Ruled line data memory system in a word processing apparatus

A word processing apparatus includes a ruled line memory in addition to a document memory. A ruled line pattern data is memorized in the ruled line memory and is permanently memorized in a floppy disc. The thus memorized ruled line pattern data is read out at a desired time and can be combined with a desired document data. The combined document data and the ruled line pattern data is applied to an image screen and a printer system.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a ruled line data memory system in a word 
processing apparatus. 
Generally, it is difficult to input the ruled line data into the word 
processing apparatus. An example of a ruled line treatment system is 
disclosed in copending application Ser. No. 359,290, "RULED LINE TREATMENT 
IN A WORD PROCESSING SYSTEM" filed on Mar. 18, 1982 by Tomoyuki YANO, 
abandoned, and assigned to the same assignee as the present application. 
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a storage 
system for memorizing a desired ruled line pattern in a word processing 
apparatus. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a control system for 
registering a desired ruled pattern data in a word processing apparatus. 
Other objects and further scope of applicability of the present invention 
will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. It 
should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific 
examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are 
given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications 
within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those 
skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
To achieve the above objects, pursuant to an embodiment of the present 
invention, a memory system is provided for memorizing a ruled line pattern 
data in addition to a document memory system for storing the document 
data. The ruled line pattern data memorized in the memory system is read 
out at a desired time in order to print the memorized ruled line pattern 
on a record receiving paper, or in order to modify the memorized ruled 
line pattern through the use of an image screen such as a cathode ray 
tube. Since the ruled line pattern data is memorized in a ruled line 
pattern memory which is independent of the document memory, the same ruled 
line pattern can be used for different documents, if required. That is, 
when a basic ruled line pattern is registered in the word processing 
apparatus, the basic ruled line pattern can be used for various documents.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The word processing apparatus includes a keyboard panel 1 for introducing a 
document data and various function commands. The keyboard panel 1 includes 
a region key 1.sub.a, a ruled line key 1.sub.b, a registration key 
1.sub.c, a recall key 1.sub.d, an execution key 1.sub.e and a cursor shift 
key 1.sub.f lf The region key 1.sub.a is to select a region of a ruled 
line pattern which is desired to be registered in the word processing 
apparatus. The ruled line key 1.sub.b is a mode key for placing the word 
processing apparatus in a ruled line mode. The registration key 1.sub.c is 
to instruct the registration operation of the document data and the ruled 
line pattern data into an outer nonvolatile memory such as a floppy disc. 
The recall key 1.sub.d is to read out the document data and the ruled line 
pattern data stored in the floppy disc. The execution key 1.sub.e is to 
initiate the operation selected by any one of function keys. The cursor 
shift key 1.sub.f is to shift the cursor location on an image screen 8 in 
the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. Usually, the cursor 
shift key 1.sub.f is to select a desired position to which a document data 
should be introduced. In this embodiment, the cursor shift key 1.sub.f is 
used to select a region of the ruled line pattern data which is desired to 
be registered, and is used to indicate a portion to which the memorized 
data, which is read out by means of the recall key 1.sub.d, should be 
inserted. 
The key input signal developed from the keyboard panel 1 is applied to a 
key input control circuit 2 which develops a coded signal in response to 
the key input signal applied from the keyboard panel 1. The coded signal 
is applied to a main control circuit 3. The coded signal corresponding to 
the cursor shift key 1.sub.f is applied to a cursor counter 11. The cursor 
counter 11 includes a horizontal counter which counts up or down in 
response to the horizontal movement of the cursor location, and a vertical 
counter which counts up or down in response to the vertical movement of 
the cursor location. That is, the cursor counter 11 stores the address of 
the cursor mark on the image screen 8. An output signal of the cursor 
counter 11 is applied to the main control circuit 3. The coded signal 
developed from the key input control circuit 2 is further applied to a 
buffer register 14. 
