US5167013A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
User definable font substitutions with equivalency indicators
Assignee: Xerox Corp
•
Filing: 1990-09-28
•
Granted: 1992-11-24
•
Expires: 2010-09-28
Abstract
Abstract In a printer system which allows printing in multiple fonts, where the font to be used is specified in an encoded document to be printed, an operator designation of font equivalency is provided which specifies acceptable font substitutes of available fonts for unavailable fonts. Upon detection of a document specification of an unavailable font, a print controller searches a mapping of known fonts to available fonts to determine if an equivalent font has been designated. The mapping is operator-set in accordance with the operator perception of equivalence. Font equivalency mapping may be a yes/no equivalent, indicating substitution or job fault, or the mapping may have a multilevel substitution hierarchy, in which degress of equivalency are determined by the operator, and result in different warnings or machine operations dependent on different degrees of equivalency. An operator may also program the job to allow printing if the equivalency falls within a certain degree, changing that degree depending upon customer sensitivity to font use.
Inventors
- 👤 Randall R. Hube
- 👤 Cheryl A. Sampson
- 👤 Russell W. Simpson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 20:44
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F40/00; G06F40/10; G06F40/103; G06F40/109; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/18; G06K15/1801; G06K15/1822; G06K15/1823; G06K15/1827
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 50
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
In an arrangement identifying characters in an electronically formatted document as printable in a selected font, and including means for converting the selected font to an available font, said converting means including: a font library storing a number of fonts therein, each stored font accessible when required for printing a character, when said selected font is among said stored fonts; means for determining whether the selected font is stored in said font library; means for comparing said selected font with a set of known fonts not stored in said font library, to determine whether said selected font is a member of said set; a programmable look up table, mapping known fonts not available in said font library, to fonts stored in said font library, as substitutions therefor, and allowing user designation of said mapping; means for determining, from said programmable look up table, a substitution font for a known font to a stored font; and means for using said substitution font for each selected font.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
In an arrangement identifying characters in an electronically formatted document as printable in a selected font, and including means for converting the selected font to an available font, said converting means including: a font library storing a number of fonts therein, each stored font accessible when required for printing a character, when said selected font is among said stored fonts; means for determining whether the selected font is stored in said font library; means for comparing said selected font with a set of known fonts not stored in said font library, to determine whether said selected font is a member of said set; a programmable look up table, mapping known fonts not available in said font library, to fonts stored in said font library, as substitutions therefor, and allowing user designation of said mapping; means for determining, from said programmable look up table, a substitution font for a known font to a stored font; and means for using said substitution font for each selected font.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said programmable look up table in said font memory, mapping each known font to a stored font, provides indicia of equivalence for each mapping, indicating a degree of similarity of each stored font to each known font.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said programmable look up table in said font memory, mapping each known font to a stored font, provides indicia of equivalence for each mapping, indicating a degree of similarity of each stored font to each known font.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device as defined in claim 3, including operator warning means for providing a hierarchy of warnings to an operator, in accordance with said indicia of equivalence.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device as defined in claim 1, where for a known font mapped to plural stored fonts, means are provided for selecting a substitution font in accordance with a predetermined priority.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
162 words
A method of controlling font substitution in an arrangement identifying characters in an electronically formatted document, each character designated as printable in a selected font, including the steps: storing in a font library a number of fonts, each stored font accessible when identified for a character, when said selected font is among said stored fonts; determining whether the selected font is stored in said font library; comparing said selected font with a set of known fonts not stored in said font library, to determine whether said selected font is a member of said set; determining, from a programmable look up table mapping known fonts not stored in said font library to stored fonts, a substitution font for a selected font determined not to be stored in said font library, said programmable look up table mapping each known font to a stored font generated by a user through a user interface to the table; and using said substitution font for each selected font.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
162 words
