Print format generation system and print format generation program
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- NAXIS INC
- Filing Date
- 2026-04-15
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-31
AI Technical Summary
【0018】 本発明に係る印字フォーマット生成システムおよび印字フォーマット生成プログラムは、多様かつ想定外の入力データに対しても、ラベル印字のレイアウト調整を自動化することができる。
Smart Images

Figure 0007898233000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0005]
[0001] The present invention relates to a printing format generation system and a printing format generation program.
Background Art
[0002] Systems for printing on care labels of apparel products, various management tags, etc. are widely used. Conventionally, in such systems, a format in which the physical dimensions and arrangement coordinates of labels are defined in advance is created. Then, variable text data supplied from an external order receiving and issuing system or database is assigned to designated positions in the format to generate print data.
[0003] As a technique for automating the layout adjustment of label printing, for example, a label printing device described in Patent Document 1 is disclosed. In this label printing device, label information specifying the dimensions of a label, etc. is stored in association with an identification code. Then, in this label printing device, label information is specified from the input identification code, and this information is compared with the number of lines and the number of characters of the input character string. Thereby, this label printing device automatically selects the maximum character size that can fit within the printing area of each label. Thus, in conventional printing devices, a configuration that reduces the character size according to the amount of input data is adopted. Thereby, a certain degree of automation for fitting text within a predetermined printing area (frame) has been realized.
[0004] However, these conventional technologies have limitations in that they depend on a fixed pattern in which the layout structure is defined in advance. That is, when the length or number of lines of the input text data exceeds the assumption (for example, when the mixing ratio display of materials or appended terms are long), even if the character size is reduced to the limit, it will not fit within the area, and layout errors such as character overlap (character covering) and deviation outside the area (overflow) will occur.
[0005] Conventional systems were unable to automatically handle such errors. Therefore, operators had to manually create new patterns (for example, 12-line or 14-line formats) each time, using drawing software to match the length of the text. As a result, a vast number of fixed patterns had to be designed and managed in advance to accommodate diverse data. Thus, conventional printing devices faced the challenge of requiring significant time and human resources for creating and modifying print formats. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]
[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 05-330190 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]
[0007] As mentioned above, in conventional printing devices and typesetting systems, in order to handle page breaks (reprints) due to unexpected character volume exceeding limits, it was necessary for humans to pre-write conditional branching programs or rule-based condition settings in templates, such as "reprint if a certain number of lines are exceeded." In other words, autonomous layout adjustments based on the constraints of the physical printing area were impossible, and there was a technical limitation that made it unavoidable to manually recreate patterns and define conditions in order to keep up with diverse input data. As a result, creating and maintaining printing formats required a great deal of manpower, and the work became extremely dependent on individual expertise.
[0008] Therefore, the problem that the present invention aims to solve is to provide a print format generation system that can automate the adjustment of label printing layout even for diverse and unexpected input data. [Means for solving the problem]
[0009] To solve the above problems, the print format generation system according to the present invention is An input unit that receives print information including variable-length text data and physical constraints of the printing medium, A physical verification unit that compares and evaluates the physical occupancy state and constraints when print information is virtually placed on the printing medium, The system includes a dynamic generation unit that, if the evaluation determines that the placement of characters does not fit the constraints, autonomously and dynamically generates a layout structure that automatically distributes the print items included in the print information to multiple print media.
[0010] The print format generation system according to the present invention preferably, In the evaluation by the physical verification unit, a program generation unit is further provided that autonomously generates a verification program for calculating the occupation state based on the amount of data and constraints of the printed information. The physical verification unit executes the verification program and feeds the calculation results back to the dynamic generation unit.
[0011] The print format generation system according to the present invention preferably, If the dynamic generation unit determines that the arrangement exceeds the constraints, it attempts to make corrections step by step according to a predetermined priority order from among the following processes: resizing the print items, changing the placement coordinates, and distributing to multiple printing media.
