JP2009110443A - Information processor and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To produce a newspaper even during stoppage of a main system of a newspaper company. <P>SOLUTION: In the portable information processor 1, a material registration function 11 registers articles and images that are materials input from the outside in a storage medium. A composition function 13 forms composition data for newspaper pages using the registered articles and images. An editing function 13 edits the formed composition data for newspaper pages, and forms a first file described in a page description language processable by RIP (raster image processor). File conversion software 14 converts the formed first file to a second file based on a general format. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and program capable of producing a newspaper under an offline environment independent of a main system of a newspaper company.

In general, the head office of a newspaper company is provided with an editing typesetting system (main system) including a server having a storage function and editing function for paper typesetting data. In the production of newspapers, desired typesetting processing and editing processing can be performed by operating a typesetting terminal connected to such a server via a network. For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose a newspaper production system that edits the same page in cooperation with a plurality of typesetting terminals. Further, when printing on a paper surface, it is possible to print out high-quality paper data obtained through a paper surface editing function provided in the server or a RIP (Raster Image Processor).
JP 2003-271585 A JP 2003-308313 A

  In the past, for example, if the head office of a newspaper company collapses in the event of a natural disaster or man-made disaster and the main system including the server stops, it will not be possible to produce newspapers until the system is restored. End up.

  However, while the main system is shut down, important news and other information that should be informed to the public is generated one after another, so that newspaper production work can continue in some way even in the event of a disaster. It is hoped to do. It is also desirable to be able to continue newspaper production work as efficiently as possible after the main system is restored.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus and program capable of producing a newspaper while the main system of the newspaper company is stopped.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, material registration means for registering articles and images, which are materials input from the outside, in a storage medium, and typesetting data on a newspaper using the articles and images registered by the material registration means Editing means for creating a first file described in a page description language that can be processed by a RIP (Raster Image Processor) And a file conversion unit that converts the first file created by the editing unit into a second file based on a general-purpose format.

  Further, according to another aspect of the present invention, a computer that is a portable information processing apparatus has a function of registering articles and images, which are materials input from the outside, in a storage medium, and the registered articles and A function for creating typesetting data of a newspaper page using an image, and a first file described in a page description language that can be processed by a RIP (Raster Image Processor) by editing the generated typesetting data of a newspaper page And a function for converting the created first file into a second file based on a general-purpose format.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to produce a newspaper while the main system of the newspaper company is stopped.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of various functions provided in an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The information processing apparatus 1 is, for example, a notebook personal computer and has a function of producing a newspaper under an offline environment independent of a main system of a newspaper company. The information processing apparatus 1 includes a material registration function 11, a composition function 12, an editing function 13, a file conversion software 14, a RIP function 15, an article editor 16, an image processing function 17, a head office cooperation function (communication function) 18, and the like. These functions are realized as a computer program. In the following description, this information processing apparatus 1 may be referred to as a “format terminal” or “mobile terminal” for convenience.

  The material registration function 11 is for registering articles and images, which are materials input from the outside through e-mail, recording media, the Internet, an in-house LAN, etc., in a storage medium (such as a hard disk) in the information processing apparatus 1.

  The composition function 12 is for creating composition data on the newspaper (also referred to as “paper data”) using the articles and images registered by the material registration function 11.

  The editing function 13 edits the newspaper formatting data created by the formatting function 12, and creates a first file (file capable of high-quality printing) described in a page description language that can be processed by the RIP. Is.

  The file conversion software 14 converts the first file created by the editing function 13 into a second file based on a highly portable general-purpose format. This second file can be output to a printer at an event venue or the like using a second file editing software (not shown), transmitted via the Internet, or taken outside via a recording medium.

  The RIP function 15 implements a process of developing data described in a specific page description language into bitmap data that can be printed or displayed by software. For example, the data generated by the RIP function 15 is stored in a storage medium such as a USB memory, and is brought into a partner printing company or its own printing factory as a print data file to request printing.

  The article editor 16 performs an editing process on the article.

  The image processing function 17 performs processing on an image. In this process, image editing software or graphics drawing software is used.

  The head office cooperation function 18 communicates in order to establish a cooperation on the format data (paper data) between the head office type system (format server) and the information processing apparatus 1 after the main system of the head office at the newspaper company is restored. Is what you do.

