Color Coding Layout Structure Elements in Flow Format Documents
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Solution Overview
Problem
The conversion of fixed format documents to flow format documents is inefficient due to limited facilities for preserving document layout information, often requiring manual visual inspection, which is prone to human error and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
The use of color coding to embed information about layout structure features and attributes in documents, allowing for the detection and comparison of logical layout objects, enabling accurate testing of the conversion process through a comparison engine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual visual inspection is used to test layout features, then testing can be performed without additional tools, but the process is inefficient and prone to human error
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces color coding as an intermediary mechanism between the document layout and the testing process. By embedding color information in the document that corresponds to specific layout features, the system enables automated detection and comparison without requiring manual visual inspection, thus improving both reliability and efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical process of manual visual inspection with an automated computer-based system. The color-coded document allows software to automatically detect, compare, and verify layout features through color analysis, eliminating human error and significantly improving testing efficiency
2Adaptability or versatility
If fixed format documents are converted to flow format documents, then document flexibility and ease of modification are improved, but layout information may be lost or improperly preserved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color coding to the fixed format document before conversion to flow format. This preliminary action embeds layout information in a form that can be easily detected and preserved during the conversion process, ensuring that layout features are maintained in the final flow format document
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses color coding to encode layout information in the document. Different colors represent different layout features, and this color information is preserved through the conversion process from fixed to flow format, enabling automated verification of layout preservation
3Loss of information
If color coding is applied to document elements, then layout information preservation is improved, but document processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the color coding engine and comparison engine multi-functional. These engines not only detect and compare color-coded layout features but also work with standard document processing workflows, integrating seamlessly into existing systems without requiring separate complex processing pipelines
Data Source
AI summary
A color coding engine and a comparison engine are provided. A color coding engine may be utilized to detect logical layout object attributes in a flow format document and apply a unique color to textual elements associated with each logical layout object attribute. The resulting color coded document may be saved as a target flow format document. The target flow format document may be converted to a fixed format document and then converted by a conversion engine to a flow format document. The resulting converted flow format document may be saved as an output flow format document. A comparison engine may be utilized to compare the output flow format document and the target flow format document to determine if layout information has been properly preserved in the document conversion process.