US5897648A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for editing electronic documents
Assignee: Numonics Corp
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Filing: 1996-12-20
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Granted: 1999-04-27
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Expires: 2016-12-20
Abstract
Abstract A system is disclosed for the editing of electronic documents wherein the hardcopy of an original document is scanned into digital form to provide an electronic version of the document. The original document is then placed on an x-y digitizer with the position of the original document being correlated with the electronic version of the document in order to provide corresponding scaling, rotation and offset of the documents. The original document is then edited with a digitizer pen that marks the original document while at the same time converting the handwritten edit into digital form. The digitized edit is then combined with the electronic version of the document to produce an edited electronic document that can be displayed on a local and/or remote computer screen or the like. The system is useful in such applications as teleconferencing, where it is desired to edit the electronic version of a document that is displayed at multiple locations. Other applications include editing of digitized medical documents and graphical images such as X-rays, creating and editing drawings for engineering and other purposes, and editing digitized documents for archival purposes.
Inventors
- 👤 Phillip L. Henderson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 14:05
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0487; G06F3/0488; G06F40/00; G06F40/10; G06F40/166; G06F40/169; G06T; G06T11/00; G06T11/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
456 words
An apparatus for editing documents comprising: (a) means for providing an electronic version of a hardcopy document; (b) an x-y digitizer having a digitizer surface for receiving the hardcopy document for editing of the hardcopy document, the digitizer comprising means for editing the hardcopy document received on the digitizer surface including means for marking directly on the hardcopy document, and means for providing a digitized version of the edit made to the hardcopy document; (c) means for correlating the position of the hardcopy document received on said digitizer surface for editing with the electronic version of the hardcopy document; (d) means for combining the digitized version of the edit made to the hardcopy document and the electronic version of the hardcopy document as an edited electronic document; (e) wherein the means for correlating the position of the hardcopy document on the digitizer surface for editing with the electronic version of the hardcopy document comprises means for determining scale, rotation and offset of the hardcopy document on the digitizer surface with the electronic version of the hardcopy document; (f) wherein the means for determining the scale, rotation and offset of the hardcopy document comprises said marking means for identifying at least one point on the hardcopy document when said hardcopy document is received on said digitizer surface, said determining means further comprising: said means for providing a digitized version of the edit made to the hardcopy document for providing a digitized version of said at least one point identified on the hardcopy document; means independent of at least said digitizer surface for displaying an image of the electronic version of the hardcopy document; at least one identification means displayed on said displaying means; means for adjusting a location of said at least one identification means for positioning said at least one identification means at at least one point on said image of the electronic version of the hardcopy document corresponding to the at least one point identified on the hardcopy document by said marking means; and program means for processing said digitized version of said at least one point on the hardcopy document and said at least one point on said image of the electronic version of the hardcopy document to determine at least one of the scale, portion and offset of the hardcopy document; and (g) wherein one point on the hardcopy document and one point on the image of the electronic version of the hardcopy document are identified when scale and rotation are known, and said program means determines the offset by solving the expressions: Xoffset=(XDSP1/Xscale)-XDIG1 Yoffset=(YDSP1/Yscale)-YDIG1 where XDSP1 and YDSP1 are coordinated of the identified point on the displaying means and XDIG1 and YDIG1 are coordinates of the identified point on the x-y digitizer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
456 words
An apparatus for editing documents comprising: (a) means for providing an electronic version of a hardcopy document; (b) an x-y digitizer having a digitizer surface for receiving the hardcopy document for editing of the hardcopy document, the digitizer comprising means for editing the hardcopy document received on the digitizer surface including means for marking directly on the hardcopy document, and means for providing a digitized version of the edit made to the hardcopy document; (c) means for correlating the position of the hardcopy document received on said digitizer surface for editing with the electronic version of the hardcopy document; (d) means for combining the digitized version of the edit made to the hardcopy document and the electronic version of the hardcopy document as an edited electronic document; (e) wherein the means for correlating the position of the hardcopy document on the digitizer surface for editing with the electronic version of the hardcopy document comprises means for determining scale, rotation and offset of the hardcopy document on the digitizer surface with the electronic version of the hardcopy document; (f) wherein the means for determining the scale, rotation and offset of the hardcopy document comprises said marking means for identifying at least one point on the hardcopy document when said hardcopy document is received on said digitizer surface, said determining means further comprising: said means for providing a digitized version of the edit made to the hardcopy document for providing a digitized version of said at least one point identified on the hardcopy document; means independent of at least said digitizer surface for displaying an image of the electronic version of the hardcopy document; at least one identification means displayed on said displaying means; means for adjusting a location of said at least one identification means for positioning said at least one identification means at at least one point on said image of the electronic version of the hardcopy document corresponding to the at least one point identified on the hardcopy document by said marking means; and program means for processing said digitized version of said at least one point on the hardcopy document and said at least one point on said image of the electronic version of the hardcopy document to determine at least one of the scale, portion and offset of the hardcopy document; and (g) wherein one point on the hardcopy document and one point on the image of the electronic version of the hardcopy document are identified when scale and rotation are known, and said program means determines the offset by solving the expressions: Xoffset=(XDSP1/Xscale)-XDIG1 Yoffset=(YDSP1/Yscale)-YDIG1 where XDSP1 and YDSP1 are coordinated of the identified point on the displaying means and XDIG1 and YDIG1 are coordinates of the identified point on the x-y digitizer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic version of the hardcopy document is provided in digital form.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for providing an electronic version of an hardcopy document comprises a scanner adapted to scan the hardcopy document into digital form.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for editing the hardcopy document comprises a digitizer pen including the means for marking directly on the hardcopy document.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the digitizer pen comprises a tip switch adapted to actuate when sufficient pressure is applied by the digitizer pen to mark the hardcopy document.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for determining the rotation of the hardcopy document comprises means for positioning the hardcopy document in a known rotational orientation on the x-y digitizer, wherein the positioning means comprises stop means extending outward from and in a predetermined position relative to said digitizer surface for receiving said hardcopy document in said known rotational orientation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises means for displaying the electronic version of the hardcopy document.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises means independent of at least said digitizer surface for displaying an image of the edited electronic document at substantially the same time as said hardcopy document is edited by said marking means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the means for displaying the edited electronic document is provided at at least one location selected from locations local to the x-y digitizer and locations remote from the x-y digitizer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises storing means for storing at least one of the electronic version of the hardcopy document, the digitized version of the edit made to the hardcopy document and the edited electronic document.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
