Canon Kabushiki Kaisha

Michael Anthony Martin

Dixon De Sheng Deng

Michael John Webb

Alexander Will

Alexander Vincent Danilo

Marija Herceg

Julian Benjamin Kelsey

Matthew William Gallagher

Nathan Wong

A method () is disclosed for generating a page description from a list of items (to) to be rendered to the page. At least one of the items in the list belongs to a class of key items (). Such key items may for example be text items. The method () traverses () the list, and classifies items () not designated as key items that would when rendered overlie at least one key item (). At least one other non-key item is then rendered to image data (), and the page description is generated () from page description commands which describe the key items (), page description commands describing the classified items (), and rendered image data of the remaining items (). Including certain items (and) in the page description using page description commands ensures that the quality of such items is retained. Also, including the remainder of the items () using image data provides for high compression.

Compressing page descriptions while preserving high quality

A method of rendering a sequence of graphical objects, where two or more different renderers are available and one of the renderers is designated as a currently-used renderer, includes the steps of receiving a current object in the sequence of graphical objects, adding the current object to a set of recently-received objects, and checking whether any one of a predetermined group of patterns of objects is present in the set, each pattern having an associated indication of the suitability of the available renderers for the pattern, the suitability being dependent on a time taken to render the pattern. The method further includes the steps of determining a suitable renderer from the available renderers using a pattern and associated indication identified in the checking step, and switching from the currently-used renderer to the suitable renderer if the suitable renderer is different from the currently-used renderer.

Dynamic render algorithm selection

A method of processing received objects in a rendering system determines whether a detection scheme which already has grouped objects exits. The rendering system has a plurality of detection schemes, with each detection schemes having an associated object group type. If such a detection scheme does not exist and a previously received object has been stored, then the method determines in descending priority order whether one of the detection schemes is operative to group the received object with the previously received object. If it is determined that none of the detection schemes is operative to group the received object with the previously received object, then the previously received object is output for rendering the received object is stored. If it is determined that one of the detection schemes is operative to group the received object with the previously received object, then the received object is grouped with the previously received object.

Scalable object recognition architecture

A method is disclosed for activating the filling of a graphical object. The method generates, for a current scanline, a plurality of edge records associated with an edge of the object from a previously generated edge record for a previous scanline. One of these edge records comprises fractional data which defines a minimum position of the edge within the current scanline or on a border thereto with respect to a direction along said current scanline. Another of these edge records comprises fractional data which defines a maximum position of the edge within the current scanline or on a border thereto with respect to a direction along the current scanline. One of these edge records comprises fractional data which defines an exit position of the edge from the current scanline. The previously generated edge record comprises fractional data defining an exit point of the edge from the previous scanline. After the edge record generation step, the method then activates, for the current scanline, the filling of the graphical object over a run of pixels or pixel from a minimum pixel position to a maximum pixel position. The minimum pixel position is derived from rounding down a value equal to the fractional data of the edge record defining the minimum position, and the maximum pixel position is derived from rounding up a value equal to the fractional data of the edge record defining the maximum position.

Growing community of inventors

Macquarie Park, Australia

Michael Anthony Martin