JPH05298439A - Method and device for data communication - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To execute the communication of picture data between devices different in picture element configuration, and simultaneously, to prevent the deterioration of picture quality accompanying the conversion processing of the picture element configuration by using an outline extracting method. CONSTITUTION:A computer 3 is connected to data communication equipment 1, and generates the picture data like a computer graphic, etc. A display 4 is provided with a CRT, and displays graphic data generated by the computer 3. The data communication equipment 1 executes outline extraction processing for the graphic data transferred from the computer 3. Then, extracted outline data and the picture element configuration information of transferred raster type binary picture data are transmitted to facsimile equipment 2 through a line 6. The facsimile equipment 2 reproduces the binary picture data from the received outline data and the picture element configuration information so as to be adaptive to the picture element configuration of the facsimile equipment 2, and outputs it to a recording paper, etc.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data communication method and device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a data communication method and apparatus for converting the pixel configuration of image data to be transmitted so as to match the pixel configuration on the receiving side and transmitting the data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Normally, the vertical and horizontal dot intervals, ratios, and number of dots (hereinafter, referred to as a pixel configuration) of image data read by a scanner unit of a facsimile apparatus are used in a data communication apparatus using a computer. This is different from the pixel configuration of the connected CRT display or the like, and the communication between the two is not compatible. Therefore, the image data transmitted from the facsimile device is transferred to the C of the data communication device.
It cannot be displayed directly on the RT display or the like. Similarly, C created by computer graphics, etc.
It is not possible to transmit display data or the like to the RT display device by the data communication device and receive the display data by the facsimile device to form an image.

[0003]

Therefore, when the image data transmitted from the facsimile machine is processed by a computer having a data communication function or is displayed on a CRT display, the following procedure is required. That is, first, the image data transmitted from the facsimile machine is received by the facsimile machine on the receiving side and is output on a recording paper or the like. Then, by reading the output image with a scanner connected to the computer, the image data is taken into the computer.

Further, the following procedure is required to transmit the image data displayed on the CRT display, which is created by a computer having a data communication function, to the facsimile machine. That is, the created image data is output by a printer or the like, and then the output image is transmitted by a facsimile device.

As described above, a very cumbersome procedure is required when image data is communicated between the conventional facsimile apparatus and the computer having the data communication function.

In the case of image data communication between devices having different pixel configurations as described above, the pixel configuration of the image data is converted in the transmitter or the receiver so as to be compatible with the display device on the receiver side, the printer or the like. There is a need. As a method of converting the pixel configuration, a method such as thinning out the data to perform the conversion has been conventionally used, but in any case, there is a problem that the deterioration of the image becomes remarkable.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and makes it possible to perform communication of image data between devices having different pixel configurations, and to use the outline extraction method to make the pixel configuration. It is an object of the present invention to provide a data communication method and apparatus that prevent deterioration of image quality due to the conversion processing of 1.

[0008]

A data communication apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following configuration. That is, on the data transmission side, a data communication device for transmitting image data, outline processing means for performing outline extraction processing on image data to be transmitted to obtain outline data, and the image data to be transmitted. Pixel configuration information acquisition means for obtaining the pixel configuration information, and transmission means for transmitting the outline data obtained by the outline processing means and the pixel configuration information obtained by the pixel configuration information acquisition means as transmission data. Equipped with.

Further, on the data receiving side, a data communication device for receiving image data, receiving means for receiving outline data and pixel configuration information, and the pixel configuration information and the pixel configuration of image data to be generated are provided. A scaling means for performing scaling processing on the outline data according to a scaling ratio determined based on the above; and image data regenerating means for regenerating the outline data obtained by the scaling means into expanded image data. , Is provided.

A data communication method according to the present invention which achieves the above object has the following configuration. That is, on the data transmission side, there is provided a data communication method for transmitting image data, which is an outline processing step of performing outline extraction processing on image data to be transmitted to obtain outline data, and the image data to be transmitted. A pixel configuration information acquisition step for obtaining the pixel configuration information of, a transmission step for transmitting the outline data obtained by the outline processing step and the pixel configuration information obtained by the pixel configuration information acquisition step as transmission data, Equipped with.

Further, on the data receiving side, there is provided a data communication method for receiving image data, which is a receiving process for receiving outline data and pixel configuration information, the pixel configuration information and the pixel configuration of image data to be generated. And a scaling step for performing scaling processing on the outline data by a scaling factor determined based on, and an image data regeneration step for regenerating the outline data obtained by the scaling step into expanded image data. , Is provided.

Note that the pixel configuration in the present invention is a general term for the horizontal and vertical dot intervals, dot ratios, the number of dots, etc. of an image targeted by an image forming apparatus or image data.

[0013]

With the above configuration, the transmitting side device transmits the outline data extracted from the image data to be transmitted and the pixel configuration information of the image data to be transmitted. The receiving side device performs the scaling process on the transmitted outline data. The scaling factor at this time is determined based on the transmitted pixel configuration information and the pixel configuration of the reception side device so as to match the pixel configuration of the reception side device. The outline data thus obtained is regenerated into the expanded image data.

[0014]

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below.

<Embodiment 1> In Embodiment 1, a case will be described in which a data communication apparatus to which a computer is connected is used as a data communication apparatus on the receiving side and a facsimile apparatus is used as a data communication apparatus on the transmitting side.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the data communication system according to the first embodiment.

In FIG. 1, the data communication apparatus 1 performs outline extraction processing from the raster scanning binary image data transferred from the computer 3. Then, the extracted outline data and the pixel configuration information of the transferred raster type binary image data are transmitted to the facsimile apparatus 2 via the line 6. The facsimile device 2 regenerates the binary image data so as to match the pixel configuration of the facsimile device 2 based on the received outline data and the pixel configuration information, and outputs the binary image data to a recording paper or the like.

The computer 3 is connected to the data communication device 1 and creates image data such as computer graphics. The display 4 has a CRT and displays graphic data (image data) created by the computer 3. The image data in this embodiment is raster scanning binary image data. The keyboard 5 instructs the computer 3 to create graphic data and transfer data. Reference numeral 6 is a line for data communication.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional arrangement of the data communication apparatus 1. In this figure, the configuration required for the data communication device to transmit image data is described. The raster scanning binary image data transferred from the computer 3 is input to the image processing unit 10. The image processing unit 10 will be described in more detail. The image memory 11 is
The image data transferred from the computer 3 is accumulated.
The outline processing unit 12 executes outline extraction from the image data stored in the image memory 11. Here, the image data is converted into a vector coordinate data string that expresses a boundary portion between white and black of the image data with vector data.

The modem 13 executes a modulation process on the vector coordinate sequence obtained by the outline processing section 12 in order to output it to the line 6. At this time, the pixel configuration information of the image data stored in the image memory 11 is added. In this embodiment, the pixel configuration information is stored in the pixel configuration information storage unit 15.
It is stored in. Then, the data modulated by the modem 13 is output to the line 6 via the NCU 14. Further, each unit of the data communication device 1 is controlled by a CPU 16 such as a microprocessor. Also,
The data communication device 1 includes a ROM 17 that stores a control program for the CPU 16 and various data, a RAM 18 that temporarily stores various data as a work area of the CPU 16.

The pixel configuration information added as transmission data is stored in the pixel configuration information storage unit 15 as described above, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, R in advance
It may be stored in the AM 18 or the like, or may be transferred from the computer 3 together with the image data.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the functional arrangement of the facsimile apparatus 2. In this figure, the configuration relating to the reception of image data (outline data) to the output by the recording unit is described. The configuration related to the reading unit and the transmission of the image data is assumed to be a general configuration, and the description thereof is omitted here.

