Method for construction of a scaleable font database

Claim 1

A method for construction of a SCALEABLE FONT DATABASE (430) comprising the following steps: (A) Selecting a CHARACTER (210) from a set of one or more CHARACTERS (210) to be stored in said SCALEABLE FONT DATABASE (430); (B) Assigning a CHARACTER CODE (516) to said CHARACTER (210); (C) Creating a CHARACTER OUTLINE (212) for said CHARACTER (210); (D) Determining SEGMENT ENDPOINTS (220) in a CHARACTER MODEL (250) obtained for said CHARACTER (210) using said CHARACTER OUTLINE (212); (E) Measuring local DIMENSIONS (240) for corresponding ASSOCIATIONS (230) in said CHARACTER MODEL (250); (F) Determining SEGMENT DESCRIPTORS (546) for each CONTOUR SEGMENT (214) of said CHARACTER OUTLINE (212); (G) Repeating steps (A) through (F) for any remaining CHARACTERS (210) of said set of one or more CHARACTERS (210); (H) Determining global DIMENSIONS (240) applicable to said set of one or more CHARACTERS (210); and, (I) Formatting said CHARACTER CODE (516), CHARACTER MODEL (250), local DIMENSIONS (240), and SEGMENT DESCRIPTORS (546) for each of said CHARACTERS (210) together with said global DIMENSIONS (240) to form STORED SCALEABLE CHARACTERS (510) comprising said SCALEABLE FONT DATABASE (430).

Claim 2

A method for construction of a SCALEABLE FONT DATABASE (430) comprising the following steps: (A) Selecting a CHARACTER (210) from a set of one or more CHARACTERS (210) to be stored in said SCALEABLE FONT DATABASE (430); (B) Assigning a CHARACTER CODE (516) to said CHARACTER (210); (C) Creating a CHARACTER OUTLINE (212) for said CHARACTER (210); (D) Determining SEGMENT ENDPOINTS (220) in a CHARACTER MODEL (250) obtained for said CHARACTER (210) using said CHARACTER OUTLINE (212); (E) Measuring local DIMENSIONS (240) for corresponding ASSOCIATIONS (230) in said CHARACTER MODEL (250); (F) Determining SEGMENT DESCRIPTORS (546) for each CONTOUR SEGMENT (214) of said CHARACTER OUTLINE (212); (G) Repeating steps (A) through (F) for any remaining CHARACTERS (210) of said set of one or more CHARACTERS (210); (H) Determining global DIMENSIONS (240) applicable to said set of one or more CHARACTERS (210); and, (I) Formatting said CHARACTER CODE (516), CHARACTER MODEL (250), local DIMENSIONS (240), and SEGMENT DESCRIPTORS (546) for each of said CHARACTERS (210) together with said global DIMENSIONS (240) to form STORED SCALEABLE CHARACTERS (510) comprising said SCALEABLE FONT DATABASE (430).

Claim 3

A method for generating STORED SCALEABLE CHARACTERS (510) representing one or more CHARACTERS (210), said STORED SCALEABLE CHARACTERS (510) to be included in a previously constructed SCALEABLE FONT DATABASE (430), said method comprising the following steps: (A) Selecting a CHARACTER (210) from said set of one or more CHARACTERS (210); (B) Assigning a CHARACTER CODE (516) to said CHARACTER (210); (C) Creating a CHARACTER OUTLINE (212) for said CHARACTER (510); (D) Determining SEGMENT ENDPOINTS (220) in a CHARACTER MODEL (250) obtained for said CHARACTER (210) using said CHARACTER OUTLINE (212); (E) Measuring local DIMENSIONS (240) for corresponding ASSOCIATIONS (230) in said CHARACTER MODEL (250); (F) Determining SEGMENT DESCRIPTORS (546) for each CONTOUR SEGMENT (214) of said character outline; (G) Repeating steps (A) through (F) for any remaining CHARACTERS (210) of said set of one or more CHARACTERS (210); (H) Determining global DIMENSIONS (240) applicable to said set of one or more CHARACTERS (210); and, (I) Formatting said CHARACTER CODE (516), CHARACTER MODEL (250), local DIMENSIONS (240), and SEGMENT DESCRIPTORS (546) for each of said CHARACTERS (210) together with said global DIMENSIONS (240) to form said STORED SCALEABLE CHARACTERS (510) to be included in said previously-constructed SCALEABLE FONT DATABASE (430).

