US 6,381,028 B1
Method of utilizing variable data fields with a page description languageGeneral
US 6,381,028 B1
Method of utilizing variable data fields with a page description language
Tech Center:
2600 Communications
Examiner:
Gabriel Garcia
Art Unit:
2624 Selective Visual Display Systems
Inventors:
FORREST P. GAUTHIER
Assignee:
GAUTHIER, FORREST P.
Priority:
01/18/95
Filed:
04/26/99
Granted:
04/30/02
Expiration:
01/18/15
Abstract
A computer implemented method for generating a plurality of bit maps suitable for high-speed printing includes the steps of: (a) providing a page description code specification, where the page description code specification defines at least one data area, and the page description code further defines a graphics state corresponding to the data area, where the graphics state including at least one attribute which controls the appearance of data in the data area; (b) interpreting the page description code specification, and during the interpretation step, identifying the data area defined by the page description code specification; (c) upon the identification of the variable data area in step (b), applying the graphics state corresponding to the data area to a set of alphanumeric characters so as to generate a plurality of character bit maps; (d) storing the plurality of character bit maps; (e) retrieving a variable data item from a plurality of variable data items; (f) associating the variable data item with the plurality of character bit maps; (g) generating a variable data bit map for the variable data using the character bit maps; and (h) repeating steps (e) through (g) for remaining variable data items in the plurality of variable data items. Thus, the stored character bit maps are used repeatedly to generate a plurality of variable data bit maps.