[0012] The print format generation system according to the present invention preferably further comprises a first environment for confidentially holding print information and a second external environment for performing inference. The input unit receives printed information in the first environment, creates inference data by removing confidential information from the printed information, and transmits it to the second environment. The program generation unit generates a verification program based on the inference data in the second environment and sends it to the first environment. The physical verification unit executes the verification program received in the first environment, compares and evaluates the occupancy status and constraint conditions, and transmits the calculation results to the second environment. The dynamic generation unit performs inference to autonomously and dynamically generate a layout structure based on the calculation results transmitted in the second environment.
[0013] The print format generation system according to the present invention preferably, The dynamic generation unit refers to the relative positional relationships or alignment rules based on the semantic attribute information of the print items, and dynamically determines the placement of one print item in conjunction with a change in the placement of another print item.
[0014] The print format generation system according to the present invention preferably, The system further includes a file generation unit that generates individualized file data with a layout definition structure for each identification unit of the input print information, based on the results automatically sorted by the dynamic generation unit.
[0015] The print format generation system according to the present invention preferably, The physical verification unit executes the verification program generated by the program generation unit in a securely isolated execution environment within the system, thereby obtaining an objective calculation result of whether or not the character arrangement fits within the constraints.
[0016] The print format generation system according to the present invention preferably, The dynamic generation unit, in accordance with predetermined priorities for modification, firstly reduces the size of the characters to a predetermined size; if it still does not fit within the constraints, secondly moves the placement of the characters; and if it still does not fit, thirdly distributes them to multiple printing media.
[0017] To solve the above problems, the print format generation program according to the present invention is: An input unit that accepts print information including variable-length text data and physical constraints of the printing medium, A physical verification unit that compares and evaluates the physical occupancy state and constraints when print information is virtually placed on the printing medium, When it is determined as a result of evaluation that the arrangement of characters does not satisfy the constraint conditions, the computer functions as a dynamic generation unit that automatically and dynamically generates a layout structure so as to distribute the printing items included in the printing information to a plurality of printing media.
Effect of the Invention
[0018] The printing format generation system and the printing format generation program according to the present invention can automate the layout adjustment of label printing even for various and unexpected input data.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0019] [Figure 1] It is a block diagram of a printing format generation system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a diagram showing a data definition table of printing information. [Figure 3] It is a diagram showing a data definition table of physical constraint conditions. [Figure 4] It is a sequence diagram showing the overall operation in the printing format generation system. [Figure 5] It is a diagram showing an example of a printing medium generated by the printing format generation system. [Figure 6] It is a diagram showing an example of a printing medium generated as a duplicate by the printing format generation system.
Modes for Carrying Out the Invention
[0020] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the printing format generation system and the printing format generation program according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0021] [System Configuration] As shown in Figure 1, the print format generation system S is configured to include a first environment 2 and a second environment 3. The first environment 2 of the print format generation system S is connected to an external order system 1 via a communication network such as the Internet or an intranet, enabling mutual communication. Each device of the first environment 2 and the second environment 3 that constitute the print format generation system S, as well as the order system 1, are configured as computers equipped with a processor such as a CPU that performs various calculations, memory such as ROM, RAM, and an external mass storage device that stores various programs and data, and a communication interface that controls network communication.
[0022] [Hardware configuration] The first environment 2 consists of a personal computer (PC) operated by a system operator. Alternatively, the first environment 2 may be configured as an on-premise server or edge server securely installed within the company network. Various programs, such as a print format generation program (agent control program), are installed and stored in the storage device of the first environment 2. When this print format generation program is read and executed by the processor of the first environment 2, the computer of the first environment 2 functions as the input unit 20, physical verification unit 22, and file generation unit 24, which will be described later.
[0023] Furthermore, the print format generation program according to this embodiment connects to the inference API endpoint provided by the second environment 3 (cloud server), described later, via a communication interface. The print format generation program generates a predetermined system prompt that instructs the generation and reconstruction of layout verification code, along with the extracted inference data (tokens), in order to make the second environment 3 function as the "program generation unit 30" and "dynamic generation unit 32," described later, and sends it to the second environment 3. The large-scale language model (LLM) of the second environment 3 performs calculations according to the received prompts and inference data, and sends the results (verification program and layout structure data) to the first environment 2. In this way, the print format generation program indirectly controls and drives external computing resources via API over the network, making those external resources function as its own functional units, thereby realizing advanced autonomous resolution capabilities.