Claim 4

A method for generating STORED SCALEABLE CHARACTERS (510) representing one or more CHARACTERS (210), said STORED SCALEABLE CHARACTERS (510) to be included in a previously constructed SCALEABLE FONT DATABASE (430), said method comprising the following steps: (A) Selecting a CHARACTER (210) from said set of one or more CHARACTERS (210); (B) Assigning a CHARACTER CODE (516) to said CHARACTER (210); (C) Creating a CHARACTER OUTLINE (212) for said CHARACTER (510); (D) Determining SEGMENT ENDPOINTS (220) in a CHARACTER MODEL (250) obtained for said CHARACTER (210) using said CHARACTER OUTLINE (212); (E) Measuring local DIMENSIONS (240) for corresponding ASSOCIATIONS (230) in said CHARACTER MODEL (250); (F) Determining SEGMENT DESCRIPTORS (546) for each CONTOUR SEGMENT (214) of said character outline; (G) Repeating steps (A) through (F) for any remaining CHARACTERS (210) of said set of one or more CHARACTERS (210); (H) Determining global DIMENSIONS (240) applicable to said set of one or more CHARACTERS (210); and, (I) Formatting said CHARACTER CODE (516), CHARACTER MODEL (250), local DIMENSIONS (240), and SEGMENT DESCRIPTORS (546) for each of said CHARACTERS (210) together with said global DIMENSIONS (240) to form said STORED SCALEABLE CHARACTERS (510) to be included in said previously-constructed SCALEABLE FONT DATABASE (430).

Claim 5

A method for generating a STORED SCALEABLE CHARACTER (210) comprising the following steps: (A) Assigning a CHARACTER CODE (516) to a CHARACTER (210); (B) Creating a CHARACTER OUTLINE (212) for said CHARACTER (210); (C) Determining SEGMENT ENDPOINTS (220) in a CHARACTER MODEL (250) obtained for said CHARACTER (210) using said CHARACTER OUTLINE (212); (D) Measuring local DIMENSIONS (240) for corresponding ASSOCIATIONS (230) in said CHARACTER MODEL (250); (E) Determining SEGMENT DESCRIPTORS (546) for each CONTOUR SEGMENT (214) of said CHARACTER OUTLINE (212); (F) Determining global DIMENSIONS (240) applicable to said CHARACTER (210); and, (I) Formatting said CHARACTER CODE (516), CHARACTER MODEL (250), local DIMENSIONS (240), and SEGMENT DESCRIPTORS (546) for said CHARACTER (210) together with said global DIMENSIONS to form said STORED SCALEABLE CHARACTER (510).

Claim 6

A method for generating a STORED SCALEABLE CHARACTER (210) comprising the following steps: (A) Assigning a CHARACTER CODE (516) to a CHARACTER (210); (B) Creating a CHARACTER OUTLINE (212) for said CHARACTER (210); (C) Determining SEGMENT ENDPOINTS (220) in a CHARACTER MODEL (250) obtained for said CHARACTER (210) using said CHARACTER OUTLINE (212); (D) Measuring local DIMENSIONS (240) for corresponding ASSOCIATIONS (230) in said CHARACTER MODEL (250); (E) Determining SEGMENT DESCRIPTORS (546) for each CONTOUR SEGMENT (214) of said CHARACTER OUTLINE (212); (F) Determining global DIMENSIONS (240) applicable to said CHARACTER (210); and, (I) Formatting said CHARACTER CODE (516), CHARACTER MODEL (250), local DIMENSIONS (240), and SEGMENT DESCRIPTORS (546) for said CHARACTER (210) together with said global DIMENSIONS to form said STORED SCALEABLE CHARACTER (510).

Claim 7

The method of claims 1., 2., or 3. wherein said CHARACTER MODEL (250) comprises a plurality of CHARACTER SUB-MODELS, together with ASSOCIATIONS (230) defining an inter-relationship of said plurality of CHARACTER SUB-MODELS.

Claim 8

The method of claims 1., 2., or 3. wherein at least one of the CHARACTER MODELS (250) is determined from a CHARACTER OUTLINE (212) by selection from a set of previously-created CHARACTER MODELS (250), said selection being based upon comparison of said CHARACTER OUTLINE (212) with each of said set of previously-created CHARACTER MODELS (250).

