Document image editing device

A document image editing device has a page memory device and a display device. The page memory device stores in different areas thereof document images to be edited, image information (parts) of the cut partial image regions, and a pasteboard image for pasting the cut partial images. The display device displays the document images to be edited and the cut partial images in different display regions. The image editing is performed under the control of a CPU. In the cutting mode, partial images cut from the document images displayed on the display device are stored in memory locations of the corresponding areas of the memory device and are displayed at positions in the corresponding regions of the display device. In the pasting mode, the pasting positions of the cut partial images on the pasteboard are designated. The image information of the partial images is stored in the designated memory locations of the corresponding memory areas of the memory device and is displayed on the pasteboard on the display device. The pasteboard image on which the partial images are pasted in a desired layout is registered in a document image memory or printed out by a printer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a cut and paste document image editing 
device. 
Various electronic filing apparatuses have been recently developed. In such 
a filing apparatus, document image information is stored in a memory in 
the form of digital information. The information is displayed on a display 
device or is output as a hard copy, as needed. The amount of information 
is enormously large, and a large-capacity memory is required to allow 
handling of all information by a filing apparatus. In fact, since however, 
only a small amount of information is valuable, it is therefore very 
important to determine the information which is valuable. However, 
efficient information retrieval is generally difficult. In view of this, 
it is very important that necessary information be filed in a format which 
allows easy access. 
According to conventional information arrangement works, desired image 
portions are manually cut from a plurality of documents, and the partial 
images are pasted on a single pasteboard. Pasteboards having such partial 
images pasted thereon are then filed. 
In a conventional electronic filing apparatus, an editing instruction mark 
is directly depicted on a document or a special sheet. The editing 
instruction mark is read by a facsimile system, and an image region 
required for editing is cut out from the document. With this method, the 
editor must designate a cutting region and a pasting region. When such 
regions are directly designated on the document, the document is 
contaminated. 
A document filing apparatus using an optical disk memory technique has been 
recently proposed. In this apparatus, a document for image cutting and a 
pasteboard for pasting the cut partial image thereon are displayed on a 
CRT. The cutting and pasting regions are designated with a pointing device 
such as a truck ball, a light pen or a mouse. With this apparatus, the 
document image to be cut and the pasteboard image are simultaneously 
displayed on a CRT display, and image editing between the document image 
and the pasteboard image is performed. Therefore, it is difficult to 
rearrange partial images cut from more than one document into a single 
document. In this case, it is particularly difficult to effectively lay 
out partial images cut from more than one document. Further, the 
modification of layout is also difficult. A problem remains in the 
flexibility in editing procedures. 
A copending U.S., patent application Ser. No. 454,110 (now U.S. Pat. No. 
4,538,183) entitled "IMAGE EDITING APATUS", filed on Dec. 28, 1982 and 
assigned to the same assignee as this application discloses an editing 
apparatus for cutting necessary partial images from a plurality of 
documents sequentially displayed on a CRT screen and for pasting the cut 
partial images on a single pasteboard. In this editing apparatus, a 
plurality of basic pasting patterns are programmed in advance. It is then 
decided which pattern can be adopted for the partial images. The partial 
images are enlarged or reduced as required, and automatically pasted in 
accordance with a pasting pattern. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved document 
image editing device. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a document image 
editing device capable of effectively editing document images cut from a 
plurality of documents, as a single document image. 
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a document 
image editing device capable of performing flexible editing. 
In order to achieve the above object of the present invention, a document 
image editing device comprises document providing means for providing 
documents to be edited and having partial images to be cut; a page memory 
device; a display device; output means for outputting edited image 
information; region designating means; and a processing unit. 
The page memory device has a first memory area adapted for storing document 
image information to be edited which is provided by the document providing 
means, a second memory area adapted for storing partial images (parts) cut 
from the documents to be edited, and a third memory area adapted for 
storing pasteboard image information on which the partial images (parts) 
are to be pasted. 
The display device has a first display region adapted for individually 
displaying the documents to be edited which are stored in the first memory 
area of the page memory device, a second display region adapted for 
displaying the partial images cut from the documents displayed on the 
first display region, and a third display region adapted for displaying 
the pasteboard image which is stored in the third memory area of the page 
memory device and on which the partial images displayed on the second 
display region are to be pasted. 
The region designating means designates cutting regions of the partial 
images to be cut in the documents for editing displayed at the first 
display region of the display device, and pasting regions for pasting the 
cut partial images on the third display region. 