84 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein two points on said hardcopy document and two points on said image of the electronic version of the hardcopy document are identified when the rotation is known, and said program means determines the scale and offset by solving the expressions: Xscale=(XDSP2-XDSP1)/(XDIG2-XDIG1) Yscale=(YDSP2-YDSP1)/(YDIG2-YDIG1) Xoffset=(XDSP1/Xscale)-XDIG1 Yoffset=(YDSP1/Yscale)-YDIG1 where XDSP1, YDSP1 and XDSP2, YDSP2 are coordinates of the identified points on the displaying means and XDIG1, YDIG1 and XDIG2 and YDIG2 are coordinates of the identified points on the x-y digitizer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
227 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein three points on said hardcopy document and three points on said image of said electronic version of the hardcopy document are identified when neither rotation, offset or scale are known, and said program means determines the scale, rotation and offset by solving the expressions: ydb1=yd1-xd1*(yd2-yd1)/(xd2-xd1) Lg12=((yg2-yg1)**2+(xg2-xg1)**2)**1/2 Ld12=((yd2-yd1)**2+(yd2-yd1)**2)**2)**1/2 L1b1=((yd1-ydb1)**2+xd1**2)**2)**1/2 L1B1=L1b1*(Lg12/Ld12) xB1=xg1-L1B1*(xg2-xg1)/Lg12 yB1=yg1-L1B1*(yg2-yg1)/Lg12 ydb2=yd2-xd2*(yd3-yd2)/(xd3-xd2) Lg23=((yg3-yg2)**2+(xg3-xg2)**2)**2)**1/2 Ld23=((yd3-yd2)**2+(xd3-xd2)**2)**2)**1/2 L2b2=((yd2-ydb2)**2+xd2**2)**2)**1/2 L2B2=L2b2*(Lg23/Ld23) xB2=xg2+/-L2B2*(xg3-xg2)/Lg23 yB2=yg2+/-L2B2*(yg3-yg2)/Lg23 yscale=(ydb2-ydb1)/((xB2-xB1)**2+(yB2-yB1)**2)**2)**1/2 xdd1-ydb1*(xd2-xd1)/(yd2-yd1) Lg12=((yg2-yg1)**2+(xg2-xg1)**2)**2)**1/2 Ld12=((yd2-yd1)**2+(yd2-yd1)**2)**2)**1/2 L1d1=((yd)**2+(xd1-xdd1)**2)**2)**1/2 L1D1=I1d1*(Lg12/Ld12) xD1=xg1-L1D1*(xg2-xg1)/Lg12 yD1=yg1-L1D1*(yg2-yg1)/Lg12 Lg23=((yg3-yg2)**2+(xg3-xg2)**2)**2)**1/2 Ld23=((yd3-yd2)**2+(xd3-xd2)**2)**1/2 L2d2=((yd2)**2+(xd2-xdd2)**2)**1/2 L2D2=L2d2*(Lg23/Ld23) xdd2=-ydb2*(xd3-xd2)/(yd3-yd2) xD2=xg2+/-L2D2*(xg3-xg2)/Lg23 yD2=yg2+/-L2D2*(yg3-yg2)/Lg23 Xscale+(xdd2-xdd1)/((xD2-xD1)**2+(yD2-YD1)**2)**1/2 SlpB-(yB2-yB1)/(xB2-xB1) IntB=yB2-SlpB*xB2 SlpD=(yD2-yD1)/(xD2-xD1) IntD=yD2-SlpD*xD2 y=SlpB x+IntB -y=SlpD x-IntD O=(SlpB-SlpD)x+(IntB-IntD) x=Xoffset=(IntD-IntB)/(SlpB-SlpD) Yoffset=Xoffset*SlpB+IntB sin theta=(xB2-xB1)/((xB1-xB2)**2+(yB1-yB2)**2)**1/2 cos theta=(yB2-yB1)/((xB1-xB2)**2+(yB1-yB2)**2)**1/2 xrotate=xdig* cos theta-ydig* sin theta yrotate=ydig* cos theta+xdig* sin theta xdsp=Xscale*(xrotate+Xoffset) ydsp=yscale*(yrotate+Yoffset) where xd1, yd1; xd2, yd2 and xd3, yd3 are coordinates of the identified points on the displaying means; xg1,yg1; xg2, yg2 and xg3, yg3 are coordinates of the identified points on the x-y digitizer; b1, b2 are the intercept points of lines through points 1 and 2, and points 2 and 3 with the y-axis on the x-y digitizer; B1 B2 are points on the displaying means corresponding to points b1, b2; L is distance; Slp is slope; Int is intercept; d1, d2 are the intercept points of lines through points 1 and 2, and points 2 and 3 with the x-axis on the x-y digitizer; D1, D2 are points on the displaying means corresponding to points d1, d2.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
394 words
A method for editing documents comprising the steps of: (a) providing an electronic version of a hardcopy document; (b) positioning the hardcopy document on a surface of an x-y digitizer for editing of the hardcopy document; (c) correlating the positioning of the hardcopy document received on the digitizer surface for editing with the electronic version of the hardcopy document; (d) editing directly on the hardcopy document received on the digitizer surface; (e) digitizing the edit made to the hardcopy document; (f) combining the digitized edit made to the hardcopy document and the electronic version of the hardcopy document to produce an edited electronic document; (g) wherein