JPH02260070A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the operability of an information processor by storing the information retrieved out of an optical disk which stored information permanently into an erasion enable optical disk when the information is outputted to an external device. CONSTITUTION:When the picture information is outputted to an external device like a printer device 25, etc., the information retrieved out of a DRAW type optical disk 20a which stores information permanently is stored into an erasion enable optical disk 20b during production of a spool table and a picture information table. Thus a picture retrieving process is finished. On the other hand, a spooler reads the picture information out of the disk 20b according to the contents of the spool table and the picture information table. Therefore the disk 20a can be removed from an optical disk device 22a after the picture information is transferred to the disk 20b from the disk 20a. Thus the operability of an information processor is improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an information processing device that efficiently processes image information, for example, in an image information storage and retrieval device that stores and retrieves image information.

(Prior art) In recent years, scanners (
Image information storage and retrieval devices have been put into practical use that read image information using a two-dimensional scanning device, register the read image information on an optical disk, and search for desired image information from the registered image information.

In addition to displaying searched image information on a display device, such image information storage and retrieval devices can perform processing such as outputting it to a printer device, or transmitting it to a device installed in a remote location via a facsimile device. It will be done.

When outputting such image information, the processing speed of the image information storage and retrieval device is adjusted to match the processing speed between the image information storage and retrieval device that can operate at high speed and the printer device, facsimile device, etc. that can operate at relatively low speed. A spool method is used to improve efficiency. This spooling method is realized by a processing means called a spooler. For example, when searching for image information and outputting it to a printer device, the search process searches the record number of the image information stored on the optical disk in the magnetic disk device. The process is stopped until it is stored in a predetermined area, and thereafter the record number is retrieved from the magnetic disk device by the process of the spooler that operates independently of the search process, and the image information is read from the optical disk based on this record number. It performs processing for outputting to a printer device. As a result, the image information storage and retrieval device is released from the search process early and can perform the next image search.In parallel with this search process, the spooler prints data according to the processing (printing) speed of the printer device. Since output is performed, the throughput of the entire device can be improved.

However, since the conventional spooling method is configured as described above, information that is not recorded on the optical disc, such as images displayed on a display device or lists created by a processing device, cannot be spooled. Another disadvantage is that the optical disc that has been spooled cannot be removed until the spooling process is completed.

(Problem 8 to be solved by the invention) As described above, this invention is capable of spooling information that is not recorded on an optical disc, such as images displayed on a display device or lists created by a processing device. This eliminates the drawbacks of not being able to remove the optical disc that is the target of spooling until the spooling process is completed.Information that is not recorded on the optical disc can also be spooled, It is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing device with excellent operability, which allows removal of an optical disk targeted for spooling even if processing is not completed.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving Thick Layer Problem) The information processing device of the present invention includes a first optical storage means for permanently storing information, and a retrieval system for retrieving predetermined information from the first optical storage means. means, second optical storage means for temporarily storing information and capable of erasing the stored information, and first processing means for causing the second optical storage means to store the predetermined information retrieved by the retrieval means. and a second processing means for reading out the predetermined information stored in the second optical storage means by the first processing means and outputting it to an external device.

(Function) In addition to the first optical storage means that permanently stores information, the present invention is provided with a second optical storage means that can erase the stored information, and when outputting information to an external device, it can be retrieved. The retrieval process of the retrieval means is ended by storing the information retrieved from the first optical storage means in the second optical storage means, and the second processing is performed separately and independently from the retrieval processing of the retrieval means. The means reads the information stored in the second optical storage means and outputs it to an external device.

As a result, all the information that can be stored in the second optical storage means can be outputted, and after the information has been transferred from the first optical storage means to the second optical storage means, the first storage means can be It can be removed from the device and has excellent operability.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of an information processing apparatus, such as an image information storage and retrieval apparatus, according to the present invention. That is, the image information storage and retrieval device includes a control module 10, a memory module 12, an image processing module 14, a communication control module 16, a scanner device 118, and a write-once optical disk (hereinafter abbreviated as rA ODJ) as a first optical storage means. ) 20a and optical disk device 22a1 second
Erasable optical disk (hereinafter referred to as r
It is sometimes abbreviated as E ODJ. ) 20b and optical disk device 22b1 keyboard 23, CRT display device 24, printer device 25, magnetic disk 26 and magnetic disk device 26a1 mouse 29, system bus 3
0. and an image bus 32.

