FR2716593A1 - Data processing system for facsimile reproduction - Google Patents

Abstract

The system speeds up the sending and reproduction of the data. At the sending end (1) are scanners and processors for text and pictures (3,2). Their signals are combined (4), together with suitable markers, and sent along a transmission line, typically a telephone line (L). At the receiving end (5) a discriminator (12) splits the signals into text and picture components. Processing circuits (6,8;7,9) act on the signals to prepare them for application to the reproduction equipment (10,11). Using the proposed method, on line operation is possible as the need to store received data for subsequent processing at a slower rate is eliminated.

Description

 A data processing system capable of processing data of different types, for example code data representing characters and symbols and image data representing image density.

 In the case of processing data of different types such as code data representing characters, symbols, etc. and image data representing an image density, separate channels can be used for the transmission of the respective data to be processed. Such an arrangement is however undesirable, since it requires a number of transmission channels corresponding to the types of data, which leads to a high cost, especially in the case of long distance transmission.

 Furthermore, in the case of transmission of data of different types by a common transmission channel, it is necessary to give the reception unit a large capacity memory for recording all the data transmitted in this memory and for inspecting the data. recorded in order to identify the type.

Such an arrangement is not only of undesirable cost, but it is also not suitable for processing in real time, since the identification of the data in memory requires time.

 In any case, the above drawbacks get worse as the number of data types increases.

 In view of the above, the subject of the invention is a data processing system capable of transmitting data of various types, exactly, using a simple structure. The invention more particularly relates to a data processing system capable of identifying and processing in real time transmitted data of different types. The invention also relates to a data processing system capable of securely identifying and separating mixed data of different types.

Another subject of the invention is a data processing system designed to reproduce a synthesized image from data of different types. The invention also relates to a data processing system capable of easily synthesizing characters, symbols, etc. from an image read from an original.

The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings by way of non-limiting examples and in which
- Figure 1 is a simplified diagram of a data transmission system according to 1 invention
- Figure 2 is a diagram showing a structure or presentation of data
- Figure 3 is a diagram showing the structure of a font memory;
- Figure 4 is a diagram showing density patterns
- Figure 5 is a schematic view illustrating the execution of a transmission
- Figure 6 is a detailed diagram of a transmission station
- Figures 7a to 7d are schematic views showing other examples of image and character information
- Figure 8 is a diagram showing the state of a layout memory
- Figure 9 is a detailed diagram of a reception station; and
- Figure 10 is a simplified diagram of another embodiment of the data transmission system according to the invention.

 FIG. 1 shows in a simplified manner an embodiment of a data transmission system implementing the data transmission method according to the invention which uses a transmission station 1 equipped with a reader 2 intended to perform a photoelectric reading of an image of an original, with color separation, by means of an image sensor such as a charge-coupled device intended to produce image data representing the density of the image at using density patterns described below; a document preparation unit 3 intended to form information composed of characters, symbols, etc. according to the data entered by means of keys or tablets to produce code data representing characters, symbols, etc., for example in the form of an ASCII code; and a layout unit 4 for editing, (for example repositioning, enlarging, reducing, erasing, extracting, etc.) the image data coming from the reading unit 2 and the code data coming from the document preparation unit 3, according to predetermined formats or according to manual instructions introduced by means of keys or an analog / digital converter, the layout unit 4 releasing the corresponding data. The data edited in the layout unit 4 is applied to a transmission channel L composed, for example, of an optical fiber or a telephone line. Consequently, the image data and the character code data are present in mixture on the transmission channel L. Transmission via channel L can be carried out either in the form of non-return to zero signals, or in the form of modulated signals, for example in modified frequency modulation. The information obtained from the original, in this form, is not transmitted in its original form, but in the form of data representing a density target, which improves the efficiency of transmission by a reduction in the amount transmitted based on this image information.

 A receiving station 5 performs, in a data discrimination unit 12, the discrimination of data transmitted by the channel L, by means of a 4-bit discrimination code preceding said data, and the data are guided to a suitable circuit. of treatment according to the result of this discrimination. More particularly, image data are transmitted, via a buffer memory 6 to a pattern generator 8 which stores, as shown in FIG. 4, 17 dot patterns representing various densities by different arrangements of dots black and white in a 4 x 4 format matrix. Furthermore, the code data is applied via a buffer memory 7 to a character generator 9 equipped with a font memory in which fonts are stored characters, symbols, etc.

 The output signals from the pattern generator 8 and the character generator 9 are synthesized in a logic summing circuit 10 and they are transmitted to a color printer 11, consisting for example of an ink jet printer or a laser beam printer, intended to form a colored and synthesized recording of characters, symbols, etc. and images on a recording medium such as paper, after proper processing of color signals, for example conversion to complementary colors, elimination of background color, etc.

 FIG. 2 shows an example of the data structure or format of a word transmitted by the transmission channel L. The upper 4 bits AO - A3 (MSB bits) constitute a discrimination code intended for the identification of the data contained in the data discrimination unit 12, and the following bits DO - Dn constitute the code data or data of picture. More particularly, the discrimination code AO "0" indicates that the bits DO - Dn represent code data and the code A0 "1" indicates that said bits DO - Dn represent image data.

 If the discrimination code bit A0 is "1", which indicates image data, the bits DO - Dn represent one of the density patterns composed of 4 × 4 matrices per pixel, as shown in FIG. 4 .

For example, 5-bit data can be used to indicate the number of black dots in said 4 x 4 matrix. In this case, the 4 x 4 = 16 bit information can be compressed into 5/16, with, for result, improved transmission efficiency. In addition, in the case where the bit AO of the discrimination code is "O", indicating a code datum, the following three bits A1 - A3 constitute an address code for the font memory in the character generator 9. More particularly, in the case where a character or symbol is represented by a matrix of 32 x 32 points as indicated in FIG. 3, this matrix is divided, in correspondence with the number of rows (4 points) of each test pattern, in 8 groups LO - L7 each composed of 4 x 32 points, and the discrimination code bits Ai,
A2, A3 are used for the selection of groups LO - L7 in the font memory. For example, a code
AOA1A2A3DOD1D2 .... Dn = OOOOXXX .... X requests access, corresponding to a character represented by a given code XXX .... X, to the group font
LO, i.e. the 4 x 32 points higher. In addition, a code
AOA1A2A3DOD1D2 .... Dn = 0001XXX .... X requests access, corresponding to a character represented by a code data XXX ... X, to the font of group L1, i.e. 4 x 32 stitches from 5th to 8th rows.

Similarly, the code bits AOA1A2A3 = "0010" request access to group L2, "00011" to group L3, "0100" to group L4, ..., "0111" to group L7.

Furthermore, in the case where the discrimination code bit AO is "1", indicating image data, the following three bits A1 - A3 are used to designate the color of image data represented by the bits DO - Dn. For example, the code bits AOA1A2A3 = "1000", "1010", "1100" or "1110" represent red, green, blue or black respectively. Therefore, a code
AOA7A2A3DOD1D2 .... Dn = 1010XXX .... X indicates that the input data are green image data with a density target corresponding to a brightness XXX .... X. In addition, a code
AOA1A2A3DOD1D2 .... Dn = 1110XXX .... X indicates that the input data are black image data corresponding to a brightness XXX ... .X.

 A discrimination code AOA1A2A3 = "1111" is used as the printer control signal, for example a carriage return signal or a jump signal, regardless of the value of the following bits DO - Dn.

The transmitting station 1 explores or scans in series, with color separation, the image of an original to be transmitted, by means of linear image sensors in order to produce density data indicated in FIG. 4, corresponding to density information obtained during scanning, and it transmits said density data
DO - Dn after addition of a bit AO = 1, representing an image datum, and of bits Al - A3 of color discrimination code in the layout unit 4. Furthermore, in the case of the transmission of characters or symbols, etc., a code stream 401 recorded in a memory, corresponding to document information prepared in the document preparation unit 3 (FIG. 1), is extracted in series and is recorded in a register 402. The code recorded in the register 402 is transmitted after the addition of a 3-bit code Al - A3 for addressing the font memory and a code bit AO = "O" representing a code datum in the address generator 403. The address produced by the generator 403 is incremented step by step at each arrival of a pulse coming from a pulse generator 404 which is triggered at each scan, that is to say at each arrival of the carriage return signal, while the character code DO - Dn corresponding to several characters or symbols constituting the same line is transmitted eight times repeatedly.

 Thus, in the mixed transmission of characters, symbols, etc. and images, the receiving station can perform the recording operation of characters, symbols, etc. in the same way as for an image read on the original, since the access to the font memory is carried out each time for a certain number of lines corresponding to the dimension of the unit pixel composed of a density test pattern.

 In the reception station, each received data can be recorded in a magnetic or optical memory. Furthermore, the transmitted image data need not be limited to density patterns representing intensity levels, but this data may be subject to suitable data compression, for example compression by MH codes . In this case, the transmitting station must include a signal compression circuit while the receiving station must include a signal extension circuit. In addition, the recording or storage operation can be carried out only on one of the transmitted data, since its separation is very easy.

