Proofer system

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD [Detailed description of the invention]

【0001】

[Technical field to which the invention belongs]

The present invention relates to a proofer system, and particularly manages the operation of a proofer that outputs a proof image that reproduces a printed image obtained by printing the original image data under predetermined printing conditions based on the proof image data. Regarding the proofer system for.

【0002】

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, when printing an image on a printing press using a printing plate, a proof image that is as similar as possible to the color of the image output by the printing press is printed before the printing plate is created and printed. Work is being done to check the print finish in advance by outputting from a proofer such as a display or a display.

【0003】

For the output of this proofer image, the part that normally requires advanced color matching technology and the output mode peculiar to the proofer, that is, the CMS (Color Management System) part and the engine driver part are made independent as one system. Using a so-called stand-alone type proofer system, the image data to be printed is color-converted, converted into a format that can be output by the proofer, and sent to the proofer.

【0004】

By the way, for a large printing company that has a separate design department in charge of designing printed images and an output department in charge of outputting images from a proofer or printing press, the distance between each department is large. May be separated. When introducing a proofer system to such a printing company, in a stand-alone type proofer system, the designer takes the trouble to perform the proofer image output operation and check the progress of the proofer image output. It is very troublesome to go to the place where the system is installed.

【0005】

Therefore, by converting the proofer system into a client-server format and installing the client program for the proofer system on each designer's computer (hereinafter referred to as "client PC"), the designer can use the client PC to install the proofer system. Was taken measures to enable remote operation.

【0006】

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

However, in the prior art, it is necessary to install the client program on each client PC. For example, when there are hundreds of client PCs, the work of installing the client program or when the client program is modified and updated. It was inefficient. In addition, various models may be mixed in the client PC, or the type of OS (Operating System) may be different from that of the server side. In the conventional technology, a plurality of client programs are used according to the expected OS type of the client PC. There was a problem that it was necessary to prepare seeds and install a client program corresponding to each OS environment on each client PC, resulting in high development cost.

【0007】

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a proofer system capable of efficiently installing and updating a client program. It also aims to provide a proofer system that can be operated remotely by a client program without depending on the OS environment.

【0008】

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a proofer that outputs a proof image that reproduces a printed image obtained by printing the original image data under predetermined printing conditions based on the proof image data. This is a proofer system for managing the operation of the proof image, and upon inputting an output request for a proof image, the original image data is subjected to predetermined image processing to generate the proof image data, which is output to the proofer. A first server that outputs the proof image from the proofer and transmits information indicating the output processing status related to the output of the proof image to the input source of the confirmation request by inputting the confirmation request of the output processing status, and the output. A storage means for storing a client program for inputting at least one of a request and the confirmation request is provided, and the client is connected to the network and communicates with a client connected via the network to the client. The client program stored in the storage means is provided, and when the output request input by executing the client program is transmitted from the client, the output request is transferred to the first server. Then, when the confirmation request is transmitted, the confirmation request is transferred to the first server, and the information indicating the output processing status transmitted from the first server is input to the confirmation request. It is characterized by having a second server that transfers data to the original client server.

【0009】

According to the invention of claim 1, the second server is connected to a network and can communicate information with a client connected to the network. Further, in the second server, a client program for inputting a proof image output request and an output processing status confirmation request is stored in the storage means, and is stored in the storage means by information communication with the client. The client program is provided to the client side, and when the output request input by the execution of the provided client program is transmitted from the client, the output request is transferred to the first server. As a result, the output request of the proof image input from the client is input to the first server via the second server, and the first server performs predetermined image processing on the original image data to generate the proof image data. It is output to the proofer, and the proof image can be output from the proofer.

【0010】

Further, in the second server, when the confirmation request input by the execution of the client program provided to the client side is transmitted from the client by information communication with the client, first, the confirmation request is sent to the first one. Transfer to the server. As a result, the output processing status confirmation request input from the client is input to the first server via the second server, and the first server directs the confirmation request to the input source, that is, the second server. Output Information indicating the processing status is output (transmitted). When the second server receives the information indicating the output processing status from the first server, it forwards it to the client that inputs the confirmation request. That is, information indicating the output processing status from the first server is transmitted to the client via the second server.