The control module 10 includes a CPU 34 that performs various controls for storing, searching, editing, and spooling image information.
(first and second processing means) and an optical disk device 22a,
22b, and an interface circuit 36 that connects the magnetic disk device 26a and the CPU 34. Further, a keyboard 23 and a mouse 29 are connected to the CPU 34.

The memory module 12 includes a main memory 38 that stores various control programs such as image information storage, search, editing, spool processing, management information, etc., and an image memory module 38 that has a storage capacity corresponding to image information for several pages of an A4 size document. It is composed of a page memory 40 as a memory, a display memory 42 as a display interface, a display control section 44, and the like. A buffer memory area 40a is provided in a part of the page memory 40. Writing and reading in this buffer memory area 40a are controlled by a counter (not shown). This page memory 40 is a memory that temporarily stores, for example, image information stored on the write-once optical disc 20a or the erasable optical disc 20b, and image information read from these. Further, the display memory 42 is
It is used to temporarily store image information displayed on the CRT display device 24. In this display memory 42,
The image information actually displayed in the display window of the CRT display device 24, that is, the image information in the page memory 40, is enlarged, reduced, rotated, inserted, black-and-white inverted, etc. It is something that The display control section 44 controls the display of the CRT display device 24 and the like.

The image processing module 14 includes an enlargement/reduction circuit 46 for enlarging and reducing image information, a vertical/horizontal conversion circuit 48 for rotating image information, and an encoding process for compressing (reducing redundancy) image information. A compression/expansion circuit (CODEC) 50 that performs decoding processing that performs processing and expansion (returning reduced redundancy), a scanner interface 52 for the scanner device 18, a printer interface 54 for the printer device 25, and scaling. It is constituted by an internal bus 56 that connects the circuit 46, the vertical/horizontal conversion circuit 48, the compression/expansion circuit 50, the scanner interface 52, and the printer interface 54.

The compression/decompression circuit 50
['r+*an) method or MR (Modlf'1
Bandwidth compression or band expansion is performed using a method such as edRead).

The communication control module 16 includes, for example, an FCP (Facsimile Connection Mechanism) and a UCP (Universal Connection Mechanism) that is connected to an external device such as a personal computer via an interface.
Coa+mun1eat1on processes
The communication interface 58 is configured by a communication interface 58 such as ``SOR''. The communication control module 16 also includes a LAN
BCP (BusCommunication)
n Processor) may be provided.

The system bus 30 is a bus for control signals of various devices, including the control module 10 and memo.

Further, the image bus 32 is a bus for image information, and connects the memory module 12, the image processing module 14, and the communication control module 16.

The scanner device 18 is, for example, a two-dimensional scanning device, and is a document (
By scanning the document (document) two-dimensionally with a laser beam, an electrical signal corresponding to the image information on the document is obtained.

The optical disk device 22a sequentially stores image information read by the scanner device 18 on a write-once optical disk 20a. Further, image information corresponding to search information specified using the keyboard 23 or the like is searched from the write-once optical disc 20a.

The optical disk device 22b sequentially stores image information read from the write-once optical disk 20a onto the erasable optical disk 20b during spool processing. The image information stored on the erasable optical disk 20b is sequentially read out by a spooler and output to a printer device 25, a facsimile device, etc. connected via a communication interface 58.

The keyboard 23 is used to input unique search information corresponding to the image information to be stored on the write-once optical disc 20a1 and the erasable optical disc 20b, as well as various operation commands such as storage, retrieval, editing, and spool processing. Also mouse 29
For example, by arbitrarily moving a cursor (not shown) displayed on the display window of the CRT display device 24 vertically and horizontally and giving an instruction at a desired position, the displayed content ( It is used to select or instruct various operation modes, area designations for image editing, icons, etc.).

