METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MULTIMEDIA OBJECT ASSOCIATION TO DIGITAL PAPER SPATIAL DIAGRAMS

1 . A method for multimedia object association to digital paper spatial diagrams comprising:

capturing a multimedia data object containing digital data to be imported into a spatial information system;

linking the captured multimedia data object to a digital paper document containing a spatial diagram, using a input device configured to activate a linking action area located in a first area of the digital paper document and configured to select a location for the captured multimedia data object on a second area of the digital paper document;

transferring the multimedia data object and the data of the input device containing the linking action and the location for the multimedia data object on the digital paper document to a spatial information system;

combining the multimedia data object and the data of the input device to create an updated digital paper document containing the multimedia data object.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the multimedia data object is a digital photograph.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the multimedia data object is digital data from a second physical document.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the multimedia data object is an audio recording.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the multimedia data object is a video recording.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the multimedia data object is a barcode tag.

7 . A method for multimedia object association to digital paper spatial diagrams comprising:

activating at least one linking icon within an action palette, which includes a first coordinate system co-operable with a digital pattern carried by a document, the at least one link icon manageable by a spatial information system and having a spatial relationship to at least one other feature managed by the spatial information system;

selecting a location for a media object within a spatial reference frame having a second coordinate system co-operable with the digital pattern carried by the document;

applying the action palette onto the digital pattern of the document, wherein the at least one link icon becomes spatially determinable using the first coordinate system in conjunction with the digital pattern;

associating the media object with the spatial information system by selecting an association icon within the media object; and

linking the media object to the spatial information system at the selected location within the document.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the multimedia object is a digital photograph.

9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the multimedia object is digital data from a second physical document.

10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the multimedia object is an audio recording.

11 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the multimedia object is a video recording.

12 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the multimedia object is a barcode tag.

13 . A method for multimedia object association to digital paper spatial diagrams comprising:

receiving information with a input device that indicated an association action of at least one object of a first digital paper-enabled product, the at least one object having digital data associated therewith and correlated to a digital pattern on digital paper;

receiving information with a input device that indicated a link action by selection of at least one feature of a second digital paper-enabled product, the at least one feature having a link property associated therewith and correlated to a location within the digital pattern on digital paper;

transferring the digital data associated with the first digital paper-enabled product and the location of the at least one feature on the second digital paper-enabled product to a spatial information system; and

synchronizing the spatial information system to generate an updated version of the second digital paper-enabled product to include the digital data associated with the first digital paper-enabled product.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the digital data is a digital photograph.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the digital data is digital data from a second physical document.

16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the digital data is an audio recording.

17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the digital data is a video recording.

18 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the digital data is a barcode tag.

19 . A data collection system comprising:

at least one capture device configured to produce a media object;

a spatial diagram comprising a physical document bearing a digital pattern and having at least one identifiable region spatially correlated to the digital pattern using a first coordinate system;

an input device configured to generate a link action with respect to a media object;

a spatial management system configured to place the captured media object on the spatial diagram in the location selected during the link action.

20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein an input device is an action palette overlaid onto and spatially correlated to the digital pattern using a second coordinate system, the action palette having at least one symbol that is selectable by a writing instrument to generate a link action with respect to a media object.

21 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the multimedia object is a digital photograph.

22 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the multimedia object is digital data from a second physical document.

23 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the multimedia object is an audio recording.

24 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the multimedia object is a video recording.

25 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the multimedia object is a barcode tag.