Abstract:
A method and apparatus is provided for scanning original images wherein the original images are scanned by a scanner and processed in a computer workstation. The scanning of an original image is carried out simultaneously with the processing of at least one other original image. A method and apparatus for scanning an original image wherein the original image is scanned in bands by a scanner and processed in a computer workstation. The scanning of one band is carried out simultaneously with the processing of at least one other band.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The field of the invention is the use of digital scanning systems in the electronic prepress and photographic industries. The invention relates specifically to the scanning and image processing of original images in a production environment 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     As the electronic pre-press industry has evolved, image quality expectations have increased greatly, thereby involving the use of ever more expensive scanning and processing equipment. Efficient work flow and productivity involves keeping the scanning functioning at the highest possible duty cycle performing productive work. Increasingly, the scanning process and the post-scanning image processing become the determinants to the rate at which original images can be processed by a facility providing these services. 
     The primary components of a scanning system include a computer workstation and a scanner. The traditional work flow steps for scanning multiple original images has been to perform a series of operations that are completed sequentially in order to process the next image. These steps include: 1) cleaning and mounting the original images in the scanner 2) performing an initial low-resolution scan of the original images to obtain digital data representations of the images 3) electronically selecting specific areas of the images to be processed (i.e., cropping) 4) performing a preview scan of the selected areas 5) editing the preview scan which might include color correction, rotation, scaling, etc. 6) performing a final scan of the image and 7) electronically storing the image data or directing the final scan information to an output device such as a printer. Steps three (3) through seven (7) are then repeated for each original image. Typically, the operator is idle during the preview and final scan, and while the image is being electronically stored or directed to an output device. Also, the scanner is inactive while the operator evaluates and edits each preview scan. This results in substantial loss to the output capacity in traditional scanning systems. 
     The traditional work flow steps for scanning a single original image include the following: 1) the computer workstation requests that the scanner perform a scan of a first band or portion of the image 2) the computer workstation waits for the band to be scanned 3) the scanned band information is retrieved from the scanner by the computer workstation 4) the scanned band information is then processed and saved in the computer workstation or directed to an output device and 5) the computer workstation requests the scanner to scan the next band of the image. Steps two (2) through five (5) are then repeated for all the bands of the original image. The problem with these workflow steps is that the computer workstation and the scanner are not performing operations simultaneously at any given time which results in reduced productivity in the scanning system. 
     It is accordingly a primary object of the invention that image processing operations can be carried out in parallel with scanning operations. 
     It is another object that the invention provide a method for scanning and post-scanning processing in a high-productivity scanning system. 
     SUMMARY DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the invention, a method is provided for scanning original images comprising the steps of performing an initial low-resolution scan of the original images to obtain a plurality of low-resolution digital data representations of the original images, selecting at least two original images based on the low-resolution digital data representations for performing a secondary scan thereon, performing the secondary scan on the at least two original images thereby creating a secondary digital representation of the at least two original images and preparing one of the at least two original images for further scanning while simultaneously scanning at least one other of the at least two original images for scanning. The method also includes the steps of preparing the original image for scanning after obtaining the secondary digital representation, thereby creating a prepared image which is ready for final scanning and scanning the prepared image while simultaneously preparing at least one other original image for scanning. After the prepared imaged is finally scanned, it is automatically archived. 
     A method is also provided for scanning an original image to obtain the digital data representation of the original image, this method comprising the steps of scanning a plurality of portions of the original image at least once to obtain a plurality of digital data representations and processing each of the plurality of digital data representations thereby creating a plurality of processed digital data representations of the plurality of portions, wherein the scanning of at least one of the plurality of portions occurs simultaneously with the processing of at least one of the plurality of digital data representations. This method further comprises the step of archiving the plurality of processed digital data representations. 
     An apparatus is provided for scanning original images, comprising an input preparation station for preparing original images for scanning and a scanner for scanning an original image simultaneously with the preparation of another original image for scanning. The input preparation station may include a computer workstation having a foreground and a background and a user-interface in the foreground for viewing and preparing the original images. The input preparation station may further include a scanner driver for controlling the scanner, wherein the scanner driver includes a queue device in the background for storing the prepared plurality of images, the queue device operating simultaneously with the user-interface. The scanner provides a digital representation of each scanned original image and the input preparation station may further comprise a storage device for storing the digital data representations. The apparatus may further comprise a drive device for driving the input preparation station. 
