JPH04363717A - Transferring method and device for stripping data for printing, transmitter and receiver therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To efficiently transfer stripping data for printing at a practical speed by dividing the stripping data for printing into data for picture and the other data, and transferring the stripping data in a state in which only the data for picture are compressed. CONSTITUTION:This system is constituted of a transmission side data editor 1 constituted of a layout work station or the like, transmission side hard disk 2, picture data compressor 3, transmission side communication controller 4, high speed digital communication line 5, reception side communication controller 6, picture data extending device 7, reception side data editor 8 constituted of the pertinent layout work station or the like, and reception side hard disk 9. Then, the stripping data for printing provided with the picture data, and character and layout information data are stripping by the communication line 5. That is, the stripping data are divided into the picture data, and the other data, and the stripping data are transferred in the state in which only the picture data are compressed, so that the data amounts of the stripping data for printing can be reduced as a whole.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Field of Application] This invention is applicable to image data and characters/characters.
A method for creating printing collection data consisting of layout information data at a point away from the point where the plate-making machine is located, and transmitting this printing collection data to the point where the plate-making machine is located using a communication line. The present invention relates to a printing collection data transfer method and apparatus.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art A system for transmitting only image data to a remote location using a public telephone line or the like has already been proposed and implemented (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-148073). Furthermore, data compression of only image data is already possible using an image data compression device.

0003

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, the collection data obtained in general printing collection work includes data that cannot be processed by image data compression devices, such as character data and layout information. It is impossible to compress the collection data as is and transfer it through the system.

[0004] In addition, the amount of data for printing collection data is 4KB for one A4 sheet (2000 characters) in the currently widely used Japanese word processor.
The same A4 sheet contains more than 10,000 times the amount of data. Therefore, if the collection data is transmitted as is, I
Even if a high-speed digital line such as SDN was used, the transmission time would take more than 10 minutes, making it impractical.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a printing collection data transfer method and apparatus that can efficiently transfer printing collection data at a practical speed using a communication line. The purpose is to provide.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] Accordingly, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention provides that, when transferring printing collection data including image data and character/layout information data using a communication line, This problem is attempted to be solved by separating the collection data into image data and other data, and transmitting the collection data in a state where only the image data is compressed.

Further, the invention according to claim 2 provides a device for transferring printing collection data including image data and character/layout information data using a communication line. and data compression means for compressing the image data obtained by the separation means, and the image data compressed by the data compression means and the image data obtained by the separation means. A transmitting means for transmitting data other than compressed image data using a communication line, a receiving means for receiving data transmitted via this communication circuit, and a transmitting means for transmitting data other than compressed image data and The above problem is solved by providing a separating means for separating data into data, and a restoring means for restoring the compressed image data obtained by the separating means to the original image data.

Furthermore, the invention according to claim 3 provides an apparatus for transmitting printing collection data including image data and character/layout information data using a communication line. and data compression means for compressing the image data obtained by the separation means, and the image data compressed by the data compression means and the image data obtained by the separation means. The above-mentioned problem is attempted to be solved by providing a transmitting means for transmitting other data using a communication line.

[0009] The invention according to claim 4 provides an apparatus for receiving printing collection data including compressed image data and character/layout information data using a communication line,
a receiving means for receiving the printing collection data; a separating means for separating the data received by the receiving means into compressed image data and other data; and a separating means for separating the data received by the receiving means into compressed image data and other data. The above-mentioned problem is attempted to be solved by providing a decompressing means for decompressing the image data.

0010

[Operation] In this invention, printing collection data is separated into image data and other data, and only the image data is compressed before being transmitted. On the receiving side, the compressed image data is decompressed and character data other than image data,
Combine with layout data, etc. and return to collection data.

[0011]

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a printing collection data transfer device which is an embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 1,
Reference numeral 1 indicates a data editing device on the transmitting side, such as a well-known layout workstation, 2 indicates a hard disk on the transmitting side, 3 indicates an image data compression device, 4 indicates a communication control device on the transmitting side, and 5 indicates an ISDN Net_64 line, etc. A high-speed digital communication line, numeral 6 is a receiving side communication control device, numeral 7 is an image data expansion device, numeral 8 is a receiving side data editing device consisting of a well-known layout workstation, etc., and numeral 9 is a receiving side hard disk. Note that the location where the transmitting side data editing device 1 etc. is installed and the location where the receiving side data editing device 8 etc. are installed are apart from each other.

As mentioned above, the sending side data editing device 1 is a well-known layout workstation that separates and divides data.
It has a coupling function, and its detailed configuration is shown with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 11 is an image data input means such as a scanner, and reference numeral 12 is a CTS (computer input means).
13 is a layout information input means such as a drawing machine, mouse, keyboard, etc., 14 is an arithmetic processing means, 15 is a display means such as a CRT monitor, 16 is a It is a storage means such as a memory, and these constitute the sending side data editing device 1.

