JP2000079723A - Image-forming apparatus, information-processing system, method for processing image, and memory medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image-forming apparatus which can process to rotate images at a high speed when the images are to be processed to be rotated while being transferred between an image memory and an image rotation process part. SOLUTION: In transferring an image from a RAM 12, high-speed burst transfer (data transfer by a plurality of number of times after one designation of an address value) is carried out, and image data of a predetermined block size after rotated is transferred singly (data transfer by one time after one designation of the address value). The image is processed to be rotated at a high speed via a system bus 18 and an image bus 20.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, and a printer, and an image processing method, an information processing system in which the image forming apparatus is connected on a network, and the image processing method. And a storage medium for performing the operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional copying machine has an image data input section for reading a document and converting it into digital image data, an image memory for storing the read image data, and an image for processing the image data by a predetermined method. A processing unit, an image output unit that outputs image-processed image data on paper, and an image data controller that has an address control unit that enables image data to be transferred between the image processing unit and an image memory. It has.

When performing image rotation image processing in such an image forming apparatus, the image rotation processing proceeds while bidirectional image transfer between the image processing unit and the image memory is performed under the control of the image data controller.

[0004] The image processing apparatus further comprises a rectangular area designating means capable of designating an arbitrary rectangular area on the input image area. This is performed by selecting image data that has been subjected to image processing and image data that has not been subjected to image processing. That is, a plurality of image processing paths are prepared in the image processing unit, and both image data obtained by the processing system for inside the rectangular area and the processing system that does not perform any processing are selected at a predetermined location of the image processing unit. Then, image processing of the rectangular area is performed by transferring only a predetermined rectangular area of the processed image to the rectangular area of the image memory.

[0005]

However, the conventional image forming apparatus has the following problems.

(1) Since the image rotation processing is performed while transferring the image between the image memory for storing the image data and the image processing part for rotation, it is difficult to perform the image rotation processing at high speed.

(2) In performing image processing of a rectangular area, when performing burst image transfer in which image data is transferred a plurality of times in response to one address specification, a fine rectangular area can be specified. Absent.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and in the case of performing image rotation processing while transferring an image between an image memory and an image rotation processing unit, an image forming apparatus capable of performing image rotation processing at high speed. It is an object to provide an apparatus, an image processing method, an information processing system, and a storage medium. It is still another object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus, an image processing method, an information processing system, and a storage medium that can specify a rectangular area in fine pixel units when a predetermined area of an image is specified by a rectangular area. I do. Also,
Provided is an image forming apparatus, an image processing method, an information processing system, and a storage medium that can perform high-speed image transfer while realizing detailed area designation when performing image processing on a rectangular image area.

[0009]

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus, comprising: an image memory for storing image data; and an image rotation processing unit for rotating the image data. And an image data controller having an address control unit for enabling transfer of image data between the image rotation processing unit and the image memory, wherein the image processing unit performs predetermined processing related to image formation. In the image forming apparatus including a rotation processing unit, the image data controller may perform one-time address designation in one direction during bidirectional image transfer between the image rotation processing unit and the image memory when performing the image rotation processing. In the first image transfer mode in which data transfer is performed once,
In the other direction, image transfer is performed in a second image transfer mode in which data transfer is performed a plurality of times for one address designation.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, the image rotation processing section includes a line buffer for storing image data transferred from the image memory; The image processing apparatus further includes a data selection unit that selects image data in the line buffer, and an image rotation unit that rotates the image data selected by the data selection unit by a predetermined angle.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, the line buffer is equal to an integral multiple of the number of block size lines of an image supported by the image rotation processing unit. It is characterized by having the number of lines.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus, an image processing unit for performing predetermined image processing on the image data, an image memory for storing the image data, the image processing unit and the image memory And an image data controller having an address control unit for enabling transfer of image data between the image processing unit and the image processing unit. At the time of image transfer between the processing unit and the image memory, image transfer is performed in the first image transfer mode in which one data transfer is performed for one address specification, and at the time of the image transfer other than the specific image processing. The image transfer is performed in a second image transfer mode in which data transfer is performed a plurality of times for one address designation.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the fourth aspect, there is provided a rectangular area designating means for designating an arbitrary rectangular area on the image area.
The specific image processing is a rectangular area editing process in which a part of an image is specified as a rectangular area by the rectangular area specifying means, and processing is performed on the rectangular area.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the specific image processing includes outputting a plurality of image data reduced in advance on one recording sheet. It is a thumbnail output process.

In the image forming apparatus according to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the specific image processing includes dividing one piece of image data into a plurality of similar rectangular areas, This is characterized in that it is an enlarged continuous shooting process for enlarging and outputting the obtained image data on a plurality of recording sheets.

In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, an image processing unit for performing predetermined image processing on the image data, an image memory for storing the image data, and an arbitrary rectangular area on the image data An image forming apparatus comprising: a rectangular area designating unit for designating an image data controller having an address control unit for enabling transfer of image data between the image processing unit and the image memory.
The image data controller, when performing image processing in the image processing unit to the rectangular image area specified by the rectangular area specifying means, when transferring the image between the image processing unit and the image memory, In a predetermined portion, image transfer is performed in a first image data transfer mode in which one data transfer is performed for one address specification, and a plurality of times are performed for one address specification in a remaining portion of the rectangular area. The image is transferred in a second image data transfer mode for transferring data.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the eighth aspect, the predetermined portion of the rectangular area is an end of the rectangular area.

[0018] In the information processing system according to the present invention, an image memory for storing image data, an image rotation processing unit for performing rotation processing of the image data, and an image memory for storing image data between the image rotation processing unit and the image memory. An image data controller having an address control unit for enabling transfer of image data in the image forming apparatus, and an image forming apparatus including the image rotation processing unit as an image processing unit for performing predetermined processing related to image formation is connected to a network. In the information processing system, the image data controller of the image forming apparatus is configured to perform one-time addressing in one direction during bidirectional image transfer between the image rotation processing unit and the image memory when performing the image rotation processing. Is a first image transfer mode in which data transfer is performed once for a plurality of times. Characterized by being configured to perform the image transfer in the second image transmission mode of performing over data transfer.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the information processing system of the tenth aspect, the image rotation processing section of the image forming apparatus stores the image data transferred from the image memory. A line buffer for selecting the image data in the line buffer, and an image rotating unit for rotating the image data selected by the data selecting unit by a predetermined angle unit. .

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing system according to the eleventh aspect, the line buffer is equal to an integral multiple of the number of block size lines of an image supported by the image rotation processing unit. It is characterized by having the number of lines.

In an information processing system according to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, an image processing unit for performing predetermined image processing on image data, an image memory for storing image data, the image processing unit and the image memory In an information processing system in which an image forming apparatus including an image data controller having an address control unit for enabling transfer of image data between the image forming apparatus and the image data controller, the image data controller of the image forming apparatus includes: At the time of image transfer between the image processing unit and the image memory when the specific image processing is performed by the image processing unit, the image is transferred in the first image transfer mode in which one data transfer is performed for one address specification. A second image in which data transfer is performed a plurality of times for one address designation during the image transfer except for the specific image processing. Characterized in that a configuration such that the image transferred in the transfer mode.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing system according to the thirteenth aspect, the image forming apparatus has a rectangular area designating means for designating an arbitrary rectangular area on the image area. The specific image processing is a rectangular area editing process in which a part of an image is specified as a rectangular area by the rectangular area specifying means, and processing is performed on the rectangular area.

In the information processing system according to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing system according to the fourteenth aspect, the specific image processing outputs a plurality of image data reduced in advance on one recording sheet. It is a thumbnail output process.

In the information processing system according to the sixteenth aspect, in the information processing system according to the fourteenth aspect, the specific image processing is performed by dividing one image data into a plurality of similar rectangular areas, This is characterized in that it is an enlarged continuous shooting process for enlarging and outputting the obtained image data on a plurality of recording sheets.

