 |
Description  |
|
|
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an image processing system which is adapted to
electronically interactive-edit images such as characters, designs, and
binary images to process and image-record the same as a block copy for
printing, further relates to a sampling method for data which is improved
in performance by sampling image data for printing (density data) in a
shorter time and reducing the time required for post-processing.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It has been heretofore desirable to provide an image processing system for
typographers who require high quality printed matter in which characters,
designs or the like are consolidated as a whole for editing the same.
Notwithstanding, such system has not been proposed but is less capable and
practical in use even if it is available.
Particularly, among others, a desk top publishing art has been gradually
realized in a manner of description such as a post script but is still
less capable and efficient of an image art. Systems for the typographers
have been of course, available but is insufficient in handling (input,
display, storage, processing, edition, and output and the like) data in
bulk and at a high speed. This is because that the characters and images
to be synthetically processed are subjected to various approaches by a
description language, and a central processing unit (CPU; software) to
thus exhibit a poor performance.
FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing a typical manufacturing process of a
conventional print plate for printing, which comprises steps of inputting
code data (Step S40) prepared by a word processor and the like, checking a
PPC output after a code conversion (Step S41) of the code as prepared and
a composing editing (Step S42), and outputting characters from a computer
aided photocomposer (hereinafter referred to as "photocomposer") (Steps
S43 and S44). What is termed the composing editing is meant to refer to
arrangement of a row of the characters according to a prescribed rule,
more specifically a forbidden processing or the like. In general, the word
processor used for an office automation or the like is designed so that
full scale characters are disposed in order. In contrast, the art of
photocomposing is contemplated to obtain well-defined characters each of
which is a half of the width of the full scale character. In this
connection, it should be noted that the PPC output is a synonym for a
laser beam printer (LBP). Generally, the output of the high quality image
output unit is a black-and-white sensitized paper or film either of which
is silver halide and expensive but functions at a speed lower than the LBP
due to high resolving power. In contrast, the LBP is of less resolving
power because of an electrophotographic system and is thus inexpensive but
acts at a high speed. For this reason, the LBP is sufficient for checking
and correcting layouts, characters or the like. The PPC output check is
also meant to refer to confirmation of the characters or the like prior to
the high quality image output without trial. The original for designs or
the like is read out by a monotone scanner such as to output the image as
screen dotted (Step S45). Computer aided and manual photocomposer
character outputs, a line image, and an illustration and the like as well
as such the screen dotted output are manually paste up (Step S50). A
galley proof of its synthetic image is obtained to check its content and
to correct it if necessary (Steps S51 and S52). Then, the manual
photocomposer output for paste-up is provided to finally check and correct
the image (Steps S54 and S55). These steps are followed by operations such
as a camera work (Step S60), a page cutting (Step S61), a pinhole opaque
(Step S62), and a film photo-composing (Step S63) for plate making. It is
noted that disadvantages derived from the high quality image output unit
are that the image outputted thereby to silver halide sensitive materials
(such as a sensitive paper, a film or the like) is made white but not
black or is turned adverse by a minute spot. These modifications and
amendments are termed "pinhole amendments".
As seen from the foregoing, the conventional plate making process requires
a great deal of operations such as repeated paste-up, photocomposing to
involve much labor and time, thus considerably decreasing efficiency.
On the other hand, there have been known various sampling methods for data.
For example, there has been proposed a sampling method comprising steps of
reading picture images by a reading means to obtain image data of n
bit/pixel, sampling the data or the density data while writing them in a
buffer memory such as a disc or RAM as picture image data, processing the
written data in accordance with the density, resolution and/or tone of an
output unit or a display unit, and outputting them to a printer or the
display unit.
However, the conventional sampling method is inconvenient as it takes a
long time to process because the density data in n bit/pixel are written
in the memory while sampling them simultaneously, and the amount of
written data becomes enormous (e.g. in the case of data for the A4 size
print-ready copy of 1000 dot/inch, the amount of data reaches as large as
120 Mbytes). If the data should be displayed, the processing such as
thinning becomes necessary, and a large volume of data which are not
essentially necessary have to be read out in a buffer.
