Apparatus and method for drawing character sequence using font data with any data structure

A character sequence drawing method which uses a plurality of pieces of font data and a plurality of font processing functions for using the plurality of pieces of font data, the character sequence drawing method comprising:

• storing a plurality of pieces of font data and a plurality of font processing functions, which are classified into a plurality of function types, for each of the plurality of function types;
• obtaining a piece of font access information, which includes a group of addresses of font processing functions, from an application program, and one address for each of the plurality of function types;
• assigning a font ID to each obtained piece of font access information;
• holding the assigned font IDs and pieces of obtained font access information;
• sending each font ID to the application program, wherein the font IDs correspond to the pieces of font access information on a one-to-one basis;
• receiving a request, which is related to drawing of a character sequence, and a font ID from the application program;
• identifying one or more addresses of font processing functions which have been predetermined with correspondence to the received request among a group of addresses of font processing functions included in a piece of font access information corresponding to the obtained font ID;
• and
• responding to the received request by executing one or more font processing functions corresponding to the one or more addresses.

A computer program that uses a plurality of pieces of font data and a plurality of font processing functions for using the plurality of pieces of font data, comprising instructions operable to cause a computer to:

• store a plurality of pieces of font data and a plurality of font processing functions for using the plurality of pieces of font data wherein the plurality of font processing functions are classified into a plurality of function types, and store one or more font processing functions for each of the plurality of function types;
• obtain from an application program a piece of font access information which includes a group of addresses of font processing functions and one address for each of the plurality of function types;
• assign a font ID to each obtained piece of font access information, hold the assigned font IDs and pieces of obtained font access information, and send each font ID to the application program, wherein the font IDs correspond to the pieces of font access information on a one-to-one basis;
• receive from the application program a request which is related to drawing of a character sequence, and a font ID;
• and
• identify one or more addresses of font processing functions which have been predetermined with correspondence to the received request among a group of addresses of font processing functions included in a piece of font access information corresponding to the obtained font ID, and respond to the received request by executing one or more font processing functions corresponding to the one or more addresses.