JP2007226465A - Image output system and image output method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image output system and an image output method for dividing variable print data into pages including common variable data when dividing and distributing the print data to a plurality of image output devices to print the print data. <P>SOLUTION: An image output system, which includes a plurality of image output devices (3a, 3b, 3c) to be connected with one another via a network, a plurality of image output devices that receives variable print data including a plurality of items of variable data to be inserted into each insertion position of a plurality of pages and including component information showing variable data to be inserted into the insertion positions, and divides the plurality of pages to output an image, and a first control device 1 comprising a discriminating means for discriminating the degree of overlapping of the component information on the plurality of pages, and a dividing means for dividing the plurality of pages in order of page with a high degree of overlapping, outputs an image from any one of the plurality of image output devices for each divided plurality of pages. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image output system and an image output method, and more particularly, to an apparatus for printing by dividing a print based on variable print data into a plurality of image output apparatuses.

  Conventionally, multi-function machines (hereinafter collectively referred to as color laser printers) having functions such as electrophotographic color laser printers, scanners, copiers and facsimile machines have been used for comps to understand the finished image. However, reflecting the recent improvement in image quality of color laser printers and the ability to output high-quality color images at low cost and at high speed, it is also used for making final printed materials in small-lot printing, etc. It has come to be. Printing using a color laser printer does not require an operator to handle a printing plate like conventional printing, and can produce a printed matter from image data.

  Further, with the spread of DTP (Desk Top Publishing) and the like, image data is created by editing the image on software of a computer. Such image data includes the coordinates of the points of each object shown as an image and the parameters of the line and surface equations connecting them, as well as the font color (density value), special effects, and character font information indicating the character shape. And data including vector data represented by a set of drawing information such as its size, such as PostScript or PDF, which are general-purpose page description languages.

  Then, in order to print with a color laser printer, the created image data is analyzed and processed by RIP (Raster Image Processor), that is, vector data is converted into raster data showing an array of pixels indicated by density values of each color. (This conversion processing may be referred to as “RIP processing” hereinafter.)

  For example, when printing direct mail or the like, if each image data is created and printed by PostScript or PDF, there is a problem that it takes a lot of time to create the image data. However, it takes time to perform RIP processing for each image data, and depending on the quantity of image data, it takes time to perform RIP processing.

  Therefore, a technique called variable printing has come to be used when direct mail printing or the like is performed (for example, see Patent Document 1). Variable printing is a variable printing composed of a plurality of variable data for insertion, position information indicating a position where variable data is inserted (hereinafter referred to as an insertion position), and component information indicating variable data to be inserted on each page. Using data, variable data is inserted at the insertion position for each page data, and printing is performed. Thus, for example, when direct mail is printed, variable data including an address name or image, for example, is used as variable data, so that the variable data indicating the image and address name is RIP-processed and inserted into the insertion position. Print image data is generated, and printing is performed based on the print image data. For example, if the images to be inserted are common, RIP processing of this data can be performed once and reused. Therefore, the RIP processing time is shortened compared to the case where the image data of each created page is printed by RIP processing.

  On the other hand, an image output system in which print data created by an editing terminal is transmitted to a plurality of image output devices connected to a network, and is shared by a plurality of image output devices and output simultaneously or in parallel. There is.

  According to such an image output system, for example, when outputting a large number of materials, since the output of the large number of copies is shared by a plurality of image output devices, and output simultaneously or in parallel, The work can be completed in a shorter time than when the output is performed with only one image output apparatus. For example, there is one in which printing work is divided with reference to information on the image output device so as to increase the operation efficiency of each image output device (for example, see Patent Document 2).

  Further, in some cases, printing is performed by dividing it into a plurality of image output apparatuses so as to speed up the printing operation of the variable print data described above. In this case, each image output device is provided with a control device for performing RIP processing. Then, the variable print data divided by each control device is received, RIP processing of the variable data is performed to generate print image data inserted at the insertion positions, and based on the print image data generated by each. Print on each image output device.

