JPH09325928A - Method and equipment for communicating message - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform the whole or most of message communication processing while using a software by executing their own functions at respective stations according to a message when that message is received, determining the station of the next transmission destination and transmitting the message. SOLUTION: As the next processing of a program to be executed by a message interpretation executing part, the whole message including the program under executing is transmitted to a station parameter, namely, job ticket server 111. When this line is processed by the message interpretation executing part, the values of all the parameters in the current program and the line to be next executed are stored in a control information file. Next, the name of station of the transmission source and the name of station of the transmission destination are described in a history managing file together with the date and time. Afterwards, respective files consisting of the message are successively sent to a message transmission part. Then, the message is transmitted to the target job ticket server equipment 111.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a WAN (wide area network) using the same LAN (local area network) or a plurality of LANs via a private line or a public line.
(Network) A client device, an editing server device, an image file server device, a database server device, a print server device, and a job ticket server device are connected to a connected network and are operated in cooperation to input, store, and edit document data. The present invention relates to an information transmission method and device in a system that provides document format conversion, transfer, and print output functions.

[0002]

[Prior art]

1. Printing method in electronic publishing business By creating a document original electronically using a computer such as a word processor, and printing a document image on output paper using a high-definition printer device such as a laser printer. Conventionally, the following two types of printing methods have been widely realized as printing methods in electronic publishing business.

(A) Whenever printing is required, the data is transferred from the computer that created the original document to the printer and printed out.

(B) The created original is once sent to the file server device and stored, and the print output from the next time is
This is performed by transferring the document image data from the file server device to the printer device.

An example of the former case is, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
There is one described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 314122. An example of the latter case is described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-298419. In the latter case, since the input document information can be converted and stored in a format suitable for a printer device that outputs in advance, a more beautiful print output can be obtained.
Further, once the document in the printer device format is created and saved, there is an advantage that the re-output from the next time can be performed at a higher speed.

In the electronic publishing business, since the same original image is often printed in large quantities, the latter method is frequently used. In the latter method, the created document original is registered in the file server device. Storage processing, search output processing from the file server device to the printer device,
I had to go through a two-step procedure, which was troublesome.

[0007] 2. Client-server type database As shown in the previous section, in professional electronic publishing business,
It is general that a document manuscript created in advance is registered and stored in a file server, and the file server is searched as necessary to obtain information about the necessary document manuscript. Generally, when managing a large amount of document information for the purpose of searching and outputting by a plurality of clients such as used in electronic publishing business, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-7344.
As shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 9, a client-server type database system is used. In a client / server type database, data transfer between a client and a server occurs frequently, so in the technique described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-73449, the data operation language and the processing result are collectively blocked and processed by transmitting and receiving. We are trying to speed up. But if you have multiple database servers and you're not sure where your document is,
Alternatively, it cannot be used if the client does not have a database access means and does not have detailed information regarding the existence of the database server, such as the device name, network address, and database name regarding the server location.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-208583 is devised to search documents for a plurality of servers by sequentially transferring search conditions from a third device to electronic files connected to a network. It cannot be used if the client does not have a database access means or if the client does not know detailed information about the location of the database server.

3. Output to multiple printers In the previous section, an example was given in the database system in which detailed information about the database server had to be retained on the client side to be used, but the same can be said for output to printers via a network. Taking the case where the output document original is directly sent from the client to the printer on the network as described in the above section 1, the output instruction to the printer includes the output document data, the number of output copies, the size of the paper to be printed,
It is realized by sending it together with the output option such as. The client that outputs at this time must know the information of the printer to print out, the name of the device, the network address, and the printer type and place it. The format of output data to be sent must be prepared according to the type of printer to output.

According to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-193231,
In order to solve such a problem, by providing an output unit for outputting the document information, which is determined to be non-printable by itself, from the interface unit to the outside, various printing apparatuses can be simply added with a simple function. I am trying to make it available. But in this case, the client
First, information such as the device name and network address of the output device (print server) to which the document data should be sent must be known. In addition, if it is determined that the device that receives the document data cannot output the document, the document is once output to the outside from the interface unit, which causes a problem that it takes time to print out a large amount of data.

The technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-290004 uses a connection control device in the printer monitoring system to
It is designed to solve such a problem and always output to an optimum printer. This technology enables efficient printer operation in an environment in which multiple "same type printers" that accept the same output format are network-connected in the environment in which the output document original is directly sent from the client to the printer on the network. Print processing after data accumulation, which is frequently performed in electronic publishing, as described in the above-mentioned item 1,
No consideration is given to the proper use of multiple types of printers that accept different data formats.

4. Regarding information transmission method As a prior art relatively close to the message communication method of the present invention, there is a technology described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-301577. The purpose is to acquire specified information from the network by sending software called "agent" to a large-scale network such as a bulletin board (BBS). However, in this example, the method of sending the document information to the file server in the network and the method of outputting the document information in the network to the printer in the network have not been clarified.

Another conventional example is Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-2.
Facsimile device (FAX) as in Japanese Patent No. 04986
There is a search output system using. In this example, FA
X is used as a communication medium to connect to a host computer to execute a search process. However, if target search information does not exist in the connected host computer, a process of transferring a search sheet to another computer, Information input process,
No consideration is given to the information transfer process.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-187261 discloses a fax machine.
This is a technology for searching personal information by connecting to a host computer via a network line using a personal information terminal without using a personal computer, but it is also considered for the search processing of multiple computers and output instructions to printers. Absent. In addition, an example of the print output instruction by the electronic mail means is described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2541/1993. An example of data transfer to the print server by the network file transfer means instead of the network print transfer is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-161677. Neither considers the process of transferring a search sheet to another computer, the process of inputting information, or the process of transferring information.

[0015]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above problems of the prior art. That is, an object of the present invention is to obtain a message communication method and apparatus for effectively utilizing resources on the network.
In other words, the present invention provides a message communication method and a message communication method for using devices having various different functions on a network (for example, a file server device, a print server device, a database server device) in cooperation through message exchange and processing. It is an object to obtain an apparatus used for carrying out the method. Examples of processing in which a plurality of devices are linked include the following. (A) A series of "search", "edit", "output" processes or "input", "edit", "output" processes that successively use a plurality of server devices on the network are performed at one time.
(B) Output processing to multiple printers. (C) Output processing to multiple types of printers. (C) Continuous search processing of multiple file servers. (D) Search processing that does not specify the server. It is another object of the present invention to obtain a message communication method and apparatus that can easily assemble and send a message for realizing desired processing on a network.

It is another object of the present invention to obtain a message communication method and device that does not depend on the type of printer or file device connected to the network, the network connection method, and the operating system.

It is another object of the present invention to obtain a method and apparatus that can easily assemble and send a message for performing processing in which the plurality of apparatuses are linked.

Further, the present invention provides a simple, equivalent, free, and consistent communication method for each device on the network, thereby facilitating the introduction and change of a new device. The challenge is to be able to build a network system freely.

Another object of the present invention is to increase the amount of processing that can be performed simultaneously by reducing the load on the resources of each device on the network, and consequently speed up the processing of the entire system.

Another object of the present invention is to realize these message communication processes without making a large change to the existing network environment.

In addition, the present invention can realize all or a large part of the message communication processing by using software, so that the resulting cost and man-hour can be kept low. It is an issue.

[0022]

A message communication method according to the present invention is a message communication method for communicating a message between a plurality of stations connected to a network and having various functions. When the message is received, each station carries out its function according to the message and determines the next destination station, and determines the message. It is characterized by transmitting. Further, the message communication device for carrying out the above-described message communication method of the present invention is provided with a message processing means for delivering a message to each of a plurality of stations connected to the network, and the message is transmitted between the stations in the network. In the case where the message is received, each message processing means includes information about the destination station of the message itself to be sequentially delivered in and the information about the processing content to be executed in the series of stations in the network. Interpret and execute the received message, determine the destination of the message, process the message based on the results of the execution up to that point, or assemble a new message, and set the determined destination. Has processing function to send to station That. According to the message communication method and the message communication device of the present invention, the message includes information regarding the processing content to be performed in cooperation with a plurality of different stations, and the message is sequentially passed between the stations, but the station receiving the message receives the message. By executing the processing under its control according to the message and passing the message to the next station, the processing of the stations can be linked, and complicated processing that effectively uses network resources can be easily realized. For example, in addition to re-outputting a document that has been converted into a printer device format, a process of registering an original document in a file server device by describing document information such as a creator, a creation date, and a document name, and the document Specify the number of copies, output paper, edit processing of scaling,
A process of outputting to a desired print server at once, or a process of correcting only one page of a document already converted into a printer device format and stored, re-registering, and outputting to a desired print server. But with simple instructions,
It can be executed at once. Further, the communication device of the present invention has a device configuration in which a message processing unit that provides a common function is added to stations such as clients and server devices connected to the network. Can be easily configured.

In the message communication method or apparatus according to the present invention, the contents of a message transferred at one time are managed by an optional control information unit that manages the processing contents of the message so that a plurality of stations operate. A behavioral description section that has a behavioral description program that describes behaviors, an optional history management section that retains information about the contents of processing performed in the station and its results, and information to be processed or parameters used for processing Consists of a transport contents section. Then, the station receiving the message performs the operation of the station according to the description of either the operation description program of the operation description unit or the parameter held in the transportation content section, or both, and the operation description of the operation description section. It is characterized in that a program or a parameter held in the transportation content section is processed or newly created, a message is assembled including setting necessary information in the transportation content section, and the message is transmitted to the next station. In the message communication according to the present invention, a message can be divided into the four message constituent parts which can be omitted, and the default processing of each message constituent part can be clearly defined. Since the description can be omitted, the message can be easily assembled and transmitted at the first station that uses message processing.

According to another feature of the present invention, in the above-mentioned message communication method, the message sent from the first station always activates the next message communication, and the first message triggered by any of the stations. A message is sent to the station, and when the first station receives a message related to the message previously sent by the station, the series of message communication is terminated. According to another feature of the present invention, when a message is received and an error occurs during the processing of the message or during the message communication to the next station, the first message that triggers a series of messages is sent. Send a message to the sending station of the error status. When the first station sends a message, the result of the process is always returned, so that it is possible to repeatedly transfer the message to a plurality of stations (servers) or to send a plurality of messages at the same time and realize complicated processing.

According to another feature of the present invention, when a message is sent to the next destination station, the control information section in the message contains the name of the station that originally created the message, the creator's name, the password and the next Holds the destination station name of. As a result, even if a message is mistakenly sent to another destination station, it can be transferred to the correct destination station. Also, if an unrecoverable error occurs, it is possible to notify the creator by sending a message to the first sending station (originator). Furthermore, when the function of which the operation is restricted is used in the message transmission destination station, it is possible to determine whether or not the function is permitted.

According to another feature of the present invention, when the message is sent to the next destination station, the control information section in the message includes the line number to be executed next to the behavioral description section program and the behavioral description section. Try to keep the value of the current variable used in the program. As a result, one operation description part program can be operated continuously in the middle of a plurality of stations.

According to another feature of the present invention, when a message is sequentially transferred between stations, it is automatically specified by a program of a behavior description part in a message or a parameter of a transportation content part in a message, or at each station. , The contents of the processing performed in the station and the result are described in the message history management section, and the program of the operation description section that transfers the message, or each station,
The information described in the history management section is referred to and used for determining the operating condition.