     An apparatus is also provided for scanning an original image to obtain the digital data representation of the original image, the apparatus comprising a scanner for scanning a plurality of portions of the original image at least once to obtain digital data representations of each of the portions of the original image and a computer workstation comprising a processor for processing the digital data representations of the original image wherein the processor processes the digital data representations of the scanned portions simultaneously with the scanning of at least one other portion of the original image. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The objects and features of the invention will best be understood from a detailed description of the invention and a preferred embodiment thereof selected for the purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1A shows a system block diagram of a scanning system according to the prior art. 
     FIG. 1B shows a block diagram of the client/server architecture in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 1C shows a block diagram of the client/server architecture in an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of work flow steps for scanning multiple images according to the prior art. 
     FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of workflow steps for scanning multiple images according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of workflow steps for scanning a single original image according to the prior art. 
     FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of workflow steps for scanning a single original image according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Turning now to the drawings, the invention will be explained in detail. FIG. 1A shows a system block diagram of a scanning system according to the prior art. The system comprises an input preparation station  112 , a computer workstation  104 , and a scanner  106 . Preparations are carried out by an operator (not shown) first at the input preparation station  112 , and include physical mounting of an original image  108 , as well as cropping by masking or digitizing, and rotation— if required— by physically mounting at an angular disposition within the original holder (or drum)  110 . After using scanner  106  to obtain a low-resolution preview scan, further preparations and refinements are carried out by the operator using the front-end workstation  104  for final cropping of the preview scanned image, and adjustment of color levels and balance. 
     Once these operations have been completed in the system of FIG. 1A, a final scan at high resolution can be carried out in scanner  106  using the information passed to it for control purposes and data correction. In the drawing, this link is accomplished using a workstation  104 , although direct manual input to the scanner is often used, depending upon the sophistication of the scanning system. An image  108  scanned in this manner can be retained in a digital data storage system  114 , or can be outputted directly using output processor  116  for formatting and control of an output device  120 . The output processor  116  typically applies a digital halftoning screen to the continuous tone image data. The output device  120  is typically a device such as an imagesetter or printer. In this system, the productivity of the operator is limited by the rate at which the scanner  106  and computer workstation  104  can scan and process images  108  simultaneously. Aside from mounting operations, which can be done in parallel with actual scanning, the operator must necessarily spend a significant portion of time waiting for scans, preview or final, to be completed. 
     Turning to FIG. 2, a block diagram illustrates the serial steps utilized in traditional systems to scan and store multiple images  108 . The first step  200  is to clean and mount the original images  108  in a holder  110 . An initial scan is performed  210  by the scanner  106  over the entire scannable area to obtain the digital data representation of the original images  108 . The digital data representation of each image appears in a user-interface environment of the computer workstation  104  and a single image  108  is electronically cropped out  220  by the operator. The original image corresponding to the selected image is then scanned at low-resolution to obtain a secondary or preview scan  230  after which preparations, which might include editing  240 , by the operator are performed. This preparing or editing step  240  might include color correction, rotation, scaling, etc. A final scan  250  is then performed on the original image  108  by the scanner  106  using information passed to it from the computer workstation  104  for control purposes and data correction. The final scan information is typically retained in a data storage system  114 , which may include a storage device residing on the same computer workstation  104 , but may be directed to an output device  120  such as a printer (not shown). If another image  108  is to be processed, the operator must follow path  270  and begin cropping another image  220  from the initial scan. The sequence of these work flow steps is undesirable because the operator must necessarily spend a significant portion of time waiting for scans, preview or final, to be completed. 