JP 2003-323289 A JP-A-11-110143

  However, although the printing time is shortened by the division, the RIP processing of the variable data is performed by each control device. Therefore, even if the common variable data is divided into different control devices, RIP processing is individually performed by the control device. That is, the total time of RIP processing is long and is not efficient. Further, when the common variable data indicates a color image, the output color may be different when output by different image output devices.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to divide variable print data into pages including common variable data when printing is performed by dividing the variable print data into a plurality of image output apparatuses. An image output system and an image output method are provided.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention described in claim 1 comprises a plurality of image output devices connected via a network, a plurality of variable data to be inserted at respective insertion positions of a plurality of pages, and the insertion An image output system that receives variable print data including part information indicating variable data to be inserted at a position, divides the plurality of pages, and outputs an image using the plurality of image output devices. A discriminating unit that discriminates the degree of duplication of component information on a page; and a dividing unit that divides the plurality of pages in order of the pages having the highest degree of duplication, and each of the plurality of image output devices One of the features is that an image is output.

  The invention according to claim 2 includes a plurality of image output devices connected via a network, and a plurality of variable data to be inserted at respective insertion positions of a plurality of pages, and to be inserted at the insertion positions. An image output system that receives variable print data including component information indicating variable data, divides the plurality of pages, and prints an image using the plurality of image output devices, wherein the variable print data includes: A reference page determination unit that determines a reference page that is a reference for comparison, and compares the component information of each of the plurality of pages with the component information of the reference page to obtain common component information, and the common page A discrimination means for discriminating the degree of duplication of part information from the quantity of part information, and grouping in order of the pages with the highest degree of duplication It, and a dividing means for dividing said plurality of pages, is characterized by outputting the image in one of the plurality of image output devices for each of the divided plurality of pages.

  The invention described in claim 3 includes a plurality of image output devices connected via a network, and a plurality of variable data to be inserted at respective insertion positions of a plurality of pages, and to be inserted at the insertion positions. An image output system that receives variable print data including component information indicating variable data, divides the plurality of pages, and prints an image using the plurality of image output devices, and weights the types of the variable data in advance. Weight storage means for storing; reference page determining means for determining a reference page as a reference for comparison in the variable print data; the component information for each of the plurality of pages; and the component information for the reference page. To obtain common component information, the type of variable data indicated by the common component information and the previous A discriminating means for discriminating the degree of duplication of component information for each of the plurality of pages based on weighting; and a dividing means for dividing the plurality of pages by grouping in order of the pages with the highest degree of duplication. The image is output by any one of the plurality of image output devices for each of the plurality of divided pages.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the reference page determination unit determines a plurality of the reference pages, and the determination unit determines the component information of each of the plurality of pages and the component information of the plurality of reference pages. And the degree of duplication is discriminated.

  The invention according to claim 5 further includes usage frequency calculating means for calculating usage frequency of each part information in the variable print data with reference to part information, and the reference page determining means includes at least the reference page. It is characterized by being a page that includes the calculated part information that is frequently used.

  The invention according to claim 6 further includes priority order storage means for storing a priority order for the type of variable data in advance, and the reference page determination means includes at least the part information having a high priority order for the reference page. It is characterized by being a page.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided variable print data including a plurality of variable data to be inserted at respective insertion positions of a plurality of pages and component information indicating variable data to be inserted at the insertion positions. An image output method for outputting an image using a plurality of image output devices connected to each other via a network by dividing the plurality of pages, and determining the degree of duplication of component information in the plurality of pages; The method includes a step of dividing the plurality of pages in the order of pages with a high degree of overlap, and a step of outputting an image by any one of the plurality of image output devices for each of the divided plurality of pages.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided variable print data including a plurality of variable data to be inserted at respective insertion positions of a plurality of pages and component information indicating variable data to be inserted at the insertion positions. An image output method for outputting an image using a plurality of image output devices connected to each other via a network by dividing the plurality of pages, wherein a reference page serving as a reference for comparison in the variable print data is A step of determining, a step of comparing the component information of each of the plurality of pages with the component information of the reference page, obtaining common component information, and duplication of component information from the quantity of the common component information Determining the degree, dividing the plurality of pages by grouping in the order of pages with a high degree of overlap, and It is characterized in that it comprises a step of outputting an image in one of the plurality of image output devices for each divided by a plurality of pages.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided variable print data including a plurality of variable data to be inserted at respective insertion positions of a plurality of pages and component information indicating variable data to be inserted at the insertion positions. An image output method for outputting an image using a plurality of image output devices divided into a plurality of pages and connected via a network, the step of storing weights for types of variable data in advance, and the variable printing Determining a reference page as a reference for comparison in the data, comparing the component information of each of the plurality of pages with the component information of the reference page, and obtaining common component information; Each of the plurality of pages is based on the type of variable data indicated by the common component information and the weighting. Determining the degree of duplication of the component information, dividing the plurality of pages by grouping in order of the pages with the highest degree of duplication, and the plurality of pages for each of the plurality of divided pages And outputting an image by any one of the image output devices.