According to another feature of the present invention, when the operation description part of the message to be delivered is omitted, the station that receives the message selects from among a plurality of message processing programs prepared in advance. Select the program that processes the message according to the transport content section and process the entire message. As a result, it becomes possible to easily describe and instruct the message operation content, and it becomes easy to assemble and send a message for performing desired processing at a station that uses message processing.

According to another feature of the present invention, when the operation description part of the message to be delivered is omitted, a simple operation instruction command is described as a parameter as the first object of the transportation content part. The specified job ticket is used, and predetermined routine processing is performed by the station that receives the message according to the parameters described in the job ticket. As a result, it becomes possible to easily describe and instruct the message operation content, and it becomes easy to assemble and send a message for performing desired processing at a station that uses message processing.

According to another feature of the present invention, the carrying content section is either a page consisting of information for one document sheet, a document consisting of a plurality of pages, or a book consisting of a plurality of documents. By allowing a plurality of unit document information to be held, free document processing within the network is performed.

According to another feature of the present invention, while the message receiving station is executing a process based on the behavior description program or the transportation content part job ticket, the message currently being processed by the executing station. A plurality of new messages different from the above are generated and transmitted starting from the station in execution, and the results are referred to after the plurality of messages have been processed and all have returned. As a result, a plurality of complicated processes can be freely assembled and executed simultaneously.

According to another feature of the present invention, when the new message is generated, the program described in the operation description part of the newly generated message follows the parameters described in the transportation content part job ticket. And
Transport content part Generates a program to be described in the operation description part of the message in the message processing part based on the parameter described in the job ticket and the information obtained by referring to it and the database device on the network, and newly generates it. This is the behavior description part of the message.

According to another feature of the present invention, when a plurality of new messages are generated according to the above procedure, the plurality of messages are transmitted at the same time, or after waiting for the result of the first message to be returned, Process the messages one by one, or specify them by the parameters described in the transportation contents job ticket.If there is no description in the job ticket, create a new message for the parameters described in the job ticket. At the same time, the condition is judged whether transmission is possible, and the transmission is processed.

According to another feature of the invention, for sending and receiving messages, known e-mail transfer means, known network file transfer means, known network print spool means, known network transfer means already established in the network. Use any of the Internet file transfer means. Alternatively, among these means, the most suitable means for each receiving station is discriminated and used at the time of message transmission according to the database information on the network and the content of the message to be transferred. This enables coexistence with the existing network environment in which the message communication of the present invention is executed by utilizing the existing network environment as it is.

According to another feature of the invention, the database device connected to the network, or each station connected to the network, has the network address of each station or some stations in the network,
It has a database function that describes the server function and message reception method, and refers to this when processing the program of the behavioral description section and when sending to the message destination station. As a result, the message transmission destination station can be quickly determined.

According to another feature of the present invention, if the station receiving the message does not meet the requirements for the receiving station of the message, the database is referred again within the receiving station, A new message destination is sought, and the message is transferred to the new destination station.

According to another feature of the present invention, in message communication, when a message is sent to a station whose location is unknown, the message is sent to a message server connected to the Internet, which is connectable to networks around the world. , The message server searches the Internet for information about the transfer destination station whose location is unknown, and sends a message to the target station, thereby facilitating message communication to the partner station whose location is unknown.

According to another feature of the present invention, as a result of searching on the Internet, if the location of the target station is unknown, it is judged as an error and the search status in error is sent to the first transmitting station of the message. Send.

[0039]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

1. Overall Configuration FIG. 2 shows a WAN (Wide Area Network) in which a plurality of LANs 201 to 203 are connected by dedicated lines and public lines.
A schematic configuration example of a system to which the present invention is applied, in which various processing devices such as a client device, an editing server device, an image file server device, a database server device, a print server device, and a job ticket server device are connected to the connected network. There is something to show. FIG. 1 is a connection configuration diagram of each device of a system example for explaining an embodiment of the invention below. 3 to 8 are internal configuration diagrams of each device to be connected. 9 and 10 show an example of the internal configuration of a message processing unit provided in each component device for processing message transfer according to the invention.

This system example, as shown in FIG.
AN (Local Area Network) trunk line 17
1, 172, routers (inter-LAN connecting devices) 181, 182 that connect LAN and ATM lines 191, ATM dedicated lines 191 that connect LANs, client device 10
1, job ticket server devices 111 and 112, image file servers 121 and 122, database server device 131, print server devices 141 and 142, printers 151 and 152, and edit server device 161.

In this example, the respective devices 101 to 161 are all connected to the network as independent dedicated devices. When it is in charge, it is possible to operate a plurality of functions in the same physical device, as in the case where the print server device also has a file server function. A unit having one network address and a network identification name capable of operating the functions of the plurality of devices will be particularly referred to as a station hereinafter. In this embodiment, the station and the device are the same except when some devices have the job ticket server function and when the editing server has the file server function.

The name underneath the box representing each device is the station name. The station name is obtained by adding a domain name to the device name as shown in FIG. 11, and can be identified even in an environment in which many LANs and many devices are interconnected by inter-LAN connection. In the system example of FIG. 1, LAN-171 and LAN-172 are L
Each device in the AN is connected to another LAN, which has different logical management. The domain is thus a logical unit that manages a group of devices in the network. The user name is described together with the station name as shown in FIG. The server name is described together with the domain name as shown in FIG.

2. Description of each device

2.1 Client Device (FIG. 3) The client device is composed of a personal computer, a workstation, or a movable portable terminal, and has a LAN data communication section 31 having a network connection function.
A data processing / control unit 33, an information display unit 34 for displaying information to the user such as a display device, and an information input unit 35 for inputting an instruction from the user such as a mouse / keyboard device. In the client device of the above, the data processing / control unit 33 and the LAN data communication unit 31
A message processing unit 32 that creates and processes a message, which is a feature of the present invention, is provided between them. In the embodiment, the work performed by the user on the client device is a process of editing and creating document image data which is a document to be created, transmitted, received a processing result, and transmitted when registering and storing document image data. is there. As a client device, an environment in which two or more users can use at the same time is also assumed. That is, due to the multitasking function of the operating system of the client device,
It is possible to send and receive multiple messages and create documents at the same time. In each client, the user is identified by the user name so that the message transmission source is clarified and the processing result can be surely returned to the instructed user. After that, in a certain device, when a certain user creates and sends a message with a certain user name, it is the sender of the message, the processing result of the message, or the error status should be returned. The user name inside is called the originator.

2.2 Edit Server Device (FIG. 4) The edit server device is composed of a personal computer or a workstation, and as shown in FIG. 4, the LAN data communication unit 41 having a network connection function and the function of the edit server. A data processing / control unit 43 for performing processing and control for performing the following, an input / output image temporary storage unit 44 for storing an image to be edited, and an image editing processing unit 45 for performing image editing processing The edit server device has a configuration in which a message processing unit 42 for creating and processing a message, which is a feature of the present invention, is provided between the data processing / control unit 43 and the LAN data communication unit 41. The image editing processing unit 45 has various image editing and image conversion functions described below. -Enlargement, reduction, rotation and resolution conversion of image data. -Compression and decompression of various format image data. -Various formats Format conversion of image data.・ Color space conversion of image data of various formats. -Various color gradation conversion and dither conversion processing-Various PDL data drawing processing.

2.3 Image File Server Device (FIG. 5) The image file server device is composed of a personal computer or a workstation, and as shown in FIG.
LAN data communication unit 51 having network connection function
A data processing / control unit 53 that performs processing and control for performing a high-speed and large-capacity management function for image files;
And a data storage unit 55 that stores image file data.
In a normal image file server device including a message processing / control unit 53 and a LAN data communication unit 51, a message processing unit 52 is provided between the data processing / control unit 53 and the LAN data communication unit 51. . The image file server device processes the input document original and stores the image data in the format immediately before being output to the printer. Several types of printers are connected to the network, and the optimal image format and image image resolution that each printer receives differs depending on the type of printer.
In the system of this example, all registered document data have document image data in the output format for those types of printers.

If the image data immediately before the printer transfer, which is about to be printed out, is present in the image file server device, the optimum image output can be performed in a short time by immediately transferring it to the target printer device. It will be available within. If the image data in the output printer format does not exist in the image file server device, an intermediate format image to be described later is obtained, the editing server performs conversion processing to the target printer format, and then the transfer is performed. . Although a plurality of image file servers can exist on the network, the data held by each image file server may be the same, some may be the same, or all may be different. In any case,
What kind of document image data is managed in each image file server is managed by the database server. In any of these cases, the present invention can specify and search the server according to a user's instruction, and therefore will not be described in detail below.

2.4 Database Server Device (FIG. 6) The database server device is composed of a personal computer or a workstation, and as shown in FIG. 6, a LAN data communication unit 6 having a network connection function.
1, a data processing / control unit 63 that performs processing and control for performing a high-speed and large-capacity management function for image files, and an input / output image temporary storage unit 6 that temporarily stores input / output image files.
4 and a data storage unit 65 that stores data,
In a normal database server device, a message processing unit 62 is provided between the data processing / control unit 63 and the LAN data communication unit 61 to create and process a message, which is a feature of the present invention. Multiple databases
Servers can exist on the network, but each database server may have the same information, some information, or all different information. The method of using the database server in these cases is entirely up to the user.

2.5 Print Server Device (FIG. 7) The print server device has a LAN data communication unit 71 having a network connection function and a message processing unit 72 having a message processing function according to the present invention, and has a print management function. Data processing / control section 7 for processing and control including
3. A personal computer or workstation having an input / output image temporary storage unit 74 and a printer connection unit 75 for connecting to a monochrome or color printer. Alternatively, a printer device having a network connection function may be added with the message processing function of the present invention. That is, the print server device provides a message processing function in addition to the network printing function.

2 · 6. Job Ticket Server Device (FIG. 8) The job ticket server device is a personal computer or a workstation, and refers to the data of the database server device on the network to process the job ticket. /
It includes a control unit 83, a LAN data communication unit 81 having a network connection function, and a message processing unit 82 having a message processing function according to the present invention.

2 · 7. Message processing unit (FIGS. 9 and 1)
0) The message processing unit included in each device described above has the same internal configuration, and differs depending on whether the device has a job ticket processing function like a job ticket server. If it has a job ticket processing function, it can operate as a job ticket server device and needs a database reference section for retrieving the actual values of the parameters described in the job ticket processing section and job ticket from the database. Become.

The message processing section 92 having no job ticket server function shown in FIG.
A message receiving unit 921 for receiving a message sent from another station via 1 and interpreting the processing content of the received message and operating the processing function of the apparatus via the data processing / control unit 93. Further, the message interpretation execution unit 923 performs processing such as processing the message or creating a new message and determining the destination of the message, the message transmission unit 922 performing the transmission process of the message, and the destination. And a local database unit 924 for holding data such as a network address for determining.

FIG. 10 shows the configuration of a message processing unit having a job ticket server function. It includes a communication data input / output unit 1021, a message receiving unit 1022, a message transmitting unit 1023, a message interpretation executing unit 1024, a database referring unit 1025, And a job ticket processing unit 1026. Message receiving unit 1022, message transmitting unit 1023, message interpretation executing unit 102
4 is the same as the corresponding element in FIG. The job ticket processing unit 1026 has a function of newly creating a message for executing the job for each job described in the job ticket. The database reference unit 1025

3. Document data structure

3.1 Basic Structure of Document Data FIG. 14 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of the document data handled in this embodiment.

