Patent EP0356104A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0356104A2
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EP
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Letter data control
Assignee: Ricoh Printing Systems Ltd
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Filing: 1989-08-15
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-08-15
Abstract
Abstract A plurality of letter output devices (workstations (102, 103, 104), printers (105)) are connected to a letter data control device (101) by a transmission path (106). The control device (101) stores letter data for transmission to the letter output devices (102, 103, 104, 105), and is able to convert that letter data to a desired layout (e.g. from a vector font to a dot font) and then transmits the converted letter data to one or more of the letter output devices (102, 103, 104, 105). The control device (101) is able to select part of its stored letter data for transmission so that only commonly used letter data need be transmitted during start up of the system. Since a large amount of letter data may be stored in the control device (101), and only part may be transmitted to the letter output devices (102, 103, 104, 105), those output devices (102, 103, 104, 105) can have a relatively small memory.
Inventors
- 👤 Atsushi Kawabata
- 👤 Shuuichi Miura
- 👤 Kimiya Yamaashi
- 👤 Yuji Taki
- 👤 Yoshiki Kobayashi
- 👤 Shinya Tanifuji
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 23:21
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/12; G06F3/1297
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 51
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
A letter data control system comprising a plurality of letter output devices (102,103,104,105) a letter data controller (101) for controlling the letter output devices (102,103,104,105), and a transmission path (106), interconnecting the letter data controller (101) and the letter output devices (102,103,104); characterised in that: the letter data controller (101) has means (204) for storing letter data, means (202) for converting the letter data to a desired layout, and means (201) for transmitting the desired layout to at least one of the letter output devices (102,103,104,105) via the transmission path.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
90 words
A letter data control system comprising a plurality of letter output devices (102,103,104,105) a letter data controller (101) for controlling the letter output devices (102,103,104,105), and a transmission path (106), interconnecting the letter data controller (101) and the letter output devices (102,103,104); characterised in that: the letter data controller (101) has means (204) for storing letter data, means (202) for converting the letter data to a desired layout, and means (201) for transmitting the desired layout to at least one of the letter output devices (102,103,104,105) via the transmission path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
A letter data control device according to claim 1, wherein the storage means (204) is arranged to store the letter data in a plurality of font files, and the letter data controller has means (202b) for selecting a part only of the letter data in a selected one of the font files.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
113 words
A letter data control system comprising a plurality of letter output devices (102,103,104,105) a letter data controller (101) for controlling the letter output devices (102,103,104,105), and a transmission path (106) interconnecting the letter data controller (101) and the letter output (102,103,104) characterised in that: the letter data controller (101) has means (204) for storing letter data in a plurality of font files of different forms, means (202) for converting the letter data in a selected one of the font files into a desired data layout in a predetermined font, and means (201) for transmitting the desired data layout to at least one of the letter output devices (102,103,104,105) via the transmission path (106).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
113 words
A letter data control system comprising a plurality of letter output devices (102,103,104,105) a letter data controller (101) for controlling the letter output devices (102,103,104,105), and a transmission path (106) interconnecting the letter data controller (101) and the letter output (102,103,104) characterised in that: the letter data controller (101) has means (204) for storing letter data in a plurality of font files of different forms, means (202) for converting the letter data in a selected one of the font files into a desired data layout in a predetermined font, and means (201) for transmitting the desired data layout to at least one of the letter output devices (102,103,104,105) via the transmission path (106).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A letter data storage device according to claim 3 wherein said different fonts include at least one vector font and said predetermined font is a dot font.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A letter data control system according to claim 4, wherein said at least one of said letter output device includes means for storing said desired layout.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A letter data control system according to claim 3, wherein said different fonts include a plurality of vector fonts, and said predetermined font is a selected one of said vector fonts.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
A letter data control system according to claim 6 wherein said at least one of said letter output devices includes means for storing said desired layout and means for converting said stored desired layout to a further desired layout in a dot font.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
A letter data control system according to claim 7 wherein said at least one of said letter output devices includes means for converting said desired layout into a further desired layout in a dot font and means for storing said further desired layout.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
121 words
A letter data control system comprising a plurality of letter output devices (102,103,104,105), a letter data controller (101) for controlling the letter output devices (102,103,104,105), and a transmission path (106) interconnecting the letter data controller (101) and the letter output devices (102,103,104) characterised in that: the letter data controller (101) has means (204) for storing in a plurality of font files letter data in at least one font, means (202) for converting the letter data of a selected one of the font files to further letter data in another font different from said at least one font, and means (201) for transmitting the desired data layout to at least one of the letter output devices (102,103,104,105) via the transmission path (106).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
121 words
