JP3592921B2 - Data controller - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a data control device for synthesizing data once edited in a digital printing process.
[0002]
Note that "digital printing" means that all characters and images are input as digital data that can be handled by a computer, etc., and that all editing and changing operations are performed by a computer while viewing the display screen of a monitor or the like. This refers to the printing performed.
[0003]
[Prior art]
In digital printing, editing operations are individually performed on characters, images, figures, and the like, and then an operation of laying out such data on a plate is performed. The document data whose layout has been completed is data described in a page description language (PDL), and this data is referred to as “page description data”.
[0004]
Then, in order to obtain a printed matter based on the page description data, it is necessary to convert the data into raster type data which is an actual output image. The conversion from the page description data to the raster type data is called RIP (Raster Image Processing) processing, and the generated raster type data is called bitmap data. Then, the output device performs output on output paper, film, or the like based on the bitmap data to generate a printed matter.
[0005]
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a conventional apparatus configuration. A front-end computer 10 that actually performs editing work and RIP processing includes a processing unit 11, a display device 12, an input device Thirteen It is composed of Data such as characters, images, and graphics are input from a storage medium connected to the front-end computer 10 or an external device 15 that is a device connected to a network or the like. Then, the RIP-processed bitmap data is output to the output device 30, and a printed matter is generated in the output device 30. Normally, the output device 30 generates the same printed matter when receiving the same bitmap data.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional apparatus as described above, when a plurality of printed materials in which a part of a document is different are generated, page description data of the entire document whose part has been changed is generated, and RIP processing is performed on the page description data. Bitmap data needs to be generated.
[0007]
For example, a user may want to print out a plurality of direct mails, but the printed address may be different for each printed material. In such a case, although the portions other than the address field may be the same, a document in which the address field is changed is created, and the page description data of the entire document is subjected to the RIP processing.
[0008]
As described above, when the contents of a plurality of printed materials are different from each other, even if the different portions are slight, the page description data for the entire original is required by the number of the required printed materials, and the page description data is required. The bitmap data must be transferred to the output device 30 by performing the RIP process on all the description data.
[0009]
As a result, the amount of the manuscript and the bitmap data increases, and there is a problem that the storage area cannot be effectively used. Further, the RIP process is a very time-consuming process, and there is a problem in that if the RIP process is performed on the page description data of all the originals, a large amount of time is required and efficient processing cannot be performed.
[0010]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a data control device that realizes efficient processing when a part of a document is different.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 is: An apparatus for synthesizing digital data in digital printing in which printing is performed based on page description data created by a computer, comprising: (a) an entire page based on page description data of an entire document edited by a computer; Specifying a change range in the description data that needs to be changed on the display device, and changing the character data, image data, and graphic data located in the change range based on the respective data, thereby changing the page description data for the change range. And (b) RIP-processing the entire page description data of the document and the page description data for the plurality of change ranges, and respectively performs bitmap-like whole data and bitmap-like partial data. RIP processing means for generating the following, and (c) by the input means Change attribute data generating means for generating position coordinates of the partial data on the bitmap with respect to the entire data as change attribute data based on the set change range, and (d) converting the bitmap-like entire data into Storage means for storing and storing the bitmap-shaped partial data in association with the change attribute data; (e) selecting means for sequentially selecting each of the plurality of partial data as synthesis target data; A) storing means for reading and storing the entire data in the bitmap form, and combining the selected partial data with a specific portion of the whole data in the bitmap form based on the position coordinates of the change attribute data; (G) sequentially combining a plurality of partial data with the entire data by the combining means. And control means for obtaining a plurality of changed entire data.
[0012]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the data control device according to the first aspect, the storage means has a plurality of storage areas, and the combining means stores each of the plurality of storage areas from the i) storage means. A writing area for newly reading and storing the entire data and overwriting the newly selected data to be combined with a specific portion; and ii) a reading area for outputting the changed entire data after the combining is already completed. And are assigned alternately or cyclically.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
<1. Device configuration>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a device configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, a data control device 20 is provided between the front-end computer 10 and the output device 30 in this embodiment. The data control device 20 includes a storage disk 22 for storing bitmap data sent from the front-end computer 10 and a function as a temporary buffer when outputting the bitmap data to the output device 30. And a controller 21 that accesses the storage disk 22 and the memory 23 based on an instruction from the front-end computer 10 to control data reading, writing, and the like. In this configuration, the controller 21 functions as a control unit, and also functions as a selection unit in data synthesis described later. The storage disk 22 functions as a storage unit, and the memory 23 functions as a combining unit.
