JP2002318799A - Electronic proofreading system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable both proofreading operation on a screen and conventional proofreading operation in a page space in combination. SOLUTION: A proofreading administrator A sends a document layer to be proofread and bibliographic data to a person B in charge of proofreading. The person B in charge of proofreading when doing proofreading operation on a screen displays the document layer and a proofreading layer one over the other on the screen of a computer Cb inputs proofreading indications directly onto the proofreading layer and sends the proofreading layer including the proofreading indications back to the proofreading administrator A. When proofreading operation is done in a page space, on the other hand, an object proofread image 11 in the document layer is outputted on a document 10 for proofreading by a printer 100, proofreading indications 14 are written in special ink, and only the image of the proofreading indications 14 is read-in onto the proofreading layer by a scanner 200 which can selectively input the wavelength of the special ink and sent back to the proofreading administrator A. The bibliographic data are outputted as a bar code 12 and read-in again.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic proofreading system, and more particularly, to an electronic proofreading system for performing a proofreading operation by transmitting and receiving, as image information, a document to be proofread and a proofreading instruction to the proofreading document using a network. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art DTP (Desk Top Publishing)
2.) With the spread of technology, printed manuscripts are often created in the form of electronic manuscripts using a computer. In this case, the manuscript for proofreading is generally distributed in the form of digital data called an electronic manuscript, and the person in charge of proofreading displays the electronic manuscript to be calibrated on a screen of a display and displays the manuscript on the screen. Calibration work. Normally, a document layer for displaying image information of a document to be proofread and a proof layer for writing a proofreading instruction are separately provided, and proofreading is performed by superimposing and displaying these two layers on a display screen. An electronic calibration system is available that can be used. In such a system, the proofreader writes a proofreading instruction using a circle, a rectangle, an arbitrary curve, or the like while looking at the manuscript displayed on the display screen, or adds a marker at a predetermined position, Calibration work can proceed. That is, the proofreader writes on the proofreading layer using various annotation tools. In the case of actual commercial printed materials, proofreading is generally performed by multiple proofreaders.In this case, a dedicated proofreading layer is provided for each proofreader, and the responsibility of each proofreader is determined. There are also things that will be revealed. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-195033 discloses a technique in which a password is locked for each calibration layer to clarify the responsibility of each calibration person.

[0003] In a general case of producing a commercial print, an ordering company requests a production company to create a specific print, and the production company that undertakes the production prepares a print manuscript, and sends the manuscript to the ordering company. Back to request calibration. In this case, proofreading is often performed by a plurality of persons in the ordering company, and a proofreading manager of the production company needs to make a proofreading request to each of the plurality of proofreaders. In the case of electronic manuscripts, it has become possible to send proofreading manuscripts to proofreaders using e-mail, etc., but if there are multiple proofreaders, request proofreading to each person Processing and handling of proofread manuscripts from each person in charge must be very complicated. It is also difficult to grasp the progress of the proofreading work for one printed matter.

[0004] In the specification of Japanese Patent Application No. 11-373540, the calibration work can be performed while smoothly coordinating with the calibration staff, and the progress of the calibration work can be easily grasped. An electronic calibration system using a network capable of performing the calibration is disclosed. In an electronic proofreading system using this network, a proofreading operation can be performed by transmitting and receiving a document to be proofread and a proofreading instruction thereto as image information. First, the proofreading administrator sends the manuscript to be proofed to the proofreading staff via the network. While displaying the received document image on the display screen, the proofreader writes necessary calibration instructions on the document on this screen. This proofreading instruction is taken into a proofreading layer provided separately from the manuscript layer including the manuscript image. Therefore, when the proofreading operation is completed, the proofreading layer may be transmitted to the proofreading manager via the network. Even when there are multiple proofreaders, the proofreader will send the proofreading layers created by each proofreader through the network. Calibration processing can be performed.

[0005]

In general, if an electronic proofreading system is used, it is not necessary to perform a proofreading operation using a physical paper medium as in a conventional proofing process. It can be handled as image information, and a very efficient calibration process becomes possible as a whole.
In particular, when proofreading by many proofreaders located at geographically distant places is required, original images and proofreading instructions can be sent and received via the network, and proofreading progress can be managed. In this case, the management can be performed in a unified manner.

However, there are still problems to be solved in order to realistically introduce an electronic calibration system using such a network. In other words, when the above-described electronic calibration system is introduced, the conventional calibration work on a physical paper medium has to be abolished, and each calibrator must perform the calibration work on a display screen of a computer. Must. However, such a proofreading operation using a computer is not acceptable to all proofreaders. A business site that issues commercial prints that require proofreading by multiple proofreaders,
In order to introduce such an electronic proofreading system, it is necessary to have all proofreaders approve to perform the proofreading work on the display screen. If the calibration work is refused, it is difficult to introduce such an electronic calibration system smoothly.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic calibration system that enables calibration work on a physical sheet medium such as paper.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems (1) In a first aspect of the present invention, a proofreading operation is performed by transmitting and receiving, as image information, a document to be proofread and a proofreading instruction thereto, using a network. In the electronic calibration system to be advanced, it has a function that can be connected to the network, a computer for calibration work installed under the proofreader who is in charge of writing the calibration instructions, and a function that can be connected to the network, A calibration management computer installed under a proofreading manager who makes a proofreading request to a proofreading clerk, and the proofreading management computer has at least a document for preparing a document layer including image information of the document. A layer preparation function, a transmission function of transmitting data relating to the original layer to a proofreading computer via a network, and a proofreading function. Prepare a proofreading function that receives the data related to the completed calibration layer transmitted from the work computer via the network, and a display function that superimposes the original layer and the completed calibration layer on the same screen. The work computer has at least a reception function for receiving data on the document layer transmitted from the proofreading management computer via the network, and printing the image information of the document included in the document layer on a sheet-like medium. Media output function to output,
An indirect input function that extracts and inputs the calibration instructions written on the sheet-like medium as image information different from the image information of the original, and fills in by reading the image information consisting of the entered calibration instructions on the calibration layer A prepared calibration layer creation function of creating a completed calibration layer and a transmission function of transmitting the created completed calibration layer data to a calibration management computer via a network are provided.

(2) The second aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned first aspect.
In the electronic proofreading system according to the aspect, the proofreading management computer further has a proofreading layer addition function of adding a blank proofreading layer for receiving a proofreading instruction, and together with the data relating to the manuscript layer, the blank proofreading layer Has the function of transmitting data on the proofreading computer to the proofreading computer, and the proofreading computer receives the data on the blank proofing layer together with the data on the manuscript layer, and the image information comprising the proofreading instructions on this blank proofreading layer Is read to create a completed proofing layer.

(3) The third aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned first aspect.
Alternatively, in the electronic proofreading system according to the second aspect, the proofreading computer further has a display function of superimposing and displaying the original layer and the proof layer on the same screen.

(4) The fourth aspect of the present invention is the above-described third aspect.
In the electronic proofreading system according to the aspect, the proofreading computer has a function of inputting a proofreading instruction, in addition to an indirect input function, a proofreader in a state where a manuscript layer and a proofreading layer are superimposed on the same screen. The operator has a direct input function to directly input the calibration instruction by specifying a predetermined position on the screen, and select either the indirect input function or the direct input function according to the preference of the calibrator Thus, a completed proofing layer can be created.

(5) The fifth aspect of the present invention is the fourth aspect of the present invention.
In the electronic proofreading system according to the aspect, under a plurality of proofreaders, each of the proofreading computers is installed, and each of the proofreading computers has a filled-in proofreading layer unique to each proofreader. The proofreading management computer treats the manuscript layer and the plurality of completed proofreading layers as separate layers, and allows arbitrary layers to be combined and superimposed on the same screen. At least one of the plurality of proofreading computers is provided with an indirect input function, and at least one of the plurality of proofreading computers is provided with a direct input function. The filled proof layer and the filled proof layer created by using the direct input function are mixed. Ri is obtained by to be treated.

(6) The sixth aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned first aspect.
In the electronic proofreading systems according to the fifth to fifth aspects, the proofreading management computer has a function of preparing bibliographic data associated with the manuscript layer together with the data relating to the manuscript layer and transmitting the bibliographic data to the proofreading computer. When a computer for printing prints and outputs image information of a document included in a document layer on a sheet-like medium, the computer has a function of printing and outputting bibliographic data in a margin.

