Detection of lists in vector graphics documents

• US 7,836,399 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2006
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Lopez, Rodrigo, Brown, Jeffrey G., McGatha, Jesse D., Foehr, Oliver H., Sedky, Khaled S., Liu, Ming, Dunietz, Jerry J., Leese, Eric S., Gurcan, Ahmet
• Primary Examiner(s): Hutton; Doug
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dyer; Andrew R
• Application Number:
  US11/351,065
• Publication Number:
  US 20070185837A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,741 Days
• Field of Search: 715243-253
• US Class Current: 715/249
• 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 a list in a vector graphics based document comprising:

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

parsing the vector graphics based document to determine that the at least one list exists in the vector graphics based document, wherein the parsing comprises identifying a plurality of list items, the list items identified based upon a same word indentation for a first word of respective list items, wherein the first word of respective list items follow at least one of a letter, number, and symbol indicative of the list item; and

outputting the list to an output medium in a modified format, where the modified format is chosen based on the particular output medium.

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

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the output medium is selected from a group consisting of a display device, a file, a screen reader, and a separate application.

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

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

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the list items are identified based upon at least one of a same first character of the respective list items and a same indention of the first character of the respective list items.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the list items are identified based upon at least one of a sequential first character of the respective list items and a same indentation for the sequential first character of the respective list items.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein parsing the vector graphics based document is configured to detect one or more nested lists, and wherein outputting the list comprises outputting the one or more nested lists in the modified format.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the vector graphics based document is received when a user selects an option to copy a portion of the vector graphics based document to a destination application;

wherein the parsing of the vector graphics based document is 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.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein parsing the vector graphics based document to determine that the at least one list exists in the vector graphics based document comprises:

parsing a first line of the vector graphics based document to detect a character of a first list item;

parsing a second line of the vector graphics based document to detect a character of a second list item, wherein the second list item is different than the first list item, wherein the character of the second list item is at least one of a character identical to the character of the first list item and a character sequential to the character of the first list item;

verifying that the first and second list items are items of the at least one list, the verification comprising comparing a left indent of the character of the first list item with a left indent of the character of the second list item; and

determining that the at least one list exists based upon the verification.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the list is output in a first modified format when the list is output to a first output medium and is output in a second modified format when the list is output to a second output medium, wherein the first modified format is different than the second modified format and the first output medium is different than the second output medium.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first word of respective list items comprise at least two letters.

13. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions that when executed by a processor of a computing system perform a method 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 for the first character, and have a same word indentation for a first word, wherein the first word of respective list items follow the first character of the respective list items; 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 a same word indentation for a first word, wherein the first word of respective list items follow the first character of the respective list items;

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

outputting the modified format to an output medium.

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

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

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

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

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first and the second logic detect an item that is not part of a first list, comprising detecting whether the item is part of a nested list by applying at least one of a third logic and a fourth logic, wherein the third logic is substantially similar to the first logic and the fourth logic is substantially similar to the second logic.

19. A method for interpreting a vector graphics based document comprising:

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 vector graphics based document, wherein a list is detected based upon a same word indentation for a first word of respective list items, wherein the first word of respective list items follow at least one of a letter, number, and symbol indicative of the list item;

translating the content into a modified format, wherein the modified format is chosen based on a destination application; and

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

20. The method of claim 19, wherein a first list is detected, the first word of respective list items having a first word indentation, the method comprising interpreting the list rendering instructions to detect at least one nested list within the first list, wherein the nested list is detected when the first word of respective nested list items have a second word indentation, the second word indentation different than the first word indentation, wherein the first word of respective nested lists items follow at least one of a letter, number, and symbol indicative of the list item.