Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DATA PROCESSIN~ SYSTEM AND EDITING DEVICE AIDED THEREBY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention:
The present invention generally relates to a data
processing apparatus. More specifically, the present
invention is directed to a data processing apparatus
comprising a large-scale (powerful) general purpose computer
to which at least one D/B (data base) is connected, small-
scale general purpose computers functioning as terminal
devices, and a medium-scale relay computer for connecting
the large-scale general purpose computer theJ and small-scale
general purpose computers.
The present invention also relates to an editing
apparatus aided by the data processing system mentioned
above. More particularly, the present invention is directed
to an editing apparatus capable of editing easily an
operating manual for an automobile, an electric appliance
and the like, an ordinary book, magazine, newspaper etc.
(slmply referred to a "book" hereinafter) within a short
~ime.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
In the data processing apparatus constructed of the
general purpose computer including the D/B and the small-
scale computers (terminal equipments) connected to the
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general purpose computer, the data input/output operations
are carried out by the terminal equipments, and the general
purpose computer executes a predetermined data processing
operation by employing the input data and the date read out
of the D/B, and thereafter registers the required data among
the processed data, into the D/B.
With the above-described arrangements, the conventional
data processing apparatus must supervise the D/B and also
must perform the data processing. In consequence, in case
that the conventional general purpose computer is equipped
with a plenty of terminal equipments, and the input/output
, operations of the data from these terminal equipments are
frequently performed, the heavy loads are temporarily
concentrated onto the general purpose computer so that there
is a risk that the data processing capability of the general
purpose computer is lowered.
In recent years, to edit books, the editing apparatuses
have been utilized which comprise the host computer
including the D/B, and the small-scale computers (editorial
purpose computers) connected to the host computer.
In the above-described conventional editing apparatus,
the small-scale computers perform the data input/output
operations, whereas the host computer performs the
predetermined data process by employing both the input data
2~ and the data registered in the D/B in such a manner that
these data are supervised in a page unit and the data to be
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registered in the D/B among the data representing one page
of the book are registered into the D/B (data base).
In the editing apparatus having such an arrangement as
described above, the small-scale computers functioning as
the editing purpose machine own various functions, however,
complex operations are required to operate this editing
apparatus, which accordingly requires long operating time.
As a result, even when the simple data is input into the
editing purpose computer, single small-scale computer may be
necessarily occupied for a long time period.
In addition, since the cost of the small-scale computer
is very expensive, an extremely high cost is required to
install a large number of small-scale computers.
The present invention has therefore been made to solve
the above-described conventional problems.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To solve the above-described problems, features of the
present invention exist in that a medium-scale relay
computer is interposed between the large-scale (powerful3
general purpose computer to which at least one data base
(~/B) is connected, and the small-scale computers for
inputtin~/outputting the data, and the medium-scale relay
computer supervises the small-scale computers and processes
the data.
Accordingly, since the large-scale computer is needed
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to merely perform the data input/output supervision to and
from the data base, the load concentration on the large-
scale computer can be avoided and also there is a particular
advantage to eliminate such a risk that the data processing
capability of the powerful computer i9 lowered.
The particular feature of the invention is that a key
having a common format is added to various element data such
as document or sentences, pictures, illustrations, the data
of one page is edited by employing the element data, key,
and data relating to a layout, and then, input means capable
of inputting the element data such as document or sentences
by means of keyboards, and set~ing means for setting the key
corresponding to the data are equipped with the work station
which includes personal computers and/or word-processors
other than the editing machines.
According to the present invention, easy data input
operation for document or the like can be realized, and thus
the editing operation can be simply effected. There are
particular advantages that a large number of input means for
inputting document or the like can be provided at a
relatively low cost.
Furthermore, according to the invention, another
feature is to employ the following means to the work
station. That is, specific character identification code
setting means for setting the specific character
identification code by which the specific character is
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designated, discriminating means for judging the
specific character identification code, and specific
character converting means for converting
predetermined element data which is input subsequent
to the specific character identification code, into
the specific character are employed.
In consequence, the specific character
which usually cannot be input by personal computers,
wordprocessors or the like, can be input by these
personal computers and/or wordprocessors, and there
is a particular advantage that the personal
computers and wordprocessors can function as the
editing machines as to the element data entry of
document according to the present invention.
In accordance with a particular embodiment
of the invention there is provided an editing device
comprising a host computer to which a data base is
connected, editing means connected to the host
computer, and a personal computer connected to one
of said host computer and said editing means, said
editing means comprising first input means for
inputting element data, and first setting means for
setting an element data key corresponding to the
element data input by said first input means,
said personal computer including second
input means for inputting element data constituting
a page, and second setting means for setting an
element data key corresponding to the element data
input by said second input means; and,
said editing means further including means
for setting a converted layout code by which a basic
layout of a page to be edited is designated; means
for setting positional coordinates of each of said
element data on the basic layout; and means for
setting one page data by employing said converted
layout code, element data used for an editing
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operation, the element data keys corresponding to
said element data, and the positional coordinates of
said element data.
In accordance with a further particular
S embodiment of the invention there is provided an
editing device comprising a host computer to which a
data base is connected, editing means connected to
the host computer, and a personal computer connected
to one of said host computer and said editing means,
said editing means comprising first input means for
inputting element data, and means for setting a
first element data key corresponding to the element
data input by said first input means,
said personal computer comprising second
ls input means for inputting further element data
constituting a page, means for setting a specific
character identification code by which a given
character in the element data is designated as a
specific character, means for identifying the
specific character identification code contained in
the element data, means for converting element data
input subsequent to the specific character
identification code into a predetermined specific
character, and means for setting a second element
data key corresponding to the further element data;
and,
the host computer and editing means
comprising means for setting a converted layout code
by which a basic layout of a page to be edited is
designated, means for setting positional coordinates
of each element data on the basic layout, and means
for setting one page data by employing the converted
layout code, element data used for the editing
operation, the element data keys, and the positional
coordinates of said element data.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. l is a functional block diagram for
illustrating a basic arrangement according to this
invention;
Fig. 2 is a schematic block diagram of one
preferred embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 3 is a flowchart for representing a
first editing method according to one preferred
embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 4 illustrates a format of the basic
layout code;
Fig. 5 represents a data format of one
data element when image data or document data is
newly entered;
Fig. 6 illustrates a data format of one
spec-information element among machine sort
information;
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Fig. 7 illustrates a data format of one data element of
service data information among machine sort information;
Fig. 8 indicates a data format of one torque
information element among machine sort information;
Fig. 9 illustrates a data format of one image
information element which is converted during the editing
operation;
Fig. 10 represents only element data in one element
data of the service data information shown in Fig.7;
Fig. 11 represents a file for editing a new book;
Fig. 12 illustrates how the converted layout code is
produced from the basic layout code; ,
Fig. 13 is an illustration of one example of a display
screen of the basic layout;
Fig. 14 is an illustration of one example of a display
screen during the editing operation;
Fig. 15 is an illustration for illustrating how
a temporary key of one element data of newly input image
information is converted into an element data key;
Fig. 16 is an illustration for illustrating how
a temporary key of one element data of newly entered
document information is converted into an element data key;
Fig. 17 is an illustration for illustrating a data
format of one document information element which is
converted during the editing operation;
Fig. 18 is an illustration for showing a data format of
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one page which is edited by the editing machine;
Fig. 19 is an illustration for representing a data
format of one page which is converted by the host computer
so as to be registered into the layout D/B 11;
Fig. 20 is a flowchart for representing a second
editing method according to one preferred embodiment of the
invention;
Fig. 21 is an illustration for explaining how the data
rewriting at the step S104 of Fig. 20 is performed;
Fig. 22 is a schematic diagram for showing a portion of
a table for retrieving document data set in the document D/B
12;
Fig. 23 is a schematic diagram for representing a
hierarchical structure of a document retrieval table:
Fig. 24 is a flowchart for illustrating a retrival
method according to one preferred embodiment of the
invention;
Fig. 25 is a graphic representation for showing
relationships of a conversion section, an image section and
service data on a CRT;
Fig. 26 is a functional block diagram according to
other embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 27 is a functional block diagram according to
another preferred embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 28 is a functional block diagram according to
a further preferred embodiment of the invention;
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Fig. 29 is a functional block diagram according to
a still further preferred embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 30 is a functional block diagram for illustrating
a basic construction of the present invention;
Fig. 31 is a functional block diagram of one preferred
embodiment according to the present invention;
Fig. 32 is a functional block diagram of another
preferred embodiment according to the present invention;
Fig. 33 is a functional block diagram of a further
preferred embodiment according to the present invention;
and,
Fi,g. 34 is a functional block diagram of a still
further preferred embodiment according to the present
invention,
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to drawings, the present invention will
be described in detail.
Fig. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the data
processing apparatus according to one preferred embodiment
of t he invention.
In the figure, a plurality of editing apparatus (work
stations) 3-1 to 3-N for inputing/outputing document,
photographs, illustrations and the like are connected in a
on-line mode to a system controller 2 for controlling these
editing apparatus. Since these devices are connected in
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the on-line mode to each other, a quantity of transferred
data cannot be so large, but a transfer speed of the data
becomes high. These editing apparatus receive various
information such as document, photographs and illustrations
by way of the vector conversion.
A CRT (cathode-ray tube) ~ is connected to the editing
apparatus 3-1, a printer 7 is connected to the editing
apparatus 3-2, a scanner 8 is connected to the editing
apparatus 3-3, and a personal computer 9 and another CRT 10
are connected to the editing apparatus 3-N. Furthermore,
keyboards 5-1 to 5-N are connected to the respective editing
apparatus 3-1 to 3-N.
The system controller (a medium-scale relay computer) 2
is furthermore connected to a host computer 1.
A book data base (D/B) 21, an element data base 22 and
a layout basic data base 23 are connected to the system
controller 2.
The system controller 2 controls these editing
apparatus 3-1 to 3-N, and transfers/receives the information
in a page unit or an element (document, photograph,
illustration) unit constituting one page to and from the
respective editing apparatus.
The host computer 1 is a large-scale general purpose
computer such as the IBM's computer, IBM 3090 or equivalent.
The system controller 2, personal computers 4-1 to 4-N,
layout D/B 11, document D/B 12, image D/B 13 and machine
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sort information D/B 14 are respectively sonnected to the
host computer 1.
It should be noted that the personal computers 4-1 to
4-N may be exclusively used for the editing apparatus, or
for the general purpose other than the editing work, which
is similar to personal computers 31-1 to 31-N (will be
discussed later).
In case that the editing apparatus 3-1 to 3-N possess
a function capable of inputting a language (referred to as
"a specific language") other than the language input by the
personal computers 4-1 to 4-N, a software for inputting and
processing the specific language by the personal computers
4-1 to 4-N is provided with, for instance, the system
controller 2. That is to say, the mode to input the
specific language is selected by the keyboards (not shown)
of the personal computers 4-1 to 4-N. Thereafter, when "A"
and ":" keys are depressed, the software stored in the
system controller 2 displays the character "A". It should
be noted that this software may be stored in either the host
computer 1 or personal computers 4-1 to 4-N.