(A) Data Structure All the document data are “book”, “document”,
It is handled in a three-layer structure called "page".

(B) Book A "book" is configured as a set of one or more "documents".

(C) Document A "document" is constructed as a set of one or more "pages". A "document" can belong to a plurality of "books" in consideration of book management.

(D) Page A "page" is composed of image information data for one single-sided print output. In consideration of output to the printer, each "page" in the same "document" has the same paper size as the original.

(E) Image Information Data Image information data is stored and managed in "document" units in the image file server. Further, the functions of inputting, accumulating, editing, format converting, and printing output of the document regarding the image information data can be used for each "book" or "document".

3-2 Management Structure of Database FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the management structure of the database data handled in this example on the relational database and the relationship between the tables and columns. As shown in FIG. 15, the tables related to the data in the database include a book table, a book configuration table, a document table,
There are an image table, a user table, a classification table, and the like, and a table related to device data includes a station table and a connected device table. In the figure,
Broken lines between columns having the same name in different tables indicate reference relationships.

In FIG. 16, the location of the image file server accumulating the "document" data forming the "book" and the directory information of the target document configuration file in the image file server are searched from the data of the relational database. Is shown.

3.3 Structure of Image File Server FIG. 17 shows the data structure in the image file server. In the system of the embodiment, the document image data for three types of printers handled on the network is converted in advance into a printer output file format that can be immediately output by each printer, and stored. As a document image format for printer output, PostScript is used.
t (PS), PCPR, ESCIP, PCL, ART,
In the case of document image data expressed in a page description language such as LIPS, a single file represents a plurality of pages, and thus one document is composed of one file. In addition, JPEG, JBIG, ITU-TG3, LZ
In the case of the format in which the document image data is compressed for each page image as described above, one page corresponds to one file, and therefore, the "document" unit is managed in the sub-directory. For example, in the structural example of FIG. 17, directories JPEG, PS, PCPR, and intermediate format directories MID for each printer output document image format are provided under the root directory. In the case of the directory JPEG, sub directories of document 1, document 2, document 3, ... Are further provided, and files in page units belong to them. Directory P
In the case of S, each document becomes one file for all pages,
Document 1, document 2, ... Are stored as files.

3/4. Intermediate format file In the image file server, in addition to the data in the printer output file format as described in the previous section, the document image data file in the intermediate format format is stored and stored in the MID directory. Since this intermediate format image file is stored in a format that is as faithful as possible to the state at the time of inputting an image and does not deteriorate the image, as shown in FIG. It is structured to be included as a file. The format of the names listed in the column of the input file format 183 in FIG. 18 will be described here. LZ is an information theory expert Ziv and a computer science expert Lempe
It is a compression method based on the Lempel-Zip encoding compression method, which performs compression based on a learning dictionary created in cooperation with l. PhotoCD handles Kodak,
The silver salt photograph is digitized and stored in a CD (compact disc) so that it can be viewed on a personal computer or a dedicated playback device. G3 is a fax communication method according to the ITU-T recommendation, which uses the same analog line as a general telephone line for transmission / reception, and here is a compression method based on the standard MMR (Huffman coding). Means PostScript is a page description language defined by Adobe Corporation in the United States that describes a document by vector expression.

The structure of the intermediate format file is shown in FIGS. 19 (a) and 19 (b), taking as an example the case where the input file format is JPEG and PostScript. FIG.
(A) shows the structure of an intermediate format file when the input save format is JPEG, and comprises a header part 191 and a plurality of internal file storage parts 192.
, And information 191b, 191c, ... About start positions and sizes of the internal files 192a, 192b ,. In FIG. 19B, the input saving format is PostScri.
This shows the structure of the intermediate format file in the case of p, and comprises a header part 193 and one internal file 194. The header portion 193 includes information 193a regarding the format of the internal file and information 193b regarding the start position and size of the PostScript internal file 194.

The purpose of using the intermediate format file is to
The following three points. (A) When the document image data stored in the image file server is transferred and output to another print server device or station in a format other than the registered printer output file format.

(B) Enlargement, reduction,
When outputting after performing image editing processing such as rotation, image color conversion, and page numbering.

(C) Initially, there was no space for creating and storing the document image data in the printer output file format because there was not enough free disk space in the image file server device. If you want to save because there is free disk space.

3.5 Supplementary Explanation Regarding Editing Server The editing processes (a) to (c) using the above intermediate format file are performed in an editing server device having a dedicated editing function. The editing server device has various image editing and converting functions in order to perform the image editing processing at high speed and efficiently. In addition, since the input data handled by the editing server is an intermediate format file in many cases, an apparatus having an editing server function may also be used as an image file server apparatus that stores the intermediate format file. Also in the system of this example, the device having the editing server function stores the intermediate format file. In this way, when the intermediate format file is stored and stored in the editing server, there is no need to perform network data transfer for editing the intermediate format file, so the performance of the entire system is improved.

4. Message structure

4.1 Overall Structure of Standard Message The standard message shown in FIG. 20 is composed of the following four parts. Hereinafter, a device connected to each network for transmitting and receiving a message is called a station.

(A) Control Information Section 201 The control information section 201 is composed of one control information file 2011 which can be omitted. The control information file 2011 is
A text file written in a readable character code that contains the overall structure of the message, the name of the station that generated the message, the name of the station to which the message was sent, the functional conditions required for the destination of the message, the user name of the user, the password, and the operation. Contains information about the current values of variables in the describe program and the line number to execute next. An example of the control information file is shown in FIG. 29 described later.

(B) Behavioral Description Section 202 The behavioral description section 202 is composed of one optional behavioral description file 2021. The behavior description file 2021 is
A text file written in a readable character code that contains a behavior description program that describes the behavior of the message at the station. An example of the behavioral description file is shown in FIGS. 33 to 38 described later.

(C) History Management Unit 203 The history management unit 203 is composed of an optional history management file 2031. The history management file 2031 is a text file written in a readable character code, and contains the operation history of each message in each station. An example of the history management file is shown in FIG. 30 described later.

(D) Transport Content Section 204 The transport content section 204 is composed of transport content files 2041 to 2043 which can be omitted and can hold a plurality of files. The carry content file holds the content that the message is currently carrying. In this example, the following three types are defined and described as the transportation content part 204, but any file other than these can be held as the transportation content part.

(D-1) Job ticket file (FIGS. 39 and 40) The job ticket file 204a is a text file described in a readable character code, and the content of the execution instruction in the message is in the form of a parameter called a job ticket. A simple expression. Allows vague expressions that cannot be found without searching the database. In the case of this example, compared to the case of creating a behavioral description program, there are advantages that the user can easily describe and that message components described later can be simplified. Although there is a maximum of one job ticket file in the transportation contents section, a plurality of "jobs" can be described in one file. “Each job” in the job ticket can be identified by the JobName parameter (eg, lines 6 and 16 in FIG. 39, lines 10 and 20 in FIG. 40).

(D-2) Result information file 204b
(Fig. 31) A text file written in a readable character code, in which the result executed according to a message instruction is simply expressed in a parameter format called "result information". There is an advantage that message components described later can be simplified. There is a maximum of one result information file in the transportation contents section, but 1
Multiple "result information" can be described in one file. Each "result information" in the result information file is Re
It can be identified by the "sultName" parameter (line 5 in FIG. 31). It is used to report the result of message processing, error status, and processing result based on the job ticket instruction to the originator.

(D-3) Document file 204c (see FIG. 4)
1) The document file 204c is composed of a plurality of books or documents constituting the above-mentioned document image data. In this example, a plurality of books and documents can be mixed and a file can be held in the carrying content section.

4.2 Default Message Configuration In the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 21, each component of the optional message is defined.

(A) Normal Message Transfer As shown in FIG. 21, in the case of normal message transfer, the control information section 211, the behavioral description section 212, and the history management section 213.
Is necessary. As a matter of course, when the message has no carrying contents to be carried, the carrying contents part 214 can be omitted.

(B) First Message Transfer In the case of the first message transfer, the control information section 211 and the behavioral description section 212 are necessary. When the message is generated at the station and then transferred to the outside of the station for the first time, the history information of the message does not have significant meaning, and therefore the history management unit 213 can be an empty file or can be omitted. Is. When there is no carrying contents, the carrying contents part 214 can be omitted.

(C) Message Transfer of Job Ticket In this example, the expected operation in the transfer of the job ticket is defined without exception as follows. In other words, "in the job ticket server, the message processes all the job tickets that are being carried and returns the processing result." In this case, as shown in FIG. 21, the control information section 211, the behavioral description section 212, and the history management section 2
13 can be omitted. The user information originally obtained by referring to the control information section is described in the job ticket. Other than the user information, standard values defined by the job ticket server are used. A standard job ticket processing program registered in the job ticket server is used as the operation description program. If the job ticket has a transportation content to be processed, it can be held as a transportation content file next to the job ticket. When the control information section, the behavior description section, and the history management section that can be omitted are present, the file description of each component is processed with priority over the job ticket. (Figure 28)

(D) Message Transfer of Result Information In this example, the operation expected in the transfer of result information is defined without exception as follows. That is,
The message processing result is reported to the originator of the message. In this case, the control information part, the behavior description part, and the history management part can be omitted. The user information originally obtained by referring to the control information section is described in the result information file. The behavioral description is not necessary because it is only a report process. If there is a transportation content to be brought back as a processing result, it can be held as a transportation content file next to the result information file. When all the designated operations are normally completed as instructed, and the specification that the result is not required for normal termination is designated in advance in the operation description section or the job ticket, the result information file is omitted. In this special situation, the message will not be returned to the originator if there is no transportation content to bring back as a processing result. When the control information section, the behavior description section, and the history management section that can be omitted are present, the description of the file of each component is processed prior to the result information file.

4.3 Discrimination of Transfer Method and Message Constructor In this embodiment, the following four types of message transfer methods are handled. When transferring a message, a method that allows the receiving side to identify the constituent parts of each message is used. For example, in order to identify each file that constitutes a message in transfer, the file name, transfer order, and
There is a method to describe what the file is in the file to be transferred. In the control information file, the file name and the file order that compose the message can be described, so that they can also be used for discrimination. FIG.
(D) is an example of a determination method based on the file name and order. The file name of the control information file is shown in FIG.
As shown in, prefix C or add C as extension
Attach TL. As shown in FIG. 23 (b), the operation description file has D added to the beginning of the file name, or DRV as the extension. The history management file contains
As shown in 3 (c), L is added to the beginning of the file name, or LOG is added as an extension. In the transportation content file, as shown in FIG. 23D, L is added at the beginning of the file name.
Or with LOG as an extension.

24 (a)-(c) and FIG. 25 (a)-
(C) is an example of a method of describing what the file is in the file to be transferred. Each 1st line is the message identification header part. From the first character '#' sign,
Up to the line feed code is used as the identification header part, and the contents of the file are shown until the next message configuration file. In this way, when the file to be transferred is a text file, even if a plurality of files are merged into one file during transfer, for example, each station can easily discriminate and take out a necessary part. be able to.

(A) Transfer by E-mail Means In this example, as a method of transferring a message by e-mail means, SMTP (Simple) which is common in the UNlX operating system and the Internet is used.
(MailTransferProtocol) is used to transfer the message. In the transfer by the SMTP electronic mail transfer means, there are problems that only a text file normally described by a readable character code can be handled and that the number of files to be sent at one time is usually limited to one. However, when the message to be transferred does not have a carrying content part, or when the carrying content part is a text file, the boundary of each file can be identified by the above-mentioned identification header, so that multiple files that compose a message can be identified. It can be used to transfer all at once.

In addition, MIME (Multipurpos)
e Internet Mail Extension)
That is, by using the method of handling a binary file by electronic mail, it is possible to transfer a file including a file other than the readable character code, such as document image data, in the carried content part of the message. FIG. 26A shows an example of a method of designating a station device name and a user name of a message transmission destination.

(B) Transfer by Network File Transfer Means In this example, as a transfer method of the message by the network file transfer means, FTP (F
ileTransferProtocol)
Forward the message. In the transfer by the FTP network file transfer means, a plurality of text files and binary files described in a readable character code can be handled in a mixed manner, and the transfer order and the file name can be designated and transferred. There is no problem as a means. FIG. 26B shows an example of the method of designating the station device name and the user name of the message destination.

(C) Transfer by Network Printing Means In this example, as a method of transferring a message by the network printing means, LPR (LinePrint) which is common in the UNlX operating system is used.
rSpooler) to transfer the message.
In the transfer by the LPR network print means, a plurality of text files and binary files written in a readable character code can be handled in a mixed manner, and the transfer order and the file name can be specified and transferred. There is no problem as a means. Of the message destination,
FIG. 26C shows an example of a method of designating the station device name and the virtual printer name.

(D) Transfer by Internet File Transfer Means In this example, as a transfer method of the message by the network file transfer means, HTTP (HyperTextTrans) which is an internet file transfer means is used.
transfer the message using (ferProtocol). In the transfer by the HTTP Internet transfer means, a plurality of text files and binary files described in a readable character code can be handled in a mixed manner, and the transfer order and the file name can be designated and transferred. There is no problem as FIG. 26D shows an example of a method of designating the station device name and the directory name of the message transmission destination.

4.4 Search of Network Database FIG. 32 shows an example of a search result of network information on each station, which will be described in the following embodiments. In order to send a message or receive a service on the network, in addition to the names of the target device and the target server, information such as communication procedure and network address is required. In this example, the information about the network database is managed on the database server or the local database of each device, but the means for managing such information is the DNS (Domain Name Server) of the UNIX operating system.
ce) and NIS (Network Information)
onService), NDS (Network Direct) of NetWare operating system
ory Service) name service may be used for management.

[0092] 5. Example of Document Image Retrieval Process (Embodiment 1) In the following, by using the message communication function according to the present invention, an instruction is given from the client device 101, and network domains "ksp.fx.co.jp" and "nki.f" are input.
x. co. Search for a maximum of 10 documents that contain the characters "specifications" stored in "jp" and search for the PS (Pos
An example (first embodiment) of a document image search process for acquiring an image file in the (tScript) format will be described.

5.1 Client Device

5.1-1 In the client device 101 having the configuration shown in FIG. 3, the data processing control unit 43 is based on the user's instruction input via the information input unit 35.
Assemble the message in. Messages are control information files, behavior description files, history management files,
Although it is composed of a transportation content file, since there is no history information, the history information file is an empty file. The carrying content file is not the case for this document image retrieval example. The user creates a behavioral description program in the behavioral description file by using a document editing program or the like. Alternatively, a behavioral description program that is frequently used may be prepared in advance, and only the necessary portions may be modified to form a behavioral description file. FIG. 33 shows an example of the behavioral description file. In the control information file, the user name and password are read from the operating environment of the user and set, and the number of program execution lines is set to 1. In this process, the user may create a control information file by using a document editing program or the like, or prepare a standard control information file and copy and use it as necessary. Good.

5.1-2 The message composed of the control information file, the behavioral description file, and the empty history information file created as described above is sent to the message interpretation execution unit 1024 of the message processing unit 112, and the message processing is executed. Let it start.

5.1-3 Message Interpretation Execution Unit 112
Then, referring to the user name and password of the control information file, the database reference unit 1025 is inquired and authenticated. When the database reference unit 1025 can connect to the database server 131 on the network, the authentication process is performed by referring to the user information of the database server 131 on the network. When it is not possible to connect to the database server 131 on the network, the authentication process is performed by referring to the user information (local database) held in the database reference unit 1025. In the case of this embodiment, since the information on the operating environment of the user is already registered in the local database, the user is properly authenticated.

5.1-4 Number of program execution lines described in the message control information file (1 in this case)
From the second line), interpret and execute the message behavioral description file. In the following description, an example in which the message behavior description file has the contents shown in FIG. 41 will be described.
Since blank lines and comment lines are ignored in the interpretation execution process, the first instruction is the third line. Lines 3 to 5 are declarations and initializations of variables used in the program. The 7th line to the 25th line are the declaration process of the subroutine searchImage which performs this search process.
Line 27 is the declaration of the variable that will handle the result. Subroutine searchImage is the search result cs
It is returned in the type vSheet. CSV (comma S
The "evaluated Value" means a format of a text file that can have a plurality of lines separated by a comma and composed of a plurality of items. The program operation starts from the 28th line. In the processing from the 28th line to the 30th line, 0 is set to the counter variable i and
Until the number of ns character string arrays (two) is reached, the defined subroutine searchImage is executed. The subroutine searchImage has the domain character string “ksp.fx.co.
jp "and" nki. fx. co. jp "is set and executed twice. In the 29th line, since the value of the counter variable i is 0, the 0th element" ksp. fx. co. jp ”using the first subroutine searchImage
Call processing of. The first line of the subroutine processing is the 9th line, and the domain character string "k" received as a parameter
sp. fx. co. jp "is set as the network domain. The processing on the 10th and 11th lines refers to the network database and is the station having the database client function closest to the current station (client device 101). , The station variable s in the program is checked by checking one station that is currently operating and has sufficient processing capacity.
Is to substitute. This station variable describes the attributes of each station connected to the network. Here, a database client device capable of searching information regarding image data is searched. The message interpretation execution unit 1024 makes an inquiry to the database reference unit 1025, checks the closest device having the function on the network, and substitutes the result into the station variable s. As a result of the reference in the case of this example, the station is the job ticket server device 111 (station name “mari.ksp.fx.co.jp”). Database reference unit 10 of client device 101
If 25 does not have a network database reference function, if the network database cannot be referred to, or if there is no station corresponding to the reference result, the database registered in the local database in the database reference section in advance. -Use client information.

5.1-5 Message Interpretation Execution Unit 102
The next process of the program executed in 4 is to send the entire message including the program being executed to the station variable s (actually the job ticket server device 111) obtained in the previous section (line 12). This line (line 12)
Is processed by the message interpretation execution unit 1024, the values of all variables in the current program and the line to be executed next are stored in the control information file. Next, the station name of the transmission source and the station name of the transmission destination are described in the history management file together with the date and time (see lines 3 to 5 in the example of the history management file in FIG. 30). Then, the files composing the message are sequentially sent to the message sending unit.
Then, the message is transmitted to the target job ticket server device 111. There are several ways to send messages, but here, in the behavior description file program,
Since there is no description in the control information file, the job ticket server device 1 is obtained by referring to the database reference section.
11 normally sends by electronic mail means for receiving messages.

5.2 Message Processing Device

5.2-1 In the above 1.1-5,
In the job ticket server device 111 designated as the message destination, the message sent from the client device 101 is processed by the message processing unit 92 (the message processing unit 92 has a specific configuration shown in the message processing unit 112 in FIG. 10). Message receiving unit 1122
Receive at.

5.2-2 The arriving messages are sent to the message interpretation executing unit 1024 of the message processing unit 92 (112) in the order of arrival to start message processing. Even when two or more messages are received at the same time, each message is sequentially sent to the message processing unit after waiting for the reception of all the files constituting the entire message. When the message interpretation execution unit 1024 interprets and executes a large number of messages at the same time as a predetermined number or more at the same time, the arriving messages are not received until the message interpretation and execution becomes less than or equal to the predetermined number. Part 1122
Is stored in.

5.2-3 Message Interpretation Execution Unit 102
In No. 4, first, the date, time, receiving station name, and source station name are recorded in the history management file, and a record that the message is correctly received is left (from line 7 in FIG.
Line). Then, by referring to the required function item of the destination device described in the message control information file, whether the message processing device that received the message, that is, the job ticket server device 111 satisfies the required function item of the request, the control information file Verification processing is performed to see if there is room to execute the processing described.

5.2-4 If an error occurs in the verification process in the preceding paragraph, the database reference unit 1025 is a device having a database / client function close to the client device 101, which is the relevant requirement, and is currently operating. Then, the next candidate of a device having sufficient processing capacity, that is, a station having a job ticket server function is searched. It is an error if the station searched for does not exist. If no error occurs, the search result station is set as the destination of the new message and the date and time are recorded in the history management file along with the source station name and destination station name. Send a message to.

5.2-5 When the requirements of the preceding paragraph are satisfied,
The message interpretation execution unit 1024 refers to the user name and password described in the message control information file and performs inquiry authentication to the database reference unit.
When the database reference unit 1025 is connectable to the database server on the network, the authentication process is performed by referring to the data of the database server on the network. If the database server on the network cannot be connected, the authentication process is performed by referring to the user 1 information (local database) held in the database reference unit.

5.2-6 Authentication process in the previous section and 1.2
-If an error occurs in the re-search processing in section-4,
Report in error message. That is, the error status is created as a result status file, and is used as the transportation content part that constitutes the message. Next, the date in the history management file,
The station name of the transmission source and the station name of the transmission destination are described together with the time. Then, the error message is transmitted to the client device 101 which is the original transmission source of the message.

5.2-7. If there is no problem in the authentication processing, the record of the successful authentication is left in the history management file along with the date and time (line 11 of the history management file in FIG. 30), and the program of the message control information file is written. Interpretation execution processing of the message behavioral description file (FIG. 33) is performed from the number of execution lines (in this case, the 13th line of the message behavioral description file of FIG. 33).

5.3 Database Processing

5.3-1 In the 13th and 14th lines of the message operation description file (FIG. 33), it is possible to access from the job ticket server device 111 which is the current execution station by referring to the network database. , Check the name of the database server that is in close proximity, is currently running, and has sufficient processing capacity, and use the s of database class Database
Set it to the server variable. In this case, the name of the database running on the database server device 131 "
RDB-KSP "is set.

5.3-2 The 15th line of the message operation description file (FIG. 33) shows the database server "RD".
This is the process of starting the connection with the B-KSP ". Since attributes other than the connection server name are not set in the database class Database, the connection user name and password are
The one described in the control information file is used. Other standard values are used for the database connection attributes.

5.3-3 The 16th and 17th lines of the message operation description file (FIG. 33) are searched SQL (Structured Query) for the database.
yLanguage: Structured query language) issuance and retrieval result retrieval processing. In this example, stored / pre-registered in the database server
Procedure (registered procedure) "bookimage
e. "searchbyname""% specification 1%"
And'PS 'are called with two parameters. bookimage. searchbyname
Is PS (PostScr) from the data of the book whose title is the character string "Specifications" in the database.
(ipt) format document image data is searched for, and the host name and directory name holding it are displayed. The execution result of this search SQL is input to the result sheet variable r.

