JP2992426B2 - 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 a system for processing and editing image data and outputting the processed image data to a predetermined medium, such as a printing and plate making system.

[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. In the field of image processing such as printing and plate making, downsizing is also 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 is becoming common.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing an example of a conventional printing / plate making system. In FIG. 14, a plurality of printing / plate making terminals 11, 12,... 1n are connected to a plurality of output devices 31,.
j is network-connected. Each of the printing / engraving processing terminals 11, 12,... 1n is constituted by a personal computer, a workstation, or the like.
To process and edit the print and plate making data given via Each of the output units 31,... 3j is constituted by a printer, an image setter, or the like.
The print / plate making data processed and edited by 1, 12,... 1n is output to a recording medium such as a film, a printing plate, and paper.

In the printing / plate making system shown in FIG. 14, printing / plate making terminals 11, 12,...
Output of the printing and plate making data to 3j is performed as follows. First, the operator designates one suitable output device from the printing / plate making terminal and issues an output request to the output device. At this time, if the designated output unit is in a non-operation state (empty state), the output unit issues a data transfer instruction to the printing / plate making terminal that issued the output request. If the output machine is in operation (output processing is being executed)
If so, the output device places the printing / plate making terminal that has issued the output request in an output standby state. Output requests are managed as queues in the order in which they were issued.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing another example of a conventional printing and plate making processing system. The printing and plate making processing system of FIG. 15 differs from the printing and plate making processing system of FIG. 14 in that an I / O server 4 is used. FIG.
In the printing and plate making processing system, the printing and plate making processing terminal 1
The printing and plate making data from 1, 12,.
It is pooled (temporarily stored) in the O server 4. The printing / plate making terminals 11, 12,... 1n can complete the output process (data output) irrespective of the state of the output units 31,. . However, as in the printing and plate making processing system of FIG. 14, the operator must specify an output machine from the printing and plate making processing terminal side.

[0006]

As described above, in the conventional printing and plate making processing system, it is necessary for the operator at the printing and plate making processing terminal to designate an output machine for executing the output processing. Therefore, if the operator specifies an output device without considering the operation status of each output device, the output processing is concentrated on some output devices, and the operating efficiency of the entire system is reduced. Was. This problem will be described more specifically with reference to FIG. In the following description, a job means a unit of work managed based on, for example, order information, and is composed of an aggregate of print / plate making data. For example, each of the output machines 31 and 32 is a JO
When the output request of JOB3 is issued during the execution of the output processing of B1 and JOB2, the operator of the printing and plate making processing terminal operates the output machines 31 and 32 because both of them are operating.
Assume that an output request is issued to the output device 31 for the time being. In this case, as shown in FIG.
Despite ending earlier than the output process of OB1,
The output process of JOB3 does not start until time t3 when the output process of JOB1 ends. As a result, a wasteful non-operation period (t3-t2) occurs in the output device 32, and the operation efficiency of the output device decreases. Since image data handled by an image processing system such as a printing / plate making system has a large data amount, it takes a long time for output processing, and a decrease in operating efficiency becomes a serious problem.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing system capable of always executing output processing efficiently.

[0008]

The invention according to claim 1 is
An image processing system that processes and edits image data and outputs the processed image data to a predetermined medium.
A plurality of image processing terminals to be edited, a plurality of image processing terminals, a plurality of output devices that are connected to each image processing terminal via a network, output image data processed and edited by each image processing terminal to a predetermined medium, and manage operations of each image processing terminal. A management device for outputting image data from the image processing terminal.
Output device assignment destination and output for each power request
Storage that stores a table that holds information about the scheduled end time
Means and a new output request from the image processing terminal is made
Every time needed for the output request, or in the case where the output device is in a non-operational state Rutotomoni an output device of the non-operating state Te assign <br/>, to process the output request time
The output end scheduled time is determined based on the output device . If all the output devices are in the operating state, each output device is determined based on the table.
The final output scheduled end time is assign the output device of the earliest of
With the final output time of the assigned output device
And the time required to process the output request
Determine the scheduled output end time and assign the output device to the table.
Rely on destination and and an output request assignment means for writing the information of output scheduled end time.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the image processing apparatus further comprises a storage unit for temporarily storing and holding image data processed and edited by the image processing terminal, and When the image data output request is assigned to the middle output device, the image data from the image processing terminal is made to stand by in the storage unit until the output device ends the already assigned output process.