Discs of the filing capacity of 300 Mbytes-3 Gbytes are usually used when
picture images are written in as data. In order to write in the data in
such a disc, the sampling pitch or the number of tones in A/D conversion
of the data should be adjusted in accordance with the output unit, and the
picture image data for one output are saved by one scanning in a
writing-in unit. In order to newly prepare data for display purpose, the
output unit should be scanned once more, requiring additional time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is provided in view of the aforementioned circumstances.
It is an object of this invention to provide an image processing system
which is most suitable for printing traders who electronically,
interactively edit and process a great deal of image data at a high speed.
It is another object of this invention to provide a sampling method which
samples picture image data for printing by plural thinning means based on
predetermined table data, and converts the data to dots or binary codes to
thereby reduce the time required for the post processing and improve the
performance thereof. It further aims at reducing the amount of data which
should be stored.
According to one aspect of this invention, for achieving the objects
described above, there is provided an image processing system comprising
an input controller having a first CPU adapted to dot and compress density
data for an image read out by an input unit and for temporarily staying
said compressed image data at a buffer; a work station providing a second
CPU adapted to picture-edit not only a code information edited by an
editing input unit but also said image data by the use of an input
operating means and a display means; a file server including a third CPU
connected to said input controller and said work station by bus lines and
for storing said image data, code information and edited data
picture-edited by said work station in said file server; and an image
setter having a fourth CPU for reading out said edited data stored in said
file server and subjecting said edited data to a required data processing,
thereby outputting an image over an image output unit characterized in
that said input controller, said file server, said work station and said
image setter are individually and independently subjected to an
information processing.
According to another aspect of this invention, there is provided an image
processing apparatus comprising a CPU having a main memory connected to a
CPU bus and interfaces, a sequencer connected between said CPU bus and an
image data bus for transferring image data, a logical operational circuit
connected between said CPU bus and said image data bus, a common memory
connected between said CPU bus and said image data bus, an expander and a
third memory connected from said CPU bus to said image data bus, a raster
image converter and a second memory connected from said CPU bus to said
image data bus, a vector font memory which stores vector fonts necessary
for generating character bit map by said raster image converter and is
connected to said CPU bus, and an output circuit which is connected
between said CPU bus and said image data bus via a buffer and is connected
to image recording devices via a buffer.
Further, according to still another aspect of this invention, there is
provided a sampling method for data comprising the steps of digitizing
predetermined data by an A/D converting means, inputting thus digitized
data into plural thinning means, sampling said data based on respective
table data which have been inputted into said plural thinning means to
prepare plural sampling data, inputting said sampled data into plural data
converting means and storing this converted data in a buffer.
The nature, principle and utility of the invention will become more
apparent from the following detailed description when read conjunction
with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings:
FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing a process of manufacturing conventional
printing plates;
FIGS. 2A and 2B are block diagrams showing the overall configuration of the
present invention;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing one example of the configurations
according to the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing one example of the operation according to
the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing one example of the configurations of the
input controller;
FIGS. 6 through 12 are diagrams explaining the dotting and compression of
the density data in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a TCP/IP protocol;
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing one example of the configurations of the
Ethernet board inside the file server 200;
FIGS. 15A and 15B are flow charts showing operation examples of the file
server according to the present invention;
FIGS. 16 and 17 are flow charts showing action examples of the work
station;
FIGS. 18A through 18I are diagrams explaining operational examples of the
work station during editing process or the like;
FIG. 19 is a diagram showing the operation of photo-composing according to
the present invention;