correlating the position of the hardcopy document with the electronic version of the hardcopy document comprises determining scale, rotation and offset of the hardcopy document and correlating the scale, rotation and offset of the hardcopy document with electronic version of the hardcopy document; (h) wherein at least one of the scale, rotation and offset of the hardcopy document is determined by identifying at least one point on the hardcopy document, digitizing the at least one point identified on the hardcopy document, displaying independent of at least said digitizer surface an image of the electronic version of the hardcopy document, displaying at least one identification means on the image of the electronic version of the hardcopy document, adjusting a location of said at least one identification means for positioning said at least one identification means at at least one point on the image of the electronic version of the hardcopy document corresponding to the position of the at least one point identified on the hardcopy document and processing via a program means, said digitized version of said at least one point on the hardcopy document and said at least one point on said image of the electronic version of the hardcopy document to determine at least one of the scale, rotation and offset of the hardcopy document; and (i) wherein one point on the hardcopy document and one point on the image of the electronic version of the hardcopy document are identified when scale and rotation are known, and said program means determines the offset by solving the expressions; Xoffset=(XDSP1/Xscale)-XDIG1 Yoffset=(YDSP1/Yscale)-YDIG1 where XDSP1 and YDSP1 are coordinates of the identified point on the displaying means and XDIG1 and YDIG1 are coordinates of the identified point on the x-y digitizer.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
394 words
A method for editing documents comprising the steps of: (a) providing an electronic version of a hardcopy document; (b) positioning the hardcopy document on a surface of an x-y digitizer for editing of the hardcopy document; (c) correlating the positioning of the hardcopy document received on the digitizer surface for editing with the electronic version of the hardcopy document; (d) editing directly on the hardcopy document received on the digitizer surface; (e) digitizing the edit made to the hardcopy document; (f) combining the digitized edit made to the hardcopy document and the electronic version of the hardcopy document to produce an edited electronic document; (g) wherein correlating the position of the hardcopy document with the electronic version of the hardcopy document comprises determining scale, rotation and offset of the hardcopy document and correlating the scale, rotation and offset of the hardcopy document with electronic version of the hardcopy document; (h) wherein at least one of the scale, rotation and offset of the hardcopy document is determined by identifying at least one point on the hardcopy document, digitizing the at least one point identified on the hardcopy document, displaying independent of at least said digitizer surface an image of the electronic version of the hardcopy document, displaying at least one identification means on the image of the electronic version of the hardcopy document, adjusting a location of said at least one identification means for positioning said at least one identification means at at least one point on the image of the electronic version of the hardcopy document corresponding to the position of the at least one point identified on the hardcopy document and processing via a program means, said digitized version of said at least one point on the hardcopy document and said at least one point on said image of the electronic version of the hardcopy document to determine at least one of the scale, rotation and offset of the hardcopy document; and (i) wherein one point on the hardcopy document and one point on the image of the electronic version of the hardcopy document are identified when scale and rotation are known, and said program means determines the offset by solving the expressions; Xoffset=(XDSP1/Xscale)-XDIG1 Yoffset=(YDSP1/Yscale)-YDIG1 where XDSP1 and YDSP1 are coordinates of the identified point on the displaying means and XDIG1 and YDIG1 are coordinates of the identified point on the x-y digitizer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 13, wherein the electronic version of the hardcopy document is provided by scanning the hardcopy document into digital form.