JPH089097A - Image processing unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide plural sets of image data groups in a short time even when plural jobs are received in the order different from the output sequence. CONSTITUTION:A main control section 53 is provided with a link designation means A, to designate whether a received image data group is outputted in link with other image data group or outputted singly, a job designation means A2 to designate a job of the received image data, a designation information detection means A3 to detect each designation information from a link designation means, a link object selection means A4 to select objects of linking the image image data groups, and an image data management means A5 to manage the received image data group to be linked in the unit of jobs based on the result of detection from the designated information detection means, and even when plural sets of image data groups including plural jobs are received in a different sequence from the output sequence, the received image data groups are linked in an optional order and the result is outputted.

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 processing a large amount of image data group.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When inputting image data in a device such as a digital copying machine, image data of a document is read by a document reading device, converted into digital image data and stored in a storage device such as a page buffer while being subjected to image processing. ing. When image data is to be continuously input, a plurality of documents are conveyed one by one onto the platen by an automatic document feeder (ADF), and the image reading is repeated by the document reading device to perform image processing. .

When inputting image data in an image processing apparatus having a function of receiving image data, such as a facsimile, an image similar to that of the document reading apparatus described above is provided on the image data transmitting side. Or by generating an image of a document or the like with code data or the like by a personal computer, a workstation, or the like, converting it to bitmap data, and then transferring this. When inputting a plurality of image data, for example, the transmitting device adds page break information to each page of the image data and transfers the image data, and the receiving device side based on the continuation / end information regarding the connection between pages. It is realized by separating the.

By the way, when the image data is continuously input as described above, the image data group that is continuously input is 1 unless a process for dividing the job is performed, such as inserting a job division sheet. One job is formed as a unit. When another job is input during the job input processing, a method is known in which an interrupt is designated and the input of the job being processed is stopped, and then the other job is executed. At that time, the input image data of the interrupted job is in a divided state, and when the continuously input image data group is set as one unit, one job is formed by a plurality of units. Further, in the editing process, when a page is inserted or a page is added to the image data group input in advance, the input image data becomes discontinuous and one job is formed in a plurality of units. In addition, if you cannot load all the originals into the automatic document feeder,
When the capacity of the storage device for storing the input image data cannot store all the series of originals, the image data group has to be divided, and one job is formed by plural units of image data. become.

As described above, when one job is formed by inputting a plurality of image data groups, it is necessary to control the input image data groups to be connected. For example, in the method by the job interruption, the number of processed sheets is stored, the processing of another job is permitted after the output of some jobs is finished, and the processing of the unprocessed image data of the interrupted job is resumed after the processing is finished. . In addition, in the method of editing the stored image data, a method of managing the image data page by page, temporarily storing the image read by the document reading device in the storage device, and then performing the connection process is adopted. However, depending on the capacity of the storage device, it may not be possible to store all the series of originals in the storage device, and the image data transmission device will divide the series of originals and send them. With the device that has it, the page will be reset for each divided job unit,
There were some inconveniences such as the final manuscript being unknown on the receiving side. In order to solve this problem, JP-A-3-1844
According to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 66-66, an image data transmitting apparatus that temporarily interrupts reading of a document when the storage device is almost full, transmits with unfinished information added, and restarts reading the document when the storage device becomes empty. Is disclosed.

However, the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-184466 does not take into consideration the restriction on the originals loaded in the automatic original feeder, and
The applicable range is limited to at least the number of documents that can be loaded in the automatic document feeder. Therefore, when a series of originals cannot be loaded into the automatic original feeder, the originals are divided and transmitted, and the above-mentioned problems cannot be solved. Further, in the image processing apparatus equipped with the editing function, not only the operation is complicated, but also it is necessary to temporarily store all the image data in the storage means, and thus the storage apparatus has to be large in capacity, and There is a problem that it takes a lot of time because output cannot be performed unless all inputs are completed. Further, since the editing process is performed for one job, there is a problem that a large-scale filing device is needed to divert the image data stored in the storage unit to another job.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a method for inputting image data by dividing a series of originals such as when a series of originals cannot be loaded in an automatic original feeder. Even if an original from another job is interrupted between a series of originals, it can be recognized as a series of jobs by a simple operation, and multiple sets of documents can be output without affecting the time required to output the divided image data groups. It is possible to connect the image data groups, and to use the divided image data groups for a plurality of jobs.

