JP2000115277A - Coding/decoding device and image formation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a high speed encoding/decoding processing of data to be supplied from the outside by providing a selecting means to select an encoding/ decoding means to be used for an encoding or decoding processing of original data according to a specified condition. SOLUTION: An encoding/decoding device is provided with a first codec consisting of hardware, a second codec to perform encoding/decoding by execution of software as the encoding/decoding means and the selecting means to select the encoding/decoding means. Namely, the software(S/W) codec and the hardware(H/W) codec are selected. In this case, use condition of resources like a scanner, a printer, a LAN, etc., to share a bus 2008 is investigated and when use ratio of the bus is larger than a specified value, the S/W codec is used. Since the S/W codec is realized by executing the software for the encoding/decoding processing which is stored in, for example, a ROM 2003 by a CPU 2001, the processing is enabled by using only a system bus and the image bus 2008 is not affected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an encoding / decoding apparatus for subjecting input data such as image data to predetermined encoding / decoding processing and outputting the encoded data, and more particularly to an encoding / decoding apparatus capable of performing a plurality of processings at high speed. The present invention relates to a decoding device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the spread of network technology, data such as images, sounds, programs and the like have been frequently exchanged on a network. In many cases, data compression (encoding) technology is used to reduce network load and perform high-speed data transmission. Coding·
Decoding is performed using an encoding / decoding device (codec). The codec can be realized by hardware (hardware codec) such as a dedicated LSI or by executing software by a general-purpose processor (software codec). Generally, either a hardware codec or a software codec, such as a hardware codec if high-speed compression is necessary, or a software codec if processing speed is not so important or if it is necessary to keep costs low. One is used.

[0003]

However, for example, a copier (multifunction machine) having a scanner function and a printer function
Are often connected to a common bus such as a PCI bus so that each function can be easily, arbitrarily added, deleted or added.
That is, the network interface, the interface to the scanner and the printer, and the codec are connected to the same bus. The use of the common bus enables flexible setting and reduces costs, but there is a problem that if there are many simultaneous users (devices) of the bus, the performance of each device cannot be sufficiently exhibited. For example, even if a hardware codec is connected to perform high-speed processing, the encoding / decoding processing may take time depending on the processing of another device. In particular, in the case of the above-described configuration, a process of encoding image data of a document read using a scanner and outputting the encoded image data to another device connected to the network, and a process of decoding image data received from the other device to perform a printer function. In the case where the processes for outputting the data by using the command are duplicated, the bus use requests are duplicated, and the encoding / decoding process takes time.

On the other hand, recently, general-purpose processors (CPU)
Has improved, and software codecs have been able to achieve some high-speed processing.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an encoding / decoding apparatus capable of encoding / decoding data supplied from the outside at a high speed.

That is, the gist of the present invention is an encoding / decoding apparatus having an encoding / decoding means for applying predetermined encoding processing or decoding processing to original data supplied from the outside and outputting the result. A first codec configured by hardware, a second codec that performs encoding and decoding by executing software, and encoding or decoding of original data according to predetermined conditions. And a selecting means for selecting an encoding / decoding means to be used for the processing.

Another aspect of the present invention resides in that the means for generating image data and the image forming means for forming an image on a recording material based on the received image data and outputting the image include the above-described encoding / decoding. In an image forming system communicably connected via an image forming apparatus.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiment, an example is shown in which the encoding / decoding device of the present invention is applied to a multifunction peripheral that can be connected to a network. However, as described above, the encoding / decoding target is not limited to image data.

[Hardware] FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a multifunction peripheral system. The controller 2000 is connected to a scanner 2070 as an image input device and a printer 2095 as an image output device, and is connected to a LAN 2011 or a public line (WAN) 2051 to input and output image information and device information. It is a controller. A CPU 2001 is a general-purpose processor that controls the entire MFP. A RAM 2002 is a system work memory for the operation of the CPU 2001, and is also an image memory for temporarily storing image data. ROM2003
A boot ROM stores a boot program of the multifunction peripheral. An HDD 2004 is a hard disk drive that stores system software and image data.
An operation unit I / F 2006 is an interface with an operation unit (UI) 2012 and outputs image data to be displayed on the operation unit 2012 to the operation unit 2012. Further, information input by the user of the system from the operation unit 2012 is
Plays the role of telling U2001. The Modem 2050 is connected to the public line 2051 and inputs and outputs information. The above devices are arranged on the system bus 2007.

The image bus I / F 2005 is connected to the system bus 2
007 and an image bus 2008 for transferring image data at high speed
Is a bus bridge for connecting the data structure and converting the data structure.
The image bus 2008 is a PCI bus or IEEE139.
4 The following devices are arranged on the image bus 2008. A network I / F 2010 connects the image bus 2008 to the LAN 2011 and inputs and outputs information. Raster Image Processor (RIP) 2060
Develops a PDL (Page Description Language) code into a bitmap image. A device I / F unit 2020 includes a scanner 2070 and a printer 209 which are image input / output devices.
5 and the controller 2000, and performs synchronous / asynchronous conversion of image data. Scanner image processing unit 208
0 performs correction, processing, and editing on the input image data.
The printer image processing unit performs printer correction, resolution conversion, and the like on the print output image data. The image rotation unit 2030 rotates image data. Codec 204
A value of 0 performs compression / expansion processing of JPEG for multilevel image data and JBIG, MMR, and MH for binary image image data.

The configuration as described above is configured such that the system bus 2007 and the image bus 2008 are separated in consideration of the expandability of the image processing part, and a general computer configuration is applied. It was done. In the above-described configuration, the image bus I / F is a general-purpose I / F, so that the degree of freedom in which image processing can be arbitrarily combined and the expandability in consideration of the future are provided. In particular, the codec portion is connected to the image bus side so that various standards may be proposed in the future and can be easily replaced.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the front appearance of the multifunction peripheral system. A scanner unit 2070 serving as an image input device illuminates a document and scans a CCD line sensor (not shown) to convert the document into an electrical signal as raster image data. Documents are placed on the tray 2073 of the document feeder 2072.
Is set in the controller CPU 2001 by the apparatus user reading and instructing activation from the operation unit 2012.
Gives an instruction to the scanner 2070, and the feeder 2072 feeds the documents one by one and performs a reading operation of the document image.