Claim 9

The method of claims 1., 2., or 3. wherein at least one of the CHARACTER MODELS (250) is determined from a CHARACTER OUTLINE (212) by creating a new CHARACTER MODEL (250) using said CHARACTER OUTLINE (212).

Claim 10

The method of claims 1., 2., or 3. wherein at least one of the global DIMENSIONS (240) is determined by selection from a previously-created set of measurements for global DIMENSIONS (240).

Claim 11

The method of claims 1., 2., or 3. wherein at least one of the global DIMENSIONS (240) is determined by creating a new measurement for one or more global DIMENSIONS (240).

Claim 12

A method for construction of a CHARACTER MODEL (250) for a CHARACTER (210) comprising the following steps: (A) Generating a representation of a CHARACTER OUTLINE (212) for said CHARACTER (210); (B) Locating SEGMENT ENDPOINTS (220) on said representation of said CHARACTER OUTLINE (212); (C) Identifying said SEGMENT ENDPOINTS (220) with SEGMENT ENDPOINT NUMBERS (226); (D) Identifying ASSOCIATIONS (230) relating said SEGMENT ENDPOINTS (220); (E) Determining parameters for each of said ASSOCIATIONS (230); and, (F) Collecting said SEGMENT ENDPOINT NUMBERS (226) and said ASSOCIATIONS (230) to form said CHARACTER MODEL (250) for said CHARACTER (210).

Claim 13

A method for construction of a CHARACTER MODEL (250) for a CHARACTER (210) comprising the following steps: (A) Generating a representation of a CHARACTER OUTLINE (212) for said CHARACTER (210); (B) Locating SEGMENT ENDPOINTS (220) on said representation of said CHARACTER OUTLINE (212); (C) Identifying said SEGMENT ENDPOINTS (220) with SEGMENT ENDPOINT NUMBERS (226); (D) Identifying ASSOCIATIONS (230) relating said SEGMENT ENDPOINTS (220); (E) Determining parameters for each of said ASSOCIATIONS (230); and, (F) Collecting said SEGMENT ENDPOINT NUMBERS (226) and said ASSOCIATIONS (230) to form said CHARACTER MODEL (250) for said CHARACTER (210).

Claim 14

A method for construction of a CHARACTER SUB-MODEL representative of a component of a CHARACTER (210), said method comprising the following steps: (A) Generating a representation of a CHARACTER OUTLINE (212) for said component of said CHARACTER (210); (B) Locating SEGMENT ENDPOINTS (220) on said representation of said CHARACTER OUTLINE (212); (C) Identifying said SEGMENT ENDPOINTS (220) with SEGMENT ENDPOINT NUMBERS (226); (D) Identifying ASSOCIATIONS (230) relating said SEGMENT ENDPOINTS (220); (E) Determining parameters for each of said ASSOCIATIONS (230); and, (F) Collecting said SEGMENT ENDPOINT NUMBERS (226) and said ASSOCIATIONS (230) to form said CHARACTER SUB-MODEL for said component of said CHARACTER (430).

Claim 15

A method for construction of a CHARACTER SUB-MODEL representative of a component of a CHARACTER (210), said method comprising the following steps: (A) Generating a representation of a CHARACTER OUTLINE (212) for said component of said CHARACTER (210); (B) Locating SEGMENT ENDPOINTS (220) on said representation of said CHARACTER OUTLINE (212); (C) Identifying said SEGMENT ENDPOINTS (220) with SEGMENT ENDPOINT NUMBERS (226); (D) Identifying ASSOCIATIONS (230) relating said SEGMENT ENDPOINTS (220); (E) Determining parameters for each of said ASSOCIATIONS (230); and, (F) Collecting said SEGMENT ENDPOINT NUMBERS (226) and said ASSOCIATIONS (230) to form said CHARACTER SUB-MODEL for said component of said CHARACTER (430).