FIG. 20 is a diagram explaining the page description data;
FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing in detail the configuration of the image
setter;
FIG. 22 is a flow chart showing an operation example of the same image
setter;
FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing in detail the configuration of the
output portion of the image setter;
FIG. 24 is a flow chart showing an operational example of the image setter;
FIG. 25 is a diagram showing in detail the circuit configuration of the
preset counter;
FIGS. 26A through 26D, FIGS. 27 and 28 are diagrams explaining the
operation of the same preset counter;
FIG. 29 is a block diagram of a data sampling unit embodying this invention
data sampling method; and
FIGS. 30 and 31 are explanatory views to describe this invention sampling
methods.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIGS. 2A and 2B are block diagrams showing the whole arrangement of a
system according to this invention. An input unit 1 (such as a scanner or
the like) is adapted to read originals such as designs, characters,
patterns and the like. Density data (or tone data) DD of the image as
obtained by the input unit 1 are inputted to an input controller 100. The
input controller 100 dots the aforementioned inputted density data DD
through an incorporated CPU 101 by means of a halftoning circuit 102 and
is then compressed by a compression circuit 103. The data is temporarily
stored in a buffer 104 and transferred for storing it in a magnetic tape
210 of a file server 200 or hard discs 220, 221, . . . thereof. The input
controller 100 includes a local disc (hard disc) 105 for temporarily
storing the data. The file server 200 is provided with a CPU 201 and
connected to other apparatus by interfaces 202 to 205. A code information
CD such as characters and the like which is obtained by an edition input
unit 2 such as a word processor and a composing machine is stored in a
floppy disc 3 and then read out. The code information CD is then inputted
to a work station 300. This input may be inputted in on-line. The work
station 300 carries a plurality of terminal units each having a CRT 301 as
a display means, a keyboard 302 as an input operative means, a mouse 306,
a digitizer 303, a hard disc 304 as a memory means, and a floppy disc 305.
The work station 300 is interconnected by an Ethernet (one type of bus
line systems) to the file server 200 compressed image data and contour
display image data (as will be described later) obtained by the input
controller 100, which are thinned selected) for CRT display are stored in
the magnetic tape 210 or the hard discs 220, 221, . . . . These two data
are transferred by interfaces 204, 202 read out through an SCSI bus to the
work station 300. A control command and the like between the work station
300 and the input controller 100 are transferred through the interface 203
of the file server 200 to which an image setter 400 is connected. More
specifically, the image setter 400 is formed with a CPU 401 which is
connected by an interface 402 to an auxiliary data line 5 of the file
server 200 and is coupled by an interface 403 to the SCSI bus. The image
setter 400 further includes a sequencer 410 and a buffer 411 for storing a
required data. A high quality image output unit 10 for outputting the
image of high quality image and a laser beam printer 11 for inputting the
image of relatively low quality image are connected to the image setter
400. It is noted that the hard disc 220, 221, . . . are adapted to
previously store not only fixed data (bit map data) such as a logo, a
crest and the like but also a vector font data for outputting the
character.
The input unit 1 is adapted to digitize all of the design (gray scale image
or half-tone image), line image, and the character image (binary image) by
means of density data (8 bit/picture element). A signal inputted based on
9 bit/picture element causes the design to be dotted by the input
controller 100 so that an information (4 bit/picture element) may be
provided. The binary image is converted to an information (1 bit/picture
element). These 4 bits/picture element and 1 bit/picture element are
compressed for use in the LBP 11 and the high quality image output unit
10. In addition, the data for CRT display and contour display are thinned.
Although the character is inputted by a code from the work station 300, it
may be inputted in an image form from the input unit 1. As a result, even
if what is inputted in the form of an image is the character, it is
treated as the image (bit map data). The image is outputted independently
by the image setter 400. However, the image setter 400 is intended to
convert all of code and vector informations to the bit map data so that
the image output as referred to herein is used to mean the output of the
bit map data.
FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the outlay of the system according to
this invention. The system main body incorporates the input controller
100, the file server 200, and the image setter 400 and includes the input
unit 1 and a plurality of the work stations 300 connected thereto so that
the processed image may be outputted from the high quality image output
unit 10 or the laser beam printer 11.
FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the sequence of the steps of the image
processing system according to this invention. When a code information CD
prepared by the edition input unit 2 is inputted through the floppy disc 3
to the work station 300 (Step S1), a required code conversion is made
(Step S2). While a composing editing (Step S3) is effected by the
operations of a keyborad 302, a mouse 306, and a digitizer 303, a PPC
output image is checked (Step S4) against the editing data obtained
through the aforementioned steps to transfer the data to the image
processing system (Step S20). Alternatively, the data which are subjected
to the steps such as S1, S2, S3 and S4 may be inputted by the floppy disc
3 to the image processing system. On the other hand, the originals such as
the deisgn, character or the like are read out by the input unit 1 (Steps
S10 and S11). The read data are then inputted to the image processing
system (Step S20). The code information CD and the density data DD
inputted to the image processing system are subjected to processing (as
will be described later) by the input controller 100, the file server 200,
the work station 300, and the image setter 400 and are then outputted
(Step S21) as a galley proof by the laser beam printer 11. These
information and data are checked by the human eye and subjected to a data
correction (Step S22) by the use of the work station 300. The corrected
data are transferred to the magnetic tape 210 or the hard discs 220, 221,
. . . and are stored thereon (Step S23). The final galley proof is
outputted (Step S24) with respect to the stored and corrected data.
Subsequently, an electronic pagenation output (Step S25) is outputted to
the high quality image output unit 10 to then subject the galley proof to
a pinhole opaque (Step S30), thereby applying a plate photocomposing, for
instance, a four photo-composing of A4 size to obtain a print film,
photo-sensitive paper and a print photo (Step S31).
In this manner, the image processing system in accordance with the
invention requires neither manual paste-up of drawings and photographs nor
manual photo-composing to facilitate reduction of labor and material.
Each of the components and the operation of the system will be described
hereinafter.
The input controller 100 will be illustrated with reference to FIG. 5. The
input controller 100 is adapted to creatively process the density data DD
inputted from the input unit 1 simultaneously with five sets of data which
consist of high density data for the high quality image output unit 10,
data for the laser beam printer 11, two types of data for displaying the
CRT 301 of the work station 300, and pattern data made rough enough to
show the contour. The data are subjected to such simultaneous processing
in overlap manner to accelerate the speed so that the data forming
operation load of the CPU 101 may be reduced by a hardware. The high
density data for the high quality image output unit 10 is dotted by a
halftoning circuit 1021 and data-compressed by a compression circuit 1031,
the compressed data being held in a buffer 1041. Data used for allowing
the laser beam printer 11 of relatively low quality image to output the
image are subjected to the density data DD which are thinned (110) at a
predetermined distance (for instance 1/3). The rough data are dotted by
another halftoning circuit 1022 and compressed by another compression
circuit 1032 and then temporarily held in another buffer 1042. Two types
of rougher data for CRT 301 display are caused to thin the density data DD
at a predetermined distance and are then dotted by different halftoning
circuits 1023, 1024 and then temporarily held indifferent buffers 1043,
1044. When a cut-out mask is formed of a half-tone image, the image data
after Laplacian or unsharp mask processing for showing contour data are
thinned and then binarized by a binary circuit 1025 and also temporarily
stored in a buffer 1045. The Laplacian or unsharp mask processing is
effected ahead of the input unit 1 or before thinning processing (113). In
case of the CRT, the image is thinned at a selection rate by which the
inputted image zone may be displayed at its maximum and at another
selection rate by which the image is displayed in the form of a one page
layout whereas contour data is thinned at a selection rate of 1/2 when it
is CRT displayed with accuracy one half of picture element density of the
high quality image output unit 10.
It is noted that the buffers 1041 to 1045 are connected to an inner bus 122
and by an interface 121 to an SCSI bus, and that the half-toning circuits
1022, 1023 and 1024 function as binarization. A local disc 105 is
connected by an interface 120 to the inner bus 122.
With this arrangement, the CPU 101 communicates with the input unit 1 by a
data line (not shown) and also communicates through an auxiliary data line
4 and a dual port RAM (not shown) to the file server 200. When a data
transmission request from the input unit 1 is made, the CPU 101 is caused
to set the data required for the respective circuits as shown in FIG. 5.
The set data are stored in the local disc 105 while a set point in
association with sub-scanning is set. The density data DD from the input
unit 1 are inputted every one line and stored in the buffers 104 (1041 to
1045) upon synchronization of the respective circuits shown in FIG. 5.