In the information processing system according to the present invention, an image processing section for performing predetermined image processing on the image data, an image memory for storing the image data, and an arbitrary rectangular area on the image data An image forming apparatus comprising: a rectangular area designating unit for designating an image data; and an image data controller having an address control unit for enabling transfer of image data between the image processing unit and the image memory. In the information processing system, the image data controller of the image forming apparatus is configured to perform image processing on the rectangular image area specified by the rectangular area specifying unit in the image processing unit. At the time of image transfer with the image memory, one data transfer is performed for one address specification in a predetermined portion of the rectangular area. The image is transferred in the first image data transfer mode, and the remaining portion of the rectangular area is transferred in the second image data transfer mode in which the data transfer is performed a plurality of times for one address specification. It is characterized by the following.

An information processing system according to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention is the information processing system according to the seventeenth aspect, wherein the predetermined portion of the rectangular area is an end of the rectangular area.

In the image processing method according to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention, the image data is transferred between the image memory for storing the image data and the image rotation processing unit for performing the image data rotation processing. In the image processing method for outputting the image rotation processing result, in the case of performing the image rotation processing, at the time of bidirectional image transfer between the image rotation processing unit and the image memory, one direction corresponds to one address specification. In a first image transfer mode in which one data transfer is performed,
In the other direction, image transfer is performed in a second image transfer mode in which data transfer is performed a plurality of times for one address designation.

According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing method according to the nineteenth aspect, the image rotation processing is performed in an image in a line buffer storing image data transferred from the image memory. Data is selected, and the selected image data is rotated by a predetermined angle unit.

In the image processing method according to the twenty-first aspect, in the image processing method according to the twentieth aspect, the line buffer is equal to an integral multiple of the number of block size lines of an image supported by the image rotation processing unit. It is characterized by having the number of lines.

In the image processing method according to the present invention, the image processing is performed by transferring the image data between an image memory for storing the image data and an image processing unit for processing the image data by a predetermined method. In the image processing method for outputting the image processing result, in the case where the image processing unit performs a specific image processing, at the time of image transfer between the image processing unit and the image memory, once for one address designation, Image transfer in the first image transfer mode in which the data transfer is performed, and 1 during the image transfer except during the specific image processing.
Image transfer is performed in a second image transfer mode in which data transfer is performed a plurality of times in response to a single address designation.

According to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention, in the image processing method according to the twenty-second aspect, the specific image processing includes designating a part of the image as a rectangular area,
It is a rectangular area editing process for processing the rectangular area portion.

In the image processing method according to a twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing method according to the twenty-second aspect, in the specific image processing, a plurality of previously reduced image data are output on one recording sheet. It is a thumbnail output process.

According to a twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing method according to the twenty-second aspect, the specific image processing includes dividing one piece of image data into a plurality of similar rectangular areas, This is characterized in that it is an enlarged continuous shooting process for enlarging and outputting the obtained image data on a plurality of recording sheets.

In the image processing method according to the twenty-sixth aspect, image processing is performed by transferring image data between an image memory for storing image data and an image processing unit for processing the image data by a predetermined method. An image processing method for outputting an image processing result, wherein an arbitrary rectangular area on the image data is specified, and the image processing is performed by the image processing unit on the specified rectangular image area. At the time of image transfer between the unit and the image memory, in a predetermined portion of the rectangular area, image transfer is performed in a first image data transfer mode in which one data transfer is performed for one address specification. The remaining part is characterized in that image transfer is performed in a second image data transfer mode in which data transfer is performed a plurality of times for one address designation.

An image processing method according to a twenty-seventh aspect of the present invention is the image processing method according to the twenty-sixth aspect, wherein the predetermined portion of the rectangular area is an end of the rectangular area.

In the storage medium according to the twenty-eighth aspect, the image data is transferred between an image memory for storing the image data and an image rotation processing unit for performing the rotation processing of the image data, and the image rotation processing is performed. An image processing method for outputting an image rotation processing result, the storage medium storing a computer-readable program, wherein the image processing method includes the image rotation processing unit when performing the image rotation processing. In bidirectional image transfer with the image memory, one direction is a first image transfer mode in which one data transfer is performed for one address specification, and the other direction is a plurality of times for one address specification. A step of performing image transfer in a second image transfer mode for performing the data transfer of the above.

[0037] In the storage medium according to the twenty-ninth aspect, in the storage medium according to the twenty-eighth aspect, the image rotation processing includes a step of transferring the image data in a line buffer for storing the image data transferred from the image memory. It is characterized in that the selected image data is rotated by a predetermined angle unit.

According to the storage medium of the present invention, image processing is performed by transferring image data between an image memory for storing image data and an image processing unit for processing the image data by a predetermined method. A storage medium storing a computer-readable program that executes an image processing method for outputting the image processing result, wherein the image processing method is configured to execute the image processing when a specific image processing is performed by the image processing unit. At the time of image transfer between the processing unit and the image memory, image transfer is performed in the first image transfer mode in which one data transfer is performed for one address specification, and at the time of the image transfer other than the specific image processing. The method further comprises the step of transferring an image in a second image transfer mode in which data transfer is performed a plurality of times for one address designation.

According to a thirty-first aspect of the present invention, in the storage medium according to the thirty-third aspect, in the specific image processing, a part of the image is designated as a rectangular area, and the processing is performed on the rectangular area. It is a rectangular area editing process.

According to a thirty-second aspect of the present invention, in the storage medium according to the thirty-third aspect, the specific image processing includes outputting a plurality of pre-reduced image data on one sheet of recording paper. Processing.

In the storage medium according to a thirty-third aspect of the present invention, in the storage medium according to the thirty-third aspect, the specific image processing divides one piece of image data into a plurality of similar rectangular areas, and It is an enlarged continuous shooting process for enlarging and outputting image data on a plurality of recording sheets.

In the storage medium according to the thirty-fourth aspect, image processing is performed by transferring image data between an image memory for storing image data and an image processing unit for processing the image data by a predetermined method. Executing an image processing method for outputting the image processing result, a storage medium storing a computer-readable program, wherein the image processing method specifies an arbitrary rectangular area on the image data,
At the time of image transfer between the image processing unit and the image memory when the image processing unit performs image processing on the specified rectangular image area, a predetermined portion of the rectangular area is A second image data transfer mode in which image transfer is performed in a first image data transfer mode in which data transfer is performed once, and in the remaining portion of the rectangular area, data transfer is performed a plurality of times in response to one address specification. And transferring the image.

According to a thirty-fifth aspect of the present invention, in the storage medium according to the thirty-fourth aspect, the predetermined portion of the rectangular area is an end of the rectangular area.

[0044]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a controller unit of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

The controller unit 10 is connected to a scanner 50 serving as an image input device and a printer 60 serving as an image output device. On the other hand, a local area network (LAN) 41 and a public line (WAN) are connected.
42, input and output of image information and device information.

The controller unit 10 has a C
PU 11, RAM 12, ROM 13, HDD 14, operation unit I / F 15, network connection unit 16, modem 17,
An image bus I / F 19, a raster image processor (RIP) 21, a scanner image processor 22, a device I / F 23, a printer image processor 24, an image rotation processor 25, and an image compression processor 26 are provided. .

The CPU 11 is a controller for controlling the entire system. The RAM 12 is a system work memory for the operation of the CPU 11 and is also an image memory for temporarily storing image data. The ROM 13 is a boot ROM, and stores a system boot program. The HDD 14 is a hard disk drive and stores system software and image data.

The operation section I / F 15 is an interface section of the operation section 30. The operation section I / F 15 outputs image data to be displayed on the operation section 30 to the operation section 30, and outputs information inputted by the user from the operation section 30 to the CPU 11. Play the role of telling. The network unit 16 is connected to the LAN 41 to input and output information. The modem 17 is connected to the public line 42 to input and output information.