The outline data with the pixel configuration information transmitted from the above-mentioned data communication device 1 is N
It is input via the CU 21 and demodulated by the modem 22.
The image processing unit 23 receives the demodulated outline data with pixel configuration information and converts it into binary image data having a pixel configuration suitable for the recording unit 24 and the like. The recording unit 24 outputs the binary image data output from the image processing unit 23 to recording paper by, for example, a thermal recording method. Further, the floppy disk unit 25 stores the image data expanded by the image processing unit 23 in the floppy disk. The image data stored in the floppy disk is displayed or recorded by another device. The pixel configuration information storage unit 26 stores the pixel configuration information according to the transfer destination of the image data. CP
U28 controls each unit described above. The ROM 28 stores a control program for the CPU 27 and various data, and the RAM 29 temporarily stores various data as a work area for the CPU 16.

Next, the image processing unit 23 will be further described. The pixel configuration information and outline data demodulated by the modem 22 are stored in the buffer memory 230. The smoothing unit 231 performs a smoothing process on the outline data stored in the buffer memory 230. The scaling processing unit 232 uses the scaling factor determined based on the pixel configuration information stored in the buffer memory and the pixel configuration information of the image data to be generated read out from the pixel configuration information storage unit 26 to determine the outline data. The scaling process is executed for. The binary image generation unit 233 regenerates the outline data into a binary image.

The operation of the present data communication system having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flow charts of FIGS.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a procedure of creating graphic data in the computer 3 and transferring the graphic data to the data communication apparatus 1.

In step S1, computer graphic data is created by the computer 3 using the keyboard 5 and the like. In step S2, the created graphic data is displayed on the graphic display 4. Here, the graphic data is raster scan binary image data. Next, in step S3,
It is determined whether or not there is an instruction to transfer the image data from the keyboard 5, and if there is no instruction to transfer the image data, the process returns to step S1 to repeat the above processing. If there is a transfer instruction, the process proceeds to step S4 to transfer the created graphic data to the data communication device 1.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a process of transmitting image data in the data communication device.

In step S11, the computer 3
The image data to be transferred is stored in the image memory 11. In step S12, it is determined whether or not there is an instruction to transmit data. If there is no instruction, the process returns to step S11. If there is a data transmission instruction, step S1
Go to 3. The data transfer instruction in this case is the computer 3
Command input from the data communication device or a command input from an operation panel attached to the data communication device. In step S13, the outline processing unit 12 executes outline extraction processing on the image data stored in the image memory to convert it into outline vector coordinate data.
Next, in step S14, the pixel configuration information of the processed image data is acquired from the pixel configuration information storage unit 15 and added as transmission data. The pixel configuration information storage unit 15 stores the respective pixel configuration information corresponding to the transfer source of the image data. Therefore, the pixel configuration information can be acquired from the pixel configuration information storage unit 15 according to the transfer source of the image data. Then, in step S15, the above step S
The data generated or acquired in 13 and 14 is transmitted. That is, the data is modulated by the modem 13 and the data is transmitted to the line 6 via the NCU 14.

As described above, the transmission side device uses the image data as the outline data, further adds the pixel configuration information, and transmits the image data. Next, the operation of the facsimile apparatus 2 that receives the outline data with the pixel configuration information will be described.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the receiving operation by the facsimile apparatus 2 of the first embodiment. Note that the transfer destination of the image data is set in the recording unit 24 prior to this processing.

In step S21, the transmitted outline data and pixel configuration information are received via the NCU 21 and demodulated by the modem 22. Then, in step S22, the demodulated pixel configuration information and outline data are stored in the buffer 230. In step S23, the smoothing processing unit 231 executes the smoothing process on the outline data accumulated in the buffer memory 230. Next, in step S24, the scaling factor of the scaling process executed in the next step is determined. Here, the scaling factor is determined by the received pixel configuration information and the pixel configuration information of the transfer destination. In this example, the pixel configuration information of the transfer destination is the pixel configuration of the recording unit 24 included in the facsimile device 2. As an example of the method of determining the scaling factor, for example,
If the dot spacing of the pixel configuration information is represented by the number of dots per inch (dot density), then the scaling factor = (dot density of recording unit 24) / (dot density of outline data).

Next, in step S25, step S2
The scaling processing unit 232 performs scaling processing on the outline data using the scaling ratio determined in 4. Next, in step S26, the binary image generation unit 233 regenerates the scaled outline data into raster scanning binary image data. In the binary image regenerating process in step S26, the pixel configuration information unit 26 in step S24.
It goes without saying that the effective range of the image is determined based on the read pixel configuration information. Then, the recording unit 2 stores the image data regenerated in step S27.
4 and outputs the data on recording paper.

As described above, in the data communication system including the data communication apparatus and the facsimile apparatus according to the first embodiment, the image data is transmitted from the data communication apparatus, which is the transmission side apparatus, into the two types of the outline data and the pixel configuration information. Divide into data and send. The outline data is a relative value of the image and the scaling process is easy. And
In the facsimile device which is the receiving side device, the received outline data is scaled based on the received pixel configuration information and converted into raster scanning binary image data having a predetermined pixel configuration. By performing the image data communication according to such a procedure, the outline data sent from the transmission side device has any pixel configuration (for example, the display dot interval in the vertical direction or the horizontal direction, or the number of dots).
Even if it is generated based on the above, it is possible to perform smoothing and scaling processing by making the best use of its characteristic points and contours, and it is possible to perform resolution conversion while preventing deterioration of image quality.
Therefore, it is possible to perform communication of image data between devices having different pixel configurations while suppressing deterioration of image quality.

<Embodiment 2> In Embodiment 2, a data communication system will be described in which a facsimile apparatus is used as a transmission side apparatus and a data communication apparatus connected to a computer is used as a reception side apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the connection state of each device in the data communication system according to the second embodiment.

In FIG. 7, the facsimile apparatus 51 is
It has an outline function and sends the read original image as outline data. The data communication device 52 has an outline function, receives the outline data transmitted from the facsimile device 51, converts it again into binary image data, and outputs it to the computer 53 or the like. The computer 53 is connected to the data communication device 52 and executes various processes such as image processing. Graphic display 5
Reference numeral 4 displays graphic data generated by the computer 53 or image data received by the data communication device 52. The keyboard 55 inputs various commands to the computer 53. Reference numeral 56 is a printer capable of printing image data, and 57 is a floppy disk unit capable of storing image data. The image data recorded on the floppy disk in the floppy disk unit 57 can be read out to another device.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the functional arrangement of the above-mentioned facsimile apparatus 51.

In FIG. 8, a reading unit 511 reads a document image, generates raster scanning binary image data, and transfers the binary image data to an image processing unit 512. The reading unit 511 includes a CCD and a step motor. The image processing unit 512 includes a reading unit 511.
Raster scan type binary image data is input from and converted into outline data. Then, together with the outline data, the pixel configuration information of the reading unit 511 is added and output to the modem 513. The modem 513 performs a modulation process on the input data, and the data subjected to the modulation process is output to the telephone line 58 via the NCU 514.
Note that the pixel configuration information of the reading unit 511 is stored in the ROM 605.

The image processor 512 will be further described.

The raster scanning type binary image data input from the reading unit 511 is stored in the image memory 601. The outline processing unit 602 executes outline extraction on the image data stored in the image memory 601, and converts the image data into outline vector coordinate data. The outline vector coordinate data thus obtained is output to the modem 513.

Further, each part of the facsimile device 51 is C
It is controlled by the PU 603. A ROM 604 in which a control program executed by the CPU 603 and various data are stored, and a RAM 605 as a work area of the CPU 603 are provided.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the internal arrangement of the data communication device 52 of the second embodiment.

