JPH0783424B2 - Display controller - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a display control device, and more particularly to a display control device used to process image information.

<Prior Art and Problem> Conventionally, there is known a technology of recording an image based on an image signal obtained by photoelectrically reading image information or transmitting the image signal to a remote place.

In such an apparatus, the functions of the entire system can be increased by increasing the number of input devices for inputting controllable image information and the number of output devices for outputting the controllable image information.

However, if the number of such input devices or output devices is increased, the control of the entire system becomes complicated, resulting in a problem that the usability is not sufficient for the user.

Especially, when the user is unfamiliar with the control of the entire system, the above-mentioned problem becomes a serious problem.

In view of the above points, the present invention has an object to provide a display control device that has multiple functions of the entire system and can improve operability.

For such a purpose, the display control device of the present invention is a display control device for controlling a display means for displaying information for controlling a plurality of input or output devices including a device having a function of color input or output. An icon corresponding to each of the plurality of input or output devices and an icon for editing processing of image information input from an input device among the plurality of input or output devices (Fig. 14 (a) in the embodiment). of
c, d, e, f, h, g and "Edit" icons),
First display control means for displaying on the display means together with an image corresponding to image information input from an input device of the plurality of input or output devices (also an image in the area A of FIG. 14), A plurality of processing menus for editing processing are displayed as character strings on the display means in response to the icon for editing processing being designated by the pointing device among the icons displayed on the display means. It is characterized by having a second display control means for performing display control of the display means (also performing display of i in FIGS. 14B, 14C and 14D).

The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external connection diagram of an image processing system to which the present invention is applied. Reference numeral 1 is a control unit (called a workstation) having an internal memory composed of a micro computer for system control, RAM, ROM, etc., and an external memory composed of a floppy disk or a cartridge disk.
Is. Reference numeral 2 is an input section of the digital copying machine, which is a document reader for converting document information of a document placed on a platen into an electric signal by an image pickup device such as CCD, and 3 is an output section of the digital copying machine, which is a laser beam printer. It is a high-speed printer that records an image on a recording material based on information converted into electrical signals. An image file 4 has a storage medium such as an optical disk or a magneto-optical disk and can write and read a large amount of image information. A microfilm reader 5 is provided with a microfilm search unit and a microfilm reader unit for converting the image information on the searched microfilm into an electric signal by an image pickup device such as a CCD of about 3,600 bits. Reference numeral 6 has a photosensitive belt having a photoconductive layer provided on a transparent and electroconductive strip-shaped substrate, and the photoconductive layer is irradiated with a laser beam modulated according to an input image signal to form an image light. Electrostatic latent image corresponding to the light and darkness of the image is formed on the photoconductive layer, and the formed latent image is developed with toner (developer) having conductivity and magnetism held on the toner carrier to display the display image. It is a high-resolution soft display that forms.
Reference numeral 7 is a printer device such as a laser beam printer similar to the printer 3, but is smaller and slower than the printer 3, and is installed as needed. Reference numeral 8 denotes a CRT device for displaying image information photoelectrically read by an input scanner (reader) of a digital copying machine and a micro film file, or system control information. A color display may be adopted so as to be compatible with color processing.
Reference numeral 9 denotes a switching device for switching the connection between the respective input / output devices by a signal from the control unit 1. 10 to 18 are cables for electrically connecting the input / output devices. Also, 20 is the control unit 1
By operating the keyboard 20 provided in the above, an operation command of the system is issued. In addition, it has functions such as a word processor and office computer in combination with the CRT device 8. Further, 30 is a point device for instructing processing of image information on the CRT 8, and by the operator moving the point device 30,
Move the cursor on the CRT8 arbitrarily in the X and Y directions, select the command image on the command menu, and give the instruction.
Reference numeral 21 denotes an operation panel for issuing an operation command of the digital copying machine, which has setting keys for the number of copies, copying magnification, etc., a copy key 25 for instructing the start of copying, and a numerical display. twenty three
Is a mode switching switch described later, and 23 and 24 are indicators composed of light emitting diodes (LEDs) for displaying the mode selection state of the mode switching switch 22. In addition to the devices described above, this system has a word processor and
A fax reader or a color reader or printer can be connected if necessary.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the image processing system shown in FIG. Each block corresponding to FIG. 1 is assigned the same number as in FIG. First, each block in the control unit 1 will be described. Reference numeral 31 denotes a keyboard, which corresponds to the keyboard 20 shown in FIG. 1, and the operator inputs an operation command of the system by using the keyboard 31 or the point device 30. A central processing unit (CPU) 32 is composed of a micro computer (for example, Motorola 68000). Reference numeral 33 is a read-only memory ROM in which a system control program is written in advance, and the CPU 32 controls and operates according to the program written in the ROM 33. A random access memory RAM 34 is mainly used as a working memory of the CPU 32 and a page memory for storing image signals exchanged between the input / output units. Reference numeral 35 denotes an external memory composed of a floppy disk, which stores a system control program and a database for image retrieval from an image file and a micro film file which will be described later. Reference numeral 36 is a communication interface, which enables exchange of information with other workstations or other similar systems or terminals using a local area network or a communication line such as a digital facsimile communication line. Reference numeral 37 is an input / output interface that achieves information exchange between the control unit 1 and the switching device 9. Reference numeral 38 is a bit extraction circuit for thinning out the image signal at a predetermined rate. 39 is an optical disc interface for exchanging information with the image file 4, and 40 is a CRT interface for exchanging information with the CRT 8. Reference numeral 41 is a 16-bit bus, and the signal transfer of each block in the control unit 1 is performed. Note that well-known word processors and office computers such as office computers can be directly connected to this bus.
As described above, 10 to 18 are cables for electrically connecting the respective input / output devices, and control signals and image signals are transmitted.
The arrow on the cable indicates the flow of the image signal. Also, the flow of control signals is bidirectional in the cable. As is clear from the figure, the document reader 2 and the high-speed printer 3, the microfilm file 5, the soft display 6, and the small printer 7 of the digital copying machine 42 are provided with cables 11, 12, respectively.
It is connected to the switching device 9 by 15, 16 and 10, and is further connected to the input / output interface 37 of the control unit 1 by cables 13 and 14. In addition, the image file 4 and CRT8 are each cable 1
7, 18 connect to each interface 39, 40 of the controller 1. CRT8 is for display to store image information to be displayed
RAM43 is provided. Further, since the image signal input / output by the switching device 9 is a serial signal and the information on the bus 41 of the control unit 1 is a parallel signal, the input / output interface 37 has a serial-to-parallel interface for capturing an image signal. A register and a parallel → serial register for outputting an image signal are provided. Then, the parallel image signal is DMA-transferred on the bus 41.

The image signal output from the document reader 2 or the microfilm file 5 is input to the input / output interface 37 of the control unit 1 via the switching device 9 line by line. The input / output interface 37 receives the image signals input serially.
It is converted into a parallel signal for every 16 bits and output on the bus 41. The image signals output on the bus 41 are sequentially input to the image area of the RAM 34 for one page. RAM34 in this way
The image signal stored in the optical disk is output to the bus 41 again, is output to the outside via the communication interface 36, is sent to the image file 4 via the optical disk interface 39, and is written to the optical disk. , Is output to the switching device 9 via the input / output interface 37 and is selectively transmitted to the high speed printer 3, the soft display 6 or the small size printer 7 to form an image.

