US5729666A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Efficient method and apparatus for downloading of fonts from a processor to a printer
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
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Filing: 1996-08-05
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Granted: 1998-03-17
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Expires: 2016-08-05
Abstract
Abstract A data processing configuration includes a computer, a printer and a font memory which houses tables that define spacing metrics that are individual to each glyph included in a font. The computer is connected to the font memory and further includes a printer driver function which is controllable to download glyph data to the printer in response to an output from an application, running on the computer, which specifies a requirement that a glyph is to be printed by the printer. The computer is responsive to a download requirement to derive from the font memory, header data for transmission to the printer. The downloaded header data excludes the spacing metrics that are individual to each glyph of the font. Thereafter, the printer driver downloads required font glyph data by transmitting data structures to the printer which include, among other data elements, the spacing metrics that are individual to the specific glyph being transmitted. In such manner, spacing metrics are transmitted to the printer only with a particular associated glyph and only when that glyph is required at the printer, thereby reducing data transfer times and making more efficient use of printer memory.
Inventors
- 👤 Shane Konsella
- 👤 Chris R. Gunning
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:32
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/12; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K2215/00; G06K2215/0002; G06K2215/0005; G06K2215/0008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
A data processing apparatus comprising: a font memory including font header data which includes data which defines spacing metrics for each glyph stored in said font memory; a printer; and a host processor coupling said font memory to said printer and further including printer driver means for enabling communications with said printer, said printer driver means downloading said font header data to said printer when a first glyph of a corresponding font is downloaded thereto, said font header data excluding said data which defines spacing metrics except for said first glyph and, in response to a requirement to download a further selected font glyph to said printer, downloading a glyph data structure corresponding to said further selected font glyph, said glyph data structure including said spacing metric data for only said further selected font glyph.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
A data processing apparatus comprising: a font memory including font header data which includes data which defines spacing metrics for each glyph stored in said font memory; a printer; and a host processor coupling said font memory to said printer and further including printer driver means for enabling communications with said printer, said printer driver means downloading said font header data to said printer when a first glyph of a corresponding font is downloaded thereto, said font header data excluding said data which defines spacing metrics except for said first glyph and, in response to a requirement to download a further selected font glyph to said printer, downloading a glyph data structure corresponding to said further selected font glyph, said glyph data structure including said spacing metric data for only said further selected font glyph.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The data processing apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said spacing metric data comprises left side bearing and advance width data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The data processing apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said font header data is devoid of left side bearing and advance width data for glyphs comprising said font.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The data processing apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said font memory stores TrueType font data which comprises contour descriptions of font glyphs.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
177 words
A method for downloading font data from a host processor to a printer, said host processor including a font memory for storing font header data which includes data which defines spacing metrics for each glyph in a font, said host processor further including printer driver means for enabling communications between said host processor and said printer, said method comprising the steps of: a) responding to a requirement to download a first glyph of a selected font to said printer, by i) downloading font header data, excluding said data which defines spacing metrics for each said glyph in said font except for said first glyph to said printer; and ii) downloading to said printer, a glyph data structure corresponding to said first glyph, said glyph data structure including spacing metric data for only said first font glyph; and b) responding to a requirement to download a further glyph of said font to said printer, by downloading a glyph data structure corresponding to said further glyph, said glyph data structure including spacing metric data for only said further glyph.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
177 words
A method for downloading font data from a host processor to a printer, said host processor including a font memory for storing font header data which includes data which defines spacing metrics for each glyph in a font, said host processor further including printer driver means for enabling communications between said host processor and said printer, said method comprising the steps of: a) responding to a requirement to download a first glyph of a selected font to said printer, by i) downloading font header data, excluding said data which defines spacing metrics for each said glyph in said font except for said first glyph to said printer; and ii) downloading to said printer, a glyph data structure corresponding to said first glyph, said glyph data structure including spacing metric data for only said first font glyph; and b) responding to a requirement to download a further glyph of said font to said printer, by downloading a glyph data structure corresponding to said further glyph, said glyph data structure including spacing metric data for only said further glyph.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as recited in claim 5, wherein said spacing metric data comprises left side bearing and advance width data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as recited in claim 6, wherein said font header data is devoid of left side bearing and advance width data for glyphs comprising said font.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as recited in claim 5, wherein said font memory stores TrueType font data which comprises contour descriptions of font glyphs.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5469533A
Cited
US5579449A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-03-16 | 2001-09-15 | 2002-03-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-03-16 | 2005-09-15 | 2006-03-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-03-16 | 2009-09-15 | 2010-03-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |