Method and apparatus for representing bordered areas of a generic form with records
First Claim
1. In a computer system having a display screen and a memory for storing data, a method for effectively representing a generic form, said representation intended to allow dynamic alteration of said generic form, said generic form characterized as a two-dimensional space comprising a plurality of non-overlapping bordered areas, each of said bordered areas including none, one or more non-overlapping smaller bordered areas or text, said text comprising none, one, or more lines of characters, each of said smaller bordered areas included within an associated larger bordered area in said bordered areas, said method comprising the steps of:
- storing a plurality of records defining structure of said generic form, each of said records associated with at least one of said bordered areas and including information with respect to said at least one bordered area,establishing interlinking indications in said records for identifying structural relationships between said plurality of records, said interlinking indications for identifying whether one of said bordered areas includes any of said smaller bordered areas and whether one of said bordered areas is included in any of said associated larger bordered areas.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for incorporating a topological two-dimensional partitioning procedure for dynamically creating, revising, storing, displaying and printing generic forms. The generic form contains a plurality of bordered areas. Each of the bordered areas may be included within a larger bordered area, and each of the bordered areas may contain a plurality of nonoverlapping smaller bordered areas, text or graphics. The text includes none, one or more lines of characters and the smaller bordered areas are arranged either vertically or horizontally with relation to each other. Each of the bordered areas of the form is associated with a record which defines the characteristics of the associated bordered area. The record indicates the larger bordered area, if any, which contains the bordered area and the record also indicates the plurality of smaller bordered areas, if any, which are included in the bordered area. The record may also contain information on whether the smaller bordered areas are arranged horizontally or vertically within the bordered area.
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Citations
55 Claims
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1. In a computer system having a display screen and a memory for storing data, a method for effectively representing a generic form, said representation intended to allow dynamic alteration of said generic form, said generic form characterized as a two-dimensional space comprising a plurality of non-overlapping bordered areas, each of said bordered areas including none, one or more non-overlapping smaller bordered areas or text, said text comprising none, one, or more lines of characters, each of said smaller bordered areas included within an associated larger bordered area in said bordered areas, said method comprising the steps of:
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storing a plurality of records defining structure of said generic form, each of said records associated with at least one of said bordered areas and including information with respect to said at least one bordered area, establishing interlinking indications in said records for identifying structural relationships between said plurality of records, said interlinking indications for identifying whether one of said bordered areas includes any of said smaller bordered areas and whether one of said bordered areas is included in any of said associated larger bordered areas. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A computer apparatus for effectively representing a generic form, said representation intended to allow dynamic alteration of said generic form, said generic form characterized as a two-dimensional space comprising a plurality of non-overlapping bordered areas, each of said bordered areas including none, one or more non-overlapping smaller bordered areas or text, said text comprising none, one, or more lines of characters, each of said smaller bordered areas included within an associated larger bordered area in said bordered areas, said computer apparatus comprising:
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means for storing a plurality of records defining structure of said generic form, each of said records being associated with at least one of said bordered areas and including information of said at least one of said bordered areas, means for interlinking said plurality of records, said interlinking means including means for identifying whether one of said bordered areas includes any of said smaller bordered areas, and whether one of said bordered areas is included in any of said associated larger bordered areas. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A method for using a computer system for representing a generic form, said representation intended to allow dynamic alteration of said generic form, said generic form characterized as a two-dimensional space comprising a plurality of non-overlapping bordered areas, each of said bordered areas including none, one or more non-overlapping smaller bordered areas or text, said text comprising none, one, or more lines of characters, each of said smaller bordered areas included within an associated larger bordered area in said bordered areas, said method comprising the steps of:
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building a hierarchical structure for said generic form in said computer system, said building step including; storing a plurality of records defining said hierarchical structure, each of said records being associated with one of said bordered areas or text, said hierarchical structure including a record for a top level bordered area of said generic form and records for one or more lower level bordered areas or text of said generic form, establishing interlinking indications in said records for identifying said hierarchical structural relationships between said bordered areas, said interlinking indications identifying whether one of said bordered areas includes any of said smaller bordered areas and whether one of said bordered areas is included in any of said associated larger bordered areas, whereby said bordered areas and said text can be effectively represented by said computer system from said top level bordered area to said lower level bordered areas and text of said generic form.
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Specification