JP3253038B2 - Database management device for printing and plate making - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing / plate making database management apparatus, and more particularly, to a printing / plate making processing terminal which processes and edits constituent parts of a printed matter in predetermined job units. The present invention relates to a device that stores component data in a center storage device, and searches and reads out predetermined component data from the center storage device.

[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 printing and plate making, downsizing is also rapidly progressing. For example, a plurality of printing / plate making terminals arranged in a distributed manner operate in a network environment, and perform predetermined printing / plate making processes in parallel while sharing various data accumulated in a database. Plate making processing systems are becoming popular.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional client / server type printing / plate making processing system. In FIG. 15, a plurality of printing / engraving processing terminals 1 as clients are connected to a database management apparatus 3 as a server via a wired or wireless communication path 2 so as to be able to perform data communication. Database management device 3
Is connected to a center storage device 4 functioning as a database. The center storage device 4 is composed of a large-capacity storage device such as a magnetic disk device or an optical disk device, and stores therein various component data (data such as images, figures, characters, layouts, etc.) that constitute a printed material received. ing. The database management device 3 controls writing of data to the center storage device 4 and retrieval and reading of data therefrom, and also controls data transfer between the center storage device 4 and each of the printing and plate making processing terminals 1. . Thereby, each printing / plate making terminal 1 can share the data stored in the center storage device 4.

[0004] Each operator who operates the printing and plate making terminal 1 is assigned in advance a work for printing and plate making according to a predetermined schedule. Before starting one work, each operator reads out the component data necessary for the work assigned to him from the center storage device 4 and stores it in the internal memory (for example, a magnetic disk) of each printing / plate making terminal 1. . Thereafter, each operator operates the printing and plate making processing terminal 1 to perform various processing and editing on the component data stored in the respective internal memories. When one operation is completed, each operator reversely transfers the processed and edited part data from the printing and plate making processing terminal 1 to the database management device 3 and the center storage device 4.
Register again.

[0005]

By the way, in the conventional printing and plate making processing system as described above, the database management device 3 stores the component data sent from each printing and plate making processing terminal 1 into the center storage device 4. Are sequentially stored in the empty area closest to the first address. However, since the component data of each page of each printed material is sent at random from each printing / plate making processing terminal 1 to the database management device 3, the components of the same printed material or the same page are stored in the center storage device 4. Data will be scattered and stored. On the other hand, reading of component data from the center storage device 4 is often performed in units of pages or printed materials. However, in the center storage device 4, since the component data of the same printed matter or the same page is scattered and stored here and there, there is a problem that it takes time to access each component data and the reading speed is reduced. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a printing / plate making database management apparatus capable of increasing the access speed when reading component data.

[0007]

The invention according to claim 1 is
The component data sent from the printing and plate making processing terminal that processes and edits the components of the printed matter in predetermined job units is stored in the center storage device, and the predetermined component data is retrieved and read from the center storage device. A printing / platemaking database management device, comprising: a receiving unit that receives component data sent from a printing / platemaking processing terminal; and a center storage device for the component data based on a job to which the component data received by the receiving unit belongs. clustering means for determining the storage location of the inner, and the component data received by the receiving means includes a storage means for storing the storage location in the center memory device clustering means has determined, clustering
The same means as the receiving component data received by the receiving means.
Job data already stored in the center storage device.
Judgment means for judging whether or not the
As a result of the determination, the part belonging to the same job as the received part data
If the product data is already stored in the center storage device
Is the free area closest to the storage location of the part data
Is determined as the storage location of the received component data.
Of the receiving part data
The part data belonging to one job is stored in the center storage device.
If not stored in the center storage device,
If there is a gap between two component data
The part farthest from the storage location of the two parts data
Is determined as the storage location of the received component data.
And a second determining means, storage means, the determination means determines
Based on the result, the first determining means or the second determining means
The received component data is stored in the storage position determined as described above.

[0008]

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the storage position of the received component data in the center storage device is determined based on the job to which the component data received by the receiving unit belongs.
By storing the received component data at the determined storage location, component data belonging to the same job are stored at physically close positions.

Further , in the invention according to claim 1, the receiving
Stores received part data by communication means in the center storage device
At the time, it is determined whether the component data belonging to the same job as the received component data is already stored in the center storage device, and the component data belonging to the same job as the received component data is already stored in the center storage device. When the received component data is stored in the center storage device , the received component data is stored in the empty area closest to the storage location of the component data, while the component data belonging to the same job as the received component data is not stored in the center storage device. Sometimes, there is a gap between two component data having the largest arrangement interval in the center storage device.
Farthest from the storage location of the two component data
To store the received component data.

