JPH06276374A - Picture processing unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To output data in plural different output forms at once without any operation on the way by designating a content of picture processing corresponding to a designated page before processing with respect to an input picture data group obtained by a series of input processing. CONSTITUTION:When input means 4, 14, 15 input picture data, a storage means 10 tentatively stores the picture data inputted from the input means and a picture storage means 11 stores the picture data stored tentatively. The picture data stored in the picture storage means 11 are outputted from output means 5, 14, 15. The input output processing of the picture data as above are controlled by a control means 7 so as to take a different output form to an optional page or a page group of the picture data. In this case, when a processing designation means 2 designates plural processing contents applied to an optional page or page group, the processing designation information is stored in a processing designation information storage means and the input processing and output processing are executed based on the processing designation information.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus for handling an image as image data of electronic information and storing the image data in an image memory for effective use, and more specifically, a series of image data. The present invention relates to an image processing device capable of performing different input processing and output processing on a page basis for a group.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an image is read from a document reading device as image data, written in a storage device of an image memory, and after the second copy, the image of the image data is read from the storage device, thereby eliminating the need for document circulation feeding. Image storage type copier device (electronic RDH: Recyclic Document H
andler, hereinafter abbreviated as electronic RDH) is disclosed in
Many have been disclosed in documents such as Japanese Patent No. 81563.
In the device using the electronic RDH, only the output device is operating and the input device is not operating after the second copy,
There is an advantage that the input device and the output device of the copying machine device can be operated independently.

As an advantage of using such an advantage, an instruction of the next job is issued even during output processing while the output device is operating (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-150861).
Also, there has been proposed a device which is provided with a plurality of input devices and a plurality of output devices to perform the input operation of the next job during the output processing of the second and subsequent copies (JP-A-2-78364). Further, a method of once reading an image, performing an editing process or the like on the image data after writing it in a storage device, and outputting it (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-248267).
Are also proposed.

[0004]

However, each of the image processing apparatus proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-150861 and the facsimile apparatus proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-78364 described above is , Input processing and output processing can be performed individually and independently, but the output form outputs a plurality of copies in the same form, and different output forms are specified for each input page. Not configured for output. Therefore, if an output is to be obtained in different output forms for each input page, the process must be repeated for each output form.

In the digital copying apparatus capable of changing the output form described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-248267, after all the image data is once stored, edit setting (page insertion) is performed on the stored image data. / Delete / Composite /
Operations such as replacement / replacement) or job parameter resetting (density correction, output position correction, black / white inversion, etc.) can be performed. However, during this editing operation, the devices such as the input device and the output device are occupied, and the advantage that the input operation of the next job is possible is lost.

As described above, in the former case, it is impossible to output in different output form for each input page, and in the latter case, the editing process can be performed, but the equipment of the apparatus is occupied during the editing work. Therefore, there is a problem that the advantage that the next job input operation is possible is lost.

However, the copying apparatus (image processing apparatus)
In the above operation, there are many requests for processing for outputting image data of an input image in a different output form for each image data. For example, when creating a presentation material, as a first output form, the page on which the drawing of the report is posted is extracted and OHP (OverHeadPr) is selected.
ojector), and as the second output form,
In order to use it as a memo for the presentation, the pages of the explanation part of the drawing of the report are reduced, and a plurality of pages are output by the output function (hereinafter referred to as N-up output function) that is printed out on one recording sheet. Further, as a third output form, in order to output as a report, all pages are output in a booklet form (hereinafter referred to as a signature output function).
There are many requests to output the same input document in different output forms.

In such a case, the electron R is conventionally used.
By using the DH technology, the input process of the image data of the document image to be input can be performed only once, but the output process must be individually specified for each output form, and each output process must be performed. There is a problem that complicated operations are required.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to perform different input processing and output processing for each page on a series of image data groups. It is to provide an image processing device capable of

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus which can improve the operation efficiency by designating a plurality of different image processings at the time of image input.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus capable of outputting the outputs in the earliest order when the outputs are made in different output modes.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, the image processing apparatus of the present invention has at least one or more input means (4, 14, 1) for inputting image data.
5), a storage means (10) for temporarily storing the image data input from the input means, an image storage means (11) for storing the stored image data, and at least one for outputting the image data. Output means (5,14,1)
5), a recording paper post-processing means (6) for performing post-processing on the recording paper after print output, and a control process for outputting different pages or page groups of image data in different output forms. An image processing apparatus comprising a control means (7), the processing designation means (2) for designating a plurality of processing contents for each page or page group of image data as processing designation information, Processing designation information storage means (21) for storing processing designation information, and input / output control means (12, 13) for controlling the input means and the output means based on the processing designation information stored in the processing information storage means. It is characterized by having and.

In the image processing apparatus of the present invention,
Further, an output order calculating means (22) for calculating the output page order of the image data from the processing contents and the input page order of the image data.
The control means (7) outputs the image data in order from the processing content for the image data that can be output earliest among the processing content of the processing designation information stored in the processing designation information storage means (21). It is characterized by performing control.

In the image processing apparatus of the present invention,
Further, it is characterized in that a page replacement designation processing means (23) for designating a page arrangement of image data for each processing content is provided.

Further, in the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the image data or image data group obtained by performing image processing on an arbitrary page or page group is newly registered as input image data, and the storage means ( 11) is provided with a registration processing means (24) for performing image data registration processing to be accumulated,
The control means (7) is characterized by controlling so as to perform the registration processing of the image data by superimposing it on other image processing.

In the image processing apparatus of the present invention,
The processing designating means (2) is characterized by designating a plurality of processing contents (21, 74) for an arbitrary page or page group of image data.

Further, in the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the image data already stored in the storage means (11) and the image data input from the input means (4, 14, 15) are continuously input. A page allocation processing means (25) for allocating the specified page, and the processing specifying means (2)
Is characterized in that the processing contents of image processing can be designated even for image data groups with different processing designation information or image data groups from a plurality of different input means.