In the cutting mode of editing processing, in response to the region 
designating means, the processing unit transfers, image information of the 
designated partial image regions on the first region of the display 
device, from the first memory area of the page memory device to a location 
of the second memory area thereof corresponding to the selected regions on 
the second display region of the display device. In the pasting mode, the 
processing unit transfers, the partial image information displayed on the 
second display region of the display device, from the second memory area 
of the page memory device to the third memory area thereof corresponding 
to the pasting regions on the third display region of the display device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
An electronic filing device according to an embodiment of the present 
invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 1, 
a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1 controls input/output of image 
information and performs work menus such as image editing (cut, paste, 
region designation, transfer, enlargement, reduction, rotation, synthesis, 
delete), registration, printing, retrieval, storage, rearrangement, and 
disposal in accordance with a predetermined processing program stored in a 
memory 2. A large-capacity optical disk memory 3 stores various document 
image information under the control of the CPU 1. The writing and reading 
of information into and from the optical disk memory 3 is performed 
through a disk controller 3a. 
Document image information input through a scanner 4 or a facsimile system 
5 or document image information read out from the optical disk memory 3 is 
temporarily stored in a page memory device 6. The document image 
information stored in the device 6 is transferred to another system 
through the facsimile system 5, displayed on a CRT display 7, printed by a 
printer 8, or stored in the optical disk memory 3 under the control of the 
CPU 1. Input/output of document image information for the scanner 4, the 
facsimile system 5, the display 7, and the printer 8 is controlled by 
corresponding controllers 4a, 5a, 7a and 8a responsive to the CPU 1. The 
display 7 displays image information to be edited, and displays various 
command information supplied from the CPU for executing the work menus, as 
will be described later. A desired work menu is selected on the screen of 
the display 7 by a pointing device 9. Corresponding command information is 
fetched in the CPU 1 through a controller 9a. Input/output processing or 
editing processing of document information is performed in accordance with 
the command information. As in a conventional device of this type, when a 
desired point on the display is indicated with a light pen, the cursor is 
moved to the indicated position. Various processing can be performed by 
operating a keyboard under this condition. 
The page memory device 6 has three page memories 6a, 6b and 6c in this 
embodiment. Each page memory has a different function. The page memory 6a 
stores document image information to be edited, the page memory 6b stores 
partial image information cut from the document image information stored 
in the page memory 6a, and the page memory 6c stores pasteboard image 
information as a pasteboard on which cut partial images are pasted. 
Locations of the memories 6b and 6c adapted for storing the partial image 
information are designated on the CRT screen by the pointing device 9. 
IC memories, disk memories, magnetic memories or the like, or a combination 
thereof can be used as the page memory device 6. Furthermore, different 
areas of an IC memory can be used as page memories 6a, 6b and 6c. 
The CPU 1 performs editing processing in accordance with the processing 
program as shown in FIG. 2. The operator selects a desired work menu with 
the light pen 9 on the CRT display 7. Command information corresponding to 
the selected work menu is fetched in the CPU 1 through the controller 9a. 
The CPU 1 executes selected processing in accordance with the input 
command. The editing processing programs are classified as follows. 
One of the processings is document retrieval to search for documents to be 
edited. In this processing, the operator designates a document to be 
edited through the keyboard of the CPU 1. Then, the disk controller 3a 
retrieves the corresponding document and stores it in the page memory 6a. 
Alternatively, the CPU 1 stores in the page memory 6a document information 
received from the facsimile system 5 or the scanner 4 through each 
corresponding controller. In the editing processing mode, the screen of 
the CRT display 7 is divided into two display regions. A document stored 
in the page memory 6a by the disk controller 3 is displayed on the first 
display region of the CRT display 7. 
The second processing is the cutting of partial images. Using the light 
pen, a partial image region of a desired size to be cut from the document 
information displayed in the first display region of the CRT display 7 is 
designated. The document information (working part) of the designated 
partial image region is stored in the page memory 6b (working box) and is 
displayed at the second display region. The cut partial images are 
displayed at the second display region in the order of cutting thereof. In 
this case, a cutting list including the names of the partial image 
regions, the coordinates of the regions, the document numbers, and the 
number (6a) of the page memory storing the image information of the 
cutting regions is prepared and stored in the memory 2. The list is 
updated every time a new partial image region is designated. Each part is 
controlled by the part name, document number and memory number in the 
cutting list. A working box list including the part names of the cutting 
regions, the coordinates of the second regions on the second display 
region, and the memory number storing the image information of the cutting 
regions is stored in the memory 2. The working box list is updated every 
time a partial image region is cut. The CPU 1 executes the editing 
processing referring to these lists. 
