JP4775171B2 - Document management apparatus, document management system, printing apparatus in this system, document management method, and document management program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a document management apparatus, a document management system, a printing apparatus in this system, a document management method, and a document management program.

  Conventionally, there is a document management system that can handle composition data with pages with different resolutions. In this case, additional data such as headers and footers are added directly to the page as image data. Has been.

  In addition to this, in order to make the header and footer added to each page uniform image quality and color, this header and footer can be stored as vector data as another object, or the header and footer can be data There is also known a method of adding by a print engine using a printer control command at the time of printing execution without adding to itself.

  In addition, as a method for setting headers and footers, in order to add headers and footers to multiple sections of a document, the document is divided into, for example, three sections, and page numbers are assigned through each section. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  Furthermore, a method has been proposed in which a header or footer is added in an arbitrary layout, or the layout is changed based on a set printing function (for example, see Patent Document 2).

Furthermore, there has been proposed a method in which binding margin positions of different paper sizes are aligned and output according to the user's specification (see, for example, Patent Document 3).
JP 2003-91520 A JP 2003-80791 A JP 2003-266806 A

  By the way, in the case of rasterized data, if a header or footer is directly added to the data as in the prior art, the print quality of the header or footer depends on the resolution and bit depth of the composition data.

  For example, if the original data is 300 dpi 1-bit monochrome data, the header / footer that can be added is also 300 dpi 1-bit monochrome data. If it is desired to add this at a different resolution / bit depth, resolution conversion / bit depth conversion is required for the composition data.

  In addition, when data with different resolutions are integrated and headers and footers are added, even if the same ones are added, they are added depending on the resolution / bit depth of each page. There is a problem that it is not unified.

  On the other hand, in order to make the header and footer to be added to each page uniform image quality and color, the method of holding the header and footer as separate objects as vector data, or without adding the header and footer to the data itself, In the method of adding by the print engine using the printer control command at the time of printing, the composition data (pixels) can be checked and edited before printing, whereas the header and footer Since this cannot be performed, there is a problem that it is impossible to perform a display that guarantees the print output result before printing.

  Information added as a header or footer is not limited to character information such as the number of pages and date, but also includes image information that requires editing in pixel units.

  On the other hand, when printing data including pages with different paper sizes, the output direction of a specific paper size may differ depending on the print function to be set. For example, when printing data in which A4 size and A3 size coexist, it is generally output so that the long side of A4 size paper is aligned with the short side of A3 size paper. Depending on the setting, whichever of the short sides of the A3 size paper is aligned with one of the long sides of the A4 size paper may change.

  These depend on the printing system to be used, but it is generally difficult for the user to understand the special operation and create data. Therefore, according to the conventional publicly known measures, even if the user himself intends to add a header or footer at a desired position, the user may print at an unintended position and orientation.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and can add additional data such as a header and a footer without requiring resolution conversion and / or bit depth conversion for the composition data, In addition, a document management apparatus, a document management system, a list of printing apparatuses in this system, a document management method, and a document management program, in which additional data such as a header and a footer are added before printing, can confirm the same state as the printing result The purpose is to provide.

  Furthermore, the present invention provides a document management system capable of automatically arranging headers and footers at appropriate positions desired by the user when printing data including pages having different paper sizes, and a printing apparatus in this system. For the purpose.

