Detection of lists in vector graphics documents

• US 20070185837A1
• Filed: 02/09/2006
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Lopez, Rodrigo, Brown, Jeffrey, Liu, Ming, Sedky, Khaled, Gurcan, Ahmet, McGatha, Jesse, Leese, Eric, Foehr, Oliver, Dunietz, Jerry
• Granted Patent: US 7,836,399 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/143 Markup, e.g. Standard Generalized Markup Language [SGML] or Document Type Definition [DTD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/205 Parsing

Abstract

Various technologies and techniques detect lists in vector graphics based documents and use them in meaningful ways. The system detects at least one list in a vector graphics based document using a set of rules. Pattern detection logic identifies characters, symbols, numbers, letters, and/or images that may start a list. Additional pattern detection logic determines if a list exists. The system can identify and parse bulleted lists, numbered or lettered lists, and nested lists that are any combination of both. Once identified, the content is translated into a modified format. The content can be output to a destination application in the modified format that is more suitable for output or use by the destination application.

Claims

1. A method for recognizing lists in vector graphics based documents comprising the steps of:

receiving a document in an original format, the original format having a set of list rendering instructions for at least one list in the document;

parsing the document to determine that at least one list exists in the document and identify a set of contents for the list; and

outputting the list to an output medium, the output medium presenting the list in a modified format that is more suited for output than the original format.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the document is stored in an XML based document format.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the output medium is a display.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the output medium is a screen reader, and wherein a set of contents in the list are described audibly to a user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the output medium is another system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one list is a bulleted list.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one list is a numbered list.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the parsing the document step comprises:

identifying a plurality of list items having a same first character, having a same indention of the first character, and having a same word indentation for a first word.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the parsing the document step comprises:

identifying a plurality of list items having a sequential first character, having a same indentation for the first character, and having a same word indentation for a first word.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the parsing the document step is operable to detect nested lists, and wherein the outputting the list step is operable to present the nested lists in the modified format.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving step is performed when a user selects an option to copy a portion of the document to a destination application;

wherein the reading and parsing steps are performed by a source application;

wherein the modified format is created by the source application and then transmitted to the destination application for outputting to the output medium; and

wherein the modified format is a format used by the destination application.

12. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform the steps recited in claim 1.

13. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform steps comprising:

detecting at least one list within a vector graphics based document using a set of rules, the rules comprising;

detecting whether a bulleted list is present by applying a first logic to determine if a plurality of list items have a same first character, have a same indention of the first character, and have a same word indentation for a first word; and

detecting whether a numbered list is present by applying a second logic to determine if the plurality of list items have a sequential first character, have the same indentation for the first character, and have the same word indentation for the first word;

translating the at least one list to a modified format; and

outputting the modified format to an output medium.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the document is an XML document.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the output medium is selected from the group consisting of a display device, a file, a screen reader, and a separate application.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the at least one list is a bulleted list.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the at least one list is a numbered list.

18. A method for interpreting vector graphics based documents comprising the steps of:

receiving an input from a user to copy a section of content, the content having an original format that includes a set of list rendering instructions;

interpreting the list rendering instructions to detect that at least one list exists in the document;

translating the content into a modified format that is more suitable for output in a destination application than the original format; and

providing the content in the modified format to the destination application for output.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the section of content is selected from a document which is in an XML based format.

20. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform the steps recited in claim 18.