Method and system for merging variable text and images into bitmaps defined by a page description language

Abstract

A computer implemented method includes the steps of: a) generating a template PDL (page description language) specification, the template specification including template data and associated graphic attributes (i.e., graphic states) defining how the template data is to appear on a printed page, the template specification including at least one variable data identifier; b) generating a plurality of sub-template PDL specifications, each sub-template specification including sub-template data and associated graphic attributes defining how the sub-template data is to appear on a portion of a printed page; c) interpreting the template specification so as to generate a template bitmap or a plurality of template rendering commands (display list), and during the interpreting step, identifying the variable data identifier; d) saving the template bitmap or the plurality of template rendering commands into memory; e) associating the variable data identifier with the sub-template specifications; f) accessing a first sub-template specification from the plurality of sub-template specifications; g) processing the first sub-template specification so as to generate a sub-template bitmap or a plurality of first sub-template rendering commands; h) accessing a copy of the template bitmap or the plurality of template rendering commands from memory; i) merging the copy of the template bitmap or template rendering commands with the sub-template bitmap or sub-template rendering commands so as to provide a first merged bitmap or first merged plurality of rendering commands; j) generating a first merged bitmap from the first merged plurality rendering commands (if necessary); k) accessing a next sub-template specification from the plurality of sub-template specifications; l) processing the next sub-template specification so as to generate a next sub-template bitmap or plurality of next sub-template rendering commands, m) accessing a copy of the template bitmap or template rendering commands from memory; n) merging the copy of the template bitmap or template rendering commands with the next sub-template bitmap or sub-template rendering commands so as to provide a next merged bitmap or next plurality of rendering commands; and o) generating a next merge bitmap from the next merged plurality of rendering commands, if necessary. The steps k-o may be repeated, as necessary, to generate a plurality of merged bitmaps.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for generating a plurality of bitmaps comprising the steps of: 
 (a) generating a template page description language specification, the template specification including template data and associated graphic attributes defining how the template data is to appear on a printed page, the template specification including at least one variable data identifier;    (b) generating a plurality of sub-template page description language specifications, each sub-template specification including sub-template data and associated graphic attributes defining how the sub-template data is to appear on a portion of a printed page;    (c) interpreting the template specification so as to generate a plurality of template rendering commands, and during the interpreting step, identifying the variable data identifier;    (d) saving the plurality of template rendering commands into memory;    (e) associating the variable data identifier with the plurality sub-template specifications;    (f) accessing a first sub-template specification from the plurality of sub-template specifications;    (g) processing the first sub-template specification so as to generate a plurality of first sub-template rendering commands;    (h) accessing a copy of the plurality of template rendering commands from memory;    (i) merging the copy of the plurality of template rendering commands with the plurality of first sub-template rendering commands so as to provide a first merged plurality of rendering commands;    (j) generating a first merged bitmap from the first merged plurality of rendering commands;    (k) accessing a next sub-template specification from the plurality of sub-template specifications;    (l) processing the next sub-template specification so as to generate a plurality of first sub-template rendering commands;    (m) accessing a copy of the plurality of template rendering commands from memory;    (n) merging the copy of the plurality of template rendering commands with the plurality of next sub-template rendering commands so as to provide a next merged plurality of rendering commands; and    (o) generating a next merged bitmap from the next merged plurality of rendering commands.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein steps (k) through (o) are repeated for the remaining plurality of sub-template specifications.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the variable data identifier includes a associated graphic attribute;    prior to the merging step (i), the graphic attribute associated with the variable data identifier is saved to memory;    the merging step (i) includes the steps of accessing the graphic attribute associated with the variable data identifier from memory and applying it to the plurality of first sub-template rendering commands so that a bitmap generated by the plurality of first sub-template rendering commands will include the graphic attribute associated with the variable data identifier; and    the merging step (p) includes the steps of accessing the graphic attribute associated with the variable data identifier from memory and applying it to the plurality of next sub-template rendering commands so that a bitmap generated by the plurality of next sub-template rendering commands will include the graphic attribute associated with the variable data identifier.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the variable data identifier includes an associated graphic attribute that is discarded during the processing step.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 wherein the associating step includes the step of referring to a file containing a name corresponding to at least one of the locations and identities of sub-template specifications; and    the file includes a definition of a new graphic attribute to be applied to the sub-template specifications associated with the name.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the new graphic attribute includes the location of sub-template bitmaps in merged bitmaps.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the new graphic attribute includes the size of sub-template bitmaps in merged bitmaps.  
     
     
         8 . A method for generating a plurality of bitmaps comprising the steps of: 
 (a) generating a template page description language specification, the template specification including template data and associated graphic attributes defining how the template data is to appear on a printed page, the template specification including at least one variable data identifier;    (b) generating a plurality of sub-template page description language specifications, each sub-template specification including sub-template data and associated graphic attributes defining how the sub-template data is to appear on a portion of a printed page;    (c) processing the template specification so as to generate a template bitmap, and during the processing step, identifying the variable data identifier;    (d) saving the template bitmap into memory;    (e) associating the variable data identifier with the plurality of sub-template specifications;    (f) accessing a first sub-template specification from the plurality of sub-template specifications;    (g) processing the first sub-template specification so as to generate a first sub-template bitmap;    (h) accessing a copy of the template bitmap from memory;    (i) merging the copy of the template bitmap with the first sub-template bitmap so as to provide a first merged bitmap;    (j) accessing a next sub-template specification from the plurality of sub-template specifications;    (k) processing the next sub-template specification so as to generate a next sub-template bitmap;    (l) accessing a copy of the template bitmap from memory; and    (m) merging the copy of the template bitmap with the next sub-template bitmap so as to provide a next merged bitmap.