JP4640713B2 - Representative image extraction method and job analysis program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a representative image extraction method and a job analysis program, and more particularly to a representative image extraction method for extracting a representative image from a rasterized job and a job analysis program for extracting the representative image.

  Printing apparatuses (hereinafter referred to as image forming apparatuses) such as printers and digital multifunction peripherals have become widespread. When printing using this image forming apparatus, first, document data is created using an application installed in a client computer terminal connected to a network, and software (printer driver) for controlling the image forming apparatus is installed. The document data is converted into a job in a page description language (PDL) format and transmitted to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus analyzes the job, generates raster format data (hereinafter referred to as raster data), and then executes printing based on the raster data.

  In some cases, a RIP (Raster Image Processor) controller that performs processing for generating raster data (this processing is referred to as rasterization) is connected to a network. In this case, the RIP controller receives a page description language format job from the client computer terminal, analyzes the job, generates raster data, and transmits the raster data to the image forming apparatus. Execute printing.

  In such a print flow, since rasterization takes time, raster data is stored in a storage unit of a processing device such as an image forming apparatus or a RIP controller, and when a job number is instructed from a client, the storage unit stores the raster number. A technique is used in which raster data corresponding to a job number is read and printed.

  At that time, if the job number can be used to grasp the job content, the job number may be used to indicate printing. However, if the job number cannot be grasped, the raster data stored in the storage unit of the processing apparatus is 1 You must check each one to understand the contents of the job.

  Here, in one job, it is possible to set the paper size and type, the color mode, the presence / absence of finishing, and the like for each page, and it is also possible to combine a plurality of jobs. In this case, the job configuration becomes complicated, and the number of pages and the amount of data for one job become enormous. Therefore, in order to grasp the contents of a job, it is necessary to check a huge number of raster data one by one. Don't be.

  For such a problem, a method of displaying raster data of a predetermined page in a job and confirming the contents of the job is effective. Regarding page preview, for example, in Patent Document 1 below, Shows a selectable option for a specific page, and discloses a technique for changing a preview in accordance with the change.

JP 2001-195393 A

  The method of Patent Document 1 changes the preview for a specific page in a job, but the specific page is not necessarily a characteristic page in the entire job, and is a characteristic page. Otherwise, even if the user sees the preview screen, the whole image of the job cannot be grasped visually and intuitively.

  As described above, in a situation where the job configuration is complicated and the number of pages and the data amount of one job are enormous, how to extract pages representing the features of the job is an important issue.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its main purpose is to provide a representative image extraction method and a job analysis program capable of efficiently performing job identification and job configuration / content verification. It is to provide.

  To achieve the above object, the representative image extraction method of the present invention includes a first step of designating a job, a second step of reading out a rasterized job corresponding to the designated job from the storage unit, and the read job A third step of acquiring information indicating a change in attribute of each page included in the page, a fourth step of calculating an evaluation value for each page based on the information indicating the change in attribute, and a large evaluation value It has at least a fifth step of extracting at least one page and specifying the image of the at least one page as a representative image of the job, and a sixth step of displaying the representative image on a display unit. .

  In the present invention, the number of representative images may be specified in the first step, and pages corresponding to the number may be extracted in descending order of the evaluation value in the fifth step.

  In the present invention, in the fourth step, the evaluation value may be calculated by weighting information indicating a change in the attribute with reference to a previously stored table.

  Further, in the present invention, the information indicating the change in the attribute is that the target page is changed in any one of a paper size, a paper type, a color mode, and a finishing process with respect to a page before the target page. It can be set as the structure containing the information which shows having performed.

  In addition, the present invention is a job analysis program that operates on an apparatus that processes a job. The computer reads a specified rasterized job from a storage unit, and changes the attributes of each page included in the read job. A process for obtaining information indicating the change in the attribute, a process for calculating an evaluation value for each page based on the information indicating the change in the attribute, extracting at least one page with a large evaluation value, and an image of the at least one page Is specified as a representative image of the job.

  According to the representative image extraction method and the job analysis program of the present invention, it is possible to easily grasp the entire job visually and intuitively even for a complicated job having hundreds or thousands of pages. it can.