[0008]

Therefore, according to the present invention, an input means for inputting image data, a storage means for storing a plurality of input image data, and an output for outputting image data. In the image processing apparatus including means, a connection designating means for designating whether the input image data group is to be coupled with another image data group and to be outputted or to be outputted independently, and a job of the inputted image data. Job specifying means for specifying, specification information detecting means for detecting the specification information from the connection specifying means and the job specifying means, and image data to be a target for connecting the input image data groups Image data for managing the input image data group so as to be connected in units of jobs based on the detection result from the connection target selecting means and the specified information detecting means. An image to be output by connecting the input image data groups in an arbitrary order even when a plurality of sets of image data groups including a plurality of jobs are input in an order different from the output order. A processing device is provided. Further, an input image group specifying means for specifying at least one image data group from a plurality of input image data groups, and an input image data group detecting means for detecting specification information from the input image data group specifying means. And an image processing device for connecting an image data group input next to an arbitrary input image data group. Further, the image processing apparatus is capable of dividing and outputting in a predetermined output order based on the connection flag of the input image data group.

[0009]

When inputting image data, the job setting and the designation of "continue" or "end" of the image data are performed by the linkage designating means, and the job to be linked is designated by the job designating means, and then the start button is pressed. When pressed, "continuation" or "end" is detected for the job designated by the designation information detection means, and based on this, the last input image data group of the job designated by the image data management means is detected. Next, the management data is stored so as to be connected, and the input process is started. At that time, "continue" is specified when a series of image data for the specified job is not completely input even after the continuous input from the image data input means is completed,
"End" is designated when all the series of image data for the designated job is completed by finishing the continuous input from the image data input means. Also,
If the image data input in advance does not exist, it is a new job and it is not necessary to specify the job, and the job is newly registered in the image data management means. Furthermore, when the image data group designated as "End" is input,
Job is not specified.

Further, by adding the input image data group designating means and the input image data group detecting means, it becomes possible to connect the image data in units of the input image data group.
When inputting the image data, when the start button is pressed after designating the input image data group to be linked by the input image data group designating means together with the job setting and the above-mentioned designation, the input image data group detecting means couples with the above detection. The input image data group to be detected is detected, and based on this, the management data is stored so that the job specified by the image data management unit is connected next to the specified image data group, and the input process is started. . Therefore, jobs of any combination can be generated for each input image data group.

When the input processing is started through the above processing, the image data to be connected is selected by the connecting object selecting means, and the output processing is executed for the input image data which is not connected, and The input image data to be connected or all the input image data is stored in the storage means, and the processing is temporarily terminated in a state where the image data stored in the storage means is managed by the image data management means, and the following Waits for image data input in the job. When the image data to be connected is input, the above process is repeated until the image data group designated as "end" in the corresponding job is input. In this way, by dividing and inputting the image data group, the job is divided, and it is effective in the case of a job in which it is necessary to reduce the occupation time of the device or change the combination.

[0012]

Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a copying machine will be described as an image forming apparatus. FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a copying machine to which the present invention is applied. Copiers are roughly divided into
A copying machine body 1 for forming a copy by forming a toner image corresponding to a document image on a recording sheet, and an automatic document feeder 2 for automatically feeding a document to a document placement surface of the copying machine body 1.
And a post-processing device 3 that performs post-processing such as sorting and stapling on the copies discharged from the copying machine main body 1. Inside the copying machine body 1,
An image reading device 5 for scanning a document placed on a platen glass 4 which is a document placement surface and reading a document image;
An image forming apparatus 6 that forms a toner image corresponding to an original image on a recording sheet based on the image information obtained by the image reading apparatus 5, and a sheet feeding apparatus 7 that supplies the recording sheet to the image forming apparatus 6. And are provided. The automatic document feeder 2 is provided so as to cover the platen glass 4 provided on the upper portion of the copying machine body 1 so as to be openable and closable, and the documents stacked on the document tray 8 are fed by rollers (not shown). Then, the originals are sequentially sent one by one onto the platen glass 4 by the conveyor belt 9 and read, and the read originals are discharged to the original discharge tray 10 by the conveyor belt 9 and discharge rollers (not shown).