In the image processing apparatus of the present invention,
At least one or more input means is an image data receiving means (14, 15) for receiving the image data transmitted with the sender address added, and further outputs by designating an output form for each sender address. An output form registration means (26) for registering possible processing contents as output form registration information is provided, and the control means (7) displays an image based on the sender address and the output form registration information received by the image data receiving means. The image data received by the data receiving means is output in a designated output form.

Further, in the image processing apparatus of the present invention, at least one or more output means designates a destination and transmits image data (1).
4, 15), the control means (7) controls the image data transmission means to output the image data in different output modes,
It is characterized by transmitting to different destinations.

[0020]

In the image processing apparatus of the present invention, when the input means (4, 14, 15) inputs image data, the storage means (10) temporarily stores the image data input from the input means, An image storage means (11) stores the temporarily stored image data. The image data stored in the image storage means (11) here is output from each output means (5, 14, 15). Further, the recording paper post-processing means (6) performs post-processing on the recording paper after the print output outputted by the output stage (5).

In the input processing and the output processing of such image data, the control means (7) controls the image processing for outputting different pages or arbitrary pages of the image data in different output modes. In this case, when the processing designation means (2) designates a plurality of processing contents for each page or page group of image data as processing designation information, the processing designation information is stored in the processing designation information storage means ( 21), and the processing designation information storage means (2
The input / output control means (12, 13) controls the input means and the output means based on the processing designation information stored in 1) to perform the input processing and the output processing.

Further, when performing such input processing and output processing, in the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the output order calculating means (22) further determines, from the processing content and the input page order of the image data, The output page order of the image data is calculated, and the control means (7) controls the processing information storage means (1
Control is performed to output the image data in order from the processing content for the image data that can be output earliest among the processing content of the processing designation information stored in 6).

Further, in this case, prior to the further output processing, the page replacement designation means (23) designates the page arrangement of the image data for each processing content. As a result, it is possible to perform output processing in which the output form is changed according to the order of the designated pages.

For example, in order to perform an output process in a predetermined output form designated in advance, image data or an image data group obtained by subjecting an arbitrary page or page group to image processing is registered processing means (24). ) Performs a process of registering as new input image data. As a result, the storage means (1
Image data is registered in 1) and can be used in the next output process. This registration processing is controlled such that the control means (7) superimposes it with the image processing of other designation processing to perform the registration processing of the image data.

Further, the processing designation means (2) can designate a plurality of image processing contents (74) for any page or page group of image data as the processing designation information.
Therefore, it is possible to effectively utilize the input image data obtained by one-time input processing and perform the output processing for outputting in a plurality of different output modes.

Further, in order to effectively use the input image data, the page allocating means (25) and the image data already stored in the accumulating means (11) and the input means (4, 14,
A process of allocating continuous pages is performed for the image data input from 15). As a result, in the image processing designation by the processing designation means (2), the processing contents are designated as a series of image processing even for image data groups with different processing designation information or image data groups from a plurality of different input means. It can be performed.

In contrast to the case where one of the input means is the image data receiving means (14, 15) which receives the image data transmitted with the sender address added, the output form registration means (26) The processing contents to be output by designating the output form for each sender address are registered as output form registration information. As a result, when the control means (7) performs output processing, the image data received by the image data receiving means is output in a specified output form based on the sender address and output form registration information received by the image data receiving means. Can be output. As a result, for example, image data from a specific remote facsimile device can always be obtained as a printout of a predetermined form output form.

Further, one of the output means is an image data transmission means (1) for transmitting image data by designating a destination for each.
4, 15), the control means (7) controls the image data transmission means (14, 15) to perform output processing for transmitting the image data in different output modes to different destinations. You can also do it. With such a function, for example, the output process of the image data to the specific remote facsimile apparatus can be always output as the output form of the predetermined form.

[0029]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is an image processing apparatus main body (ESS: Elec
tronic Sub-System), 2 is a processing specification unit (UI), 3
Is an automatic document feeder (ADF), 4 is a document image reading unit (IIT / IPS), 5 is an image output device unit (IOT),
6 is a recording paper post-processing unit (FINISHER), 7 is a control processing unit (SYS-CONT), 8 is an image input interface unit (IIT-I / F), 9 is an image output interface unit (IOT-I / F), 10 is a page buffer (PAGE-BUFFER), 11 is a disk device (D
ISK), 12 is an output controller (OUT-CONT), 1
3 is an input control unit (IN-CONT), 14 is a facsimile input / output interface unit (FAX-I / F), and 15 is a network input / output interface unit (NET-I / F).
F) and 16 are disk control units (DISK-CONT),
Reference numeral 17 is an image data bus.

The main body 1 of the image processing apparatus includes a control processor 7, an image input interface 8, an image output interface 9, a page buffer 10, an output controller 12, an input controller 13, which controls the entire image processing. It is provided with a facsimile input / output interface unit 14, a network input / output interface unit 15, a disk control unit 16, and an image data bus 17, and these processing elements perform different input processing and output processing on a page-by-page basis to generate image data. On the other hand, it outputs in a plurality of different output forms.

The process designating section 2 is composed of an operation panel equipped with a liquid crystal display panel and key switches, and carries out a process of inputting process designating information for instructing image processing from a user. The automatic document feeding unit 3 is a mechanism unit that sequentially feeds document sheets for performing image data input processing to the document image reading unit 3, and its operation is controlled by an instruction from the input control unit 13. The document image reading unit 4 is composed of a mechanism unit of an image scanner and the like, and performs a process of reading a document image as image data.

