Converter Module Simplifies Complex File Elements for Legacy Printers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Legacy printers are unable to efficiently process files with complex elements without extensive reconfiguration, as they are not designed to handle such complex features as outlines, gradients, and transparency.

Innovation Solution

A converter module with a modular filter pipeline is used to identify and replace complex elements with simpler features, allowing legacy printers to process files by converting them into device-specific formats that the printers can understand, such as converting complex outlines to shape elements, gradients to fill colors, and transparent elements to solid fill colors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If legacy printers are used to print files with complex elements, then printing capability is limited, but conversion to bitmap format requires extensive processing time and resources

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting capabilityVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary conversion of complex elements to simpler representations before printing. The converter module pre-processes complex elements (outlines, gradients, transparency) into simplified forms that legacy printers can handle, avoiding the need for extensive bitmap conversion during actual printing operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary converter module that mediates between modern file formats with complex elements and legacy printers. This converter acts as a bridge, translating complex elements into intermediate representations (simplified shapes, solid colors) that legacy printers can process efficiently without requiring full bitmap conversion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If legacy printers are reconfigured to handle complex elements, then processing capability improves, but reconfiguration complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing capabilityVSAvoidreconfiguration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Rather than reconfiguring legacy printers, the system uses an intermediary converter module that handles all complex element transformations. This approach maintains printer simplicity while adding conversion functionality in the software layer, avoiding hardware reconfiguration complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The converter module creates simplified copies of complex elements that preserve visual appearance while reducing complexity. Complex outlines are copied as simplified shapes, gradients are copied as solid fill colors, and transparency effects are copied as opaque representations, allowing legacy printers to render these copies without understanding the original complex structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If complex elements are converted to bitmap format, then legacy printers can process them, but file size and processing resources increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecompatibilityVSAvoidfile size

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The converter module changes the representation parameters of complex elements from detailed vector descriptions to simplified geometric parameters. Outlines become basic shapes defined by fewer coordinates, gradients become solid color fills, and transparency becomes opacity values, dramatically reducing data size while maintaining visual fidelity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates lightweight, simplified representations of complex elements that are sufficient for printing purposes. These simplified elements act as disposable approximations that don't need to preserve all original complexity, reducing file size and processing requirements while achieving the desired printing output.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS7440132B2Systems and methods for handling a file with complex elements

Publication Date: 2008.10.21 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

The described systems and methods are directed at converting a file with complex elements so that a legacy utilization device, such as a legacy printer, can properly process the file. The described systems may include a converter module with a modular filter pipeline. The converter module may identify elements with complex features in a file. Simpler features that approximate the complex features are determined. The identified elements in the file may be replaced with elements having the simpler features.