Character Generation Using Control Points Or Hints Patents (Class 345/469)
  • Patent number: 8457350
    Abstract: The invention illustrates a system and method of displaying a base image and an overlay image comprising: capturing a base image of a real event; receiving an instrumentation data based on the real event; identifying a visual segment within the base image based on the instrumentation data; and rendering an overlay image within the visual segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Gibbs, Michael Hoch
  • Patent number: 8416244
    Abstract: A graphics or image rendering system, such as a map image rendering system, receives image data from an image database in the form of vector data that defines various image objects, such as roads, geographical boundaries, etc., and textures defining text strings to be displayed on the image to provide, for example, labels for the image objects. The imaging rendering system renders the images such that the individual characters of the text strings are placed on the image following a multi-segmented or curved line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Cornell
  • Patent number: 8363947
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for recognizing cursive and non-cursive handwriting. The invention comprises capturing a handwritten character as an image of pixels, partition the image into a plurality of segments each having a pixel ratio of the number of pixels in the segment divided by the total number of pixels in the image, and compare the pixel ratio for each segment to a value range associated with a corresponding segment of a reference character. The handwritten character is recognized as the reference character if more than a predetermined number of the segments in the image have the pixel ratios within the respective value ranges of the reference character.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Choudhary Khushboo, Shiva C T Kumar, Mukundan Sundararajan
  • Patent number: 8355025
    Abstract: A system and method for displaying text are described. According to embodiments of the invention, the system and methods describe operations for displaying text, where the text does not include hints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Alan Zimmer
  • Patent number: 8339642
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system for processing character data is provided, which selects a format of the character data to be used for generating print data. When a user instruction for printing character data according to character command data specifying the output of the character data is received, the format of the character data is selected based on the character command data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Akiyoshi Ono
  • Publication number: 20120320065
    Abstract: The principles of the present invention relate to rendering stroke pairs. A graphical object includes at least a first stroke and a second similarly oriented second stroke collectively representing a stroke pair. A calculated distance between the first stroke and the second stroke is constrained (e.g., to a center line between the strokes) to mitigate the possibility of rounding errors causing the represented stroke pair to be inappropriately rendered. After the stroke pair is constrained, controls points of the individual strokes can be adjusted so that the individual strokes are appropriately rendered at their respective constrained locations. The adjusted stroke pair is constrained between external reference points for appropriate rendering relative to other graphical objects. The graphical object, including the adjusted constrained stroke pair, is rendered at an output device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Beat Stamm, Michael J. Duggan, Gregory C. Hitchcock
  • Patent number: 8330760
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for modifying glyphs. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a glyph outline for a glyph to be rendered, the glyph to be rendered being associated with a character of a particular font and at a specified scaled size, the glyph to be rendered having one or more horizontal stems; identifying a darkening amount to be applied to the one or more horizontal stems of the glyph; modifying hints of the one or more horizontal stems of the glyph outline using the identified darkening amount to modify the glyph outline; and rasterizing the glyph using the modified glyph outline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: R. David Arnold, Terence S. Dowling
  • Patent number: 8300042
    Abstract: An interactive video display system uses strobing light to allow easy and unencumbered interaction between a person and projected video images. A camera may be synchronized to the strobing light and the strobing light may be in an infrared spectral range. A processing system detects images of a human in the field of view of the camera and controls the display so that the projected video images are changed based on an interaction between the human and the projected video images. The system may project the video images on a surface around the person and may move the projected video images on the surface based on a movement of the person. The projected video images may include computer-generated characters and/or virtual objects that react to the movement of a person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Matthew Bell