(7) The seventh aspect of the present invention is the above-described sixth aspect.
In the electronic proofreading system according to the aspect, the computer for proofreading, the bibliographic data, a form of character information suitable for visual confirmation by a proofreader, a form of code information suitable for the computer to recognize, Has the function of printing and outputting on a sheet medium by the two methods described above, and by optically reading code information printed on the sheet medium, the code information is output on the sheet medium. Recognizes bibliographic data that has been recognized, and attaches the recognized bibliographic data to a proofreading layer created based on this sheet-like medium.
This has a function of transmitting this to the computer for calibration management.

(8) The eighth aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned first aspect.
In the electronic proofreading systems according to the seventh to seventh aspects, the proofreading computer recognizes the time when the proofreading instruction is input as image information from the sheet-like medium as the calibration completion time, and is created based on the sheet-like medium. The proofreading layer has a function of attaching data indicating the recognized proofreading completion time and transmitting the data to the proofreading management computer.

(9) The ninth aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned first aspect.
In the electronic proofreading systems according to the eighth to eighth aspects, the indirect input function of the proofreading computer uses a calibration instruction written in special ink on a sheet-like medium as optical information as image information different from image information of a document. This is realized by selectively inputting using a method.

(10) According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic proofreading system according to the ninth aspect, a special ink having a property of selectively emitting light in a specific wavelength region on a sheet-like medium is provided. A built-in writing instrument for calibration is prepared, and a calibration instruction can be written on a sheet-like medium using the writing instrument for calibration.

(11) According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the electronic calibration system according to the ninth aspect, the calibration work computer selectively exhibits high sensitivity to light in a specific wavelength region. It has a scanner device having a built-in light receiving means, and is capable of inputting image information input using the light receiving means as image information including a calibration instruction.

(12) According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic proofreading system according to any one of the first to eighth aspects described above, the indirect input function of the proofreading computer uses image information of a document and an image of a proofreading instruction. After inputting the combined image information with the information from the sheet-like medium using an optical method, using the method of extracting the image information of the calibration instruction as the difference information between the combined image information and the image information of the document It is intended to be realized.

(13) According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic proofreading system according to the first aspect described above, the image information of the document included in the document layer is also stored on the sheet-like medium on the proofreading management computer side. A media output function for printing and outputting the calibration instructions written on the sheet-like medium, an indirect input function for extracting and inputting the calibration information as image information different from the image information of the original, and A filled-in proofing layer creation function for creating a filled-out proofing layer by reading image information
Is provided.

(14) According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic proofreading system according to the first aspect described above, the proofreading computer transmits image information of the original included in the original layer using facsimile. A first conversion function for converting into a suitable format, a facsimile transmission function for transmitting the image information converted by the first conversion function to a facsimile installed under a proofreader via a communication line, A facsimile reception function to receive "image information with calibration instructions" sent from a facsimile installed by the proofreader via a communication line, and an "image with calibration instructions" received "Information" into image information of the same format as the image information of the original, and a proofreading instruction included in the image information converted by the second conversion function. An indirect input function for extracting and inputting image information different from image information, and a filled-in proofing layer creation function for creating a filled-in proofing layer by reading image information consisting of input proofing instructions on the proofing layer. , Are provided.

(15) According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic proofreading system according to the thirteenth or fourteenth aspect, the indirect input function of the proofreading management computer is adapted to provide the image information of the document and the image of the proofreading instruction. This is realized by using a method of extracting image information of a calibration instruction as difference information between composite image information including both information and image information of a document.

(16) According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, a program for operating a computer is prepared as a computer for calibration work which is a component of the electronic calibration system according to the first to twelfth aspects. This is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below based on an embodiment shown in the drawings. The present invention relates to the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application No.
The invention is an improvement of the electronic calibration system (hereinafter referred to as the system according to the prior application) disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent Application No. 1-373540, and its object is to add a physical function to the basic function of the system according to the prior application. Another object of the present invention is to add an additional function that enables a proofreading operation on a medium. Therefore, here, in §1, the basic configuration of the system according to the prior application is described, and in §2, the basic calibration work in the system according to the prior application (a proofreader issues a proofreading instruction on a computer screen). Calibration work on the premise of inputting)
And the procedure described in §3, calibration work by a plurality of proofreaders (assuming that all proofreaders input a calibration instruction on a computer screen)
And the function of the calibration server suitable for use in the system according to the prior application will be described in §4. Then, in the last §5, additional functions for achieving the object of the present invention will be described.

§1. Basic Configuration of System According to Prior Application FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of an electronic calibration system according to the above-mentioned prior application. Here, an example in which three business entities, a calibration system providing company X, a production company Y, and an ordering company Z, use this calibration system will be described. The production company Y is a company engaged in contracting the production of various printed materials, and performs a job of creating a manuscript of a printed material based on a request from the ordering company Z. The manuscript created by the production company Y is sent to the ordering company Z, and is calibrated by a proofreading person of the ordering company Z. The production company Y corrects the manuscript based on the proofreading result, and submits the final manuscript to a printing company (not shown). The final product is delivered to the ordering company Z. The calibration system providing company X is a company engaged in providing an electronic calibration system capable of smoothly performing a series of calibration work performed between the production company Y and the ordering company Z. Provides a part of the calibration server S owned by the company for the calibration work between the production company Y and the ordering company Z, and also provides each company with the software necessary for using the electronic calibration system. I do.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is a system suitable for facilitating the use of a relatively small-scale production company Y. Some are provided for the electronic calibration system. However, if the production company Y or the ordering company Z can use the server owned by the company used on the intranet or the like as the calibration server S, the calibration system provider X does not need to provide the calibration server. Absent. For example, if a relatively large-scale printing company or the like becomes the production company Y, a server owned by the printing company itself can be used as the proofreading server S.

Terminal devices serving as clients to the calibration server S are installed at the production company Y and the ordering company Z, and these are connected via the network N. In the illustrated example, the production company Y has a client Ca
However, clients Cb, Cc, and Cd are installed in the ordering company Z. Each of these clients Ca to Cd can be realized by installing a dedicated application program for executing each function described later on a general-purpose personal computer. Each client Ca-C
d needs to have a function of connecting to the calibration server S via the network N. If the Internet is used as the network N, a general Internet connection function provided in a general-purpose personal computer is used. Can be used as is. Of course, these general-purpose personal computers can also be used by installing various application programs unrelated to the electronic calibration system. Note that each of the clients Ca to Cd
Is not only a so-called computer main body, but also peripheral devices such as a printer and a scanner device are connected as necessary. "Computer" in the present specification
Is used as a concept including peripheral devices connected as necessary.

The illustrated example is a proofreading administrator A in a production company Y.
This is an example of a system configuration in a case where a plurality of proofreaders B, C, and D in an ordering company Z perform proofreading, respectively, in a role of supervising and managing a series of proofreading operations. . Here, it is assumed that the proofreaders B, C, and D belong to the planning department, the production department, and the design department, respectively, in the ordering company Z for convenience of explanation. In this case, the client Ca is operated by the proofreading manager A in the production company Y, and the clients Cb, C
c and Cd are operated by proofreaders B, C and D in the ordering company Z. Of course, the system configuration shown here is an example, and for example, the proofreaders B and C may share one client.

[0029] §2. Basic Calibration Work Subsequently, while describing the procedure of the basic calibration work using the electronic calibration system shown in FIG.
d and the functions of the calibration server S will be described.
As described above, the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 shows an example in which the proofreading is performed by three proofreaders B, C, and D in the ordering company Z, but here, for convenience, first, FIG. 2 shows a procedure for performing calibration by the calibration staff B.
This will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. In this case, the client Cb in the ordering company Z becomes the client for the calibration work,
The client Ca in the production company Y is the client for proofreading management. The proofreading client is proofreader B
And the operation of writing the calibration instruction is performed. On the other hand, the proofreading management client is operated by the proofreading manager A, and performs a task of requesting the proofreading staff B to perform proofreading.

First, in step S1 in the flowchart of FIG. 2, processing for preparing a document layer is performed. In the system according to the prior application, the original to be proofread is displayed on the screen of the display, and it is premised that the proof work is performed on this screen. The proofreading information for this document is also created as electronic proofreading information composed of digital data. In addition, the document information is handled as a document layer, and the proofreading information is handled as a proofreading layer. The preparation work of the manuscript layer performed in step S1 is a work of preparing image information of the manuscript as digital data on the manuscript layer. Generally, DTP
The document creation process in is performed using special page layout software, and the characters, photos,
Image information (page information) including illustrations and the like is filed in a format unique to the used page layout software. However, recently, as a common format for distributing documents, the PDF (Portable Document Format) format proposed by Adobe in the United States has become widespread. PDF format image data is used. Therefore, the process of step S1 can be said to be a process of writing image information of a document created using arbitrary page layout software as PDF format data. In the software constituting the electronic proofreading system, the data in the PDF format thus written out is handled as information of the document layer.

