JP2989435B2 - Image processing system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing system, and more particularly, to an image processing system that reads and processes image information from an image document received from a client.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, instead of a conventional large general-purpose computer, there has been a movement to form a LAN (Local Area Network) or the like by utilizing a small computer such as a personal computer or a workstation whose processing capability has been significantly improved. It is becoming active. This shift to smaller machines is called "downsizing," and is primarily aimed at reducing costs and shortening development time. Also in the field of image processing such as printing and plate making, downsizing is rapidly progressing. For example, an image processing system in which a plurality of image processing terminals arranged in a distributed manner operate in a network environment and execute predetermined image processing in parallel on various image data input to the system is generally used. It is becoming.

An image processing system that handles high-definition image data, such as a printing / plate making system, requires a secondary storage device (such as a magnetic disk device) having a huge storage capacity. For example, a photo manuscript is converted to an input line number of 400 / inch (8b
it / color, 4color), A4
In terms of size, the data amount is about 60 Mbytes. Storing about 100 pages of A4 document in the secondary storage device of the printing and plate making system requires a storage capacity of about 6 GB. Normally, data obtained by performing image processing such as retouching on original image data input by a scanner is also stored at the same time, so that a larger capacity of the secondary storage device is required.

For this reason, in the conventional printing / plate making system, a magnetic disk device, which is an inexpensive secondary storage device with relatively high access speed, is often used. However, secondary storage devices, including magnetic disk devices,
Conventionally, the data in the secondary storage device is stored in a cheaper storage medium, for example, a magneto-optical disk, an 8 mm magnetic tape, or a DAT, so that the data may be backed up due to a failure.

[0005]

By the way, many printing and plate making processes have a short delivery time. In particular, in the plate making process,
One order job may be completed in about 2 to 3 days.
Then, in the above-described process, a plurality of order receipt jobs are processed in parallel. Therefore, in the printing and plate making system, a large amount of image data is stored in the secondary storage device of the system in a relatively short storage period. Backing up a large amount of image data requires a long processing time. In addition, since the printing / plate making data is stored in the system only for a short time, the number of times of backup processing must be performed more than in systems such as CAD. For this reason, the conventional printing / plate making system has a problem in that costs for backup processing (system occupation time, worker labor cost, and storage medium cost) are increased.

On the other hand, the actual printing / plate making processing system 2
When the secondary storage device fails and becomes unusable, a so-called recovery process for restoring from the backup storage medium to another non-failed secondary storage device is required. As described above, the huge amount of data required a long recovery time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing system capable of performing backup processing and recovery processing of a secondary storage device in a short time.

[0008]

The invention according to claim 1 is
An image processing system that reads image information from an image document received from a client and processes and edits the image information. The image information reading unit reads image information from the image document, and converts the image information read by the image information reading unit into an image file. Image file transfer means for transferring over a network, image file storage means for storing image files transferred via a network, processing / editing means for reading and processing / editing image files from the image file storage means, each image file An identification information setting / registration unit for setting and registering identification information indicating whether or not the corresponding image document has been returned to the requester; an image corresponding to the returned image document by referring to the registered identification information Read the file from the image file storage and write it to the backup storage medium. Image file writing means, setup data storage means for temporarily storing setup data when reading an image document, and an image file corresponding to the image document returned from the backup storage medium when a failure occurs in the image file storage means. The image file restoring means for reading and restoring the image data and the image data reading means for an unreturned image document can be set up by reusing the setup data stored in the setup data storing means when a failure occurs in the image file storing means. It has a setup execution means for executing.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the setup data corresponding to the unreturned image document is read out from the setup data storage unit by referring to the identification information registered and set for backup. Means for writing setup data to a storage medium,
When a failure occurs in the setup data storage unit, the setup data corresponding to the unreturned image document is read from the backup storage medium by referring to the identification information registered and transmitted to the setup execution unit via the network. A setup data transfer unit, wherein the setup execution unit reuses the setup data transferred from the setup data transfer unit when a failure occurs in the setup data storage unit, so that the image information reading unit reads the unreturned image original. Run setup.

