JPH05307500A - System for managing plate making picture data and device therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To update a management data base without manual aid by storing picture data prepared and corrected by a picture processing terminal in a picture preserving means, and updating the management data base. CONSTITUTION:In the case that picture processing is executed by using a station 24, for instance, connected to a network, the picture data preserved in one of the external storage devices 32, 34, 36 of a picture management device 30 is read out, and is imparted to that station 24 through a transmission line 22, and simultaneously, the picture data is stored temporarily in a magnetic disk 25 connected to that station 24. Then, the picture processing is executed to the picture data stored in the working disk, and the prepared or corrected picture data is preserved again in one of the external storage devices 32, 34, 36 of the picture data management device 30. After the prepared or corrected picture data is preserved in one of the external storage devices 32, 34, 36 in this way, a picture in the working disk may be deleted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a management system for managing plate-making image data and a management apparatus therefor, and more particularly to a technique for reducing the burden on an operator when storing and managing image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the recent development of computer technology,
Many operations in the plate making process are performed by image processing using a computer. Work performed using a computer includes processing such as image reading, typesetting, affine transformation of image elements, color conversion, retouching, layout (collection), image development (computation processing such as conversion to raster data). .. Since each of these operations in the plate making process requires skill, each operation is often performed by a different operator. Therefore, the plate making system usually has a plurality of image processing terminals used by a plurality of workers.

[0003]

Conventionally, when performing a plurality of operations for one image data, the image data is stored in a storage medium such as a magnetic disk every time the operator performs one operation, and the storage location is set. The image data was saved and managed by writing down the file name of the image data on an appropriate sheet. Also, the management (exchange, storage, etc.) of the recording medium to be stored must be managed manually. Conventionally, since the image data is manually managed in this way, there is a problem that a management error is likely to occur.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2-293974 discloses a filing system provided with an optical disk for storing drawings, a search database for registering and managing drawing search data, and a drawing database for registering and managing drawing information. ing. In this system, it is possible to retrieve information such as on which optical disc the desired drawing is stored by performing a retrieval using a database. In such a system, if the operator definitely creates a database and continuously carries out maintenance (maintenance), it is possible to reduce management mistakes as compared with the above-mentioned simple manual management.

However, this system still has a problem that the data in the database must be manually input. Especially, like the work of the plate making process,
When multiple workers perform different operations on one data, it is necessary to resave the image data or update the management data at each work stage, so the management data is manually created.・ In the system to update,
It was difficult to prevent mismanagement.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, and it is not necessary to manually create / update management data, and it is possible to manage the history of work on image data. An object is to provide a system and a management device therefor.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a plate-making image data management system according to the present invention comprises:
(A) a network for transferring data,
(B) a plurality of image processing terminals that are connected to the network and each create or modify image data;
(C) A plurality of image data storage means connected to the network for storing image data, and (d) an image data management device connected to the network. Further, the image data management device (1) stores a history of creation and modification of each image data, and a management database that stores a storage location of each image data in the plurality of image data storage means, and (2). In response to a command given from any of the plurality of image processing terminals, the image data created or modified by the image processing terminal is stored in any of the plurality of image data storage means, and the management database is updated. Database updating means for performing the above.

[0008]

The database updating means of the image data management device stores the image data created or modified by the image processing terminal in the image data storage means and updates the management database in accordance with the command given from the image processing terminal. So, save the image data without human intervention,
The management database can be updated.

[0009]

【Example】

A. Configuration of Image Data Management System FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an image data management system as an embodiment of the present invention. The image data management system 20 is composed of two types of LANs (local area networks). The first LAN is a bus type, and a transmission path 22 thereof has a scanner 23 for reading image data of a photographic document, a plurality of stations 24, 26, 28 for image processing, and an image data management device 30.
And are connected. The first LAN is Ethernet (registered trademark of Xerox Corporation) or FDDI.
(Fiber Distributed Digital Interface) etc. can be used.

The image data management device 30 is a magnetic disk device 32, a magnetic tape device 34, and a magneto-optical disk device 3 as external storage devices for storing image data.
6 and 6.

The image data management device 30 is a star type L
It is also connected to the disk unit control system 60 which is an AN. This disk unit control system 6
0 is an image data management device 30 centering on the control device 62 and a plurality of stations 64, 6 for performing image processing.
6, 68 and the plurality of magnetic disks 70, 72, 74 are connected in a star shape. The controller 62 controls the stations 64, 66, 68 or the image data management device 30.
These devices and the magnetic disk 7 according to the request from
0, 72 and 74 are mutually connected.

The operator uses one of the stations 24, 26, 28 on the bus type LAN and the stations 64, 66, 68 connected to the disk unit control system 60 by the star type LAN to perform image processing. To do. The reading and saving of image data when performing image processing are generally performed as follows.

When image processing is performed using a station (for example, station 24) connected to the network, the image stored in any of the external storage devices 32, 34 and 36 of the image data management device 30. The data is read out, and the station 2 is transmitted through the transmission line 22.
4 and the image data is temporarily stored in the magnetic disk 25 connected to the station 24. In the following, a station that performs image processing will be referred to as a “work station”, and a storage device that is temporarily used during image processing will be referred to as a “work disk”. Image processing is performed on the image data stored on the working disk. Then, the created or modified image data is again stored in the external storage devices 32, 34 of the image data management device 30.
It is stored in any one of 36. After the created or modified image data is stored in any one of the external storage devices 32, 34, 36, the image data in the working disk may be erased.

When image processing is performed using a station (for example, station 64) of the disk unit control system 60, the magnetic disks 70, 72, 74 are used.
The unused one is selected as the working disk and connected to the working station 64.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the image data management device 30. Image data management device 30
Has a bus line 38, and the bus line 38 has a CPU 40, a main memory 42, a network bridge 44, and a disk server interface 4
6 and the archiver interface 48 are connected. The main memory 42 includes RAM and ROM. The network bridge 44 is an interface connected to the transmission line 22 of the network. The disk server interface 46 is connected to the disk unit control system 60, and the archiver interface 48 is connected to the three external storage devices 32, 34 ,.
It is connected to 36.

The bus line 38 further includes the keyboard 5
0, mouse 52, CRT 54, and system disk 5
6 and 6 are connected. A progress management database DB is stored in the system disk 56. The progress management database DB is a relational database in which the state of creation and update of each image data, the storage location and file name of the image data, and the like are registered.

The CPU 40 executes the program stored in the main memory 42 or the system disk 56 to thereby detect the external event detecting means 402, the database managing means 404, and the used disk changing means 406.
Then, the function of the image data transfer means 408 is executed. The functions of these means will be described in the following description of the image data management procedure.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the station. The station 24 has a CPU 80 and a bus line 82. The bus line 82 has a main memory 84, a frame memory 85, a network bridge 86, and an archiver interface 88.
And are connected. The network bridge 86
It is connected to the transmission line 22 of the network. The interface 88 is connected to the magnetic disk 25. The bus line 82 further includes a keyboard 90 and a mouse 92.
, The digitizer 94 and the CRT 96 are connected.

The CPU 80 executes the program stored in the main memory 84 or the magnetic disk 25 to thereby execute the image processing means 802 and the command issuing means 80.
Performs the functions of 4. The image processing unit 802 executes at least one of various image processes such as typesetting, affine transformation of image elements, color conversion, retouching, layout (plate collection), and image development. The command issuing means 804 has a function of issuing a command to the image data management device 30 via the LAN.

B. Image Data Management Processing Procedure FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an image data management processing procedure performed by the image data management device 30. Step S1
Then, the external event detecting means 402 (FIG. 2) detects a predetermined event that has occurred externally (hereinafter referred to as “external event”), and sets a parameter indicating a processing procedure required according to the detected external event. It is registered in the main memory 42. External events are provided either from the network bridge 44, the disk server interface 46, or the console (keyboard 50 or mouse 52) of the image data management device 30.

In this embodiment, the case where the following seven external events are detected will be described. (1) Addition of image data: work of newly creating various image data such as reading image data by the scanner 23, inputting a line drawing by the digitizer of the work station, and creating character image data by the typesetting process at the work station End of. When image data is created at the work station, command issuing means 804 (FIG. 3)
Issues a command for notifying the occurrence of this external event to the image data management device 30. This command
For example, it is issued when the operator performs an operation of storing the newly created image data in the work disk, or when an instruction to save the image data in the image data management device 30 is issued.

(2) Update of image data: The end of the work of correcting the image data by the image processing by the work station. When the operator stores the corrected image data in the work disk 25 from the frame memory 85 (FIG. 3), or when the operator instructs to store the corrected image data in the image data management device 30, The command issuing means 804 issues a command for notifying the occurrence of this external event.

(3) Deletion of image data: An event in which a command to delete image data is input at the work station. If the operator instructs to delete the image data,
The command issuing means 804 issues a command for notifying the occurrence of this external event.

(4) Restoration of image data: A phenomenon in which a command for restoring image data is input at the work station or the console of the image data management device 30. Here, “restore image data” means that the image data file in the middle of addition / update is not stored in the external storage of the image data management device 30, not the latest image data file among the added / updated image data files. This is the process of reading from the devices 32, 34, 36. As will be described later, the image data management device 30 saves the image data before the work in the middle of the process of adding / updating, so that the image data in the middle of the process should be restored in response to the operator's request. Is possible. If such a restoration process can be performed, the work can be executed with minimum effort even when the work in the middle is redone.

(5) Database reference: An event in which a command for referring to desired data is input at the work station or the console of the image data management device 30.

(6) Work progress report: an event in which a work completion report is transmitted from the work station to the image data management device 30. The work here means a process performed by one operator on one piece of image data using one work station. Various processes such as image data creation, affine conversion of image elements, color conversion, retouching, layout (plate collection), and image development are usually performed as one operation. However, when two types of processing are continuously performed, the entire processing may be regarded as one operation. When one process requires a plurality of days, the work completion report is issued at the final date and time of the process.

(7) Disk status change: An event in which the usage status of the magnetic disk of the bus type LAN or the disk unit control system 60 is changed. The command notifying the occurrence of this event is issued from the work station or the controller of the disk unit control system 60. A magnetic disk 70 in the disk unit control system 60,
If the image data existing in either 72 or 74 needs to be stored in the image data management device 30 and the magnetic disk is in use by the work station, this command is issued to notify the occurrence of the event. Then, the image data in the magnetic disk that has become empty becomes
It is stored in the external storage device of the image data management device 30.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the detailed procedure of step S1. The external event detecting means 402 is
When an external event is detected, it is determined in step S21 which interface the event is. The external event is received via any one of the network bridge 44, the disk server interface 46, and the console of the image data management device 30.

When it is confirmed in step S21 that an event has been received, steps S23, S24, S2 are performed.
In step 5, the transmitted command is received, and the processing parameters are registered in the main memory 42 in steps S26, S27 and S28. The processing parameter is the image data management device 3 according to a command given from the outside.
0 is a parameter indicating the content of the process to be executed. For example, the processing parameter for an event of adding or updating image data is data indicating which file (image data) of which disc is to be saved. The command given from the outside includes data corresponding to these processing parameters, and the external event detecting means 402 decodes this command and registers it in the main memory 42.

Returning to FIG. 4, the type of command is discriminated by the external event detecting means 402 in step S2. In the case of a command other than the command for stopping the entire image data management system 20, the processing corresponding to the command is executed. That is, in the case of a command for notifying an external event such as addition, update, deletion, restoration of image data, database reference, or progress report, the processing from step S3 onward in FIG. 4 is executed,
In the case of the command for notifying the change of the disk state, the processes of step S10 and thereafter are executed.

In step S3, the database management means 404 edits the database according to the command. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of step S3. In step S31, the content of the process according to the command is determined. In the case of a command for processing of adding, updating, deleting, restoring image data, or processing according to the progress report, the progress management database D is obtained in step S32.
The data of the processing is registered in B.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of data registered in the progress management database DB. The following data is registered in the progress management database DB. (A) Job name: A name that identifies the entire work of creating a one-page image. This is entered by the operator from the work station. (B) Station number or work content code: data indicating the station that performed the work. When there is only one station that performs a specific work (for example, cutting out the image area), a code indicating the work content may be registered and used as data indicating the work station. (C) Work completion date and time: Date and time when one work was completed. This is registered when the operator notifies the work progress report from the work station.

(D) File name before work: File name of image data before work. (E) Pre-work storage disk node: data indicating a disk in which a file before work was stored. This data is
Three external storage devices 32 in the image data management device 30,
This is data indicating any one of 34 and 36. (F) Work file name: File name of image data on which work is performed. This file name may be designated by the operator, or may be automatically determined by the work station or the image data management device 30 according to a predetermined rule. For example, the rule is to set the first few characters of the work file name to be the same as the job name, and then add one or several characters after that in some order (A, B, C, 1, 2, 3, etc.). If you specify, the work file name can be automatically determined. The work file name is revised from the pre-work file name at the start of work or at the end of work. (G) Working disk node: data indicating the working disk that stores the image data that was the target of the work. (H) Storage disk node: Indicates a storage device in which image data after work is stored. This is data indicating any one of the three external storage devices 32, 34, 36 in the image data management device 30. (I) Create / update / delete / restore: data indicating which of the four. (J) Work content: Comments recorded by the operator regarding the work content. For example, the range where the image is cut out, the content of retouching, and the like are registered. (K) File creation date and time: Date and time when the image data file was created.

When image data is created, a work file name, a work disk node, distinction between creation / update / deletion / restore, and file creation date and time are registered as shown in FIG. 7 (i). In the example of FIG. 7I, the image data stored in the work disk is shown in a state before being stored in the external storage device in the image data management device 30, and the storage disk node is not registered. Absent.

FIG. 7 (ii) shows the registered contents when updating the image data. In this example, after the image data is created in the station ST05, the image data is updated in the station ST07. At this point, all the work in the station ST07 has not been completed, so the work completion date and time in the station ST07 is not registered.

Returning to FIG. 6, in the case of referring to the database, the database management means 40 in step S33.
4 retrieves data from the progress management database DB. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of referenced data. Figure 8
FIG. 8A is a table of all job names and work completion dates and times stored in the progress management database DB, and FIG. 8B shows a final image data file and a storage disk stored for the specified job. Table, Figure 8 (c) shows LAN
3 is a table showing the names of the work stations (scanner, typesetting device, clipping device, etc.) of each node in the node and the names of jobs being processed.

In step S34 of FIG. 6, the retrieved content is the device that issued the database reference command (that is, the work station or the image data management device 3).
0) and displayed on the CRT of the device. Figure 8
The tables of (a) to (c) may be displayed as they are on the CRT, and the information of FIG. 8 (c) may be illustrated as in FIG. 8 (d). In FIG. 8D, the N nodes of the LAN are displayed in a rectangle, and the work station name and the job name of each node are displayed inside or around the rectangle.

When the processing of the database management means 404 in steps S31 to S33 is completed in this way, FIG.
In step S4, it is determined whether the process to be executed according to the command is any one of addition / update / restoration of image data. If neither addition / update / restoration has occurred, there is no need to save or restore the image data, so the process returns to step S1 and the image data management device 30 waits until the next external event occurs.

In the case of adding, updating or restoring the image data, it is determined in step S5 whether the image data management device 30 can use the disk storing the image data. When the disk storing the image data is in use, the database management means 404 creates the backup list shown in FIG. 9 in step S6. The backup list is a list in which a work file name of image data to be saved or restored, a disk node in which the file is stored, and data indicating save or restore are registered.

If the disc is usable in step S5, the disc is connected to the image data management device 30 in step S7. Here, "connection" means that for a star-type LAN disk, the line between the disk and the image data management device 30 is connected. This connection processing is executed in accordance with an instruction given to the image data management device 30 from the used disk changing means 406. It is not necessary to connect the line each time for the disk in the bus type LAN.

In step S8, image data is saved or restored. When saving the image data, the image data is transferred from the work disk to the image data management device 30, and the image data is transferred to the image data transfer means 408.
As shown in FIG. 2, the image data is stored in any of the external storage devices 32, 34 and 36 in the image data management device 30. Which external storage device 32, 34, 36 is to be stored is determined according to a predetermined rule. For example, the priority when the storage medium is selected is the magneto-optical disk device 36,
The magnetic disk device 32 and the magnetic tape device 34 may be set to be lowered in this order, and when a storage medium having a high priority cannot be used, the storage medium having the next priority may be stored. In the case of restoring the image data, the image data file to be restored among the image data files stored in the image data management device 30 is the image data transfer means 4.
08, and transferred to the workstation that issued the restore command. When the image data is saved or restored, the progress management database DB is updated.

When the storage or restoration of the image data is completed in this way, the used disk changing means 406 disconnects the disk from the image data management device 30 in step S9. However, if the working disk is a disk in a bus type LAN, no processing is performed in step S9. When step S9 ends, the process returns to step S1 and waits until an external event occurs.

In step S2, if the command is a process corresponding to the change of the disk state, step S1
At 0, the used disk changing unit 406 detects a disk that can be used by the image data management device 30 among the working disks registered in the backup list (FIG. 9). Then, in step S11, the disc is connected to the image data management device 30.

In step S12, the image data is saved or restored according to the processing contents registered in the backup list. At this time, if there are a plurality of image data to be saved or restored on the same disc, saving or restoration is executed for all of the image data.
At this time, the contents of the progress management database DB are also updated. In step S13, the backup list relating to the saved or restored image data is deleted, and in step S14, the used disc is cut off. In step S15, if the processing relating to the disc that has become usable in step S10 remains, step S15
The processing from 11 to S14 is repeated.

As described above, in this embodiment, when saving the image data, the operator does not need to specify the storage device to save, and the image data management device 30 automatically saves the image data. Therefore, the operator can save the image data without designating the save location of the image data. Further, since only the image data management device 30 saves the image data and updates the progress management database DB accordingly, management error can be prevented.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but can be carried out in various modes without departing from the scope of the invention, and the following modifications can be made. (1) In the above embodiment, the work station was connected to the image data management device 30 via the LAN.
Not only N, but various networks can be connected.

(2) As a working disk, a large capacity R
AM etc. can also be used. Further, as an external storage device for storing the image disc, a MOD autochanger capable of handling a large number of magneto-optical discs (MODs) can be used.

(3) In the above embodiment, the means 402, 404, 406, 408 (FIG. 2) of the image data management apparatus 30 and the means 802, 804 (FIG. 3) of the station are realized by a program. However, these functions may be realized by a hardware circuit.

(4) In the above embodiment, the image data is stored in the external storage device of the image data management device 30, but the storage device for storing the image data may be connected to any place in the network. Good. However, if the image data is stored in the external storage device of the image data management device 30, it is not necessary for the image data management device 30 to access the storage device for storage via the transmission line of the network, and the image data management device 30 can directly store the image data. Since the storage device can be accessed, there is an advantage that the processing of the image data management device 30 can be performed at higher speed.

[0050]

As described above, according to the management system and the management device of the present invention, the database updating means of the image data management device is created by the image processing terminal in accordance with a command given from the image processing terminal or Since the corrected image data is stored in the image data saving means and the management database is updated, the image data can be saved and the management database can be updated without manual labor. That is, the image data can be automatically saved, and the work history of the image data can be automatically managed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an image data management system as an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of an image data management device 30.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a station.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of image data management by the image data management device 30.

5 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of step S1 in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of step S3 of FIG.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of data registered in a progress management database DB.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of referenced data.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a backup list.

[Explanation of symbols]

 20 image data management system 22 transmission path 23 scanner 24, 26, 28 station 25, 27, 29 magnetic disk 30 image data management device 32 magnetic disk device 34 magnetic tape device 36 magneto-optical disk device 38 bus line 40 CPU 42 main memory 44 Network bridge 46 Disk server interface 48 Archiver interface 50 Keyboard 52 Mouse 54 CRT 56 System disk 60 Disk unit control system 62 Controller 64, 66, 68 Station 70, 72, 74 Magnetic disk 80 CPU 82 Bus line 84 main memory 85 frame memory 86 network bridge 88 archiver interface 90 keyboard 92 mouse 94 digitizer 96 CRT 402 External event detection means 404 Database management means 406 Used disk changing means 408 Image data transfer means 802 Image processing means 804 Command issuing means DB Progress management database

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A system for managing image data for plate making, comprising: (a) a network for transferring data; and (b) a plurality of devices connected to the network for creating or modifying image data, respectively. The image data management device, comprising: (c) a plurality of image data storage means connected to the network for storing image data; and (d) an image data management device connected to the network. (D-1) a management database that stores the history of creation and modification of each image data, and stores the storage location of each image data in the plurality of image data storage means, and (d-2) the plurality of Image data created or modified by the image processing terminal in accordance with at least a command given from any of the image processing terminals. At least stores a single, prepress image data management system characterized by comprising: a database update means for updating the management database of the image data storage means. 2. A plate-making image which is connected to a network including a plurality of image processing terminals for creating or modifying image data and a plurality of image data storage means for storing image data, and which manages the image data. A data management device comprising: (1) a management database that stores a history of creation and modification of each image data, and a storage location of each image data in the plurality of image data storage means; In accordance with at least an instruction given from any of the plurality of image processing terminals, the image data created or modified by the image processing terminal is stored in at least one of the plurality of image data storage means, and the management database is stored. An image data management device for plate making, comprising: a database updating unit for updating.