【0011】

In this way, by providing the client program from the second server to the client and performing communication between the client and the first server via the second server, the client program is installed on each client as in the conventional technique. When updating the client program without the need for the work to be performed, the client program recorded in the recording means of the second server only needs to be replaced, so that the client program installation and update work is efficient. Further, even if the OS types of the client and the second server are different, the difference can be absorbed by the second server. The first server and the second server do not have to be physically different separate devices, and the functions of both the first server and the second server may be provided in one device.

【0012】

Further, in order to enable the client program to operate on the client side regardless of the OS environment on the client side, as described in claim 2, the client has a browser program installed on the client. It is preferable that the program is written in a language that can be executed by the browser program.

【0013】

For example, a client program written in HTML or Java (R) can be used.

【0014】

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Next, an example of the embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

【0015】

[Overall Configuration] As shown in FIG. 1, in the proofer system 10 to which the present invention is applied, a Web (World Wide Web) server 12 and a processing server 16 connected to a printer 14 as a proofer are interconnected. It is composed of. The Web server 12 is connected to a network 20 such as the Internet or a LAN (Local Area Network) to which a plurality of client PCs 18 are connected, and can communicate with each client PC18 via the network 20.

【0016】

Although FIG. 1 shows a case where the processing server 16 is connected to only one printer 14, it may be connected to a plurality of printers 14. Further, as the proofer, a display can be used in addition to the printer.

【0017】

Further, the case where the Web server 12 and the processing server 16 are configured as separate devices is shown as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and one device is the Web server 12 and the processing server 16. Both functions may be provided, and this can be realized by, for example, installing a program for constructing each function of the Web server 12 and the processing server 16 on one computer (PC).

【0018】

[Detailed Configuration] Next, each device will be described in detail. The client PC 18 uses a general computer provided with a display means such as a display and a user interface (hereinafter referred to as UI) consisting of operation input means such as a keyboard and a mouse, and also equipped with a CPU, RAM, ROM, and the like. Therefore, detailed description thereof will be omitted here, and only the part related to the present invention will be described.

【0019】

As shown in FIG. 1, some client PC18s are connected to a scanner 22 that reads the original image (client PC18A), and this client PC18 also has a C (cyan) that represents the original image read from the scanner 22. Color-separated image data of four colors of M (magenda) Y (yellow) K (black) is input, and based on the input image data, electronic plate collection is performed, and the image for printing is not shown. Data (hereinafter referred to as "print image data") is generated. This print image data represents an image (so-called bitmap image) composed of pixels having gradations for each of the four CMYK colors.

【0020】

As shown in FIG. 2, when printing is performed by the printing machine 30, in general, the printing image data is converted into plate-making image data representing an image consisting of mesh dots, input to the film printer 32, and input to the film printer. In 32, a printing film original plate of each CMYK plate is created based on the plate-making image data. A printing plate is created from this printing film original plate, and the created printing plate is mounted on the printing machine 30. Then, in the printing machine 30, ink is applied to the mounted printing plate, and the applied ink is transferred onto the printing paper to form a printed image 34 on the paper.

【0021】

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, each client PC 18 displays a Web browser for displaying various information on the display means of the client PC 18, and controls the display on the Web browser (World Wide Web). ) The browser program 24 is read from the recording medium 26 such as a CD-ROM in advance and installed. It should be noted that the program 24 of this Web browser is installed as standard on a general computer in the past due to the spread of the Internet, and is not specially installed for the realization of the present invention.

【0022】

Each client PC 18 functions as a so-called Web client by activating the program 24 of the Web browser installed in each client PC 18 and accesses the Web server 12 via the network 20 to perform data communication. It is possible to do it. At this time, the access location (data composed of the access destination Web server 12 and the location of information in the server) is specified by the URL (Uniform Resource Locator), and the data communication follows HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol). Will be done.