The said subject is solved by the following means.
(1) is added to the block copy data composed of raster images, and layer forming means for forming a layer of additional data comprising a raster image, the layer of the additional data generated by the Layer forming means, said plate Layer composition means for adding to the lower data as a separate layer, and the composition data is composed of a plurality of pages, and when the resolution and / or bit depth of the composition data is different between pages, the layer creation means The document management apparatus , wherein the raster image of the additional data is created in accordance with the resolution and / or the maximum bit depth of the composition data .
(2) The document management apparatus according to item 1 above, wherein when a plurality of pieces of composition data are combined, the layer creating unit unifies the resolution and / or bit depth of the additional data.
(3) Information acquisition means for acquiring information about the printing direction of the paper printed by the printing apparatus, and printing of the paper printed by the printing apparatus based on the acquired information about the printing direction of the paper 3. The document management apparatus according to item 1 or 2, further comprising a printing position determining unit that determines a printing position of the additional data on the sheet with respect to the orientation of the document.
(4) The document management apparatus according to item 1, wherein the additional data is a header or a footer.
(5) A document management method executed by the document management apparatus, wherein a layer creation step for creating a layer of additional data consisting of raster images to be added to the composition data consisting of raster images, and creation in the layer creation step A layer synthesis step of adding the layer of the added data to the composition data as a separate layer, and the composition data is composed of a plurality of pages, and the resolution and / or bit of the composition data between pages. When the depths are different, the layer creation step creates the raster image of the additional data in accordance with the resolution and / or the maximum bit depth of the composition data.
(6) A layer creation step for creating a layer of additional data consisting of a raster image, which is added to the composition data consisting of a raster image, and the layer of additional data created in the layer creation step as the block data A document management program for causing a computer to execute a layer composition step to be added as a separate layer, wherein the composition data consists of a plurality of pages, and the resolution and / or bit depth of the composition data differs between pages. In this case, in the layer creation step, a document management program that causes the computer to execute a process of creating a raster image of the additional data in accordance with the maximum resolution and / or bit depth of the composition data.

  According to the invention described in item (1) above, additional data such as a header, footer, and the like made of a raster image is created as a layer separate from the composition data and added to the composition data as a separate layer. It is not necessary to convert the resolution and bit depth of the additional data in accordance with the data resolution and bit depth. Moreover, since a layer of additional data is added to the composition data, the user can check the same result as the output result in which additional data such as a header and footer is added before printing or the like. The output as displayed can be obtained.

When the composition data is composed of a plurality of pages and the resolution and / or bit depth of the composition data is different between pages, the layer creating means converts the raster image of the additional data into the resolution of the composition data. In addition, since it is created in accordance with the maximum value of the bit depth, the image quality of the additional data can be kept high.

According to the invention described in (2) above, when a plurality of block data is combined, the resolution and / or the additional data created according to the resolution and / or bit depth of the raster image of each block data The bit depth can be unified.

According to the invention described in (3) above, the print position of the additional data on the sheet with respect to the print direction of the paper printed by the printing device based on the acquired information on the print direction of the paper. Therefore, the user can obtain a printed matter in which the additional data is added at the position intended by the user.

  According to the invention described in the preceding item (6), it is not necessary to convert the resolution and bit depth of the additional data in accordance with the resolution and bit depth of the composition data, and the printing in which the additional data is added before printing is performed. The same state as the result can be displayed and confirmed by the user. Further, the document management system can obtain a printed matter in which the additional data is printed at a position intended by the user.

  According to the invention described in the above item (7), it can be configured as a printing apparatus capable of outputting a printed matter in which additional data is printed at a position intended by the user.

According to the invention described in the above item (5) , there is no need to convert the resolution and bit depth of the additional data in accordance with the resolution and bit depth of the composition data, and the additional data is added before printing. The same state as the result can be displayed and checked by the user.

According to the invention described in item (6) above, the step of creating a layer of additional data and the step of adding the created layer of additional data to the composition data composed of raster images as a separate layer Can be executed.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a document management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, this document management system includes a personal computer (PC) 1 and a plurality of printing apparatuses 2 and 3. These PC 1 and printing apparatuses 2 and 3 are connected via a network 4. Has been.

  The PC 1 is used as a document management apparatus, and a user can create data using application software (simply referred to as an application) 11 (shown in FIG. 2) described later.

  The printing apparatuses 2 and 3 are for outputting data created by the user on the PC 1, and for example, various printers, MFPs (Multi Function Peripherals) and the like are used.

  FIG. 2 is a functional configuration diagram of the PC 1.

  In FIG. 2, the PC 1 includes a storage unit 13 such as a hard disk device in addition to the document management unit 10 including a CPU.

  An application 11 having a document management function and a printer driver 12 are installed in the storage unit 13.