As already discussed above, the document data and the ruled line data can 
be registered into an outer memory 10 such as the floppy disc through the 
use of the registration key 1.sub.c. In this embodiment, the registration 
title can also be registered. This will facilitate the recall operation of 
the registered data. The abovementioned buffer register 14 stores the thus 
introduced registration title. 
The main control circuit 3 includes the central processor unit, the read 
only memory and the random access memory. The read only memory stores 
programmed instructions to control operations as shown in the flow chart 
of FIG. 2. The random access memory includes memory areas for memorizing 
flags F.sub.1, F.sub.2, F.sub.3 and F.sub.4. The flag F.sub.1 is set when 
the region key 1.sub.a is actuated. The flag F.sub.2 is set when the ruled 
line key 1.sub.b is actuated. The flag F.sub.3 is set when the 
registration key 1.sub.c is actuated. The flag F.sub.4 is set when the 
recall key 1.sub.d is actuated. These flags F.sub.1 through F.sub.4 are 
reset when the registration operation of the document data or the ruled 
line data is completed. Furthermore, the flags F.sub.1 through F.sub.4 are 
reset when the recall operation of the registered data is completed. 
The main control circuit 3 functions to apply the document data, which is 
applied from the key input control circuit 2, to a document memory 4 in 
accordance with a predetermined document format. The main control circuit 
3 further functions to apply the ruled line data, which is applied from 
the key input control circuit 2, to a ruled line memory 6 in accordance 
with a predetermined format. The document memory 4 and the ruled line 
memory 6 memorize the character data and the ruled line pattern data, 
respectively, in a fashion that each data corresponds to each of the 
character display positions on the image screen 8. An address circuit 5 is 
associated with the document memory 4 in order to control the write 
operation and the read operation into and from the document memory 4. 
Another address circuit 7 is associated with the ruled line memory 6 in 
order to control the write operation and the read operation into and from 
the ruled line memory 6. The document data read out from the document 
memory 4 and the ruled line pattern data read out from the ruled line 
memory 6 are applied to the image screen 8 and are compositely displayed. 
The document data read out from the document memory 4 and the ruled line 
pattern data read out from the ruled line memory 6 are further applied to 
a dot matrix printer 9 such as an ink jet system printer, whereby the 
composite pattern is printed on a record receiving paper. 
The outer memory 10 such as the floppy disc is provided in connection with 
the main control circuit 3, the document memory 4 and the ruled line 
memory 6. The memory capacity of the outer memory 10 is selected greater 
than the memory capacity of the document memory 4 and the ruled line 
memory 6. That is, the outer memory 10 has the memory capacity for 
memorizing the display data of at least one complete screen of the image 
screen 8. The outer memory 10 has the data memory area and the control 
area. The data memory area memorizes the registered data of the document 
data and the ruled line pattern data. The control area memorizes the first 
address of each of the registered data memorized in the data memory area 
and the registration title of each of the registered data memorized in the 
data memory area. 
When a ruled line pattern data is desired to be registered, the cursor 
shift key 1.sub.f is used to shift the cursor mark to the leading portion 
of the ruled line which is desired to be registered. Then, the region key 
1.sub.a is actuated. Thereafter, the cursor shift key 1.sub.f is operated 
to locate the cursor mark at the trailing portion of the ruled line which 
is desired to be registered, and the region key 1.sub.a is again actuated. 
In this way, the region determination of the ruled line registration is 
completed. However, the above-mentioned region determination operation is 
not required when the entire ruled line pattern displayed on the image 
screen 8 is desired to be registered. 
Then, the ruled line key 1.sub.b is actuated to place the word processing 
apparatus in the ruled line mode. The registration key 1.sub.c s actuated, 
and the registration title (number) is introduced from the keyboard panel 
1. Then, the execution key 1.sub.e is actuated. In this way, the 
registration operation is conducted. When the ruled line pattern is 
desired to be registered in the composite form wherein the ruled line data 
is combined with the character data, the ruled line key 1.sub.b is not 
required to be actuated. 