  The reason is that the rasterized job corresponding to the designated job number is read from the storage unit, and attribute information such as print instruction information and TAG bits is used to indicate information indicating the attributes of each page (the first page and chapter are separated). Information indicating whether it is a page, image ratio, etc.) and information indicating changes in attributes (information indicating that the paper size, paper type, color mode, finishing process has changed between pages, etc.) By referring to the table, an evaluation value for each page (a value indicating the degree representing the characteristics of the job) is calculated, and a page with a large evaluation value (1 or pages for a specified quantity) is extracted as a characteristic page. This is because the image of the page is specified as the representative image and displayed on the display unit.

  As a result, the problem is that the entire job cannot be seen unless the page is sent and confirmed, and the problem that the memory usage becomes large in a device that displays a preview of all pages of the job. It is possible to solve the problem that it takes time to grasp.

  As shown in the background art, a rasterized job is stored in a processing apparatus such as an image forming apparatus or a RIP controller, and when a job number is designated, the rasterized job corresponding to the job number is read and printed. There is a way. In this case, since the job contents may not be grasped by the job number, a specific page is displayed as a preview to confirm the job.

  However, the specific page is not necessarily a characteristic page of the job, and if it is not a characteristic page, the entire job cannot be grasped even if preview display is performed. For this reason, it is necessary to check the image of each page one by one to grasp the contents of the job, and it takes time and effort to grasp the contents of a job with a large number of pages and a large amount of data.

  Here, there are various pages that make up the job, and the first page of the job and the pages that divide chapters are considered to be portions where the contents change in the job. In one job, settings such as paper size, paper type, color mode, and finishing process can be made for each page. A page on which these settings change is a part in which the content changes in the job. it is conceivable that. Also, a page whose page image ratio changes is considered to be a part where the content changes in the job.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the attribute of each page and the change of the attribute are acquired using the print instruction information that can be acquired from the job before rasterization and the attribute data such as the TAG bit that can be acquired from the job after rasterization. By referring to a predetermined table, weighting the attribute and the change of the attribute, calculating an evaluation value indicating the degree representing the job characteristics, extracting a page having a large evaluation value as a page representing the job characteristics, The image of the page is specified and displayed as a representative image. As a result, even for a job with a large number of pages and a large amount of data, it is possible to visually and intuitively grasp the entire job simply by confirming the representative image.

  In order to describe the above-described embodiment of the present invention in more detail, a representative image extraction method and a job analysis program according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the processing system of this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating a representative image extraction method according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of the representative image extraction method according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a job, and FIG. 5 is a table showing setting items and specific gravity of each page referred to when representative images are extracted. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a screen displayed on the display unit.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the processing system of this embodiment includes a utility 11 for requesting job analysis, and a processing device 10 such as a RIP controller or an image forming apparatus for analyzing the job. They are connected via a communication network such as a local area network (WAN) or a wide area network (WAN).

  The utility 11 is an apparatus that instructs the processing apparatus 10 to analyze a job and receives an analysis result (job analysis data) from the processing apparatus 10, and is, for example, a dedicated utility or printer driver that operates on a client computer terminal or the like. . Although not shown, the client computer terminal includes at least an operation unit for instructing job analysis, a display unit for displaying a representative image of job analysis data, and a communication I / O for exchanging data with the processing apparatus 10. An F unit, a storage unit that stores data and programs, a control unit that controls these, and the like are provided.

  The processing apparatus 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 100, a memory 101 such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory), an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 102, a communication I / F unit 103, and the like. These are configured and are connected via a bus.

  The memory 101 includes a program storage unit 104 that stores a job analysis program that functions as a job analysis unit, and a data storage unit 105 that stores job analysis data. And CPU100 functions as a control part which controls operation | movement of the whole processing apparatus 10 in cooperation with ROM and RAM. In this embodiment, in particular, the CPU 100 loads and executes a job analysis program from the program storage unit 104, and transfers job analysis data processed by the job analysis program to the utility 11 via the communication I / F unit 103. I do.

  The HDD 102 stores a program to be controlled by the CPU 100 and a job after rasterization (raster data for each page and print instruction information acquired before rasterization and attribute data such as TAG bits acquired after rasterization). Is read as necessary.