The image signal read from the optical disk of the image file 4 is written in the RAM 34, and then selected by the switching device 9 via the input / output interface 37 to the high speed printer 3, the soft display 6 or the small printer 7. Transmitted.

The image signal from the document reader 2 or the micro film file 5 can be selectively transmitted directly to any one of the high speed printer 3, the soft display 6 and the small printer 7 from the switching device 9 without the control unit 1. . That is, when a mere copy operation is desired, the image file 4 or CRT8
Therefore, for example, the image signal from the document reader 2 is directly supplied to the high-speed printer 3 without passing through the control unit 4, and the real-time copy operation is executed.
This mode is called the pass mode.

The control relating to the transmission of the above image signal is executed by the CPU 32 in accordance with the operation command input by the operator through the keyboard 31 or the point device 30.

FIG. 3 shows a detailed circuit configuration of the switching device 9. The same cables as in FIG. 2 are given the same numbers.

Switches 51-54, 61-63 and 71-74 are controlled by the switching signals ak transmitted from the control unit 1 via the cable 13. The switches 51 to 54 select the transmission destination of the image signal output from the microfilm file 5 via the cable 15. The switches 61 to 63 select the transmission destination of the image signal output from the control unit 1 via the cable 14b. The switches 71 to 74 select the transmission destination of the image signal output from the document reader 2 via the cable 11. FIG. 4 shows a document reader 2 for outputting an image signal to the switching device 9, a microfilm file 5 and a control unit 1 and a high speed printer 3 for inputting an image signal from the switching device 9, a soft display 6, a small printer 7 and a control unit 1. Connection status and switch 51 to 54, 61 to 63, 71 to 74
Shows the relationship of the operating state of. The numbers in parentheses indicate the transmission cables for image signals. Each switch number indicates that the switch is in the closed state. The switching device 9 can also be configured by a logic circuit using an AND gate, an OR gate, or the like.

The operation of the switching device 9 will be described. For example, when the switches 72, 53 and 63 are closed, the image signal from the document reader 2 is transmitted to the high speed printer 3 via the switch 72 and operates as a digital copying machine. On the other hand, switch 53
The image signal from the micro film 5 is transmitted to the soft display 6 via the. Further, the image signal from the control unit 1 is transmitted to the small printer 7 via the switch 63.

As described above, by selectively operating the switch of the switching device 9, each input / output device is arbitrarily connected, and
This system can effectively function as a display device, a copying device, and a file device. Further, since a plurality of pieces of image information can be transmitted at the same time, it is possible to eliminate the inconvenience that the system is occupied by a certain piece of image information and other input / output devices cannot operate. Furthermore, as mentioned above,
When a simple copy operation or display operation is performed, the image signals from the document reader 2 and the microfilm file 5 can be directly transmitted to the high speed printer 3, the soft display 6 or the small printer 7 without passing through the control unit 1. (Pass mode) High-speed processing is achieved.

Next, the operation when the CRT 8 displays an image based on the image signals output from the document reader 2 and the microfilm file 5 will be described. This system has a high resolution
A CRT is used, but the amount of information that can be displayed is about 6 × 10 ⁴
It's a bit. However, for example, the document reader 2 can read a document of maximum A3 size, for example, A4 size (210 mm × 2
If a 97 mm) original is read at a resolution of 16 pel / mm, the total amount of information will be 16 × 210 × 297 ≈ 10 ⁶ bits. Further, the image information from the micro film file 5 has the same order. Accordingly, the image information from the document reader 2 and the micro film file 5 is stored in the RAM 34, and C
When displaying with RT8, the amount of information for CRT display, for example, 1 /
Needs to be compressed to 16. The second illustrated bit extraction circuit 38
Performs this information amount compression operation in parallel with the storage of the image signal in the RAM 34.

FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the bit extraction circuit 38. 41 is the control unit 1
It is the inner bus. An extraction timing selection circuit 44 has a built-in clock pulse generator including a crystal oscillator and a frequency divider circuit, and outputs a clock pulse CK according to a compression command from the CPU 32. Reference numeral 45 denotes a shift register, which samples the image signal input from the input / output interface 37 in accordance with the clock pulse CK from the extraction timing selection circuit 44, and stores the signals obtained by thinning out the image signal sequentially. 46 is RA
In M, when the shift register 45 is filled with data, the data is fetched and the compressed image signal is output to the path 41 at a predetermined timing. The input / output interface 37 outputs the image signal input from the switching device 9 to the bus 41 for storing in the RAM 34, and at the same time outputs a bit extracting circuit.
Also supply 38. That is, similar to the operation of storing the image signal output from the document reader 2 or the microfilm file 5 in the RAM 34 as it is, the compression operation of the image signal for CRT display is executed. Therefore, the CRT display of the input image signal is immediately performed.

FIG. 6 shows the operating state of the bit extraction circuit 38. The image signal is repeatedly output from the switching device 9 line by line via the input / output interface 37 to the bus 41 and taken into the RAM 34. In Fig. 6 (1), the image signal is the input / output interface.
The timing of writing from 37 to the bus 41 through the RAM 41 is shown. The numbers 1 to 9 in FIG. 6 (1) are the line numbers of the image signal. As shown in the figure, a blank time T occurs from the output of the image signal of a certain line to the output of the image signal of the next line. The input / output interface 37 is a switching device 9
The image signal input from is also output to the bit extraction circuit 38. The bit extraction circuit 38 thins out the image signals in accordance with the clock pulse CK from the extraction timing selection circuit 44 as described above. The example of FIG. 6 shows the operation when the image signal is compressed to 1/16, that is, the input image signal is at a ratio of 1 line to 4 lines, that is, 4N + 1 lines (N
Is an integer greater than or equal to 0), and further extracted
The image signal of 4N + 1 lines is extracted at a rate of 1 dot to 4 dots.

FIG. 6 (2) shows an image signal extracted at a ratio of 1 line to 4 lines. Further, FIG. 6 (3) shows the extracted 1-line image signal, and FIG. 6 (4) shows the extracted 1-line image signal at a ratio of 1 bit to 4 bits. In FIGS. 6 (3) and 6 (4), the numbers 1 to n in the data indicate bit numbers.

In this way, by further extracting the image signal extracted at a rate of 1 line to 4 lines at a rate of 1 bit at 4 bits, the image signal input to the input / output interface 37 from the switching device 9 is reduced to 1/16. Can be compressed.

The bit extraction circuit 38 stores the compressed image signal in the RAM 46. And I / O interface 37 to RAM3
R during the blank time T in the transmission of the image signal to
Write from the AM46 via the bus 41 to the RAM 43 of the CRT by DMA transfer. Since the image signals 1'and 5'after the compression processing are smaller than the image signals written in the RAM 34, they can be effectively transmitted using the bus 41 during this blank time T. Therefore, the writing of the compressed image signal to the RAM 43 is executed during the writing period of the original image signal which is not compressed to the RAM 34. The image signal after compression is divided into several times in addition to outputting one line in one blank time T.
It may be transmitted to the CRT RAM 43. Further, the image signal after compression may be transmitted for a plurality of lines in one blank time T.