More specifically, the image data input means 11 is loaded with an original film or the like on which a desired image has been photographed;
This image data input means 11 reads the image on the original film and separates it into color data such as Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and BK (black). This data is sent to the arithmetic processing means 14.

In the character data input means 12, character data is input manually or by means of a magnetic tape, etc., and this character data is sent to the arithmetic processing means 14.

In the layout information input means 13, layout information data within a page of character data and image data is inputted according to instructions from an operator, and this layout information data is also sent to the arithmetic processing means 14.

The arithmetic processing means 14 uses the character data and image data obtained from the image/character input means 11 and 12 to perform page-by-page typesetting (layout) processing based on the layout information data from the layout information input means 13. It also has functions to perform trimming, correction, special processing, etc. of image data and create collection data for printing. Similarly, the arithmetic processing means 14 separates image data and character/layout information data from the printing collection data,
It also has the ability to output these separately.

The display means 15 is controlled by the arithmetic processing means 14, and this display means 15 appropriately displays images, characters, and layout information data inputted to the arithmetic processing means 14 on its screen, and also performs layout processing and trimming. The results, separated image data, and character/layout information data are also displayed on the screen as appropriate.

The storage means 16 is also controlled by the arithmetic processing means 14, and the storage means 16 temporarily stores images, characters, and layout information data input to the arithmetic processing means 14, and also performs layout processing and trimming. A portion of it is also used for other work areas.

Note that the data editing device 8 provided on the receiving side also has substantially the same configuration of its main parts, and the arithmetic processing means 1
4 has a function of separating image data from printing collection data, but has a function of combining image data and character/layout information data to create printing collection data. Since the only major difference is in one point, the explanation thereof will be omitted.

Next, the sending side hard disk 2 stores character data and image data as well as printing collection data created by the sending side data editing device 1.
This data is sent back to the data editing device 1 in response to a request from the data editing device 1.

The image data compression device 3 receives only the separated image data from the data editing device 1 on the sending side, compresses it, and sends it to the communication control device 4 on the sending side.

The transmission side communication control device 4 directly receives character/layout information data from the transmission side data editing device 1, combines it with the image data compressed by the image data compression device 3, and processes it according to a predetermined procedure. It is sent onto the communication circuit 5.

[0023] The communication circuit 5 is preferably an ISDN N
Although this is a high-speed digital line such as ET_64, a regular public telephone line may also be used depending on the state of the communication equipment. However, in the case of public telephone lines, etc., it is necessary to use a modem, acoustic coupler, etc.

The receiving side communication control device 6 extracts compressed image data and other data (that is, character/layout information data) from the data transmitted via the communication circuit 5.
The compressed image data is sent to the image data expansion device 7, and the other data is sent to the receiving side data editing device 8.

The image data decompressing device 7 receives only the compressed image data from the receiving side communication control device 6, decompresses it, converts it into original image data, and sends it to the receiving side data editing device 8.

The receiving side hard disk 9 stores printing collection data created by the receiving side data editing device 8, and sends this data back to the data editing device 8 in response to a request from the data editing device 8.

Next, an example of a printing collection data transfer method using the printing collection data transfer apparatus which is an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6. (a) Data input, layout First, image data input means 1 of sending side data editing device 1
1 and the character data input means 12, the image data and character data constituting the printing collection data to be transmitted are input (step SP1). The input data is temporarily stored in the storage means 16 via the arithmetic processing means 14, or stored and stored in the sending hard disk 2 for a relatively long period of time.

Next, using the input image data and character data, layout work is performed on a page-by-page basis (step SP2). Layout work is performed by an operator inputting layout information data using the layout information input means 13 of the data editing device 1. The input layout information data is temporarily stored in the storage means 16 via the arithmetic processing means 14, or stored and stored in the sending hard disk 2 for a relatively long period of time. Note that trimming, correction, special processing, etc. of image data are performed before and after the layout work. As a result, printing collection data 20 to be transmitted is created (see FIG. 4).

In this embodiment, the printing collection data is shown in FIG.
It has a data structure as shown below. That is, index information indicating the type and position of data is placed at the beginning, and then each layout information data, character data, image data, etc. are placed with a delimiter signal in between. These data are arranged in the order of the layout performed by the data editing device 1.

[0030] Furthermore, these character, image, and layout information data are composed of the following data. ■Character data...Character code, series data, color, font,
Coordinates ■ Image data... 8-bit gradation data for each color of Y, M, C, BK ■ Layout information data... Coordinates, attributes (curves, straight lines, etc.) However, these are just examples, and other data may It may be included.