  According to the image output system and the image output method of the present invention, a plurality of pages of variable print data are divided in order of pages with a high degree of duplication by determining the degree of duplication of component information constituting variable print data. It is possible to divide into pages including variable data.

  Hereinafter, various embodiments of an image output system, an image output method, a program for executing the method, and a storage medium storing the program according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment>
[Image output system]
First, variable printing performed by the image output system will be described. First, variable print data will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of variable print data. As shown in FIG. 2, variable print data includes position information indicating a position where variable data is inserted (hereinafter referred to as an insertion position), component information indicating variable data to be inserted at each insertion position of each page, and It consists of a plurality of variable data for insertion.

  The position information indicates positions on the page for positions A, B, C, and D, for example. FIG. 3 shows an example of a position. For example, each position indicates a range on the page by coordinates.

  The component information includes, for example, a database as shown in FIG. 2 and indicates variable data to be inserted at each position of each page. In FIG. 3, the component information is identification information of components 1, 2,. It is indicated by a part number.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the variable data is composed of, for example, a part number and drawing information. The drawing information is indicated by vector data such as the coordinates of the object and the parameters of the lines and planes connecting the coordinates, the fill color and special effect, or the character font information indicating the character shape and its size. For example, simple figures are indicated by point coordinates and equation parameters indicating the shape of lines and faces connecting them, color information indicating colors, etc., for example, characters are character font information indicating the shape of characters, and their sizes and colors. For example, a picture is indicated by picture information including a shape, a density value, and the like. In addition, each of them may include special effects such as gradation.

  Here, as an example, the part 1 is a simple figure “square”, the part 2 is a letter “AAAAAA”, the part 3 is a letter “CCCCC”, the part 4 is a simple figure “circular”, the part 5 is a simple figure “triangle”, and the part 6 4 is the character “BBBBB”, and the component 7 is the character “DDDDD”, the variable data specified by the component information for each page is inserted into each position by using the variable print data, for example, as shown in FIG. Printing is performed as in the printing example of each page.

<System configuration>
FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of an image output system according to the present invention. The image output system of the present embodiment includes a first control device 1 connected to client terminals 4a, 4b, and 4c, which are upstream terminals, via a network N, second control devices 2a, 2b, and 2c, and second control. It includes color laser printers 3a, 3b and 3c (image output devices) connected to the devices 2a, 2b and 2c, respectively. Further, the numbers of client terminals 4, first control device 1, second control device, and color laser printer are not limited to the example shown in FIG. The client terminal 4, the first control device 1, and the second control device 2 each operate as a computer terminal, and include a computer body, an operation unit such as a mouse and a keyboard, and a display unit such as a monitor. A predetermined operation program is incorporated. The client terminal 4 further includes an editing program for performing image editing, and an image input device such as an image scanner.

  The client terminal 4 is for the client to perform editing and layout work, create the above-described variable print data, and send it to the first control apparatus 1.

  The first control device 1 receives variable print data transmitted from one of the client terminals 4 via the network N, divides the variable print data page based on the component information, and generates a plurality of variable print divided data. Then, each is distributed to the plurality of second control devices 2. Each variable print division data includes position information in the variable print data shown in FIG. 2, component information for each divided page, and variable data included in the component information.

  Each of the second control devices 2 receives the variable print division data transmitted from the first control device 1, sequentially RIP processes the variable data, inserts the RIP-processed variable data into each page sequentially, and prints the image for printing. Data is generated and transmitted to the color laser printers 3 connected to the respective second control devices 2 together with output instruction signals including various instruction information such as output instructions and recording paper sizes.

  Here, as described in [Prior Art], the RIP processing is an analysis of vector data, for example, data described in the general-purpose page description language PostScript or PDF, and the pixel indicated by the density value of each color. It is to convert into raster data (bitmap data) shown in an array. Further, the density value is a gradation value indicating, for example, 0 for white and 255 for solid, in a stepwise manner. Therefore, the printing image data is composed of raster data.

