JP2002133432A - Image processing device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system constructing an environment capable of easily conducting layout operation in a client system and capable of delivering an editing image based on the result of the layout operation to an client. SOLUTION: A main control part 202 of a server 2 delivers a java applet 204a stored in an applet memory 204 to a requester according to the access request from the client system 3. The client system 3 executes the delivered java applet 204a on a java VM 302a. After that, the main control part 202 and an image processing part 203 conduct bi-directional communications between the java applet 204a being executed in a delivered client and themselves, and conduct processing for supporting the layout operation or printing processing in the client system 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for distributing image information between information processing apparatuses (also referred to as image processing apparatuses) having a function of operating image information via a network such as a satellite line. In particular, the present invention relates to a technique for receiving a customer's request via a network, editing image information in accordance with the request, and efficiently distributing the edited image information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, printed materials such as posters have been used for advertisement and publicity. There is a wide variety of such prints, from postcard size to large format posters. Usually, a customer who wants to create such a printed matter has turned to a specialized trader.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

[0003] However, when requesting a specialized trader to create a printed matter, it is often experienced that the cost of creating a printed matter increases when the number of copies is small. On the other hand, in recent years, the performance of color printers has been dramatically improved, and the price has been reduced. For this reason, there are cases where purchasing a color printer by a customer and printing the screen created by the customer with this color printer can reduce the cost compared to requesting a printed matter from a specialized trader.

However, even in this case, it is difficult for a customer who is not a specialized trader to create a printed matter. This is based on the printing environment, the materials used in the printed matter (photo images, illustration images, etc., the same applies hereinafter), character fonts,
There are various options for editing, color type, and the like, and performing all of these layout creation on the customer side imposes a heavy load on the layout creating operator and the computer system used. In particular, editing image information requires a great deal of processing, such as temporarily expanding compressed image information that represents the material to be used.

An object of the present invention is to provide an environment in which a layout can be easily created in a customer's computer system so that an edited image in which materials are arranged or superimposed can be distributed via a network in accordance with the layout. The main task is to provide improved technology. More specifically, an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and an edited image distribution method using a plurality of image processing apparatuses, which can quickly and efficiently edit image information. . Another subject of the present invention is:
It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording medium suitable for executing the above image processing method on a general-purpose computer.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention constructs an environment in which a layout can be easily created on a customer's computer, and arranges or superimposes materials according to the created layout and other operation results. A specific mechanism for enabling information (edited image) to be distributed via a network is provided. "Material" refers to photo images, illustration images,
It is a material for expressing an image, such as a parts screen and a background.

The present invention provides two types of image processing devices (information processing devices that handle image information). A first image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a first image information group in which each represents a different material and is in a compressed format, and a data amount smaller than each information of the first image information group in each of the different materials. Storage means for storing a second image information group represented by a character string, and a distribution function for distributing a predetermined function realization body to this information processing apparatus in response to an access request from an information processing apparatus having a function of operating image information Means, and processing means for supporting operation of image information in the information processing device together with the function realization delivered to the information processing device, and providing the information processing device with image information edited according to the result of the operation. The processing means responds to a material provision request from the information processing apparatus, and outputs second image information representing the requested material from a second image information group stored in the storage means. The first image information representing the requested material is stored in the storage means, and the result of the operation performed on the second image information is obtained and sent to the information processing apparatus. The first image information is read from the first image information group and edited according to the obtained operation result, and the edited image information is transmitted to the information processing apparatus in the compressed format. Features.

[0008] The processing means obtains third image information, which is image information representing a desired material and is in a compressed format and provided in the information processing apparatus, and acquires the third image information in the information processing apparatus. An operation result obtained by operating the fourth image information for expressing the material at the same stage as the operation for the second image information is acquired, and the first image expressing the requested material is obtained at the time of editing. The third image information together with the information is edited together according to the operation results obtained for the second image information and the fourth image information representing the requested material, and the edited image information is compressed in the compressed format. The information processing apparatus may be configured to transmit the information to the information processing apparatus. The function realization body is a Java applet, and the information processing device includes:
You may comprise so that it may have the Java virtual terminal function which performs this Java applet.

[0009] The storage means may be configured to store characteristic information indicating characteristics of the material in association with each of the materials. In this case, the processing means may store the material from the information processing apparatus. A request for provision is received, and a material condition indicating a condition of the requested material is acquired, and the second image information representing the material corresponding to the request for providing the material is obtained according to the degree of matching of the characteristic information with the material condition. It is preferable that the information processing apparatus is configured to send the information to the information processing apparatus. Further, the processing unit acquires feature information indicating a feature of the desired material together with the third image information, and associates the desired material with the feature information together with the acquired third image information and stores the feature information. You may comprise so that it may memorize | store in a means. The processing unit generates image information for expressing the desired material with a smaller data amount than the third image information based on the acquired third image information, and stores the image information in the storage unit. May be configured.

The processing means acquires characteristic information indicating characteristics of the desired material and the fourth image information together with the third image information, and obtains the desired image information together with the third and fourth image information. The material and the characteristic information may be stored in the storage unit in association with each other. The processing unit in the first image processing apparatus is configured to perform the request to perform at least one of a moving process, an enlarging process, a reducing process, and a deleting process on at least one of the requested materials. It is configured to edit the first image information representing the extracted material.

A second image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a first image information group in which each represents a different material and is in a compressed format, and each of the different materials is represented by each information in the first image information group. A communication mechanism for performing bidirectional communication with an information processing apparatus having a function of handling a second image information group expressed with a small amount of data in association with the second image information group and distributing a predetermined function implementing body in response to an access request; Means for sending an access request to the information processing apparatus via the communication mechanism, and processing for supporting operation of image information by executing a function implementing body distributed in response to the access request in the own apparatus. With the information processing apparatus, receiving second image information representing a desired material from the information processing apparatus via the communication mechanism, and performing an operation on the second image information. Screen information for assistance is displayed on a predetermined display device together with the second image information, an external operation command for the displayed second image information is received, and the operation result given thereby is displayed on the information processing apparatus. And control means for receiving, via the communication mechanism, first image information edited in the information processing apparatus in accordance with the transmitted operation result.

[0012] The second image processing apparatus further includes printing means for printing the image information on a predetermined printing apparatus, and in this case, the control means supplies the edited first image information to the printing means. It is configured to The second image processing apparatus further includes a holding unit that expresses a desired material and holds the third image information in a compressed format,
In this case, the control unit sends the third image information to the information processing device, and based on the third image information,
Generating fourth image information representing the desired material, displaying the fourth image information on the display device together with the second image information, receiving an external operation on the displayed fourth image information, and operating the second image information; Transmitting the operation result together with the result to the information processing apparatus, receiving the first and third image information edited together in the information processing apparatus according to the transmitted operation result via the communication mechanism,
It is configured to supply the received first and third image information to the printing unit.

