JP3257567B2 - Page image information processing apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to page image information processing, and more particularly to a page image information processing apparatus for converting page image information for a plurality of pages into page image information for a predetermined page.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional technique for converting page image information, there is, for example, a technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-216370 or a technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-163675. In the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 3-216370, when there is a discrepancy between the paper size set by the user and the paper size actually set in the printer, the paper size is set to match the paper size set in the printer.
The page image information is enlarged or reduced.
In the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 3-163675, an area for one sheet of paper is divided into areas corresponding to each emulation mode, and supplied page image information is enlarged so as to match the size of the area. Reduced or scaled,
Printing is performed so as to be superimposed on one sheet of paper.

[0003]

Considering the effective use of paper resources, the compact size of hard copies, and the creation of a content handbook for a document having a large number of pages, page image information for a plurality of pages is half that of the document. It is preferable that the pages are printed together, and further, printed on one sheet. However, conventionally, for example, in the technology described in JP-A-3-216370, only a process of enlarging or reducing page image information can be performed, and page image information for a plurality of pages is collectively printed, for example, on one sheet of paper. Could not be processed. In addition, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
In the technology described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 75-75, a process of enlarging, reducing, or scaling each of a plurality of page image information and outputting the information to a set area can be performed. However, it is not possible to perform processing such as printing so as not to overlap, and it is troublesome that the size of each area and the reference point for image creation must be set from the host computer side. An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem and to print out page image information for a plurality of pages in a predetermined number of pages, for example, half the number of pages, and further so as not to overlap on one sheet of paper. To provide a page image information processing apparatus capable of performing the above-described steps.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a page image information processing apparatus for converting page image information for a plurality of pages into page image information for a predetermined page. The first information for juxtaposing information, the second information for rotating the page image information, and the third information for scaling the page image information are divided into pages for the plurality of pages. There is provided a page-up processing means for converting the page image information for the plurality of pages into the page image information for the predetermined page in addition to the image information. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the page image information processing apparatus for converting page image information for a plurality of pages into page image information for a predetermined page, the first information for juxtaposing the page image information; Second information for rotating the image information and third information for scaling the page image information are added to the page image information for the plurality of pages, and the page image information for the plurality of pages is added. Page-up processing means for converting the converted page image information into the page-up processing means, and converting the recursively supplied page image information for a plurality of pages into the predetermined page image information. Recursive processing means for further converting to page image information for a page is provided.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the page-up processing means converts first information for juxtaposing the page image information, second information for adding rotation processing to the page image information, and page image information. The third information for adding the doubling process is added to the page image information for a plurality of pages, and the page image information for the plurality of pages is converted into, for example, page image information for half of the page. Thus, for example, the original page image information of eight pages is printed out on a sheet of four pages. The page-up processing means according to the second aspect of the invention converts page image information for a plurality of pages into page image information for a predetermined page, as in the first aspect. The recursive processing means of the invention according to claim 2 recursively supplies the page image information converted by the page-up processing means to the page-up processing means, and further converts the converted page image information for a plurality of pages into a predetermined number of pages. For example, it is converted into page image information for half the page. For example, when there is page image information for four pages, first, the page image information of the first page and the second page is replaced with the page image information of the new first page, third page and fourth page by the page-up processing means. Is a new second page. Next, the recursive processing means recursively supplies the new page image information of the first page and the second page to the page-up processing means as new page image information of a plurality of pages. As a result, for example, the page image information of the original four pages is printed out on a sheet having a size of one page.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The details of the present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. FIG. 2 shows the system configuration of the first embodiment. In the figure, 1 is a local area network. Reference numeral 2 denotes a workstation connected to the local area network 1, and an Interpress Master is created by this. Interpress Master is PDL (Page Description Language)
The page image information described in “Interpress”, which is one of the above, corresponds to “page image information for a plurality of pages” in the claims. Workstation 2
The page press information created by the Interpress Master, that is, the original page image information, is referred to as “original Interpress Master” and is denoted by reference numeral 3. In the figure, it is abbreviated as “IPM”.
(For details of Interpress, see, for example, “Interpress” (FY 2.
3.30) See Maruzen et al. ). Although a plurality of workstations 2 are usually connected to the local area network 1, only one is shown here. Reference numeral 4 denotes a print server which outputs the original Interpress master transmitted from the workstation 2 or the like as it is or by adding the processing according to the present invention to a hard copy 5 (note that the same reference numeral "5" is also used for paper). Used). The print server 4 includes a queuing device 41,
The printer includes a printer control device 42, an editing information setting device 43, a printing mechanism unit 44, and the like (FIGS. 1 and 2). The queuing device 41 includes a hard disk, temporarily holds the original Interpress master transmitted from each workstation 2, and supplies the master to the printer control device 42 in a priority order.

FIG. 1 shows the details of the printer control unit 42. The device 42 includes a page image information processing device 421
And bitmap data creation device 422 and marker device 42
3 (FIG. 1). Page image information processing device 4
21 includes a two-page up processing unit 4211 and a recursive processing unit 4212. 3. The page-up processing unit of claim 1 or 2, wherein the two-page-up processing unit 4211 is a recursive processing unit.
212 corresponds to the recursive processing means of the second aspect of the present invention. The editing information setting device 43 includes a display device 431 as shown in FIG.
And a keyboard 432. The editing information setting device 43 sets how many pages of the original Interpress master are to be one page. The bitmap data generation device 422 of FIG.
The Interpress master supplied from 21 is developed into bitmap data. The created bitmap data is supplied to the marker device 423. The marker device 423 adjusts the scanning timing of the laser beam of the printing mechanism unit 44,
The bitmap data is supplied to the printing mechanism unit 44. As a result, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum of the printing mechanism section 44, and this is transferred and fixed on paper and output as a hard copy 5.