In order to recall the registered data, the cursor shift key 1.sub.f is 
operated to position the cursor mark at a position to which the merge 
operation is desired to be conducted. The recall key 1.sub.d is actuated, 
and the registration title is introduced from the keyboard panel 1. Then, 
the execution key 1.sub.e is actuated. The document data or the ruled line 
pattern data registered in the outer memory 10 is read out and applied to 
the document memory 4 or the ruled line memory 6. 
Operational modes of the word processing apparatus of FIG. 1 will be 
described in detail with reference to the flow chart shown in FIGS. 2(A) 
and 2(B). 
As already discussed above, the cursor mark is shifted to a desired 
position on the image screen 8 where the ruled line desired to be 
registered is displayed. The cursor counter 11 performs the count 
operation in response to the shift movement of the cursor mark on the 
image screen 8. The cursor counter 11 stores the address of the cursor 
mark on the image screen 8, which corresponds to the address in the 
document memory 4 and the ruled line memory 6. The actuation of the region 
key 1.sub.a is detected at a step S.sub.1. At this moment, the flag 
F.sub.1 is reset and, therefore, the reset condition of the flag F.sub.1 
is detected at a step S.sub.2 and, then, the program is advanced to a step 
S.sub.3. The contents stored in the cursor counter 11 are transferred to a 
pointer P.sub.1 at the step S.sub.3. Thus, the pointer P.sub.1 stores the 
first address of the ruled line which is desired to be registered. The 
flag F.sub.1 is set at the following step S.sub.4. The cursor shift key 
1.sub.f is again operated in order to locate the cursor mark at the last 
position of the ruled line which is desired to be registered. The cursor 
counter 11 performs the count operation in response to the shift movement 
of the cursor mark on the image screen 8. Then, the region key 1.sub.a is 
again actuated, which is detected at the step S.sub.1. At this moment, the 
flag F.sub.1 is in the set state and, therefore, the program is advanced 
from the step S.sub.2 to a step S.sub.5 where the contents stored in the 
cursor counter 11 are transferred to a pointer P.sub.2. Thus, the pointer 
P.sub.2 stores the last address of the ruled line which is desired to be 
registered. 
Subsequently, the ruled line key 1.sub.b is actuated, which is detected at 
a step S.sub.6. The flag F.sub.2 is set at a step S.sub.7, whereby the 
word processing apparatus is placed in the ruled line operation mode. When 
the registration key 1.sub.c is actuated under these conditions, the 
program is advanced from a step S.sub.8 to a step S.sub.9 to set the flag 
F.sub.3. Then, the registration title (number) is introduced through the 
use of the numeral keys included in the keyboard panel 1, which is 
detected by a step S.sub.10. Since the flag F.sub.3 is in the set state, 
which is detected at a step S.sub.11, the registration title (number) is 
applied to and memorized in the buffer register 14 at the following step 
S.sub.12. 
Thereafter, the execution key 1.sub.e is actuated in order to conduct the 
registration operation of the data contained in the selected region. The 
actuation of the execution key 1.sub.e is detected at a step S.sub.14 via 
the steps S.sub.1, S.sub.6, S.sub.8, S and a step S.sub.13. The program is 
advanced to a step S.sub.15 at which the set state of the flag F.sub.3 is 
detected. At the following step S.sub.16, the first address of a blank 
section of the data area in the outer memory 10 is selected. At a step 
S.sub.17, the above-mentioned first address of the blank section and the 
registration title temporarily memorized in the buffer memory 14 are 
written into the control area of the outer memory 10. At this moment, the 
flag F.sub.2 is in the set state (ruled line mode). Furthermore, the flag 
F.sub.1 is in the set state (region selection mode). These set states are 
detected at steps S.sub.18 and S.sub.19, respectively, and the first 
address of the ruled line which is stored in the pointer P.sub.1 is 
transferred to the address circuit 7 at a step S.sub.20. Then, the ruled 
line data of the first line included in the selected region is transferred 
to the outer memory 10 at a step S.sub.21. Thereafter, the contents stored 
in the vertical counter included in the pointer P.sub.1 are increased by 
one at the following step S.sub.22. The thus increased contents stored in 
the vertical counter of the pointer P.sub.1 are compared with the contents 
stored in the vertical counter of the pointer P.sub.2 at the following 
step S.sub.23. That is, the step S.sub.23 detects whether the ruled line 
data transfer operation is conducted to the last line of the selected 
region. The operation of the steps S.sub.20 through S.sub.22 is repeated 
till the coincidence is detected at the step S.sub.23. When the 
coincidence is detected at the step S.sub.23, the program is advanced to a 
step S.sub.24 where the flags F.sub.1 through F.sub.4 are reset to 
complete the registration operation. 