  The job analysis unit analyzes the rasterized job read from the HDD 102, acquires information indicating the attribute and attribute change of each page, and refers to a table stored in the HDD 102 or the RAM to change the attribute or attribute. The information indicating the change is weighted to calculate a value (referred to as an evaluation value) that serves as an index representing the characteristics of the job, and a page with a large evaluation value is extracted as a page representing the characteristics of the job. Raster data (representative image data) is stored in the memory 101 as job analysis data.

  The communication I / F unit 103 includes a NIC (Network Interface Card), a modem, and the like, establishes a connection with the utility 11 and the like, and transmits and receives data.

  In FIG. 1, the job analysis unit is configured as software (job analysis program), but the job analysis unit may be configured as hardware in the processing apparatus 10.

  In FIG. 1, the representative image is extracted by using the rasterized job stored in the HDD 102. However, the rasterized job is transferred to another apparatus (for example, a server) connected to the network. A configuration may be adopted in which a representative image is extracted by reading the rasterized job from there.

  In FIG. 1, the processing device 10 extracts a representative image and transmits the representative image to the utility 11 in accordance with an instruction from the utility 11. However, the processing device 10 includes an operation unit and a display unit. It is also possible to extract the representative image in accordance with the instruction and display the extracted representative image on the display unit of the processing device 10.

  Moreover, FIG. 1 is an example of the processing system of a present Example, The structure of the processing apparatus 10 can be changed suitably. For example, when the image forming apparatus is the processing apparatus 10, a printing unit or the like may be added to the processing apparatus 10.

  Next, the operation of the processing apparatus 10 configured as described above will be described with reference to the conceptual diagram of FIG. 2 and the flowchart of FIG.

  The utility 11 transmits the job number and the number of representative images as necessary to the processing apparatus 10 via the network, and instructs the processing apparatus 10 to analyze the job ((1) in FIG. 2).

  The control unit of the processing apparatus 10 acquires the job number and the number of representative images as necessary via the communication I / F unit 103 (step S101 in FIG. 3), and sends it to the job analysis unit (job analysis program). Then, the acquired job number, the number of representative images, etc. are passed ((2) in FIG. 2).

  The job analysis unit searches for a rasterized job in the HDD 102 using the passed job number (step S102), and determines whether there is a rasterized job corresponding to the job number (step S103). If there is no corresponding rasterized job, it is processed as an error (step S104), and if there is a corresponding rasterized job, the job data (raster data and attribute data for each page) is read (FIG. 2). (3), step S105).

  Next, the job analysis unit analyzes the read rasterized job ((4) in FIG. 2).

  Specifically, each page of the rasterized job is sequentially read, and it is determined whether the read page is the first page by referring to the attribute data (step S106). If it is the first page, an evaluation value for the page is set with reference to a pre-stored specific gravity table. Here, the evaluation value is set to the maximum value.

  On the other hand, if it is not the first page, the attribute data is referred to obtain information indicating the attribute of the page (step S108). The information indicating the attribute includes, for example, chapter division, paper size, paper type, printing mode such as double-sided / single-sided, color mode such as color / monochrome, finishing processing (staple punch, folding, Nin1, rotation, blank paper) Insertion), image ratio, character size, etc., and one or more information selected from these can be used. In addition, chapter division, paper size, paper type, duplex / single side, color / monochrome, finishing processing, character size, etc. can be obtained from the print instruction information described in the job before rasterization. It can be acquired from the TAG bit included in the job after rasterization.

  Next, the attribute information of the current page and the previous page is compared (step S109). Then, by referring to the specific gravity table stored in advance, the attribute information of the current page (information indicating whether the page is a chaptered page, the image ratio, the character size), and the information indicating the change in the attribute between pages (paper size, The evaluation value is calculated according to a predetermined rule using the paper type, double-sided / single-sided, color / monochrome, information indicating whether the finishing process has changed) and the specific gravity corresponding thereto (step S110).

  Next, the evaluation value of the current page is registered in the job analysis data storage unit ((5) in FIG. 2, step S111), and information indicating the attribute of the current page is temporarily stored in the memory 101 (step S112).