[0011]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a printing and plate making system provided with a database management device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a plurality of printing / engraving processing terminals 10 as clients are communicably connected to a database management device 30 as a server via a wired or wireless communication path 20. A center storage device 40 is connected to the database management device 30. The center storage device 40 is configured by a large-capacity storage device such as a magnetic disk device or an optical disk device.
It stores data such as image files. The database management device 30 controls writing of data to the center storage device 40 and reading of data from the center storage device 40, and also controls data transfer between the center storage device 40 and each printing / plate making terminal 10. A JOB management device 50 is connected to the communication path 20. JOB
Job management data is input from the management device 50.

FIG. 2 shows the printing and plate making processing terminal 1 shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a 0. 2, a CPU 101, a main memory 102, a frame buffer 103, a magnetic disk device 105, an optical disk device 106, a keyboard 107 and a mouse 108 are connected to a system bus 100. The CPU 101 as a central processing unit executes a predetermined printing / plate making process. R
The main memory 102 constituted by the AM is a CPU
101 is used as a work memory. 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 OS data, a window system, a printing / plate making program, and the like. The CPU 101 operates according to OS data stored in the magnetic disk device 105, a window system, and a printing / engraving processing program. The optical disk device 106 is used to store large-capacity print / plate making data. The keyboard 107 and the mouse 108 are devices operated by an operator to input various commands and data. Further, a communication interface 111 is connected to the system bus 100 and the communication path 20. The communication interface 111 is a device that controls data communication between the CPU 101 and the database management device 30.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the database management device 30 shown in FIG. 3, a CPU 301, a main memory 302, a frame buffer 303, a magnetic disk device 305, a keyboard 307, a mouse 308, and an input / output interface 312 are connected to a system bus 300. Among them, CPU
301, main memory 302, frame buffer 30
3, the magnetic disk device 305, the keyboard 307, and the mouse 308 are the CPU 101,
Main memory 102, frame buffer 103, magnetic disk device 105, keyboard 107, and mouse 10
8 has substantially the same function as the generic concept. The input / output interface 312 is a device for controlling input / output of data between the system bus 300 and the center storage device 40. Further, the communication path 2 is provided on the system bus 300.
0 is connected to the communication interface 311. The communication interface 311 communicates with the CPU 301 for printing and printing.
It controls data communication with the plate making processing terminal 10.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the configuration of the center storage device 40 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the center storage device 40 includes a plurality of magnetic disks 4.
1, 42,... 4n. Each magnetic disk 41, 42,
4n, a plurality of recording tracks T0, T1,... Tm are arranged concentrically as shown in FIG. The corresponding recording tracks among the magnetic disks 41, 42,... 4n constitute cylindrical cylinders as shown in FIG. For example, each recording track T0 on the magnetic disks 41, 42,... 4n forms one cylinder, and each recording track T1 forms one cylinder. Therefore, the magnetic disks 41, 42,.
4n will include the same number of cylinders as the recording tracks.

By the way, the magnetic disks 41, 42,.
On n, the magnetic heads are arranged. When reading the component data, switching of the cylinder to be accessed involves mechanical movement of each magnetic head, that is, movement of each of the magnetic disks 41, 42,... 4n in the radial direction. Affect.
On the other hand, recording track switching within the same cylinder
Since it is only necessary to electrically switch each magnetic head,
It can be performed at high speed and has little effect on access speed. Therefore, it is preferable that the component data belonging to the same page or the same printed matter, which is frequently read out at the same time, be stored in the same cylinder or in a nearby cylinder as much as possible. In the present embodiment, the access speed at the time of reading data is increased by performing a clustering process that satisfies such a requirement when storing the component data.

FIG. 7 shows a hierarchical structure of the ordered work. As shown in FIG. 7, the printed materials received from each customer are classified by company, and the printed materials of each company are further classified by JOB. Here, each JOB represents a unit of one printed matter such as a catalog or a flyer. Each JO
B is further classified by page. Each page is composed of one or more component data (including character data, line drawing data, image (picture) data, layout data, and the like). The printing and plate making system shown in FIG. 1 manages each component data file under the hierarchical structure shown in FIG.

Next, the operation of each printing / plate making terminal 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The CPU 101 of the printing / plate making terminal 10 reads out component data from the magnetic disk device 105 and processes and edits the data (step S1). When the processing and editing work of the component data is completed, the CPU 101 sends the job information (information such as company name, job name, page number, component type and number) of the component data to the database management device 30 (step S2). ). Next, the CPU 101 sends the processed and edited component data to the database management device 30 (step S3).