[0010]

The image document received from the requester may be returned to the requester after the image information is read by the image information reading means, or may not be returned. The image document that is not returned to the client can be recovered by reading the image document again by the image information reading unit without backing up the image file. Therefore, in the invention according to claim 1, by backing up only the image file of the image document returned to the client to the backup storage medium, the number and time of the backup processing and the recovery processing can be reduced, and the backup The storage capacity of the storage medium is saved. On the other hand, setting up the image information reading means requires skill and takes time. Therefore, in the first aspect of the invention, the setup data of the image information reading means is stored and reused, so that the image information reading means can be set up in a short time.

In the invention according to the second aspect, not only the image file of the returned document but also the setup data of the unreturned document is written in a backup storage medium to be backed up. Then, the setup data is read from the backup storage medium and transferred to the setup execution means. This makes it possible to set up the image information reading means even when a failure occurs in the setup data storage means.

[0012]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a printing and plate making system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a plurality of workstations (hereinafter abbreviated as WS) 11 to 1n are network-connected to each other via a wired or wireless communication path 2 so that data communication is possible. Each WS1
A plurality of magnetic disk devices 3 as secondary storage devices are preferably connected to 1 to 1n, respectively. In the present embodiment, the WS 11 is used as a management WS for managing an order job and inputting return information of an image document into the system. In addition, the WS 12 includes an image scanner 41.
Input WS for inputting image information read from an image original by means of .about.4k as an image file into the system
Used as Further, WS13 to WS1n are used as processing / editing WS for processing / editing the image file transferred from the input WS12 via the communication path 2. The processing / editing WS1n is connected to a backup device 5 for writing and reading image files and setup data to and from a backup storage medium (magneto-optical disk, 8 mm magnetic tape, DAT, etc.) not shown. That is, the processing / editing WS1
n has a function of performing backup processing and recovery processing of the image file and the setup data in addition to the function of processing and editing the image file.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of each of the WSs 11 to 1n shown in FIG. In FIG.
U101, main memory 102, frame buffer 10
3, a barcode reader 104, a keyboard 107 and a mouse 108 are connected via a system bus 100. The above-mentioned magnetic disk device 3 is also connected to the system bus 100. The magnetic disk device 3 stores various types of program data for an OS system, a window system, and printing / plate making processes.
The CPU 101 as a central processing unit operates according to program data stored in the magnetic disk device 3.
The main memory 102 is used as a working memory of the CPU 101. The frame buffer 103 is a display memory, and stores one frame of image data to be displayed on the CRT display 110. Frame buffer 1
The image data stored in 03 is converted into an analog video signal by the D / A converter 109, and then given to the CRT display 110, where it is displayed. The barcode reader 104 is, for example, a device for reading a barcode pasted on a work instruction sheet. The keyboard 107 and the mouse 108 are devices operated by an operator to input commands and various data. Further, a communication interface 111 is connected to the system bus 100 and the communication path 2.

Next, the operation of the printing / plate making system shown in FIG. 1 will be described. Note that here, as an example,
A case will be described in which a prepress company executes printing and prepress processing based on an image document (a photo document, an illustration document, etc.) received from a customer. When an order is received from a customer for printing and plate making work, the process manager of the printing and plate making company first makes a plan for the printing and plate making process. At this time, the process manager assigns a JOB name to each printed material received. Next, the management WS1
The first operator operates the management WS 11 and inputs job information in accordance with an instruction from the process manager. This job
The information includes, for each JOB, a JOB name, a delivery date, attribute information of an image file belonging to the corresponding JOB, and the like. The attribute information of each image file includes a file ID (identification code), a file name, a page number. (Information indicating which page of the corresponding JOB the image file belongs to),
Host name (processing / editing WS that processes the image file)
Identification name). The management WS 11 stores the input JO
B information is stored in its own magnetic disk device 3, and input WS 12, each processing / edit WS
13 to WS1n.

Next, the operator of the image scanners 41 to 4k sets the image document received from the customer on any of the image scanners 41 to 4k. The image scanner scans the set image document and reads image information in pixel units from the image document. Input WS12
Temporarily stores the image information read from the image document in its own magnetic disk device 3. At this time, the operator of the image scanner sets the reading characteristics of the image scanner to an optimum state before reading the image document in order to improve the reading result. The setting of the reading characteristics, that is, the setup of the image scanner, must be performed for each image document in consideration of the state of the image document (degree of exposure, color bias, highlight point, shadow point, etc.). Requires skill and time. Then, the input WS 12 creates a setup data file as shown in FIG. 13 for each image document, and stores it in its own magnetic disk device 3.