[0014]
The front-end computer 10 includes the processing unit 11, the display device 12, and the input device 13 as described in the related art. The front-end computer 10 is connected to an external device 15 such as a storage medium or another computer connected to a network, and can input character data, image data, graphic data, and the like.
[0015]
The output device 30 is a device called an “image setter” for performing laser exposure on a film to form a plate, a device for performing proof printing on proof output paper, or the like. The output device 30 outputs to a film or a proof output sheet based on the bitmap data sent from the data control device 20 to generate a printed matter.
[0016]
In this embodiment, with the above configuration, the front-end computer 10 performs RIP processing on the entire page of the original document as shown in FIG. 2 to generate bitmap data D1 (entire data). Further, in the front-end computer 10, when a plurality of prints in which a part (specific part) PD1 of the original document is different are formed, RIP processing is performed only on the changed part, and bitmap data PD2, PD3 (partial data ).
[0017]
Then, in the data control device 20, in order to perform the output reflecting the changed bitmap data PD2 and PD3, the bitmap data PD2 changed to a position corresponding to a part PD1 of the bitmap data D1 of the original document. The PD3 is synthesized to generate bitmap data D2 and D3 (changed entire data) in which the respective changes are reflected.
[0018]
Therefore, for example, when outputting a direct mail or the like having a different address column for each printed matter, the bitmap data D1 for the original document can be applied to the portion other than the address column, and for the changed address column, Bitmap data PD2 and PD3 for the changed part can be applied.
[0019]
Hereinafter, the contents of the processing in this device will be described.
[0020]
<2. Editing of original manuscript>
The front-end computer 10 first edits the original document. When editing characters, images, figures, and the like in the front-end computer 10, the processing unit 11 executes a predetermined program suitable for each editing. This editing is performed by the operator performing an operation input from the input device 13 while referring to the screen displayed on the display device 12. When laying out the edited data in the page, the processing unit 11 executes a predetermined program for performing the layout. The work of this layout is also performed by the operator performing an operation input from the input device 13 while referring to the display device 12. When the editing is completed in this way, page description data indicating where the designated data such as characters, images, figures, and the like are arranged on the page of the original document is generated.
[0021]
Next, the entire page description data of the original document is converted into bitmap data (whole data) as raster type data by RIP processing. This conversion is also performed by the processing unit 11 executing a program for RIP processing. The RIP process for the original document is performed on the entire edited page description data as shown in FIG. Then, the generated bitmap data is transmitted to the data control device 20. At this time, the size information (X0, Y0) of the bitmap data determined by the size and output resolution of the desired output medium (film, calibration output paper, etc.) when output by the output device 30 is used as the original attribute data. Output to the data control device 20. The bitmap data generated by the RIP process does not need to be held in the front-end computer 10.
[0022]
The controller 21 of the data control device 20 stores the bitmap data and the original attribute data of the original document transmitted from the front-end computer 10 in the storage disk 22 and holds them. When storing the bitmap data and the original attribute data in the storage disk 22, the controller 21 stores the bitmap data and the original attribute data in association with each other by a file name or the like.
[0023]
Then, the controller 21 outputs the bitmap data stored in the storage disk 22 to the output device 30 or transmits the bitmap data to the front-end computer 10 based on the command sent from the front-end computer 10. When the bitmap data is output to the front-end computer 10, the display device 12 in the front-end computer 10 can display what kind of image the bitmap data is. Even if the controller 21 reads the bitmap data from the storage disk 22 and sends it to the output device 30 or the front-end computer 10, the read bitmap data is not erased from the storage disk 22 and is stored. Keep.
