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).

Abstract: A method is disclosed that allows a content provider to transmit font information to a receiver, and that further allows a receiver terminal to receive and apply such information, thus giving improved possibilities for the content provider to define how to render the transmitted text or symbols on a display. The method is good for data streaming systems, in particular MPEG-4 based systems. Advantageously, the received font information can be stored if the terminal contains an appropriate storage device.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and device for dynamically generating a textured font character. It enables any image to be selected and combined with a chosen character mask to produce a new font having the same content as the image.

Abstract: One embodiment of a desktop publishing system including a typesetting software application, one or more families of layer fonts, and a layer font manager program. The layer font manager will automate the creation of copies of a text object selected within the typesetting application, and assign to those copies other fonts from the same layer font family as that of the original object. The layer font manager will additionally bind the original object together with the copies into a composite unit, keeping all copies precisely aligned. This embodiment will simplify the process of using layer fonts to set type with multiple-color characters.

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.).

Abstract: A method and system for rendering three-dimensional graphics, including text, provide a compressed texture bitmap. The texture bitmap may represent multiple symbols, each comprised of multiple pixels. Each pixel in the texture bitmap may store information for more than one symbol, including compressed pixels corresponding to multiple distinct symbols. For example, the compressed texture bitmap may have n-bit pixels (e.g., 8-bit pixels) that each store m (e.g., four) n/m-bit (e.g., 2-bit) compressed values. The compressed texture bitmap may be configured for unpacking by a conventional pixel shader, such as a pixel shader that does not typically perform bitwise operations. The unpacking may include matching a fetched pixel to a value in a lookup table, such as a 32-bit value from a 256-color palette. The looked-up value can be separated into separate sub-values to facilitate processing by the pixel shader.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a method for presenting computer-generated characters. The method defines several frames for a character and sequentially presents the frames. Each frame depicts a particular representation of the character. Also, at least two of the frames provide different representations of the character. Some embodiments provide a method for applying effects to computer-generated characters. This method applies an effect to the computer-generated characters by first generating an effect script. It then selects the generated effect script to apply to the computer-generated characters.

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.

Abstract: Computer-generated images often contain two-dimensional objects that have been converted to three-dimensional objects. The three-dimensional objects appear even more visually appealing when edges of the three-dimensional objects are beveled. A direct insetting process computes a graph of how a shape changes as its edges are swept inwards (or outwards) independently such that the computed graph can be applied to a selected bevel profile to produce an interesting three-dimensional geometry for display.

Abstract: A method of preserving the structure of a font character being scaled comprises analyzing the font character to determine if the font character is complex. If the font character is complex, information concerning the strokes forming the font character is extracted. The strokes are then scaled to a desired size using the extracted stroke information thereby to form a scaled font character.

Abstract: Methods and systems of generating and displaying textual information for a multimedia file are provided. An optimized font file is created that matches the text data of the multimedia file and optionally a number of predetermined text characters. The optimized font file may also be further configured to conform to a specific memory and/or timing constraint.

Abstract: A data visualization system including a data value memory in which is maintained a finite set of data values, each data value associated with at least one time value, a display arranged to display a representation of each data value centered on respective data points, and a contour generator arranged to generate and display a contoured representation around each data point such that each data point is displayed as a local maximum. The present invention encompasses a data visualization method and a data visualization computer program.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for presenting a character by using a scalable vector font. In the method, for said scalable vector font, at least first and second scalable vector fonts are defined, which are alternatives to each other. For optimizing the readability of the character, one of said at least first and second scalable vector fonts is selected to be used for presenting the character. The invention also relates to an electronic device, a computer software product, and a system.

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.

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.