The above operation of the bit extraction circuit 38 is controlled by the CPU 32. Also, the compression ratio of the image signal is the input / output interface.
It is determined according to the image size of the image signal output from 37. That is, when displaying the entire image in the size of the display screen of the CRT8, if the compression rate for the input image signal is determined according to the image signal amount corresponding to the display image, the CRT display screen can be displayed effectively and The display operation can be performed without causing inconvenience such as omission. Therefore, when the image signal is output from the document reader 2 or the micro film file 5, data indicating the size of the image is output, and the CPU 32 calculates an optimum compression rate according to this data, and the compression rate is calculated. The extraction timing selection circuit 44 is operated at.

FIG. 7 shows a document reader 2 and a microfilm file 5.
The format of the image signal output from is shown. Size bit of 4 bits indicating the size of the image before the image signal ID of one screen
Provide MD. The output interval between the MD and the image signal ID is set according to the operating speed of the CPU 32. This size bit MD recognizes the size of the frame of the document or microfilm in the document reader 2 and the microfilm file 5 by the automatic document detection function or the manual size designation, and the bit corresponding to the recognized size is set. It When the image signal is input, the CPU 32 reads the size bit MD, and controls the clock generation timing of the extraction timing selection circuit 44 so as to perform the compression operation according to the size bit MD. The size bit MD in this system is shown in Fig. 8.
Image size indicated by and the corresponding compression ratio R1 ~
Indicates R8. This compression rate is determined according to the resolution of the document reader 2 and the micro film file 5 and the resolution of the CRT 8, and is written in the ROM 33. The operator issues an instruction to execute the above compression operation of the image signal from the work station 1.

In this way, since the compression device for CRT display is executed in parallel with the operation of storing the image signal input from the switching device 9 in the RAM 34 as it is, the input image signal can be quickly monitored. . The bit extraction circuit 38 described above can also be used for compression processing of the image signal read from the image file 4. Further, although the compression rate is determined according to the size of the image signal in the above description, the compression rate may be determined according to the type of the generation source of the image signal.

When the image signal output by the document reader 2 and the micro film 5 is displayed on the CRT 8, as described above, the high resolution image signal is thinned out and compressed to compress the entire image area. Was made to fit on the CRT. By the way, the soft display 6 connected to this system can display images with a higher resolution than the resolution of the CRT. That is, the soft display 6 of this system has an A3 size display surface, and 16 pel / mm
The image can be displayed at the resolution of. Also, as described above, the document reader 2 and the micro film file 5 are 16 pel / mm.
The image is read and output at the resolution of. Therefore, in order to monitor the read signal, the soft display 6 which reproduces a more detailed image than the CRT 8 is used, and the output image signals from the document reader 2 and the micro film file 5 are sent to the soft display 6 to have the same density as the reading. It is possible to reproduce the image.

By the way, the image size of the image signals from the document reader 2 and the microfilm file may be smaller than the A3 size. In such a case, a blank area is produced on the display screen of the soft display 6. Therefore, the image information smaller than the displayable size of the soft display 6 is enlarged and displayed on the soft display 6, and the display image surface is effectively used.

FIG. 9 shows a circuit configuration for achieving the enlargement processing of the image signal. This circuit is provided in the document reader 2 and the microfilm file 5. In FIG. 9, reference numeral 80 denotes a one-dimensional line sensor that reads an image line by line with an image pickup device composed of a CCD. Reference numeral 81 is a drive circuit that drives the line sensor 80. The signal read by the line sensor 80 is the clock CL1.
Is output on line 82 in synchronism with. The clock CL2 corresponds to a line count, specifically, a read signal of the line sensor 80, and a signal for transferring the charge accumulated in the photodiode of the line sensor to the shift register of the drive circuit 81.

CT1 and CT2 are 2-bit counters, and the counter CT1
The clock CL1 counts the clock CL1 and the counter CT2 counts the clock CL2. C1 and C2 are detectors that detect the count of counts CT1 and CT2, respectively. SW is a switching signal for instructing whether to operate the enlargement processing circuit according to the image size of the image signal. A1 to A4 are AND gates, I1 and I2 are inverters, O1 and O2 are OR gates, G3 and G4 are gates, and BF is 1
Bit buffer, LB is line buffer.

The operation will be described. When the switching signal SW is low level, that is,
If enlargement processing is not required, AND gate A3 and
A4 is a low level output. Therefore, a high level signal is applied to the AND gate A1 via the inverter I1 and the inverter I2, and to the AND gate A2 via the inverter I2. As a result, the clocks CL1 and CL2 are directly input to the drive circuit 81 via the AND gates A1 and A2, respectively. Further, since the gates G3 and G4 are also inoperative, a serial image signal for each line is output to the output terminal OUT in synchronization with the clocks CL1 and CL2.

On the other hand, when the switching signal SW is at the high level, that is, when the image signal is enlarged, the AND gates A3 and A4 are at the high level when the detectors C1 and C2 output the carry detection signal, respectively. It becomes an output. At this time, the inverter I1
And the output of I2 becomes low level, and AND gate A
1, A2 does not transmit the clocks CL1 and CL2 to the drive circuit 81.

Therefore, when the detector C1 outputs the carry detection signal, the clock CL1 is not input to the drive circuit 81, and the image is not output from the drive circuit 81 onto the line 82. However, the gate
When G3 is opened, the immediately previous data (image signal) stored in the 1-bit buffer BF is output through the OR gate O1. That is, the same image signal is output in duplicate every four clocks, and the image signal in the line direction is output.
It is enlarged 1.25 times.

Further, when the detector C2 outputs the carry detection signal, both the clocks CL1 and CL2 are not input to the drive circuit 81. At this time, the image signal is not output from the drive circuit 81, but the gate G4 is opened and the image signal of the previous line stored in the line buffer LB is output via the OR gate O2. That is, overlapping images are output at a ratio of 1 line to 4 lines, whereby the image is magnified 1.25 times in the direction perpendicular to the line direction (sub-scanning direction).

The above-mentioned switching signal SW is output from the document reader 2, the micro film file 5 or the control unit 1. For example, the size of the document placed on the document reader 2 is automatically detected, and the document size is displayed on the soft display 6. When the size is smaller than the surface (for example, A4 size) or when an enlargement command is input by the operator, the switching signal SW is set to the high level and the enlargement process is executed.

In this way, since the image signal is enlarged and displayed on the soft display 6 in an enlarged manner, the display surface of the soft display 6 can be effectively used and the enlarged display facilitates image recognition to the operator. is there. In addition, in this system, only the expansion of 1.25 times in the vertical and horizontal directions was considered,
It is also possible to provide a large number of enlargement ratios and perform optimum enlargement display according to the document size and the like. Further, the enlargement in the sub-scanning direction may be executed by physically changing the sub-scanning speed of the line sensor. It is also possible that the size of the document read by the reader 2 is larger than the display surface of the soft display 6. In such a case, conversely, image reduction processing may be performed so that the read image is displayed on the display surface of the soft display 6 without omission.

By the way, the image signal read by the document reader 2 is supplied to the control unit 1.
When the image file 4 is further stored in the image file 4 having the optical disk, the operator inputs an operation command of the scanner from the keyboard 31 of the control unit 1. However, when the keyboard of the control unit 1 is operated after the document is set in the document reader 2, there are the following drawbacks. That is, when reading an image of a plurality of pages, the operator does not have to use the document reader 2 when the document reader 2 does not have an automatic document feeder or when handling an image of a book document such as a bound book. The control unit 1 has to be operated each time.

When the image signal read by the microfilm file 5 is stored in the image file 4, the microfilm file 5 of the present system has a microfilm frame search function, and the search command is sent to the keyboard of the control unit 1. As described above, it is not necessary to operate the two devices together.

Therefore, when the image signal read by the document reader 2 is stored in the image file 4, the operation command can be input from the document reader 2. In FIG. 1, the manuscript reader 2 has an operation panel 21 for inputting operation commands for fulfilling the functions of a digital copying machine, and this operation panel 21 has a copy key.
There are 25. Therefore, in addition to the control unit 1, it is possible to instruct a scan start for storing the image signal read by the document reader 2 in the image file 4 not only by the copy key 25, but this command switching is shown in FIG. The mode switch 22 is used.

FIG. 10 shows a circuit configuration for achieving this switching operation. Reference numerals 22a and 22b are dual switches that are integrally operated by the mode switching switch 22. When the switch 22a is on the contact point side, the scan starter signal SS from the controller 1 is applied to the AND gate 83 from the contact point. At this time, if the document reader 2 is in an operable state, the scan ready signal SR is input to the AND gate 83.
A scan start command SC is output to the control unit (not shown) of the document reader 2 via the. On the other hand, when the switch 22b is on the contact point B side, the scanning start signal SS from the control unit 1 is not input to the AND gate 83. If the copy key 25 of the document reader 2 is pressed at this time, a high level signal is input to the AND gate 83 in synchronization with the pressing. In this case, if the scan ready signal SR is input to the AND gate 83, the scan start command SC is output. Therefore, when the switch 22a is on the contact point B side, by pressing down the copy key 25, the scan start command SC can be output in the same manner as the scan start signal SS from the control section 1, and the original Reading (Skiyan) can be started.

The contacts of the switch 22b are switched integrally with the switch 22a, and the LEDs 23 or 24 respectively connected to the contacts are turned on. As a result, the current mode is displayed to the operator. Therefore, the operator can switch the method of the procedure for inputting the start command of the document reader, if necessary, by observing the lighting state of the LEDs 23, 24.

FIG. 11 shows the circuit of FIG. 10 constructed by using a logic circuit. This circuit is for performing mode switching from the control unit 1. When the document reader 2 is started up from the control unit 1, the keyboard 31 is instructed to that effect, whereby the remote signal RS is input to the set terminal of the flip-flop 87, and the flip-flop 87 is set.
When the flip-flop 87 is set in this manner, a high level signal is output from the Q terminal to the AND gate 84. At this time, the scan start signal SS from the control unit 1
, The scan start command SC is input to the control unit of the document reader 2 via the OR gate 86 if the scan ready signal SR is input to the AND gate 84.
Manuscript Sukiyan begins.

On the other hand, the scanning start command of the document reader 2 is issued by the document reader 2
When the copy key 21 is used, the remote signal RS goes low and the local signal LS goes high when the keyboard 31 indicates that. As a result, the flip-flop 87 is reset, the Q output to the AND gate 84 becomes low level, and the output to the AND gate 85 becomes high level. At this time, if the copy key 25 is pressed down, a high level input is performed to the AND gate 85. In this case, if the scan ready signal SR is input, the AND gate 85 outputs the scan start command SC via the OR gate 86. To be done. At this time, the scanning start signal SS from the control unit 1 is not transmitted to the OR gate 86 because the AND gate 84 is closed.

Further, similarly to the circuit of FIG. 10, the LEDs 23 and 24 are turned on according to the mode to display the current mode to the operator.

FIG. 12 shows still another embodiment, in which the scanning start command of the document reader 2 can be switched in three ways from one or both of the document reader 2 and the control unit 1. That is, the switches 22c, 22d and 22e which are integrally operated by the mode switching switch 22 are switches having three circuits and three contacts. When the switches 22c and 22d are connected to the contact point B, both the scan start signal SS from the control unit and the signal by pressing the copy key 25 can be input to the AND gate 90 via the OR gate 91. When this mode is selected, activation of the document reader can be instructed by either the control unit 1 or the document reader 2.

Further, when the switches 22c and 22d are connected to the contact point b, only the control section 1 can be activated, and when the switches 22c and 22d are connected to the contact point c, the document reader 2 can be activated only from the document reader 2.

In this way, the activation of the document reader 2 can be switched from the control unit 1 or from the document reader 2 as needed, so that the activation command can be issued to the document reader 2 at the same position as the document set, and the system can be operated. Is easy to use.

13 (a) to 13 (c) are flow charts showing the control procedure of the present system described above. The program shown in this flow chart has been written in advance in the ROM 33 of the control unit 1, and the CPU 32 controls the reading of this program from the ROM 33.

When the control unit 1 of this system is powered on, first, the screen of CRT8 is cleared in step S1, and then in step S2, a display for waiting for command input is displayed in the command area of the CRT of the workstation as described later. A keyboard 31 or point device operated by the operator who goes to CRT8
Prepare for 30 movements. Typical commands input by the operator are an image input command for fetching an image signal into the RAM 34 of the control unit 1, an image output command for reading and outputting the image signal from the RAM 34 of the control unit 1, and a control unit. There is a bus mode command for transmitting / receiving an image signal without going through 1.

The control unit 1 first checks in step S3 whether an image input command is input from the operator. If not, the process proceeds to step S15 to check if the image output command is input.

If an image input command has been input, steps S4, S7 and S
With reference to 11, it is checked which of the microfilm file 5, the document reader 2 and the image file 4 is designated for the device for image input. Micro film file 5
If is specified, the process proceeds from step S4 to step S5 to output a drive command to the microfilm file 5, and the switch 51 of the switching device 9 is turned on to output the image signal of the microfilm file 5 to the input / output interface.
37 to form a route to be transmitted. Then, in step S6, in accordance with the search data input from the keyboard 31 according to the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. 13 (f),
The desired frame on the microfilm is searched by referring to the index stored in the floppy disk 35. If there is nothing corresponding to the desired frame, that fact is displayed.
Then, if the desired frame is searched, it is determined in step S9 whether a command to display the image read from the microfilm on the CRT 8 is input, and if the display command is not issued, the process proceeds to step S14 and a display command is issued. If so, the process proceeds to step S10 and, as described above, outputs an operation command to the bit extraction circuit 38 to perform the compression processing of the image signal according to the CRT display, and then proceeds to step S14.

If the document reader 2 is designated as the image input device, the process proceeds from step S7 to step S8 to read the document reader 2.
Then, the switch 71 of the switching device 9 is turned on to form a path through which the output image signal of the document reader 2 is transmitted to the input / output interface 37. Then, in step S9, it is judged whether or not there is a command for CRT display. If not, the process proceeds to step S14, and if there is, the same processing operation as described above is performed through step S10, and then the process proceeds to step S14.

On the other hand, if the image file 4 is designated as the image input device, the process proceeds from step S11 to step S12 to output a drive command to the image file 4 and then at step S13
The image information on the optical disk is searched according to the index data stored in the floppy disk 35 in accordance with the search data from the operator according to the procedure shown in the flow chart of FIG. Proceed to. Step S14
Then, the image input command is output to the selected input device to start the image input operation. Then, the input image signal is RA
Store one page in M34.

Further, if there is an instruction to input an image from another work station or reader through a transmission path such as a local area network via the communication interface 36, the process proceeds from step S43 to step S44, and the communication interface 36 LIU is set up to prepare for image input from the transmission path. Then, in step S14, the image input operation is started in the same manner as described above.

FIG. 13 (f) is a flow chart showing the file search procedure executed in steps S6 and S12 of FIG. 13 (a). When searching image information from either Microfilm File 5 or Image File (optical disc),
As described above, the operator uses the point device 30 or the keyboard 31 to input information for specifying a desired image, for example, a file number, a frame number, a page, a date, or the like as necessary.

In step S101, the search data input by the operator for this image search is first fetched and set in the search data area of the RAM 34. And step S102
Then, it is judged whether the file searched and designated by the operator is the micro film file 5 or the optical disk file 4. Step S6 of FIG. 13 (a)
If so, it means the micro film file 5, and if it is step S13, the optical disk file 4 is instructed. Therefore, depending on the instruction, step S103 or S104, respectively.
Proceed to either. Then, the search database corresponding to the file for which the search is instructed is selectively read from the floppy disk 35. In this way, the control unit 1 creates a search table in the RAM 34 in step S105 based on the database corresponding to any file read from the floppy disk 35.

If the lookup table is created in RAM34, step S106
And proceed according to the search data captured in step S101,
The search table is referred to, and it is determined in step S107 whether or not the file corresponding to the desired image exists in the file specified by the search.

If the desired image exists in the file specified by the search, the process proceeds to step S108, and the microfilm file 5
Alternatively, access to the optical disk file 4 is started. When this search is completed and the image input is ready, the program for search is exited from step S109.
Proceed to step S9 in FIG. 13 (a).

On the other hand, as a result of referring to the search table in step S106,
If the desired image does not exist in the file instructed to be searched, the process proceeds from step S107 to step S110. Step S1
At 10, it is judged again whether the search file instructed by the operator is the micro film file 5 or the optical disk file 4. If the file instructed to search is the microfilm file 5, the process proceeds to step S111, or if it is the optical disk file 4, the process proceeds to step S112. In step S111, the database for searching the optical disk file is read from the floppy disk 35. Further, in step S112, the database for microfilm file search is read from the floppy disk 35.

That is, in steps S110 to S112, a search database of a file different from the file first instructed to be searched by the operator is read. For example, when the micro film file 5 is instructed by the operator, the database for optical disk file search is read.

In step S113, a search table is created based on the database read in either step S111 or S112.
Create in RAM34. Therefore, at this point, a search table corresponding to another file is created in the RAM 34 in place of the search table corresponding to the file instructed by the operator in step S105.

In step S114, it is checked whether the desired image instructed by the operator exists in the file using the search table created in step S113. Then, if the desired image was present in that file, step S1
Proceeding to 16, it is displayed on the CRT that the desired image does not exist in the file that was initially instructed to be searched and that the desired image exists in another file.

The operator sees this display and gives an instruction as to whether or not to retrieve and read out an image from another file different from the file initially instructed to retrieve. That is, the operator issues a search execution command if an image from another file can be used, while a search interruption command is issued if the image must be from the first file instructed to search.

The operator's instruction is determined in step S117, and if it is a search execution instruction, the process proceeds to step S108, and a file different from the file initially instructed to search is accessed to start the image search. On the other hand, if a search interruption command is issued,
In step S118, a message indicating that the search image is absent is displayed on the CRT, and the flow advances to step S2 in FIG. 13 (a).

By the way, in step S115, if it is determined that the desired image does not exist in the file different from the file initially instructed to search, the process proceeds to step S118, and a message indicating that the search image is absent is displayed. To end the search operation,
Proceed to step S2 in FIG. 13 (a).

As described above, the file search program first determines whether or not the desired image exists in the file first instructed by the operator according to the Flotpie disk search database, and if it exists, the image is searched. The search output of is performed. If the desired image does not exist, it is determined whether or not the desired image exists in a file different from the file initially instructed to search, and if it exists,
The image is retrieved and output according to the operator's instruction.
On the other hand, if the desired image does not exist in the file instructed to search or in another file, that effect is displayed.

Therefore, the efficiency of image retrieval in the apparatus having a plurality of files can be improved, and the usability for the operator is improved.

In addition, when it is determined that the desired image does not exist in the file first instructed to be searched and also exists in another file, another file search is automatically started without the operator's instruction. You may

After completion of the above-described image input, or when the operator does not input the image input command, it is determined in step S15 whether or not the image output command is input.

If an image output command has been input, steps S16, S18,
What is designated as the image output device is determined by S20, S22, and S24. If CRT8 is designated as the image output device, the process proceeds from step S16 to step S17, outputs a drive command to CRT8, and proceeds to step S26. If the image file 4 is designated, a drive command is output to the image file 4 to secure the image signal storage area in the image file 4, and then the process proceeds to step S26. If the high-speed printer 3 is designated, the process proceeds from step S20 to S21 to issue a drive command to the high-speed printer 3, and output the laser to the high-speed printer 3, for example,
After starting the preparatory operations such as mirror rotation and paper feeding, the switch 61 of the switching device 9 is turned on to form a signal path to the high speed printer 3, and then the process proceeds to step S26. If the soft display 6 is designated, the process proceeds from step S22 to step S23 to activate the soft display 6, prepare for image display, and turn on the switch 62 of the switching device to switch the signal path. After forming, step
Proceed to S26. On the other hand, if the small printer 7 is designated, a drive command is output to the small printer 7, the switch 63 of the switching device is turned on, a signal path to the small printer 7 is formed, and then the process proceeds to step S26.

In step S26, the image output device is specified as described above,
RAM34 for each output device that is ready for image output
The image signal stored in is output and the image recording or image display operation is executed. When the image from the micro film file 5 or the document reader 2 is displayed on the CRT 8, since the display data is already stored in the RAM 43 of the CRT 8, the display operation is performed based on this data. A plurality of different output devices can be designated at a time, and the same image signal can be transmitted to these at the same time or sequentially to display / record the same image at a plurality of places.

In step S27, it is judged whether or not the pass mode for transmitting / receiving the image signal is designated by the operator without the intervention of the control section 1. If a pass mode has been specified, select the combination of input / output devices used for that pass mode.
Judge in S28, S30, S32, S34, S36 and S38. Document reader 2
If the combination of high speed printer 3 and
Going from S28 to S29, issuing a drive command to both devices,
The switch 72 of the switching device 9 is turned on to form a signal path from the document reader 2 to the high speed printer 3. If the combination of the micro film file 5 and the high speed printer 3 is designated, the process proceeds from step S30 to step S31 to issue a drive command to both devices, turn on the switch 52 of the switching device 9, and from the micro film file 5 to the high speed printer 3. To form a signal path to. If the combination of the document reader 2 and the small printer 7 is designated, the process proceeds from step S32 to S33, where a drive command is issued to both devices, and the switch 74 of the switching device is turned on to switch the document reader 2 to the small printer 7. Form a signal path. If the combination of the micro film file 5 and the small printer 7 is designated, the process proceeds from step S34 to step S35 to drive both devices and turn on the switch 54 of the switching device 9 to form a signal path connecting both devices. . If the combination of the document reader 2 and the soft display 6 is specified, the process proceeds from step S36 to S37, the drive command is output to both devices, and the switch 73 of the switching device 9 is turned on to turn on the software from the document reader 2. A signal path to the display 6 is formed, and it is further determined in step S40 whether the enlarged display operation is necessary. Then, as described above, when the enlarged display is performed, the process proceeds to step S41 to output the switching signal SW to the enlargement processing circuit (FIG. 9). If the combination of the micro film file 5 and the soft display 6 is specified, the process proceeds from step S38 to step S39 to drive both devices and turn on the switch 53 of the switching device 9 to form a signal path connecting both devices. Then, proceed to step S40, judge the necessity of enlargement processing as described above, and if necessary, step S40.
The enlargement processing circuit is activated in S41.

In this way, when the drive preparations for the devices of each combination designated in the pass mode are completed, in step S42, the designated output device is caused to start the image output operation, and the input device is caused to start the image input operation. .

Further, as described above, the present system is capable of simultaneously transmitting a plurality of different image signals. For example, while the image signal is being fetched from the microfilm file 5 to the control unit 1, a command from the control unit 1 is issued. Then, the image signal can be transferred from the document reader 2 to the small printer 7 in the pass mode.

As described above, the operation control of the system of this embodiment and the drive command are performed by the CPU 32 in accordance with the operation command input by the operator from the keyboard 31 of the control unit 1 or the point device 30. In addition, various image input / output devices can be connected to be effectively used, and excellent effects such as improvement of office efficiency and speeding up of image processing can be achieved. In addition, the input / output devices that make up the system are
Of course, you can connect as many as you need. Also, when color image processing is required, equipment that achieves it is connected.

Next, an example of transmitting an image signal to another station through the network and an example of image editing will be described with reference to FIG. The block configuration in FIG. 15 corresponds to that shown in FIG.

The functions of the workstation WS1 are as follows. That is, WS1 is the image read by the reader 2 and the micro file 5, the image retrieved and output from the file 4, the local network CNET and the communication interface.
Image from other WS2,3 input, transmitted via 36
Similarly, the image from the high-speed reader of the block transmitted and input through the communication interface 36, and the code of the block word processor WP or the personal computer PC of the block transmitted through the communication interface 36 such as graphics, graphs and sentences. You can enter an image. Also, of course, it is possible to process code images such as figures, graphs and sentences created with the keyboard of the own WS1. WS1 can combine and edit one or more of these images and display them on CRT8. Furthermore, it is possible to input a video image signal taken by a video camera. Further, the edited image can be printed by the printers 3 and 7, stored in the file 4, and monitored by the soft display 6. Further, it can be transmitted to other SW2, 3 or display or printer for display and printing via CNET which constitutes the local area network (LAN). Editing work includes cutting out the desired part of the image displayed on the CRT8, enlarging / reducing the cut out part, rotating it, moving it, and so on. This editing work can be performed on the input color image. Also, the code image and the read image can be combined, or their edited images can be combined. These editing functions and the functions described later are performed according to the operation of the point device 30 or the keyboard 31 by the operator.

Therefore, the WS can specify a station of the network or a connecting device, and exchange data with it.
The designation is made separately from the designation of the input / output device in FIG. The WS enables selection of a transmission image and selection of a destination thereof. Further, the transmission format is selected so that the image transmission by the image data such as the read image and the image transmission by the code data such as the text and the graphic image can be transmitted conveniently.

Also, the main storage device in the WS (main memory 34 shown in FIG. 2)
Is to store the above-mentioned read image, transmission image, and edited image separately, and to output this image data to each output device of its own WS or WS2, WS3 using CNET.
Transmit to. In addition, a part of the image data of the main memory 34 is expanded as pixel data in the memory 43 of the CRT 8 and the input / transmission image and the edited image are displayed on the CRT.
The other WSs 2 and 3 also have the above-mentioned display function by CRT, transmission function, image editing function, transmission destination selection and image selection function, and command function by cursor using the point device 30 on the CRT. Also, starting from WS1,
Alternatively, image data can be selectively transmitted (broadcast) to a plurality of WSs 2 and 3 and all or some of the printers simultaneously from the image reader as a starting point, and at the same time, monitoring and printing at other stations are possible.

The command designation function using the point device 30 is called a local command function. This local command function
An arrow image (cursor) of about several mm is displayed on the CRT of the workstation, and it can be moved in either the X direction or the Y direction by manual operation of the point device (PD), and then displayed on the CRT. The command is selected by specifying the command image displayed in advance. The selection can be performed easily and quickly as compared with the command selection by key input or the like.

The command image is, for example, CRT as shown in Fig. 14 (a).
Is displayed in the command area B on the display surface. The reader 2 is C, the image file is d, the microfilm reader 5 is g, the printer 3 is e, and the soft display 6 is h. Local network CNET is f postal mark. This CRT moves the PD over the desired image displayed in the command area B, and the cursor k2
When the switch on the PD is turned on, the designated data is stored. k2 moves only in the B area, and the cursor of k1 moves in the A area. k1 specifies the cropping position or moving position of the image. The selection of k1 and k2 is switched by the switch on DP.

Note that the designated operation in the areas A and B can be executed by the common cursor without separately providing the cursors k1 and k2.

Further, in the command area B of the CRT, in addition to the above-mentioned picture display, edit commands used for editing are displayed in characters. Further, a table described later is displayed in the empty area on the left side of the command area as needed.

As an example of a command by the cursor, for example, when k1 is placed at the position shown in FIG. 14 (a), k2 is placed on the reader mark c, and the switch on the point device (PD) is turned on, WS
Is in a state of receiving a read image from the reader 2. Then, when the image data is input from the reader 2 to the WS, the image data is stored in the main memory 34 and the image is automatically displayed in the area A on the CRT 8. Next, when the switch of the cursor k1 is turned on at this position, and then the cursor k2 is placed at the printer mark e and the switch is turned on, the printer 3 is instructed to print out the image on A, and the printer 3 is instructed to print. Pixel data is output from the memory as described above. When the cursor k2 is placed on the mark d and the switch is turned on, the pixel data in the main memory is registered in the image file 1. When the mark h is placed and turned on, the soft display 6 displays an image corresponding to the image data in the main memory.

As a second example, when k2 is placed on the film mark g and the switch is turned on, a film search command table is displayed in the left area of B. In the table, when the desired film file NO or frame NO is designated by k2 or the keyboard, the search data is set in the built-in memory of the CPU32. Next, when k1 is again placed at position g in Fig. 14 (a) and the switch of the point device is turned on, the film search is started, and after the search is completed, the film frame is automatically read and the data is stored in the main memory of WS. Then, the CRT8 displays the read image in the A area. The storage of the image in the image file 1 and the output to the printer 3 and the soft display 6 are the same as described above.