In addition, another software is provided with the
system controller 2, by which the document input by the
personal computers 4-1 to 4-N is vector-converted, as is
similar to the document input by the respective editing
apparatus 3-1 to 3-N.
The personal computers 31-1 to 31-N which are employed
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to carry out the work other than the editing work effected
by the editing apparatus, are connected to the host computer
1. In other words, the machines or parts surrounded by
a dot line shown in Fig. 2 do not constitute the editing
apparatus of this invention.
The host computer 1 constitutes the data of one book
from the information which have been stored in the data
bases 11 to 14, and transfers this data to the system
controller 2. The system controller 2 transfers the
information of one page which has been edited in the editing
apparatus to the host computer 1. That is to say, the data
transfer between the system controller 2 and the host
computer 1 is performed in a so-called "batch" transmission.
When the data code system processed in the host
computer 1 is different from the data code system processed
in the editing apparatuses 3-1 to 3-N, the code conversion
of these data is performed in either the host computer 1 or
the system controller 2.
An operation of the data processing apparatus according
to a preferred embodiment of the invention will now be
described.
Basically, the editing apparatus employing the
constructions as illustrated in Fig. 2 can produce, or edit
a new book by way of two editing methods as follows.
(A) When a new book is newly produced at all, all of
documents or sentences, illustrations, and photographs etc.
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to be written on each page of the new book must be newly
input.
This will be referred as "a first editing method".
(B) When a new book is produced by utilizing other books
which have previously been edited or produced in the editing
apparatus, the necessary portions of other books are
utilized for the new book and only the minimum portions
required to produce the new book are newly input. This will
be referred to as "a second editing method".
Referring now to Figs. 3 to 19, a description is made
that a service manual (simply referred to as "a book"
hereinafter) for a bike (auto-bicycle) is p~oduced in
accordance with the above-defined first editing method.
Fig. 3 is a flowchart for indicating the first editing
method according to the preferred embodiment of the
invention.
In Fig. 3, first as a step S1, a basic layout code is
input into the editing apparatus to which CRT is connected
(for instance, the editing apparatus 3-1) by the keyboard
5-1. The basic layout code is to set a size of a book to be
newly produced, namely, a size, the number of character,
a column number and a column space in one page of the new
book.
Fig. 4 illustrates one example of the format of the
basic layout code.
The basic layout code is constructed of a layout code
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having, for example, a 6-byte code length, layout data,
and another data representing the data length of the layout
data.
It should be noted that the data representing a data
length of certain data is simply referred to as a "LEN" in
the following description.
The layout code is constructed of the data for
representing which product classification a book to be
produced belongs to; the data for indicating which location
~country) the new book is designated; the data representa-
tive of the sort of the new book, e.g., service manual, or
shop manual; and the data representative of the layout of
each page of the new book, e.g., a single frame or a double
frame.
The layout data is constructed of the data representing
a size of each page of the book, i.e., A6 vertical, A6
horizontal and so on; and the data indicative of a line
number, a line space, the number of character, a point,
style, presence of a ruled line.
The data concerning a concrete layout of a page on a
screen of CRT is set in the layout data, and the layout code
is merely an identification code of the layout data. The
layout code is converted into a document identification
number and a page number which correspond to the indentifi-
cation data of the new book, as will be described later in
connection with the steps S2g and S30.
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When entry of the layout data is accomplished, LEN of
the layout data is added in front of the layout data.
As previously described in detail, the basic layout
code is produced from the layout code, LEN of layout data,
and layout data.
Referring back to Fig. 3, when the basic layout code
is generated, as illustrated in a step S2, the editing
apparatus 3-1 transfers the basic layout code to the system
controller 2 which registers the basic layout code in the
layout basic D/B 23.
Upon completion of registering the basic layout code,
in the next steps S3 to S24, entry of such information of
illustrations, photographs, document and the like which are
to be arranged in each page of the book is carried out. It
should be noted that both illustrations and photographs are
referred to as an image in the following description.
In the step S3, a judgement is made whether or not the
- information to be input corresponds to the image. When the
image is entered, as indicated in the step S4, a temporary
key having, for instance, a 6-byte length is entered in the
editing apparatus 3-3 by the keyboard 5-3. The temporary
key corresponds to an identification code of image data to
be entered which is determined by an operator by himself.
"D" indicating that this temporary key relates to the image
data is entered into the head byte of the temporary key.
In the next step S5, the image is read out by the
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scanner 8.
In a step S23, the temporary key, LEN of the readout
image data, and the image data are registered into the
element D/B 22 as one element data.
If a judgement is made in the previous step S3 that
no image is entered, another judgement is made in a step S6
whether or not document or sentence is entered. When the
document (sentence) is entered, as indicated in a step S7,
the temporary key is input in the editing apparatus 3-1 by
the keyboard 5-1 or in any of the personal computer 4-1 to
4-N. As previously explained in the step S4, the temporary
key is constructed of, for instance, a 6-byte length, and
corresponds to an identificatin code of the document to be
input which is determined by the operator himself. In this
case, "T" indicating that the temporary key relates to the
document key is input into the head byte of the temporary
key.
In the subsequent step S8, the document or sentence is
entered in the editing means 3-1 or any one of personal
computers 4-1 to 4-N.
Then, in the step S23, the temporary key entered in the
previous step S~, L~N of the document entered in the step
S8, and this document are registered as one element data in
the element D/B 22.
In Fig. 5, there is shown one element data registered
in the step S23.
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When the data relating to the document which is entered
in the steps 7 and 8 is input into the personal computer
4-1, the entered data is edited as the one element data (see
Fig. 5) in the system controller 2, host computer 1, or
personal computer 4-1.
In the step S6, if a judgement is made that no document
is entered, it is decided that said input is related to the
machine sort information.
The machine sort information includes the data on the
repairing data, tools to be used and the like for a bike.
In accordance with the preferred embodiment of this
embodiment, the machine sort information includes the
specification, service data and torque, which will be
described in detail hereinafter.
(A) Specification is, for instance, the reparing data on
the bike, and the data representative of the reparing items
and details which are entered into a list indicating the
data of the tool to be used, and is constructed of
alphanumerical data and KANJI characters. In other words,
this specification represents a type of an engine oil,
a name of a tool to be used, and repairing items such as
an inner diameter of a cylinder, and an outer diameter of
a piston diameter, and the like.
(B) Service data is numerical data representative of, for
instance, maintenance data which is entered into a list of
the maintenance data, and constructed of three different
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data, i.e., a maximum value, a minimum value, and a limit
value of usage (or a center value).
That is, as the maintenance data relating to the inner
diameter of the cylinder, there are the typical maximum
value and minimum value, and the usable maximum value.
Also, as the maintenance data concerning the outer diameter
of the piston, there are the typical maximum value and
minimum value, and the usable minimum value. As to the data
of a capacity of an engine oil tank, a capacity of a coolant
and the like which has no discrimination in the maximum and
minimum values, the same values as these maximum and minimum
values are input, by which these data are registered.
(C) Torque is numerical data indicative of fasten torque of
fastening screws for the bike (maximum value, minimum value,
and center value), a diameter of a screw, the number of the
required screws. That is to say, the torque information is
constructed of five pieces of numeral data containing the
maximum value, minimum value, center value (or the limit
value for usage) and other two informations.
When the judgement is made that the input data
corresponds to the machine sort information, the machine
sort code is entered which represents that the machine sort
information to be input is related to which sort of the
bike, as indicated in the step S9, by utilizing any one of
the personal computers 4-1 to 4-N (e.g., personal computer
4-1) connected to the host computer 1. This machine sort
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code is constructed of, for instance, 8 bytes, and "K" for
representing that the machine sort code is related to the
machine sort information is input into the head byte of the
machine sort code.
In a step S10, a judgement is made whether or not the
machine sort information to be input is the specification.
If a judgement is affirmative in the step S10, then,
an information identification code having, for instant,
a 4-byte length is input in a step S11. At this time,
"A" for indicating that the information identification code
is related to the specification is input at the head byte of
the identification code.
In a next step S12, an item having, for example,
a 3-byte length is entered.
In a subsequent step S13, an image classification
or sort having, for instance, a 2-byte length is input.
Data representing a language sort of the specification
information !for example, the language is Japanese, or
English) is entered into this image classification.
In a step S21, specification information is entered by
the personal computer 4-1.
In a subsequent step S22, the machine sort code, infor-
mation identification code, item and image classification
which have been input by the previous steps S9, S11, S12,
and S13, the data status (which is automatically set in
the host computer 1) for indicating the history of the
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specification information entered in the step S21, and the
specification information are registered as one element data
in the machine sort D/B 14 by means of the host computer 1.
A data format of the one element data is illustrated in
Fig. 6. As is shown in Fig. 6, the data consisting of the
machine sort code, information identification code, item,
image classification, and data status will be referred to as
an element data key in the following description.
If no specification is input in the previous step S10,
another judgement is made whether or not the service data is
entered in a step S14.
If the service data is entered, the inf,ormation identi-
fication code is input in a step S15, which is similarly
done in the preceding step S11 In this case, "B" is input
into the head byte of this code.
In the next step S16, the item is input, which is
similarly executed in the previous step S12.
In the subsequent step S17, the image section is
entered. The function of the image classification
information entered at entry of the service data will be
discussed later with reference to a step S42.
In the step 21, the service data information is input
by means of the personal computer 4-1.
The service data information is constructed of three
different data, i.e., the maximum value, minimum value and a
limit value of usage (or a central value). When these three
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data are input in a specific unit in the editing apparatus
according to the preferred embodiment, these data are stored
and also converted into other units to be stored thereafter.
Fig. 7 illustrates a format of 1-element data (element
data key and service data) which is registered in the
machine sort information D/B 14 in the step S22.
As illustrated in Fig. ~, the service data is so
constructed as to be set in a first data section through a
third data section. In the step S21, when the three data
are input in the preselected specific unit (for example
1'mm"), these data are set in the first data section.
Although it is not shown in Figs. 3 and 7, just before entry
of the service data information, a conversion classification
(for example, 2-byte length data) for indicating what other
unit three data set in the first data section should be
converted into, with the result that the three data entered
in the millimeter unit into the first data section are
converted into other units (e.g., an inch unit) than
millimeter unit, which are designated by the conversion
classification, and thereafter stored in the second data
section.
Then the three data in millimeter unit stored in
the first data section are converted into still other unit
designated by the conversion classification and the
resultant converted data are transferred to the third data
section.
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Referring to Fig. 10, the above-mentioned conditions
will now be described more in detail. Fig. 10 illustrates
only the service data ~element data) among the data shown
in Fig. 7.
