Patent ID: 7859705
Filing Date: 2010-12-28
Classification: G06F,H04N

Abstract:
1. In a computer system, a method for creating and using overlays that are application independent and device independent, comprising: receiving a first request to save an overlay document that comprises content for an overlay; storing graphics commands for the overlay document in an overlay file, wherein the overlay file has a format, wherein the format of the overlay file is both application independent and device independent, wherein the format of the overlay file is selectable, and wherein the overlay file comprises multiple versions of the overlay; receiving a second request to print a base document; selecting, from the overlay file, the graphics commands for the version of the overlay that most closely matches at least one characteristic in the base document, wherein the selecting occurs after a request to print the base document has been received; rendering the selected graphics commands in the overlay file, thereby creating printing commands for the overlay document; merging the printing commands for the overlay document with base document printing commands, thereby creating a printing command stream; and sending the printing command stream to a printing device.