The image output device section 5 is a printing mechanism section for printing image data on recording paper. A laser printer mechanism or the like is used, for example, on / off of laser light is controlled for each pixel based on binary data generated from image data, and a halftone image is reproduced by halftone dots of each pixel, Image formation is performed and printing is performed on recording paper. In addition, the recording paper post-processing unit 6
Is configured by a form processing mechanism unit such as a sorter for performing subsequent processing on the printed recording paper output from the image output device unit 5. For example, according to the order of the designated output order, The printed recording paper is fed to the bin of the specified bin number, and the set of the printed recording papers is fixed by stapling for each set to form a booklet.

The control processing unit 7 is composed of a microprocessor, a program memory, a work memory, a processing control table, and the like, and performs the main control processing of the image processing here, although the details will be described later. The image input interface section 8 performs input / output processing of command signals / status signals and also performs image data input processing of sending the image data read from the document image reading section 4 to the image data bus 17. Similarly, the image output interface unit 9 performs input / output processing of command signals / status signals and also performs image data output processing of sending image data from the image data bus 17 to the output device unit 5.

The page buffer 10 is an image memory for fetching and temporarily storing the image data sent to the image data bus 17, and sending it to the image data bus 17. The disk device 11 is connected to the image data bus 17 via the disk control unit 16, and provides an image data storage unit that stores image data as a large-capacity image data page memory that stores image data for each page. . Under the control of the control processing unit 7, the output control unit 12 performs a process of switching each output device according to the designated output form, and controls each output process. Further, the input control unit 13 performs a process of switching the input device according to the designated input process under the control of the control processing unit 7, and controls each input process.

Facsimile input / output interface section 14
Is an interface unit added when a facsimile input / output function is added to the image processing apparatus here, and controls facsimile transmission / reception and performs input / output interface processing between a facsimile signal and image data. Similarly, the network input / output interface unit 15 is an interface unit added when the image processing apparatus here is connected to a network such as a LAN (local area network), and performs communication control processing for the network. Performs input / output interface processing between network signals and image data. The facsimile input / output interface unit 14 and the network input / output interface unit 15 are both controlled by the input control unit 13 when receiving image data, and controlled by the control processing unit 7 when transmitting other image data. It

The overall operation of the image processing apparatus will now be described by taking a copying operation as an example. First, an original of an image to be input is placed on the platen of the automatic original feeding section 3 or the original image reading section 4. Is set, and as the image processing content in the process designation unit 2, for example, the number of sheets of the required number of sheets is set for each page, and the start button is pressed, the image processing operation for performing the copying operation is started.

When the operation is started, the original image reading unit 4 reads the image information of the original by photoelectric conversion, performs conversion into digital image data and image processing, while the image input interface unit 8 converts the image data into image data. The data is sequentially stored in the page buffer 10 via the data bus 17. In this case, if the output process can be directly performed in synchronization with the input process, the image data is directly transferred from the page buffer 10 to the output device unit 5 via the image output interface unit 9, and the output device unit 5 outputs the image data. An image is recorded on the recording paper. Then, after the recording paper on which the image is recorded is sent to the recording paper post-processing unit 6, the recording paper post-processing unit 6 performs post-processing. At the same time, the disk controller 16 writes the image data in the disk device 11.

On the other hand, if direct output processing is not possible, the input image data is temporarily stored in the page buffer 10 and then only the writing processing to the disk device 11 is performed. The image data output process is performed only on the image data stored in the page buffer 10. The image data is stored in the page buffer 10 in two cases, that is, the case where the image data input from the document image reading unit 4 is stored and the case where the image data read from the disk device 11 is stored. is there. In a typical basic operation of copying a plurality of copies, the first copy directly outputs the image data input from the original image reading section 4 only via the page buffer 10, and the second copy and subsequent copies are performed by the disk device 11. The image data stored in is read and the read image data is output via the page buffer 10. The image data output to the image output interface unit 9 is imaged and output by controlling ON / OFF of the laser light for each pixel based on the binary data generated from the image data in the output device unit 5.

Although not shown, a bus arbitration control unit is connected to the image data bus 17, and the bus arbitration control unit performs bus control of the image data bus 17 and the page buffer 1
The image data can be simultaneously accessed by 0 and other processing element blocks. The page buffer 10 and the other processing element blocks may share the image data bus 17 by time division control without using the bus arbitration control unit. With such a configuration, parallel processing of input processing and output processing becomes possible.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main part of the control processing section in the image processing apparatus main body section of the present embodiment in functional blocks. As shown in FIG. 2, the control processing unit 7 in the main body of the image processing apparatus includes a processing designation information storage unit 21 and an output order calculation processing unit as processing function blocks for the control processing unit 7 to perform various image processes. 22, a page replacement designation processing unit 23, an image data registration processing unit 24, a page layout processing unit 25, and an output form registration processing unit 26 are provided. A job table, a job node (job management table), a page allocation table, an output designation table, a processing speed reference table, a priority setting condition table, and the like are provided as the respective control tables stored in the processing designation information storage unit 21. Has been.

The process designation information storage unit 21 stores process designation information for performing image processing of one job for each page or page group of image data as a job node of the management unit. A plurality of processing contents are designated and stored. The output rank calculation processing unit 22 refers to the processing speed reference table based on the processing content of the processing specification information of the job node stored in the processing specification information storage unit 21 and the input page order of the image data, and outputs the job that outputs the fastest job. The output page order of the image data is calculated.

The page replacement designation processing unit 23 designates a page for each page of the input image data when the page of the input image data is replaced at the time of outputting the page, and for example, without considering the order. And specify the page for output,
The page arrangement of the image data for each processing content is designated. This processing is performed by operating the control data in the page designation field in the page allocation table.

