JP4401594B2 - Image processing apparatus, image processing method, program, storage medium, and image forming system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, a program, a storage medium, and an image forming system that synthesize form data and embedded image data.
[Prior art]
Conventionally, an image processing apparatus that synthesizes form data and embedded image data is known. For example, when a form is output from a printer, data (form data) indicating the same image (form) on each page, such as a form frame, is stored in memory in advance, and the form data and the form frame And a device having a form overlay function for synthesizing character data (embedded image data) indicating a character string described in the above.
[0002]
On the other hand, it is common practice to represent image data to be printed on one page using link information to form data so that it is not necessary to store a plurality of the same form data. In this case, even if there are a plurality of the same forms in one page image, only one form data for the form is prepared, and only a plurality of link information for the form data is generated.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Since the embedded image data is associated with the form data itself, if there are a plurality of the same forms in one page image, a plurality of forms in which the same embedded images are embedded are generated.
[0004]
For example, if there are multiple form frames on a page, the same characters will be embedded in all the frames, which is convenient when you want to print your business cards on the same page. However, when it is desired to embed different addresses in the same-shaped frame on the same page in order to create an address book, the form data cannot be used, which is inconvenient.
[0005]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus and an image processing method capable of performing image processing more conveniently using a form overlay function. , A program, a storage medium, and an image forming system.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the relative arrangement of components, the display screen, and the like described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to those unless otherwise specified.
[0007]
(First embodiment)
As an embodiment of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention, a computer that generates image data combining a plurality of form data and outputs the image data to a printer will be described. In the present embodiment, a case where form printing is performed will be described as an example.
[0008]
Here, a combination of a plurality of forms configured on one page is called a composite form, and a combination of link information to form data corresponding to the plurality of forms is called a composite form data. In this case, each form constituting the composite form is called a component form. A character string or the like embedded in the form is called an embedded image, and data representing the embedded image is called field data. Data specifying where and how to embed the embedded image is referred to as field attribute data. A file in which the embedded image is stored is called a field data file.
[0009]
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a computer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0010]
The computer 500 operates when the CPU 201 executes a basic I / O program, an OS, and a form printing program. The basic I / O program is written in the ROM 202, and the OS is written in the HD 206. When the computer 500 is turned on, the OS is read from the HD 206 into the RAM 203 by the IPL (Initial Program Loading) function in the basic I / O program, and the OS of the RAM 203 is executed by the CPU 201. In addition, the computer 500 includes a keyboard 207, a display 208, a printer 209, and a control bus 210.
[0011]
In the case of this embodiment, a form printing program for reading out form data and combining it with field data and related data are recorded in the FD 205. The configuration of the recorded contents is shown in FIG. Reference numeral 400 denotes a configuration diagram of a medium on which a program and the like are recorded. Specifically, it includes volume information 401 on the recording medium, directory information 402 on the recording medium, an execution file 403 of the form printing program on the recording medium, and an associated data file 404 of the form printing program on the recording medium.
[0012]
The form printing program and related data recorded on the FD 205 can be loaded into the computer through the FD drive 204 as shown in FIG. When this FD 205 is set in the FD drive 204, the form printing program and related data are read from the FD 205 and loaded into the RAM 203 under the control of the OS and the basic I / O program. .
[0013]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the memory map 300 in a state where the form printing program is loaded into the RAM 203 and can be executed. As shown in the figure, the memory map 300 in the RAM 203 includes a basic I / O program 301, an OS 302, a form printing program 303, form printing program related data 304 on the memory map, and a work area 305 on the memory map. .
[0014]
In this embodiment, the form printing program and related data are loaded directly from the FD 205 into the RAM 203 and executed. In addition, the form printing program and related data are once stored (installed) in the HD 206. In addition, when the form printing program is operated, it may be loaded from the HD 206 to the RAM 203. Further, the medium for recording the form printing program may be a CD-ROM, an IC memory card or the like in addition to the FD. Furthermore, it may be downloaded from another computer via an interface such as USB, Ethernet, or IEEE1394 bus, or a telephone line. It is also possible to record the form printing program in the ROM 202, configure it as a part of the memory map, and execute it directly by the CPU 201.
