GB2254460A

GB2254460A - A publishing apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2254460A
Application number: GB9107065A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Mcconnell
Original assignee: LASERTYPE DEV Ltd
Current assignee: LASERTYPE DEV Ltd
Priority date: 1991-04-04
Filing date: 1991-04-04
Publication date: 1992-10-07
Anticipated expiration: 2011-04-04
Also published as: GB2254460B; GB9107065D0; BE1003142A6

Abstract

In a publishing apparatus, text processors (10) are connected in a network (2) for access to a file server (3). Fixed disk drives (5) of the file server (3) store user files accessible by the text processors (10), back-up files, and production files accessible by text editors (9). Summary records are stored in each user file for automatic display of contents of a user file to allow selection of articles for editing. An access control circuit in the control unit (4) of the file server (3) prevents inadvertent amendment of articles after editing. <IMAGE>

Description

"A publishing apparatus" The invention relates to a computerised publishing apparatus for the generation of typeset pages ready for printing such as newspaper or magazine pages.

At present, publishing apparatus are available for the processing of text and generation of typeset pages to eliminate the need for manual editing, retyping and pasting of articles. Such apparatus (for example that described in United States Patent Specification No. 4,057,849) include CPU's to which terminals are connected. The CPU is generally a mini-computer which has circuits to carry out editorial and typesetting functions under instructions from users at the terminals. A problem with such an apparatus is that all users have access to the full range of editorial and typesetting functions and thus for inexperienced users, operation of the apparatus is difficult because of the complexity and secondly, mistakes made could damage stored text. This is not satisfactory, especially in a publishing environment where deadline times are important.A further problem is that the presently known apparatus is expensive because of the complexity and further, they are difficult to up-grade because it would involve replacing a large central computer.

These problems are particularly acute in publishing environments such as newspaper publication where journalists have traditionally worked with a manual system and would find it difficult to familiarise themselves with computerised systems. In many cases there is a reluctance to use the systems. This problem, coupled with the high cost, often results in computerised systems not being used.

The present invention is directed towards providing a publishing system which is relatively easy to use for personnel who are unfamiliar with computers, is inexpensive both to install and to up-grade and which ensures integrity of all stored text.

According to the invention, there is provided a publishing apparatus comprising: a local area network; a text editor connected in the network for access to a typesetter for generation of complete pages for publication; a fixed disk storing: a plurality of user files, each having text articles and a summary record including summary details of the articles, a plurality of back-up files of backed-up articles, and a production file of edited articles; a control unit for the fixed disk having an access control circuit for controlling access to the files; a back-up tape drive connected to the fixed disk control unit; a plurality of text processors connected in the network, each having a random access memory circuit; a removable disk drive; a fixed disk drive; a text control circuit comprising means for registering reception of each word of an article, maintaining a count of the words, automatically verifying spelling of words, the text control circuit further comprising a communication circuit for transmitting an article for editing to a user file in the file server and for simultaneously transmitting an edited article to a production file in the file server to the back-up tape drive and comprising means for automatically transmitting each received block of words from the random access memory circuit to the user file during reception of a text article.

In one embodiment the access control circuit comprises means for identifying the source of a received access request and for preventing write instructions to a production file if the request is from a text processor and enabling write instructions if the request is from a text editor.

Preferably the file server includes ports for connection with a tandem file server.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1. is a schematic representation of portion of a publishing apparatus of the invention; Fig. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating operation of the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, and initially to Fig. 1, there is illustrated a publishing apparatus of the invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The apparatus 1 comprises an "Ethernet" local area network 2 in which is connected a file server 3 having a control unit 4 and fixed disk drives 5. The control unit 4 includes an access control circuit for controlling access of instructions transmitted on the network 2 to the fixed disk drives 5. The disks of the fixed disk drive 5 store user and back-up files for each user and a number of production files. Each user file contains text articles which have been created by a user and a summary record containing summary data including a title, a user name and an edit time for each article in the file. The production files store articles which have been edited by the user but require further editing before typesetting.

The control unit 4 is connected to a back-up tape drive 6. A laser printer 7 is connected in the network 2 for printing of hard copies of articles while being edited. A communication unit 8 with a modem is connected in the network 2 for communication of "wire" data with remote sources such as news agencies. A pair of text editors 9 are connected in the network 2 for accessing production files of the fixed disk drive 5, for editing articles within the production files and transmitting the final edited articles to typesetting devices, not shown, connected in the network 2. The text editors 9 include 40 Mbyte hard disks, 4 Mbytes of random access memory and high resolution colour monitors.

The apparatus 1 also includes a plurality, in this case six text processors 10 connected in the network 2. Each text processor 10 has a disk drive for removable disks, random access memory circuits, a text control circuit and a communication circuit. A fixed disk drive may also be included. The text control circuit is programmed to carry out various functions on articles being created, one of which involves registering reception of each word of an article at the relevant keyboard.

The file server control unit 2 is also connected to an uninterruptible power supply 11 to protect against power fluctuations and to allow an orderly switching off of the system in the event of a power cut. Further, it includes a tandem port for connection with a redundant control unit to take over in the event of one unit failing.

Referring to Fig. 2, in operation, a user such as a journalist has an associated text processor 10 and on start-up, the communication circuit of the text processor 10 retrieves (in step 20) the user file from the fixed disk drive 5 via the network 2 and automatically displays the summary record from within the file. The summary record includes rows of data somewhat as follows: Edit Date Time Title 05/02/91 17:45 Scud attack on Israel hits West Bank 05/02/91 17:45 Bid to set up foreign affairs body.

The video controller of the text processor 10 "scrolls" the summary record under user instructions for viewing. By simple use of a cursor an article may be chosen for editing.

Alternatively, the user may wish to create a new article, in which case the text processor 10 displays a screen allowing input of summary data for the article in step 21. When received, the summary data is automatically stored within the summary record of the user file. The text control circuit then retrieves word processing programs from the file server 3 and allows a user input words in step 22 to create an article under the control of the word processing program. The word processing functions allow journalists to move blocks of copy from one part of the story to another and delete paragraphs, rows and words. As the text is being inputted, the text control circuit registers reception of each word and increments a count register in step 23 on receipt of each word. Further, the word is compared in step 24 with a dictionary list for automatic on-line verification of spelling. If the spelling is incorrect, a prompt is displayed in step 26 on the screen indicating this fact. The text control circuit may retrieve a Thesaurus listing for a term under user instructions.

To ensure that text is not lost in the event of a power failure, when the count register reaches an additional twenty words, the twenty words are automatically transmitted in step 27 to the user file via the network 2. In addition, the text control circuit monitors the duration of pauses in operation of the keyboard and if a pause in excess of 5 seconds occurs, all text received since the previous retrieval is transmitted to the user file. When a log-out instruction is received from a user, the communication circuit automatically directs display of a prompt for user input of a retrieval instruction.

After further editing (step 28) the article may be stored in the user file (step 30), or if editing is complete the communication circuit transmits the article simultaneously to both the production file (step 31) in the file server 3 and to the back-up file (step 32). Thus, the user's file does not contain the article but it is available in the back-up file if required. In this embodiment, a maximum of 50 articles are stored in a back-up file.

When the article is stored in the production file, the text editors 9 may access the article via the access control circuit of the file server 3. The access control circuit monitors the source of the request and is pre-set to allow read only, or write and read instructions in any desired configuration. In this embodiment, the access control circuit prevents write instructions to the production file unless the request is from a text editor 9. This prevents amendment of articles by users such as journalists after they have been "submitted" by the relevant journalists. However, read instructions are enabled from all nodes of the network 2 so that the articles may be viewed without amendment being possible.Whenever an article is transmitted to the backu P file, the control unit 2 stores summary data for the article in a back-up summary record stored in the fixed drive 5 so that users may quickly view the articles which have been backed-up. Further backing-up is carried out by regular dumping of fixed disk updates to the tape drive 6.

It will be appreciated that because the publishing apparatus includes a network with various devices connected to it, addition or deletion of devices from the network 2 to modify the apparatus may be easily carried out with minimum expense and difficulty.

Further, because of the manner in which files are stored in the file server 3 use of the apparatus is analogous in many respects to traditional manual publishing methods. For example, the user file would be analogous to a journalist's "basket" and the production file would be analogous to an editor's "basket".

In addition, because summary records are retrieved and automatically displayed and selection of an article is carried out by simple selection of an item from a list, operation of the text processor is relatively simple and may be easily carried out by users with no computer experience. This prevents reluctance to use the apparatus and ensures confidence in the apparatus from an early stage. Because the file server 3 includes an access control circuit which monitors sources of instruction, amendment of articles after editing is only possible by an editor. This is important because it prevents re-checking of work. The manner in which text is automatically backed-up to the file server 3 ensures that data is not lost in the event of a power failure and publication dates may be met even where there is disruption.

Finally, because the text processors 10 allow a user to carry out certain typesetting functions such as those allowed by commonly used word processing packages, relatively little format editing is required of an editor and he may devote more time to reading the contents of an article rather than the format.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described, but may varied in construction and details.

Claims

1. A publishing apparatus comprising: a local area network; a text editor connected in the network for access to a typesetter for generation of complete pages for publication; a fixed disk storing: a plurality of user files, each having text articles and a summary record including summary details of the articles, a plurality of back-up files of backed-up articles, and a production file of edited articles; a control unit for the fixed disk having an access control circuit for controlling access to the files; a back-up tape drive connected to the fixed disk control unit; a plurality of text processors connected in the network, each having a random access memory circuit; a removable disk drive; a fixed disk drive; a text control circuit comprising means for registering reception of each word of an article, maintaining a count of the words, automatically verifying spelling of words, the text control circuit further comprising a communication circuit for transmitting an article for editing to a user file in the file server and for simultaneously transmitting an edited article to a production file in the file server to the back-up tape drive and comprising means for automatically transmitting each received block of words from the random access memory circuit to the user file during reception of a text article.

2. A publishing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the access control circuit comprises means for identifying the source of a received access request and for preventing write instructions to a production file if the request is from a text processor and enabling write instructions if the request is from a text editor.

3. A publishing apparatus as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein the file server includes ports for connection with a tandem file server.

4. A publishing apparatus wherein the fixed disk control unit comprises means for directing storage of a summary record of each file transmitted to a back-up file.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows A publishing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the fixed disk control unit comprises means for directing storage of a summary record of each file transmitted to a back up-file.