5.4 Search Result Transmission Process 5.4-1 From the 18th line to the 25th line of the message operation description file (FIG. 33), the document image data obtained as a result of the search in the preceding section is actually used by the client device. This is a process of transmitting to 101. The 18th line is a definition of conditional iterative processing. The counter variable i is set to 0, and the message itself is sent to the image file server 121 until the number of rows of the search result in the designated server in the previous section is reached or the total file transfer counter variable count reaches 10, and there The process of transmitting the document image data of the search result to the client device 101 is repeated. In the embodiment, the search result is three, and the image file server storing the first document image data is “megu.
ksp. fx. co. jp "image file server device 1
21.

5.4-2 Lines 19 and 20 of the message operation description file (FIG. 33) send the entire message including the program being executed to the image file server storing the document image data. Processing. When this line is processed by the message interpretation execution unit 1024, the values of all variables in the current program and the line to be executed next are stored in the control information file. Then, in the history management file, together with the date and time, the station name of the transmission source,
Describe the destination station name (line 13 to line 15 in FIG. 30). After that, the files composing the message are sequentially sent to the message sending unit 1123, and from there,
A message is transmitted to the target image file server device 121. By executing this line, the states of the control information file and the history management file of the message transmitted are shown in FIGS. 29 and 30, respectively.

5.4-3 Image File Server Device 12
In 1, the same processing as in step 5-2 described above is performed.
Messages are received in order, and verification processing and user authentication processing according to operating conditions are performed.

5.4-4 The 21st line of the message operation description file (FIG. 33) shows the FTP (FileTran).
client device 1 indicated by the station variable dest by the sferProtocol) protocol
To 01, the designated PostScriPt document image data is transmitted. The result of the file transfer by the FTP protocol is the processing result r. It is stored in text.

5.4-5 The 22nd line of the message operation description file (FIG. 33) is a process of adding 1 to the count variable count. The count variable count is a total of search results based on the search results of a plurality of database servers and is used for the purpose of managing so that the number of files does not exceed 10.

5.4-6 The 23rd line of the message behavioral description file (FIG. 33) shows the end of the iterative process. That is, returning to the 18th line, 1 is added to the counter variable i so that the counter variable i reaches the number of lines of the search result in the designated server in the previous section or the total file transfer counter variable count reaches 10. Condition determination processing is performed.

5.4-7 Since the number of processed items is one and the condition is not satisfied yet, the process of transmitting the entire message to the station on the second line of the search results on the 19th and 20th lines is executed. To do. However, in this case, the next destination station is actually "megu.ksp, f".
x. co. It is the jp "image file server device 121 and is the same as the station currently processing. If the source station and the destination station of such a message are the same, the message is not transmitted. In addition, the description in the history management file, the verification processing according to the operating conditions, and the user authentication processing are not performed, and the processing of the line of the next program is performed.

5.4-8 The next process of the program on the 21st line of the message operation description file (FIG. 33) is the same as the process of 5.4-4 described above, that is, the process of transmitting the document image data by the FTP protocol. Is. The same steps are repeated thereafter. After repeating the process three times, the process returns to the eighteenth line, and the counter variable i reaches the number of lines of the search result of 3 in the designated server in the previous section, so that the repeating process ends.

5.5. Search processing in the next database server.

5.5-1 In the 24th line of the message operation description file (FIG. 33), a subroutine searchIma for performing a search process from the 7th line to the 25th line
ge is ended, and the line number 29 of the calling source is returned with the processing result. The line number to be returned from this subroutine is recorded in the control information file (second in FIG. 29).
Third line). On the 29th line, the process result of the subroutine searchImage is additionally written to the result sheet r.

5.5-2 The 30th line of the message operation description file (FIG. 33) shows the end of the iterative processing. That is, returning to the 28th line, 1 is added to the counter variable i, and the condition determination processing is performed to determine whether i reaches the number of domain lists, which is 2. The value of i is now 1
Therefore, the process moves to the next 29th line.

5.5-2 The 29th line of the message operation description file (FIG. 33) is the second call processing of the search subroutine searchImage in the database server. Since the value of the counter variable i is 1,
Using the first element "nki.fx.co.jp" of the domains string list as a parameter, the subroutine call process is performed. The first of the subroutine processing is the 9th line, and the domain character string "nki.fx.co.jp" received as a parameter is set as the network domain, and the following processing is the same as the step in the previous section.

5.6 End of processing

5.6-1 The 31st line of the message operation description file (FIG. 33) is the subroutine sea twice.
This is a process of setting the processing result of rchImage as a result information file of the message object. The 32nd line is a process of transmitting the entire message having the processing result as a result information file to the originator (client device 101). With this process,
The values of all variables in the current program and the next line to be executed (line 33 in this case) are stored in the control information file. Next, the station name of the transmission source and the station name of the transmission destination are described together with the date and time in the history management file. Then, the files composing the message are sequentially sent to the message sending unit. Then, the message is transmitted to the target client device 101. There are several methods for transmitting the message, but here, the message is transmitted by the SMTP network electronic mail means, which is the first description candidate in the control information file.

5.6-2 In the client device 101, the messages returned by the message processing unit 102 are sequentially received, and the message interpretation execution unit 923 performs reception recording, verification processing, and user information authentication processing. Then, the user who created the job ticket is notified via the information display unit in the client device that the message processing result has been returned, and the message processing ends.

6. Example of Processing for Printing Instruction of Saved Document (Second Embodiment) The image file server apparatus 121 is instructed from the client apparatus 101 using “job ticket” below.
Of the document image data (book) in the printer 151 and the document image data (book) in the image file server device 122
A description will be given of a processing example (embodiment 2) of the embodiment in which the printer 152 prints out.

6.1 Client Device

6.1-1 In the client device 101, the data processing / control unit 43 is operated based on the user's instruction.
In step 39, the job ticket file shown in FIG. 39 is assembled. The assembly of the job ticket file may be described by the user activating the document editing program via the information display unit 34 and the information input unit 35 in the client device. Alternatively, for example, a “job ticket creation program” having a graphical user interface, such as the one shown in FIG. 27, may be activated to create the job ticket. Graphical Figure 27
The job ticket program automatically creates a job ticket as shown in FIG. 39 by designating the print output mode parameter in the window 271 and the document in the window 272 by the user interface. In the example of FIG. 39, a book identification code called a book ID and a document 11110021 and a book 11110022 are used.
Is instructed to be output (line 5, line 15).

6.1-2 In the client device 101, the control information file, operation description file, history management file, necessary for transmitting the “job ticket” created in the previous section in the data processing / control unit 43 as a message, Create a transportation contents file. The behavior description file program is the content that is always used when performing job ticket processing, such as "Process the job ticket file in the transportation content section and report the result after all processing is completed." Since it is registered as a standard program in the data storage unit (not shown) of the client device 101, it is read out from the data storage unit of the client device 101 and duplicated and created as it is. FIG. 34
Indicates the contents of the operation description file for the processing of the job ticket. In the control information file, the user name and password are read from the operating environment of the user and set, and the number of program execution lines is set to 1. This processing may be performed by the “job ticket creation program”. The history management file is empty because there is no history information to be left yet. Set the job ticket file created in the previous section in the transportation contents section.

6.1-3 Created in 6.1-3 above,
A message including a control information file, a behavior description file, an empty history information file, and a job ticket file is sent to the message interpretation execution unit 1024 of the message processing unit 102 shown in FIG. 10 to start message processing.

6.1-4 Message Interpretation Execution Unit 102
In step 4, referring to the user name and password of the control information file, the database reference unit 1025 is inquired and authenticated. When the database reference unit 1025 can connect to the database server device 131 on the network, the authentication process is performed by referring to the user information of the database server on the network. If the database server device 131 on the network cannot be connected, the authentication process is performed by referring to the user information (local database) stored in the database reference unit 1025.
In the case of this embodiment, since the information on the operating environment of the user is already registered in the local database, the authentication is properly performed.

6.1-5 Next, the message interpretation execution unit 1024 determines the number of processing program execution lines (first line in this case) set in the message control information file from the message operation description file (FIG. 34). Performs interpretation execution processing. Since blank lines and comment lines are ignored in the interpretation execution process, the first instruction is the third line. The processing here refers to the network database, searches for a device that has a database client function close to the client device 101, is currently operating, and has a sufficient processing capacity, and executes the program. Is assigned to the station variable s. The station variable s describes the attributes of each station connected to the network. Here, a station having a job ticket server function for processing a job ticket is searched for. Message interpretation execution unit 102
In 4, the database reference unit 1025 is inquired,
The nearest device having the function on the network is checked, and the result is assigned to the station variable s. As a result of the reference in the case of this example, the station is the job ticket server device 111 (station name “mari.ksp.f”).
x. co. jp "). If the database reference unit 1025 of the client apparatus 101 does not have a network database reference function, the network database cannot be referred to, or if there is no station corresponding to the reference result, the local database in the database reference unit is previously stored. The information of the partner device (job ticket server) for sending the message including the job ticket registered in is used.

6.1-6 In the next process of the program, the entire message including the program being executed is changed to the previous section 6.1.
-5 is transmitted to the station variable s (substantially the job ticket server device 111) obtained in -5. When this line is processed by the message interpretation execution processing unit 1024, the values of all variables in the current program and the line to be executed next are stored in the control information file. Next, in the history management file, along with the date and time, the station name of the sender and
Describe the destination station name. Thereafter, the files composing the message are sequentially transmitted to the message transmission unit 1023. Then, the target job ticket server device 11
Send a message to 1. Although there are several methods for transmitting the message, since there is no description in the control information file in the program of the operation description file, the job ticket server apparatus 111, which is obtained by referring to the database reference unit 1025, receives the normal message. Send by email.

6.2. Message processing

6.2-1 In the above paragraph 6.1-5,
In the job ticket server device 111 designated as the message destination, the message sent from the client device 101 is received by the message receiving unit in the message processing unit.

6.2-2 Processing for sequentially arriving messages to the message interpretation execution unit of the message processing unit, reception record in the history management file at the message interpretation execution unit, and verification of whether necessary function items are satisfied The processing, the user information authentication processing, and the error processing in these processings are the same as the processing in the case of the document image search example of the above item 5.

6.2-3 If there is no problem in the authentication processing, the message operation description file interpretation execution processing is performed from the number of program execution lines of the message control information file (8th line in this case).

6.2-4 In the case of this example, the program file sets the number of job tickets in the counter i on the 12th line after the comment on the 9th line of the operation description file of FIG. , "The job ticket is processed from the beginning to the end and the result is returned to the message sender (originator, in this case, the client device 101)." In this example, there are two “job tickets” in FIG. 39, from the 6th line to the 14th line and from the 16th line to the 29th line,
Processing is performed in order. The second to fourth lines are declarative parameters for all jobs in the same file. Further, the fifth line and the fifteenth line are comment lines.

6.2-5 Message Interpretation Execution Unit 102
In step 4, the job ticket file that constitutes the transport content part in the message is sent to the job ticket processing part.

6.3. Job ticket processing

6.3-1 Job Ticket Processing Unit 102
In step 6, a message for executing the job is newly created for each job described in the job ticket.
From the model of the behavior description program prepared in advance, select the model of the behavior description program according to the main instruction of the parameter of the job ticket description, and use it as the prototype of the program for the behavior description part of the newly created message. To do. In the case of this example, operation description programs for printing document image data and for editing and printing document image data are selected from command parameters described for each job in the job ticket file. The operation description file of the first job in this example is shown in FIG.