When the information on the inner diameter of the
cylinder of the bike is entered as the service data, the
minimum value of 56.003, the maximum value of 56.018, and
the limit value of usage of 56.08 (illustrated in Fig. 10 as
the service limit) are input in the millimeter unit. These
numerical data are set in the first data section.
If the conversion classification set before entry of
the service data is designated to convert the millimeter
unit into the inch unit, each of the data set in the first
data section is converted into 2.2048; 2.2054; and 2.207
inches, respectively and the converted data are set in the
second data section.
Also in the third data section, each of the data set
in the first data section is converted into still other unit
in accordance with the designation of the conversion
classification.
In other words, the function of the conversion classifi-
cation is to automatically convert the service data into
a certain unit other than the originally input unit when
the service data is entered in the certain specific unit,
and thereafter to set these converted data into the second
and third data sections.
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It should be noted that in the steps S9 to S21, the
respective data input by the personal computer 4-1 are
edited as the machine sort information data as illustrated
in Figs. 6 to 8 in the system controller 2, host computer 1,
or personal computer 4-1.
Next, in the step S22 as shown in Fig. 7, the machine
sort code, information identification code, item and image
classification which have been entered in the previous steps
S9, S15, S16 and S1~, the data status (which is automati-
cally fixed in the host computer 1) for representinga history of the service data information entered in the
step S21, and the service data information consisting of
the first to third data sections are registered as the
1-element data in the machine sort information D/B 14 under
the control of the host computer 1.
Then, if no service data is entered the judgement
of the step S14 is negative and shows that the torque
information is entered.
When the entry of the torque information is judged, the
information identification code is entered in the step S18,
which is similarly executed in the preceding steps S11
and S15. At this time, "C" is input in the head byte of
the information identification code.
In the subsequent step S19, the item is input, which is
similarly performed in the steps S12 and S16.
In the step S20, the image classification is entered.
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The function of the image classification which is entered
during entry of the torgue information is similar to a
function of an image classificàtion which will be described
later relating to a step S4Z.
In the next step S21, the torque information is input
into the personal computer 4-1.
The torque information is constructed of five pieces of
data containing the maximum value, minimum value, and center
value (or a limit value of usage), and also two pieces of
data representative of other information. In the editing
apparatus, when these five pieces of data are input in the
, specific unit similar to the above-mentioned entry method of
the service data, these data are stored, and at least three
pieces of data other than two pieces of data to represent
the other information are firstly converted into other units
and secondly stored.
Fig. 8 illustrates a format of 1-element data (element
data key and torque) which is registered in the machine sort
information D/B 14 in the step S22.
2Q As illustrated in Fig. 8, the torque data is so arranged
as to be set in the first to third data sections. In the
step S21, when the torque data is entered in some particular
unit (for example, "kg"), this torque data is set in the
first data section. Although not shown in Figs. 3 and 8,
the conversion classification is input, just before entry of
the torque information, so as to instruct that five pieces
131626l'
- 24 -
of data set in the first data section should be converted
into a certain different unit. As a result, at least three
pieces of data input in the "kg" unit into the first data
section (i,e., three pieces of data other than two pieces
of data representative of the other information among five
pieces of data to indicate the torque information) are
converted into a different unit (e.~.,"lb" unit) designated
by the conversion classification except the "kg" unit.
Then, the converted data is set in the second data section.
In addition, at least three pieces of data entered into
the first data section in the "kg" unit are converted into
still o$her unit which are designated by the conversion
classification, and thereafter the converted data are set in
the third data section.
In other words, the conversion classification is to
automatically convert the torque data into the unit other
than the above-described unit when the torque data is
input in the certain specific unit, and also to set these
converted data into the second and third data sections, in
a manner similar to the case of the service data.
Since the data concerning the diameter and the number
- are not required to be converted by the unit, no unit
conversion is needed for these two pieces of data. It may
be possible, of course, to perform the similar unit
conversion on these two data as same as in other three data.
In this case, however, it is necessary to prohibit from
1 31 6265
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using the converted two data.
In the l-element data as illustrated in Flgs. 6 to 8,
a byte length of the respective element data key is identi-
cal to each other.
In the step S22, as shown in Fig. 8, the machine sort
code, information code, item and image classification which
have been input in the steps S9, S18, S19 and S20, the data
status (which is automatically set in the host computer 1)
representative of the history of the torque data which has
been input in the step S21, and the torque data information
consisting of the first to third data sections are regis-
tered as l-element data by,the host computer 1 into the
machine sort information D/B 14,
In the steps S22 or S23, when entry of one-image,
one-document, or one piece of the machine sort information
(these are referred to as "element data" hereinafter) is
accomplished, a judgement is made whether or not the entry
of the element data is continued in the next step S24. If
the entry of the element data is continued, the control
process is returned to the previous step S3. If the entry
of the element data is not continued, the editing work of
the book is commenced from a step S25. The editing work is
performed by one page unit.
In the step S25, a new book producing file is read out
from the host computer 1 by any one of the personal
computers 4-1 to 4-N connected to the host computer 1.
1 31 6~65
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Fig. 11 illustrates an arrangement of the new book
producing file. As shown in Fig. 11, the new book producing
file is constructed of material supervision or ID No.
information, staff-in-charge information, and starting page
information.
The material supervision No. is a title of a book to be
newly produced or the supervising number. The staff-in-
charge information is the data representative of a staff who
is qualified to produce the new book. The starting page
information indicates what page the book to be produced is
commenced from. In other words, the page information
indicates the first page of the new book for,the starting
page. For instance, the second page corresponds to the
starting page of a book distributed in Japan, whereas the
eleventh page corresponds to the starting page of a book
distributed in U.S.A.
The staff-in-charge information is able to be applied
to the security supervision of a newly edited book, for
example. That is to say, the information relating to a
staff who is permitted to produce a new book is previously
registered in the host computer 1, and the new book is
edited by the staff only when he has been registered in the
new book producing file in the host computer 1. Under this
security supervision, it can prevent that the book which is
not allowed to be edited is mistakenly edited or the
previously edited book is unnecessarily and mistakenly
,.~"
1 31 62~5
- 2~ -
revised by the editing apparatus.
In this case, the staff-in-charge information may be
preferably encrypted or stored in a magnetic card.
When the new book producing file is read out,
predetermined data is input into this file at a step S26.
When the predetermined data is entered, as shown in a step
S27, the new book producing file is transferred from the
host computer 1 to the system controller 2 and then
registered in the book D/B 21.
In the next step S28, the layout code (see Fig. 4) is
entered by the keyboard 5-1, so that the basic layout code
previously registered in the layout basic D/B 23 is called ,
up to CRT 6.
When the basic layout code is called up in the editing
apparatus, both the document supervision No. and the page
number to be edited are input. The document supervision
number is a title or the supervision or ID number of the new
book, which is similar to the document supervision No. of
the new book producing ~ile shown in Fig. 11.
After the document supervision No. and the page number
to be edited are input in a step S29, the editing apparatus
3-1 converts the layout code among the basic layout code
read in the step S28 into the document supervision No. and
the page number which have been input in the step S29, as
illustrated in a step S30 and Fig. 12.
Upon completion of the code conversion, the editing
.
1 31 62.65
- 28 -
apparatus 3-1 stores the document supervision No., the
number of page, LEN and layout data in the editing apparatus
3-1 in a step S31. These document supervision No., the
number of page, LEN and layout data will be referred as
"a converted layout code" in the following description.
In a step S32, the basic layout is displayed on CRT 6
by employing the converted layout code. As illustrated
in Fig. 13, the basic layout is basically constructed of
a contour 101 of a page to be edited and a document entry
region 102. The basic layout shown in Fig. 13 is a double
frame.
In a subsequent step S33, a judgement is made whether
or not the image is displayed on CRT 6.
To display the image, the temporary key (see Fig. 5) is
entered by the keyboard 5-1 in a step S34 so as to call up
one element data, i.e., temporary key, LEN of the image data
to be called up, and the image data from the element D/B 22,
and display the image data called up on CRT 6.
In a step S35, by a mouse (not shown) connected to
the keyboard 5-1, the image displayed on CRT 6 is moved to
a desirable position on the basic layout.
Fig. 14 illustrates an image of the screen of CRT 6
at that moment, which is similar to the illustration of
Fig. 13. As shown in Fig. 14, when the image is moved to
the region denoted by "P", the upper left coordinates and
lower right coordinates of the image are (X1, Y1) and
.
, " ,-
1 31 626 )
- 29 -
(X2, Y2), respectively.
When the image is transferred in this way, the upper
left coordinates (X1, Y1) and lower right coordinates
(X2, Y2) on the basic layout are entered into the editing
apparatus 3-1.
It should be noted that while the image is moved, the
size of the image may be enlarged or reduced in accordance
with the capability of editing apparatus. Only the image
can be moved over the document input region 102.
In a step S36, as illustrated in Fig. 15, the temporary
key among the 1-element data consisting of the temporary
key, LEN of image data to be called up, and image data is
converted into the element data key.
As illustrated in Fig. 9, the element data key is
constructed of the machine sort code, information
identification code, item, image classification, and also
data status (which is automatically input in the host
computer 1) representative of a history of image data, which
is similar to the machine sort information including the
specification information, service data information, and
torque information.
The conversion operation of the temporary key into the
element data key in the step S36, is practically performed
when an editor has entered the element data key excepting
for the data status. "D" is input in the head byte of
the information identification code. ~ byte length of the
,",.~,
1316~6~
- 30 -
element data key shown in Fig. 9 is identical to the
respective byte lengths shown in Figs. 6 to 8.
In a step S37, both the i-element data consisting of
the element data key, LEN of the image data corresponding to
the element data key and the image data, and the coordinates
(X1, Y1), (X2, Y2) are registered in the editing apparatus
3-1.
In a step S45, another judgement is made whether or not
the edition of one page is accomplished. If not yet
accomplished, then the control process is returned to the
step S33.
If it is judged in the step S33, that the image is not
displayed on CRT 6, another judgement is made whether or not
the document or sentence is displayed in a step S38.
When the document or sentence is displayed, in a step
S39, the temporary key (see Fig. 5) is entered by the
keyboard 5-1, and the one element data consisting of the
temporary key, LEN of the document data to be called up, and
the document data themselves is called up from the element
D/B 22, and the document data are displayed on CRT 6.
By employing the mouse (not shown) connected to the
keyboard 5-1, the document displayed on CRT 6 is moved to
the desired position on the basic layout in a step S40.
When the document is moved to the position indicated
by the symbol "Q" on the basic layout shown in Fig. 14, the
upper left coordinates and the lower right coordinates of
~ 31 6265
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the document are (X3, Y3) and (X4, Y4), respectively.
After the document has been moved, both the upper
left coordinates (X3, Y3) and the lower right coordinates
(X4, Y4) of the document on the basic layout are input into
the editing apparatus 3-1 (S40).