[0024]
<3. Some changes to the original manuscript>
Next, a partial change of the original document will be described.
[0025]
First, in the front-end computer 10, a changed portion is designated based on page description data of an original document to be changed.
[0026]
The processing unit 11 reads out the page description data to be changed, and displays a layout screen on which characters, images, figures, and the like are arranged on the display device 12. Then, the operator specifies the range that needs to be changed using the input device 13 such as a mouse. Then, the processing unit 11 selects all character data, image data, graphic data, and the like located within the range specified by the operator, and individually changes each data. This change is made by executing the same program for each data as at the time of editing. When the change is completed, new page description data after the change is generated. The page description data generated here is data only for the designated change range. In other words, the change position of the page description data before the change is specified based on the coordinates of the change range specified when the change is performed, and new changed page description data is generated only for the changed range.
[0027]
For example, in the case of direct mail, a range corresponding to the address column is specified in the page description data of the original document, and the address as character data is set in the range. Then, page description data is generated only for the range corresponding to the address column.
[0028]
Next, RIP processing is performed on the page description data for the designated change range, and bitmap data (partial data) for only the change range is generated. Since the RIP process is performed on the page description data only for the designated change range as shown in FIG. 4, the size of the obtained bitmap data is the bitmap data of the original document (see FIG. 3). Smaller than. When performing the RIP process, the size information (X1, Y1) of the bitmap data regarding the change range and the position coordinates on the bitmap data obtained from the coordinates (Xs, Ys) of the changed position where the change is made (Xt, Yt) are generated as change attribute data. Then, it outputs bitmap data and change attribute data for the obtained change range to the data control device 20.
[0029]
Then, the controller 21 of the data control device 20 stores the bitmap data and the change attribute data of the change range transmitted from the front-end computer 10 in the storage disk 22 and holds them. Therefore, the storage disk 22 of the data control device 20 stores bitmap data and changed attribute data on the changed range after the change, in addition to bitmap data and original attribute data on the original document. The controller 21 manages a plurality of types of data stored in the storage disk 22 by associating them with file names or the like.
[0030]
If the above processing is performed a plurality of times, a plurality of bitmap data after change and change attribute data are obtained. For example, in the case of direct mail, if the above processing is performed for the required number of addresses, a plurality of bitmap data for the changed address field is generated.
[0031]
Then, the controller 21 of the data control device 20 converts the bitmap data of the original document stored in the storage disk 22 and the bitmap data after the change stored in the storage disk 22 based on the command sent from the front end computer 10 into the front end computer. By transmitting the image to the display 10, the front-end computer 10 can display the image after the change on the display device 12, whereby it is possible to check whether or not the change has been correctly made. By this check, if the changed content is incorrect, the change can be redone or the change position can be finely adjusted. In the case of fine adjustment of the change position, re-RIP is not performed, and only the position coordinates included in the change attribute data are corrected.
[0032]
Thus, in this embodiment, for the changed portion of the original document, bitmap data of only the changed portion, not the entire page, is generated. For this reason, when there is a large amount of data to be changed, such as the address column of the direct mail, the unchanged portion of the original document is not redundantly stored, and an efficient data storage mode is provided. Therefore, the storage area of the storage disk 22 for storing the bitmap data can be efficiently and effectively utilized.
[0033]
<4. Synthesis of data>
The controller 21 combines the bitmap data after the change with the bitmap data of the original document based on the change attribute data according to the command sent from the front end computer 10. That is, the controller 21 reads out the bitmap data of the original document before the change stored in the storage disk 22, and individually and sequentially overwrites the plurality of changed bitmap data in a portion corresponding to the change range. . The following describes how the data control device 20 combines the bitmap data of the original document and the bitmap data after the change.
[0034]
First, the controller 21 reads the bitmap data of the original document stored in the storage disk 22. Here, when the controller 21 reads the bitmap data from the storage disk 22, first, as shown in FIG. 5, it sequentially reads the original in the main scanning direction (X direction), and then reads the last data in the X direction. And advance in the sub-scanning direction (Y direction). Similarly, data is sequentially read in the X direction.