The image reading device 5 is provided with an exposure lamp 11, a plurality of reflection mirrors 12, a lens 13, an image sensor 14 and the like as an optical system. The exposure lamp 11 and the reflection mirror 12 are moved along the platen glass 4. Then, the reflected light from the document is converged on the image sensor 14 and the density of the image of the document is converted into an electric image signal. The image signal is converted into digital image data by an A / D conversion circuit or the like provided as an electric system inside the image reading device 5. This image data is supplied to the processing unit described later, and after being subjected to predetermined signal processing, is supplied to the image forming apparatus 6.

The image forming device 6 forms a toner image on a recording sheet by a well-known electrophotographic method. The surface of the photosensitive drum 16 uniformly charged by the charging device 15 is fed from the laser exposure device 17 to the surface. To form an electrostatic latent image. The laser exposure device 17 includes a laser element (not shown) such as a semiconductor laser whose drive current is modulated based on the image data from the image reading device 5, and a laser beam from the laser element.
It is composed of a rotary polygon mirror 18, a reflecting mirror 19 and the like, which periodically deflects in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the surface of 6.

The electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 16 is developed by the developing device 20 or 21 to form a toner image of a desired color on the photosensitive drum 16, and the toner image is fed by the transfer device 22. It is transferred onto the recording paper sent along the path A from any one of the plurality of trays 7a to 7e of the apparatus 7. It should be noted that the trays 7a to 7c are paper feed trays for storing sheets of different sizes, the tray 7d is an intermediate tray for temporarily storing recording sheets for double-sided copying, and 7
e is a large-capacity tray that accommodates several hundred recording sheets. The residual toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 16 after the transfer is
It is removed by the cleaning device 23.

The recording paper after transfer is peeled from the photosensitive drum 16 by the peeling device 24, conveyed to the fixing device 26 by the conveyor 25, and subjected to the fixing process. The path of the sheet of paper after fixing is switched by the switching gate 27 to either the path B which goes to the post-processing device 3 or the path C which goes to the intermediate tray 7d through the reversing device 28 for double-sided copying.
In the case of double-sided copying, the reverse side of the recording paper is reversed by the reversing device 28, and the recording paper is supplied again to the image forming device 6 along the path A via the intermediate tray 7d, and a toner image is formed on the back surface of the recording paper this time. After that, it is sent to the post-processing device 3. The recording paper discharged from the image forming device 6 to the post-processing device 3 is switched to either the route D or the route E by the switching gate 29. The recording paper that has proceeded to the path D is sent to the path F with the image side facing up, and the recording paper that has traveled to the path E is sent to the path F after being reversed by the reversing device 30.

The recording paper traveling along the route F is the switching gate 3
By means of 1, the route G is directed to the top tray 32, and the route H is subjected to various types of post-processing. The recording paper that has proceeded to the path H is conveyed downward along the path I by the vertical conveyor belt 33, and is sorted by the switching gate 34 into the path J that is subjected to the stapling process and the path K that directly goes to the sorter bin 35. The recording paper that has proceeded to the path J is discharged into the holding tray 36, and when the required number of recording papers are accumulated, they are stapled by the stapler 37. In the case of signature output in which the center is bound to form a booklet, the central portion of the fold of the recording paper is stapled. The stapled recording paper is again conveyed downward by the vertical conveyance belt 33 and discharged to a predetermined position in the sorter bin 35.

FIG. 2 is a hardware block diagram showing an embodiment of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention. Figure 2
In (A), the image processing unit 51 includes a job operation designation device (UI) 52 such as an operation panel, an automatic document feeder (AD), and the like.
F) 2, image reading device (IIT) 5, output device (I
OT) 6 and the post-processing device 3 for printing paper are connected, a main controller 53 for controlling according to job operation, and an input interface (IIT-I / F) 54 for controlling command / status signals and image input signals. , An output interface (IOT-I / F) 55 for controlling command / status signals and image output signals, a page buffer 56 for temporarily storing input image data, and a large-capacity data storage hard disk 57 and a hard disk. When the job control sheet is used to specify continuation / termination, a mark recognition device 58 for detecting information on the job control sheet is added to the disc controller unit.

