Abstract: This invention concerns a system and method for securely distributing subsetted fonts from a distributor to a client. The system includes a signing module to construct an authentication tree having leaves formed of glyphs, one or more intermediate levels of nodes computed as one-way functions of the glyphs, and a root computed as a one-way function of the nodes. The signing module digitally signs the root of the authentication tree using a private signing key unique to the font creator or distributor. The system has a subsetting module to construct a font subset file that contains selected glyphs and other data to be included in a font subset. The font subset file also holds the digitally signed root of the font authentication tree and one or more authentication values of the authentication tree that represents non-selected glyphs and data of the font that are not contained in the font subset. The font subset file is distributed to requesting clients.

Abstract: Data about display start positions are stored in an H register. An H start counter counts an original oscillation signal ORGCLK after the termination of a flyback period, and a comparator detects a start position. Flip flops and NOR gates form a clock having a cycle one and a half times as long as that of the original oscillation signal from the start position, and either the signal having a 1.5-fold cycle or the original oscillation signal is selected according to the level of a mode signal MODE. Thus, it is possible to obtain a clock OSDCLK having a frequency the same as that of the original oscillation signal up to the start position and a clock OSDCLK having a frequency corresponding to magnification from a display position. Therefore, by controlling display of characters based on the clock OSDCLK, display start positions can be made even regardless of magnification.

Abstract: An output apparatus comprises: an input device to input an output format of a pattern; a data producing circuit to produce data regarding an outline font from a dot font pattern; and an outline font pattern producing circuit to produce an outline font pattern from the dot font pattern produced by the data producing circuit in accordance with an input character code. When a character code is input, an outline font is produced from a dot pattern and, thereafter, a dot font pattern of a designated shape is generated from the outline font.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for rendering characters on one or more output devices using multiple media fonts; one type of a multiple media font being a multiple color font ("MCF"). An MCF is a scalable font (a font used to render characters in multiple sizes and output device pixel resolutions) that enables the use of one or more types of color scheme (color design) data and character shape data in conjunction with one or more types of transformation data (shapes and visual looks) to render characters. Inventive multiple media fonts can be embodied for use: (a) in coordination with present operating systems; (b) as an annex to applications programs; (c) in coordination with, or as an integral part of, an operating-environment; and (d) over the Internet or other computer networks.

Abstract: The document display system comprises a first character shape generator, a first display and a first transmitter in a first terminal device; and a first receiver, a second character shape generator and a second display in a second terminal device. The first character shape generator generates the character shapes of characters constituting at least part of a document. The character shapes are generated in response to skeleton information and in response to shape generation information that includes information representing a typeface. The first display displays the characters with the character shapes generated by the first character shape generator so that the at least part of the document is displayed set in the typeface. The first transmitter transmits character information indicating the skeleton information for each of the characters. The first receiver receives skeleton information for each of the characters.

Abstract: A computer system in accordance with the invention includes a primary desktop computer and an auxiliary portable computer. The two computers are configured to work together--documents such as word processing documents are at times downloaded from the desktop computer for viewing and editing on the portable computer. However, the desktop computer uses TrueType outline fonts, while the portable computer uses raster fonts. The desktop computer includes a conversion program that is automatically invoked when the user copies an outline font file to the portable computer. The conversion program makes calls to the graphics device interface of the desktop computer to render outline character glyphs to a bitmap. The resulting bitmap is used as the basis of a rasterized character glyph. A set of glyphs is converted in this manner and compiled into a raster font file.

Abstract: A method of sharing glyphs between a source computer and a destination computer having graphical user interfaces includes the step of receiving a first request to display a specified glyph at a first position of a source computer display. A glyph bitmap is created from the specified glyph if an identical glyph was not previously sent to the destination computer. The glyph bitmap is sent to the destination computer. The first request is also sent to the destination computer. The destination computer stores the received glyph bitmap. The first request received by the destination computer is replaced by a second request. In response to the second request, the second computer copies the glyph bitmap to the first position on a destination computer display.

Abstract: A method for displaying a representation of a character on a computer display includes receiving a first primary character string comprising at least one character selected from a primary character set. The method also includes receiving a first desired location for displaying a representation of the first primary character. The method also includes generating a plurality of intermediate character strings corresponding to the first primary character string. The intermediate character strings include at least one intermediate character selected from a predefined intermediate character set. The predefined intermediate character set is defined before receiving the first primary character string and includes a plurality of intermediate characters each corresponding to a fractional portion of a primary character in the primary character set.

Abstract: A character pattern generator which is detachably connected to an output device for outputting a pattern as a set of dots, includes a memory for storing a character or figure pattern in a format other than a dot image format, a CPU for converting the character or figure pattern stored in the memory into a dot image in accordance with a pattern request from the output device, and an interface for sending the dot image of the character or figure converted by the CPU to the output device.

Abstract: A system and method for rapidly displaying text in a graphical user interface or other application. An initialization module accepts character set descriptions and generates executable code for drawing characters in the character set. Common sub-expression elimination is selectively employed to reduce the size of the executable code by replacing pixel-drawing functions with higher-level primitive drawing functions. Anti-aliasing text-drawing executable code is selectively generated. A display module displays text on a screen by calling the functions defined in the executable code generated by the initialization module.

Abstract: A data coding system is arranged such that character font data is compressed in a unit of 4-bit in a form of a bit string with a compression width of 4-bit in the Huffman coding system. The data coding system employs a code structure in the Huffman coding system for respectively converting three bit strings selected in order from that of the highest appearance frequency in a unit of 4-bit in the character font data into the compressed codes expressed using not more than 3 bits. The described system permits a significantly improved compression rate of the character font data into respective compressed codes.

Abstract: A system and methods automatically provide access and management of installed and noninstalled fonts in a computer system. Installed fonts are resident in computer memory, whereas the noninstalled fonts are preferably described in a compact database including the computer-accessible location of the physical font. Broadly, the invention provides user applications with the capability of automatic selection of both installed and noninstalled fonts without modifications to the application itself.

Abstract: A method of assigning hints for outline-font creation includes a first step of dividing elements having similar outlines into classes, a second step of learning hint assignment by storing hint information which prevails when a hint is assigned by operator operation to a predetermined position of an outline of a representative element (master element) of each class, and a third step of assigning hint information automatically to elements of the class, to which the master element belongs, using learned hint information of the master element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for indicating functional areas of a graphical user interface are provided. A graphical interface in the form of an electronic program guide is generated. A non-textured portion of the electronic program guide is generated wherein the user can interact with functions of the electronic program guide. A textured background for the electronic program guide is generated wherein the user cannot interact with functions of the electronic program guide. The textured background of the electronic program guide is generated using a noise-pattern generator. The noise-pattern generator provides a tiled color pattern on the textured background. The tiled color pattern is randomly generated from a selectable number of colors using a selectable tile size and selectable colors.

Abstract: A process and system for generating a character pattern includes the steps of storing character data that consist of coordinate data, generating a character pattern according to the stored coordinate data, determining a parameter to make the character pattern thick or thin, converting the coordinate data according to the determined parameter, and generating a thick or thin character pattern according to the converted coordinate data without changing the frame size of the character pattern.

Abstract: A method for operating a machine to perform unsupervised training of a set of character templates uses as the source of training samples an image source of character images, called glyphs, that need not be manually or automatically segmented or isolated prior to training. A recognition operation performed on the image source of character images produces a labeled glyph position data structure that includes, for each glyph in the image source, a glyph image position in the image source associating an estimated image location of the glyph in the image source with a character label paired with the glyph image position that indicates the character in the character set being trained. The labeled glyph position data and the image source are then used to determine sample image regions in the image source; each sample image region is large enough to contain at least a single glyph but need not be restricted in size to only contain a single glyph.

Abstract: A raster image processing system and method that can keep up with the fastest high resolution printers now available can process images "on the fly"--that is, generate images from compact input representations so rapidly that printing can occur substantially in the same real time as raster image processing of input data. This system is capable of automatically "screening" data relating to the images so that the various gray scales or color levels are correct for a contone printing process. Different print engine control modules can be replaceably plugged into and out of the system to allow it to be used with different types of print engines/intelligent imaging systems--including high speed, high resolution color printing engines. A high speed data cache and associated array disk drive provide high speed throughput of data into the system. The disk array may, for example, store a library of high resolution graphics that can be accessed "on the fly" as needed in response to the input data stream.

Abstract: Output apparatus that converts vector font data into dot font data in accordance with a change in output resolution has a first memory to store dot font data and a second memory to store vector font data. A change instruction circuit can instruct a change of output resolution. Whether dot font data of an output resolution corresponding to the change exists in the first memory is discriminated and a converter converts the vector font data in the second memory into the dot font data according to the changed output resolution on the basis of the instruction from the change instruction circuit and the result of the discrimination.

Abstract: A computer implemented decision support tool serves as an Advanced Material Requirements Planning (AMRP) solver to generate a match between existing assets and demands across multiple manufacturing facilities within the boundaries established by the manufacturing specifications and process flows and business policies to determine what (and when) is needed to start internally or purchase externally to meet all customer demands of current interest. The matching must take into account manufacturing or production specifications and business guidelines. To accomplish the task of deciding what to do when to meet customer demand, the AMRP solver explodes demands into a build plan for purchased and manufacturing orders for end items as well as components and raw materials necessary to produce those end items. The AMRP solver combines traditional MRP decision technology with linear programming (LP) decision technology to provide both speed and intelligence in the matching process.

Abstract: A text image stretching system in a VGA for a plurality of text image font sizes comprises a plurality of cell line replication registers having inputs and outputs, the plurality of cell line replication registers formed into groups corresponding to one of the plurality of text image font sizes, each cell line replication register having a plurality of bits, the inputs of the plurality of cell line replication registers connected to the VGA to receive cell line replication information for storage in the plurality of cell line replication registers, a multiplexer having data inputs, first and second select inputs and a plurality of outputs, each of the data inputs connected to one of the plurality of bits of the plurality of cell line replication registers, the first and second select inputs decoded to select one bit from each of the cell line replication registers in one of the groups of the cell line replication registers to form a cell line replication code for output on the plurality of outputs, a repeat c

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for spacing characters rendered from a digital font at an output pointsize. The font has first spacing metrics for a small pointsize and for a different large pointsize. The method includes calculating a separation by interpolating the small pointsize metrics and the large pointsize metrics and spacing the pair as a function of the calculated separation. Embodiments may include the following features. The font has spacing metrics for at least three different pointsizes. The spacing metrics include left sidebearings, right sidebearings, or kerning values. A kerning value for a character pair is generated by interpolating a first kerning value at a small pointsize and a second kerning value at a large pointsize to the output pointsize. The invention also features a computer program on a computer-readable medium having instructions for rendering characters and two sets of spacing metrics at two different pointsizes.

Abstract: Translation between a character encoding scheme used by an application and a font encoding scheme used by a character drawing routine may be controlled dynamically so as to accommodate multiple possible font encoding schemes. Accordingly, the range of usable fonts is greatly expanded since more than a single font encoding scheme is supported for a given locale. The process of purchasing and installing new fonts is significantly simplified since any font encoding scheme may be supported.

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.

Abstract: The present invention provides a structural graph display system which utilizes index tables and index numbers to replace repeatedly occurred graphic parameters stored in a graphic description file so that overall memory requirement for storing the graphic description file can be substantially reduced. Within the graphic description file, a plurality of structural graphs are stored. Each structural graph comprises at least one sub-graph and each sub-graph contains a plurality of sub-graph parameters for drawing the sub-graph within a target area. One of the sub-graph parameters is defined as a target parameter. An index table of the target parameter is stored in the system which comprises a set of frequently used target parameters, an index number for each frequently used target parameter, and a special index number.

Abstract: The storing portion stores character skeleton form information indicating a skeleton form shared between a plurality of fonts for the elements of a corresponding character, element contour shape information indicating the contour shapes of elements for each font, and element skeleton form information indicating the skeleton forms of elements for each font. The determination portion determines whether or not a element corresponding to a font code and a character code input by the input portion is to be subjected to a cursive processing with another element. The first modification portion modifies information indicating the skeleton form of a set of elements to be processed corresponding to the prescribed font into a processable form. The second modification portion modifies the element skeleton form information of the set of elements based on information indicating the modified skeleton forms.