In FIG. 9, reference numeral 521 denotes an NCU (network control unit), which is used by the facsimile apparatus 51 to provide the telephone line 5.
The pixel configuration information and the outline data transferred over 8 are fetched via this NCU 521. The modem 522 demodulates the outline data captured in the modulated state. The image processing unit 523 converts the outline data into the raster scan type 2 that matches the pixel configuration of the output destination device.
Convert to value image data. The pixel configuration information storage unit 524 stores each pixel configuration information according to the data transfer destination device. The CPU 525 controls each part of the data communication device 52. The ROM 526 stores programs for operating the CPU 525 and various data. The RAM 527 is a work area for the CPU 525.

Next, the image processing section 523 will be further described.

Reference numeral 610 denotes a buffer memory, which is a modem 5
The pixel configuration information and outline data demodulated by 22 are stored. The smoothing processing unit 611 uses the buffer 61.
The smoothing process is executed on the outline data stored in 0. The scaling processing unit 612 executes scaling processing on the outline data. The scaling factor at this time is determined based on the pixel configuration information input together with the outline data and the pixel configuration of the image data transfer destination device. Further, the binary image generation unit 613 regenerates the scaled outline data into raster scanning binary image data.

An image data communication operation between the facsimile apparatus 51 and the data communication apparatus 52 having the above-mentioned configuration will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the image data transmission operation by the facsimile apparatus 51.

When the one-touch key instructing the transmission is pressed in step S31, the process proceeds to step S32. In step S32, the reading unit 511 reads the original image and outputs it as raster scanning binary image data to the image processing unit 512. In step S33, the binary image data transferred from the reading unit 511 is stored in the image memory 60.
Accumulate to 1. Then, in step S34, the outline processing unit 602 executes outline extraction on the image data accumulated in the image memory 601, and obtains outline vector coordinate data. Also, step S3
5, adding the pixel configuration information of the reading unit 511,
The transmission data is constructed with the outline vector coordinate data. Then, in step S36, the transmission of the transmission data configured in steps S34 and S35 is executed. That is, the transmission data is modulated by the modem 513 and then output via the NCU 514.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the image data receiving operation by the data communication device 52.
It is assumed that the destination of the image data is set on the graphic display 54 before the execution of this process.

In step S41, the pixel configuration information and outline data are received, and subsequently, the pixel configuration information and outline data received in step S42 are stored in the buffer 610. Next, in step S43,
The scaling ratio is set according to the data transfer destination. For example, in this example, since the transfer destination is the graphic display 54, the pixel configuration information of the graphic display 54 is read from the pixel configuration information section 524. The scaling factor is determined based on the pixel configuration information of the graphic display 54 thus obtained and the received pixel configuration information. still,
The pixel configuration information corresponding to each transfer destination is stored in the pixel configuration information storage unit 524.

At step S44, the smoothing processing unit 611.
Executes smoothing processing on the outline data stored in the buffer memory 610. Next, step S4
In step 5, the scaling process is performed on the outline data using the scaling factor set in step S43.
Then, in step S46, the binary image regeneration processing unit 613 executes conversion of the outline data into raster scanning binary image data. In step S47, the binary image data is transferred to the set data transfer destination.
In this example, the image data is transferred to the graphic display 54 via the computer 53.

As described above, in the data communication system including the facsimile apparatus and the data communication apparatus according to the second embodiment, the image data is transmitted from the facsimile apparatus which is the transmission side apparatus to the outline data and the pixel configuration information.
The data is divided into different types and sent. The outline data is a relative value of the image and the scaling process is easy. Then, in the data communication device which is the receiving side device, the received outline data is subjected to a scaling process based on the received pixel configuration information and converted into raster scanning binary image data of a predetermined pixel configuration. By executing the image data communication according to such a procedure, the outline data transmitted from the transmission side device is generated based on any pixel configuration (for example, the display dot interval in the vertical direction or the horizontal direction, or the number of dots). Even if it has been processed, it is possible to perform smoothing and scaling processing by making the best use of its characteristic points and contours, and it is possible to perform resolution conversion while preventing deterioration of image quality. Therefore, it is possible to perform communication of image data between devices having different pixel configurations while suppressing deterioration of image quality.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the receiving side device performs the smoothing process of the outline data, but the transmitting side device may perform the smoothing process before transmitting the outline data. In this case, the smoothing processing unit is incorporated in the transmission side device.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0056]

As described above, according to the data communication method and device of the present invention, it is possible to communicate image data between devices having different pixel configurations and use the outline extraction method. This prevents deterioration of image quality due to conversion processing of the pixel configuration.

[0057]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a connection between devices in a data communication system according to a first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a data communication device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block configuration diagram showing a functional configuration of the facsimile apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of creating computer graphic data and transferring the data to a data communication device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a communication operation of image data by the data communication apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an image data receiving operation by the facsimile apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a connection between devices in the data communication system according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the functional arrangement of a facsimile apparatus according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block configuration diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a data communication device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a data transmission operation performed by the facsimile apparatus according to the second exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a data receiving operation by the data communication apparatus according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,52 Data communication device 2,51 Facsimile device 3,53 Computer 4,54 Graphic display 5,55 Keyboard 11,601 Image memory 12,602 Outline processing part 231,611 Smoothing processing part 232,612 Magnification processing part 233 , 613 Binary image generation unit

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Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A data communication device for transmitting image data, comprising outline processing means for performing outline extraction processing on image data to be transmitted to obtain outline data, and a pixel configuration of the image data to be transmitted. Pixel configuration information acquisition means for obtaining information, and transmission means for transmitting the outline data obtained by the outline processing means and the pixel configuration information obtained by the pixel configuration information acquisition means as transmission data. A data communication device characterized by. 2. The apparatus further comprises smoothing means for performing a smoothing process on the outline data, wherein the transmitting means obtains the outline data obtained by the smoothing means and the pixel configuration information obtaining means. The data communication device according to claim 1, wherein the pixel configuration information is transmitted as transmission data. 3. A data communication device for receiving image data, which is determined based on receiving means for receiving outline data and pixel configuration information, and the pixel configuration information and a pixel configuration of image data to be generated. A scaling means for performing scaling processing on the outline data by scaling, and image data regenerating means for regenerating the outline data obtained by the scaling means into expanded image data. Data communication device. 4. A smoothing unit that performs a smoothing process on the outline data received by the receiving unit, wherein the scaling unit generates the pixel configuration information and the pixel configuration information received by the receiving unit. 4. The data according to claim 3, wherein a scaling process is performed on the outline data processed by the smoothing unit according to a scaling ratio determined based on a pixel configuration of image data to be processed. Communication device. 5. A data communication method for transmitting image data, comprising an outline processing step of performing outline extraction processing on image data to be transmitted to obtain outline data, and a pixel configuration of the image data to be transmitted. A pixel configuration information acquisition process for obtaining information, and a transmission process for transmitting the outline data obtained by the outline processing process and the pixel configuration information obtained by the pixel configuration information acquisition process as transmission data. A data communication method characterized by. 6. A smoothing step for executing a smoothing process on the outline data is further provided, and the transmitting step is obtained by the outline data obtained by the smoothing step and the pixel configuration information obtaining step. The data communication method according to claim 5, wherein the pixel configuration information is transmitted as transmission data. 7. A data communication method for receiving image data, which is determined based on a receiving step of receiving outline data and pixel configuration information, and the pixel configuration information and a pixel configuration of image data to be generated. A scaling process for performing a scaling process on the outline data according to a scaling factor, and an image data regeneration process for regenerating the outline data obtained by the scaling process into expanded image data. And data communication method. 8. A smoothing step for performing a smoothing process on the outline data received by the receiving step, wherein the scaling step and the pixel configuration information received by the receiving step are generated. 8. The data according to claim 7, wherein a scaling process is performed on the outline data processed in the smoothing process according to a scaling factor determined based on a pixel configuration of image data to be processed. Communication method.