System and method for authorising an electronic message using a business card

Abstract

A system for authorising a first user to transfer an electronic message to a second user using a business card. The business card has disposed therein or thereon information relating to at least one interactive element associated with the second user and coded data relating to the at least one interactive element. The coded data is coincident with the information, such that when a sesning device is placed in an operative position relative to the information it senses at least some of the coded data and generates indicating data indicative of the at least one interactive element. A computer system receives the indicating data and used this to determine the at least one interactive element, and then from this, authorising, using the at least one interactive element, transfer of the electronic message to the second user.

1 . A system for authorising a first user to transfer an electronic message to a second user using a business card, the business card having disposed therein or thereon information relating to at least one interactive element associated with the second user and coded data relating to the at least one interactive element, at least some of the coded data being coincident with the information, and wherein the system includes a computer system for: 
 receiving indicating data from a sensing device, the sensing device when placed in an operative position relative to the interactive element, sensing at least some of the coded data and generating indicating data using the sensed coded data, the indicating data being at least partially indicative of the at least one interactive element;    determining, using the indicating data, the at least one interactive element; and,    authorising, using the at least one interactive element, transfer of the electronic message to the second user.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the coded data is at least partially indicative of an identity, and wherein the computer system is for: 
 determining, using the indicating data, the identity;    determining, using the identity, a page description; and,    identifying, using the page description, the at least one interactive element.    
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the identity is at least one of: 
 an identity of the form;    an identity of a region of the form; and,    an identity of the at least one interactive element.    
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the indicating data is at least partially indicative of a stroke, the stroke defining a sequence of sensing device positions determined from the sensed coded data, the sequence of sensing device positions being at least one of: 
 a sequence of relative positions; and,    a sequence of absolute positions.    
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the coded data includes a number of data portions, each data portion having a unique data portion identity indicative of a location of the coded data portion on the form, and wherein the computer system is for: 
 determining, from the indicating data, the data portion identity of each sensed data portion;    determining, using each data portion identity and a map, the location of each sensed data portion;    determining from each location, the movement of the sensing device relative to the at least one interactive element.    
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the coded data includes a number of data portions, each data portion coincident with the at least one interactive element having an identical data portion identity, wherein the indicating data is generated by: 
 sensing a number of images of the coded data;    comparing the images to determine common features in sequential images; and,    determine movement of the sensing device relative to the at least one interactive element by determining changes in position of the common features between the sequential images.    
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the stoke is indicative of a hand-written text input, and wherein the computer system is for performing text recognition on the handwritten text input, thereby to generate computer text.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the computer system is for: 
 determining, using the stroke, a handwritten signature; and,    determining, using a user identity, a predetermined signature;    verifying the user by comparing the handwritten signature to the predetermined signature.    
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the indicating data includes an identifier obtained from the sensing device, and wherein the computer system is for: 
 determining, using the indicating data, the identifier; and,    determining, using the identifier, the user identity.    
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system includes the sensing device, the sensing device comprising: 
 (a) an image sensor adapted to capture images of at least some of the coded data when the sensing device is placed in an operative position relative to the interface surface; and    (b) a processor adapted to: 
 (i) identify at least some of the coded data from at least one of the captured images;  
 (ii) determine an orientation and position, within at least one of the captured images, of at least some of the coded data;  
 (iii) decode at least some of the coded data; and  
 (iv) generate the indicating data using at least some of the decoded coded data and the determined orientation and position.  
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the system includes a relay device for: 
 receiving the indicating data from the sensing device; and,    transferring the indicating data to the computer system.    
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the relay device is a printer, the printer including: 
 a first communications module for communicating with the sensing device; and,    a second communications module for communicating with the computer system.    
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the sensing device includes a data store for storing a sensing device identifier, and wherein the sensing device generates the indicating data using the identifier, the relay device using the identifier to receive any response from the computer system.  
     
     
         14 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the computer system is for: 
 transferring print data to a printer, the printer being responsive to the print data to print a form by printing: 
 the information; and,  
 the coded data.  
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the computer system is for: 
 determining the information;    determining an identity, the identity being at least partially indicative of the at least one interactive element;    determining a layout defining an arrangement for at least one of: 
 coded data at least partially indicative of the identity; and,  
 the information;  
   recording an association between the layout and the identity; and,    generating the print data, the print data being at least partially indicative of: 
 the identity;  
 the layout; and  
 the information.  
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer system is for: 
 determining, using the interactive element, an authorisation to send an electronic message to the second user; and,    causing the message to be sent if the authorisation is valid.    
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the authorisation is at least one of: 
 valid for a predetermined number of messages;    valid for a predetermined time perios;    valid if an identity of the first user is included on an authorisation list associated with the second user.    
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer system uses the interactive element to determine at least one of: 
 information relating to the second user;    a message to send to the second user; and,    a recipient address for the second user, the recipient address being at least one: 
 a printer address and the card is delivered by printing at that address; and,  
 an electronic mail address, the message being delivered to the electronic mail address.  
   
     
     
         19 . A system for authorising a first user to transfer an electronic message to a second user using a business card, the system including a printer for: 
 receiving print data;    printing a form, using the print data, by printing: 
 information relating to at least one interactive element associated with the second user; and,  
 coded data relating to the at least one interactive element, at least some of the coded data being coincident with the information;  
   receiving indicating data from a sensing device, the sensing device when placed in an operative position relative to the information, sensing at least some of the coded data and generating indicating data using the sensed coded data, the indicating data being at least partially indicative of the at least one interactive element; and,    transferring the indicating data to a computer system to allow the indicating data to be interpreted.    
     
     
         20 . A method of authorising a first user to transfer an electronic message to a second user using a business card, the business card having disposed therein or thereon information relating to at least one interactive element associated with the second user and coded data relating to the at least one interactive element, at least some of the coded data being coincident with the information, and wherein the method includes: 
 receiving indicating data from a sensing device, the sensing device when placed in an operative position relative to the information, sensing at least some of the coded data and generating indicating data using the sensed coded data, the indicating data being at least partially indicative of the at least one interactive element;    determining, using the indicating data, the at least one interactive element; and,    authorising, using the at least one interactive element, transfer of the electronic message to the second user.