In a step S41, as illustrated in Fig.16, the temporary
key in the 1-element data consisting of the temporary key,
LEN of the called up document, and document data is
converted into the element key data. Formats of these
element data key, LEN of the called up document data and
document data are illustrated in Fig. 17.
As shown in Fig. 17, the element ;data key corresponding
to the document data is constructed of the sentence
supervision No havin~ a length of, for instance, 8 bytes;
the detailed item code having a length of, for example, 6
bytes; the language information having a length of, for
example, 2 bytes; and the data status (which is
automatically added by the host computer 1) indicative of
a history of the sentence or document data.
The sentence supervision No. is the data to specify
each document, and in the head byte of which "B" is input.
The language information indicates what language the
document data has been produced in, for example, Japanese or
English. The detailed item code is a classification code of
the document or sentence.
It should be noted that after the data status of the
1 31 6265
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1-element data shown in Fig. 17, appropriate number of
blanks are added to make the byte length of the element data
key equal to that of the respective element data keys as
shown in Figs. 6 to 9. In other words, each byte ~ength of
the element data keys corresponding to the document data,
image data and machine sort information data is set to be
identical with each other.
With employing the detailed item code, the editing
apparatus can retrieve the document or sentence. This
document retrieval operation will be discussed later in
a step S114.
In a step S3~, the element data key, LEN of the
document data corresponding to the element data key, and
document data are registered as the 1-element data together
with the coordinates (X3, Y3), (X4, Y4) into the editing
apparatus 3-1.
In a step S38, if a judgement is made that no document
is displayed on CRT 6, it can be recognized that the machine
sort information is to be displayed.
In a step S42, the element data key of the machine sort
information to be called up is input by the keyboard 5-1,
whereby the machine sort information having 1-element data,
i.e., element data key, specification information, service
data information or torque information is called up from
the machine sort information D/B 14 to the editing apparatus
3-1, and then the specification information, service data
`` 1 31 6265
- 33 -
information or torque information is displayed on CRT 6.
In the preferred embodiment, the element data key is
entered by the keyboard 5-1, and the machine sort infor-
mation is directly called up via the host computer 1 and
system controller 2 from the machine sort information D/B 14
to the editing apparatus 3-1. However, alternatively,
employing any one of the personal computers 4-1 to 4-N, the
machine sort information may be called up from the machine
sort information D/B 14 to be temporarily registered into
the element D/B 22. Thereafter, the element data key may be
input by the keyboard 5-1, and the machine sort information
may be called up via the system controller 2 from the
element D/B 22 to the editing apparatus 3-1
It should be noted that display conditions of the
service data information and torque information among the
machine sort information data are determined in accordance
with the image classification information in the element
data key and the conversion classification (not shown)
described with reference to the step S21.
As to the service data, for instance, as illustrated
in Fig. 10, when the data set in the first data section is
automatically converted to be set within the second and
third data sections in accordance with the conversion classi-
- fication information previously set, the service data is
displayed on CRT 6 in the illustration format of Fig. 25
in accordance with the conversion classification and image
,,
..,
-` 1 31 6~65
-- 34 --
classification information.
Fig. 25 is a table for representing one example of
a relationship between the conversion classification, image
classification and service data, which is displayed on the
CRT.
In Fig. 25, if the conversion classification is "10"
and the image classification is "10", only the data set in
the first data section (see Fig. 10) is displayed on CRT 6
in the millimeter unit.
If the conversion classification is "10" and image
classification is "20", the data set in the first data
section is displayed in the millimeter unit, and
subsequently, the data set in the second data unit is
displayed within a parenthesis in the inch unit.
If the conversion classification is "20" and image
classification is "10", only the data set in the second data
is displayed in the inch unit.
When the conversion classification is "20" and image
- classification is "20", the data set in the second data is
displayed in the inch unit, and subsequently, the data set
in the first data unit is displayed within a parenthesis in
the millimeter unit.
When the conversion classification is "40", the same
data and unit display as in the conversion classification
being "10'l is performed, and its decimal point is not
a period, but a comma.
~,
~ 3~ 6265
- 35 -
As is similar to the steps S35 and S40, the data on the
machine information is positioned on the basic layout and
the coordinates thereof is input in a step S43.
In a subsequent step S44, the element data key and its
coordinates information selected from the 1-element data, as
illustrated in Figs. 6 to 8, are registered into the editing
apparatus 3-1.
Not only the element data key, but also the respective
element data together with the coordinates information
thereof may be of course registered.
When a judgement is made that the editing work for one
page is accomplished in the step S45, the format of one page
data is converted into another format shown in Fig. 18 in
a step S46. This conversion is executed in the editing
apparatus for performing the editing work (the editing
apparatus 3-1 in this case)
Fig. 18 illustrates a format of the data having one
page information converted in the editing apparatus. In
Fig. 18, the one page data converted in the editing
apparatus is constructed of the following data:
(A) The converted layout data which has been converted in
the step S30 (see Fig. 12)
(B) The coordinates entered in the previous steps S35, S40
or S43, and the element data key of the 1-element data
arranged in the region designated by said coordinates.
When a plurali.y of element data (image data, document data,
i,
.. . , ~
1 31 6265
- 36 -
or machine sort information data) are arranged within one
page, plural sets of the coordinates and element data key
should be storaged for one page.
The coordinates and element data key are set subsequent
to the converted layout data. A set of coordinates and
element data key will be referred to as "a layout for the
editing work" in the following description.
(C) The element data key of the element data arranged
within one page, LEN of the element data, and the element
data. When a plurality of element data are inserted in one
page, plural sets of the element data key, LEN, and element
data should be arranged for one page.
In other words, the number of the 1-element data
constituted of the element data key, LEN and element data is
same as that of a pair of the coordinates and element data
key contained in the layout for the editing work.
Subsequent to the layout for the editing work, the
element data key, LEN and element data are set.
When the element data is the machine sort information,
as apparent from Figs. 6 to 8, since no LEN is present in
front of the element data, of course, only the element data
key and element data are set.
These data arranged behind the layout for the editing
work will be referred to an element data group in the
following description (see Fig. 18).
Although not shown in Fig. 18, an end code for
,
`` 1 31 6265
- 37 -
indicating that one page data is completed is added at the
end of the final element data.
When one page data is converted as illustrated in Fig.
18, the resultant converted one page data is registered via
the system controller 2 in the book D/B 21 in the step S47.
In the next step S48, one page data which has been
converted in the previous step S46 is transferred to the
host computer 1.
It should be noted that if the host computer 1 is not
in operation due tO holiday or the like, the data processes
until the step S47 may be repeatedly performed, and several
pages data which have been registered in the book D/B 21 may
be transferred after the operation of this host computer 1
is commenced.
In a step S49, the above-described one page data is
duplicated and the format thereof is converted into that
illustrated in Fig. 19 in the host computer 1. Fig. 19
illustrates one page layout information which is converted
in the host computer 1 so as to be registered in the layout
D/B 11.
The one page data transferred to the host computer 1 is
distributed and stored in the respective D/B (i.e., layout
D/B 11, document D/B 12, image D/B 13 and machine sort
information D/B 14) connected to the host computer 1. The
data conversion executed in the step S49 is performed so as
to store in the layout D/B 11, only the information relating
1 31 6~5
- 38 -
to the layout among the one page data.
As is obvious from the comparison between Figs. 18 and
19, in the step S49, both LEN and the eleme~t data have been
removed from the element data group of the 1-page data which
is set subsequent to the layout for the editing work.
In a next step S50, the data converted in the previous
step S49 is registered in the D/B 11.
In a step S51, the element data group is copied by
employing the 1-page data which has been transferred to the
host computer 1 in the previous step S48.
In a step S52, the data relating to the document data
among the element data group is registered in the document
D/B 12.
In a step S53, the data relating to the image data
among the element data group is regist,ered in the image
D/B 13.
In a subsequent step S54, a judgement is made whether'
or not the edited 1-page data is to be printed out. If no
printing operation is to be carried out, the control process
is advanced to a step S57. If the printing operation should
be performed, the control process is advanced to a step S55.
In a step S55, both the reference supervision No. and
page are entered by using of the keyboard 5-2, so that the
1-page data registered in the book D/B 21 is called up into
the editing apparatus 3-2.
In a step S56, the 1-page data is printed out by the
. ~. ~
, ~ ~, ;,
1 3 1 626 ~
- 39 -
printer ~.
In a step S57, a judgement is made whether or not the
next page is produced. When the next page is produced, the
control process is returned to the step S28. Conversely if
the next page is not produced, the control process is
accomplished.
In accordance with above-mentioned process (first
editing method), a new book is newly produced or edited.
Referring now to Figs. 20 to 24, as is similar to the
description on the first editing method, a description will
be made of the second editing method applied to produce a
service manual of a bike or the like.
Fig. 20 is a flowchart illustrating the second editing
method according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.
In the respective steps shown in Fig. 20, the same
reference numerals as those in Fig. 3 indicate the same or
similar processing operations.
According to the second editing method, in a step S25,
a new book producing file is first called up which has been
registered in the host computer 1, by employing any one of
the personal comput~rs 4-1 to 4-N (for instance, the
personal computer 4-1) connected to the host computer 1.
Since the arrangement of this new book producing file is
identical to that shown in Fig. 11, the description thereof
is omitted.
After the new book producing file is called up,
1 31 6265
- 40 -
predetermined data, i.e., the material supervision No.
information, staff-in-charge information and starting page
information are entered into the new book producing file in
a step S26.
Next, as illustrated in a step S27, the new book
producing file is transferred by the host computer 1 to the
system controller 2 and registered in the book D/B 21.
In a step S101, referring to a book which has been
produced in the editing apparatus (referred to as "an
original book"), a selection is made that the pages of this
original book are utilized to produce a new book. That is
to say, the following page selection is carried out, as one
example. The 21st to 30th pages of the first original book
are available to produce the 1st to 10th pages of ths new
book, the 46th to 50th pages of the second original book are
utilized to produce the subsequent 11th to 15th pages of the
new book, and furthermore, the 31st to 40th pages of the
first original book are usable to produce the succeeding
16th to 25th pages thereof.
Such a process is performed while an operator actually
observes the original books.
In a next step S102, the material supervision No. and
the page number of the original book are input by way of the
personal computer 4-1, and 1-page data (see Fig. 19) is
copied in the host computer 1 from the layout D/B 11.
In a step S103, a new material supervision No. and
1 31 6265
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a new page number of a book to be newly edited are input
into the personal computer 4-1.
In a step S104, both the document supervision No. and
the page number in the 1-page data copied in the previous
step S102 are rewritten by the new material supervision No.
and page number of the new book input in the previous step
S103.
Fig. 21 illustrates the data rewriting operation
executed in the step S104.
The 1-page data of the original book which has been
called up and copied in the step S102 is as shown in the
upper portion of Fig. 21. In the step S104, as illustrated
in the lower portion of Fig, 21, only the material super-
vision No. and page number among the above-described data
are rewritten by those of the new book.
