows:
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Position in the series Sequence
0 0001
1 0010
2 0101
3 1010
4 0100
1000
6 0000
For coding the x-coordinate, the number series is
written sequentially in columns across the entire surface
that is to be coded. The coding is based on the diffe-
rence or position displacement between numbers in adjoin-
ing columns. The size of the difference is determined by
the position (i.e. with which sequence) in the number
series, in which one lets the column begin. More specifi-
cally, if one takes the difference modulo seven between
on the one hand a number which is coded by a four-bit
sequence in a first column and which thus can have the
value (position) 0-6, and, on the other hand, a corre-
sponding number (i.e. the sequence on the same "level")
in an adjoining column, the result will be the same inde-
pendently of where along the two columns one makes the
comparison. By means of the difference between two
columns, it is thus possible to code an x-coordinate
which is constant for all y-coordinates.
Since each position on the surface is coded with
4x4 symbols in this example, three differences (having
the value 0-6) as stated above are available to code the
x-coordinate. Then the coding is carried out in such man-
ner that of the three differences, one will always have
the value 1 or 2 and the other two will have values in
the range 3-6. Consequently no differences are allowed
to be zero in the x-code. In other words, the x-code is
structured so that the differences will be as follows:
(3-6) (3-6) (1-2) (3-6) (3-6) (1-2) (3-6) (3-6) (1-2)...
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Each x-coordinate thus is coded with two numbers between
3 and 6 and a subsequent number which is 1 or 2. If three
is subtracted from the high numbers and one from the low,
a number in mixed base will be obtained, which directly
yields a position in the x-direction, from which the
x-coordinate can then be determined directly, as shown
in the example below.
By means of the above described principle, it is
thus possible to code x-coordinates 0,1,2..., with the
aid of numbers representing three differences. These
differences are coded with a bit pattern which is based
on the number series above. The bit pattern can finally
be coded graphically by means of the symbols in Fig. 6.
In many cases, when reading 4x4 symbols, it will not
be possible to produce a complete number which codes the
x-coordinate, but parts of two numbers. Since the least
significant part of the numbers is always 1 or 2, a com-
plete number, however, can easily be reconstructed.
The y-coordinates are coded according to the same
principle as used for the x-coordinates. The cyclic
number series is repeatedly written in horizontal rows
across the surface which is to be position-coded. Just
like in the case of the x-coordinates, the rows are
allowed to begin in different positions, i.e. with
different sequences, in the number series. However, for
y-coordinates one does not use differences but codes
the coordinates with numbers that are based on the start-
ing position of the number series on each row. When the
x-coordinate for 4x4 symbols has been determined, it is
in fact possible to determine the starting positions in
number series for the rows that are included in the
y-code in the 4x4 symbols. In the y-code the most sig-
nificant digit is determined by letting this be the
only one that has a value in a specific range. In this
example, one lets one row of four begin in the position
0-1 in the number series to indicate that this row
relates to the least significant digit in a y-coordinate,
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and the other three begin in the position 2-6. In y-
direction, there is thus a series of numbers as follows:
(2-6) (2-6) (2-6) (0-1) (2-6) (2-6) (2-6) (0-1) (2-6) . . .
Each y-coordinate thus is coded with three numbers
between 2 and 6 and a subsequent number between 0 and 1.
If 1 is subtracted from the low number and 2 from
the high, one obtains in the same manner as for the
x-direction a position in the y-direction in mixed base
from which it is possible to directly determine the
y-coordinate.
With the above method it is possible to code
4 x 4 x 2 = 32 positions in x-direction. Each such
position corresponds to three differences, which gives
3 x 32 = 96 positions. Moreover, it is possible to code
x 5 x 5 x 2 = 250 positions in y-direction. Each such
position corresponds to 4 rows, which gives 4 x 250 =
1000 positions. Altogether it is thus possible to code
96000 positions. Since the x-coding is based on diffe-
rences, it is, however, possible to select in which posi-
tion the first number series begins. If one takes into
consideration that this first number series can begin
in seven different positions, it is possible to code
7 x 96000 = 672000 positions. The starting position of
the first number series in the first column can be cal-
culated when the x-coordinate has been determined. The
above-mentioned seven different starting positions for
the first series may code different sheets of paper or
writing surfaces on a product.
With a view to further illustrating how the posi-
tion-coding pattern functions, here follows a specific
example which is based on the described embodiment of
the position code.
Fig. 5 shows an example of an image with 4x4 symbols
which are read by a device for position determination.