[0024] By adopting this hardware and program configuration for the first environment 2 (local environment), confidential data (such as personal information and master data) can be stored on PCs and servers within the company's firewall. This provides the excellent effect of making the first environment 2 physically zero (zero trust) in terms of the risk of information leakage to external platforms. However, the present invention is not limited to specific PC software or specific dedicated server equipment.
[0025] The second environment 3 is configured as a public cloud platform for hosting the agent AI (LLM). Specific platforms include, for example, AWS (Amazon Web Services), Azure, and Google Cloud. The second environment 3 is configured using abundant computing resources such as GPU servers on these platforms. Various programs, including inference programs, are stored in the memory of the second environment 3. The second environment 3 functions by being called by the program (orchestrator) of the first environment 2 as its own functional module (external brain). That is, through indirect control by system prompts from the first environment 2, this inference program is executed by the processor of the second environment 3, and by performing code generation processing, etc., the second environment 3 functions as the program generation unit 30 and dynamic generation unit 32 described later.
[0026] By adopting this hardware configuration for the second environment 3 (cloud environment), high-load processing such as spatial inference of layouts and dynamic coding of scripts can be offloaded to an LLM on a public cloud with abundant computing resources, rather than to a local PC. As a result, the second environment 3 has the excellent effect of achieving high-speed and advanced autonomous resolution (ReAct loop) regardless of the specifications of the PC used by the operator. However, the present invention is not limited to services on a specific cloud infrastructure.
[0027] [Functional configuration] Next, we will explain in detail the various functional components that make up the print format generation system S. First, we will describe the external order system 1, which is connected to the print format generation system S in a communicative manner.
[0028] <Order System> As shown in Figure 1, the order system 1 comprises an order unit 10, a storage unit 12, and a display unit 14. The order unit 10 receives various print request information and order data transmitted from other external systems. For example, the order unit 10 receives the order quantity for each SKU of apparel products, supplementary terms, composition information, etc. However, the present invention is not limited to these. The storage unit 12 is a database that stores the received order data, print information described later, layout structure template data, etc. The display unit 14 is configured to display a preview screen of the print format on a display means such as a monitor.
[0029] As shown in Figure 1, the first environment 2 comprises an input unit 20, a physical verification unit 22, and a file generation unit 24. The input unit 20 has the function of communicating via API with an external order system 1, etc., and accepts print information including variable-length text data and physical constraints of the printing medium.
[0030] Figure 2 shows a data definition table for printed information. As shown in Figure 2, the data classification of printed information includes composition information / mixture, part / part name, supplementary terms, pictograms, size / dimension information, color information, basic product information, code / identification information, confidential information / master data, etc.
[0031] For example, the input unit 20 accepts print information that includes text data such as "10% cotton" and "90% polyester" as composition information and "Customer name: Taro Yamada" as confidential information. However, the present invention is not limited to these data classifications or specific examples. The input unit 20 receives normalized print data linked from an external database via a data converter or the like.
[0032] The input unit 20 has the function of creating inference data by removing confidential information from the acquired print information and sending it to the second environment 3. Specifically, the input unit 20 operates as a local agent function that holds confidential information (personal information and master data). When the input unit 20 extracts confidential information, it does not send it as is to the external cloud environment, but masks it through abstraction processing and generates inference tokens (dummy data) that retain only the physical features necessary for layout calculation. For example, the input unit 20 converts the actual data "Yamada Taro" into an inference token (e.g., "Token_Name_Length4") indicating that it is a "4-character text string". However, the present invention is not limited to the format of this token.
[0033] Figure 3 is a diagram showing a data definition table for physical constraints. As shown in Figure 3, physical constraints are classified into categories such as maximum size (vertical length), maximum size (horizontal width), coordinate limits, character area collisions, and font size visibility limits. The input unit 20 acquires data on physical constraints. For example, the input unit 20 acquires data such as tape length limits (e.g., upper limit of 180 mm) determined for each customer or for each care label tape to be printed, and the maximum dimensions of the virtual canvas (e.g., 100 mm vertical x 30 mm horizontal). However, the present invention is not limited to these specific examples of constraints.