  As described above, since the information processing apparatus 1 has functions necessary for newspaper production, newspaper production can be performed even when the main system of the head office is stopped. It is possible to send and receive formatted data etc. even after restoration.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a general typesetting terminal and a typesetting server provided in the head office of a newspaper company. In the following description, the information processing apparatus 1 described above is referred to as a “format terminal 1” for convenience.

  A general typesetting terminal 1 ′ provided at the head office of a newspaper company has, as the typesetting function 31, a GUI program including a known typesetting engine, a typesetting library, a parallel typesetting library, and a layout GUI program. The typesetting engine includes a higher level typesetting engine, a basic typesetting engine, and a style information engine (not shown). In addition, the layout GUI program includes a layout program, a face support program, an image editing program, and a heading program that are not shown.

  The typesetting terminal 1 ′ also includes a typesetting middle interface library 32 that interfaces the communication middleware 200 that realizes communication with the typesetting server 100 and the typesetting function 31. That is, the composition function 31 in the composition terminal 1 ′ stores the composition data 101 (surface, material, image, article, and pattern) managed by the composition middleware 102 provided in the composition server 100 through the composition middle interface library 32. Various databases) can be accessed.

  FIG. 3 shows a normal configuration in which the composition function 31 in the composition terminal 1 ′ shown in FIG. 2 accesses the composition data 101 on the composition server 100 side to perform composition (herein referred to as “network composition”). The figure which compares and shows the structure which performs the typesetting (it is called "mobile typesetting" here) when the typesetting function 31 in the typesetting terminal 1 which concerns on this embodiment accesses the typesetting data 101 by the side of the typesetting server 100 side. It is.

  In “network typesetting”, the typesetting function 31 in the typesetting terminal 1 ′ requires the above-described typesetting middle interface library 32 in order to access the typesetting data 101 on the typesetting server 100 side, whereas in “mobile typesetting” Requires the local typesetting middle interface library 33 in order for the typesetting function 31 in the typesetting terminal 1 to access the typesetting data 101 in the typesetting terminal 1. That is, the local typesetting middle interface library 33 enables a terminal program for realizing the typesetting function 31 in the typesetting terminal 1 to access the typesetting data 34 in the typesetting terminal 1.

  The typesetting function 31 in the typesetting terminal 1 is realized by using the same program as the program for realizing the typesetting function 31 in the typesetting terminal 1 ′ used in the head office of the newspaper company. As a result, it is possible to reduce the cost and the like required to realize “mobile typesetting”.

  FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of configuring a small-scale CTS (Computer Typesetting System / Computerized Typesetting System) using a plurality of formatting terminals having the same formatting function as the formatting terminal 1.

  In this small-scale CTS example, in addition to a plurality of typesetting terminals (# 1 to #n), a scanner that captures an image related to an article, an LBP, a printing machine, and a terminal that manages data handled in the small-scale CTS Etc. are provided. The small-scale CTS can collect materials such as articles and images from the Internet, mail, recording media, DVD, USB memory, or other portable typesetting terminals, and supply the typesetting data to the printing center. . With such a configuration, it is possible to realize an environment in which a newspaper can be formatted on a smaller scale than the master system of the head office.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the flow of processing in the system shown in FIG.

  First, the material is submitted (step S1). Here, in addition to submitting articles and images as materials via the Internet, recording media, scanners, etc., general-purpose software (image editing software, graphics drawing software, spreadsheet software, etc.) used for material processing is also acquired. To do.

  Next, the material is registered (step S2). Here, for example, an article or image file, which is a material received via the Internet or the like, is stored in an internal storage medium by a typesetting terminal (one of a plurality of typesetting terminals).

  Next, the material is put out (step S3). Here, the correction of the article, the processing of the image, the designation of the face plate, and the publication are performed under a certain typesetting terminal. For example, the received articles and images are displayed in a list on the material list, the received articles are reviewed and published by the article editor, and the received images are reviewed and published by the image editor.

  Next, imposition management is performed (step S4). In this case, the data management terminal centrally manages the article and the imposition regarding the image.

  Next, typesetting is performed (step S5). In this case, grouping, large group / box group / heading / etoki / table group, text box, and the like are grouped for page data under a certain typesetting terminal. For composition, general-purpose software (image editing software, graphics drawing software, spreadsheet software, etc.) is also used.