During the period of this time, the CPU 101 checks not only a changeover
of the SCSI bus and of a data compressing output buffer 1041 but also a
presence of error information from the respective circuits. The data
stored in the buffer 104 and the local disc 105 are stored by the command
of the CPU 101 and outputted to the SCSI bus from without. In this
instance, the input controller 100 communicates with the file server 200
when the data are employed in on-line, resulting in provision of an
address on the SCSI bus a whereas the input controller 100 establishes a
file control of the magnetic tape 210 when the data are used in off-line
(input controller 100 solely).
Now, the dotting circuit and compression circuit will be specified
hereunder with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 6 shows a manner in which dotted data DT are obtained by the density
data DD and a threshold matrix 120. As is apparent from FIG. 6, the binary
dotted data DT of 4 bits per one picture element are formed by comparing
four thresholds per one picture element to density level values
"0".about."255" (8 bits) of the inputted density data. If the level value
of the inputted density data DD is higher or lower than the threshold of
each bit of the threshold matrix 120, the dotted data are representative
of "1" (black) or "0" (white). In other words, the each bit threshold of
the threshold matrix 120 is independent of the level value of the picture
element but solely depends on the coordinates of the picture element. As
is understood from dotting threshold data DT1 shown in FIG. 7, the size of
coded block BL twice the dotting threshold data DT1, that is, two dotted
units so that a coded system by which one picture element is put as 4 bits
as indicated at PL may be employed (dotted image to which 150 lines and
45.degree. are plotted). As a result, the size of the coded block BL is
the two dotted unit to obtain the image of 100 picture element/block.
Thus, the density data DD is binarized by the threshold matrix 120 every
block as shown in FIG. 8 to obtain dotted data DT2 as seen from FIG. 9.
Next, the density data (4 bits) dotted in the block BL are rearranged in
the order of value of the four thresholds every picture element of the
threshold matrix 120. Rearrangement of these data are made in the order of
fixed value as determined by the threshold matrix 120. More specifically,
the threshold of every bit of the threshold matrix 120 is fixed as shown
in FIG. 7 so that the image data as well as the bit data of each picture
element may be rearranged in the order of value of the threshold, thereby
establishing rearrangement of all the density data in the order of value
of the threshold as shown in FIG. 10. The rearranged dotted data DT3 of
400 bits are coded every 8 bits in such a manner that they are scanned in
8 bits from the beginning to obtain the number of units in 8 bits followed
by "0" as well as 8 bits. This group is termed white section W of length
"0".about."50" and is thus coded by 6 bits. The rearranged dotted data DT3
of 400 bits are scanned in 8 bits from the rearmost end to obtain the
number of units in 8 bits followed by "1" as well as 8 bits. This second
group is termed black section B of length "0".about."50" and is thus coded
by 6 bits. Intermediate data other than black and white sections (B, W) of
the rearranged dotted data DT3 of 400 bits are termed intermediate data.
These intermediate data are provided with only 25 types of patterns as
illustrated from the code table of FIG. 11 as a result of the
aforementioned rearrangement as viewed from a unit of 8 bits. These data
are all coded fixedly by a code of 5 bits. Stated otherwise, the
intermediate data of 8 bits may be compressed into the data of 5 bits. In
general, the number l of the picture elements is put as an integer and
coded to be (n+1).sup.l types of patterns when such coding is made in
l.times.n (number of dotted data per picture element) to substitute
2.sup.x-1 <(n+1).sup.l .ltoreq.2.sup.x of X bits. The data as shown in
FIG. 12 of alloted to those codes "11001, 11010, 11011, 11110 and 11111"
illustrated in code tables 1 to 3 of FIG. 11 to a higher compression rate.
In other words, when the aforementioned 2.sup.x -(n+1).sup.l is not "0",
(2.sup.x -(n+1).sup.l) types of codes are assigned to specific patterns of
the intermediate section as legends for the B section.
Operation of the file server 200 will be apparent from the following
description.