6.3-2 Job Ticket Processing Unit 102
In step 6, information regarding the type of output printer and the print server device to which the output printer is connected is obtained from the output printer name of the parameter of the job ticket description via the database reference unit 1025. Also, output book I
Obtain information about an output book and its constituent documents from D.

6.3-3 Database Reference Section 1025
Then, by connecting to the database server on the network, the requested information is obtained from the job ticket processing unit 1026. It should be noted that even if there are a plurality of database server devices, which database data is to be referred to is specified by the database server described in the job ticket (in this example, the database server “RDB-KSP” is Follow the operating database server device 131).

6.3-4 Job Ticket Processing Unit 102
After the operation description program is created in step 6, the user name and password are read from the user's operating environment and set in the control information file, and the number of program execution lines is set to 1. The history management file is empty because there is no history information to be left yet. The carrying contents section is not provided in this example.

6.3-5 Created in 6.3-4 above,
The message processing unit 11 stores a message including a control information file, a behavioral description file, and an empty history information file.
2 to the message interpretation execution unit 1024 to start message processing. As described above, the message interpretation execution unit 1
If the 024 is interpreting and executing a large number of messages at the same time as a predetermined number or more, the created messages are stored in the job ticket processing unit until the number of message interpretations and executions is less than or equal to the predetermined number. To do.

6.3-6 Message Interpretation Execution Unit 102
In step 4, referring to the user name and password of the control information file, the database reference section is inquired and authenticated.
In this platform, information on the user's operating environment is already local.
Since it is registered in the database, it is properly authenticated.

6.3-7 Message Interpretation Execution Unit 102
In step 4, the message message description file is interpreted and executed from the number of program execution lines (first line in this case) set in the control information file of the new message created from the job ticket this time. The first command is the third
It is the line. Here, by referring to the network database, the image file server "IDB-KSP" is searched for a station providing a service,
Substituting for station variable s in the program. The message interpretation execution unit 1024 queries the database reference unit 1025 and substitutes the result into the station variable s. As a result of the reference in the case of this example, the corresponding station is the image file server device 121 (station name “megu.ksp.fx.co.jp”).

6.3-8 The next process of the program is to send the entire message including the program being executed to the station variable s (actually the image file server device 121) obtained in the previous section. After this line is processed by the message interpretation execution processing unit 1024, all variable values and execution lines in the program, date, time, station name of transmission source, station name of transmission destination, storage processing of message, file server device of message The transmission processing to 121 is performed in the same manner as the other message transmission processing described above.

6.4 File Server Device

6.4-1 In the image file server device 121 designated as the message transmission destination in the item of 6.1-5, the message reception unit in the message processing unit receives the transmitted message.

6.4-2 The arrived messages are sent to the message interpretation execution unit 1024 of the message processing unit 112 in the order in which they arrive, and message processing is started.
When two or more messages are received at the same time, the processing when the message interpretation execution unit 1024 interprets and executes a large number of messages at the same time as a predetermined number or more, the necessary function items of the destination device of the control information file The check process, the authentication process using the user name and password of the control information file, and the process at the time of those errors are the same as the process at the time of receiving the message. Since the first sender device (originator) of the message processed here is the job ticket server device 111,
At the time of error, a message having the result state file in the transportation content section is sent to the job ticket server device 111.

6.4-3 If there is no error in each process of the preceding paragraph, from the number of program execution lines of the message control information file (10th line in this example) to the message operation description file (FIG. 35) Is executed.

6.4-4 The 11th line of the message operation description file (FIG. 35) sets the option for displaying the edited print color gray in black and white in the color variable of the edit class e. are doing. From the next line, "/ IDB / PS / 11111001", "/
IDB / PS / 11110100 "," / IDB / PS
/ 111120001 ”three PostScript
The t file is merged and edited while converting the color display expression into a black and white gray display expression, and "/ tmp / $$-
1. This is a process of creating a temporary PostScript file "ps". The processing result such as success or failure of the editing processing is stored in the result sheet variable r.

6.4-5 From the 18th line to the 26th line of the message operation description file (FIG. 35), the options at the time of print output specified in the job ticket are set in the variables of the o print option class. Is described.

6.4-6 The 27th line of the message behavioral description file (FIG. 35) is the "tm" edited and created in the previous section.
p / $$-1. This is an instruction to output a file "ps" to the printer and capture of the output result. The output result is
Add to the result variable r.

6.4-7 The 28th line of the message operation description file (FIG. 35) shows the printed "tmp".
/ $$-1. This is the process of deleting the file "ps".
The processing result is additionally written in the result sheet variable r.

6.4-8 The 29th line of the message operation description file (FIG. 35) is a process of setting the print-output process result as a message object result information file. The 30th line sends the entire message consisting of a control information file, which holds the processing result as a result information file, a behavior description file, a history information file, and a result information file, to the originator (job ticket server device 111). It is a process to do.
This process causes the values of all variables in the current program and the next line to be executed (not in this case,
Line) is stored in the control information file. Next, the station name of the transmission source and the station name of the transmission destination are described together with the date and time in the history management file. Then, the files composing the message are sequentially sent to the message sending unit. Then, the message is transmitted to the target client device 101. There are several methods for transmitting the message, but here, the message is transmitted by the SMTP network electronic mail means, which is the first description candidate in the control information file.

6.5 Processing the Second Job

6.5-1 The second and subsequent jobs are processed in the same manner as described above. That is, after the second job ticket is also sent to the job ticket processing unit 1026, the program corresponding to the main command of the parameter of the job ticket is selected from the model of the operation description program prepared in advance. , Add information obtained by searching the database, create a behavioral description program, and compose a new message. This behavioral description program is shown in FIG. The processing of the second job can be executed simultaneously with the processing of the first job.
In the job ticket interpretation execution process, the job ticket server device checks the dependency relationship of the document image data described in the job ticket, and if it is determined that they are executed simultaneously and there is no problem, they are automatically executed at the same time. FIG.
FIG. 7 is an operation outline diagram of a job ticket that executes two jobs at the same time. The dependency of the document image data is determined by searching the database for the document data forming the book as follows. -When a job is only for document output processing, it can always be executed simultaneously. -If a job includes a document input process, if there is a process for outputting the book image or the document image data including the document in the same job ticket,
The output process is not executed at the same time, but the process is performed after the registration of the document is completed.

6.5-2 According to the description of the second job ticket (line 19 in FIG. 39), the edit server that processes the message created from the second job may be any (EditServer). Is ANY)
Is supposed to be. Therefore, the second message created from the description of the job ticket is sent from the job ticket server device 111 to the closest edit server device 161 as a result of searching the network database from the database reference unit and processed. . The fourth and fifth lines in FIG. 36 are the search process of the editing server device, the first line.
The 0th line is a transmission process to the editing server device 161.
The message is transmitted to the editing server device 161.

6.5-3 Behavior description file (FIG. 36)
12th to 14th lines specify the editing options of the first document constituting the book to be output. This is an editing instruction for performing the 2-up process (inserting a page reduced by a half of the area ratio by two pages by rotating it 90 degrees in one page) while keeping the original document image size "A4". is there. The 15th to 17th lines are instructions for creating the document image data in the JPEG format for print output from the intermediate format file while performing the editing process. As described above, in this embodiment, the intermediate format file used in the editing process is stored in the editing server device 161, and the network database is also referred to when creating the behavioral description program from the job ticket. The location of the intermediate format file in the editing server device 161 has been confirmed. If the intermediate format file does not exist in the editing server device, a process of receiving the transfer of the intermediate format file used for editing from the image file server is performed. The edited result is put in the result sheet r.

6.5-4 Behavioral description file (FIG. 36)
The 18th to 19th lines indicate the editing options of the first document which constitutes the book to be output. This is an edit instruction for performing the 2-up process while reducing the original document image size “B4”. 20th
The 21st to 21st lines are instructions to create the document image data in the JPEG format for print output from the intermediate file while performing the editing process. The edit result is added to the result sheet r.

6.5-5 Behavioral description file (FIG. 36)
From the 23rd line to the 28th line, the print output options are set. Based on the description of the job ticket,
Two copies for the "APEX-KSP" printer 151,
At the time of output, instructions are given to collate and output to A4 size paper. The 29th line is the actual print output command. The 30th line is a process for deleting a file created for work. In each case, the result is added to the result sheet r.

6.5-6 Behavioral description file (FIG. 36)
The 31st line of is a process of storing the operation result in the transportation content part and the result information file. The 32nd line is a process of returning a message including a control information file, a behavior description file, a history information file, and a result information file to the job ticket server device 111, which is an originator.

6.6 Returning Job Ticket Processing Results

6.6-1 The message which has been processing the job ticket causes the processing of the carried job ticket to be executed (line 12 to line 14 in FIG. 34). Delete the job ticket (line 15).

6.6-2 The waiting process is performed until the processing of the two jobs described in the job ticket is completed and both the result information files corresponding to the respective jobs are obtained. Each time the message based on the job of the job ticket is completed, the reported result information file is set as the result information file of its own transportation content section.

6.6-3 By the processing on the 20th line of the behavioral description file of FIG. 34, a message composed of a control information file, a behavioral description file, and a history information file is sent to the client device 101, which is the originator. To do.

6.6-4 In the client device 101, the messages returned by the message processing unit are sequentially received, and the message interpretation execution unit performs reception recording, verification processing, and user information authentication processing. Then, the user who created the job ticket is notified via the information display unit in the client device that the message processing result has been returned, and the message processing ends.

7. Example of Document Storage Registration and Print Instruction (Third Embodiment) In the following, the "job ticket" is used to instruct the client device 101 to register and store document data as a document in the image file server device 121, and at the same time. An example in which the document data is printed out by the printer 151 will be described.

7.1 Client Device

7.1-1 In the client device 101, the data processing / control unit 33 is operated based on the user's instruction.
At, a "job ticket" as shown in FIG. 40 is assembled. This is the same as the processing example of the print instruction of the stored document in the previous section 6. In FIG. 40, "document name", "document type", and "comment" of the document to be registered are designated (lines 14 to 17). The “document ID” of the document to be registered is automatically added during the document registration process and is returned to the user together with the registration result. It is also possible to specify the "document ID" for the document to be registered. "Document I
When "D" or "book ID" is specified, if the same document image data already exists, the registration process replaces the data in the specified database server and image file server.

7.1-2 In the client device 101, the data processing / control unit 33 is operated based on the instruction of the user.
In step 1, create "document data" for storage registration and print instruction. The "document data" is normally created by the user activating a document editing program such as a word processing program via the information display unit 34 and the information input unit 35 in the client device.

7.1-3. The “job ticket” and the “document data” created in the previous section are sent as a message to the message interpretation execution unit 1024 of the message processing unit 32 (102 in FIG. 10) to start message processing.
The control information section, operation description section, and history management section are omitted in this case, and the job ticket file of the transportation content section,
A message is composed of only the document data file.

7.1-4 Message Interpretation Execution Unit 102
In 4, the message is composed of the job ticket file and the document data file, omitting the control information file and the behavior description file. Therefore, referring to the user name and password of the “job ticket”, the database reference part is inquired and authenticated. I do. The process is the same as that of the second embodiment described above except that the user name and password are extracted from the job ticket.

