JPH03164869A - Picture output device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To suppress idle time generating at a picture output unit to the minimum by providing a read order control means to control a picture output order so that picture data can be read out and transferred to the picture output unit. CONSTITUTION:An output picture list is searched and when an output waiting picture is listed up in the output picture list corresponding to the picture data recorded to optical disks 31a-31n currently loaded to a drive part 34 of a library unit 30, a provided read order control means 40 controls the picture output order so that the picture data are read out and transferred to the picture output unit. Thus, the idle time to be generated at the picture output unit is suppressed at a minimum and the working efficiency of a picture output device is improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an image output device that reads image data from an optical disk on which a large amount of image data is recorded and reproduces and outputs the image.

(Prior Art) Recording a large amount of image data on an optical disk and reading the image data from the optical disk as needed to obtain a visible image based on the image data is used in various fields.

For example, in medical institutions such as hospitals, radiographic images, CT
The medical images of both MR images are recorded on an optical disk, and if necessary, the image data is read out from the optical disk and a visible image based on the image data is printed on a laser printer or computer.
An image output device that reproduces and outputs using an RT display or the like is used. These medical images need to be kept in order to understand changes in a patient's disease, and the law requires them to be kept for a specified period of time, so the number of images kept in hospitals is increasing day by day. I'm going to go.

On the other hand, the amount of image data representing the above-mentioned medical images is -
Even though the storage capacity of an optical disc is extremely large, it can only record image data for, say, 1,000 discs. a drive unit into which one of the plurality of optical discs is loaded and reads image data from the optical disc; and a drive unit which takes out one of the plurality of optical discs stored in the storage unit from the storage unit. A library unit has been proposed which includes a handling means for loading an optical disk into a drive section, and for taking out an optical disk loaded in the drive section from the drive section and storing it in a storage section (Japanese Patent Application No. 1-3218).
9, 1-32170, 1-35571).

By using this library unit, image data corresponding to an extremely large number of images can be recorded and stored.

In addition, it is possible to output a list of images that are waiting to be output so that you can specify multiple images to be output even when an image output unit such as a laser printer that outputs a visible image based on image data is in use. Equipped with image list,
A method of sequentially outputting images listed in an output image list is known (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 83-66613).

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) When an image recording apparatus including the library unit is configured to include the output image list and sequentially output the images listed in the output image list, the library unit may Since multiple optical discs are stored and the image data corresponding to the listed images may not always be loaded into the drive unit, the handling means may be used to load the image data into the drive unit as necessary. It is necessary to read the image data while exchanging the optical discs used.

However, as mentioned above, it takes about 20 to 30 seconds to replace the optical disk loaded in the drive section of the library unit, and for this reason, image data may not be input to an image output unit such as a laser printer. Due to this, there may be idle time during which images cannot be output, and the efficiency of the entire image output device may decrease.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a highly efficient image output device that minimizes the idle time that occurs during image output.

(Means for Solving the Problems) An image output device of the present invention includes a storage section in which a plurality of optical disks on which a large amount of image data is recorded, and a storage section in which the first disk is loaded and the image data is output from the optical disk. a drive section for reading data; an optical disk stored in the storage section is taken out from the storage section and loaded into the drive section; and an optical disk loaded in the drive section is taken out from the drive section and stored in the storage section. a library unit comprising a handling means for transferring image data read by the drive section, an image output unit that outputs a visible image based on the transferred image data, and image data that is transferred to the image output unit. an input unit that inputs output image designation information for specifying the output image, an output image list in which images waiting to be output are listed based on the output image designation information, and an optical disc currently stored in the drive section. list creation means for creating a library list in which optical discs stored in the library unit are listed;
When the output image list is searched and an image to be output corresponding to the image data recorded on the optical disk currently loaded in the drive section is listed in the output image list, the image data is first searched. The present invention is characterized by comprising a control unit comprising a readout order control means for controlling the order of image output so as to read and transfer the image to the image output unit.

(Function) The image output device of the present invention searches an output image list, and finds output-ready images corresponding to image data recorded on the optical disk currently loaded in the drive section of the library unit in the output image list. Since it is equipped with a readout order control means that controls the image output order so that when the image data is listed, the image data is read out first and transferred to the image output unit, the idle time generated in the image output unit is minimized. This improves the operating efficiency of the image output device.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of an image output device of the present invention.

This image output device 1 includes a system control unit 10 including an example of a control unit of the present invention, a library unit 30 . A library control unit 40 that controls the library unit 30, an operation unit 5G, and a laser printer B which is an example of the image output unit of the present invention.
It is composed of O.

