JPH08102860A - Device and method for processing image - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To enable transmitting where the intention of an operator is sufficiently reflected by dividing an image of a source into plural image areas inside a device and deciding an encoding method in every area by means of the operator. CONSTITUTION: An source document displayed in the area 310 is divided into color areas 311 to 313 into a black and white area 314 and the encoding system at every area and communication charge at the time of executing encoding by the encoding system so as to transmit them to the destination of a display window 301 are displayed. The total charge of this case is displayed in the area 320, the operator selects the division area by an area change-over switch 303 and the encoding system can be changed-over by an encoding system change- over switch 304.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and a method thereof, for example, an image processing apparatus and a method for processing a document image in which image areas having different appropriate encoding methods are mixed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a facsimile apparatus capable of transmitting color originals, transmission efficiency and image quality are improved by switching the encoding method during transmission according to whether the originals to be transmitted are color or black and white. Techniques for improving have been studied. 1 if the manuscript is color or black and white
It has been considered to judge the entire manuscript for pages by a method in which the operator manually switches the designation or by automatically judging in the apparatus. In addition, in order to automatically determine the original by the apparatus, the reading sensors R, G, and
It is configured to determine whether the original is color or black and white based on the B output ratio and the like.

[0003]

However, recently,
A document in which a color image and black-and-white binary characters are complicatedly mixed in one page has been widely used in general. In the conventional facsimile apparatus as described above, it is determined whether the entire original for one page is a color original or a black-and-white original. It becomes difficult to make an appropriate determination when and are mixed in a complicated manner. For example, if there is a slight color portion, the entire original is determined to be a color original, and the entire original is a color image such as JPEG (especially natural image). The image is compressed and transmitted by a compression encoding method suitable for the image. Then, the total amount of transmission increases and the transmission cost increases.

Since the compression encoding method suitable for color images (particularly natural images) is used, the quality of black and white characters is degraded. There was a problem.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention divides an original image into a plurality of image areas in the apparatus, and an operator determines an encoding method for each area, whereby the operation is sufficiently performed. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus and method capable of performing transmission that reflects a person's intention.

Further, the original image is divided into a plurality of image areas in the apparatus according to the image characteristics, the operator confirms and changes the image characteristics of each area, and the encoding method is set according to the image characteristics. By doing so, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus and method capable of performing transmission that sufficiently reflects the operator's intention.

[0007]

As one means for achieving the above object, the image processing apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration.

That is, an input unit for inputting a document image, a dividing unit for dividing the document image into a plurality of image regions, and a region including information indicating an encoding method for each image region divided by the dividing unit. Display means for displaying information, changing means for changing the area information, encoding means for encoding each image area according to the area information changed by the changing means, and encoding by the encoding means And output means for outputting the image data.

For example, the dividing means divides the original image into a color area and a monochrome area.

For example, the encoding method for each image area is
The color region is characterized by the JPEG coding system, and the monochrome region is characterized by the MMR coding system.

For example, the dividing means divides the original image into a multi-valued image area and a binary image area.

For example, the dividing means divides the original image into a halftone image area and a character image area.

For example, the area information includes communication amount information when the encoding is performed by the encoding method.

For example, the area information includes communication cost information at the time of encoding by the encoding method.

For example, the area information includes communication time information at the time of encoding by the encoding method.

[0016] For example, the changing means changes the encoding method in the area information.

For example, the display means displays a total of the area information in all the image areas divided by the dividing means.

For example, the display means displays the area information changed by the changing means.

For example, the display means displays the document image as a background.

For example, the display means displays a boundary line for each area.

Further, an input means for inputting an original image, a dividing means for dividing the original image into a plurality of image areas according to image characteristics, and an encoding method for each image area divided by the dividing means are provided. Setting means for setting, display means for displaying area information including information indicating the encoding method set by the setting means for each image area, changing means for changing the area information, and the changing means. It is characterized in that it has an encoding means for encoding each image area in accordance with the changed area information and an output means for outputting the image data encoded by the encoding means.

Further, it has a holding means for holding a table for setting an appropriate coding method for each image area, and the setting means sets the coding method for each image area according to the table. Characterize.

