초록 ▼

Automatic actions can be obtained through a network using an area of marking medium with machine-readable markings that encode an action/medium identifier. The action/medium identifier identifies an action that can be produced through the network, and also identifies the area of marking medium. For

Automatic actions can be obtained through a network using an area of marking medium with machine-readable markings that encode an action/medium identifier. The action/medium identifier identifies an action that can be produced through the network, and also identifies the area of marking medium. For example, it may include a globally unique or network-wide page identifier as well as an action identifier that can be used to produce an action described by data associated with a counterpart digital page. Or it can include both a page identifier and a location identifier, with the location identifier also identifying an action that relates to the page's digital counterpart. Or it can include a document identifier and an action identifier. Or it can be a globally unique or network-wide sticker identifier that can be used to identify a document, a peripheral device, or another object to which the sticker is attached, and that also produces an action through the network.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for producing an action through a network, comprising:storing in a pointing device a first identifier that identifies a user of the pointing device;recording with the pointing device machine readable markings at a location on a hardcopy document;decoding the machine readable markings to

1. A method for producing an action through a network, comprising:storing in a pointing device a first identifier that identifies a user of the pointing device;recording with the pointing device machine readable markings at a location on a hardcopy document;decoding the machine readable markings to obtain a second identifier that identities the hardcopy document arid the location on the hardcopy document;using the first identifier and the second identifier to produce the action through the network;wherein the action produced through the network is tailored to:(a) the location on the hardcopy document identified by the second identifier, and(b) the user of the pointing device identified by the first identifier. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein a portion of an item is illustrated at the location on the hardcopy document. 3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the action produced through the network initiates delivery of the item to the user. 4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the item is an article. 5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the second identifier further specifies an action device using a globally unique identifier that identifies the hardcopy document. 6. A method according to claim 5, further comprising providing the second identifier through the network to the action device for producing the action. 7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the action device provides the action automatically in response to receiving a location identifier identifying the location on the hardcopy document identified by the second identifier. 8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the second identifier includes a page identifier. 9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the machine-readable markings are visually nonobstructive markings. 10. A method for operating a pointing device to perform an action through a network, comprising:recording input signals of machine-readable markings from an area of a marking medium using a camera integral with the pointing device;decoding on a processor integral with the pointing device using the recorded input signals of the machine-readable markings to obtain an identifier; the identifier identifying the marking medium and a location of the area of the marking medium; andforwarding the identifier using network connection hardware integral with the pointing device to an action device coupled to the network to perform the action specifically for a user identified by the pointing device. 11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the identifier is an action/medium identifier. 12. A method according to claim 10, wherein the pointing device is handheld. 13. A method according to claim 10, wherein the actions are automatically performed by the action device in response to receiving the identifier.