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System and method for processing variable print documents

  • US 8,064,090 B2
  • Filed: 11/06/2007
  • Issued: 11/22/2011
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2002
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An apparatus comprising:

  • means for receiving an input document having a visual appearance corresponding to a plurality of elements, each element being characterized at least by a geometry and a z-axis value, wherein said plurality of elements are further characterized by a coverage area and a type; and

    a processing means for creating an output document by creating at least one composite element in said output document to replace at least two elements having adjoining z-axis values in said input document if creating said composite element is desirable, and otherwise altering z-axis values of said at least two elements if said at least two elements do not overlap, wherein said processing means is further for determining that creating a composite element in said output document is desirable based on compatibility of the types of said at least two elements and based on a comparison of a coverage area of a composite element representing the at least two elements combined to the sum of the coverage areas of the at least two elements;

    wherein said composite element is reused a plurality of times in one or more generations of a print stream.

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