Image file format for storing graphical matter and related information

• US 6,624,909 B1
• Filed: 05/27/1999
• Issued: 09/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Stanich, Mikel John, Smith, James Thomas, Rijavec, Nenad, Czyszczewski, Joseph Stanley
• Primary Examiner(s): Wallerson, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): HASKINS, TWYLER LAMB
• Application Number:
  US09/323,163
• Time in Patent Office: 1,580 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.17, 358/1.16, 358/1.15, 358/451, 358/428, 358/296, 382/298
• US Class Current: 358/1.17
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/41 Bandwidth or redundancy reduction by scanning H04N1/17 ; methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals H04N19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0067 Converting to still picture data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0087 Image storage device

Abstract

Provided are a method, system, and program for processing graphics input. The graphics input may include a first and second types of graphics matter, such as line art and continuous tone. At least two data structures including representations of a same graphics matter are provided. An object is generated to include information on the data structures, including information relating the data structures. The object is then processed to produce graphics output including the graphics matter in the graphics input.

Claims

1. A method for processing graphics input, wherein the graphics input includes a first and second types of graphics matter, comprising:

transforming a data structure in a first format representing the graphics input to a transformed data structure in a second format representing the graphics input;

determining the second type of graphics matter in the graphics input;

generating at least one data structure in the first format representing the determined second type of graphics matter;

generating an object to include information on the data structures, including information relating the data structures, wherein the information in the generated object comprises information on the transformed data structure in the second format and each generated data structure in the first format, wherein the information relates each generated data structure with the transformed data structure, and wherein each generated data structure includes representations of a same graphics matter of the second type included in the related transformed data structure; and

processing the object to produce graphics output including the graphics matter in the graphics input.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first format is a device independent data structure and the second format is a device dependent format.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphics matter of the first type is comprised of line art and the graphics matter of the second type is comprised of continuous tone.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein multiple data structures in the first format representing the graphics input are transformed to multiple data structures in the second format, wherein determining the second type of graphics matter comprises determining instances of the second type of graphic matter in the graphics input, further comprising generating, for each determined instance of the second type of graphic matter, a data structure in the first format representing the instance of the determined second type of graphics matter, wherein generating the information in the object further includes generating information to relate each generated data structure in the first format with one of the transformed data structures in the second format, wherein the related data structures include representations of the same instance of the second type of graphics matter.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least two data structures include representations of the same graphics matter of the second type.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each generated data structure represents different graphics matter.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the device independent format represents the graphics matter in one of a first color space and gray scale format and the second format represents the graphics matter in one of a second color space and bi-level format.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the processing of the object to produce graphics output further comprises:

processing the object information to determine for each transformed data structure in the second format any related generated data structures in the first format, wherein the related data structures include representations of the same instance of the second type of graphics matter;

transforming the determined data structures in the first format to related data structures in the second format; and

merging the related data structures in the second format to form graphics output.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein generating the object further comprises generating in the information, for at least one of the transformed data structures in the first format, first pointer information indicating a location in the object of information for another transformed data structure in the first format.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising generating second pointer information in the information for at least one of the transformed data structures indicating a location in the object of information on one of the generated data structures representing the instance of the second type of graphics matter that is related to the transformed data structure.

11. A system for processing graphics input, wherein the graphics input includes a first and second types of graphics matter, comprising:

a processing unit;

program logic implemented by the processing unit, comprising;

(i) means for transforming a data structure in a first format representing the graphics input to a transformed data structure in a second format representing the graphics input;

(ii) means for determining the second type of graphics matter in the graphics input;

(iii) means for generating at least one data structure in the first format representing the determined second type of graphics matter;

(iv) means for generating an object to include information on the data structures, including information relating the data structures, wherein the information in the generated object comprises information on the transformed data structure in the second format and each generated data structure in the first format, wherein the information relates each generated data structure with the transformed data structure, and wherein each generated data structure includes representations of a same graphics matter of the second type included in the related transformed data structure; and

(v) means for processing the object to produce graphics output including the graphics matter in the graphics input.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first format is a device independent data structure and the second format is a device dependent format.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the graphics matter of the first type is comprised of line art and the graphics matter of the second type is comprised of continuous tone.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the object comprises a TIFF file and wherein the information on the transformed data structure and generated data structure are maintained in image file directories (IFDs).

