Coordinate designation interface
View Patent ↗The present invention contemplates a novel method and device that employs a coordinate scanner to monitor an identifiable surface and communicate to a computer the exact location of the placement of a pointer on any identified surface and perform a variety of preprogrammed responses. This surface is identified to a computer by identifying indicia such as a bar code or other means such as user input. The computer will perform preprogrammed electronic responses to identified points on the surface by matching the identified point on the surface with an electronic version of the surface in memory. The designated surface may be flat or it may consist of a contoured surface in a wide variety of sizes and materials. The designated surface may be a test enabling answers by point designation or an advertisement enabling ordering by designating products on the surface or other types of indicia on a surface.
1. A surface scanning system for initiating predetermined actions based on points identified on a surface comprising:
a surface;
means to identify said surface to a computer having an electronic rendition of said surface stored in memory;
means to scan said surface in electronic communication with said computer;
means to identify a specific point on said surface to said means to scan said surface;
user activateable means to trigger said means to scan said surface, to communicate said specific point identified by said means to identify a specific point, to said computer;
software resident in said computer to compare said specific point identified, to specific points on said electronic rendition of said surface, and thereby identify designated indicia located at said specific point; and
said software upon determining said designated indica, thereafter communicating additional information relating to said designated indica using electronic means for output of said additional information.
2. The surface scanning system of claim 1 additionally comprising:
means to determine a registered engagement between said surface and said means to scan said surface.
3. The surface scanning system of claim 2 additionally comprising:
said surface being a template from a kit of interchangeable surface templates; and
said means to identify said surface to a computer comprising indicia placed on said surface which when transmitted by said scanner to said computer is matched to one of a plurality of memory resident electronic renditions of said surface templates.
4. The surface scanning system of claim 3 additionally comprising:
said identification indicia being a bar code.
5. The surface scanning system of claim 2 additionally comprising:
said surface being one of a group of indica bearing surfaces including a book, a newspaper, a test scoring sheet, and a magazine; and
said means to identify said surface to a computer comprising identification indicia placed on all members of the group of indica bearing surfaces, said identification indicia which when transmitted by said scanner to said computer is matched to one of memory resident electronic renditions of said pages.
6. The surface scanning system of claim 2 additionally comprising:
means to determine a registered engagement between said surface and said means to scan said surface comprises holes in said surface engageable with a plurality of rings through said holes.
7. The surface scanning system of claim 2 additionally comprising:
said means to determine a registered engagement between said surface and said means to scan said surface comprises an mark on said surface alignable with a mark in a fixed position.
8. The surface scanning system of claim 2 additionally comprising:
said means to scan said surface being a digitizer pad; and
said means to identify a specific point on said surface being a pointer.
9. The surface scanning system of claim 8 additionally comprising:
said means to identify said surface to a computer being a bar code on said surface readable by a bar code reader communicating with said computer.
10. The surface scanning system of claim 1 additionally comprising:
said means to scan said surface being one or a combination of surface scanners from a group of surface scanners consisting of optical scanners and sonic scanners.
11. The surface scanning system of claim 1 additionally comprising:
said means to scan said surface being at least one optical scanner.
12. The surface scanning system of claim 11 additionally comprising:
said means to identify a specific point on said surface having a means to emit light at a distal end used to identify said specific point.
13. The surface scanning system of claim 1 additionally comprising:
said means to scan said surface being at least one sonic scanner.
14. The surface scanning system of claim 13 additionally comprising:
means to identify a specific point on said surface having a means to broadcast sound at a distal end used to identify said specific point.
15. The surface scanning system of claim 1 additionally comprising:
said means to scan said surface adapted for engagement to a table or desk.
16. The surface scanning system of claim 1 additionally comprising:
said surface being a template from a kit of interchangeable surface templates; and
said means to identify said surface to a computer comprising indicia placed on said surface which when transmitted by said scanner to said computer is matched to one of a plurality of memory resident electronic renditions of said surface templates.
17. The surface scanning system of claim 1 additionally comprising:
said surface being one of a group of indica bearing surfaces including a book, a newspaper, a test scoring sheet, and a magazine; and
said means to identify said surface to a computer comprising identification indicia placed on all members of the group of indica bearing surfaces, said identification indicia which when transmitted by said scanner to said computer is matched to one of memory resident electronic renditions of said pages.
18. The surface scanning system of claim 17 additionally comprising:
said identification indicia being a bar code.
19. The surface scanning system of claim 1 additionally comprising:
said means to scan said surface being a digitizer pad; and
said means to identify a specific point on said surface being a pointer.
20. The surface scanning system of claim 19 additionally comprising:
said means to identify said surface to a computer being a bar code on said surface readable by a bar code reader communicating with said computer.
21. A method of surface scanning and providing electronic feedback based on specific points on a surface identified by the user through a surface scanner continuously monitoring said surface comprising:
placing an electronic copy of said surface in computer memory;
placing a means to identify said surface to said computer having said electronic copy of said surface stored in memory, on said surface;
having the user employ a means to identify a specific point on said surface, to identify said specific point;
communicating said specific point identified by said user electronically from said surface scanner to said computer;
employing software resident in said computer to compare said specific point identified, to said electronic copy of said surface and thereby identify specific indicia located at said specific point; and
employing said software thereafter to communicate additional information relating to said designated indica, using an electronic means for output of said additional information.
22. The method of surface scanning and providing electronic feedback based on specific points on a surface identified by the user of claim 21 additionally comprising:
said surface being a test; and
said additional information relating to said designated indica being said user's answers to questions on said test.
23. The method of surface scanning and providing electronic feedback based on specific points on a surface identified by the user of claim 21 additionally comprising:
said surface being an advertisement; and
said additional information relating to said designated indica being said user's identification of a product in said advertisement.
24. The method of surface scanning and providing electronic feedback based on specific points on a surface identified by the user of claim 23 , additionally comprising:
said computer initiating an electronic order for said product identified by said user.