  The application 11 edits and processes the composition data (also referred to as original data) 5 composed of a raster image, and creates a layer of additional data such as a header and footer composed of a raster image separately from the composition data 5. This is used for editing or adding an additional data layer to the composition data 5 to synthesize an image.

  The printer driver 12 is software for causing the printing apparatus 2 (3) to print print data. That is, print data (PJL + PDL or the like) created by the application 11 is transmitted to the printing apparatus 2 (3) via the printer driver 12.

  PJL (Printer Job Language) is a print control command for controlling the printing apparatus 2 (3) such as ON / OFF of a duplex printing function and a stapling function, and PDL (Page-Description Language) Is a page description language.

  In PDF (Portable Document Format) direct printing, it is not necessary to pass through the printer driver 12, and any software for transmitting to the printing port of the printing apparatus 2 (3) may be used, and conversion to PDL is not required. .

  When the CPU executes the application 11 or the like, the document management unit 10 edits / processes the composition data 5 as described above, creates / edits the layer of the additional data, and forms the layer of the composition data 5 and the additional data. Realize functions such as synthesis.

  In this example, the document management unit 10 creates a layer of additional data depending on at least one of the resolution and bit depth of the original composition data. Note that the additional data is data added to the composition data, and includes, for example, a logo in addition to a header and a footer.

  Further, when the composition data 5 is composed of a plurality of pages, information on the orientation of each page (arrangement of the image of the page viewed on the application 11 on the actual paper size) is sent to the printing device 2 ( The application makes a response to get from 3). This may be performed on the printer driver 12.

  Further, it is not a configuration in which information is obtained by making an inquiry to the actual printing device 2 (3), but a configuration in which the application 11 itself holds the operation of the printing device 2 (3) as information and performs a response in the application 11. I do not care.

  The imposition information here is used to appropriately control the position where the additional data is added, as will be described later.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the printing apparatus 2 (3).

  In FIG. 3, the printing apparatus 2 (3) includes a print data receiving unit 21, a response unit 22, a control unit 23, a RAM 24, a ROM 25, an operation / display unit 26, and a hard disk drive (storage means). HDD 27), an image processing unit 28, and a printing unit 29.

  The print data receiving unit 21 receives print data (PJL + PDL, etc.) from the PC 1.

  The response unit 22 can communicate with the application 11 in the PC 1. When receiving the imposition direction confirmation data from the application 11, the response unit 22 sends a response to the application 11 regarding the imposition direction confirmation data. Is what you do.

  The control unit 23 is composed of a CPU or the like, and controls the overall operation of the printing apparatus 2 (3).

  The RAM 24 is a memory that provides a work area for control processing performed by the control unit 23.

  The ROM 25 is a memory that stores an operation program of the control unit 23.

  The operation / display unit 26 is used by a user to input various instructions or display various modes, messages, and the like to the user.

  The image processing unit 28 performs predetermined image processing on the received print data.

  The printing unit 29 prints print data on paper and outputs it.

  In the printing apparatus 2 (3), data for confirming the imposition orientation as shown in FIG. 4 is transmitted from the application 11 side in the PC 1 to the printing apparatus 2 (3). The data for checking the imposition direction is a list of settings of a printer driver 12 used by a user and a dialog for setting a print function.

  In the list of FIG. 4, for example, there are items such as a print type, a bind position, a staple, a punch, a mixed paper size, and the like.

  In this example, the paper size information (mixed paper size) included in the data to be printed is included in the item of transmission data as ID5, but the print data is transmitted to the printing apparatus 2 (3) and printed. The paper size included in the print data may be determined on the apparatus 2 (3) side.

  When the response unit 22 in the printing apparatus 2 (3) receives the imposition direction confirmation data from the PC 1, it transmits imposition direction response confirmation data as shown in FIG. 11 is received.

  The response confirmation data for the facing direction includes the paper size such as A4 and A3, the orientation of the paper such as portrait and landscape (Orientation), and the printing surface (Side) such as front (Front) / back (Back). Contents such as rotation angle (Rotation) are listed.

  That is, in the response confirmation data of FIG. 5, in the case of a mixed document of A4 and A3, how the original document page depends on the paper size, paper orientation (Orientation), and printing surface (front / back surface in double-sided printing) It is stored as information on whether it is rotated and impositioned.

  In this example, an A4 portrait document page is described as a reference (rotation angle 0 degree).

  The document management unit 10 determines an appropriate position to add additional data such as a header and a footer based on these data.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the composition data 5.

  FIG. 6 shows a case where the composition data has a plurality of pages and the resolution and bit depth are different for each page.

  For example, if the page number is drawn as a footer in red, if the footer is drawn as it is as before, the 1bit / pixel page falls to binary, so it is "black", and the 8bit / pixel page is grayscale. It will be drawn in “gray” and the 24bit / pixel page will be drawn in “red”.

  Conventionally, since the resolution of each page is different, for example, the image quality of the page number to be drawn is different between a 200 dpi page and a 600 dpi page. That is, a 200 dpi page is rendered with a quality of 200 dpi, and a 600 dpi page is rendered with a quality of 600 dpi.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the composition data and the additional data layer (also referred to as a hierarchy).

  In FIG. 7, in order to solve the problem of FIG. 6, an additional data layer having a resolution and a bit depth common to all pages is prepared.

  When the user selects to add additional data to the composition data, an additional data layer having the same resolution and the same bit depth as the page is created.

  However, if all pages to which additional data needs to be added are not unified with the same resolution and the same bit depth, a layer is created with the maximum resolution and bit depth setting.

  For example, in the case of data in which a page of 400 dpi and 1 bit / pixel and a page of 300 dpi and 8 bit / pixel are mixed, a layer for additional data of 400 dpi and 8 bit / pixel is created. However, it is not always necessary to match the maximum value, and the user may be able to specify it.

  For example, when only a black page number is to be added, the additional data layer may be 1 bit / pixel.

  In this example, an additional data layer of 600 dpi, 24 bits / pixel, which is the maximum value, is created within the resolution and bit depth of each page shown in FIG. Additional data of the same quality can be provided. On the application 11, the original composition data and the additional data layer are displayed in a synthesized state.

  By creating a layer having the same resolution and / or bit depth as the original composition data, there is an advantage that the same quality as the final print result can be confirmed.

  For example, when the composition data 5 is 1 bit / pixel and the additional data such as the header and footer includes color and grayscale, and printing with a monochrome printer, the print result is dithered. It will be a ring.

  By having a layer as 1bit / pixel raster data (raster image), it is possible to manage color and grayscale as 1bit / pixel data in the layer and to guarantee output as it is seen. This can be done by dithering multi-valued data on the layer and converting it to 1 bit / pixel before printing.

  Next, update (combination / deletion) of layers will be described.

  The additional data layer updates the resolution / bit depth layer when the composition data 5 is deleted or combined. This always maintains a uniform resolution / bit depth for all pages.

  For example, when a 1-bit / pixel document and full-color (24-bit / pixel) composition data are combined, the user can select whether to unify the additional data layer to 1-bit / pixel or 24-bit / pixel. Like that.

  If you choose to unify the layers to 1bit / pixel, reduce the full color layer to 1bit / pixel. Conversely, if you choose to unify the layer to 24bit / pixel, extend the bit depth to 1bit / pixel layer to 24bit / pixel.

  As the layer configuration, the original composition data is added at the end of the data. Specifically, the configuration is as follows.

Layer information (structure)
Page number (1−)
Layer width (number of pixels)
Layer height (number of pixels)
Layer export position [Horizontal] (pixels)
Layer export position [Vertical] (pixels)
Layer image (binary data)
...
The layer information structure stores the processing set for the current layer. For example, the information is as follows. These pieces of information are settings common to the additional data layer, and when the layers are combined, these parameters are determined based on both parameters.

Additional page for additional data: 1,3-18
Resolution: 600
Bit depth: 1
Type: Page number Typeface: Times New Roman
Number of points: 11
Style: Regular Italic
Color: RGB (0,0,0)
The layer data may be handled as a separate file and managed by associating both links on the application 11 side.