[0034] The input unit 20 of the first environment 2 generates a system prompt (API request) that includes the instruction, "Generate a verification program that compares the constraint conditions with the inference token group and calculates whether the arrangement fits." The input unit 20 then sends the generated system prompt, along with the inference data and constraint conditions, to the API endpoint of the second environment 3.
[0035] As shown in Figure 1, the second environment 3 comprises a program generation unit 30 and a dynamic generation unit 32. The program generation unit 30 autonomously generates a verification program that compares the constraint conditions and the inference token group in the second environment 3 according to the system prompt, calculates whether the arrangement fits or not, and sends it to the first environment 2.
[0036] The program generation unit 30, in response to this request (instruction), calculates the occupancy status when the printed information (inference tokens) is placed on the virtual canvas and dynamically generates script code to determine whether or not the physical constraints are met.
[0037] For example, the program generation unit 30 recognizes the size of the virtual canvas (e.g., 100 mm in height), calculates the occupied area and height when text and other elements are virtually placed, and then codes a verification program, such as a Python script, on demand, which includes a conditional statement like "if current_height > 100: return False". However, the present invention is not limited to the scripting language or the content of the conditional expression. With this configuration, the program generation unit 30 can avoid having the large-scale language model perform rigorous mathematical calculations, thereby preventing hallucination (generation of incorrect information).
[0038] The physical verification unit 22 of the first environment 2 evaluates the physical occupancy state and constraints when print information is virtually placed on the printing medium. Specifically, a Sandbox (isolated environment) using container technology, etc., is logically constructed in the physical verification unit 22. The physical verification unit 22 executes the verification program generated by the program generation unit 30 in this securely isolated execution environment and evaluates it by comparing the occupancy state and constraints.
[0039] The physical verification unit 22 uses an isolated execution environment to safely execute the program generated by the program generation unit 30, preventing unauthorized access to the main system and system failures. This allows the physical verification unit 22 to obtain a mathematically objective calculation result indicating whether the character placement fits within the constraints. For example, the physical verification unit 22 obtains an objective determination result of True or False indicating whether the Y coordinate exceeds 100 mm and has overflowed. However, the present invention is not limited to this determination method.
[0040] The physical verification unit 22 of the first environment 2 generates a system prompt (API request) to operate the second environment 3 as a dynamic generation unit 32, according to the print format generation program. The physical verification unit 22 then sends the generated system prompt, along with the calculation result of the verification program generated by the program generation unit 30, to the API endpoint of the second environment 3.
[0041] If the dynamic generation unit 32 of the second environment 3 determines, based on the evaluation results, that the placement of characters does not fit within the constraints, it autonomously and dynamically generates a layout structure that automatically distributes the print items included in the print information to multiple print media. Specifically, the print format generation program of the first environment 2 sends additional prompts to the second environment 3 via API, including the results of running the verification program in the isolated environment (Sandbox) (for example, calculation results such as "error occurred"). The dynamic generation unit 32 receives this feedback command and performs re-inference (dynamic generation) of the layout, such as "allocate to the second canvas." The dynamic generation unit 32 does not rely on the mental calculation capabilities of the large-scale language model, but incorporates the objective calculation results fed back from the physical verification unit 22 into its own inference process. As a result, the dynamic generation unit 32 can autonomously derive revised layout proposals.
[0042] If the dynamic generation unit 32 determines that the arrangement exceeds the constraints, it executes a multi-stage resolution logic that attempts to correct the arrangement step by step according to a predetermined priority order. Specifically, the dynamic generation unit 32 first processes the reduction of the character size (font size) as a predetermined priority in the correction. For example, the dynamic generation unit 32 reduces the characters to a predetermined minimum size that is visible to humans or to the minimum point size that can represent kanji characters. However, the present invention is not limited to these reduction criteria.
[0043] If the dynamic generation unit 32 cannot fit the constraints even after reducing the font size, it secondly performs a process to move the placement of the characters. For example, the dynamic generation unit 32 may move the characters to the next line or reduce the spacing between lines. However, the present invention is not limited to these specific placement movement processes. If the dynamic generation unit 32 still cannot fit the characters beyond the physical limits of the canvas, it thirdly adds a new virtual canvas (separate print node) and performs a process to distribute the text to multiple printing media.