  • Patent number: 8289340
    Abstract: A method for creating a coordinated image display by designing a digital template for the image display. The template includes a number of openings for displaying digital images. Each of the openings has at least one stored required image attribute that must be satisfied to a programmed degree according to the artistic design of the template. A template recipe includes an image attribute for a dependent opening, which means that it's defined to be dependent upon at least one image attribute of an image in another opening of the template. The computer system automatically searches an image database for an image satisfying the required image attribute for the dependent opening. If a user of the computer system manually replaces or modifies an image upon which another image depends, the computer system will automatically search the image database for a new image that satisfies the required dependency upon the replaced or modified image, if necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Raymond W. Ptucha, Laura R. Whitby, William Bogart
  • Patent number: 8274515
    Abstract: A method for converting an image includes the steps of: obtaining an inclination of a character in the image; obtaining apex pixels forming contours of the character; obtaining an identical line segment candidate pixel group from a portion supposed to be expressed by a single line segment; extracting, based on the inclination, the identical line segment candidate pixel group as an identical line segment pixel group; obtaining both-end pixels which are apex pixels located on both sides of the identical line segment pixel group thus extracted; approximating, by a line segment connecting between the both-end pixels thus obtained, a contour of the character in a portion corresponding to the both-end pixels; and approximating a portion, excluding the portion that has been approximated, by a straight line or a curved line by performing an outlining process using apex pixels other than the apex pixels of the identical line segment pixel group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Naoko Hiramatsu
  • Patent number: 8274523
    Abstract: A method for creating an artistically coordinated image display. A digital template is provided for said image display and it includes of openings for placing images each having at least one required attribute for an image. A programmed computer system automatically searches a database of images for images to be placed in the openings and each of the images satisfy the openings required image attributes. One or more vertical and horizontal lines are demarcated in the so that subjects in the image can be placed on the lines or their intersecting points by modifying and shifting the image appropriately. A subject of the image can also be measured and its size can be set as a reference measurement unit to assist in aesthetically placing subjects proportionally within the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Raymond W. Ptucha, Laura R. Whitby, William Bogart
  • Patent number: 8253742
    Abstract: The principles of the present invention relate to rendering stroke pairs. A graphical object includes at least a first stroke and a second similarly oriented second stroke collectively representing a stroke pair. A calculated distance between the first stroke and the second stroke is constrained (e.g., to a center line between the strokes) to mitigate the possibility of rounding errors causing the represented stroke pair to be inappropriately rendered. After the stroke pair is constrained, controls points of the individual strokes can be adjusted so that the individual strokes are appropriately rendered at their respective constrained locations. The adjusted stroke pair is constrained between external reference points for appropriate rendering relative to other graphical objects. The graphical object, including the adjusted constrained stroke pair, is rendered at an output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Beat Stamm, Michael J. Duggan, Gregory C. Hitchcock
  • Patent number: 8243077
    Abstract: A method and computer graphical user interface tool for generating and/or modifying character font data to be suitable for low-resolution display are provided. The method generally includes four steps. First, a set of characters to be displayed on a low-resolution display is received. Each character is formed with one or more strokes/glyphs, and all of the strokes/glyphs are represented by a set of basic strokes/glyphs, wherein each basic stroke/glyph is defined by key points and width values. Second, the received set of characters is projected on a low-resolution pixel matrix screen having two-dimensional coordinates and corresponding to the low-resolution display. Third, each stroke/glyph forming the set of characters is redefined, with key points and/or width values of the stroke/glyph are adjusted according to predefined rules, to thereby form a redefined set of characters. Fourth, the redefined set of characters are rendered according to predefined rendering criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: DynaComware Taiwan Inc.