For example, the table includes information indicating an appropriate image processing method for each image area, and the encoding means performs image processing for each image area according to the table and then performs encoding. It is characterized by

For example, the dividing means divides the original image into a color area and a monochrome area.

For example, the dividing means divides the original image into a multi-valued image area and a binary image area.

For example, the changing means can switch the multi-valued image area to a binary image area and the binary image area to a multi-valued image area.

For example, the table uses JPEG for a multi-valued image area as an encoding method for each image area.
The encoding method is characterized in that the JBIG encoding method is set for the binary image area.

For example, the dividing means further divides the original image into a halftone image area and a character image area.

For example, the changing means can switch the halftone image area to a character image area and the character image area to a halftone image area.

For example, the table is characterized in that pseudo halftone processing is set for a binary halftone image area as an image processing method for each image area.

For example, the table is characterized in that edge enhancement processing is set for a multi-valued character image area as an image processing method for each image area.

For example, in the table, as the image processing method for each image area, 2 is set for the binary character image area.
It is characterized in that the value conversion process is set.

As one method for achieving the above-mentioned object, the image processing method of the present invention comprises the following steps.

That is, a dividing step of dividing the input original image into a plurality of image areas, and a display step of displaying area information including information indicating an encoding method for each image area divided in the dividing step. An encoding step of performing encoding for each image area according to the area information changed by the changing step, and an encoding step of encoding by the encoding step. It is characterized by outputting image data.

Further, a dividing step of dividing the input original image into a plurality of image areas according to image characteristics, a setting step of setting an encoding method for each image area divided in the dividing step, and For each image area, a display step of displaying area information including information indicating the encoding method set in the setting step, a changing step in which the operator changes the area information, and an area changed in the changing step A coding step of coding each image area according to information, and outputting the image data coded by the coding step.

For example, in the setting step, the encoding method is set for each image area according to a table in which an appropriate encoding method is set for each image area in advance.

For example, the table includes information indicating an appropriate image processing method for each image area, and in the encoding step, image processing is performed for each image area according to the table, and then encoding is performed. It is characterized by performing.

[0038]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is an external view of a color facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, 101 is a main body of a facsimile apparatus, 102 is a lid of an image input unit such as a scanner, etc., the lid 102 is opened to place a document, the lid 102 is closed, and an operator instructs the transmission start from an operation panel 103. Then, scanning of the document is started. 1
An operation panel 03 is used to input a telephone number as a transmission destination and to select a speed dial. Also, 10
Reference numeral 5 denotes a key input unit, which is used by the operator to instruct switching of the original area in the present embodiment, switching of the encoding method, the display method, and the like. Reference numeral 104 denotes a display panel, which is composed of an LCD or the like, and notifies the operator of instructions from the operation panel 103 and the key input unit 105, operation status of the apparatus, and the like. 1
Reference numeral 06 is a pen input device.

Next, FIG. 2 shows a block configuration of the color facsimile apparatus 101 described above. In FIG. 2, 20
Reference numeral 1 is an image input unit for inputting an original image, such as a color scanner including a CCD sensor, 202 is a transmission / reception processing unit for performing various image processing including image encoding / decoding processing for transmission / reception, and 203 is for outputting the received image Image output unit, 20
4 is a communication unit for transmitting and receiving images, 205 is a display unit including the display panel described above, and 206 is the operation panel 10 described above.
3 is an operation unit including the key input unit 105. Each of these components is centrally controlled by the CPU 207. C
The PU 207 is a ROM 2 that holds the control program, etc.
08 and a RAM 209 serving as a work area. It should be noted that the transmission / reception processing unit 202 can execute encoding or decoding of a plurality of types of algorithms as described later.

Next, the display panel 10 shown in FIG. 1 is shown in FIG.
4 and the vicinity of the key input unit 105 are shown enlarged. Reference numeral 301 denotes a window in which the dial of the other party designated on the operation panel 103 is displayed. Reference numeral 302 denotes an area in the original document and a display area for displaying the encoding method, communication charge, etc. in each area. Reference numeral 303 denotes a push switch for switching an area in the document as described later, and 304 denotes a transmission / reception processing unit 202.
A push switch for switching the encoding method in 305, and a push switch 305 for switching the display mode.

In the display area 302, numeral 310 indicates the area division state of the original, and numeral 320 indicates the charge for transmission to the destination displayed on the window 301. Further, in the document display 310, 311 to 313 designate color image areas as 314.
Indicates a black and white image area, and the respective encoding methods and the communication charges for performing the encoding by the encoding method and transmitting to the destination of the window 310 are displayed.

The transmission process in this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG.
The flowchart will be described in detail below.

First, in step S401, various preparation processes for transmission are performed. Specifically, first, the operator opens the lid 102 and sets the document on the image input unit 201.
Then, the telephone number of the transmission destination is input from the operation panel 103. Then, according to an instruction from the CPU 207, the destination telephone number is displayed in the display window 301 of the display unit 205 shown in FIG. Then, the operator presses the prescan start switch provided on the operation panel 103.

Then, the process proceeds to step S402, where C
Based on an instruction from the PU 207, the image input unit 201 prescans a document by a color scanner (not shown) or the like, and multi-value image data of R, G, B is input. Then, based on the input data, the color area and the monochrome area are determined, and the original is classified into areas. The method of determining whether it is a color area or a monochrome area depends on the signal ratio of each R, G, B in the input image data. That is, when | R / G-1 | <α and | B / G-1 | <β are satisfied when α and β are appropriately small constants, it is determined that the part is a black and white area, Otherwise, it is determined to be a color area.

Then, the process proceeds to step S403,
The color area is a JPEG encoding method (JPEG ADCT method) which is an irreversible encoding method of multi-valued data using orthogonal transformation for each two-dimensional block, and the monochrome area is an MMR code which is a reversible encoding method of binary data. It is set as an encryption method. The compression ratio in JPEG is stored in advance in the RAM 209 (or ROM) as a quantization parameter, which is a fixed value depending on the device, but can be changed by the operator using the operation unit 206.

Next, in step S404, it is determined whether or not the currently set display mode is the "communication charge" mode. The display mode is switched by the display mode selection switch 305 and held in the RAM 209. In the present embodiment, the default mode immediately after the power of the device is turned on is the “communication charge” mode, but the mode is not particularly limited to this.

If the "communication charge" mode is set in step S404, the flow advances to step S405 to display the predicted communication charge for each divided area on the display unit 205 according to an instruction from the CPU 207. .
FIG. 3 described above shows a display example of the display 104 when the display mode is “communication charge”. FIG. 3 shows an example in which the original is divided into three independent color areas and one continuous black and white area. Then, for each area, the coding method in the area and the charge for the transmission are displayed. Then, the total fee (total fee) when the original is transmitted as it is is displayed in the display area 320.
Although the Japanese yen (¥) is used as the charge system displayed in this embodiment, of course, the US dollar ($)
It is sufficient if the communication cost can be clearly determined.

On the other hand, if the display mode is not the "communication charge" in step S404, that is, the "communication time" mode in this embodiment, the process is step S.
In step 406, the predicted communication time for each divided area is displayed on the display unit 205 according to an instruction from the CPU 207. An example is shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, the communication charge for each area is displayed in FIG. 3, whereas the communication time for each area is displayed. The displayed communication charge and communication time are determined by referring to the charge table stored in the ROM 208.

Here, a method of calculating the "communication charge" is shown in the flowchart of FIG.

First, the size of the area to be processed is detected in step S701, and then in step S702, the area of the detected size is detected in step S40.
The amount of code data when encoded by the encoding method set in 3 is calculated. The calculation of the amount of code data in this case is
The coding amount may be counted by actually performing the coding, or the coding amount may be predicted according to the standard compression rate of the set coding method.

Next, in step S703, the time required for communication is calculated according to the amount of code data and the capacity of the communication line, and in step S704 the communication charge is calculated according to the communication time and the charge table. Then, the process proceeds to step S705, and the calculation of the communication charge for each area as described above is repeated.