The input WS 12 creates a setup data file management table as shown in FIG. 11 while referring to the above-mentioned JOB information, and stores the setup data file management table in its own magnetic disk device 3. The setup data file management table describes a file ID, a file name of a corresponding image file, an image scanner name, and a setup data file name. Note that the input WS
Reference numeral 12 preferably stores the same setup data file management table in a plurality of (for example, two) magnetic disk devices 3 in an overlapping manner. As a result, the setup data file management table is mirrored, and even if one magnetic disk device 3 fails, the setup data file management table can be read from another magnetic disk device 3 that has not failed.

After that, the input WS 12 reads each image information from the magnetic disk device 3 to create an image file, and transfers the image file to the processing / editing WS to which the processing / editing work is assigned in the JOB information. Each processing / editing WS1
3 to WS1n store the image files transferred from the input WS12 in their own magnetic disk devices 3, respectively.

The input WS 12 creates a magnetic disk device management table as shown in FIG. 9 in order to know in which magnetic disk device of which processing / editing WS each image file has been stored. This magnetic disk device management table includes a parent table shown in FIG.
(B). The parent table contains, for each magnetic disk device 3 belonging to each of the processing / editing WSs 13 to WS1n, the host name of the corresponding processing / editing WS, the magnetic disk device name, and the address pointer of the corresponding child table (corresponding to the corresponding child table). Is shown). A child table is prepared for each of the magnetic disk devices 3 of the processing / editing WS13 to WS1n. Each child table has a backup storage medium name (for backing up image files in the corresponding magnetic disk device). The type of the assigned backup storage medium), the volume name (which indicates the number of the backup storage medium of the same type) and the number of image files (stored in the corresponding magnetic disk device). And the file ID of each image file stored in the corresponding magnetic disk device.

Further, the input WS 12 creates an image file management table as shown in FIG. In this image file management table, for each image file, the file ID, the JOB name of the corresponding JOB, the page N
o. (Indicating the page number of the corresponding job), a file name, a data amount, and a document return flag (a flag indicating whether or not the image document has been returned to the customer, which is set later) Is described. FIG.
0 is, for example, a certain 1 belonging to a certain processing / editing WS.
10 shows an image file management table for one magnetic disk device, and an image file management table similar to that shown in FIG. 10 is created for other magnetic disk devices.

The input WS 12 converts the magnetic disk device management table and the image file management table created as described above into a processing / editing W
Transfer to S1n. The processing / editing WS1n is input WS1
The magnetic disk device management table and the image file management table transferred from the storage device 2 are stored in its own magnetic disk device 3. At this time, the processing / editing WS1n preferably stores the same magnetic disk device management table and image file management table in a plurality (for example, 2
And (3) magnetic disk devices 3. As a result, the magnetic disk device management table and the image file management table are mirrored. Even if one magnetic disk device 3 fails, the magnetic disk device management table and the image file The management table can be read.

When the image scanners 41 to 4k finish reading the image document, the image document may be returned to the customer or not. In the present embodiment, whether to back up the corresponding image file is determined depending on whether the image document has been returned to the customer.

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
The input operation of the document return information in the management WS 11 will be described. First, the operator of the management WS 11
To input document return information indicating whether or not the image document that has been read by the image scanners 41 to 4k has been returned to the customer (step S101). Next, management W
In step S11, the input document return information is transferred to the processing / editing WS1n having a backup function (step S1).
02).

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
The setting operation of the document return flag in the processing / editing WS1n will be described. The processing / editing WS1n receives the document return message from the management WS11 (step S20).
1) The original return information is loaded into the internal main memory 102 (step S202). Next, the processing / editing WS1n
Sets the number of all image files in the image file management table (FIG. 10 shows an image file management table for one magnetic disk device 3) to the register M and sets the counter i to 1. It is set (step S203). Next, the processing / editing WS1n
Sets the document return flag of the i-th image file in the image file management table (step S20).
4). That is, for example, “1” is set in the document return flag of the image file in which the image document is returned, and “0” is set in the document return flag of the image file whose image document is not returned. Next, the processing / editing WS1n
Increments the counter i by 1 (step S
205), it is determined whether or not the count value of the counter i is equal to or less than the set value of the register M (that is, the number of all image files in all the image file management tables) (step S206). If the count value of the counter i is equal to or smaller than the set value of the register M, the operation returns to step S204, and the operation of setting the document return flag is repeated. On the other hand, when the count value of the counter i has reached the set value of the register M, the setting operation of the all document return flag in all the image file management tables has been completed, and
The editing WS1n ends the operation.