FIG. 3 shows a processing procedure of page image information. This process is executed by each unit 4211 to 4212 of the page image information processing device 421. First, the index ⁿ of the page-up number 2 ⁿ is fetched (step S).
1). The page-up number refers to the number of pages of the original Interpress master that is converted into one page. In the present embodiment, this is represented by a power of 2 2 ⁿ , and its exponent n
Is set by the editing information setting device 43. For example, if “n = 3” is set, the number of page-ups is “8”, and eight pages of the original Interpress master are used as a new one-page Interpress master. The word “step” will be omitted hereinafter.

[0009] With respect to the taken n, it is determined whether the value is "0?" (S2). If the answer is “NO (No)”, “n = 0”, that is, the number of page-ups “2 ⁿ
= 1 ”. This means no conversion. The original Interpress master is supplied to the bitmap data creation device 422 as it is (S6). If the set value of n is not “0”, the answer to S2 is “Yes (YES)”. One original Interpress master is read from the queuing device 41 (S
3). A recursive process is performed on the original Interpress master (S4). The converted Interpress master, for example, a new Interpress master in which the original eight pages are replaced with one page, is stored in the bitmap data creation device 4.
22 (S5).

FIG. 4 shows the details of the recursive processing in S4. In this process, the two-page up process of S13 is repeated the number of times indicated by n. This processing is performed by the recursive processing unit 4212. For the sake of simplicity, it is assumed that n does not take a negative value. The two-page up processing in S13 is executed by the two-page up processing unit 4211. By this processing, each two pages of the Interpress master is converted into one page. In the recursive processing of FIG. 4 (S4 of FIG. 3), S13 is repeated n times. As a result, 2 n pages of the Interpress Master are converted into a new 1 page. An example is shown in FIG. The outline will be described first with reference to this example. Here, it is assumed that the number of pages of the original Interpress master is eight, and n is set to “3” so that the number of pages becomes one page of the Interpress master. In the first time of the page up processing (S13), the original Interpress master Pa
Ge0-1 to Page0-8 are converted into four-page Interpress masters Page1-1 to Page1-4. The number following "Page" is the number of conversions, "-"
The number following the number indicates the page number of the Interpress Master. For example, "Page0-1" is converted "0" times, so "-1" is the original Interpress master.
Therefore, it points to the first page. (Note that, in the figure, the hard copy 5 is represented by a solid rectangle as in the case of the hard copy 5. However, when a “Page” symbol is attached, it means print information (interpress master) of the page.) And a four-page Interpress Master Pag
e1-1 to Page 1-4 are converted into two-page Interpress masters Page 2-1 to Page 2-2. 3
At the first time, it is converted into a one-page Interpress master Page3.

The outline of the recursive processing in S13 of FIG. 4 has been described above. The entire recursive process will be described with reference to FIG.
It is assumed that the Interpress master to be converted is the Interpress master of Pages 0-1 to 0-8 shown in the example of FIG. S11 is executed and the queuing device 4
This original Interpress master is imported from 1. According to the example of FIG. 5, it is assumed that n is set to “3”. Therefore, in S12, the answer is "NO" and S13 is executed. Here, the first 2-page up processing is performed. As a result, the 8-page original Interpress Master Pages 0-1 to Page
0-8 is a 4-page Interpress Master Page1-
1 to Page 1-4. S14 is executed,
These four pages of Interpress Master Page1-1 to P
age1-4 is set as a new Interpress Master. S
15 is executed, and n is decremented to “2”. S11 is executed again. The new Interpress masters Page1-1 to Page1-4 are imported.
Since n = 2, the answer in S12 is “NO (No)”, and the second time in S13 is executed. 4-page original Interpress Master Page1-1 to Pa
Ge1-4 is a two-page Interpress Master Page
2-1 to Page 2-2. S14 is executed, and the two-page Interpress Master Page 2-1 is executed.
~ Page2-2 is the new Interpress Master. S15 is executed, n is decremented to “1”
Becomes The processes of S11 to S15 are executed again. This is the 2 page original Interpress Master P
The pages “age2-1” to “page2-2” are converted into one-page Interpress master Page3. n = 0 and S
The answer to 12 is "YES", and the process of FIG. 4 (the process of the recursive processing unit 4212) ends.

FIG. 6 shows the details of the two-page up processing (S13). By this process, the Interpress master having a plurality of pages is converted into half the number of pages, for example, image information of eight pages is converted into an Interpress master of four pages. To facilitate understanding, the contents of the original Interpress master (FIG. 7) and the contents of a new Interpress master (FIG. 8) to be generated will be described first. First, in Interpress, a token for a preamble or one page is enclosed by a “$” token and a “$” token (FIG. 7). "Preamble""Page1"
“Page 2” and the like are abbreviated from “the token of the preamble”, the “token of the first page” and the like, and are not themselves the tokens of the Interpress master. In the case of this original Interpress master, the number of pages is "n"
However, the tokens of the respective pages from the fifth page to the nth page are shown in an abbreviated form. The interface press master of FIG. 7 is converted to the interface press master of FIG. 8 by the two-page up processing. The portion (token) from the fourth line to the eighteenth line in FIG. 8 is a token for a new one page.
According to the example of the above, in the portion corresponding to Page1-1,
Page 0 of the original Interpress Master
-1 and the page information of the second page Page0 (FIG. 7)
{Page 1}, {Page 2}). Although the original Interpress master in FIG. 5 has eight pages, this example is also referred to as the drawing of the original Interpress master on page n in FIG. Returning to FIG. 8, the portion from the 19th line to the 35th line is a token corresponding to the next new page, that is, a portion corresponding to Page 1-2 in FIG. Information (Fig. 7
{Page 3}, {Page 4}). The tokens D1A and D1B in FIG. 8 are "first information for collocating page image information", the token D2 is "second information for adding rotation processing to page image information", and the token D3 is a claim D3. This corresponds to “third information for adding scaling processing to page image information”. The tokens D4A and D4B
Is commonly used as a fool proof, and is not included in the configuration of the present invention.

The token shown in FIG. 8 is interpreted and executed by the bitmap data creating means 422 shown in FIG. In order to facilitate understanding of the two-page up process of FIG. 6, the contents of the original Interpress master (FIG. 7) and the contents of the new Interpress master (FIG. 8) to be generated have been described above. In order to facilitate understanding of the two-page up process of FIG. 6, how the interpreted master of FIG. 8 is interpreted and executed will be described first. For this description, reference is made to FIGS.
Here, an example is given of a process in which the first page Page0-1 and the second page Page0-2 of the original Interpress master are converted into a new one-page Interpress master Page1-1. For easy understanding, each page is given a page number, and an arrow is shown as a print example. When the token D1A is executed, the origin is moved to the lower right of the sheet 5 (from FIG. 13, (A) to (B). The same applies to the following drawings). At this time, the contents of the stack are as shown in FIG.
From (D) to (D) (in other figures, the progress is similarly expressed in alphabetical order). When the CONCATT operator is executed in the state shown in FIG. 11C, the origin shift matrix shown in FIG. 12 is multiplied by the current transformation, and is held as a new current transformation. If the page 0-1 of the Interpress master of the first page is printed in this state, the contents are printed at the position shifted right from the original position by the length of the sheet in the X direction (mediumXsize) to the right. .

When the token D3 is executed, the scale is changed. (FIG. 16 (A), (B)). At this time, the contents of the stack change from FIG. 14 (A) to (E),
When the CONCATT operator is executed in the state of (D), the scale transformation matrix of FIG. 15 is multiplied by the current transformation, and is held as a new current transformation. If the page 0-1 of the Interpress master of the first page is printed in this state, the page is moved to the right from the original position by the length in the X direction (mediumXsize) of the sheet, and the size is X / Y.
Only the reduced state is printed. X / Y here
Is the length of the paper in the X direction (mediumXsize) divided by the length of the paper in the Y direction (mediumYsize). When the token D2 is executed, the coordinate axes are rotated. (FIG. 19
(A) and (B)). At this time, the contents of the stack are as shown in FIG.
(C) changes from (A) to (C).
When the ATT operator is executed, the rotation matrix of FIG. 18 is multiplied by the current transform and held as a new current transform. In this state, if the page 0 of the Interpress master
-1 is printed, the paper width (me
diumXsize), the size is reduced by X / Y, and the image is rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise about the origin P, and printed. As is apparent from this description, the tokens D1A, D3, and D2 are replaced with the token {P
When these are interpreted and executed after being added before age 1}, the lower half of the new page of the Interpress Master Page 1-1 is replaced with the original Interpress Master Page 1 of the first page.
e0-1 is reduced and fitted to fit the width of the sheet 5 in the horizontal direction (FIGS. 19B and 5).

Next, the second page (Page 0-2) of the original Interpress master may be inserted into the upper half of the new one-page Interpress master Page 1-1 (FIG. 5). After interpreting and executing the token for the first page (Page 0-1) of the original Interpress master, the current conversion is performed as shown in FIG. 19B or FIG. Master (Page
0-1) is reduced and fitted to the lower half of the new one-page Interpress Master Page 1-1 so as to fit the width of the paper 5 in a horizontal direction. Therefore, the length of the sheet 5 in the Y direction (Me
If the current conversion is changed such that the origin P is moved upward by half of the size of the medium, the original Interpress master Page0-2 of the second page is placed above the Interpress master Page1-1 of the new one page. The image is printed after being reduced in half horizontally (FIGS. 22B and 5). In this case, execution of the previous token D3 (FIG. 8, line 7 to line 8)
At this time, the scale of the current conversion is reduced to X / Y. Therefore, if the current conversion is simply changed so as to move upward by Y / 2, the upward movement is insufficient. Here, the value obtained by multiplying “Y / 2” by “Y / X” is calculated. It must be the amount of upward movement. The token D1B is placed for this purpose. When each token is executed, the contents of the stack change as shown in FIGS. 20A to 20J, and the CONCATT operator is executed in the state of FIG. Then, the origin movement matrix (FIG. 21) held in the stack at that time is multiplied by the current conversion at that time, and the origin is moved upward by “Y / 2 · Y / X”. In this state, the original second page of the press master page 0-
2 is printed, a new one-page Page1-
In the upper half of the first page, the Interpress Master P of the original second page
The images age 0-2 are reduced and fitted to fit the width of the paper 5 in the horizontal direction (FIGS. 22B and 5).