Claim 16

A method for construction of a CHARACTER MODEL (250) for a CHARACTER (210) comprising the following steps: (A) Generating a representation of a CHARACTER OUTLINE (212) for said CHARACTER (210); (B) Locating SEGMENT ENDPOINTS (220) on said representation of said CHARACTER OUTLINE (212); (C) Identifying said SEGMENT ENDPOINTS (220) with SEGMENT ENDPOINT NUMBERS (226); (D) Identifying ASSOCIATIONS (230) relating said SEGMENT ENDPOINTS (220); (E) Determining CHARACTER SUB-MODELS applicable to subsets of said SEGMENT ENDPOINTS (220) and said ASSOCIATIONS (230); (F) Determining ASSOCIATIONS relating said CHARACTER SUB-MODELS; and, (G) Collecting said CHARACTER SUB-MODELS and said ASSOCIATIONS (230) relating said CHARACTER SUB-MODELS to form said CHARACTER MODEL (250) for said CHARACTER (210).

Claim 17

A method for construction of a CHARACTER MODEL (250) for a CHARACTER (210) comprising the following steps: (A) Generating a representation of a CHARACTER OUTLINE (212) for said CHARACTER (210); (B) Locating SEGMENT ENDPOINTS (220) on said representation of said CHARACTER OUTLINE (212); (C) Identifying said SEGMENT ENDPOINTS (220) with SEGMENT ENDPOINT NUMBERS (226); (D) Identifying ASSOCIATIONS (230) relating said SEGMENT ENDPOINTS (220); (E) Determining CHARACTER SUB-MODELS applicable to subsets of said SEGMENT ENDPOINTS (220) and said ASSOCIATIONS (230); (F) Determining ASSOCIATIONS relating said CHARACTER SUB-MODELS; and, (G) Collecting said CHARACTER SUB-MODELS and said ASSOCIATIONS (230) relating said CHARACTER SUB-MODELS to form said CHARACTER MODEL (250) for said CHARACTER (210).

Claim 18

A method for determining a global DIMENSION (240) applicable to a plurality of STORED SCALEABLE CHARACTERS (510) representing CHARACTERS (210) belonging to one or more TYPEFACE DESIGNS (514), comprising the following steps: (A) Selecting a TYPEFACE DESIGN (514) from said one or more TYPEFACE DESIGNS (514); (B) Selecting a CHARACTER (210) belonging to the TYPEFACE DESIGN (514) selected in step (A); (C) Measuring actual DIMENSIONS (240) for each occurrence of an ASSOCIATION (230) corresponding to said global DIMENSION (240) within a CHARACTER MODEL (250) of said CHARACTER (210); (D) Repeating steps (B) and (C) for any remaining CHARACTERS (210) belonging to said TYPEFACE DESIGN (514); (E) Forming a candidate global DIMENSION (240) as an average value of the measurements of step (C); (F) Adjusting said candidate global DIMENSION (240) to obtain the closest fit for all CHARACTERS (210) belonging to said TYPEFACE DESIGN (514) thereby obtaining the global DIMENSION (240) applicable to said TYPEFACE DESIGN (514); and, (G) Repeating steps (A) through (F) for any remaining TYPEFACE DESIGNS (514) of said one or more TYPEFACE DESIGNS (514).

Claim 19

A method for determining a global DIMENSION (240) applicable to a plurality of STORED SCALEABLE CHARACTERS (510) representing CHARACTERS (210) belonging to one or more TYPEFACE DESIGNS (514), comprising the following steps: (A) Selecting a TYPEFACE DESIGN (514) from said one or more TYPEFACE DESIGNS (514); (B) Selecting a CHARACTER (210) belonging to the TYPEFACE DESIGN (514) selected in step (A); (C) Measuring actual DIMENSIONS (240) for each occurrence of an ASSOCIATION (230) corresponding to said global DIMENSION (240) within a CHARACTER MODEL (250) of said CHARACTER (210); (D) Repeating steps (B) and (C) for any remaining CHARACTERS (210) belonging to said TYPEFACE DESIGN (514); (E) Forming a candidate global DIMENSION (240) as an average value of the measurements of step (C); (F) Adjusting said candidate global DIMENSION (240) to obtain the closest fit for all CHARACTERS (210) belonging to said TYPEFACE DESIGN (514) thereby obtaining the global DIMENSION (240) applicable to said TYPEFACE DESIGN (514); and, (G) Repeating steps (A) through (F) for any remaining TYPEFACE DESIGNS (514) of said one or more TYPEFACE DESIGNS (514).