A method of controlling font substitution in an arrangement identifying characters in an electronically formatted document, each character designated as printable in a selected font, including the steps: storing in a font library a number of fonts, each stored font accessible when identified for a character, when said selected font is among said stored fonts; determining whether the selected font is stored in said font library; comparing said selected font with a set of known fonts not stored in said font library, to determine whether said selected font is a member of said set; determining, from a programmable look up table mapping known fonts not stored in said font library to stored fonts, a substitution font for a selected font determined not to be stored in said font library, said programmable look up table mapping each known font to a stored font generated by a user through a user interface to the table; and using said substitution font for each selected font.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method as defined in claim 6, wherein said programmable look up table in said font memory, mapping each known font to a stored font, provides indicia of equivalence for each mapping, indicating a degree of similarity of each stored font to each known font.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method as defined in claim 6, wherein said programmable look up table in said font memory, mapping each known font to a stored font, provides indicia of equivalence for each mapping, indicating a degree of similarity of each stored font to each known font.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as defined in claim 8, including the step of providing a hierarchy of operator warnings to an operator, in accordance with said indicia of equivalence, prior to using a substitution font.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as defined in claim 6, where for a known font mapped to plural stored fonts, means are provided for selecting a substitution font in accordance with a predetermined priority.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
159 words
In a print controller for a printer, including an arrangement to print characters in a document transmitted to the controller, each character designated for printing in a selected font, including: font memory storing a number of fonts therein, each stored font accessible when required for printing a character, when said selected font is among said stored fonts; a programmable look up table in said font memory storing a set of user designated mappings, said table mapping known fonts to stored fonts, for substitution of said stored fonts therefor; means for determining whether the selected font is stored in said font memory; means for comparing said selected font with a set of known fonts not stored in said font library, to determine whether said selected font is a member of said set; means for using said substitution font for each selected font, upon determination of unavailability thereof, for printing characters in the document designated for printing in the selected font.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
159 words
In a print controller for a printer, including an arrangement to print characters in a document transmitted to the controller, each character designated for printing in a selected font, including: font memory storing a number of fonts therein, each stored font accessible when required for printing a character, when said selected font is among said stored fonts; a programmable look up table in said font memory storing a set of user designated mappings, said table mapping known fonts to stored fonts, for substitution of said stored fonts therefor; means for determining whether the selected font is stored in said font memory; means for comparing said selected font with a set of known fonts not stored in said font library, to determine whether said selected font is a member of said set; means for using said substitution font for each selected font, upon determination of unavailability thereof, for printing characters in the document designated for printing in the selected font.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The device as defined in claim 9, wherein said look up table, mapping known fonts to stored fonts for substitution, provides indicia of equivalence for each substitution, indicating a degree of similarity of each stored font to each known font.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
The device as defined in claim 11, wherein said look up table, mapping known fonts to stored fonts for substitution, provides indicia of equivalence for each substitution, indicating a degree of similarity of each stored font to each known font.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device as defined in claim 13, including operator warning means for providing a hierarchy of warnings to an operator, in accordance with said indicia of equivalence.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
178 words
In a print controller for a printer, including an arrangement to print characters in a document transmitted to the controller, each character designated for printing in a selected font, including: font memory storing a number of fonts therein, each stored font accessible when required for printing a character, when said selected font is among said stored fonts; a user programmable look up table in said font memory, said table mapping known fonts to stored fonts, for substitution of said stored fonts therefor, said look up table additionally providing indicia of equivalence for each substitution, indicating a degree of similarity of each stored font to each known font; means for determining whether the selected font is stored in said font memory; means for comparing said selected font with a set of known fonts not stored in said font library, to determine whether said selected font is a member of said set; means for using said substitution font for each selected font, upon determination of unavailability thereof, for printing characters in the document designated for printing in the selected font.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
178 words