The image data registration processing section 24 uses the image data or the image data group after the image processing on an arbitrary page or page group in the next image processing,
Image data registration processing for newly registering and storing as input image data in the disk device 11 is performed. Further, the page allocation processing unit 25 performs a process of allocating continuous pages to the image data already stored in the disk device 11 and the image data newly input from the original image reading unit, for example. This processing is performed by operating the control data in the page allocation designation field in the page allocation table.

When outputting the input image data to the facsimile device, the output form registration processing section 26 registers the output form in the output designation table for each address of the sending side to the facsimile device, and the output form registration processing unit 26 sends the output image from the specific facsimile device. The image data is registered so that it can be output in a specific output format.

Next, the operation of the image processing apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. When the processing designation unit 2 designates a page and the corresponding image processing content to the control processing unit 7 by the requested amount and then sends a job request signal, the control processing unit 7 designates the image processing. Corresponding to the job request signal, page number, output form, number of copies, bin N
O. The processing designation information of a group corresponding to the page of the input image data and the contents of the image processing is stored in the processing designation information storage unit 21 as a job node (job management table), and this is used as a trigger for input / output processing. Start.

The image processing operation is performed by the processing designation information storage unit 21.
As a general rule, the image processing contents of the job node are set in the setting order according to the job request signal stored in the output order calculation processing unit 22 if the processing speed order is specified in the operation mode specification. From the processing content of the processing designation information stored in the processing designation information storage unit 21 and the input page order of the image data, by referring to the processing speed reference table,
The required processing time of each processing content is calculated, the output page order of the image data is determined from the processing content of the job that can be output fastest, and the processing is performed from the determined earliest set that can be output.

When the input operation of the original image is completed, the next job operation and input operation become possible. In the input process, the optimum input parameters are selected and set from a plurality of sets in the process designation information of the process designation information storage unit 21, the image data is input, and all the image data are once read into the disk device 11. accumulate. After that, the image data is read from the disk device 11 page by page, and the image data is subjected to, for example, 4-UP image processing according to the processing content of the processing specification information of the job node stored in the processing specification information storage unit 21. Output processing. The processing for this image data is arbitrarily performed by designating the order of reading the image data from the disk device 11.

By the way, when the input page of the input image data is specified as the process specification information of the job node of the process specification information storage unit 21 by the specification process of another group, the process content of the group is specified. After performing the image processing and the output processing according to the above, the image data registration processing unit 24 performs the processing of accumulating the image data in the disk device 11 again. As a result, the image data accumulated here is used as new input image data without performing the input process again for the image data, and the process according to the processing content of the job node that specifies the output page of another set is performed. It will be possible to do.

If a plurality of image processes are designated as the designated page of the process contents as the process designation information of the process designation information storage unit 21, the image data is read from the disk device 11 which stores the image data. After continuously performing a plurality of designated image processes, the processed image data is continuously output. As a result, the throughput of the entire processing in the image processing device is improved.

On the other hand, when image data to be input is obtained from a plurality of different types of input devices and image processing is performed by merging image data from the plurality of different types of input devices, the processing content is used as processing designation information. When the job request signal is issued, a job node of the processing designation information is generated and image processing is activated. In this case, the page designation from each input device is not started from one page, but consecutive pages are assigned to the image data already input from another input device and displayed. Specify.

The input device for inputting image data is
For example, in the case of a facsimile machine or a network interface unit connected to a network, the output form registration processing unit 26 registers in advance an output designation table in association with the destination device of the other party and the output form of the image processing apparatus here. I'll do it. As a result, when image data is received from the facsimile device or the network device of the destination device of the other party, the image data received by the disk device 11 via the facsimile input / output interface unit 14 or the network input / output interface unit 15 is changed. When the data is stored and received, the output specification table is referred to, image processing is performed based on the output form of the registered content registered by the output form registration processing unit 26, and the output process is performed. The image data received from the partner device that is not registered in the output designation table can be output in a general-purpose specified output form. After that, a new registration process may be performed on an unregistered partner device.

If the output destination for performing the output processing for outputting the image data from the image processing apparatus is a remote facsimile apparatus or a network apparatus, the image data is stored in the processing designation information storage unit 21. Add a destination to the job node as the processing specification of output processing. As a result, each image data stored in the disk device 11 is subjected to image processing based on the processing content of the processing designation information of the job node, and is transmitted to the designated destination.

As described above, in the image processing apparatus here, the processing specification information of the job node specifies processing contents that can be output in different output forms for each page or page group, and the processing specification information is used to specify the processing contents. By performing image processing based on the specified processing content, complex image processing can be performed by an easy operation. In particular, the image input after the input processing of the image data of one type of document group is performed. It is very effective when output processing is performed for various purposes by changing the output form.

Further, different input processing and output processing can be performed page by page for a series of image data groups,
Since you can specify multiple different image processing when inputting images,
The operation efficiency is improved. Further, by specifying the processing speed order in the operation mode, it is possible to output the different output forms in the earliest order, and it is possible to improve the output result confirmation efficiency.

In the overall processing in such an image processing apparatus, the image processing is controlled mainly by the program control in the processing control unit 7. In the program configuration, the control processing program for performing each processing has its own processing. It is configured by being divided into processing modules for each functional processing, and when the device is activated, it generates an input control task, a system control task, and an output control task, and these tasks generate a job request signal for image processing. Controls image processing.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between each task generated for controlling the processing in the control processing unit during operation and the communication between the tasks. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the job request acceptance control processing,
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the processing of the job scheduler that controls the image processing according to the job request. 6 to 10 are diagrams showing an example of a control table stored in the processing designation information storage unit for performing image processing. FIG. 6 shows an example of the priority setting condition table of the processing designation information storage unit, and FIG. 7 shows an example of the processing speed reference table of the processing designation information storage unit. FIG. 8 shows an example of the job table of the processing designation information storage unit, and FIG. 9 shows an example of the page allocation table of the processing designation information storage unit. Further, FIG. 10 shows an example of the output designation table.

