Variable Data Printing Template Text Object Matching

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Solution Overview

Problem

In variable data printing, it is often difficult to determine which text object in a template corresponds to a field included in a database, making it challenging to accurately insert data from the database into the correct positions in the template.

Innovation Solution

An information processing method that identifies text objects in a layout corresponding to attribute data pieces from a database, replacing the character-string data pieces within these objects with data from the database records associated with those attributes, thereby generating layout data for printing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual matching of database fields to text objects is performed, then flexibility and control are improved, but operation complexity and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of data insertionVSAvoidtime for determining correspondence

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs automatic identification of text objects corresponding to database fields without requiring manual user intervention. The processing apparatus autonomously analyzes the template, identifies text objects, matches them with database fields based on positional and attribute information, and generates the correspondence relationship automatically, enabling the system to serve itself in the data insertion process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system utilizes multiple parameters including position information (coordinates, layout position), attribute information (font size, font type, color), and hierarchical information (parent-child relationships between text objects) to identify and match text objects with database fields. By changing and comparing these parameters, the system automatically determines the correspondence relationship without manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If automatic identification of text objects is implemented, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata insertion efficiencyVSAvoidprecision of text object identification

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the template into multiple text objects based on position information and hierarchical relationships. Each text object is identified as an independent element with specific attributes, allowing the system to process and match them individually with corresponding database fields, thereby improving both productivity and identification precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from position information, attribute information, and hierarchical relationships to continuously refine and confirm the identification of text objects. By comparing these parameters against database field information, the system verifies and adjusts the correspondence relationship to ensure high precision in automatic identification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple text objects are present in the template, then layout flexibility is improved, but difficulty in determining correspondence increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelayout flexibilityVSAvoiddifficulty of field-text object matching

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system adds hierarchical dimension to the identification process by considering parent-child relationships between text objects. This hierarchical information provides an additional dimension for distinguishing and matching text objects with database fields, making it easier to determine correspondence even when multiple text objects are present in the template.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The system utilizes multiple parameters including position information (x-coordinate, y-coordinate, layout position), attribute information (font size, font type, color), and hierarchical information to differentiate and match multiple text objects with corresponding database fields. By comparing these parameters, the system resolves the difficulty of determining correspondence among multiple text objects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20230385540A1Information processing method, information processing apparatus, and storage medium

Publication Date: 2023.11.30 CANON KK

AI summary

Print image data for variable data printing is generated by using a database in which text objects associated with fields included in the database can be viewed on the database. First, a database is obtained. Next, out of one or more text objects included in edition data indicating a layout, a text object of the text objects including a character-string data piece corresponding to an attribute character-string data piece indicating each of one or more attributes included in the database is identified. Then, layout data is generated by replacing the character-string data piece included in the identified text object with a data piece in a record included in the database, the data piece in the record corresponding to the attribute associated with the identified text object.