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 13, wherein a digitizer pen is used to edit the hardcopy document and to digitize the edit made to the hardcopy document.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method according to claim 14, wherein the rotation of the hardcopy document is determined by positioning the hardcopy documents in a known rotational orientation on the x-y digitizer relative to stop means extending outward from and in a predetermined position relative to said digitizer surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of displaying the electronic version of the hardcopy document.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of displaying independent of at least said digitizer surface the edited electronic document and at substantially the same time as said hardcopy document is being edited directly thereon.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 18, wherein the edited electronic document is displayed at at least one location selected from locations local to the x-y digitizer and locations remote from the x-y digitizer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 12, wherein at least one control unit is used to store the electronic version of the hardcopy document, the digitized edit made to the hardcopy document and the edited electronic document.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
85 words
A method according to claim 13, wherein two points on said hardcopy document and two points on said image of the electronic version of the hardcopy document are identified when the rotation is known, and said program means determines the scale and offset by solving the expressions: Xscale=(XDSP2-XDSP1)/(XDIG2-XDIG1) Yscale=(YDSP2-YDSP1)/(YDIG2-YDIG1) Xoffset=(XDSP1/Xscale)-XDIG1 Yoffset=(YDSP1/Yscale)-YDIG1 where XDSP1, YDSP1 and XDSP2 and YDSP2 are coordinates of the identified points on the displaying means and XDIG1, YDIG1 and XDIG2 and YDIG2 are coordinates of the identified points on the x-y digitizer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
228 words
A method according to claim 17, wherein three points on said hardcopy document and three points on said image of said electronic version of the hardcopy document are identified when neither rotation, offset or scale are known, and said program means determines the scale, rotation and offset by solving the expressions: ydb1=yd1-xd1*(yd2-yd1)/(xd2-xd1) Lg12=((yg2-yg1)**2+(xg231 xg1)**2)**1/2 Ld12=((yd2-yd1)**2+(yd2-yd1)**2)**1/2 L1b1=((yd1-ydb1)**2+xd1**2)**1/2 L1B1=L1b1*(Lg12/Ld12) xB1=xg1-L1B1*(xg2-xg1)/Lg12 yB1=yg1-L1B1*(yg2-yg1)/Lg12 ydb2=yd2-xd2*(yd3-yd2)/(xd3-xd2) Lg23=((yg3-yg2)**2+(xg3-xg2)**2)**1/2 Ld23=((yd3-yd2)**2+(xd3-xd2)**2)****2)**1/2 L2b2=((yd2-ydb2)**2+xd2**2)**1/2 L2B2=L2b2*(Lg23/Ld23) xB2=xg2+/-L2B2*(xg3-xg2)/Lg23 yB2=yg2+/-L2B2*(yg3-yg2)/Lg23 yscale=(ydb2-ydb1)/((xB2-xB1)**2+(yB2-yB1)**2)**1/2 xdd1-ydb1*(xd2-xd1)/(yd2-yd1) Lg12=((yg2-yg1)**2+(xg2-xg1)**2)**1/2 Ld12=((yd2-yd)**2+(yd2-yd1)**2)**1/2 L1d1=((yd1)**2+(xd1-xdd1)**2)**1/2 L1D1=L1d1*(Lg12/Ld12) xD1=xg1-L1D1*(xg2-xg1)/Lg12 yD1=yg1-L1D1*(yg2-yg1)/Lg12 Lg23=((yg3-yg2)**2+(xg3-xg2)**2)**1/2 Ld23=((yd3-yd2)**2+(xd3-xd2)**2)**1/2 L2d2=((yd2)**2+(xd2-xdd2)**2)**1/2 L2D2=L2d2*(Lg23/Ld23) xdd2=-ydb2*(xd3-xd2)/(yd3-yd2) xD2=xg2+/-L2D2*(xg3-xg2)/Lg23 yD2=yg2+/-L2D2*(yg3-yg2)/Lg23 Xscale=(xdd2-xdd1)/((xD2-xD1)**2+(yD2-YD1)**2)**1/2 SlpB=(yB2-yB1)/(xB2-xB1) IntB=yB2-SlpB*xB2 SlpD(yD2-yD1)/(xD2-xD1) IntD=yD2-SlpD*xD2 y=SlpBx+IntB -y=SlpDx-IntD O=(SlpB-SlpD)x+(IntB-IntD) x=Xoffset=(IntD-IntB)/(SlpB-SlpD) Yoffset=Xoffset*SlpB+IntB sin theta=(xB2-xB1)/((xB1-xB2)**2+(yB1-yB2)**2)**1/2 cos theta=(yB2-yB1)/((xB1-xB2)**2+(yB1-yB2)**2)**1/2 xrotate=xdig* cos theta-ydig* sin theta yrotate=ydig* cos theta+xdig* sin theta xdsp=Xscale*(xrotate+Xoffset) ydsp=yscale*(yrotate+Yoffset) where xd1, yd1; xd2 , yd2 and xd3, yd3 are coordinates of the identified points on the displaying means; xg1, yg1; xg2, yg2 and xg3, yg3 are coordinates of the identified points on the x-y digitizer; b1, b2 are the intercept points of lines through points 1 and 2, and points 2 and 3 with the y-axis on the x-y digitizer; B1 B2 are points on the displaying means corresponding to points b1, b2; L is distance; Slp is slope; Int is intercept; d1, d2 are the intercept points of lines through points 1 and 2, and points 2 and 3 with the x-axis on the x-y digitizer; D1, D2 are points on the displaying means corresponding to points d1, d2.
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