Non-resident Font Preview via Remote Server Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Content designers face difficulties in identifying and previewing fonts that are similar to their desired fonts, as current technologies are limited to previewing only installed fonts, restricting access to non-resident fonts that may better fit their design.
Innovation Solution
A font similarity system that utilizes a font feature list including both resident and non-resident fonts, allowing users to preview non-resident fonts by interacting with a font server, which provides subset character information for identified similar fonts, enabling seamless integration into design applications without leaving the application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users are limited to previewing only installed fonts, then the system complexity is reduced and previewing performance is improved, but the font selection pool is restricted and design versatility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The font system is segmented into resident fonts (installed locally) and non-resident fonts (accessible remotely). The preview functionality is also segmented: local preview for resident fonts and remote preview for non-resident fonts. This segmentation allows the system to handle different font types through appropriate channels, expanding the font selection pool while maintaining operational efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
A font server acts as an intermediary between the design application and non-resident fonts. The font server receives font requests, provides subset character information for previewing, and enables users to access fonts without installing them locally. This intermediary resolves the contradiction by enabling remote font access while maintaining local system performance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If users can access non-resident fonts, then the font selection pool is expanded and design versatility is improved, but system complexity increases and processing overhead worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The complex font management functionality is extracted from the local design application and placed on a remote font server. The local system only needs to handle simple font requests and display subset character information, while the font server manages the complex tasks of font storage, retrieval, and similarity matching. This extraction reduces local system complexity while maintaining expanded font access.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of transferring complete font files for preview, the system uses partial action by transmitting only subset character information from the font server. This partial data transmission enables font previewing without the overhead of handling complete font files, reducing processing complexity while maintaining the ability to access non-resident fonts.
3Measurement precision
If complete font information is transmitted for non-resident fonts, then preview quality is improved, but data transmission volume increases and processing time worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system transmits only the necessary subset of character information required for font previewing, rather than complete font files. This partial data transmission maintains sufficient preview quality for design evaluation while dramatically reducing data transmission volume and processing time. Users can assess font suitability without waiting for complete font file transfers.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention are directed at providing a font similarity preview for non-resident fonts. In one embodiment, a font is selected on a computing device. In response to the selection of the font, a pre-computed font list is checked to determine what fonts are similar to the selected font. In response to a determination that similar fonts are not local to the computing device, a non-resident font list is sent to a font vendor. The font vendor sends back previews of the non-resident fonts based on entitlement information of a user. Further, a full non-resident font can be synced to the computing device. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.