  The color laser printer 3 is a multifunction printer having a scanning unit such as an electrophotographic copying unit or an image scanner, for example, and an image based on printing image data in accordance with an output instruction signal transmitted from the second control device 2. Is formed at the corresponding position of the recording sheet.

<Control configuration of first control device>
The function which the 1st control apparatus 1 has is demonstrated using FIG. FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram for explaining the control configuration of the first control apparatus 1.

  The accepting unit 101 sends the variable print divided data transmitted from the first control device 1 to the dividing unit 102.

  The dividing unit 102 has a function of dividing the variable print data by grouping pages based on the component information and generating a plurality of variable print divided data. The reference page determining unit 103, the determining unit 104, and the grouping unit 105 It is comprised including.

  The reference page determination unit 103 determines a page (reference page) as a reference for grouping pages.

  The discriminating means 104 compares the part information between each page and the reference page, searches for the part information common to the reference page for each page, and determines the degree of overlap based on the number. For example, it is determined that the degree of duplication is high in descending order of the number of common component information.

  The grouping unit 105 divides a plurality of pages constituting variable print data into a plurality of groups based on the determination result for each page by the determination unit 104. Then, each variable print division data is generated from the position information, the component information of each page of each group, and the variable data included in the component information. A plurality of variable print division data is transmitted to the second control device 2 via the interface 106, and functions as a distribution unit.

<Control configuration of second control device>
The function which the 2nd control apparatus 2 has is demonstrated using FIG. FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram for explaining the control configuration of the second control device 2.

  The accepting unit 201 accepts the variable print division data transmitted from the first control device 1 and sends it to the printing image data generating unit 202.

  The print image data generation unit 202 generates print image data based on the variable print division data, and includes an analysis processing unit 203, a temporary storage unit 204, and a synthesis unit 205.

  The analysis processing unit 203 receives the variable print division data, performs RIP processing of the variable data, and the temporary storage unit 204 stores the RIP-processed variable data.

  The synthesizing unit 205 inserts the RIP-processed variable data corresponding to each page sequentially at the position to be inserted based on the position information and the component information, generates the print image data for each page, and stores the print image data. Send to means 206.

  The print image data storage unit 206 sequentially stores the print image data of each page.

  The print instruction unit 210 is, for example, for inputting a print execution instruction. When the print execution instruction is input by the print instruction unit 210, the print image data storage unit 206 stores the print execution instruction. The printed image data is transmitted to the color laser printer 3 via the interface 211.

<Division procedure of variable print data>
Next, a procedure for dividing variable print data in this system will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure for dividing variable print data in the present system.

  7, the accepting unit 101 accepts variable print data created by the client terminal 4 (step S101, Y. Hereinafter, step S101 is abbreviated as S101. The other steps are also the same). (Omitted)

  Next, the reference page determination unit 103 determines a page as a grouping reference (S102). How the reference page is determined is stored in advance, and the reference page determination unit 103 determines the reference page based on the stored reference page. Further, the determination unit 104 compares the component information of each page and the reference page, searches for the number of common component information (hereinafter also referred to as the number of common component information), and determines the degree of overlap (S103). ). For example, the discrimination will be described with reference to FIG. 8 using the part information of the variable print data shown in FIG. 2 as an example. FIG. 8 is a table showing an example of a search result of the number of common component information. For example, the reference page is the first page, and the number of common component information on each page is searched. In this example, the part information included in the reference page is “part No. 1, part No. 2, part No. 5”. Then, by comparing with the component information on each page, the number of common component information on each page is as shown in FIG. 8 (the number of common components in the figure). FIG. 8 shows an example of a search result of the number of common component information with respect to the reference page for each page. Then, for example, it is determined that the degree of duplication is high in descending order of the number of common component information, that is, the number of common variable data.

  Next, the grouping unit 105 divides the plurality of pages constituting the variable print data into a plurality of groups based on the determination result of the number of common parts information for each page by the determination unit 104, and determines the position information and each group. Each piece of variable print divided data is generated from the component information of each page of the page and the variable data included in the component information (S104). How to divide is stored in advance, and the grouping means 105 divides based on that. For example, if “divide into 2 in the order of the number of common variable data”, the total number of pages is 4 pages, so that the page is divided into 2 pages. A page 3 where 1 and 2 are common, and a page 2 where 1 is common and page 4 which is 0 are grouped and divided, respectively.