[0010] The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2.
In the invention, the image processing terminal, together with the output request of image data includes means for issuing an attribute information related to the capacity of the image data to the management unit, the output request assignment means on the basis of the attribute information, respectively Process output requests
Calculate the time required to complete

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when an image data output request is issued from the image processing terminal, the output request allocating means of the management device controls the output so that each output device operates most efficiently. Assign the request to an output device. That is, when any of the output device is in a non-operating state, assigned Rutotomoni the output device of the non-operating state
Scheduled output termination based on the time required to process the request
Determine the time. When all output devices are in operation,
Final output scheduled for each output device based on the table
Over time assigns the output device the earliest, the split
The estimated output time of the assigned output device and the output request
When the output is scheduled to end based on the time required to process
Decide between. In addition, the determined assignment destination and end schedule
Information about fixed time is written to the table and will occur in the future
Used to determine the output request
You.

In the invention according to claim 2, the output request allocating means temporarily stores the image data from the image processing terminal in the storage means when the output request of the image data is allocated to the currently operating output device. To be stored. by this,
Execution of the output request is suspended until the output device completes the output process that has already been assigned.

In the invention according to claim 3, each image processing terminal issues an attribute request related to the capacity of the image data to the management device together with the output request of the image data.
Then, the output request assigning means calculates a time required to process each output request based on the attribute information.

[0014]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a printing and plate making system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the printing and plate making processing system of this embodiment includes a plurality of printing and plate making processing terminals 11, 12,... 1n and a plurality of output devices via a wired or wireless communication path 2. 31, ... 3
3j, a plurality of I / O servers 41,... 4j corresponding to the output devices 31,... 3j on a one-to-one basis, and one management device 5 are network-connected to enable data communication. ing.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of each of the printing and plate making processing terminals 11, 12,... 1n shown in FIG. 2, a system bus 100 includes a CPU 1
01, main memory 102, frame buffer 103,
The magnetic disk device 105, keyboard 107 and mouse 108 are connected. CPU1 as central processing unit
No. 01 executes a predetermined printing / plate making process. The main memory 102 is used as a work memory when the CPU 101 executes a printing / plate making process. The frame buffer 103 is a display memory, and stores one frame of image data to be displayed on the CRT display 110. The image data stored in the frame buffer 103 is converted into an analog video signal by a D / A converter 109, and is then provided to a CRT display 110 and displayed there.

The magnetic disk device 105 stores various program data (OS system, window system, application programs, etc.) and print / plate making data. The CPU 101 controls the magnetic disk device 1
It operates according to the program data stored in the magnetic disk drive 105 and performs processing and editing processing on the printing and plate making data stored in the magnetic disk device 105. A keyboard 107 and a mouse 108 as input devices are operated by an operator to input commands and various data to the CPU 101. Further, a communication interface 111 is connected to the system bus 100 and the communication path 2.

FIG. 3 shows each I / O server 4 shown in FIG.
It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of 1, ... 4j. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the I / O server includes a system bus 400, a CPU 401,
Main memory 402, frame buffer 403, magnetic disk device 405, keyboard 407, mouse 408,
A D / A converter 409, a CRT display 410, and a communication interface 411 are provided.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the management device 5 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the management device 5 is a printing / plate making terminal of FIG. 2 or an I / O terminal of FIG.
As with the server, the system bus 500 and the CPU 50
1, main memory 502, frame buffer 503, magnetic disk device 505, keyboard 507, mouse 50
8, a D / A converter 509, a CRT display 510, and a communication interface 511.