When a document is set on the platen of the automatic document feeder 2 or the image reading device 5, the job operation is designated by the job operation designating device 52, and the start button is pressed, the IIT 5 causes the image information of the document to be photoelectrically converted. Are sequentially read and stored in the page buffer 56 via the input interface 54 while being converted into digital image data and subjected to image processing. At that time, if the output is possible, the page buffer 56 transfers the data directly to the output device 6 through the output interface 55, and after the post-processing is performed by the post-processing device 3, the writing to the hard disk 57 is started at the same time. If direct output is not possible,
Only writing to the hard disk 57 is started. Output is performed only from the page buffer 56, but image data is stored in the page buffer 56 in two ways: input from the IIT 5 and read from the disk 57. The basic operation is such that the first copy directly outputs the input image data from the IIT5, and the second and subsequent copies output the image data read from the disk 57. The image data output to the input interface 55 is such that a halftone image is reproduced by halftone dots by controlling ON / OFF of laser light for each pixel based on the binary data generated from the image data in the output device 6. To form an image. Simultaneous access to the page buffer 56 and each processing block can be realized by bus arbitration of the image bus. Also,
If the page buffer 56 and each processing block perform time-division processing, parallel processing of input processing and output processing is possible.

FIG. 2B is a diagram for explaining the main configuration of the main control unit, and shows whether the input image data group is connected to another image data group and is output or is output independently. Concatenation designating means A1 for designating, job designating means A2 for designating a job of input image data, and designation information detecting means A3 for detecting respective designation information from the coupling designating means and the job designating means. , A connection target selecting means A4 for selecting image data to be a target for connecting the input image data groups, and the input image data groups are connected in units of jobs based on the detection result from the designated information detecting means. Image data management means A5 for managing the input image group, input image group designating means A6 for designating at least one image data group from a plurality of input image data groups, input image And an input image data set detecting means A7 for detecting designation information from over data group designating means.

Next, the job operation realized on the hardware configuration of FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a control unit according to the present invention and a diagram showing a table for managing jobs. In the control unit configuration diagram of FIG. 3A, the control unit includes a main control unit, an input control unit,
And an output control unit for real-time control. Therefore, each control unit can apparently be independently controlled. For example, the main control unit is a unit that receives a designation from the operator via the UI controller and requests the job scheduler to execute a process. The input control unit and the output control unit respectively operate the input device and the output device. It is the part that controls. The job scheduler unit determines whether the input device and the output device are operated in synchronization or independently.

Further, in the management table explanatory view of FIG. 3B, when the input image data group is a new job, job #n data and job #n queue are sequentially created in the job table, The job parameters obtained from the job operation designating device 52 are stored in the job #n data, and the job block information in which the parameters of the input image data are stored is linked to the job #n queue. The job block information has a flag indicating the continuation or end of the job. In the case of continuation, the next job block information will be concatenated, and in the case of end, the last block of the concatenation of the next job block information. Since it is indicated that, the timing for performing the output process can be obtained.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the job processing of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4 (A), five sets of originals are sequentially input as JOB1 to JOB3 and additions 1 and 2. As job 1, four ABCD sheets are designated to continue the connection parameter, and job 2 is set. Specifies that the EFG 3 concatenation parameter is the end parameter, job 3 is the HIJKL 5 concatenation parameter continuation parameter, and job 1 and job 3 have 3 additional manuscripts MNO. Is designated to continue, addition 2 is added after addition 1, and two originals of PQ are designated as end, and input is shown. Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, the image data is HI as job 1, ABCDMNOPQ, job 2, EFG, and job 3.
JKLMNOPQ is connected in order and output.