The CRT display device (cathode ray tube display device) 24 is
It displays image information read by the scanner device 18, image information retrieved from the write-once optical disc 20a, and the like. The image information display area of this CRT display device 24 has a multi-window type in which four pieces of image information can be displayed simultaneously using a maximum of four display windows. The image information displayed in each display window is subjected to editing processing such as enlargement, reduction, rotation, scrolling, etc. independently.

The printer device 25 prints image information read by the scanner device 18, image information retrieved from the write-once optical disc 20, image information displayed on the CRT display device 24, or erasable optical disc 20b by a spooler.
The image information read from the image information is printed out (hard copy).

The magnetic disk device 26a is the magnetic disk device 26a.
In addition to storing various control programs on the magnetic disk 26 attached to a, the storage addresses and image sizes on the write-once optical disk 2Oa store search information entered from the keyboard 23 and image information corresponding to this search information. , management data such as search frequency, or each ladder table for spool processing (details will be described later).

The document management system in this example is "cabinet"
It consists of 4 levels: ``Binder'', ``Document'', and ``Page''.
The cabinet is associated with one side of the write-once optical disc 20a or the erasable optical disc 20b. Up to 8 binders can be defined in a cabinet.
Up to 30,000 documents can be stored in the binder. Each document has a title, and its structure is defined for each binder. The above document is the basic unit of the file, and in addition to the title, annotations (
Document description) can be added.

Further, a document is composed of up to 4095 pages.

In such a document management system, the above-mentioned write-once optical disc 2
Management data 0a is managed by a document management table 27.

The document management table 27 is provided for each binder, and as shown in FIG. 2, it is composed of a title management table 27a, a one-page management table 27b1, and a record management table 27c. Title management table 27 above
In a, one document number is stored in association with each piece of search information (image name) consisting of a plurality of search keys. The page management table 27b stores record numbers (image numbers) for each page of one document, and one record number is stored for each page. The record management table 27c stores image information storage address (storage start position) on the write-once optical disc 20a, document size (image size), and image attributes such as compression method and resolution for each record number. The storage address is a logical address, from which a physical track address and a physical sector address are calculated at the time of access.

FIG. 3 shows the format of the spool table 60, and FIG. 4 shows the format of the image information table 61. These two tables 60
．． 61 both have a circular list structure and can respond to an infinite number of spool requests. Note that both of these tables 60 and 61 are stored on the magnetic disk 26.

In the spool table 60, the presence or absence of a spool request is managed using the ``top pointer of the spool queue'' and the ``last pointer of the spool queue.'' In other words, if the top pointer and the last pointer match, it is determined that there is no spool request, and if they do not match, it is determined that there is a spool request.

In addition, the spool table 60 also includes the "spool requester name", "number of images" indicating the number of images to be output, and whether the output light is a printer device 25 (PR) or a facsimile device (FAX) each time there is a spool request. rFA that specifies whether there is
An "image information pointer" indicating the image information number on the image information table 61 of X/PRJ and the first image is registered. Please note that the above ``Spool requester name
If the output light is a facsimile device, the FAX number is also registered.

The image information table 61 includes the "top pointer of the image tit information table" and the "last pointer of the image information table".
Whether or not the image information to be output exists on the erasable optical disc 2Ob is managed using the "pointer". That is, if the top pointer and the last pointer match, it is determined that there is no image information to be output, and if they do not match, it is determined that there is image information to be output. Further, the image information table 61 is provided with an address "next image recording address" on the erasable optical disc 2Ob to which image information is to be recorded when a spool request is made.This "next image recording address" is When the recording area of the erasable optical disc 20b becomes full, the disc rounds to the leading area, and can be used repeatedly an infinite number of times. Furthermore, for each image information, "recording start position on rE OD", "data size",
``Paper size/density j, etc. are now recorded.