A letter data control system comprising a plurality of letter output devices (102,103,104,105), a letter data controller (101) for controlling the letter output devices (102,103,104,105), and a transmission path (106) interconnecting the letter data controller (101) and the letter output devices (102,103,104) characterised in that: the letter data controller (101) has means (204) for storing in a plurality of font files letter data in at least one font, means (202) for converting the letter data of a selected one of the font files to further letter data in another font different from said at least one font, and means (201) for transmitting the desired data layout to at least one of the letter output devices (102,103,104,105) via the transmission path (106).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
87 words
A letter data control system comprising a plurality of letter output devices (102,103,104,105) a letter data controller (101) for controlling the letter output devices (102,103,104,105), and a transmission path (106) interconnecting the letter data controller (101) and the letter output devices (102,103,104) characterised in that the letter data controller (101) is arranged to store letter data, to convert the letter data to a desired data layout, and to transmit the desired data layout to at least one of the output devices (102,103,104,105) via the transmission path (106).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
87 words
A letter data control system comprising a plurality of letter output devices (102,103,104,105) a letter data controller (101) for controlling the letter output devices (102,103,104,105), and a transmission path (106) interconnecting the letter data controller (101) and the letter output devices (102,103,104) characterised in that the letter data controller (101) is arranged to store letter data, to convert the letter data to a desired data layout, and to transmit the desired data layout to at least one of the output devices (102,103,104,105) via the transmission path (106).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
105 words
A letter data control system comprising a plurality of letter output devices (102,103,104,105) a letter data controller (101) for controlling the letter output devices (102,103,104,105), and a transmission path (106) interconnecting the letter data controller (101) and the letter output devices (102,103,104) characterised in that: the letter data controller (101) has means (204) for storing letter data in a plurality of font files, means (202) for selecting a part only of the letter data in a selected one of the font files, and means (201) for transmitting the desired layout to at least one of the letter output devices (102,103,104,105) via the transmission path (106).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
105 words
A letter data control system comprising a plurality of letter output devices (102,103,104,105) a letter data controller (101) for controlling the letter output devices (102,103,104,105), and a transmission path (106) interconnecting the letter data controller (101) and the letter output devices (102,103,104) characterised in that: the letter data controller (101) has means (204) for storing letter data in a plurality of font files, means (202) for selecting a part only of the letter data in a selected one of the font files, and means (201) for transmitting the desired layout to at least one of the letter output devices (102,103,104,105) via the transmission path (106).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
A letter data control system comprising a plurality of letter output devices (102,103,104,105) a letter data controller (101) for controlling the letter output
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A letter data control system comprising a plurality of letter output devices (102,103,104,105) a letter data controller (101) for controlling the letter output
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
A letter data control system according to claim 11 or claim 12, wherein the letter data controller (101) has means for converting said part of said letter data to a desired font format.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
A letter data control system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein at least some of the letter data output devices (102,103,104,105) are arranged to signal to the letter data controller (101) for causing the letter data controller to transmit the desired layout.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
A letter data control system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein at least some of the letter data output devices (102,103,104) are arranged to store the desired layout.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
43 words
A letter data control system according to claim 15, wherein a further one of the letter data output devices (105) has means for storing a plurality of said desired layouts stored by said at least some of said letter data output devices (102,103,104).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
A letter data control system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the letter data controller (101) has means for compressing said desired layout prior to transmission.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
45 words
A letter data control system according to claim 17 wherein at least one of the letter data output devices (102, 103, 104, 105) has means for storing the compressed desired data layout and means for converting the compressed desired layout to an expanded desired layout.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
41 words
A letter data control device according to claim 17 wherein at least one of the letter data output devices (102, 103, 104, 105) has means for expanding said compressed desired data layout, and means for storing said expanded desired data layout.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
84 words
A letter data control system comprising: a plurality of letter output devices (102, 103, 104, 105); storage means for storing letter data (204); converting means (202) for converting said letter data to a desired data layout; a transmission path (106) interconnecting said letter output devices (102, 103, 104, 105), said storage means (204) and said converting means (202), said transmission path (106) being arranged to transmit said desired data layout to at least one of said letter data output device (102, 103, 104, 105).
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
84 words
A letter data control system comprising: a plurality of letter output devices (102, 103, 104, 105); storage means for storing letter data (204); converting means (202) for converting said letter data to a desired data layout; a transmission path (106) interconnecting said letter output devices (102, 103, 104, 105), said storage means (204) and said converting means (202), said transmission path (106) being arranged to transmit said desired data layout to at least one of said letter data output device (102, 103, 104, 105).