Abstract: In an outline-font creating apparatus for expressing a character by a collection of parts, learning is performed by storing the shapes of strokes, which have been cut from a character by operator operation, in a stroke template storage unit. Strokes in characters are cut from characters automatically based upon the stroke templates that have been learned, and the shapes of these cut strokes are stored in memory. If there are characters that cannot be cut into strokes automatically by the system, the shapes of strokes that have been cut from some of these characters by the operator are stored in the stroke template storage unit. On the basis of the stroke template shapes that have been learned again, strokes are cut automatically from any characters remaining uncut and these strokes are cut into parts and are stored in the stroke template storage unit.

Abstract: There is disclosed an output apparatus such as a printing apparatus or a display apparatus capable of exhibiting sufficient performance even when the output apparatus and the data source do not have the same bit map character font. The output apparatus has a memory for storing bit map character fonts, a detector for detecting the bit map character font designated by the data source and a transmitter, whereby the bit map character pattern is sent to the data source according to the detected bit map or font.

Abstract: An image font file is created containing compressed bitmap representations of the characters of one or more fonts utilized for a given text. These compressed bitmap representations are derived as character image templates corresponding with a font of an enlarged size. Upon being conveyed to client software, the individual characters of the image font file are accessed, and while remaining in a compressed format are selectively shifted in accordance with typesetting specification error values, then scaled and filtered to produce a display character in anti-aliased, sub-pixel position format.

Abstract: A gray scaled data generation device which generates characters and figures of a size which is a fixed number of pixels as gray scaled data, based on outline data which includes outline information which expresses outlines of strokes included in characters and figures and stroke information which shows positions of horizontal and vertical strokes, wherein the gray scaled data generation device has optimizing means for optimizing a position of a stroke, said position being in a coordinate system in which the position is expressed in terms of fine pixels given by dividing every pixel of said size in both a horizontal and a vertical direction, by moving a position of every stroke expressed in the stroke information to a position which satisfies certain criteria related to distances from a border of each pixel; outline generation means for generating outlines in said coordinate system from the outline information, for each stroke which has had its position optimized; and gray scaled data generation means for gene

Abstract: A method of providing text faces to a graphics display system in a data processor. The method includes the steps of receiving a request for a text face from a graphics system and determining whether the requested text face has been saved. If the requested text face has been saved, then it is retrieved. If it has not been saved, then it is generated and saved for access by the graphics system. In this manner, a single generation of a text face is necessary. The storage of the generated text face saves the system from having to generate the same text face repeatedly.

Abstract: An outline font dictionary contains outline font data indicative of outlines of characters to be drawn by a drawing output device such as a display device or a printing device. Each of the outlines is divided into a plurality of outline sections which are defined by a plurality of element structures, respectively, formed from the outline font data read out from the outline font dictionary. When the outline font data read out from the outline font dictionary is indicative of continuous outline sections each forming a rectilinear segment, a polygonal line element structure is formed from the read out outline font data. Based on the polygonal line element structure, the continuous outline sections each forming the rectilinear segment are drawn as a polygonal line by the drawing output device.

Abstract: A kerning method for adjusting a position of an object character relative to an immediately preceding character acting as a reference character, in arranging at least two characters in a predetermined arranging direction based on character frames, i.e. imaginary bodies, including character patterns or faces therein.

Abstract: A character and symbol pattern generator includes a skeleton data storage device for storing beforehand, for every skeleton pattern. Skeleton data includes coordinate data of each skeleton point at which changes occur at least in the stroke direction of skeleton pattern for forming characters and symbols, two thickness data which represent lengths of two thickness segments of a stroke on the start and end points of the skeleton pattern, and two angle data which represent angles of the two thickness segments with respect to the stroke direction or the horizontal direction. An input device is used to designate the kind and size of the character and symbol. A thickness data calculating device calculates thickness data of each skeleton point from the two thickness data of the start and end points and the coordinate data of each skeleton point.