In the step S105, the 1-page data produced in such
a way is stored in the host computer 1.
In a step S106, a judgement is made whether or not the
rewriting operation of the material supervision No. and the
page number is accomplished for the new book. In accordance
with the previous example, a judgement is made whether or
not all of the 21st to 30th pages of the first original
book, the 46th to 50th pages of the second original book,
and the 31st to 40th pages of the first original book have
been converted into the 1st to 25th pages of the new book.
If one book is not yet rewritten, the control process
~ ,. .
1 31 6265
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is returned to a step S102. To the contrary, if the rewrit-
ing operation is accomplished, the control process is
advanced to a step S107.
In the step S107, the element data or both LEN of the
element data and element data corresponding to the element
data key, among the 1-page data converted in the step S104
are called up from the respective D/B 12 to 14. These data
are added after the respective element data keys of the
1-page data which are arranged in the rear of the layout for
the editing work. That is to say, the 1-page data converted
in the stepS104 is rearranged in a complete form as shown in
Fig. 18.
In a step S108, a judgement is made whether or not all
pages of the new book have been rearranged in a complete
form. If all pages of the new complete book are not yet
rearranged, the control process is returned to step S107.
If all pages are converted, the control process is advanced
to a step S109.
In the step S109, the data of the new complete book
is transferred from the host computer 1 to the system
controller 2.
In a step S110, all pages of one complete book are
registe~ed in the book D/B 21 by the system controller 2.
The editing work can be executed even when the host
computer 1 is not operated due to some reasons if all pages
of one complete book are registered in the book D/B 21
t 3t b265
- 43 -
connected to the system controller 2 as previously
described.
In a subsequent step S111; the new material supervision
No. and page number of the new book are entered by the key-
5 board 5-1 into the editing machine 3-1.
In a step S112, the input page data of the new book
is read out from the book D/B 21 to be registered in the
editing apparatus 3-1.
Then, in a next step S113, the page called up from
the book D/B 21 is displayed on CRT 6.
In a step S130, a judgement is carried out whether or
not the editing operation of the 1-page data displayed on
CRT 6 is executed, That is to say, a judgement is made
whether or not the pages which have been copied from the
original books for the new book in the steps S102 to S104
can be merely utilized without any further edition. If no
editing work is required, the control process is advanced to
a step S46. If-the editing work is required, the control
process is advanced to a step S114.
In the step S114, a retrieval operation by any one of
the personal computers 4-l to 4-N is performed whether or
not the elements of the original book (including the pages
of the original book selected in the previous step S101) can
be utilized for editing the page of the new book displayed
on CRT 6. The retrieval method will be discussed later with
reference to Figs. 22 to 24.
~,.,
,, ~ ,D, . ' .
1 31 6265
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In a step S115, a judgement is made whetheror not the
element usable in the new book editing operation is found in
the above-described retrieval operation.
If some relevant elements are found, the element data
key of the retrieved relevant elements are input in the
personal computer (for example, 4-1) in a step S116.
In a step S117, the 1-element data called up by the
above retrieval operation is transferred to the system
controller 2, and is registered in the element D/B 22 under
the control of the system controller.
In a step S118, a judgement is made whether or not the
retrieval operation is continued. If yes, then the control
step is returned to the step S114.
If the element usable for editing the new book is not f
ound in the step S115, the 1-element data retrieved in the
step S144 is cleared in a step S132. It is, of course, not
to clear the data stored in the D/B 12 to 14 at this stage.
In the step S119, a judgement is made whether or not
the image data, document data or machine information data,
namely element is newly input. If the element is not newly
input, the control step is returned to the step S118.
When the element is newly input, the control process is
advanced to the step S3. Since the processes effected in
the steps S3 to S23 are same as those denoted by the same
reference numerals in Fig. 3, the descriptions thereof are
omitted.
1 3 1 6265
- 45 -
If the control process defined by the step S22 or S23
is completed, the control step is returned to the step S119.
In the step S118, if the retrieval operation is not
continued, another judgement is made whether or not the
image is displayed on CRT 6 in the step S33. If the image
is displayed, the temporary key or element data key of
the image to be displayed is input by the keyboard 5-1 in
the step S120, and the predetermined image is read out from
the element D/B 22 and then displayed on CRT 6.
In the next step S35, the image is moved to the desired
position and the coordinates thereof are input.
In the step S121, a judgement is judged whether or not
the temporary key is input in the previous step S120.
When the temporary key is input, it is converted into
the element data key in the step S36. The data conversion
has been described with reference to Fig. 3, so that no
further description is made here.
If a judgement is done that no temporary key was
entered in the step S121, or after the process of the step
S36 is accomplished, the element data key, LEN of the image
data corresponding to the element data key and the image
data itself are registered as one element data into the
editing apparatus 3-1 together with the coordinates input in
the previous step S35.
In the step S33, if a judgement is made that the image
is not displayed, another judgement is done whether or not
1 3 ~ ~265
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the document or sentence is displayed in the step S38.
When the document is displayed on CRT 6, the temporary
key or element data key to be displayed is entered by the
keyboard 5-1 in a step S122, and the predetermined document
is called up fror,l the element D/B 22 to be displayed on
CRT 6.
In a subsequent step S40, the above document is moved
to the desired position and the coordinates thereof are
entered.
In a step S123, a judgement is made whether or not the
temporary key was input in the previous step S122. When the
temporary key is input, it is converted into
the element data key in the step S41. This key conversion
is carried out as same as in the conversion effected in the
preceding step S36.
If a judgement is done that no temporary key was input
in the step S123, or after the process effected in the step
S41 is accomplished, the element data key, and both LEN and
the sentence data of the document data corresponding to the
element data key, are registered as one element data into
the editing apparatus 3-1 together with the coordinates
input in the preceding step S40.
If a judgement is made that no sentence was displayed
in the preceding step S38, it is judged that the machine
sort information is displayed, and the control process is
advanced to a step S131.
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In the step S131, the element data key of the machine
sort information to be displayed is entered by the keyboard
5-1 and the predetermined machine sort information is called
up from the element D/B 22 to be displayed on CRT 6.
In the next step S43, the above machine sort infor-
mation is moved to the desired position and the coordinates
thereof are input.
In a step S44, the element data key is registered
together with the coordinates entered in the step S43 in the
editing apparatus 3-1.
When the process in the step S37 or S44 is completed,
a judgement is made whether or not the 1-page data displayed
on CRT 6 has been edited. If not yet, the process is
returned to the step S33. If completed, then the process is
advanced to a step S46.
In a step S46, the edited one page data is converted in
the form as illustrated in Fig. 18 in the editing apparatus
3-1.
In the next step S124, the converted one page data is
updated in the book D/B 21.
Since the processes defined in the steps S48 through
S57 are the same as those denoted by the same reference
numerals of Fig. 3, the explanations thereof will be
omitted. If in the step S57, the judgement is performed to
edit the next page, the control process is returned to the
step S111.
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It is obvious that although in the explanations with
reference to Fig. 20, the retr~eval operation was previously
executed before the 1-page data was edited in the steps S33
and thereafter, the necessary data were read out of the D/B
12 through 14 to be registered in D~B 22, these processes
may be performed during the editing work.
A detailed description will now be made in that the
process of the above-described step S114 is carried out for
the document data retrieval operation. The retrieval
operation of the step S114 is performed by employing any one
of the personal computers 4-1 to 4-N.
Fig. 22 is a schematic diagram showing a portion of
a table for the document data retrieval which has been
previously set in the document D/B 12. A symbol "0"
indicated in the respective tables of Fig. 22 represents
"null", or that no data is entered.
In the document D/B 12, as illustrated in Fig. 22,
a plurality of document data retrieval tables each consist-
ing of an index (referred to as an "ID" simply) and a title
have been input and set. A byte length of the ID is set tO
be equal to that of the detailed item code (6 bytes in the
preferred embodiment) in order to correspond to the detailed
item code of the element data key which in turn corresponds
to the document or sentence data shown in Fig. 17
In an a-table of Fig. 22, the different data such as A,
B, C, and so on, are respectively input only in the head
~,,,
.. . .
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byte (first byte) of ID each having a 6~byte length.
In a b-table of Fig. 22, the common data of "A" is
input in the first byte of each ID, and the different data
of "A, B, C" are respectively input in the second byte
thereof.
In a c-table of Fig. 22, the common data of "B" is
entered in the first byte of each ID and the different data
of "A, B, C" are entered, respectively, in the second byte
thereof.
In a d-table of Fig. 22, the common data of "AA" is
input in the first and second bytes of each ID, and also
the different data of "A, B, C" are entered, respectively
in the third byte.
In an e-table of Fig. 22, the common data of "AB" is
input in the first and second bytes of each ID, and
the different data of "A, B, C" are entered, respectively,
in the third byte thereof.
Similarly, in an f-table of Fig. 22, the common data of
"AAA" is input in the first to third bytes of each ID, and
the different data of "A, B, C" are entered, respectively,
in the fourth byte thereof.
In a g-table of Fig. 22, the common data of "AAB" is
input in the first to third bytes of each ID, and the
different data of "A, B, C" are entered, respectively, in
the fourth byte.
Thus, the respective tables for the document data
1 31 626~
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retrieval operation set in the document D/B 12 are formed in
a hierarchical structure as illustrated in Fig. 23.
In practice, each of the tables for the document data
retrieval operation are formed in the following method.
That is to say, in correspondence to the respective ID's in
the table (a-table) of the first hierarchy or rank where the
data has been input in only the first byte of each ID, each
title (auto-bike, automobile, or special-purpose car etc.)
representative of the first highest concept of the document
data is input. Also, in correspondence to each of ID's in
the tables (b and c-tables) of the second hierarchy or order
where the data has been input in only the first and second
bytes of eachID, another title ~explanation, or notice etc.)
representative of the second highest concept is input.
Similarly, still other title (structure explanation,
operating or handling manual etc.) representative of the
third rank concept is input in the tables (d and e-tables)
of the third hierarchy, and further title (twelfth month
maintenance, or sixth month maintenance, etc.) indicative of
the fourth rank concept is input in the tables (f and g-
tables) of the fourth hierarchy. Also the data same as the
ID representative of the lowest concept is previously input
in the detailed item code of the element data key shown in
Fig. 17. And then the retrieval operation of the document
data is performed as illustrated in Fig. 24.
It should be noted that the lowest hierarchy data need
,
~, f . ~
13~62vS
- 51 -
not be set in the table of the sixth hierarchy, but may be
set in the table higher than the sixth hierarchy.
Fig. 24 is a flowchart for illustrating the retrieval
method indicated in the step S114 according to one preferred
embodiment of the invention. As previously described,
the retrieval operation is carried out by any one of the
personal computers 4-1 to 4-N.
In a step S150 of Fig. 24, first "n" is set to be 1.