Here, an example in which the ordering company Z is a confectionery maker, and the confectionery maker has requested the production company Y to print a new package of the outer package of the chocolate bar will be described below. . The production company Y designs the exterior package of the plate chocolate in consideration of the request of the ordering company Z, and prepares a manuscript for printing.
Since such a manuscript creation step is not the gist of the present invention, a detailed description thereof will be omitted here.
As described above, image information is created using dedicated page layout software. This image information is written out as data in PDF format, and is handled as a document layer in the proofreading management client Ca. Here, it is assumed that the document layer La as shown in FIG. 3 has been created by the proofreading administrator A. The upper half of the original layer La indicates a printed original on the front side of the outer package of the plate chocolate, and the lower half indicates the printed original on the back side.

Next, in step S2, the proofreading administrator A performs a process of adding a blank proofreading layer. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, a proofreading layer Lb is added to the document layer La prepared in step S1. This proofreading layer Lb is a layer for having the proofreader B write a proofreading instruction. At this time, the proofreading instruction has not been written. The “layer” in the present invention means image information (including various information to be printed such as characters, graphics, and photographs) expressed on one plane, and includes a document layer and a proofreading layer. Is superimposed on the display screen of the personal computer for calibrating each client.

Subsequently, the proofreading manager A determines in step S3 that the manuscript layer La and the blank proofreading layer L
b is transmitted to the proofreader B. That is,
The document layer La and the blank proof layer Lb prepared in the proofreading management client Ca are transmitted to the proofreading client Cb via the network N. In the embodiment shown here, a calibration server S is provided by a calibration system provider X as shown in FIG. The proofreading server S has functions as a file server, a database server, and a Web server. The process of step S3 is executed using the function of the proofreading server S as a file server. That is, the client Ca prepares data relating to the document layer La and the blank calibration layer Lb to be transmitted as a file, and transfers the file to the calibration server S using a file transfer protocol (FTP). By this transfer process, the proofreading manager A has requested the proofreader B to perform the proofreading.

As described above, steps S1 to S3 in FIG. 2 are processes performed by the proofreading administrator A operating the proofreading management client Ca. In other words, the proofreading management client Ca
Is installed with software having a function of performing steps S1 to S3.
(As described later, the software installed in the calibration management client Ca also has a function of performing the processing of steps S7 and S8).

On the other hand, the calibration work client Cb (C
The software having the function of performing the processing of steps S4 to S6 in FIG. 2 is installed in “c” and “Cd”. First, in step S4, the proofreader B performs a process of receiving the document layer La and the blank proof layer Lb. As described above, these data are stored as files in the proofreading server S, so that the work may be transferred to the proofreading client Cb using the file transfer protocol (FTP).

Subsequently, the proofreader B performs actual proofreading work in step S5. That is, an operation of writing a necessary calibration instruction to the received calibration layer Lb is performed. At this time, the manuscript layer La and the proofreading layer Lb are superimposed and displayed on the screen of the personal computer constituting the client Cb. This is the task of writing over. In other words, on the screen on which the manuscript layer La and the proofreading layer Lb are superimposed, the proofreader B inputs a proofreading instruction while specifying a predetermined position using an input device such as a mouse. Will do. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a display mode of the display screen after performing such a calibration operation. Three places shown in bold letters are proofreading instructions (movement and replacement of character strings) written by proofreader B. The screen display as shown in FIG.
This is the result of superimposing and displaying the manuscript layer La and the proofreading layer Lb. In the proofreading client Cb, these two layers are treated as separate layers. That is, inside the client Cb, the document layer La composed of image information as shown in FIG. 3 and the calibration layer Lb composed of image information as shown in FIG. 6 are treated as separate layers. All the information of the proofreading instruction written by the proofreader B is taken into the proofreading layer Lb shown in FIG.

Various annotation tools are known as tools for inputting such a calibration instruction. For example, tools for drawing figures such as rectangles, circles, and ellipses, tools for drawing arbitrary free curves, tools for inputting arbitrary characters, and the like are used as annotation tools. Adobe's "Acrobat ver. 4.0", which is used as standard software for handling documents in PDF format, has a proofreading input function using such an annotation tool as standard, and in this embodiment, The calibration work of step S5 can be performed by directly using the calibration instruction input function provided in "Acrobat ver. 4.0".

When the proofreader B writes the proofreading instruction in this manner, the unfilled proofreading layer Lb becomes a completed proofreading layer as shown in FIG. When the proofreader B completes the proofreading work in this way, the proofreader B performs a process of transmitting the completed proofreading layer Lb to the proofreading management client Ca. More specifically, the proofreading client Cb transmits the data on the completed proofreading layer Lb to the network N according to the proofreading instruction from the proofreader B.
Has a transmission function to transmit to the calibration management client Ca via the, calibration clerk B clicks the "calibration complete" button displayed on the display screen,
When the proofreading completion instruction is given, only the completed proofreading layer Lb is automatically transmitted to the proofreading management client Ca. As described above, the function of separately transmitting only the calibration layer Lb is useful for efficient data transmission. In other words, the proofreading result becomes meaningful only when the original layer La and the proofreading layer Lb are superimposed and displayed on the same screen as shown in FIG. Since data relating to the document layer La exists, it is sufficient to transmit only the proof layer Lb separately. Since the transmission process of the calibration layer Lb is also performed via the calibration server S, the calibration work client Cb transfers the data of the calibration layer Lb to the calibration server S using a file transfer protocol. Processing may be performed.

The proofreading management client Ca installed in the production company Y receives the data on the completed proofreading layer Lb transmitted from the proofreading client Cb in the ordering company Z via the network N. Has a function. Actually, the data stored in the calibration server S is taken into the calibration management client Ca. The proofreading administrator A can receive the filled-in proofreading layer Lb in step S7 using this receiving function. Although only the proofreading instruction as shown in FIG. 6 is written in the completed proofreading layer Lb received in this way, the proofreading management client Ca indicates that the manuscript layer La and the completed proofreading layer Lb are the same. A display function is provided for superimposed display on the screen. Therefore, the proofreading administrator A can obtain an image as shown in FIG. 5 by superimposing and displaying the manuscript layer La and the filled-in proofreading layer Lb using this display function. The proofreading administrator A understands the proofreading instruction from the proofreading operator B from such an image, and makes necessary corrections to the document. In the illustrated example, the contents of the original as shown in FIG. 3 are corrected as shown in FIG. Such a correction operation is performed using page layout software that has performed a document creation process.

Thus, the first calibration by the calibration operator B is completed. If the second calibration is necessary, then the document layer including the corrected image information as shown in FIG. 7 is used as the document layer prepared in step S1, and the procedure of the flowchart of FIG. 2 is repeated. Just execute it.

§3. Proofreading work by a plurality of persons Now, in §2, a basic proofreading procedure in which proofreading is performed only by the proofreader B is shown. However, in actual commercial printing, proofreading is performed by a plurality of proofreaders. It is common. In this case, it is preferable to install a calibration client for each of a plurality of proofreaders (a physically identical personal computer may be used as a shared client for a plurality of proofreaders). The example shown in FIG. 1 is an example in which proofreading is performed by three proofreaders B belonging to the planning department of the ordering company Z, proofreaders C belonging to the production department, and proofreaders D belonging to the design department. Yes, each calibration work client Cb, Cc, Cd
Are connected to the calibration management client Ca via the network N. In this way, when there are a plurality of proofreaders, a separate proofreading layer is added to each proofreader by the proofreading layer adding function in the proofreading management client Ca. This is important in clarifying the responsibilities of each calibrator.

When the calibration work is performed by a plurality of persons in this manner, a method of performing a calibration work generally called "shotgun flow" and a method of performing a calibration work called "serial workflow" are known. I have. The former method is a method in which a plurality of proofreaders simultaneously perform proofreading work, and a proofreading manager supervises and manages these works. On the other hand, the latter method is a method in which the execution order of the calibration work is determined for a plurality of calibration personnel, and the calibration instructions are written in order. The former method increases the burden on the proofreading manager, but does not affect the proofreading work of another proofreader even if the proofreading work of one proofreader is delayed. On the other hand, the latter method reduces the burden on the calibration manager, but delays the calibration work of a single calibration staff affects the calibration staff in the later order, and causes a so-called “bottleneck”. There is a problem that occurs. As described above, each method has advantages and disadvantages, but the electronic calibration system shown here is applicable to any of these methods.