With reference to these FIG. 3 to FIG. 10, the operation when a job request is made by designating the processing content from the processing designating section 2 will be described step by step. First, refer to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of accepting a job request and activating the job scheduler in response to the job request when the job request is received from the standby state or when the job scheduler currently operating is terminated. is there.

When a job request is received from the standby state, it is activated from the entrance 1 by receiving the job request signal as a trigger. When the job acceptance processing here is activated from the entrance 1, first, in step 41, a job node is generated in response to a job request, and job parameters are set. Next, in step 42, the job node is queued in the request queue of the job table.
As a result, as shown in FIG. 8, the job request queue 81 of the job table 80 is connected to the job node 84 of the processing content of the job that received the request. The job node (job management table) generated here stores the contents of the job parameter for each processing content, and in the execution of a job described later, the job parameter in this job node (job management table) is stored. The process is executed according to the content.

As shown in FIG. 8, the job parameters in the job node are stored in the fields of the process number, the corresponding page, the output form, the number of copies, the bin number, the sort type, and the output order in the job management table 85, respectively. To be done. The processing content of each image processing is designated by the processing set of the job parameters stored in the job management table 85. For example, "Processing N" shown in FIG.
o. The image processing contents of 1 "are sorted by setting the corresponding page to" 1 to 10 pages ", the output form to" normal copy ", the number of copies to" 1 ", and the bin to be output to" TOP bin ". Specifies that the output processing is performed as the type of "ascending order". Also, in the processing designation here,
The output order is designated as "1" in the image processing of "processing No. 1".

Continuing the description with reference to FIG. 4 again, when the queuing of the job node is completed, the processing step next proceeds to step 43. Further, even when the currently running job scheduler is terminated, the job scheduler is started from the entrance 2, the status information of the job scheduler is updated in step 40, and then the process proceeds to step 43.

In step 43, the job request queue is checked to see if a job node is queued in the job request queue. Then, in the next step 44, the checked result is determined. If the job node exists in the request queue, the process proceeds to the next step 45, and the state of the job scheduler is further checked. In the next step 46, as a result of the check, it is determined whether the state of the jeb scheduler is executable. To determine.

In the processing of steps 43 to 46, for example, when the job node does not exist in the request queue, the waiting state is entered, and when the status of the job scheduler is not executable, the waiting state is entered. As a result, the waiting state continues until the next job request is received and a trigger is applied, or until the currently active job scheduler ends and a trigger is applied.

On the other hand, for example, when the job node exists in the request queue and the job scheduler determines that the job can be executed, the process proceeds to step 47, and the job node is extracted from the head of the job request queue. Next, step 4
In step 8, the job node is taken out and queued in the job execution queue (82: FIG. 8), and in the next step 49, the job scheduler is activated.
At the same time, the job scheduler status information obtained from the job scheduler is updated. Then, the process for the job node of the next job request should be performed, the process returns to step 43, and the process from step 43 is repeated. Thus, as described later, the job scheduler extracts the job node connected to the job execution queue, and the requested job is processed according to the processing content of the job node (contents of the job management table 85). .

Next, the processing operation of the job scheduler for controlling the image processing according to the processing content designated by the job node will be described with reference to FIG. When the job scheduler is activated, first, at step 51, the order of processing in a plurality of processing sets of designated processing contents stored in the job node is determined. In this case, if there is a priority order in the designated image processing, the processing order is determined according to the priority order. Further, if the order setting is specified in the configuration setting at the time of system installation, the processing speed is calculated by referring to the processing speed reference table 70 as shown in FIG. To decide. In particular, if nothing is designated, the order of processing is determined in the order of storage stored in the processing designation information storage unit 21.

As shown in FIG. 7, in the processing speed reference table 70, the required processing time 72 per page is estimated according to the output form, sort type, and post-processing contents 71. Since it is set, the required processing time until the end of the job is calculated by multiplying the number of pages by the processing content for each job, and the processing speed is calculated for each processing unit from the end of the input processing of the input image data. The processing order is determined in ascending order.

When the processing set to be processed first is determined by the determination of the processing order in step 51, then in step 52, the parameters of the input processing are determined from the input conditions in the plurality of processing sets stored in the job node. select.

The selection of the input condition is performed according to the priority setting condition table 65 as shown in FIG. As the scaling factor 66 of the priority setting condition table 65, the one with the highest scaling factor is selected from the plurality of processing sets. In addition, the image quality 67 is determined by a manuscript for each processing set when the operator specifies processing when performing each image processing. If the image requires halftone processing, the halftone processing is performed. If both are mixed, binary / halftone processing is designated. For all processing sets, the magnification and image quality of the specified contents are checked, and if there is at least one binary / halftone processing, or if there are binary processing specification and halftone processing specification, binary / Halftone processing is selected, binary processing is selected when only binary processing is designated, and halftone processing is selected when only halftone processing is designated.

After the representative input parameters are selected in this way, in the next step 53, the input condition of the input process is set in the input control section, and the switching of the input process is controlled. In addition, here, a description is given by taking an example of setting a typical input parameter and inputting one type of image data, but inputting a plurality of types of image data for each image processing set. Needless to say, it does not matter. In this case, although the time required for the input processing becomes long, the image processing in the main body of the image processing apparatus becomes simple.

Next, in step 54, when the processing of the selected processing set is performed, it is checked whether or not the input processing and the output processing can be simultaneously performed. If simultaneous output is possible, in step 55, IOT output processing is started,
In the next step 56, the IIT input process and the disk write process are activated. If the simultaneous output is not possible in the determination process of step 54, the output process is performed after the input is completed, and the process directly proceeds to step 56 to activate the IIT input process and the disk write process.