  The layers do not necessarily have to be one layer for one page of the composition data, and may be composed of layers for header, footer, and logo (image).

  In this case, it is possible to specify the overlay order and overlay process (raster operation) of each layer.

  The advantage of having the additional data as a layer is that the original composition data 5 can be stored without being touched. That is, it is particularly effective when the additional data is changed and reused.

  The additional data layer may be diverted to another file layer.

  Also, it is possible to perform batch processing on each layer for headers and footers. This mainly means image processing such as resolution conversion and translucent processing.

  FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a document (display on the application 11) in which the pages A3 and A4 are mixedly loaded.

  It is not always appropriate that the drawing position of the additional data is in the same position and orientation in all pages. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, in the mixed data composed of A4 portrait (Portrait) and A3 portrait (Portrait) pages, the actual print result is bound on the long side of A4 paper and the short side of A3 paper. In general, the paper is discharged in the direction in which it is printed, and the actual original is also bound in that direction.

  At this time, which side of the short side of the A3 sheet is bound to one of the long sides of the A4 sheet varies depending on the printer driver 12 to be used, the print engine, and printing settings (such as stapling settings). Since these also depend on the printing device 2 (3) that performs printing, the user understands all the patterns and grasps how his / her original is discharged before printing. Difficult to do.

  Therefore, even if the user always wants to place the page number in the lower right regardless of the paper size, it is actually difficult to determine and add it. Further, the function for changing the position and orientation of the additional data depending on the page is not usually provided in the application 11.

  In order for the user to output as intended without understanding the circumstances of the printer driver 12 and the PC 1, information about the output direction of each page is obtained from the printing apparatus 2 (3), and the information is used as a reference. Thus, a mechanism for determining a position for displaying additional data is incorporated in the application 11.

  For example, if the user simply adds a page number as a footer to the lower right in the document of FIG. 8, the page number is added to the lower right position for both A4 paper and A3 paper, as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a mixed original (print result: left-bound staple) on pages A3 and A4.

  In FIG. 9, when the left binding staple is designated, the A3 page is bound in a direction rotated by 270 degrees with respect to the A4 page.

  At this time, the place where the user really wants to draw the page number is the position and direction of the circle (the same position as the page number of the A4 page when the A3 page is Z-folded).

  FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a mixed original (print result: right-bound staple) on pages A3 and A4.

  In FIG. 10, when the right binding staple is designated, the A3 page is now bound in a direction rotated 90 degrees with respect to the A4 page.

  At this time, the place where the user really wants to draw the page number is the position and direction of the circle (the same position as the page number of the A4 page when the A3 page is Z-folded).

  As in these examples, it is impossible to draw a page number at an appropriate position unless the user knows in advance how the A3 page is rotated by the function set. Since these differ depending on the function to be used and the printing apparatus 2 (3), it is not realistic for the user to learn all patterns.

  Therefore, by acquiring information from the printing apparatus 2 (3) how the paper is discharged according to the user's print settings, and automatically rotating the additional data layer of the page in an appropriate direction, Provide a mechanism to obtain the output as intended by the user.

  FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a mixed document of pages A3 and A4 (display on the application 11: when left-binding is specified), and shows an example in which a desirable result is obtained under the condition of left-binding staples in FIG.

  In FIG. 11, the additional data layer is rotated and displayed so that only the footer of the A3 page is positioned at the lower right when the A3 sheet is rotated 270 degrees.

  The above-described data shown in FIG. 5 shows response confirmation data sent from the printing apparatus 2 (3) when the left binding is designated, and the fact that the A3 portrait original is rotated by 270 degrees is included in ID5. It can be judged from the information.

  Therefore, the additional data layer is automatically rotated in an appropriate direction so that the additional data is printed on the paper position intended by the user, thereby obtaining a printed matter as intended by the user.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a process from when the printing apparatus 2 (3) receives imposition response confirmation data from the PC 1 until it transmits the response confirmation data to the PC 1.

  In FIG. 12, in step S1, the paper size is confirmed (condition 1). In step S2, confirmation of double-sided designation (condition 2) is performed. In step S3, mixed paper size is confirmed (condition 3). In step S4, mixed paper size is confirmed (condition 4).

