Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
1997-05-30
2001-12-18
Choules, Jack (Department: 2177)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C707S793000, C707S793000, C707S793000, C707S793000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06332148
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
The invention relates to composite text in a text document, the composite text including base text and associated annotation text to be printed along with the base text.
Text strings in documents are sometimes embellished with annotation text strings. Typically, secondary text characters in a document such as formatting symbols (such as underline and overstrike), phonetic diacritics, and special format conventions (such as superscripts for footnotes), are positioned with respect to a single character or spacing unit of the standard text.
In contrast, an annotation text string, identified as a unit, is positioned with respect to a base text string, also identified as a unit, in a document. Unlike formatting symbols and diacritics, characters of an annotation text string and characters of the base text string can be independently generated and edited. An example can be found in documents having standard text based on the Japanese kanji and kana character sets: annotation text (specifically, rubi text) is sometimes printed alongside base text (specifically, oyamoji text) to provide pronunciation information.
SUMMARY
In general, in one aspect, the invention features a computer-implemented method to embellish text in a document by setting composite text properties for formatting an annotation text string and a base text string in a composite text unit, selecting text in a displayed text document as the base text string for a composite text unit, generating text as an annotation text string for the composite text unit, and displaying the composite text unit in the text document in accordance with the composite text properties.
Certain implementations of the invention include one or more of the following features. The text selected for the base text string may be Japanese characters. The text of the annotation text string may provide, for example, pronunciation or semantic information for the text of the base text string.
Setting composite text properties may include determining a character set, a font, or a font size for the annotation text string. Additionally, setting composite text properties may include determining alignment options for the annotation text string with the base text string. Alignment options may include determining separate alignment options for a composite text unit occurring at a line boundary in the text document or determining an overhang option. Default options may be provided for the composite text properties to be set.
The composite text unit in the text document may be interactively displayed in accordance with the composite text properties as the text for the annotation text string is generated. The characters of the annotation text string may be displayed in a different font size than characters of the base text string, and may be displayed above or alongside the base text string.
The method of embellishing text in a document may further include editing the text of the composite text unit and displaying the edited composite text unit in the text document in accordance with the composite text properties. The edited composite text unit is interactively displayed as it is edited. Further, as the composite text unit is edited, the displayed composite text unit is emphasized by, for example, displaying a bounding box around the composite text unit.
Editing the text of the composite text unit includes, for example, reformatting at least a portion of the annotation text string. Reformatting may be performed by selecting a portion of the annotation text string and reformatting the selected portion of the annotation text string.
In general, in another aspect, the invention features a memory device storing computer-readable instructions for aiding a computer to embellish text in a text document by methods such as those described above.
In general, in another aspect, the invention features a computer-implemented method for editing a composite text unit in a document, the composite text unit including a base text string and an annotation text string. A text document, including the base text string and the annotation text string of a composite text unit, is displayed in accordance with predetermined composite text properties. A cursor is displayed at a position in the annotation text string of the composite text unit, based on user input, and the annotation text string at the cursor position may be edited in response to user input. The text document is displayed as the annotation text string is being edited.
Certain implementations of the invention include one or more of the following features. The cursor is freely movable within the composite text unit for editing the base text string and the annotation text string. The method may further include emphasizing a composite text unit when the cursor position is within the composite text unit, but not emphasizing the composite text unit when the cursor position is not within the composite text unit. The composite text unit is emphasized, for example, by highlighting or displaying a bounding box around the composite text unit.
Among the advantages of the invention are one or more of the following. The invention provides variable parameters for character set, font and font size of annotation text, and for alignment and spacing of the annotation text with respect to base text. The invention displays composite text as it will appear when rendered. Further, the invention displays the composite text in real time as it is created and edited. The invention enables direct editing of annotation text, and during editing, the invention distinguishes composite text from standard text in a document by emphasizing a composite text unit when the edit position is within the composite text unit.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and from the claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5146552 (1992-09-01), Cassoria et al.
patent: 5475805 (1995-12-01), Murata
patent: 5581682 (1996-12-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 5689717 (1997-11-01), Pritt
patent: 5832474 (1998-11-01), Lopresti et al.
patent: 5857212 (1999-01-01), Van De Vanter
patent: 5873111 (1999-02-01), Edberg
patent: 5893125 (1999-04-01), Shostak
patent: 6128632 (2000-10-01), McCully
patent: 6230169 (2001-05-01), Nagae
Microsoft Word 97, Help File for “Adding Furigana to Characters”, © 1983-97 Microsoft One Page (1).
Ichitaro 8/R.1 for Win 95/NT, Help Files for “Editing Ruby”, © Just Systems 1997 pp. 2 and 3 only.
Paine Mark A.
Young Jeff
Adobe Systems Incorporated
Channavajjala Srirama
Choules Jack
Fish & Richardson P.C.
LandOfFree
Appearance and positioning annotation text string and base... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Appearance and positioning annotation text string and base..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Appearance and positioning annotation text string and base... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2571172