【0023】

Specifically, the client PC 18 transmits image data for printing to the proofer system 10 by accessing the Web server 12, and outputs a proof image 36 that resembles the print image 34 as much as possible from the printer 14. A request (proof image output request) can be made, and the operator can request a notification of the progress status of the output process (processing status notification request) in order to confirm the output processing status.

【0024】

The Web server 12 functions as a second server of the present invention and mediates communication between the client PC 18 and the processing server 16. As shown in FIG. 3, the Web server 12 is deployed so that the CPU 40 that executes various programs, the hard disk device 42 that stores various programs and data, and the program read from the hard disk device 42 can be executed by the CPU 40. The main memory 44, the CD-ROM 46 loaded, the CD-ROM driver 48 that accesses the assumed CD-ROM 46, the UI 50 such as the display means and the operation input means, and the network 20 are connected to the network 20. It is equipped with an interface (hereinafter, "I / F") 52 for communicating via the processing server 16 and an I / F 54 for communicating with the processing server 16 by being connected to the processing server 16. The CPU 40, the hard disk device 42, the main memory 44, the CD-ROM driver 48, the UI50, the I / F52, and the I / F54 are connected to each other via the bus 56.

【0025】

Here, the server program 58 and various client programs 60 are recorded in the CD-ROM 46, and in the Web server 12, this CD-ROM 46 is loaded in the CD-ROM driver 48 in advance, and the CD-ROM driver The server program 58 and the client program 60 recorded on the CD-ROM 46 are read by 48 and stored in the hard disk device 42 (installation).

【0026】

The server program 58 referred to here is always executed in the background by the CPU 40 while the Web server 12 is running, accepts various requests via the network 20, and receives the requests sent via the network 20. It controls the operation of the Web server 12 when it is received by / F52. Specifically, in response to the request received by the I / F 52, the operation of the Web server 12 is controlled so as to send the client program 60 to the client PC 18 that is the source of the request or to transfer the received request to the processing server 16. To do.

【0027】

The client program 60 is a program written in HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) that is analyzed by the program 24 of the Web browser and displays information on the Web browser, and Java (R) that provides a more dynamic environment. It is a program that does not depend on the OS environment, such as the program described in.

【0028】

In the following, specifically, a client program for displaying a menu of processing items that can be accepted by the proofer system 10, a client program for inputting an output request for outputting a proof image from the printer 14, and a proof for which the output is requested. A case where a client program for displaying the image output processing status is prepared and stored in the hard disk device 42 will be described as an example. The type of client program is not limited to this.

【0029】

Further, in the Web server 12, even when the server program 58 or the client program 60 is modified, the CD-ROM 46 in which the modified server program 58 or client program 60 is recorded is loaded into the CD-ROM driver 48. Similarly, the modified server program 58 and client program 60 can be stored in the hard disk device 42 (update).

【0030】

In the present embodiment, the case where the server program 58 and the client program 60 are read from the CD-ROM 46 and installed or updated on the Web server 12 is shown as an example, but the present invention is limited to this. is not it. The server program 58 or the client program 60 may be recorded on another recording medium such as an FD or a DVD, and the server program 58 or the client program 60 may be read from the recording medium and installed or updated on the Web server 12. Further, the server program 58 and the client program 60 transmitted from other devices via the network may be received and installed or updated on the Web server 12.

【0031】

The processing server 16 functions as the first server of the present invention, and, upon request, converts the print image data into proof image data 36 that reproduces the print image 34 by the printer 14. Then, it is transmitted to the printer 14 and the output processing status is monitored and notified. As shown in FIG. 4, the processing server 16 is expanded to execute the CPU 70 that executes various programs, the hard disk device 72 that stores various programs and data, and the program read from the hard disk device 72 to be executed by the CPU 70. The main memory 74 to be programged, the CD-ROM driver 78 loaded with the CD-ROM76 and accessing the loaded CD-ROM76, the UI80 such as the display means and the operation input means, and the Web server 12 connected to the Web server. It is equipped with an I / F 82 for communicating with the 12 and an I / F 84 for transmitting image data representing a proof image to the printer 14 which is connected to the printer 14. The CPU 70, the hard disk device 72, the main memory 74, the CD-ROM driver 78, the UI80, the I / F82, and the I / F84 are connected to each other via the bus 86.

【0032】

Here, the CD-ROM 76 has a proof program 90 that performs output processing for outputting a proof image from the printer 14, a management program 92 that manages the output processing, and color expression characteristics of each of the printing machine 30 and the printer 14. A plurality of profile data 94 to be shown are recorded, and in the processing server 16, this CD-ROM 76 is loaded in the CD-ROM driver 78 in advance, and the proof program recorded in the CD-ROM 76 by the CD-ROM driver 78 is recorded. 90, the management program 92 and the profile data 94 are read out and stored in the hard disk device 72 (installation).

【0033】

The proof program 90 referred to here refers to the profile data 94 for the print image data by being executed by the processing server 16 (CPU70), and the proof image 36 having a color as similar as possible to the print image 34. Color conversion processing is performed so that the data can be obtained and the color system is compatible with the printer 14, the data after the color conversion processing is halftone-dotted to generate proof image data, and the data is transferred to the printer 14. Is sent out.

【0034】

In addition, the management program 92 is always executed in the background by the CPU 70 while the processing server 16 is running, and monitors the progress status of the output processing by the proof program 90 (hereinafter referred to as "output processing status"). It controls the operation of the processing server 16 when it accepts the transfer of the request from the Web server 12 and receives the request transferred from the Web server 12 by the I / F 82. Specifically, in response to the request received by the I / F 82, the processing server 16 starts the proof program 90 to start the output processing, and notifies the Web server 12 of the output processing status being monitored. Control the operation.

【0035】

Further, the management program 92 may receive not only the request transferred from the Web server 12 but also the direct input of the request from the operation input means of the UI80 and perform the same processing. In this case, the output processing status is notified by displaying the information indicating the status on the display means of the UI80.

【0036】

The printer 14 is a high-resolution printer for outputting a proof image, receives proof image data transmitted from the processing server 16, and prints the proof image 36 on paper based on the received proof image data. Output.

【0037】

[Functional configuration of proofer system] Here, in order to make the proofer system 10 a so-called Web system that communicates with the client PC18 as a Web client, software using the hardware resources as described above is used. It is advisable to build the functions as shown in Fig. 5. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the proofer system 10 provides a Web server 12 having a Servlet 100 function between the client PC 18 and the processing server 16 that performs processing in response to a request from the client PC 18. Communication between the client PC 18 and the processing server 16 is performed via the Web server 12. Specifically, the Servlet 100 provides a client program to the client PC18 side to operate the applet 104 or HTML106 on the Web browser 102, and XML (eXtensible) between the Servlet 100 and the applet 104 or HTML106 according to HTTP. Sending and receiving information written in Markup Language) and HTML is realized.

【0038】

On the other hand, DCOM (Distributed Component Object Model) 110 is adopted for NT service 108 such as proof image output and output processing status confirmation provided by the processing server 16, and DCOM RPC (Remote Procedure) is used between Servlet 100 and DCOM 110. XML information is sent and received according to Call), and XML information is also passed between DCOM 110 and GUI (Graphical User Interface) 112 according to DCOM RPC (Remote Procedure Call). In this way, by adopting DCOM, the processing server 16 can use the program used in the conventional proofer system, and the proofer system 10 can be easily realized.

【0039】

[Action] Next, as an action of the present embodiment, an operation when the operator requests the output of the proof image from the client PC 18 and confirms the output processing status will be described.

【0040】

First, a case where the operator requests the output of the proof image from the client PC 18 will be described. FIG. 6 shows a communication control diagram between the client PC 18, the Web server 12, and the processing server 16 when the client PC 18 requests the output of the proof image.

【0041】

As shown in FIG. 6, when requesting the output of the proof image 36 from the client PC 18, the operator first inputs the start instruction of the program 24 of the Web browser to the client PC 18, and in response to this, the client PC 18 takes step 200. In, the program 24 of the Web browser is started, and the Web browser 102 is displayed in the display means. Next, in step 202, the Web server 12 is specified as the access destination by inputting the URL of the Web server 12 on the Web browser 102 by an operator operation, and an access request is sent from the client PC 18 to the Web server 12. Will be done. It should be noted that the transmission process of this access request has been generally performed by the control based on the program 24 of the Web browser.

【0042】

In the Web server 12, in response to this access request, in step 204, the client program 60 for displaying the menu is read from the hard disk device 42 and transmitted to the client PC 18 of the request transmission source.

【0043】

When the client PC 18 receives the menu display client program 60 transmitted from the Web server 12, in step 206, the received menu display client program 60 is analyzed and operated by the running program 24, as if it were operated. As if the client program 60 was executed on the Web browser 102 (hereinafter, referred to as "execution on the Web browser"), the processing items that can be accepted by the proofer system 10 are displayed on the Web browser 102 as a menu. Hereinafter, in the present embodiment, a case where two items of proof image output and output processing status confirmation can be accepted in the proofer system 10 will be described as an example. In this case, on the client PC18 side, these two items can be selected on the Web browser and the menu is displayed.

【0044】

When such an item is displayed on the Web browser 102 as a menu, on the client PC 18, in step 208, "Proof image output" is selected from the menu displayed by the operator operation, and in the next step 210, the Web browser 102 The transmission request of the client program 60 for inputting the output request is transmitted from the client PC 18 to the Web server 12 by the control based on the client program 60 for displaying the menu executed above.

【0045】

In the Web server 12, in response to this transmission request, in step 212, the client program 60 for inputting the output request is read from the hard disk device 42 and transmitted to the client PC 18 of the request transmission source.

【0046】

When the client PC 18 receives the client program 60 for output request input transmitted from the Web server 12, in step 214, the client program 60 for output request input is executed on the Web browser 102, and the Web browser 102 A screen for entering the output request is displayed above. Then, the output request of the proof image for the print image data is input by the operator operation.

【0047】

In general, for the output of a proof image, it is possible to set an output form such as a printing machine 30 for final output, a proofer for outputting a proof image when a plurality of proofers are provided, a paper size, and the number of copies. Also in this embodiment, the output request is input after these output forms can be set on the screen displayed on the Web browser by the control based on the client program 60 for inputting the output request. It has become.

【0048】

When the output form is set by the operator operation and the output request is input, the client PC18 controls the client in the next step 216 based on the client program 60 for the output request input executed on the Web browser 102. As a proof image output request, the print image data to be output of the proof image and the setting information of the output form are transmitted from the PC 18 to the Web server 12.

【0049】

When the Web server 12 receives the output request transmitted from the client PC 18, the Web server 12 transfers the received output request to the processing server 16 in step 218.

【0050】

When the processing server 16 receives the output request transferred from the Web server 12, the proof program 90 is started in step 220 by the control based on the management program 92, and the output processing based on the output request is started. , The progress of the started output processing is monitored in step 222. As a result, the processing server 16 performs color conversion processing and shading processing on the print image data to convert it into proof image data, transmits the proof image data to the printer 14, and transmits the proof image data to the printer 14. The proof image 36 will be output from and the progress will be monitored.

【0051】

Next, a case where the operator requests the output of the proof image from the client PC 18 and then confirms the output processing status will be described as described above. FIG. 7 shows a communication control diagram between the client PC 18, the Web server 12, and the processing server 16 when the client PC 18 requests confirmation of the output processing status. Note that, in FIG. 7, the same step numbers are assigned to the same processes as in FIG. 6, and detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

【0052】

As shown in FIG. 7, when checking the output processing status, the operator starts the program 24 of the Web browser on the client PC 18 (step 200) in the same manner as described above, and accesses the Web server 12 from the client PC 18. (Step 202), the client program 60 for menu display is provided by the Web server 12 (Step 204), and the processing items that can be accepted by the proofer system 10 are displayed on the Web browser 102 as a menu (Step 206).

