System and method for processing variable print documents
First Claim
Patent Images
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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Abstract
Processing of a variable print document corresponding to a plurality of elements, each element having a type, a coverage area and a z-axis value, may be improved by creating a composite elements to replace groups of elements when element types are compatible and when creating composite elements is desirable based at least on the coverage area of the composite element, for example, in relation to the sum of the coverage areas of the elements in the group, and otherwise swapping z-axis values of elements if the elements do not overlap. Elements may further include at least one of a transparency and/or text-wrap parameter, which may be used in the method for producing composite elements.
26 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of using a processor to create an electronically readable output document based on an electronically readable input document having a visual appearance corresponding to a plurality of elements, each element being characterized at least by a z-axis value and a geometry, wherein said plurality of elements are further characterized by a coverage area and a type, the method comprising:
for at least two elements in the input document having adjoining z-axis values; (a) determining whether creating a composite element in said output document is desirable, by at least;
determining whether types of said at least two elements are compatible, calculating a coverage area of said composite element, and comparing said coverage area of said composite element to the sum of said coverage areas of said at least two elements in said input document;(b) if creating said composite element is desirable, creating at least one composite element in said output document to represent said at least two elements in said input document and reusing said composite element a plurality of times in one or more generations of an output document; (c) if creating said composite element is not desirable, and if said at least two elements do not overlap, altering z-axis values of said at least two elements; and
producing an output document in which at least one single composite element respectively replaces at least two said elements in the input document.- View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
Specification