These CPU 11, RAM 12, ROM
13, HDD 14, operation unit I / F 15, and modem 17
Are arranged on a system bus 18.

The image bus I / F 19 is a bus bridge that connects the system bus 18 and the image bus 20 that transfers image data at a high speed, and converts a data structure.
The image bus 20 is configured by a PCI bus or IEEE1394. On the image bus 20, a raster image processor (RIP) 21, a scanner image processing unit 2
2, devices such as a device I / F 23, a printer image processing unit 24, an image rotation processing unit 25, and an image compression processing unit 26 are arranged.

The device I / F unit 23 connects the controller 10 to the scanner 50 or the printer 60, which is an image input / output device, and performs synchronous / asynchronous conversion of image data. The printer image processing unit 24 performs printer correction, resolution conversion, and the like on the print output image data,
The image rotation processing unit 25 rotates image data. Further, the image compression processing unit 26 performs J-value processing on the multi-valued image data.
JBIG, MM for PEG, binary image data
R, MH compression / expansion processing is performed. Further, the raster image processor (RIP) 21 develops the PDL code into a bitmap image,
2 performs correction, processing, and editing on the input image data.

FIG. 2 is an external view of an image input / output unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

Scanner 50 as an image input device
Illuminates an image on paper serving as a document, and scans a CCD line sensor (not shown) to convert the image into electrical signals as raster image data through a signal line 43. The original paper is set on the tray 51 of the original feeder 52,
When the apparatus user gives a reading start instruction from the operation unit 30, the CPU (hereinafter, controller CPU) 11 in the controller unit 10 gives an instruction to the scanner 50 through the signal line 43, and the feeder 52 puts the original paper in one.
The document is fed one by one to read the original image.

Printer unit 60 as an image output device
Has a function of converting raster image data into an image on a sheet through a signal line 44. The method is an electrophotographic method using a photosensitive drum or a photosensitive belt. There is an ink jet system for printing an image directly on the printer, but any system may be used.

The start of the printing operation is started by an instruction from the controller CPU 11 through the signal line 44. The printer unit 60 is provided with a plurality of paper feed stages so that different paper sizes or different paper orientations can be selected, and corresponding paper cassettes 61, 62, and 6 are provided.
There are 3,64. The paper discharge tray 65 receives the printed paper.

FIG. 3 is an external view of the operation unit 30 of the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment.

The operation unit 30 includes an LCD display unit 31 and a reset key 32, an ID key 33, a start key 34, and a stop key 35.

The LCD display unit 31 has a touch panel sheet affixed to the LCD, displays an operation screen of the system, and transmits the position information to the controller CPU 11 when a displayed key is pressed. Reset key 3
2 is used when initializing settings from the operation unit 30, and ID
The key 33 is used for inputting the user's user ID. Further, the start key 34 is used to start a reading operation of a document image. At the center of the start key 34, a two-color LED 36 of green and red is arranged, and the color indicates whether the start key 34 is in a usable state. The stop key 35 functions to stop the operation during operation.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the scanner image processing section 22 of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

The scanner image processing unit 22 includes an image bus I / F controller 22a, a filter processing unit 22b,
og conversion processing section 22c, scaling processing section 22d, table 2
2e, a binarization processing unit 22f, an input selector 187, and an output selector 188.

The image bus I / F controller 22a is connected to the image bus 20 to control the bus access sequence, and also controls and timings of each device in the scanner image processing unit 22. Filter processing unit 2
2b performs a convolution operation with a spatial filter. The log converter 22c performs a table conversion for converting the image data, which is the read luminance data, into density data.

When changing the resolution of the read image, the scaling unit 22d performs an interpolation operation on the raster image to enlarge or reduce it. At the same magnification, image data is sent from a through path (not shown) to the next processing unit. The table 22e performs table conversion for converting read image data, which is luminance data, into density data.
The binarization processing unit 22f binarizes the multi-value grayscale image data by error diffusion processing or screen processing.

The processed image data is again transferred to the image bus via the image bus controller 22a.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printer image processing section 24 of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

The printer image processing section 24 includes an image bus I / F controller 24a, a resolution conversion section 24b, and a smoothing processing section 24c.

The image bus I / F controller 24a is connected to the image bus 20 to control its bus access sequence and to control and timing of each device in the printer image processing unit 24. Resolution converter 24
b performs resolution conversion for converting image data coming from the network 41 or the public line 42 into the resolution of the printer 60. The smoothing processing unit 24c performs a process of smoothing jaggies (roughness of an image appearing at a black-and-white boundary such as an oblique line) of the image data after resolution conversion.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image compression processing section 26 of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

The image compression processing section 26 has an image bus I /
An F controller 26a, an input buffer 26b, an image compression unit 26c, a RAM 26d, and an output buffer 26e are provided. The image bus I / F controller 26a is connected to the image bus 20 to control a bus access sequence thereof, and is connected to the input buffer 26b and the output buffer 26.
timing control for exchanging data with e.
And control such as mode setting for the image compression unit 26c.

Next, the processing procedure of the image compression processing section 26 will be described.

First, the CPU 11 makes settings for image compression control in the image bus I / F controller 26a via the image bus 20. With this setting, the image bus I / F controller 26a performs settings (for example, MMR compression and JBIG expansion) required for image compression on the image compression unit 26c.

After making the necessary settings, the CPU 11
To the image bus I / F controller 26a. According to this permission, the image bus I /
The F controller 26a starts transfer of image data from the RAM 12 or each device on the image bus 20.

The received image data is stored in the input buffer 2
6b, the image is transferred at a constant speed in response to an image data request from the image compression unit 26c. On this occasion,
The input buffer 26b is connected to the image bus I / F controller 2
It is determined whether image data can be transferred between both the image compression unit 26a and the image compression unit 26c. When it is impossible to read image data from the image bus 20 and write an image to the image compression unit 26c, control is performed so as not to transfer data (hereinafter, such control is referred to as handshake). ).

The image compression section 26c temporarily stores the received image data in the RAM 26d. This is because, when image compression is performed, several lines of data are required depending on the type of image compression processing. To compress the first one line, several lines of image data are prepared. This is because image compression cannot be performed unless the image is compressed. The image data subjected to the image compression is immediately sent to the output buffer 26e.

In the output buffer 26e, the image bus I / F
A handshake is performed with the controller 26a and the image compression unit 26c, and the image data is transferred to the image bus I / F controller 26a. Image bus I / F controller 26
In a, the transferred compressed (or decompressed) image data is transferred to the RAM 12 or each device on the image bus 20.

Such a series of processing is performed until there is no processing request from the CPU 11 (when processing of the required number of pages is completed) or until a stop request is issued from the image compression unit 26c (errors during compression and decompression are generated). Time etc) is repeated.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image rotation processing section 25 of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

The image bus I / F controller 25a controls the bus sequence by connecting to the image bus 20, controls the mode setting of the image rotating unit 25b, and transfers the image data to the image rotating unit 25b. For the timing. The image bus I / F controller 25a that has received the rotated image data transfers the data to the RAM 12 or each device on the image bus 20 by continuous addressing. Such a series of processing is repeated until there is no processing request from the CPU 11 (when processing of the required number of pages is completed).

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the device I / F unit 23 of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

This image bus I / F controller 23a
Is connected to the image bus 20 to control its bus access sequence, and to control and generate timing of each device in the device I / F unit 23. Further, it generates control signals to the external scanner 50 and printer 60. The scan buffer 23b temporarily stores the image data sent from the scanner 50 and outputs the image data in synchronization with the image bus 20.