 In addition, the image data transmitted by the transmitting station can be obtained from a color television camera or from an image memory, for example a magnetic memory. In addition, information consisting of characters, symbols, etc. can be obtained for example from a word processor or a desktop computer.

 As described above, the image data and the code data representing characters and symbols are precisely distinguished even when transmitted by a common transmission channel, and the characters or symbols can be manipulated in a way dimensional compatible.

In addition, the present invention prevents the increase in costs because it does not require an increase in the dimensions of the font memory, but only in the number of its addresses.

 It is obvious that the size of the font memory is not limited to 32 x 32 points, but that it can be suitably chosen depending on the output device such as the printer.

 Character or symbol data to be synthesized with image data can be obtained not only from a document preparation unit, such as a word or text processor, but also from a device output designed to transmit the time and date of transmission or a number indicating the numbers or pages of the original.

 In addition, the receiving station can present the synthesized image on a display such as a cathode ray tube, in addition to recording an image on a recording medium.

 Furthermore, the image data and the code data can be transmitted in a predetermined order on the transmission channel, for example the image data first, collectively, then the code data, also collectively. . Transmission mixed in random order is obviously also possible.

 FIG. 6 shows in a simplified manner another embodiment of the transmitting station 1 shown in FIG. 1, where a reader 601 performs a photoelectric reading of an original, with color separation, to produce the image signals in color corresponding to the colors blue (B), green (V), and red (R), while a word processor 602, equipped with a character / symbol input unit, such as a keyboard, is intended generating document information and transmitting character code data corresponding to the document information thus prepared.

 The color image signals output from the reader 601 are applied to a pattern data generator 603 for producing density pattern data for each of the color image signals input. An image file 604, composed of a flexible disk or a semiconductor memory, can store image data composed of density target data, as well as the corresponding color discrimination codes (Al - A3) to several pages of the original.

 Furthermore, the character code data transmitted by the word processor 602 is recorded in a document file 605 similar to the image file mentioned above.

 FIGS. 7a to 7d represent examples of image information, namely information P1 in FIG. 7a, information P2 in FIG. 7b, entered in the reader 601 and stored in the image file, and information of characters C1 in FIG. 7c and C2 in FIG. 7d, prepared in the word processor 602 and stored in the document file.

 In Fig. 6, a layout controller 606 performs layout functions such as rearrangement, modification of magnification, erasure, etc., on the image information and the image information. character from reader 601 and word processor 602, in accordance with layout information that the operator enters using a keyboard 607.

 The layout controller 606 includes a layout table intended to memorize the layout information entered from the keyboard 607. This table corresponds to the recording domain of the reception station, as shown in FIG. 8 .

The layout table 801 shown in FIG. 8 illustrates an example of layout of the information shown in FIGS. 7a to 7d, where the image information P1 is assigned to an area defined by points A and B, the image information P2 is assigned to an area defined by points G and H, the character information C1 is assigned to an area defined by points E and F, and the character information C2 is assigned to an area defined by points C and D, while the margins outside these areas are left blank.

 During the transmission of the information subject to the layout operation, the image file 604 and the document file 605 emit signals for each of the rows, according to output instructions from the layout controller. on page. Discrimination coding circuits 608 and 609 set the aforementioned data discrimination bit AO ahead of data from the image file 604 and document file 605 respectively.

Counters 610 and 611 respectively count the read signals WP, WS intended for the files and coming from the layout controller 606. A signal
Character position CS is used to position the aforementioned bits A1 - A3 indicating the position for accessing the font memory.

 In response to a start of transmission signal, the layout controller 606 triggers the exploration of the layout table 801, in a right-facing direction from a point X shown in Figure 8 to finally reach a point Y.

We now consider a case of scanning or exploring from a point Q1 to another point Q6. In a part between the point Qi and a point Q2, not corresponding to an image or character setting area, the layout controller 606 emits a white signal (AOA1A2A3DOD1 .... Dn = 111000 ... 0) indicating a white image, via a line 612.

In a part between the point Q2 and a point Q3, which falls in a layout area for the image information P1, a signal WP for reading the image file is emitted, which is counted by the counter 610 as indicated previously, in order to release determined data from the image file 604 in response to this count. In this way, the layout memory is explored and, when the exploration reaches the front end of the layout area P1, the signal WP is emitted in order to pass the counter 610 to a count "1" , thus freeing the image data of the first line from the image file 604. Then, when the scanning again reaches the layout area P1, the signal WP is again sent to give the counter 610 a count "2", thus freeing the image data of the image file 604 second line. In this way, the count of the counter 610 is incremented step by step each time the scan reaches the layout area, thereby selecting the row of image data to be extracted from the image file 604.

 In a part between point Q3 and point Q4, again corresponding to an area of no layout, the layout controller 606 again transmits the aforementioned white signal.

In a following part going from point Q4 to point Q5 and corresponding to a layout area for character information C1, the layout controller 606 emits a signal WS for reading the document file, which is counted by the counter 611 in order to release determined data from the document file 605. In the embodiment described, the font memory is divided into eight groups (LO - L7) to be accessed successively, so that the step-by-step incrementation of the counter 611 takes place after eight times the counting of the signal WS to transmit the character code data corresponding to a next row of characters from the document file 605. A signal
CS, intended to designate groups (positions) in the font memory, is used to fix position codes (Al - A3) to the character code data obtained by said access, in accordance with the account contained in the counter 611.

In a part going from point Q5 to point
Q6 and corresponding to an area of no layout, the layout controller 606 emits the aforementioned white signal. When the scan reaches point Q6, that is to say the right end of the layout memory 801, the layout controller 606 transmits the carriage return signal on a line 612.

 Thus, during the recurrent scanning of the layout memory 801, the layout controller 606 emits the signal WP or WS for reading or extraction, respectively when the scanning reaches an image layout area or a character layout area, so as to cause the extraction of data from the image file 604 or from the document file 606. In this way, information containing the image data and the character code data is obtained in a mixed manner.

The counters 610 and 611 are reset when the scan reaches the rear end of the layout area.

 FIG. 9 shows in a simplified manner another embodiment of the reception station shown in FIG. 1, designed to receive the data transmitted by the transmission station shown in FIG. 6 and to record a synthesized image on a storage medium. recording.

The data coming from the transmitting station are introduced into a shift register 901. The data being positioned in the register 901, the first four bits (AQ - A3) are transmitted to a decoder 902 which determines, from said discrimination codes
AO - A3 if the following data bits DO - Dn represent image data, a character code or a printer control signal, and which transmits additional data such as color data in the case of data images, or data relating to the font memory access position, in the case of character code data.

 An output line 09 of the decoder 902 is activated when the following data bits DO - Dn are identified as representing character code data, while an output line 010 is activated when the bits DO - Dn are identified as representing image data. The output signals 09, 010 allow buffer memories 904 and 903 respectively to store the data DO - Dn in the shift register 901. In this way, the decoder determines the nature of the data so as to select a suitable buffer memory and to classify the data in this way.

 In the case of the discrimination code AO = "1" indicating that the following data DO - Dn are image data, the buffer memory 903 is validated by the output 010 of the decoder 902, so as to accept the data DO - Dn . In addition, the decoder 902 identifies the color of said data DO - Dn from the discrimination codes A1 - A3 to transmit a corresponding output signal 02, 03, 04 or 05 respectively indicating a blue, green, red or black color. The output signals 02 - 05 respectively authorize memories 908-911 to receive data corresponding to the respective colors.

 The image data stored in the buffer memory 903, representing the ratio of the white / black points per unit of area, as explained above, is transmitted to a pattern generator 905 which comprises a table containing 17 patterns shown in FIG. 4 and emits a pattern of points corresponding to the input image data. The test pattern corresponds to the yellow (Y), magenta (M) or cyan (C) signal obtained by converting the B, G and R signals into complementary colors.

 The dot pattern emitted by the pattern generator 905 is stored in one of the memories 908 - 911 which are selected by the output signals 02-05 of the decoder 902 as indicated above.

Furthermore, in the case of a discrimination code AO = "0" indicating that the following data
DO - Dn are character code data, the buffer memory 904 accepts said data DO - Dn in response to the output signal 09 from the decoder 902. The latter also identifies the group of the font memory to be accessed according to the discrimination codes Al - A3, and it issues output signals 06 - 08 indicating this group.

 The output signals 06 - 08 are stored in a buffer memory 907 validated by the output signal 09 from the decoder 902.

 The data recorded in the buffer memory 904 is then transmitted to a character generator 906 storing a character font, which thus establishes access to a character indicated by the data DO - Dn.

Furthermore, the buffer memory 907 indicates a position in the character generator so that this generator 906 transmits point data of a determined position of a character chosen by the data DO - Dn. In the described embodiment, the characters are recorded in black, so that the point data from the character generator 906 is stored in the memory 911 of black.

 As indicated previously, the data DO - Dn introduced into the shift register 901 are subject to discrimination making it possible to determine whether they represent image data or character code data, and they are stored in the memories. 908 - 911 after conversion to point patterns by methods dependent on the results of the discrimination.