[0035]
There are two methods for combining the bitmap data of the original document and the bitmap data after the change. The first method is to develop the bitmap data of the original document in the memory 23 and then overwrite the bitmap data at the changed position with the changed position. The changed part is a method of reading the changed bitmap data from another area of the memory 23.
[0036]
The first method will be described. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing data synthesis by the first method. The bitmap data of the original document and a plurality of bitmap data of the changed portion are stored in the storage disk 22. If there is a command from the front-end computer 10, the controller 21 reads the attribute data of the bitmap data of the original document from the storage disk 22, and stores the size information (X0, Y0) in the X direction and the Y direction, respectively. The data is stored in the size registers SX and Y size registers SY. Then, the coordinates (0, 0) are stored in the X start register PX and the Y start register PY as position information of the bitmap data of the original document.
[0037]
Then, the controller 21 reads the bitmap data in the storage disk 22 and starts writing to the memory 23. Since the bitmap data of the original document is sequentially read out from the beginning along the scanning direction as shown in FIG. 5, writing to the memory 23 is also performed in the order shown in FIG. Here, when the number of data written in the X direction becomes equal to the X direction size X0 stored in the X size register SX, the process proceeds in the sub-scanning direction (Y direction). Then, the number of data written in the Y direction is equal to the Y direction size Y0 stored in the Y size register SY, and the number of data written in the X direction is the X direction stored in the X size register SX. When it becomes equal to the size X0, it means that all the bitmap data of the original document has been written in the memory 23.
[0038]
Next, the controller 21 reads the post-change attribute data of the post-change bitmap data from the storage disk 22, and stores the size information (X1, Y1) of the change range in the X size register SX and the Y size register SY, respectively. Then, the start position coordinates (Xt, Yt) of the change range are stored in the X start register PX and the Y start register PY, respectively. Based on the start position coordinates (Xt, Yt), the controller 21 can specify the position where the bitmap data of the original document developed in the memory 23 is overwritten. Then, the changed bitmap data is overwritten from the position indicated by the start position coordinates (Xt, Yt) based on the size information (X1, Y1) in the X and Y directions.
[0039]
As described above, the bitmap data after the change is overwritten on the bitmap data of the original document in the memory 23 to generate the bitmap data to be output (the changed entire data) in which the change is reflected. For example, in the case of direct mail, if the address field is blank in the original document, the changed bitmap data in which the address is described is overwritten in the address field. Then, the process of expanding the bitmap data and overwriting the changed bitmap data for the original document as described above is sequentially performed for all of the plurality of changed bitmap data prepared, thereby obtaining the original document. Can be obtained in a plural number. As a result, the bitmap data (the changed entire data) of the document to which the changed portion is applied can be sequentially output to the output device 30.
[0040]
In addition, in accordance with an instruction from the front-end computer 10, the bitmap data to which the obtained changed portion has been applied can be stored in the storage disk 22 again.
[0041]
Next, as a second method, the bitmap data of the original document is developed in the memory 23, and the bitmap data after the change is stored in another area of the memory 23. Then, when outputting to the output device 30, the bitmap data before the change is output for the portion not belonging to the change range based on the attribute data after the change, and the bitmap data after the change is outputted for the portion belonging to the change range. This is the output method. In this method, the determination as to whether or not it belongs to the change range is stored in the X, Y size registers SX, SY and the X, Y start registers PX, PY inside the controller 21, as in the first method. This is performed based on the change attribute data.
[0042]
That is, when outputting to the output device 30, X, Y size registers SX ', SY' and X, Y start registers PX ', PY' for separately storing original attribute data of the original document are provided. Based on the original attribute data stored in the register, the output of the bitmap data of the original document stored in the memory 23 is started in accordance with the scanning order, and the position coordinates stored in the X, Y start registers PX, PY ( Xt, Yt), the bitmap data after the change is output. Then, when it is outside the change range, the bitmap data of the original document is output to the output device 30 again. In this way, bitmap data to be output is generated.