A printer unit 209 serving as an image output device
Reference numeral 5 denotes a part for converting the raster image data 2096 into an image on a recording material such as paper. The method is an electrophotographic method using a photosensitive drum or a photosensitive belt. There is an ink jet system for forming an image directly on paper, and the like, but any system may be used. The print operation is started by the controller CPU 20.
It starts with an instruction from 01. Printer unit 2095
Has a plurality of supply stages so that different recording material sizes or different recording material directions can be selected, and cassettes 2101, 1022, 2103, and 2104 corresponding thereto.
There is. The discharge tray 2111 receives the recording material on which printing has been completed.

Operation section FIG. 3 shows an example of the appearance of the operation section 2012. LCD display 2
Reference numeral 013 denotes a touch panel sheet affixed on the LCD to display an operation screen of the system, and when a displayed key is pressed, its position information is transmitted to the controller CP.
Tell U2001. A start key 2014 is used to start a document image reading operation. At the center of the start key 2014, there is a two-color LED 2018 of green and red, which indicates whether the start key 2014 is in a usable state or not. A stop key 2015 functions to stop an operation in operation. An ID key 2016 is used to input a user ID of a user. A reset key 2017 is used to initialize settings from the operation unit.

Scanner Image Processing Unit FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the scanner image processing unit 2080. The image bus I / F controller 2081 is connected to the image bus 2008
To control the bus access sequence, and control and timing of each device in the scanner image processing unit 2080. Filter processing unit 2082
Performs a convolution operation with a spatial filter. The editing unit 2083 recognizes, for example, a closed area surrounded by the marker pen from the input image data, and performs image processing such as shadowing, shading, and inverting the negative image on the image data in the closed area. When changing the resolution of the read image, the scaling unit 2084 performs interpolation calculation in the main scanning direction of the raster image to perform enlargement and reduction. Zooming in the sub-scanning direction is performed by changing the scanning speed of an image reading line sensor (not shown). The table conversion unit 2085 performs a table conversion for converting image data, which is read luminance data, into density data. The binarization processing unit 2086 binarizes the multi-value grayscale image data by error diffusion processing or screen processing.

The processed image data is transferred to the image bus via the image bus controller 2081 again.

Printer Image Processing Unit FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the printer image processing unit 2090. The image bus I / F controller 2091 is connected to the image bus 2008
To control the bus access sequence, and control and timing of each device in the scanner image processing unit 2090. Resolution converter 2092
Performs resolution conversion for converting image data received from the LAN 2011 or the WAN 2051 into the resolution of the printer 2095. Smoothing processing unit 2093
Performs a process of smoothing jaggies (roughness of an image appearing at a black-and-white boundary such as an oblique line) of image data after resolution conversion.

Codec The configuration of the codec 2040 is shown in FIG. Image bus I /
The F controller 2041 is connected to the image bus 2008 to control the bus access sequence, controls the timing for exchanging data with the input buffer 2042 and output buffer 2045, and sets the mode for the image compression / decompression unit 2043. Control. In the present invention, data compression is treated as encoding, and decompression is treated as decoding. The processing procedure of the codec is shown below.

A CPU 200 is connected via an image bus 2008.
1 to the image bus I / F controller 2041 for setting for image compression control. With this setting, the image bus I /
The F controller 2041 sets the image compression / decompression unit 2043 with settings necessary for image compression (for example, MMR compression / JB
IG extension etc.). After the necessary settings have been made, the CPU 2001 sends the image bus I / F controller 204 again.
1 is permitted to transfer image data. In accordance with this permission, the image bus I / F controller 2041
02 or each device on the image bus 2008 starts transferring image data. The received image data is temporarily stored in the input buffer 2042, and
The image is transferred at a constant speed in response to the image data request of 43. At this time, the input buffer determines whether image data can be transferred between the image bus I / F controller 2041 and the image compression / decompression unit 2043, reads image data from the image bus 2008, and performs image compression / decompression. If writing of an image to the unit 2043 is impossible, control is performed so as not to transfer data (hereinafter, such control is referred to as handshake).

The image compression / decompression unit 2043 temporarily stores the received image data in the RAM 2044. This is because several lines of data are required depending on the type of image compression processing performed when performing image compression, and several lines of image data are prepared in order to perform the first one-line compression. This is because image compression cannot be performed unless the image is compressed. The image data subjected to the image compression is immediately output to the output buffer 204.
Sent to 5. In the output buffer 2045, the image bus I
/ F controller 2041 and image compression / decompression unit 2043
Handshake with the image bus I /
Transfer to the F controller 2041. The image bus I / F controller 2041 transfers the transferred compressed (or decompressed) image data to the RAM 2002 or each device on the image bus 2008. Such a series of processing is performed until there is no processing request from the CPU 2001 (when processing of the required number of pages is completed) or until a stop request is issued from the image compression / expansion unit (when an error occurs during compression and expansion). Repeated.

Image Rotation Unit FIG. 7 shows the configuration of the image rotation unit 2030. Image bus I /
The F controller 2031 is connected to the image bus 2008 and controls the bus sequence.
032 and control for setting the mode and the like, and the image rotation unit 20
32, a timing control for transferring the image data. The processing procedure of the image rotation unit will be described below.

The CPU 200 via the image bus 2008
1 to the image bus I / F controller 2031 to make settings for image rotation control. With this setting, the image bus I /
The F controller 2041 performs settings necessary for image rotation (for example, image size, rotation direction, angle, and the like) for the image rotation unit 2032. After making the necessary settings,
U2001 permits the image bus I / F controller 2041 to transfer image data. Subject to this permission,
The image bus I / F controller 2031 is a RAM 2002
Alternatively, transfer of image data from a device on the image bus 2008 is started. Here, the width of the image bus 2008 is set to 32 bits, and the image size to be rotated is set to 32 × 32.
(Bit), and when transferring image data to the image bus 2008, image transfer is performed in units of 32 bits (the image to be handled is assumed to be binary).