In a step S151, ID of the n-th hierarchy or rank is
input by, for instance, the personal computer 4-1.
In a step S152, the (n+l)th hierarchy data containing
the n-th hierarchy ID in ID thereof is selected from the
table for the document data retrieval operation.
In a step S153, a judgement is made whether or not the
(n+l)th hierarchy data is present, namely, the (n+l)th
hierarchy data is selected in the step S152.
If yes, then all titles of the (n+l)th hierarchy are
displayed in the step S154. Then, after 1 is added to "n"
in a step S155, the control process is returned to the step
S151.
When a judgement is made that the (n+l)th hierarchy
data is not present in the step S153, the control process
is transferred to the step S156.
In a step S156, the 1-element data containing the n-th
hierarchy ID in the datailed item code thereof (i.e.,
1-document or 1-sentence data shown in Fig. 17) is called up
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via the host computer 1 from the document or sentence D/B 12
and displayed in the personal computer 4-1.
Consequently, when the table for the document data
retrieval operation is constructed as in Fig. 22, and "A" is
input as ID only to the first byte, the b-table of the
second hierarchy or rank where "A" is set in the first byte
is selected and displayed, as indicated by an arrow "P".
Then, when "AA" is input in the first and second bytes
as ID, the d-table of the third hierarchy where "AA" is set
in the first and second bytes is displayed, as denoted by
an arrow Q.
Similarly, when "AAA" is entered as ID in the first to
third bytes, the f-table of the fourth hierarchy where "AAA"
is set in the first to third bytes is displayed, as shown by
an arrow R.
According to the above-mentioned method, such a
retrieval operation can be done to show that such documents
or sentences as a twelfth month maintenance manual and a
sixth month maintenance manual are registered with respect
to the document of the structure explanation on, for
example, the auto-bike.
Furthermore, when "AAAA" is input as ID into the first
to fourth bytes for the retrieval operation, the list of the
fifth hierarchy (not shown) where "AAAA" is set in the first
to fourth bytes is displayed as denoted by an arrow S.
When such a retrieval process is performed for the list
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of the lowest hierarchy, a judgement can be made whether or
not therequired document data is registered in the document
D/B 12.
When the necessary data is retrieved, the retrieved
data can be utilized to edit a new book if the r~trieved
data is registered in the element D/B 22 as previously
described with regards to the step S117 (Fig. 20).
Although the above explanation was made on the
retrieval operation of the document data, the image data or
machine sort information may be similarly retrieved. That
is to say, if a plurality of retrieval tables as illustrated
in Fig. 22, are set in the image D/B 13 and machine sort
information D/B 14, and if ID's of the retrieval tables are
input into the items ~3-byte length; see Figs. 6 to 9) in
the element data key of the image data and machine sort
information, the above-described retrieval operation may be
performed.
Although in the preceding description, the machine sort
information and image were registered into the respective
different D/B (i.e., the machine sort information D/B 14 and
image D/B 13), they may be registered in a common D/B since
the data of the machine sort information shown in Figs. 6 to
8 has the same format as that of th~ image data shown in
Fig. 9.
Also when the image and document data were input in the
previous embodiment, the temporary key was input first and
.,~.
t 31 62~:35
- 54 -
converted into the element data key in the actual editing
operation. However, the temporary key may not be input
in advance but the element data key may be input at the
beginning, which is similar to the entry of the machine sort
S information data.
In accordance with the preferred embodi~ent of the
invention having the above-described arrangement, the host
computer 1 which may be a large-scale general purpose
computer illustrated in Fig. 2 enables thP materials or
elements to be supervisPd, and the system controller 2 which
may be a medium-scale relay computer for connecting the host
computer 1 and respective editing apparatuses 3-1 to 3-N,
enables the data to be supervised in the page unit or book
unit, so that a new book can be produced by utilizing
a original book or elements of the original book had been
produced by the editing apparatus. In consequence, new
books can be efficiently produced.
In other words, when, for instance, a service manual,
a shop manual, or the like are produced by the editing
apparatus, and if a new manual of the machine similar to
` one described in the original book which has been already
produced is produced, the manual relating to the similar
machine can be produced within an extremely short time and
in low cost since a major part of the original book can be
utilized for editing the new manual.
Apparently, the editing apparatus according to this
f~.i..~
t 31 6265
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invention may be utilized not only to produce service
manuals, shop manuals, but also general books, magazines and
newspaper.
In the foregoing description, when the new book was
produced by utilizing the information of the previously
edited book, the layout informaiton read out from the layout
D/B 11 was reconstructed into the 1-page da~a in the host
computer 1. It is of course possible to perform such a
process in the system controller 2. Similarly, under the
control of the system controller 2, the 1-page data may be
resolved into the information in the element unit and layout
information.
It should be noted that when the element data of the
machine information was input, in the previous description,
the element data key was entered at the beginning without
entry of the temporary key. According to the present
invention, the temporary key may be first entered, which
is similar to the element data relating to the document or
sentence and image.
Although the personal computers 4-1 to 4-N were
connected to the host computer 1 in the above description,
the present invention is not limited to this example, for
instance, it may be connected to the system controller 2.
Furthermore, the machine sort information data were
input by the personal computers 4-1 to 4-N, in the previous
explanation. These personal computers 4-1 to 4-N may be
1 31 6265
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operated as word-processors, so that the document may be
entered into either the host computer 1 or system controller
2.
A concrete construction of the present invention will
now be described.
Fig. 26 is a functional block diagram for illustrating
a construction of one preferred embodiment according to the
present invention. In Fig. 26, the same reference numerals
as those in Fig. 2 denote the same or similar parts.
In Fig. 26, a keyboard 106 has the equivalent function
to the keyboard 5-1 to 5-N illustrated in Fig. 2, a key
input means 163 has the equivalent function to the keyboards
of the personal computers 4-1 to 4-N illustrated in Fig. 2,
and a scanner 107 has the similar function to that of the
scanner 8 illustrated in Fig. 2.
Similarly, a first display means 109 has the equivalent
function to CRT 6 and 10 shown in Fig. 2, and a second
display means 164 has the equivalent function to CRT of the
personal computers 4-1 to 4-N.
Also, a second element memory means 110 has the
equivalent function to the element D/B 22 shown in Fig. 2,
a second layout memory means 111 has the equivalent function
of the layout basic D/B 23 shown in Fig. 2, and a page
memory means 112 has the equivalent function to the book
D/B 21 of Fig. 2.
In Fig. 26, the keyboard 106 is connected to basic
~ 3t 6~G5
- 57 -
layout code setting means 101, first element inputting means
102, first temporary key setting means 151, layout code
converting means 114, and element data key converting means
152.
Key entering means 163 is connected to second display
means 164, second element inputting means 161 and second
temporary key setting means 162.
The layout code setting means 101 set the basic layout
code (see Fig. 4) entered in the step S1 of Fig. 3. The
first temporary setting means 151 set the temporary key
shown in Fig. 5.
As previously described with reference to Fig. 5, "D"
is input into the head byte of the temporary key which is
added to the image data, and "T" is input into the temporary
key which is added to the document data. In the editing
apparatuses 3-1 to 3-N, a judgement is made based upon the
data of these head bytes that the data in question is the
image data or document data, and the respective element data
are handled in accordance with the sort of the data in
question.
If the temporary key is of 6 bytes as illustrated in
Fig. 5, identification data of the element data which is
voluntarily decided by an operator himself is entered as the
remaining 5 bytes other than the head bytes. In this case,
numerical data is set, for example, in the lower 3 bytes and
the numerical data may be automatically carried up after
1 31 62~'5
- 58 -
the element data is entered. That is, when the numeral data
is set to "001", for example, at the beginning of the entry
of the element data, the numericaldata may be carried up to
"002", "003", ---, every time the element data is entered.
The first element inputting means 102 vector-convert
the document or sentence data entered by the keyboard 106,
or the image data and the like input by the scanner 10~ to
receive these data therein, whereas the second element
inputting means 161 vector-convert the document data entered
by the key inputting means 163, or the machine sort infor-
mation data to receive these data therein.
The first and second temporary key setting means 151 and
162 set the temporary key shown in Fig. 5.
The layout code converting means 114 convert the layout
code in the basic layout code entered through the basic
layout code setting means 101 into the document supervision
No. and pages.
The element data key converting means 152 convert the
temporary key into the element data key as shown in Figs. 15
and 16. Said temporary key is entered through the first or
second temporary key setting means 151 or 162, and stored in
the second element memory means 110. The element data key
converting means 152 may convert the temporary key into the
element data key by directly inputting the element data key
from the keyboard 106. Otherwise, during the data key
conversion, the respective codes constituting the element
1 3 1 6 f 6 5
- 59 -
data key may be displayed on the display device, and these
codes may be sequentially selected in a so-called "dialogue"
type processing operation with an operator. As to the image
information, these codes are the machine sort code, infor-
mation identification code and so on shown in Fig. 9.
The basic layout code setting means 101 is connected to
the second layout memory means 111 in the memory means 113.
The second layout memory means 111 is connected to the
layout code converting means 114.
The first and second element inputting means 102 and
161 and the first and second temporary key setting means 151
and 162 are connected to the second element memory means 110
in the memory means 113. The second element memory means
110 is connected to the element data key converting means
152.
The element data key converting means 152 is connected
to coordinates setting means 104, first page data setting
means 105, and second page data setting means 133. The
coordinates setting means 104 outputs to the first display
means 109, the element data key output from the second
element memory means 110 and the element data corresponding
to said element data key, and also sets the positional
coordinates of the element data moved by operating the mouse
108, and further outputs the coordinates information to the
first display means 109, first page data setting means 105
and second page setting means 133.
1 3 1 6265
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The layout code converting means 114 call up an
arbitrary basic layout code stored in the second layout
memory means 111 to convert into the converted layout code
as illustrated in the lower portion of Fig. 12, and then
provide the converted layout code to the first page data
setting means 105 and first display means 109.
The first page data setting means 105 is operated to
produce a completely new book, and produce one page data, as
illustrated in Fig. 18, by employing the element data key
and element data output from the element data key converting
means 152, the converted layout code output from the layout
code converting means 114, and the coordinates information
output from the coordinate setting means 104, and further
output the one data to the page memory means 112 in the
memory means 113.
It should be noted that the element inputting means 102
is connected to the first display means 109 by a dot line,
which indicates that when the document or the like is
entered by the keyboard 106, the data of the document or
the like is displayed on the first display means 109.
The page memory means 112 is connected to the layout
converting means 121 and element converting means 122.
The layout converting means 121 eliminate LEN and
element data from the element data group of the 1-page data
(see Fig. 18) stored in the page memory means 112 to produce
the layout information as illustrated in Fig. 19. The
'f~.
t 3 1 6 ~ 6 '
- 61 -
layout converting means 121 are connected to the first
layout memory means 125 which is further connected to an
information processing means 124. The first layout memory
means 125 correspond to the layout D/B 11 in Fig. 2.