As a third example, when k2 is placed on the postal mark f and switch-on is performed, a table of each station NO connected to the network CNET is displayed on the left of the B area. In that table, the desired WS2, WS3, reader printer station
When NO is designated by k2, the data for selecting the station NO is set in the memory. This station NO can have multiple sets. If "Broadcast" in the table is specified by k2 after station NO setting or without station setting, if station NO is selected, all selected station or station NO must be selected. For example, all the stations connected to CNET will simultaneously transmit the image to be transmitted on CRT8 of WS1 via CNET. The image to be transmitted is selected by the cursor after the station selection and before the "broadcast" instruction. It is determined by designating the coordinates of the area A by k1. If the position of k1 in Fig. 14 (a) is specified, the whole area is specified, and if the coordinates l1 → l2 are specified, l1, l
Only the image within the rectangular area a defined with 2 on the diagonal is transmitted. In addition, when a plurality of station NOs are sequentially designated as destinations and PD is turned on, the same image is sequentially transmitted to each station via CNET (progress). Each WS2, 3 to which the image data has been transmitted can display and print the image similarly to WS1. At the station of the printer, the print output is performed at the same time as the transmission or after writing in the shared memory. CNET
If the image to be transmitted by using the above is a read image, it is transmitted using a packet transmission line if it is pixel data transmission line, code data of text, graph, or figure. Incidentally, the packet line is provided separately from the pixel line in order to send control data such as a protocol necessary for image data transmission. Select the destination station, transmission line, etc. by using the communication interface.
This is performed by the transmission control unit LIU in 36. The pixel data and the code data may be transmitted on the same line by a method such as time division.

Next, there is an image edit as a fourth cursor command example. When the character "edit" in the command area B is designated by k2, the edit table i is changed to B as shown in FIG. 14 (b).
Displayed to the left of the area. "Cut out" in the table
Is specified by k2 and the cutout position of the image already displayed in the area A by k1 is specified by two points such as the coordinates l1-l2 of two points, that part is cut out and another point l3
If (not shown) is designated and the character "move" in the table is designated by k2, l1 is also moved so that l2 is at the position of l3, and the image of a is moved as it is. The image left after cutting can be erased with a command, but it can also be left as it is. However, the portion overlapping the cut-out image a ′ moved on the screen is not displayed. After cropping, if "enlarge" is specified by k2 in the edit table, the cropped image will be l1 as shown in Fig. 14 (c).
Fixed up to an arbitrary position l4 (not shown) specified by k1
l2 is stretched and displayed. At this time, the enlargement ratios in the X and Y directions may be different. If you specify "reduction",
The opposite occurs as shown in Fig. 14 (d). The scaling operation is performed by increasing the bits of the image data in the main memory and thinning the bits during the data transfer to the CRT memory RAM. Also, if "rotation" and an angle are designated in the edit table, the image a can be rotated by the designated angle, for example, 90 °. Cutting out, rotation, movement, etc. are performed by controlling the X and Y addresses of the main memory by the coordinate data and angle data by k1.

In addition, there is "escape" as the fifth command example.
When the instruction is given, the designated image by k1 on the CRT, that is, the full screen or the cut out image is stored in the save memory area of the RAM 34. Thereby, for example, the cut-out image a of FIG. 14 (a) can be saved.

Next, when "Graphic", "Graph" and "Sentence" are specified, the code data sent from the new station and stored in the memory separately from the pixel image are expanded as pixel data and displayed on the CRT8. . Even in that case, the above-mentioned editing processing such as “cutout” can be performed in the same manner as the read image. In FIG. 14 (a), b is a graph and i is an example of a sentence, which is displayed at the position of the figure by designation of "move".

Next, when "composite" is designated, the image a saved in the save memory area is recalled and displayed at that position by designating by a2 the position that is vacant due to the movement of the images b and i. This completes the image editing as shown in FIG. The bar graph b can be converted into a table by designating "convert table graph" and is displayed at this position. In addition, it can be converted into a pie chart by specifying "Circle bar chart conversion". These conversions are performed by storing a predetermined graphic pattern as a code and transmitting it or by WS1 and selecting it according to the produced code data.
Also, sentences, graphs, and figures can be created using the word processor function or office computer function of the workstation.

The edited image on the CRT 8 such as the image obtained by the “cutout” and the image produced by the “composite” can be printed by the printer 3 or stored in the optical disk 4. If specified, it can be simultaneously transmitted to other stations using CNET.

As mentioned above, this system is not limited to black and white images,
Processing of color images such as multi-color and full-color can also be achieved by providing a color image input / output device such as a color image scanner or a color printer as a system component.

Also in this color image processing, the editing function of the workstation described above is executed. That is, by extending the image signal processing described above, for example, blue B, green
The G and red R color signals are processed in parallel or sequentially. This allows cropping, moving, enlarging, reducing, and
Processing such as rotation and combining of a color image and input characters and symbols can be executed interactively with the CRT screen as in the above-described procedure. Furthermore, color conversion processing peculiar to a color image, for example, complementary color conversion of an input color signal for negative / positive inversion, or extraction / erasure of an image of a desired color from a color image, etc. In addition to the editing function described above.

As the image signal to be color-processed, a shooting output by a video camera, an output from a video recorder, or a color image signal from a personal computer can also be input, and these can be input on the workstation.
Simultaneously or sequentially, the read color original is combined. Further, desired characters of characters input from the word processor can be colored and output.

The color image edited as described above is sent to a printer, a display, a file, etc. directly connected to the workstation to be printed, displayed and stored, respectively.
It is transmitted to another station via ET, and the color printer or color display of the station causes the color image to be printed and displayed. If the other stations cannot perform color processing, it is converted into a monochrome image of a color image and output.

Further, in a station equipped with a color image scanner and a color printer, it is possible to operate them as a color copying machine by the above-mentioned pass mode.

With the color image editing function as described above, for example, a part of the read or transmitted color image is extracted and printed in free color, or a desired part is recorded in full color and the other part is recorded in monotone. Is processed.

FIGS. 13 (d) and 13 (e) show the control operation of the system described in FIGS. 13 (a) to 13 (c), as well as information transmission and work station via a local area network (LAN). It is a flowchart which shows the program which achieves the control operation at the time of performing image edit.

The control operation shown in FIGS. 13 (d) and 13 (e) is inserted between FIGS. 13 (a) and 13 (b).