    Inventor: Kuo-Young Cheng
  • Patent number: 8207969
    Abstract: Various approaches are disclosed for generating an output graphical object from an input graphical object. In one approach, vector graphics data representing the input graphical object in a memory are stored. A first subset of the vector graphics components of the vectors graphics data to leave unchanged for the output graphical object, a second subset of vector graphics components to alter for the output object, and a third subset of vector graphics components to discard from the output object are determined. Each vector graphics component in the second subset is altered, and the first and altered second subsets of vector graphics components as the output graphical object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan B. Ballagh, Thomas E. Fischaber, Roger B. Milne, Krista M. Marks
  • Patent number: 8160621
    Abstract: A method for writing a character message in a mobile telecommunication handset, including writing a message, inputting a page divider transferring a current page to a next page at any area of the current page on which the message is being written, displaying page information on the message, transmitting the written message, determining if the page divider is inputted, enabling the current page on which to write the short message to be changed if the page divider is input; and displaying the updated page information on the short message if the current page is changed. Thus, it is possible to change a current page at any area of the current page during the writing of a short message, and continue to write the short message on a new page of a message-writing window during the writing of the short message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Wo-No Zo
  • Patent number: 8134720
    Abstract: A multiple font management system and method in a printing device for activating multiple fonts is provided for enabling base font localization and font patching for print jobs to reduce the need to upload entire fonts in order to provide localized receipts or to provide corrections to partially-corrupted font tables. A font access level stores locations of activated base, localization and patch fonts and are referenced in an access order during character retrieval so as to apply retrieval priority to patches and localizations. A font storage level maintains multiple tier character indices for referencing character shape data in order to provide faster character searching through each of the multiple activated fonts than a single-level index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Leonard B. Hodder, Alan Pak-Lun Ho, Chunguang Li
  • Patent number: 8102397
    Abstract: A method aligns a character to a sampling grid of an image. An original uniform width path that traces a skeleton of the character is specified by input pen commands having original coordinates. The width of the original path is rounded to a nearest integer to produce a hinted width. The original path is traversed using the input pen commands to identify segments of the path. The segments are stored in an array. Hinted coordinates are determined for each segment in the array. The array is sorted, and a directed acyclic graph (DAG) is constructed. Collisions between the segments are resolved using the sorted array, the DAG, and the width of the hinted path. The segments are fitted to the sampling grid, and the result is stored in output pen commands, thereby aligning the skeleton of the character to the sampling grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald N. Perry, Eric Chan
  • Patent number: 8044961
    Abstract: Data tables that are required for the proper processing of font glyphs are automatically synthesized if they do not form part of an original font definition. The synthesized tables are stored in an annex file that is associated with the font, rather than being incorporated into the font definition. As a result, the integrity of the original font data is maintained, and does not adversely affect font protection systems that are based upon font data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David G. Opstad, Alexander B. Beaman
  • Patent number: 8031205
    Abstract: Various imaging processing techniques for displaying a pre-subpixel rendered image. The pre-subpixel rendered image can be transmitted directly to a display capable of displaying a subpixel rendered image. The pre-subpixel rendered image can also be stored for later transmission for output to the display. Additionally, the pre-subpixel rendered image can be embedded in an image data stream and later extracted and displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Candice Hellen Brown Elliott, Michael Francis Higgins
  • Patent number: 8022965
    Abstract: The invention illustrates a system and method of displaying a base image and an overlay image comprising: capturing a base image of a real event; receiving an instrumentation data based on the real event; identifying a visual segment within the base image based on the instrumentation data; and rendering an overlay image within the visual segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Gibbs, Michael Hoch
  • Publication number: 20110216073
    Abstract: A device sensor determines an external state of a device. Text to be displayed on a display screen of the device is dynamically filtered based on the external state of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Inventors: Derek B. Clegg, Haroon Sheikh
  • Patent number: 7970812
    Abstract: A system and method for redistributing space in ink-to-text conversions is described. In stylus-based computing systems, users often desire to convert ink from ink into text. Sometimes the conversion is made such that an interaction region is made too small for effective recognition correction or interaction. A system and procedure is described that adjusts the spacing of text to allow easier interaction with the recognition results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Adrian J. Garside, Alice Dai, Takanobu Murayama, Tracy D. Schultz
  • Patent number: 7948493
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining information about shape and location of an ellipse involves determining two coordinates of a first ellipse point representing a point of the ellipse located furthest in the first direction, and determining two coordinates of a second ellipse point representing a point of the ellipse located furthest in a direction opposite to the first direction. The apparatus determines parameters of bent line segments approximating the ellipse at ellipse points or in a surrounding of ellipse points, and determines the coordinates of ellipse points based on the parameters of the bent line segments. The apparatus involves calculating ellipse parameters of the ellipse based on the two coordinates of the first ellipse point and the two coordinates of the second ellipse point. The apparatus enables real-time-capable determination of parameters of an ellipse included in an image to be analyzed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignees: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V., Technische Universitaet e.V.