As described above, in order to obtain a 32 × 32 (bit) image, it is necessary to perform the above-described unit data transfer 32 times, and it is necessary to transfer image data from discontinuous addresses ( See FIG. 8). The image data transferred by the discontinuous addressing is written to the RAM 2033 such that the image data is rotated to a desired angle at the time of reading. For example, in the case of a 90-degree counterclockwise rotation, the first transferred 32-bit image data is converted into Y-bit data as shown in FIG.
Write in the direction. By reading in the X direction at the time of reading, the image is rotated.

32 × 32 (bit) image rotation (RAM
After the completion of the writing to the image rotation unit 2033, the image rotation unit 20
The image bus I / F controller 203 reads out image data from the RAM 2033 by the above-described readout method.
1 to transfer the image.

The image bus I / F controller 2031 that has received the rotated image data performs RAMA or image bus 2008 by continuous addressing.
Transfer data to each device above. Such a series of processing is repeated until there is no processing request from the CPU 2001 (when processing of the required number of pages is completed).

Device I / F Unit FIG. 10 shows the configuration of the device I / F unit 2020. The image bus I / F controller 2021 is connected to the image bus 2008
To control the bus access sequence, and control and timing of each device in the device I / F unit 2020. Also, an external scanner 20
And a control signal to the printer 2095.
The scan buffer 2022 temporarily stores image data sent from the scanner 2070, and stores the image data in the image bus 2008.
The image data is output in synchronization with. The serial / parallel / parallel / serial conversion unit 2023 arranges or decomposes the image data stored in the scan buffer 2022 in order, and converts the image data into a data width of image data that can be transferred to the image bus 2008. The parallel-serial-to-serial / parallel conversion unit 2024 decomposes or arranges the image data transferred from the image bus 2008 and converts the image data into a data width of image data that can be stored in the print buffer 2025. The print buffer 2025
The image data sent from the image bus 2008 is temporarily stored, and the image data is output in synchronization with the printer 2095.

The processing procedure at the time of image scanning is described below.
The image data sent from the scanner 2070 is stored in the scan buffer 2022 in synchronization with the timing signal sent from the scanner 2070. When the image bus 2008 is a PCI bus, when the buffer contains 32 bits or more of image data, the image data is sent from the buffer to the serial / parallel / serial / serial converter 2023 for 32 bits on a first-in first-out basis.
The image data is converted into bit image data and transferred to the image bus 2008 via the image bus I / F controller 2021.
When the image bus 2008 is IEEE1394, the image data in the buffer is first-in first-out, and the serial-parallel / parallel-serial
23, and converts the serial image data into serial image data.
The image data is transferred to the image bus 2008 via the / F controller 2021.

The processing procedure for printing an image is described below.
When the image bus 2008 is a PCI bus, the 32-bit image data sent from the image bus is transferred to the image bus I / O.
The data is received by the F controller, sent to the parallel / serial / serial / parallel conversion unit 2024, decomposed into image data of the number of input data bits of the printer 2095, and stored in the print buffer 2025. When the image bus 2008 is IEEE1394, the serial image data sent from the image bus is received by the image bus I / F controller, sent to the parallel / serial / serial / parallel converter 2024, and the number of input data bits of the printer 2095 is calculated. The data is converted into image data and stored in the print buffer 2025. Then, in synchronization with a timing signal sent from the printer 2095, the image data in the buffer is sent to the printer 2095 on a first-in first-out basis.

Network System FIG. 11 shows an example of a system configuration in which a multifunction peripheral to which the codec of the present invention is applied is connected to a network. 100
Reference numeral 1 denotes a multifunction peripheral to which the codec of the present invention is applied. The multifunction peripheral includes a scanner and a printer, which will be described later. it can. Further, the image read from the scanner is transmitted to the PSTN by a facsimile transmission unit (not shown).
Alternatively, an image transmitted to the ISDN (1030) or received from the PSTN or ISDN can be printed out by a printer. 1002 is a database server,
The binary image and the multivalued image read by the multifunction peripheral 1001 are managed as a database. Reference numeral 1003 denotes a database client of the database server 1002, which can browse / search image data stored in the database 1002.

An electronic mail server 1004 can receive an image read by the multifunction peripheral 1001 as an electronic mail attachment. Reference numeral 1005 denotes an e-mail client which receives and browses e-mail received by the e-mail server 1004, transmits e-mail,
It is possible. Reference numeral 1006 denotes a WWW server that provides an HTML document to the LAN, and the MFP 1001 can print out an HTML document provided by the WWW server. 1
011 is a router that connects the LAN 1010 to the Internet /
Connect to intranet 1012. the Internet/
The database server (10
02), a WWW server (1006), an electronic mail server (1004), and devices similar to the multifunction peripheral (1001) are connected as 1020, 1021, 1022, and 1023, respectively. On the other hand, the multifunction peripheral 1001 transmits the fax device 1031 via the PSTN or ISDN (1030).
Can be sent and received. A printer 1040 is also connected on the LAN, and is configured so that an image read by the multifunction peripheral 1001 can be printed out.

[Software] FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a module configuration of software of the multifunction peripheral shown in FIG. Reference numeral 1501 denotes a UI, that is, a user interface.
A module that mediates with devices when making settings.
This module transfers input information to various modules, which will be described later, and requests processing or sets data in accordance with the operation of the operator.

Reference numeral 1502 denotes a database module for managing an address-book, that is, a destination of data transmission, a communication destination, and the like. The contents of the Address-BooK are used to add, delete, and acquire data by an operation from the UI 1501 and to provide data transmission / communication destination information to each module described later by an operation of an operator.

Reference numeral 1503 denotes a Web-Server module.
It is used to notify management information of the MFP in response to a request from a Web client (not shown). Management information
It is read via a Control-API 1518 to be described later, and is read by an HTTP 1512, a TCP / IP 1516, a Network-
The Web client is notified via the Driver 1517.

Reference numeral 1504 denotes a Universal-Send, that is, a module that manages data distribution, and distributes data specified by the operator via the UI 1501 to the communication (output) destination similarly specified. When the operator instructs to generate distribution data using the scanner function of the device, the device is operated via a Control-API 1518 to be described later to generate data.