The element converting means 122 copies the element
data group out of the 1-page data stored in the page memory
means 112, and resolves the copied element data group into
some element units. The element converting ~eans 122 are
connected to the first element memory means 123 which is
further connected to the information processing means 124.
The first element memory means 123 comprises the document
D/B 12, image D/B 13, and machine sort information D/B 14.
The first layout memory means 125 is further connected
to a page identification data changing means 131. When a
new book is produced by utilizing the information of other
book or books which have been previously edited by the
editing apparatus and stored in the first layout memory
means 125 and first element memory means 123, the page
identification data changing means 131 reads the necessary
layout information out of the layout information stored in
the first layout memory means 125, and rewrites the material
supervision No. and page number (namely, the page identifi-
cation data for identifying the page of the layout
information) of the layout information into the material
supervision No. and page number of the book to be newly
produced. The data entry for said rewriting operation
. \
1 3 1 6 6 '
- 62 -
is carried out by the keyboard 106.
The page identification data changing means 131 and
first element memory means 123 are connected to the element
data adding means 132. The element data adding means 132
reads out of the first element memory means 123, the element
data of the layout information (see Fig. 19) output from the
page identification data changing means 131, which
corresponds to the respective element data keys set behind
the layout for the editing work, and then adds said element
data to the element data key.
The element data adding means 132 is connected to the
page memory means 112.
The page memory means 112 is furthermore connected to
the second page setting means 133 and first display means
109.
The second page data setting means 133 is operated to
produce a new book which is similar to some book previously
edited, and modify the one page information by employing
the 1-page information output from the page memory means
112, the data in the element unit output from the element
data key changing means 152, and the positional coordinates
of the element data output from ~he coordinates setting
means 104. Thereafter, the information of the modified
1-page information is output into the page memory means 112.
The second page data setting means 133 directly return the
1-page information transferred from the page memory means
t316/65
- 63 -
112 to the page memory means 112 when no data in the element
unit is output from the element data changing means 152.
The first element memory means 123 is furthermore connected
to the second element memory means 110.
The basic layout code setting means 101, first element
inputting means 102, first temporary key setting means 151,
coordinates setting means 104, first page data setting means
105, second page data setting means 133, layout code
converting means 114, and element data key converting means
152 are provided with the editing apparatuses 3-1 to 3-N or
system controller 2, each shown in Fig. 2.
Also, the key inputting means 163, second display
means 164, second element inputting means 161, and second
temporary key setting means 162 are provided with the
personal computers 4-1 to 4-N shown in Fig. 2.
Similarly, the layout converting means 121, element
converting means 122, page identification data changing
means 131, and element data adding means 132 are provided
with the host computer 1 or system controller 2 shown in
Fig. 2.
A description will now be made on the operation when
a new book is produced in the editing apparatus having the
above-described arrangement.
First, the information for disignating the 1-page basic
layout is entered by the keyboard 106. This information is
arranged into the basic layout code as shown in Fig. 4 in
1 31 626 '
- 64 -
the basic layout code setting means 101. This basic layout
code is stored in the second layout memory means 111.
The entry and storing operation of the basic layout is
performed plural times if required.
Then, the temporary key corresponding to the element
data to be input is entered.
When the element data input subsequent to the element
data key are the image data such as photographs,
illustrations and so on, and the specific inputting means
such as the scanner 107 or the like is required to enter
these input data, the temporary key is input by the keyboard
, 106 (such as the keyboard 5-1 connected to the editing
apparatus 3-1 shown in Fig. 2) .
When the element data are such data as characters,
symbols and document which can be input by key operation
the temporary key is entered from the keyboard 106 or key
inputting means 163 (any of the personal computers 4-1 to
4-N in Fig. 2).
The data of the temporary key other than the head byte
thereof is a code arbitrarily determined by an operator
himself so as to identify the element data to be input by
the operator of the editing apparatus. And said data is not
to supervise the element data within the first element
memory means 123 or second element memory means 110. The
temporary key is set in a form as illustrated in Fig. 5
in the first temporary key setting means 151 or second
1 31 6~5
- 65 -
temporary setting means 162.
In case that the temporary key is entered by the key
board 106, then the document or machine sort information is
entered by the keyboard 106, and the image is read by the
scanner 10~, and these data are output to the first element
inputting means 102.
In case that the temporary key is input by the key
inputting means 163, thereafter the document or machine
sort information is entered by the key inputting means 163,
and these data are output via the second element inputting
means 161.
In the first or second element inputting means 102 or
161, LEN of the element data is added to the element data,
if required. This data is output together with the
temporary key to the second element memory means 110 and
stored therein. A plurality of entry and storing operations
for the temporary key and element data are carried out, if
required.
With the above-described operation, such editing data
as document and machine sort information comprising of
characters and symbols are entered by the key inputting
means 163.
When the entry of various element data is accomplished,
the editing or arranging operation of the element data is
commenced by the editing apparatus shown in Fig. 2.
At first, the necessary layout code among the basic
' r ~
1 31 6~65
- 66 -
layout code stored in the second layout memory means 111,
namely the basic layout code by which the layout data of the
page to be edited is set is read out from the second layout
memory means 111 by inputting the layout code from the
keyboard 106, and output to the layout code converting means
114.
In the layout code converting.means 114, the layout
code among the basic layout code is converted into the
material supervision No. and page input by the keyboard 106.
That is, the converted layout code (shown in the lower
portion of Fig. 12) is produced. The converted layout code
is output to the first page d;a,ta setting means 105 and first.
display means 109, and as illustrated in Fi~. 13, the basic
layout corresponding to the converted layout code is
displayed on the first display means 109.
When an operator inputs the temporary key corresponding
to the element data to be displayed on the basic layout
by means of the keyboard 106, the element data having
the element data key is output to the element data key
converting means 152 from the second element memory means
110. In the element data key converting means 152, as
previously described, the temporary key is converted to the
element data key.
The element data key, and the element data or LEN and
the element data output from the element data key converting
means 152 are supplied to the first page data setting means
r, ~
~ . .
1 31 626~'
- 67 -
105 and coordinates setting means 104. The coordinates
setting means 104 outputs the element data to the first
display means 109.
When the element data displayed on the first display
r,leans 109 is moved by the mouse 108, the positional
coordinates corresponding to the moved position thereof is
set by the coordinate setting means 104, and the set
coordinates are transferred to the first page data setting
means 105.
A plurality of element data are displayed on a pre-
determined position of the basic layout, if required so as
to perform the page editing work.
When the one page editing work has been accomplished,
in response to the output signals from the layout code
converting means 114, element data key converting means 152
and coordinates setting means 104, the first page data
setting means 105 produce the one page data as illustrated
in Fig. 18. As stated in detail, the one page data is
constructed of the converted layout code output from the
layout code converting means 114, layout for the editing
work consisting of the positional coordinates output from
the coordinate setting means 104 and also the element data
key of the element data corresponding to the positional
coordinate, and the element data group consiting of the
element data key which constitutes the layout for the
editing work and the element data corresponding to said
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element data key.
The 1-page data produced in the first page data setting
means 105 is stored in the page memory means 112. The
amount of the edited 1-page data stored in the page memory
means 112 is equal to the necessary pages so as to
constitute the book to be edited. These page data are
forwarded to a hard copy producing apparatus (not shown).
The 1-page data stored in the page memory means 112 is
transferred to the layout converting means 121 where the
layout information as represented in Fig. 19 is produced
from the 1-page data. The layout information is transferred
to the first layout memory means 125 and stored therein. ,
The 1-page data stored in the page memory means 112 is
also transferred to the element converting means 122. In
the element converting means 122, the element data group is
copied from the 1-page data, the copied element data group
is resolved into 1-element units, and thereafter transferred
to the first element memory means 123. The document (or
sentence) element data among the resolved element data group
is stored in the sentence D/B 12 in the first element memory
means 123, the image element data in the image D/B 13, and
the machine sort information element is in the machine sort
information D/B 14
A new book can be produced in accordance with the above-
described method, and the data of the edited new book isresolved to the layout data and the element data, and then
1 3 1 626 )
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respectively stored.
It should be notified that the element data such as
document and images stored in the above-mentioned D/B's may
be called up therefrom so as to merely observe said element
data for a certain purpose other than the editing work.
When the element data key is input which corresponds to
the element data wanted to be observed, by the keyboard 106
or key input means 163, the element data requested is
displayed on the first display means 109 if said key input
performed through the keyboard 106, and on the second
display means 164 if said key input performed through the
key input means 163.
A description will now be made on a case in that by
utilizing a book previously edited, a new book similar to
said already edited book is produced.
After an operator judges which pages of the edited book
are available to edit the new book while actually observing
the edited book, the
reference supervision No. and page (or page identification
data) of the edited book are entered to read out from the
first layout memory means 125 the 1-page data which is
available for the new book. The readout data is transferred
to the page identification data changing means 131.
When the reference supervision No. and page of the book
to be produced are entered by the keyboard 106 or other
key inputting means (not shown) connected to the page
; -~
1 31 62Grl -
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identification data changing means 131, the reference
supervision No. and page of the readout data are changed
into the entered reference supervision No. and page in the
page identification data changing means 131.
The element data adding means 132 reads out from the
first element memory means 123, the element data of the
changed 1-page data which corresponds to the element data
key set after the layout for the editing work, and adds said
element data to the end of the element data key. With this-
operation, one page data can be established.
After the complete 1-page data is stored in the page
memo,ry means 112, it is transferred,to the first display
means 109 to be displayed on it, and also transferred to the
second page data setting means 133.
An operator will judge whether or not the one page data
is required to be change while observing said one page data
displayed on the first display means 109. If a judgement is
negative, the resultant information is output from suitable
means (not shown), the one page data is transferred to
the page memory means 112, and furthermore said data is
resolved into the element data and layout data in the layout
converting means 121 and element converting means 122,
respectively. In this case, since the element data has been
already stored in the first element memory means 123, only
the layout data is output to the first layout memory means
125 to be stored in it.
- 71 - l 3l 62 G'r'
When some particular element data among the 1-page data
displayed on the first display means 109 is to be deleted or
changed into other element data, or when the 1-page data
displayed on the first display means 109 should be edited,
the element data key corresponding to said particular
element data is entered, so that the element information,
i.e., element data key and element data are read out from
the first element memory means 123 to be registered into
the second element memory means 110. The readout operation
of the element information may be performed by either the
keyboard 106 or key inputting means 163.
If the necessa;ry element data is not stored in the
first element memory means 123, the temporary key and
element data are newly entered to be registered in the
second element memory means 110.
That is to say, the second element memory means 110
stores the element information consisting of the temporary
key and element data, and the element information consisting
of the element data key and element data.
The second element memory means 110 is energized by
appropriate means (not shown) and outputs the necessary
element data and element data key, or the element data and
temporary key to the element data key converting means 152.