    Inventors: Frank Klefenz, Johannes Katzmann, Christian Holland-Nell, Peter Husar
  • Patent number: 7944447
    Abstract: A device sensor determines an external state of a device. Text to be displayed on a display screen of the device is dynamically filtered based on the external state of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Derek B. Clegg, Haroon Sheikh
  • Patent number: 7940272
    Abstract: A system and method for displaying text are described. According to embodiments of the invention, the system and methods describe operations for displaying text, where the text does not include hints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Alan Zimmer
  • Patent number: 7907140
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system for correlating time-series data with events derived from text mining. The system is configured to receive a time period and a parameter concerning an entity, retrieve an event which is related to the entity and occurred within the time period from events which are previously extracted automatically from unstructured text, and display an indication of the event superimposed on a display representing the time series of the parameter for the time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Reuters Limited
    Inventors: David Landau, Ronen Feldman, Orly Lipshatz, Yonatan Aumann, Hadar Shemtov
  • Patent number: 7890280
    Abstract: A method and system for determining a physical property as a function of position. A data series including data point from one or more channels is obtained by frequency modulation continuous wave. A number of data points correspond to Nda different values of frequency of modulation. One or more processing steps are performed including at least part of said primary data series to obtain at least one secondary data series comprising N (N>Nda) data points from the values of frequency of modulation. The secondary data series from frequency domain is transformed to obtain at least one back scattering curve in space domain, and optionally the back scattering curve(s) to one or more physical properties as a function of position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: LIOS Technology GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Fomme
  • Patent number: 7817152
    Abstract: A image processing apparatus has a first data generation unit which generates triangular data by making straight line contours and curved contours triangles by analyzing the straight line contours and the curved contours with respect to vector format graphic data, a second data generation unit which generates stencil data from the triangular data, and a third data generation unit which generates raster format graphic data with reference to the stencil data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Kokojima
  • Patent number: 7812839
    Abstract: Provided is a method for creating a 3-D curved surface by using corresponding curves in a plurality of images. The method includes performing an NURBS fitting curve with respect to one image in a plurality of images having camera calibration and extracted camera parameter by using control points designated in a curve characterizing a subject shape. When the curve fitting is performed with respect to the curve that commonly exists in more than two images, a 3-D curve is created by using a camera calibration information, or a 3-D curved surface is created by creating a plurality of 3-D curves or straight lines. Therefore, a 3-D curved surface model can be easily and quickly created by simplifying a complex modeling process for an actual object modeling into an actual image-based modeling process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Chang Woo Chu, Jae Chul Kim, In Kyu Park, Bon Ki Koo
  • Patent number: 7797228
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for calculating and displaying volume to identify aggressive buying or selling activity. In a preferred embodiment, market information such as the inside market, last traded price, and last traded quantity is received from the electronic exchange and is used to assist a trader in determining the initiative side of a trade, either bid side or ask side. Once a determination is made, the result may be used to assist a trader analyzing the market volume. Other features and advantages are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Trading Technologies International, Inc.