The serial / parallel / parallel / serial converter 23c arranges or decomposes the image data stored in the scan buffer 23b in order, and
To the data width of the image data that can be transferred to The parallel / serial / parallel / parallel conversion unit 23e decomposes or arranges the image data transferred from the image bus 20 into a data width of image data that can be stored in the print buffer 23d. Print buffer 23d
Temporarily stores the image data sent from the image bus 20 and outputs the image data in synchronization with the printer 60.

Next, a processing procedure at the time of image scanning will be described.

The image data sent from the scanner 50 is stored in the scan buffer 23b in synchronization with the timing signal sent from the scanner 50. When the image bus 20 is a PCI bus, the buffer 2
When the image data contains more than 32 bits in the buffer 2b, the first-in first-out image data for 32 bits is stored in the buffer 2
3b to serial / parallel / parallel / serial converter 2
3c, converts the data into 32-bit image data, and transfers it to the image bus 20 through the image bus I / F controller 23a.

When the image bus 20 is IEEE1394, the image data in the buffer 23b is sent from the buffer 23b to the serial / parallel / serial / serial conversion unit 23c on a first-in first-out basis, and is converted into serial image data. The data is transferred to the image bus 20 through the F controller 23a.

Next, the processing procedure when printing an image will be described.

When the image bus 20 is a PCI bus, 32-bit image data sent from the image bus is received by the image bus I / F controller, sent to the parallel / serial / serial / parallel converter 23e, and sent to the printer 60.
Is decomposed into image data of the number of input data bits and stored in the print buffer 23d.

When the image bus 20 is IEEE1394, the serial image data sent from the image bus is received by the image bus I / F controller 23a and sent to the parallel / serial / parallel conversion unit 23e. The conversion unit 23e converts the image data into the number of input data bits of the printer 60,
Save to 3d.

Then, in synchronization with the timing signal sent from the printer 60, the image data in the buffer 23d is sent to the printer 60 on a first-in first-out basis.

FIG. 9 is an overall configuration diagram of a network system including the above-described image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

Reference numeral 70 denotes an image forming apparatus having the above-described configuration. The image forming apparatus 70 can send an image read from the scanner 50 to the LAN 41 or print out an image received from the LAN 41 by the printer 60. In addition, the scanner 50
The image read from the PC is transmitted to the PSTN / ISDN line network 80 by fax transmission means (not shown),
Images received from the STN / ISDN line network 80 can be printed out by the printer 60.

Reference numeral 71 denotes a database server which manages a binary image and a multi-valued image read by the image forming apparatus 70 as a database. Reference numeral 72 denotes a database client which can perform browsing / searching of image data stored in the database server 71.
Reference numeral 73 denotes an e-mail client, which can receive and browse the e-mail received by the e-mail server 74, and transmit an e-mail. 74 is
It is an electronic mail server, and can receive an image read by the image forming apparatus 70 as an electronic mail attachment.

A WWW server 75 provides an HTML document to the LAN 41.
The HTML document provided by the W server can be printed out. A router 79 connects the LAN 41 to the Internet / intranet 90. The Internet / intranet 90 includes the image forming apparatus 70, the database server 71, and the WWW server 7 described above.
5 and an electronic mail server 74 are similar to the image forming apparatus 91, the database server 92, and the WWW, respectively.
It is connected as a server 93 and an e-mail server 94.

On the other hand, the image forming apparatus 70 has a PSTN / I
It can transmit and receive to and from a FAX device 81 via an SDN network 80. A printer 77 is also connected to the LAN 41 so that an image read by the image forming apparatus 70 can be printed out by the printer 77.

FIG. 10 is a software block diagram of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

Reference numeral 101 denotes a user interface (UI) module for controlling a user interface, which is used when an operator performs various operations and settings of the image forming apparatus.
This is a module that mediates with devices. The UI module 101 transfers input information to various modules to be described later and requests processing or sets data in accordance with an operation of an operator. Reference numeral 101a denotes an address-book, that is, a database module for managing data transmission destinations, communication destinations and the like. The content of Address-Book is
Addition of data by operation from UI module 101,
It is deleted and acquired, and is used as data transmission / communication destination information given to each module described later by the operation of the operator.

Reference numeral 102 denotes a Web-Server module, which is used for notifying management information of the image forming apparatus in response to a request from a Web client (not shown). The management information is a Control-API1 described later.
13 and read through HTTP 107 and TC
P / IP111, Network-Driver112
Is notified to the Web client.

Reference numeral 103 denotes a Universal-Send
And distributes the data designated by the UI module 101 to the operator to the similarly designated communication (output) destination. When the operator instructs the generation of distribution data using the scanner function of the present apparatus, the control-API module 11 described later is used.
3 to operate the device to generate data.

Reference numeral 103a denotes a printer module (P55)
0), which is executed when the printer is specified as the output destination in the Universal-Send 103. 103
b is an E-mail module, and Universals
This is executed when an E-mail address is specified as a communication destination in the al-Send 103. Reference numeral 103c denotes a database (DB) module, which is a Universalsa1-S
This is executed when a database is specified as an output destination in the end 103. 103d is Universal-Se
A module (DP) executed when an image forming apparatus similar to the present apparatus is designated as an output destination in the nd 103.

Reference numeral 104 denotes Remote-Copy-Sca
n module, which uses the scanner function of the present image forming apparatus, outputs to another image forming apparatus connected via a network or the like, and is realized by the image forming apparatus alone.
Performs processing equivalent to the py function. 105 is Remote
A Copy-Print module, which uses a printer function of the image forming apparatus, receives another MFP connected via a network or the like as an input destination, and performs processing equivalent to the Copy function realized by the image forming apparatus alone. I do.

Reference numeral 106 denotes a Web-Pull-Print
A module that reads and prints information on various homepages on the Internet or intranet.
Reference numeral 107 denotes an HTTP module, which is used when the image forming apparatus communicates by HTTP, and which includes a TCP /
The above-described Web-Serve by the IP module 111
r module 102 and Web-Pull-Print
It provides communication to the module 106.

Reference numeral 108 denotes an lpr module, which is used by a TCP / IP module 111 to be described later.
The communication is provided to the printer module 103a in the l-Send module 103. Reference numeral 109 denotes an SMTP module, which is an E-mai1 in the Universal-Send 103 by a TCP / IP111 module described later.
Provides communication to module 103b.

110 is Salutation-Man
An aggregator (SLM) module, a DB module 103c, a DP module 103d, a Remote-Copy-Scan module 104, and a Remote-Copy-Pri in the Universal-Send module 103 by the TCP / IP module 111.
Provide communication to the nt module 105. 111 is T
It is a CP / IP communication module, and provides network communication to the various modules described above using the Network-Driver module 112. Module 112 controls the parts physically connected to the network.

Reference numeral 113 denotes a Control-API module, which is used for an upstream module such as the Universal-Send module 103 and a Job-M described later.
This module provides an interface with downstream modules such as the analyzer module 114, and reduces dependencies between upstream and downstream modules and enhances their applicability. Here, Job-Manag
er module 114 is C
It interprets the processing instructed via the control-API module 113 and gives an instruction to each module described later. Further, this module centrally manages hardware processing executed in the image forming apparatus.

Reference numeral 115 denotes a CODEC-Manager module, and the Job-Manager module 11
4 manages and controls various types of compression and decompression of data in the processing instructed. Reference numeral 118 denotes an FBE-Encoder module, and a Job-Manager module 114;
And the data read by the scan processing executed by the Scan-Manager module 116
It is compressed by the BE format. here,
The Scan-Manager module 116 is
-Manages and controls the scanning process specified by the Manager module 114.

Reference numeral 119 denotes a JPEG-CODEC module, which includes a Job-Manager module 114,
In scan processing executed by the can-Manager module 116 and print processing executed by the Print-Manager module 117, JPEG compression of read data and JP of print data are performed.
The EG expansion process is performed. Here, Print-
The Manager module 117 is a Job-Mana
The ger module 114 manages and controls the printing process instructed.