When the IIT input process and the disk write process are activated and a series of input processes on a plurality of pages are completed, output processing is performed. Therefore, in step 58, the output form of the processing set is extracted from the job node, and the next step is executed. At 59, an output condition is set in the output control unit because the output processing is performed by the output parameter corresponding thereto. Then, in the next step 60, the previously inputted image data to be output is read from the disk device and processed so as to meet the conditions of the processing set,
In the next step 61, the IOT output process is started.

Incidentally, the status information of the job scheduler is updated so that the input processing for the next job becomes possible with the completion of the input processing started in step 56. When the output of one processing set ends due to the completion of the output processing started in step 61, step 6
The determination process 2 is performed to determine whether all the output processes are finished. If all the output processes are not finished, the process returns to step 58 and the process from step 58 is repeated. Similarly, when the IOT output processing started to perform the simultaneous processing with the IIT input processing is completed in step 55, similarly, in step 57, it is determined whether or not all output processing is completed. It is determined whether or not all output processing has ended, the process returns to step 58 and the processing from step 58 is repeated.

In this way, if it is determined in step 57 or 62 that the output processing of all processing sets has been completed, the process proceeds to step 63, and the erasing process for erasing the data written in the disk device. Then, the series of processes is ended, and the job scheduler is ended.

Here, in the image processing of the processing set for which the job request is made, if not only the image data input in the input processing here, but also the image data written in the disk device is deleted, It is possible to use the image data related to the output processing which has been executed. Therefore, for example, in the job node as shown in FIG. 8, the processing contents specified when the job request of the image processing is specified, the processing contents specified in the subsequent processing set are written in the disk device in the image processing of the previous processing set. However, since new image data is used, new input processing is not performed in the image processing of the subsequent processing set.

For example, in the processing contents of the job management table 85 of the job node shown in FIG. 8, as the processing order of each processing, "processing No. 1" is designated first, "processing No. 1" is second. No. 3 "is designated. Therefore, first, “Process No. 1” is executed and
The input processing of the originals of pages 10 to 10 is performed, the "processing No. 3" is executed in the second processing, and the input processing of the originals of pages 11 to 20 is performed.

In the image processing designated by "Processing No. 5", the output result of "Processing No. 1" and the output result of "Processing No. 3" which were previously processed are used as the input image data. When the input process is specified and the output process is specified in the signature in the output process, the processes of “process No. 1” and “process No. 3” are sequentially executed first. When the processes of “No. 1” and “Process No. 3” are executed, print output is not actually performed, and the pages 1 to 20
The page image data is simply input, processed, and stored in the disk device. "Process N
o. In the execution of the designation process of "5", "Process No. 1 ”and“ Process No. The output image data of 3 "is regarded as the input image data, the signature process is performed, and the image is printed out.

Therefore, it becomes possible to perform output processing by superimposing a plurality of image processings in page units. Further, in the case of combining the image processing common to all the input image data, the image processing is executed in order by placing a plurality of image processing contents in the output form as the processing contents specified in the job node. After the final image processing is performed, the output processing is started and the print output is performed. As a result, the throughput of the image processing apparatus can be improved and the entire output processing can be efficiently performed. However, in order to specify the processing sequence of each job, the specified content of the processing becomes complicated. Therefore, an optimal combination example is registered in advance as standard data, and the job is sequentially processed using this standard data. It is convenient to specify so that the two overlap, and you can do that.

When a plurality of input / output devices are connected to this image processing device, the throughput of the image processing device is further improved by performing simultaneous processing of the plurality of input / output devices. The output processing of can be efficiently performed. For example, one of a plurality of input / output devices
One or more is a facsimile device (fax transmission / reception device) or network device (NET transmission / reception device),
In the case of an input / output device that obtains image data from the outside, the processing is as follows.

When image data is received as an input process, for example, the facsimile input / output interface unit 14
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 10, an output designation table 86 for designating and registering an output form for each device address of the partner device is provided in the receiving device of the network input / output interface unit 15, and the registered device address is registered. If it is received from the device, the input / output processing is performed according to the specified contents of the input / output form specification table 86. If the received device address of the partner device is not registered in the output designation table 86, the output process is performed in the default standard output form. At the same time, let the new registration be done. The output designation table 86 is the same as the processing designation information storage unit (21:
2), and manages the address of the sender and the setting data of the input / output form.

Further, in the process of transmitting the image data as the output process, the process can be designated so that the output process is performed in the different output form for each destination of the partner device. This can be realized simply by adding the item of the destination address as the output parameter field of the job management table 85 in which the processing content of the job node designation processing is registered. That is, when the transmission destination address is added to the output parameter of the job management table 85, the facsimile input / output interface unit 14 or the facsimile input / output interface unit 14 is required to transmit the image data to the device having the transmission destination address in the designated output form. Instruct the network input / output interface unit 15. As a result, output processing can be performed in a different output form for each destination of the partner device.

By the way, when a plurality of input / output devices are connected to this image processing device, when handling each image data input from the plurality of input devices, page allocation for merging each image data is performed. Processing is required. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, a page allocation management table 90 is provided. For example, a scanner 1 and a scanner 2 having different resolutions are provided as image reading units connected to an image input interface unit, and further, a facsimile input / output interface unit and a network input / output interface unit are connected. When these image data input units are available input devices here, the page allocation management table 90 is used when the image data input from the respective input devices are merged and output. It

A specific example of page layout will be described with reference to FIG. 9. For example, in this case, the image data input from each input device is distinguished by the name of the input processing unit, and the scanner 1, the scanner 2, If FAX reception 1 and NET reception 1 are performed, page allocation is designated for the input image by specifying the page to be allocated in the page allocation management table 90 as follows.