     FIG. 1B shows a block diagram of a client/server architecture which may be used in accordance with the present invention. The client module  122  is a software module which controls the user interface and the server module  124  is a software module which controls the image processing and the scanner  106 . The client  122  and server  124  modules may reside in the same computer workstation  104  as indicated by FIG.  1 B. Turning to FIG. 1C, an alternative embodiment of the invention is shown. A client module  126  of a workstation  130  may be connected to a server module  128  located at a different computer workstation  131  or connected to two or more server modules  128 ,  129  located at two or more computer workstations  131 ,  132 . Also, a single server module  128  may control more than one scanner  105 ,  107 . It should be recognized that the client and server modules could be combined into a single software module. However, to combine them together would be much more difficult to program, especially when a client module  126  is connected to more than one server module  128 ,  129  or when a server module  128  is connected to more than one scanner  105 ,  107 . Thus, this client/server architecture makes it substantially easier to program so that key workflow steps discussed below can be accomplished in parallel in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of workflow steps included to scan and store multiple images in accordance to the present invention. The original images  108  are first prepared, which might include cleaning and mounting the images  200 ′ in the holder  110  and the entire scannable area is initially scanned  210 ′ by scanner to obtain the digital data representation of the original images  108 . The digital data representation of each image appears in a user-interface environment located in the foreground of the computer workstation  104 . The present invention allows the operator to electronically select or crop the digital representation of multiple images  220 ′ so that the original images  108  corresponding to the selected digital representations are sequentially scanned again to obtain a secondary or preview scan. Prior art workflow steps only allowed the operator to crop a single image  108  to be preview scanned. The scanned images appear in user-interface environment and the operator may begin to interactively edit or prepare  240 ′ the digital data representation of the first image when it is finished being preview scanned. Upon completing editing the digital data representation of the first image, the operator places the edited image in a batch file or a queue device  342  which operates simultaneously in the background (not shown) of the user-interface. A final scan  250 ′ is automatically performed on each original image corresponding to the edited image in the batch file and retained  260 ′ in a storage system  114 , which may include a storage device residing on the same computer workstation  104 , or directed to an output device  260 ′ such as a printer. It is also a feature of the invention that the batch file is modifiable after the edited images have been placed therein. In this manner, the operator may return  344  to editing the preview scans  240 ′ while the scanner  106  performs  250 ′ and saves  260 ′ final scans of the images that were placed in the batch file. Thus, the present invention achieves greater output capacity than traditional system through parallel processing. 
     FIG. 4 shows the traditional work flow steps for scanning a single original image  108  according to the prior art. After the original image  108  has been mounted in the scanner  106 , the computer workstation  104  requests that the scanner perform a scan of a first band of the image  410 . The computer workstation  104  waits for the band to be scanned  420  and then retrieves the scanned band  430  from the scanner  106 . The scanned band information is processed by a processor (not shown) in the computer workstation  104  and saved  440  in a storage device (not shown) which may reside on the same workstation. The computer workstation  104  requests the scanner  106  to scan the next band of the image  450 . Path  460  is then followed until all the bands of the single original image have been scanned, processed, and saved. The problem with these workflow steps is that the computer workstation and the scanner  106  are not performing operations simultaneously which results in lost productivity in the scanning system. Thus, it would be advantageous to perform scanning operations and post-scanning operations simultaneously. 
     FIG. 5 shows the work flow steps for scanning a single original image  108  in accordance with the present invention. After the original image  108  has been mounted in the scanner  106 , the computer workstation  104  (1) requests the scanner to perform a scan  410 ′ of a first band of the image. The computer workstation  104  (2) waits for the band to be scanned  420 ′ and then (3) retrieves the scanned band  430 ′ from the scanner  106 . Differing from the prior art, the computer workstation  104  (4) requests the scanner  106  to scan the next band of the image  450 ′ before (5) processing and saving the band that has already been retrieved  560 . A processor and storage device, which may reside on the same computer workstation  104 , is used to perform the processing and store the processed band information, respectively. Steps three (3) through (5) are followed (path  570 ) until all the bands of the single original image have been scanned, processed, and saved. In this manner, the computer workstation  104  and the scanner  106  are performing operations simultaneously which results in greater productivity than traditional scanning systems. 
     It will also be recognized by those skilled in the art that, while the invention has been described above in terms of one or more preferred embodiments, it is not limited thereto. Various features and aspects of the above described invention may be used individually or jointly. Further, although the invention has been described in the context of its implementation in a particular environment and for particular purposes, those skilled in the art will recognize that its usefulness is not limited thereto and that the present invention can be beneficially utilized in any number of environments and implementations. Accordingly, the claims set forth below should be construed in view of the full breadth and spirit of the invention disclosed herein.