Paragraph Alignment Detection for Document Flow Reconstruction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing document converters face challenges in converting fixed format documents to flow format documents, often resulting in limited flowability due to the use of inadequate techniques that prioritize visual fidelity over document flow, requiring substantial manual reconstruction.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a paragraph alignment detection method and a section reconstruction engine that analyze paragraph alignment and column layouts to accurately convert fixed format documents into flow format documents, utilizing trimming operations, margin comparisons, differential indentation analysis, and region-based section reconstruction to minimize manual reconstruction needs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If existing document converters use indiscriminate section breaks and techniques to preserve visual fidelity, then layout accuracy is improved, but document flowability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelayout accuracyVSAvoiddocument flowability

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the document conversion process into distinct phases: analysis phase (detecting paragraphs, columns, sections, and their relationships) and reconstruction phase (building flow format structure based on detected relationships). This segmentation allows the system to preserve visual fidelity during analysis while enabling document flowability during reconstruction by creating a logical structure that can be independently manipulated.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the representation parameters from fixed format coordinates to flow format logical structures. By detecting and storing relationships (parent-child, sibling, column membership) rather than absolute positions, the system transforms the document into a flexible flow format that maintains layout information as metadata rather than rigid constraints.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If existing document converters use awkward techniques to preserve visual fidelity, then layout accuracy is improved, but conversion complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelayout accuracyVSAvoidconversion complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary analysis phase that detects and records the logical structure (paragraphs, columns, sections, and their relationships) as a mediator between the fixed format input and flow format output. This intermediary representation simplifies the conversion process by providing a structured intermediate form that is easier to transform into flow format compared to directly manipulating fixed format elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The conversion system performs self-service by automatically detecting and analyzing the document structure, column layouts, and element relationships without requiring manual intervention. The system autonomously builds the flow format structure based on detected patterns, reducing the need for complex manual reconstruction procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Manufacturing precision

If existing document converters prioritize visual fidelity, then layout accuracy is improved, but manual reconstruction requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelayout accuracyVSAvoidmanual reconstruction requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the analysis phase detects actual document structures and relationships, and this detected information feeds into the reconstruction phase to guide the building of flow format elements. The system uses feedback from the detected column layouts, paragraph relationships, and section structures to automatically adjust the conversion process, reducing the need for manual correction and reconstruction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary analysis and detection of the document structure, column layouts, and element relationships before the actual conversion to flow format. By detecting and storing the logical structure in advance, the system prepares the necessary information that enables automatic reconstruction, eliminating the need for subsequent manual reconstruction work.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9946690B2Paragraph alignment detection and region-based section reconstruction

Publication Date: 2018.04.17 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

A paragraph alignment detection engine and a section reconstruction engine. The paragraph alignment detection engine determines the paragraph alignment of a paragraph and updates the paragraph alignment property of the paragraph in the data store for single line and multi-line paragraphs. The paragraph alignment detection engine employs per paragraph comparisons and relative comparisons to other paragraphs to determine the paragraph alignment of a single line paragraph. The paragraph alignment detection engine employs per paragraph comparisons and relative comparisons of the lines of a paragraph to determine the paragraph alignment of a multi-line paragraph. The section reconstruction engine minimizes the number of sections created in the flow format document by identifying the columns on each page, combining contiguous pages with the same column layout into a single section, and creating alternative objects to contain regions associated special cases in lieu of creating additional sections.