Reference numeral 1505 denotes a module that is executed when a printer is specified as an output destination in the Universal Send 1504. Reference numeral 1506 denotes a module that is executed when an E-mail address is specified as a communication destination in the Universal Send 1504. Reference numeral 1507 denotes a module that is executed when a database is designated as an output destination in the Universal Send 1504. Reference numeral 1508 denotes a module that is executed when a multifunction peripheral similar to the present apparatus is designated as an output destination in the Universal Send 1504.

Reference numeral 1509 denotes a Remote-Copy-Scan module, which uses the scanner function of the multifunction peripheral, sets another multifunction peripheral connected via a network or the like as an output destination, and implements a copy function realized by the multifunction peripheral alone. This module performs the same processing as. Reference numeral 1510 denotes a Remote-Copy-Print module, which uses the printer function of the multifunction peripheral, receives another multifunction peripheral connected via a network or the like as an input destination, and has the same copy function as that realized by the multifunction peripheral alone. This is a module that performs processing.

Reference numeral 1511 denotes a Web-Pull-Print module for reading and printing information of various homepages on the Internet or an intranet. Reference numeral 1512 denotes a module used when the multifunction peripheral communicates by HTTP. The above-described Web-Server 1503 and Web-Pull-Print 151 are used by a TCP / IP 1516 module described later.
This is to provide communication to one module. Reference numeral 1513 denotes an lpr module, which is a TCP / IP 1516 described later.
The module provides communication to the printer module 1505 in the above-described Universal-Send 1504.

Reference numeral 1514 denotes an SMTP module.
E-mail module 150 in ersal-Send 1504
6 provides communication.

Reference numeral 1515 denotes an SLM, that is, Salutation-Manager.
The module is a database module 1517, a DP module 1518, a Remote-Copy-Scan 1509 module, and a Remote-Copy-Scan module in the above-mentioned Universal-Send 1504 by a TCP / IP 1516 module described later.
It provides communication to the Print1510 module. Reference numeral 1516 denotes a TCP / IP communication module which provides network communication to the above-described various modules by using a Network-Driver described later. Reference numeral 1517 denotes a network driver which controls a portion physically connected to the network.

Reference numeral 1518 denotes a Control-API, which is a Universal
-For the upstream module such as Send 1504, Job-M described later
It provides an interface with downstream modules such as the anager 1519, and reduces the dependency between the upstream and downstream modules and enhances their applicability. Reference numeral 1519 denotes a Job-Manager, which interprets a process instructed from the various modules via the Control-API 1518 and gives an instruction to each module described later. Further, this module centrally manages hardware processing executed in the MFP.

Reference numeral 1520 denotes a CODEC-Manager, which is a Job-Man
Various types of data compression /
It manages and controls elongation. 1521 is FBE-En C
oder, Job-Manager1519, Scan-Manager15
The data read by the scan processing executed by the H.24 is compressed in the FBE format.

Reference numeral 1522 denotes a JPEG-CODEC, and Job-Manage
r1519, the scan processing executed by the Scan-Manager 1524 and the print processing executed by the Print-Manager 1526
It performs JPEG expansion processing of compression and print data.

Reference numeral 1523 denotes an MMR-CODEC, which is a Job-Manager
1519, in the scan processing executed by the Scan-Manager 1524 and in the print processing executed by the Print-Manager 1526, MMR compression of the read data and MMR decompression processing of the print data are performed.

Reference numeral 1524 denotes a Scan-Manager, which is a Job-Mana
The ger 1519 manages and controls the scanning process specified by the ger 1519. Reference numeral 1525 denotes a scanner driver.
-Communication between the Manager 1524 and the scanner unit internally connected to the MFP. 1526 is Print-
A Manager that manages and controls the print processing instructed by the Job-Manager 1519.

Reference numeral 1527 denotes a printer driver.
An interface between the t-Manager 1526 and the printing unit is provided. 1528 is a parallel port driver.
The b-Pull-Print 1511 provides an I / F for outputting data to an output device (not shown) via a parallel port.

Application An embodiment of the embedded application according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating embedded application blocks related to image data distribution in the multifunction peripheral illustrated in FIG. 1.

Reference numeral 4050 denotes a block indicating the operation unit application of the present invention described in the above 3000. 4
Reference numeral 100 denotes a block indicating the transmitting side of the remote copy application. Reference numeral 4150 denotes a block indicating the transmitting side of the broadcast distribution. Reference numeral 4200 denotes a block indicating a Web Pull Print module.

Reference numeral 4250 denotes a block indicating a Web Server module. Reference numeral 4300 denotes a block indicating a remote copy receiving side (printing side). Reference numeral 4350 denotes a block for receiving and printing the image transmitted by the broadcast distribution using a general-purpose printer. Reference numeral 4400 denotes a block indicating a remote print receiving side (print side).

Reference numeral 4450 denotes a block for receiving and storing the image transmitted by the broadcast distribution in a publicly known Notes (trademark) Server. Reference numeral 4500 denotes a block for receiving and storing a binary image of the image transmitted by the broadcast distribution. Reference numeral 4550 denotes a block for receiving and storing the image transmitted by the broadcast distribution in a known Mail Server.

Reference numeral 4600 denotes a block for receiving and storing a multi-valued image transmitted from the broadcast. 4650 is a well-known Web containing information contents.
Server. Reference numeral 4700 denotes a known Web Browser for accessing the Web Server of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the application group will be described in detail with reference to each block. -User Interface Application User Interface (hereinafter referred to as U
The details of I) are as described above, but here, 4
The Address Book 051 will be described. This Address
The Book is stored in a nonvolatile storage device (such as a nonvolatile memory or a hard disk) in the device of the present invention, and describes the characteristics of the device connected to the network. For example, those listed below are included. The official name or alias name of the device The network address of the device The network protocol that the device can process The document format that the device can process The compression type that the device can process The image resolution that the device can process The paper size that the printer device can feed , Paper source information Folder name that can store documents for server (computer) devices

Each application described below can determine the characteristics of the distribution destination based on the information described in the Adders Book 4051. Also this Adders
The s Book is editable, and can be downloaded from a server computer or the like in a network and used, or can be directly referred to.