[0013] In the second image processing apparatus as well as in the first image processing apparatus, the function implementing body is Java.
a applet, and the control means may be configured to have a Java virtual terminal function for executing the Java applet. Also, the control means may display information indicating a current processing stage in an operation process on the predetermined display device as the screen information, but the plurality of materials are displayed on the predetermined display device. In such a case, information indicating the hierarchical relationship of each material may be displayed as the screen information.

The present invention provides a method for distributing image information using the two types of image processing apparatuses or apparatuses having the same functions. The method includes a first image information group each representing a different material and in a compressed format, and a second image information each representing the different material with a smaller data amount than each information of the first image information group. Holding the herd and
Further, a first image processing device having a predetermined Java applet and a second image processing device having a function of operating image information are connected via a network so as to be able to communicate with each other. Transmitting an access request to one image processing apparatus, distributing the Java applet to a second image processing apparatus by the first image processing apparatus that has received the access request,
The second image processing device that receives the applet uses the Java
a executing the applet, and supporting the image processing by the second image processing apparatus and the first image processing apparatus that execute the Java applet, the processing step supporting the operation of the image information,
The supporting step includes a sub-step in which the second image processing apparatus transmits a request for providing a desired material to the first image processing apparatus; Is represented by the second image information
A sub-step of reading from the image information group and transmitting it to the second image processing device, and the second image processing device having received the second image information supports the operation on the second image information together with the second image information. Sub-step of displaying the screen information on the predetermined display device, receiving an external operation command for the displayed second image information, and transmitting an operation result performed thereby to the first image processing device; Received from the first image information group, reads the first image information representing the desired material from the first image information group, edits the first image information according to the received operation result, and edits the edited image information. And transmitting to the second image processing apparatus in the compressed format.

The present invention provides two types of image processing methods. A first image processing method according to the present invention is a method that is executed in an image processing apparatus that performs two-way communication with an information processing apparatus having a function of operating image information. Predetermined Java upon request
Delivering the applet to the information processing device;
A processing step of supporting the operation of the image information in the information processing apparatus together with the Java applet of the distribution destination, and providing the image information edited in accordance with a result of the operation to the information processing apparatus, wherein the processing step includes a different material For each, a first image information group in which each represents a different material and is in a compressed format, and a second image each representing each of the different materials with a smaller data amount than each information of the first image information group The information group is stored in advance,
A sub-step of reading second image information representing the requested material from the second image information group and transmitting the second image information representing the requested material to the information processing device in response to a material provision request from the information processing device; A sub-step of acquiring an operation result operated on information; reading first image information representing the requested material from the first image information group; editing the edited image in accordance with the acquired operation result; Transmitting the information to the information processing apparatus in the compressed format.

According to a second image processing method of the present invention, a first image information group in which each represents a different material and is in a compressed format, and each of the different materials is represented by each information of the first image information group. Performed in an image processing apparatus that performs two-way communication with an information processing apparatus having a function of handling a second image information group expressed with a small amount of data in association with the second image information group and distributing a predetermined Java applet in response to an access request Transmitting an access request to the information processing apparatus; receiving a Java applet distributed in response to the access request;
Executing, together with the information processing device, a process for supporting operation of image information by executing an applet; receiving second image information representing a desired material from the information processing device; A sub-step of displaying, on a predetermined display device, screen information for supporting the operation on the second image information together with the information, and accepting an external operation command for the displayed second image information, and The method includes a sub-step of transmitting an operation result to the information processing apparatus and a sub-step of receiving first image information edited in the information processing apparatus according to the transmitted operation result.

[0017] A recording medium for solving the above-mentioned other problems includes a first recording medium for executing by a computer the processing performed by the above-described first image processing apparatus or an apparatus having an equivalent function. It is a second recording medium for performing, by a computer, processing performed by a second image processing apparatus or an apparatus having an equivalent function.

The first recording medium is connected to an information processing apparatus having a function of operating image information so as to be capable of two-way communication, and expresses and compresses different materials for different materials. A first image information group in a format;
A computer-readable program storing a program for causing a computer to store a second image information group each representing the different material with a smaller data amount than each information of the first image information group to execute the following processing Recording medium. (1) a process of distributing a predetermined Java applet to the information processing device in response to an access request from the information processing device, (2) supporting operation of image information in the information processing device together with a distribution target Java applet, A process of providing the image information edited according to the result of the operation to the information processing apparatus, wherein the second image information representing the requested material is stored in the second The first image information is read from the image information group, transmitted to the information processing apparatus, the operation result of the transmitted second image information is obtained, and the first image information representing the requested material is displayed in the first image information. A process of reading from the group, editing the first image information according to the obtained operation result, and transmitting the edited image information to the information processing apparatus in the compressed format.

The second recording medium has a first image information group in which each represents a different material and is in a compressed format, and each of the different materials has a smaller data amount than each information of the first image information group. A computer having a function of performing two-way communication with an information processing apparatus having a function of handling a second image information group to be expressed in association with and distributing a predetermined Java applet in response to an access request. Is a computer-readable recording medium on which a program for executing the program is recorded. (1) processing for transmitting an access request to the information processing apparatus; (2) Java distributed in response to the access request
a) receiving the applet and executing the Java applet to support the operation of the image information, the processing being performed together with the information processing apparatus, wherein the second image information expressing a desired material is transmitted from the information processing apparatus. Acceptance,
Along with the second image information, screen information for supporting an operation on the second image information is displayed on a predetermined display device, and an external operation command for the displayed second image information is received. Transmitting the operation result to the information processing apparatus, and receiving the first image information edited in the information processing apparatus according to the transmitted operation result.

The technology provided by the present invention as described above realizes an environment in which a layout can be easily created in a customer's computer system. Here, image information expressing a material desired by the customer is provided, and an edited image in which the material is arranged or superimposed is distributed via a network in accordance with the layout creation.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention provides image information expressing a material according to a customer's request, and distributes an edited image edited according to a layout operation performed on the customer side via a network. An embodiment applied to an edited image distribution system will be specifically described.

<System Configuration> FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of the edited image distribution system 1. The edited image distribution system 1 includes a server 2 as an example of a first image processing device, a client system 3 as an example of a second image processing device, and a data transmission / reception between the server 2 and the client system 3. Network 4 as transmission medium
It consists of.

The server 2 includes: 1) a client system 3
The main functions are distribution of a Java applet in response to an access request from the user and 2) various processes together with the distributed Java applet. This processing includes provision of image information representing the material requested by the client system 3, editing processing according to the result of the operation on the image information, and distribution of the edited image created thereby.

The client system 3 is a computer system arranged for a customer who wants to create a printed matter. The main function of the client system 3 is 1) transmission of an access request to the server 2 and 2) execution of a Java applet transmitted from the server 2. In particular, various processes are performed together with the server 2 by executing the Java applet. This realizes a request for material provision, display of provided material and image information for supporting layout operation, transmission of an operation result indicating a layout operation from an operator, printing of an edited image received from the server 2, and the like. .

As the network 4, a network using a wire line, for example, the Internet can be applied, but a larger communication capacity can be secured.
A network using satellite communication may be used. FIG. 1 shows a client system 3 for simplification of the drawing.
However, in the actual system, a plurality of client systems 3 can be connected to the network 4.

<Configuration of Server> The configuration of the server 2 will be described. The server 2 includes a communication control unit 201, a main control unit 202,
It comprises an image processing unit 203, an applet storage unit 204, a template information storage unit 205, a display image information storage unit 206, and a print image information storage unit 207.

The communication control unit 201 is provided between the network 4 and the main control unit 202, and performs communication control according to a predetermined protocol for transmitting and receiving various data. The main control unit 202 controls the entire operation of the server 2. The main control unit 202 is connected to the communication control unit 201, the image processing unit 203, and the applet storage unit 204, and distributes a Java applet in response to an access request, and performs a layout operation in the client system 3 together with the image processing unit 203. Perform the necessary processing for support.

The image processing unit 203 executes various processes related to image information under the control of the main control unit 202. The image processing unit 203 includes an image search unit 203a, an image editing unit 20
3b, an image registration unit 203c, and a table T1. The image search unit 203a sends a template or display image information to the main control unit according to the specified template number or material number, or refers to the table T1, and searches for a template or display image information according to characteristic information such as a keyword. . The image editing unit 203b edits the print image information according to the result of the layout operation performed in the client system 3. At this time, the image editing unit 20
3b uses a technique of arranging and superimposing materials without completely expanding the compressed image information. The technology disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-331847 can be applied to this technology. Image registration unit 203c
Performs processing for registering image information provided from the client system 3. The table T1 is provided with characteristic information for characterizing this material with respect to a material number uniquely assigned to each material represented by the image information stored in the display image information storage unit 206 or the print image information storage unit 207. For example, some keywords are stored. The table T1 also holds the same information for the templates stored in the template information storage unit 205. A specific example of the table T1 will be described later.

The applet storage unit 204 is a main control unit 202
And stores a group of Java applets composed of a plurality of different Java applets. This Java applet group is distributed to the client system 3 and executed, so that Java for supporting a layout operation in the client system 3 is provided.
An applet 204a is included. A Java applet is a type of Java language program developed by Sun Microsystems. This Java applet is a Java virtual terminal function
(JavaVM: Java Virtual Machine)
Is executed by the Web browser in which is embedded. The template information storage unit 205 stores information on templates serving as templates in the layout creation processing of the client system 3. The template also includes frame information and background image information. Each template is assigned a unique template number.

The display image information storage unit 206 stores image information (hereinafter, "display image information") of a material displayed on the display device of the client system 3 in the layout operation processing. The print image information storage unit 207 stores image information of a material used in the editing process of the server 2 (hereinafter, “print image information”). The display image information storage unit 206 and the print image information storage unit 207 hold image information expressing the same material, respectively. The difference between the display image information and the print image information is a difference in the amount of information. That is, even for the same material, the display image information has a smaller information amount than the print image information,
When displayed, it occupies a small area on the screen. This is because when a layout operation is performed in the client system 3, no burden is imposed on the system. A thumbnail or the like can be applied to the display image information. Normally, print image information is JPEG (Joint Photograp
hic Expert Group) and GIF (Graphics Interchange For
mat) or the like, and is held in the print image information storage unit 207 in a form conforming to a compression method such as “mat”.

The main part of the server 2 can be constituted by a so-called computer system. Therefore, the communication control unit 201, the main control unit 202, and the image processing unit 20
3 is also realized by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) executing a predetermined program. Specifically, a CD-ROM (Compact Disk-Read-Only Memory) 2
A program recorded on a recording medium such as 08 or a program supplied via a network is stored in an arbitrary memory area, and various processes can be realized by the CPU performing the process according to the program.

<Configuration of Client> The configuration of the client system 3 will be described. The client system 3
Communication control unit 301, web browser 302, print control unit 303, printing device 304, input device 305, display device 3
06, an image file 307, and a character font file 308.

The communication control unit 301 communicates with the network 4 and the W
It is provided between the web browser 302 and the web browser 302 and controls communication according to a predetermined protocol for transmission and reception of various data. The Web browser 302 has a built-in JavaVM 302a having a function of executing a Java applet. As the Web browser 302, Micros
For example, “Internet Explore” of Microsoft Corporation or “Netscape Navigator” of Netscape Corporation can be applied. W
Various processes realized by executing the Java applet 204a supplied from the server 2 in the web browser 302 will be described later.

The print control unit 303 is a web browser 30
2 is converted into print data suitable for the specifications of the printing apparatus 304, and is supplied to the printing apparatus 304. The printing device 304 prints out the edited image converted to the print data. The printing device 304 can print paper of a size desired by a customer having the client system 3 and can apply a color printer or the like. The input device 305 receives an instruction from the operator of the client system 3. The input device 305 is configured by appropriately combining a mouse, a keyboard, and a pen input device, and includes an image input device such as a scanner as needed. The display device 306 displays a template and display image information for the operator of the client system 3. The display device 306 includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Diode).
A flat panel display such as splay) can be used.

The image file 307 stores original image information created in the client system 3 and image information read by a scanner or the like. The character font file 308 stores information on original character fonts created in the client system 3 and various character fonts obtained via another device or the network 4.

The main part of the client system 3 can be constituted by a so-called computer system.
Therefore, the communication control unit 301, the web browser 302,
The print control unit 303 is also realized by the CPU executing a predetermined program. Specifically, C
A program recorded on a recording medium such as a D-ROM 309 or a program supplied via a network is stored in an arbitrary memory area, and a CP is stored in accordance with the program.
The main processing in the client system 3 can be realized by the U performing the processing.

<Overall Operation of Edited Image Distribution System> An outline of the overall operation of the edited image distribution system will be described with reference to FIG. 2 particularly regarding data transmitted and received between the server 2 and the client system 3 having the above-described configuration. Will be explained.
The detailed operation of each of the server 2 and the client system 3 will be described later.

First, an access request is transmitted from the client system 3 to the server 2. Server 2
In response to this access request, the Java applet 204a stored in the applet storage unit 204 is read,
This is distributed to the client system 3 that has issued the access request.

The client system 3 that has received the Java applet 204a activates and executes it by the Java VM 302. In this embodiment, after the Java applet 204a is executed, first, processing for user authentication is executed. For example, the client system 3 instructs the server 2 to issue a layout operation start request (layout operation request), and inputs and transmits a password or the like assigned in advance as a customer. In the server 2, according to the password, the client system 3 requesting the start of the layout operation
Determines whether the customer is a legitimate customer (whether the user is a pre-registered user) and returns the result. If the customer is not a legitimate customer, the fact is displayed on the display device 306 of the client system 3, and the distributed applet is released. Only when the customer is a legitimate customer, the processing for the layout operation in the client system 3 is continued.

When the client system 3 receives a layout operation command, the Java applet 204 executed in the client system 3
Data transmission and reception are performed between the server a and the server 2 as many times as necessary. For example, a material condition indicating a material condition input from the input device 305 of the client system 3 is sent to the server 2, and the server 2 displays a material having a high degree of matching of characteristic information (keyword) with the material condition. Image information is detected and transmitted to the client system 3. For such processing, the server 2
The operation will be described in detail.