FIG. 5 shows each printing / plate making terminal 11, 1
It is a flowchart which shows the operation procedure of the operator in 2, ... 1n. FIG. 6 shows each printing / plate making terminal 11,
It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of 12, ... 1n. FIG.
5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the management device 5. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of each I / O server 41,... 4j. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of each output device 31,... 3j. Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 5 to 9, among various operations and operations in the printing and plate making processing system shown in FIG. 1, operations and operations of portions related to the present invention will be described.

First, referring to FIG. 5, an operation procedure for issuing a job data output request in each of the printing / plate making terminals 11, 12,... 1n will be described. Now, it is assumed that the icons IC1 to IC8 are displayed on the CRT display 110 as shown in FIG. The icons IC1 to IC6 correspond to the corresponding JOB1 to JOB1, respectively.
The job 6 file is shown. Icon IC7,
Shows an output machine. The icon IC8 indicates a trash can used when deleting data. The issuing operation of the output request is performed by a so-called drag and drop method. That is, the operator operates the mouse 108 to move the cursor over a JOB icon (JOB icon IC3 in FIG. 10A) to be output (step S11). When the cursor is positioned on the job icon IC3, the operator presses a button (mouse button) attached to the mouse 108 (Step S12). Next, the operator moves the cursor over the output device icon IC7 while pressing the mouse button (step S13). At this time, the job icon IC3 moves with the movement of the cursor. When the cursor is positioned on the output device icon IC7, that is, as shown in FIG.
Overlaps the output device icon IC7, the operator releases the pressing of the mouse button (step S14). Thus, the CPU 101 recognizes that an output request has been issued for the data file of JOB3.

As described above, in this embodiment, the operator of each of the printing and plate making processing terminals 11, 12,... 1n does not check the operation status of each of the output machines 31,. An output request can be issued without specifying a device. That is, in this embodiment, as described below, the assignment of the output request to each of the output units 31,.
The management device 5 manages all of them. Therefore,
The operation of the operator of the plate making processing terminal is simple and easy.

When the operation of FIG. 5 is executed, the CPU 101 of the corresponding printing / plate making terminal executes the operation shown in FIG. First, JOB information as shown in FIG. 11 (information indicating various attributes of a JOB that is an output request target)
Is created, and the JO is
The B information is sent to the management device 5 (step S21). The job information shown in FIG. 11 includes, as an example, the name of a client who has received a job and the order number. , The name of the order taking person, the delivery date, the job name (for example, corresponding to one unit of the printed matter), the ID of the job (identification number), the number of colors of the printed matter, the page size, and the page. Includes numbers and total data volume. The management device 5 executes the scheduling of the output process based on the JOB information received from the printing and plate making processing terminal.

Here, the operation of the management device 5 will be described with reference to FIG. The CPU 501 of the management device 5 first determines whether an output processing end message has been sent from any of the output devices 31,... 3j (step S31).
As described later, each of the output units 31,.
When the output processing of the B data is completed, an output processing end message is sent to the management device 5 (step S5 in FIG. 9).
3). Upon receiving the output processing end message, the CPU 5
01 writes the output end time in the corresponding JOB item in the output processing schedule table as shown in FIG. 12 (step S32). This output processing schedule table is stored in the main memory 502, and a corresponding JOB item is added each time JOB information is sent from each of the printing and plate making processing terminals 11, 12, ... 1n.
Each item is, for example, a JOB name, a JOB ID,
It includes the page size, the number of pages, the total data amount, the scheduled output start time, the actual output start time, the scheduled output end time, the actual output end time, and the number of the output device. In step S32, the actual output end time is written in the corresponding JOB item. After that, the CPU 501
Returns to the operation of step S31.

On the other hand, if no output processing end message has been received from the output device, the CPU 501 determines whether or not job information has been sent from any of the printing / plate making terminals 11, 12,... 1n. (Step S33).
If the job information is not received, step S31 is performed.
When the job information is received, the output time of the corresponding job data (the time required for the output process in the output device) is calculated based on the received job information (step S34). Note that the output time is calculated based on the total data amount included in the job information.