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
The backup processing operation in the processing / editing WS1n will be described. Note that this backup processing operation
Editing is performed for each magnetic disk device 3 of WS13 to WS1n. When the processing / editing WS1n receives a backup processing request message for any one of the processing / editing WS13 to WS1n from the management WS 11 (step S301), the processing / editing WS1n refers to the magnetic disk device management table (see FIG. 9). Then, the image file management table corresponding to the magnetic disk device to be backed up is read from its own magnetic disk device 3 and taken into the internal main memory 102 (step S30).
2). Next, the processing / editing WS1n is stored in the main memory 10
The image file management table stored in the storage device 2 is written in the backup storage medium using the backup device 5 (step S303). As a result, the image file management table of the magnetic disk device to be backed up is backed up.

Next, the processing / editing WS1n includes a counter i
Is set to 1, and the number of all image files stored in the magnetic disk device 3 to be backed up is set in the register j with reference to the magnetic disk device management table (see FIG. 9) (step S304). ). Next, the processing / editing WS1n determines whether the document return flag of the i-th image file in the backed-up image file management table is set to "1" or "0", that is, the image document is provided to the customer. It is determined whether or not it has been returned (step S305). If the document return flag of the i-th image file is set to “1”, that is, if the image document has been returned to the customer, the processing / editing WS1n performs a backup process on the i-th image file. The data is read from the magnetic disk device 3 and written to the backup storage medium using the backup device 5 (step S306). Thus, the image file whose image document has been returned to the customer is backed up on the backup storage medium.

On the other hand, if the document return flag of the i-th image file is set to "0", that is, if the image document has not been returned to the customer, the processing / editing WS1n
Reads the i-th setup data file (see FIG. 13) from the magnetic disk device 3 of the management WS 11, and writes it to the backup storage medium using the backup device 5 (step S307). As a result, the setup data file for which the image document has not been returned to the customer is backed up on the backup storage medium. Note that the i-th setup data file in the magnetic disk device 3 of the management WS 11 is specified by referring to the setup data file management table in FIG.

After step S306 or S307, the processing / editing WS1n increments the counter i by 1 (step S309), and the count value of the counter i is set to the register j (that is, the magnetic disk to be backed up). It is determined whether the number is equal to or less than the total number of image files stored in the device 3 (step S30).
9). If the count value of the counter i is equal to or smaller than the set value of the register j, the process returns to step S305 again, and the backup processing of the image file or the setup data file is repeated. On the other hand, when the count value of the counter i has reached the set value of the register j, the backup / edit processing for all the image files stored in the magnetic disk device 3 to be backed up has been completed. The operation ends. The above-described image file backup processing operation of FIG. 5 is also performed for the other magnetic disk devices 3 in the processing / editing WS.

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
The image file recovery processing operation in the processing / editing WS1n will be described. This recovery processing is performed by processing / editing W
This is performed when a failure occurs in any of the magnetic disk devices 3 in S13 to WS1n. Processing / Editing WS1
The n first reads the image file management table (see FIG. 10) of the magnetic disk device to be subjected to the recovery process, that is, the failed magnetic disk device from the backup storage medium using the backup device 5 (step S401). Next, the processing / editing WS1n uses the latest magnetic disk device management table (see FIG. 9) of the magnetic disk device to be subjected to recovery processing from its own magnetic disk device 3.
And an image file management table (see FIG. 12).
Is read (step S402). This means that the latest magnetic disk device management table and the image file management table also include the management information of the image files that are not backed up even though the image original is returned, that is, the image files that are waiting for the backup process. This is because it may have been done. As described above, since the latest magnetic disk device management table and the image file management table are mirrored, even if one of the magnetic disk devices 3 of the processing / editing WS1n has failed, it has not failed. The latest magnetic disk device management table and image file management table can be read from another magnetic disk device 3.

