Image analysis – Applications – Reading maps – graphs – drawings – or schematics
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-09
2004-04-20
Patel, Jayanti K. (Department: 2625)
Image analysis
Applications
Reading maps, graphs, drawings, or schematics
C707S793000, C345S215000, C348S014020
Reexamination Certificate
active
06724918
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to the field of communication methods. In particular, the invention relates to software for identifying sketch entities from sketch activity and for correlating media information to these sketch entities.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Short-term communication between two or more distant people is typically performed on the audio level. A variety of telephone systems provide the proper tools for that type of communication.
To exchange more specific information, communication solely on the audio level becomes often unsatisfactory. Visual information in the form of graphics, pictures, sketches and the like are used to aid the information exchange.
In meetings, where people are physically together, visual information is shared by making it simultaneously visible to all participants. In addition, the participants are able to express themselves by using gestures or by drawing sketches.
Devices have been developed that provide shared visual information correlated to audio information. The goal of such devices is to enable people in distant locations, to communicate verbally and share visual information at the same time. The limited transmission capacity of public switched telephone networks (PSTN) reduces the feasibility of simultaneous audio and visual information exchange. The exchange of more detailed visual information like for instance pictures, graphics or sketches is not possible with such systems. Real time multi media communication devices (RTMMCD) that use the PSTN typically provide only a low resolution screen that is able to capture and transmit facial expression of a participant.
One major problem of multi media communication is the large variation in the data amount of the transmitted audio and visual information. These discrepancies occur because visual and verbal information are typically correlated in an information exchange event. As a result, high data amount of simultaneous audio and visual information intent to exceed the transmission capacities of the communication infrastructure. Since a signal distributed between a number of users via a PSTN can carry only a certain amount of information within a given time period, the transmission of visual and verbal information needs to be buffered to allow the transmission of more sophisticated visual information.
The buffering of the information is typically accomplished by independently saving audio information and/or video information. This buffering is accomplished temporally and/or permanently, at the location where the information is created and/or at a remote location. In a following step, the correlated information are transmitted chronologically with certain user definable parameter.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,656,654 to Dumas discloses a computer-assisted graphic teleconferencing method and apparatus that is designed for use with the PSTN. The method and apparatus described in the patent work according to the principles described in the paragraph above. The main disadvantage of this invention is that graphics and voice can be communicated only alternatingly. A simultaneous distribution of a sketching activity with the contemporaneous explanatory verbal information is not possible with this invention. In addition, the invention is not usable in combination with the Internet since no distribution system is described that may be implemented in a web page.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,801,757 to Saulsbury discloses an interactive communication device that allows simultaneous sending and receiving of audio and graphic information via a PSTN. The device uses techniques for compression, merging and coding of signals to accomplish the transmission. The patented device further uses techniques for decompressing, separating and decoding of signals to recreate the audio and graphic signals in their original form at the location of a receiver. The patented device is placed between the telephone line and the PC.
The device provides a possibility for simultaneous exchange of audio and graphical information. The main shortcoming of the device is that it needs to be physically installed in combination with a software program, which may result in problems of compatibility with existing hardware. Furthermore, it is not possible to communicate audio-graphically with a person that is not in possession of the device. The invention is also not usable in combination with the Internet since no distribution system is described that may be implemented in a web page.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,832,065 to Bannister et al. discloses a synchronous voice/data message system that allows the exchange of audio-graphic messages between specific portable communication devices also via a PSTN. The message system provides a replay function to display the creation process of the graphical information. In addition, the message system simultaneously replays the correlated verbal information. The chronological audio graphic information can be replayed at varying speeds. Unfortunately, the message system is one directional and chronological. It does not afford a recipient the option to selectively access segments of the chronologically retrieved message. It is not possible to communicate audio-graphically with a person that is not in possession of the portable communication device. Further, the invention is not usable in combination with the Internet since no distribution system is described that may be implemented in a web page.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,915,003 to Bremer et al. discloses a sketching unit for transmission of sketches and notes over normal telephone lines. The teaching of the patent is similar to that of Saulsbury. It utilizes in addition a specific sketching unit that allows creating and/or displaying graphic information. The patent further discloses a technique for a multiplexed transmission via a device that is switched between the telephone line and a computer. It is not possible to communicate audio-graphically with a person that is not in possession of the device. The invention is also not usable in combination with the Internet since no distribution system is described that may be implemented in a web page.
A communication medium that is gaining more and more significance is the Internet. A number of software products and web pages provide users possibilities to exchange audio and/or graphical information for the purpose of real time collaboration.
For instance, the RealityWave Inc. discloses on their web page www.realitywave.com a software product called VizStream that allows to create 3D graphics that can be embedded within a web page and accessed by the client. Even though the software provides an enhanced display technique, it limits the client to view a prepared information. Bi-directional information exchange on the basis of a common document is not possible with that technique. Further, Vizstream provides only the display of 3D models without any additional media information like, for instance, audio, video, or graphics.
On the web page www.solidworks.com a software program called “eDrawing” is presented, which allows to generate self extracting files that can be attached to emails. The self extracting files unfold into an interactive screen where 2D mechanical drawings can be viewed together with remarks and any other text or graphical information necessary to make the drawing understandable. eDrawing is also one-directional, which means that the client cannot add on his side to the contents of the information. Further, eDrawing provides no possibility to add verbal information to the drawing.
On the web page www.bluelineonline.com web site based service programs are introduced by the names of “ProjectNet”, “ProjectNet LT” and “ProjectNet EPS”. Among other services, the programs provide a number of clients engaged into the same project with the possibility to review simultaneously technical drawings. In addition, the programs enable the clients to add predetermined graphical symbols and explanatory text to the drawing. This added information is distributed to all other clients for the purpose of review.
Even though the programs g
Fruchter Renate
Leifer Larry
Yen Samuel
Choobin Barry
Lumen Intellectual Property Services Inc.
Patel Jayanti K.
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