When the element data and temporary key are called up, the
element data key converting means 152 converts the temporary
key into the element data key entered by the keyboard 106,
,: ,. . .
13162GI~
- 72 -
and outputs them. On the other hand, when the element data
and element data key are called up, the element data key
converting means 152 output the element data key without any
conversion.
The element data key and element data output from the
element data key converting means 152 are transferred to
the coordinates setting means 104 and second page data
setting means 133. The coordinate setting means 104 output
the element data to the first display means 109, set the
positional coordinates of the element data which are
determined by the mouse, to supply them to the second page
data setting means 133.
When the changes (or editing work) of the 1-page data
displayed on the first display means 109 are accomplished
by repeating the above mentioned operation if required,
the second page data setting means 133 rearrange the 1-page
data transferred from the page memory means 112 as the
edited 1-page data. Precisely speaking, the second page
data setting means 133 erases the element data, element data
key and the positional coordinates thereof among the 1-page
data transferred from the page memory means 112. Said
element data has been overlapped by the element data newly
set on the layout during the editing work, and the element
data key correspons to the element data. Also, the second
page data setting means 133 adds the element data newly set
on the layout during the editing work, the element data key
1 31 6265
corresponding to said element data and the positional
coordinates of said element data.
Thus, the edited or changed 1-page data is output from
the second page data setting means 133 to the page memory
means 112 to be stored therein. Then, the 1-page data is
output to the layout converting means 121 and element
converting means 122 in the page unit or book unit. Both
the layout converting means 121 and element converting means
122 resolves the output data into the element and layout
data, outputs the resolved data to the respective first
layout memory means 125 and first element memory means 123
to be store therein. In this case, the data on the element
which have been previously stored in the first element
memory means 123 are not doubly stored therein.
Under the above-described operation, when producing the
new book resemble to a previously edited book, the common
element data can be commonly used without any modifing and
revising, so that time required to produce a new book can be
greately shortened.
Constructions of other embodiment of the invention will
now be described. Fig. 31 is a block diagram of still other
preferred embodiment of the invention. The same reference
numerals in Fig. 31 denote the same or similar circuit
elements in Fig. 26.
In Fig. 31, a specific character (or letter) judgement
code setting means 165 outputs a specific character
, . .
.
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identification code when a symbol entered by the key
inputting means 163 corresponds to such a specific character
or letter which cannot be entered directly by the keyboard,
e.g., "Umlaut( )".
A document producing (or processing) means 166 produces
a document by employing the data entered by the key inputt-
ing means 163, and the specific character identification
code output from the specific character identification code
setting means 165, and output the resultant document as
document data. The document producing means 166 is provided
with the second element inputting means 161 shown in Fig. 26
and means having a function for editing (movement, copying
or the like) the input document, In other words, the second
personal computers 4-1 to 4-N in the embodiment (of Fig. 31)
function as wordprocessors.
A specific character identification code judging means
16~ judges whether or not the document data output from the
document producing means 166 contains the specific character
= identifisation code. If yes, then the judging means 167
transfers a symbol output subsequent to the specific
character identification code and a character or letter
output subsequent to the symbol to a specific character
converting means 168. If the judgment is negative, the
symbol or character of the document data is directly output
to a second element memory means 110.
The specific character converting means 168 constitute
1 3 1 6 ~
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a predetermined specific character or letter code based on
the symbol and character output subsequent to said symbol
which are derived from the specific character identification
code judging means 167, and output the specific character
code to the second element memory means 110.
The second temporary key setting means 162, key inputt-
ing means 163, second display means 164, specific character
identification code setting means 165, and document produc-
ing means 166 are equipped within the personal computers 4-1
to 4-N shown in Fig. 2.
The specific character identification code judging
means 167 and specific character converting means 168 are
provided within the personal computers 4-1 to 4-N, host
computer 1, or system controller 2 shown in Fig. 2.
A description will now be made on an operation to
produce documents or sentences, for instance, in French by
the work stations (that is, personal computers 4-1 to 4-N)
in the editing apparatus having the above-described
construction according to this invention, and to store the
produced documents as the document data.
In general, the work stations connected to the host
computer have a function as a wordprocessor. Then,
an operator produces the document by the wordprocessor
function. However, according to the ordinary wordprocessor
function, these work stations can only enter the usual
alphabets, numerals and basic symbols. Even if French "é"
'~
1 3 1 6265
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is tried to be entered, this character cannot be directly
entered through the ordinary keyboard, because such a key
for a French character "é" is not provided in the keyboard.
According to the editing apparatus of this invention,
the specific character identification code is first output
from the specific character code setting means 165 instead
of the entry of the specific character "é", and thereafter,
a symbol indicative of "~" and an alphabet "e" are
continuously entered from the key inputting means 163.
When, for instance, French "température" is entered by
the key inputting means 163, an operator first enters the
characters of "temp" by the keyboard connected to the key
inputting means 163. However, the specific character "e" to
be input subsequently cannot be directly entered from the
keyboard without modifying this character.
Accordingly, the specific character identification code
is output by the specific character identification code
setting means 165, thereafter both the symbol "~" and the
character "e" are continuously input by the key inputting
means, and then, the remaining characters "rature" are
entered, so that the entry of said French word is
accomplished.
In the document producing means 166, the document is
produced based on the specific character identification
code entered by the specific character identification code
setting means 165, and the symbol as well as characters
1 3 I 6 ? 6~i
input by the key inputting means 163, and output to the
second display means 164. At the same time,this document is
output as ths document data to the specific character identi-
fication code judging means 167. In this case, the data
format of the above-described French "température" output
from the document producing means 166 is "temp#~erature". It
should be noted that "#" represents the specific character
identification code.
It should be noted that even if the specific character
identification code is input, this specific character identi-
fication code itself is not displayed on the second display
; means 164, but alternatively, the symbol and character
entered subsequent to this specific character identification
code are displayed which are different colors, or different
brightness. Accordingly, they can be discriminated from
the remaining characters.
In the specific character identification code judging
means 16~, a judgement is made whether or not the document
data output from the document producing means 166 contains
the specific character identification code, namely "~".
If not, then this document data is directly output to the
second element memory means 110 without any modification.
When the specific character identification code is in
the output document data, the symbol entered subsequent to
the specific character identification code and the character
input subsequent to the symbol are supplied to the specific
1 31 6265
- 78 -
character converting means 168. In this example, both
the symbol "'" and character "e" are output to the specific
character converting means 168.
In the specific character converting means 168, the
predetermined specific character of "é" is composed of the
symbol "~" and character "e", and output to the second
element memory means 110.
As apparent from the foregoing descriptions, in the
editing apparatus according to this invention, the specific
characters which cannot be entered by simply operating the
conventional work station as the wordprocessor, but may be
entered gnly by way of the small-scale computer, can be
input even by the work station according to the present
invention, which accordingly results in a wide spread in
usage of the work station.
As a consequence, there is no need to employ a large
quantity of expensive small-scale computers requiring
complex operations and the editing work can be efficiently
performed.
Fig. 27 is a block diagram according to another
preferred embodiment of this invention. The same reference
numerals in Fig. 27, denote the same or similar circuit
components shown in Fig. 26.
As is apparent from the comparison between Figs. 26 and
27, the page identification data changing means 131, element
data adding means 132 and second page data setting means 133
131626`5
- 79 -
shown in Fig. 26 have been omitted in the preferred
embodiment of Fig. 2~.
In the present embodiment, although a new book cannot
be produced by employing the information (layout data and
element data) of a previously edited book, the new book can
be edited by using the element data unless the element data
used for the editing work of the previously edited book is
erased from the second element memory means 110.
As is similar to the preferred embodiment shown in
Fig. 26, the element data of the produced book is utilized
in the information processing means 124 for performing
a certain process other than the editing process.
Fig. 28 is a functional block diagram according to
a still further embodiment of the invention. The same
reference numerals shown in Fig. 28 denote the same or
similar circuit components shown in Fig. 2~.
As is obvious from the comparison between Figs. 2~
and 28, the layout converting means 121, element converting
means 122, first element memory means 123 and first layout
memory means 125 have been omitted in the preferred
embodiment of Fig. 28.
In the preferred embodiment, since the data of the
previously edited book cannot be stored after being resolved
into the element information and layout information, the
element information cannot be utilized in the information
processing means other than the editing apparatus (the
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information processing means 124 shown in Fig. 27).
However, unless the data relating to the edited element is
erased in the second element memory means 110, the common
element data can be commonly utilized in case that the book
similar to the edited book is produced, in the similar
manner to the editing apparatus shown in Fig. 27.
Fig. 29 is a functional block diagram of a modification
of the embodiment shown in Fig. 28. In Fig. 29, the convert-
ed layout code setting means 120 directly set the converted
layout code by the keyboard 106.
According to this preferred embodiment since the layout
code should be set every time each page,is edited, this
embodiment is not preferably applied to edit a book having
a large number of pages. However, the simpler circuit
arrangement can be achieved as compared with the preferred
embodiments shown in Figs. 26, 27 and 28.
Fig. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the basic
construction of the invention as a further modification
of the embodiment shown in Fig. 29. The same reference
numerals shown in Fig. 1 indicate the same or similar
circuit elements of Fig. 29.
In this preferred embodiment, since the element data
key must be set every time the element data is entered, this
embodiment is not preferable to edit a book requiring a lot
of element data. However, the much simpler construction
can be realized as compared with the embodiments shown in
~
~ ..,.,. ,~
1 31 6265
- 81 -
Figs. 26, 27, 28 and 29.
Figs. 30, 32, 33 and 34 are functional block diagrams
of preferred embodiments according to this invention,
respectively, in which the specific character or letter
S can be entered, and the second element inputting means 161
shown in Figs. 1, 2~, 28 and 29 have been substituted by the
specific character identification code setting means 165,
document producing means 166, specific character identifi-
cation code judging means 167 and specific character
converting means 168.
(Advantages of the Invention)
As is apparent from the foregoing descriptions, in
accordance with the present invention, not only the simple
editing data ~machine sort information) consisting of
numbers and symbols, but also the document data can be
produced by the work stations (personal computers,
wordprocessors etc.) to be directly entered without any
modifications.
In consequence, since the small-scale computer may
be utilized only when the entry of such complex data as
; the images of photographs and illustrations which requires
the specific input devices, or the editing work utilizing
said complex image data is performed, there is no need to
equip a large number of small-scale computers, so that
the editing apparatus can be manufactured in low cost.
Moreover, the entry of such simple data as document and
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machine sort information which is effected only by the
keyboard operation, can be performed by the simply operable
work stations without employing the complex-operated small-
scalecomputer. As a result, time required to enter the data
can be shortened and thus the higher efficient editing work
can be achieved.
In addition, according to this invention, the specific
document written in the specific characters other than
the usual alphabets, e.g., French and German document can be
readily handled, so that the wide application of the word-
processor can be expected, which emphasizes the particular
advantages of the invention.