Reference numeral 120 denotes an MMR-CODEC module, which includes a Job-Manager module 114,
In the scan processing executed by the an-Manager module 116 and the print processing executed by the Print-Manager module 117, MMR compression of the read data and MMR decompression processing of the print data are performed.

Reference numeral 121 denotes a SCSI driver.
The n-Manager module 116 communicates with the scanner unit internally connected to the image forming apparatus. Reference numeral 122 denotes an engine-I / F driver, which provides an interface between the print manager module 117 and the printing unit. Reference numeral 123 denotes a parallel port driver, which is a Web-Pu11-Prin
t411 provides an I / F for outputting data to an output device (not shown) via the parallel port.

Next, the form of the image processing system of the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment will be described.

Here, as shown in FIG. 1, a general-purpose image bus I for internally transferring image and command data is used.
/ F19, and the scanner 50 in the device I / F23.
/ An image forming apparatus having an image processing system and a controller that connects the printer 60 and the CPU 11 and can exchange image data between the two will be described as an example.

First, an image is read from the scanner 50, and R
A basic flow of image data when storing the image data in the AM 12 will be described. The image data read from the scanner 50 is
The data is transferred to the image bus 20 via the device I / F 23. The device I / F 23 has an I / F controller as shown in the image bus I / F controller 22a of FIG. 4, and can send and receive image data by specifying an address on the image bus 20. The image bus I /
It is also possible to specify an address on the system bus 18 via the F19,
Image data can be transferred to the top. Image data from the device I / F 23 is transferred to the image bus 2
0, image bus I / F 19, and system bus 18
Are stored on the RAM 12 via When an image is transferred from the device I / F 23, the image can be transferred to the RAM 12 through the same route after performing image data processing in the scanner image processing unit 22.

Next, the flow of an image when transferring image data to the printer 60 will be described. The image data taken into the RAM 12 is transferred to the system bus 18,
Device I / F via bus I / F 19 and image bus 20
Forwarded to F23. It should be noted that the printer image processing section 24 can perform image data processing during this process.
The image data transferred to the device I / F 23 outputs an image by transferring the image in synchronization with the printer 60. When the image data is transferred to the printer 60, the device I / F 23 actually reads the image from the RAM 12, and the image is output by designating the address on the RAM 12 to the device I / F 23. Will be.

In the image forming apparatus having the above-described configuration, in the present embodiment, an image data controller (image bus I / F controller) that enables image data to be transferred between the image rotation processing unit 25 and the image memory 12 is used. ) To enable high-speed rotation of image data via the system bus 18 and the image bus 20. Less than,
The image rotation processing according to the present embodiment will be described in detail.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are diagrams showing an example of image transfer when a PCI bus is used as the image bus 20, and FIG. 11A shows the burst transfer method. b) shows a single transfer method. An image transfer method used in the image data controller according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

The image data controller is included in the device I / F 23, the image rotation processing unit 25, the image compression processing unit 26 and the like shown in FIG.
Image data and command data can be transferred to the memory space above 0. Further, image data and command data can be transferred to a memory space on the system bus 18 via the image bus I / F 19.

In the example of the burst transfer shown in FIG. 11A, the address value of the transfer source or the transfer destination is changed once by PCIA.
An 8-beat burst transfer in which eight data can be transferred continuously after designation on the D [31: 0] bus is performed. In the actual memory space, data can be transferred to a continuous memory space starting from the above address.

In the example of single transfer shown in FIG. 11B, data transfer is performed only once after one address value is specified. Here, 1 is used for the PCI bus.
It is possible to transfer 32-bit image data in parallel in one data transfer, and all image data handled in this embodiment is binary (1 bit) data.
In each data transfer, image data for 32 pixels is transferred.

Next, the image rotation processing unit 25 will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

The image rotation processing section 25 includes a line buffer 25d and an image data block address controller 25e in addition to the above-described image data controller 25a and image rotation section 25b.

The image data transferred by the image data controller 25a is stored in the line buffer 25b. The image data stored in the line buffer 25b is
As shown in FIG. 13, the image rotation unit 25b uses 32 pixels × 32 pixels.
Rotate in rectangular block units of the line. For this reason, the line buffer 25d needs 32 lines. here,
In order to simplify the edge processing at the time of the rotation processing, the number of pixels for one line is an integral multiple of 32 pixels.

Since the image data stored in the line buffer 25d is rotated in units of rectangular blocks of 32 pixels × 32 lines as described above, image data from any block in the line buffer 25d is rotated. The image data block address controller 25e is used to select whether to perform the operation.

The image data block address controller 25e is constituted by a counter,
The rectangular image data block inside 5d can be selected without excess or deficiency. The rectangular image data blocks sequentially selected by the image data block address controller 25e are transferred to the image rotation unit 25b. In the image rotating unit 25b, for example, a rectangular image data block is rotated by 90 degrees left rotation as shown in FIG. The rotated rectangular image data block is sent to the image data controller 25a again.

The image data controller 25a transfers the received rotated image data to the RAM 12 via the image bus 20 in the single transfer mode. This is because the rotated image data block is stored in RAM1
On the other hand, since the pixels do not exist in a continuous area, the data is transferred by 32 pixels (32 bits).
Further, at this time, it is necessary to transfer the rotated image data to the discontinuous memory area on the RAM 12, so that the discontinuous image transfer destination address can be automatically specified.
An image transfer destination address designating circuit (not shown) is provided in the image data controller 25a, and the image transfer can be performed at high speed by automatically designating the transfer destination address.

As described above, in the present embodiment, even when image data is transferred to and from the RAM 12 via the system bus 18 and the image bus 20 and the image rotation Rotation processing can be performed at high speed. That is, when transferring an image from the RAM 12, high-speed burst transfer is performed, and image data of a predetermined block size after rotation is performed in a single transfer.
The image rotation processing can be performed at high speed via the system bus 18 and the image bus 20.

An image buffer of about 32 × 32 pixels is separately prepared inside the image rotation unit 25b shown in FIG. 12, and shake hand processing of the image data is performed with the image data controller 25a. The timing of data transfer may be controlled.

In the present embodiment, the image data before rotation is burst-transferred, and the image data after rotation is single-transferred. However, the reverse is also possible. That is, the image data before rotation is single-transferred by 32 pixels (= 32 bits), and at the same time, a rectangular image data block of 32 pixels × 32 lines can be automatically formed from a discontinuous memory area on the RAM 12. After the processing, the image data for 32 lines is sequentially stored in the line buffer 25d, and when all the data have been collected, the rotated image data is transferred to the RAM 12 by burst transfer of 8 beats. Very good. The configuration in this case is the same as that described above, except for the method of discontinuous addressing to the RAM 12.

[Second Embodiment] In the present embodiment, an image data controller that enables image data to be transferred between an image processing unit and an image memory in the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 to 10 is proposed. I do. That is, when the image processing unit performs the rectangular area processing, the image data controller can switch to the single transfer as the image transfer method.

Also in this embodiment, a PCI bus capable of transferring 32-bit image data in parallel in one data transfer is used as the image bus 20. In the present embodiment, since all the image data to be handled is binary (1 bit) data, image data for 32 pixels in one single transfer, and image data for 256 pixels in one burst transfer. It will be transferred.

Hereinafter, the rectangular area processing of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

The operation section 30 specifies which area of the original to be subjected to image processing is to be processed. Since the specified area is specified as, for example, a rectangular area, the start coordinates KS and the end coordinates KE of the document image are specified (FIG. 14).
Step S1). At the same time, a process to be executed for the specified area is specified. As an example, assume that black-and-white inversion processing is performed on a specified rectangular area.