The tokens D4A and D4B will be described. These are foolproof as described above and are not directly relevant to the practice of the present invention. However, since it is practically useful, a brief description will be given. FIGS. 23A to 23I show how the stack changes when each token is executed. “MARK” in (B) is an item that cannot be removed except by an UNMARK operator and plays a role of a fire wall on the stack.
The <any> in (C) means “any type of element (data)” and indicates what may remain on the stack after executing the token in (C). The number of elements remaining on the stack depends on the contents of the token {Page 1} on the first page. FIG. 23C illustrates a case where two elements remain. By executing the token in (C), the contents of {Page 1} are drawn. At this time, the state of some and all frames of the image creation unit variables are saved and protected. Then, after executing the token of FIG.
These are returned to their original values and state.

When the token of (D) is executed, the variables 0 and 1 of the image forming unit which are not protected by the above “DOSAVESIMPLEBODY” are returned to the initial values. When the token of (E) is executed, the image creation unit variables 2 and 3 that are not protected by the above “DOSAVESIMPLEBODY” are returned to the initial values. The image creation unit variables include 25 variables that hold information necessary for drawing, and are referred to by indexes. This variable holds information such as the current position of the pen on the page, its stroke width, ink color, and font style of the characters. No. 0 is the value of the x coordinate of the current position of the pen on the page, and No. 1 is the value of the y coordinate of the current position of the pen on the page. Nos. 2 and 3 are values of relative movement distances x and y from the start point to the end point of the justified text line. The frame is a storage referred to by the index, and is used to store information such as fonts. This frame must be at least 5
0 pieces are prepared.

"COUNT" in (F) is an operator for counting the number of elements above <mark>. “MAKEVEC” in (G) is an operator that pops the number of elements (here, “2”) indicated by the argument from the stack and combines them into one vector.
Two elements that were above the mark are combined into one element as shown in (G). “POP” in (H) is an operator that removes one element on the stack, thereby removing [<any><any>] at the top of the stack. The operator who removes <mark> at the top of the “UNMARK0” stack of (I). By the processing up to this point, the state of the stack, frame, and image creation unit variables is returned to the state before drawing the first page.

The contents of the new Interpress master (FIG. 8) generated thereby have been described above to facilitate understanding of the page-up processing of FIG. The process of FIG. 6 aims at generating this new Interpress master (FIG. 8) from the original Interpress master (FIG. 7). Therefore, the token of each page from the original Interpress Master file ｛Page 1｝, ｛Page
2},..., {Page n} are sequentially read, and the token T1 is placed before the odd page, and the token T is placed before the even page.
2 to generate a new Interpress master (FIG. 8). Token T1 is token D1
A, D3, D2 and D4, and the token T2 is composed of tokens D4B and D1B. Note that a new Interpress Master is generated on the destination file.

The processing of FIG. 6 will be described step by step. First, initial settings are made in S21. The "@" flag (flag) is turned off (off), the 1st Page (first page) flag is turned on (on), and the value of count is set to "1". Proceeding to S22, a destination file is created. Proceeding to S23, data is read in token units from the processed Interpress master. Here, page 0-1 to page 0-n in FIG. 7 (Page 0 in FIG. 5)
(Corresponding to 0-1 to Page 0-8). The first line in FIG.
Each token on the second line is written to the destination file as it is. That is, S24 “END?”, S25 “Is the read token a“ $ ”token? , S26 "Is the read token a" $ "token?" Both are "NO (No)." Proceeding to S33, the "@" flag is turned off. Then, the process proceeds to S35, where the read token, for example, “Heade
r ”is written to the destination file. S
Returning to 23, this process is repeated for all tokens on the first and second lines in FIG. 7 (first and second lines in FIG. 8).

When the "@" token on the third line in FIG. 7 is read, S26 "is the read token a" @ "token? Becomes "YES". Go to S27, c
The value of out is incremented. Up to here cou
Since no change has been made to the value of nt, its value is “0”, which is the initial setting, and here, its value is “1”. S
Go to 28, "、" flag is on, and (AND)
It is checked whether the value of "count" is "1". cou
Although the value of nt is “1” here, “｝” fla
g has been set to “off” in the execution of S33. Accordingly, S33 and S44 are executed, and the third line “@pr
The tokens up to “eamble” are written to the destination file (third line in FIG. 8). When the last “$” token on the third line in FIG. 7 is read, the answer in S25 is “Yes”. Proceeding to S32, the value of count is decremented. Since the value of the count was "1" at this time, the value of "count" becomes "0" by this decrement. S3
Proceeding to 4, the "@" flag is turned on. And S3
Then, the "@" token read at this time is written in the destination file (third line in FIG. 8).

Returning to S23, the leading "@" token on the fourth line in FIG. 7 is read. S25 → S26 → S
After proceeding to 27, the count is incremented to "1"
become. Proceeding to S28, it is checked whether the "@" flag is on and the value of count is "1". cou
The value of nt has been set to “1” in S27 immediately before, and “｝”
The flag is also set to "on" in S34. Therefore, the process proceeds to S29, where it is checked whether 1stPage is on. 1stPage is on by default in S21
It remains as it was. Proceeding to S36, the "@" token at this time is written to the destination file (4th line in FIG. 8). Next, S37 is executed, and the token T1 is written in the destination file (lines 5 to 12 in FIG. 85). And 1stPag in S38
The e flag is turned off, and the "@" flag is set to o in S39.
ff, and the process returns to S23. Here, the fourth line “｛” in FIG.
The contents of the Interpress Master on the first page following the token, that is, the first token (not shown) of “Page 0-1” is read. As described above, the Interpress Master for one page is enclosed by $ tokens, and in the case of the original, neither "$" token nor $ token exists. Therefore, for this first token and all subsequent tokens in {}, S24, S2
The answer is "NO" in both S5 and S26. S24 → S25
The loop of → S26 → S33 → S35 is repeatedly executed, and all tokens of “Page 1” enclosed in ｛｝ are sequentially read from the original Interpress master,
It is written to the destination file (Fig. 81
2nd line "Page 0-1").

