8.6

Using Pattern Sequences
In the event where a single location generates all the patterns and this output *can* be split into
multiple logical zones, Pattern Sequences can be used. A Pattern Sequence is basically a
"tag" that is added after the pattern's identification (Pattern ID). When a Pattern Sequence is
used, each Pattern Sequence can re-use each of the 20,000 available patterns. "Zones", in this
case, could refer to a specific region within a city, or a whole city or a province, whatever fits
your needs.
Pattern Sequences can be handled in 2 different ways: by attaching a Pattern Sequence to a
specific pen, or by attaching it to a specific PlanetPress Workflow process. Here is an example
for each cases, using a typical situation of a shipping company that uses PlanetPress Capture
to simplify the archiving of the client's signature on a "Confirmation of Reception" slip.
l Pen-Based Sequences: In this case, each pen is attributed a specific pattern sequence.
When documents are printed, they are set to attribute a pattern sequence to each
document in relation to which pen it will be signed on. For example, the shipping
company may have decided to print each "route" using the route number as a pattern
sequence, and each pen is tagged (with a label) as being for use with a specific pattern
sequence also. Each morning, as drivers are attributed a route, they pick up the correct
pen and stack of paper that belong to their route before leaving.
Note
It's very important to note here that the Anoto Digital Pen has absolutely no concept of Pattern
Sequences. When "attributing" a sequence to a pen, this is fully on the PlanetPress Workflow side,
in the Capture Database. This means that if a pen is mislabeled or someone picks up the wrong pen,
this pen has absolutely no way to know that it is writing on the wrong paper. more about this in the
Contamination section below.
l Process-Based Sequences: In this case, while documents are still printed and their
route number attributed to their pattern sequence, the pens do not have this distinction.
However, the docking station where the pens are placed at the end of the day are set to
send the pen's data to a specific process which will only handle processing for that
specific route number. In this case, one physical computer (and, presumably, printer) is
used for each route, and the driver must dock the pen in the proper docking station which
corresponds to his router number, at the end of the day.
Page 149