JP4096956B2 - Output device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates the input image data to the output device for outputting as a visible image, and in particular output device for outputting performing reduction and synthesis on each page of image data comprising a plurality of pages.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when an output device such as a copying machine or a printer device receives image data consisting of a plurality of pages, it performs reduction processing on each page of the image data, combines several reduced pages, and synthesizes one page. Some output as a visible image to a recording medium (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Some output devices such as facsimile machines output a visible image by performing the same reduction processing and composition processing as described above (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP-A-4-192874 JP-A-4-360372

  However, in these output devices, when a visible image is output, several pages of image data are continuously combined into one page regardless of the contents. Therefore, for example, if the image data is a document composed of a plurality of chapters, the chapters are continuously combined, and even if it is desired to change the page of the recording medium to be output for each chapter, it cannot be handled. . Further, since the chapters are synthesized continuously, for example, when a new page is added at the end of a chapter in a document that has already been output to a recording medium, the entire document must be output again. For this reason, it is inconvenient for the user (user).

The present invention, when outputting the reduced and synthesized image data comprising a plurality of pages, make it possible to output the output page of desired each page of the image data, user-friendly output device for the user The purpose is to provide.

The present invention is an output device devised to achieve the above object, and is connected to a host device and receives image data consisting of a plurality of pages from the host device, and reduces and reduces a plurality of pages of the image data. An output device that synthesizes and outputs a visible image for one page, and receives designation information including at least reduction information indicating a reduction ratio of each page of the image data and re-recording medium information from the host device. Recognizing designated information recognizing means, and determining which output page to synthesize each page of the image data according to the designated information recognized by the designated information recognizing means and how many recording media not to be output by the image recording means Output page determining means.

According to the output method of the above procedure and the output device of the above configuration, when a plurality of pages of image data are reduced and combined and output as a visible image for one page, the reduction rate of each page of the image data is indicated. When the designation information that includes at least the reduced information and the revised recording medium information is recognized by the designation information recognition means, the output page determination means synthesizes each page of the image data to which output page according to the recognized designation information , and the image The number of recording media not output by the recording means is determined and the number of pages not output is determined. When the determination by the output page determination means is performed, the output device performs reduction and synthesis of each page of the image data based on the determination result, and outputs a visible image.
Therefore, in this output device, if the designation information is recognized by the designation information recognition means, when the pages of the image data are synthesized, these pages are synthesized and output to the desired output pages, respectively.

As described above, according to the output device of the present invention, according to the recognition result by the designation information recognition unit, the output page determination unit combines the pages of the image data with which output page, and the recording medium that is not output by the image recording unit. Since the number of sheets is determined, if the designation information is set in the host device, each page of the image data is output to a desired page of the recording medium according to the designation information. Can do. Therefore, for example, even when a document consisting of a plurality of chapters is received as image data, it is possible to change the page of the recording medium output for each chapter, and at the end of a chapter in a document that has already been output. Even in the case of adding a page, it is only necessary to output the added page, and as a result, there is an effect that usability is improved as compared with the conventional case.

Hereinafter, an output device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, here, a case where the present invention is applied to a printer apparatus that outputs image data as a visible image to a recording medium will be described.
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an output device 10 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the output device 10 is connected to the host device 20, and when image data composed of a plurality of pages input by the host device 20 is received, each page of the image data is received. Reduction processing is performed, and several reduced pages are combined and output to a recording medium as a visible image for one page.

  Examples of the host device 20 connected to the output device 10 include a host computer 21 composed of a personal computer, a workstation, and the like, an image reading device 22 composed of a scanner, and a facsimile (hereinafter abbreviated as FAX) device 23. is there. In these host devices 20, image data composed of a plurality of pages is input by a user, and further, reduction information is used as designation information for designating an output condition for outputting each page of the image data. And page break information are set.

The reduction information is used to indicate the reduction ratio of each page of the input image data, that is, how many pages of image data are combined with one page of the recording medium. The page break information indicates in which page of the image data the page to be combined is to be revised when the pages of the image data are combined. In other words, the designation information composed of the reduction information and the page break information is used to designate which page of the recording medium each page of the image data is output when each page of the image data is output to the recording medium. belongs to.
In the host computer 21, designation information is set by a user operating a keyboard or the like, and in the image reading device 22 or the FAX device 23, the designation information is obtained by reading a barcode or the like described in a document image. It is set up.

  These higher-level devices 20 send the set designation information to the output device 10 together with the input image data. At this time, the higher-level device 20 sends designation information for each page of the image data for each page of the image data. However, the higher-level device 20 may send the designation information collectively before the image data.

On the other hand, the output device 10 connected to the host device 20 includes a receiving unit 11, an image processing unit 12, and an image recording unit 13, and further includes a designation information recognition unit 14, a designation information input unit 15, The output page determination means 16, the display means 17, and the display page designation means 18 are provided.
The receiving unit 11 receives image data and designation information sent from the host device 20, and includes a host interface (hereinafter abbreviated as I / F) 11a, a scanner I / F 11b, and a FAX I / F 11c. It is provided.

The host I / F 11a is connected to the host computer 21 via, for example, RS232-C, Centronics, or a local area network (LAN), and receives image data and designation information from the host computer 21.
The scanner I / F 11 b is connected to the image reading device 22 and receives image data and designation information from the image reading device 22. The FAX I / F 11c is connected to the FAX apparatus 23 via a public telephone line or the like, and receives image data and designation information from the FAX apparatus 22.

The image processing means 12 performs image processing on the image data received by the receiving means 11 and sends the processed image data to the image recording means 13. The image developing section 12a, the image expanding section 12b, and the image reducing section comprising a microprocessor or the like. 12c, an image composition unit 12d, and an image buffer 12e including a RAM (Random Access Memory) or the like.
The image development unit 12a performs image development processing for developing, for example, command data into bitmap data on the image data received by the receiving unit 11 (image data received by the host I / F 11a, etc.) to draw straight lines or curves. And development of fonts.

The image decompression unit 12b performs image decompression processing on the image data that has been subjected to image compression processing received by the receiving unit 11 (image data received by the FAX I / F 11c).
The image reduction unit 12c applies to each page of the image data received by the receiving unit 11, the image data processed by the image expansion unit 12a, or the image data processed by the image expansion unit 12b. The reduction processing is performed according to the determination by the output page determination means 16 to be performed.

The image combining unit 12d combines a plurality of pages of the image data reduced by the image reducing unit 12c into one page according to the determination by the output page determining unit 16 described later. The image composition unit 12d inserts a blank image as will be described later.
The image buffer 12e temporarily stores the image data that has been reduced by the image reduction unit 12c and synthesized by the image synthesis unit 12d as synthesized image data.
The image recording means 13 comprises a printer engine or the like, receives composite image data stored in the image buffer 12e, and outputs the composite image data as visible images on both sides of a recording medium such as recording paper. is there.

Next, the designation information recognition unit 14, the designation information input unit 15, the output page determination unit 16, the display unit 17, and the display page designation unit 18 which are characteristic parts of the output device 10 of the present invention will be described.
The designation information recognition means 14 comprises a microprocessor or the like, and recognizes the contents of the designation information received by the reception means 11, that is, to which page of the recording medium each page of image data received together with this designation information is output. Then, the recognition result is sent to the output page determination means 16. Further, in this designation information recognition means 14, in order to correspond to a plurality of types of higher-level devices 20, the format of designation information from these higher-level devices 20 (for example, command data, bitmap data, etc.) is set. However, the designation information is recognized.

The designation information input means 15 includes a switch panel, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) panel, and the like, and is used by the user to input designation information including reduction information and page break information in the output device 10. That is, the designation information input means 15 is inputted as designation information to which page of the recording medium each page of the image data received by the reception means 11 is output, and the inputted designation information is sent to the output page determination means 16. It is supposed to be. The designation information input means 15 includes a correction instruction means 15a.
The correction instruction means 15 a is for the user to correct the designation information already recognized by the designation information recognition means 14 or the designation information already inputted by the designation information input means 15.

  The output page determination means 16 is composed of a microprocessor or the like. According to the designation information recognized by the designation information recognition means 14 or the designation information inputted by the designation information input means 15, the reduction ratio of each page of the image data The output page is determined as the output page, and the image reduction unit 12c and the image synthesis unit 12d are instructed. That is, the output page determination means 16 determines which page of the recording medium each page is output when image data is output to the recording medium.

However, in the case where the designation information recognized by the designation information recognition means 14 and the designation information inputted by the designation information input means 15 are different, the output page determination means 16 gives priority to either designation information. Priorities are set in advance. For example, the designation information received by the host I / F 11a is prioritized over the designation information inputted by the designation information input means 15, and the designation information inputted by the designation information input means 15 than the designation information received by the FAX I / F 11c. Are set individually for each higher-level device 20 so that priority is given to them.
Further, the output page determination means 16 includes a correction means 16a, and when there is an instruction from the correction instruction means 15a, the determination result already determined by the output page determination means 16 is corrected by the correction means 16a. It has become.

The display means 17 comprises a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) screen, a liquid crystal screen, etc., and an output image synthesized by the determination by the output page determination means 16 in accordance with the display information input by the display page designation means 18 described later. The data, that is, the composite image data stored in the image buffer 12e is displayed as a visible image before being output to the recording medium by the image recording means 13.
The display page designating means 18 is composed of a switch panel, an LCD panel, etc., like the designation information input means 15, and inputs information for designating output image data to be displayed on the display means 17 by the user as display information. Is. However, this display information is designated by the page number of the input image data or the output page number of the recording medium that outputs the visible image.

Next, an operation example of the output device 10 configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. However, here, an operation example in the case of outputting the image data input by the host computer 21 as a visible image will be described. It is assumed that the output page determination means 16 is preset to give priority to the designation information received by the host I / F 11a over the designation information input by the designation information input means 15.
When image data composed of a plurality of pages and designation information for each page of the image data are sent from the host device 20, the output device 10 receives the image data and designation information at the host I / F 11a, and Temporarily stored in storage means such as a hard disk device.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 2, when the user inputs page break information for the image data from the higher-level device 20 by the designation information input unit 15, the output page determination unit 16 receives the page break information, For example, it is held in a register in the output page determination means 16 (step 101, hereinafter step is abbreviated as S). Further, similarly, when the reduction information is input by the designation information input means 15, the reduction information is received and held, for example, in a register in the output page determination means 16 (S102). However, these page break information and reduction information may be held in a storage unit (not shown).
Further, when the display information is input by the user, the display page designating unit 18 temporarily stores the display information in a storage unit (not shown) (S103). However, the display information may be held in a register or the like in the output page determination unit 16, or a holding unit for holding the display information may be provided in the display unit 17 and held in this holding unit.

Subsequently, the image processing unit 12 sequentially extracts image data temporarily stored in a storage unit (not shown) from the first page, and performs image expansion processing in the image expansion unit 12a as necessary.
At the same time, the designation information recognition means 14 takes out the designation information for the image data taken out by the image processing means 12, recognizes the page break information from the designation information (S104), and further recognizes the reduction information (S105). . Then, the designation information recognition unit 14 sends the recognition result to the output page determination unit 16.

When the recognition result by the designated information recognizing means 14 is sent out, the output page determining means 16 receives the recognition result, and the page break information and the reduced page information input by the designated information input means 15 and held in the output page determining means 16. Compare with information. If they are different, the recognition result from the designation information recognition unit 14 is prioritized based on the preset priority order, and the output page and the reduction ratio for outputting the image data are determined. In other words, the output page determining means 16 determines which page of the recording medium the image data extracted by the image processing means 12 is to be output, and the determination result is sent to the image reduction section 12c and the image composition section 12d. To instruct.
In response to the instruction from the output page determining means 16, the image reduction unit 12c and the image composition unit 12d perform the reduction process and the composition process on the image data subjected to the image development process by the image development unit 12a and store them in the image buffer 12e. (S106). Further, the image composition unit 12d inserts a blank image as necessary in accordance with an instruction from the output page determination means 16 (S107).

  This blank image represents a blank sheet corresponding to one page of image data, and is inserted for the following reason. For example, when the output page determining means 16 determines to synthesize two pages of image data on a one-page recording medium and to perform a page break between the third and fourth pages of the image data. The image combining unit 12d combines the first page and the second page of image data with the first page of the recording medium, and combines only the third page of the image data reduced to the second page of the recording medium. Therefore, in the second page of the recording medium, the portions other than the third page of the image data are unprocessed, so that the image stored in the image buffer 12e immediately before (for example, the second page of the image data) ) May remain as composite image data. In order to prevent this from occurring, the image composition unit 12d inserts a blank image as necessary.

When the image data reduction processing, composition processing, and blank image insertion are performed, the image processing unit 12 completes composition of image data corresponding to one page of the recording medium and stores it in the image buffer 12e as composite image data. It is determined whether it has been performed (S108).
If it is determined that the storage in the image buffer 12e is not completed, the image processing means 12 takes out the image data of the next page from the storage means (not shown) again, and the designation information recognition means 14 recognizes the designation information for the image data. The above steps are repeated from the step to perform (S104 to S108). However, if the higher-level device 20 is configured to send the designation information collectively instead of for each page of the image data, the image processing means 12 takes out the image data of the next page from the storage means (not shown). The above steps may be repeated from the step of performing the reduction process and the synthesis process (S106 to S108).

If it is determined that the image buffer 12e has stored the composite image data corresponding to one page of the recording medium, the display means 17 subsequently searches the storage means (not shown) as shown in FIG. It is determined whether display information relating to the composite image data stored in 12e has been input by the display page designating means 18 (S109).
If no display information is input, the image processing means 12 sends the composite image data for one page of the recording medium stored in the image buffer 12e to the image recording means 13. Then, the image recording means 13 outputs the sent composite image data to a recording medium (S110).

  When the output of the visible image is completed by the image recording means 13, the image processing means 12 determines whether or not the output for all pages of the image data has been completed (S111), and the page for which the output has not been completed. If there is, the image data of the page is taken out from the storage means (not shown), and the above-mentioned steps are performed from the step of recognizing the designation information for the image data by the designation information recognition means 14, and the output for all pages of the image data is performed. It repeats until it complete | finishes (S104-S111).

On the other hand, in the step of determining whether or not display information has been input (S109), if it is determined that display information has been input, the display means 17 then continues with the composite image stored in the image buffer 12e. It is determined whether or not the data is a display page designated by the display information (S112). Note that this step can be omitted by performing the synthesis process of the composite image data that is the display page in preference to the synthesis process of the composite image data that is not the display page.
If the composite image data stored in the image buffer 12e is not a display page, the image processing means 12 sends the composite image data to the image recording means 13 for output to a recording medium (S110). If the composite image data stored in the image buffer 12e is a display page, the display means 17 displays the composite image data as a visible image to the user (S113).

When the display unit 17 displays the visible image to the user, the output page determination unit 16 subsequently determines whether or not there is an instruction to correct the specified information for the visible image, that is, the user designates the specified information using the correction instruction unit 15a. It is determined whether or not correction has been made (S114).
If there is no correction instruction from the correction instruction means 15a, the image processing means 12 sends the composite image data in the image buffer 12e as it is to the image recording means 13 and outputs it to the recording medium (S110). If there is a correction instruction from the correction instruction means 15a, the correction means 16a corrects the specified information already recognized or input in accordance with the correction instruction (S115). Then, the above-described steps are repeated again from the step of holding the page break information of the corrected designation information in the register or the like in the output page determination means 16 (S101 to S115).

Next, a specific example will be described in which the output device 10 as described above outputs image data consisting of seven pages A to G as shown in FIG. 4A as a visible image. However, here, according to the reduction information recognized by the designation information recognition means 14 or the reduction information inputted by the designation information input means 15, the output page determination means 16 outputs four pages of image data to one page of the recording medium. A specific example will be described in the case where it is decided to reduce and synthesize.
Here, if page break information is not input in the host device 20 or the designation information input means 15, the output page determination means 16 continuously synthesizes each of pages A to G as in the conventional output device. Decide to do. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 4B, the image recording means 13 outputs pages A to D to the first page of the recording medium, and outputs pages E to G to the second page of the recording medium. To do. However, if the image recording unit 13 outputs visible images to both sides of the recording medium, the second page of the recording medium is output to the back side of the first page.

  However, when page change information for specifying the page of the recording medium to be changed is input, for example, between the C and D pages of the image data and between the E and F pages in the host device 20 or the specified information input means 15. According to the determination by the output page determining means 16, the image recording means 13 outputs a visible image as shown in FIG. That is, pages A to C are output to the first page of the recording medium, pages D to E are output to the second page of the recording medium, and pages F to G are output to the third page of the recording medium. Is output. At this time, the image composition unit 12d inserts a blank image on the first page and the second page of the recording medium.

  The page break information includes two types of attributes: the one that modifies the output side of the recording medium (revision information) and the one that modifies the recording medium itself (new record medium information), and displays the visible image on one side of the recording medium. When outputting, both perform the same processing, but when outputting to both sides, each performs different processing. That is, when the image recording unit 13 outputs visible images on both sides of the recording medium, when the page-recording medium information is input as page-breaking information, the output page determination unit 16 modifies the recording medium to be output, Image data is output from the top of the recording medium.

4 (d) and 4 (e) show specific examples, and the host device 20 or the designation information input means 15 modifies the image data between the C and D pages and between the F and G pages. When the recording medium information and the page break information are input between the E and F pages of the image data, the image recording means 13 follows the determination by the output page determination means 16 as shown in FIG. Output a visible image to. That is, pages A to C are output to the first page of the recording medium, nothing is output to the second page of the recording medium (the back side of the first page), and D to E are output to the third page of the recording medium. Are output, the F page is output to the fourth page of the recording medium (the back surface of the third page), and the G page is output to the fifth page of the recording medium. At this time, the second page of the recording medium may be dealt with by not outputting a blank image by the image synthesizing unit 12d but not by the image recording means 13.
On the other hand, when face-change information is input instead of the above-described record-recording medium information, the image recording means 13 outputs a visible image as shown in FIG. That is, pages A to C are output to the first page of the recording medium, pages D to E are output to the second page of the recording medium, page F is output to the fourth page of the recording medium, The G page is output to the fifth page of the recording medium.