Abstract: Stroke contrast is preserved for a range of font sizes and display resolutions using programmatic constraints or “hints”. One implementation of a “font hinting” approach enforces a regularization of stroke weights such that stroke contrast is preserved for font sizes and display resolutions sufficient to render it. Font hinting instructions determine a stroke contrast threshold, which may be used to decide whether to preserve or omit stroke contrast when rendering the glyph. In one implementation, the stroke contrast threshold is based on one or more stroke contrast relationships associated with the typeface. In other implementations, the stroke contrast threshold is based on a minimum size threshold or lowercase/uppercase stroke contrast relationships.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a display list, for use in rendering a plurality of glyphs, is disclosed. The method creates a display list for storing representations of the glyphs and stores at least a first one of the glyphs in the display list as a bitmap representation depending on one or more predetermined criteria. The at least first one of the glyphs may alternatively be stored in the display list as a vector representation.

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).

Abstract: When an area corresponding to area information is determined to use a default font, an ECU displays characters by using the default font stored in a ROM. When an area corresponding to area information is determined to not use a default font, the ECU reads out an exclusive font corresponding to the area to store it in a RAM, and displays characters by using the exclusive font stored in the RAM.

Abstract: A system and method for managing memory for color transforms. Color input data representing a colorized electronic document is first received by a color management module and analyzed. The color transformations required to complete processing of the color document is then determined. A plurality of lookup tables are then generated in system memory in accordance with the determined color transformations specified by the analysis of the color input data. A counter, corresponding to a lookup table for each request for a related color transform is then selectively incremented and decremented, based upon the output and determinations of the color management module. The color management module then selectively clears a lookup tables in the associated system memory when a corresponding counter value has been decremented to a selected level.

Abstract: In accordance with a size of a drawing area and a character size, the number of characters arrangeable in the drawing area is calculated. Based on the calculated number of characters, whether a character string in the obtained character size is arranged in the drawing area or the character string in a character size different from the obtained character size is arranged in the drawing area is selected, and the character string is arranged in the drawing area by using the determined character size. The arranged character string is displayed on the display apparatus.

Abstract: A method and system for rendering three-dimensional graphics, including text, provides a compressed texture bitmap. The compressed texture bitmap may represent multiple symbols, each comprised of multiple pixels. Each pixel in the texture bitmap may store information for more than one value, including values for compressed pixels corresponding to multiple distinct symbols. For example, the compressed texture bitmap may have n-bit pixels (e.g., 16-bit pixels) that each store up to m (e.g., four) n/m-bit (e.g., 4-bit) compressed values. Multiple pixels can be stored in a single texture using, for example, distinct red, green, blue, and alpha (RGBA) channels associated with each pixel. The compressed texture bitmap may be configured for unpacking by a conventional pixel shader, such as a pixel shader that does not typically perform bitwise operations. The unpacking may include isolating a pixel associated with a desired value using a masking operation in the pixel shader.

Abstract: The principles of the present invention relate to iteratively solving constraints in a font-hinting language. A computing system accesses a more complex constraint that can not be natively expressed based on the vocabulary of the font-hinting language, the more complex constraint constraining at least a portion of the outline. The computing system decomposes the more complex constraint into a plurality of simpler constraints that can be natively expressed based on the vocabulary of the font-hinting language. The computer system represents each of the simpler constraints in corresponding font-hinting language instructions that can be iteratively processed to at least approximate a solution to the more complex constraint. The font-hinting language instructions are iteratively processed at the computing system or another computing system to cause a graphical object to comply, within a specific tolerance, with the more complex constraint.

Abstract: A system and method of selecting a character for display in a communication device having a display and a reduced-key keyboard is provided. One of the plurality of keys on the reduced-key keyboard is selected and a default letter associated with the selected key is displayed. A backspace key is selected to display a cursor in the position of the character on the display. The key associated with the default character is selected again and an alternate character associated with the selected key is displayed in place of the default letter.

Abstract: A method and system for font building by providing for the downloading of a subset of glyphs at a client device from a server. The subset can include one or more particular requested glyphs. The subset is accompanied by one or more further glyphs determined by selection criteria, which can include: frequency of use of the glyphs in a particular language; frequency of use of the glyphs by at least one client device; and relationships between particular glyphs.