Remote Copy Application The remote copy application 4041 sends resolution information that can be processed by the device designated as the distribution destination to the Adderss
Based on the discrimination from Book 4051, the image binary image read by the scanner is compressed by using a known MMR compression, and is then compressed by a known TIFF (Tagged Image File Format).
t), and transmits it to the printer device on the network through the SLM 4103. Although not described in detail, the SLM 4103 is a known Salutation Manager (or
It is a type of network protocol that includes device control information called Smart Link Manager.

Broadcast Distribution Application Unlike the remote copy application, the broadcast distribution application 4150 is capable of transmitting images to a plurality of distribution destinations by one image scan. The distribution destination is not limited to an image output device such as a printer, and can be directly distributed to a so-called server computer.

Hereinafter, description will be made in order according to the distribution destination. Adders Book 4 states that the destination device can process the known network printer protocol, LPD (Line Printer Daemon), and the known LIPS as printer control commands.
051, the Adderss Book 4051
The image is read according to the determined image resolution,
In this embodiment, the image itself is a known FBE (First Binar
i Encoding), and further LIPS-coded to obtain a known network printer protocol, L
Send to the partner device by PR.

The destination device can communicate with the SLM,
In the case of a server device, determine the server address and the designation of the folder in the server from Adderss Book 4051,
Similarly to the remote copy application, the image binary image read by the scanner is compressed using the known MMR compression, and the compressed image is compressed into the known TIFF (Tagged Image FileFo).
rmat), and can be stored in a specific folder of the server device on the network through the SLM.

In the device of the present embodiment, if the server as the partner device determines that a known JPEG-compressed multi-valued image can be processed, the multi-valued read image is read in the same manner as the binary image. Using well-known JPEG compression, it is also possible to convert to a well-known JFIF and store it in a specific folder of a server device on a network through an SLM.

If the destination device is a known E-Mail server, the mail address described in the Adders Book 4051 is determined, and the image 2 read by the scanner is used.
The value image is compressed using a known MMR compression, which is then subjected to a known TIFF (Tagged Image File Format),
Using TP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) 4153, it transmits to an E-Mail server. Subsequent distribution is performed according to Mail Server 4550.

Web Pull Print Application The Web Pull Print application 4200 is not directly related to the present embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Web Server Application The Web Server application is 4250, which is not directly related to the present embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Hereinafter, the screen of the operation unit will be briefly described. Operation screen FIG. 14 shows a display example of the LCD display unit 2013 of the operation unit 2012 shown in FIG. The figure shows a display example of the copy function.

The function provided by the apparatus of the present invention is Copy / Sen
d / Retrieve / Tasks / Management / Configuration are divided into six major categories, and these are the six main tabs (C
OPY / SEND / RETREIVE / TASKS / MGMT / CONFIG)
016). By pressing these main tabs, switching to a screen of each category is performed. If switching to another category is not allowed,
The display color of the main tab changes, and there is no response when the main tab is pressed.

Copy has a function of copying a normal document using its own scanner and printer, and a function of copying a document using a printer connected to its scanner and a network (remote copy). )including. Send is a function for transferring a document placed in a scanner of the own device to an e-mail, a remote printer, a facsimile, a file transfer (FTP), and a database, and it is possible to specify a plurality of destinations. Retrieve is a function for acquiring an external document and printing the document on its own printer. WWW, e-mail, file transfer, and fax can be used as document acquisition means. Tasks automatically processes documents sent from outside such as faxes and Internet prints, and creates and manages tasks for periodic Retrieve. Management manages jobs, address books, bookmarks, documents, account information, and the like. In Configuration, you can make settings for your device (network, clock, etc.).

Device Information Service (DIS) A database that holds setting values for jobs, functions of devices (scanners, printers, etc.), status, billing information, and the like in a controller in a data format compliant with the Control API. I / F of Device Inf
Ormation Service (hereinafter referred to as DIS). FIG. 15 shows DIS7102 and Job Manager1.
519 and Scan and Print Managers 1524 and 152
6 is shown.

Basically, dynamic information such as a job start command is directly instructed from the Job Manager 1519 to each Manager, and static information such as device functions and job contents is
Reference is made to IS7102. Static, dynamic information and events from each Manager are sent to the Job Manager via DIS7102.
1519.

When data is set and acquired from each Manager to the DIS database, since the internal data format of DIS conforms to the Control API, the data format conforming to the Control API and the data format that each Manager can understand are used. Perform mutual conversion. For example, when setting status data from each Manager, device-specific data is interpreted, converted into corresponding data defined by the Control API, and written to the DIS database.

When setting and acquiring data from the Job Manager to the DIS database, the Job Manager and the D
No conversion of data occurs between ISs.

The event data is updated in the DIS based on various event information notified from the Manager.

FIG. 16 shows various databases (hereinafter, referred to as DBs) held in the DIS, and each DB will be described.

Reference numeral 7201 denotes a supervisor DB, which holds status and user information of the entire device.
B, information that requires backup, such as a user ID and a password, is stored in a non-volatile storage device such as an HD device or a backup memory.

Reference numeral 7202 denotes a Scan Component DB, 7203
Is a Print Component DB, and these Component DBs are held corresponding to each existing Component. For example, in the case of a device consisting of only a printer, only the Print Component DB exists. For example, in the case of a device equipped with a FAX,
FAX Component DB is retained. At initialization of each Component DB, the corresponding Manager sets the function and status of the Component.

Reference numeral 7204 denotes a Scan Job Service DB, 720
5 is a Print Job Service DB, and these Job Servic
e DB also supports each at the time of initialization like Component DB
Manager sets the functions that can be used on the device and their support status.

Next, the Job DB and Document DB will be described. 7206 is the Scan Job DB, 7207 is the Print Job DB
Each of the Job DB, 7208 is Scan Document DB, 7209 is
PrintDocument DB.

The Job DB and Document DB are dynamically secured and initialized by the JobManager every time a Job and a Document attached thereto are generated, and necessary items are set. Each Manager starts the Job DB and D before starting Job processing.
Read the items required for processing from the ocument DB and start Job. Then, when Job ends, these Jobs
b and the DB of the Document attached thereto are released. Since Job has one or more Documents, a certain Job
In some cases, a plurality of Document DBs may be secured for b.