Next, the CPU 501 performs scheduling of output processing (step S35). This step S
35 will be described in more detail.
First, it is determined with reference to the output processing schedule table whether or not there is a non-operating output device. The output device number is registered in each item in the output processing schedule table. However, if the output end time is written in all the items for the same output device number, the corresponding output device is not operated. It is determined to be in the state. Further, it is determined that the output device in which the number is not registered in any item in the output processing schedule table is also in the non-operation state. If there is a non-operating output device, the CPU 501 adds a new JOB item (step S
At the same time, the number of the non-operating output device is registered in the added JOB item. As a result, the output request is assigned to the output device that is not operating. Further, the CPU 501 writes the scheduled output start time and scheduled output end time in the newly added JOB item. The current time is written as the scheduled output start time, and the time obtained by adding the output time calculated in step S34 to the current time is written as the scheduled output end time.

On the other hand, when there is no output unit in the non-operation state, that is, when all the output units are in the operation state, the CPU 501
Compares the final scheduled output end time of each output device registered in the output process schedule table and finds the output device that will finish the output process earliest. Next, CPU
501 indicates a new JO in the output processing schedule table.
The item B is added, and the number of the found output device is registered in the added JOB item. As a result, the output request is assigned to the output device that finishes the output processing earliest. Further, the CPU 501 writes the scheduled output start time and scheduled output end time in the newly added JOB item. Note that the final output scheduled time of the found output unit is written as it is as the scheduled output start time, and the output end time calculated by adding the output time calculated in step S34 to the final scheduled output time is written as the scheduled output end time. Written.

Next, the CPU 501 sends an output message to the printing / plate making terminal that issued the JOB information (step S36). This output message contains JOB
It includes the number of the output device to which the data output request is assigned, and flag information indicating whether the output device is in a non-operation state.

Upon receiving the output message from the management device 5 (step S22 in FIG. 6), the CPU 101 of the printing / plate making terminal analyzes the received output message (step S23). Next, the CPU 101 determines whether or not the output device to which the output request has been assigned is in a non-operation state based on the flag information (step S24). When the output device is in the non-operation state, the CPU 101 transfers JOB data (printing and plate making data) to the output device (step S25). On the other hand, when the output unit is in the operating state, C
The PU 101 transfers the JOB data to the I / O server corresponding to the output device (Step S26).

The CPU 401 of the I / O server prints
When job data is received from the plate making processing terminal (step S41 in FIG. 8), the received job data is stored in the magnetic disk device 405 (step S42). As a result, the job data enters a standby state for output processing.
In addition, the CPU 401 observes whether or not the output processing of the JOB data currently output by the corresponding output device has been completed (step S43). When the output process of the corresponding output device is completed, the CPU 401
At step 05, the first JOB data waiting is sent to the corresponding output device (step S44).

The output device receives JOB data from the printing / plate making terminal or the corresponding I / O server (FIG. 9).
Step S51), and outputs the received JOB data to a recording medium such as a film, a printing plate, or paper (step S5).
2). Next, the output device sends an output processing end message to the management device 5 (step S53). As described above, upon receiving the output processing end message from the output device, the CPU 501 of the management device 5 writes the output end time in the corresponding JOB item in the output processing schedule table (step S32 in FIG. 7). Note that the above step S
At 52, the output device sends an output processing start message to the management device 5. In response, the CPU of the management device 5
Reference numeral 501 writes the output start time to the output processing schedule table in FIG.

As described above, in the printing / plate making system according to the present embodiment, when all the output units are in the operating state, the output processing is assigned to the output unit having the earliest scheduled output end time. As a result, as shown in FIG. 13, when the output process is completed earlier in the output device 32 than in the output device 31, the output process of JOB3 is assigned to the output device 32. Therefore, unlike the case of FIG. 16, there is no useless non-operation period in the output device 32, and the operation efficiency of the entire system is improved.

