Content Selection in a Pen-Based Computing System
A method of selecting content using a pen-based computing system. Gestures generated by a user with a smart pen on a writing surface are captured and used to select content. The content can be written or audio content. Optionally additional content linked to the selected content is also selected.
1 . A computer-implemented method for selecting content:
digitally capturing gestures made on a writing surface using a digital pen device;
determining a selected region of the writing surface based on the captured gestures;
identifying written content associated with the selected region of the writing surface; and
storing an indication of the selection of the identified written content.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein capturing gestures further comprises determining a second set of coordinates.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein identifying content based on the captured gestures comprises identifying an area delineated by the one set and second set of coordinates and identifying written content located in the area.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein:
the writing surface comprises one or more pages of paper;
the gestures comprise a tap on at least one of the one or more pages; and
the selected region is the at least one of the one or more pages.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying written content comprises identifying written content located on the writing surface between a first y coordinate of the first set of coordinates and a second y coordinate of the second set of coordinates.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein a first x coordinate of the first set of coordinates and a second x coordinate of the second set of coordinates is the same and identifying written content further comprises identifying written content located on a portion of the writing surface having an x coordinate greater than the first and second x coordinates.
7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein a first x coordinate of the first set of coordinates and a second x coordinate of the second set of coordinates is the same and identifying written content further comprises identifying written content located on a portion of the writing surface having an x coordinate less than the first and second x coordinates.
8 . The method of claim 1 further comprising identifying additional content linked to the written content.
9 . The method of claim 8 wherein identifying additional content comprises identifying a time stamp for the written content and identifying additional content having the time stamp.
10 . The method of claim 8 wherein the additional content comprises audio content.
11 . The method of claim 8 further comprising identifying additional content linked to the written content based on user-defined rules.
12 . A digital pen device for selecting content:
a processor;
an imaging system coupled to the processor for capturing gestures made by the digital pen device on a writing surface;
an onboard memory coupled to the processor and configured to store the gestures captured by the imaging system;
computer program code stored on a memory and configured to be executed by the processor, the computer program code including instructions for:
determining a selected region of the writing surface based on the captured gestures;
identifying written content associated with the selected region of the writing surface; and
storing an indication of the selection of the identified written content.
13 . The digital pen device of claim 12 wherein:
the writing surface comprises one or more pages of paper;
the gestures comprise a tap on at least one of the one or more pages; and
the selected region is the at least one of the one or more pages.
14 . The digital pen device of claim 12 , wherein the instructions for identifying written content comprise instructions for identifying written content located on the writing surface between a first y coordinate of the first set of coordinates and a second y coordinate of the second set of coordinates.
15 . The digital pen device of claim 14 , wherein a first x coordinate of the first set of coordinates and a second x coordinate of the second set of coordinates is the same and wherein the instructions for identifying written content further comprise instructions for identifying written content located on a portion of the writing surface having an x coordinate greater than the first and second x coordinates.
16 . The digital pen device of claim 14 , wherein a first x coordinate of the first set of coordinates and a second x coordinate of the second set of coordinates is the same and wherein the instructions for identifying written content further comprise instructions for identifying written content located on a portion of the writing surface having an x coordinate less than the first and second x coordinates.
17 . The digital pen device of claim 12 further comprising instructions for identifying additional content linked to the written content.
18 . The digital pen device of claim 17 wherein the instructions for identifying additional content comprise instructions for identifying a time stamp for the written content and instructions for identifying additional content having the time stamp.
19 . The digital pen device of claim 17 wherein the additional content comprises audio content.
20 . The digital pen device of claim 17 further comprising instructions for identifying additional content linked to the written content based on user-defined rules.