Patent ID: 7366978

Claim:
A computer-implemented method of creating a coordinate system for defining an irregular computer-generated table, comprising: storing in computer memory a document containing an irregular table having a plurality of table cells; determining a size of a smallest table cell; creating a grid structure comprised of uniformly-shaped cells in response to the size of the smallest table cell, comprising locating all vertical and horizontal edges of each of the plurality of table cells, marking the position of each cell edge relative to a starting position on the table, and determining a grid cell size that is equal to the smallest table cell; preparing a coordinate system for the table for allowing a consuming application to display the shape of the table; superimposing the grid structure onto the table; defining the shape of the table based on the coordinates of the uniformly-shaped grid cells of the grid structure superimposed onto the table; mapping an irregular table cell having a first size with a grid cell having a second size, wherein the first size and the second size are different sizes; and storing the defined table using a first markup language.