Abstract: A rasterizer is used with a system capable of furnishing raster data representative of a string of characters to be formed on a display. The rasterizer has an input interface that is connected to receive the raster data from the system. A graphics engine is connected to use the raster data to simultaneously store representations of portions of at least two of the characters in a memory. An output interface is connected to use the representations stored in the memory to form an output signal which is used by the display to form the characters.

Abstract: A character generating device which is capable of creating a clear thickened or thinned (wider or narrower) character by eliminating an improper portion of an outline of a character. According to a character code input from an input portion, a CPU obtains outline font data for one character from a font data storage and transfers the data into a RAM. On the basis of the character code input from the input portion, the CPU searches a head address of a memory storing data for a required character and transfers the data from the address into the RAM. A character thickness processing portion performs character thickening or thinning operations on each point sequence composing each outline of the outline-font character and a point-sequence transferring portion determines, by use of functions or a table, a correct destination and transfers thereto the improper point-sequence on the thick or thin processed outline of the outline-font character.

Abstract: In the invention, a plane region to which characters are output is divided into lattice-like elements (orthogonal lattice, triangular lattice, hexagonal lattice, etc.). In each element, an area ratio of the area to be output to the element is previously stored. The portion in the element in which the area ratio is equal to a first predetermined value (area ratio=0) is not output. The portion in the element in which the area ratio is equal to a second predetermined value (area ratio=1) larger than the first predetermined value is output. Further, the portion in the element in which the area ratio is larger than the first predetermined value and is smaller than the second predetermined value is regarded as a distribution of the continuous area ratio on the basis of the values of the area ratios of such an element and the elements therearound. The portion in which the area ratio is equal to or larger than a third predetermined value is output.

Abstract: The character patterns of all kana (Japanese characters) or kanji (Chinese characters) to be displayed are divided substantially into halves in a horizontal direction (or alternately in a vertical direction) and stored in memory. Image codes corresponding to the divided character patterns thus obtained are assigned thereto, so that an image code is assigned to a corresponding portion of a kana or kanji. Accordingly, when the kana or kanji is displayed, the two image codes (character codes corresponding to the left and right sides of the same character) which are assigned to the above described character patterns are written to addresses of a buffer corresponding to the location on the screen the kana or kanji is to be displayed. Thus, the two portions of the kanji to be displayed are displayed in adjacent areas on the screen of a display device.

Abstract: A compression/decompression method useful in communicating ideographic characters to communication devices. An ideographic character is represented by a compressed character codeword including information defining a structure type or layout of the character, together with primitive types that represent combinations of simple graphical elements. A character generator read-only memory (CGROM) (20) includes a compressed character codeword database (22) and a primitive type database (24). Character codes corresponding to a compressed character codeword are transmitted to a communication device (600), such as a selective call receiver. The communication device (600) includes a microprocessor/controller (50) that decompresses the compressed character codewords corresponding to the character codes based on the data stored in the character database (22) and the primitive type database (24).

Abstract: There is provided a picture-forming device which is capable of easily drawing an arrow having a desired shape on a display screen of a display device, such as a CRT. The picture-forming device is capable of setting a basic shape of an arrow to be used in picture-forming. The basic shape of the arrow set is stored. When arrow display conditions indicative of a position, a direction, and a length of the arrow are entered via the display screen, data of the basic shape of the arrow and data of the arrow display conditions are synthesized, to display an image data thus synthesized, on the display screen.

Abstract: A system for enhanced utility of custom characters in a distributed data processing system allows document data to be distributed from a source system fully capable of handling many custom character codes to a target system capable of handling a limited number of custom character codes and ensures the received custom characters to be correctly displayed and printed in the target system. The source system divides the custom characters available in the source system into a plurality of custom character groups. The number of custom character codes included in each custom character group is adjusted to be less than or equal to the number of custom character codes that the target system can handle. Then, the source system creates custom character environments for the respective custom character groups. The target system sets up one of the custom character environments in the target system.

