System and method for output management

• US 6,441,920 B1
• Filed: 02/08/1999
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Agfa Corporation (Agfa-Gevaert N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Agfa Corporation (Agfa-Gevaert N.V.)
• Inventors: Smith, David D.
• Primary Examiner(s): WALLERSON, MARK E
• Application Number:
  US09/246,646
• Time in Patent Office: 1,296 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.1, 358/1.2, 358/1.9, 358/1.12, 358/1.13, 358/1.14, 358/1.15, 358/1.18, 358/444, 358/448, 358/518
• US Class Current: 358/1.2
• CPC Class Codes: B41B 19/00 Photoelectronic composing machines
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1213 at an intermediate node or at the final node
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1247 by conversion to printer ready format
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/02 using printers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0071 Post-treatment of the composed image, e.g. compression, rotation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0082 Architecture adapted for a particular function
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00236 using an image reading or reproducing device, e.g. a facsimile reader or printer, as a local input to or local output from a computer image input to or image output from a computer via a network H04N1/00209
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00238 using an image reproducing device as a local output from a computer output via network, e.g. network printing H04N1/00233
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32561 using a programmed control device, e.g. a microprocessor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0067 Converting to still picture data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33328 Resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33378 Type or format of data, e.g. colour or B/W, halftone or binary, computer image file or facsimile data

Abstract

An output manager that is included in a prepress workflow between a raster image processor and an output device generates a print production format file. The file is created by defining an output device and a press, and configuring a press profile in response to the output device and the press. The output manager receives a reduced resolution image, modifies the reduced resolution image responsive to the press profile, and stores the modified reduced resolution image in a print production file according to the CIP3 format.

Claims

1. A method for including a reduced resolution continuous tone image in a print production format file, comprising the steps of:

defining an output device;

defining a press;

configuring a press profile in response to the output device and the press;

receiving a reduced resolution image;

modifying the reduced resolution image responsive to the press profile; and

storing the modified reduced resolution image in a print production file.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the print product file is in CIP3 format.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the modifying step comprises converting the reduced resolution image to another resolution responsive to the press profile.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the modifying step comprises encoding the reduced resolution image responsive to the press profile.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the modifying step comprises compressing the reduced resolution image responsive to the press profile.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the image receiving step comprises receiving by an output manager a high resolution image generated from an original continuous tone image and the reduced resolution image generated from the high resolution image.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the reduced resolution image is generated when the high resolution image is stored in memory.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of modifying the reduced resolution image responsive to modifications to the high resolution image.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further includes providing the stored print production file to a CIP3 consumer application.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the press profile comprises a press profile name, an orientation, a resolution, a file name extension, a compression setting, an encoding setting, and a print production file format.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the press profile is configured for an imagesetter/press combination.

12. The method of claim 6 wherein the high resolution image and the reduced resolution image are generated by a raster image processor while the original continuous tone image is processed by the raster image processor.

13. A system for including a reduced resolution continuous tone image in a print production format file, comprising:

an input for configuring a press profile;

a receiver for receiving a reduced resolution image;

a processor for modifying the reduced resolution image responsive to the press profile; and

a data store for storing the modified reduced resolution image in a print production file.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the print production file is in CIP3 format.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the processor comprises a converter for converting the reduced resolution image to another resolution responsive to the press profile.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the processor comprises an encoder for encoding the reduced resolution image responsive to the press profile.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein the processor comprises a compressor for compressing the reduced resolution image responsive to the press profile.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein the system is an output manager.

19. The system of claim 13 wherein the system further includes a transmitter for providing the print production file to a CIP3 consumer application.

20. The system of claim 13 wherein the press profile comprises a press profile name, an orientation, a resolution, a file name extension, a compression setting, an encoding setting, and a print production file format.

21. The system of claim 13 wherein the press profile is configured for an imagesetter/press combination.

22. The system of claim 13 wherein a high resolution image generated from an original continuous tone image and the reduced resolution image generated from the high resolution image are generated by a raster image processor when the original continuous tone image is processed by the raster image processor.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the reduced resolution image is generated when the high resolution image is stored in memory.

24. The method of claim 22 further comprising a modifiier for modifying the reduced resolution image responsive to modifications to the high resolution image.

25. A system comprising:

a memory comprising a press profile, the press profile comprising a file location, an orientation, a resolution, a file name extension, a compression type, an encoding type, and a print production file format.

26. The press profile of claim 25, further comprising one or more of the following parameters:

a bend position, a second side configuration, and an image byte alignment.