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the program logic further comprises:

means for transforming multiple data structures in the first format representing the graphics input to multiple data structures in the second format;

means for determining instances of the second type of graphic matter in the graphics input;

means for generating, for each determined instance of the second type of graphic matter, a data structure in the first format representing the instance of the determined second type of graphics matter; and

means for generating information in the object to relate each generated data structure in the first format with one of the transformed data structures in the second format, wherein the related data structures include representations of the same instance of the second type of graphics matter.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the device independent format represents the graphics matter in one of a first color space and gray scale format and the second format represents the graphics matter in one of a second color space and bi-level format.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the program logic for generating the object further comprises means for generating in the information, for at least one of the transformed data structures in the first format, first pointer information indicating a location in the object of information for another transformed data structure in the first format.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the program logic further comprises generating second pointer information in the information for at least one of the transformed data structures indicating a location in the object of information on one of the generated data structures representing the instance of the second type of graphics matter that is related to the transformed data structure.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the object comprises a TIFF file, wherein the information on the transformed data structures in the second format and generated data structures in the first format is implemented in image file directories (IFDs), and wherein the first pointer is maintained in an offset field of the IFD of the transformed data structure.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the second pointer is maintained in a private tag of the IFD of the transformed data structure, and wherein the IFD including information on the generated data structure addressed by the second pointer includes an offset indicating a location of the IFD for another generated data structure related to the transformed data structure.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the program logic for processing of the object to produce graphics output further comprises:

means for processing the object information to determine for each transformed data structure in the second format any related generated data structures in the first format, wherein the related data structures include representations of the same instance of the second type of graphics matter;

means for transforming the determined data structures in the first format to related data structures in the second format; and

means for merging the related data structures in the second format to form graphics output.

22. An article of manufacture for processing graphics input, wherein the graphics input includes a first and second types of graphics matter, comprising:

transforming a data structure in a first format representing the graphics input to a transformed data structure in a second format representing the graphics input;

determining the second type of graphics matter in the graphics input;

generating at least one data structure in the first format representing the determined second type of graphics matter;

generating an object to include information on the data structures, including information relating the data structures, wherein the information in the generated object comprises information on the transformed data structure in the second format and each generated data structure in the first format, wherein the information relates each generated data structure with the transformed data structure, and wherein each generated data structure includes representations of a same graphics matter of the second type included in the related transformed data structure; and

processing the object to produce graphics output including the graphics matter in the graphics input.

23. The article of manufacture of claim 22, wherein the first format is a device independent data structure and the second format is a device dependent format.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the device independent format represents the graphics matter in one of a first color space and gray scale format and the second format represents the graphics matter in one of a second color space and bi-level format.

25. The article of manufacture of claim 22, wherein the object comprises a TIFF file and wherein the information on the transformed data structure and generated data structure are maintained in image file directories (IFDs).

26. The article of manufacture of claim 22, wherein the graphics matter of the first type is comprised of line art and the graphics matter of the second type is comprised of continuous tone.

27. The article of manufacture of claim 22, wherein multiple data structures in the first format representing the graphics input are transformed to multiple data structures in the second format, wherein determining the second type of graphics matter comprises determining instances of the second type of graphic matter in the graphics input, further comprising generating, for each determined instance of the second type of graphic matter, a data structure in the first format representing the instance of the determined second type of graphics matter, wherein generating the information in the object further includes generating information to relate each generated data structure in the first format with one of the transformed data structures in the second format, wherein the related data structures include representations of the same instance of the second type of graphics matter.

28. The article of manufacture of claim 22, wherein each generated data structure represents different graphics matter.

29. The article of manufacture of claim 26, wherein generating the object further comprises generating in the information, for at least one of the transformed data structures in the first format, first pointer information indicating a location in the object of information for another transformed data structure in the first format.

30. The article of manufacture of claim 29, further comprising generating second pointer information in the information for at least one of the transformed data structures indicating a location in the object of information on one of the generated data structures representing the instance of the second type of graphics matter that is related to the transformed data structure.

31. The article of manufacture of claim 27, wherein the processing of the object to produce graphics output further comprises:

processing the object information to determine for each transformed data structure in the second format any related generated data structures in the first format, wherein the related data structures include representations of the same instance of the second type of graphics matter;

transforming the determined data structures in the first format to related data structures in the second format; and

merging the related data structures in the second format to form graphics output.