Abstract: A method and system for optimizing the horizontal spacing of superscripts and subscripts in open type font designs is disclosed. The system includes a module for vertically aligning and spacing characters and a module for horizontally aligning characters having differing baselines in accordance with cut-in information stored in font tables corresponding to each individual character in the font. This additional horizontal spacing adjustment capability provides for optimum placement of character glyphs having differing baselines, e.g., superscript or subscript. The method includes placing a first/next character on a baseline, retrieving a next adjacent character, determining whether a cut-in associated with one or both of the characters can be applied between the two characters, and then applying the appropriate cut-in. Ascertaining whether a cut-in may apply may be accomplished by evaluating relative positions of adjacent glyph bounding boxes.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a method for presenting computer-generated characters. The method defines several frames for a character and sequentially presents the frames. Each frame depicts a particular representation of the character. Also, at least two of the frames provide different representations of the character. Some embodiments provide a method for applying effects to computer-generated characters. This method applies an effect to the computer-generated characters by first generating an effect script. It then selects the generated effect script to apply to the computer-generated characters.

Abstract: A machine-readable storage medium storing executable code is configured to cause a machine to randomly alter a shape of a character. A method for creating a dynamic handwriting font includes: providing a first shaped character; providing a predetermined frequency distribution; and randomly altering a shape of the first shaped character according at least partially to the frequency distribution.

Abstract: In a method, a document output system, and a computer program for preparation of a resource-based document data stream for output on an output device, the document data stream is transferred from a first computer to a second computer. The document data stream comprises document data that are associated with an output font. In the course of the document data stream preparation, the output font is converted into a target font, and the conversion is controlled by at least one font conversion table that is stored in a resource file.

Abstract: A system and method for dilating a glyph for glyph rendering is described. The method includes receiving information including at least one of an element value of a rendering matrix, a glyph characteristic, a display background characteristic, an application characteristic, a display characteristic, and a graphics engine characteristic. The method further includes determining a dilation factor value from the received information. The method also includes dilating the outline of the glyph using the determined dilation factor.

Abstract: A presentation of textual material is provided in a “role-play” reading format which has text corresponding to the dialogue of a plurality of characters in order to facilitate reading aloud in a group. The text for the dialogue of a plurality of characters is presented in a different indicia throughout substantially all the presentation. Preferably the indicia is color so the dialogue for each character is in a different color. The text for each character is also selected and presented at a level corresponding to the reading level of the reader selecting or assigned to read each character. The text is preferably selected from among a plurality of texts pre-written at substantially different reading levels. The reading material can be presented on paper, or on media suitable for display on an electronic screen. The text for each character is in a size and font suitable for the reading level of the reader selecting or assigned to read the dialogue for the character.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for modifying the appearance of a text object. A modification hierarchy includes a plurality of modifiers, selection functions, and/or property operations. Each modifier includes one or more selection functions and one or more property operations. Each selection function defines a selection of at least a portion of one or more text units in a text object. Each property operation specifies an operation to be performed to modify one or more properties for text units in the selection. The modification hierarchy is defined by logical relationships between the modifiers, the selection functions and the property operations. The modification hierarchy is applied to the text object to modify the specified properties for the text units in the selection according to the selection functions and the property operations.

Abstract: An on-screen display device which supports a proportional font, and a method thereof. The method includes reading fonts which correspond to string characters, deciding a font width, deciding a shift parameter of a font based on the font width, combining a font shifted by the determined shift parameter with a prior shifted font, and producing font data for an on-screen display when a result of the combined fonts fills a width of a basic font area.