7.1-5 Message Interpretation Execution Unit 102
In No. 4, the message does not have a behavior description file, so the standard processing for the message with a "job ticket" when the behavior description file is omitted at the sending station, "Refer to the network database" Then, the entire message is transmitted to a station that has a database writing client function close to the client apparatus 101, is currently operating, and has sufficient processing capacity. " In the case of this embodiment, the job ticket server device 111 (station name “mari.ksp.fx.co.j
p ") is the station of interest and is transmitted there. Here, transmission is performed by electronic mail means described in the job ticket.

7.2. Message processing section

7.2-1 In the job ticket server device 111 designated as the message transmission destination in 7.1-5, the message sent from the client device 101 is processed by the message processing unit 82 (10 in FIG. 10).
The message is received by the message receiving unit 1022 in 2).

7.2-2 The message interpretation execution unit 10 of the message processing unit 102 receives the arrived messages in order.
24, the process of sending the received message to the history management file in the message interpretation execution unit, the process of verifying whether the necessary function items are satisfied, the process of authenticating the user information, and the error process in those processes Is the same as.

7.2-3. If there is no problem in the authentication processing, the “job ticket” forming the message is sent to the job ticket processing unit 1026.

7.3. Job ticket processing

7.3-1 Job Ticket Processing Unit 102
In step 6, a message for executing the job is newly created for each job described in the job ticket.
From the model of the behavior description program prepared in advance, select the model of the behavior description program according to the main instruction of the parameter of the job ticket description, and use it as the prototype of the program for the behavior description part of the newly created message. To do. In the case of this example, operation description programs for document image data registration and document image data printing are selected from command parameters described for each job in the job ticket file. FIG. 37 shows an example of the behavior description file of the first job.

7.3-2 In the processing of the job ticket of the document registration to be processed first, the attribute data relating to the document file described in the job ticket is taken out,
This is to embed it in the registered SQL statement in the behavioral description program, search the network database, secure the "document ID" of the document to be newly registered, and describe it in the behavioral description program. The job ticket processing unit 1026 retrieves the parameters of the job ticket description via the database reference unit 1024 and requests the database reference unit 1024 to acquire the “document ID”.

7.3-3 Database Reference Section 1024
Then, by connecting to the database server on the network, the job ticket processing unit 1026 requested the
The document ID “11110045” is reserved and acquired in the database server. Note that even if there are multiple database servers, which database data is referred to is specified by the database server described in the job ticket (in this example, the database server "RDB-KSP" is operating. According to the database server device 131).

7.3-4 Job Ticket Processing Unit 102
After the operation description program is created in step 6, the user name and password are read from the user's operating environment and set in the control information file, and the number of program execution lines is set to 1. The history management file is empty because there is no history information to be left yet. The transportation contents section sets the document image data sent from the client apparatus 101 together with the job ticket file.

7.3-5 A message interpreting and executing section 10 of the message processing section 10 sends a message composed of the control information file, the behavioral description file, the empty history information file, and the document content data file transport content section created in the preceding section.
24 to start message processing. Prior to the start of processing, the message interpretation execution unit 1 is executed as in the above-described processing.
024, order control and user authentication processing are performed.

7.3-6 Message Interpretation Execution Unit 102
In step 4, the message message description file (FIG. 37) is interpreted and executed based on the number of program execution lines (first line in this case) set in the control information file of the new message created from the job ticket this time. . The first command is the third line. Here, referring to the network database, from among the stations in which the editing server is operating, "EDIT-NKI.nki.fx.c"
o. Check the station that has an editing service named "jp" and find the station variable s in the program.
Is to substitute. Message interpretation execution unit 1024
Then, the database reference unit 1025 is inquired, and the result is substituted into the station variable s. As a result of the reference in this example, the corresponding station is the edit server device 161.
(Station name "jun.nki.fx.co.j
p ").

7.3-7 Behavioral description file (FIG. 37)
The 5th to 7th lines of are declarations of variables in the program. The next process of the program is to send the entire message including the program being executed to the station variable s (substantially the edit server device 161) obtained in the previous section. After the interpreting execution processing unit processes this line, all variable values in the program and execution line, date, time, station name of transmission source, station name of transmission destination, storage processing of message, edit message server device 161 The transmission process of is performed in the same manner as the other message transmission process described above.

7.4. Editing server device

7.4-1 In the editing server 161 designated as the message destination in 7.3-7, the message receiving section in the message processing section receives the transmitted message.

7.4-2 The arriving messages are arranged in the order of arrival in the message processing unit 42 (= 102 in FIG. 10).
Is sent to the message interpretation executing unit 1024 to start message processing. When two or more messages are received at the same time, the processing when the message interpretation execution unit 1024 interprets and executes a large number of messages at the same time as a predetermined number or more, the necessary function items of the destination device of the control information file The check process, the authentication process using the user name and password of the control information file, and the process at the time of those errors are the same as the process at the time of receiving the message. Since the first sender device (originator) of the message being processed here is the job ticket server device 111, the error status result file for the job ticket server device 111 is sent to the job ticket server device 111 at the time of error. Send a message with. 7.4-3 If there is no error in each process in the preceding paragraph, interpret and execute the message operation description file (Fig. 37) from the number of program execution lines (10th line in this case) of the message control information file. To do. The eleventh and twelfth lines convert the document image data of the carried content part of the message into an intermediate format file and store the directory "/ IDB / MID / 11110045" in the editing server device 161 having the image file server function. It is a process of storing in. The processing result of the conversion processing and the storage processing is stored in the result sheet variable r. The 13th line is a deletion process of the document image data of the carried content part of the message, which has been stored.

7.4-4 The 15th and 16th lines of the message operation description file (FIG. 37) are a service named "IDB-KSP" for storing the printer output format. Is to find out the station that is doing and assign it to the station variable s in the program. The message interpretation execution unit 1024 queries the database reference unit 1025 and substitutes the result into the station variable s. As a result of the reference in the case of this example, the corresponding station is the image file server device 121 (station name “megu.ks”).
p. fx. co. jp ").

7.4-5 The 17th and 18th lines of the message operation description file (FIG. 37) are the printer output format specified by the parameters of the intermediate format file stored in the editing server device 161 in the previous section. , JPEG, PostScript, PCPR, and the directory "/ IDB / MID / 1 in the image file server device 121 indicated by the station variable s.
1110045 ”. Here, 3
Since the format of each type is specified, the conversion process from the intermediate format file to each printer output format file and the network file transfer process for storing the converted printer output format file are executed three times. It The processing results of the conversion processing and transfer processing are additionally stored in the result sheet variable r.

7.4-6 The 20th and 21st lines of the message operation description file (FIG. 37) refer to the network database, and the database client function closest to the current station (edit server device 161). This is to check one station that is currently in operation and has a spare processing capacity, and substitute it into the station variable s in the program. The result of this search process is the edit server device 16
It is one. The 22nd line is the processing result sheet r up to that point.
Is a process of setting the contents of the above to the text of the result information file of the carrying contents part of the message. Next line 23,
This is a process of transferring a message to a station having a database client function. In this case, the process is not performed because the current station is the same as the destination station.

7.4-7 The 25th to 29th lines of the message operation description file (FIG. 37) are document data registration processing to the database server “RDB-KSP”. In the 25th line, set the connection destination server name, and in the 26th line connect to the database server,
SQL for registration is executed in the 28th and 29th lines. In the SQL statement, the stored procedure (registered procedure) "doc.create" is written and executed by using the document attribute described in the job ticket as a parameter. The execution result of this search SQL is input to the result sheet variable r.

7.4-8 In the 31st line of the message operation description file (FIG. 37), the execution result of the search SQL and the contents of the result sheet variable r are added to the text of the result information file in the carrying content part of the message. It is a process to do. Third
The second line is the process of transmitting the entire message to the job ticket server device 111 which is the originator. When the interpreting execution processing unit processes this line, all variables in the program are held and the history is described. , Compose message, control information file, behavior description file,
The history management file and the result information file of the transportation content section are returned to the job ticket server device 111.

7.5 Processing the Second Job Ticket

7.5-1 The second and subsequent jobs are processed in the same manner as described above. That is, after the second job ticket is also sent to the job ticket processing unit, from the template of the behavior description program prepared in advance,
A program is selected according to the main command of the parameter of the job ticket description, information obtained by searching the database is added, a behavior description program is created, and a new message is constructed. This behavioral description program is shown in FIG. Note that the processing of the second job this time cannot be executed simultaneously with the processing of the first job. In the job ticket interpretation execution process, the job ticket server checks the dependency of the document image data described in the job ticket. In the job ticket of FIG. 40, the document to be registered = TH1S (which is carried by a message). , The document to be printed out = TH1S (which is carried by a message), and since they are equal, the printout process is performed after the document registration process is completed.

7.5-2 According to the description of the job ticket (line 6 in FIG. 40), the image file server that processes the message created by the second job has all the “IDB- It has become KSP ". Therefore, the second message created from the description of the job ticket is sent to the image file server device 121 for processing. The fourth line of the behavioral description file of FIG. 38,
The fifth line is the station search process of the image file server device, and the ninth line is the transmission process to the image file server device 121. The message is the editing server device 121.
Will be processed.

7.5-3 Lines 11 to 14 of the message operation description file (FIG. 38) are designations of print output options. This is based on the job ticket description with the original document image size unchanged,
The "EX-KSP" printer is instructed to output one copy on A4 size paper. Lines 15 to 18 are
With the actual print output command, the processing result is the result sheet r.
Append to.

7.5-4 The 19th line of the message action description file (FIG. 38) shows the process of storing the action result in the carried content part and the result information file. The 20th line is a control information file, a behavior description file, a history information file,
This is a process of returning a message composed of a result information file to the job ticket server device 111, which is an originator.

7.6. Return of job ticket processing result

7.6-1 The message that was processing the job ticket is that when the processing of the carried job ticket is executed (line 12 to line 14 in FIG. 34), the job in the carried content section Delete ticket (first
5th line).

7.6-2 The standby process is performed until the processing of the two jobs described in the job ticket is completed and both the result information files corresponding to each job are obtained. Each time the message based on the job of the job ticket is completed, the reported result information file is set as the result information file of its own transportation content section.

7.6-3 By the processing of the 20th line of the message behavioral description file of FIG. 34, a message composed of a control information file, a behavioral description file, and a history information report file is sent to the client device 101 which is the originator. Send.

7.6-4 In the client device 101, the message processing unit 32 sequentially receives the returned messages, and the message interpretation and execution unit 1024 performs reception recording, verification processing, and user information authentication processing. Then, the user who created the job ticket is notified via the information display unit 34 in the client device that the message processing result has been returned, and the message processing ends.

[0207]

According to the message communication method and the message communication device of the present invention, the message includes information regarding the processing content to be performed in cooperation with a plurality of different stations, and in the process of passing this message between the stations in sequence. The station that receives the message interprets the message, executes the process under its control, and passes the message to the next station, whereby the processes can be linked to each other. Network resources can be used effectively, and complicated processing can be easily realized by creating messages. For example, not only re-outputting a document that has been converted to the printer device format,
Describe document information such as author, date created, and document name,
The process of registering the original document in the file server device, the process of specifying the number of copies, the output paper, and the editing process of the enlargement / reduction of the document and outputting it to the desired print server at once, or in the printer device format The process of correcting only one page of the converted and stored document, re-registering it, and outputting it to a desired print server can be executed at a time with a simple instruction. Further, since the communication device of the present invention has a device configuration in which a message processing unit that provides a common function is added to each station such as each client and each server device connected to the network, the communication device is large in the existing network environment. Without making any changes
Moreover, the system of the present invention can be constructed by utilizing the environment as it is.

