Allowing Operating System Access to Non-Standard Fonts in a Network Document

Abstract

When a browsing computer navigates to a network document, such as a web page, the corresponding . server also downloads computer readable formatting information necessary for the operating system of the browsing computer to render nonstandard characters within the network document. An installation module is also downloaded to the browsing computer. The installation module is loaded onto the browsing computer which in turn either permanently installs or temporarily exposes the operating system of the browsing computer to the computer readable formatting information. As a result, the operating system of the browsing computer is able to display the network document including the non-standard characters.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A network document recorded on a computer readable medium, the network document being adapted for use on a computer having an operating system and a network browser, the network document comprising an electronic file that has embedded therein, attached thereto, or reference to:
 computer executable instructions identifying a display character used in the network document and identifying a font used to render the display character;   a font package comprising computer readable formatting information necessary for an operating system of a computer to render the display character using the identified font; and   an exposure module comprising computer executable instructions for installation of the exposure module on the computer and for installation or exposure of the computer readable formatting information contained in the font package on or to the operating system such that the operating system can render the display character using the identified font when displaying the network document and other applications controlled by the operating system can also render the display character using the identified font, whereby when the display character is displayed in the network document or by the other applications, the display character is displayed using the exact same font.