Next, the "$" token following the data of "Page 0-1" is read. The answer to S25 becomes "YES", the count is decremented to 0, and the "@" flag is turned on (S32, S
34). Proceeding to S35, the read token "$" is written to the destination file. Returning to S23, the first “$” token on the fifth line in FIG. 7 is read. S24 is "NO", S25 is "NO", S26 is "YES", and the count is incremented to "1" in S27. Since the "@" flag was turned on in the previous S34, the answer in the next S28 is "YES",
Since the first page has been turned off in the previous S38, the answer in the next S29 is "NO", and the process proceeds to S30.
The token T2 is written in the destination file (S30). Go to S31, 1stPage is on
To be. Then, the process returns to S23. Note that the "@" token read at this time is ignored.

This time, the pages 0-2 enclosed by ｛｝
Is read. As in the case of the tokens of the previous Pages 0 and 1, there is no further ｛｝ in ｛｝. Therefore, S24 → S25 → S26 → S33 →
The loop of S35 is repeatedly executed, and all tokens of “Page 0-2” enclosed in {} are sequentially read from the original Interpress master and written to the destination file (FIG. 8, line 17 “Pa”).
ge 0-2 "). Then, the process returns to S23. Where Pag
e The "@" token surrounding each token of 0-2 is read. As in the case of the “$” token of Page 0-1, the process proceeds from S25 → S32 → S35, and
nt is decremented to 0, and the “@” flag is turned on. Proceeding to S35, the "@" token at this time is written in the destination file (FIG. 8).
18th line). With this, Page0-1 and Page0-2
New Interpress Page from Interpress Master
1-1 was generated (lines 4 to 12 in FIG. 8).

A set of Page0-3 and Page0-4, P
a pair of age0-5 and page0-6, and page0-
7 and Page0-8, this Page0-
1 and the same processing as the pair of Page0-2, that is, the token T1
Then, a process of writing to the destination file while inserting the token T2 is performed, and new Interpress masters Page1-2 to Page1-4 are generated. FIG. 8 shows the page 1-1 and the page 1-2.
The content of the destination file for (Page0-1 to Page0-4) is shown, and illustration of Page1-3 and Page1-4 (Page0-5 to Page0-8) is omitted. Finally, “END” in the last n-th row in FIG. 7 is read. The answer to S24 is "YES", and the "END" is written to the destination file (n line in FIG. 8). This ends the processing of FIG. Page0-1 to Page0-8 by the above procedure
Of the Interpress Master (FIGS. 5 and 7)
It is converted to an Interpress master (Pages 1 to 4) (FIGS. 5 and 8).

The processing of FIG. 6 corresponds to S13 of the recursive processing of FIG. The process proceeds to S14 in FIG. 4, and the converted Interpress Masters Page1-1 to Page1-4 are set as new processing targets. Proceeding to S15, n is decremented to "2". Returning to S11, the new Interpress masters Page1-1 to Page1-4 to be processed are read. Proceeding to S12, it is checked whether n = 0.
The answer is "NO" and the process proceeds to S13. Page0-1 to Pa
As in the case of the processing for the geo0-8, the processing target interpresses Page1-1 to Page1-
4 is subjected to the two-page up process of FIG. Thus, a new Interpress Master Page shown in FIG.
2-1 to Page 2-2 are generated (see also FIG. 5).
It should be noted that “Pa” on line 12 of this new Interpress Master
"ge1-1" means a token on the fourth to twelfth lines in FIG. 8, and "Page1-1" on a seventeenth line means a token on the 19th to 35th lines in FIG. "Page1-3" on the 26th line and "Page1-4" on the 32nd line in FIG.
Has the same meaning, but is not shown in FIG.

The process proceeds to S14 in FIG. 6, and the converted Interpress Masters Page 2-1 to 2-2 are set as new processing targets. Proceeding to S15, n is decremented to "1". Returning to S11, this new press target Interpress master Page2-1 to Page2
-2 is read. Proceeding to S12, it is checked whether n = 0. The answer is "NO" and the process proceeds to S13. Page0-1
As in the case of the processing for .about.Page 0-8, the processing target Interpress Page 2-1 to Page
For e2-2, the 2-page up process of FIG. 6 is performed. Thereby, a new Interpress master Page3 shown in FIG. 10 is generated (see also FIG. 5). As in the case of FIG. 9, “Page 2-1” in the twelfth row is replaced by “4” in FIG.
Lines 12 to 12 mean tokens, and “Pa” on line 17
“ge2-2” means the token on the 19th to 35th lines in FIG.