[0043]
By performing the synthesizing process in this manner, the bitmap data after the change only needs to be generated for the changed portion. In the case of the above-described partial change, it is necessary to perform the RIP process on the entire page. Instead, it is sufficient to perform the RIP processing only on the changed part. As a result, it is possible to shorten the time for the RIP process, which takes a very long time, and to realize an efficient process.
[0044]
Here, in the first and second methods, if the memory 23 has a memory structure capable of simultaneously performing writing and reading, a writing process from the storage disk 22 to the memory 23 and a writing process from the memory 23 to the output device 30 are performed. Output processing can be performed at the same time, and the processing efficiency can be further improved.
[0045]
As a memory configuration capable of simultaneously performing writing and reading of the memory 23, for example, there is a configuration called a so-called toggle buffer. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of such a toggle buffer. As shown in FIG. 7, the storage area of the memory 23 is divided into two areas M1 and M2. First, when writing the bitmap data, the writing is performed on the area M1 as shown in FIG. Then, the state shown in FIG. 7B is reached. When writing bitmap data, writing is performed on the area M2. At this time, at the same time as writing to the area M2, the bitmap data previously written to the area M1 is read. Then, when the writing process and the reading process are completed, the state shown in FIG. 7A is resumed, and writing to the area M1 and reading from the area M2 are performed simultaneously.
[0046]
As described above, by alternately changing (changing) the write memory area and the read memory area, the write processing and the read processing can be performed simultaneously, and the processing can be performed as compared with the case where the write and read are sequentially performed. Efficiency can be improved.
[0047]
Note that the storage area of the memory 23 may be divided into three or more, and these may be cyclically allocated to the write memory area and the read memory.
[0048]
<5. Processing sequence>
Next, a processing sequence in this embodiment will be described. FIGS. 8 to 12 are flowcharts showing a processing sequence in this embodiment.
[0049]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the overall processing flow in this embodiment. First, in step S10, the original document is edited. Then, in step S20, a partial change is made to the original document created in step S10. Thereafter, the operator inputs a combining instruction from the input device 13 of the front-end computer 10 to combine the bitmap data of the original document and the bitmap data after the change (step S30). At this time, necessary information such as a file name for specifying the original document and the bitmap data after the change and a necessary number of prints is also input. Then, in step S40, the data controller 20 sequentially combines the bitmap data of the original document and the bitmap data after the change to obtain a predetermined number of prints.
[0050]
For example, in the case of direct mail, in step S10, the operator edits a fixed portion other than the address column and converts it into bitmap data as an original document. Then, in step S20, the operator edits each address column and generates a predetermined number of bitmap data for only the portion corresponding to the address column. When the operator issues an output instruction in step S30, a predetermined number of printed materials having different addresses are obtained in step S40.
[0051]
FIG. 9 shows the details of the processing for editing the original document (step S10). First, in step S11, the operator performs an editing operation on characters, images, figures, and the like, and lays out them. The data obtained by the editing operation in step S11 is page description data. In step S12, the operator sets the file name of the original document, the size of the output medium desired for output, the output resolution desired for output, and the like from the input device 13.
[0052]
Then, in step S13, RIP processing is performed on the page description data of the original document to generate bitmap data. At this time, original attribute data is also generated. The generation of the attribute data is performed by the processing unit 11 based on the size, resolution, and the like set by the operator in step S12.
[0053]
In step S14, the bitmap data of the original document generated in step S13 is output to the data control device 20 together with the original attribute data.
[0054]
In step S15, in the data control device 20, the controller 21 stores the bitmap data and the original attribute data of the original document sent from the front-end computer 10 in the storage disk 22.
[0055]
As described above, the bitmap data of the original document is stored in the data control device 20, and the process of step S10 in FIG. 8 ends.
[0056]
Next, the details of the process in the partial change (step S20) of FIG. 8 will be described. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the details of the partial change process (step S20).
[0057]
In step S21, the operator sets the number N of original documents to be partially changed for the original original in the front-end computer 10.