In the message communication according to the present invention, a message can be divided into the four message constituent parts that can be omitted, and the default processing of each message constituent part can be clearly defined. Since it is possible to omit the description of the same part every time, it becomes possible to easily assemble and send a message at the first station that uses message processing.

Since the present invention has a function of utilizing a plurality of types of existing network communication means for message transmission / reception, it does not depend on the type of printer or file device connected to the network, the network connection method, or the operating system. A message communication method and apparatus can be obtained.

Further, according to the present invention, in addition to the program of the message operation description section for describing the message operation content,
Since it is possible to easily describe and instruct the message operation contents by the “job ticket” described in the transportation content part, it is possible to easily assemble a message to perform desired processing in the client device that uses message processing. It is possible to make a call.

Further, according to the present invention, since common message processing is performed for each device on the network, by providing a consistent communication method, it becomes easy to introduce or change a new device. The challenge is to be able to build a network system freely.

Further, according to the present invention, since the information of each station on the network can be obtained from the database and the desired destination station can be determined, it becomes possible to determine the destination station which reduces the resource load.
By making such a determination, it is possible to increase the amount of processing that can be performed at the same time, and as a result, it is possible to speed up the processing of the entire system.

Further, according to the present invention, all or a large part of the message communication processing can be realized by using software, and the resulting cost and man-hour can be kept low.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a connection configuration diagram of each device of a system example for explaining an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration example of a system using the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a client device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an edit server device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image file server device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a database server device.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a print server device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a job ticket server device.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of a message processing unit having no job ticket server function.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration of a message processing unit having a job ticket server function.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the composition of station names.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the structure of user names and station names.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the structure of a server name

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the structure of document data.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a database management structure.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of each table.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the structure of an image file server.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing classification of editing intermediate formats.

19A and 19B are diagrams showing the structure of an intermediate format file. FIG. 19A is a diagram showing the case where the input storage format is JPEG, and FIG. 19B is a diagram showing the case where the input storage format is PostScript.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a general structure of a message.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing omission of message components.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a job ticket message when components are omitted.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a method of identifying a file by the structure of names, where (a) is a control information file, (b) is a behavior description file, (c) is a history management file, and (d) is a transportation content file. Indicates

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a method of identifying a file based on the contents of the header portion of the file, where (a) is the header of the control information file, (b) is the header of the operation description file, and (c) is the header of the history management file. Indicates

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a method of identifying a file based on the contents of the header portion of the file, where (a) is the header of the job ticket file, (b) is the header of the result information file,
(C) shows the header of a document file (PostScript) file

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing an example of designation of a message destination,
(A) is an example of designation of a message destination by electronic mail means, (b) is an example of designation of message destination by network file transfer means, (c) is an example of designation of message destination by network print means, and (d) ) Indicates examples of designation of message destinations by the Internet file transfer means.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing a screen display example of a job ticket creation program.

FIG. 28 is an operation outline diagram of a job ticket that executes two jobs at the same time.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing an example of contents of a control information file.

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of a history management file

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing an example of contents of a result information file of a transportation contents section.

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing an example of contents of a search result file of a network database.

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing a content example 1 (data search and transfer) of a behavioral description file.

FIG. 34 is a diagram showing a content example 2 (job ticket processing) of the behavior description file.

FIG. 35 is a diagram showing a content example 3 (printing of a document) of a behavioral description file.

FIG. 36 is a diagram showing a content example 4 (editing and printing a document) of a behavioral description file.

FIG. 37 is a diagram showing a content example 5 (document input) of the behavioral description file.

FIG. 38 is a diagram showing a content example 6 (printing a document) of a behavioral description file.

FIG. 39 is a diagram showing a content example 1 (printing of a document, printing of a document) of a job ticket file of a transportation content section.

FIG. 40 is a diagram showing a content example 2 (document input, document print) of the job ticket file in the transportation content section.

FIG. 41 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of a document file in the transportation contents section.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 ... Client device, 111, 112 ... Job ticket server device, 121, 122 ... Image file server device, 131 ... Database server device, 141, 1
42 ... Print server device, 151, 152 ... Printer, 171, 172 ... LAN, 181, 182 ... Router, 191 ... ATM line.

Claims (27)

[Claims] 1. A message communication method for communicating a message between a plurality of stations connected to a network and having various functions, wherein the message includes information about processing contents used by combining the functions of a plurality of different stations. When receiving the message, each station performs its function according to the message, determines the next destination station, and sends the message to the destination station. Communication method. 2. An operation description having an optional control information section for managing message contents transferred at one time so that processing contents included in the message are operated by a plurality of stations, and an operation description program describing an operation performed by the stations. Section, an optional history management section that holds information about the contents of processing performed in the station and its results, and a transportation content section that holds the information to be processed or the parameters used for the processing. The received station performs the operation of the station according to the description of either the operation description program of the operation description unit or the parameters held in the transportation content section, or both, and the operation description program of the operation description section, or Parameters to be stored in the transportation content section are processed or newly created, and the transportation content section Perform assembly of messages include setting the required information, a message communication method according to claim 1, wherein the sending to the next station. 3. The message sent from the first station always activates the next message communication, and one of the stations sends a message to the first station that triggered it, and 3. The message communication method according to claim 1, wherein a series of message communication ends when a message related to the previously transmitted message is received. 4. The first sending station that triggered a series of messages is notified of an error when a message is received and an error occurs while processing the message or communicating a message to the next station. A message is sent when the situation has changed.
Or the message communication method described in 2. 5. When the message is sent to the next destination station, the control information section in the message holds the name of the station that originally created the message, the creator's name, the password, and the name of the next destination station. The message communication method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that. 6. When the message is sent to the next destination station, the control information section in the message contains the line number to be executed next to the behavioral description section program and the current use in the behavioral description section program. 3. The message communication method according to claim 2, wherein one behavioral description section program is continuously operated in the middle of a plurality of stations by holding the value of the variable. 7. When a message is sequentially transferred between stations, a process performed in the station by specifying a program in a behavior description part in the message or a parameter in a transportation content part in the message, or automatically in each station. The contents and the result thereof are described in the history management unit of the message, and the program of the operation description unit that transfers the message or each station refers to the information described in the history management unit and uses it for the operation condition determination. The message communication method according to claim 2. 8. When a behavior description part of a message to be delivered is omitted, a message is received from a plurality of message processing programs prepared in advance at a station which receives the message, in accordance with a carrying content part. 3. The message communication method according to claim 2, wherein a program to be processed is selected to process the entire message. 9. A job ticket consisting of a simple operation instruction command described as a parameter, as the first object of the transportation content part, when the operation description part of the passed message is omitted. 3. The message communication method according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined routine process is performed by the station that receives the message. 10. A plurality of pieces of document information in units of a page consisting of information for one document sheet, a document consisting of a plurality of pages, or a book consisting of a plurality of documents are provided in the carrying contents section. 3. The message communication method according to claim 2, wherein free document processing is performed in the network by allowing individual pieces to be held. 11. The station receiving the message is executing a process based on the behavior description program or the transportation content part job ticket, and a new message different from the message currently being processed by the station being executed. Multiple messages are generated and sent starting from the station that is executing the message, and after the multiple messages have been processed and all returned, refer to the result to perform complex multiple processes. 3. The message communication method according to claim 2, wherein the message communication method can be freely assembled and executed simultaneously. 12. When generating the new message, the program described in the behavior description part of the newly generated message is in accordance with the parameters described in the transportation content part job ticket, and the transportation content part job ticket is included. Based on the parameters described in and the information obtained by referring to them and the database device on the network, the message processing unit automatically generates the program to be described in the operation description unit of the message, and the newly generated message. 12. The message communication method according to claim 11, wherein the message is the behavior description part. 13. When a plurality of new messages are generated according to the procedure of claim 12, the plurality of messages are transmitted at the same time, or after waiting for the result of the first message to come back, It can be processed one by one, or can be specified by the parameter described in the transportation ticket in the transportation content part. If there is no description in the job ticket, the created new message can be sent simultaneously for the parameters described in the job ticket. 13. The message communication method according to claim 12, wherein the condition is determined to determine whether or not the message is transmitted and the message is transmitted. 14. The message communication method according to claim 1, wherein a known e-mail transfer means already built in the network is used for transmitting and receiving the message. 15. The message communication method according to claim 1, wherein a known network file transfer means already built in the network is used for transmitting and receiving the message. 16. The message communication method according to claim 1, wherein a known network print spooling means already built in the network is used for transmitting and receiving the message. 17. The message communication method according to claim 1, wherein a known Internet file transfer means already built in the network is used for transmitting and receiving the message. 18. When sending and receiving a message, an optimum means for each receiving station is selected from an electronic mail transfer means, a network file transfer means, a network print spool means, and an internet file transfer means.
2. The message communication method according to claim 1, wherein the message communication method is determined and used at the time of message transmission according to database information on the network and the content of the message to be transferred. 19. A database device connected to a network, or each station connected to a network,
It has a database function that describes the network address, server function, and message receiving method of each station or some stations in the network, and when processing the program of the operation description section and when sending to the message destination station, 3. The message communication method according to claim 2, wherein the message is referred to. 20. If the station that received the message does not meet the requirements as a receiving station for the message, the database is searched again within the receiving station to find a new message destination, and 20. The message communication method according to claim 19, wherein message transfer is performed to a new destination station. 21. In message communication, when sending a message to a station whose location is unknown, the message is sent to a message server connected to the Internet, which is connectable to networks all over the world, and the location is unknown in the message server. 2. The message communication according to claim 1, wherein information about a transfer destination station is searched on the Internet and a message is sent to a target station, thereby facilitating message communication to a partner station whose location is unknown. Method. 22. The message according to claim 21, wherein as a result of searching on the Internet, if the location of the target station is unknown, the search status in error is sent to the first sending station of the message as an error. Communication method. 23. A message processing means for delivering a message to each of a plurality of stations connected to a network is provided, and the message itself is a destination for delivering the message sequentially among the stations in the network. When receiving a message, each message processing unit includes information about the station and information about the contents of processing to be executed in a series of stations in the network. A message having a processing function of determining a transmission destination, processing the message based on the result of execution up to that time, or assembling a new message, and transmitting this to the determined transmission destination station. Communication device. 24. A control information section for managing the content of a message to be delivered at one time so that the message is processed by a plurality of stations; a behavioral description section having a behavioral description program describing the behavior of the message at the station; The history management unit that holds the information about the processing contents and the result of the processing, and the transportation content unit that stores the document information, and the message processing unit is the operation description program of the operation description unit or the transportation content unit. According to the description of either or both of the held parameter files, the operation of the station is performed, and the operation description program of the operation description part or the parameter file held in the transportation content part is processed or newly created, Assemble the message, including setting the required information in the transport content section. Claim characterized in that it has a message interpretation execution unit 23
The described message communication device. 25. The message processing means has local database means for holding information about stations on the network and providing necessary information in response to an inquiry from the message interpretation executing means. The described message communication device. 26. The message processing means has a database reference means for accessing a database on the network to obtain information about stations on the network in response to an inquiry from the message interpretation execution means. Item 24. A message communication device according to Item 24. 27. The message processing means has a job ticket processing means for newly creating a message for executing the job for each job described in the job ticket of the carrying content part of the message. The message communication device according to claim 24.