Reference numeral 7211 denotes a database holding event information notified from each Manager, and reference numeral 7210 denotes an Sc of the apparatus.
9 is a counter table for recording an number of times and a number of times of printing.

The event notified from the Manager includes Sca
n Component status transition from Manager, Scan processing operation completion and various errors, and Component from Print Manager
State transition, print processing operation completion, paper jam, paper feed cassette open, etc., and an event ID for identifying each event is predetermined.

When an event is issued from the Manager,
The DIS registers the issued event ID in the event database 7211 and, if necessary, detailed data accompanying the event. When the event release is notified from the manager, the event data designated to be released is deleted from the event database 7211.

When an event is polled by the Job Manager, DIS is stored in the event database 7211.
And return the current event ID and, if necessary, detailed data attached to the event to Job Manager,
If no event has occurred, a response to that effect is returned.

When the event of the completion of the scanning process and the event of the printing process is notified, the counter value of the user who performed the scan and print is updated. This software counter is written back to the backed-up memory device or the non-volatile storage device of the HD device each time the value is updated so that the value is not lost due to accidental power-off or the like.

Scan Operation FIG. 17 shows a software structure related to the scan operation. The Job Manager 1519 has a function of classifying and storing application-level requests. DIS7
Reference numeral 102 stores parameters required for a scan operation from the application level. The request from the application is stored in the RAM 2002. The scan operation management unit 8203 acquires information necessary for performing a scan from the Job Manager 1519 and the DIS 7102. The scan operation management unit 8203 uses the Job Manager 1519 from FIG.
19, and scan parameters 8302 shown in FIG. 19 from the DIS 7102 based on the job number and document number table data 8301. As a result, scanning is performed based on the scanning conditions requested by the application.

The scan operation management unit 8203 stores the DIS 71
The scan parameters 8302 obtained from “02” are transferred to the scan sequence control unit 8204 in document number order. Upon receiving the scan parameter 8302, the scan sequence control unit 8204 sets the scan image attribute 8308
The device I / F control unit 8207 is controlled in accordance with the contents of (1). By operating the device I / F 2020 connected to the image bus 2008 in FIG. 1, a scan is executed by sending a control command to the scanner 2070 via the cable 2071. The scanned image is sent to the device I / O via the cable 2071.
F2020, and via the bus 2008 to the RAM
2002.

At the time when the scan is completed and the image is stored in the RAM 2002 via the bus 2008, the scan sequence control
According to the content of the scan image compression format 8309 of
A request is issued to the CODEC Manager 1520 in order to compress the scan image stored in the RAM 2002. The CODEC Manager 1520 receiving the request sends the request to bus 2
Codec 2040 connected to 008, or
Using the software compression module in the MMR-CODEC 1523, compression is performed by specifying the scan image compression format 8309 from the scan sequence control unit 8204. compression·
The extension control unit 8205 stores the compressed image in the RAM 2002 via the bus 2008.

The scan sequence control unit 8204 has a CODE
The C Manager 1520 compresses the scan image into the format specified by the scan image compression format 8309, and
2 in the RAM 2002 according to the image file type 8307 of the scan parameter 8302.
File of the compressed scanned image stored in. The scan sequence control unit 8204 sends a scan parameter 8302 to the file system 8206.
Of the image file type 8307. The file system 8206 stores the RAM 200 according to the image file type 8307 from the scan sequence control unit 8204.
2 is converted into a file, and is transferred to the HDD 2004 via the bus 2008 to convert the scanned compressed image into a file. The scan sequence control unit 8204 includes a file system 8206
Stores the filed image in the HDD 2004 and sends a scan end notification to the scan operation management unit 8203 assuming that the processing of one document on the scanner 2070 has been completed.

At this point, there is an unscanned document on the scanner 2070, and the Job Manager 15
If a scan request exists from step 19, DIS
Scan parameters 8302 stored in 7102
Is used to request a scan operation from the scan sequence control unit. If there is no unscanned document on the scanner 2070, or if there is no scan request from the Job Manager 1519, a scan end notification is issued to the Job Manager 1519 assuming that the scan operation has ended.

The print operation will be described below in detail.

The device I / F 2020 has an internal DPRA
M, and sets parameters for the printer, reads the status of the printer, and exchanges print control commands via the DPRAM. Also this board is Video
VCLK (Video Cloc) provided from the printer via the engine interface cable
According to k) and HSYNC, the image data developed on the bus 2008 is transmitted to the printer via the engine interface cable. FIG. 20 shows the timing of this transmission. VCLK is constantly output, and HSYNC is provided in synchronization with the start of one line of the printer. Video controller is set image width
The (WIDTH) data is read from the RAM 2002 and output to the engine interface cable as a Video signal. After repeating this for the specified number of lines (LINES), an IMAGE_END interrupt is generated.

As described above, when a print job instruction is passed from the application program on the CPU to the Controll API, the Controll API passes this as a job to the Job Manager 1519 at the controller level.
Further, the Job Manager 1519 converts the job settings into DI
The job is stored in step S7102, and the print manager 1526 is instructed to start a job. Upon receiving the job, the Print Manager 1526 reads information necessary for executing the job from the DIS and sets the information in the printer via the Engine I / F board and the DPRAM. CODEC Ma if the image is compressed
nager, and the CODEC Manager responds to the request and the expansion method (JPEG, M
MR or the like) to develop the image file into a bitmap image. The developed image is stored in the RAM 2002.

FIG. 2 shows the setting items of the device I / F 2020.
FIG. 22 shows setting items, control commands, and status commands via the DPRAM of the printer. About printing bitmap images Letter (11 "x 8.5") size 2
Two copies of two pages of value image, 600d printer
The operation will be specifically described assuming that it has pi performance.