Input / output of each data is performed at the input / output timing as shown in FIG. When reading a manuscript, check whether it is necessary to connect each image data,
Image data D of job 1 ABCD that needs to be linked
Only the image data such as ABC of job 1, EFG of job 2 and HIJK of job 3 are output in synchronization with the input. When the image data to be stored is input, it is possible to check again whether the stored image data needs to be connected. Further, the MNO of the additional 1 is stored and the D of the job 1 is added.
The output of MN is performed in connection with the above, and OPQ is output after the input and storage of PQ of the additional 2.

The MNO added to the job 3 is connected to the L input and stored first, and further the PQ of the addition 2 is connected to be output as the LMNOPQ after the output of the job 1 is completed.

On the other hand, in the case of the image processing apparatus capable of operating the input and output independently, it is not possible to perform the concatenated processing for a plurality of jobs, but even for a plurality of jobs. Even if it is possible to connect by
Since it is impossible to control input / output in real time, as shown in FIG.
It shows that the entire processing time becomes longer than that in (C).

Next, the control procedure according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. When the start signal is received, the job acceptance flow is executed. Here, the job block information storage area shown in FIG. 3 is created (S1), the information of the input image data is written therein, and the job is queued in the corresponding job #n queue (S2). However, in the case of a new job, the job #n data and the job #n queue in the job table shown in FIG. 3 are further created, and the job information is stored in the job #n data. When the parameters from the job operation designating apparatus are stored in a predetermined management area, the process proceeds to the input flow, and an area for storing the input image data is secured in the page buffer (S
3). When the area is secured, the input process from the input device 4 is activated (S4). At this time, if output is possible at the same time as input, output processing is also activated (S5). If the area cannot be secured, it is because the image data in the page buffer is being output or the transfer to the storage device has not been completed, and the processing waits until the management table is updated (S7). When the input process is completed, the process of writing the input image data to the storage device such as a hard disk is started (S6), and at the same time, it is checked whether this input image data is the final one. The image data is repeated from S3. If it is the final input image data, then the process proceeds to the output flow. Here, it is first checked whether the output device can output (S9). If the output is not possible, the output processing of another job is being performed, or there is an error state, and the standby state is entered. When the output process of another job ends or the error is cleared,
The management table is updated (S8), and it is checked again whether output processing is possible. If output is possible, it is judged from the continuation / end of the concatenation flag in the job block information whether the input series of input image data is the last one or continued (S10). , At this point, the job is temporarily terminated. When the processing is completed, predetermined image data is sequentially read from the disk 57 into the page buffer 56 (S11), and the output process is activated (S12). S11-
If the process of S12 is repeated and completed, the management table is updated, the image data in the page buffer 56 and the disk 57 is erased (S13), and the job ending process such as resetting the management data is performed (S14). ,finish.

Next, a case where the continuation / end designation and the document designation are performed using the job control sheet will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6A shows a job control sheet 1
An example is shown, and FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating an operation procedure by the job control sheet.

When the continuation / end designation and the original designation are performed from the job operation designation device 52, it is sufficient to set the designation information in the management data in the same manner as the job or image parameter obtained by pressing the start button. ,
When using the job control sheet, the following processing is required. For example, if the form of the job control sheet is a mark sheet system, a pre-scan is performed for each page when input processing is performed (S15), and the job control sheet 61 or the original is printed at a predetermined position on the job control sheet. If the job control sheet 61 is identified by the control sheet recognition code 62, scanning is performed, the image data is stored in the page buffer (S16), and the image data information is read to determine whether the job is designated. If so, the job number of the job is detected by checking whether the image data exists in the job ID designation area 63 on this sheet (S17), and the continuation of the concatenation flag setting area 64 is continued. In the same manner as above, it is detected whether there is data at the location corresponding to the above or there is data at the location corresponding to the end (S18), Out to set the result in the continuation / end flag in the management table (S19). afterwards,
The image data of the job control sheet 61 is erased from the page buffer (S20), and a normal image data input process is performed. If it is determined in S15 that the job control sheet 61 is not used, the processes in and after S16 are not performed, and the normal image data input process is performed. The above-mentioned detection device required when the job control sheet 61 is used is performed by the mark recognition device 58 shown in FIG.

Further, the parameters for the processing of the print paper post-processing device 3 after the transfer to the output device 6 can be designated from the job operation designating device 52 and processed in the same manner.
Further, the page order can be freely specified by the processing inside the image processing unit 51, and the page order for double-sided output, the page order when creating a booklet, etc. are calculated and determined in the main control unit 53. Further, regarding the handling of image data, even if the image data is handled directly, compression processing is performed at the time of input and decompression processing is performed at the time of output.
6. It is possible to reduce the capacity of the hard disk 57,
The page buffer 56 may be anything as long as it can absorb the input / output speed difference in the DMA drive, may be a line buffer, and the hard disk 57 may be a semiconductor if it is a storage device capable of storing a plurality of pages. A storage device such as a memory or a magnetic tape may be used.

[0031]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, when a plurality of image data groups are divided and input, concatenated data is provided in the plurality of divided and input image data groups. Therefore, since it is possible to link to all jobs that exist, it is known that the number of documents exceeds the number of documents that can be stored in the automatic document feeder, and the addition of documents etc. is known in advance. Not only is it not divided even when there is no document, but also when documents of other jobs are interrupted between a series of documents, processing can be performed without being divided. Further, since it is not necessary to continuously load a series of document groups, the occupation time of one job can be shortened and the added image data group can be used for other jobs. Further, since the input / output processing is synchronized as much as possible, it is troublesome to occupy the device like the editing processing and perform the input processing, then insert the page, and then start the output processing. Therefore, it is possible to handle a large amount of image data with a simple operation and without affecting the time required for output.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a copying machine to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a control unit of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating processing of a plurality of jobs according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a flow of an embodiment of a control unit of the image processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a flow of a control unit when a job control sheet is used.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Copier main body, 2 ... Automatic document feeder, 3 ... Post-processing device, 4 ... Platen glass, 5 ... Image reading device, 6 ...
Image forming device, 7 ... Paper feeding device, 7a-7b ... Tray, 8
... Original document tray, 9 ... Conveying belt, 10 ... Original paper ejection tray, 11 ... Exposure lamp, 12 ... Reflecting mirror, 13 ... Lens, 14 ... Image sensor, 15 ... Charging device, 16 ...
Photoreceptor drum, 17 ... Laser exposure device, 18 ... Rotating polygon mirror, 19 ... Reflecting mirror, 20, 21 ... Developing device, 22 ...
Transfer device, 23 ... Cleaning device, 24 ... Peeling device,
25 ... Conveyor, 26 ... Fixing device, 27 ... Switching gate, 28 ... Reversing device, 29 ... Switching gate, 30 ... Reversing device, 31 ... Switching gate, 32 ... Top tray, 3
3 ... Vertical conveyor belt, 34 ... Switching gate, 35 ... Sorter bin, 36 ... Holding tray, 37 ... Staple, 51
... image processing unit, 52 ... operating unit, 53 ... main control unit, 54 ...
IIT-I / F, 55 ... IOT-I / F, 56 ... Page buffer, 57 ... Hard disk, 58 ... Mark recognition device, 61 ... Job control sheet, 62 ... Job control sheet recognition code, 63 ... Job ID designation area, 64 ... Linkage flag setting area, A1 ... Linkage designating means, A2 ... Job designating means, A3 ... Designation information detecting means, A4 ... Linkage target selecting means, A5 ... Image data managing means, A6 ... Input image group designating means, A7 ... Image data group detection means

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image processing apparatus comprising: an input unit for inputting image data; a storage unit for storing a plurality of input image data; and an output unit for outputting image data, A linking designation means for designating whether to output the input image data group linked to another image data group or to output the image data group separately; a job designating means for designating a job of the input image data; Specifying information detecting means for detecting the specifying information from the connecting specifying means and the job specifying means, and connecting target selecting means for selecting image data to be connected with the input image data groups, Image data management means for managing the input image data group so as to link the input image data group on a job basis based on the detection result from the designated information detection means, and includes a plurality of jobs. Even when a plurality of sets of image data groups are input in an order different from the output order, the input image data groups are connected in an arbitrary order and output.