The system control unit IO includes a central processing unit 11 consisting of a CPU, internal memory, etc., two optical disk drive units 12 and 13 into which optical disks are manually loaded, and controls for controlling these optical disk drive units 12 and 13, respectively. Part 14.
15, and a magnetic disk drive section 17 equipped with a magnetic disk 16. Also library unit 30
is a large number of optical disks 31a, 31b,...3
A large number of storage shelves 32a, 32b, 32m, .
, 32n, one of the many optical discs 31a, 31b, . . . stored in the storage part 82 is loaded, and data is recorded on the loaded optical disc 33 A drive unit 34 reads data recorded on the optical disc 33, and a large number of optical discs 31a, 31b, . . . stored in the storage unit 32.
. . , and loads it into the drive section 34, and also takes out the optical disk 33 loaded in the drive section 34 and stores it in the storage section 32. Further, in this embodiment, the optical discs 31a, 31b, .
... is capable of recording data on both sides (A side and 8th side), while the drive section 34 can only access one side of the optical disk 33 unless the optical disk 33 is turned over and reloaded. Therefore, the handling means in this embodiment also has a function of taking out the optical disc 33 loaded in the drive section 34, turning it over without storing it in the storage section 32, and loading it into the drive section 34 again. The library control unit 40 controls the drive section 34 and also controls the handling means to transfer optical discs between the storage section 32 and the drive section 34. The operation unit 50 has a keyboard 51, which is an example of an input unit of the present invention, and a CRT display 52, and is used by an operator to give instructions to the image output device 1 and check the status of the device 1.

Two image reading processing devices 100 and 110 are connected to the system control unit IO, and each image reading processing device 100 and 110 sends image data S1 and the information attached to the image data S1 to the system control unit IO. Search data S2 consisting of the name of the image represented by the image data S1, the date when the image data S1 was recorded, etc. is transferred. These image data S1 and search data S2 are sent to the library unit 3 via the library control unit 40.
The information is recorded on the optical disc 33 loaded into the drive section 34 of No. 0. The search data S2 is also recorded on the magnetic disk 1G to construct a database for image search. In order to read the image data S1, a large number of optical disks 31a, 3 stored in the storage section 32 are selected by the handling means based on the database recorded on the magnetic disk 16.
1b, . . ., an optical disk on which the necessary image data S1 is recorded is loaded into the drive unit 34, and the necessary image data S1 is read out from the optical disk and transferred to the laser printer 00, so that it is visible. The reproduced image is output.

The optical disk drive unit 12.13 stores an optical disk in which a program for controlling the entire image output device 1, a program for maintenance of this device 1, etc. is recorded, and is stored in the library unit 30 when the library unit 30 is out of order. optical discs 31a, 31b,...
It is used to load an optical disk or the like on which image data 81 etc. are recorded instead of the optical disk drive section 1.
2.13 is controlled by a control unit 14.15.

FIG. 2 shows a storage section 32 recorded on the magnetic disk 1B.
A large number of optical disks 31a, 31b, . . .
. . . is a diagram illustrating an example of a library list.

Numbers 1 and 2 on the left end of this diagram. . . . n is the number of each storage shelf 32a, 32b . . . of the storage section 32. As mentioned above, each storage shelf 32a, 32b of the storage section 32.
The optical discs 31a, 31b, . . .
... is capable of recording data on both sides (A side and 8th side), while the drive section 33 can access only one side of the optical disk 33 unless the optical disk 33 is turned over and reloaded. Therefore, different disc numbers are assigned to each side, side A and side 8. "Last date" represents the last date on which data was recorded in the file of the corresponding disc number. “The full flag C indicates that the file with the corresponding disk number is already in a state where new data cannot be recorded any more.”The drive installed flag * indicates the number 3 in the storage section 32. This indicates that the optical disc that was stored in the storage shelf is currently stored in the drive unit 34. Due to the full flag C and the drive installed flag *,
It can be seen that the file with disk number 0DOO27B is currently accessible.

In the image reading device 1 configured as described above, the optical discs 31a and 31 housed in the library unit 30 are
A case will be described in which image data is sequentially read out from b, . . . and transferred to the laser printer 60, and visible reproduced images are sequentially output.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an output image list in which images waiting to be output are listed.

By operating the keyboard 51 shown in FIG. 1, output image designation information such as the name of the image corresponding to the desired visible image and the date on which the image was recorded is input.

When this output image designation information is input, the magnetic disk 16
The file (disk number) in which image data corresponding to the desired visible image is recorded and the image number within that file are specified based on the image search database built in , and the output image list is It is recorded as an image waiting to be output.

In this output image list, m images to be output can be continuously recorded. Here, it is assumed that five images to be output are specified as shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the library list and output image list are stored in the central processing unit 1.
Created with 1. Therefore, in this embodiment, the combination of hardware and software for creating the library list and output image list in the central processing unit 11 is considered to be the list creation means of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows optical discs 31a, 31b, . . . stored in the library unit 30 after searching the output image list.
. . . is a flowchart showing a flow for controlling the image output order so as to read image data from and transfer it to the laser printer 80. Note that this processing is also performed by the central processing unit 11, and the combination of hardware and software for performing this processing is considered to be an example of the reading order control means of the present invention.