When the layout operation in the client system 3 is completed, this is notified to the server 2. The server 2 receives the operation result of the layout operation together with the notification, and edits the print image information according to the operation result. The edited image created by this editing process is transmitted to the client system 3. The client system 3 prints the edited image and sends the edited image to the Java applet 2
Release 04a.

Note that "release" does not mean that the client system 3 returns the Java applet to the server 2, but means that the Web browser 302 simply stops executing the Java applet. The above is the overall operation and operation transition of the edited image distribution system 1.

<Operation of Server> Next, various operations of the server 2 will be described with reference to the drawings. The main operation of server 2 is J
Delivery of ava applet 204a (including user authentication)
And various support processes performed together with the distributed Java applet 204a.

First, the overall operation of the server 2 will be described with reference to FIG. Upon receiving an access request from any client system 3 via the network 4, the communication control unit 201 notifies the main control unit 202 of the access request (step S101). In response to the notified access request, the main control unit 202 reads a predetermined Java applet 204a from the applet storage unit 204, and distributes it to the access requesting client system 3 via the communication control unit 201 (step S102).

After that, the main control unit 202
When a request for performing a layout operation is received from the client system 3 that has executed the Java applet 204a via the client device 1, a user for determining whether or not the operator who operates the client system 3 that is the request source is a legitimate user Perform authentication processing. For this purpose, a method is generally used in which the Java applet 204a is configured to request transmission of a password assigned to a pre-registered user together with a request for a layout operation, and a determination is made based on the received password. The registered user name and password are stored in a predetermined storage area of a storage device (not shown) in advance.

If the operator requesting the layout operation is not a legitimate user (step S103: NO),
The main control unit 202 notifies the requesting client system 3 that the user has not been registered via the communication control unit 201 (step S104). In FIG. 3, the process is completed after the notification, but the process for registering as a new user may be continuously performed without terminating the process.

If the operator is a legitimate user (step S103: YES), the main control unit 202 notifies the client system 3 of the request source that the user authentication has been correctly performed (step S105). Thereafter, the main control unit 202 and the image processing unit 203 perform various processes for supporting the layout operation in the client system 3 together with the Java applet 204a of the distribution destination (step S106).

Next, the main control unit 202 and the image processing unit 20
A description will be given of various types of processing performed by 3 for supporting the layout operation. First, the procedure of providing / searching template / display image information will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

When the main control unit 202 receives a request for providing a template or display image information via the communication control unit 201, the main control unit 202 transmits the request to the image search unit 203 of the image processing unit 203.
a (step S201). Image search unit 203a
Determines whether the received request is a search request in which a keyword is indicated (step S202).
The image search unit 203a determines that the search request is not a search request if the request indicates a template number or a material number (step S202: NO). Image search unit 203
a reads out template information corresponding to this number from the template information storage unit 205 when a template number is attached to a request, and displays a display image information storage unit when a request is given a material number. The display image information corresponding to this number is read from 206 (step S203).

The image search unit 203a transmits the read template information and / or display image information to the main control unit 202.
Send to The main control unit 202 transmits the template information and / or the display image information to the requesting client system 3 via the communication control unit 201 (step S20).
4). If the received request is a search request (step S202: YES), the image search unit 203a performs a search according to the search conditions attached to the request (step S202).
205).

Here, a specific example of keyword search will be described. FIGS. 5A and 5B are examples of tables stored in the table T1. FIG. 5A shows an example in which material numbers # 1, # 2, # 3,... Assigned to the respective materials record keywords indicating the characteristics of the materials. FIG. 5B shows an example in which a keyword indicating the feature of the template is recorded for each of template numbers # T1, # T2, # T3... Assigned to each template.

The image search unit 203a determines whether the search request is a condition for searching for a material, such as “scenery”, “summer”,
When the keyword “mountain” is attached, FIG.
The material number # 3 recorded as a keyword indicating the characteristics of all three conditions is specified as a search result with reference to the material table shown in FIG. Image search unit 203a
Reads the display image information corresponding to the material number # 3 from the display image information storage unit 206 and sends it to the main control unit 202. When a condition for searching for a template is attached as a search condition, the image search unit 203a performs
The same processing is performed with reference to the template table of (b).

Note that such a search process is an example,
A numerical value indicating a priority order may be assigned to a keyword registered in the table T1, and a keyword having a higher sum of numerical values of the corresponding keyword may be used as a search result. Further, instead of detecting one material / template as a search result, a plurality of materials / templates having higher priorities may be sent to the main control unit 202. Alternatively, a priority may be set for the search condition itself, and a material / template that satisfies the high priority condition may be searched.

The detected material and / or template is sent to the main control unit 202 (step S206: YE
S), the main control unit 202 transmits the transmitted material and / or template to the client system 3 that has issued the request (step S204).

If no material / template satisfying the search condition is detected (step S206: NO), the image search unit 203a informs the main control unit 202 that no material / template satisfying the condition is stored. Notified. The main control unit 202 transmits information indicating this to the requesting client system 3 via the communication control unit 201. Through the above processing procedure, the display image information and the template as desired by the client system 3 can be provided to the client system 3.

Next, the procedure of the editing process according to the reception of the operation result will be described with reference to FIGS. First,
The communication control unit 201 receives, via the network 4, an operation result operated on the transmitted display image information,
This is notified to the main control unit 202 (step S30).
1). The main control unit 202 transmits the operation result to the image editing unit 2.
03b. The image editing unit 203b reads the print image information expressing the same material as the display image information transmitted to the client system 3 from the print image information storage unit 207 (Step S302).

However, when a layout operation using original image information not stored in the server 2 is performed in the client system 3, the used image information is sent together with the operation result, or Registration processing is performed. Therefore, the main control unit 202
The image editing unit 203b may be supplied with the image information sent from the client system 3 as printing image information, or the image editing unit 203b may read out the registered print image information from the print image information storage unit 207.

The image editing unit 203b edits the print image information according to the operation result in the intermediate process of expanding the read or received print image information (step S303). In this editing, processing such as moving processing, enlargement processing, reduction processing, and deletion processing is performed on the print image information. Further, depending on the operation result, a process is required in which a plurality of materials overlap. In this case, the image editing unit 203b transmits the information (Z
-Order), the print image information is edited to reflect the superposition of the materials. Image editing unit 203b
Further encrypts the edited image created by editing and sends it to the main control unit 202 (step S304). The main control unit 202 transmits the edited image to the client system 3 via the communication control unit 201 (Step S305).

Here, the processing in step S303 will be described with reference to FIG. This process is an editing process executed by the image editing unit 203b. First, entropy decoding is performed on print image information that is a compressed image defined by a data block based on a plurality of primary conversions, and a data block based on a plurality of primary conversions is extracted (step). S401, S40
2).

