The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 08, 1998
Filed:
May. 07, 1996
Warren Lee Burch, Redmond, WA (US);
Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA (US);
Abstract
A system and methods for wrapping a closed polygon around an object represented in a computer system, where the closed polygon is substantially adjacent to the object without intersecting or clipping the object. The system and methods are especially useful for fitting text close to the object in a word processor or page layout system. The method involves dividing the object into a number of horizontal threshold bands. Four points are sequentially positioned within each threshold band along the edge of the object in the band. The first and last points are located proximate to the object on the horizontal boundaries of the threshold band, but do not intersect the object. The middle points are located at the intersections of three defined lines. In this configuration, line segments between any of the four points do not and cannot intersect the object. The step of placing four points along the side of the object within a threshold band is repeated within each of the threshold bands along both sides of the object to form a set of polygon points. This set of polygon points is then sequentially connected to form the closed polygon that wraps around the object. Text can then be flowed around the object without any clipping of the object.