Next, the operation of the database management device 30 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the communication interface 311 receives the JOB information from the printing / plate making terminal 10, the CPU 301 starts an interrupt process (step S101). Next, the CPU 301
Captures job information from the communication interface 311 and
The data is loaded into the main memory 302 together with the job and cylinder table read from the magnetic disk device 305 (steps S102 and S103). Here, as shown in FIG. 8, the job name and the job name are stored in the job & cylinder table.
Cylinder No. And are stored. Each cylinder No.
Is the No. of the cylinder in which the corresponding JOB part data is stored first. Is shown. Next, CPU3
In step S104, it is determined whether the center storage device 40 is empty, that is, no component data is stored. When the center storage device 40 is empty, the CPU 301 stores the component data received from the printing / plate making terminal 10 in the first cylinder in the center storage device 40, and stores the JOB and the first cylinder No. corresponding to the component data. Is registered in the JOB & cylinder table (step S105), and the operation ends.

On the other hand, when the component data is already stored in the center storage device 40, the CPU 301
It is determined whether the same job as the job (reception job) received from the plate making processing terminal 10 is registered in the job & cylinder table (step S106). If the same job as the received job is registered in the job & cylinder table, the part data belonging to the same job as the received job is already stored in the center storage device 40, and the corresponding cylinder No. (No. of the cylinder in which the job data of the job is stored first) is registered in the job & cylinder table. In this case, the CPU 30
No. 1 is the cylinder No. corresponding to the reception JOB registered in the JOB & cylinder table. Then, the component data received from the printing / plate making terminal 10 is stored in the free space closest to the terminal (step S107). For example, a cylinder No. corresponding to JOB2. If “5” is registered as the cylinder No., 5, and finds the job data of the job 2 received from the printing and plate making terminal 10 in the empty area. At this time,
Cylinder No. 5 is already full of JOB2 part data, the adjacent cylinder No. 5 4 or No. 6, the received part data of JOB2 is stored in the empty area. Further, the cylinder No. 4 and no. If cylinder 6 is already full of JOB2 part data, cylinder no.
3 or No. 7, the received part data of JOB2 is stored in the empty area. Hereinafter, the same applies.

On the other hand, the same JOB as the reception JOB
If not registered in OB & cylinder table, CP
U301 is a new cylinder No. for the job.
Is calculated and registered in the JOB & cylinder table (step S108). After that, the CPU 301 determines the cylinder No. newly registered in the JOB & cylinder table. The component data received from the printing / plate making terminal 10 is stored in the cylinder (step S107).

FIG. 14 shows a detailed operation of the subroutine step S108 of FIG. Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 14, a new cylinder No. executed in this subroutine step S108 will be described. Will be described in more detail.

The CPU 301 first stores the JOB & cylinder data stored in the JOB & cylinder table in the cylinder No. Sort or rearrange in order (step S20)
1). Assuming that the JOB & cylinder data shown in FIG. 8 is stored in the JOB & cylinder table, the sorted JOB & cylinder data is as shown in FIG. Each cylinder after sorting has N
o. Identification in order from smaller code P _1, P ₂ of, ... it is assigned. Next, the CPU 301 calculates the distance D _i (= P _{i + 1} −P _i ) between the sorted cylinders (step S202). For example, the cylinders P ₁ to P ₁ shown in FIG.
When calculating the cylinder spacing D _i for P _5, the result is as shown in FIG. 10.

Next, the CPU 301 operates the center storage device 4.
The distance Emi between the innermost cylinder Smin of 0 and the smallest cylinder Pmin stored in the JOB & cylinder table
n (= Pmin−Smin), and the interval Emax between the outermost cylinder Smax of the center storage device 40 and the largest cylinder Pmax stored in the JOB & cylinder table.
(= Pmax-Smax) (step S20)
3). Now, suppose that the center storage device 40 stores 0 to 99 of 100.
Assuming that there are cylinders and Pmin = 5 and Pmax = 99 as shown in FIG. 9, Emin = Pmin-Smin = 5-0 = 5 Emax = Pmax-Smax = 99-99 = 0 Become. Next, the CPU 301 proceeds to step S202
The maximum cylinder interval Dx is calculated from the cylinder intervals calculated in (step S204). For example, in the case of FIG. 10, the maximum cylinder interval Dx is D ₄ = 49.

Next, the CPU 301 compares the above-mentioned cylinder intervals Emin, Emax, and Dx to determine which cylinder interval is the largest (steps S205, S20).
6). If Emin is the maximum, the CPU 301 receives the innermost cylinder Smin of the center storage device 40 and receives the job JOB.
Is determined as a new storage cylinder Pmax + 1 (step S
207). On the other hand, when Emax is the maximum, the CPU 30
1 determines the outermost cylinder Smax of the center storage device 40 as a new storage cylinder Pmax + 1 of the reception JOB (step S208). When neither Emin nor Emax is the maximum, that is, when Dx is the maximum, the CPU 301
The calculation of Px + (Dx / 2) is performed, and the calculation result is determined as a new storage cylinder Pmax + 1 of the reception JOB (step S209). Next, the CPU 301 determines the new storage cylinder Pmax + 1 (cylinder No.) determined in steps S207, S208, and S209 and the JO of the reception JOB.
The B name is registered in the JOB & cylinder table (step S210).