The designated coordinate information is notified to the CPU 11, where it is converted into a memory space address of the original image data on the RAM 12 (GF in FIG. 14 is the head address of the image transfer source). For example, start address KF and horizontal direction (X)
And the number of area pixels in the vertical direction (Y) (step S2). Here, in the present embodiment, the transfer of the image data inside the rectangular area is performed by the single transfer. For this reason, the memory space address value corresponding to the rectangular area can be designated by an address boundary every 32 bits, that is, every 4 (H).

The memory space address information thus obtained is sent to the device I / F 23. Device I / F2
In step 3, based on the sent memory space information, only the image data in the memory space corresponding to the designated rectangular area is stored in the RAM.
Read from # 12. The device I / F 23 transfers the received image data to the image processing unit 22, and performs a black-and-white inversion process, which is the processing content specified here (step S).
3). The processed image data is sequentially stored in the device I / F 2
Sent to 3.

Before this series of processing is executed, the CP
U11 copies the image data of the document image taken into the RAM 12 to another memory area. The copied image area itself becomes output image data. This is to prevent writing to the original image data. When it is not necessary to protect the original image data, there is no need to copy the original image, and the image data transfer source address designating method used for reading is used as it is for the image data transfer destination address at the time of writing. The image data subjected to the black-and-white inversion processing is transferred to a memory space corresponding to a rectangular area of the output image data (step S4).

[0133] All the black-and-white inversion processing is performed in this manner, and writing is performed on the output image data (step S5), whereby the black-and-white inversion processing inside the desired rectangular area is completed.

The image transfer only within the rectangular area required in the present embodiment is performed by a horizontal counter and a vertical counter, a register for specifying the start addresses GF and KF shown in FIG. This is performed by a memory transfer controller including a number and a register for specifying the number of Y pixels. The address value accessed by the memory transfer controller for performing the single transfer is a 4-byte boundary.

In this embodiment, since the data per pixel is 1 bit, the rectangular area is specified every 32 pixels. However, in the case of handling gray scale data in which the data per pixel is 8 bits, The number of pixels that can be sent in one single transfer is 32/8 = 4, and a finer area can be designated for every four pixels.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the image area is specified in units of 32 pixels by transferring the image by single transfer between the image memory and the image processing unit, and the image processing is performed on the specified rectangular image. Can be performed. That is, when a predetermined area of an image is specified by a rectangular area, the image data of a portion corresponding to the specified area is switched to single transfer in which one data transfer is performed for one address specification. By doing so, it is possible to specify the rectangular area in fine pixel units.

In this embodiment, black-and-white inversion image processing has been described as image processing inside the rectangular image area. However, it goes without saying that any other image processing may be performed.

By performing the same procedure as described in this embodiment for a plurality of regions different from the above, image processing can be performed for a plurality of image rectangular regions.

Further, in the present embodiment, a case has been described in which image processing is performed on a rectangular image area designated by the operation unit 30, but a rectangular image area is uniquely determined depending on the image processing. Enlarged continuous shooting processing to divide and enlarge multiple image data into multiple parts to form an image on multiple output sheets, or thumbnail print to reduce multiple pieces of image data and lay them out on one output sheet to form an image In the case of the processing, the image is transferred with respect to the similar reduced rectangular area of the original image. In this case, too, since the area can be specified in units of 32 pixels, the image transfer between the output papers at the time of the above-described enlarged transfer processing is performed. The processing can be performed without any shortage or excessive or insufficient images during the thumbnail print processing.

[Third Embodiment] In the second embodiment,
When performing image processing of a rectangular area, in order to increase the accuracy of specifying the rectangular area, single transfer in which only one data transfer can be performed for one address specification is used for transfer within the rectangular area. For this reason, the time required for image data transfer is increased, and as a result, the entire processing time is increased.

In order to improve this point, in the present embodiment, in the configuration shown in FIGS.
The present embodiment proposes an image data controller that enables transfer of image data between an image processing unit and an image memory. That is, when a rectangular area process is performed by the image processing unit, the image data controller performs a single transfer on the edge of the rectangular area as an image transfer method inside the rectangular area, and performs a single transfer on the other end of the rectangular image area. It is possible to switch the image transfer method so as to perform burst transfer.

Hereinafter, the rectangular area processing of this embodiment will be described in detail.

The operation section 30 specifies which area of the original to be subjected to image processing is to be processed. Since the specified area is specified as, for example, a rectangular area, the start coordinates KS and the end coordinates KE of the document image are specified (FIG. 14).
Step S1). At the same time, a process to be executed for the specified area is specified. As an example, assume that black-and-white inversion processing is performed on a specified rectangular area.

The designated coordinate information is notified to the CPU 11, where it is converted into the memory space address of the original image data on the RAM 12 (GF in FIG. 14 is the head address of the image transfer source). For example, start address KF and horizontal direction (X)
And the number of area pixels in the vertical direction (Y) (step S2).

Here, in the present embodiment, in the transfer of the image data inside the rectangular area, the edge of the rectangular area is transferred by single transfer, and the other image data is transferred by 8 bursts. That is, when the rectangular area information specified by the operation unit 30 is converted into the memory space address information, the image memory 12 starts from an address that can be transferred in eight bursts, that is, 256-bit boundary, depending on the head address and the number of horizontal area pixels. Is transferred in 8 bursts, and single transfer is performed for the images stored at other addresses.

The memory space address information thus obtained is sent to the device I / F 23. Device I / F2
In step 3, based on the sent memory space information, only the image data in the memory space corresponding to the specified rectangular area is stored in the RAM.
Read from # 12. The device I / F 23 transfers the received image data to the image processing unit 22, and performs a black-and-white inversion process, which is the processing content specified here (step S).
3). The processed image data is sequentially stored in the device I / F 2
Sent to 3.

Before this series of processing is executed, the CP
U11 copies the image data of the document image taken into the RAM 12 to another memory area. The copied image area itself becomes output image data. This is to prevent writing to the original image data. When it is not necessary to protect the original image data, there is no need to copy the original image, and the image data transfer source address designating method used for reading is used as it is for the image data transfer destination address at the time of writing. The image data subjected to the black-and-white inversion processing is transferred to a memory space corresponding to a rectangular area of the output image data (step S4).

At this time, the image data for some single transfer at the end of the rectangular image area is single-transferred depending on the start address of the transfer destination and the number of pixels in the horizontal direction.
For other image data, burst transfer is performed.
In this manner, the black-and-white inversion processing is performed on all the rectangular area images, and the writing is performed on the output image data (step S5), whereby the black-and-white inversion processing inside the desired rectangular area is completed.

Next, a description will be given, with reference to FIG. 15, of the image transfer required only in the rectangular area in this embodiment.
FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the image transfer method switching unit according to the present embodiment.

Horizontal length register 1 shown in FIG.
31 and the vertical length register 132 are registers for setting the number of gases in the rectangular image area. The transfer start address register 133 is a register for setting a read start address of rectangular image data from the memory space or a write start address of the rectangular image data in the memory space.

First, the transfer address register 134 is determined from the set values set by the registers 131 to 133.
Counts and specifies the address value used at the time of transfer.
The transfer burst controller 135 determines whether to perform single transfer or burst transfer based on the currently specified address value. Thereafter, the memory address controller 136 determines an address value and a command value (see FIG. 11) to be actually transmitted on the image bus 20 and transfers them to the image bus 20. Whether the single transfer or the burst transfer is performed is fed back to the transfer address counter 134.

Next, the operation of the transfer burst controller 135 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

When it is necessary to perform the data transfer addressing described in the present embodiment, first, at step S11
Let the current address value be the address value to be sent. Here, the current address value is the address value specified as the transfer start address if this transfer is the first transfer, and the address value added in step S15 or step S19 if it is the second or later transfer. It is. The current address value is actually determined by the transfer address counter 134.

