IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,739,289
Granted Patent B2
US 12,739,289 · App. 18/548,134 · Granted Sep 15, 2026

Systems and methods for managing digital notes for collaboration

Inventors: Lisa M. Miller (Spring Valley, WI); Scott R. Fairbairn (Cottage Grove, MN); Heather M. Green (Woodbury, MN); Willem V. Bastiaens (Scandia, MN); Joseph C. Wintheiser (Oakdale, MN); Pontus Axelsson (Stockholm, SE); Michael Rotstein (Stockholm, SE); Emre B. Ergenekon (Solna, SE); Nicklas A. Ansman Giertz (New York, NY); Marina Visintini (Stockholm, SE)
Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
H04L65/401
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,739,289
App. No.
18/548,134
Granted
Sep 15, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for collaboration using digital notes. A facilitator starts a session during a video conferencing with participants and can share a screen with the participants. The screen displays a code, a session ID, and a link. Participants join the session by scanning the code with a camera, entering the session ID, or accessing the link. During the session, the participants can create digital notes or scan physical notes to have them converted to digital notes. The facilitator then receives the digital notes sent from the participants during the session and moves the digital notes to a group on the facilitator's screen. Since the facilitator's screen is shared with the participants, any participant can view the digital notes in the group from all of the participants for collaboration as controlled by the facilitator.

Claims (24)

1 . A method for collaboration using notes, comprising steps of executed by a processor:

starting a session by a facilitator during a video conferencing with participants using at least one of a code, a session ID, and a link;

joining the participants to the session when the participants scan the code with a camera, enter the session ID, or access the link;

receiving by the facilitator digital notes sent from the participants during the session;

moving by the facilitator the digital notes to a group viewable by the participants during the session; and

closing the session when the session ends.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving by the facilitator a board for the group.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising adding by the facilitator digital notes to the board.

4 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising receiving by the facilitator another group for the board.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the moving step comprises moving by the facilitator the digital notes to the another group on the facilitator's screen viewable by the participants during the session.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the moving step comprises receiving by the facilitator a drag and drop operation to move the digital notes to the group.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying to each of the participants a section for draft digital notes of the participant and a section for sent digital notes of the participant received by the facilitator.

8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising receiving by the participant a digital note created by the participant as one of the draft digital notes.

9 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising receiving by the participant a digital note corresponding with a physical note scanned by the participant as one of the draft digital notes.

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving by the facilitator a digital note created by the facilitator for the group.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising displaying within the group the digital note created by the facilitator.

12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving by the facilitator a digital note corresponding with a physical note scanned by the facilitator.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising displaying within the group the digital note corresponding with the physical note scanned by the facilitator.

14 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising setting a default timer for the session, and wherein the closing step comprises closing the session when the timer expires.

15 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving by the facilitator a timer for the session, and wherein the closing step comprises closing the session when the timer expires.

16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the joining step comprises opening a software application for the participants to create the digital notes.

17 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising automatically detecting a physical note via an image capture device of one of the participants and converting the detected physical note to a corresponding digital note.

18 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending the digital notes to the participants when the session ends or after the session ends.

19 . A system for collaboration using notes, comprising a processor configured to execute of the method of claim 1 .

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 28, 2023
From: MILLER, LISA M.; FAIRBAIRN, SCOTT R.; GREEN, HEATHER M.; BASTIAENS, WILLEM V.; WINTHEISER, JOSEPH C.; AXELSSON, PONTUS; ROTSTEIN, MICHAEL; ERGENEKON, EMRE B.; ANSMAN GIERTZ, NICKLAS A.; VISINTINI, MARINA
To: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
Reel/Frame 064721/0459 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63166515 · Mar 26, 2021
Related Publication 20240146781A1 · May 2, 2024
References Cited (15)
US 5818513A · Sano et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 11176522B2 · Fukasawa · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11556663B2 · Yamazoe · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 12314560B2 · Chaudhri et al. · 2025 [cited by applicant]
US 20140282077A1 · Wilson · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 20140297646A1 · Bastiaens et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150106754A1 · Somasundaram et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20190297126A1 · Graziano · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20210352120A1 · Masi · 2021 [cited by examiner]
JP 2006039800A · 2006 [cited by applicant]
JP 2007067535A · 2007 [cited by applicant]
JP 2007213447A · 2007 [cited by applicant]
JP 2017091328A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
JP 2019174894A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
International Search Report received for PCT International Application No. PCT/IB2022/051849, mailed on Jun. 1, 2022, 4 pages. [cited by applicant]