As mentioned above, each workstation WS has a LAN (CNE
A code image such as a figure, a graph, or a sentence is input in the form of pixel data in the form of pixel data or a form of code data from a designated device including an external WS via T). At this time, an identification code indicating the content and type of the image is added to the image and stored in a predetermined area of the main memory 34. If an edit command is input from the keyboard and pointing device of the WS, the process proceeds from step S45 to steps S46, S63, S66 and S69 to determine which data the edit command has been input. Read image output from high-speed reader 2, micro film file and optical device connected to own WS or LAN (CNET)
If it is an edit command for the read image from another WS input from the WS, the process proceeds from step S46 to S47, and the read image stored in the predetermined area of the main memory 34 as described above is stored in the main memory M1. And re-store in the area
Display on CRT8. Further, the above-mentioned processing corresponding to the content of the editing processing is performed in step S100. In step S100, if the cutout command of the display image is input in step S48, the image of the area designated by the pointing device is extracted in step S49 as described above, and the main memory 34
The read data corresponding to the extracted image from the M1 area is re-stored in the M1 area of the main memory 34 in step S50. On the other hand, if the enlargement command has been input, step S51
From S52, the image in the M1 area of the main memory 34 is enlarged according to the enlargement ratio based on the image area input by the pointing device, and the image is stored again in the area M1 of the main memory 34 in step S53. If a reduction command is input, the process proceeds from step S54 to S55 to reduce the image in the M1 area of the main memory 34 to the instructed reduction ratio, and then step S5.
The image reduced in 6 is stored again in the M1 area of the main memory 34. If the image rotation command has been input, the process proceeds from step S57 to step S58, the address of the main memory 34 is converted according to the rotation angle specified by the keyboard, and the rotation operation of the M1 area is performed, and at step S59. It is stored again in the M1 area of the main memory. On the other hand, if an image move command is input, the process proceeds from step S60 to step S61 to move the image in the M1 area of the main memory to the position (movement amount) specified by the pointing device, and then in step S62, perform the main process. It is stored again in the M1 area of the memory 34. When the processing for each processing described above is completed and the read image is stored again in the M1 area of the main memory 34, it is determined whether all the editing operations instructed in step S71 have been completed. If it has not been completed yet, the process returns to step S46, and again passes through steps S46 and S47 to perform the editing operation at step S100. That is, first, when the read image is cut out and the cut out image is enlarged and further moved, step S100 is executed three times for editing the read image. Further, the step S100 operates even in the reverse procedure such as rotating the read image, reducing the size of the read image, and extracting the image. Also, this editing status can be monitored in real time on the CRT8.

When you have finished editing the scanned image, go to step S7.
At 1, it is determined whether or not there is an edit processing request for another image. If so, the process returns to step S46, and it is further determined in step S63 or S66 which image the edit command is input to. And
In response to editing commands for figures, graphs and sentences entered in the code image, steps S64, S67 and S69, respectively.
Store each image in M2 area, M3 area and M4 area of main memory. Then, the next step (S65, S6
8, S70) performs the same editing operation as in step S100, which has performed the above-described editing processing on the read image, and edits the edited images in the M2 area, M3 area, and
Restore in M4 area. In this case, the image which has already been edited may be continuously displayed on the CRT, or may be deleted from the CRT by the above-mentioned "save" command.

As described above, for each image, the processes of steps S46 to S71 are repeatedly executed, and when the editing operation for the input editing command is completed, the process proceeds to step S72, and it is determined whether or not the composition of the editing image is commanded. To judge. If there is a synthesis command, in step S73, the image designated for synthesis is read from the corresponding area of the main memory 34 at the position designated by the pointing device as described above.
Further, in step S74, it is stored in the M5 area of the main memory 34. That is, when the edited read image and the graph are combined, the read image from the M1 area of the main memory 34,
The code images of the graph are read from the M3 area and stored in the M5 area of the main memory 34 corresponding to the designated combining position. As a result, the M5 area stores the combined image of the read image and the graph. If this combining process has been executed, the process proceeds to step S75. At this time, the combined image is displayed on the CRT8. If there is no synthesis command, the process proceeds from step S72 to step S75.

In step S75, input of the output form command such as recording of image information and display is determined. Image combining processing is performed in steps S72 to 74 described above. If all of the combined images are to be output, the process proceeds to step S76, and the M6 area of the main memory 34 is output to output the image of the M5 area in which the combined image is stored. Transfer to area with step S77. When outputting only the read image from the composite image, the process proceeds from step S78 to S79, and only the read image stored in the M1 area is transferred to the M6 area. If only the figure is to be output, the process proceeds from step S80 to step S81 and only the figure image of the M2 area is stored in the M6 area. When outputting only the graph, the process proceeds from step S82 to S83 and the graph image of the M3 area is stored in the M6 area. Furthermore, when outputting only the text, the text image is transferred from the M4 area to the M6 area. In this way, the image of the type designated for output is transferred to the M6 area of the main memory 34, and the output command is awaited. It should be noted that if there is no output form command, it means that the above-mentioned edit / combine process has not been performed, and in this case, the process proceeds to step S85.

In step S85, it is determined whether or not a command for outputting an image is input to another WS using the LAN. If the output command using the LAN is not input, the process proceeds to step S15 in FIG. 13 (b) described above, and the output device connected to the own WS, that is, CRT8, image film 4, high speed printer 3, soft display 6 and small size. One of the printers 7 is selected and an image is output. On the other hand, if image transmission to another WS using LAN is selected in step S85, output to the output device in the own WS is prohibited, and step S86,
The output form is selected in S88. If the broadcast communication to a plurality of WSs is selected here, the process proceeds from step S86 to step S87 to set the LIU of the communication interface 36 so that it can be broadcast, and further proceeds to step S91. Also, if the forward communication that sequentially outputs images to multiple WS is selected, the step
Proceed from S88 to S89, set the LIU to enable forward communication, and proceed to step S91. On the other hand, multiple WS are not selected and a single W
If the image output to S is selected, the process proceeds to step S90, the LIU is set as such, and the process proceeds to step S91. At step S91, an image is output from the main memory to the other WS through the LAN according to the state of the LIU set at steps S87, S89, S90.

As described above, when a plurality of WSs are connected by LAN (CNET) and when the editing operation is performed on the image input to the WSs, it is shown in Fig. 13 (d) and (e). The control operation is executed between the above-mentioned FIG. 13 (a) and FIG. 13 (b). As a result, it becomes possible to control editing and composition of images by the WS and image transmission with other WS at one hand.

Further, in addition to a black and white monotone image, a multi-color image or a full-color image can be easily subjected to processing such as editing and transmission.

<Advantages of the Invention> According to the present invention, when performing image processing by controlling a plurality of input or output devices including a device having an input or output function, an icon corresponding to each of the input or output devices and the An icon for editing processing for image information input from an input device among a plurality of input or output devices is displayed on a display unit together with an image corresponding to the input image information, and the icon for editing processing is pointed. Multiple processing menus for editing processing are displayed as a character string according to the designation by the pointing device, so you can select the icon while checking the image and then check the editing processing menu as a character string. The display on the display means can be made easy to see, and the operability can be improved even if the entire system has multiple functions.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is an external connection diagram of an image processing system to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the image processing system, FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a switching device, and FIG. 4 is a combination of switching operations. , FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the bit extraction circuit, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the operating state of the bit extraction circuit, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the format of the image signal, and FIG. 8 is a size bit. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the enlargement processing circuit, FIG. 10 to FIG. 12 are circuit diagrams showing the configuration of the drive command mode switching circuit of the document reader, and FIG. 13 (a).
˜ (f) is a flow chart showing the control program of the control section, FIGS. 14 (a) ˜ (d) are views showing the display surface of the work station WS, and FIG. 15 is a view showing the structure of the network work. 1 is a control unit, 2 is a document reader, 3 is a high-speed printer, 4 is an image file, 5 is a microfilm file, 6 is a soft display, 7 is a small printer, and 8 is
CRT and 9 are switching devices.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A display control device for controlling display means for displaying information for controlling a plurality of input or output devices including a device having a function of inputting or outputting, each of the plurality of input or output devices. An icon for editing processing for image information input from an input device among the plurality of input or output devices,
A first control unit for displaying on the display unit together with an image corresponding to image information input from an input device of the plurality of input or output devices; and an icon displayed on the display unit for editing processing. A second control unit for performing display control of the display unit so as to display a plurality of processing menus for editing processing as character strings on the display unit in response to the icon being designated by the pointing device. Characteristic display control device.