PDL to Accessible Format Conversion via Text Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Legacy applications generate correspondence in page description languages (PDL) that include incompatible features, making it difficult to create accessible versions for assistive technology devices like screen readers and Braille printers.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for converting PDL representations of correspondence into accessible formats by extracting text strings and coordinates, grouping text, and applying rules to create an output file suitable for assistive technology devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If PDL representation is used for correspondence, then printing functionality is maintained, but accessibility for assistive technology devices is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a conversion system as an intermediary between PDL representations and assistive technology devices. This system extracts text strings and coordinates from PDL files, processes them according to accessibility rules, and generates accessible formats (such as screen reader compatible text or Braille output). The intermediary layer preserves the original PDL printing functionality while creating separate accessible versions for assistive technology devices.
2Loss of information
If PDL features like images, barcodes, and table format lines are included, then complete correspondence information is maintained, but compatibility with assistive technology devices is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the text string information and positional coordinates from the PDL representation, deliberately excluding incompatible PDL features such as images, barcodes, table format lines, and other printing-specific attributes. This extraction creates a simplified text-based representation that maintains essential correspondence information while ensuring compatibility with assistive technology devices that cannot process complex PDL features.
Solution Approach 2:
The conversion process segments the PDL data into two distinct outputs: the original PDL file for printing purposes and a separate accessible format for assistive technology devices. The accessible format is created by processing only the text strings and their coordinates, separating the functionality of printing from the functionality of accessibility support.
3Adaptability or versatility
If automated conversion is implemented, then accessibility is improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by transforming the data representation from PDL format to a simplified text-based format with coordinates. The conversion system processes text strings and their positional information according to defined accessibility rules, generating output in formats compatible with assistive technology devices. This parameter transformation approach manages complexity by establishing clear conversion rules rather than attempting to preserve all PDL features.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for facilitating conversion of a page description language (PDL) representation of a correspondence to an accessible format are provided. According to one embodiment, a correspondence is received in a form of an input file represented in a PDL. Text strings and corresponding coordinates indicative of points at which the text strings are positioned within a printable area of a page of the correspondence or an electronic equivalent thereof are extracted from the input file. Information is received indicative of multiple groups of the text strings. Each group is processed in accordance with an associated rule selected from multiple rules to create an output file in which the text strings within a given group of the plurality of groups are excluded or included within an element of the output file based on application of the associated rule to the given group.