Thereafter, the extracted data blocks are rearranged, and the quantization is released (step S40).
3, S404). As a result, even if the compressed image is not completely decompressed, it is decompressed to an intermediate stage. Thereafter, an editing process is performed (step S
405). The edited image created as a result of the editing process is quantized, rearranged in data blocks, and then subjected to entropy coding (steps S406 and S40).
7, S408).

Through the above-described processing procedure, the moving image, the enlarging process, and the reducing process are performed on the print image information without completely expanding the compressed image, that is, in the intermediate stage of expanding the compressed image. , Delete processing can be performed.

Next, the procedure for registering image information will be described with reference to FIG. When a layout operation using original image information not stored in the server 2 is performed in the client system 3, a request to register the image information in the server 2 may be received from the client system 3. The main control unit 202 receives this request via the communication control unit 201 (step S50).
1). Here, when the image information to be registered has not been received, the main control unit 202 requests the client system 3 of the request source to provide the image information, and receives the request (step S502). The main control unit 202 sends the received image information to the image registration unit 203c. Image registration unit 203c
Uses the image information to express the same material as the image information and generate display image information with a small amount of information (step S503).

Thereafter, the image registration unit 203c uses the image information sent from the client system 3 as print image information, and stores the print image information and the generated display image information in the display image information storage unit 206 and the print image information, respectively. The information is stored in the storage unit 207 (step S504). At this time, the image registration unit 203c assigns a new material number common to each image information.

On the other hand, after transmitting the image information to the image registration unit 203c, the main control unit 202 requests the client system 3 which is the registration request source, for a keyword indicating the characteristic of the material represented by the image information. One or more keywords transmitted from the client system 3 are transmitted to the image registration unit 203c (Step S505). The image registration unit 203c newly registers the received keyword with the received keyword in the table T1 (step S506).

The image information is registered from the client system 3 to the server 2 through the above processing procedure.
Note that a password or the like may be set in the image information to be registered so that the customer can use only the user. In this case, when the image information is stored in the display image information storage unit 206 and the print image information storage unit 207 in step S504, and when the table T1 in step S506 is used.
When a new registration is made, it is necessary to perform processing so that only the client of the client system 3 can use this image information.

The registration process may be started in response to a registration request from the client system 3 as described above, or may be executed in response to reception of an operation result. Even in this case, the main steps are the same as the above-described processing procedure, and thus the description thereof is omitted. Further, the main control unit 202 and the image registration unit 203b may be configured so that a registration process can be similarly performed not only for image information but also for a template. In this case, in the above-described processing procedure, a template is used instead of the image information, and the template information storage unit 2 is used instead of the display image information storage unit 206 and the print image information storage unit 207.
05, the display image information generation process in step S503 may be omitted. In the above-described processing procedure, the display image information is generated based on the image information sent from the client system 3. However, the display image information is also supplied from the client system 3, and the display image information is generated. The processing may be omitted.

<Operation of Client System> Next, various operations of the client system 3 will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, the overall operation of the client system 3 will be described with reference to FIG. When receiving an access operation to the server 2 from the operator of the client system 3, the input device 305 notifies the Web browser 302 of the operation. The Web browser 302 uses the communication control unit 3
Then, an access request is transmitted to the server 2 via “01” (step S601). When the Java applet 204a returned from the server 2 in response to the access request is received, the JavaVM 302a of the web browser 302
The received Java applet 204a is executed (steps S602 and S603).

When the Java applet 204a is executed by the Java VM 302a,
Two-way communication for supporting a layout operation is performed between the Java applet 204a on the aVM 302a and the server 2. When the necessary layout operation and printing of the edited image are completed in the client system 3, J
The ava applet 204a is released (step S6).
04).

Next, on the Java VM 302a, Java
The operation of the client system 3 when the applet 204a is being executed will be described with reference to FIGS. The Java applet 204a referred to in the following description of the operation of the client system 3 is:
This shows what is being executed on the Java VM 302a of the Web browser 302.

When the Java applet 204a is executed, information for confirming whether or not to execute a layout operation is displayed on the display device 306. Thereafter, when a command to perform a layout operation is input from the operator to the input device 305, the Java applet 204a activates the communication control unit 301.
A layout operation request is transmitted to the server 2 via the server (step S701). In response to the layout operation request, bidirectional processing for user authentication is performed between the server 2 and the Java applet 204a. Here, the operator of the client system 3 is required to input a password or the like. If the registered user is not authenticated in the user authentication process (step S702: N
G), the Java applet 204 a
Is displayed on the screen (step S70)
3).

If the user is authenticated as a registered authorized user (step S702: OK), the Java applet 204
A displays screen information for requesting the server 2 to provide a template or a material (display image information) on the display device 306. According to this information, the operator of the client system 3 inputs a number specifying a required template or material, or inputs a search condition. The Java applet 204a transmits a request for providing template / display image information to the server 2 together with the input data (step S704). Java
The applet 204a responds to the provision request by the server 2
When the template and the display image information transmitted by are received, they are displayed on the display device 306 (Step S).
705, S706).

It should be noted that transmission of such a provision request and reception of template and display image information corresponding to the provision request (step S
Steps 704 to S706) are configured so that the Java applet 204a can be repeated any number of times in accordance with an instruction from the operator until the layout operation is completed. After displaying the template and the display image information, the input device 305 receives a layout operation command from the operator and notifies the Java applet 204a of the command (step S707).

The Java applet 204a processes display image information displayed on the display device 306 according to the notified operation. Along with this, Java Applet 2
Step 04a changes the definition information for defining the displayed material in accordance with the operation of the operator, that is, the processing of the display image information (step S708). For this reason, the definition information indicates the operation result of the operator performed on the material. Such processing is performed until the layout operation ends (step S709: NO).

FIG. 12 shows an example of a screen of the display device 306 on which the display image information is displayed. This screen is
This is a screen for performing a layout operation on two pieces of image information Im1 and Im2 and one piece of text data Tx1. Each area in this screen and the displayed window will be briefly described.

An area 501 is an area indicating the contents of the current processing stage in the process from layout operation to printing. By clicking the processing button shown here with a mouse or the like, the operator can shift the current processing to that processing. In an area 502, various tool buttons are displayed according to the contents of the processing button clicked in the area 501. In this screen example, the processing steps from the layout operation to the printing are classified into 1) template selection, 2) addition of an image, 3) addition of a text, and 4) printing, but this is only an example. .

An area 503 is a message area.
If a process is selected and the cursor is not positioned on any button, an explanation of what the selected process is for is displayed. When the cursor is positioned on one of the buttons, a description of the function assigned to that button is displayed. An area 504 is a work area for instructing layout such as changing the position and size of displayed image information.

The window 505 is a window whose contents can be switched according to the current processing contents. For example,
It is fixed to the right side of the screen when paper is selected, and becomes a floating window when selecting image information or inputting text data. When the window is floating, display / non-display can be switched by a button on the area 501. Further, it can be set to a non-display state by an X button shown at the upper right of the window 505.

The window 506 displays the image information and text data currently displayed in the area 504 in the Z-Order.
(The axis perpendicular to the screen). Note that by selecting image information or text data on this window 506 and changing the order of the image information or text data, the Z-Ord
The er order can be changed. Window 507 is
This is a window for displaying the whole image of the image information or text data being processed in real time.

In this screen example, the size of the image information displayed in the windows 506 and 507 is smaller than the image information displayed in the area 504. It is assumed that the image information displayed in the windows 506 and 507 has been generated by the Java applet 204a based on the display image information.

FIG. 13 shows an example of the definition information. The definition information includes the Z-Order order of the materials used, and detailed data of each material and additional information (here, a character font). In the case of a character font, the detailed data includes information on the font name, the character string to be displayed, the X and Y coordinates indicating the start position of printing (display), the display width, the height, the rotation, and the color. . In the case of a material, the detailed data includes a URL (Uniform R) indicating a position where print image information is held.
esource Locator), X-coordinate and Y-coordinate indicating the start position of printing (display), display width, height, and rotation. FIG. 13 shows each item only for the text Tx1 and the image information Im1 to simplify the drawing display.

Returning to the description of the processing procedure in FIG. When the input device 305 receives a command to end the layout operation from the operator, the input device 305 sends the command to the Java applet 204
Notify a. The command to end the layout operation is issued, for example, by clicking the “print” button in the area 501 shown in FIG. The Java applet 204a transmits the latest definition information to the server 2 (Step S710).

At this time, the Java applet 204a
When the operator instructs to paste a character font or create an underline on the display image information,
When an additional operation is performed, additional information corresponding to the operation is generated and stored, and the definition information changed according to the operation is defined as an operation result together with the definition information of each material in the server 2.
Send to If the print environment information 308a is not detected, the image control unit 304 sends only the operation result to the server 2. After this, the Java applet 204a
Waits for transmission of the edited image generated and edited from the server 2 according to the transmitted operation result.

The "additional operation" is an operation for adding specific information to a material, and includes, for example, an operation of pasting a character font above or below a material and an operation of underlining the character font. included. “Additional information” means a character font or underline generated by such an addition operation.

Upon receiving the edited image from the server 2, the communication control unit 301 sends the edited image to the Java applet 204a (FIG. 11, step S711). However, since the edited image is encrypted, it must be decrypted by the communication control unit 301 or an encryption processing unit (not shown).
The Java applet 204a sends the edited image to the print control unit 303. When the additional information is created and stored in accordance with the layout operation, the print control unit 303 combines the edited image with the additional information (step S712:
YES, step S713). The print control unit 303 converts the synthesized image or, if no additional information has been sent (step S712: NO), the received edited image,
The print data is converted into print data corresponding to the print device 304, and the print device 304 prints the edited image (step S71).
4, S715). The above is the overall operation of the client system 3.

Next, original image information captured in the client system 3 by a scanner or the like,
Alternatively, a processing procedure of text data created in the client system 3 will be described with reference to FIG.

The image information input by the input device 305 such as a scanner is sent to the Java applet 204a (step S801). The image information and text data created on the client system 3 are also sent to the Java applet 204a. The Java applet 204a stores the transmitted image information and text data in the image file 307 and the character font file 308, respectively, and creates the corresponding definition information (step S802). Further, the Java applet 204a creates display image information from the input image information or text data (step S80).
3). The Java applet 204a changes the screen displayed on the display device 306 using the display image information (step S804).

The above-described processing procedure has been described on the assumption that the operator performs a layout operation. However, the original image information and text data can be input at any time other than during the layout operation.
Image file 307 or character font file 3 by a processing unit (not shown) other than va applet 204a
08 only needs to be stored. However, when the image information or the text data stored in these files is used at the time of the layout operation, the processing of steps S802 and S803 described above is required.

Next, a processing procedure for registering the image information stored in the image file 307 in the server 2 will be described with reference to FIG. The input device 305 receives the instruction of image information registration from the operator, and
Notify the ava applet 204a (step S90)
1). In response to this notification, the Java applet 204a transmits an image information registration request to the server 2 (Step S902). Furthermore, the Java applet 204a
The original image information specified by the operator is read from the image file 307 and transmitted to the server 2 (steps S903 and S904).

After this, the Java applet 204a
Screen information for prompting the operator to enter a keyword characterizing the material of the image information to be registered is displayed on the display device 306. One or more keywords received by the input device 305 are sent to the Java applet 204a. The Java applet 204a transmits the received keyword to the server 2 (Step S906).

According to the above processing procedure, processing for registering the image information input or created in the client system 3 in the server 2 is performed. In the above-described processing procedure, only the original image information is transmitted to the server 2. However, the display image information may be generated in advance in the client system 3 based on the image information, and may be transmitted at the same time. Good.

Next, an example of a screen displayed on the display device 306 of the client system 3 will be described. In this embodiment, during the layout operation, the operator operates the input device 305 to arrange the material at a desired position,
Materials can be added or deleted.

The operations here include: 1) printing environment operation (type of printing device, paper type, paper size, printing method) 2) template selection (frame, background image selection) 3) material selection (photo image, Illustration image) 4) Character selection (font, size, color) 5) Character editing (insertion, movement, rotation, deletion) 6) Content editing (movement, rotation, enlargement, reduction, deletion), etc. are included. The content includes a character font and a material.

FIG. 16 shows an example of a screen for selecting a template. The box 507 is configured so that a general paper size such as A3 or A4 or a size defined by a user can be selected. If there is no particular instruction from the operator, a predetermined size is set by default. In the box 507, the print direction of the paper can be set to “vertical” or “horizontal”. The box 508 indicates a paper feeding method, the box 509 indicates a paper type such as “plain paper” or “photo print paper”, and the box 510 indicates a paper type such as “clean (standard printing)” or “fast (high-speed printing)”. The print mode can be selected and set.

FIG. 17 shows an example of a screen for adding image information. The sheet 511 is provided with a plurality of tabs according to the type of image information. By clicking these tabs, six types of image information of the type specified by the tab are displayed. By clicking the “previous page” button or the “next page” button, image information before and after the displayed image information can be displayed. In the area 512, when any of the image information displayed on the sheet 511 is selected, this image information is enlarged (detailed) and displayed. By operating two types of buttons provided adjacent to the lower left of the area 512, image information displayed in the area 512 can be enlarged or reduced. By clicking the OK button 513, the image information displayed in the area 512 can be displayed on the sheet in the area 504.

When a search button 514 is clicked, the template and image information (material) stored in the server 2 are clicked.
Can be searched. Since the procedure of this search processing has been described above, the description is omitted. FIG. 18 shows a search dialog for inputting conditions necessary for the search. The keyword registration button 515 is already displayed on the server 2
This is a button for the operator to set a keyword for the template or image information stored in the. When this button 515 is clicked, a dialog for inputting a keyword is displayed as shown in FIG.
In this embodiment, the description of the keyword setting operation for the material represented by the image information registered in the server 2 in advance is omitted.