When the above processing is completed, the process proceeds to S14 in FIG. 6, and the converted Interpress master Page3 at this time is converted.
Is a new processing target. Proceeding to S15, n is decremented to "0". Returning to S11, the new pressed Interpress Master Page 3 is read. Proceeding to S12, it is checked whether n = 0. The answer is "YE
S ", and the recursive processing of FIG. 4 ends. FIG.
Corresponds to S4 in FIG. Proceed to S5 in FIG.
At this time, the converted Interpress master (FIG. 10) read is supplied to the bitmap data creation device 422 in FIG. The bitmap data creation device 422 develops the contents of the converted Interpress master into bitmap data and supplies the bitmap data to the marker device 423. The marker device 423 supplies the bitmap data to the printing mechanism 44 in accordance with the beam scanning timing of the printing mechanism 44. As a result, the original eight pages converted into one page, such as Page 3 shown in FIG. 5, are printed out.

Next, a second embodiment will be described. When the converted Interpress master is interpreted and executed in this embodiment, the pages of the converted Interpress master are arranged in almost numerical order. In the Interpress master converted according to the first embodiment, the arrangement of pages is not always in order. For example, in Page 3-1 where the conversion is performed three times, the page image information of the fifth to eighth pages is located on the left side of the page image information of the first to fourth pages (FIG. 24, FIG. 5). See also FIG.
e3. The same applies when referring to FIG. 5 below). When the number of conversions is small, or when an Interpress master whose contents are not so important, the conversion method of the first embodiment is sufficient. This simplifies the process. In the Interpress master converted by the second embodiment,
The page image information is arranged almost in the order of pages (FIG. 24).
Page 3a-1, FIG. 27 Page 3b-1). First
Although the number of processing steps is slightly increased as compared with the embodiment, the visibility is improved. Strictly speaking, by interpreting and executing the Interpress master converted by the first or second embodiment, rotation of the page image information and the like are performed, and the desired hard copy 5 is generated. So,
In the following description, description will be made in the form that the page image information is rotated by the embodiment itself.

The differences between the first embodiment and the second embodiment are as follows. That is, in the first embodiment, the odd page of the original page image information is always arranged in the lower half of the new page, and the even page is always arranged in the upper half. For example, the page 2-1 is arranged in the lower half of the page 3-1 and the page 2-2 is arranged in the upper half of the page 3-1 (FIGS. 24, 25, 27, and 5).
This process is referred to as “conversion (1)” (circled numbers in the figure). In the second embodiment, a process having the opposite positional relationship is inserted between the processes of the conversion (1) (FIGS. 24, 26, and 27). This process is referred to as “conversion (2) (circled numbers in the figure)”. The number of times the conversion (2) is executed depends on the paper orientation. In the portrait (using portrait paper), conversion (1) and conversion (2) are executed twice each from the beginning (FIGS. 29 and 24). In landscape (using landscape paper), conversion (1) is executed only for the first time, and after the second time,
The conversion (2) and the conversion (1) are executed twice (FIG. 29,
(FIG. 27).

The details of the conversion (2) will be described. FIG. 25 shows the change of the page image (FIGS. 11 to 22) in the case of the conversion (1) again for easy understanding. In the conversion (1), first, the origin of the page image information is moved to the lower right of the sheet 5 (FIGS. 25A and 13B). Next, the coordinate scale was reduced (FIG. 25B, FIG. 1).
6). Then, the page image is rotated by 90 degrees (FIG. 25 (C), FIG. 19), and here, the page image information of the odd page, for example, Page 0-1 is developed (FIG. 25 (D)). Next, the origin is moved to the middle right end in the vertical direction of the paper 5 (FIG. 25E, FIG. 22).
(B)), where the next even page, for example, Page0-
2 is expanded (FIG. 25)
(F)).

FIG. 26 shows the procedure of the conversion (2). The content of the process is the same as that of the conversion (1), except that the order of the processes A and E is only changed (however, the specific content of the token for realizing this process is different (described later)). In the conversion (2), the processing of E for moving the origin to the middle position in the vertical direction of the paper 5 is performed first, and the processing of A for moving the origin to the lower right of the paper 5 is performed later. By changing the order of the origin movement in this way, the original odd-numbered pages are arranged in the upper half of the new page. FIG. 28 shows a specific example of the token for performing the conversion (2).
This Interpress Master is a page in which the conversion has been performed three times, that is, Page 3a-1 in FIG. 24 is set as the first page. Each token of the conversion (2) is basically the same as the conversion (1), and the token D1A of the conversion (1) is replaced with the token D1 so that the order of origin movement is reversed.
1A, and only the token D1B part of the conversion (1) is changed to the token D11B. Token D
11A corresponds to token D1B, and token D11B corresponds to token D1A. Since the content of the current conversion at the time of moving the origin is different from that at the time of the conversion (1), the contents do not match, but the movement of the origin to the respective positions when this is executed is the same. Note that the scale is reduced before the execution of the token D11B in the conversion (2) as in the case of the execution of the token D1B in the conversion (1). Therefore, here too, the contents of the token are set such that the amount of movement of the origin in the longitudinal direction is increased accordingly.