In a print controller for a printer, including an arrangement to print characters in a document transmitted to the controller, each character designated for printing in a selected font, including: font memory storing a number of fonts therein, each stored font accessible when required for printing a character, when said selected font is among said stored fonts; a user programmable look up table in said font memory, said table mapping known fonts to stored fonts, for substitution of said stored fonts therefor, said look up table additionally providing indicia of equivalence for each substitution, indicating a degree of similarity of each stored font to each known font; means for determining whether the selected font is stored in said font memory; means for comparing said selected font with a set of known fonts not stored in said font library, to determine whether said selected font is a member of said set; means for using said substitution font for each selected font, upon determination of unavailability thereof, for printing characters in the document designated for printing in the selected font.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
The device as defined in claim 15, wherein said means for using said substitution font for each selected font, upon determination of unavailability thereof, operates in accordance with a predetermined response to the degree of equivalence of the substitution.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
182 words
In a print controller for a printer, including an arrangement to print characters in a document transmitted to the controller, each character designated for printing in a selected font, including: font memory storing a number of fonts therein, each stored font accessible when required for printing a character, when said selected font is among said stored fonts; a user programmable look up table in said font memory, said table mapping known fonts to stored fonts, for substitution of said stored fonts therefor, said look up table additionally providing indicia of equivalence for each substitution, indicating a degree of similarity of each stored font to each known font; means for determining whether the selected font is stored in said font memory; means for comparing said selected font with a set of known fonts not stored in said font library, to determine whether said selected font is a member of said set; means for using said substitution font for each selected font, upon determination of unavailability thereof, said substitution font using means producing a predetermined response to the degree of equivalence of the substitution.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
182 words
In a print controller for a printer, including an arrangement to print characters in a document transmitted to the controller, each character designated for printing in a selected font, including: font memory storing a number of fonts therein, each stored font accessible when required for printing a character, when said selected font is among said stored fonts; a user programmable look up table in said font memory, said table mapping known fonts to stored fonts, for substitution of said stored fonts therefor, said look up table additionally providing indicia of equivalence for each substitution, indicating a degree of similarity of each stored font to each known font; means for determining whether the selected font is stored in said font memory; means for comparing said selected font with a set of known fonts not stored in said font library, to determine whether said selected font is a member of said set; means for using said substitution font for each selected font, upon determination of unavailability thereof, said substitution font using means producing a predetermined response to the degree of equivalence of the substitution.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device as defined in claim 17, wherein said predetermined response includes printing without warning of font substitution.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device as defined in claim 17, wherein said predetermined response includes printing with warning of font substitution.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device as defined in claim 17, wherein said predetermined response includes declaration of a machine fault.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device as defined in claim 17, wherein said predetermined response includes a request at a user interface for confirmation of acceptability of the font substitution.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
160 words
In an arrangement identifying characters in an electronically formatted document, as printable in a selected font, and including means for converting the selected font to an available font, said converting means including: a font library storing a number of fonts therein, each stored font accessible when required for printing a character; means for comparing said selected font with a set of known fonts not stored in said font library, to determine whether said selected font is a member of said set; a programmable look up table, mapping known fonts not available in said font library, to fonts stored in said font library, as substitutions therefor, said programmable look up table in said font memory, mapping each known font to a stored font, allowing user designation of said mapping; p1 means for determining, from said programmable look up table, a substitution font for a known font to a stored font; and means for using said substitution font for each selected font.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
160 words
In an arrangement identifying characters in an electronically formatted document, as printable in a selected font, and including means for converting the selected font to an available font, said converting means including: a font library storing a number of fonts therein, each stored font accessible when required for printing a character; means for comparing said selected font with a set of known fonts not stored in said font library, to determine whether said selected font is a member of said set; a programmable look up table, mapping known fonts not available in said font library, to fonts stored in said font library, as substitutions therefor, said programmable look up table in said font memory, mapping each known font to a stored font, allowing user designation of said mapping; p1 means for determining, from said programmable look up table, a substitution font for a known font to a stored font; and means for using said substitution font for each selected font.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
45 words
The device as defined in claim 22, wherein said programmable look up table in said font memory, mapping each known font to a stored font, provides indicia of equivalence for each mapping, indicating a degree of similarity of each stored font to each known font.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