The user image registration button 516 is a button for registering the original image information input or created in the client system 3 in the server 2. When this button is clicked, a dialog as shown in FIG. 20 is displayed to specify image information to be registered and to input a keyword for specifying the image information. In the screen example shown in FIG. 17, various buttons for performing character editing and content editing are provided on the toolbar. The screen for adding text is shown in FIG. 12 referred to earlier in the description. Here, if there is a selected text, the text can be edited. If no text is selected, the newly added text can be edited.

FIG. 21 shows an example of a screen for performing printing. Here, a function as a preview screen for confirmation is realized, and the operation in the area 504 is temporarily suspended. When the execution start button on the toolbar is clicked, printing is started. At this time, a dialog indicating the progress of printing may be displayed.

As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to appropriately provide an edited image according to a customer's request via a network. In particular, in this embodiment, in response to an access request from the client system 3, a predetermined Java
The applet is delivered to the client system 3. Then, mutual communication is performed between the distributed Java applet and the server 2 to support processing from layout operation to printing. Therefore, the load on the server 2 and the client system 3 is reduced. In addition, when editing processing is performed in the server 2, a technique of superimposing compressed image information without completely expanding it is used, so that the processing load on the server 2 is greatly reduced. As a result, it is possible to quickly distribute the edited image via the network.

Also, using a satellite line for the network 4,
When distributing edited images using such a satellite line,
In addition to improving the performance related to transmission, so-called broadcasting that simultaneously provides the same edited image to a plurality of client systems 3 becomes possible. Therefore, when the customer has many branches, the edited image requested by the head office can be distributed to each branch at the same time.

As is clear from the above description, according to this embodiment, an environment in which a layout can be easily created is constructed in the client system, and materials are arranged or placed according to the created layout and other operation results. The superimposed edited image is distributed via a network. More specifically, a system for prompting creation of a layout on the customer side by using image information with a small amount of information, editing the originally used image information according to the operation of the image information, and quickly and efficiently distributing the edited image is easily constructed. can do. In addition, when the editing process is performed, a technique of superimposing the compressed image information without completely expanding the image information is used, so that the load on the editing apparatus is reduced, and the edited image is quickly distributed. .

[0102]

As described above, according to the present invention, a unique effect that an environment for editing image information quickly and efficiently can be easily constructed can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an edited image distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining a state transition of data transmission / reception between a server and a client system of the edited image distribution system.

FIG. 3 is a procedure explanatory diagram for explaining the overall operation of the server.

FIG. 4 is a procedure explanatory diagram for explaining a template / display image providing process of a server.

5A is a diagram illustrating an example of a material number stored in a table of a server and a keyword corresponding thereto, and FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating an example of a template number stored in the table and a keyword corresponding thereto.

FIG. 6 is a procedure explanatory diagram for describing a process according to reception of an operation result of a server.

FIG. 7 is a procedure explanatory diagram for explaining the editing process of the server.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a procedure for explaining image information registration processing of a server.

FIG. 9 is a procedure explanatory diagram for explaining the overall operation of the client system.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating Java executed on a client system.
FIG. 4 is a procedure explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the applet.

FIG. 11 shows Java executed on the client system.
FIG. 4 is a procedure explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the applet.

FIG. 12 is an example of a screen displayed on the display device of the client system.

FIG. 13 is a view showing definition information created in the client system.

FIG. 14 is a procedure explanatory diagram for describing processing of image information and text data acquired in the client system.

FIG. 15 is a procedure explanatory diagram for describing a process of registering image information stored in an image file of a client system in a server.

FIG. 16 is an example of a screen displayed on the display device of the client system.

FIG. 17 shows an example of a screen displayed on the display device of the client system.

FIG. 18 is an example of a dialog displayed on the display device.

FIG. 19 is an example of a dialog displayed on the display device.

FIG. 20 is an example of a dialog displayed on the display device.

FIG. 21 is an example of a screen displayed on the display device of the client system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 edited image distribution system 2 server 3 (3-1 to 3-n) client 4 network 201 communication control unit 202 main control unit 203 image processing unit 203a image search unit 203b image editing unit 203c image registration unit T1 table 204 applet storage unit 205 Template information storage unit 206 Display image information storage unit 207 Print image information storage unit 208 Recording medium 301 Communication control unit 302 Web browser 302a JavaVM 303 Print control unit 304 Printing device 305 Input device 306 Display device 307 Image file 308 Character font file 309 Storage media

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hiroaki Mikami 6-24-1, Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Epson Sales Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5B021 AA01 CC05 EE01 PP04 PP06 5B050 AA08 BA06 BA10 BA20 CA08 DA10 EA19 FA02 FA09 GA08 5C076 AA14 AA17 BA04 CA02

Claims (19)

[Claims] 1. A first image information group each of which expresses a different material and is in a compressed format, and a second image each of which expresses said different material with a smaller data amount than each information of said first image information group. A storage unit in which a group of information is stored; a distribution unit that distributes a predetermined function implementing body to the information processing device in response to an access request from the information processing device having a function of operating image information; Processing means for supporting the operation of image information in the information processing device together with the function realization delivered to the device, and providing the information processing device with image information edited according to the result of the operation; In response to a request for material provision from the information processing apparatus, second image information representing the requested material is read from a second image information group stored in the storage means and the information is read. The first image information transmitted to the information processing device and the operation result of the second image information is obtained, and the first image information representing the requested material is stored in the storage unit. The first image information is edited according to the obtained operation result read from the information group, and the edited image information is transmitted to the information processing apparatus in the compressed format. Image processing device. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit obtains third image information which is a compressed image information representing a desired material and is provided in the information processing apparatus.
In the information processing apparatus, for the fourth image information for expressing the desired material, an operation result operated at the same stage as the operation for the second image information is obtained, and the requested The third image information together with the first image information expressing the material is edited and edited together according to the operation results obtained for the second image information and the fourth image information expressing the requested material. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is configured to transmit the image information to the information processing apparatus in the compressed format. 3. The function realization body is a Java applet, and the information processing apparatus is configured to have a Java virtual terminal function for executing the Java applet. 3. The image processing device according to 2. 4. The storage unit is configured to store feature information indicating a feature of the material for each material in association with each other, and the processing unit receives the request for providing the material from the information processing apparatus. Acquiring the material condition indicating the condition of the requested material, and sending the second image information representing the material corresponding to the request for providing the material to the information processing apparatus in accordance with the degree of matching of the characteristic information with the material condition. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image processing apparatus is configured to transmit the image. 5. The processing means acquires characteristic information indicating characteristics of the desired material together with the third image information,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the desired material and the characteristic information are stored in the storage unit in association with the acquired third image information. 6. The processing means generates image information for expressing the desired material with a smaller data amount than the third image information based on the acquired third image information, and stores the image information in the storage. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the image processing apparatus is configured to store the information in a unit. 7. The processing means acquires characteristic information indicating characteristics of the desired material and the fourth image information together with the third image information, and obtains the desired image information together with the third and fourth image information. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image processing apparatus is configured to store the material and the characteristic information in the storage unit in association with each other. 8. The processing unit according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the requested materials is subjected to at least one of a moving process, an enlarging process, a reducing process, and a deleting process.
2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to edit first image information representing the requested material. 9. A first image information group each representing a different material and in a compressed format, and a second image each representing said different material with a smaller data amount than each information of said first image information group. A communication mechanism that performs two-way communication with an information processing apparatus having a function of handling a group of information in association with each other and distributing a predetermined function implementing body in response to an access request; Means for sending an access request to the device, and means for performing processing for supporting the operation of image information by executing a function realization body distributed in response to the access request in the own device, together with the information processing device. Receiving second image information representing a desired material from the information processing apparatus via the communication mechanism, and displaying screen information for supporting an operation on the second image information; Serial second
It is displayed on a predetermined display device together with the image information, and receives an external operation command for the displayed second image information,
Control means for transmitting an operation result performed thereby to the information processing apparatus and receiving, via the communication mechanism, first image information edited in the information processing apparatus according to the transmitted operation result. An image processing apparatus. 10. A printing unit for printing image information on a predetermined printing device, wherein the control unit is configured to supply edited first image information to the printing unit. The image processing device according to claim 9. 11. A storage unit for expressing a desired material and holding compressed third image information, wherein the control unit sends the third image information to the information processing apparatus. Generating fourth image information representing the desired material based on the third image information, displaying the generated fourth image information on the display device together with the second image information, and operating the displayed fourth image information from outside And sends the operation result together with the operation result for the second image information to the information processing apparatus, and the first and third edited together by the information processing apparatus according to the transmitted operation result.
The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the image processing apparatus is configured to receive image information via the communication mechanism, and to supply the received first and third image information to the printing unit. 12. The image according to claim 9, wherein the function implementing body is a Java applet, and the control means is configured to have a Java virtual terminal function for executing the Java applet. Processing equipment. 13. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control unit is configured to display, as the screen information, information indicating a current processing stage in an operation process on the predetermined display device. The image processing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims. 14. The control device according to claim 1, wherein when a plurality of materials are displayed on the predetermined display device, information indicating a hierarchical relationship between the materials is displayed as the screen information. The image processing device according to claim 9. 15. A method executed in an image processing apparatus for performing two-way communication with an information processing apparatus having a function of operating image information, wherein a predetermined method is performed in response to an access request from the information processing apparatus. J
distributing an ava applet to the information processing apparatus; supporting the operation of the image information in the information processing apparatus together with the distribution destination Java applet; and providing the image information edited according to a result of the operation to the information processing apparatus. A first image information group in a format in which each of the different materials expresses and compresses a different material, and each of the different materials represents the first image information group. In advance, a second image information group expressing a smaller amount of data than each information is stored in advance, and in response to a material provision request from the information processing apparatus, the second image information expressing the requested material is stored in the second image information. 2
A sub-step of reading from the image information group and transmitting it to the information processing apparatus; a sub-step of obtaining an operation result operated on the transmitted second image information; a first image information expressing the requested material The first
Reading from the image information group, editing according to the obtained operation result, and transmitting the edited image information in the compressed format to the information processing apparatus. 16. A first image information group each representing a different material and in a compressed format, and a second image each representing said different material with a smaller data amount than each information of said first image information group. Handles information groups in association with each other,
A method executed in an image processing apparatus that performs two-way communication with an information processing apparatus having a function of distributing a predetermined Java applet in response to an access request, the method including transmitting an access request to the information processing apparatus Receiving a Java applet distributed in response to the access request, and performing a process for supporting operation of image information by executing the Java applet, together with the information processing apparatus, Receiving second image information representing a desired material from the processing device,
A sub-step of displaying, on a predetermined display device, screen information for supporting an operation on the second image information together with the second image information; and accepting an external operation command for the displayed second image information. Transmitting a result of the operation performed by the information processing apparatus to the information processing apparatus;
Receiving the first image information edited in the information processing apparatus according to the transmitted operation result. 17. A first image information group each representing a different material and in a compressed format, and a second image each representing said different material with a smaller data amount than each information of said first image information group. Holding a group of information, and further connecting a first image processing apparatus having a predetermined Java applet and a second image processing apparatus having a function of operating image information via a network so as to be able to communicate with each other, Transmitting an access request from the second image processing device to the first image processing device; distributing the Java applet to the second image processing device by the first image processing device receiving the access request; The second image processing device that receives the applet executes the Java applet, and the second image processing device and the first image processing device that execute the Java applet. And a support step for performing processing for supporting operation of image information with the processing device. In the support step, the second image processing device transmits a request for providing a desired material to the first image processing device. And a sub-step in which the first image processing device that has received the request for providing the material reads out second image information representing the desired material from the second image information group and transmits the second image information to the second image processing device. And the second image processing apparatus that has received the second image information
Along with the image information, screen information for supporting the operation on the second image information is displayed on a predetermined display device, an external operation command for the displayed second image information is received, and the operation result performed thereby is displayed. Sending the first image processing device to the first image processing device, the first image processing device having received the operation result reads out the first image information representing the desired material from the first image information group, and receives the received operation. The first image information is edited according to the result, and the edited image information is converted to a second image in the compressed format.
Transmitting the edited image to the image processing apparatus. 18. A first image which is connected to an information processing apparatus having a function of operating image information so as to be capable of two-way communication, expresses a different material for each different material, and compresses the first image. A program for causing a computer that stores an information group and a second image information group, each of which expresses the different material with a smaller data amount than each information of the first image information group, to execute a process described below is recorded. , Computer readable recording medium. (1) a process of distributing a predetermined Java applet to the information processing device in response to an access request from the information processing device, (2) supporting operation of image information in the information processing device together with a distribution target Java applet, A process of providing the image information edited according to the result of the operation to the information processing apparatus, wherein the second image information representing the requested material is stored in the second The first image information is read from the image information group, transmitted to the information processing apparatus, the operation result of the transmitted second image information is obtained, and the first image information representing the requested material is displayed in the first image information. A process of reading from the group, editing the first image information according to the obtained operation result, and transmitting the edited image information to the information processing apparatus in the compressed format. 19. A first image information group each of which expresses a different material and is in a compressed format, and a second image which each expresses said different material with a smaller data amount than each information of said first image information group. Handles information groups in association with each other,
A computer readable program storing a program for causing a computer having a function of performing two-way communication with an information processing apparatus having a function of distributing a predetermined Java applet in response to an access request to execute the following processing Recording medium. (1) processing for transmitting an access request to the information processing apparatus; (2) Java distributed in response to the access request
a) receiving the applet and executing the Java applet to support the operation of the image information, the processing being performed together with the information processing apparatus, wherein the second image information expressing a desired material is transmitted from the information processing apparatus. Acceptance,
Along with the second image information, screen information for supporting an operation on the second image information is displayed on a predetermined display device, and an external operation command for the displayed second image information is received. Transmitting the operation result to the information processing apparatus, and receiving the first image information edited in the information processing apparatus according to the transmitted operation result.