Method and apparatus for removing blank space from a document to be displayed

A computer-implemented method of removing blank space from an input page, the input page including a plurality of lines of text, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) representing the lines of text as a plurality of objects, such that at least one of the lines of text is represented as a second plurality of objects;
• (b) determining a size for an output page, such that the output page is smaller than the input page;
• (c) determining whether all of the objects can fit on the output page;
• and
• (d) if not all of the objects can fit on the output page, then:
• (d)(1) increasing the size of the output page, wherein the output page remains smaller than the input page;
• and
• (d)(2) repeating steps (c) and (d);
• and
• if all the objects can fit on the output page, then locating each of the objects on the output page, including rearranging the second plurality of objects such that a first subset of the second plurality of objects is located on a different line of text from a second subset of the second plurality of objects.

A machine-readable program storage medium tangibly embodying a sequence of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for removing blank space from an input page including a plurality of images, the method comprising:

• inputting the input page;
• representing the images as a plurality of objects;
• and
• locating each of the objects on an output page to cause a spacing between the objects in the output page to be smaller than a spacing of the objects in the input page, wherein the plurality of objects includes a second plurality of objects, the second plurality of objects collectively representing a single line of text in the input page, and wherein said locating includes rearranging the second plurality of objects such that, in the output page, a first subset of the second plurality of objects is located on a different line of text from a second subset of the second plurality of objects.

A device for removing blank space from an input page including a plurality of images, the method comprising the steps of:

• means for inputting the input page;
• means for representing the images as a plurality of objects, including means for representing a single line of text in the input page as a second plurality of objects;
• and
• means for locating each of the objects on an output page to cause a spacing between the objects in the output page to be smaller than a spacing of the objects in the input page, wherein said locating includes rearranging the second plurality of objects such that, in the output page, a first subset of the second plurality of objects is located on a different line of text from a second subset of the second plurality of objects.