US 6,661,417 B1 · System and method for converting an outline font into a glyph-based font

Abstract

A method for automatically converting an outline font character into a glyph-based font character using a set of predefined basic glyphs stored in a glyph database is provided. Each basic glyph is predefined as a program for rendering the basic glyph for output. Additionally, each basic glyph is associated with a glyph signature consisting of feature points, and script sentences that obtain key points and width values based on the feature points. According to the automatic font conversion method, first, an outline font character to be redefined is captured. Then, one glyph is selected from the captured character. Thereafter, feature points are identified along the outline of the selected glyph and stored in a glyph signature. Next, the glyph database is searched and a basic glyph that topographically matches the selected glyph is retrieved. Next, the script sentences associated with the retrieved basic glyph are used together with the identified feature points of the selected glyph to obtain key points and width values for the selected glyph. Thereafter, the selected glyph with its key points and width values is stored as a program for rendering the selected glyph for output. At this point, the selected glyph is fully defined. The process of defining a selected glyph is repeated for all glyphs included in the captured outline font character, i.e., until the outline font character is fully redefined based on its glyphs into a glyph-based font character. The glyph-based font is suited for font communication between different systems having different resolutions.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of defining a set of basic glyphs for defining glyphs and characters based thereon, the method comprising:

a) retrieving a set of characters that include similarly shaped glyphs;
b) selecting one basic glyph that best represents the similarly shaped glyphs topographically;
c) defining feature points along the outline of the basic glyph and storing them as a glyph signature;
d) defining key points;
e) defining width values;
f) defining equations that obtain the feature points based on the key points and the width values;
g) defining script sentences that obtain the key points and the width values based on the feature points;
and
h) repeating steps b-g until all glyphs in the set of characters are represented by at least one basic glyph.

6 more elements

A computer graphical user interface tool system for defining a set of basic glyphs for defining glyphs and characters based thereon, the user interface tool system including an output device, processor, and memory, the tool system comprising:

means for retrieving a set of characters that include similarly shaped glyphs;
means for selecting one basic glyph that best represents the similarly shaped glyphs topographically;
means for defining feature points along the outline of the basic glyph and storing them in a glyph signature;
means for defining key points;
means for defining width values;
means for defining equations that obtain the feature points based on the key points and the width values;
and
means for defining script sentences that obtain the key points and the width values based on the feature points.

5 more elements

A method of automatically converting an outline font character into a glyph-based font character using a set of predefined basic glyphs stored in a glyph database, each of the basic glyphs being predefined as a program for rendering the basic glyph for output, each of the basic glyphs being associated with a glyph signature consisting of feature points and further associated with script sentences that obtain key points and width values based on the feature points, the method comprising:

a) capturing an outline font character to be redefined;
b) selecting one glyph of the character;
c) identifying feature points of the selected glyph and storing them in a glyph signature;
d) retrieving from the glyph database a predefined basic glyph that topographically matches the selected glyph;
e) retrieving script sentences associated with the retrieved basic glyph, and using them and the feature points of the selected glyph identified in step c to obtain key points and width values for the selected glyph;
f) storing the selected glyph with its key points and width values obtained at step e as a program for rendering the selected glyph for output;
and
g) repeating steps b-f until all glyphs in the captured character are defined.

5 more elements

A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for automatically converting an outline font character into a glyph-based font character using a set of predefined basic glyphs stored in a glyph database, each of the basic glyphs being predefined as a program for rendering the basic glyph for output, each of the basic glyphs being associated with a glyph signature consisting of feature points and further associated with script sentences that obtain key points and width values based on the feature points, the computer-executable instructions when loaded into a computer causing the computer to execute the steps of:

a) capturing an outline font character to be redefined;
b) selecting one glyph of the character;
c) identifying feature points of the selected glyph and storing them in a glyph signature;
d) retrieving from the glyph database a predefined basic glyph that topographically matches the selected glyph;
e) retrieving script sentences associated with the retrieved basic glyph, and using them and the feature points of the selected glyph identified in step c to obtain key points and width values for the selected glyph;
f) storing the selected glyph with its key points and width values obtained at step e as a program for rendering the selected glyph for output;
and
g) repeating steps b-f until all glyphs in the captured character are defined.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for converting an outline font into a glyph-based font

Life of this patent

System and method for converting an outline font into a glyph-based font

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20