In the cutting processing of partial images, the CRT display 7 displays a 
pasteboard prepared in the page memory 6c in the first display region. 
Using the pointing device 9, the operator designates the location of the 
first display region at which the partial image displayed on the second 
display region of the display 7 is to be pasted. In this case, a pasting 
list including the part names, the coordinates of the cutting regions, and 
the memory number (6c) is prepared and stored in the memory 2. Image 
information of the partial image is transferred to the designated location 
of the memory 6c and displayed in the designated location of the first 
display region of the display 7. In this case, the size and orientation of 
the partial image stored in the cutting list is compared with the size of 
the pasting region stored in the pasting list. When they are not 
coincident with each other in size or orientation, the image information 
of the cutting region is automatically enlarged or reduced, or rotated and 
stored in the page memory 6c. 
Other processings include registration mode for printing the edited image 
information stored in the memory 6c through the printer 8, and storing the 
edited image in the optical disk memory 3. 
FIG. 3 shows the flow of editing processing of the electronic filing device 
having an editing function as described above. First, the operator 
designates the retrieval mode on the display 7 so as to retrieve a 
document to be edited and display the retrieved document image in the 
first display region of the display 7. Then, the operator designates the 
cutting mode on the display 7 so as to designate one or more partial 
images displayed on the first display region of the display 7 and to cut 
them. The cut partial image information is stored in the working box 
(memory 6b) and displayed in the second display region of the display 7. 
Other documents are sequentially retrieved and desired partial images are 
cut. After all the parts (partial images) to be edited have been stored in 
the working box, the operator designates the pasting mode on the display 
7. 
In the pasting mode, the parts stored in the working box 6b and the 
pasteboard image stored in the page memory 6c are displayed in the first 
and second display regions, respectively. The operator designates parts to 
be cut on the display and allows them to be displayed (pasted) at desired 
regions on the pasteboard. When a part or parts displayed on the 
pasteboard are to be enlarged or reduced in size or rotated, the operator 
designates the corresponding mode on the display. The pasting processing 
is performed until all the parts are pasted. After all the parts have been 
pasted in this manner, if there is a need to move one or more partial 
images to other positions, "move" is selected on the display and the parts 
are moved to the desired positions. The movement of partial images is 
carried out by transfer of the corresponding partial image information in 
the page memory 6C. When pasting of all the parts is completed in this 
manner and no other modification is required, registration of a synthetic 
image is designated. The output image is printed out by the printer 8 or 
stored in the optical disk memory 3. 
Cutting/pasting editing of document images is completed by a series of 
processing procedures as described above. When some partial images stored 
in the page memory 6b must be pasted on another pasteboard to form another 
synthetic image, the other pasteboard is displayed on the display and new 
editing processing is performed. 
The editing processing described above will be described with reference to 
transitions in the display screen of the display 7 shown in FIGS. 4A to 
4L. 
The display screen of the display 7 is divided into a first display region 
7A for displaying the document image to be edited, a second display region 
7B for displaying cut partial images, and a display region 7C for 
displaying a plurality of editing commands, as shown in FIG. 4A. In the 
figure, only editing commands associated with "cut", "paste", "designate 
region" and "move" necessary for the description of editing processing are 
illustrated. 
When the retrieval mode is designated on the screen of the display 7, a 
document (1) to be edited is displayed in the first display region 7A, as 
shown in FIG. 4B. In this state, the "designate region" mode is designated 
and the region of a document image (A) to be cut is designated. Each 
region is designated by designating two diagonal corners of a rectangular 
region of the partial image to be cut with the light pen, i.e., the 
cursor. The coordinates (S0, S1) of the two points are fetched in the CPU 
by operating the light pen. 
After the region is designated in this manner, as shown in FIG. 4D, the 
image information of the partial image region A is extracted, stored in a 
corresponding location of the page memory 6b, and displayed in the second 
display region 7B. Similarly, documents (2) and (3) are sequentially 
displayed, and partial images b and .gamma. are designated and displayed 
in the second display region. The size of the cutting region in the first 
display region may be different from that of the display region in the 
second display region. In this case, the extracted image information is 
reduced or enlarged. The partial image displayed can be reduced or 
enlarged after being displayed in the second display region as needed. 