[0044] Thus, the dynamic generation unit 32 prioritizes efforts to optimize material costs by fitting information onto a single sheet as much as possible, while also functioning with an aesthetic perspective, autonomously proposing a well-balanced two-sheet configuration when the limits are exceeded. Furthermore, the dynamic generation unit 32 refers to the relative positional relationships or alignment rules based on the semantic attribute information of the printed items. The dynamic generation unit 32 dynamically determines the placement of one printed item in conjunction with a change in the placement of another printed item. For example, the dynamic generation unit 32 refers to alignment rules such as "composition names and their corresponding numerical blend ratios must always be placed side by side" as a specific industry rule.
[0045] For example, if the dynamic generation unit 32 predicts that the part name "T-shirt part" and the composition name "100% polyester" are too long and will overlap on the same line, it will rearrange the composition name by moving it down one line. At this time, the dynamic generation unit 32 will also adjust the layout by moving the corresponding percentage value "100%" down one line. The dynamic generation unit 32 makes autonomous decisions based solely on the difference in the amount of information in the input data, even if there are no conditional branching flags on the input data side.
[0046] As a result, the print format generation system S eliminates the need for pre-configuration of conditional branching programs (such as IF statements) and template design, which were essential in conventional typesetting systems. This eliminates reliance on individual operators and significantly reduces the lead time required for format creation (for example, 4.5 hours in the past).
[0047] The file generation unit 24 of the first environment 2 generates file data in which the layout definition structure is individualized for each identification unit of the input print information, based on the results automatically sorted by the dynamic generation unit 32. For example, the file generation unit 24 generates file data for each product SKU. However, the present invention is not limited to this identification unit. The file generation unit 24 maps (recombines) the actual confidential data (such as customer names and master codes) securely held in the first environment 2 to the portion of the inference tokens included in the final layout structure (a blueprint of the placement coordinates of each token) obtained from the second environment 3.
[0048] The file generation unit 24, after mapping the data, directly generates a structured data file in a binary format specifically for printer output, rather than human-readable text. For example, the file generation unit 24 generates an XPT file, which is a special proprietary specification. The file generation unit 24 automatically applies a naming convention that ensures uniqueness to generate individual modulated XPT files optimized for each print data. However, the present invention is not limited to this format. For example, the file generation unit 24 may output not only in a proprietary format such as XPT, but also in intermediate data structures such as JSON, XML, CSV, or in a general-purpose PDF format.
[0049] For example, the file generation unit 24 applies a naming convention such as "printing material name-order ID-JAN code" or "printing material name-order ID-LID-detail ID". However, the present invention is not limited to this naming convention. Furthermore, the file generation unit 24 has a function to export the generated layout as an output function for an inkjet printer. For example, the file generation unit 24 exports it as high-resolution bitmap image data. The file generation unit 24 also has a function to output production manuals in multiple languages as PDFs. However, the present invention is not limited to these output functions.
[0050] [Overall processing flow] Based on the above explanation of the components, the overall processing flow in the print format generation system S will be explained again with reference to Figure 4.
[0051] As shown in the sequence diagram in Figure 4, first, the input unit 20 of the first environment 2 acquires print information and constraint data from an external order system 1, etc. (Step 1). The input unit 20 extracts confidential information such as personal information from the acquired data and generates inference data (tokens) that retain only physical attributes (Step 2).
[0052] The first environment 2 sends the generated inference data and constraints, along with a system prompt to operate the second environment 3 as the program generation unit 30, to the second environment 3 (step 3).
[0053] The program generation unit 30 in the second environment 3 performs a virtual element placement simulation on the virtual canvas based on the received inference data and constraints (step 4). The program generation unit 30 dynamically generates program code (calculation script) to verify whether the placement satisfies the physical constraints and sends it to the first environment 2 (step 5).
[0054] The physical verification unit 22 executes the received verification program in an isolated sandbox environment and performs objective calculations of the occupied area of each element and determination of the coordinate limits (step 6).
[0055] The first environment 2 sends (feedback) objective calculation results to the second environment 3, such as whether there are any physical constraint violations (errors) like text area collisions (overlaps) or overflows, and also sends a system prompt to operate the second environment 3 as the dynamic generation unit 32 (step 7).
