US 6,209,010 B1 · Computer implemented method for wrapping data to an arbitrary path defined by a page description language

Abstract

A method for flowing data, such as text data, into an arbitrary path defined by a page description language specification (“PDL specification”) generally comprises the steps of: identifying a path defined in the PDL specification as a data-wrapping path; associating a data block with the data-wrapping path; and generating a bitmap representation of the data block according to the path boundary and according to a pre-defined flow rule. Preferably, the identifying step includes the steps of associating a graphics state with the path and storing the graphics state in memory, and the generating step includes the step of applying the stored graphics state to the data block. Therefore, the generating step can be repeated for multiple data blocks to generate multiple bit map representations. The text wrapping path is preferably identified in the PDL specification by an attribute string associated with the path. Therefore, when the wrapping path is identified, the graphic states of the attribute string are saved in memory and are then subsequently applied to the data blocks when the bitmap representations of the data blocks are generated.

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Claims20

Dependent claims

A computer implemented method for wrapping data to an arbitrary path defined by a page description language, comprising the steps of:

identifying a path defined in a page description language specification as a data-wrapping path, the data-wrapping path having a path boundary;
associating a data block with the data-wrapping path;
and
generating a bitmap representation of the data block according to the path boundary and according to a pre-defined flow rule;
the identifying step including a step of associating a graphics state with the path;
the generating step including a step of applying the graphics state to the data block;
the identifying step including a step of interpreting the page description code specification to produce a rendering command display list for static data defined in the page description code specification, and the computer implemented method further comprises a step of storing the display list in memory;
and
the identifying step including a step of storing the graphics state associated with the path in memory, whereby the generating step can be repeated for multiple data blocks to generate multiple bitmap representations.

6 more elements

A method for wrapping data to an arbitrary path defined by a page description language, comprising the steps of:

(a) designating a path defined in a page description language specification as a wrapping path, the wrapping path having a wrapping-path boundary;
(b) defining a graphics state for the path;
(c) processing the specification to produce a template representation of a template image defined by the specification, the template representation being one of a bitmap representation, a raster-data representation and a display list representation;
(d) saving the template representation in memory;
(e) associating a block of text with the wrapping path;
(f) creating bitmap representations of the block of text by applying the graphics state to the block of text;
(g) retrieving a copy of the template representation from memory;
(h) merging the bitmap representations of the block of text, according to the boundary and according to the predefined flow rule, with a template bitmap generated from copy of the template representation to generate a merged bitmap;
and
(i) dispatching the merged bitmap to a print engine.

7 more elements

A method for generating a plurality of bitmaps, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a page description language specification, the specification including at least one path command defining a path and at least one print attribute defining how a particular graphic or alphanumeric data provided in the specification is to appear on a printed page;
(b) designating the path defined by the path command as a data wrapping path, the data wrapping path having a wrapping-path boundary;
(c) associating the print attribute with the data wrapping path;
(d) processing the specification to produce a template representation of a template image defined by the specification, the template representation being one of a bitmap representation, a raster-data representation and a display list representation;
(e) saving the template representation in memory;
(f) associating a first block of text, external to the specification, with the data wrapping path;
(g) creating bitmap representations of the first block of text by applying the attribute to the block of text;
(h) retrieving a copy of the template representation from memory;
(i) merging the bitmap representations of the first block of text, according to the boundary and according to a predefined flow rule, with a template bitmap generated from the copy of the template representation to generate a merged bitmap;
(j) associating a next block of text, external to the specification, with the data wrapping path;
(k) creating bitmap representations of the next block of text by applying the attribute to the next block of text;
(l) retrieving a next copy of the template representation from memory;
and
(m) merging the bitmap representations of the next block of text, according to the boundary and according to the predefined flow rule, with a next template bitmap generated from the next copy of the template representation to generate a next merged bitmap.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description5,883 words

Summary1,471 words

#The present invention relates to the high speed printing industry, and more particularly a system and method for flowing variable data into a page description language file in a high speed printing environment.

#Application programs, such as word processors, illustrators, and computer-aided design systems are software packages used to create a document (text and graphics) on a computer screen and to simultaneously generate a page description language (“PDL”) specification, which is to be transferred to the printer or to any other type of raster or output device for creating a hard copy or copies of the document. Alternatively, a PDL specification can be generated by a programmer without the assistance of an application program.

#The printer executes the PDL specification to generate a bitmap of the document, or a raster-data representation of a document, and eventually transfers the bitmap or raster-data to the physical medium. A typical PDL language, such as PostScript (a registered trademark of Adobe Corporation) defines a page of the document as containing a number of data areas, where each data area contains either graphic or alpha-numeric data. Each data area is defined by a “graphic state,” which is a collection of parameters for controlling the representation and appearance of text and graphics. For example, the graphic state can include a set of text attributes such as scale-factor, type-font, etc. In PostScript, an example of a PDL command used to build a graphic state can be: “twenty rotate,” and “/Times-Roman findfont 14 scalefont setfont.” Examples of PDL commands used to define the graphic or alpha-numeric data that is displayed in the data area include: 0 0 moveto and (ABC) show. The entire group of PDL commands used to define a document is hereinafter referred to as the “PDL specification.”

Brief description of the drawings13 figures

#FIG. 1 is a is a schematic, block-diagram representation of a high-speed printing system according to the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is an example of a job ticket file for use with the present invention;

#FIG. 3 is an example of a merge file for use with the present invention;

Detailed description4,160 words

#As shown in FIG. 1, a system for performing the method of the present invention includes a printer controller 10 having access to a job ticket file 12, a page description language (“PDL”) file 14, a source of variable data such as a merge file 16, and an optional printer configuration file 18. The system also contains an operator control terminal 20 for providing operator controls such as indicating the name and location (file-path) of the job ticket file 12 for the specific print job.

#The job ticket file 12 contains the guidelines for the print job which can include the names and locations of the PDL file(s) 14, the merge file(s) 16, the configuration file(s) 18, etc.; and may also include special instructions pertaining to features such as data wrapping, described below. The PDL file 14 is preferably a PostScript specification created by an application program, such as a word processor, illustrator, or computer-aided design system. The merge file 16 contains platform independent data, such as text data, image data, bar-code data and the like, which is to be merged into a template bitmap defined by the PDL file during the merging task, as will be described in detail below. The configuration file 18 defines the print engines and post processing equipment and other options to be executed.

#Initially, the location and name of the job ticket file 12 is specified by the operator using the operator control terminal 20. The printer controller 10 retrieves the job ticket file 12 and then retrieves the PDL files 14 and merge files 16 that are specified in the job ticket file. Next the controller 10 initiates a control task 22 in conjunction with a page description code interpreter program.

Facts

Application

08/897,467Filed 18 Jul 1997

Granted

27 Mar 2001

Term ended

18 Jul 2017

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination. Patent term adjustment is unavailable; no adjustment was added.

Classification2 codes

G06F 40/103
Text processing: formatting, i.e. changing of presentation of documents
G06F
Computing and data processing

Description5,883 words

Summary1,471 words

Brief description of the drawings13 figures

#FIG. 1 is a is a schematic, block-diagram representation of a high-speed printing system according to the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is an example of a job ticket file for use with the present invention;

#FIG. 3 is an example of a merge file for use with the present invention;

Detailed description4,160 words

Computer implemented method for wrapping data to an arbitrary path defined by a page description language

Life of this patent

Computer implemented method for wrapping data to an arbitrary path defined by a page description language

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

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Claims20

Description5,883 words

Drawings

Classification2 codes

Life of this patent

Description5,883 words