Universal file format for digital rich ink data

US6850228B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Microsoft Corporation · US

Inventors

• Michael Jay Parks · Kirkland, US
• Charlton E. Lui · Redmond, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 29, 1999
• Grant date: Feb 1, 2005
• Expiry date: Oct 29, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06T2210/32
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A universal file format for providing digital rich ink data documents. Digital rich ink data is hidden among the ink image data otherwise stored in a widely-accepted image file format. For example, depending on the type of file, data can be concealed in the least significant bit or bits of pixel information, or stored in-different color indexes of a palette that result in the same color output. In other file types, digital rich ink data may be appended after the end of file marker, or placed in a comment area. When such a file is accessed, computing devices capable of handling rich ink data recognize and extract the rich ink data from the file, while devices incapable of recognizing the format are still able to display the ordinary ink data. Two file formats for describing the arrangement of rich ink data are also provided.