Self-addressing paper
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.
1. A method for delivering an electronic communication, the method comprising:
receiving from a digital pen device, a digital message and a recipient identifier, the digital message comprising digitally captured writing gestures made on a writing surface using a digital pen device and metadata including at least a timestamp representing a capture time of the writing gestures, wherein the writing surface is encoded with the recipient identifier and is captured by the digital pen device together with the captured writing gestures;
identifying, by the server, a plurality of destination addresses associated with the recipient identifier;
automatically recognizing text in the digitally captured writing gestures of the digital message;
determining a selected destination address from the plurality of destination addresses associated with the recipient identifier based on one or more keywords in the recognized text matching a keyword associated with the selected destination address; and
forwarding the digital message from the server to the selected destination address.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the writing surface comprises an encoded coordinate system that is readable by the digital pen.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein receiving the recipient identifier comprises:
receiving a set of coordinate values in the encoded coordinate system on the writing surface where the writing gestures were made; and
identifying the recipient identifier as being associated with a region containing the coordinate values.
4. The method of claim 1 , receiving the recipient identifier comprises:
receiving a user selection on an addressing region of the writing surface using the digital pen device, wherein the addressing region includes an encoded pattern; and
identifying the recipient identifier as being associated with the encoded pattern on the addressing region.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein forwarding the digital message comprises sending an electronic mail to the selected recipient address.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein forwarding the digital message comprising forwarding the digital message to a web server referenced by the selected recipient address for automatic inclusion within a web page.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving audio recorded using the digital pen device; and
including the recorded audio in the digital message.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the selected recipient address for forwarding the digital message comprises determining the selected recipient address based at least in part on a specific time that the writing gestures were captured.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the digital pen device captures the recipient identifier by tapping the digital pen device on a first portion of the writing surface, wherein the encoded identifier is located only on the first portion, and wherein the generated digital message comprises writing gestures captured on a second portion of the writing surface distinct from the first portion.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising retrieving a data file from the digital pen device, and sending the data file with the digital message and captured recipient identifier to the selected recipient address.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the selected recipient address for forwarding the digital message comprises determining if an authorization code is present on the writing surface.
12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising verifying a sender of the digital message by comparing a signature from the captured writing gestures with a previously written signature.
13. A system for delivering an electronic communication, the system comprising:
a writing surface that is encoded with a recipient identifier;
a digital pen device comprising:
a storage medium,
a writing capture system for digitally capturing writing gestures made on the writing surface using the digital pen device, the captured writing gestures for inclusion in a digital message,
a processor for incorporating metadata into the digital message, the metadata including at least a time stamp representing a capture time of the writing gestures, and
an identifier module for capturing the recipient identifier associated with the writing surface; and
a routing system capable of communicating with the digital pen device for receiving the writing gestures and identifier therefrom, the routing system to identify a plurality of destination addresses associated with the recipient identifier, automatically recognize text in the digitally captured writing gestures of the digital message, determine a selected destination address from the plurality of destination addresses associated with the recipient identifier based on one or more keywords in the recognized text matching a keyword associated with the selected destination address, and forward the digital message from the server to the selected destination address.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the writing surface comprises an encoded coordinate system that is readable by the digital pen.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the identifier module is configured to capture the recipient identifier by:
determining a set of coordinate values in the encoded coordinate system on the writing surface where the writing gestures were made; and
identifying the recipient identifier as being associated with a region containing the coordinate values.
16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the identifier module is configured to capture the recipient identifier by:
receiving a user selection on an addressing region of the writing surface using the digital pen device, wherein the addressing region includes an encoded pattern; and
identifying the recipient identifier that as being with the encoded pattern on the addressing region.
17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the routing system is to forward the digital message as an electronic mail to the selected recipient address.
18. The system of claim 13 , wherein the routing system is to forward the digital message to a web server referenced by the selected recipient address for automatic inclusion within a web page.
19. The system of claim 13 , wherein the digital pen device further comprises:
an audio recording module for recording audio and adding the recorded audio to the digital message.