45 words
The device as defined in claim 22, wherein said programmable look up table in said font memory, mapping each known font to a stored font, provides indicia of equivalence for each mapping, indicating a degree of similarity of each stored font to each known font.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device as defined in claim 22, including operator warning means for providing a hierarchy of warnings to an operator, in accordance with said indicia of equivalence.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of controlling font substitution in an arrangement identifying characters in an electronically formatted document, each character designated as printable in a selected font, including the steps: storing in a font library a number of fonts, each stored font accessible when required for printing a character, when said selected font is among said stored fonts; comparing said selected font with a set of known fonts not stored in said font library, to determine whether said selected font is a member of said set; determining, from a programmable look up table mapping known fonts not stored in said font library to stored fonts, a substitution font for a selected font, said programmable look up table mapping each known font to a stored font is generated by a user through a user interface to the table; and using said substitution font for each selected font.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of controlling font substitution in an arrangement identifying characters in an electronically formatted document, each character designated as printable in a selected font, including the steps: storing in a font library a number of fonts, each stored font accessible when required for printing a character, when said selected font is among said stored fonts; comparing said selected font with a set of known fonts not stored in said font library, to determine whether said selected font is a member of said set; determining, from a programmable look up table mapping known fonts not stored in said font library to stored fonts, a substitution font for a selected font, said programmable look up table mapping each known font to a stored font is generated by a user through a user interface to the table; and using said substitution font for each selected font.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method as defined in claim 26, wherein said programmable look up table in said font memory, mapping each known font to a stored font, provides indicia of equivalence for each mapping, indicating a degree of similarity of each stored font to each known font.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method as defined in claim 26, wherein said programmable look up table in said font memory, mapping each known font to a stored font, provides indicia of equivalence for each mapping, indicating a degree of similarity of each stored font to each known font.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as defined in claim 28, including the step of providing a hierarchy of operator warnings to an operator, in accordance with said indicia of equivalence, prior to using a substitution font.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
176 words
A method of controlling font substitution in a print controller for a printer including an arrangement to print characters in a document transmitted to the controller, each character designated for printing in a selected font, including the steps: storing in a font library a number of fonts, each stored font accessible when required for printing a character; comparing said selected font with a set of known fonts not stored in said font library, to determine whether said selected font is a member of said set; determining, from a programmable look up table mapping known fonts not stored in said font library to stored fonts, a substitution font for a selected font, said programmable look up table mapping each known font to a stored font is generated in response to user identification of mappings; using said substitution font for each selected font, for printing characters in the document designated for printing in the selected font; and selecting a substitution font for a known font mapped to a plurality of substitution fonts in accordance with a predetermined priority.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
176 words
A method of controlling font substitution in a print controller for a printer including an arrangement to print characters in a document transmitted to the controller, each character designated for printing in a selected font, including the steps: storing in a font library a number of fonts, each stored font accessible when required for printing a character; comparing said selected font with a set of known fonts not stored in said font library, to determine whether said selected font is a member of said set; determining, from a programmable look up table mapping known fonts not stored in said font library to stored fonts, a substitution font for a selected font, said programmable look up table mapping each known font to a stored font is generated in response to user identification of mappings; using said substitution font for each selected font, for printing characters in the document designated for printing in the selected font; and selecting a substitution font for a known font mapped to a plurality of substitution fonts in accordance with a predetermined priority.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
180 words
In a print controller for a printer, including an arrangement to print characters in a document transmitted to the controller, each character designated for printing in a selected font, including: a font library storing a number of fonts therein, each stored font accessible when required for printing a character. when said selected font is among said stored fonts; means for determining whether the selected font is stored in said font library; means for comparing said selected font with a set of known fonts not stored in said font library, to determine whether said selected font is a member of said set; a programmable look up table, mapping known fonts not available in said font library, to fonts stored in said font library, as substitutions therefor, said programmable look up table allowing user designation of said mapping; means for determining, from said programmable look up table, a substitution font for a known font to a stored font; and means for using said substitution font for each selected font for printing characters in the document designated for printing in the selected font.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