[0015]
Details of the overlay printing method and the editing of the composite form are disclosed in “JP 2000-122837” and “JP 2000-222151”.
[0016]
<Composite form file creation>
Next, a composite form creation process when the form printing program is executed by the computer as described above will be described.
[0017]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the page attribute setting process during the composite form file creation process.
[0018]
When creating a composite form file, for example, a form editing dialog 1000 as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed to determine how to arrange the form. Here, 1001 is a tree view, 1002 is an icon representing a page, and 1003 is an icon representing a component form. When a page icon 1002 is selected and a page attribute setting instruction is issued by a command such as a menu, the form printing program displays a dialog for setting page attributes as shown in FIG. 1 (S1500). . In the dialog shown in FIG. 1, when there are a plurality of identical part forms on the same page, a check box for setting whether to use the same field data for the same part form is displayed.
[0019]
In this state, in step S1501, a page attribute setting instruction from the user is acquired. The user issues a page attribute setting instruction depending on whether or not the check box is checked. Check this check box if you want to embed the same embedded image in the same form on multiple pages. Check this check box if you want to embed different embedded images in each form. Just click the OK button.
[0020]
In step S1502, the form printing program determines whether an instruction for handling the same part form field as the same field has been issued. If it is determined that the same field is used, the process advances to step S1504 to set 1 to the page attribute SAMFIELD of the selected page in the composite form file. If it is determined that the same field is not used, the process advances to step S1503 to set 0 to the page attribute SAMFIELD of the selected page in the composite form file.
[0021]
The set page attributes are saved in the composite form file when the composite form file is saved.
[0022]
<Overlay printing>
Next, overlay printing processing using a composite form file in the present embodiment will be described.
[0023]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of the overlay printing operation in the present embodiment.
[0024]
First, when an overlay printing instruction is received, a composite form file reading process is performed in step S100, and a form file reading process is performed in step S101. For example, when an address book as shown in FIG. 9 is printed, in step S100, the number of pages of the composite form file (the number of composite forms), the component form list used with the attributes for each page, and the component form list are displayed. A composite form file including data indicating the file name and its position is read, and further, part form data (A.fcp and B.fcp here) as shown in FIG. 10 is read in step S101. These detailed processes are performed using a known method, and the description thereof is omitted here.
[0025]
[Composite form data expansion process]
When the form file reading process ends in step S101, next, a composite form data expansion process is performed in step S102. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the composite form data expansion process. For example, the composite form data for creating an address book as shown in FIG. 9 has a configuration as shown in FIG.
[0026]
In FIG. 12, 1201 is a header, and SIZE indicates the number of pages included in the composite form file. Since SIZE = 1 here, the address book is composed of one composite form. 1202 is data indicating attributes for each page, and 1203a to 1203c are data indicating attributes of the component form.
[0027]
First, in step S1601, the page attribute 1202 of the composite form data is acquired. In step S1602, it is determined whether or not the page attribute SAMEFIELD is zero. If SAMEFIELD is 1, the process proceeds to step S1604, and the address of the corresponding part form data is set in PARTS from the part form attribute data (1203a) at the head of the page attribute PARTSLIST.
[0028]
Next, in step S1605, it is determined in the PARTSLIST of the page attribute 1202 whether or not the attribute data for the same part form is ahead of the current part form attribute data in the same page, and if there is, step S1606. Proceed to, and set 0 to the current part form attribute SETFIELD. If not, the process proceeds to step S1607, and 1 is set in SETFIELD of the current part form attribute.
[0029]
In step S1608, it is determined whether or not the part form attribute data has been completed based on whether or not NEXT is 0. If the address of the next part form attribute data can be acquired from the NEXT of the current part form attribute, the process proceeds to step S1603, moves to the next part form attribute data, and performs the processing of steps S1604 to S1606 up to the last part form attribute data. repeat.
