EP0388579A2
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EP
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Method and apparatus for merging a digitized image with an alphanumeric character string
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1990-01-05
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-01-05
Abstract
Abstract A method is disclosed for merging an alphanumeric data stream with a digitized image file. It comprises the steps of inputting a digitized image file in a first input terminal and storing the digitized image file on a first storage medium. The method then inputs an alphanumeric character string in a second input mechanism and stores the alphanumeric character string in a second storage medium. The method then converts the alphanumeric character string stored in the second storage medium into a bit pel image of the alphanumeric character string by substituting a two dimensional bit pattern of pels for each respective character in the string. The method then performs a logical combination of the bit pattern for each respective alphanumeric character with the digitized image at respective intended character locations in the digitized image area and outputs the logically combined digitized image with the alphanumeric character string superimposed thereon.
Inventors
- 👤 Carol A. Parks
- 👤 Robert E. Probst
- 👤 Doraiswamy Rajagopal
- 👤 Gary L. Youngs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 10:19
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T11/00; G06T11/60; G06F; G06F40/00; G06F40/10; G06F40/166; G06F40/174
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for merging an alphanumeric data stream with a digitized image file comprising the steps of: inputting a digitized image file in a first input terminal and storing the digitized image file on a first storage medium; inputting an alphanumeric character string in a second input mechanism and storing the alphanumeric character string in a second storage medium; converting the alphanumeric character string stored in the second storage medium into a bit pel image of the alphanumeric character string by substituting a two dimensional bit pattern of pels for each respective character in said string; performing a logical combination of said bit pattern for each respective alphanumeric character with said digitized image at respective intended character locations in said digitized image area; outputting said logically combined digitized image with said alphanumeric character string super-imposed thereon.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for merging an alphanumeric data stream with a digitized image file comprising the steps of: inputting a digitized image file in a first input terminal and storing the digitized image file on a first storage medium; inputting an alphanumeric character string in a second input mechanism and storing the alphanumeric character string in a second storage medium; converting the alphanumeric character string stored in the second storage medium into a bit pel image of the alphanumeric character string by substituting a two dimensional bit pattern of pels for each respective character in said string; performing a logical combination of said bit pattern for each respective alphanumeric character with said digitized image at respective intended character locations in said digitized image area; outputting said logically combined digitized image with said alphanumeric character string super-imposed thereon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 which further comprises: said outputting step including displaying said superimposed image on a display device and/or printing said superimposed image on a printer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 or 2 wherein said logical combining step includes an ANDing and/or ORing and/or an EXCLUSIVE-ORing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
143 words
In a system for storing a digitized image file, an apparatus for combining an alphanumeric character string and superimposing said alphanumeric character string onto said digitized image file, comprising: a first input device for inputting said digitized image; a first storage device for storing said digitized image as a data file; a second input means for inputting an alphanumeric character string; a second storage mechanism for storing said alphanumeric character string; a conversion means for converting each respective alphanumeric character in said alphanumeric character string into a corresponding pattern of pel bits creating a two dimensional image of said respective alphanumeric characters; a logical combining means for logically combining said pel bit pattern of each respective alphanumeric character with said digitized image file forming a superimposed image of said image file and said alphanumeric characters; an output means for outputting said superimposed image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
143 words
In a system for storing a digitized image file, an apparatus for combining an alphanumeric character string and superimposing said alphanumeric character string onto said digitized image file, comprising: a first input device for inputting said digitized image; a first storage device for storing said digitized image as a data file; a second input means for inputting an alphanumeric character string; a second storage mechanism for storing said alphanumeric character string; a conversion means for converting each respective alphanumeric character in said alphanumeric character string into a corresponding pattern of pel bits creating a two dimensional image of said respective alphanumeric characters; a logical combining means for logically combining said pel bit pattern of each respective alphanumeric character with said digitized image file forming a superimposed image of said image file and said alphanumeric characters; an output means for outputting said superimposed image.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 4 which further comprises: a display means for displaying said superimposed image and/or a printer means for printing said superimposed image.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 4 or 5 which further comprises: a communications link connected to said output of said system for communicating said superimposed image.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
149 words
A system for communicating an alphanumeric character string from an alphanumeric workstation for display on a graphics workstation connected over a communications link to said alphanumeric workstation, said graphics workstation having an all points addressable display, comprising: an input means at said alphanumeric workstation for inputting an alphanumeric character string; a communications link connecting said alphanumeric workstation to a conversion means; said conversion means converting each respective character in said alphanumeric character string into a corresponding pel bit pattern each said pel bit pattern representing a two dimensional image of its corresponding alphanumeric character; a second communications link connecting said conversion means to a graphics terminal, for communicating said pel bit patterns representing said alphanumeric characters to said graphics workstation; display means at said graphics workstation including an all points addressable display, for displaying the pel bit pattern of each respective alphanumeric character received over said second communications link.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
149 words
A system for communicating an alphanumeric character string from an alphanumeric workstation for display on a graphics workstation connected over a communications link to said alphanumeric workstation, said graphics workstation having an all points addressable display, comprising: an input means at said alphanumeric workstation for inputting an alphanumeric character string; a communications link connecting said alphanumeric workstation to a conversion means; said conversion means converting each respective character in said alphanumeric character string into a corresponding pel bit pattern each said pel bit pattern representing a two dimensional image of its corresponding alphanumeric character; a second communications link connecting said conversion means to a graphics terminal, for communicating said pel bit patterns representing said alphanumeric characters to said graphics workstation; display means at said graphics workstation including an all points addressable display, for displaying the pel bit pattern of each respective alphanumeric character received over said second communications link.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
206 words
In a data processing system, a process for preparing a form, comprising the steps of: drawing a form in a medium, which includes a plurality of blank regions; capturing a digitized image of said form as a form image file in said data processing system; storing said form image file under a first file name in said data processing system; inputting name data and location data for each of said blank regions in said form and associating said first file name in a format data set; storing said format data set under a second file name in said data processing system; accessing said format data set; inputting an alphanumeric character string intended to be inserted into one of said plurality of blank regions; assemble and store a custom data set which includes said first file name, said alphanumeric character string and said location data; accessing said custom data set; extracting said first file name from said custom data set; accessing said form image file using said first file name; converting said alphanumeric string into pel bit shapes of characters represented by said string; merging said pel bit shapes with said form image file at a location specified by said location data in said custom data set.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
206 words
In a data processing system, a process for preparing a form, comprising the steps of: drawing a form in a medium, which includes a plurality of blank regions; capturing a digitized image of said form as a form image file in said data processing system; storing said form image file under a first file name in said data processing system; inputting name data and location data for each of said blank regions in said form and associating said first file name in a format data set; storing said format data set under a second file name in said data processing system; accessing said format data set; inputting an alphanumeric character string intended to be inserted into one of said plurality of blank regions; assemble and store a custom data set which includes said first file name, said alphanumeric character string and said location data; accessing said custom data set; extracting said first file name from said custom data set; accessing said form image file using said first file name; converting said alphanumeric string into pel bit shapes of characters represented by said string; merging said pel bit shapes with said form image file at a location specified by said location data in said custom data set.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
The process of claim 8 which further comprises the step of: inputting said alphanumeric character string from a bulk storage means and/or inputting said alphanumeric character string from a keyboard device and/or inputting said alphanumeric character string from a communications link connected to said data processing system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 8 or 9 which further comprises the step of: outputting said merged pel bit shapes with said form image file as a merged file.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
The process of claim 10 which further comprises the step of: outputting said merged file to an all points addressable graphical display device and/or outputting said merged file to a printer device and/or outputting said merged file to a storage device.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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