That is, here, FAX reception 1, NE
The image data of the T reception 1 has already been received and has been image-processed in a predetermined output form and stored in the disc device, and the input process of the input image data from the scanner 2 has also been completed. Then, in the state of being stored in the disk device, each data of the scanner 2, FAX reception 1, NET reception 1 stored in the disk device,
As shown in the allocation management table 90 of FIG. 9, when pages are allocated to pages 3 to 7 in the allocation page field 92, the page designation of the input image data for executing the input process from the scanner 1 is the remaining pages. The first page, the second page, and the tenth page can be uniquely designated.

This page allocation is designated by the document whose image data handled by the job is input by the scanner 1 and the scanners 2 and F.
When the image data of each of AX reception 1 and NET reception 1 is designated, a page is automatically assigned to the image data other than the original document to be input in the allocation management table 90, and the page of the input image data is designated. As the contents of the field 91 and the allocated page field 92, the page of each input image data page-allocated is displayed on the display unit of the operation panel. Therefore, the user can confirm the page layout for the image data from the plurality of input devices and uniquely specify the page.

It should be noted that the page allocation processing is not limited to the image data from a plurality of input devices, and as described above, when the output processing has already been performed and the image data has been accumulated in the disk device, the existing image It can also be used when the data is used as input image data in the next processing set. That is, all the image data existing in the disk device is the target of the page allocation process.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between each task generated for controlling the processing in the control processing unit during operation and the communication between the tasks. In FIG. 3, 31
Is a user interface task, 32 is a system control task, 33 is a job scheduler task, 34 is an input control task, and 35 is an output control task. By the processing of each of these tasks, each job processing related to image processing is executed here.

The system control task 32 receives a job request from the user interface task 31 and performs the job acceptance control processing as described with reference to FIG. 4 every time a job request signal is generated. Input control task 34
Is a module that sets the input parameters as hardware to be an input device. As described with reference to FIG. 5, the input parameters calculated in the process of the job scheduler task 33 are accepted together with the setting request,
Processing for setting input processing conditions is performed for each input device. That is, when the setting request is transmitted to the input control task 34, the input control task 34 sets the input parameter based on the request, and returns the fact to the job scheduler after the setting is completed.

The output control task 35 is a module for setting the hardware of the output parameter, and the processing in the job scheduler task 33 (step 5
With respect to the output condition set in 9), when one is determined from the plurality of processing sets stored in the job node, the output condition is accepted together with the setting request, and the output processing condition is output to each output device. Perform the process of setting. That is, when the setting request is transmitted to the output control task 35,
The output parameter is set based on it, and after the setting is completed, the fact is returned to the job scheduler.

The management of the job information of each received job request is carried out by referring to the job table held by the system control task 32. As described with reference to FIG. 8, the job table 80 is used in the process of queuing between the job node 84 related to the received job request and the job node 84 when executing the job request. In addition, the system control task 3 is responsible for processing such as system status management and error management.
2 is executed.

Further, in each job node, as shown in FIG. 8, in the job management table 85, the designated processing performed by the job request is designated as processing NO. , Supported documents, input / output mode, number of output copies, output tray NO. , The page rearrangement (SORT type), and the processing order are managed as a processing set. Although not shown in the job node, in addition to the above, in order to manage execution of each process, file management parameter information of the disk device such as a file name and a file ID,
Current input page, current output page, current processing NO.
Current entry / exit processing information such as is held.

Next, a description will be given of a processing example in the case where the image processing apparatus configured as described above is used to perform output processing in a plurality of types of different output modes from one input processing of image data. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a processing example in the case where the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment performs the output processing in a plurality of different output modes with respect to the image data input in one input processing. Further, FIG. 12 is a process in the case where the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment performs the output processing on the image data input in one input processing by changing the output mode to each of a plurality of different facsimile apparatuses. It is a figure explaining an example.

For example, the job management table 8 shown in FIG.
When a job request is made for image processing to be output in a plurality of different output forms such as “processing No. 1” to “processing No. 4” in FIG. 5, the input processing and the output processing are performed as shown in FIG. Is performed. That is, the input process 100
Is performed on the image data of pages 1 to 20 of the original, and then the output process 1 of “process No. 1” is performed as the output process.
01, the normal copying of pages 1 to 10 is performed, and only the third, tenth, and twelfth pages are selected in the output process 102 of "process No. 2".
Copying is done. Then, further, “Process No. 3”
In the output processing 103, the 4-UP processing is performed on pages 11 to 20, image data for four pages is reduced by 1/4 and copied to one sheet, and three sheets are printed. Output is obtained. Further, subsequently, as the output processing 104 of "processing No. 4", the signature processing of all pages from the first page to the twentieth page is performed, and the printed matter is obtained in the form of a booklet.

Further, when the output process is performed by a plurality of different output forms for one input process as described above, the output device that executes the output process can be a remote output device. . An example of processing in such a case is illustrated in FIG. That is, referring to FIG. 12, for the image processing apparatus 110 that performs one input processing, the apparatuses that perform the output processing are the remote facsimile apparatuses 111 to 114 to which the communication lines are connected. In each of the other party devices of the devices # 1 to # 4, the output processing is performed in a plurality of different output modes as described above. In this way, it is possible to change the output form corresponding to a plurality of different destinations and perform each output process by one input process.

Next, modified examples of the constituent elements of each unit in the image processing apparatus of this embodiment will be described. In the description of the image processing apparatus according to the above-described embodiment, the image data is directly handled as it is, but the image data input at the time of input is subjected to a compression process, stored as compressed data, and the compressed data stored at the time of output is expanded. Good to handle. As a result, the storage capacity of the page buffer 10 and the disk device 11 can be reduced, and the storage area of the page buffer 10 and the disk device 11 can be used efficiently.

In addition to the compression processing and decompression processing for the input image data, processing for rotating the image and redesignating (moving) the position of the image data is performed for each image data. There is no problem in adding it in the process.