Next, in such a configuration, general image registration and image search operations will be briefly described. At first,
An overview of the image registration operation will be briefly explained. For example, if registered moto is selected using the keyboard 23, the CPU 34
Then, the CRT display device 2B enters a binder selection state. In this binder selection state, a binder in which image registration is to be performed is selected. Image registration processing is started by selecting this binder. That is, first, search information for image information to be stored on the write-once optical disc 20a is manually generated. This search information consists of multiple search keys, and the contents of the search key items are as follows:
It is assumed that this has already been set as the title structure when defining the binder in advance. The CPU 34 checks the validity of the input search information according to a predefined format. Furthermore, compared with the search information already registered on the write-once optical disc 20a, 2
Check for duplicate registration. The input search information is stored in the main memory 13 according to the result of this check.

Next, the original is set on the scanner device 18, and the CPU 34
operates the optical disk device 22a and the scanner device 18. The scanner device 18 two-dimensionally scans and photoelectrically converts image information such as a set document. Line information of this photoelectrically converted image information is sequentially stored in the page memory 40.

The image information stored in the page memory 40 is stored in the display memory 42 and displayed on the CRT display device 24. The user checks the skew, density, resolution, etc. of the image information displayed on the CRT display device 24, and when the displayed image information is satisfactory, inputs a memory key (not shown). Then, the CPU 34 encodes the image information stored in the page memory 40 by compressing the band using a well-known MR method or the like in a compression/expansion circuit (CODEC) 50 for each line of information. This encoded image information is stored in the optical disk device 22a.
and is stored on the write-once optical disc 20a.

When the storage of this image information is completed, the CPU 34 converts the physical track address where the image information is stored, the logical address determined from the physical sector address, the image length expressed in block length, image attributes, etc. into a search code (search information). The data are stored in the main memory 38 in a corresponding manner. Then, C.P.
U34 outputs the search data stored in the main memory 38 to the magnetic disk device 28. Thereby, the magnetic disk device 26a stores the supplied search data in the document management table 27 within the magnetic disk 26.

Next, a search process for image information stored on the write-once optical disc 20a will be briefly described. First, keyboard 2
3 to set the search mode and input search information corresponding to the image information to be searched.

The CPU 34 stores the input search information on the magnetic disk 26.
Title management table 27 of document management table 27 in
It sequentially compares and collates the search information stored in a, checks whether or not search information that matches the input search information is stored, and extracts the corresponding document number. Then, the CPU 34 CR records the list of applicable documents (search information).
It is displayed using the T display device 24. Based on this display, if the document for which the operator is being searched for is not found, the user re-enters the search information. If found, specify the document from the list (specify by display document number, etc.) and instruct search execution.

The CPU 34 extracts all pages having the corresponding document number from the page management table 27b of the document management table 27 in the magnetic disk 26 and their record number information. As a result, C
The PU 34 creates a record call table consisting of document numbers, page numbers, and record numbers on the main memory 38. Then, the CPU 34 first reads the record number to be searched, reads the logical address corresponding to this record number from the record management table 27c of the document management table 27 in the magnetic disk 26, and sets the physical track address corresponding to this address. The physical sector address is calculated, and the optical disc device 22g reproduces the image information from the write-once optical disc 20a using these addresses.

Further, the CPU 34 supplies image information (compressed information) for each scanning line supplied from the optical disk device 22a to the compression/expansion circuit 50, performs band expansion processing, and stores the image information (compressed information) in the display memory 22a.
2 sequentially. As a result, the image information stored in the display memory 42 is displayed on the CRT display device 24.

Next, the fifth section regarding the operation of the spool processing according to the present invention will be explained.
This will be explained with reference to the figures and FIG. The spool process includes a process of registering searched image information in the spool table 60, which is performed in the image search process, and a process which is performed by a spooler separately from this image search process, and sequentially transfers the registered image information to a printer device, a facsimile device, etc. It is broadly divided into processing that outputs data to etc. First, the process up to registration in the spool table 60 will be explained with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

First, as explained in the image search above, select Keyboard 2.
3 to set the search mode and input search information corresponding to the image information to be searched.

The CPU 34 stores the input search information on the magnetic disk 26.
Title management table 27 of document management table 27 in
It sequentially compares and collates the search information stored in a, checks whether or not search information that matches the input search information is stored, and extracts the corresponding document number. Then, the CPU 34 CR records the list of applicable documents (search information).
It is displayed using the T display device 24. Based on this display, if the document for which the operator is being searched for is not found, the user re-enters the search information. If found, the document is specified from the list (specified by display document number, etc.) and the fact that it is to be spooled is specified. At this time, the name of the spool requester and whether the output light is the printer device 25 or the facsimile device are specified.