[0030]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1602 that SAMEFIELD is 0, the process of step S1610 is performed for the component form attribute data at the head of the page attribute PARTSLIST. In step S1610, in PARTSLIST, it is searched whether or not component form attribute data for the same component form file name (FILENAME) exists before the current component form attribute data. If the part form attribute data for the same part form has already been read, the process advances to step S1611 to copy the corresponding part form data (A.fcp) in the form data area as shown in FIG. The address is set in PARTS of the part form attribute information, and in step S1613, 1 is set in SETFIELD of the part form attribute data.
[0031]
If it is determined in step S1610 that the part form attribute data for the same part form has not been read, the corresponding part form data address is set to PARTS in step S1612, and the process proceeds to step S1613. 1 is set in SETFIELD of the part form attribute data.
[0032]
After that, in step S1614, it is determined whether or not the part form attribute data has been completed based on whether or not NEXT is 0. If the address of the next part form attribute data can be acquired from the NEXT of the current part form attribute, the process proceeds to the next part form attribute data in step S1609, and the processes from step S1610 to S1613 are repeated.
[0033]
In step S1608 and step S1614, when the setting of the part form attribute data is completed for all the part forms in one page, the process proceeds to step S1615, and whether or not the expansion has been completed for all pages is determined by whether the page attribute NEXT is 0 or not. To do. If there is still a page, the next page attribute is acquired from the address indicated by NEXT of the current page attribute, and the process returns to step S1601 to proceed to the next page processing.
[0034]
[Field data setting processing]
Returning to FIG. 1, when the composite form data expansion process is completed, the field data file is read in step S103, and the field data setting process is performed in step S104. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the field data setting process.
[0035]
First, in step S1701, it is determined whether or not SETFIELD is 1 in the component form attribute. If the component form attribute SETFIELD is 1, field data is set in the component form in step S1702. The component form includes a field data list (FIELDLIST) 1301, a field attribute data list (FIELDOBJLIST) 1302, and a form attribute data list (FORMOBJLIST) 1303 as shown in FIG.
[0036]
In step S1703, the field data acquired in the field data file reading process (S103) is set in the corresponding field (STRING) while sequentially tracing the FIELDLIST 1301. The field data file has contents as shown in FIG. 16, and here, each row constitutes field data. Therefore, for the part form as shown in FIG. 15, field data “AA city BB town 1-2” in the first line of FIG. 16 is set in the address field 1304, and 2 in FIG. Field data “Ichiro Suzuki” on the line is set, and field data “111-222-3333” on the third line in FIG. 16 is set in the telephone field 1306.
[0037]
If the part form attribute SETFIELD is not 1, it is not necessary to set field data in the field. Therefore, in step S1703, it is determined whether the part form attribute is the last part form attribute. If not, step S1704 is performed. Proceed to the next part form attribute data.
[0038]
The processes in steps S1701 to S1704 are repeated for all the part forms in one page. When the part form attribute is determined to be the last part form attribute in step S1703, the process proceeds to step S1705 to set field data. Determine whether the page to be finished is finished. If there is still a page for which field data is to be set, the process proceeds to step S1706, and the process of steps S1701 to S1704 is performed for the next page to set field data.
[0039]
If it is determined in step S1705 that field data has been set for all pages, the field data setting process ends.
[0040]
[Print processing]
Returning to FIG. 1, when the field data setting process in step S104 is completed, the process proceeds to step S105 to perform a printing process. FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the details of the printing process.
[0041]
First, in step S1801, the first form of the form attribute data list (FORMOBJLIST) shown in FIG. 15 is shifted and expanded by the value set in the OFFSET of the part form attribute data.
[0042]
In step S1802, the character information (STRING) is acquired from the corresponding field data while sequentially traversing the field attribute data list (FIELDOBJLIST), and expanded according to the character attributes set in the field attribute data. Synthesize with data. At that time, the component form attribute is expanded and shifted by the value set in OFFSET.
[0043]
In step S1803, it is determined whether or not the part form is the last part form. If not, the process proceeds to step S1804 to move to the next part form.
[0044]
The processes in steps S1801 to S1803 are repeated for all the component forms in one page. If the component form attribute is determined to be the last component form attribute in step S1803, the process proceeds to step S1805, and the developed image is displayed. Print the data on the printer.