The processing procedure of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the flow of FIG. 4 (S4 of FIG. 3) is changed as shown in FIG. The flow of FIG. 30 is obtained by adding the processing of S51 to S59 to the flow of FIG. FIG.
Steps that are the same as those described above are given the same numbers, and descriptions thereof are omitted. With the newly added step, the page-up processing of conversion (1) and the page-up processing of conversion (2) are switched and executed according to the number of conversions. Here, the page-up process of conversion (1) refers to the process of FIG. 6 (S13 of FIG. 4) of the first embodiment. The page up processing of the conversion (2) refers to the token T2 written in the destination file in S30 and S37 of the processing of FIG.
And T1 are replaced by tokens T11 and T12 in FIG. 28, respectively (illustration of this flow whose contents have been rewritten is omitted). As is apparent from the above description, this replacement is for arranging page image information of odd pages in the upper half of a new page, contrary to the first embodiment. The flow of FIG. 30 will be described in order. First, orientation (use vertically or horizontally)
Is taken in (S51). This data is set by the editing information setting device 43. If the captured orientation is a portrait (S52 "YES"), the variable i is set to 0 (S53). Otherwise (S5
2 "NO"), the variable i is set to 1 (S54).
As described above with reference to FIG. 29, the conversion (2) and the conversion (1) are performed twice each for the portrait from the third conversion and for the landscape from the second conversion. If it does, the arrangement of pages will be almost in order. In the second embodiment, since the initial value of the variable i is changed according to the orientation as described above,
Regardless of the orientation, the same flow can be used.

Next, as in the first embodiment, a process target Interpress master is fetched (S11), and the value of n at that time is checked (S12). Here, it is assumed that the portrait (i = 0). In the portrait, the process of conversion “2” is performed from the third time. In order to explain that both the conversion (1) and the conversion (2) are performed, here, n is set to 5, and the description will be made assuming that the first conversion will be performed. Since n was assumed to be 5, the answer to S12 is "NO", the process proceeds to S55, and the value of i is checked. Since it is assumed that the conversion is the first time, i is 0 and the answer is "NO", and the process proceeds to S13 where the page up processing of the conversion (1) is performed as in the first embodiment. Proceeding to S59, i is incremented to "1". S1 same as the first embodiment
4, the processing of S15 is performed. S11 and S12 are executed again. In S15, n is decremented to four. Therefore, the process proceeds to S55, where the value of i is checked. i =
Since it is 1, the page-up process of the conversion (1) in S13 is executed again. The variable i is incremented to 2 in S59. After execution of S14, n is decremented in S15. n becomes 3. The process proceeds from S11 and S12 again to S55. Here, since i is 2, the answer is “YES”,
Proceed to S56. The page up processing of the conversion (2) is performed. Proceed to S57. Since i is 2, the answer here is "N
O ”, the process proceeds to S59, i is incremented and 3
become. Proceeding from S14 to S15, n is decremented to 2. Proceeding to S11, S12, S55, and S56, the page up processing of the conversion (2) is executed again. i
Is 3, so the answer to S57 is "YES",
Proceeding to S58, i is returned to 0. Thus, in the next two conversions, the page-up processing of the conversion (1) is executed, and n
Becomes 0 and the answer in S12 is "YES",
Processing is terminated. If n is a larger value,
Thereafter, the page-up process is repeated twice in the order of conversion (2) and conversion (1). Thus, for example, FIG.
An Interpress master (FIG. 28) with Page 3a-1 of the first page as the first page is generated.

When the orientation is landscape, i is set to 1 first, and the first conversion is performed in step S5.
Since it is incremented to 2 at 9, it becomes S at the second conversion.
The answer to 55 is "YES", and the page up process of conversion (2) is executed. Then, after the page up processing of the conversion (2) is performed again in the third conversion, i is returned to 0 in S58, and thereafter, the conversion (1) and the conversion (2) are performed until n becomes 0. The page up process is repeated twice in the order of. As a result, for example, Pag in FIG.
An Interpress master (not shown) having a page image such as e3b-1 as the first page is generated.

In the embodiment, the page image information for two pages is converted to the page image information for one page.
For example, three pages of page image information may be converted into one page of page image information. In the example of FIG. 5, the conversion is performed three times. However, for example, eight pages may be converted once and output when four pages have been converted. In this case, the invention described in claim 1 has been implemented. In the embodiment, the Interpress Master is used as the page description language. However, Postscript (Postscript: Adobe) or another language may be used. Further, the present invention is not limited to a page description language, and the present invention can be applied to image data handled by, for example, facsimile. In this case, for example, a memory capable of storing a plurality of page image data is installed in the facsimile, the received page image data is reduced and converted and temporarily stored in the memory, and these are collectively output as one page image data. I do. In the embodiment, the page-up number ²ⁿ is set by the editing information setting device 43. However, for example, this information is included in the protocol of the local area network, and this value is set on the workstation side, for example. This may be supplied to an output device such as a print server according to the protocol. The same applies to the case where the present invention is applied to a facsimile, and the parameter relating to the number of pages may be included in the communication protocol so that the number of pages can be set on the facsimile transmission side.

[0037]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the first information for juxtaposing the page image information, the second information for rotating the page image information,
The third information for scaling the page image information is added to the page image information for a plurality of pages by the page-up processing means, and the page image information for the plurality of pages is converted into page image information for a predetermined page. It was to so. Therefore, for example, it is possible to convert eight pages of the original page image information into new page image information of four pages in which two pages are converted into one new page, and to output the new page image information. Downsizing,
It is possible to efficiently create a content manual for a document having many pages. This conversion can be performed by adding the first to third information to the original original page image information, for example, the page image information described in the Interpress Master. Therefore, the present invention can be applied to, for example, a printer control device or the like without any change on the page image information creating device side such as a workstation or the print output side such as a bitmap data creating device (eg, 422 in FIG. 1). The present invention can be implemented only by installing additional devices. According to the second aspect of the invention, the same first to third information as the first aspect of the invention is added to the page image information by the page-up processing means, and the converted page image information is added by the recursive processing means. It is recursively supplied to the page-up processing means so that page image information for a plurality of pages is converted into page image information for a predetermined page. Therefore, for example, eight pages of original page image information can be converted to new page image information of one page and output, and the like.
Further effective use of paper resources, downsizing of a hard copy, speeding up creation of a content manual for a document having many pages, and the like can be achieved. Also, the present invention of claim 2 can be implemented without changing any existing parts, similarly to the invention of claim 1.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an entire system including an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a main routine according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing details of S4 in the flowchart of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a process of converting original eight page image information into one page image information.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing details of S13 in the flowchart of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an exemplary data diagram showing an example of original page image information.