When the composite data including the character data and the ruled line 
data is desired to be registered into the outer memory 10, the ruled line 
key 1.sub.b is not actuated. The flag F.sub.2 is not set, which is 
detected at the step S.sub.18. The program is advanced from the step 
S.sub.18 to a step S.sub.25 where the combined document data and the ruled 
line data is registered into the outer memory 10. 
When the entire ruled line displayed on the image screen 8 is desired to be 
registered, the region key 1.sub.a is not actuated. The flag F.sub.1 s not 
set, which is detected at the step S.sub.19. The program is advanced from 
the step S.sub.19 to a step S.sub.26 where the first address of the ruled 
line memory 6 is introduced into and memorized in the pointer P.sub.1 and 
the last address is introduced into and stored in the pointer P.sub.2. 
Then, the steps S.sub.20 through S.sub.23 are conducted, whereby the ruled 
line data covering the entire region displayed on the image screen 8 is 
registered into the outer memory 10. 
The thus registered ruled line data can be recalled at a desired position 
on the image screen 8. To perform the recall operation, the cursor shift 
key 1.sub.f is operated to place the cursor mark at a position where the 
merge operation is desired to be conducted. Then, the recall key 1.sub.d 
is actuated, which is detected at the step S.sub.13. The flag F.sub.4 is 
set at a atep S.sub.27. Thereafter, the registration title (number) is 
introduced from the keyboard panel 1, which is detected at the step 
S.sub.10. Since the flag F.sub.4 is in the set state, which is detected at 
the step S.sub.11, the numeral data representing the registration title is 
applied to and stored in the buffer register 14 at the step S.sub.12. 
Subsequently, the execution key 1.sub.e is actuated, which is detected at 
the step S.sub.14. At the following step S.sub.15, the reset state of the 
flag F.sub.3 is detected, whereby the program is advanced to a step 
S.sub.28 where the contents stored in the cursor counter 11 are 
transferred to the pointer P.sub.1. The registration title temporarily 
stored in the buffer memory 14 is transferred to the control area of the 
outer memory 10 at a step S.sub.29. At the following step S.sub.30, a 
determination is conducted as to whether the registered data stored in the 
data memory area corresponding to the registration title transferred to 
the control area includes only the ruled line data. If the registered data 
includes only the ruled line data, the first address corresponding to the 
transferred registration title is selected at a step S.sub.31. The 
contents stored in the pointer P.sub.1 are transferred to the address 
circuit 7 at the following step S.sub.32. The registered data stored in 
the outer memory 10 is transferred to the ruled line memory 6 at the 
position selected by the address circuit 7 at a step S.sub.33. The 
following step S.sub.34 is to detect whether the entire data is 
transferred to the ruled line memory 6. When the entire data has not yet 
been transferred to the ruled line memory 6, the contents stored in the 
vertical counter of the pointer P.sub.1 are increased by one at a step 
S.sub.35 in order to perform the transfer operation of the ruled line data 
of the following line. When the transfer operation is conducted to the 
last line, the flag F.sub.4 is reset at the step S.sub.24. 
When the registered data, which should be transferred, includes the 
document data in addition to the ruled line data, or when the registered 
data, which should be transferred, includes only the document data, the 
program is advanced from the step S.sub.30 to a step S.sub.36 where the 
registered data is transferred from the outer memory 10 to the document 
memory 4. 
The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be 
varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure 
from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications are 
intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.