[0045]
In step S1806, it is determined whether the page to be printed has been completed. If pages to be printed remain, the process proceeds to step S1807, and the processes of steps S1801 to S1805 are performed for the next page and printed.
[0046]
If it is determined in step S1806 that printing of all pages has been completed, the printing process ends.
[0047]
In this way, if overlay printing is performed, for example, when field data as shown in FIG. 16 is embedded in a composite form as shown in FIG. 9, if the check is removed in the dialog shown in FIG. Data A. For each fcp (FIG. 10), different field data is set in S1702 of FIG. 14, resulting in a print result as shown in FIG.
[0048]
If the check is made in the dialog shown in FIG. Since SETFIELD of the second form attribute file for fcp is 0 (FIG. 12), field data is not set in S1702 of FIG. 14, and the part form in which the same field data is set is expanded twice. As a result, a print result as shown in FIG. 19 is obtained.
[0049]
Note that the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 17 may be performed in the printer 209. That is, the composite form data, form data, and field data may be transmitted from the computer 500 to the printer 209, developed in the printer 209, synthesized, and printed out.
[0050]
According to this embodiment, when the same part form is used in the same page, depending on the use of the user, the same field data that prints a business card is used, and the case where a separate address such as printing an address book is used. It is possible to switch between using the field data.
[0051]
In addition, since this switching is performed by the composite form file, the setting can be easily changed because it is realized not by changing the user program that requires a programmer but by changing the setting using the form editor.
[0052]
In the above embodiment, the form printing has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to various forms overlay printing in which an embedded image is embedded and output.
[0053]
In the above embodiment, in FIG. 8, the field data setting process in step S104 is performed for all the field data stored in the field data file, and then the printing process in step S105 is performed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and field setting processing and printing processing may be performed for each page to be printed. In this case, in steps S104 and S105, only one page is processed (steps S1705, S1706, S1806, and S1807 are not executed), and steps S104 and S105 are performed until all field data is processed. Will repeat.
[0054]
In this way, since the printing process is performed in units of one page, the processing time until the printer starts printing is shortened, and as a result, the overall processing time can be shortened.
[0055]
In the above embodiment, the form and the embedded image are synthesized in the computer as the image processing apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the form data stored in advance inside the printer. The present invention can also be applied to an image forming system that synthesizes embedded image data transmitted from a computer.
[0056]
In that case, the printer as the image forming apparatus is provided with a memory including a form data area for storing the form data, and the embedded image data embedded in the form data is stored in the printer as the computer as the image processing apparatus. Transmission means for transmitting is provided. Then, when recording the same form multiple times on one page of recording material on the computer monitor screen, whether to embed the same embedded image in each form or to embed different embedded images for each form Displays the dialog for setting. Further, when a plurality of the same forms are recorded on one page of the recording material and the setting is made to embed different embedded images for each form in the dialog, a predetermined form is represented in the printer. Instructs to duplicate the form data and store it in the form data area. The printer duplicates the form data in accordance with the instruction, synthesizes different embedded image data with the duplicated plurality of form data, and generates image data to be recorded on one page of the recording material.
[0057]
Note that the present invention can be applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, and a printer), and a device (for example, a copying machine and a facsimile device) including a single device. You may apply to.
[0058]
Also, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or recording medium) that records a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and to perform computer (or CPU or CPU) of the system or apparatus. Needless to say, this can also be achieved when the MPU) reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.
[0059]
Furthermore, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function is based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU or the like provided in the expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.
[0060]
When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the flowcharts described above (shown in FIGS. 11 and 14).
[0061]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, a program, a storage medium, and an image forming system that can perform image processing more conveniently using a form overlay function.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a page attribute setting screen in a form printing program according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a computer to which a form printing program according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a memory map of a medium on which a form printing program and the like according to an embodiment of the present invention are recorded.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing that a form printing program or the like according to an embodiment of the present invention is supplied from a medium to a computer system.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a memory map in a RAM when a form printing program according to an embodiment of the present invention operates.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a page attribute setting process in the form printing program according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a composite form editing screen of a form printing program according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an overlay printing process using a form printing program according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a composite form.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a component form.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a composite form data expansion process according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a memory map of composite form data when one part form data is associated with a plurality of identical part form attribute data in one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a memory map of composite form data when a plurality of the same part form attribute data is associated with a plurality of the same part form attribute data in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing field data setting processing of composite form data according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a memory map of component form data according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a field data file.
FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing composite form data printing processing according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of an overlay print result when fields of the same component form according to the embodiment of the present invention are not treated as the same field.
FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of an overlay printing result when fields of the same component are handled as the same field according to the embodiment of this invention.

Claims (5)

An image in which different embedded image data is combined with a plurality of form data stored in the form data area in the memory, and the form data combined with the embedded image data is combined and recorded on one page of the recording material Generating means for generating data;
An acquisition means for acquiring setting information on whether to embed the same embedded image in each form or to embed different embedded images for each form when a plurality of the same forms are recorded on one page of recording material;
When a plurality of the same forms are recorded on one page of the recording material, and the acquisition unit acquires setting information indicating that different embedded images are embedded for each form, the image data in the generation unit Duplicating means for duplicating form data representing the form before generation and storing it in the form data area;
An image processing apparatus comprising: An acquisition step of acquiring setting information as to whether to embed the same embedded image in each form or to embed different embedded images for each form when recording a plurality of the same forms on one page of recording material;
When a plurality of the same forms are recorded on one page of the recording material, and setting information indicating that different embedded images are embedded for each form is acquired in the acquisition step, form data representing the form is obtained. Duplicating and storing in the form data area in memory;
A plurality of form data stored in the form data area are combined with different embedded image data, and the form data combined with the embedded image data is combined to form image data to be recorded on one page of recording material. A generation process to generate;
An image processing method comprising: On the computer,
An acquisition step for acquiring setting information on whether to embed the same embedded image in each form or to embed different embedded images for each form when recording a plurality of the same forms on one page of recording material,
When a plurality of the same forms are recorded on one page of the recording material, and setting information indicating that different embedded images are embedded for each form is acquired in the acquisition step, form data representing the form is obtained. Duplicating and storing in the form data area in memory,
A plurality of form data stored in the form data area are combined with different embedded image data, and the form data combined with the embedded image data is combined to form image data to be recorded on one page of recording material. Generation process to generate,
A program characterized by having executed. On the computer,
An acquisition step for acquiring setting information on whether to embed the same embedded image in each form or to embed different embedded images for each form when recording a plurality of the same forms on one page of recording material,
When a plurality of the same forms are recorded on one page of the recording material, and setting information indicating that different embedded images are embedded for each form is acquired in the acquisition step, form data representing the form is obtained. Duplicating and storing in the form data area in memory,
A plurality of form data stored in the form data area are combined with different embedded image data, and the form data combined with the embedded image data is combined to form image data to be recorded on one page of recording material. Generation process to generate,
A storage medium storing a program characterized in that the program is executed. An image forming apparatus having a memory including a form data area for storing form data;
An image processing device for transmitting embedded image data embedded in the form data to the image forming device;
An image forming system comprising:
The image processing apparatus includes:
In the image forming apparatus, when a plurality of the same forms are recorded on one page of the recording material, setting information indicating whether to embed the same embedded image in each form or to embed different embedded images for each form. Acquisition means to acquire,
When a plurality of the same forms are recorded on one page of recording material, and the acquisition means acquires setting information indicating that different embedded images are embedded for each form, form data representing the form is obtained. Instruction means for instructing the image forming apparatus to duplicate and store in the form data area;
Transmitting means for transmitting embedded image data to the image forming apparatus;
Have
The image forming apparatus includes:
Image data to be recorded on one page of recording material by combining different embedded image data with a plurality of form data stored in the form data area and combining the form data combined with the embedded image data Generating means for generating
In accordance with an instruction from the instruction unit, a duplication unit that duplicates form data representing the form before generating the image data in the generation unit, and stores it in the form data area;
An image forming system comprising:

Images