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
76 words
A letter data control system comprising: a plurality of letter output devices; a letter data storage device for storing letter data; and a computer arranged to take letter data from said letter data storage device in accordance with commands from at least one of said letter output devices, to convert said letter data to a desired data layout, and to transmit said desired data layout to said at least one of such letter data storage devices.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
76 words
A letter data control system comprising: a plurality of letter output devices; a letter data storage device for storing letter data; and a computer arranged to take letter data from said letter data storage device in accordance with commands from at least one of said letter output devices, to convert said letter data to a desired data layout, and to transmit said desired data layout to said at least one of such letter data storage devices.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
105 words
A letter data control system comprising: a plurality of letter output devices; a letter data storage device for storing letter data; a computer arranged to take letter data from said letter data storage device in accordance with commands from at least one of said letter output devices, wherein said letter data is stored in a plurality of font files each containing a different font, and said computer is arranged to select a part only of the letter data in a selected one of said plurality of font files and to transmit said selected part to said at least one of said letter data storage devices.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
105 words
A letter data control system comprising: a plurality of letter output devices; a letter data storage device for storing letter data; a computer arranged to take letter data from said letter data storage device in accordance with commands from at least one of said letter output devices, wherein said letter data is stored in a plurality of font files each containing a different font, and said computer is arranged to select a part only of the letter data in a selected one of said plurality of font files and to transmit said selected part to said at least one of said letter data storage devices.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
62 words
A letter data control system comprising: a plurality of letter output devices; and a letter data controller for controlling said letter output devices; wherein said letter data controller has means for storing letter data, means for converting said letter data to a desired data layout, and means for transmitting said desired data layout to at least one of said letter output devices.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
62 words
A letter data control system comprising: a plurality of letter output devices; and a letter data controller for controlling said letter output devices; wherein said letter data controller has means for storing letter data, means for converting said letter data to a desired data layout, and means for transmitting said desired data layout to at least one of said letter output devices.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
58 words
A letter data control device comprising: a letter data store for storing letter data; a letter data converter for converting said letter data into a desired data layout; a transmitter for transmitting said desired data layout from said letter data control device; and a controller for controlling said letter data store, said letter data converter, and said transmitter.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
58 words
A letter data control device comprising: a letter data store for storing letter data; a letter data converter for converting said letter data into a desired data layout; a transmitter for transmitting said desired data layout from said letter data control device; and a controller for controlling said letter data store, said letter data converter, and said transmitter.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
19 words
A letter data control device according to claim 23, also having a compressor for compressing said desired data layout.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
81 words
A letter data control device comprising: a letter data store for storing in a plurality of font files, at least some of said font files containing different fonts; a selection means for selecting a part only of the letter data in a selected one of said font files; a transmitter for transmitting said selected part of said letter data from said letter data control device; and a controller for controlling said letter data store, said selection means, and said transmission means.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
81 words
A letter data control device comprising: a letter data store for storing in a plurality of font files, at least some of said font files containing different fonts; a selection means for selecting a part only of the letter data in a selected one of said font files; a transmitter for transmitting said selected part of said letter data from said letter data control device; and a controller for controlling said letter data store, said selection means, and said transmission means.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
69 words
A font server for supplying selected letter data comprising: a letter data store for storing letter data in a plurality of font files of different fonts; a letter data converter for converting at least part of said letter data in a selected one of said font files into a desired data layout in a predetermined font; and a transmitter for transmitting said desired data layout from said font server.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
69 words
A font server for supplying selected letter data comprising: a letter data store for storing letter data in a plurality of font files of different fonts; a letter data converter for converting at least part of said letter data in a selected one of said font files into a desired data layout in a predetermined font; and a transmitter for transmitting said desired data layout from said font server.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
25 words
A font server according to claim 27 wherein said different fonts include at least one vector font and said predetermined font is a dot font.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of controlling letter data comprising: storing letter data in a letter data control device; generating in at least one letter output device a signal corresponding to a desired data layout; transmitting said signal to said letter data control device; converting letter data in said letter data control device to said desired data layout; and transmitting said desired data layout to said at least one output device.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of controlling letter data comprising: storing letter data in a letter data control device; generating in at least one letter output device a signal corresponding to a desired data layout; transmitting said signal to said letter data control device; converting letter data in said letter data control device to said desired data layout; and transmitting said desired data layout to said at least one output device.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method according to claim 29, wherein said letter data is stored in said letter data control device in a plurality of font files, and said step of converting letter data converts a part only of said letter data in a selected one of said plurality of font files, said selection being determined by said signal.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 29 or claim 30 further including the step of compresing said desired data layout prior to transmission.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 31, wherein said at least one letter output device expands said desired data layout after said transmission thereto.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of controlling letter data comprising: storing letter data in a letter data control device said letter data being stored in a plurality of font files; converting letter data from a first one of said plurality of font files to a first data layout; transmitting said first data layout to a first letter output device; converting letter data from a second one of said plurality of fonts to a second data layout; and transmitting such second data layout to a second letter output device.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of controlling letter data comprising: storing letter data in a letter data control device said letter data being stored in a plurality of font files; converting letter data from a first one of said plurality of font files to a first data layout; transmitting said first data layout to a first letter output device; converting letter data from a second one of said plurality of fonts to a second data layout; and transmitting such second data layout to a second letter output device.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 33, wherein said step of converting letter data convert only a part of said letter data in said first one of said font files and said second one of said font files respectively.
Claim 50
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of controlling letter data, comprising; storing letter data in a letter data control device, said letter data being stored in a plurality of font files, at least some of said font files containing different fonts; generating at least one letter output device a signal corresponding to a desired font file; transmitting said signal to said letter data control device; selecting a part only of said letter data in said desired font file; and transmitting part of said letter data to said at least one letter input device.
Claim 51
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of controlling letter data, comprising; storing letter data in a letter data control device, said letter data being stored in a plurality of font files, at least some of said font files containing different fonts; generating at least one letter output device a signal corresponding to a desired font file; transmitting said signal to said letter data control device; selecting a part only of said letter data in said desired font file; and transmitting part of said letter data to said at least one letter input device.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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