These 4x4 symbols have the following values:
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4 4 4 2
3 2 3 4
4 4 2 4
1 3 2 4
These values represent the following binary x- and
y-code:
x-code: y-code:
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0
The vertical x-sequences code the following
positions in the number series: 2 0 4 6. The diffe-
rences between the columns will be -2 4 2, which modulo
7 gives: 5 4 2, which in mixed base codes position
(5-3) x 8 + (4-3) x 2 + (2-1) = 16 + 2 + 1 = 19. Since
the first coded x-position is position 0, the difference
which is in the range 1-2 and which is to be seen in the
4x4 symbols is the twentieth such difference. Since fur-
thermore there are a total of three columns for each such
difference and there is a starting column, the vertical
sequence furthest to the right in the 4x4 x-code belongs
to the 61st column in the x-code (3 x 20 + 1 = 61) and
the one furthest to the left belongs to the 58th.
The horizontal y-sequences code the positions
0 4 1 3 in the number series. Since these series begin
in the 58th column, the starting position of the rows are
these numbers minus 57 modulo7, which yields the starting
positions 6 3 0 2. Translated into digits in the mixed
base, this will be 6-2, 3-2, 0-0, 2-2 = 4 1 0 0 where the
third digit is the least significant digit in the number
at issue. The fourth digit is then the most significant
digit in the next number. In this case, it must be the
same as in the number at issue. (An exceptional case is
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when the number at issue consists of the highest possible
digits in all positions. Then one knows that the begin-
ning of the next number is one greater than the beginning
of the number at issue.)
The position of the four-digit number will then in
the mixed base be 0x50 + 4x10 + 1x2 + Oxi = 42.
The third row in the y-code thus is the 43rd which
has the starting position 0 or 1, and since there are
four rows in all on each such row, the third row is num-
ber 43x4=172.
Thus, in this example, the position of the uppermost
left corner for the 4x4 symbol group is (58,170).
Since the x-sequences in the 4x4 group begin on row
170, the x-columns of the entire pattern begin in the
positions of the number series ((2 0 4 6) - 169) modulo
7 = 1 6 3 5. Between the last starting position (5) and
the first starting position, the numbers 0-19 are coded
in the mixed base, and by adding up the representations
of the numbers 0-19 in the mixed base, one obtains the
total difference between these columns. A naive algorithm
to do so is to generate these twenty numbers and directly
add up their digits. The resulting sum is called s. The
sheet of paper or writing surface will then be given by
(5-s) modulo7 .
In the example above, an embodiment has been
described, in which each position is coded with 4 x 4
symbols and a number series with 7 bits is used. Of
course, this is but an example. Positions can be coded
with a larger or smaller number of symbols. The number
of symbols need not be the same in both directions. The
number series can be of different length and need not
be binary, but may be based on another base. Different
number series can be used for coding in x-direction and
coding in y-direction. The symbols can have different
numbers of values. A coding with 6 x 6 symbols is pre-
sently preferred, in which case each symbol can assume
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four values. A person skilled in the art can easily gene-
ralise the Examples above to relate to such coding.
In the example above, rows can of course be replaced
with columns and columns be replaced with rows.
In the example above, the marking is a dot but may,
of course, have a different appearance. For example, it
may consist of a dash or some other indication which
begins in the virtual raster point and extends therefrom
to a predetermined position.
In the example above, the symbols within a square
partial surface are used for coding a position. The par-
tial surface may have a different form, such as hexago-
nal. The symbols need not be arranged in rows and columns
at an angle of 90 to each other but can also be arranged
in some other manner.
For the position code to be detected, the virtual
raster must be determined. This can be carried out by
studying the distance between different markings. The
shortest distance between two markings must derive from
two neighbouring symbols having the value 1 and 3 so that
the markings are located on the same raster line between
two raster points. When such a pair of markings has been
detected, the associated raster points can be determined
with knowledge of the distance between the raster points
and the displacement of the markings from the raster
points. When two raster points have once been located,
additional raster points can be determined by means of
measured distances to other markings and with knowledge
of the relative distance of the raster points.
In an actual design of the position code, a nominal
space of 0.3 mm between the symbols has been used. If
each position is coded with 6 x 6 symbols, then a
1.8 mm x 1.8 mm surface is required for one position. By
determining the position of the 6 x 6 symbols on a sensor
in a recording device which is used to read the position
code, a position can be calculated with a resolution of
0.03 mm. Since each position is coded with 6 x 6 symbols
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which can each assume one of four values, 27' positions
can be coded, which with the above-mentioned nominal
space between the symbols corresponds to a surface of
4.6 million km'. This fact that a very large number of
unique positions can be coded, can as mentioned above be
utilised by dedicating different coordinate areas to spe-
cific applications.