Returning to FIG. 4, the process then proceeds to step S40.
7, the operator confirms the communication charge or the communication time displayed in the display area 302, determines whether or not it is possible to transmit as indicated, and operates the presence or absence of a change based on the determination. Instruct from the unit 206.

In step S407, for example, in the charge display shown in FIG. 3, the total charge is 5980 yen, but if the operator determines that this is too high, the process proceeds to step S408 to change the total charge. . In the processing from step S408, the total charge is changed by changing the coding method in each area.

For example, in the display shown in FIG. 3, the color area 312 is coded by the JPEG coding method,
Communication in this area alone costs 3,400 yen.
However, the color area 312 is not a very important area, and if it is transmitted as a binary black-and-white image and the image quality is deteriorated due to this, there is no particular problem even if the other party who receives it cannot fully understand the content. Consider the case.

Then, in step S408, the operator presses the area change switch 203. Then, the color area 311 is first displayed in reverse video to inform that the selection has been made. When the area selection switch 203 is pressed again, the color area 312 is selected this time. Thus, in step S408, the operator can select the color area (311 to 313) to be changed. Here, as an example, it is assumed that the color area 312 is selected. In the present embodiment, only the color area can be selected, but of course, the black and white area may be selected.

Then, the process proceeds to step S409, and when the operator depresses the encoding system changeover switch 304,
The encoding method of the color area 312 selected in step S408 is switched from the JPEG method to the MMR method. This state is shown in FIG. In FIG. 6, the color area 312
It can be seen that the encoding method of is changed to the MMR method, and accordingly, the communication charge of the color area 312 is changed to 320 yen, and the total charge of the area 320 is changed to 2,900 yen. Here, by pressing the coding method changeover switch 304 again, the coding method in the color area 312 is changed to JP
It is possible to return to the EG system, and at this time, of course, the display of the communication charge and the total charge of the color area 312 also returns to 3,400 yen and 5,980 yen, respectively.

Next, in step S410, if necessary, the operator depresses the display mode changeover switch 305 to change the display mode to the "communication time" mode. Then, the process returns to step S404.

Then, when it is determined in step S407 that the operator may transmit the data as displayed on the display panel 104, the process proceeds to step S411. And
When the operator presses a transmission start switch (not shown), main scanning is performed by a color scanner or the like in the image input unit 201, and the obtained RGB multi-valued image data is transmitted / received by the transmission / reception processing unit 202 for each area. Is transmitted from the communication unit 204 after being subjected to predetermined encoding.

An end key other than the transmission start switch may be provided in order to confirm that various settings have been completed in step S407. Alternatively, by continuing to press the area changeover switch 303, for example, the setting may be ended in a state where no area is selected.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
The operator can confirm and change the encoding method by dividing the original image into a plurality of image areas and displaying the communication amount information when encoding with an appropriate encoding method for each area. You can Therefore, it is possible to set the encoding method for each image area so that the amount of communication desired by the operator is set, perform encoding according to the encoding method, and then transmit.
That is, the communication cost can be reduced by reflecting the intention of the operator by arbitrarily changing the encoding method of the selected color area by the operator.

In the display area 302 according to the present embodiment, color area designation, coding method switching, etc.
It may be performed using the pen input device 106.

In the above-described first embodiment, the displayed contents are changed by the push switch or the pen input device, but the present invention is not limited to this example. Various other methods such as a touch panel method using a finger, a dial, a joystick, and the like can be considered. Further, when the above procedure is stored in a magnetic storage medium and is executed by using a computer, it can be realized by moving a cursor with a predetermined key of a mouse or a keyboard.

As for the area dividing method, the color / black and white division is performed in the above-described first embodiment. However, two types of division such as binary / multivalue or a combination thereof are used. However, it can be set appropriately according to the characteristics of the device.

Regarding the method of separating the color area and the black-and-white area, for example, if γ is a predetermined value, then | (R / G) ^ 2 + (B / G) ^ 2 −2 | ≦ γ (A ^ 2
Indicates the square of A), it is possible to improve the determination accuracy by adding various more complicated processing such as setting to a black and white area. Alternatively, the RGB data may be converted into color space data such as L * a * b *, L * u * v *, and the area may be determined based on the chromaticity data.