 When stitch data of at least one line is stored in memories 908 - 911, it is transmitted to a printer 912 which performs color recording in the known manner, in accordance with stitch data Y, M, C and K stored in memories 908 - 911, and which synthesize the characters and the images read on the original.

 In the embodiments described above and below, data of different types are transmitted by a common transmission channel, but certain embodiments of the invention are also suitable in the case where a synthesized image is produced from information of different types transmitted through different channels. In addition, data of different types can be transmitted randomly or in predetermined order.

FIG. 10 shows in simplified form another embodiment of the invention in which the image information obtained by reading an original is transmitted not in the form of density patterns, but in the form of compressed signals by a process
Modified Huffman (MH).

In FIG. 10, a reader 101 performs a photoelectric reading of an original to be transmitted, by means of an image sensor such as a charge-coupled device, intended to produce binary signals representing black and white pixels present in the unit constituted by a line. Binary serial signals from reader 101 are compressed
One-dimensional MH in an MH 102 coder and they are saved in an image file 103 composed, for example, of a flexible disk. Furthermore, character data prepared in a word processor 104 is recorded, in the form of ASCII codes in a document file 105.

 A layout controller 106 performs the layout of the image and the characters in accordance with the operator's instruction or in a predetermined format, as described above, thus controlling the output of the information from the image file 103 and document file 105 and applying the data

 The dot pattern data from the MH decoder 110 and the character generator 112 are synthesized in a summing logic circuit 113 and transmitted to a printer 114 which records an image on a recording medium, in the chosen layout by the layout controller 106 and synthesized from the image read in the reader 101 and the characters entered by the word processor 104.

 In addition, in the embodiment described, the reader can be replaced by a device for transmitting image information, for example an electronic file, and the word processor can be replaced by a desktop computer or the like. . In addition, the present invention can also be applied to the case where data of different types are transmitted by different transmission channels.

 In addition, signal compression can be achieved not only by the modified Huffman method but also by other methods such as two-dimensional compression, for example the modified Read method.

 It goes without saying that many modifications can be made to the processing system described and shown without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (16)

 1. Image processing apparatus, characterized in that it comprises  - means for supplying (12, 108) color image information and character code data transmitted by a common line  - separation means (12, 108) for separating the color image information and the character code data supplied by said supply means; and  - means (10, 113) for developing and combining the color image information and the character code data separated by said separation means, in common color image memory means.  2. Image processing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said color image memory means comprise memories for the colors yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (K ).  3. Image processing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said color image memory means have a capacity of several lines for each color component.  4. Image processing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the character code data are ASCII codes.  5. Image processing apparatus, characterized in that it comprises  - Means (12, 108) for supplying color image information and character code data transmitted by a common line  - separation means (12, 108) for separating the color image information and the character code data supplied by said supply means; and  - means (10, 113) for developing and combining the color image information and the character code data separated by said separation means, in common color image memory means, the image information of color being multi-value color image data.  6. Image processing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises output means for delivering data stored in said color image memory means to a color printer.  7. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the color image information is data read by a color image reader.  8. Image processing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said supply means are means for receiving line data.  9. Image processing method, characterized in that it comprises the steps consisting in:  - receive color image information and character code data through a common line  - separating the color image information and the received character code data; and  - develop and combine the color image information and the separate character code data in common color image memory means.  10. Image processing method according to claim 9, characterized in that said color image memory means comprise memories for the colors yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (K ).  11. Image processing method according to claim 9, characterized in that the color image memory means have a capacity of several lines for each color component.  12. Image processing method according to claim 9, characterized in that the character code data are ASCII codes.  13. Image processing method, characterized in that it comprises the steps consisting in:  - receive color image information and character code data through a common line  - separating the color image information and the received character code data; and  - developing and combining the color image information and the separate character code data, in common color image memory means, the color image information being multi-value color image data .  14. Image processing method according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises the step consisting in delivering data stored in said color image memory means common to a printer.  15. Image processing method according to claim 9, characterized in that the color image information is data read by reading color images.  16. Data processing system, characterized in that it comprises  - input means (12, 108) for inputting data received from a communication line  - separation means (12, 108) for separating the data received into image data and code data representing a font configuration, such as a character or a symbol  - image data processing means (6, 8, 109, 110) for processing the image data separated by said separation means  - code data processing means (7, 9, 111, 112) for processing the code data separated by said separation means; and  - output means (10, 11, 113, 114) for delivering the processed image data coming from said image data processing means and said processed code data coming from said code data processing means  said image data including color image data; andsaid output means comprising combining means for combining the processed code data and the processed image data in a color memory, and for outputting said combined data.