  Next, it is determined whether the current page is the last page (step S113), and if it is not the last page, the process returns to step S106 and the same processing is repeated for the next page.

  On the other hand, if it is the last page, the evaluation values of all pages stored in the job analysis data storage unit are compared, the pages with the highest evaluation value are extracted for the number of representative images, and the raster data of the extracted pages is acquired. (Step S114), the data is transferred to the utility 11 via the communication I / F unit 103 ((6) in FIG. 2, step S115).

  Thereafter, the utility 11 receives the raster data of the specified page, and displays the image of the page as a representative image of the job ((7) in FIG. 2).

  The above is a flow of a method for extracting a representative image. Hereinafter, a specific job will be described as an example.

  It is assumed that the job from which the representative image is extracted has a configuration as shown in FIG. For example, it is assumed that the page size of the page p1 is A4. Further, it is assumed that the pages p2 to p10 have a paper size of A4 and an image ratio of 30%. The page p11 has a paper size of A4, an image ratio of 30%, and is a chapter division page (first page of a chapter). Further, it is assumed that the page size of the page p12 is A3 and the image ratio is 70%. In addition, it is assumed that pages p13 to p20 have a paper size of A4, an image ratio of 0%, and staples are set.

  Further, it is assumed that the specific gravity corresponding to the attribute of each page is set as shown in FIG. For example, since the first page is generally considered to show a large feature of the job, the specific gravity corresponding to the first page is set to the maximum value (100 in this case). Further, since the change of chapter is considered to show a relatively large characteristic of the job, the specific gravity corresponding to the chapter division page is set to a larger value (here, 20). Further, since the page whose paper size, paper type, color setting, and finishing process change is also considered to show the characteristics of the job, the specific gravity corresponding to these is also set to a predetermined value.

  For a job having such a configuration, the job analysis unit reads the first page (p1), acquires attribute information of the page, and the specific gravity corresponding to the first page is 100 from FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the evaluation value is set to 100.

  Next, the job analysis unit reads pages p2 to p10 in order, acquires attribute information of each page, and determines a difference in attribute information from the previous page. In this case, pages p2 to p10 are not the first page or chapter division page, and the paper size and color settings are the same as p1 page and have not changed, and no finishing has been set. The evaluation value is 0.3 calculated by multiplying the corresponding specific gravity (1).

  Next, the job analysis unit reads the p11 page, acquires attribute information of the page, and determines a difference in attribute information from the previous page. Here, since the page p11 is a chapter division page, a value obtained by multiplying the specific gravity (20) corresponding to the chapter division page by the image ratio (40%) and the specific gravity (1) corresponding thereto is added. 4 is the evaluation value.

  Next, the job analysis unit reads the p12 page, acquires attribute information of the page, and determines a difference in attribute information from the previous page. Here, since the paper size is changed from A4 to A3, a value obtained by multiplying the specific gravity (10) corresponding to the paper size by the image ratio (70%) and the corresponding specific gravity (1) is added. Let 10.7 be the evaluation value.

  Next, the job analysis unit reads page p13, acquires attribute information of the page, and determines a difference in attribute information from the previous page. Here, since finishing (staple) is set, the value obtained by multiplying the specific gravity (6) corresponding to the finishing (staple) by the image ratio (0%) and the specific gravity (1) corresponding thereto is added. The evaluation value is 6.0.

  Next, the job analysis unit sequentially reads pages p14 to p20, acquires attribute information of each page, and determines a difference in attribute information from the previous page. Here, finishing (staple) is set, but since it is the same setting as the previous page, the specific gravity (6) corresponding to finishing (staple) is not added, and the image ratio (0%) and its specific gravity ( The evaluation value is 0 obtained by multiplying 1).

  A summary of the evaluation values calculated for all pages by the above method is the upper right view of FIG. 4, and a rearrangement of the evaluation values in descending order of the evaluation values is the lower right view of FIG. Then, the job analysis unit extracts pages for the designated number of representative images in order from the top. For example, when the designated quantity of the representative image is 1, p1 is extracted, and when the designated quantity is 2, p1 and p11 are extracted.

  Then, the extracted raster data of the page is read from the HDD 102, and the raster data of the page is transferred to the utility 11 as representative image data.