    Inventors: Alvin F. Tanpoco, Robert A. West
  • Patent number: 7786995
    Abstract: Information that is required for laying out character string data is entered, as are character string data. The printing attributes for the data are then edited, and are employed to extract contour information. Thereafter, the extracted contour information is employed to determine the information that is to be used as a reference when laying out the character string data, and a layout position is specified. Then, the various data that are obtained are stored as printing data, and the character string data are laid out in a drawing area. Therefore, the printing data can be precisely and easily prepared, without the work efficiency of a user being deteriorated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Abe, Hiroyuki Namiki, Masaru Kageura, Atsushi Mizukami, Takahiro Nakagawa, Naoki Nakanishi, Kenichi Inaho, Reiko Horikawa
  • Patent number: 7768513
    Abstract: A method of rendering text on an output device using a pre-developed image of a custom font. An image file defines an image of a custom developed character set. The custom character set may be developed off-line using graphics development tools. Associated character information enables the location of specific characters within the image. When a text character is output to a display or other output device, a custom font module locates the text character within the image and defines a subimage that contains the text character. The subimage is rendered upon the output device, thereby producing an image of the text character.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventor: Gerhard D. Klassen
  • Patent number: 7762893
    Abstract: When a player is controlling a first object with a pointing device, an in-operation flag indicating that the player is controlling the first object with the pointing device is set as “ON”. When the in-operation flag is set as “ON” and a second object is within a predetermined distance from an input position of the pointing device, the second object is selected. When the in-operation flag is set as “OFF”, that is, when the player stops controlling the first object, the first object is caused to perform a process for exerting an effect on the second object having been selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuuji Kando, Yutaka Hiramuki
  • Publication number: 20100123721
    Abstract: An image device and a data processing system. In order to process subpixel rendered RGB data such as Clear Type™ font data to be processed and put correctly on a non-RGB stripe image device such as a 2×2 matrix RGBW quad pixel image device, a matching 2×2 quad pixel image device is selected to cope with the corresponding input data triplet from the subpixel rendered RGB input data string. Since the blue dot carries the least luminance information in a white balance, Green/Blue/Red (GBR) triplet from the subpixel rendered input RGB data string is selected to match with a 2×2 matrix quadpixel image device where G and R dots of the 2×2 quad pixel have the maximum overlapping area with the corresponding G and R dots from the GBR stripe pixel data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Inventors: Hon Wah WONG, Gia Chuong Phan
  • Patent number: 7719536
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, that implement a method for glyph adjustment in high resolution raster while rendering. In one aspect, a method includes the actions of receiving a glyph for display at a size on a raster output device; receiving a grid ratio specifying an integer number of fine pixels of a high resolution grid that correspond to a device pixel of the output device; rendering the glyph at the size on the high resolution grid; determining for each line of pixels of the high resolution grid, a line-specific, per-transition adjustment number; and in each line of pixels, marking or erasing the line-specific, per-transition adjustment number of fine pixels in the high resolution grid at each transition from a marked fine pixel to an unmarked fine pixel in a particular direction of the line of pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Terence S. Dowling, R. David Arnold
  • Patent number: 7710422
    Abstract: Methods for rendering font objects include: receiving input identifying an object to be rendered; selecting a data set for rendering the object from: (a) a first data set including font object data in a first format (e.g., trajectory data), and (b) a second data set including font object data in a second format (e.g., outline data); and rendering the object using the selected data set. The data set may be selected based on at least one run time parameter, such as the ppem or space available for the rendering, the desired text size, system resolution, font object complexity, contextual information, etc., to provide a high quality rendered image. Additional data sets (e.g., augmenting data, enhancing data, etc.) may be included to provide more rendering options to further increase the quality of the rendered image under some conditions. The various data sets may be independently created so that each data set can be produced specifically targeted to selected rendering conditions (such as a selected ppem range).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Tanya Matskewich, David Kilgrow, David M. Meltzer
  • Patent number: 7697000
    Abstract: A system for typographic glyph construction includes a graphics system, a glyph server coupled to the graphics system, and an operating system coupled to the glyph server. An apparatus for typographic glyph construction of input text in a graphics system running on a computer system and output on an output device of the computer system includes a line layout core unit, a glyph cache unit coupled to the line layout core unit, an open font architecture services unit coupled to the glyph cache unit, at least one scaler unit coupled to the open font architecture unit, a font object management unit coupled to the at least one font scaler, and an attribute group support unit supporting a data structure for communication among the units of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Apple Inc