  In step S5, IDs corresponding to the conditions 1 to 4 are searched. In step S6, it is determined whether or not there is a corresponding ID. If there is a corresponding ID (YES in step S6), in step S7, the contents of the ID are added to the transmission data, and then the process returns to step S5.

  If there is no corresponding ID (NO in step S6), in step S8, the searched ID is transmitted as transmission data to the PC 1, and the process is terminated. The PC 1 that has received the transmission data determines the arrangement of additional data (layer rotation) based on the transmitted ID.

  Next, for reference, FIGS. 13 and 14 show examples of rotation angle lists on the printing apparatus 2 (3) side.

  Based on this list, for example, when the data shown in FIG. 15A is received from the PC 1, the printing apparatus 2 (3) searches for all IDs corresponding to the table in FIG. Then, the data shown in FIG. 5C is created (however, the ID is reassigned).

1 is a configuration diagram of a document management system in which a document management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is used. It is a functional block diagram which shows the document management apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of a printing apparatus in the document management system of FIG. 1. It is a list which shows the transmission data of imposition response confirmation. It is a list which shows the reception data of imposition response confirmation. It is explanatory drawing of composition data. It is explanatory drawing of the layer for composition data and an additional data. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a mixed original (display on an application) of pages A3 and A4. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a mixed original (printing result: left-bound staple) on pages A3 and A4. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a mixed original (printing result: right-bound staple) on pages A3 and A4. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a mixed original of pages A3 and A4 (display on an application: when left binding is specified). 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing when the printing apparatus receives imposition response confirmation data from a PC (document management apparatus). The example of a list of rotation angles which a printing apparatus has is shown. It is a continuation of the list of FIG. It is explanatory drawing when creating the data for transmission to PC (document management apparatus) from the reception data transmitted from PC (document management apparatus) based on FIG.13 and FIG.14.

Explanation of symbols

1 Document management device (personal computer)
2 (3) Printing device 5 Composition data 10 Document management section (layer creation means, layer composition means)
11 Application 21 Print Data Reception Unit 22 Response Unit 23 Control Unit

Claims (6)

It is added to the block copy data composed of raster images, and layer forming means for forming a layer of additional data comprising a raster image,
And layer combining means for adding a layer of additional data created by the Layer forming means, as a separate hierarchy the block copy data,
Equipped with a,
When the composition data is composed of a plurality of pages and the resolution and / or bit depth of the composition data is different between pages, the layer creating means converts the raster image of the additional data into the resolution and composition of the composition data. And / or a document management device that is created in accordance with a maximum bit depth . The document management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when a plurality of composition data is combined, the layer creating unit unifies the resolution and / or bit depth of the additional data. Information acquisition means for acquiring information about the printing direction of the paper printed by the printing apparatus;
Based on the acquired information about the printing direction of the paper, a printing position determining unit is provided for determining a printing position of the additional data on the paper with respect to the printing direction of the paper printed by the printing apparatus. The document management apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The document management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the additional data is a header or a footer. A document management method executed by a document management apparatus,
A layer creation step for creating a layer of additional data composed of raster images to be added to the composition data composed of raster images;
A layer synthesis step of adding the layer of the additional data created in the layer creation step as a separate layer to the composition data;
Run
When the composition data is composed of a plurality of pages, and the resolution and / or bit depth of the composition data is different between pages, the layer creation step uses the resolution data of the composition data and the raster image of the additional data. A document management method, wherein the document management method is created in accordance with a maximum bit depth. A layer creation step for creating a layer of additional data composed of raster images to be added to the composition data composed of raster images;
A layer synthesis step of adding the layer of the additional data created in the layer creation step as a separate layer to the composition data;
Is a document management program for causing a computer to execute
When the composition data is composed of a plurality of pages, and the resolution and / or bit depth of the composition data is different between pages, the layer creation step uses the resolution data of the composition data and the raster image of the additional data. A document management program that causes the computer to execute processing to be created in accordance with the maximum bit depth.

Images