Next, in step S12, it is determined whether or not the current address value is a 32-byte boundary value. 32
The reason for determining whether or not the value is a byte boundary value is to determine whether or not the next transfer can be a burst transfer of 8 beats. If YES is determined in step S12, the process proceeds to step S13, and if NO is determined, the process proceeds to step S14.

In the step S13, it is determined whether or not the remaining data amount to be transferred is 8 bursts = 32 bytes or more. If it is YES, it is possible to perform the burst transfer, so the process proceeds to step S17. If NO, the process proceeds to step S14 because burst transfer is impossible.

The flow from step S14 to step S16 is a control flow for single transfer. In step S14, a command for single transfer is transferred. As a result, as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 11B (single transfer), control signals for the PCI bus such as TRDY and DEVSEL are generated at the timing for single transfer. Next, in step S15, the address value of the transfer destination or the transfer source is transmitted. Finally, step S16
+ To advance the current address value by the amount of the single transfer
4

On the other hand, steps S17 to S19
The flow up to is a control flow for burst transfer.
In step S17, a command value for burst transfer is transmitted. As a result, as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 11A (burst transfer), TRDY, DEVSE
A PCI bus control signal such as L is generated at a timing for burst transfer.

With the above control flow, the single transfer and the burst transfer described in the present embodiment can be automatically switched.

At the time of image data transfer in which a large amount of data transfer is performed, “START” in the flowchart shown in FIG.
And "end" are linked and repeated. The repetition ends when the remaining transfer data amount is exhausted.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when image processing is performed on a rectangular image area, high-speed image transfer can be performed while realizing detailed area designation. That is, the image data transfer is performed by performing the single transfer for the portion where the burst transfer cannot be performed at the end of the rectangle at the time of transferring the image data in the rectangular region, and performing the burst transfer for the other portions that can perform the burst transfer. It is possible to reduce the time, and hence the processing time required for the entire image.

The present invention is not limited to the device of the above-described embodiment, but may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or to a device composed of one device. A storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is also supplied to a system or an apparatus, and the system or apparatus is also stored in a computer (or CPU or MPU). It goes without saying that the code is completed by reading and executing the code.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, and a ROM can be used. Also,
When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS or the like running on the computer performs part of the actual processing based on the instructions of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where all the functions are performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing is also included.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided on a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the next program code is written based on an instruction. This also includes the case where a CPU or the like provided with an extension board or a function in an extension unit performs the extended function for the actual processing to perform a part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments. Needless to say,

[0164]

As described in detail above, the image forming apparatus according to the first to third aspects of the present invention, the information processing system according to the tenth to the twelfth aspects, and the first aspect of the present invention.
According to the image processing method according to the ninth to twenty-first aspects, and the storage medium according to the twenty-eighth and twenty-ninth aspects, an image is transferred while performing image transfer between an image memory and an image rotation processing unit. When performing the rotation processing, the image rotation processing can be performed at high speed.

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention, an information processing system according to the present invention, and an image processing method according to the present invention. , And claims 30 and 3
According to the storage medium of the third aspect, when a predetermined area of an image is specified by a rectangular area, the image data of a portion corresponding to the specified area is switched to the first image transfer mode and the image is switched to the first image transfer mode. Since the transfer is performed, it is possible to specify the rectangular area in fine pixel units.

An image forming apparatus according to the eighth and ninth aspects, an information processing system according to the seventeenth and eighteenth aspects, and an image processing method according to the twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh aspects. According to the storage medium of the present invention, when performing image processing on a rectangular image area, it is possible to perform high-speed image transfer while realizing detailed area designation. Become.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a controller unit of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of an image input / output unit of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an external view of an operation unit of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a scanner image processing unit of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer image processing unit of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image compression processing unit of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image rotation processing unit of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a device I / F unit 23 of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 9 is an overall configuration diagram of a network system including the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a software block diagram of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a timing chart showing an example of image transfer when a PCI bus is used.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of an image rotation process.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of an image rotation process.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a rectangular area process of the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image transfer method switching unit according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an image transfer method switching processing procedure according to the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Controller Unit 11 CPU 12 RAM 13 ROM 14 HDD 15 Operation Unit I / F 16 Network Connection Unit 17 Modem 19 Image Bus I / F 21 Raster Image Processor (RIP) 22 Scanner Image Processing Unit 23 Device I / F 24 Printer image processing unit 25 Image rotation processing unit 26 Image compression processing unit 41 LAN 42 Public line (WAN) 50 Scanner 60 Printer

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C061 AP01 AP03 AP04 HH08 HJ06 HK05 HN04 HN15 HQ17 2C087 AA03 AB06 BC05 BD05 BD20 2H027 FD02 FD03 FD08 ZA07 5B061 BA03 DD01 DD05 DD06 DD09 DD11 FF01 Z02H04 CZ

Claims (35)