Next, the processing / editing WS1n includes a counter i
Is set to 1, and the latest image file number is set in the register k with reference to the latest magnetic disk device management table (step S403). Next, the processing / editing WS1n stores the latest image file management table (FIG. 12).
It is determined whether or not the i-th image file management information (see FIG. 10) also exists in the image file management table (see FIG. 10) read from the backup storage medium (step S404). If the same image file management information as the latest image file management table also exists in the image file management table read from the backup storage medium, the processing / editing WS1n sets the document return flag included in the image file management information. Is set to "1" (step S405). If the original return flag is set to "1", the image original has been returned, and the processing / editing WS1n reads the corresponding image file from the backup storage medium and performs a recovery process. (Step S)
406). The processing / editing WS stores the transferred image file in the magnetic disk device 3 which does not fail. As a result, the image file is recovered. Next, the processing / editing WS1n increments the counter i by 1 (step S407).

On the other hand, if the original return flag is set to "0" in step S405, the image file recovery process is not performed and the process directly proceeds to step S40.
Proceed to operation 7. In step S404, even when the same image file management information as the latest image file management table does not exist in the image file management table read from the backup storage medium, the process directly proceeds to step S407. In this case, the image file is not recovered. Next, the processing / editing WS1n determines whether or not the count value of the counter i is equal to or less than the set value of the register k (that is, the latest number of image files) (step S408). If the count value of the counter i is equal to or less than the set value of the register k, the process returns to step S404 again, and the image file recovery process is repeated.
On the other hand, if the count value of the counter i has reached the set value of the register k, the recovery / edit WS1n has completed the recovery process for all image files stored in the magnetic disk device 3 that is the target of the recovery process. The operation ends.

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
The recovery process of the setup data file in the processing / editing WS1n will be described. This recovery process is performed when a failure occurs in any of the magnetic disk devices 3 in the input WS 12. Here, the operation of each step in FIG. 7 is substantially the same as the operation of each step in FIG. 6 except for step S506. That is, in steps S501 to S505 and S506 to S508, respectively, steps S401 to S405 and S406 to S406 in FIG.
408 is substantially the same as the processing. Step S above
The process of 506 is executed when it is determined in step S505 that the document return flag is set to “0”, that is, when the image document has not been returned to the customer. In step S506, the processing / editing WS1n
Reads the corresponding setup data file from the backup storage medium and transfers it to the input WS 12.

Next, an automatic setup operation of the image scanners 41 to 4k in the input WS 12 will be described. This automatic setup operation differs between a case where the magnetic disk device to be subjected to the recovery processing is a magnetic disk device belonging to the processing / editing WS13 to WS1n and a case where the magnetic disk device belongs to the input WS12. In the former case, the input WS 12 reads the setup data file from its own magnetic disk device 3 and sets it in the corresponding image scanner. This automatically sets up the image scanner. The operator of the image scanner mounts an image document (an image document whose image file is not backed up) corresponding to the automatically set up image scanner, and causes the image scanner to read the image document. On the other hand, in the latter case, the input WS12
Performs an automatic setup operation according to the flowchart of FIG.

Next, the automatic setup operation in the latter case will be described with reference to FIG. The input WS12 is
When a re-input request message is received from the editing WS 1n (step S601), the setup data file (the setup data file read from the backup storage medium in FIG. 7) transferred from the processing / editing WS 1n is received and the internal data is received. The data is stored in the main memory 102 (step S602). Further, at this time, the operator of the input WS 12 inputs the file name of the image document requested to be re-input. Usually, a label containing a barcode or a file name is attached to the bag containing the image document, and the file name (barcode) is associated with the image document. When a file name is pasted, the file name is input using the keyboard 107 of the input WS 12. If the barcode is attached, the barcode reader 104 of the input WS 12 reads the barcode information.
Next, the input WS 12 sets 1 to the counter i and sets the number of re-input files to the register t (step S603).