The position code can be printed by standard offset
printing on any sheet of paper or other material. A com-
mon black carbon-based printing ink or some other print-
ing ink that absorbs IR light can advantageously be used.
This means that other inks, including black ink which is
not carbon-based, can be used to superimpose some other
print on the position code without interfering with the
reading thereof.
A surface which is provided with the above-mentioned
position code printed with a carbon-based black printing
ink will be experienced by the human eye as merely a
slight grey hue of the surface (1-3% black), which is
user-friendly and esthetically pleasing.
It goes without saying that a larger or smaller num-
ber of symbols than described above can be used to define
a position on the imaginary surface, and larger or
smaller distances between the dots can be used in the
pattern. The examples are stated just to show a present-
ly preferred implementation of the pattern.
It is evident that the above described position-cod-
ing pattern codes absolute positions.
Device for Recording Information
An embodiment of a device for recording orders is
schematically shown in Fig. 6. The device is adapted to
record information alternatives by means of a 2-dimen-
sional position code of the type described above.
The device comprises a casing 11 having
approximately the shape of a pen. In the short side of
the casing there is an opening 12. The short side is
intended to abut against or be placed a short distance
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from the product from whose surface an information alter-
native is to be recorded by reading the position code.
The casing contains essentially an optics part, an
electronic circuitry part, and a power supply.
The optics part comprises at least one light emit-
ting diode 13 for illuminating the surface which is to
be imaged and a light-sensitive area sensor 14, such as
a CCD or CMOS sensor, for recording a two-dimensional
image. The device may also comprise a lens system.
The power supply to the device is obtained from a
battery 15 which is mounted in a separate compartment in
the casing. The electronic circuitry part comprises pro-
cessing means 16 for determining a position on the basis
of the recorded image and more specifically a processor
which is programmed to read images from the sensor and to
carry out position determination on the basis of a posi-
tion code which is identified in these images.
Moreover, the device comprises buttons 18 by means
of which the user activates and controls the device. It
also comprises a transceiver 19 for wireless transfer of
information to and from the device. The device can also
comprise a display 20 for showing recorded orders.
Applicant's Swedish Patent No. 9604008-4 describes
a device for recording text. This device can be used to
record orders if programmed in a suitable way.
The device can be divided into different physical
casings, a first casing containing the area sensor and
other components required for capturing images of the
code and for transferring them to a processor which is
located in a second casing and which carries out the
position determination on the basis of the recorded image
or images.
System for Recording Information
Fig. 7 shows schematically an embodiment of a system
according to the invention. The system comprises a
product 71 with position code and information
alternatives, a device 72 for reading the position code
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for recording of information alternatives, and an exter-
nal computer 73 with a memory structure 74 for storing
which positions correspond to which information alter-
natives.
The product 71 can be, for example, the menu shown
in Fig. 2, and the device 72 can be, for example, the
device shown in Fig. 6. The computer 73 can be an ordi-
nary personal computer which can also be used for other
purposes and which contains suitable software. The memory
structure can be a table, a database or the like which is
stored in the memory of the computer or in a memory which
is connected to the computer. The computer 73 can also be
a computer which is reached via computer network, such as
the Internet, and which communicates with a plurality of
devices 72 for recording information. In this case, read
positions can be transferred from the device 72 via a
network connecting unit (not shown), such as a mobile
phone, which allows transfer of information to the com-
puter network.
As is evident from that stated above, the two-dimen-
sional position code can code coordinates for a very
large number of unique positions - a much larger number
than required on, for example, a normal size sheet. This
can be used to distinguish individual products or appli-
cations for which products are used. More specifically,
different coordinate areas within the area that can be
coded with the position code can be dedicated to diffe-
rent products or different applications. In the case
where the computer 73 communicates with a plurality of
devices 72, e.g. the computer 73 can identify to which
product the received positions relate and, thus, cor-
rectly identify associated information alternatives
which, for example, can be transferred to another com-
puter in the computer network where the recorded infor-
mation is to be used.
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Software for Making the Product
Fig. 8 shows schematically a flow chart for software
which is used in a computer, such as the computer 73 in
Fig. 7, for making a product according to the invention,
in this case exemplified by the menu shown in Fig. 2.