In the above-described embodiment, the JOB items whose output processing has been completed by the output device are not deleted from the output processing schedule table. This is because the information stored in the output processing schedule table is used later (for example, after the end of a day) as management information. Thereafter, the JOB item for which the output processing has been completed is deleted from the output processing schedule table. When the storage information of the output processing schedule table is not used as the management information, the corresponding JOB item is deleted from the output processing schedule table every time the output processing is completed by the output device (for example, in step S32 of FIG. 7). It may be. In this case, the capacity of the main memory 502 for storing the output processing schedule table can be saved.

In the above embodiment, the scheduled output time is calculated based on the data amount. However, the scheduled output time may be calculated based on other factors such as the output size such as the page size.

In the above embodiment, the output units 31 to 3j
Although the I / O servers 41 to 4j are provided so as to correspond to each other, one I / O server may handle a plurality of output devices.

In the above embodiment, the I / O server is provided to temporarily store the job data (image data). However, the temporary storage means is not limited to the I / O server.

Although the above-described embodiment is configured as a printing and plate making processing system, the present invention is not limited to this and can be applied to other image processing systems (for example, a semiconductor mask pattern forming device, a computer graphic forming device) operated in a network environment. , Architectural design drawing preparation device).

[0037]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when an image data output request is issued from the image processing terminal, if any of the output devices is in an inactive state, the output in the inactive state is output. Output request is assigned to the device, and if all output devices are in operation, output device assignment destination and output end schedule
Based on a table that holds time information,
Determines the output device that has the earliest scheduled end time for output.
And assign the output device so determined
Therefore, each output device can be operated efficiently, and as a result, the productivity of the entire system is improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when an image data output request is assigned to an active output device, the image data is made to wait in the storage means, so that the output request is issued. The image processing terminal is quickly disconnected from the image data output processing. As a result, the image processing terminal can execute other processing, and the productivity of the entire system does not decrease.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, each output is based on attribute information relating to the capacity of image data.
Since the time required to process the force request is calculated, accurate calculation can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall 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 printing / plate making processing terminal.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of each I / O server.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a management device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of an operator in each printing / plate making terminal.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of each printing / plate making terminal.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the management device.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of each I / O server.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of each output device.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a CRT display of the printing / plate making terminal when an output request is issued.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of attribute information issued by a printing / engraving processing terminal.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of an output processing schedule table stored in a main memory of the management device.

FIG. 13 is an illustrative view for explaining advantages of the printing / plate making system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional printing and plate making processing system.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing another example of a conventional printing and plate making system.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an output processing operation of a conventional printing and plate making processing system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 to 1n: printing and plate making processing terminal 2: communication path 31 to 3j: output device 41 to 4j: I / O server 5: management device

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image processing system for processing and editing image data and outputting the processed image data to a predetermined medium, comprising: a plurality of image processing terminals for processing and editing given image data; are, each image processing a plurality of output devices for outputting image data processed and edited in a predetermined medium by the terminal, and a management device for managing the operation of the image processing device, the management apparatus, the image Each output request of image data from the processing terminal
About the output device assignment destination and the scheduled output end time.
Storage means for storing a table for holding information, and each time a new output request is made from the image processing terminal
In the case with respect to the output request, one of the output device is in a non-operating state to assign the output device of the non-operating state
Along with the time required to process the output request.
The output end scheduled time is determined based on the above , and when all the output devices are in the operating state, each output device is determined based on the table.
The final output scheduled end time is assign the output device of the earliest of
Together with the final output of the assigned output device
Time and the time required to process the output request.
To determine the scheduled output end time and output to the table
Writes information on device assignment destination and scheduled output end time
And a non-output request assignment unit, an image processing system. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit for temporarily storing and holding the image data processed and edited by the image processing terminal, wherein the output request allocating unit transmits the image data to a currently operating output device. 2. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein when the output request is assigned, the image data from the image processing terminal is made to wait in the storage unit until the output device ends the assigned output process. 3. 3. Each of the image processing terminals includes means for issuing, to the management device, attribute information relating to the capacity of the image data, together with an output request for the image data. based on the information, its
3. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein a time required to process each output request is calculated.