After the development of the image is completed, the Print Manager calculates the number of image bytes of the width of the image (in this case, the side of 8.5 "). WIDTH = 8.5 × 600/8 ÷ 630 (Bytes) Next, the number of lines is calculated: LINES = 11 × 600 = 6600 (Lines)

The calculated values and the SOURCE address of the RAM 2002 in which the given first page image is stored are set to WIDTH, LINES, and SOURCE shown in FIG. At this point, the device I / F has completed preparation for image output, but has not output image data because the HSYNC signal from the printer has not been received (VCLK has been received).

Next, the Print Manager executes the DP shown in FIG.
The number of output copies is 1 at a predetermined address (Book No) in the RAM.
Write. Thereafter, a feed request (FEED_REQ) for the output sheet for the first page is issued, and an IMAGE-REQ from the printer is waited. When IMAGE-REQ comes from the printer, issue IMAGE_START. In response to this, the printer started issuing HSYNC,
The device I / F 2020 that has been waiting for HSYNC outputs an image. When the printer detects the trailing edge of the output paper, it outputs IMAGE_END, and when the output paper is ejected, SHEET
Output _OUT. Print Manager is IMAGE_E of the first page
After receiving ND, Engi changed WIDTH, LINES, SOURCE on the second page
Set to me I / F board, issue FEED_REQ, IMAGE_RE
Wait for Q. The operation after IMAGE_REQ of the second page comes
It is the same as the first page.

[Selection of Codec] Hereinafter, selection of a software (S / W) codec and a hardware (H / W) codec which is a feature of the present invention will be described in detail. First, the data flow timing at the time of scanning and printing will be described. A case of the Universal Send function will be described as an example of scanning. The image scanned by the scanner is first written into the RAM 2002 from the device I / F 2020 via the bus 2008. Next, the RAM 20
After being read from the H.02 and encoded by hardware or software, it is stored in the RAM 2002 again. In the case of encoding by hardware, it is compressed by the codec 2040 via the bus 2008. In the case of compression by software, the data is read from the RAM 2002, compressed by the CPU 2001, and stored in the RAM 2002. The image stored in the RAM 2002 is TIFF
Converted to a general format such as a file
002 is stored in the HDD 2004. Finally, RAM
2002, the file read from the HDD 2004 is transferred to another device on the network via the bus 2008 and the Network 2010. FIG. 23 is a diagram showing, as a time chart, a usage state of the bus 2008 when the series of operations are performed.

Similarly, as an example of the printing operation, Remote C
The opy print function will be described. Network 2010 and bus 2
The image data (compressed image converted to TIFF) transmitted via the RAM 008 and the HDD 2004
Is stored in Next, after removing an extra header such as TIFF, the compressed data is stored in the RAM 2002.
The data read from the RAM 2002 is transferred to the hardware (bus 2008 → codec 2040 → bus 200).
8) Alternatively, decrypt by software and
M2002. Finally, the bit-mapped image is read from the RAM 2002 and printed out via the bus 2008 and the device I / F.

The timing when a scan (two documents) request in the Universal Send function and a print (one sheet) request by the RemoteCopy Print function occur simultaneously will be described with reference to FIG. 11001 is the first scan, 11002 is the second scan, 11003
Is a print. H / WCodec during first scan operation
And the LAN of the printing operation use the bus 2008 at the same time, a bus contention occurs, and the processing time becomes slower than when using alone. Further, if the three times of the LAN of the first scan, the transfer of the scan image of the second scan, and the decoding operation of the print overlap, the time will be further delayed.

Therefore, in the present invention, the bus use status of resources sharing the bus 2008 such as a scanner, a printer, and a LAN is examined, and when the bus use ratio is larger than a predetermined value, the S / W Codec is used. The S / W Codec is realized by the CPU 2001 executing, for example, encoding / decoding processing software stored in the ROM 2003, so that the processing can be performed using only the system bus 2007.
The image bus 2008 is not affected.

A bus management method will be described below with reference to FIG. 25 showing the software configuration around the CODEC Manager 1520. Scan Manager 1524, Print Manager 152
6. If the CODEC Manager 1520 has resources that use the bus, the CODEC Manager 1520 sets a flag in the area of the database in the Supervisor 7201 of the DIS 7102 that indicates the presence or absence of the resources (writes 1). Immediately before using the resources that actually use the bus, a flag is set in an area indicating that the database is being used, and the flag is reset at the time of termination. FIG. 26 shows this database. FIG.
Is LAN, H / W codec, Scan, Print is bus 2
008 shows the status of the database when resources are used and the LAN and scan are using the bus.

The actual scanner operation will be described with reference to FIG. When a job occurs, Scan Manager 1524 returns to S140
In step 01, the scanner is initialized. At this time, if the scanner cannot be used due to a row communication error or the like, an error is displayed on the operation unit on the UI. If there is a scan request in S14002, S14003
To flag the Supervisor database as busy. In step S <b> 14004, the scanner 2070 is instructed to scan, and the scan data is transferred to the RAM 2002. R
When the transfer to the AM is completed, the in-use flag is returned to 0 in S14005, and the data compression is requested to the Codec Manager 1520 in S14006.

Similarly, the operation of the printer will be described with reference to FIG. When a job occurs, Print Manager 1526 returns S
At 15001, the printer is initialized. The resource using the bus is also checked at this time, and if there is a resource using the bus, a flag is set in the Supervisor database of the DIS 7102 as described above. During the initialization process, if the printer cannot be used due to a communication error or the like, an error is displayed on the operation unit on the UI. If there is a scan request in S15002, a decoding request is made to the Codec Manager in S15003, and the process waits until decoding is completed. After the decoding is completed in step S15004, a flag indicating “in use” is set in the supervisor database. In step S15005, the printer is instructed to print, and the print data is transferred from the RAM 2002. RAM
When the transfer from is completed, the in-use flag is reset (0 is written) in S15006.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing the operation of the Codec Manager 1520. In step S16001, initialization of the H / W codec 2040 is performed.
Flag the Supervisor database. If the codec chip cannot be used due to a failure or the like, an error is displayed on the operation unit on the UI. If there is a request for encoding / decoding from the printer / scanner in S16002, the use status of the bus 2008 is checked in S16003. Specifically, in DIS
Access the Supervisor database and count how many resources are using the bus. And the bus 200
If the number of resources using 8 exceeds a predetermined number, encoding / decoding for the request is performed using a software codec. Here, as an example, it is assumed that the use of the soft codec is determined in advance when two or more resources are used. However, since the performance of the soft codec as a codec changes depending on the processing capability and processing content of the CPU, the value of the resource usage for judging switching to the soft codec is set in advance to a value appropriate for the system.

