Template production system, layout system, template production program, layout program, layout template data structure, template production method, and layout method

• US 7,231,599 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2004
• Issued: 06/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Yamada, Satoshi, Nitta, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong; Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Faber; David
• Application Number:
  US10/800,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20040255245A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,183 Days
• Field of Search: 715/500.1, 715/513, 715/517, 715/530
• US Class Current: 715/246
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/106 Display of layout of documents; Previewing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging

Abstract

A layout system suitable to produce a wide variety of layout templates using layout samples that may be very different from each other includes a template production device that determines the structure of each of a plurality of layout samples for each layout element and produces a template in which the layout distribution of layout elements and the likelihood of the layout distribution are represented, and a layout device to automatically laying out one or more new layout elements in accordance with the produced template. In this layout system, it is possible to produce layout templates from layout samples even if the layout samples are very different from each other. That is, it is possible to produce a wider variety of layout templates.

Claims

1. A computer-readable media causing a computer processor to operate a layout system, comprising:

a template production function that determines a structure of a plurality of layout samples, each of the plurality of layout samples including at least one layout element laid in a layout frame, and that produces a layout template by combining selected layout samples and having a layout position for the at least one layout element, and having a layout likelihood for an element-laying area that is based on a statistical probability and that corresponds to a position of the at least one layout element in the layout samples combined to produce the layout template; and

a layout function that generates a new layout having at least one new layout element in a template layout frame in accordance with the layout template produced by the template production function, wherein

the layout function generates the at least one new layout element by performing a process including dividing the layout template into a plurality of cells;

calculating, for each cell, mean values of vertical and horizontal lengths of each layout element that contains the cell and the layout likelihood of each layout element;

calculating a sum of the layout likelihood of all cells included in an element-laying area placed so as to extend, from a cell taken as an extension start point, in a vertical direction by a length equal to the calculated mean vertical length and in a horizontal direction by a length equal to the calculated mean horizontal length, for each possible location of the extension start point; and

selecting an extension start point that results in a greatest sum of the layout likelihood and laying a corresponding new layout element in the element-laying area extending from the selected extension start point.

2. The computer-readable media according to claim 1, wherein

the layout function employs an area calculated in units squared or an aspect ratio of each layout element instead of or in addition to the mean values, assigned to each cell, of vertical and horizontal lengths of each layout element.

3. The computer-readable media according to claim 1, wherein

the at least one layout element is classified into image information with a main part that is an image and into text information with a main part that is text;

when the template production function sets the layout position and the layout likelihood of a layout element having text information, the template production function also sets information indicating a font type and a font size of the text information; and

when the layout function lays the layout element having text information in a particular element-laying area, the layout function determines a font type and a font size of the layout element in accordance with information indicating a font type and a font size assigned to the particular element-laying area.

4. The computer-readable media according to claim 1, wherein

the layout element of each of the plurality of layout samples is assigned a significance weighing factor, the layout likelihood being a weighed layout likelihood corresponding to the significance weighing factors for the layout elements combined to produce the layout template.

5. A computer-readable media according to claim 1, wherein

a significance weighing factor is assigned to each layout sample as a whole, the layout likelihood being a weighed layout likelihood corresponding to the significance weighing factors for the layout samples combined to produce the layout template.

6. The computer-readable media according to claim 1, wherein

for an element-laying area that corresponds to at least two layout elements that overlap each other, the template production function calculates the sums of the layout likelihood of the at least two layout elements and provides, in the layout template, the calculated sums of the layout likelihood corresponding to the element-laying area.

7. A layout method, comprising:

determining the structure of a plurality of layout samples, each of the plurality of layout samples including at least one layout element laid in a layout frame, for each layout element;

producing a layout template by combining selected layout samples in which a layout position of each layout element in the layout frame is identified as corresponding to a layout likelihood that is based on a statistical probability; and

laying at least one new layout element in a new layout frame in accordance with the produced layout template, wherein

the laying generates the at least one new layout element by performing a process including dividing the layout template into a plurality of cells;

calculating, for each cell, mean values of vertical and horizontal lengths of each layout element that contains the cell and the layout likelihood of each layout element;

calculating a sum of the layout likelihood of all cells included in an element-laying area placed so as to extend, from a cell taken as an extension start point, in a vertical direction by a length equal to the calculated mean vertical length and in a horizontal direction by a length equal to the calculated mean horizontal length, for each possible location of the extension start point; and

selecting an extension start point that results in a greatest sum of the layout likelihood and laying a corresponding new layout element in the element-laying area extending from the selected extension start point.