    Inventors: Alexander B. Beaman, Richard W. Becker, David G. Opstad, Michael R. Reed
  • Patent number: 7697003
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for adding hinting instructions to a character in order to improve a character bitmap produced from an outline of the character at a certain size and output resolution when the character outline is scan converted. A character is retrieved to be output. A determination is made that the character belongs to a semantic character classifications, and hinting instructions that are associated with the semantic character classification are accessed. The hinting instructions preserve semantic meaning for the character while altering either stroke presence, stroke location, or both for at least one stroke of at least one feature of the character based on a reference character size and output resolution. If the actual character size and output resolution for the character is within a reference character size and output resolution for the hinting instructions, the hinting instructions are executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Duggan, William Hill, Gregory Hitchcock, Beat Stamm, Geraldine G. Wade
  • Patent number: 7692656
    Abstract: Data tables that are required for the proper processing of font glyphs are automatically synthesized if they do not form part of an original font definition. The synthesized tables are stored in an annex file that is associated with the font, rather than being incorporated into the font definition. As a result, the integrity of the original font data is maintained, and does not adversely affect font protection systems that are based upon font data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David G. Opstad, Alexander B. Beaman
  • Publication number: 20100053171
    Abstract: A method and computer graphical user interface tool for generating and/or modifying character font data to be suitable for low-resolution display are provided. The method generally includes four steps. First, a set of characters to be displayed on a low-resolution display is received. Each character is formed with one or more strokes/glyphs, and all of the strokes/glyphs are represented by a set of basic strokes/glyphs, wherein each basic stroke/glyph is defined by key points and width values. Second, the received set of characters is projected on a low-resolution pixel matrix screen having two-dimensional coordinates and corresponding to the low-resolution display. Third, each stroke/glyph forming the set of characters is redefined, with key points and/or width values of the stroke/glyph are adjusted according to predefined rules, to thereby form a redefined set of characters. Fourth, the redefined set of characters are rendered according to predefined rendering criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: DYNACOMWARE TAIWAN INC.
    Inventor: Kuo-Young Cheng
  • Patent number: 7646387
    Abstract: Method and apparatus implementing and using techniques for processing a character for display on a raster output device having a resolution defined by a set of output pixel positions. A stem of the character is aligned to a best sub-pixel boundary. The character is rendered at a resolution higher than the resolution of the raster output device. The aligned character is downsampled to the raster output device resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Terence S. Dowling, Jeremy A. Hall
  • Patent number: 7643031
    Abstract: An information-processing device (such as an image-processing device) executes a boldface character generating process when it is judged that a character should be expressed in boldface type based on a drawing instruction inputted from outside and there exists no boldface form data of the character corresponding to font information comprised in the drawing instruction. In the boldface character-generating process, the information-processing device generates pattern data lacking at least one dot at each of the four corners and generates the boldface form data by enlarging the drawing area of bitmap data (generated from standard form data) based on the pattern data. The at least one missing dot at each of the four corners of the pattern data, allows edges of the generated boldface character to be expressed finely even when the boldface character is generated from a character having an oblique element (oblique line, curved line, etc.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenichi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7643687
    Abstract: A system and method for assisting with analysis and recognition of ink is described. Analysis hints may be associated with a field. The field may receive electronic ink. Based on the identity of the field and the analysis hint associated with it, at least one of analysis and recognition of ink may be assisted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Benoit Jules Jurion, Gavin M. Gear, Jamie N. Wakeam, Timothy H. Kannapel, Todd M. Landstad, Sebastian Poulose, Zoltan C. Szilagyi, Lidia Schwarz, Roman Snytsar, Sashi Raghupathy, Subha Bhattacharyay, Richard J. Duncan, Terri Chudzik, Amber P. Race, Jerome J. Turner, Haiyong Wang, Herry Sutanto
  • Patent number: 7639258