As a result, the CPU 34 starts processing the spool reception. That is, first, a request is registered in the spool table 60 (step SL). The registration of this spool request involves registering the "spool requester name" and rFAX/PRJ input using the keyboard 23 at the location indicated by the top pointer of the spool queue, as well as registering the "spool requester name" and rFAX/PRJ indicated by the top pointer of the image information table 61. Register the value in the "image information pointer" as the position of the image information to be registered.

Then, the top pointer of the spool queue is incremented.

Next, the CPU 34 performs a process of transferring the spool target image to the erasable optical disc 20b, and creates an image information table 61 (step S2). That is, all pages having the corresponding document number from the page management table 27b of the document management table 27 in the magnetic disk 26 and their record number information are extracted. As a result, the CPU 34
creates a record call table consisting of document numbers, page numbers, and record numbers on the main memory 38. Then, the CPU 34 first reads the record number to be searched, reads the logical address corresponding to this record number from the record management table 27c of the document management table 27 in the magnetic disk 26, and sets the physical track address corresponding to this address. The physical sector address is calculated, and the optical disc device 22a reproduces the image information from the write-once optical disc 20a using these addresses. Then, the reproduced image information is stored in the page memory 40. Next, the image information stored in the page memory 40 is recorded in the recording area of the erasable optical disc 20b indicated by the "next image recording address" of the image information table 61.

On the other hand, registration in the image information table 61 is performed as follows. That is, the contents of the ``next image recording address'' are copied to the ``recording start position on rEOD'' column at the position indicated by the top pointer of the image information table 61. Next, fields such as "data size", "paper size/density", and "other j" are created based on the contents of the record management team 27c read earlier, and then "next image recording address" is updated. At the same time, the top pointer of the image information table is incremented. This operation is repeated for the number of images created in the record call table, and the registration process of the image information table 61 is completed.

Finally, the number of repetitions, that is, the number of images registered on the erasable optical disc 20b, is stored in the spool table 6.
0 in the "number of sheets" column (step S3), completing a series of spool registration processes. At this point, the CPU 34 is released from image search processing and is ready to perform the next image search.

Next, spool table 6 created as above
0 and the image information table 61
! Regarding spool processing to output to 25 etc., the 6th
This will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in the figure.

First, the spool table 60 is referred to to check whether there is a spool request (step 510).

The presence or absence of this spool request is determined by whether or not the top pointer and last pointer of the spool queue match. That is, if these match, it is determined that there is no spool request since the queue is empty, and step S is repeatedly executed to enter a waiting state. On the other hand, if the above two pointers do not match, it is determined that there is a spool request, and the request contents (``spool requester name'',
"Number of images", ['AX/PRJ, "Image information pointer")
(step 511). Then, increment the last pointer.

Next, data related to the image information to be read from the position of the image information table indicated by the retrieved [image information pointer]: ``Recording start position on CrEOD'', ``Data size'', ``Paper size/density'', ``Others'' ). Then, the image information pointer is incremented in preparation for retrieving data related to the next image information (step 512). Next, image information is read from the erasable optical disc 20b based on the extracted recording start position and data size on the rEOD and stored in the page memory 4° (step 813). And the printer
The spool table 60 (7) rFA that was taken out earlier determines whether to output to i125 or facsimile device.
Determine step 51 by referring to X/PRJ
4) When it is determined that the image should be output to the printer device 25, printing is performed by sending the image to the printer device 25 via the printer interface 54 (step 515). On the other hand, if it is determined that the output should be sent to the facsimile device 25, the communication interface 5
8 to a facsimile machine (not shown), and further, the image is formed via a line at an image forming apparatus installed in a remote location, for example. Next, by referring to the "number of sheets" of the spool table 60 taken out earlier, it is determined whether or not the specified number of images have been output (step 517); if not, the process returns to step S12; Repeat the same action again.

