Font compression and retrieval
OwnerBernard Smeets, Jan Aberginventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Method and apparatus for compressing data representing a set of symbols such that each symbol of the set can be separately accessed and decompressed. Each symbol of the set of symbols is encoded in the form of a two-pair code wherein a first part of the code is common for all encoded symbols and a second part of the code encodes the data representing a symbol. An identifier is given for each symbol for permitting each encoded symbol to be separately accessed and decompressed. The invention is particularly useful for storing large fonts such as a Chinese or Japanese character set.
Claims29
A method for compressing data representing a set of symbols, comprising:
- encoding each symbol of said set of symbols in the form of a two-part code wherein a first part of said two-part code is common for all encoded symbols of said set and a second part of said two-part code comprises encoded data representing a symbol of said set,
- wherein each encoded symbol of said set can be separately accessed and decompressed.
A method for retrieving encoded data representing a symbol of a set of symbols which are stored in a memory, given an identifier for each symbol of said set of symbols, comprising:
- identifying a location at which said data representing said symbol of said set of symbols is stored in said memory using the identifier for said symbol;
- and
- retrieving said data representing said symbol from said memory.
Apparatus for compressing data representing a set of symbols, said apparatus comprising:
- an encoder which encodes each symbol of said set of symbols in the form of a two-part code, wherein a first part of said two-part code is common for all encoded symbols of said set, and a second part of said two-part code comprises encoded data representing a symbol of said set;
- wherein each encoded symbol of said set can be separately accessed and decompressed.
Apparatus for retrieving data representing a symbol of a set of symbols which are stored in a memory, each of said symbols having an identifier, said apparatus comprising:
- a locator which identifies a location in said memory at which said data representing a symbol of said set of symbols is stored using said identifier for said symbol;
- and
- a decoder which decodes said symbol, wherein data representing each encoded symbol can be separately accessed and decoded.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.