[0056] The dynamic generation unit 32 receives the feedback calculation result and, if it determines that the arrangement exceeds the constraint conditions, executes a multi-stage resolution logic that autonomously attempts to correct it step by step according to a predetermined priority (step 8).
[0057] The dynamic generation unit 32 first attempts to reconstruct the layout structure by reducing the font size and changing the arrangement of elements (such as indenting lines) (steps 9 and 10).
[0058] If the constraints are still not met, the dynamic generation unit 32 reconfigures the layout structure by adding a new virtual canvas (reprint node) for the reprint (step 11). The program generation unit 30 generates the verification program again based on the reconfigured new layout (step 4). The print format generation system S repeats this autonomous feedback loop process until all errors are completely eliminated from the execution results of the verification program.
[0059] Once the verification error is resolved in the physical verification unit 22, the second environment 3 transmits the finally determined layout structure (design drawing) to the first environment 2 (step 12).
[0060] The file generation unit 24 of the first environment 2 maps the inference tokens contained in the received layout structure to the actual string data (confidential information, etc.) held in the local first environment 2, and generates a modulated XPT file for printer output only (step 13). Next, the file generation unit 24 outputs the generated final format file (step 14).
[0061] [Examples of print media] Figure 5 shows an example of a printable medium T generated by the print format generation system S. As shown in Figure 5, the printable medium T has appropriately arranged part names, composition information, pictograms, etc. The printable medium T in Figure 5 is a care label for an apparel product, but the printable medium of the present invention is not limited to this.
[0062] The dynamic generation unit 32 autonomously changes the placement of the corresponding composition name by one level, and also moves the corresponding blending ratio "50%" down one level in conjunction. As a result, the print format generation system S dynamically and automatically achieves a highly legible and aesthetically pleasing layout with no overlapping characters whatsoever.
[0063] Figure 6 shows an example of a print medium T generated as a separate print (second sheet) by the print format generation system S. As shown in Figure 6, the amount of supplementary terms (text such as "handle with care") included in the input data can be extremely large. If the dynamic generation unit 32 exceeds the maximum vertical dimension (e.g., 100 mm) of a single print medium T even after making adjustments such as reducing the font size, it autonomously decides to add a separate print node. The dynamic generation unit 32 makes this decision by receiving objective calculation results based on physical constraints as feedback.
[0064] As shown in Figure 6, the print format generation system S automatically divides and distributes the lengthy text evenly across the second print medium T. As also shown in Figure 6, the company name, telephone number, and country of manufacture are printed on both the first and second print mediums T. Thus, it is possible to pre-configure the system to print certain information on all of the multiple print mediums T. This configuration may be included in the constraints, and these constraints may be included in the order information in the order system 1.
[0065] The print format generation system S, with the above configuration, can automate the adjustment of label print layouts even for diverse and unexpected input data.
[0066] Although one embodiment of the print format generation system and print format generation program according to the present invention has been described above, the print format generation system and print format generation program of the present invention are not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention, as shown in the following modifications.
[0067] [Differentiation] The above-described embodiment illustrates a configuration in which the program generation unit 30 of the second environment 3 dynamically generates a verification program, and the physical verification unit 22 executes it. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the print format generation system S does not need to include the program generation unit 30. In this case, the physical verification unit 22 does not execute the dynamically generated program, but rather uses a general-purpose layout calculation algorithm or physical calculation engine that is pre-built into the system to compare and evaluate the occupancy status of the print information with the constraints.
[0068] Furthermore, the embodiments described above illustrate a hybrid configuration in which confidential information is separated into a first environment 2 (local) and a second environment 3 (cloud), and communication is performed using an inference token. However, the present invention is not limited to such configurations. For example, all components of the print format generation system S (input unit 20, physical verification unit 22, file generation unit 24, program generation unit 30, dynamic generation unit 32) may be integrated and configured within a single secure on-premises server or within a single cloud environment where a high level of security is guaranteed.