  Then, the grouping unit 105 distributes and transmits each of the plurality of variable print division data to any of the second control devices 2 via the interface 106 (S105). Each of the second control devices 2 receives the variable print division data, performs RIP processing by the print image data generation unit 202, generates print image data, and sends it to the color laser printer 3. The color laser printer 3 outputs an image based on the printing image data.

  As described above, pages including common variable data can be grouped together. Therefore, the entire RIP processing time can be shortened. Further, since the printing time can be shortened by the division, the time for all printing operations of the variable print data can be shortened. Further, by making pages having common variable data into the same group, for example, when the variable data is a color image, the same color laser printer 3 can output the output color, so that the output color is stabilized.

  Further, pages having a predetermined number of common variable data may be divided into one group. For example, “the number of common variable data is 1 or more”, and in the above example, pages 1, 2, and 3 are one group.

  Further, the reference page may be a single page including variable data having the highest use frequency. By making the variable data having the highest use frequency into the same group, the entire RIP processing time can be shortened. In this case, the first control device 1 includes usage frequency calculation means (not shown) for calculating the usage frequency of the part information in the variable print data, and the reference page determination means 103 is at least the calculated high usage frequency part. A page including information may be determined as a reference page.

  Moreover, you may make it divide | segment using a some reference | standard page. For example, after grouping one group with a reference page and a page having a predetermined number of common component information on the first reference page (first reference page), another second reference page is determined and the second reference is similarly set. You may make it repeat grouping by a new reference | standard page like grouping 1 group in a page. When dividing into three or more groups, each group can be grouped with pages including common variable data, and the entire RIP processing time can be shortened.

  Also, a plurality of reference pages, for example, the first reference page and the second reference page are determined, the number of common component information for each reference page is searched to determine the degree of overlap, and the division is performed based on the determination result You may make it do. For example, the discrimination will be described with reference to FIG. 9, taking the component information of the variable print data shown in FIG. 2 as an example. FIG. 9 is a table showing an example of a search result for the number of common variable data. For example, the first page is the first reference page, and the second reference page is one page having a small number of variable data in common with the first reference page, which is the fourth page in this example. Then, each reference page and the number of common component information (the number of common components in the figure) are obtained as shown in FIG. Then, the degree of overlap may be determined by the number of pieces of common component information with each reference page and grouped. For example, if it is divided into two, page 2 and page 4 are grouped from the number of common component information with the first reference page, and from page 1, page 3, and the number of common component information with the second reference page. In addition, if pages with the number of common component information with each reference page are a predetermined number or more, group the other pages into one group, and if there are three groups, the number of common component information with each reference page is large. Pages with a lot of common variable data can be grouped.

  Further, although the insertion position has been described as common position information for each page, a configuration may be employed in which variable information to be inserted at each insertion position is specified for each page.

  Further, the second control device 2 has the function of the first control device 1 described above, and any of the second control devices 2 divides the variable print data to generate a plurality of variable print division data, and the second You may make it distribute to the control apparatus 2. FIG.

<Second Embodiment>
Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described. In the following, detailed description of configurations substantially similar to those of the first embodiment will be omitted, and different points will be mainly described.

  In the present embodiment, the type of variable data drawing information (variable data type) is weighted to determine the degree of overlap. The configuration and procedure for this are shown below.

<Control configuration of first control device>
FIG. 10 shows a functional block diagram for explaining the control configuration of the first control apparatus 1 in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the first control device 1 includes a weighting table 107. FIG. 11 shows an example of the configuration of the weighting table 107.

  The weighting table 107 stores types of drawing information constituting each variable data, for example, weight values for simple graphics, characters, paintings, and special effect gradations as shown in FIG. As the weight value, a value input using an input unit (not shown) or a value written in advance in a program or the like is used.

  The discriminating unit 104 compares the component information between each page and the reference page, searches for component information common to the reference page, and draws variable data indicated by the component information, as in the first embodiment. Determine by weighting according to the type of information.

<Division procedure of variable print data>
Next, a procedure for dividing variable print data in this system will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a procedure for dividing variable print data according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 16, as in S101, the accepting unit 101 accepts variable print data created by the client terminal 4 (S201).