8 is an exemplary data diagram showing a state where page image information of each two pages in FIG. 7 is converted into a new one page.

9 is an exemplary data diagram showing a state in which page image information of each two pages in FIG. 8 is converted into a new one page.

10 is an exemplary data diagram showing a state where page image information of each two pages in FIG. 9 is converted into a new one page.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing changes in the contents of the stack when the token D1A shown in FIG. 7 and the like is interpreted and executed.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of an origin shift matrix.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a state of origin movement.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing changes in the contents of the stack when the token D3 in FIG. 7 and the like is interpreted and executed.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a scale conversion matrix.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a state of scale conversion.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the transition of the contents of the stack when the token D2 shown in FIG. 7 and the like is interpreted and executed.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of a rotation matrix.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a state of rotation.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing changes in the contents of the stack when the token D1B shown in FIG. 7 and the like is interpreted and executed.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of an origin shift matrix.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a state of origin movement.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing changes in the contents of the stack when the tokens D4A and D4B shown in FIG. 7 and the like are interpreted and executed.

FIG. 24 is a view showing a first embodiment and a second embodiment regarding a portrait.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing processing performed when interpreting and executing the Interpress masters converted according to the embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a procedure of processing a page image by conversion (1).

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a procedure of processing a page image by conversion (2).

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing processing performed when interpreting and executing the Interpress master converted by the first and second embodiments for the landscape, respectively.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an example of an Interpress master converted by the second embodiment.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing the relationship between the number of conversions for each orientation and the contents of the conversion.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a recursive process according to the second embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

 IPM page image information 421 page image information processing device D1A, D1B first information D2 second information D3 third information 4211 page-up processing means 4212 recursive processing means

Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1/38-1/393 G06T 1/00 G06T 11/00-11/80 G06T 13/00 G06T 15/00-17 / 50 B41J 29/00-29/70

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. A method in which page image information for a plurality of pages is stored in one
Information for converting to page image information that fits on the page
Information to the page image information for the multiple pages
The page image information for the plurality of pages is stored in the one page.
Page information that is converted to page image information that fits on the page.
Page image information characterized by providing
Information processing device. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein page image information for a plurality of pages is
A page image of a predetermined page smaller than the plurality of pages.
Information for converting to page information for the plurality of pages.
Added to the page image information,
Page image information for the predetermined page.
Page-up processing means for converting information into information The converted page image information is subjected to the page up processing.
And recursively supply to the
The page image information is stored in the page image information for the specified page.
And recursive processing means for further converting the information into information.
Page image information processing device. 3. The page image information for a plurality of pages ,
To convert the plurality of pages less predetermined pages from content page image information, the page image information
The first information for moving the origin , the second information for rotating the page image information, and the third information for scaling the page image information are combined with the page image for the plurality of pages. A page image information processing apparatus, further comprising: a page-up processing unit that adds page information to the information and converts the page image information for the plurality of pages into the page image information for the predetermined page. 4. A page image information for a plurality of pages ,
To convert the plurality of pages less predetermined pages from content page image information, the page image information
The first information for moving the origin , the second information for rotating the page image information, and the third information for scaling the page image information are combined with the page image for the plurality of pages. Page-up processing means for adding the page image information for the plurality of pages to the page image information for the predetermined page, and recursively supply the converted page image information to the page-up processing means. A page image information processing apparatus further comprising recursive processing means for further converting recursively supplied page image information for a plurality of pages into page image information for a predetermined page. 5. A page in a page image information processing apparatus.
Page information processing method.
Page information into page image information that fits on one page
Information for the multiple pages
Page image information for the plurality of pages added to the information
Into page image information that fits in the one page
A page image information processing method comprising: 6. A page in the page image information processing apparatus.
Page information processing method, The page image information for a plurality of pages is
Converted to page image information for less than a given page
Information for the multiple pages
Page image information for the plurality of pages added to the information
Into the page image information of the predetermined page, The page image information for the plurality of pages is
Page-up processing to convert to page image information
Page image characterized by repeating recursively
Information processing method. 7. A page in a page image information processing apparatus.
Page information processing method.
Page information for a predetermined page less than the plurality of pages.
To convert to the page image information of
First information for moving the image information to the origin;
Second information for rotating the page image information and the page
And third information for scaling the image information.
Attached to page image information for multiple pages,
The page image information for the page
Page information characterized by conversion to page image information
Image information processing method. 8. A page in the page image information processing apparatus.
Page information processing method, The page image information for a plurality of pages is
Less than a given page Convert to page image information
To move the page image information to the origin.
The first information for rotating the page image information
For scaling the second image information and the page image information
And the third information for the
Page information for the plurality of pages.
Information into the page image information for the predetermined page, The page image information for the plurality of pages is
Page-up processing to convert to page image information
Page image characterized by repeating recursively
Information processing method.