Systems and methods for comparing documents containing graphic elements
First Claim
1. A method for comparing first and second documents, the first and second documents containing corresponding first and second pluralities of graphic elements, the method comprising assigning a plurality of unique identifiers to the graphic elements of the first and second pluralities of graphic elements wherein, upon determining that a first graphic element of the first plurality of graphic elements is sufficiently similar to a second graphic element of the second plurality of graphic elements, the method comprises associating the same one of the unique identifiers with both the first and second graphic elements.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and methods for comparing two documents comprising graphic elements is described. Attributes of graphic elements amongst the two documents are examined to identify sufficiently similar graphic elements. A merged document can be automatically produced based on the comparison. The merged document advantageously preserves the investment made in modifying a first document during a production phase. A means for viewing the comparison results and overriding the automatically generated merge actions is provided.
98 Citations
54 Claims
- 1. A method for comparing first and second documents, the first and second documents containing corresponding first and second pluralities of graphic elements, the method comprising assigning a plurality of unique identifiers to the graphic elements of the first and second pluralities of graphic elements wherein, upon determining that a first graphic element of the first plurality of graphic elements is sufficiently similar to a second graphic element of the second plurality of graphic elements, the method comprises associating the same one of the unique identifiers with both the first and second graphic elements.
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34. A system for comparing documents, the system comprising:
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identifier-assigning means for assigning a plurality of unique identifiers to graphic elements of a first and second plurality of graphic elements of a first and second document respectively; and
,a comparison means for comparing graphic elements to determine if two graphic elements are sufficiently similar wherein the identifier-assigning means is configured to associate a unique identifier with both a first graphic element from the first document and a second graphic element from the second document if the comparison means determines that the first and second graphic elements are sufficiently similar to one another. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. An apparatus for comparing documents, the apparatus comprising:
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a document comparator, operative to;
determine a plurality of unique identifiers corresponding to a first and second plurality of graphic elements defined by a first and second document respectively wherein a unique identifier is associated with both a first graphic element from the first document and a second graphic element from the second document if the characteristics of the first and second graphic elements are sufficiently similar;
organize the unique identifiers into a first list and a second list, the entries of the first list corresponding to a display order of the graphic elements from the first document, and the second list corresponding to a display order of the graphic elements from the second document; and
derive edit data from the first and second lists wherein the edit data can be used to change the first list into the second list; and
a document merger, operative to create at least one target document based on the first and second documents, the first and second lists, and the edit data. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53)
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Specification