Then, when the image output for the specified number of schools is completed, step S
10, the process returns to the initial state in which the presence or absence of a spool request is checked, and the spool process is subsequently executed in the same manner.

In addition, although the case where the spooling process is performed on the image information stored on the write-once optical disc 20a has been described above, in addition to this, for example, the image displayed on the CRT display device 24 may be processed in the same manner as described above. By creating a spool table 60 and an image information table 61 and registering them on the erasable optical disc 20b, it is possible to perform spool processing on displayed images. Additionally, information other than image information, such as information indicating various processing results stored on the magnetic disk 26 or various lists, can be converted into image information and stored in the erasable optical disk 20b, thereby making it a target for spool processing. You can also.

As described above, in addition to the write-once optical disc 20a that permanently stores information, an erasable optical disc 20b that can erase stored information is provided, and image information is transferred to the printer 25.
When outputting to an external device such as a computer or a facsimile machine, the image search process is completed by storing the image searched information from the write-once optical disc 20a to the erasable optical disc 29b while creating a spool table 60 and an image information table 61. However, separately and independently from this image search process, the spooler creates a spool table 60 and an image information table 6.
Since the image information stored in the erasable optical disc 20b is read out and output to an external device such as a printer 5f25 or a facsimile machine according to the contents of 1, the image information is transferred from the write-once optical disc 20a to the erasable optical disc 20b. After the information has been transferred, the write-once optical disc 20a can be removed from the optical disc device 22a,
It has excellent operability. In addition, all information that can be stored on the erasable optical disc 20b, even if it is information other than that registered on the write-once optical disc 20a, can be spooled, which can further improve processing efficiency. It has become.

Furthermore, since the erasable optical disc 20b is configured to wrap around to the first area when the storage capacity is full, it can be used an infinite number of times, making it unnecessary to replace the erasable optical disc as a time memory. It also has the effect of becoming.

In the above embodiment, a case has been described in which the next image search cannot be performed until the storage of image information on the erasable optical disc 20b is completed, but if the image information is stored on the write-once optical disc 20a, As described in the conventional example, the configuration may be such that the process returns to the image search process when the record number is passed to the spooler. In this case, the spooler reads the image information from the write-once optical disc 20a and registers it on the erasable optical disc 20b, and during this time, the write-once optical disc 20a cannot be removed from the optical disc device 22a.

However, since the CPU 34 is freed from image retrieval processing even more quickly, there is an effect that the throughput of the image information storage and retrieval apparatus can be further improved.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the present invention, information that is not recorded on an optical disc can also be spooled, and furthermore, information can be spooled even if the spooling process is not completed. It is possible to provide an information processing device with excellent operability in which the optical disc can be removed.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings are for explaining one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of an image information storage and retrieval device, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining an example of storing a document management table. Figure 3 is a diagram showing the format of the spool table, Figure 4 is a diagram showing the format of the image information table, Figure 5 is a flowchart for explaining the processing operation up to registration in the spool table, and Figure 6 is a diagram showing the format of the image information table. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of spool processing. 20a... write-once optical disc (first optical storage means),
20b... erasable optical disk (second optical storage means), 22a, 22b... optical disk device, 23...
・Keyboard, 24...CRT display device, 2
5... Printer device, 26... Magnetic disk, 26
a...Magnetic disk device, 27...Document management table, 27a...Title management table, 27b...
Page management table, 27C...Record management table,
34...CPU (first and second processing means), 58.
. . . Communication interface, 60 . . . Spool table, 61 . . . Image information table. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue Diagram procedure amendment (method) Contents of amendment July 12, 1989 "No. 3" on page 30, line 20 of the specification

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A first optical storage means for permanently storing information; a retrieval means for retrieving predetermined information from the first optical storage means; and a first optical storage means for temporarily storing information and capable of erasing the stored information. a second optical storage means; and a second optical storage means for storing the predetermined information searched by the search means.
a first processing means for storing the predetermined information in the optical storage means; and a second processing means for reading out the predetermined information stored in the second optical storage means by the first processing means and outputting it to an external device.
An information processing device comprising: processing means.