First, a description will be given of a work procedure in the system according to the prior application in a case where a method called “shot gun flow” is adopted. In this case, the procedure shown in FIG. 2 may be executed in parallel for each proofreader. First, a manuscript layer is prepared in step S1, and an unfilled proof layer is added in step S2. At this time, a separate proof layer may be added for each proofreader. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, three blank blank proof layers L
b, Lc, and Ld will be added. These blank proofreading layers Lb, Lc, Ld are proofreading layers for proofreaders B, C, D, respectively. continue,
In step S3, the manuscript layer and the unfilled proofreading layer are transmitted. At this time, when the transmission is performed to the ith proofreading clerk, the unfilled blank added for the ith proofreading clerk is transmitted. A proofreading layer is selected, and processing for transmitting information on the manuscript layer and the selected blank proofreading layer is performed. In the case of the above example, only the data relating to the manuscript layer La and the unfilled proof layer Lb are selectively transmitted to the proofreading client Cb, and the manuscript layer La and the unrecorded data are transmitted to the proofreading client Cc. Only the data related to the filled-in proofreading layer Lc is selectively transmitted, and only the data related to the manuscript layer La and the unfilled proofreading layer Ld are selectively transmitted to the proofreading client Cd.

On the other hand, the processing of each calibration staff receiving these data is exactly the same as the procedure described in §2. That is, in step S4, a manuscript layer and an unfilled proof layer (for oneself) are received, and in step S4
In the proofreading operation in Step 5, writing to the proofreading layer is performed, and the completed proofreading layer is transmitted in Step S6. Here, it is assumed that, for example, a proofreader B in the planning section has entered a proofreading instruction as shown in FIG. In this case, the proofreader B sends a completed proofreading layer Lb as shown in FIG. Further, if the proofreader C in the production section writes a proofreading instruction as shown in FIG. 9, the completed proofreading layer Lc as shown in FIG. If the person in charge D enters a proofreading instruction as shown in FIG. 11, a completed proofreading layer Ld as shown in FIG. 12 is transmitted.

Subsequently, the proofreading manager A receives the completed proofreading layer in step S7.
0, filled calibration layers Lb, L as shown in FIG.
c and Ld will be received. The proofreading management client Ca has a display function for selectively superimposing and displaying an arbitrary layer. If this function is used, proofreading for each proofreader as shown in FIGS. 5, 9, and 11 can be performed. The instructions can be displayed on the screen, or they can all be displayed on the same screen.

Next, an operation procedure in the electronic calibration system according to the present invention in a case where a procedure called a “serial workflow” is adopted will be described. In this case, the proofreading manager A first needs to determine the execution order of the proofreading work for a plurality of proofreaders. here,
For example, suppose that it has been decided that the proofreading work is to be performed in the order of proofreaders B → C → D. The calibration management client Ca has an execution order setting function for setting the execution order of the calibration work for a plurality of calibration staffs. Is set to the client Ca in advance. After that, the procedure shown in FIG. 2 may be repeatedly executed by the number of proofreaders.

That is, first, the first proofreader B
The procedure shown in FIG. In this case, in step S2, a proofreading layer Lb dedicated to the proofreader B is added. In addition, the operations in steps S4 to S6 are to be executed by the proofreader B using the proofreading client Cb. In step S7, the completed proofreading layer Lb is received. Thus, proofreader B
Is completed, the second calibration technician C executes the calibration work. First, in step S2, a proofreading layer Lc dedicated to the proofreader C is added, and the proofreader C performs the operations of steps S4 to S6. In step S7, the completed proofreading layer Lc is received. Finally, the third proofreader D performs the proofreading operation in the same manner. First,
In step S2, a proofreading layer Ld dedicated to the proofreader D
Are added, and steps S4 to S6 are performed by the proofreader D.
Is performed, and in step S7, the completed calibration layer Ld is received.

In order to smoothly perform such “serial workflow” type work, it is convenient to provide the calibration management client Ca with the following special functions. The first function is a function for executing a transmission function to the (i + 1) -th proofreader on condition that data on the completed proofreading layer from the i-th proofreader is received. is there. For example, in the case of the above example, the transmission function for the proofreaders C and D is not executed until the completed proofreading layer Lb from the proofreader B is received. In this case, if the proofreading administrator A erroneously tries to execute transmission outside the above conditions, an error message or the like may be displayed and the transmission command may be rejected.

The second function is to execute the transmission function for the (i + 1) -th proofreader by using the (i +
1) This is a function of transmitting the data on the completed calibration layer for the i-th and earlier proofreaders, together with the data on the unfilled proof layer for the proofreader. For example, in the case of the above-described example, the completed proofreading layer Lb is received from the proofreading person B, and subsequently, when the proofreading person C is transmitted, the manuscript layer La and the proofreading person C exclusive The completed calibration layer Lb is transmitted in addition to the completed calibration layer Lc. In other words, in step S3, the manuscript layer La and the blank proof layer Lc
In addition, the transmission of the completed calibration layer Lb is executed. Accordingly, in step S4, all these layers will be received. If the proofreading client Cc is provided with a function of superimposing and displaying all these layers, the proofreader C can perform the proofreading work with the display as shown in FIG. 5 on the screen. it can. In other words, the proofreader B can proceed with the proofreading work by looking at the proofreading instruction of the proofreader B and adding his own proofreading instruction thereto.

In exactly the same way, the calibration client Cd
For manuscript layer La and filled proof layer L
b, Lc and the blank calibration layer Ld are transmitted, and the proofreader D adds his own proofreading instructions to the proofreaders B and C while looking at the proofreading instructions of the proofreaders B and C. Work can proceed. Of course, the data transmitted from the calibration work clients Cb, Cc, and Cd to the calibration management client Ca only needs to be the data of the filled-in calibration layers Lb, Lc, and Ld, respectively.

As another method of performing the “serial workflow” type work, when the proofreading by the i-th proofreader is completed, the manuscript layer and the proofreading layer written by the proofreader before the i-th are read. Can be directly transferred from the i-th proofreader to the (i + 1) -th proofreader (without returning to the proofreading administrator). When such a method is employed, in the example of FIG. 1, after the data transfer from the calibration manager A to the calibration staff B is performed, the data transfer from the calibration staff B to the calibration staff C is performed. The data transfer from the proofreader C to the proofreader A is performed. In this case, the proofreading administrator A may add three unfilled proofreading layers Lb, Lc, and Ld to the manuscript layer La in advance, and transmit the proofreading clients Cb, Cc, C
If a function for adding an unfilled proofreading layer is provided on the d side, each proofreader can perform a process of adding a proofreading layer required for his / her proofreading work before the work.

When the proofreading work is performed by a plurality of proofreaders in this manner, it is preferable that priorities are set in the proofreading instructions of the proofreaders. In particular, when the above-described “shot gun flow” type operation is performed, a plurality of calibration personnel may write different calibration instructions for the same target. In this case, when the proofreading administrator A corrects the manuscript, it is desirable that the proofreading administrator A can easily recognize which proofreading instruction contents should be corrected. Therefore, when a plurality of proofreading layers are added by the proofreading layer adding function in the proofreading management client Ca, the plurality of proofreading layers are provided with a priority setting function of setting the priority of the contents of the proofreading instruction. If this is done, for example, when the superimposed display in step S8 is performed, it is also possible to perform color-based display such as red → yellow → green from the layer with the highest priority to distinguish it.

§4. Additional Function of Calibration Server As described above, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the calibration server S has a function as a file server, and the calibration management client Ca and the calibration work client Cb, Cc, and Cd can mutually transfer data. In this system, the calibration server S is further provided with a database server function and a Web server function so that additional services can be provided to clients.

First, the data transmitted and received between each client is stored as a database in the calibration server S together with the history of transmission and reception by the database server function. For example, in the case of the example described in §3, the data regarding the manuscript layer La and the proofreading layers Lb, Lc, and Ld are all transmitted and received via the proofreading server S. It is stored in a database in the calibration server S. At this time, since the transmission / reception history is also stored in the database, information as to when and when each piece of data was transferred from which client to which client is stored as a database. In this way, the contents stored in the database are provided in response to a request from the client (in practice, it is provided only to a client having a specific access right by a request such as a password. Is preferred).