  The utility 11 displays the received representative image data on the screen. FIG. 6 is an example of the analysis result display screen. For example, a column for specifying the job number of the job, a column for setting the designated quantity of the representative image for the specified job number, and the representative image received from the processing apparatus 10 are displayed. It consists of fields for displaying data. Then, the user confirms the displayed representative image and determines whether the job is a desired job. In the case of a desired job, when the print button is pressed, printing is instructed to the processing device 10, and the processing device 10 reads a rasterized job corresponding to the job number from the HDD 102 and executes printing.

  As described above, when the job number and the number of representative images are transmitted from the utility 11 as necessary, the job analysis unit of the processing apparatus 10 calculates an evaluation value based on information indicating an attribute of each page and a change in the attribute. Then, a page that is considered to represent the job characteristics is extracted based on the evaluation value, and the raster data of the page is transferred to the utility 11, and the utility 11 performs control to display the received raster data of the page. Thereby, even if the job has a huge number of pages and data size, the entire job can be easily grasped visually and intuitively.

  In the above embodiment, the information indicating whether the page is the first page or chaptered page, the image ratio, and the character size are listed as information indicating the page attribute, and the paper size, The information indicating whether the paper type, printing mode, color mode, and finishing process have been listed is listed. However, the information indicating the attribute and the change in the attribute is not limited to the above, and any one or a plurality serving as an index indicating the characteristics of the job Can be used.

  In the above-described embodiment, the image forming apparatus or the RIP controller is used as the processing apparatus 10. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and any apparatus that can use a rasterized job is used. On the other hand, the same can be applied.

  The present invention can be used for a processing apparatus such as an image forming apparatus or a RIP controller that stores and processes rasterized jobs, and a job analysis program that operates on the processing apparatus.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the processing system which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows typically the representative image extraction method in the processing apparatus which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart figure which shows the representative image extraction procedure in the processing apparatus which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the job which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a table which shows the attribute and specific gravity of each page referred in the case of representative image extraction which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen (analysis result display screen) displayed on the utility which concerns on one Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 processor 11 utility 100 CPU
101 Memory 102 HDD
103 Communication I / F unit 104 JOB analysis unit 105 JOB analysis data storage unit

Claims (8)

A first step of specifying a job;
A second step of reading a rasterized job corresponding to the designated job from the storage unit;
A third step of acquiring information indicating a change in attribute of each page included in the read job;
A fourth step of calculating an evaluation value for each page based on the information indicating the change in the attribute;
A fifth step of extracting at least one page having a large evaluation value and specifying an image of the at least one page as a representative image of the job;
A sixth step of displaying the representative image on a display unit,
A representative image extraction method. In the first step, the number of representative images is specified,
In the fifth step, pages for the quantity are extracted in descending order of the evaluation value.
The representative image extraction method according to claim 1, wherein: In the fourth step, the evaluation value is calculated by weighting information indicating the change in the attribute with reference to a table stored in advance.
The representative image extraction method according to claim 1, wherein the method is a representative image extraction method. The information indicating the change in attribute includes information indicating that the target page has changed any of the paper size, the paper type, the color mode, and the finishing process with respect to the previous page of the target page. ,
The representative image extraction method according to claim 1, wherein A job analysis program that runs on a device that processes jobs,
On the computer,
Processing to read out the specified rasterized job from the storage unit,
Processing to acquire information indicating changes in attributes of each page included in the read job;
Processing for calculating an evaluation value for each page based on the information indicating the change in the attribute;
Extracting at least one page having a large evaluation value, and performing processing for specifying an image of the at least one page as a representative image of the job,
A job analysis program characterized by that. When the quantity of the representative image is designated, pages for the quantity are extracted in descending order of the evaluation value.
The job analysis program according to claim 5. When calculating the evaluation value, the information indicating the change in the attribute is weighted with reference to a previously stored table.
The job analysis program according to claim 5 or 6, characterized by the above. The information indicating the change in attribute includes information indicating that the target page has changed any of the paper size, the paper type, the color mode, and the finishing process with respect to the previous page of the target page. ,
The job analysis program according to any one of claims 5 to 7,

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