Further, in the first embodiment, the operator can change only the coding method in each area, but for example, the operator can arbitrarily change the color / monochrome area determined in the apparatus. You can At that time,
The selection of the encoding method may be linked to the change of the color / monochrome area.

Further, in the above-described first embodiment, by displaying the document image on the background in the document regions 310 and 510 of the display unit 302, the operator can see the contents of the document and, if necessary, the region. The selection and the switching of the encoding system can be performed, and the operability is improved.

When a document image is displayed on the background, the display color of the boundary line indicating the area and the "communication charge" and the "communication time" is set to a color that is easy to see in accordance with the color tone of the document image. This is because the CPU 207 detects a color having a complementary color relationship with the color tone of the original image and automatically sets it.

Further, the display contents on the display panel 104,
Alternatively, the display method is not limited to that of the first embodiment. For example, “JPEG”, “MMR” and the like may be understood only by an operator who is familiar with compression techniques, and thus may be replaced with words that are easily understood by general operators. Further, the display panel is the lid 102 of the scanner unit.
It is preferable that it is provided on the upper part of the operability.

Also, all of the encoding method, communication cost, and communication time may be displayed at the same time, or other variables indicating the amount of communication may be displayed. It is effective to display only the variable indicating the communication amount when forgetting to set the transmission destination first or having a plurality of transmission destinations as in the case of broadcast communication.

Further, if the divided area becomes smaller, it becomes difficult to display in the area. In this case, it is sufficient to provide a function of enlarging and displaying the designated area.

In the first embodiment, the color area is coded by the JPEG system, but the coding method is not limited to this as long as it is a coding system suitable for coding color images and multi-valued images such as vector quantization. It is not something that will be done. Similarly, in the black and white area, not only MMR coding but also MH coding may be used, or a plurality of coding methods may be selected.

<Second Embodiment> The second embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
An embodiment will be described. Since the device configuration of the image processing device of the second embodiment is the same as that of the above-described first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 8 shows a flow chart of the transmission process in the second embodiment, which will be described in detail. In the second embodiment, in addition to the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 described in the first embodiment described above, step S802 of determining a region by prescan, step S803 of determining an encoding method, and a data form, The step S809 for switching the image area is different. Other steps that are the same as those in FIG. 4 are assigned the same step numbers, and description thereof is omitted.

In the second embodiment, step S80.
2. In addition to the determination of monochrome / color of the original image in 2, the data form determination of whether the original is a multi-valued image area (multi-valued area) or a binary image area (limited color area) as a feature of the original, and The image area is determined whether it is a character area or a halftone area.

Here, the determination of multi-value (multi-color) / 2-value (limited color) can be made by obtaining the number of colors based on the frequency distribution of the image data in the area. Further, the determination as to whether it is the character image area or the halftone image area can be made based on how much the density difference between each pixel in the area and the surrounding pixels is.

Then, in step S803, as shown in FIG.
The encoding method is set according to the table shown in.

The table of FIG. 9 is based on color / monochrome judgment, image area judgment, and multivalue / binary data form judgment.
The transmission / reception processing unit 202 determines what image processing is to be performed and what encoding method is to be used for encoding, and is stored in the ROM 208 in advance. And the contents are as follows.

Multivalued color area in a halftone image The data is encoded by the normal JPEG method without any data conversion.

Multi-valued black-and-white area in a halftone image A luminance (density) component is extracted from RGB data, and JPEG is used.
It is encoded according to the method.

Binary Color Area in Halftone Image Pseudo halftone processing is performed for each RGB color component by the error diffusion method or dither method, and each RGB color component is encoded by the JBIG method.

Binary black-and-white area in halftone image Luminance (density) components are extracted from RGB data, pseudo halftone processing is performed in the same manner, and encoding is performed by the JBIG method.

Multi-valued color area in a character image It is encoded by the normal JPEG method without any data conversion.

Multivalued black-and-white area in character image Luminance (density) component is extracted from RGB data, and JPEG
It is encoded according to the method.

