US6774913B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System, method, and program for selectively merging partial objects
Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
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Filing: 2000-05-15
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Granted: 2004-08-10
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Expires: 2020-05-15
Abstract
Abstract A system, method and program for merging objects for raster presentation are described. In response to receipt of an input data set including a plurality of objects intended for raster presentation, the system divides the data set into a plurality of scan regions and determines if a predetermined number of objects per scan line set is exceeded by the plurality of objects. In response to a determination that the predetermined number of objects per set of scan lines is exceeded, the system merges only a portion of a first object among the plurality of objects with at least a portion of a second object among the plurality of objects, where the portion of the first object and the portion of the second object are defined by a particular scan region among the plurality of scan regions.
Inventors
- 👤 John Thomas Varga
- 👤 Christopher Starbuck Kush
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:43
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T11/00; G06T11/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of merging objects for raster presentation, said method comprising: in response to receipt of an input data set including a plurality of objects intended for raster presentation, dividing the data set into a plurality of scan regions and determining if a predetermined number of objects per scan line set is exceeded by said plurality of objects; and in response to a determination that the predetermined number of objects per set of scan lines is exceeded, merging only a portion of a first object among said plurality of objects with at least a portion of a second object among said plurality of objects, wherein said portion of said first object and said portion of said second object defined by a particular scan region among said plurality of scan regions.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of merging objects for raster presentation, said method comprising: in response to receipt of an input data set including a plurality of objects intended for raster presentation, dividing the data set into a plurality of scan regions and determining if a predetermined number of objects per scan line set is exceeded by said plurality of objects; and in response to a determination that the predetermined number of objects per set of scan lines is exceeded, merging only a portion of a first object among said plurality of objects with at least a portion of a second object among said plurality of objects, wherein said portion of said first object and said portion of said second object defined by a particular scan region among said plurality of scan regions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , and further comprising assigning presentation priorities to objects within each scan region independently.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , and further comprising rasterizing said plurality of objects into raster objects prior to said merging.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 , and further comprising thereafter printing said plurality of objects on a single side of a sheet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein dividing the data set comprises subdividing at least one of said plurality of scan regions into multiple scan regions based upon a position of an object among said plurality of objects in relation to scan region boundaries.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said scan line set is a single scan line, and wherein determining if a predetermined number of object per scan line set is exceeded comprises determining if a predetermined number of objects per scan line is exceeded.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said scan line set comprises a scan region, and wherein determining if a predetermined number of object per scan line set is exceeded comprises determining if a predetermined number of objects per scan region is exceeded.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 , each of said plurality of objects having at least one associated presentation priority, said method further comprising selecting said first and second objects for merging based upon said first and second objects having close priorities.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1 , and further comprising defining a plurality of ordered criteria for object merging and selecting said first and second objects for merging by applying said criteria in order to objects among said plurality of objects within said particular scan region.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein merging comprises creating a proxy object specifying said portion of said first object and said portion of said second object to be included within a merged object.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 and further comprising enforcing a minimum size for each of the plurality of scan regions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , and further comprising combining at least two of the plurality of scan regions into a single scan region.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
126 words
A printing system comprising: means, responsive to receipt of an input data set including a plurality of objects intended for raster presentation, for dividing the data set into a plurality of scan regions and for determining if a predetermined number of objects per scan line set is exceeded by said plurality of objects; and means, responsive to a determination that the predetermined number of objects per set of scan lines is exceeded, for merging only a portion of a first object among said plurality of objects with at least a portion of a second object among said plurality of objects, wherein said portion of said first object and said portion of said second object defined by a particular scan region among said plurality of scan regions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
126 words
A printing system comprising: means, responsive to receipt of an input data set including a plurality of objects intended for raster presentation, for dividing the data set into a plurality of scan regions and for determining if a predetermined number of objects per scan line set is exceeded by said plurality of objects; and means, responsive to a determination that the predetermined number of objects per set of scan lines is exceeded, for merging only a portion of a first object among said plurality of objects with at least a portion of a second object among said plurality of objects, wherein said portion of said first object and said portion of said second object defined by a particular scan region among said plurality of scan regions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The printing system of claim 13 , further comprising means for assigning presentation priorities to objects within each scan region independently.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The printing system of claim 13 , further comprising means for rasterizing said plurality of objects into raster objects prior to said merging.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