  Finally, the post version is performed (step S6). Here, the output format is designated and printing is instructed to the print center.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing details of various functions provided in a typesetting terminal in the system shown in FIG.

  The material registration function 11 submits materials such as articles and images (photographs, illustrations) input from the outside through, for example, Web, Hub, external storage media, etc., and creates a production surface file (article file) or Register as an image file. It is possible to register an article carried in through the article editor 16 and an image carried in through the image processing function 17 (including the image editing software 17a and the graphics drawing software 17b).

  The composition function 12 creates composition data on the newspaper using the articles and images registered by the material registration function 11. In creating the composition data, the article editor 16 and the image processing function 17 are used. The article editor 16 performs an editing process on the article, and the image processing function 17 performs an image processing process using image editing software or graphics drawing software.

  The editing function 13 edits the formatting data using a predetermined logo or ruled line data in accordance with the printing instruction or the post-printing instruction from the formatting function 12, for example, a file described in a page description language that can be processed by RIP create. The file conversion software 14 converts the first file created by the editing function 13 into a second file based on the general-purpose format. The RIP function 15 realizes a process of developing data described in a specific page description language into bitmap data that can be printed or displayed by software. The data created in this way is stored in a storage medium such as a USB memory, and brought into a printing factory as a composition data file.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing details of various databases (DB) provided in the typesetting terminal shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7, various tables and data are stored in each DB. The composition data DB stores data used for composition processing of the composition function 12. The image DB stores image data as materials. The processed image DB stores image data that has been processed. The pattern DB stores patterns used for article processing. The management DB stores tables for information management.

  In this way, the typesetting terminal has all the information necessary for newspaper production, and thus can achieve a high-quality paper equivalent to that realized by the master system at the head office.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration example when two typesetting terminals included in the system shown in FIG. 4 share roles.

  In the example of FIG. 8, the RIP function 15 is not installed in the formatted terminal 1A, whereas the RIP function 15 is installed in the formatted terminal 1B. Further, the file conversion software 14 is installed in the typesetting terminal 1A, whereas the file conversion software 14 is not installed in the typesetting terminal 1B. That is, a plurality of typesetting terminals share one RIP function 15 and file conversion software 14. For example, when RIP processing of the formatted data is required, the formatted terminal 1A sends the first file created by the editing function 13 in the formatted terminal 1A to the RIP on the formatted terminal 1B side via the Hub, and is subjected to RIP processing. The stored data can be stored in a storage medium such as a USB memory and brought to a printing factory, or can be printed by LBP.

  Further, in the example of FIG. 8, both the typesetting terminals 1A and 1B have a database for storing the production surface (typesetting data), but the database is provided only for either one of the typesetting terminals 1A and 1B. It is good.

  By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to further reduce the cost for realizing a small-scale CTS.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a state of data exchange performed between the typesetting server (active system), the typesetting terminal (active type), and the typesetting terminal (mobile terminal).

  As shown in FIG. 9, it is assumed that data can be exchanged between the active typesetting server 100 and the typesetting terminal 1C provided on the head office side and the typesetting terminal 1D as a mobile terminal.

  The typesetting terminal 1 </ b> C has an external storage / restoration function 41 (a function added to the side support) for taking out and restoring the typesetting data (production side file and image file) in the active typesetting server 100. It is done. Similarly, the composition terminal 1D also has an external storage and restoration function 42 (added to the support function) for extracting and restoring the composition data (production surface file and image file) in the composition terminal 1D. Provided.

  For example, the small set is reserved by the storage process of the external storage / restoration function 41 of the typesetting terminal 1C, and the small set archive file is stored in the local disk of the typesetting terminal 1C (step S21). Next, the small archive file is stored in the local disk of the typesetting terminal 1D via the USB memory (step S22), and is registered as a production surface or an image by the restoration process of the external storage restoration function 42 of the typesetting terminal 1D (step S22). S23). Further, the small set is reserved by the storage process of the external storage / restoration function 42 of the typesetting terminal 1D, and the small set archive file is stored in the local disk of the typesetting terminal 1D (step S24). Next, the small archive file is stored in the local disk of the typesetting terminal 1D via the USB memory (step S25), and is registered as a production surface or an image by the restoration process of the external storage / restoration function 41 of the typesetting terminal 1C (step S25). S26). That is, by using the external storage / restoration functions 41 and 42, data can be exchanged between the formatted terminals. Similarly, data can be exchanged between a plurality of mobile terminals.