The file server 200 is fabricated in the manner as shown in FIG. 2 and
functions common file controls such as a file control and community of
file, and control of network communication and communication between
units. More specifically, the file server 200 passes through the SCSI bus
to control the file for the hard discs 220, 221, . . . , and the magnetic
tape 210 and is caused through the Ethernet to provide functions as a
software interface for the work station 300. The file server 200 fulfills
utility function with respect to service for a file control information on
the input controller 100 and the image setter 400 and with respect to a
file control via the SCSI bus. Such utility functions are, for instance, a
registration of font and a garbage collection (dust pick-up and disposal).
The registration of font may be classified into two types of registration.
The first type of the font registration is supported by a system, wherein
a vector font prepared by a different font preparation system is stored as
a magnetic tape form in the hard disc of the image processing system.
Another type of the font registration is a registration of external
characters which do not exist in the system. In this instance, the font
prepared by another system is registered in the floppy or magnetic tape.
Alternatively, the character image may be read out by the input unit to
register raster data after vector processing. The reason why the garbage
collection is made is as follows. The instant image processing system
requires for the hard discs 220, 221, . . . , in the file server 200 to
erase the prepared files many times. Accordingly, the effective available
zone in the hard discs present vermiculated spots. Notwithstanding, for
the system it is convenient to continue vacant zones or areas and to
attain high speed access to the file in order to allot the area to a fresh
file. To this end, a general cleaning of the hard disc is made in such a
manner that vacant and struggled zones are collected to incorporate the
available file in the continuous zone, rendering the vacant areas
continuous. This is termed garbage collection (dust pick-up and disposal).
The file server 200 is adapted to perform service and store the data for
transferring the data between the work station 300 and the input
controller 100 and between the latter and the image setter 400. The input
controller 100 serves to obtain required information from the auxiliary
data line 4 and the dual port RAM. For the purpose of registration, the
data which is once held in the buffer 104 wherein the input controller as
the file for the image processing system, information on the file name,
file capacity and the like are transferred to the file server 200 to allow
the hard discs 220, 221, . . . , on the SCSI bus access thereto. This will
enable the file server 200 to communicate with a directory and to control
a disc area and the like. The file server 200 is also adapted to transfer
the file data by the Ethernet to the work station 300 and receive the data
from the work station. At this moment, the file server 200 controls the
hard discs 220, 221, . . . , on the SCSI bus and the magnetic tape 210
under the command of the work station 300 to renew information required
for the directory and the like. As a result, the file server obtains the
command over the image setter 400 and the other command over the magnetic
tape, thereby performing service according to those commands. A
predetermined command is issued by the auxiliary data line 5 and the dual
port RAM to the image setter 400 whereas the file control information is
sent upon request from the image setter 400 to allow the latter access to
the disc data on the SCSI bus. Further, the utility information as to the
image processing system as a whole is controlled by the hard discs 220,
221, . . . , on the SCSI bus and subjected to font information and common
files and the like in the system.
In this connection, it is noted that an IBM-AT Ethernet board is used to
facilitate a support (TCP/IP protocol) for the Ethernet. A fundamental
configuration for driving such Ethernet board is similar to that of the
IBM-AT and is based on MS-DOS recognizing the TCP/IP protocol. The
protocol is meant to refer to a communication rule established between
hosts for communicating. A seven layer OSI (International Organization for
Standardization) model has been suggested by the OSI. The seven protocol
layers range from a Physical Layer to an Application Layer as shown in
FIG. 13, depending upon abstractness of communication. For instance, the
Physical Layer carries out a rule of "0", "1" according to voltage level
whereas a data link layer follows a rule of data transfer in a lamp and
error detection. A network layer includes a communication rule for
determining a destination of the data in a packet and an indication of the
sequence of the packet. The TCP/IP protocol is a communication rule which
is corresponding to a transport layer and established between the hosts.
