System and methods for improved storage and processing of BITMAP images
First Claim
1. In a computer system, a method for encoding multiple images into a single bitmap, the method comprising:
- (a) storing a plurality of images in the bitmap; and
(b) for each particular image of said plurality of images stored in the bitmap;
(1) storing in the bitmap at least one delimiter for marking boundaries of the particular image, so that the boundaries of the particular image can be determined, and(2) storing in the bitmap at a location in the bitmap apart from where the particular image itself is stored an identifier for the particular image, so that the image can be distinguished from other images of said plurality of images stored in the bitmap.
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Accused Products
Abstract
System and methods are described for storing and processing multiple bitmap images, such as those commonly employed in graphical user interfaces (GUIs), within a single "master" bitmap. Within a master bitmap, each image is bound by "corner brackets," each of which comprises a group of pixels which may be identified separately. Each image within a given master bitmap may be identified and processed as a separate image. Methods are described, for instance, for determining size, position, and identity of each image within a multi-image bitmap. Size is computed from the distance between the brackets surrounding an image; position may be computed relative to the position of the surrounding brackets. For identification, each image is provided with a unique ID or identifier, such as a number, embedded within the master bitmap itself. A method of the present invention for decoding an image from a master bitmap is also presented.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. In a computer system, a method for encoding multiple images into a single bitmap, the method comprising:
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(a) storing a plurality of images in the bitmap; and (b) for each particular image of said plurality of images stored in the bitmap; (1) storing in the bitmap at least one delimiter for marking boundaries of the particular image, so that the boundaries of the particular image can be determined, and (2) storing in the bitmap at a location in the bitmap apart from where the particular image itself is stored an identifier for the particular image, so that the image can be distinguished from other images of said plurality of images stored in the bitmap. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. In a computer system, a method for encoding multiple images into a single bitmap, the method comprising:
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(a) storing at least one image in the bitmap; and (b) for each said at least one image stored in the bitmap; (1) storing in the bitmap at least one delimiter for marking boundaries of the image, and (2) storing in the bitmap an identifier for the image, so that the image may be distinguished from other images stored in the bitmap; wherein said bitmap comprises an array of pixel values representing images and wherein step (b)(1) includes; selecting a single pixel of the bitmap to serve as a reference, said single pixel having a color value; and storing in said bitmap at least one bracket for delimiting boundaries of the image, said at least one bracket having a color value different from that of said single pixel. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. In a computer system, a method for encoding multiple images into a single bitmap, the method comprising:
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(a) storing at least one image in the bitmap; and (b) for each said at least one image stored in the bitmap; (1) storing in the bitmap at least one delimiter for marking boundaries of the image, and (2) storing in the bitmap an identifier for the image, so that the image may be distinguished from other images stored in the bitmap; (c) storing in the bitmap a bitmap mask for at least one of said images, said mask for rendering an image which is not rectangular; and (d) storing in the bitmap at least one mask delimiter for said mask, thereby associating the mask with a particular image. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. In a computer system, an improved method for storing bitmapped images, the improvement comprising:
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(a) storing a plurality of images of various sizes in a single bitmap; and (b) for each particular image of said images, (i) embedding within the bitmap itself information indicating dimensions of the particular image, so that the boundaries of each image can be determined; and (ii) embedding within the bitmap itself at a location in the bitmap other than where the particular image itself is stored a unique identifier for the particular image, so that the particular image can be distinguished from other images of said plurality of images stored in the bitmap. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. In a computer system, an improved method for storing bitmapped images, the improvement comprising:
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(a) storing a plurality of images in a single bitmap; and (b) for each of said images, embedding within the bitmap itself information indicating dimensions and a unique identifier for the image; (c) storing in the bitmap a mask for at least one of the images, for rendering an image which is not rectangular; (d) surrounding said mask and its corresponding image with corner brackets, for indicating size; and (e) separating the image from its mask by interposing "T" brackets.
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26. An image processing system comprising:
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(a) means for receiving information specifying a plurality of images of various sizes; (b) storage means for storing said plurality of images in a single bitmap; and (c) storage means for storing with each particular image of said plurality of images stored in the bitmap at least one delimiter for marking boundaries of the image, and an identifier for the image, said particular image itself being stored at bits of the bitmap other than bits employed from storing said at least one delimiter and storing said identifier;
so that the image may be distinguished from other images stored in the bitmap. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification