GB2310987A

GB2310987A - An Image Processing Method

Info

Publication number: GB2310987A
Application number: GB9604656A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Keenan; Anthony Joseph Donnelly
Original assignee: EBENEZER Ltd; Datapage Ireland Ltd
Current assignee: EBENEZER Ltd; Datapage Ireland Ltd
Priority date: 1996-03-05
Filing date: 1996-03-05
Publication date: 1997-09-10
Anticipated expiration: 2016-03-05
Also published as: GB9604656D0; GB2310987B

Description

"An Image Processing Methods The present invention relates to an image processing method and more particularly to an image processing method for typesetting of images and text in a computer system.

A wide variety of image processing methods are known.

Examples of various image processing apparatus and methods are shown in European Patent Application Nos. EP 0 661 650 A2, EP 0 602 527 A2 and PCT No. WO 82/0236.

While these documents adequately address the need for efficient editing of complex images, they do not address the need for automating this production. This is particularly relevant when the document has been produced by a publisher and is sent for typesetting. As the complexity of the image increases, the need for a skilled type setter to edit the document similarly increases. During editing of the image mistakes can be made and therefore large-scale producers are increasingly insisting on the provision of a hands free production process.

It is an object of the invention to provide an image processing method which overcomes at least some of these problems.

Accordingly there is provided an image processing method for typesetting of images and text comprising a local processor and associated local store, a remote processor having an associated remote store and a data buffer connected to the local and remote processors, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a text file and associated image file, downloading the image file to the remote store and retrieving a pre-defined image processing initialisation sequence from the local store; reading and parsing a position dependent local file allocation table within the received text file, reading and parsing a remote file allocation table from the remote store, comparing selected parsed portions of the local and remote file allocation tables, identifying matched portions and discarding non-matched portions of the local file allocation table and generating an array of corresponding matched portions; loading the text file into the data buffer, extracting a position dependent 16 bit general code from the buffer and extracting a position dependent 16 bit specific code from the buffer; sequentially comparing the extracted general code with the parsed portions of the local file allocation table to identify a match, appending the extracted general code to the parsed portion to generate a local file tag in response to a match, sequentially comparing the extracted specific code with the local file tag to identify a match, and creating and appending to the array a file listing associated with the specific code and local file tag in response to a match; and incrementally stepping and parsing bit groups within the buffer to identify a code type, by comparing the parsed bit groups against a pre-defined list of code types.

In this way the processing method provides the required typesetting functions without the need for a skilled operator. The risk of errors during processing of the image is eliminated and a repeatable result achieved.

Further, by eliminating the need for modification of the image by the operator production times are significantly increased.

Preferably the image processing method further includes the steps of: recognising the identified code type as a float code and identifying the float code as a table code for an associated table by iteratively comparing the identified flow of code against the list of float code types until a match is found; writing a start code for the table to position the table within the image, retrieving the table from the remote store and initialising a column counter; incrementing the column counter in response to each identified column end code type until a table end code is identified; initialising a column width counter following each column counter increment, incrementing the column width counter in response to each identified code type until a column end code is identified; and storing the contents of the column width counter associated with the contents of the column counter at each increment in a table array.

Thus the particular problem of processing images containing tables is overcome by pre-processing the table information to determine the volume of text to be stored in a column of a table and automatically assigning a proportionate column width.

Ideally the image processing method further including the steps of: reading the column width for each column from the table array and reading and translating each identified code type until an end of column code is found and storing the translation in the column.

This ensures that tables are accurately dimensioned without the need for operator intervention.

Preferably the image processing method further includes the steps of: recognising the identified code type as a float code and identifying the float code as an art code for an associated graphic by iteratively comparing the identified float code against the float code types until a match is found; and writing a start code for the graphic to position the graphic within the image, retrieving the image from the remote store and assigning a graphic area to the image by reading a position dependent graphic size from the retrieved image.

Thus, rules relating to the positioning of an art image within the processed image may be observed. This is particularly important in the processing of images relating to scientific journals where it is essential that diagrams or photographs relating to a body of text are assigned a graphic area adjacent the text to facilitate understanding.

Preferably the assigned graphic area is compared to a remaining page area and a page flags set in response to a page full condition. In this way a full page single graphic or a full page having a number of graphic images may be accommodated without the need for authorisation by the local operator.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figs. 1 to 4 are diagrammatic views of an imaging processing method in accordance with the invention.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated an image processing method according to the invention.

A text file (shown as A) is received in step 1 by a local processor (not shown) and a check is conducted in step 2 by the local processor to determine whether the text file A has an associated art file B. If the art file B is found, then this is received in step 3 and downloaded to a remote store in step 4. If no art file B is found, then an initialisation sequence is loaded from a local store in step 5. If an art file B is found, then it is downloaded to the remote store before the sequence is loaded in step 5.

When the initialisation sequence has been loaded, it is used by the local processor to read a local path in step 6. This local path is parsed by the local processor in step 7 to produce a parsed local path C in step 7. The remote path is then read in step 8 by the remote processor and parsed in step 9 to produce a parsed remote path D similar to the parsed local path C produced in step 7. In step 10 each entry in the parsed local path C produced in step 7 is compared with the parsed local remote path D produced in step 9. When the parsed local path C and the parsed remote path D are validated by the remote processor in step 10, they are compared to determine a match in step 11. When no corresponding remote path D is located for a given entry in the parsed local path C, the parsed local path C is disregarded. When a match is found by the processor between the parsed local path C and the parsed remote path D an array X in the local sore is updated to define a link between the tables in step 13.

In step 14 the text file A received in step 1 is downloaded to an 8 Kb buffer and the text portion of the buffer open in step 15. A position dependent general code E is extracted by the local processor in step 16 and a position dependent specific code F is extracted in step 17. This use of general and specific codes allows the method to group images for batch processing. The specific code F extracted in step 17 is compared with the parsed local path produced in step 7 in step 18.

When the extracted general code is found in the parsed local path C in step 19, it is appended to the parsed local path in step 20 to produce a local file tag T.

The local file tag T is checked by the remote processor to determine whether the specific code extracted in step 17 is present in step 20. If in step 19 it is found that the general code E is not present, then the next parsed local path C is read in by the remote processor.

When the specific code F is matched in the local file tag T, the contents of the identified path are listed in step 22 and appended to the array X in step 23. This allows any number of directory or file structures to be incorporated in the invention and allows for storage of documents or art files in any one of a number of locations. The array produced ensures that art files associated with a given text file are always available.

In step 24, the text file A received in step 1 is opened and each code is identified in step 25. This may be done in any one of a number of ways, such as by grouping a number of bits together, or treating each bit separately. These codes may relate to particular character types, inclusion of graphics, particular fonts, pitch and size or mathematical symbols, etc. In step 26, the code is checked to determine whether a code is a float code. Float codes of this type relate to the inclusion of graphics, tables, pictures or the like which may be positioned within a given area of an image.

Where the image has a text portion, then it is possible that the image or graphic may be positioned in a number of locations as the float code indicates that the position at which the graphic must be inserted is variable within the body of the text.

If the code is identified a float code, a further check is conducted in step 31 to determine whether the float code identified in step 26 is an art code. If the float code is identified as an art code, then the file associated with the art code is retrieved in step 35. A start location for the art retrieval step 35 is written to position the art on the page in step 34, and a further check on the art type is conducted in step 41 to determine whether the float identified in step 26 is a table. If the code identified in step 26 is not identified as an art code in step 31, an alternate galley is selected in step 32 and the start code for the graphic is retrieved in step 33. When the table check conducted in step 41 indicates that the float code identified in step 26 is not a table, the code is translated in step 42 and a check is conducted in step 43 to determine whether. all of the codes have been translated. If all of the codes have been translated, the end code is written and the check is conducted in step 45 to determine whether more art is present. If it is determined in step 43 that not all codes have been translated, then further codes are retrieved and are translated in step 42.

If the check conducted at step 26 reveals that the code identified in step 25 is not a float code, a further check is conducted in step 27 to determine whether the code relates to a special mode. Examples of these modes may be a change of font or size or specific language variables. If no special mode is detected in step 27, a further check is conducted in step 28 to determine whether the code relates to a specific code detail in step 28. If no specific code detail is identified in step 28, then a check is conducted in step 29 to determine whether the code relates to a standard character. If the code relates to a standard character, then the code is written in step 30. If a specific code detail is identified in step 28, then the appropriate code is written for the specific code detail in step 30.

If in step 29 the code is confirmed as being a nonstandard character, then a check is conducted in step 37 to determine whether the code relates to a standard code. If the code does relate to a standard code, a further check is conducted in step 39 to determine whether the code relates to a mode change. If the code does not relate to a mode change, the associated code is written in step 30 and if the code relates to a change of mode, then the mode is changed and the appropriate character written again in step 30. If, in step 37 the code is identified as being non-standard, a check is conducted in step 36 to determine whether the code relates to a specific code. Examples of such specific codes may be particular to a given journal or an image type for which a pre-defined library of codes may be provided. Specific codes will have the character associated written in step 40 and non-specific codes will have a standard code written in step 30.

When a table is identified in step 41, the code is read into a table buffer in step 50. A check conducted in step 51 to determine whether the codes relates to a new column. If a new column is identified in step 51, then a column width counter is initialised in step 52. A check is then conducted in step 53 to determine whether the end of the table has been reached and if the end of table has not been reached, then the next code is read in again in step 50. When the code is read in step 50 and checked in step 51 indicates that the code does not relate to the start of a column, then a check is conducted in step 61 to determine whether the code is a continuation of a column in step 61. When it is found in step 61 that the code is in a column, then the column width counter initialised in step 52 is incremented in step 62. A check is then conducted in step 63 to determine whether the code relates to an end of column and if the code relates to an end of column the column width counter is reset in step 64. If the code is identified in step 63 as not relating to an end of column code, then a check is conducted again in step 53 to determine whether the end of table has been reached.

In this way automatic copy fitting of the tables is achieved by determining the size of the columns before any codes relating to text contained in those columns is translated. This is particularly beneficial in that it automatically allocates the correct amount of space for a given column to the text to be positioned in that column without the need for operator intervention. This eliminates the possibility of operator error and provides for a uniform treatment of tables which is not possible when manipulated manually. When each of the columns have been read and an associated width for each column determined, by use of the column width counter in step 62 for each column, the end of table code identified in step 53 initialises construction of the table in step 54. Each code is read in step 55 and translated in step 56. A check is conducted in step 57 similar to the check conducted in step 63 to determine whether the end of column has been reached. When the end of column has not been reached, then the translation for the code read in step 55 is stored in step 58. When the end of column has been reached, then the translation is written and aligned with the column margins, determined by the column width identified in step 62 and aligned. This process is repeated until the end of table has been identified in step 60. Thus it is repeated by re-reading each successive code in the table incrementing the column where indicated and inserting the translated code into the column widths defined for the given column in step 62. When the table has been completed, the final code relating to it is translated in step 2 and the process continues as described above.

When an art code is identified in step 45, the array X is accessed in step 70 and a list of previously uninserted graphics is retrieved in step 70. Each image is sized in step 70 by accessing a position dependent size indicator within the image file in step 71. The call to the image file is then generated in step 72 and a check is conducted in step 73 to determine whether there are further images. If a further image is required, then the result from the check conducted in step 73 will be checked again in step 74 to determine whether the further image will fit on the same page.

This check is conducted in step 74 and if the image is found to fit, then a check is conducted to ensure that it will not exceed the page height in step 75 with reference to the inserted text. Providing the image does not exceed the page height, then the line counter decremented and a new call generated in step 72 for the next image. If the page height has been exceeded a full page flag F1 will be set in step 77. If no further images are found in step 73, then a part page flag F2 will be set in step 80. The flags F1 and F2 will be written as code in the right flag step 79. In this way, an image can be generated to include text and graphics, text and a number of graphics or exclusively graphic use. A check is conducted in step 81 to determine whether further art exists and where further art exists an image call is written in step 80 into the final image. Caption space is allowed for in step 83 to allow titling of the graphic to be inserted in the final image and the list of unused graphics in the array X is updated and re-indexed in step 70. By extracting the captions in this way the need for operator intervention is obviated significantly reducing the possibility for the occurrences of errors in the processing method.

A check is then conducted in step 100 to determine when the last code has been reached. When this last code has been reached, then all text, graphics have been included in the final image and a final form file is generated in step 101. This final form file is then used to create a bromide or similar film to facilitate production of the image in step 102. The final form file may be in any given format and may also be used for electronic transmission of the processed image. One such format is that known as portable document format widely used in such transmissions.

It will be appreciated that the method described may be easily adapted for VLSI implementation or may be incorporated in an application specific integrated circuit, executed in either hardware or software. This would achieve a significant increase in processing speed and would facilitate the production of a dedicated image processing station.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An image processing method for typesetting of images and text comprising a local processor and associated local store, a remote processor having an associated remote store and a data buffer connected to the local and remote processors, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a text file and associated image file, downloading the image file to the remote store and retrieving a pre-defined image processing initialisation sequence from the local store; reading and parsing a position dependent local file allocation table within the received text file, reading and parsing a remote file allocation table from the remote store, comparing selected parsed portions of the local and remote file allocation tables, identifying matched portions and discarding non-matched portions of the local file allocation table and generating an array of corresponding matched portions; loading the text file into the data buffer, extracting a position dependent 16 bit general code from the buffer and extracting a position dependent 16 bit specific code from the buffer; sequentially comparing the extracted general code with the parsed portions of the local file allocation table to identify a match, appending the extracted general code to the parsed portion to generate a local file tag in response to a match, sequentially comparing the extracted specific code with the local file tag to identify a match, and creating and appending to the array a file listing associated with the specific code and local file tag in response to a match; and incrementally stepping and parsing bit groups within the buffer to identify a code type, by comparing the parsed bit groups against a pre defined list of code types.

2. An image processing method as claimed in claim 1 further including the steps of: recognising the identified code type as a float code and identifying the float code as a table code for an associated table by iteratively comparing the identified flow of code against the list of float code types until a match is found; writing a start code for the table to position the table within the image, retrieving the table from the remote store and initialising a column counter; incrementing the column counter in response to each identified column end code type until a table end code is identified; initialising a column width counter following each column counter increment, incrementing the column width counter in response to each identified code type until a column end code is identified; and storing the contents of the column width counter associated with the contents of the column counter at each increment in a table array.

3. An image processing method as claimed in claim 2 further including the steps of: reading the column width for each column from the table array and reading and translating each identified code type until an end of column code is found and storing the translation int he column.

4. An image processing method as claimed in any preceding claim, further including the steps of: recognising the identified code type as a float code and identifying the float code as an art code for an associated graphic by iteratively comparing the identified float code against the float code types until a match is found; and writing a start code for the graphic to position the graphic within the image, retrieving the image from the remote store and assigning a graphic area to the image by reading a position dependent graphic size from the retrieved image.

5. An image processing method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the assigned graphic area is compared to a remaining page area and a page flags set in response to a page full condition.

6. An image processing method as claimed in any preceding claim with reference to the accompanying drawings.