The TCP/IP protocol is capable of establishment of connection with a
mating host, transfer of buffer data between the hosts, and establishment
of multi-connection with a plurality of the hosts. The Ethernet board is a
type of an extended board of a personal computer, which incorporates, the
CPU for communication, by the Ethernet. The IBM-AT Ethernet board is a
type of a board which is corresponding to a CPU bus and an extended slot
of the IBM-AT personal computer to support a protocol layer laid
downwardly of the TCP/IP protocol (OSC model transport layer of the ISO).
As shown in FIG. 14, a CPU 201 of the IBM-AT and a CPU 231 of the Ethernet
are adapted to send and receive the data with a common memory 234 in an
I/O port 206 and the Ethernet board. There exists software for
establishing connection with the other host and multi-connection and
transfer receipt of the data as functions of the TCP/IP protocol so that
communication may be made from a user program with the TCP/IP protocol.
MS-DOS is an operating system which establishes control of input and
output of the disc, memory control, process control and network control,
and performs function of machine interface and the like.
FIGS. 15A and 15B show a method of communication is held between the file
server 200 and the input controller 100 and between the file server 200
and the image setter 400. More specifically, if a writing request on a
subject image data is made from the input controller 100 to the file
server 200, the file server 200 transfers data writing permission and
writing address for writing the data to the input controller 100 (Step
S201). In this instance, when the file names are identical with each other
and the hard disc is running at full capacity and so on, the data writing
permission is not obtained. When the data writing permission and the
writing address are transferred from the file server 200, the input
controller 100 is caused to write the image data (compressed density data)
via the SCSI bus on the assigned address of the hard discs 220, 221, . . .
or the magnetic tape 210 (Step S202). The data if read in the magnetic
tape 210 or the hard discs 220, 221, . . . , to transfer the data to the
image setter 400 make writing request for the data, the subject from the
image setter 400 to the file server 200 (Step S210), thereby transferring
data reading out permission and reading out address of the data to be read
to the image setter (Step S211). The file server 200 is then allowed to
read out the data of the assigned address via the SCSI bus and transfer
the data to the image setter (Step S212).
The operation of the work station 300 will be detailed hereinafter.
FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing how the work station 300 functions. The
work station 300 is actuated to input character code data so that a data
format may be converted (Step S300) to interactively or batch-processingly
prepare layout data such as an image mounting frame and the like (Step
S301). Then, output data described in page descriptive languages are
prepared based on these character code data and layout codes (Step S302),
and are transferred to the file server 200 to instruct the output to the
image setter 400 via the file server 200 (Step S303).
FIG. 17 is also a flow chart showing how the work station functions at full
length. Document data edited and stored by the edition input unit 2 is
read out of the floppy disc 3 (Step S310). A code information CD of the
document data is subjected to conversion of the data format (Step S311). A
content of the document in one page is then displayed in the CRT 301 (Step
S312) while an image data output position is instructed by the mouse 306,
the keyboard 302 and the digitizer 303 (Step S313) to prepare page
description data every one page (Step S314). In this manner, the data are
prepared in full pages (Step S315), and photo-composing for preparing a
printing block copy is instructed by the keyboard 302 (Step S316) to
obtain photocomposed page description data (Step S317). At the same time,
the prepared data are transferred to the file server 300 (Step S318)
simultaneously with instructing the image output to the image setter 400
for completing the operation (Step S319).
Next actual pictures displayed on the CRT 301 and the associated operation
of the work station 300 will generally be described with respect to FIGS.
18A through 18I.
To perform editing work, preparation starts with document registration and
format registration. During the document registration, as shown in FIG.
18A, the number and name of a document as well as such information as
comprising composing machine number, format pattern, allocation pattern
and the like which are also to be given to individual documents are
registered with aid of a document registration sheet displayed on the CRT
301 to be stored in the document management file inside the hard disc 304.
This registration of the relevant information is initially made once for
each document. Likewise, during the format registration, as shown in FIG.