[0058]
In step S22, first, the processing unit 11 of the front-end computer 10 reads out the page description data of the original document and displays a layout screen of characters, images, figures, and the like on the display device 12. Then, the operator specifies a range in which the original document needs to be changed from the input device 13 such as a mouse or a keyboard while viewing the display screen. By this designation, data located within the designated range is specified from characters, images, figures, and the like. Then, in step S23, the operator corrects the actual changed portion in the front-end computer 10. The correction of the changed portion is performed by individually correcting characters, images, figures, and the like.
[0059]
In step S24, RIP processing is performed only for the range specified in step S22, that is, only the changed part. At this time, the change attribute data is also generated. The generation of the change attribute data is performed by the processing unit 11 based on the change location specified by the operator in step S22.
[0060]
In step S25, the changed bitmap data of only the changed portion of the original document generated in step S24 is output to the data control device 20 together with the change attribute data.
[0061]
In step S26, in the data control device 20, the controller 21 stores the changed bitmap data and changed attribute data of the original document sent from the front-end computer 10 in the storage disk 22.
[0062]
Then, the process proceeds to step S27, where it is determined whether or not N originals in which the original original has been changed have been created. If the N originals have not been created yet, the process proceeds to step S22, where N originals have already been created. If the original after the change is created, the process of the partial change (step S20) shown in FIG. 8 ends.
[0063]
In the processing up to this point, bitmap data of one original document and N sheets of changed portions of the document are stored in the storage disk 22 of the data control device 20. Next, the combined output process in step S40 performed based on the output instruction from the operator in step S30 will be described.
[0064]
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing details of the composite output process (step S40). This process is a process in which the changed bitmap data is sequentially obtained for the entire print target by combining a portion of the original document changed in the designated range with the original document.
[0065]
First, in the data control device 20, the controller 21 reads the bitmap data and the original attribute data of the original document corresponding to the file name specified by the output instruction (step S30) from the storage disk 22 (step S41). Then, the controller 21 stores the bitmap data of the original document in the memory 23 based on the original attribute data (step S42).
[0066]
Then, in step S43, the controller 21 determines bitmap data (synthesis target data) obtained by sequentially specifying one bitmap data from among the plurality of changed bitmap data to be output, and The corresponding change attribute data is read from the storage disk 22.
[0067]
Then, the controller 21 stores the changed bitmap data, which is the data to be combined, in the memory 23 based on the change attribute data (step S44). In this process, the changed bitmap data is overwritten on an appropriate position of the bitmap data of the original document, and combined bitmap data (changed entire data) is generated.
[0068]
Then, in step S45, an output of a size equal to the bitmap data of the original document is performed. This output may be output to the output device 30 or may be output again to the storage disk 22 and stored. Then, by the processing of step S45, the synthesized bitmap data is output to the output device 30, or is stored and stored again in the storage disk 22.
[0069]
Then, in step S46, it is checked whether or not there is changed bitmap data to be output next. While the determination is "YES", the processes from step S41 to step S45 are repeatedly performed, so that a predetermined number of combined bitmap data can be generated and can be obtained as a printed matter. . When the so-called toggle buffer is used, if "YES" is determined in the step S46, the area for writing and the area for reading are switched. Re Good. On the other hand, if "NO" is determined in the step S46, it means that a predetermined number of printed matters to which predetermined changes have been individually made have been obtained, and the process ends.
[0070]
Here, the details of the "store in memory" process in steps S42 and S44 of FIG. 11 will be described. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the details of the processing to be stored in the memory. In particular, in the case of step S44, this processing is a synthesizing process of overwriting the bitmap data of the original document with the bitmap data after the change become.
[0071]
First, the data indicating the size in the X direction is detected from the original attribute data or the changed attribute data and stored in the X size register SX, and the data indicating the size in the Y direction is detected and stored in the Y size register SY. (Step S61). Next, start position coordinates (Xt, Yt) indicating the position of the change range are acquired from the original attribute data or the change attribute data, and are stored in the X start register PX and the Y start register PY (step S62). In the original attribute data, the start position coordinates are set to (0, 0) in advance.
