Variable data template management by template shape

• US 11,003,848 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2018
• Issued: 05/11/2021
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions, Inc. (Kyocera Corporation)
• Original Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions, Inc. (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: de Beus, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Stork, Kyle R
• Application Number:
  US16/169,733
• Publication Number:
  US 20200134006A1
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/338 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/35 Clustering; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/906 Clustering; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/186 Templates

Abstract

According to one embodiment, managing a plurality of variable data templates can comprise cataloging, by a template management system, each of the variable data templates according to a shape criteria. The shape criteria of each variable data template can be based on a size and location of one or more variable data fields defined in the template. The cataloged variable data templates can be classified into one or more shape families based on the shape criteria of each variable data template. The template management system can detect a request to locate a variable data template and search the plurality of variable data templates for one or more suggested variable data templates having the shape criteria matching the template. An indication of the suggested variable data templates can be provided by the template management system.

Claims

1. A method for managing a plurality of variable data templates, the method comprising:

cataloging, by a template management system, each of the plurality of variable data templates according to a shape criteria, the shape criteria of each variable data template based on a size and location of one or more variable data fields defined in the variable data template;

classifying, by the template management system, the cataloged variable data templates into one or more shape families based on the shape criteria of each variable data template, wherein classifying the cataloged variable data templates into one or more shape families based on the shape criteria of each variable data template comprises classifying one or more cataloged variable data templates based on one or more internal shapes of the variable data template, and classifying one or more cataloged variable data templates based on an external shape of the variable data template, and wherein the external shape of the variable data template comprises one shape representing the one or more of the internal shapes connected together;

detecting, by the template management system, a request to locate a template of the plurality of variable data templates;

searching, by the template management system, the plurality of variable data templates for one or more suggested variable data templates having a matching external shape; and

providing, by the template management system, an indication of the one or more suggested variable data templates of the plurality of variable data templates.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the request to locate the template of the plurality of variable data templates comprises receiving a query for the template, the query indicating the shape criteria for the template.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the request to locate the template of the plurality of variable data templates comprises detecting a user action related to generation of a new variable data template.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein classifying the cataloged variable data templates into one or more shape families based on the shape criteria of each variable data template further comprises classifying one or more cataloged variable data templates based on a shape family criteria of the variable data template.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the shape family criteria of the variable data template comprises one of a single shape family, a double shape family, a collected shape family, or a scattered shape family.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing, by the template management system, a browsable representation of the plurality of variable data templates.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the browsable representation comprises a grid of thumbnail representations of the plurality of variable data templates wherein each variable data template is represented by a thumbnail depicting the shape criteria of the variable data template.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein classifying the cataloged variable data templates into one or more shape families and searching the plurality of variable data templates is based on a spectra of a discrete Fourier transform of each variable data template.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the templates each include a set of variable data fields, the templates are configured to be represented by a plurality of internal shapes, the internal shapes corresponding to each of the set of variable data fields, respectively, and the external shape is configured to represent one shape composed of the plurality of internal shapes connected with each other.

10. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled with and readable by the processor and storing therein a set of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to manage a plurality of variable data templates by;

cataloging each of the plurality of variable data templates according to a shape criteria, the shape criteria of each variable data template based on a size and location of one or more variable data fields defined in the variable data template;

classifying the cataloged variable data templates into one or more shape families based on the shape criteria of each variable data template, wherein classifying the cataloged variable data templates into one or more shape families based on the shape criteria of each variable data template comprises classifying one or more cataloged variable data templates based on one or more internal shapes of the variable data template, and classifying one or more cataloged variable data templates based on an external shape of the variable data template, and wherein the external shape of the variable data template comprises one shape representing the one or more of the internal shapes connected together;

detecting a request to locate a template of the plurality of variable data templates;

searching the plurality of variable data templates for one or more suggested variable data templates having a matching external shape; and

providing an indication of the one or more suggested variable data templates of the plurality of variable data templates.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein detecting the request to locate the template of the plurality of variable data templates comprises receiving a query for the template, the query indicating the shape criteria for the template.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein detecting the request to locate the template of the plurality of variable data templates comprises detecting a user action related to generation of a new variable data template.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein classifying the cataloged variable data templates into one or more shape families based on the shape criteria of each variable data template further comprises classifying one or more cataloged variable data templates based on a shape family criteria of the variable data template, and wherein the shape family criteria of the variable data template comprises one of a single shape family, a double shape family, a collected shape family, or a scattered shape family.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to provide a browsable representation of the plurality of variable data templates, wherein the browsable representation comprises a grid of thumbnail representations of the plurality of variable data templates wherein each variable data template is represented by a thumbnail depicting the shape criteria of the variable data template.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein classifying the cataloged variable data templates into one or more shape families and searching the plurality of variable data templates is based on a spectra of a discrete Fourier transform of each variable data template.

16. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising a set of instructions stored therein which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to manage a plurality of variable data templates by:

cataloging each of the plurality of variable data templates according to a shape criteria, the shape criteria of each variable data template based on a size and location of one or more variable data fields defined in the variable data template;

classifying the cataloged variable data templates into one or more shape families based on the shape criteria of each variable data template, wherein classifying the cataloged variable data templates into one or more shape families based on the shape criteria of each variable data template comprises classifying one or more cataloged variable data templates based on one or more internal shapes of the variable data template, and classifying one or more cataloged variable data templates based on an external shape of the variable data template, and wherein the external shape of the variable data template comprises one shape representing the one or more of the internal shapes connected together;

detecting a request to locate a template of the plurality of variable data templates;

searching the plurality of variable data templates for one or more suggested variable data templates having a matching external shape; and

providing an indication of the one or more suggested variable data templates of the plurality of variable data templates.

17. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein classifying the cataloged variable data templates into one or more shape families based on the shape criteria of each variable data template further comprises classifying one or more cataloged variable data templates based on a shape family criteria of the variable data template, and wherein the shape family criteria of the variable data template comprises one of a single shape family, a double shape family, a collected shape family, or a scattered shape family.

18. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to provide a browsable representation of the plurality of variable data templates, wherein the browsable representation comprises a grid of thumbnail representations of the plurality of variable data templates wherein each variable data template is represented by a thumbnail depicting the shape criteria of the variable data template.

19. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein classifying the cataloged variable data templates into one or more shape families and searching the plurality of variable data templates is based on a spectra of a discrete Fourier transform of each variable data template.