The printing system of claim 15 , wherein said means for rasterizing comprises a raster image processor that outputs rasterized color planes, and wherein said printing system further comprises color interface hardware that combines said rasterized color planes into a renderable output data set.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The printing system of claim 13 , further comprising a print head that prints said plurality of objects on a single side of a sheet.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
The printing system of claim 13 , further comprising means for subdividing at least one of said plurality of scan regions into multiple scan regions based upon a position of an object among said plurality of objects in relation to scan region boundaries.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The printing system of claim 13 , wherein said scan line set is a single scan line.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The printing system of claim 13 , wherein said scan line set comprises a scan region.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
48 words
The printing system of claim 13 , wherein each of said plurality of objects has at least one associated presentation priority, and wherein said printing system further comprises means for selecting said first and second objects for merging based upon said first and second objects having close priorities.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
The printing system of claim 13 , further comprising means for selecting said first and second objects for merging by applying a plurality of criteria in order to objects among said plurality of objects within said particular scan region.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
The printing system of claim 13 , further comprising means for creating a proxy object specifying said portion of said first object and said portion of said second object to be included within a merged object.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The printing system of claim 13 , further comprising means for enforcing a minimum size for at least some of the plurality of scan regions.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
26 words
The printing system of claim 13 , further comprising means for combining at least two of the plurality of scan regions into a single scan region.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
139 words
An article of manufacture comprising a computer readable medium having program logic embodied therein for causing control logic to perform: in response to receipt of an input data set including a plurality of objects intended for raster presentation, dividing the data set into a plurality of scan regions and determining if a predetermined number of objects per scan line set is exceeded by said plurality of objects; and in response to a determination that the predetermined number of objects per set of scan lines is exceeded, merging only a portion of a first object among said plurality of objects with at least a portion of a second object among said plurality of objects, wherein said portion of said first object and said portion of said second object defined by a particular scan region among said plurality of scan regions.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
139 words
An article of manufacture comprising a computer readable medium having program logic embodied therein for causing control logic to perform: in response to receipt of an input data set including a plurality of objects intended for raster presentation, dividing the data set into a plurality of scan regions and determining if a predetermined number of objects per scan line set is exceeded by said plurality of objects; and in response to a determination that the predetermined number of objects per set of scan lines is exceeded, merging only a portion of a first object among said plurality of objects with at least a portion of a second object among said plurality of objects, wherein said portion of said first object and said portion of said second object defined by a particular scan region among said plurality of scan regions.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
29 words
The article of manufacture of claim 26 , further comprising program logic for causing the control logic to perform assigning presentation priorities to objects within each scan region independently.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
31 words
The article of manufacture of claim 26 , further comprising program logic for causing the control logic to perform rasterizing said plurality of objects into raster objects prior to said merging.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
31 words
The article of manufacture of claim 26 , further comprising program logic for causing the control logic to perform printing said plurality of objects on a single side of a sheet.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
46 words
The article of manufacture of claim 26 , wherein dividing the data set comprises subdividing at least one of said plurality of scan regions into multiple scan regions based upon a position of an object among said plurality of objects in relation to scan region boundaries.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
46 words
The article of manufacture of claim 26 , wherein said scan line set is a single scan line, and wherein determining if a predetermined number of object per scan line set is exceeded comprises determining if a predetermined number of objects per scan line is exceeded.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
45 words
The article of manufacture of claim 26 , wherein said scan line set comprises a scan region, and wherein determining if a predetermined number of object per scan line set is exceeded comprises determining if a predetermined number of objects per scan region is exceeded.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
55 words
The article of manufacture of claim 26 , wherein each of said plurality of objects has at least one associated presentation priority, said article of manufacture further comprising program logic for causing the control logic to perform selecting said first and second objects for merging based upon said first and second objects having close priorities.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
55 words
The article of manufacture of claim 26 , further comprising program logic for causing the control logic to perform defining a plurality of ordered criteria for object merging and selecting said first and second objects for merging by applying said criteria in order to objects among said plurality of objects within said particular scan region.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
36 words
The article of manufacture of claim 26 , wherein merging comprises creating a proxy object specifying said portion of said first object and said portion of said second object to be included within a merged object.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
33 words
The article of manufacture of claim 26 , further comprising program logic for causing the control logic to perform enforcing a minimum size for at least some of the plurality of scan regions.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
34 words
The article of manufacture of claim 26 , further comprising program logic for causing the control logic to perform combining at least two of the plurality of scan regions into a single scan region.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-08-10 | 2008-02-09 | 2008-08-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-08-10 | 2012-02-09 | 2012-08-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-08-10 | 2016-02-09 | 2016-08-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |