Character generation using graphical primitives

Claim 2

A character generating apparatus comprising: first means for receiving character code data identifying a character in a set of characters: second means for identifying for each received character code data, at least one graphical primitive, in a set of different graphical primitives representing a plurality of different shapes, for making up the character identified by that character code data, and data indicating the size and disposition of each identified graphical primitive in the character; and third means for generating the identified character from the at least one graphical primitive identified by the primitive identifying data of a size and in a disposition indicated by the size and disposition indicating data.

Claim 3

The character generating apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: fourth means for transforming the size and disposition indicating data in accordance with text transformation data prior to the size and disposition indicating data being provided to said third means.

Claim 4

The character generating apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: fifth means for storing cursor position indicating data; and sixth means for updating the cursor position indicating data after the character has been generated by said third means.

Claim 5

The character generating apparatus of claim 3, further comprising: seventh means for providing the cursor position indicating data to said third means.

Claim 6

The character generating apparatus of claim 4, further comprising: eighth means for modifying the size and disposition indicating data relative to the cursor position indicating data before said size and disposition indicating data is provided to said third means .

Claim 7

The character generating apparatus of claim 3, further comprising: ninth means for allowing the character code data of a next character to be receiving by said first means after a previously identified character has been generated by said third means.

Claim 8

A character generating apparatus, comprising: first means for receiving character code data identifying a character in a set of characters; second means for identifying, for each received character code data, at least one graphical primitive, in a set of different such graphical primitives representing a plurality of different shapes, for making up the character identified by that character code data; third means for reading size and disposition data for said at least one graphical primitive in accordance with the character code data; fourth means for storing cursor position indicating data; fifth means for modifying the size and disposition data in accordance with said cursor position indicating data; and sixth means for generating said at least one graphical primitive in accordance with the modified size and disposition data.

Claim 9

A character generating apparatus, comprising: first means for receiving character code data identifying a character in a set of characters; second means for identifying, for each received character code data, at least one graphical primitive, in a set of different such graphical primitives representing a plurality of different shapes, for making up the character identified by that character code data; third means for reading size and disposition data for said at least one graphical primitive in accordance with the character code data; fourth means for storing cursor position indicating data; fifth means for modifying the size and disposition data in accordance with said cursor position indicating data; and sixth means for generating said at least one graphical primitive in accordance with the modified size and disposition data.

Claim 10

The character generating apparatus of claim 7, further comprising: seventh means for modifying the cursor position indicating data.

Claim 11

The character generating apparatus of claim 8, wherein said seventh means comprises: means for modifying the cursor position indicating data using a base offset value.

Claim 12

The character generating apparatus of claim 7 further comprising: eighth means for transforming the modified size and disposition data in accordance with text transformation data before the modified size and disposition data is provided to said sixth means.

Claim 13

The character generating apparatus of claim 10, wherein said eighth means comprises means for performing two dimensional transformation by matrix multiplication.

Claim 14

The character generating apparatus of claim 10, wherein the means for transforming utilizes values contained in a table.

Claim 15

The character generating apparatus of claim 7, further comprising: ninth means for directing said sixth means to generate graphical primitives in succession to form the identified character.

Claim 16

The character generating apparatus of claim 13, further comprising: tenth means for updating said cursor position indicating data in accordance with cursor increment data after the indicated character has been generated.

Claim 17

The character generating apparatus of claim 7, wherein said fifth means utilizes values contained in a table.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising: executive program means residing in the program memory means for receiving character code data, and for indicating to the draw program a starting address to allow the execution of the at least one graphical primitive program in accordance with the received character code data.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising: transformation means for transforming the at least one predetermined shape in accordance with text transformation data, whereby the generated character may be displayed on the mapped display device means in transformed form.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising: memory means for storing the text transformation data.

Claim 23

A computer-based method of generating characters using graphical primitives for visual display, comprising the steps of: (1) reading character code data; (2) executing the graphical primitives necessary to generate a character specified by the character code data; and (3) bit mapping said character onto a display device.

Claim 24

A computer-based method of generating characters using graphical primitives for visual display, comprising the steps of: (1) reading character code data; (2) executing the graphical primitives necessary to generate a character specified by the character code data; and (3) bit mapping said character onto a display device.

Claim 25

The computer-based method of claim 20, further comprising a step between steps (1) and (2) of: (3) providing the computer with a list of the graphical primitives necessary to generate the character.

Claim 26

The computer-based method of claim 21, wherein step (3) comprises the step of transferring to the computer a list of the starting addresses of programs which execute the graphical primitives necessary to generate the character.

Claim 27

The computer-based method of claim 22, wherein step (3) further comprises the step of transferring to the computer a list of parameters necessary to execute the graphical primitives.

Claim 28

The computer-based method of claim 23, wherein the step of transferring to the computer a list of parameters comprises a step of transferring data indicating the size and disposition of graphical primitives.

Claim 29

The computer-based method of claim 24, wherein the step of transferring to the computer a list of parameters comprises a step of transforming said parameters, whereby each graphical primitive is transformed so that the character is correspondingly transformed.

Claim 30

The computer-based method of any of claims 20 to 25 wherein step (2) further comprises a step of flood filling at least one graphical primitive with a specified color.

Claim 31

The computer character generating system comprising a bit-mapped display, and means coupled to said bit-mapped display for formulating the bit map for each character as the character is displayed.

Claim 32

The computer character generating system comprising a bit-mapped display, and means coupled to said bit-mapped display for formulating the bit map for each character as the character is displayed.

Claim 33

A character generating apparatus comprising: first means for receiving character code data identifying a character in a set of characters; second means for identifying, for each received character code data, at least one graphical primitive, in a set of different graphical primitives, for making up the character identified by that character code data, and data indicating the size and disposition of each identified graphical primitive in the character; third means for generating the character from the at least one graphical primitive identified by the primitive identifying data of a size and in a disposition indicated by the size and disposition indicating data; fourth means for transforming the size and disposition indicating data in accordance with text transformation data prior to the size and disposition indicating data being provided to said third means; fifth means for storing cursor position indicating data; sixth means for updating the cursor position indicating data after the character has been generated by said third means; seventh means for providing the cursor position indicating data to said third means; eighth means for modifying the size and disposition indicating data relative to the cursor position indicating data before it is provided to said third means; and ninth means for enabling said first means to receive character data of a next character after a first character has been generated by said third means, wherein said fourth means comprises means for transforming the modified size and disposition indicating data in accordance with two dimensional transformation by matrix multiplication.

Claim 34

A character generating apparatus comprising: first means for receiving character code data identifying a character in a set of characters; second means for identifying, for each received character code data, at least one graphical primitive, in a set of different graphical primitives, for making up the character identified by that character code data, and data indicating the size and disposition of each identified graphical primitive in the character; third means for generating the character from the at least one graphical primitive identified by the primitive identifying data of a size and in a disposition indicated by the size and disposition indicating data; fourth means for transforming the size and disposition indicating data in accordance with text transformation data prior to the size and disposition indicating data being provided to said third means; fifth means for storing cursor position indicating data; sixth means for updating the cursor position indicating data after the character has been generated by said third means; seventh means for providing the cursor position indicating data to said third means; eighth means for modifying the size and disposition indicating data relative to the cursor position indicating data before it is provided to said third means; and ninth means for enabling said first means to receive character data of a next character after a first character has been generated by said third means, wherein said fourth means comprises means for transforming the modified size and disposition indicating data in accordance with two dimensional transformation by matrix multiplication.

Claim 35

A character generating apparatus comprising: means for receiving a character code identifying a character in a set of characters; table memory means for storing a table providing for said character code a start address of at least one graphical primitive routine to be executed in forming said character identified by said character code, and size and disposition data to be used by said at least one graphical primitive routine; routine memory means for storing a plurality of said at least one graphical primitive routines beginning at respective start addresses; and control means responsive to receiving said character code and operable to read data originating from said table memory means representing the start address of each said at least one graphical primitive routine for said received character code and to cause execution of said at least one graphical primitive routine that commences at the read start address; wherein each graphical primitive routine is operable to read size and disposition data originating from the table memory means for said character code and respective graphical primitive routine and to form a graphical primitive of a respective shape and of a size and disposition according to the read size and disposition data.

Claim 36

A character generating apparatus comprising: means for receiving a character code identifying a character in a set of characters; table memory means for storing a table providing for said character code a start address of at least one graphical primitive routine to be executed in forming said character identified by said character code, and size and disposition data to be used by said at least one graphical primitive routine; routine memory means for storing a plurality of said at least one graphical primitive routines beginning at respective start addresses; and control means responsive to receiving said character code and operable to read data originating from said table memory means representing the start address of each said at least one graphical primitive routine for said received character code and to cause execution of said at least one graphical primitive routine that commences at the read start address; wherein each graphical primitive routine is operable to read size and disposition data originating from the table memory means for said character code and respective graphical primitive routine and to form a graphical primitive of a respective shape and of a size and disposition according to the read size and disposition data.