When the operation shown in FIG. 14 is executed for the JOB & cylinder table of FIG. 8, since the maximum cylinder interval D ₄ = 49 in FIG. 10 is larger than Emin = 5 and Emax = 0, a new storage cylinder Pmax + cylinder of 1 = P ₆ No. Is determined in step S209. In other words, the _{P 6 = P 4 + (D} 4/2) = 50 + (49/2) = 50 + 24 = 74. If the received job at this time is JOB6, the job & cylinder table is rewritten as shown in FIG.

As is clear from the above description, when the JOB part data not stored in the center storage device 40 is received, the CPU 301 determines the center position between the cylinders having the largest interval in the center storage device 40. Is assigned to the storage cylinder of the received component data. As a result, even if the component data of the same job overflows the assigned storage cylinder and is stored in an adjacent cylinder, it can be prevented from easily contacting the storage cylinder of another job.

In the above embodiment, the job is matched with the unit of the printed matter, but may be matched with the company unit or the page unit. In the above embodiment, the center storage device 40 is constituted by a magnetic disk, but may be constituted by another large-capacity recording medium (such as a magneto-optical disk). Further, in the above embodiment, the center storage device 40 stores each component data in a cylinder format. However, the center storage device 40 may store each component data in a two-dimensional address space.

[0029]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the component data belonging to the same job are stored in physically close positions in the center storage device, the access speed at the time of reading is made. Can be speeded up.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when receiving part data belonging to a job that is not stored in the center storage device, the most distant position from the storage position of the part data of the already stored job is received. Since the storage area of the reception component data is set at the position, the interval between the storage areas of each job can be maximized. As a result, the storage areas of the jobs that spread around the storage area of the first component data are less likely to be in contact with each other, and the component data belonging to the same job can be stored together at a closer position.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a printing and plate making system provided with a database management device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a printing and plate making processing terminal 10 shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a database management device 30 shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a configuration of a center storage device 40 illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing recording tracks on a magnetic disk.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a concept of a cylinder in the center storage device 40.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a printed matter management structure in the printing and plate making processing system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a job & cylinder table.

9 is a table showing the job and cylinder data stored in the job and cylinder table of FIG. It is a figure showing the state sorted in order.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing intervals between cylinders obtained from the JOB & cylinder data after sorting shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 shows a new cylinder No. for a reception JOB. It is a figure which shows the JOB & cylinder table in which was registered.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an operation of each printing / plate making terminal 10;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an operation of the database management apparatus 30 which is interesting for the present invention.

14 is a subroutine step S108 shown in FIG.
5 is a flowchart showing a more detailed operation of FIG.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional client / server type printing / plate making system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10: Printing / plate making terminal 20: Communication path 30: Database management device 40: Center storage device 50: JOB management device

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-2-186345 (JP, A) JP-A-3-50642 (JP, A) JP-A-1-179280 (JP, A) JP-A-4- 181439 (JP, A) JP-A-4-266136 (JP, A) JP-A-4-303244 (JP, A) Makoto Takizawa “Introduction to the ST Series Database System: From Basic to Detailed Technology” (Inc.) Soft Re (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 12/00 G03F 1/00

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A center storage device stores component data sent from a printing and plate making processing terminal for processing and editing a component of a printed material in a predetermined job unit, and stores predetermined component data from the center storage device. A printing and plate making database management device that retrieves and reads out, based on a job to which the part data received by the receiving unit receives component data sent from the printing and plate making processing terminal, Clustering means for determining a storage location of the component data in the center storage device; and storage means for storing the component data received by the reception device in a storage location in the center storage device determined by the clustering device. wherein the clustering means, belong to the same job and receiving component data by the receiving means
Part data to be stored is already stored in the center storage device.
Determining means for determining whether or not the received component data is the same as the received component data.
The part data belonging to the job
If the part data is stored in the
The free space closest to the location is the storage location of the received component data.
First determining means for determining the position of the received component data, and a result of the determination by the determining means,
The part data belonging to the job is stored in the center storage device.
If not stored in the center storage device
Between the two component data with the largest
The most distant from the storage location of the two component data
Is determined as the storage location of the received component data.
And a second determining means, wherein the storing means is configured to perform a previous determination based on a result of the determination by the determining means.
The decision is made by the first decision means or the second decision means.
A printing / plate making database management device , wherein the receiving component data is stored in a predetermined storage location .