  In the following, referring to FIGS. 10 to 14, for example, a method for efficiently producing a newspaper by a typesetting terminal in a remote environment such as a branch office in a state where the master system at the head office has been restored normally will be described. .

  In a general configuration example, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a paper editing server 500, a typesetting terminal 600, an OPI server 700, and a RIP device 800 are provided on the head office side, and on the remote environment side. A typesetting terminal 50 and a printer device 60 are provided.

  When it is desired to check the page data created in a remote environment such as a branch office with the same quality as the printed page, the format data generated by the typesetting function 51 of the typesetting terminal 50 is connected to the network as shown in FIG. And the data generated via the paper editing function 501 of the paper editing server 500 and the RIP device 800 are returned to the remote environment side via the network and printed out by the printer 60. Or, as shown in FIG. 11, the page data generated by the page editing function 52 of the typesetting terminal 50 is sent to the page editing server 500 via the network, and the image replacement processing function 701 and the RIP of the OPI server 700 are sent. The data generated via the device 800 is returned to the remote environment side via the network again. It is or is printed out on the printer device 60. However, such a configuration tends to cause an increase in traffic on the network and a decrease in performance during print output due to large data.

  In order to solve this problem, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the output of the paper surface data from the typesetting terminal 50 is separated into the lowering output and the galley output. In other words, in the case of a lower-grade output, the format data generated by the format function 51 of the format terminal 50 is sent to the page editing server 500 via the network, and passes through the page editing function 501 and the RIP device 800 of the page editing server 500. In the case of galley output, the page data generated by the page editing function 52 of the typesetting terminal 50 (corresponding to the aforementioned “first file”) is generated. Is sent to the RIP device 70 without being sent to the head office and printed out by the printer 60, or the data is converted into general-purpose format data (corresponding to the above-mentioned "second file") by file conversion software. The object is printed out by the printer device 60.

  The typesetting terminal 50 in FIG. 12 corresponds to the typesetting terminal 1 described above. Further, the composition function 51 and the paper editing function 52 provided in the composition terminal 50 correspond to the composition function 15 and the editing function 13 provided in the composition terminal 1, respectively.

  Next, the operation in the case of galley output in FIG. 12 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

  The typesetting terminal 50 on the remote environment side such as a branch office acquires typesetting data and image data from the head office in advance if necessary (steps S71 and S72). By making the image acquired at this time a display image (non-high quality image), it is possible to reduce the transfer amount of image data.

  Then, paper editing is performed by the paper editing function 52 provided in the typesetting terminal 50 (step S73), RIP processing is performed by the RIP device 70 (step S74), and printing is output by the printer 60 (step S75). In step S74, it is possible to print out without using the RIP device 70 by performing the process of converting the output format edited on the paper into the second file.

  Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 14, the operation in the case of the lowering output in FIG. 12 will be described.

  The page editing server 500 on the head office side acquires the composition data and the image data (steps S81 and S82).

  Then, paper editing is performed by the paper editing function 501 provided in the paper editing server 500 (step S83), RIP processing is performed by the RIP device 70 (step S84), and printing is output by the plotter device 900 (step S85).

  As a result, for example, the management of typesetting data is concentrated on the head office server, while the amount of communication data between the remote environment such as a branch office and the head office server can be reduced, and the time required for print output can be reduced.

  According to the typesetting terminal 1 or the typesetting terminal 50 of the present embodiment, for example, the following is possible.

  ・ All-in-one terminals can be realized with notebook computers. For example, a function that has been conventionally divided into a reporter terminal, a desk terminal, and a typesetting terminal and the function of the RIP device can be mounted on one terminal.

  ・ Regarding surface version management, multiple terminals can be managed for each terminal.

  -I / O with general-purpose data (e-mail, document, image editing software, graphics drawing software, etc.) is possible.

  ・ Regarding actual size (print size) typesetting, conventional size setting typesetting is also supported.

  -The functions of the dedicated newspaper typesetting can be installed as it is.

  -It can be applied to small-scale CTS. For example, it is possible to update an existing general-purpose DTP system, or to create a reprinted Sunday version or free paper.

  -It can be used as an assembly terminal. For example, a reporter can publish a small set of special features.

