Network font server

A method for printing characters, the method including the steps of:

• A. sending to a font server information identifying a printer and the operating characteristics of the printer;
• B. sending to the font server requests for information relating to one or more fonts;
• C. receiving the requested information from the font server;
• D. selecting a font for use in printing characters and notifying the font server;
• E. sending to the font server a list of characters;
• F. receiving from the font server a bit map or outline, as appropriate, for each character on the list rendered in accordance with the selected font and in a format which is compatible with the operating system of the printer, and
• G. accumulating the bit maps and outlines and printing the characters in a prescribed order.

A method for displaying characters, the method including the steps of:

• A. sending to a font server information identifying a workstation and the operating characteristics of the workstation;
• B. sending to the font server requests for information relating to one or more fonts;
• C. selecting a font and rendering instructions for use in displaying characters;
• D. sending to the font server a list of characters;
• E. receiving from the font server a bit map or outline, as appropriate, for each character on the list rendered in accordance with the selected font and rendering instructions and in a format which is compatible with the operating system of the workstation, and
• F. accumulating the bit maps and outlines and displaying the characters in a prescribed order.

An apparatus for providing over a network character bit maps or outlines for use in printing or displaying characters, the apparatus including:

• A. means for receiving information over the network;
• B. means for sending information over the network;
• C. means for remapping characters to glyphs, in accordance with information received over the network;
• and
• D. means for rendering character bit maps or outlines in accordance with the glyph mapping.

A font server comprising:

• means for receiving from a client an identifier of said client and client information related to said client;
• means for receiving a request from said client for selecting a font, said request containing a font identifier for said font and containing said identifier of said client;
• means, responsive to said font identifier, for retrieving font information related to said font from a storage device;
• means, responsive to said request, for establishing a font object associated with said client, said font object holding said font information and a plurality of characters, said characters being manipulated according to said font information and said client information into a form required by said client;
• and
• means for providing said characters to said client.

A method for serving a client application, said method comprising:

• receiving from a client an identifier of said client and client information related to said client;
• receiving a request from said client for selecting a font, said request containing a font identifier for said font and containing said identifier of said client;
• retrieving, in response to said font identifier, font information related to said font from a storage device;
• establishing, in response to said request, a font object associated with said client, said font object holding said font information and a plurality of characters, said characters being manipulated according to said font information and said client information into a form required by said client;
• and
• providing said characters to said client.