Method for transmitting image processing jobs from a client system, and routing and performing the jobs in an image processing system

Claim 1

An image processing method carried out by a client system comprising an image processor having a communications device and by an image processing system comprising a network connected to a plurality of image processing workstations, to scanner/printer devices, to printers, and to a control image processor which is in turn connected to a communications device, the method comprising the steps of: the image processor of the client system generating a transmission file by: interactively logging client data for instructing image processing operations, automatically retrieving image data from storage devices to which the image processor is connected using said client data, and combining the logged client data and the retrieved image data and compressing said logged client data and said retrieved image data to generate the transmission file, the communications device of the client system automatically transmitting said transmission file to the communications device connected to the control image processor of the image processing system; the control image processor: automatically decompressing the transmission file received via the communications device, reading a client identifier from the client data and generating an output notification display on a video screen of the control image processor, generating a parameter display for interactive inputting of job parameters by a supervisor according to data received in said transmission file, the parameters including a job category command classifying the job as direct output, page make-up, re-touching, or imposition, and generating a job file of image processing commands according to inputted parameters and the client data, and automatically routing the job file to a workstation of the image processing system; the workstation which receives the job file automatically determining if the job is for direct output to a printer according to the job category command and if so automatically routing the image processing commands to a printer of the network, and if the job is not for direct output the workstation reading the image processing commands within the job file and automatically configuring image processing settings via the workstation operating system for carrying out image processing operations required by said image processing commands, the settings being selected from a look-up table retrieved from the control image processor; and the workstation carrying out the image processing operations and generating processed image data and, when completed, automatically transmitting a supervisor signal to the control image processor and subsequently routing the processed image data to a printer for printing of color separation films.