[Claims] 1. An image memory for storing image data, an image rotation processing unit for performing rotation processing of image data, and an address for enabling transfer of image data between the image rotation processing unit and the image memory. An image data controller having an image data controller having a control unit, wherein the image data controller includes the image rotation processing unit as an image processing unit that performs a predetermined process related to image formation. In bidirectional image transfer between the image rotation processing unit and the image memory, one direction is a first image transfer mode in which one data transfer is performed for one address specification, and one address specification is performed in the other direction. An image forming apparatus configured to perform image transfer in a second image transfer mode in which data transfer is performed a plurality of times to the image forming apparatus. 2. An image rotation processing unit comprising: a line buffer for storing image data transferred from the image memory; a data selection unit for selecting image data in the line buffer; 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an image rotating unit that rotates the image data by a predetermined angle unit. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the line buffer has a number of lines equal to an integral multiple of the number of block size lines of an image supported by the image rotation processing unit. 4. An image processing unit for performing predetermined image processing on image data, an image memory for storing image data,
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image data controller having an address control unit for enabling transfer of image data between the image processing unit and the image memory; wherein the image data controller is specified by the image processing unit At the time of image transfer between the image processing unit and the image memory when performing the image processing of
1st data transfer for 1 addressing
Image transfer mode, and in the image transfer mode other than the specific image processing mode, the image transfer is performed in the second image transfer mode in which the data transfer is performed a plurality of times for one address specification. An image forming apparatus comprising: 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a rectangular area designating unit that designates an arbitrary rectangular area on the image area. The specific image processing is performed by designating a part of an image as a rectangular area by the rectangular area designating unit. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the image forming apparatus is a rectangular area editing process that performs a process on an area portion. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the specific image processing is a thumbnail output processing for outputting a plurality of image data reduced in advance on one recording sheet. 7. The specific image processing is an extended continuous shooting process in which one image data is divided into a plurality of similar rectangular areas, and the divided image data is enlarged and output on a plurality of recording sheets. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein: 8. An image processing unit for performing predetermined image processing on image data, an image memory for storing image data,
A rectangular area designating unit for designating an arbitrary rectangular area on the image data; and an image data controller having an address control unit for enabling transfer of image data between the image processing unit and the image memory. In the image forming apparatus, the image data controller transfers an image between the image processing unit and the image memory when the image processing unit performs image processing on a rectangular image area specified by the rectangular area specifying unit. Sometimes, image transfer is performed in a first image data transfer mode in which data transfer is performed once for one addressing in a predetermined portion of the rectangular area, and one time addressing is performed in the remaining part of the rectangular area. An image forming apparatus configured to transfer an image in a second image data transfer mode in which data transfer is performed a plurality of times. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined portion of the rectangular area is an end of the rectangular area. 10. An image memory for storing image data,
An image rotation controller for performing rotation processing of image data; and an image data controller having an address controller for enabling transfer of image data between the image rotation processor and the image memory. In an information processing system in which an image forming apparatus that includes the image rotation processing unit as an image processing unit that performs predetermined processing is connected to a network, the image data controller of the image forming apparatus may be configured to perform the image rotation processing. At the time of bidirectional image transfer between the image rotation processing unit and the image memory, one direction is a first image transfer mode in which one data transfer is performed for one address designation, and one direction is one address transfer. An information processing system configured to perform image transfer in a second image transfer mode in which data transfer is performed a plurality of times in response to designation; . 11. The image rotation processing unit of the image forming apparatus includes: a line buffer that stores image data transferred from the image memory; a data selection unit that selects image data in the line buffer; 11. The information processing system according to claim 10, further comprising: image rotation means for rotating the image data selected by the data selection means by a predetermined angle unit. 12. The information processing system according to claim 11, wherein said line buffer has a number of lines equal to an integral multiple of the number of block size lines of an image supported by said image rotation processing unit. 13. An image processing unit for performing predetermined image processing on image data, an image memory for storing image data, and an image memory for transferring image data between the image processing unit and the image memory. In an information processing system in which an image forming apparatus including an image data controller having an address control unit is connected on a network, the image data controller of the image forming apparatus performs a specific image processing in the image processing unit At the time of image transfer between the image processing unit and the image memory,
1st data transfer for 1 addressing
Image transfer mode, and in the image transfer mode other than the specific image processing mode, the image transfer is performed in the second image transfer mode in which the data transfer is performed a plurality of times for one address specification. An information processing system, comprising: 14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a rectangular area designating unit for designating an arbitrary rectangular area on the image area. 14. The information processing system according to claim 13, wherein the processing is a rectangular area editing process of designating the rectangular area portion and performing processing on the rectangular area portion. 15. The information processing system according to claim 14, wherein the specific image processing is a thumbnail output processing for outputting a plurality of image data reduced in advance on one recording sheet. 16. The specific image processing is an extended continuous shooting process in which one image data is divided into a plurality of similar rectangular areas, and the divided image data is enlarged and output on a plurality of recording sheets. 15. The information processing system according to claim 14, wherein: 17. An image processing unit for performing predetermined image processing on image data, an image memory for storing image data, a rectangular area designating unit for designating an arbitrary rectangular area on the image data, An information processing system in which an image forming apparatus including an image data controller having an address control unit for enabling transfer of image data between a processing unit and the image memory is connected to a network, the image forming apparatus comprising: The image data controller of the present invention, when performing image processing on the rectangular image area specified by the rectangular area specifying means in the image processing unit, when transferring an image between the image processing unit and the image memory, the rectangular area In a predetermined portion of the above, image transfer is performed in a first image data transfer mode in which one data transfer is performed for one address specification. The information processing system characterized in that it is configured to image transfer by the second image data transfer mode for performing a plurality of times of data transfer to one of the addressing in the rest of the form area. 18. The information processing system according to claim 17, wherein the predetermined portion of the rectangular area is an end of the rectangular area. 19. An image processing for transferring image data between an image memory for storing image data and an image rotation processing unit for performing rotation processing of image data, performing image rotation processing, and outputting a result of the image rotation processing. In the method, when performing the image rotation processing, when performing bidirectional image transfer between the image rotation processing unit and the image memory, a first image that performs one data transfer for one address designation in one direction. An image processing method, wherein in a transfer mode, image transfer is performed in a second image transfer mode in which data transfer is performed a plurality of times for one address designation in the other direction. 20. The image rotation processing, wherein the image data in a line buffer for storing the image data transferred from the image memory is selected, and the selected image data is rotated by a predetermined angle unit. Claim 1.
9. The image processing method according to 9. 21. The image processing method according to claim 20, wherein the line buffer has a number of lines equal to an integral multiple of the number of block size lines of an image supported by the image rotation processing unit. 22. An image processing method for performing image processing by transferring image data between an image memory for storing image data and an image processing unit for processing the image data by a predetermined method, and outputting the image processing result In the case where a specific image processing is performed by the image processing unit, when an image is transferred between the image processing unit and the image memory, 1
1st data transfer for 1 addressing
Image transfer in the second image transfer mode in which a plurality of data transfers are performed for one address specification during the image transfer except for the specific image processing. Image processing method. 23. The image processing method according to claim 22, wherein the specific image processing is a rectangular area editing processing for designating a part of an image as a rectangular area and performing processing on the rectangular area. . 24. The image processing method according to claim 22, wherein the specific image processing is a thumbnail output processing for outputting a plurality of image data reduced in advance on one recording sheet. 25. The specific image processing is an extended continuous shooting process in which one image data is divided into a plurality of similar rectangular areas, and the divided image data is enlarged and output on a plurality of recording sheets. 23. The image processing method according to claim 22, wherein: 26. An image processing method for transferring image data between an image memory for storing image data and an image processing unit for processing the image data by a predetermined method, performing image processing, and outputting the image processing result In specifying an arbitrary rectangular area on the image data, when performing image processing on the specified rectangular image area in the image processing unit at the time of image transfer between the image processing unit and the image memory, In a predetermined portion of the rectangular area, image transfer is performed in a first image data transfer mode in which one data transfer is performed for one address specification. Image transfer in a second image data transfer mode in which data transfer is performed a plurality of times. 27. The image processing method according to claim 26, wherein the predetermined portion of the rectangular area is an end of the rectangular area. 28. Image processing for transferring image data between an image memory for storing image data and an image rotation processing unit for performing rotation processing of image data, performing image rotation processing, and outputting a result of the image rotation processing. A storage medium that stores a computer-readable program for executing the method, wherein the image processing method is configured to perform a bidirectional image transfer between the image rotation processing unit and the image memory when performing the image rotation processing. A first image transfer mode in which one data transfer is performed for one address specification in one direction, and a second image transfer mode in which a plurality of data transfers are performed for one address specification in one direction. A storage medium comprising a step of performing image transfer in a mode. 29. The image rotation processing comprises selecting image data in a line buffer for storing image data transferred from the image memory, and rotating the selected image data by a predetermined angle unit. Claim 2
8. The storage medium according to 8. 30. An image processing method for performing image processing by transferring image data between an image memory for storing image data and an image processing unit for processing the image data by a predetermined method, and outputting the image processing result A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer-readable program, wherein the image processing method performs image transfer between the image processing unit and the image memory when the image processing unit performs a specific image processing. Sometimes, image transfer is performed in a first image transfer mode in which one data transfer is performed for one address specification.
A storage medium characterized by comprising a step of transferring an image in a second image transfer mode in which data transfer is performed a plurality of times for one address specification during the image transfer except for the specific image processing. 31. The storage medium according to claim 30, wherein the specific image processing is a rectangular area editing process of designating a part of an image as a rectangular area and performing processing on the rectangular area. 32. The storage medium according to claim 30, wherein said specific image processing is thumbnail output processing for outputting a plurality of image data reduced in advance on one recording sheet. 33. The specific image processing is an enlarged continuous shooting process in which one image data is divided into a plurality of similar rectangular areas, and the divided image data is enlarged and output on a plurality of recording sheets. 31. The storage medium according to claim 30, wherein: 34. An image processing method for transferring image data between an image memory for storing image data and an image processing unit for processing the image data by a predetermined method, performing image processing, and outputting the image processing result A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer-readable program, wherein the image processing method specifies an arbitrary rectangular area on the image data, and executes the image processing for the specified rectangular image area. A first image in which one data transfer is performed once for one address specification in a predetermined portion of the rectangular area when an image is transferred between the image processing unit and the image memory in a case where image processing is performed by a processing unit; An image is transferred in a data transfer mode, and in the remaining portion of the rectangular area, an image is transferred in a second image data transfer mode in which data transfer is performed a plurality of times for one address specification. Storage medium comprising the steps. 35. The storage medium according to claim 34, wherein the predetermined portion of the rectangular area is an end of the rectangular area.