The page buffer 10 normally uses a random access memory such as a semiconductor memory, but for the image data supplied from the image data bus 17,
In DMA (Direct Memory Access) driving using a data bus, it is sufficient that the speed difference between input processing and output processing can be absorbed.
It may be a FO (first in, first out) memory. The disk device 11 may be any memory as long as it can store a plurality of pages of image data, and a semiconductor memory, a magnetic tape device, or the like may be used. However, since these are expensive at present or the read / write speed is slow, this embodiment describes an example using a disk device.

Regarding the control of each input / output device, the system control task 3 is used in the description of this embodiment.
2, the input control task 34 and the output control task 35 are supposed to perform, but if each device has an intelligent function, the system control task 32 may perform only system management.

Although the above description is based on the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made. For example, in the present embodiment, it is assumed that the input / output devices connected to the image processing apparatus main body have the same input / output speed, but if the output speed is twice or more the input speed, the input processing is performed. It is possible to execute a plurality of output processes and execute a plurality of simultaneous processes.

[0098]

As described above, according to the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the contents of the image processing corresponding to the designated page are processed before the processing for the input image data group obtained by the series of input processing. By specifying to 1 without operation during operation
You can output multiple different output formats each time. For this reason, it is not necessary to perform a troublesome operation such as setting the image processing content again with an editing processing command after inputting all, and the image can be output in a plurality of different desired output modes by a simple operation similar to a normal copy operation. Output is obtained.

Further, it is not necessary to sort and input the originals for each different output form, and it is not necessary to repeatedly input the duplicated originals, so that the operability is improved. Further, the image processing can be designated by selecting only a required portion and a plurality of copies can be designated, so that an extra page is not output, which leads to a paper saving. Furthermore, by performing output processing in the order that output processing can be performed earliest, the waiting time until output is minimized,
Since the output result can be confirmed promptly and the next output is performed during the confirmation of the previous output result, the confirmation efficiency during and after the processing is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a main part of a control processing unit in the main body of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment with functional blocks;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between each task generated for performing processing control in a control processing unit during operation and communication between the tasks;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating processing of job request acceptance control;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a job scheduler that controls image processing according to a job request,

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a priority setting condition table of a processing designation information storage unit;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a processing speed reference table of a processing designation information storage unit;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a job table of a processing designation information storage unit;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a page allocation table in a processing designation information storage unit;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an output designation table,

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a processing example in the case of performing output processing with a plurality of different output forms on image data input by one-time input processing using the image processing apparatus of the present embodiment;

FIG. 12 shows a case in which the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment performs an output process on image data input by a single input process by changing the output form to a plurality of different facsimile apparatuses. It is a figure explaining an example of processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Image processing device main unit (ESS: Electriconic Sub-
System), 2 ... Process designation unit (UI), 3 ... Automatic document feeding unit (ADF), 4 ... Document image reading unit (IIT / I)
PS), 5 ... Image output device unit (IOT), 6 ... Recording paper post-processing unit (FINISHER), 7 ... Control processing unit (SYS)
-CONT), 8 ... Image input interface section (I
IT-I / F), 9 ... Image output interface section (IOT-I / F), 10 ... Page buffer (PAGE)
-BUFFER), 11 ... Disk device (DISK),
12 ... Output control unit (OUT-CONT), 13 ... Input control unit (IN-CONT), 14 ... Facsimile input / output interface unit (FAX-I / F), 15 ... Network input / output interface unit (NET-I / F) ), 16 ...
Disk control unit (DISK-CONT), 17 ... Image data bus, 21 ... Processing designation information storage unit, 22 ... Output order calculation processing unit, 23 ... Page replacement designation processing unit, 24 ... Image data registration processing unit, 25 ... Page Allocation processing unit, 26 ... Output form registration processing unit.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. At least one or more input means for inputting image data, a storage means for temporarily storing the image data input from said input means, and an image storage means for storing the stored image data. , At least one output means for outputting image data, a recording paper post-processing means for performing post-processing on the recording paper after print output, and different output for arbitrary pages or page groups of image data An image processing apparatus comprising control means for performing control processing for outputting in a form, and a) processing designation for designating a plurality of processing contents for each page or group of pages of image data as processing designation information. Means, b) processing information storage means for storing the processing designation information, and c) controlling the input means and the output means based on the processing designation information stored in the processing information storage means. And an input / output control means for controlling the image processing apparatus. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: d) output order calculation means for calculating an output page order of the image data from the processing content and the input page order of the image data, the control An image processing apparatus is characterized in that the means performs control to output the image data in order from the processing content for the image data that can be output earliest among the processing content of the processing designation information stored in the processing information storage means. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: e) a page replacement designation processing unit for designating a page arrangement of image data for each processing content. Processing equipment. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: f) image data or an image data group obtained by performing image processing on an arbitrary page or page group is newly registered as input image data. An image processing apparatus comprising: a registration processing unit that performs an image data registration process to be stored in the storage unit, wherein the control unit controls the image data registration process to be superimposed on another image process. . 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing designation unit designates a plurality of image processing contents for an arbitrary page or page group of image data. . 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,
Further, g) image data already stored in the storage means,
The page allocating means for allocating continuous pages to the image data input from the input means is provided, and the processing specifying means is an image data group by different processing specifying information or an image data group from a plurality of different input means. An image processing apparatus characterized by being able to specify the processing content of image processing. 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,
At least one input means is an image data receiving means for receiving the image data transmitted with the sender address added, and further, h) a process of specifying an output form for each sender address and enabling output. An output form registration means for registering the contents as output form registration information is provided, and the control means designates the image data received by the image data reception means based on the sender address and the output form registration information received by the image data reception means. An image processing apparatus that outputs in the following output form. 8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,
At least one output means is an image data transmission means for transmitting image data by designating a destination, and the control means controls the image data transmission means to output the image data in different output modes. , An image processing apparatus that transmits to different destinations.