[0072]
Next, in step S63, data is read from the X start register PX and the Y start register PY, and the first byte of the bitmap data is written (or overwritten) at a position corresponding to the start position coordinates (Xt, Yt) on the memory 23. Do). Then, in step S64, "1" is added to the content of the X start register PX. Then, in step S65, it is determined whether or not the content of the X start register PX has become larger than the content of the X size register SX. If "NO" here, the process returns to the step S63 to write the data of the second byte of the bitmap data into the memory 23. Hereinafter, the same operation is repeated. If “YES” is determined in the step S65, the process proceeds to a step S66. Then, “1” is added to the position data stored in the Y start register PY. Then, the process proceeds to a step S67 to check whether or not the content of the Y start register PY is larger than the content of the Y size register SY. If "NO" here, the process proceeds to a step S68 to return the value of the X start register PX to the value set in the step S62. Then, the process proceeds to step S63 again to write 1-byte data to the memory 23. Hereinafter, the same processing is repeated, and if "YES" is determined in the step S67, the processing is ended and the processing returns to the original processing sequence.
[0073]
The processing in steps S63 to S65 shown in FIG. 12 indicates scanning in the X direction (main scanning) shown in FIG. 5, and the processing in steps S66 to S68 indicates scanning in the Y direction (sub-scanning).
[0074]
By employing the processing sequence described above, it is possible to overwrite only the changed range of the bitmap data. Further, the RIP process after the change has only to be performed on the changed portion of the changed document, so that the efficiency is very high. In particular, when there is a large number of changed data for a part of the original document, the time required for the RIP process can be shortened because the RIP process is not required for the portion where the original document can be used, and the efficiency can be reduced. In addition, since the bitmap data is generated only for the changed portion, the storage area of the storage disk 22 can be used efficiently and effectively.
[0075]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, , Department The processing time for generating minute data can be shortened and efficient, and the storage area of the storage means for storing a plurality of partial data can be used efficiently and effectively.
[0076]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, in order to alternately or cyclically assign each of the plurality of storage areas of the storage means provided in the combining means to the write area and the read area, the write processing and the read processing are performed. Can be performed at the same time, and processing efficiency can be improved as compared with the case where writing and reading are performed sequentially.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a device configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of processing in the data control device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a RIP process of an original document according to the embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a RIP process for a changed part in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a scanning direction in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing data synthesis in the data control device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a memory configuration in the data control device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing sequence according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing sequence according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing sequence according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a processing sequence in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a processing sequence according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a conventional device configuration.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Front-end computer
11 processing unit
12 Display device
13 Input device
20 Data controller
21 Controller
22 Storage disk
23 memory
30 Output device
SX X size register
SY Y size register
PX X start register
PY Y start register

Claims (2)

In digital printing for performing printing based on the page description data created by a computer, an apparatus for synthesizing digital data,
(A) On the display device, a change range in which the entire page description data needs to be changed is designated on the display device based on the page description data of the whole document edited by the computer, and character data and image data located in the change range are designated. Input means for generating page description data for the change range by changing the graphic data based on the respective data; and
(B) RIP processing means for performing RIP processing on the entire page description data of the document and the page description data on the plurality of change ranges to generate bitmap-shaped whole data and bitmap-shaped partial data, respectively. When,
(C) change attribute data generation means for generating, as change attribute data, position coordinates on the bitmap of the partial data with respect to the entire data based on the change range specified by the input means;
(D) storage means for storing the bitmap-shaped whole data, and storing the bitmap-shaped partial data in association with the change attribute data;
(E) selecting means for sequentially selecting each of the plurality of partial data as data to be combined;
(F) storing means for reading and storing the whole data in the bitmap form, and for the specific part of the whole data in the bitmap form, the selected partial data is based on the position coordinates of the change attribute data. Combining means for combining
(G) control means for sequentially combining a plurality of partial data with the whole data by the combining means to obtain a plurality of changed whole data;
A data control device comprising: The apparatus according to claim 1,
The storage means has a plurality of storage areas,
The combining means stores each of the plurality of storage areas,
i) newly reading and storing the entire data from the storage means, and a write area for overwriting the specific portion with the newly selected synthesis target data;
ii) a read area for outputting changed entire data after the completion of the synthesis,
A data control device characterized by alternately or cyclically allocating the data.

Images