Abstract: A slanted viewer is provided to maximize data visibility. In the context of computer graphics and a rendering technique, the slanted viewer's use of three-dimensional rendering provides an instant view of full data without compromising the visibility of other view areas or data and with minimum user interactions. The slanted viewer combines the use of two-dimensional and three-dimensional concepts to enhance, as well as to preserve, a well-established user interaction environment and navigation system. The slanted viewer serves effectively in viewers showing extended length of text or objects horizontally.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for a color liquid crystal display (CLCD). The apparatus includes a processor coupled to the CLCD for receiving a character code and a color code and translating them into character and color pixel arrays that are overlaid and summed to produce a composite pixel array corresponding to the CLCD pixel array, where each entry in the composite array is used in conjunction with a color table to establish drive levels for each pixel in the CLCD. The character pixel array includes gray level color mixing and the color pixel array includes spatial shading color mixing, so that the composite array uses both techniques to determine the individual CLCD pixel drive levels to provide a wider range of color choices without significant color dependence on viewing angle.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus implementing and using techniques for rendering a stroke (e.g., a line or glyph). An initial adjustment value can be calculated for the stroke, and an offset amount calculated based on the initial adjustment value, such that a minimum number of device pixels will be marked by the stroke after adjusting density values of device pixels representing the stroke. A high resolution representation of the stroke (e.g., a set of device pixels each having an initial density value) is rendered so that one or more edges of the stroke is offset from a device resolution grid by the offset amount. A length of an edge of the stroke that passes through a device pixel can be calculated, and the density value of the device pixel adjusted by a final adjustment value based on the initial adjustment value and the length of the edge of the stroke.

Abstract: An improved system and method for using a device-dependent font in a graphical display interface is provided. A font resource may be included among components provided for executable software code such as an application to display and edit text using a device-dependent font without having to install the device driver having the device-resident font metrics. In specific, a font resource that may include device-independent font information for code points that are not supported by a device-resident font and device-dependent font information for code points that are supported by a device-resident font. In one embodiment, the font resource may be a device composite font file having both device metrics for code points supported by a named device and device-independent information for code points unsupported by the device.

Abstract: A method, computer program product and system for managing font resources using system independent references. A resource library may store a table, referred to herein as the “resource access table” that contains an entry for each base font resource. Each entry may include the following information on a base font resource: a native name, a file name, a unique identification, attributes, and possibly a link list used to identify any font resources that are linked to the base font resource. Since changes to the resource file such as updating a version of a font resource, changing the attributes of the font resource or changing the font resource's linked fonts, simply require an update to the resource access table, the data stream and the application program generating that data stream does not have to be changed.

Abstract: An information distribution system configured to deliver various types of content provided by an information distributor to information receivers through a network and transmitting the content to be distributed converted to colors, color values, or color digital values. By converting the content to colors, color values, or color digital values, it is possible to reduce the amount of information transmitted. Due to this, it becomes possible to shorten the time required for distribution of content and to improve practicality. Further, it becomes possible to reduce the distribution costs.

Abstract: A method for processing auxiliary information, such as closed caption or teletext data, in a video system enables an increased number of characters to be displayed per line. According to an exemplary embodiment, a video system (100) includes a tuner (10) operative to receive a video signal including auxiliary information representative of a first number of characters to be displayed per line. A memory (13) is operative to store display list data representative of the received auxiliary information. A controller (11) is operative to retrieve the stored display list data in accordance with a format representative of a second number of characters per line, the second number being less than the first number.

Abstract: A method and system for rendering three-dimensional graphics, including text, provide a compressed texture bitmap. The texture bitmap may represent multiple symbols, each comprised of multiple pixels. Each pixel in the texture bitmap may store information for more than one (e.g., n) compressed values, including pixels corresponding to multiple distinct symbols. For example, the compressed texture bitmap may have n-bit pixels (e.g., 8-bit pixels) that each store m (e.g., eight) 1-bit values. The compressed texture bitmap may be configured for unpacking by a conventional pixel shader, such as a pixel shader that does not typically perform bitwise operations. The unpacking may include matching a fetched pixel to a mapping value in a lookup table, such as a 32-bit value from a 256-color palette. The looked-up value can be separated into separate sub-values to facilitate processing by the pixel shader. For example, the looked-up value can be split into RGBA values conventionally used in processing colored pixels.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for horizontally expanding a video graphics adapter (VGA) text character display image to fully fill the screen of a flat panel display. Cell lines for each character are remapped to provide expanded cell lines. The flat panel apparatus includes a video memory for storing the character code, attribute data and font data, a character generator for generating character font data based on the character code, a lookup table for providing expanded cell lines, and an attribute controller for combining the font data and the attribute data for output to a flat panel display.