Data of the partial image cut from the document image stored in the page 
memory 6a is stored in the cutting list, as shown in FIG 5A. Data of the 
document image stored in the page memory 6b is stored in the working box 
list, as shown in FIG. 5B. The regions of the partial images cut from the 
document image, the storing locations of the partial image information in 
the page memory 6b, and the display positions in the second display region 
7B are controlled in accordance with these lists. 
When all or some of the partial images to be edited are extracted, the 
first display region 7A of the display 7 is switched to a third display 
region 7D for displaying a pasteboard, as shown in FIG. 4G. In order to 
display a pasteboard image, a third display region may be provided 
independently of the first and second display regions. Separate display 
devices may be used as the first, second and third display regions. 
As shown in FIG. 4H, the "designate region" mode is selected, and a region 
on the pasteboard for pasting the partial image is designated by the 
coordinates (D0, D1) of the two diagonal corners of this region. The 
"paste" mode is then selected, and the partial image to be pasted in the 
pasting region is designated among the working box contents displayed in 
the first display region with the pointing device. At this time, as shown 
in FIG. 5C, a pasting list including the part names, the pasting regions 
in the first display region (storing location in the page memory 6c), and 
the number 6c of the page memory is prepared. The coordinate data is 
fetched as cursor position data in the CPU 1 through the controller 9a. 
Referring to this pasting list, the CPU 1 transfers the selected partial 
image information stored in the page memory 6b to the designated memory 
location in the page memory 6c. At this time, the size of the designated 
region on the pasteboard is compared with that of the selected partial 
image, and, if required, the size of the partial image to be pasted on the 
pasteboard is adjusted by enlargement or reduction. Similarly, the 
orientation of the designated region of the pasteboard image is compared 
with that of the selected partial image and, if necessary, the orientation 
of the partial image to be pasted on the pasteboard image is adjusted by 
rotation. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 4J, other partial images are pasted 
at selected positions on the pasteboard to form an edited image. The 
partial images can be reduced or enlarged, rotated or reversed on the 
display after pasting on the pasteboard as needed. When the operator wants 
no further modification of the synthetic image, it is registered. 
When the operator desires to modify the synthetic image, he designates the 
"move" mode as shown in FIG. 4K. A moving region for each partial image 
displayed on the pasteboard is designated, and the partial image 
information is transferred within the page memory 6c. As a result, all the 
partial images are moved to desired positions on the pasteboard, as shown 
in FIG. 4L. The layout of the edited image can be modified in the "move" 
mode, as needed. Of course, the layout of the edited image can also be 
modified by deleting a partial image or images which have become 
unnecessary or adding a new partial image or images. 
When another edited image is to be formed or the edited image must be 
modified completely, another blank pasteboard or another document image as 
a pasteboard image can be displayed and the partial images can be repasted 
on the new pasteboard in accordance with another layout. In this case, 
since the required partial image information has been stored in the page 
memory 6b, the cutting processing need not be repeated. 
Another embodiment of the present invention will be described with 
reference to FIG. 6. The same reference numerals as in FIG. 1 denote the 
same parts in FIG. 6. The device of this embodiment has a handwriting 
input device 10 such as a tablet. The handwritten image information 
provided by the input device 10 is stored in a page memory 6d through a 
handwriting input controller 10a. Image information ("abcdef" in the 
illustrated case) provided by the input device 10 is, for example, stroke 
information consisting of time-serial coordinate data. The handwritten 
input image information is displayed in a designated region of the first 
display region of CRT display 7 as shown in FIG. 7A. A desired portion of 
the handwritten image is cut in accordance with the processing as 
described above. The image information (part) is stored in a designated 
area of page memory 6b and displayed in a region in the second display 
region. Textual, graphic or document (such as a ship) images handled by 
word processors and personal computers can be handled in a similar way. In 
this case, the images may be stored in a graphic code or ASCII code. For 
example, another required document image is displayed in the first display 
region as shown in FIG. 7C. A desired partial image (stored in a graphic 
code or ASCII code) is cut from the displayed document image by the method 
described above as shown in FIG. 7D. The cut image is stored in working 
box memory 6b and displayed in the second display region of the display 7. 
Then, the pasting processing is executed as shown in FIG. 7E. In this 
embodiment, a cutting list, a working box list and a pasting list are also 
prepared. 
With this embodiment, the handwritten image information (stored in a 
bit-unit or a code) and graphic image information (stored in a graphic 
code or ASCII code) can be handled in the same manner as ordinary document 
image information (stored in a bit-unit), and more flexible image editing 
can be performed.