A system and method for automatically providing content associated with captured information is described. In some examples, the system receives input by a user, and automatically provides content or links to content associated with the input. In some examples, the system receives input via text entry or by capturing text from a rendered document, such as a printed document, an object, an audio stream, and so on.

Automatically providing content associated with captured information, such as information captured in real-time

A device for capturing rendered text is described. The device incorporates one or more visual sensors that receive visual information as a part of capturing rendered text. The visual sensors are collectively capable of capturing both text that is permanently printed on a page, and text that is displayed transitorily on a dynamic device. The device further incorporates a visual information disposition subsystem for disposing of visual information received by the visual sensors. The device further incorporates a package that bears the visual sensors and the visual information disposition subsystem, and is suitable to be held in a human hand.

Handheld device for capturing text from both a document printed on paper and a document displayed on a dynamic display device

A portable device having scanning, imaging or other data-capture capability is described. In some cases, the portable device can indicate to the user when enough information has been captured to uniquely identify a source document. In some cases, the portable device calculates timestamps and location-stamps indicating when and where a data capture occurred. In some cases, the portable device is controlled by gestures. In some cases, the portable scanning device has associated billing and content/service subscription information.

Data capture from rendered documents using handheld device

A system for processing data captured from rendered documents is described. The system provides a way for authors and publishers to add value to printed documents using associated supplemental material. The system can use text scanned from a document and context to identify an electronic document that corresponds to the scanned document. A user can then access supplemental material associated with the digital document.

Adding value to a rendered document

A facility for initiating a purchase is described. The facility receives a text sequence captured by a user from a rendered document using a handheld text capture device. The facility identifies in the received text sequence a reference to a distinguished product. In response to identifying the reference, the facility presents to the user an opportunity to place an order for the established product. If the user accepts the presented opportunity to order the distinct product, the facility orders the distinct product on behalf of the user.

Processing techniques for text capture from a rendered document

Method and apparatus for storing document images, for creating retrieval index by which the document images may be retrieved, and for displaying the retrieved document images. When a document image is obtained, the document image is subjected to rule-based block selection techniques whereby individual regions within the document region are identified, and the types of regions are also identified, such as title-type regions, text-type regions, line art-type regions, halftone-type regions and color image-type regions. The identification is used to create structural information and both the document image and the structural information is stored. A word-based retrieval index is created based on title-type regions and/or text-type regions, the retrieval index being used in conjunction with a search query so as to be able to retrieve documents which match the search query. The retrieved documents are displayed in either a full image mode or a rapid browsing mode. In the rapid browsing mode, the full image of the document is not displayed, but rather only an abstract structural view of the document image based on the stored structural information. The level of abstraction may be specified by the operator in connection with the identified structural regions of the document, whereby, for example, only a structural view is displayed, or only title-type regions are displayed mixed with remaining structure.

Method and apparatus for creating, indexing and viewing abstracted documents

Method and apparatus for creating, editing, and processing an interactive system made up of event-actuated action items. In one aspect, an event interpreter for selecting action items for execution based on occurrences of events in an interactive system includes an input section by which the event interpreter receives a computer-usable signal indicating that an event has occurred, an event name generator for generating an event name based on the computer-usable signal, and an application selector for comparing the event name to the event identifier for action items stored in a file system and for selecting for execution an action item whose event identifier corresponds to the event name. In another aspect, the action items of the interactive system are displayed hierarchically using the file system presenter/editor. In this aspect of the invention, an interactive system application containing at least one event-actuatable action item is selected from the file system, a graphical representation of the at least one event-actuatable action item is displayed in a hierarchical arrangement, and an event identifier associated with the displayed action item of the selected interactive system application is displayed. The associated event identifier actuates the action item in response to the occurrence of a physical event corresponding to the event identifier.

User-definable interactive system

A computer-controlled communication board which includes a data access arrangement which functions as an intermediary between multiple telephone lines, a data communication device such as a fax/modem/voice chipset, and a standard telephone handset. The data access arrangement has a line select switch which switchably connects one of the multiple telephone lines to the data communication device via a single transformer and associated 2/4 converter. Off-hook switches are provided for each telephone line so that the data communication device can cause the selected telephone line to go off-hook. Likewise, ring detectors are provided for each telephone line so that the data communication device can detect which of those lines is ringing. Telephone handset switches may be provided for each telephone line so that the telephone handset may be switchably connected to any one of the multiple telephone lines. The data access arrangement may be configured so that unused lines appear "busy" to incoming calls, or it may be configured in a voice local mode in which the telephone handset may be used for play out and recording of audio information.

Two-line telephone controller

In a two-line telephone controller which includes a line select switch which operates complementarily to a force busy relay that allows an unselected telephone line to be forced to a busy state, a method for using the force busy relay also to place an active line on hold. The method includes detecting an incoming call on an inactive line, switching the line select switch to the inactive line, receiving an instruction to place the active line on hold, and responding to the hold instruction by closing an off-hook relay so as to connect the force busy switch across the active telephone line, opening a first handset select switch for the active telephone line, and closing a second handset select switch so as to select the incoming call on the ringing line. Because the force busy switch is connected across the formerly-active telephone line, loop current is maintained, thereby placing and maintaining the formerly-active call on hold.

Douglas L Palmer

Papers

Method and apparatus for creating, indexing and viewing abstracted documents

User-definable interactive system

Two-line telephone controller

Two-line telephone controller with hold feature