Abstract: A method is provided for displaying a page formed of discrete elements, such as a Web page, on different computing devices. The method converts the page into a semantic thumbnail, which preserves the overall appearance of the page and displays readable text segments that enable a user to identify main areas of the page. The semantic thumbnail is adaptable to different screen sizes and target font sizes. The method enlarges unreadable text segments in a miniature version of the page. The method also trims the enlarged text segments to fit the width of the semantic thumbnail by summarizing or cropping text in the enlarged text segments.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus implementing and using techniques for rendering a stroke (e.g., a line or glyph). An initial adjustment value can be calculated for the stroke, and an offset amount calculated based on the initial adjustment value, such that a minimum number of device pixels will be marked by the stroke after adjusting density values of device pixels representing the stroke. A high resolution representation of the stroke (e.g., a set of device pixels each having an initial density value) is rendered so that one or more edges of the stroke is offset from a device resolution grid by the offset amount. A length of an edge of the stroke that passes through a device pixel can be calculated, and the density value of the device pixel adjusted by a final adjustment value based on the initial adjustment value and the length of the edge of the stroke.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for embedding a font subset in an electronic document. The method in one form includes analyzing a document having characters of a font set where characters may have different forms depending on the location of the character in a word or one or more ligatures represent a combination of characters. A font subset is created corresponding to only the character forms present in the document and the font subset is associated with the document. Advantageously, the embedded font subset only contains the font characters which are used in the document and not all characters which may be present in a complete font set for all font sets referenced in the document.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for Font Emulation are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises stripping a first portion from a first font to emulate a second font upon request for such a second font. In an alternative embodiment, the apparatus comprises a processor and a memory, the processor stripping a first portion from a first font to emulate a second font. The method and apparatus may further include stripping a second portion from a first font, and such may be performed by the processor. Alternatively, the method may include copying a first font into memory.

Abstract: The principles of the present invention relate to appropriately rendering a graphical object when a corresponding outline has excessive control points. A computer system identifies a point of junction between a first and second feature of the outline. The computer system accesses an excess control point included in the first or second feature of the outline. The computer system moves the excess control point in a first direction until the position of the excess control point in the first direction is essentially the same as the position of the point of junction in the first direction. The computer system moves the excess control point in a second direction until the position of the excess control point in the second direction is essentially the same as the position of the point of junction in the second direction, the second direction being different from the first direction.

Abstract: In order to perform optimal character registration and a printing process depending on a language, in an information processing device connected to a printer having a first registration area and a second registration area as font registration areas, registration amounts in the first registration area and the second registration area are determined based on the language which the information processing device uses, and depending on the determined amounts, a first font is registered in the first registration area in the printer and a second font is registered in the second registration area.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a font data storing section for storing font data; an input section for inputting image data and font data used for this image data from outside; and a font data addition control section for recognizing the font data used for this image data when this image data is inputted to this input section, and out of the font data thus recognized, controlling to add and store in the font data storing section insufficient font data that is not stored in the font data storing section. As a result, when the image data such as document data is inputted from outside, even if the font data used for this image data is insufficient on the side of input, this insufficient font data can be replenished.

Abstract: A method for an image forming device, an electronic medium, and an image processing program, which enables external output of image data and font data for the image data with ease. The image forming device includes an input unit, a font data memory unit, a font data read-and-write control unit, a font control unit, and an output unit. The input unit inputs image data. The font data memory unit stores font data by associating it with a character code. The font data read-and-write control unit controls read-and-write operation on the font data of the font data memory unit. The font control unit acquires the font data to be used for the image data and controls conversion of the acquired font data according to an image forming mode. The output unit controls external output of the image data from the image control unit and the converted font data to be used to for the image data.