Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-03
2003-04-29
Feild, Joseph H. (Department: 2176)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C345S619000, C358S001150
Reexamination Certificate
active
06557017
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A critical need exists for an image processor in the commercial printing arena with the ability to create a job template for constructing multiple, customized images. Additionally, commercial image processing software packages, such as Photoshop®, have limited ability to render the output image optimized for the output device. Typically, color correction and simple resolution conversion is all that may be applied. Additionally, in typical commercial image processing software, the ability to edit the list of image processing operations performed by the operator is also very limited. Typical commercial software also does not allow for the optimization of image processing. That is, once an image is created, the ability to combine operations and increase performance on high resolution imagery is lost. Significantly, a critical need exists for software which enables attributes such as the size, location, and angle of objects within an image to be altered at the time the image is rendered. The present invention includes these advantages as well as the ability to change the syntax of the Structured Image Definition Language (SIDL), the ability to change image processing systems, potential optimization of image processing, and the ability to apply any or all constraints as desired.
Commercially available image development and management packages in use today require considerable memory to operate. For example, Adobe Photoshop® stores three copies of the full size raster during interactive editing. Thus, a typical 24-bit color image (8½×11 at 300 dpi) can require 24 megabytes of memory for each image copy. Commercial software often exhibits sluggish to poor performance when editing large imagery. Again, available software products must store, as discussed above, three copies of the image (no matter how large it is). Since every interactive operation processes the full image, performance is extremely slow. Further, typical commercial software stores output imagery as complete rasters. Therefore, for each new version of an image, a complete raster must be written out and you cannot undo the operations contained in those versions. At 24 megabytes per image, as discussed above, disk requirements can be extensive. Also, archiving such imagery can require extensive storage space as well.
A Structured Image (SI) describes a raster image as a collection of rasterizable objects and image processing operations. Structured Images are described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,485,568 to Venable et al. issued Jan. 16, 1996, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. Briefly, the component objects are store din native formats which enables the editing of the image and objects. Structured Images provide a flexible and extensible means to describe how an image is created as opposed to what the result looks like. The notion of variable data imaging is supported through a mechanism called “delayed binding.” Objects are defined as placeholders during the creation of the Structured Image. At render time, the placeholders are bound to real data through a database access or other means. In many cases, certain aspects of an object or its image processing must depend upon the nature of the object itself and/or other objects in the same Structured Image.
The present invention describes the notion of themes developed for photofinshing production systems which provide a means by which background images, page templates, and signatures that define a custom photo representation such as a photo album can be encapsulated. Specifically, with one aspect the invention a customer is allowed to select a document type to print with the customers photos, such as calendars, school picture packs, photo albums, event books, etc.
The following disclosures may be relevant to aspects of the present invention:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,667,248 to Kanno issued May 19, 1987 discloses a document image editing device that includes a page memory device and a display device. The page memory device stores in different areas thereof document images to be edited, image information (parts) of the cut partial image regions, and a pasteboard image for pasting the cut partial images. The display device displays the document images to be edited and the cut partial images in different display regions. The image editing is performed under the control of a CPU. In the cutting mode, partial images cut from the document images displayed on the display device are stored in memory locations of the corresponding areas of the memory device and are displayed at positions in the corresponding regions of the display device. In the pasting mode, the pasting positions of the cut partial images on the pasteboard are designated. The image information of the partial images is stored in the designated memory locations of the corresponding memory areas of the memory device and is displayed on the pasteboard on the display device. The pasteboard image on which the partial images are pasted in a desired layout is registered in a document image memory or printed out by a printer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,013 to Dunn et al. issued Mar. 14, 1989 discloses an interactive rule based system which enables problem solutions to be generated in schematic diagram form. A methodology designer selects and arranges graphic primitives using a graphics terminal to create a library of icons. Under control of a computer processor, the methodology designer is prompted to identify, by way example, parameters for using each icon. The system generates and stores a specific set of rules pertaining to the use of each icon on the basis of the parameters identified. The stored rules are cross-referenced to the icon to which they pertain, so that whenever the icon is selected by a problem solving user for use in building a problem solution, the rules pertaining thereto will be accessed and applied. A methodology designer can also select and concatenate functions to each other and to icons to create more complex functions for use in building problem solutions. New functions can also be created in the form of truth tables which establish a transfer function across an icon. By accessing and selecting icons and functions created by a methodology designer, a problem solving user can build a solution to a problem by graphically coupling the icons and functions together on a chart.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,021,976 to Wexelblat et al. issued Jun. 4, 1991 discloses a method and system for generating dynamic, interactive visual representations of information structures within a computer which enable humans to efficiently process vast amounts of information. The boundaries of the information system containing the information to be processed are established and a set of mathematical relationships is provided which indicates the degree of correlation between parameters of interest to a user and segments of information contained within the boundaries. A visual display is generated for the user which has a plurality of different iconic representations and visual features corresponding to the parameters defined by the mathematical relationships. The iconic representations and visual features of the visual display change with the movement of the mathematical relationships within the boundaries of the information system according to the degree of correlation between the parameters of interest and the segment of information through which the mathematical relationships are passing.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,388 to Motoyama et al. issued Oct. 4, 1994 discloses a document processing system controls the printing of documents represented in page description language form. Documents are represented by a page description language which is structured so that definition and declaratory commands are positioned only at the beginning of each distinct document segment. Each document has prologue sections, which contain definition and declaratory commands, and content portions which contain the specific tokens or commands for defining specific images. The definition and declaratory commands in the prolog
Feild Joseph H.
Nickerson Michael J.
Singh Rachna
Wait Christopher D.
Xerox Corporation
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