Interleaving Compressed Archives in PDF Files
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Solution Overview
Problem
In page description language files like PDF, embedded compressed archives cannot be viewed individually within the file, as only the compressed archive is visible, requiring the entire archive to be opened to access its contents.
Innovation Solution
Interleaving compressed archives within page description language files by inserting object markers and references in the index portion, allowing individual compressed assets to be viewed and selected within the file, leveraging unused space in both PDF and compressed archive formats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a compressed archive is embedded within a page description language file, then the file size is reduced and assets are packaged efficiently, but the individual compressed assets cannot be viewed or selected separately within the file
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the compressed archive into individual asset components, each with its own object marker and index entry. This segmentation allows the PDF reader to access and display individual compressed assets separately while maintaining the overall compressed archive structure, thus resolving the contradiction between efficient packaging and individual accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested structure where compressed assets are embedded within the PDF file structure, with each compressed asset containing its own header and data sections. This nesting allows the PDF to contain multiple levels of organization, enabling both the compressed archive as a whole and individual assets within it to be accessed separately.
2Ease of operation
If object markers are inserted around compressed assets within a compressed archive, then individual assets become accessible within the PDF, but the complexity of the file structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses universal object markers that serve multiple functions: they identify the start of compressed assets, provide reference points for the index, and enable both viewing and extraction operations. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate complex structures for each function, thereby managing complexity while enabling individual asset accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an index structure as an intermediary between the compressed archive and the PDF reader. The index contains references to object markers and enables the reader to locate and access individual compressed assets without requiring complex direct navigation through the entire archive structure, thus simplifying the interaction.
3Ease of operation
If the entire compressed archive is opened to view compressed assets, then all assets are accessible, but the process is inefficient and requires opening the entire archive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-processing the compressed archive during PDF creation: object markers are inserted around each compressed asset, and an index is generated with references to these markers. This preliminary structuring enables the PDF reader to directly access individual assets without needing to open and process the entire compressed archive at runtime, thus improving access efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables partial action by allowing the PDF reader to access only the specific compressed assets that are needed, rather than requiring the entire compressed archive to be opened. The index and object markers facilitate this partial access, enabling users to retrieve individual assets efficiently without the excessive action of decompressing and viewing the entire archive.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments described herein provide systems, methods, software, and data structures that allow a page description language reader application, such as Adobe® Acrobat®, to provide a view of the assets compressed within a compressed archive. These and other embodiments including applications that may interleave one or more compressed archives within a page description language file, such as a PDF file. This interleaving leverages properties of both compressed archive files and page description language files to insert object markers around compressed assets within the compressed archives and references to at least some of the object markers in an index portion of the page description language files. As a result, compressed assets of compressed archives included in a page description language file package may be viewed within the listing of assets of the page description language file. These and other embodiments are described in greater detail below.