  ・ Can be used as a publisher typesetting terminal. For example, a regional version can be produced at a branch office / branch.

  -It can be used as a typesetting terminal at event venues (such as soccer World Cups and Olympic venues). For example, a realistic paper can be produced and transmitted in a document in a general format.

  ・ Can be used for extra issue. For example, a general-purpose format document can be transmitted to a store and distributed together with an insert without moving the rotary press.

  ・ It is effective for disaster countermeasures. For example, even if CTS becomes inoperable, a single personal computer can handle it.

  ・ It can be used for NIE (Newspaper In Education) activities.

  As described in detail above, according to the present embodiment, newspaper production can be performed even when the main system of the head office is stopped, and efficient newspaper production can be performed even after the main system of the head office is restored. be able to.

  The various processing procedures according to the present invention described in the above-described embodiments are stored in a storage medium (for example, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, or a semiconductor memory) that can be read by a computer (information processing apparatus) as a computer program. If necessary, it may be read and executed by the processor. Such a computer program can also be distributed by transmitting from one computer to another computer via a communication medium.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments as they are, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of components disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

The figure which shows schematic structure of the various functions with which the information processing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention is equipped. The figure which shows an example of the functional structure of the general typesetting terminal and typesetting server which are provided in the head office of a newspaper company. The figure which compares and shows the normal structure which performs network composition, and the structure which performs mobile composition. The conceptual diagram which shows an example which comprises a small scale CTS using the several typesetting terminal provided with the same typesetting function as a typesetting terminal. The figure which shows the flow of a process in the system shown by FIG. The figure which shows the detail of the various functions with which a certain typesetting terminal in the system shown by FIG. The figure which shows the detail of the various databases with which the typesetting terminal shown by FIG. 6 is equipped. The figure which shows the structural example in case two typesetting terminals contained in the system shown by FIG. 4 share a role. The figure which shows the mode of the data exchange performed between a typesetting server (active system), a typesetting terminal (active type), and a typesetting terminal (mobile terminal). The figure which shows the general method (the 1) which instruct | indicates printing output from the typesetting terminal of a remote environment. The figure which shows the general method (the 2) which instruct | indicates printing output from the typesetting terminal of a remote environment. The figure which shows the method of isolate | separating the output of the paper data from the typesetting terminal of a remote environment into a printing output and a galley output. The flowchart which shows the operation | movement in the case of the galley output in FIG. The flowchart which shows the operation | movement in the case of the subversion output in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Information processing apparatus, 11 ... Material registration function, 12 ... Composition function, 13 ... Editing function, 14 ... File conversion software, 15 ... RIP function, 16 ... Article editor, 17 ... Image processing function, 18 ... Head office cooperation function

Claims (7)

Material registration means for registering articles and images, which are materials input from outside, in a storage medium;
Typesetting means for creating typesetting data on the newspaper using the articles and images registered by the material registration means;
Editing means for editing the composition data of the newspaper created by the composition means and creating a first file described in a page description language that can be processed by a RIP (Raster Image Processor);
A portable information processing apparatus comprising: a file conversion unit that converts the first file created by the editing unit into a second file based on a general-purpose format. The typesetting means is realized by using the same program as the program for realizing the typesetting means used at the head office of a newspaper company,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a local interface that enables the program to access the typesetting data in the information processing apparatus. Comprising a RIP capable of processing the first file;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus and another information processing apparatus different from the information processing apparatus share the RIP. Comprising storage means for storing the composition data of the newspaper produced by the composition means,
4. The information processing apparatus and another information processing apparatus different from the information processing apparatus share typesetting data stored in the storage unit. Information processing device.   5. The typesetting data can be exchanged between the information processing apparatus and another information processing apparatus different from the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus described.   The first file created by the editing means is sent to a predetermined RIP without being sent to the head office of the newspaper company, or the second file created by the file conversion means is sent to the newspaper company. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus transmits the information to a predetermined printer without transmitting to the head office. To a computer that is a portable information processing device,
A function for registering articles and images, which are materials input from outside, in a storage medium;
A function of creating typesetting data for newspaper pages using the registered articles and images;
A function of editing the formatted data of the created newspaper and creating a first file described in a page description language that can be processed by a RIP (Raster Image Processor);
A program for realizing the function of converting the created first file into a second file based on a general-purpose format.

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