Variable Data Printing Rule Engine for Dynamic Content Formatting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Advanced variable data printing (VDP) compositions face challenges in implementing complex rules across a variety of text and image objects, limiting their ability to dynamically change and format content effectively in documents.

Innovation Solution

A method for VDP operations that defines text and image objects within document templates, evaluates variables based on rules, and applies actions to modify formats and insert data dynamically, allowing for complex rule applications and dynamic content changes across multiple documents.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If complex rules are implemented in VDP operations, then content formatting flexibility is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent formatting flexibilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments complex formatting rules into discrete, manageable components including text objects with specific properties (font, size, color), image objects with placement rules, and conditional statements that can be independently evaluated. This segmentation allows the system to handle complex formatting requirements through modular rule applications rather than monolithic complex logic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic rule evaluation where formatting rules are applied conditionally based on variable data values. The system dynamically determines which rules to apply and in what order, allowing flexible content formatting without requiring all possible formatting scenarios to be pre-configured in a complex static system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If dynamic content changes are applied across multiple documents, then document diversity is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedocument diversityVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary evaluation of rule conditions before applying formatting changes. By pre-evaluating which rules apply to each document based on variable data, the system avoids unnecessary processing steps and enables efficient batch processing of multiple documents with diverse content requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent efficiently handles document diversity by changing parameters such as text formatting properties (font, size, color), image placement coordinates, and content selection based on evaluated rules. These parameter changes are applied systematically across multiple documents, enabling rapid generation of diverse document versions without proportionally increasing processing time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11733945B2Methods for processing documents using rules in variable data printing operations

Publication Date: 2023.08.22 KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

Rules for variable data printing operations are defined using statements having text or image variables used in an object for a document template. Statements include conditions that evaluate content or data for the variables to determine whether the resulting content or data for the object is modified. Multiple statements are used within a rule, including those with complex expressions. The rules allow the generations of variety of documents that include different and fixed content.