  First, variable print data used in the following description will be described. FIG. 12 shows position information as an example. As shown in FIG. 12, for example, positions A, B, C, and D are shown as positions on the page. FIG. 13 shows an example of part information for positions A, B, C, and D on pages 1 to 4. Here, the drawing information of each variable data shown in the component information is as follows: the component 1 is a picture, the component 2 is a character “XXX”, the component 3 is a gradation, the component 4 is a character “CCCCC”, and the component 5 is a simple figure “triangle” ”And the component 6 indicate the characters“ BBBBB ”, respectively. By using the variable print data, each page is printed as shown in FIG. 15, for example.

  Next, the reference page determination unit 103 determines a page that is a reference for grouping pages in the same manner as in S102 (S202). Further, the determination unit 104 compares the component information of each page and the reference page, obtains common component information, further weights the information by type, and determines the degree of overlap (S203). FIG. 14 is a table showing an example of a weight value calculation result in the present embodiment. For example, the reference page is the first page, and variable data of each page is searched. The part information included in the reference page is “part No. 1, part No. 2, part No. 3, part No. 5”. Here, it compares with the component information of each page. Part No. 1 as the weight value of the page. Since 1 is a picture, a weight value of 6 is assigned. In addition, part no. 2, the part no. Since 2 is a character, a weight value of 3 is assigned. In addition, part no. 3, the part no. Since 3 is gradation, a weight value of 10 is assigned. In addition, part no. 5, the part no. Since 5 is a simple figure, a weight value of 1 is assigned. For example, as shown in FIG. 14, 20, 16, 10 and 3 are assigned to each of pages 1 to 4 as weight values (evaluation points in the figure). Then, an integrated value of weight values assigned to each page is obtained, and for example, it is determined that the degree of overlap is high in descending order of the integrated value of weight values.

  Next, the grouping unit 105 divides the pages of the variable print data into groups based on the determination result of the degree of duplication for each page by the determination unit 104, position information, and component information of each page of each group. Then, each variable print division data is generated from the variable data included in the component information (S204). For example, if it is divided into two in the order of overlap, page 1 and page 2 and page 3 and page 4 are grouped in descending order of overlap from the weight values in FIG.

  Then, similarly to the first embodiment, the grouping means 105 distributes and transmits a plurality of variable print division data to the second control device 2 via the interface 106 (S205).

  As described above, pages having a high weight value, that is, pages commonly including variable data having a high weight value can be grouped into the same group. For example, as shown in this example, complex variable data, that is, variable data that takes time for RIP processing is set to a high weight value, so that pages including common variable data that takes time for RIP processing can be grouped into the same group. Therefore, the entire RIP processing time can be shortened.

  Also, priorities may be given to the types of drawing information constituting each variable data, and when determining a reference page, a single page including variable data having a high priority may be used. For example, by increasing the priority of complex variable data, that is, variable data that takes time for RIP processing, pages including common variable data that takes time for RIP processing can be grouped. Time can be shortened. As this priority order, a value input using an input means (not shown) or a value written in advance in a program or the like may be stored and used.

It is a block diagram showing the whole structure in one Embodiment of the image output system which concerns on this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of variable print data. It is a figure for demonstrating the positional information which comprises variable print data. It is a figure which shows the example of printing based on variable print data. It is a functional block diagram showing the control composition of the 1st control device concerning a 1st embodiment. It is a functional block diagram showing the control structure of the 2nd control apparatus shown in FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure for dividing variable print data in the image output system of the present embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the search result of the number of common component information with the reference | standard page about each page. It is a figure which shows an example of the search result of the number of common component information with the reference | standard page about each page. It is a functional block diagram showing the control structure of the 1st control apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of a weighting table. It is a figure which shows an example of the positional information which comprises variable print data. It is a figure which shows an example of the component information which comprises variable print data. It is a figure which shows an example of the weight value calculation result by the kind of variable data of the common component information number common with the reference | standard page about each page. It is a figure which shows the example of printing based on variable print data. It is a flowchart which shows the division | segmentation procedure of the variable print data in the image output system of 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st control apparatus 101 Reception means 102 Dividing means 103 Standard page determination means 104 Discriminating means 105 Grouping means 106 Interface 2 2nd control apparatus 201 Reception means 202 Printing image data generation means 203 Analysis processing means 204 Temporary storage means 205 Composition Means 206 Print image data storage means 210 Print instruction means 211 Interface 3 Color laser printer 4 Client terminal

Claims (9)