  As described above, in the output device 10 according to this embodiment, the output page determination unit 16 synthesizes each page of the image data to which output page according to the recognition result by the designation information recognition unit 14 or the input result by the designation information input unit 15. If the designation information is set in the host device 20 or the designation information is input in the designation information input means 15, each page of the image data is recorded on the recording medium in accordance with the designation information. To the desired page. Therefore, in this output device 10, for example, even when a document composed of a plurality of chapters is received as image data from the host device 20, it is possible to change the page of the recording medium to be output for each chapter. Even when a page is added at the end of a chapter in the output document, it is only necessary to output the added page, and as a result, it is possible to make it more convenient than before.

  In the output device 10 of this embodiment, the display means 17 displays the composite image data stored in the image buffer 12e as a visible image according to the display information designated by the display page designation means 18. Yes. Therefore, since the visible image is displayed on the display unit 17 in accordance with the designation by the display page designating unit 18, the user grasps the visible image, that is, the composite state of the image data before outputting the visible image by the image recording unit 13. be able to. That is, since it can be confirmed without outputting to the recording medium whether or not the composite state of the image data (for example, the boundary between chapters) is desired, it is convenient for the user.

  Further, in the output device 10 of the present embodiment, the correction means 16a corrects the determination by the output page determination means 16 in accordance with the correction by the correction instruction means 15a. That is, after the user confirms the composite state of the image data displayed on the display means 17, the correction instruction means 15a can correct the composite state of the image data. Therefore, even if the composite image data already stored in the image buffer 12e is different from the desired one, the composite image data can be corrected without being output to the recording medium as a visible image. In addition to being convenient for the user, unnecessary visible images are not output and the recording medium is saved.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the printer apparatus has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be applied to, for example, a copying machine or a FAX apparatus. In this embodiment, the case where the image recording unit 13 outputs a visible image to both sides of the recording medium has been described. However, for example, the image recording unit 13 may output only one side of the recording medium. A visible image may be output on a screen or a liquid crystal screen.

In the present embodiment, the host computer 21, the image reading device 22, and the FAX device 23 are connected as the host device 20, but it is not necessary that all of them are connected. As long as at least one of them is connected.
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the case where the designation information from the higher-level device 20 is recognized by the designation information recognition unit 14 and the designation information is input by the designation information input unit 15 has been described. As long as at least one of the designation information input means 15 is provided, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of one Example of the output device concerning this invention. 6 is a flowchart (part 1) illustrating an operation example in the output device of FIG. 4 is a flowchart (part 2) illustrating an operation example in the output device of FIG. 2A and 2B are explanatory diagrams illustrating a specific example of outputting a visible image in the output device of FIG. 1, in which FIG. 1A is input image data, FIG. 1B is an output example when page break information is not input, and FIG. Is an output example when page break information is input (part 1), (d) is an output example when page break information is input (part 2), and (e) is when page break information is input. An output example (No. 3) is shown.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Output device, 11 ... Reception means, 12 ... Image processing means, 13 ... Image recording means, 14 ... Specification information recognition means, 15 ... Specification information input means, 15a ... Correction instruction means, 16 ... Output page determination means, 16a ... Correction means, 17 ... Display means, 18 ... Display page designation means, 20 ... Host device

Claims (3)

An output device connected to a host device and receiving image data consisting of a plurality of pages from the host device and reducing and synthesizing a plurality of pages of the image data and outputting it as a visible image for one page,
Designation information recognition means for receiving and recognizing designation information including at least reduction information indicating the reduction ratio of each page of the image data and revision recording medium information from the host device;
Output page determining means for determining which output page to synthesize each page of the image data in accordance with the specified information recognized by the specified information recognizing means and determining how many recording media are not output by the image recording means . An output device characterized by comprising: Display means for displaying a visible image of the output page synthesized according to the determination result by the output page determination means;
2. The output device according to claim 1, further comprising display page designating means for designating an output page of a visible image displayed by the display means. A correction instruction means for correcting the already recognized designation information;
The output device according to claim 2, further comprising: a correction unit that corrects the determination by the output page determination unit in accordance with the correction designation information corrected by the correction instruction unit.

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