Serving font files in varying formats based on user agent type

摘要

To resolve compatibility issues between font file formats and user agents such as web browsers, a font repository may determine a compatible font file format upon receiving a request from the user agent for a font. The determination may be made based on the type of user agent making the request. In one or more arrangements, if a font file in the compatible font file format is not available at the repository, a request may be transmitted to another repository. A font reference in a style sheet or code defining the network document may be unique to the font, but common to all font files corresponding to the font. An application for facilitating the generation of a network document may thus automatically generate such a code in response to a user selecting a desired font.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
receiving, at a font server, a request for a font, wherein the request indicates a type of user agent in which the font is to be displayed; determining, by the font server, a first font file format compatible with the type of user agent from a plurality of font file formats in which font files for the requested font are provided, wherein the plurality of font file formats includes a second font file format in which the requested font is defined, wherein the type of user agent is incompatible with the second font file format; retrieving, by the font server, a first font file in the first font file format, wherein the first font file includes data enabling a user agent to individually and separately render, in the requested font, each character in a set of characters; and transmitting the first font file to a requesting device from the font server.