First, the library list (Fig. 2) is referred to and the disk number currently installed in the drive section 34 (here 0DOO2
7B) is recognized (step a). Next, the output image list (FIG. 3) is searched in order, and the current drive section 34
It is recognized whether or not there is a disk number (ODO027B) currently installed in the disk (step b). Here, since disk number 0DO027B exists second, image number 01 of the file of disk number 0DOO27B
Image data No. 88 is read from the optical disk and transferred to the laser printer 60 (step C), and this output waiting image (disk number 0DOO27B, image number 018)
No. 6) is deleted from the output image list (step d)
. In the laser printer 60, the transferred disk number 0D
A visible image is reproduced and output based on the image data of image number 0186 of the file OO27B. Next, the process returns to step C again, a search is performed, and the disk number 0DOO2
7B, image number 0247 is recognized, the image data corresponding to this is read from the optical disk and transferred to the laser printer 60, and this image waiting to be output is deleted from the output image list. Next, the process returns to step C and a search is performed, but this time, since there is no image waiting to be output for the disc number 0DO027B, the process moves to step e. In step e, all images waiting to be output that are lined up in the output image list are searched, and the disk number (ODO) currently installed in the drive unit 34 is searched.
It is determined whether or not a disc number (0DOO27A in this case) is recorded on the other side of the same optical disc as O27B). Here disk number 0D
Since OO27A and image number 0029 exist, the above-mentioned handling means is controlled and the current drive section 3
A part of the optical disc loaded in the drive unit 4 is taken out from the drive unit 34, reversed, and loaded into the drive unit 34 again (
Step f), return to step b. After that, in the same way as above, disk number 0DOO27A, image number 0029
The image data corresponding to the number is read out and a visible image is output. When the reading of this image data is completed, the process moves to step g, where it is determined whether or not there are any more images waiting to be output in the output image list. If there are multiple images waiting to be output in the output image list, the first image waiting to be output (disk number 0D in this case)
0028A, image number 0012) is selected, and the corresponding optical disc is now its disc number 0DO.
The file of O28A is loaded into the drive section 34 so that it can be accessed (step h). Similarly, this disk number 0DO028A is obtained.

Image data corresponding to National Health Insurance number 0012 is read out, and furthermore, disk number 0DOO25B and image number 104 are read out.
Image data corresponding to number 5 is read out. As a result, the output image list becomes empty, and the reading of image data, the transfer, and the output of the visible image are completed.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained in detail above, the image recording device of the present invention has the following features:
When the output image list is searched and an image to be output corresponding to the image data recorded on the destination disk currently loaded in the drive section of the library unit is listed in the output image list, the image is first searched. Since the image output order is controlled so that data is read and transferred to the image output unit, the idle time that occurs in the image output unit is minimized, improving operating efficiency.

In addition, in the above embodiment, data is recorded on both sides.
In an image output device equipped with an optical disc and a drive part that accesses only one side, the optical disc loaded in the drive part is turned over before being replaced, so that the time required for exchanging the optical disc, etc. is further reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the general configuration of an embodiment of an image output device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an example of a library list in which a large number of optical discs stored in a storage section are listed. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an output image list in which images waiting to be output are listed. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an output image list in which images waiting to be output are listed. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow for controlling the image output order such that data is read and transferred to a laser printer. 1... Image recording device IO... System control unit 11... Central processing unit 1B... Magnetic disk 3
0...Library UniSoto 31a, 31b, =41m-3Ln, 33-...Optical disc 32...Storage section 32a, 32b, -32m/32n =-Storage shelf 34
...Drive unit 40...Library control UniSoto 50...Operation unit 60...Laser printer 100.110...Image reading processing device box diagram

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A storage section in which a plurality of optical disks on which a large amount of image data is recorded is stored, a drive section into which the optical disk is loaded and the image data is read from the optical disk, and a drive section in which the optical disk is loaded and reads the image data from the optical disk; a library unit comprising a handling means for taking out a stored optical disk from the storage section and loading it into the drive section, and also taking out the optical disk loaded in the drive section from the drive section and storing it in the storage section; an image output unit to which the image data read out is transferred and outputs a visible image based on the transferred image data; inputting output image specification information for specifying the image data to be transferred to the image output unit; an input unit, an output image list in which images waiting to be output are listed based on the output image designation information, and a list of optical discs stored in the library unit such that optical discs currently stored in the drive section are identified. list creation means for creating an uploaded library list;
When the output image list is searched and an image to be output corresponding to the image data recorded on the optical disk currently loaded in the drive section is listed in the output image list, the image data is first searched. An image output device comprising: a control unit comprising readout order control means for controlling an image output order so as to read and transfer images to the image output unit.