【0053】

Then, on the client PC 18, in step 250, "output processing status confirmation" is selected from the displayed menu by the operator operation, and the client program for menu display executed on the Web browser 102 in the next step 252. The output processing status notification request is sent from the client PC 18 to the Web server 12 by the control based on 60.

【0054】

When the Web server 12 receives the output processing status notification request sent from the client PC 18, the Web server 12 transfers the received output processing status notification request to the processing server 16 in step 254. When the processing server 16 receives the output processing status notification request transferred from the Web server 12, the processing server 16 generates information (processing status data) indicating the output processing status being monitored in step 256 by the control based on the management program 92. And send it to the Web server 12.

【0055】

When the Web server 12 receives the processing status data transmitted from the processing server 16, in step 258, the Web server 12 transfers the processing status data to the client PC 18 that sends the processing status notification request together with the client program 60 for displaying the processing status. Send.

【0056】

When the client PC 18 receives the processing status display client program 60 sent from the Web server 12, the processing status display client program 60 is executed on the Web browser in step 260, and the processing status display client program 60 is executed on the Web browser 102. The output processing status in the processing server 16 is displayed based on the processing status data transmitted together with the client program 60. The operator can grasp the output processing status on the processing server 16 from the display on the Web browser.

【0057】

As described above, in the present embodiment, the Web server 12 is provided between the client PC 18 in which the Web browser program 24 is installed in advance and the processing server 16 that operates based on the request from the client PC 18, and the Web server 12 In, the client program 60, which is written in HTML or Java (R) that can be executed on the Web browser 102, is provided to the client PC12 side for requesting proof image output and requesting confirmation of the output processing status, and the client. By performing communication between the PC 18 and the processing server 16 via the Web server 12, the operation of the processing server 16 (that is, the operation of the proofer system 10) can be remotely controlled from the client PC 18. This eliminates the need to install the client program 60 on each client PC 18 as in the conventional technology, and when updating the client program, simply replace the client program 60 stored in the hard disk 42 of the Web server 12. It's fine. Further, even if the OS types of the client PC 18 and the processing server 16 are different, the difference can be absorbed by the Web server 12.

【0058】

Further, by using the client program 60 executed on the Web browser 102, the client program 60 can be operated regardless of the OS environment of the client PC 18.

【0059】

In the above description, the case where the client program 60 for menu display, output request input, and processing status display is prepared has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, for menu display. It is also possible to prepare a client program 60 that integrates the functions of the client program 60 for inputting an output request and displaying the processing status. In this case, when the client PC 18 accesses the Web server 12, the client program 60 may be provided from the Web server 12 to the client PC 18, and the number of times the client program 60 is transmitted from the Web server 12 can be reduced. Can be done.

【0060】

The present invention is not limited to application within a printing company having a design department and an output department, and can be applied within a range that can be communicated by HTTP. In addition, the Web system is originally designed so that it can be easily linked with the database, and it is easy to implement functions that provide individual information on the client PC side. Functions that do not match the cost and delivery date can also be installed.

【0061】

[Effect of the invention]

As shown above, the present invention has an excellent effect that the client program can be efficiently installed and updated. It also has the effect of being able to be operated remotely by a client program without depending on the OS environment on the client side.

[Simple explanation of drawings]

[Figure 1]

It is a connection block diagram of the proofer system which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

[Figure 2]

It is a conceptual diagram which shows the processing process from the print image data to the output of a print image and a proof image.

[Fig. 3]

It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the Web server which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

[Fig. 4]

It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the processing server which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

[Fig. 5]

It is a block diagram which shows the software-like functional structure of the proofer system which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

[Fig. 6]

It is a communication control diagram between a client PC, a Web server, and a processing server when the output of a proof image is requested from the client PC which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

[Fig. 7]

FIG. 5 is a communication control diagram between a client PC, a Web server, and a processing server when a client PC according to an embodiment of the present invention requests confirmation of an output processing status.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Proofer system 12 web server 14 printer 16 Processing server 20 networks 24 programs 26 Recording medium 36 proof image 42 Hard disk drive 58 Server program 60 Client program 90 proof program 92 Management program 94 Profile data 102 web browser