Binary color area in character image Pseudo-halftone processing is performed for each RGB color component by the error diffusion method or dither method, and each RGB color component is encoded by the JBIG method.

Binary black-and-white area in character image Luminance (density) components are extracted from RGB data, pseudo halftone processing is performed in the same manner, and encoding is performed by the JBIG method.

Note that the table shown in FIG.
It may be configured so that it can be held in the area 09 and can be changed as needed.

FIG. 10 shows an example in which the encoding method set according to the table shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the display 302 according to the result of the area attribute determination. Note that FIG. 10 shows a display example in the communication charge mode.

In FIG. 10, 1304 is a data format (multi-value / binary) switching key, and 1305 is an image area (character / character).
Halftone) This is a switch key. In the manuscript display 310, 1311 designates a multi-valued / monochrome / halftone image area, 131
Reference numeral 2 indicates a multi-value / color / halftone image area, 1313 indicates a binary / color / character image area, and 1314 indicates a binary / monochrome / character image area. Therefore, each area 1311, 1312
Reference numerals 1313 and 1314 correspond to ,,, and shown in the table of FIG. 9, respectively, and the respective encoding methods and the communication charges for the case of performing the encoding by the encoding method and transmitting to the destination of the window 310 are displayed. . Note that the other keys, the display area, and the like in FIG. 10 are the same as those in FIG.

Returning to FIG. 8, in step S809, each switching key 130 is displayed based on the display on the display 302.
4, 1305 is used to switch the data form or image area. By this switching, the image processing content and the encoding method are changed according to the table of FIG.

As described above, according to the second embodiment,
Divide the original image into multiple image areas according to the image characteristics,
An appropriate encoding method is set for each area according to the image feature, and the image feature is displayed together with the communication amount information when the encoding is performed by the encoding method, so that the operator can display the image feature. You can check and change. Therefore, the encoding method is set according to the image feature desired by the operator, and the encoding method can be performed and transmitted. That is, the characteristics of the original image can be accurately measured, and appropriate image processing and encoding can be set. Further, it is possible to give the operator flexibility to make changes.

The present invention is directed to a color image scanner,
The invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices such as a host computer and a color printer, or to a device composed of a single device such as a color facsimile machine. It goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to the case where the system or apparatus is a program that implements the above algorithm and is achieved by supplying the program stored in a storage medium such as a floppy disk.

As described above, according to the present invention, one page of a document is divided into regions according to the characteristics of the image, and once an appropriate coding method is set for each region, at least the communication cost or the transmission time is reduced. By displaying one,
After the operator confirms the display, the coding method of each area can be switched, so that the communication cost can be minimized by more reflecting the operator's intention.

Further, the operator can set the image feature in each area, not the encoding system itself, and by setting the encoding system according to the image feature, a more flexible encoding system can be set. Becomes

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices such as a host computer, an interface and a printer, or to an apparatus composed of a single device such as a copying machine.

It goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to the case where it is carried out by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. In this case, the storage medium storing the program according to the present invention constitutes the present invention. Then, by reading the program from the storage medium to the system or device, the system or device operates in a predetermined manner.

[0097]

As described above, according to the present invention, one page of a document is divided into areas according to the characteristics of the image, and once the appropriate coding method is set for each area, the communication cost or transmission time is reduced. By displaying at least one of
After the operator confirms the display, the coding method of each area can be switched, so that the communication cost can be minimized by more reflecting the operator's intention.

Further, the operator can set the image characteristics in each area, not the encoding method itself, and the encoding method can be set in accordance with the image characteristics, so that a more flexible encoding method can be set. Becomes

[0099]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a facsimile apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example (communication charge mode) of a display panel 104 in the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a transmission process in this embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display example (communication time mode) of a display panel 104 in the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display example (communication charge mode) of a display panel 104 in the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a method of calculating a “communication charge” in this embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a transmission process in the second embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a table for setting an encoding method for each image area in the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display example (communication charge mode) of the display panel 104 in the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 101 color facsimile apparatus 103 operation panel 104 display panel 105 key input unit 106 pen input unit 201 image input unit 202 transmission / reception processing unit 203 image output unit 204 communication unit 205 display unit 206 operation unit 207 CPU 208 ROM 209 RAM