In a first step 81, the software prints the posi-
tion code on a sheet of paper which is to be the menu in
Fig. 2 via a printer. The position code covers the entire
sheet. The position code codes coordinates within a coor-
dinate area. The specific coordinate area can be preset
in the program or be selected within certain limits.
In a second step 82, the user enters the various
information alternatives via the keyboard of the compu-
ter. The software can be designed to suggest different
code areas in which the user can indicate information
alternatives. In a variant, the user can himself define
code areas, for example by "drawing" areas on the sheet
of paper by means of a device for recording information,
such as the device 72 in Fig. 7, which then records the
coordinates for the points defining the code areas. In a
further variant, the user can draw boxes on a copy of the
sheet of paper which is shown on the display of the com-
puter.
In connection with this step, the connection between
positions on the sheet of paper and information alterna-
tives is stored in a memory structure, step 83.
Then the user places the sheet in the printer and
the information alternatives entered via the keyboard are
printed on the sheet, step 84, whereupon the product is
ready to be used for recording information.
The first step 81 need not be carried out by the
software. The user can instead buy sheets which are
already provided with position code.
Function of the System
Here follows the description of the function of the
system with reference to the Example in Fig. 2.
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A customer at the restaurant can record her order
herself with the aid of the above device. First, the
customer decides which dish she is interested in. Next,
she points to this dish on the menu using the device for
recording the order, so that the opening of the device is
above or a short distance from the order alternative. The
sensor 14 in the device then reads the position code 4
within the visual field of the device and the processor
means 16 determine the position on the menu 1. Subse-
quently, the position is stored in a memory in the
device, or is transferred directly to an order computer
together with data indicating which customer the position
information originates from. The transfer to the order
computer is effected by the intermediary of the trans-
ceiver 19, for example utilising radio waves according to
the so-called "Bluetooth system". When the order computer
has received the position information it looks up the
order alternative, i.e. the dish, to which this position
corresponds in the memory structure in the computer and
sends the order to the kitchen where the dish is
prepared.
Naturally, the waiter can record the order instead
with the aid of the device.
In an alternative embodiment, there can be a box in
front of each order alternative on the menu. The customer
ticks the boxes in front of the dishes and beverages she
wishes to order, whereupon the waiter records the order
by pointing the device to each tick so that an image of
the position code for each tick is recorded.
In one more alternative embodiment, the customer, or
the waiter, can by means of the device which then is pro-
vided with a pen, note the number of ordered dishes by
noting a digit or the corresponding number of dashes in
connection with the ordered dish. If, for example, the
customer orders two smoked salmon toasts, a two is
written in front of the smoked salmon toast alternative.
The two is recorded digitally by means of the device and
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is transferred to the kitchen. The customer keeps the
menu with the notes about the order as a receipt of the
order as made.
In the above example, the code areas overlap the
order alternatives so that the user can point directly to
the order alternative. Alternatively, the code areas 5,
as shown in Fig. 9, can be separated from the fields 3,
i.e. the order alternatives, and instead be arranged
adjacent to them. In this embodiment, one avoids the
problem of the superimposed order alternative interfering
with the reading of the code but, on the other hand, a
special area is required for the code areas, which may be
a drawback in certain applications.
The above example relates to orders taken at a
restaurant. Naturally, the same technology can be used
for ordering seats at a cinema, a theatre or on an air-
plane and for all other types of orders where alterna-
tives can be presented using text or graphical informa-
tion.
Moreover, it should be noted that for the sake of
clarity, the code areas 5 are indicated on the menus in
the Figures. This is not necessary in practice.
In the above example, the invention has been used
for recording orders at a restaurant. However the inven-
tion can be used to record any type of information.
For example, the above menu could instead be a form
used for documenting the results of a vehicle inspection.
In that case, the user can record information about
defects in the vehicle by reading the code for different
alternatives on the inspection report. For example, sup-
pose that a safety belt in the vehicle is so defective
that in the inspection the car is given a negative rating
of three out of three possible levels. "Safety belt" is
written on the form and there are three boxes for the
three different levels. In this case, the inspector uses
the device to read the position code in the third box.
The device determines which position the position code
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represents. This position thus identifies a field on the
surface of the form, viz. the field corresponding to the
third box after the words "safety belt". The field is
identified by means of the position. The information
alternative associated with the field, viz. "safety belt
rating level 3", is stored in the device, or in a unit to
which the position information is transferred. By reading
the position code, it is thus possible to record this
information.
The invention can be used in a similar way to record
other types of information.