If the bus use rate does not exceed the predetermined value in S16004, a flag indicating that the H / W codec is being used is set in S16005. Codec 20 in S16006
40 is instructed to compress / decode, and the data is stored in RAM 2002
And compresses / decodes the data, and further transfers the data to the RAM 2002. When the transfer to the RAM is completed, in S16007 S1
The busy flag set in 6005 is reset.

On the other hand, if the bus use rate exceeds the predetermined value in S16004, the CPU operates the S / W codec (S16008).

FIG. 30 is a time chart when the present invention is used for the job described with reference to FIG. It can be seen that the output completion time of the scanned image to the network is earlier than in FIG.

FIG. 31 is a block diagram showing another example of the configuration of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In the above embodiment, both the hardware codec and the software codec read and store the processing data from the RAM 2002. Therefore, there is no competition for the image bus,
In some cases, system bus contention occurred. This configuration is based on the storage device 2041 used by the hardware codec.
And a storage device (RAM
2002) are provided separately.

With this configuration, there is no system bus contention when storing the processed data, and the image data to be processed by the hardware codec is stored in advance in the storage device 2041 by DMA transfer or the like. Thus, even when reading the original image data, competition of the system bus does not occur, so that more efficient processing can be performed. As the storage device 2041, a general storage device such as a HDD, such as a RAM, can be used.

In the above-described embodiment, the use of the software codec is determined based on the occupation rate of the image bus.
If 2001 is in a high load state due to other processing, the processing may be faster if a hardware codec is used. Therefore, the CPU 20
01 may be combined with the occupancy of the image bus 2008 to determine the use of the software codec.

Although the embodiment has been described using an example in which the encoding / decoding apparatus of the present invention is applied to an apparatus for handling image data, the object of encoding and decoding is not limited. It goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to a device that handles arbitrary data such as a voice, a document, and a program.

Although the embodiment has been described by taking as an example a multifunction machine in which a scanner function and a printer function are integrated, the present invention relates to a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, The present invention may be applied to a system including a reader, a printer, or the like, or may be applied to an apparatus (for example, a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or the like) including one device.

[0108]

【The invention's effect】 [Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a multifunction peripheral to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a front appearance of a multifunction peripheral to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of an operation unit.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a scanner image processing unit.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a printer image processing unit.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a codec.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an image rotation unit.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of an image rotation process.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of an image rotation process.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a device I / F unit.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a network system to which apparatuses to which the present invention is applied are connected.

FIG. 12 is an overall configuration diagram of software of a multifunction peripheral to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a distribution embedded application.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a specific display example of an operation unit.

FIG. 15: DIS, Job Manager, Print Manager, Scan
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a connection relationship with a Manager.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a database and counters inside the DIS.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram of software control in scanning.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of a parameter table in scanning.

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram of a parameter table in scanning.

FIG. 20 is a waveform chart showing data transfer timing during printing.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a print parameter register in the Engine I / F board.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing communication commands between the printer and the Engine I / F board.

FIG. 23 is a time chart when scanning one page.

FIG. 24 is a time chart when a plurality of jobs occur simultaneously.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a software configuration around a codec manager.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a configuration of a Supervisor database in DIS.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing the operation of the scanner.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the printer.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing the operation of the codec.

FIG. 30 is a time chart when the codec is switched according to the present invention in FIG. 24;

FIG. 31 is a block diagram illustrating another configuration example of a multifunction peripheral to which the present invention has been applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2001 CPU 2002 RAM 2003 ROM 2004 HDD 2005 Image bus interface 2006 Operation unit interface 2007 System bus 2008 Image bus 2010 Network interface 2020 Device interface 2040 Codec 2050 Modem 2060 Raster image processor 2070 Scanner 2095 Printer

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5C059 KK13 MA00 ME02 PP02 SS12 SS26 SS28 TA80 TC00 TD11 UA02 UA05 UA29 UA38 UA39 5C062 AB20 AB38 AB46 AB53 AC25 AC58 BA04 5C078 BA12 BA21 CA02 CA34 DA01 DA02 EA01 5K03H01 FF01 CC02 HH02 HH25 HH63

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An encoding / decoding device having encoding / decoding means for subjecting original data supplied from outside to predetermined encoding processing or decoding processing and outputting the result, wherein said encoding / decoding means is A first codec configured by hardware, a second codec that performs encoding and decoding by executing software,
Selecting means for selecting coding and decoding means to be used for coding or decoding of the original data according to predetermined conditions. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the selecting unit monitors the occupancy of the first bus to which the first codec is connected, and selects the second codec when the occupancy exceeds a predetermined value. The encoding / decoding device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The encoding / decoding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second codec is connected to a second bus connected to said first bus. 4. The encoding / decoding method according to claim 1, wherein said second codec comprises first storage means for storing said software, and processing means for executing said software. apparatus. 5. The second codec comprises first storage means for storing the software, and processing means for executing the software, and the selection means monitors a load on the processing means, 3. The encoding / decoding device according to claim 2, wherein the selection of the second codec is determined using the occupancy and the load. 6. The code according to claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of sources of said original data, and a plurality of said predetermined coding or decoding processing requests can be generated at the same time. Decryption device. 7. A storage unit for storing data obtained by performing the encoding or decoding processing, wherein the storage unit used by the first codec and the storage unit used by the second codec are 2. The method of claim 1, wherein
An encoding / decoding device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. 8. The storage device used by the first codec is connected to the first bus, and the storage device used by the second codec is connected to the second bus. The encoding / decoding device according to claim 7, wherein 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: means for generating image data; and image forming means for forming an image on a recording material based on the received image data and outputting the image. An image forming system communicably connected via an encoding / decoding device. 10. The means for generating image data includes means for reading an original to generate image data, and means for generating electronic original data represented by a code such as a character code or a page description language. The image forming system according to claim 9, wherein: