Method and apparatus for transferring page construction data according to hierarchical page data

Claim 2

A reproduction process apparatus for executing a variety of reproduction-related processes, said apparatus comprising: a memory for storing a plurality of page construction data files, each of said page construction data files having a name and including page layout data and image part data, said page layout data representing positions of a plurality of image parts laid out on one page, said positions being individually selectable by an operator of said apparatus, said image part data representing said plurality of image parts; a working memory for storing data used in execution of each of said variety of reproduction-related processes; a hierarchical memory for storing first hierarchy data including a plurality of job names each representing a print, second hierarchy data including a plurality of page numbers, and third hierarchy data including a plurality of said names of said page construction data files, each of said plurality of job names having at least one page number as said second hierarchy data, each of said plurality of page numbers having at least one of said names of said page construction data files as said third hierarchy data; page number specification means for selecting a specific page number from said plurality of page numbers; and data transfer means for comparing said specific page number with said second hierarchy data to extract at least one name of said page construction data files corresponding to said specific page number according to said third hierarchy data and for transferring page construction data files specified by said at least one name of said page construction data files from said memory to said working memory.

Claim 3

A reproduction process apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of process means for individually executing said variety of reproduction-related processes; process specification means for specifying a certain process; and selection means for selecting specific process means for executing said certain process from said plurality of process means and activating said specific process means to execute said certain process according to data stored in said working memory.

Claim 4

A reproduction process apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein said plurality of process means comprises process information specification means for setting desirable process information, said process information including first, second and third process titles, said first process title indicating a process of producing an overlapping area between two image parts, said second process title indicating a process of making a margin of a predetermined width around a contour of an image part, said third process title indicating a process of printing a black character over a background.

Claim 5

A reproduction process apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising: picture image scanning means for scanning at least one picture image in an original to capture picture data; linework image scanning means for scanning at least one linework to capture linework data; and layout data input means for tracing a line in a mechanical layout sheet to input said page layout data.

Claim 6

A reproduction process apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising: icon display means for displaying each of said plurality of page numbers as an icon; and wherein said page number specification means further comprises icon movement monitoring means for monitoring a movement of said icon moved by an operator.

Claim 7

A reproduction apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein the data transfer means comprises a target icon on said display, said icon moved by said operator being movable to said target icon.

Claim 8

A reproduction process apparatus for executing a variety of reproduction-related processes, said apparatus comprising: a memory for storing a plurality of page construction data files, each of said page construction data files having a name and including page layout data and image part data, said page layout data representing positions of a plurality of image parts laid out on one page, said positions being individually selectable by an operator of said apparatus, said image part data representing said plurality of image parts; a working memory for storing data used in execution of each of said variety of reproduction-related processes; a hierarchical memory for storing first hierarchy data including a plurality of job names each representing a print, second hierarchy data including a plurality of page numbers, and third hierarchy data including a plurality of said names of said page construction data files, each of said plurality of job names having at least one page number as said second hierarchy data, each of said plurality of page numbers having at least one of said names of said page construction data files as said third hierarchy data; job name specification means for selecting a specific job name out of said plurality of job names; and data transfer means for comparing said specific job name with said first hierarchy data to extract all names of said page construction data files corresponding to said specific job name according to said second hierarchy data and said third hierarchy data, and for transferring page construction data files specified by said all names of said page construction data files from said memory to said working memory.

Claim 9

A reproduction process apparatus for executing a variety of reproduction-related processes, said apparatus comprising: a memory for storing a plurality of page construction data files, each of said page construction data files having a name and including page layout data and image part data, said page layout data representing positions of a plurality of image parts laid out on one page, said positions being individually selectable by an operator of said apparatus, said image part data representing said plurality of image parts; a working memory for storing data used in execution of each of said variety of reproduction-related processes; a hierarchical memory for storing first hierarchy data including a plurality of job names each representing a print, second hierarchy data including a plurality of page numbers, and third hierarchy data including a plurality of said names of said page construction data files, each of said plurality of job names having at least one page number as said second hierarchy data, each of said plurality of page numbers having at least one of said names of said page construction data files as said third hierarchy data; job name specification means for selecting a specific job name out of said plurality of job names; and data transfer means for comparing said specific job name with said first hierarchy data to extract all names of said page construction data files corresponding to said specific job name according to said second hierarchy data and said third hierarchy data, and for transferring page construction data files specified by said all names of said page construction data files from said memory to said working memory.

Claim 10

A reproduction process apparatus in accordance with claim 7, further comprising: a plurality of process means for individually executing said variety of reproduction-related processes; process specification means for specifying a certain process; and selection means for selecting specific process means for executing said certain process from said plurality of process means and activating said specific process means to execute said certain process according to said data stored in said working memory.

Claim 11

A reproduction process apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein said plurality of process means comprises process information specification means for setting desirable process information, said process information including first, second and third process titles, said first process title indicating a process of producing an overlapping area between two image parts, said second process title indicating a process of making a margin of a predetermined width around a contour of an image part, said third process title indicating a process of printing a black character over a background.

Claim 12

A reproduction process apparatus in accordance with claim 8, further comprising: pattern memory for storing a signature pattern representing a page signature pattern on each printing plate; and wherein said plurality of process means comprises output means for outputting said page construction data according to signature data; said output means further comprising signature data layout means for allocating said page construction data files corresponding to said all names transferred to said working memory to said signature data for each page according to said signature pattern.

Claim 13

A reproduction process apparatus in accordance with claim 7, further comprising: picture image scanning means for scanning at least one picture image in an original to capture picture data; linework image scanning means for scanning at least one linework to capture linework data; and layout data input means for tracing a line in a mechanical layout sheet to input said page layout data.

Claim 14

A reproduction process apparatus in accordance with claim 7, further comprising: icon display means for displaying each of said plurality of job names as an icon; and wherein said job name specification means further comprises icon movement monitoring means for monitoring a movement of said icon moved by an operator of said apparatus.

Claim 15

A reproduction apparatus in accordance with claim 12, wherein the data transfer means comprises a target icon on said display, said icon moved by said operator being movable to said target icon.

Claim 18

A method in accordance with claim 14, further comprising: step (f) of preparing a plurality of process units for individually executing said variety of reproduction-related processes; step (g) of specifying a certain process; and step (h) of selecting a specific process unit for executing said certain process out of said plurality of process units and activating said specific process unit to execute said certain process according to data stored in said working memory.

Claim 19

A method in accordance with claim 15, wherein said step (f) further comprises preparing a process information specification unit for setting desirable process information, said process information including first through third process titles, said first process title indicating a process of producing an overlapping area between two image parts, said second process title indicating a process of making a margin of a predetermined width around a contour of an image part, said third process title indicating a process of printing a black character over a background.

Claim 20

A method in accordance with claim 14, further comprising: step (i) of scanning at least one picture images in an original to capture picture data; step (j) of scanning at least one linework to capture linework data; and step (k) of tracing a line in a mechanical layout sheet to input said page layout data.

Claim 21

A method in accordance with claim 14, further comprising: step (l) of displaying each of said plurality of page numbers as an icon; wherein said step (d) further comprises monitoring a movement of said icon moved by the operator.

Claim 22

A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein said step (e) further comprises: displaying a target icon on said display; and moving said icon moved by the operator to said target icon.

Claim 25

A method in accordance with claim 20, further comprising: step (f) of preparing a plurality of process units for individually executing said variety of reproduction-related processes; (g) specifying a certain process; and (h) selecting a specific process unit for executing said certain process out of said plurality of process units and activating said specific process unit to execute said certain process according to data stored in said working memory.

Claim 26

A method in accordance with claim 21, wherein said step (f) further comprises preparing a process information specification unit for setting desirable process information, said process information including first, second and third process titles, said first process title indicating a process of producing an overlapping area between two image parts, said second process title indicating a process of making a margin of a predetermined width around a contour of an image part, said third process title indicating a process of printing a black character over a background.

Claim 27

A method in accordance with claim 21, further comprising: step (i) storing a signature pattern representing a page signature pattern on each printing plate; wherein said step (f) further comprises preparing an output unit for outputting said page construction data files according to signature data, and allocating all page construction data files corresponding to said all names transferred to said working memory to said signature data for each page according to said signature pattern.

Claim 28

A method in accordance with claim 20, said method further comprising: step (k) of scanning at least one picture images in an original to capture picture data; step (l) of scanning at least one linework to capture linework data; and step (m) of tracing a line in a mechanical layout sheet to input said page layout data.

Claim 29

A method in accordance with claim 20, further comprising: step (n) of displaying each of said plurality of job names as an icon; and wherein said step (d) further comprises monitoring a movement of said icon moved by an operator.

Claim 30

A method in accordance with claim 25, wherein said step (e) further comprises: displaying a target icon on said display; and moving said icon moved by the operator to said target icon.

Claim 31

A reproduction process apparatus for executing a variety of reproduction-related processes, said apparatus comprising: a memory for storing a plurality of page construction data files, each of said page construction data files having a name and including page layout data and image part data, said page layout data representing positions of a plurality of image parts laid on one page, said image part data representing said plurality of image parts; a working memory for storing data used in execution of each of said variety of reproduction-related processes; a hierarchical memory for storing first hierarchy data including a plurality of job names each representing a print, second hierarchy data including a plurality of page numbers, and third hierarchy data including a plurality of said names of said page construction data files, each of said plurality of job names having at least one page number as said second hierarchy data, each of said plurality of page numbers having at least one of said names of said page construction data files as said third hierarchy data; page number specification means for selecting a specific page number from said plurality of page numbers; and data transfer means for comparing said specific page number with said second hierarchy data to extract at least one name of said page construction data files corresponding to said specific page number according to said third hierarchy data and for transferring page construction data files specified by said at least one name of said page construction data files from said memory to said working memory, said data transfer means comprising display icons representing said plurality of page numbers and movable onto a target icon.

Claim 32

A reproduction process apparatus for executing a variety of reproduction-related processes, said apparatus comprising: a memory for storing a plurality of page construction data files, each of said page construction data files having a name and including page layout data and image part data, said page layout data representing positions of a plurality of image parts laid on one page, said image part data representing said plurality of image parts; a working memory for storing data used in execution of each of said variety of reproduction-related processes; a hierarchical memory for storing first hierarchy data including a plurality of job names each representing a print, second hierarchy data including a plurality of page numbers, and third hierarchy data including a plurality of said names of said page construction data files, each of said plurality of job names having at least one page number as said second hierarchy data, each of said plurality of page numbers having at least one of said names of said page construction data files as said third hierarchy data; page number specification means for selecting a specific page number from said plurality of page numbers; and data transfer means for comparing said specific page number with said second hierarchy data to extract at least one name of said page construction data files corresponding to said specific page number according to said third hierarchy data and for transferring page construction data files specified by said at least one name of said page construction data files from said memory to said working memory, said data transfer means comprising display icons representing said plurality of page numbers and movable onto a target icon.

Claim 33

A reproduction process apparatus for executing a variety of reproduction-related processes, said apparatus comprising: a memory for storing a plurality of page construction data files, each of said page construction data files having a name and including page layout data and image part data, said page layout data representing positions of a plurality of image parts laid on one page, said image part data representing said plurality of image parts; a working memory for storing data used in execution of each of said variety of reproduction-related processes; a hierarchical memory for storing first hierarchy data including a plurality of job names each representing a print, second hierarchy data including a plurality of page numbers, and third hierarchy data including a plurality of said names of said page construction data files, each of said plurality of job names having at least one page number as said second hierarchy data, each of said plurality of page numbers having at least one of said names of said page construction data files as said third hierarchy data; job name specification means for selecting a specific job name out of said plurality of job names; and data transfer means for comparing said specific job name with said first hierarchy data to extract all names of said page construction data files corresponding to said specific job name according to said second hierarchy data and said third hierarchy data, and for transferring page construction data files specified by said all names of said page construction data files from said memory to said working memory, said data transfer means comprising display icons representing said plurality of job names and movable onto a target icon.

Claim 34

A reproduction process apparatus for executing a variety of reproduction-related processes, said apparatus comprising: a memory for storing a plurality of page construction data files, each of said page construction data files having a name and including page layout data and image part data, said page layout data representing positions of a plurality of image parts laid on one page, said image part data representing said plurality of image parts; a working memory for storing data used in execution of each of said variety of reproduction-related processes; a hierarchical memory for storing first hierarchy data including a plurality of job names each representing a print, second hierarchy data including a plurality of page numbers, and third hierarchy data including a plurality of said names of said page construction data files, each of said plurality of job names having at least one page number as said second hierarchy data, each of said plurality of page numbers having at least one of said names of said page construction data files as said third hierarchy data; job name specification means for selecting a specific job name out of said plurality of job names; and data transfer means for comparing said specific job name with said first hierarchy data to extract all names of said page construction data files corresponding to said specific job name according to said second hierarchy data and said third hierarchy data, and for transferring page construction data files specified by said all names of said page construction data files from said memory to said working memory, said data transfer means comprising display icons representing said plurality of job names and movable onto a target icon.