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, that implement a method for determining a winding order for a glyph associated with a font. The glyph has an outline that has an outside path. In one aspect, a method includes identifying four extrema points of the outline, each being an intersection of two vectors obtained from the outline; and for each of the points, calculating a cross product of the two vectors intersecting at the point. A positive result indicates that the outside path is wound in a first direction, and a negative result indicates that the outside path is wound in an opposite, second direction. The winding order of the outside path is determined based on the cross products calculated. In a particular implementation, the method determines that the outside path is wound counter clockwise when three or four of the results are positive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Terence S. Dowling, R. David Arnold
  • Patent number: 7636176
    Abstract: The invention seeks to suitably adjust the amount of a toner reduction in accordance with the type of image (object). To attain this object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention comprises a discrimination unit for discriminating types of objects contained in input data; and a processing unit for applying reduction processing, which suppresses amount of colorant, to a thin line in a graphics if result of discrimination by said discrimination unit is that an object is a graphic; wherein whether reduction processing is to be executed or not can be selected by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenji Mikami
  • Patent number: 7623130
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program for high-speed, efficient text rendering are disclosed. In accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention, an image resource architecture is provided for optimal sub-image uploads to keep the glyph cache up to date. A glyph cache is divided into zones, or sub-caches, wherein requests for writing a glyph bitmap to the cache may be handled by destroying or clearing an entire zone. In accordance with other embodiments of the present invention, a highly efficient method of rendering is provided wherein commands are automatically combined and made into larger commands for the GPU. Alternatively, rather than performing a command stream flush upon each intersection, a texture cache flush may be implemented. All source glyph bitmaps may be placed into one texture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: John F. Burkey
  • Patent number: 7612897
    Abstract: In a printing device storing a plurality of font files, at least a first font file storing glyph data corresponding to a first set of characters, characters of the first set being represented by double-byte words and at least a second font file storing glyph data corresponding to a second set of characters, characters of the second set being represented by single-byte words, a method of managing the printing of characters comprises upon receipt of a double-byte word, determining whether the received double-byte word represents a character that is also in the second set of characters. If not, the double-byte word is used to extract glyph data from the first font file. If so, data of the double-byte word is used to extract glyph data from the second font file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Leonard B. Hodder
  • Patent number: 7602390
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for rendering a glyph to make it more readable. In an implementation, a glyph associated with a font to be rendered at a size is received, and a set of initial density values is calculated to provide one density value for each of a set of device pixels to represent the glyph. An initial adjustment value is calculated for the glyph. For one or more of the device pixels in the set of device pixels, a length of an edge of the glyph that passes through the device pixel is calculated. For one or more of the device pixels, the initial density value is adjusted by a final adjustment value, the final adjustment value based upon the initial adjustment value and the length of the edge of the glyph passing through the device pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: R. David Arnold, Terence S. Dowling
  • Patent number: 7598954
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products adapt and render a graphic effect associated with text rendered via an output device. A method involves receiving a character associated with a graphic effect and determining whether the graphic effect has not been fully rendered with a previously received character via the output device. Graphic effects that are fully rendered are rendered in full fidelity without degradation. In response to determining that the graphic effect has not been fully rendered with the previously received character, the method further involves degrading a display quality of the graphic effect and rendering the graphic effect with degradation and rendering the character to allow the character and the graphic effect to be displayed via the output device substantially in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Sara Brown, Ryan C. Hill, Dachuan Zhang, Andrew Hewatt
  • Patent number: 7598955
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus implementing a technique for rendering a hinted character for display in grayscale on a grayscale output device in accordance with a hinted stem placement policy. In one embodiment, the policy is a black-edge policy, by which a hinted stem is moved so that at least one of the hinted stem edges aligns with an edge of a device cell (which corresponds to an output device pixel). In another embodiment, the policy is an unbiased-stems policy, by which a hinted stem is moved a minimum distance to have it span a minimum number of device cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Terence S. Dowling, R. David Arnold