32. A memory storing an object including information on graphics input, wherein the graphics input includes a first and second types of graphics matter, comprising:

information on a transformed data structure created by transforming a data structure in a first format representing graphics input including the first and second types of graphics matter to a transformed data structure in a second format representing the graphics input;

information on at least one generated data structure in the first format representing the second type of graphics matter in the graphics input;

information relating the data structures, wherein the information relating the data structures comprises information relating each generated data structure with the transformed data structure, wherein each generated data structure includes representations of a same graphics matter of the second type included in the related transformed data structure, and wherein the object is processed to produce graphics output including the graphics matter in the graphics input.

33. The memory device of claim 32, wherein the first format is a device independent format and the second format is a device dependent format.

34. The memory of claim 33, wherein the device independent format represents the graphics matter in one of a first color space and gray scale format and the second format represents the graphics matter in one of a second color space and bi-level format.

35. The memory of claim 32, wherein the object further includes:

information on multiple transformed data structures in the first second format representing the graphics input; and

information on multiple data structures in the second format representing instances of the second type of graphic matter in the graphics input;

information to relate each generated data structure in the first format with one of the transformed data structures in the second format, wherein the related data structures include representations of the same instance of the second type of graphics matter.

36. The memory of claim 32, wherein each generated data structure represents different graphics matter.

37. The memory of claim 33, wherein the object comprises a TIFF file and wherein the information on the transformed and generated data structures are maintained in image file directories (IFDs).

38. The memory of claim 35, wherein the object further includes first pointer information in the information for at least one of the transformed data structures in the first format indicating a location in the object of information for another transformed data structure in the first format.

39. The memory of claim 38, wherein the object further comprises second pointer information in the information for at least one of transformed data structures indicating a location in the object of information on one of the generated data structures representing the instance of the second type of graphics matter that is related to the transformed data structure.

40. The memory device of claim 39, wherein the object comprises a TIFF file, wherein the information on the transformed data structures in the second format and generated data structures in the first format is implemented in image file directories (IFDs), and wherein the first pointer is maintained in an offset field of the IFD of the transformed data structure.

41. The memory device of claim system of claim 40, wherein the second pointer is maintained in a private tag of the IFD of the transformed data structure, and wherein the IFD including information on the generated data structure addressed by the second pointer includes an offset indicating a location of the IFD for another generated data structure related to the transformed data structure.

42. A method for processing graphics input, wherein the graphics input is capable of including a first and second types of graphics matter, comprising:

providing at least two data structures including representations of a same graphics matter wherein at least one of the data structures represent graphics matter in a first format and wherein one data structure represents graphics matter in a second format;

generating an object to include information on the data structures, including information relating the data structures; and

processing the object to produce graphics output including the graphics matter in the graphics input.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein each data structure in the second format includes representations of the same graphics matter included in the related data structure in the first format.

44. An article of manufacture for processing graphics input, wherein the graphics input is capable of including a first and second types of graphics matter, the article of manufacture comprising computer usable media including at least one computer program embedded therein that causes the computer to perform:

providing at least two data structures including representations of a same graphics matter, wherein the at least two data structures include representations of the same graphics matter of the second type;

generating an object to include information on the data structures, including information relating the data structures; and

processing the object to produce graphics output including the graphics matter in the graphics input.

45. An article of manufacture for processing graphics input, wherein the graphics input is capable of including a first and second types of graphics matter, the article of manufacture comprising computer usable media including at least one computer program embedded therein that causes the computer to perform:

providing at least two data structures including representations of a same graphics matter wherein at least one of the data structures represent graphics matter in a first format and wherein one data structure represents graphics matter in a second format;

generating an object to include information on the data structures, including information relating the data structures; and

processing the object to produce graphics output including the graphics matter in the graphics input.

46. The article of manufacture of claim 45, wherein each data structure in the second format includes representations of the same graphics matter included in the related data structure in the first format.

47. A memory storing an object including information on graphics input that is capable of including first and second types of graphics matter, comprising:

information on at least two data structures including representations of a same graphics matter, wherein the at least two data structures include representations of the same graphics matter of the second type; and

information relating the data structures.

48. A memory storing an object including information on graphics input that is capable of including first and second types of graphics matter, comprising:

information on at least two data structures including representations of a same graphics matter, wherein at least one of the data structures represent graphics matter in a first format and wherein one data structure represents graphics matter in a second format; and

information relating the data structures.

49. The memory of claim 48, wherein each data structure in the second format includes representations of the same graphics matter included in the related data structure in the first format.