[0069] Furthermore, the embodiments described above illustrate a configuration in which the dynamic generation unit 32 attempts to make modifications in stages according to a predetermined priority order of size reduction, position shifting, and reprinting. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the dynamic generation unit 32 may be configured to skip size reduction and position shifting and immediately distribute to multiple printing media (reprinting) if it is determined that the character placement does not fit the constraints, without performing staged trials. Alternatively, the dynamic generation unit 32 may be configured to apply only specific modification methods specified by the user.
[0070] The embodiments described above illustrate a configuration in which the dynamic generation unit 32 dynamically determines the arrangement by referring to relative positional relationships based on semantic attribute information (for example, horizontal arrangement rules for composition names and blending ratios), and a configuration in which the file generation unit 24 generates individualized file data. However, the present invention is not limited to these. For example, the print format generation system S may be a system that only performs simple text division without complex linked arrangements. Also, the generated file format is not limited to XPT files, and the file generation unit 24 can adopt file formats of descriptive languages such as PDF. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0071] S Print Format Generation System T Print media 1. Order System 10. Order Department 12 Storage section 14 Display section 2 1st environment 20 Input section 22 Physical Verification Department 24 File generation section 3 Second environment 30 Program generation unit 32 Dynamic generation unit
Claims
1. An input unit that receives print information including variable-length text data and physical constraints of the printing medium, A physical verification unit that compares and evaluates the physical occupancy state when the print information is virtually placed on the printing medium with the constraint conditions, A print format generation system comprising: a dynamic generation unit that, if the evaluation determines that the arrangement of characters does not fit within the constraints, autonomously and dynamically generates a layout structure to automatically distribute the print items included in the print information to multiple print media.
2. The evaluation in the physical verification unit further includes a program generation unit that autonomously generates a verification program for calculating the occupation state based on the amount of data of the printed information and the constraints, The print format generation system according to claim 1, wherein the physical verification unit executes the verification program and feeds back the calculation results to the dynamic generation unit.
3. The print format generation system according to claim 1, wherein, if the arrangement exceeds the constraint conditions as a result of the determination, the dynamic generation unit attempts to make corrections in stages according to a predetermined priority order from among the printing item size change process, the arrangement coordinate change process, and the distribution process to the multiple printing media.
4. The system further comprises a first environment for confidentially maintaining the aforementioned printed information and a second external environment for performing inference. The input unit receives the printed information in the first environment, creates inference data by removing confidential information from the printed information, and transmits it to the second environment. The program generation unit generates the verification program based on the inference data in the second environment and transmits it to the first environment. The physical verification unit executes the verification program received in the first environment, compares and evaluates the occupation state and the constraint conditions, and transmits the calculation result to the second environment. The print format generation system according to claim 2, wherein the dynamic generation unit performs inference to autonomously generate the layout structure based on the calculation result transmitted in the second environment.
5. The print format generation system according to claim 1, wherein the dynamic generation unit refers to the relative positional relationships or alignment rules based on the semantic attribute information of the print items and dynamically determines the placement of the other print item in conjunction with a change in the placement of one of the print items.
6. The print format generation system according to claim 1, further comprising a file generation unit that generates file data in which the layout definition structure is individualized for each identification unit of the input print information, based on the results automatically distributed by the dynamic generation unit.
7. The print format generation system according to claim 2, wherein the physical verification unit executes the verification program generated by the program generation unit in a securely isolated execution environment within the system to obtain an objective calculation result of whether or not the arrangement of the characters fits within the constraints.
8. The print format generation system according to claim 3, wherein the dynamic generation unit, as a predetermined priority in the modification, firstly performs a process to reduce the size of the characters to a predetermined size, and if it still does not fit within the constraints, secondly performs a process to move the placement location of the characters, and if it still does not fit, thirdly performs a process to distribute to the plurality of printing media.
9. An input unit that accepts print information including variable-length text data and physical constraints of the printing medium, A physical verification unit that compares and evaluates the physical occupancy state when the print information is virtually placed on the printing medium with the constraint conditions, A print format generation program that causes a computer to function as a dynamic generation unit, which autonomously and dynamically generates a layout structure to automatically distribute the print items included in the print information to multiple print media if, as a result of the evaluation, it is determined that the arrangement of characters does not fit within the constraints.