18B, a format for each document is registered with aid of the format
registration sheet on the display to be stored in the document management
file. With a document the format pattern of which has already been
registered, the format pattern may be modified with the aid of the format
registration sheet utilizing the keyboard 302. The editing work is
effected by following such steps as initiation of the operation,
preparation of operation, input and conversion of composition data, output
of galley and/or block copy, and completion of the editing operation. To
be more specific, the document number and job number are sequentially
designated with the aid of such a work indication sheet displayed on the
CRT as shown in FIG. 18C, and then the initiation of the editing work is
performed with the mouse 306. In addition, the mouse 306 is used to
indicate, as working conditions, display of image, output of galley output
of block copy, and addition or alteration of image. In accordance with the
indicated working conditions, character or layout data (floppy disc 305)
and various kinds of image data (the hard discs 220, 221, . . . , of the
file server 200 or the magnetic tape 210) are loaded in the hard disc 304,
as shown in FIG. 18D. The series of the above processing is started as a
background job and is processed in an overlapping manner, and a layout
scope for editing work is displayed upon completion of data loading.
Subsequently, the indication of a new input (or replacement) or additional
input is, as shown in FIG. 18E, made in regard to what is to be inputted
with the aid of a composition data input sheet on the display, and then
the floppy disc 3 is set in a given position, and composition data are
inputted to be stored in the hard disc 304. In this case, the data
conversion is automatically effected, and the composition data input
processing is started as a background job and is performed in parallel
with other data processing. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 18F, the page
to be editted is designated, and the contents thereof are then displayed.
After a frame is designated, designation of the line(s), graph(s) and tint
is also made. In other words, the number of pages to be edited is directly
or indirectly (next, previous) designated using the layout scope, and in a
case where the page to be edited is already present, the character and
layout are displayed on the CRT 301 in the form of WYSIWYG (which stands
for "What You See Is What You Get" and means that you can obtain a hard
copy of what is displayed on the CRT 301). An area in which images are
displayed is called a frame, and this frame is configured by means of the
pointing of the mouse 306 or of the operation the keyboard 302 selecting a
number of commands displayed on the CRT 301 and then displaying input on
the CRT 301 in the form of WYSIWYG. Subsequently, the image number to be
put in the frame is designated by means of the keyboard 302, and the image
data stored in the hard disc 220, . . . , is displayed on the CRT 301 by
giving a re-display command and the like. In addition to this, rules,
enclosing rules, tint and the like are formed by means of the mouse 306 or
the keyboard 302 selecting the numbers of various kinds of commands
displayed on the CRT 301 and displaying them on the CRT 301 in the form of
WYSIWYG. Following this, the designation of the page to be outputted, the
number of copies to be made and the like is effected with the aid of a
galley or a block copy output sheet as shown in FIG. 18G, indication of
the required output thus being effected. The editing data (character data
and layout data) are automatically converted to the output data, which are
then stored in the hard discs 220, 221, . . . , and then stored output
data are outputted from the high quality image output machine 10 or the
laser beam printer 11 via the image setter 400. As will be explained
hereinafter, this output processing is started as a background job, and a
plurality of requests for output therefrom are put in the output queue of
the image setter 400. There being only one CPU, various requests made
during the process with respect to hardware or software have to be
registered in order. With a view to dealing with this, the output queue is
used to keep the requests waiting in order for processing. Finally, the
indication of preservation forms for the character, the layout and image
data are effected with the aid of a data preservation sheet which is
displayed on the CRT 301 when the preservation and the completion is
indicated, and in accordance with the preservation forms so indicated as
shown in FIGS. 18H and 18I, the character and layout data, and various
image data are, respectively, stored in the floppy disc 305 and the hard
discs 220, 221, . . . , of the file server 200 or the magnetic tape 210.
Subsequently, when indication of the editing work is effected with the aid
of the work indication sheet, processing is terminated, the processing
queue is left as is, and the power supply is cut off.
Referring to FIG. 19, the above mentioned photo-composing process will now
be described. The image data in the hard discs 220, 221, . . . , of the
file server 200 are loaded in the work station 300 (Step S330), and the
document data in the floppy disc 3 are also loaded in the work station 300
(Step S331). Then, the necessary information is displayed on the CRT 301
of the work station 300, thus making it possible to suitably layout the
images and documents, by pa | | |
