US4460975A — Easily accessible formating of computer printouts

Claim 1

Independent Claim 126 words

A process for electronically generating a format for a computer printout according to commands of a user communicating with a processor, the processor having a memory and further communicating with a long-term memory, the long-term memory storing a set of generic default format commands, the process comprising the steps of: (a) reproducing the default format commands in the processor memory; (b) modifying the default format commands reproduced in the processor memory according to prompted user format commands to create a set of custom default format commands; (c) recording data in the processor memory; (d) converting the custom default format commands and data recorded in the processor memory into electrical impulses to direct a printer to represent the data according to the format specified by the commands.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 126 words

A process for electronically generating a format for a computer printout according to commands of a user communicating with a processor, the processor having a memory and further communicating with a long-term memory, the long-term memory storing a set of generic default format commands, the process comprising the steps of: (a) reproducing the default format commands in the processor memory; (b) modifying the default format commands reproduced in the processor memory according to prompted user format commands to create a set of custom default format commands; (c) recording data in the processor memory; (d) converting the custom default format commands and data recorded in the processor memory into electrical impulses to direct a printer to represent the data according to the format specified by the commands.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 20 words

The process of claim 1 wherein the sequence of steps in first (a), second (b), third (c) and fourth (d).

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 31 words

The process of claim 1 wherein each prompted user format command is selected from a menu of format command choices presented in combination with each of a sequence of prompting stimuli.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 39 words

The process of claim 1 or 2 wherein substantially simultaneous to the conversion of the custom default format commands and data into electrical impulses to direct a printer, the custom default format commands are reproduced in the long-term memory.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 30 words

The process of claim 1 wherein the default format commands reproduced in the processor memory from the long-term memory are custom default format commands previously stored in the long-term memory.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 23 words

The process of claim 1 wherein the modifications of the generic default format commands are accomplished by a logical sequence of prompting stimuli.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 44 words

The process of claim 6 wherein succeeding prompting stimuli are determined by the prior format command choices, thereby shortening the sequence of prompting stimuli presented to the user to only those prompting stimuli relevant to the particular format and data specified by previous commands.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 18 words

The process of claim 1 wherein the data is recorded in the processor memory directly by the user.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 45 words

The process of claim 1 wherein the data is stored in the long-term memory and wherein the data is recorded in the processor memory by user designation of data stored in the long-term memory followed by reproduction of the designated data in the processor memory.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 21 words

The process of claim 3 wherein the sequence of prompting stimuli includes a request for an alphanumerical response as a command.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 14 words

The process of claim 10 wherein the alphanumeric response is a data base designation.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 14 words

The process of claim 10 wherein the alphanumeric response is a file name designation.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 13 words

The process of claim 10 wherein the alphanumeric response is a mnemonic designation.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 20 words

The process of claim 10 wherein the alphanumeric response is a word to be included in the printout of data.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 37 words

The process of claim 1 wherein the generic default format commands specify all the parameters of the format except for the data, an interval of time to be represented and a frequency of data to be represented.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 88 words

A process for electronically generating a format for a computer printout from a series of commands comprising the steps of: (a) prompting a series of commands by a user, the commands defining the format; (b) recording the series of user commands; (c) incorporating a series of generic default format commands with the user commands; (d) recording data designated by the user; and (e) converting the recorded commands and data into electrical impulses to direct a printer to represent the data according to the format specified by the commands.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 88 words

A process for electronically generating a format for a computer printout from a series of commands comprising the steps of: (a) prompting a series of commands by a user, the commands defining the format; (b) recording the series of user commands; (c) incorporating a series of generic default format commands with the user commands; (d) recording data designated by the user; and (e) converting the recorded commands and data into electrical impulses to direct a printer to represent the data according to the format specified by the commands.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 39 words

The process of claim 16 wherein the electronic prompting includes a sequence of presentation of prompting stimuli, and wherein each prompting stimulus is presented in combination with a menu of possible command choices relating to the particular prompting stimulus.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 22 words

The process of claim 17 wherein the sequence of prompting stimuli also includes a request for an alphanumeric response as a command.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 18 words

The process of claim 18 wherein the sequence of presentation of prompting stimuli is determined by preceding commands.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 20 words

The process of claim 16 wherein the series of user commands are recorded in the processor memory of the computer.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 66 words

The process of claim 16 wherein the default format commands are stored in a long-term memory and are reproduced in the processor memory and wherein the user commands modify the default format commands in the processor memory and wherein the modified default format commands are stored in the long-term memory as custom default format commands, thereby allowing the user to later retrieve the custom default commands.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 31 words

The process of claim 16 wherein the user communicates with a processor which further communicates with a processor memory and wherein the commands and data are recorded in the processor memory.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 36 words

The process of claim 22 wherein the recording of data is accomplished by user designation of data stored in a long-term memory communicating with the processor, followed by reproduction of the data in the processor memory.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 138 words

A process for electronically generating a format for a computer printout according to commands of a user, the user communicating with a processor having a memory, the process comprising the steps of: (a) presenting a sequence of prompting stimuli to the user; (b) presenting a menu of command choices in combination with the prompting stimuli; and (c) the user selecting commands from the menus; wherein the sequence of prompting stimuli comprises: first, presenting the user with prompting stimuli indicating that a choice of operations is to be made, the stimuli is presented in combination with a menu of command choices including to input new commands, to change commands already stored in the processor memory and to print out according to commands already stored; and second, a further prompting stimulus dependent upon the command choice selected by the user.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 138 words

A process for electronically generating a format for a computer printout according to commands of a user, the user communicating with a processor having a memory, the process comprising the steps of: (a) presenting a sequence of prompting stimuli to the user; (b) presenting a menu of command choices in combination with the prompting stimuli; and (c) the user selecting commands from the menus; wherein the sequence of prompting stimuli comprises: first, presenting the user with prompting stimuli indicating that a choice of operations is to be made, the stimuli is presented in combination with a menu of command choices including to input new commands, to change commands already stored in the processor memory and to print out according to commands already stored; and second, a further prompting stimulus dependent upon the command choice selected by the user.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 56 words

The process of claim 24 wherin the user selects the command to input new commands and wherein the second prompting stimulus indicates that a choice of a source of the input is to be made, the stimulus is presented in combination with a menu of command choices including from previously stored commands and from the terminal.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 59 words

The process of claim 25 wherein the user selects the command to input from the terminal and further comprising a third prompting stimulus indicating that a choice of type of format definition mode is to be made, the stimulus is presented in combination with a menu of command choices including to require maximum interaction and to require language responses.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 73 words

The process of claim 26 wherein the user selects the command to require maximum interaction and further comprising a fourth prompting stimulus indicating that a choice of text to make up the body of the printout is to be designated and indicating a line number of the body wherein each designation of text by the user is followed by the iteration of the fourth prompting stimulus with the line number increased by one.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 93 words

The process of claim 26 wherein the user selects the command to require maximum interaction and further comprising a fourth prompting stimulus indicating that a designation of a data base is to be made, wherein user selection of a data base results in presentation of a fifth prompting stimulus indicating that the user is to designate text by an alphanumeric response selected from the group consisting of a mnemonic and a keyword, the fifth prompting stimulus is presented with an indication of a line number of the body to contain the designated text.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 32 words

The process of claim 28 wherein each alphanumeric response is followed by an indication that another alphanumeric response is to be designated for the text of the next line of the body.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 32 words

The process of claim 29 wherein the user may respond to presentation of the fifth stimulus by directing to change the data base designation and wherein the fourth stimulus again is presented.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 68 words

The process of claim 30 wherein the user responds to presentation of fifth stimulus by directing that no further text of lines in the body is designated and further comprising a sixth prompting stimulus indicating that a choice of format feature is to be made, the sixth prompting stimulus is presented in combination with a menu of command choices including page format feature, body feature and line-totals feature.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 70 words

The process of claim 30 wherein the user responds to the presentation of the fourth stimulus by directing that no further lines of text in the body are designated and further comprising a sixth prompting stimulus indicating that a choice of format feature is to be made, the sixth prompting stimulus is presented in combination with a menu of command choices, including page format feature, body feature, and line-totals feature.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 62 words

The process of claim 31 or 32 wherein the user selects the page format feature and further comprising a seventh prompting stimuli indicating that a choice of type of change to the page format is to be made, the seventh prompting stimulus is presented in combination with a menu of command choices including columns, date, page number, run-title, label width and size.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 57 words

The process of claim 31 or 32 wherein the user selects the body format feature and further comprising a seventh prompting stimuli indicating that a choice of type of change to the body is to be made, the seventh prompting stimulus is presented in combination with a menu of command choices including lines, data-base, indentation and precision.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 48 words

The process of claim 34 wherein the user selects to change lines, and further comprising an eighth stimulus indicating the line number immediately subsequent to the last line of text designated and further indicating that a choice of text to make up that line is to be selected.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 26 words

The process of claim 35 wherein each time the user chooses a designation of text the eighth stimulus is presented with line number increased by one.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 56 words

The process of claim 31 or 32 wheren the user selects the line totals feature and further comprising a seventh prompting stimuli indicating that a choice of whether to insert or delete line totals is to be made, the seventh prompting stimulus is presented in combination with a menu of command choices including insert and delete.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 61 words

The process of claim 24 wherein the user selects to change commands in the processor memory and wherein the second prompting stimulus indicates that a choice of the part of the format to be changed is to be made, the second prompting stimulus is presented in combination with a menu of command choices including page format, title, body, footnotes and line-totals.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 62 words

The process of claim 38 wherein the user selects to change the page format and further comprising a third prompting stimulus indicating that a choice of type of change to the page format is to be made, the third prompting stimulus is presented in combination with a menu of command choices including columns, run title, date, label width, page number and size.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 55 words

The process of claim 38 wherein the user selects to change the title and further comprising a third prompting stimulus indicating that a type of change to the title is to be made, the third prompting stimulus is presented in combination with a menu of command choices including modify, append, insert, delete, replace and locate.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 57 words

The process of claim 38 wherein the user selects to change the body and further comprising a third prompting stimulus indicating that a choice of part of the body to be changed is to be made, the third prompting stimulus is presented in combination with a menu of command choices including lines, data bases, indentation and precision.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 58 words

The process of claim 41 wherein the user selects to change the lines of the body and further comprising a fourth prompting stimulus indicating that the type of change to the lines is to be made, the fourth prompting stimulus is presented in combination with a menu of command choices including modify, append, insert, delete, replace and locate.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 61 words

The process of claim 38 wherein the user selects to change the footnotes part of the format and further comprising a third prompting stimulus indicating that a choice of type of change to the footnotes is to be made, the third prompting stimulus is presented in combination with a menu of command choices including modify, append, insert, delete, replace and locate.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 56 words

The process of claim 38 wherein the user selects to change the line-totals and further comprising a third prompting stimulus indicating that a choice of whether to insert or delete line totals is to be made, the third prompting stimulus is presented in combination with a menu of command choices including to insert and to delete.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 60 words

The process of claim 24 wherein the user selects to print out according to commands already stored and wherein the second prompting stimulus indicating that a choice of source of the commands to be printed out is to be made, the second prompting stimulus is presented in combination with a menu of command choices including from workspace and from file.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 52 words

The process of claim 25 wherein the user selects to print out commands stored in the workspace and further comprising a third stimulus and a fourth stimulus indicating that a choice is to be made of frequency of data to be printed out and of interval of data to be printed out.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 84 words

The process of claim 45 wherein the user selects to print out commands stored in the files and further comprising third, fourth, fifth and sixth stimuli indicating that a choice is to be made of file name designating the commands to print out that a choice is to be made of frequency of data to be printed out, that a choice is to be made of interval of data to be printed out, and that a choice is to be made of run title.

Claim 51

Independent Claim 158 words

A system for electronically generating a format for a computer print out according to commands of a user communicating with a processor, the processor having a memory and further communicating with a long-term memory, the long term memory storing a set of generic default format commands, the system comprising: (a) means for reproducing the generic default format commands in the processor memory; (b) means for modifying the generic default format commands reproduced in the processor memory according to prompted user commands to create a set of custom default commands wherein each command is selected from a menu of command choices presented in combination with each of a sequence of prompting stimuli; (c) means for recording data with the default format commands on the processor memory; and (d) means for converting the custom default format commands and data recorded on the processor memory into electrical impulses to direct a printer to print out the data according to the commands.

Claim 52

Independent Claim 158 words

A system for electronically generating a format for a computer print out according to commands of a user communicating with a processor, the processor having a memory and further communicating with a long-term memory, the long term memory storing a set of generic default format commands, the system comprising: (a) means for reproducing the generic default format commands in the processor memory; (b) means for modifying the generic default format commands reproduced in the processor memory according to prompted user commands to create a set of custom default commands wherein each command is selected from a menu of command choices presented in combination with each of a sequence of prompting stimuli; (c) means for recording data with the default format commands on the processor memory; and (d) means for converting the custom default format commands and data recorded on the processor memory into electrical impulses to direct a printer to print out the data according to the commands.

Claim 53

Independent Claim 85 words

A method for designating lines of text, to be printed by a computer controlled printer, the user communicating with a computer and computer further communicating with a printer, the method comprising the steps of: (a) the computer requesting that the user designate text for the first line to be printed; (b) the user communicating a designation of text to the computer; (c) the computer responding to every user designation of text by requesting that the user designate text for the next line to be printed.

Claim 54

Independent Claim 85 words

A method for designating lines of text, to be printed by a computer controlled printer, the user communicating with a computer and computer further communicating with a printer, the method comprising the steps of: (a) the computer requesting that the user designate text for the first line to be printed; (b) the user communicating a designation of text to the computer; (c) the computer responding to every user designation of text by requesting that the user designate text for the next line to be printed.

Claim 55

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 49 wherein the user may designate data to be printed on a line by specifying a mnemonic association with particular data stored in the computer.

Claim 56

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method of claim 50 wherein the user may designate text selected from the class consisting of a blank line, a row of hyphens, a centered label, a subheading, and a percentage of data.

Claim 57

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 51 further comprising a long-term memory communicating with the computer wherein data is stored in the long-term memory.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1987-07-17	1988-01-16	1988-07-17	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1991-07-17	1992-01-16	1992-07-17	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1995-07-17	1996-01-16	1996-07-17	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Easily accessible formating of computer printouts

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