TEXT RENDERING AND DISPLAY USING COMPOSITE BITMAP IMAGES

• US 20110115796A1
• Filed: 11/16/2009
• Published: 05/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Murrett, Martin J., Smyth, Kevin R.G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,922,582 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/467
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text

Abstract

Some embodiments provide a system for displaying text on a display screen. During operation, the system obtains the text as a composite bitmap image along with a set of word positions associated with words in the composite bitmap image. Next, the system divides the composite bitmap image into a set of individual bitmap images based on the word positions and layout information associated with the text. Finally, the system displays the individual bitmap images on the display screen using the layout information.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for displaying text on a display screen, comprising:

obtaining the text as a composite bitmap image and a set of word positions associated with words in the composite bitmap image;

dividing the composite bitmap image into a set of individual bitmap images based on the word positions and layout information associated with the text; and

displaying the individual bitmap images on the display screen using the layout information.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein dividing the composite bitmap image into the set of individual bitmap images involves:

determining a set of continuous text regions on the display screen using the layout information; and

forming the individual bitmap images using the word positions to fit the words into the continuous text regions.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein each of the continuous text regions contains one or more individual bitmap images.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein each of the individual bitmap images contains one or more words.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4,

wherein each of the individual bitmap images contains one word, and

wherein the individual bitmap images are fit into the continuous text regions using variable-length spacing.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the composite bitmap image corresponds to a wide line of text.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the layout information includes at least one of alignment information, margin information, and shape information.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the text is displayed within at least one of a web browser and a portable electronic device.

9. A computer-implemented method for rendering text, comprising:

obtaining a paragraph of text;

formatting the paragraph into one or more wide lines;

rendering the one or more wide lines into one or more composite bitmap images;

determining a set of word positions associated with words in the one or more composite bitmap images; and

providing the one or more composite bitmap images and the word positions for display on a display screen without requiring re-rendering of the paragraph.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the word positions correspond to pixel widths or pixel ranges.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the text is displayed on the display screen by:

dividing the one or more composite bitmap images into a set of individual bitmap images based on the word positions and layout information associated with the paragraph; and

displaying the individual bitmap images on the display screen using the layout information.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the layout information is at least one of margin information and shape information.

13. A system for displaying text on a display screen, comprising:

a rendering apparatus configured to;

obtain a paragraph of text;

format the paragraph into one or more wide lines;

render the one or more wide lines into one or more composite bitmap images; and

determine a set of word positions associated with words in the one or more composite bitmap images; and

a display apparatus configured to;

divide the one or more composite bitmap images into a set of individual bitmap images based on the word positions and layout information associated with the paragraph; and

display the individual bitmap images on the display screen using the layout information.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein dividing the composite bitmap image into the set of individual bitmap images involves:

determining a set of continuous text regions on the display screen using the layout information; and

forming the individual bitmap images using the word positions to fit the words into the continuous text regions.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein each of the continuous text regions contains one or more individual bitmap images.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein each of the individual bitmap images contains one or more words.

17. The system of claim 16,

wherein each of the individual bitmap images contains one word, and

wherein the individual bitmap images are fit into the continuous text regions using variable-length spacing.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the layout information includes at least one of alignment information, margin information, and shape information.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the rendering apparatus corresponds to at least one of a server and a portable electronic device.

20. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for displaying text, the method comprising:

obtaining the text as a composite bitmap image along with a set of word positions associated with words in the composite bitmap image;

dividing the composite bitmap image into a set of individual bitmap images based on the word positions and layout information associated with the text; and

displaying the individual bitmap images on the display screen using the layout information.

21. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein dividing the composite bitmap image into the set of individual bitmap images involves:

determining a set of continuous text regions on the display screen using the layout information; and

forming the individual bitmap images using the word positions to fit the words into the continuous text regions.

22. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein each of the continuous text regions contains one or more individual bitmap images.

23. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the composite bitmap image corresponds to a wide line of text.

24. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the layout information includes at least one of alignment information, margin information, and shape information.

25. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the text is displayed within at least one of a web browser and a portable electronic device.