Claims (29)

[Claims] 1. An input unit for inputting a document image, a dividing unit for dividing the document image into a plurality of image regions, and a region containing information indicating an encoding method for each image region divided by the dividing unit. Display means for displaying information, changing means for changing the area information, encoding means for encoding each image area according to the area information changed by the changing means, and encoding by the encoding means And an output unit for outputting the image data. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the dividing unit divides the original image into a color area and a black and white area. 3. The encoding method for each image area is a JPEG encoding method for color areas and M for black and white areas.
The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image processing apparatus is an MR encoding system. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the dividing unit divides the original image into a multi-valued image area and a binary image area. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the dividing unit divides the original image into a halftone image area and a character image area. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the area information includes communication amount information when encoding is performed by the encoding method. 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the area information includes communication cost information when encoding is performed by the encoding method. 8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the area information includes communication time information when encoding is performed by the encoding method. 9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the changing unit changes an encoding method in the area information. 10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays a total of the area information in all the image areas divided by the dividing unit. 11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays the area information changed by the changing unit. 12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays the document image as a background. 13. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays a boundary line for each area. 14. An input unit for inputting a document image, a dividing unit for dividing the document image into a plurality of image regions according to image features, and an encoding method for each image region divided by the dividing unit. Setting means for setting, display means for displaying area information including information indicating the encoding method set by the setting means for each image area, changing means for changing the area information, and the changing means An image processing apparatus comprising: an encoding unit that encodes each image region according to the changed region information; and an output unit that outputs the image data encoded by the encoding unit. 15. The storage device further comprises a holding unit that holds a table for setting an appropriate encoding method for each image area, and the setting unit sets the encoding method for each image area according to the table. The image processing device according to claim 14, wherein 16. The table includes information indicating an appropriate image processing method for each image area, and the encoding means performs image processing for each image area according to the table and then performs encoding. The image processing device according to claim 15, wherein 17. The image processing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the dividing unit divides the original image into a color area and a monochrome area. 18. The image processing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the dividing unit divides the original image into a multi-valued image area and a binary image area. 19. The image according to claim 18, wherein the changing unit is capable of switching a multi-valued image area to a binary image area and a binary image area to a multi-valued image area. Processing equipment. 20. The table sets a JPEG encoding method for a multi-valued image area and a JBIG encoding method for a binary image area as an encoding method for each image area. 19. The image processing device according to item 19. 21. The image processing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the dividing unit further divides the original image into a halftone image area and a character image area. 22. The changing means is capable of switching the halftone image area to a character image area and the character image area to a halftone image area.
1. The image processing device according to 1. 23. The image processing apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the table sets pseudo halftone processing for a binary halftone image area as an image processing method for each image area. 24. The image processing apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the table sets edge enhancement processing for a multi-valued character image area as an image processing method for each image area. 25. The image processing apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the table sets binarization processing for a binary character image area as an image processing method for each image area. 26. A dividing step of dividing an input original image into a plurality of image areas, and a display step of displaying area information including information indicating an encoding method for each image area divided in the dividing step. An encoding step for encoding each image area according to the area information changed by the changing step, and an encoding step for encoding by the encoding step. An image processing method characterized by outputting image data. 27. A dividing step of dividing an input original image into a plurality of image areas according to image characteristics; a setting step of setting an encoding method for each image area divided in the dividing step; For each image area, a display step of displaying area information including information indicating the encoding method set in the setting step, a changing step in which the operator changes the area information, and an area changed in the changing step And a coding step of coding each image area according to information, and outputting the image data coded by the coding step. 28. The image processing method according to claim 27, wherein in the setting step, the coding method is set for each image area according to a table in which an appropriate coding method is set for each image area in advance. . 29. The table includes information indicating an appropriate image processing method for each image area, and in the encoding step, after performing image processing for each image area according to the table, encoding is performed. 29. The image processing method according to claim 28, which is performed.