Patent Application
20120212423
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to devices for refreshing one's memory regarding oral presentations, and particularly to an electronic note-taking system and method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Small, touch-enabled, screen devices, such as mobile cellular telephones and personal digital assistants (“PDAs”), are increasing in popularity. A typical small, touch-enabled, screen device is a limited function microcomputer provided with a pressure-sensitive liquid crystal diode (LCD) display (a touch pad or a touch screen) for input and output (I/O). Small screen devices are useful for many purposes, including voice and wireless Internet communication, scheduling, and note taking. Often, the primary input means for these small screen devices is via the pressure-sensitive LCD display with a limited-size keypad. As these portable devices become smaller and more specialized, continuous written input has become more difficult and less practical. Pen-based user interfaces are attractive because they are scalable (i.e., only small reductions in size can be made to keyboards before they become awkward to use) and offer the pointing capabilities of a touch-screen or mouse. Furthermore, when compared to voice-based interfaces, pen-based input takes place in private, can be done in silence without disturbing bystanders, and is insensitive to acoustic noise in the environment.
Manual input on small screen devices, such as mobile cellular telephones and personal digital assistants (“PDA”), generally consists of one or more “ink traces” for user input. As is known in the art, an ink point is an element of writing in the stream of data recorded by a real-time digitizer, and a trace is a sequence of contiguous ink points. An ink trace is a complete pen-down movement hounded by two pen-up movements or a complete pen-up movement. A sequence of traces accumulates to meaningful units, such as characters and words. However, a consistent problem with existing systems is the lack of size of the touchscreen for handwriting entry by a user.
Thus, an electronic note-taking system and method solving the aforementioned problems is desired.
The electronic note-taking system and method includes a computer or a stand-alone handheld electronic device having note-taking software that reads, stores and displays a user's cursive writing on a digital pad or touch sensitive screen. A stylus is included to facilitate entry into the device. A stand-alone note-taking software product or a note-taking device with embedded software is included. The stand-alone software is installable on handheld devices. Users may either purchase the software separately for their own devices, or purchase the hardware with the software stored thereon.
During note taking, the device secures the user's notes by frequent, customizable autosaving (seconds to minutes) in a local storage means. The note-taking device is compatible with desktop/mobile computers, handheld devices, writing tablets and the like. Cursive handwriting to text conversion is optional on the device.
These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.
As shown in
During note taking, the device secures user's notes by frequent, customizable autosaving (seconds to minutes) in a local storage means. The note-taking device 100 is compatible with desktop/mobile computers, handheld devices, writing tablets and the like. Cursive handwriting to text conversion is optional on the device.
The device 100 allows basic functions, such as scroll up and down, open/close, printing, saving, email, deleting, etc. The note-taking apparatus 100 secures user's notes via local or external drives. It allows the user to save notes in either of those locations, with a third option being an e-mail account. The system will be quick-saving, efficient and portable for any note takers. The hardware device will come in a few different sizes with, as shown in
As shown in
A touch of the “Erase” icon causes the processor to erase or delete the whole line or partial note. A touch of the “Print” icon causes the device 100 to print the displayed notes. A touch of the “E-mail” icon causes the device 100 to send a current and/or a saved document to an e-mail account if the Internet connection is enabled. A touch of the “Scroll” button causes the screen contents to scroll up and down the page according to the up arrow or the down arrow being activated. A touch of the Shut/Start icon causes the device 100 to shut down or restart accordingly. When the user clicks the “Shut/Start” button, the device 100 will present “Shut down” and “Restart” sub-icons to choose from.
Similar to a Return or Enter key on a keyboard, a touch of the “Return” icon causes the entry cursor to go to a next/new line or paragraph before the line ends. Software goes to the next line when the user reaches the end of the line. However, a return is needed when the user wishes to go to the next line before the end of the line. The “Return” icon will always be positioned at the end of the line for best convenience. The “Return” icon is visible all of the time and follows the last line on the farthest right portion of the writing window.
A touch of the “Open/Close” icon causes the processor of the device 100 to open/close a designated note-taking file.
A touch of the “Lin/Unl” icon causes switching between lined and unlined note-taking formats. The default setting is the lined or ruled option. A touch of the “Cop/Pas” icon causes the machine 100 to Copy and Paste within the note-taking window. A touch of the “Keyboard” icon causes the processor 100 to present a Virtual keyboard, which can be used for e-mail composition and note taking. The user will be able to switch to a virtual keyboard by touching the “Keyboard” icon on the screen. Using the virtual keyboard function facilitates sending email and adding electronic text to the digital ink note taking.
To operate the note-taking system 100 in a desktop or a mobile device, the user launches the system software, opens a new or existing file, and then starts writing or taking notes using his/her finger, or using a stylus with a desktop or mobile computer. When the user starts writing on a screen or writing pad, or computer, the software of the system 100 accepts whatever is written by finger or stylus on screen and saves it very quickly (there is a custom periodic save) in such possible locations as a local hard drive, a secondary internal or external drive, a USB drive, and E-mail or on the Web.
After completion of the note taking, the software of system 100 will save notes automatically using the autosave feature, or the user can manually save the notes.
The device 100 is a mobile device having rounded corners. The device 100 is approximately ½ inch thick with a ten-inch wide screen. The device 100 has no keyboard. The lid 502 (shown in
Component parts of the system 100 may include software, a stylus, three-cell Li-Ion rechargeable batteries, two internal and external storages, a hard drive, and the like. The stylus functions like a pen/pencil. Therefore, a mouse and keyboard will not be required to perform note taking on the system 100. The note-taking apparatus 100 may be provided in exemplary dimensions, e.g., ¼ inch thickness, 4 by 2½ (L×W) inch screen and writing base, or ¼ inch thickness, 5 by 3 (L×W) inch screen and writing base, or ¼ inch thickness, 10 by 7 (L×W) inch window screen and writing base. Body sizes will be ½ inch larger than dimensions above.
If the user is using a desktop or other such computer that does not have touch screen capability, the screen will display what the user is writing on both the desktop computer screen and the digital writing pad of base 504. The user will be able to use the device approximately 4-5 hours without any external power and will be able to recharge with an adaptor or use the device with an adaptor that is plugged to the electric outlet. The device 100 will provide ports for USB for external devices, Internet connection, and an AC power adaptor.
To operate the device 100, the user will open the lid by pressing the lock/release button 506 located in front of the device 100. There may be a slight spring bias in the lid that allows the lid 502 to be released and pop up a small amount, thus enabling the user to manually lift the lid 502 upward completely. Then the user will power the device via a power button located on device 100. Subsequently, the note-taking screen portion of the base 504 automatically activates by requesting a new note-taking file or an existing file to process. The user can then start writing notes with a finger or stylus and save written notes either by periodic autosaving options or manual saving options during the note taking. The user has complete control of the functionalities of the device 100 by touching appropriate toolbar icons 400 on the screen. When the user is finished writing notes, the user will be able to save the notes automatically or manually. The system 100 then closes the active file via the “Close/Open” icon under the toolbar 400. A power button push or closing the lid powers off the system 100.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