Next, the input WS 12 attaches the i-th setup data file to the corresponding image scanner (step S604). Next, the operator of the input WS 12 sets the i-th image document on the corresponding image scanner, and causes the image scanner to read the image document. The input WS 12 stores the read image information in its own magnetic disk device 3 that is not out of order (step S605). As a result, an image file for which an image document has not been returned is recovered. Next, input W
In S12, the counter i is incremented by 1 (step S606), and the count value of the counter i is stored in the register t.
Is determined to be less than or equal to the set value (ie, the number of re-input files) (step S607). If the count value of the counter i is equal to or smaller than the set value of the register t, the process returns to step S
Returning to the operation of 604, the automatic setup processing of the image scanner and the reading processing of the image document are repeated. On the other hand, when the count value of the counter i has reached the set value of the register t, the processing / editing WS1n ends its operation because reading processing of all image originals for which re-input is requested has ended.

In the above embodiment, one of the working / editing WSs is provided with a backup function. However, a dedicated WS for executing the backup processing and the recovery processing is provided.
May be provided separately.

In the above-described embodiment, the distributed image processing system in which the image file input at the input WS 12 is directly transferred to the respective processing / editing WSs 11 to 1n has been described. Stored in a disk device (database) and processed / edited WS as needed.
The present invention can also be applied to a centralized image processing system in which image files are read from a common magnetic disk device and processed / edited by a common magnetic disk device.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the image processing system configured as the printing / plate making processing system has been described.
The present invention is widely applicable to other image processing systems operated in a network environment (for example, a semiconductor mask pattern creation device, a computer graphic creation device, and an architectural design drawing creation device).

[0038]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since only the image file whose image document has been returned is backed up, the number of backup processing and recovery processing is reduced, and the processing time for the processing is shortened. In addition, the capacity of the backup storage medium can be greatly reduced. For image files that have not been returned,
Although the image information reading means is caused to read the image original again for recovery, the setup of the image information reading means is performed by reusing the setup data stored in the setup data storage means, The setup of the image information reading means can be performed in a short time.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the setup data for which the image document has not been returned is also written in the backup storage medium for backup, so that even if the setup data storage means fails, the backup storage medium can be used. By reading and reusing the setup data from, the image information reading means can be set up even when a failure occurs in the setup data storage means.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing and plate making processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of each workstation shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of inputting document return information in a management WS 11 shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of setting a document return flag in a processing / editing WS1n shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an image file backup processing operation in the processing / editing WS1n shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an image file recovery processing operation in the processing / editing WS1n shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a setup data file recovery processing operation in the processing / editing WS1n shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an automatic setup operation of the image scanner in the input WS12 shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a magnetic disk device management table.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an image file management table written in a backup storage medium.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setup data file management table.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a latest image file management table before being written to a backup storage medium.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a setup data file.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Management workstation 12 ... Input workstation 13-1n ... Processing / editing workstation 2 ... Communication path 3 ... Magnetic disk unit 41-4k ... Image scanner 5 ... Backup unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H04N 1/00-1/00 108 H04N 1/04-1/207

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image processing system for reading and processing / editing image information from an image document received from a client, comprising: an image information reading unit for reading image information from the image document; Image file transfer means for transferring image information transferred as an image file over a network, image file storage means for storing image files transferred via the network, reading and processing and editing image files from the image file storage means Processing / editing means, for each image file, identification information setting registration means for setting and registering identification information indicating whether or not a corresponding image document has been returned to the requester; and referencing the setting-registered identification information. The image file corresponding to the returned image document is stored in the image file storage Image file writing means for reading from a stage and writing the data to a backup storage medium; setup data storage means for temporarily storing setup data when reading the image document; Image file restoration means for reading and restoring an image file corresponding to a returned image original from a medium, and when a failure occurs in the image file storage means,
An image processing system comprising: a setup execution unit configured to execute setup of the image information reading unit for an unreturned image document by reusing setup data stored in the setup data storage unit. 2. A setup data writing unit for reading setup data corresponding to an unreturned image document from the setup data storage unit and writing the setup data to a backup storage medium by referring to the identification information registered for setting. When a failure occurs in the setup data storage unit, the setup data corresponding to the unreturned image document is read from the backup storage medium by referring to the identification information registered in the setting, and the setup is executed via the network. A setup data transfer unit for transferring the setup data transferred from the setup data transfer unit when a failure occurs in the setup data storage unit. Run Setup for the image information reading means with respect to image original, the image processing system according to claim 1.