180 words
In a print controller for a printer, including an arrangement to print characters in a document transmitted to the controller, each character designated for printing in a selected font, including: a font library storing a number of fonts therein, each stored font accessible when required for printing a character. when said selected font is among said stored fonts; means for determining whether the selected font is stored in said font library; means for comparing said selected font with a set of known fonts not stored in said font library, to determine whether said selected font is a member of said set; a programmable look up table, mapping known fonts not available in said font library, to fonts stored in said font library, as substitutions therefor, said programmable look up table allowing user designation of said mapping; means for determining, from said programmable look up table, a substitution font for a known font to a stored font; and means for using said substitution font for each selected font for printing characters in the document designated for printing in the selected font.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
45 words
The device as defined in claim 31, wherein said programmable look up table in said font memory, mapping each known font to a stored font, provides indicia of equivalence for each mapping, indicating a degree of similarity of each stored font to each known font.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
45 words
The device as defined in claim 31, wherein said programmable look up table in said font memory, mapping each known font to a stored font, provides indicia of equivalence for each mapping, indicating a degree of similarity of each stored font to each known font.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device as defined in claim 33, including operator warning means for providing a hierarchy of warnings to an operator, in accordance with said indicia of equivalence.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device as defined in claim 30, where for a known font mapped to plural stored fonts, means are provided for selecting a substitution font in accordance with a predetermined priority.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
193 words
A method of controlling font substitution in a print controller for a printer including an arrangement to print characters in an electronically formatted document transmitted to the controller, each character designated for printing in a selected font, including the steps: storing in a font library a number of fonts, each stored font accessible when required for printing a character, when said selected font is among said stored fonts; determining whether the selected font is stored in said font library; comparing said selected font with a set of known fonts not stored in said font library, to determine whether said selected font is a member of said set; generating via a user interface, in a programmable look up table, a mapping of each known font that may be called by an electronically formatted document, to stored fonts; determining, from said programmable look up table mapping known fonts not stored in said font library to stored fonts, a substitution font for a selected font determined not to be stored in said font library; and using said substitution font for each selected font, for printing characters in the document designated for printing in the selected font.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
193 words
A method of controlling font substitution in a print controller for a printer including an arrangement to print characters in an electronically formatted document transmitted to the controller, each character designated for printing in a selected font, including the steps: storing in a font library a number of fonts, each stored font accessible when required for printing a character, when said selected font is among said stored fonts; determining whether the selected font is stored in said font library; comparing said selected font with a set of known fonts not stored in said font library, to determine whether said selected font is a member of said set; generating via a user interface, in a programmable look up table, a mapping of each known font that may be called by an electronically formatted document, to stored fonts; determining, from said programmable look up table mapping known fonts not stored in said font library to stored fonts, a substitution font for a selected font determined not to be stored in said font library; and using said substitution font for each selected font, for printing characters in the document designated for printing in the selected font.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method as defined in claim 36, wherein said programmable look up table in said font memory, mapping each known font to a stored font, provides indicia of equivalence for each mapping, indicating a degree of similarity of each stored font to each known font.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method as defined in claim 36, wherein said programmable look up table in said font memory, mapping each known font to a stored font, provides indicia of equivalence for each mapping, indicating a degree of similarity of each stored font to each known font.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as defined in claim 38, including the step of providing a hierarchy of operator warnings to an operator, in accordance with said indicia of equivalence, prior to using a substitution font.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as defined in claim 36, where for a known font mapped to plural stored fonts, means are provided for selecting a substitution font in accordance with a predetermined priority.
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