In general, in proofreading work for commercial printing, it is important to clarify the responsibility of each proofreader. If you use the database server function described above, which proofreader gave when and what kind of calibration instruction,
Is stored in the calibration server S, and such information can be confirmed whenever necessary.

The information stored as a database in the calibration server S can be used to confirm the progress of the calibration work. Therefore, in this system, a Web server function is added to the calibration server S, and progress information indicating the progress of the calibration work is created, and the progress information is created and displayed on the Web.
It can be provided as data. In the embodiment described so far, an example in which the ordering company Z is a confectionery maker and the printed document of the exterior package of the new product chocolate bar is calibrated has been described. In general, print requests are made in a simultaneous manner, and the production company Y also generally receives print requests from ordering companies other than the ordering company Z.
In view of such circumstances, it is very convenient to be able to check the progress of the calibration work for each product (in this case, the exterior package of a specific confectionery).

The form in which the progress information of the calibration work is concretely presented is a matter to be appropriately determined in accordance with the operation situation of each system. I will show you. The example shown in FIG. 13 is an example in which progress information is presented in a table format for each product of the same ordering company Z. For each product,
A list of product names, calibration start dates, calibration deadlines, the progress of calibration work, the number of calibrations, and the like are displayed. Some of this information is provided by the proofreading administrator A to the proofreading management client C.
Although there is information to be input from a, there is also information that can be automatically acquired by the calibration server S without the calibration administrator A making any input. Since the proofreading server S can monitor the transmission and reception of data between each client, for example, the proofreading date of the manuscript layer and the proofreading layer for a specific product is transferred from the proofreading administrator to the proofreader. Or automatically recognize that the proofreading is completed when the completed proofreading layer is returned from the proofreading manager to the proofreading manager. FIG.
The example shown in FIG. 4 is a presentation example of detailed progress information on a specific product. In this example, the name, department, and progress of three proofreaders are shown in a table format for the product "Chocolate" Snowflakes "".

Using the Web server function of the calibration server S, a display screen as shown in FIG. 13 or FIG. 14 is created, provided as Web data (for example, HTML format data), and each client is provided with a Web browser function. , The progress information can be browsed by each client. In practice,
A link is provided for each screen that presents progress information. For example, when a product name “chocolate“ snow grains ”” is clicked on the display screen shown in FIG. 13, a detailed display as shown in FIG. 14 appears. It is preferable to do so. Of course, the progress information can be presented in various forms other than the display example shown here. For example, a calendar is displayed on the screen, and various progress information is displayed in each schedule column on the calendar. Other things are possible.

§5. The basic configuration and the basic calibration work procedure of the system according to the prior application have been described above as well as the additional functions according to the present invention . As can be seen from this work procedure, in order to introduce the system according to the prior application, it is assumed that each of the proofreaders B, C, and D will perform proofreading work on the display screen of the computer. Therefore,
If any one of the three proofreaders B, C, and D shows difficulty in performing the proofreading operation on the display screen, he / she hesitates to introduce the system according to the earlier application. Will not get. The basic idea of the present invention is to solve such a problem by providing proofreading on a physical sheet-like medium such as paper or film, if necessary, to the proofreading client computers Cb, Cc and Cd. For proofreaders who provide additional functions that enable work and show reluctance in proofreading work on the display screen,
By using this additional function, the user can perform calibration work on a physical sheet-like medium such as paper as in the past, and use the result of the calibration work as an electronic calibration system.

The electronic proofreading system according to the present invention is different from the electronic proofreading system in that the manuscript to be corrected and the proofreading instruction for the proofreading document are transmitted and received as image information using a network, thereby performing the proofreading operation. The same as the system according to the prior application, which has been described above, has a function connectable to a network, and a computer for calibration work installed under a person in charge of calibration who is in charge of writing calibration instructions; A calibration management computer which has a connectable function and is installed under a calibration manager who makes a calibration request to a calibration person. Therefore, the overall configuration of the system remains unchanged, for example, as shown in FIG. However, for a proofreader who wants to perform a proofreading operation on a physical sheet-like medium such as paper, a proofreading computer having an additional function described later should be prepared. Here, for convenience of explanation, in the example shown in FIG. 1, the following explanation will be made assuming that the proofreader B belonging to the planning department desires proofreading work on a sheet-like medium.

FIG. 15 shows a calibration management client computer Ca installed under the calibration manager A and a calibration client computer installed under the calibration staff B in the system shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing Cb and extracted. Here, the client Ca for calibration management has exactly the same functions as those in the system according to the earlier application described above. For example, a manuscript layer preparation function that prepares manuscript layers consisting of manuscript image information, a proof layer addition function that adds a blank proof layer to receive proof instructions, data on manuscript layers and data on blank proof layers Function for transmitting to the clients Cb to Cd via the network N,
a receiving function of receiving data related to the filled-in constituent layers transmitted from the networks b to Cd via the network N;
It has a display function of treating the manuscript layer and the plurality of filled-in proof layers as separate layers, combining any layers, and superimposing and displaying them on the same screen.

On the other hand, the client Cb for the calibration work also
It has the same function as the client for the calibration work in the system according to the earlier application described above, and the calibration staff B can also perform the calibration work on the display screen. For example, the client Cb has a reception function of receiving data relating to the manuscript layer and data relating to the blank proof layer transmitted from the proofreading management client Ca via the network N, and arranges the manuscript layer and the proof layer on the same screen. A display function for superimposing display, a function of inputting a proofreading instruction by specifying a predetermined position on the screen from a proofreader in a state where the manuscript layer and the proofreading layer are superimposed on the same screen (the input of the proofreading instruction is not possible). This is called a direct input function because it is performed directly to the client Cb.) A filled-in proofing layer that creates a filled-in proofing layer by reading image information consisting of input proofing instructions onto the unfilled proofing layer Create function and data on the completed completed calibration layer Transmission function for transmitting to the client Ca for calibration managed through N, and a like.

However, in addition to the above-described direct input function, a calibration instruction written on a physical sheet-like medium such as paper is provided to the calibration client Cb as a function for inputting the calibration instruction. A function of inputting by using an optical method (a calibration instruction is indirectly input to the client Cb via a sheet-like medium, and is referred to as an indirect input function here) is provided as an additional function. Specifically, a printer 100 and a scanner 200 are connected as hardware components for realizing such additional functions, as illustrated. The client Cb uses the printer 100 to print the image information of the document included in the document layer on a sheet-like medium such as paper and outputs the image information, and the client Cb writes the image information on the sheet-like medium. An indirect input function for extracting and inputting the proofreading instructions as image information different from the image information of the original,
Is provided as an additional function. Of course, the software portion of the additional function can be prepared by installing a predetermined program for executing the additional function in the client Cb.

As a result, the client Cb is provided with two types of calibration instruction input methods. First
Is a method using the direct input function described above, and as is used in the system according to the earlier application described above, the calibration technician positions on this screen while looking at the display screen. This is a method of directly inputting a calibration instruction after specifying. On the other hand, the second method is a method using the above-described indirect input function, and is a method using an additional function added in the present invention, as described in detail below. The proofreader can select one of the methods according to his / her preference and input the proofreading instruction. Hereinafter, a specific procedure of the second method, that is, the method using the indirect input function will be described.

First, the client Ca for calibration work is sent from the client Ca for calibration management to the client Cb for calibration work via the network N.
Then, information on the manuscript layer and the blank proofing layer is transmitted. Subsequently, the client Cb sends the image information of the document included in the document layer to the printer 100, and outputs it as a proof document 10 on the paper as shown in the lower left of FIG. Such a printing process on paper may be executed by the proofreader B giving a predetermined instruction to the client Cb, but the second proofreading instruction described above is given to the client Cb in advance. The standard setting is to use the input method, and when the proofreading request is transmitted via the network N, the proofreading manuscript 1 is automatically set.
0 may be printed.

In the embodiment shown in FIG.
Then, the image information on the document layer is printed as the image to be calibrated 11, and the bibliographic data attached to the document layer is printed in the form of a barcode 12 and character information 13. Here, the bar code 12
Alternatively, bibliographic data printed as character information 13 is
Various data related to the manuscript layer, for example, data specifying the calibration target, data specifying the proofreader who should perform the proofreading work, and the number of proofreading of The data includes data indicating a calibration project name, data indicating a calibration expiration date, data indicating a comment on a calibration request from a calibration manager, and the like. Such bibliographic data is
In the proofreading management client Ca, the proofreading administrator A prepares the data and sends it to the proofreading client Cb as data accompanying the document layer. The proofreading client Cb stores the image information of the document included in the document layer in the proofreading document 10.
When printing and outputting on the top, a function to print and output this bibliographic data is added to the margin. Then, as in the example shown in FIG. 15, bibliographic data is output to the proofreading document 10 in the form of the barcode 12 or the character information 13 together with the proofreading image 11.

In the illustrated example, bibliographic data can be output on the proofreading manuscript 10 in two forms, that is, a form using the barcode 12 and a form using the character information 13. Is a form suitable for recognition by a computer, and the latter is a form suitable for visual confirmation by a proofreader. Since the proofreading manuscript 10 is a manuscript used by the proofreader B to proceed with the proofreading operation on the paper medium as before, the bibliographic data is written in a form suitable for the proofreader B to check visually. If not displayed, there is a risk that the calibration target may be confused or the calibration deadline may be overdue. Therefore, like the character information 13,
It is very important in practice to display bibliographic data in a form suitable for a proofreader to check visually. On the other hand, after the writing of the proofreading instruction to the proofreading document 10 is completed, the proofreading instruction is input to the client Cb as image information via the scanner 200 as described later. In this case, it is more convenient to add a display in the form of code information such as a bar code 12 so that the client Cb can easily recognize the bibliographic data. However, it is not always necessary to output all of the bibliographic data attached to the manuscript layer in the two forms of the barcode 12 and the character information 13.
Which data of the accompanying bibliographic data is output as the barcode 12 and which data is output as the character information 13 is determined in advance according to various cases.
At the discretion of the program installed in the client Cb, the necessary bibliographic data may be appropriately output on the proofreading document 10 in the required form.

When the proofreading document 10 as shown is output, the proofreader B writes a proofreading instruction on the proofreading image 11 on the proofreading document 10. The proofread document 20 shown at the lower right of FIG. 15 shows a state where the writing of the proofreading instruction to the proof document 10 is completed. In the illustrated example, a calibration instruction 14 for moving the position of the character “elephant” in the calibration target image 11 to the left is provided.
(Written portion in bold) is written. Writing such a calibration instruction is a calibration operation on paper,
It is no different from the general calibration work that has been performed conventionally. However, the work of writing the calibration instruction is performed using a dedicated calibration writing instrument that contains special ink. The special ink contained in the writing instrument for calibration is an ink having a property of selectively emitting light in a specific wavelength region on a sheet-like medium such as paper.
The calibration instructions 14 drawn with this special ink on 0 will selectively emit light in this particular wavelength range.

When such a proofreading operation is completed, image information on the proofread document 20 is input using the scanner 200. At this time, the scanning by the scanner 200 may be performed on the entire surface of the calibrated original 20.
It is sufficient that the area where the calibration target image 11 is printed (including the calibration instruction 14) is input as digital image data. As described above, the portion of the barcode 12 is obtained by coding predetermined bibliographic data. Therefore, after inputting image data into the client Cb by the scanner 200 and performing predetermined decoding processing, the original bibliographic data is obtained. The data is restored. On the other hand, regarding the input processing of the image data for the area where the calibration target image 11 is printed,
Some ingenuity is required. That is, in this area, composite image information of the image information of the original document output by the printer 100 and the image information of the calibration instruction 14 drawn with the special ink described above exists.
The image that the user originally wants to input in the input operation using the scanner 200 is only the image information of the calibration instruction 14. Therefore, here, it is necessary to select and extract only the image information of the calibration instruction 14.

The reason why the calibration instruction 14 is written with special ink is to enable such selective input to be performed optically. That is, if a scanner device having a built-in light receiving unit that selectively shows high sensitivity to light in a specific wavelength region emitted by the special ink is used as the scanner 200, an output signal from the light receiving unit is used. Based on this, it is possible to extract only the image information indicating the calibration instruction 14. In the embodiment shown here, in addition to the three types of light receiving means that respectively show sensitivity to the three wavelengths of normal RGB, the third type that selectively shows high sensitivity to light in a specific wavelength region emitted by the special ink. 4
Is used. Of course, the original document image may occasionally include a pixel having a color in a specific wavelength range emitted by the special ink. Is handled as an image indicating the calibration instruction 14, only the image information indicating the calibration instruction 14 can be extracted. Of course, as a special ink, together with light in a predetermined visible wavelength range, light in a wavelength range not used for ordinary printed matter, for example, an ink that strongly emits light in the ultraviolet range, is used.
If a light receiving unit having high sensitivity in the ultraviolet region is used, an image indicating the calibration instruction 14 can be more reliably extracted.

If the image information indicating the calibration instruction 14 can be optically input using the indirect input function, the procedure is the same as the above-described procedure using the direct input function. In other words, the filled-in proof layer may be created by reading the input image information indicating the proof instruction 14 onto the unfilled proof layer. At this time, bar code 1
The bibliographic data recognized from step 2 is attached to the created completed proofreading layer, and the completed proofreading layer with the bibliographic data is transmitted to the proofreading management client Ca via the network N. As described above, the bibliographic data attached to the original layer at the time of reception is temporarily stored in the printer 100.
Is output as a barcode 12 on the proofreading document 10, is read by the scanner 200, is restored, and is transmitted along with the completed proofreading layer. Despite the proofreading work being performed by hand, there is no accident that bibliographic data may be confused.

In this embodiment, the scanner 200
The time at which the image information on the proofread manuscript 20 is captured is recognized as the proofreading completion time, and the proofreading completion time is attached to the created completed proofreading layer as one of the bibliographic data, Network N
Is transmitted to the calibration management client Ca via the. The calibration completion time is stored as a history of the calibration work in the database server in the calibration server S shown in FIG.

FIG. 16 shows the specific case described in §2, that is, in the case of using the indirect input function of the calibration instruction in the calibration process for the design of the exterior package of the “chocolate” plate chocolate. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a proofreading document 10 output from a printer 100. As shown in the drawing, a calibration target image 11, a barcode 12, and character information 13 are printed on the proofreading document 10. Here, the proofreading image 11 is image information on the manuscript layer La transmitted from the client Ca of the proofreading administrator A, and the barcode 12 and the character information 13 are bibliographic data attached to the manuscript layer. is there. Barcode 1
2 is, for example, data specifying the calibration target image 11;
The coded data includes data specifying the proofreader B, data indicating the number of times of proofreading, and the like.
Is data that is optically input and decoded for use. On the other hand, as shown in the example, the character information 13 includes data indicating a calibration project name (in this example, a product name), data indicating a calibration expiration date, and data indicating a comment on a calibration request from the calibration manager A. The data is composed of character strings so that the person in charge of proofreading B himself can visually recognize the data. This character information 13 is information prepared for the proofreader B, and is not used after the input process by the scanner 200 (of course, the OCR is stored in the client Cb).
If a function is provided, it can be used later.)

FIG. 17 shows that the proofreader B uses the proofreading instrument containing special ink having a property of selectively emitting light in a specific wavelength range on the proofreading document 10 shown in FIG. 2 shows a proofread manuscript 20 obtained by writing the proofreading instruction 14 by handwriting.
All the calibration instructions 14 indicated by thick lines in the figure are drawn with this special ink. The content itself of the calibration instruction 14 shown in FIG. 17 is the same as the calibration instruction directly input on the display screen shown in FIG. 5, but the calibration instruction 14 in FIG. 17 is not displayed on the display screen but on paper. The point that is drawn is a big feature. As previously mentioned,
If an image having wavelength selectivity is input to the calibrated original 20 using the scanner 200, the calibration instruction 14
Can be extracted, and if the extracted image information is read into a blank calibration layer, a filled calibration layer Lb as shown in FIG. 6 can be created.

After all, the proofreader B performs the proofreading operation on the proofreading document 10 and uses the indirect input function to input the proofreading instruction written on the proofreading document to the client C.
b, but finally the client Cb
, A completed calibration layer Lb as shown in FIG. 6 is obtained, and the result is the same as when the calibration instruction is directly input to the client Cb using the direct input function. Therefore, in the electronic calibration system shown in FIG.
c and the client Cd installed under the proofreader D
If both the direct input function and the indirect input function are prepared, each calibrator will be able to perform the calibration work using the function according to his / her preference. You will be able to create your own completed proofing layer. Of course, the completed calibration layer created using the direct input function of directly inputting the calibration instruction on the display screen was also created by extracting the calibration instruction written on the paper using the indirect input function There is no difference between the filled-out proofing layer and the layer composed of the image information including the proofreading instruction. Even if it is done, no problem occurs. In addition, no matter which method the proofreading instruction is input, the history indicating the progress status remains in the proofreading server S.

In the above-described embodiment, the calibration instruction written in the special ink on the sheet-shaped medium is selectively input as an image information different from the image information of the original by using an optical method. Although the indirect input function in the proofreading client is realized, the method for realizing the present invention is not necessarily limited to such a method. For example, if an image processing function capable of extracting difference information between two pieces of image information is provided in a client for calibration work, image information of a calibration instruction can be extracted by a method of extracting difference information. It is. For example, it is assumed that the proofreading instruction 14 is written in the proofreading document 10 shown in FIG. 16 and the proofreading document 20 shown in FIG. 17 is obtained. In this case, the proofreading image 11 on the proofreading document 10 includes only the image information of the document, but the proofreading image 11
Is composed of composite image information of image information of a document and image information of a proofreading instruction. If the composite image information is input using a normal scanner device, the client for calibration work can perform an operation for comparing the composite image information with the image information of the original document for each pixel. And
If a difference image composed of only pixels having different pixel values is formed, this difference image is nothing but the image information of the calibration instruction 14. As described above, if the method of extracting the image information of the calibration instruction is used as the difference information between the combined image information and the image information of the document, the number of steps of the image calculation process increases, but the calibration instruction needs to be written using special ink. Is gone.

As described above, the present invention has been described based on the illustrated embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and can be implemented in various other forms. In practice, each of the clients Ca to Cd shown in FIG. 1 is generally configured using a general-purpose personal computer, and the functions required for the system according to the present invention include software for this personal computer and It will be provided as software for the calibration server S. As described above, as software having a function of writing a proofreading instruction to the proofreading layer, Adobe's “Acrobat ver. The present invention can also be realized by adding software necessary for the operation of the present invention to the software in the form of a plug-in.

Finally, even if there is a proofreader who shows reluctance to install a computer or even operate a computer,
A modified example having an additional function enabling introduction is described. Here, an example will be described in which a plurality of proofreaders include a proofreader E who has never used a personal computer.

In the case of the above-described embodiment, for example, in the system shown in FIG. 15, the printer 100 and the scanner 200 are connected to the client Cb for the proofreader B, and the medium output function, the indirect input function, the completed calibration A layer creation function was provided. On the other hand, in the modification described here, such functions are also prepared in the client Ca for the calibration manager A. FIG.
Can exchange documents and proofreading instructions with proofreader E who has never used a personal computer, using client Ca for proofreader A having such additional functions. It is a block diagram showing an example which built a possible system. As illustrated, the printer 100 and the scanner 200 are connected to the client Ca. If the medium output function provided in the client Ca is used, the image information of the document included in the document layer can be printed out on paper as the proof document 10 by the printer 100 and output (see FIG. 15). As in the example shown, it is preferable that the barcode 12 and the character information 13 be output together on the proofreading document 10.) The proofreading administrator A may output the proofreading document 10 to the proofreader E on the paper in this way, and then transmit the proofreading document 10 using the facsimile Fa. The image on the proofreading document 10 read by the facsimile Fa is transmitted through the telephone line T and received by the facsimile Fe installed by the proofreader E. Thus, the proofreader E sends the proofreading manuscript 10 to the facsimile F
e can be received as the paper output from e.

The proofreader E may write the necessary proofreading instructions directly on the proofreading document 10.
Thus, the proofreading instruction is written on the proofreading manuscript 10, and the proofreading manuscript 10 becomes the proofread manuscript 20.
The proofreader E may return the image on the proofread document 20 to the proofreader A using the facsimile Fe. The image on the proofread document 20 is received by the facsimile Fa via the telephone line T and reaches the proofreading administrator A. Therefore, the proofreading administrator A performs an operation of reading the image on the proofread document 20 with the scanner 200 and inputting the image to the client Ca. At this time, the point that bibliographic data can be confirmed using the barcode 12 is the same as in the previous embodiments. The image information input from the scanner 200 to the client Ca is composite image information including both the image information of the original document and the image information of the calibration instruction added by the proofreader E. By performing an image calculation for obtaining difference information between the image information and the image information of the document, the image information of the calibration instruction can be extracted. In the client Ca,
The image information of the proofreading instruction thus extracted is read on the proofreading layer, and a process of creating a completed proofreading layer is performed.

If such an electronic calibration system is used, there is no need to install a computer under the proofreader E. If facsimile is not performed by the proofreader E, the proofreader A sends the proofreading manuscript 10 output from the printer 100 to the proofreader E by mail or the like, and performs the proofreading operation. Thereafter, the proofreading manuscript 20 may be returned from the proofreading person E to the proofreading administrator A by a method such as mail. When the proofread manuscript 20 is returned by mail or the like, a method in which the proofreader E writes a proofreading instruction using special ink can be used. As described above, if a device exhibiting high sensitivity to the wavelength region of this special ink is used as the scanner 200 prepared on the calibration manager A side, only the calibration instruction can be optically extracted, and the difference information can be obtained. The image calculation for obtaining is not required. After all, if the system shown in this modification is used, even if there is a calibrator who does not have any electronic device, it is possible to incorporate the result of the calibration work by the calibrator into the electronic calibration system.

Recently, a personal computer (or a built-in personal computer) to which a fax modem is connected has become widespread. If such a personal computer is used as the client Ca for the calibration manager A, the system configuration is simplified. It becomes possible. FIG. 19 shows the method of FIG.
Is a modified example in which the system shown in FIG. A fax modem 300 is connected to the client Ca (of course, it may be built-in).
a can be transmitted directly to the telephone line T via the fax modem 300 without using a printer, and conversely, the image information transmitted via the telephone line T Can be directly received by the fax modem 300 without using a scanner and taken into the client Ca. At this time, the format of the image information handled in the client Ca (for example, PD
F format) is different from the format of image information suitable for transmission using facsimile, and therefore, it is necessary for the client Ca to have a function of converting the format of such image information. Such a conversion function is a function normally provided as a standard in a personal computer equipped with an environment using a fax modem.

First, the proofreading administrator A sets the client Ca
Image information P1 (for example, P
(DF format) is converted to a facsimile image P2 (of course, if necessary, the barcode 12 and the character information 13 are also included in the facsimile image P2), and this is converted into a fax modem 300 and a telephone. What is necessary is just to perform the work of transmitting to the facsimile Fe installed under the proofreader E via the line T. The proofreader who has received the proofreading document 10 as a paper surface writes a proofreading instruction on the proofreading document 10 and replies this as a corrected document 20 using a facsimile Fe. The “image P3 for facsimile on which the proofreading instruction is written” returned in this manner is received by the fax modem 300 and taken into the client Ca. Then, the area portion of the image to be calibrated in the facsimile image P3 (the original image area portion excluding the barcode 12 and the character information 13) has the same format as the image information P1 of the document (for example, PDF format). ). The “image information P4 in which the proofreading instruction is written” thus obtained is
Since it is composite image information of the image information of the original document and the image information of the proofing instruction, if the image difference calculation for removing the same part as the image information of the original document is performed from here, only the image information of the proofing instruction is obtained Can be extracted. By reading the extracted image information of the proofreading instruction onto the proofreading layer, a filled-in proofreading layer is created in exactly the same way as the example shown in FIG.

[0084]

As described above, according to the electronic proofreading system of the present invention, an electronic proofreading system capable of performing a proofreading operation on a physical medium such as paper according to the preference of a proofreader is provided. Will be able to do it.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a basic configuration of an electronic calibration system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a basic calibration procedure using the electronic calibration system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a screen display diagram of a document layer La having image information of a document to be calibrated by the electronic proofreading system according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a relationship between a document layer La and a proofreading layer Lb.

FIG. 5 is a screen display diagram showing an operation of writing a proofreading instruction on a proofreading layer Lb superimposed on the document layer La shown in FIG. 3;

6 is a configuration diagram of the calibration layer Lb alone when the screen display shown in FIG. 5 is obtained.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a document after correction has been performed based on the calibration instruction shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 shows a manuscript layer La and three proofreading layers L
It is a conceptual diagram which shows the relationship with b, Lc, Ld.

FIG. 9 is a screen display diagram showing an operation of writing a proofreading instruction on a proofreading layer Lc superimposed on the document layer La shown in FIG. 3;

10 is a configuration diagram of the calibration layer Lc alone when the screen display shown in FIG. 9 is obtained.

FIG. 11 is a screen display diagram showing an operation of writing a proofreading instruction on a proofreading layer Ld superimposed on the document layer La shown in FIG. 3;

12 is a configuration diagram of the calibration layer Ld alone when the screen display shown in FIG. 11 is obtained.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of progress information of a calibration work provided as Web data in the system according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing another example of the progress information of the calibration work provided as Web data in the system according to the present invention.

15 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a client computer Cb in the electronic calibration system shown in FIG.

16 is a diagram showing a specific example of the proofreading document 10 shown in FIG.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a specific example of the proofread document 20 shown in FIG.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a first modified example provided with an additional function of exchanging a document and a proofreading instruction with a proofreader via a facsimile.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing a second modified example having an additional function of exchanging a manuscript and a proofreading instruction with a proofreader via a facsimile.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 proofreading document 11 proofreading image 12 barcode 13 character information 14 proofreading instruction 20 proofreading document 100 printer 200 scanner 300 fax modem A proofreader B, C, D, E Calibration staff Ca: Client computer for calibration management Cb, Cc, Cd: Client computer for calibration work Fa: Facsimile for calibration manager Fe: Facsimile for calibration staff La: Document layer Lb, Lc, Ld: Calibration layer P1: Document Image information P2: Image for facsimile (for transmission) P3: Image for facsimile (for reception) P4 ... Synthetic image information (image information with calibration instructions written) S: Calibration server computer T: Telephone line X: Calibration system provider Y: Production company Z: Ordering company

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 1/00 107 H04N 1/00 107A

Claims (16)

[Claims] An electronic proofreading system for performing a proofreading operation by transmitting and receiving a document to be proofread and a proofreading instruction for the proofreading as image information using a network. A calibration computer installed under the supervision of a calibrator in charge of writing calibration instructions, and a calibrator having a function connectable to the network and requesting the calibrator to calibrate. A proofreading management computer installed under an administrator; andthe proofreading management computer has at least a document layer preparation function of preparing a document layer including image information of the document, and data on the document layer. A transmission function for transmitting to the computer for calibration via the network; A receiving function of receiving data on the filled-in proofing layer transmitted from the computer via the network, and a display function of superimposing and displaying the manuscript layer and the filled-in proofing layer on the same screen, The proofreading computer has at least a receiving function of receiving data related to the document layer transmitted from the proofreading management computer via the network, and a sheet-like medium for storing image information of the document included in the document layer. A media output function to print and output on the sheet, an indirect input function to extract the calibration instruction written on the sheet-shaped medium as image information different from the image information of the original and to input the same, Create a completed proofing layer by reading image information consisting of proofing instructions on the proofing layer. Electronic calibration system, characterized in that it comprises a filled-in calibration layer creation function, a transmission function for transmitting to said calibration management computer data on filled-in calibration layer created via the network. 2. The electronic proofreading system according to claim 1, wherein the proofreading management computer further has a proofreading layer adding function of adding a blank proofreading layer for receiving a proofreading instruction. A function of transmitting data on the blank calibration layer to the proofreading computer together with the data, the proofreading computer receiving the data on the blank calibration layer together with the data on the manuscript layer, An electronic proofreading system, wherein a completed proofreading layer is created by reading image information including a proofreading instruction on a layer. 3. The electronic proofreading system according to claim 1, wherein the proofreading computer further has a display function of superimposing and displaying an original layer and a proof layer on the same screen. system. 4. The electronic proofreading system according to claim 3, wherein the proofreading computer includes a manuscript layer and a proofreading layer in addition to an indirect input function of inputting a proofreading instruction from a sheet medium. In a state where is superimposed on the same screen, a direct input function for directly inputting a calibration instruction by specifying a predetermined position on the screen from a proofreader, and according to the proofreader's preference, An electronic proofreading system wherein a filled-in proofreading layer can be created by selecting either the indirect input function or the direct input function. 5. The electronic calibration system according to claim 4, wherein a computer for calibration is installed under each of a plurality of calibration staff, and each computer for calibration is
Make sure each proofreader has their own completed proofing layer, and the proofreading computer
A manuscript layer and a plurality of completed proofreading layers are treated as separate layers, and arbitrary layers can be combined and superimposed on the same screen. At least one of the plurality of proofreading computers Is provided with an indirect input function, and at least one unit is provided with a direct input function, and the calibration management computer uses a completed calibration layer created using the indirect input function and a direct input function. An electronic proofreading system characterized in that the completed proofreading layer created and processed is mixed and handled. 6. The electronic proofreading system according to claim 1, wherein the proofreading management computer prepares bibliographic data associated with the manuscript layer together with data related to the manuscript layer and sends the bibliographic data to the proofreading computer. A function of transmitting the bibliographic data in a margin when the proofreading computer prints and outputs the image information of the document included in the document layer on a sheet-like medium; An electronic calibration system comprising: 7. The electronic proofreading system according to claim 6, wherein the proofreading computer is adapted to recognize the bibliographic data in the form of character information suitable for a proofreader to visually check and for the computer to recognize the bibliographic data. And a function of printing and outputting on a sheet-like medium in two ways, and the code information is output on the sheet-like medium by optically reading the code information. An electronic proofreading system having a function of recognizing bibliographic data obtained, attaching the recognized bibliographic data to a proofreading layer created based on the sheet-shaped medium, and transmitting the data to a proofreading management computer. 8. The electronic proofreading system according to claim 1, wherein the proofreading computer recognizes a time at which a proofreading instruction is input as image information from the sheet-like medium as a proofreading completion time, An electronic proofreading system having a function of attaching data indicating a recognized proofreading completion time to a proofreading layer created based on the sheet-like medium and transmitting the data to a proofreading management computer. 9. The electronic proofreading system according to claim 1, wherein the indirect input function of the proofreading computer includes a proofreading instruction written in a special ink on a sheet-like medium, and image information of the original. An electronic calibration system, which is realized by selectively inputting image information different from the above using an optical method. 10. The electronic proofreading system according to claim 9, further comprising a calibration writing instrument containing a special ink having a property of selectively emitting light in a specific wavelength range on a sheet-like medium. Electronic proofreading system. 11. The electronic calibration system according to claim 9, wherein the computer for calibration includes a scanner device including a light receiving unit selectively exhibiting high sensitivity to light in a specific wavelength range. An electronic calibration system wherein image information input using a light receiving unit is input as image information including a calibration instruction. 12. The electronic proofreading system according to claim 1, wherein the indirect input function of the proofreading computer uses a composite image information of the original image information and the proof instruction image information in a sheet form. The method is realized by using a method of extracting image information of the calibration instruction as difference information between the composite image information and the image information of the original document after inputting the information using an optical method from a medium. Electronic calibration system. 13. The electronic proofreading system according to claim 1, wherein the proofreading management computer also has a medium output function of printing and outputting image information of a document included in the document layer on a sheet-like medium. An indirect input function for extracting and inputting the proofreading instruction written on the sheet-shaped medium as image information different from the image information of the original, and reading the image information comprising the input proofreading instruction on a proofreading layer An electronic proofreading system, comprising: a completed proofreading layer creation function of creating a completed proofreading layer according to the above. 14. The electronic proofreading system according to claim 1, wherein the proofreading management computer has a first conversion function of converting the image information of the original included in the original layer into a format suitable for transmission using facsimile. A facsimile transmission function for transmitting image information converted by the first conversion function to a facsimile installed under a proofreader via a communication line; and a facsimile installed under the proofreader. A facsimile receiving function for receiving the “image information with the proofreading instruction” sent from the communication line, and transmitting the received “image information with the proofreading instruction” in the same format as the image information of the original document. A second conversion function for converting the image information into the image information of the original, and a calibration instruction included in the image information converted by the second conversion function. An indirect input function for extracting and inputting the image information as input, and a filled-in calibration layer creation function for creating a filled-in calibration layer by reading image information consisting of the input calibration instructions on the calibration layer are provided. An electronic calibration system, characterized in that: 15. The electronic proofreading system according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the indirect input function of the proofreading management computer includes: synthetic image information including both image information of a document and image information of a proofreading instruction; An electronic proofreading system realized by using a method of extracting image information of the proofreading instruction as difference information between the proofreading image information and the image information. 16. A program for operating a computer, or a computer-readable recording medium storing the program, as a computer for calibration work, which is a component of the electronic calibration system according to claim 1. .