Abstract: A practical kerning method and electronic typo-graphic/editing apparatus which is capable of arranging characters such that two characters do not come too close to each other across a small character or sign included in a character string. In positioning an object character with a space reduction relative to an immediately preceding character, a space (character space) between the first character and the third character of three characters, for example, is determined after the three characters are arranged with successive space reductions. This first to third character facing space is checked to see if it is smaller than a reference space. When the first to third character facing space is smaller than the reference space, a correction is made to at least one of a space reduction amount for the second character and a space reduction amount for the third character.

Abstract: A character code conversion system that provides round trip fidelity, while ensuring that the resulting character codes are interchangeable with other platforms. The code conversion system is able to map a single source character or a sequence of characters to either a single target character or a sequence of target characters. With round trip fidelity, source text can be converted to target text and then back again to the original source text. The interchangability is ensured by maximizing the use of standard target characters, and by minimizing the use of private characters. The code conversion is particularly useful for converting to/from Unicode characters from/to other character sets.

Abstract: An improved scan converter to support the efficient and accurate display of character outlines by pixel-oriented display devices. To conserve the finite resource of memory, the improved scan converter supports an efficient use of available memory workspace by accurately determining an upper bound for the amount of memory required to support scan conversion calculations. To achieve improvements in speed and character image quality, the improved scan converter renders the spline segments of a character outline by using a second order equation to calculate an implicit function based on the control points of each segment. The improved scan converter further addresses in a systematic manner the rendering of an endpoint located on a scan line to determine whether the pixel associated with the endpoint should be activated. This decision is based upon the direction of approach to and exit from this endpoint for the pair of segments connected to the endpoint.

Abstract: A code conversion system that takes direction into consideration when converting characters from a source character encoding to a target character encoding is disclosed. The code conversion system is able to map a single source character or a sequence of characters to either a single target character or a sequence of target characters. By determining or resolving the direction of the characters being converted, the code conversion system can then utilize the determined or resolved direction of the characters to ensure that the correct mapping to the target character encoding is obtained.

Abstract: A code conversion system that takes context into consideration when converting characters from a source character encoding to a target character encoding. The code conversion system is able to map a single source character or a sequence of characters to either a single target character or a sequence of target characters. By determining the context of the characters, the code conversion system can then utilize the determined context of the characters to ensure that the correct mapping to the target encoding is obtained.

Abstract: A VGA compatible graphics controller receives character data, attribute data and font data, each of which are stored in different planes of a display memory. The font data comprises bit maps of at least two character fonts, which may be user fonts or default fonts loaded from a controller BIOS. The video controller detects attempts by a host CPU to write data into plane two of display memory (where character font bit maps reside). The address generated by the host CPU is scrambled to produce a video font cache address. The character font bit maps are stored in a video font cache at the scrambled address. The font select bits of the CPU generated address are used as a byte select to store a particular font at a byte location at a selected video font cache address. In the preferred embodiment, eight fonts may be stored in the video font cache, one scan line each font of each character as a different byte at each address of the video font cache in a 64 bit wide DRAM.

Abstract: In a computer system, a method and an apparatus for generating hatch fills within a contour of a vector graphic. The method of the present invention includes the steps of reading vector graphic data defining a contour of a vector graphic, creating a series of intersection lines overlaying the vector graphic, defining intersection points that indicate where the intersection lines intersect the contour of the vector graphic, and wherein the intersection points create an array having a row corresponding to each intersection line, connecting with connection lines the intersection points of each row, and verifying that each of the connection lines are contained within the contour of the vector graphic, and removing portions of any connection lines not contained within the contour of the vector graphic.

Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting a line width of an outline font includes an original outline data storing device for storing attribute data in advance. The attribute data indicates whether a data point, which represents a contour line of a character of an outline font, is a point at which line width is to be adjusted. The attribute data is stored in correspondence with original coordinate-value data of the data point. Also provided is an original line-width data storing device for storing data representing original line width in correspondence with original outline data of each character; and a line-width converting device for converting original line-width data into fraction-processed output line-width data in conformity with a mesh size corresponding to a designated character size.