(b) Data separation and transfer Next, upon receiving the transmission command, the arithmetic processing means 14 of the data editing device 1 separates the printing collection data 20 to be transmitted from the image data 21 based on the index information. Characters other than
layout information data 22 (step SP3)
), the image data 21 is compressed via the image data compression device 3 (steps SP4 to SP5), and the compressed image data 21 and character/layout information data 22 are communicated via the transmission side communication control device 4. It is sent onto line 5 (step SP6).

Although any method can be used to compress image data, this embodiment employs a DCT (discrete cosine transform coding) compression method. This separates four-color image data into luminance data and color difference data, cuts out this data by, for example, 8 x 8 pixels to form one block, and performs discrete cosine transformation for each block and encodes it. This is the way to do it.

Other compression methods include the Hadamard transform encoding method and the Karhunen-Loeve transform encoding method, but are not limited to these, and any well-known color image data compression method can be suitably applied. .

Note that FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the structure of image data after data compression. The first part contains the attributes of the compressed data (
Management information storing the type of compression method, etc.) is located, followed by compressed image data.

(c) Data reception, expansion, and combination The reception-side communication control device 6 receives the data transmitted via the communication line 5 (step SP7), separates it once, and converts it into a compressed image. The data is sent to the image data expansion device 7, and the other data 24 is sent to the receiving side data editing device 8. The image data decompression device decompresses the compressed image data (steps SP8 to SP9) to restore the original image data 23 and sends it to the data editing device 8.

Finally, the arithmetic processing means 14 processes the image data 2
3 and the character/layout information data 24 to recreate the printing collection data 20 (step SP10).
. The recreated printing collection data 20 may be stored in the hard disk 9 and called up as needed. Thereafter, the process shifts to a normal plate-making process, and plate-making work is performed based on the printing plate collection data 20.

Therefore, in this embodiment, when transferring printing collection data using the communication line 5, only the image data is compressed and transferred, so a well-known image data compression method and device is used. The size of the printing collection data can be reduced as a whole, and the printing collection data can be efficiently transferred at a practical speed. In addition, since the receiving side can obtain exactly the same printing collection data as the sending side, the receiving side can also modify the data (layout, etc.).
Special processing, etc.) can be performed.

The details of the printing collection data transfer method and apparatus of the present invention are not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible. As an example, in the embodiment described above, data is sent in units of pages, but it is also possible to send out image data, character data, etc. in batches, and reconstruct the data in units of pages on the receiving side. However, it is necessary to assign an identification code to each data before sending it. Furthermore, devices having both transmitting and receiving functions may be connected via a communication line so that data can be exchanged with each other.

[0039]

Effects of the Invention As described in detail above, according to the present invention, when transferring printing collection data including image data and character/layout information data using a communication line, The data is separated into image data and other data, and only this image data is compressed by a data compression means before the collection data is transferred. The amount of data can be reduced as a whole, and this printing collection data can be efficiently transferred at a practical speed. Furthermore, since the data in the editing device can be transferred as is to the sending side, the receiving side can freely perform corrections and other operations.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a printing collection data transfer device that is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a transmission data editing device in the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a printing collection data transfer method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a printing collection data transfer method that is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the structure of printing collection data.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the structure of image data after data compression.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Transmission data editing device 3 Image data compression device 4 Sending side communication control device (transmission means) 5 Communication line 6 Receiving side communication control device (receiving means) 7 Image data decompression device 8 Receiving side data editing device 11 Image data input means 12 Character data input means 13 Layout information input means 14 Arithmetic processing means 20 Printing collection data 21 Image data 22 Character/layout information data 23 Image data 24 Character/layout information data SP3 Separation means SP8 Separation means

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A method for transferring printing collection data comprising image data and character/layout information data using a communication line, the method comprising separating the collection data into image data and other data. A printing collection data transfer method characterized in that the collection data is transferred in a state in which only this image data is compressed. 2. Separating means for separating printing collection data comprising image data and character/layout information data into image data and other data, and compressing the image data obtained by the separating means. a data compression means for
a transmitter for transmitting the image data compressed by the data compression means and data other than the image data obtained by the separation means using a communication line; and a receiver for receiving the data transmitted via the communication circuit. a separating means for separating the data received by the receiving means into compressed image data and other data; and an expanding means for expanding the compressed image data obtained by the separating means into original image data. Equipped with printing collection data transfer device. 3. Separating means for separating printing collection data comprising image data and character/layout information data into image data and other data, and compressing the image data obtained by the separating means. a data compression means for
A printing collection data transmitter comprising a transmitting means for transmitting image data compressed by the data compressing means and data other than the image data obtained by the separating means using a communication line. 4. Receiving means for receiving printing collection data transmitted via a communication circuit and comprising compressed image data and character/layout information data, and compressing the data received by the receiving means. A printing collection data receiver comprising a separating means for separating image data and other data, and a restoring means for restoring the compressed image data obtained by the separating means to the original image data.