A variable including a plurality of image output devices connected via a network and including a plurality of variable data to be inserted at respective insertion positions of a plurality of pages and component information indicating the variable data to be inserted at the insertion positions. An image output system that receives print data, divides the plurality of pages, and outputs an image using the plurality of image output devices,
A discriminating means for discriminating the degree of duplication of parts information in the plurality of pages;
A dividing unit that divides the plurality of pages in order of pages with a high degree of overlap;
An image output system, wherein an image is output from any of the plurality of image output devices for each of the plurality of divided pages. A variable including a plurality of image output devices connected via a network and including a plurality of variable data to be inserted at respective insertion positions of a plurality of pages and component information indicating the variable data to be inserted at the insertion positions. An image output system that receives print data, divides the plurality of pages, and prints an image using the plurality of image output devices,
A reference page determining means for determining a reference page to be compared in the variable print data;
A determination unit that compares the component information of each of the plurality of pages with the component information of the reference page, obtains common component information, and determines a degree of overlap of the component information from a quantity of the common component information; ,
Dividing means for dividing the plurality of pages by grouping in the order of pages with a high degree of overlap,
An image output system, wherein an image is output from any of the plurality of image output devices for each of the plurality of divided pages. A variable including a plurality of image output devices connected via a network and including a plurality of variable data to be inserted at respective insertion positions of a plurality of pages and component information indicating the variable data to be inserted at the insertion positions. An image output system that receives print data, divides the plurality of pages, and prints an image using the plurality of image output devices,
Weight storage means for storing weights for variable data types in advance;
A reference page determining means for determining a reference page to be compared in the variable print data;
The component information of each of the plurality of pages is compared with the component information of the reference page to obtain common component information. Based on the type of variable data indicated by the common component information and the weight, Discriminating means for discriminating the degree of duplication of part information for each of the pages;
Dividing means for dividing the plurality of pages by grouping in the order of pages with a high degree of overlap,
An image output system, wherein an image is output from any of the plurality of image output devices for each of the plurality of divided pages. The reference page determination means determines a plurality of the reference pages,
4. The image output according to claim 2, wherein the determination unit compares the component information of each of the plurality of pages with the component information of the plurality of reference pages, and determines the degree of overlap. system. A usage frequency calculating means for calculating the usage frequency of each component information in the variable print data with reference to the component information;
The image output system according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the reference page determination unit sets the reference page to a page including at least calculated component information that is frequently used. Priority storage means for storing a priority for the type of variable data in advance is further provided.
5. The image output system according to claim 2, wherein the reference page determination unit sets the reference page to a page including at least the part information having a high priority. 6. Upon receiving variable print data including a plurality of variable data to be inserted at respective insertion positions of a plurality of pages and part information indicating variable data to be inserted at the insertion positions, the plurality of pages are divided to form a network. An image output method for outputting an image using a plurality of image output devices connected via
Determining the degree of duplication of parts information in the plurality of pages;
Dividing the plurality of pages in order of the highly overlapping pages;
Outputting an image by any one of the plurality of image output devices for each of the plurality of divided pages. Upon receiving variable print data including a plurality of variable data to be inserted at respective insertion positions of a plurality of pages and part information indicating variable data to be inserted at the insertion positions, the plurality of pages are divided to form a network. An image output method for outputting an image using a plurality of image output devices connected via
Determining a reference page as a reference for comparison in the variable print data;
Comparing the component information of each of the plurality of pages with the component information of the reference page to obtain common component information;
Determining the degree of duplication of part information from the quantity of the common part information;
Dividing the plurality of pages by grouping in order of pages with a high degree of overlap;
Outputting an image by any one of the plurality of image output devices for each of the plurality of divided pages. Upon receiving variable print data including a plurality of variable data to be inserted at respective insertion positions of a plurality of pages and part information indicating variable data to be inserted at the insertion positions, the plurality of pages are divided to form a network. An image output method for outputting an image using a plurality of image output devices connected via
Storing weights for the types of variable data in advance;
Determining a reference page as a reference for comparison in the variable print data;
Comparing the component information of each of the plurality of pages with the component information of the reference page to obtain common component information;
Determining the degree of duplication of component information for each of the plurality of pages based on the type of variable data indicated by the common component information and the weighting;
Dividing the plurality of pages by grouping in the order of pages with a high degree of overlap;
Outputting an image by any one of the plurality of image output devices for each of the plurality of divided pages.

Images