JP2000127525A - Imaging method and apparatus and memory medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform discontinuous addressing by providing means for generating adaptive address information and defining the generated address information in horizontal and vertical directions with the first term corresponding to a designated layout and a series of tolerance. SOLUTION: A device I/F 2020 begins to read out image data sequentially from a destination address and to write in images sequentially from the head address in a new memory area of an RAM 2002. In order to edit a plurality of pieces of input image information while compressing to a designated layout, the device I/F 2020 is provided with means for generating adaptive address information. The address information means defines address information in being generated horizontal and vertical directions with the first term corresponding to the designated layout and a series of tolerance. Consequently, the destination address can be subjected to discontinuous addressing and a plurality of images can be stored as a single image.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for performing image processing on an input digital image such as a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, etc., and outputting the processed image to a device on a network, and an image forming method for the same. The present invention relates to a computer-readable storage medium storing a program to be executed by a computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional image forming apparatus, one original image is divided and enlarged into a plurality of pieces to form an image on a plurality of sheets (recording media) and output, or a plurality of original images are reduced and reduced to one sheet. Had the function of forming an image on a sheet of paper and outputting the image. In order to realize this, an address controller for discontinuously specifying the transfer destination and the transfer source of the image data is separately prepared, and the above processing is performed.

[0003]

However, in an image forming apparatus having a configuration in which the CPU can directly handle the image data described in the present embodiment via a general-purpose image bus, the image data itself is transferred. Since DMA transfer is performed by specifying the destination and the transfer source, discontinuous address specification for realizing a layout such as a single image to multiple sheets or a multiple image to a single image as described above is performed. Was difficult.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, the present invention has the following objects. That is, when a plurality of original images are reduced and integrated into one image, discontinuous addressing for dividing and storing data storage destination addresses corresponding to the plurality of images without using DMA transfer is performed inside the general-purpose image bus controller. This makes it possible to form a laid-out image in which a plurality of images are formed on a single sheet.

In the case where a single original image is enlarged and divided into one image, the address of an image read source from which data stored by discontinuous addressing can be read for each divided region without using DMA transfer is not required. An address controller function for continuously designating is configured inside the general-purpose image bus controller, and by setting the layout in the general-purpose bus controller, it is possible to form an image in which a single image is divided into a plurality of images.

In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a storage medium storing a program for executing the method by a computer according to the present invention mainly have the following configuration. Consisting of

That is, the image forming apparatus includes an input unit for inputting image information via a network, a digital data conversion unit for converting the input image into digital image data, and the image information in a designated layout. Address information means for generating address information adapted to the layout, editing means for accumulating the converted digital image data in a memory in accordance with the generated address information, and editing in accordance with the generated address information Reading means for reading the image data stored in the memory, image forming means for forming an image in the specified layout according to the image data read by the reading means, and transferring the formed image via a network. And output means for outputting.

The image forming method includes an inputting step of inputting image information via a network, a digital data converting step of converting the input image into digital image data, and a step of converting the image information into a designated layout. An address information step of generating address information adapted to the layout, a storage step of storing the converted digital image data in a memory in accordance with the generated address information, and A reading step of reading image data stored in the memory, an image forming step of forming an image on the designated layout according to the image data read by the reading step, and a step of transferring the formed image via a network. And an output step for output.

[0009] The computer-readable storage medium may include an input step for inputting image information via a network, a digital data conversion step for converting the input image into digital image data, and An address information step of generating address information adapted to the layout for editing the image information; an accumulating step of accumulating the converted digital image data in a memory according to the generated address information; and A reading step of reading image data stored in the memory according to the address information; an image forming step of forming an image on the designated layout in accordance with the image data read by the reading step; An output process for outputting via a network. In stores a program for execution.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The configuration and operation of an apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

[Description of Hardware] <Overall Configuration> FIG. 3 shows an overall configuration diagram. The controller unit 2000 includes a scanner 20 as an image input device.
70 and a printer 2095 which is an image output device, while a LAN 2011 and a public line (WAN) 20 are connected.
51 is a controller for inputting and outputting image information and device information by connecting to 51. A CPU 2001 is a controller that controls the entire system. RAM 20
Reference numeral 02 denotes a system work memory for operating the CPU 2001, and also serves as an image memory for temporarily storing image data. ROM 2003 is a boot ROM,
Contains the system boot program. HD
D2004 is a hard disk drive which stores system software and image data. An operation unit interface (I / F) 2006 is an interface with the operation unit (UI) 2012 and outputs image data to be displayed on the operation unit 2012 to the operation unit 2012.

[0012] Further, it plays a role of transmitting information input by the user of the present system from the operation unit 2012 to the CPU 2001. Network 2010 is LAN 201
1 to input and output information. 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.

An image bus interface (Image Bus)
An interface (I / F) 2005 is a bus bridge that connects the system bus 2007 and the image bus 2008 that transfers image data at high speed, and converts a data structure. Image bus 2008
Is composed of a PCI bus or IEEE1394.
The following devices are arranged on the image bus 2008.
Raster Image Processor (RIP) 2060 is PD
Expand the L code into a bitmap image. A device interface (I / F) unit 2020 connects the scanner 2000 and the printer 2095, which are image input / output devices, to the controller 2000, and performs synchronous / asynchronous conversion of image data.

A scanner image processing section 2080 corrects, processes, and edits 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. The image compression unit 2040 converts the multi-valued image data into JPEG, the binary image data into JBIG, M
The compression / expansion processing of MR and MH is performed.

<Image Input / Output Unit> FIG. 4 shows an external view of an image input / output device (scanner unit, printer unit, operation unit). A scanner unit 2070, which is an image input device, illuminates an image on paper serving as an original and scans a CCD line sensor (not shown) to thereby generate raster image data 2.
071 (FIG. 3) is converted to an electric signal. The manuscript paper is set on the tray 2073 of the manuscript feeder 2072, and when the apparatus user gives an instruction to start reading from the operation unit 2012, the controller CPU 2001 (FIG. 3) gives an instruction to the scanner 2070 (2071 (FIG. 3)). Reference numeral 2072 feeds the original paper sheet by sheet and performs an operation of reading the original image.

A printer unit 209 serving as an image output device
Reference numeral 5 denotes a part for converting the raster image data 2096 (FIG. 3) into an image on a sheet. The method is an electrophotographic method using a photosensitive drum or a photosensitive belt. There is an ink jet system for directly printing an image on the top, but any system may be used. The print operation is started by the controller CPU 200.
It starts with an instruction 2096 from 1. Printer unit 2
095 has a plurality of paper feed stages so that different paper sizes or different paper orientations can be selected, and corresponding paper cassettes 2101, 2102, 2103, and 2104.
There is. The paper discharge tray 2111 receives the printed paper.

<Operation Unit> The configuration of the operation unit 2012 is shown in FIG. The LCD display unit 2013 has a touch panel sheet affixed on the LCD, displays an operation screen of the system, and notifies the controller CPU 2001 of position information when a displayed key is pressed. 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. I
A D 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> The configuration of the scanner image processing unit 2080 is shown in FIG. The image bus I / F controller 2081 is connected to the image bus 2008, controls the bus access sequence, and controls and timings of each device in the scanner image processing unit 2080. The filter processing unit 2082 performs a convolution operation using a spatial filter. The editing unit 2083
For example, a closed area surrounded by a marker pen is recognized from the input image data, and image processing such as shadowing, shading, and inverting the negative image is performed 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. Image magnification line sensor (not shown) for zooming in the sub-scanning direction
By changing the scanning speed. Table 2085
Is a table conversion performed to convert image data, which is read luminance data, into density data. The binarization 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 controller 20 again.
Via 81, it is transferred to the image bus.

<Printer Image Processing Unit> The configuration of the printer image processing unit 2090 is shown in FIG. The image bus I / F controller 2091 is connected to the image bus 2008, controls the bus access sequence, and controls and timings of each device in the scanner image processing unit 2090. The resolution conversion unit 2092 includes a network 201
1 or the resolution conversion for converting the image data sent from the public line 2051 to the resolution of the printer 2095. The 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 the image data after the resolution conversion.

<Image Compression> The structure of the image compression section 2040 is shown in FIG. The image bus I / F controller 2041 is
It is connected to the image bus 2008, controls the bus access sequence, performs timing control for exchanging data with the input buffer 2042 and output buffer 2045, and controls mode setting for the image compression unit 2043. The processing procedure of the image compression processing unit will be described below.

The CPU 200 via the 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 makes settings required for image compression to the image compression unit 2043 (for example, MMR compression, JBIG
Elongation etc.). 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 2041 is a RAM 2002
Alternatively, transfer of image data from each device on the image bus 2008 is started. The received image data is temporarily stored in the input buffer 2042, and the image is transferred at a constant speed in response to an image data request from the image compression unit 2043.

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 unit 2043, reads image data from the image bus 2008, and performs image reading. If writing of an image to the compression unit 2043 is not possible,
Control is performed so as not to transfer data (hereinafter, such control is referred to as handshake). Image compression unit 2
043 temporarily stores the received image data in the RAM 2044;
To be stored.

This is because several lines of data are required depending on the type of image compression processing to be performed when performing image compression. To compress the first one line, several lines of image data are required. This is because the image compression cannot be performed until it is prepared. The image data subjected to image compression is immediately sent to the output buffer 2045. Output buffer 2
In step 045, handshaking with the image bus I / F controller 2041 and the image compression unit 2043 is performed, and the image data is transferred to the image bus I / F controller 2041. The image bus I / F controller 2041 stores the transferred compressed (or decompressed) image data in the RAM 20.
02 or each device on the image bus 2008. 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) or until a stop request is issued from the image compression unit (for example, when an error occurs during compression and decompression). It is.

<Image Rotation Unit> The configuration of the image rotation unit 2030 is shown in FIG. Image bus I / F controller 2031
Is connected to the image bus 2008, controls the bus sequence, performs control for setting a mode or the like in the image rotation unit 2032, and performs timing control for transferring image data to the image rotation unit 2032. 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 each device on the image bus 2008 is started. Here, the size of the image to be rotated using 32 bits as its size is 32 × 32 (bit).
Further, it is assumed that image data is transferred in units of 32 bits when image data is transferred onto the image bus 2008 (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 unit data transfer 32 times and to transfer image data from discontinuous addresses ( (See FIG. 10). 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 90-degree counterclockwise rotation, the 32-bit image data transferred first is written in the Y direction as shown in FIG. By reading in the X direction at the time of reading, the image is rotated.

Image rotation of 32 × 32 (bit) (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 transfers the data to the RAM 2002 (FIG. 3) or each device on the image bus 2008 by continuous addressing. Such a series of processing is repeated until there is no more processing request from the CPU 2001 (FIG. 3) (when processing of the required number of pages is completed).

<Device I / F Unit> Device I / F Unit 2
020 is shown in FIG. An image bus I / F controller 2021 connects to the image bus 2008 to control the bus access sequence, and a device I / F.
The control and timing of each device in the unit 2020 are generated. The external scanner 2070 and the printer 2
095 to generate a control signal.

The scan buffer 2022 is connected to the scanner 2
070 is temporarily stored, and the image data is output in synchronization with the image bus 2008. The serial / parallel / parallel / serial converter 2023 sequentially arranges or decomposes the image data stored in the scan buffer 2022, and converts the image data into a data width of image data that can be transferred to the image bus 2008.

A parallel-serial / serial-parallel converter 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 temporarily stores the image data sent from the image bus 2008, and
95 to output image data.

Next, the processing procedure at the time of image scanning will be 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 converter 2023 in a first-in / first-out manner, and is sent to the serial / parallel / serial converter 2023. Image bus I / F
The data is transferred to the image bus 2008 via the controller 2021. When the image bus 2008 is IEEE1394, the image data in the buffer is first-in first-out, and
The data is sent from the buffer to the serial / parallel / parallel / serial converter 2023, converted into serial image data, and sent to the image bus 200 through the image bus I / F controller 2021.
8 on.

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 converter 2024, decomposed into image data of the number of input data bits of the printer 2095, and stored in the print buffer 2025. In addition, the image bus 2008
In the case of EEE1394, serial image data sent from the image bus is received by the image bus I / F controller, and is converted into a parallel serial / serial / parallel signal.
024, the image data is converted into image data of the number of input data bits of the printer 2095, 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.

[Description of Software] <Explanation of the Entire System> FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of the entire network system of the present invention. Reference numeral 1001 denotes an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, which includes a scanner and a printer as described above. The image forming apparatus 1001 transmits an image read from the scanner to a local area network 1010 (hereinafter, LAN),
The image received from the AN can be printed out by the printer. Further, the image read from the scanner is not shown in F
The PSTN or ISDN (103
0) or an image received from the PSTN or ISDN can be printed out by a printer.

Reference numeral 1002 denotes a database server which manages a binary image and a multi-valued image read by the image forming apparatus 1001 according to the present invention as a database. 10
Reference numeral 03 denotes a database client of the database server 1002, which can browse / search image data stored in the database 1002. An e-mail server 1004 can receive an image read by the image forming apparatus 1001 according to the present invention as an e-mail attachment. Reference numeral 1005 denotes an e-mail client, which is capable of receiving and browsing the e-mail received by the e-mail server 1004 and transmitting the e-mail. Reference numeral 1006 denotes a WWW server for providing an HTML document to a LAN, and an image forming apparatus 1001 according to the present invention.
Can print out an HTML document provided by the WWW server. 1007 is a LAN 1010 router
Is connected to the Internet / intranet 1012.

On the Internet / intranet, the above-mentioned database server (1002), WWW server (1006), e-mail server (1004), and devices similar to the image forming apparatus (1001) according to the present invention are denoted by 1021, 1022, respectively. It is connected as 1023. On the other hand, the image forming apparatus 1001 according to the present invention
It can transmit to and receive from the FAX device 1031 via the STN or ISDN (1030). A printer 1040 is also connected to the LAN, and is configured to be able to print out an image read by the image forming apparatus 1001 according to the present invention.

<Overall Configuration of Software Block> FIG.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the correlation of software modules of an apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter, “multifunction peripheral”).

Reference numeral 1501 denotes a module that controls a UI, that is, a user interface, and mediates with the devices when an operator performs various operations and settings of the MFP. 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 data transmission destination, 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 HTTP1512, TCP / IP1516, 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. The module 1504 distributes data designated by the operator via the UI 1501 to a communication (output) destination designated in the same manner. When the operator instructs to generate distribution data using the scanner function of the device, the device is operated via the Control-API 1518 described later to generate data.

Reference numeral 1505 denotes a module that is executed when a printer is designated 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 specified 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, uses another multifunction peripheral connected via a network or the like as an input destination, and implements a copy function realized by the multifunction peripheral alone. This module performs the same processing as.

Reference numeral 1511 denotes a module for reading and printing Web-Pull-Print, that is, information of various homepages on the Internet or an intranet.

Reference numeral 1512 denotes a module used when the multifunction peripheral communicates by HTTP.
Web-Server 150 mentioned above by IP1516 module
3. It provides communication to the Web-Pull-Print 1511 module.

Reference numeral 1513 denotes an lpr module, which is described above by a TCP / IP 1516 module.
The communication is provided to the printer module 1505 in the sal-Send 1504.

Reference numeral 1514 denotes an SMTP module.
It provides communication to the E-mail module 1506 in the ersal-Send 1504.

Reference numeral 1515 denotes an SLM, that is, a 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.
It controls the part physically connected to the network.

Reference numeral 1518 denotes a Control-API, which is a Universal API.
-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 instructions 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.

Reference numeral 1521 denotes an FBE-Encoder, which is a Job-Manag
er1519 and data read by the scan processing executed by the Scan-Manager 1524 are 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 SCSI driver.
-Communication between the Manager 1524 and the scanner unit internally connected to the MFP.

Reference numeral 1526 denotes a Print-Manager, which is a Job-Man.
The ager 1519 manages and controls the print processing specified by the ager 1519.

An engine-I / F driver 1527 provides an interface between the print manager 1526 and the printing unit. Reference numeral 1528 denotes a parallel port driver, which provides an I / F when the Web-Pull-Print 1511 outputs data to an output device (not shown) via the parallel port.

(First Embodiment) <Flow of Reception and Transfer Data> An embodiment of the image processing system of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The present invention has a general-purpose image bus I / F for transferring image and command data therein as shown in FIG.
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having an image processing system and a controller that connects a printer 2095 and a CPU 2001 and can exchange image data between the two.

FIG. 3 shows the basic flow of image data.
This will be described in detail below with reference to FIG.

The image data read from the scanner is transferred on the image bus 2008 via the device I / F 2020. The device I / F is an image bus I / F of FIG.
An I / F controller as shown by an F controller 2081 is provided, and it is possible to specify an address on an image bus to exchange image data. Also, Image Bus I / F2
It is also possible to specify an address on the system bus 2007 via the
AM2002 (combines system memory and image memory)
It is possible to transfer image data to the top. Image data from the device I / F 2020 is transferred to the image bus 20.
08, Image Bus I / F 2005, System Bus 200
7 are stored on the RAM 2002 via the respective. When the image is read from the scanner, the image is stored in the RAM 2
2 shows the flow of image data when the image data is stored in the file 002.

When an image is transferred from the device I / F 2020, the image is processed by the scanner image processing unit 2080 and then the image is transferred to the RAM 2002 by the same route.
It is also possible to transfer the image to

Next, the flow of an image when image data is transferred to the printer 2095 will be described.

The image data taken into the RAM 2002 is stored in the system bus 2007, ImageBus I / F 2005,
The data is transferred to the device I / F 2020 via the image bus 2008. During this process, the printer image processing unit 2090
It is also possible to perform image data processing on. 2020
The image data transferred to the device I / F is
It is possible to output an image by transferring the image in synchronization with 95.

When the image data is transferred to the printer 2095 as described above, the device I / F 20 is actually used.
20 will read the image from RAM 2020,
The address on the RAM 2002 is stored in the device I / F 2020.
, An image is output. In the image forming apparatus having the above configuration, in the present embodiment, a method for laying out the original image data of a plurality of pages on one sheet will be described below.

<Layout of Image Data> In the present embodiment, a case where the original image data of four pages is laid out on one sheet will be described. First, the image data input from the scanner 2070 is transferred to the RAM 2 through the path as described above.
002. In this example, since it is necessary to lay out the image data of four pages on one sheet, the scanner image processing unit 2080 performs 50% reduction (1/4 of the area ratio of the original image) in the above path. , Stored in the RAM 2002. Next, the reduced image of 4 pages is actually 1
The image is laid out as an image for a page. A method for realizing this layout will be described with reference to FIG.

By storing the reduced four images (in this order, Page1, Page2, Page3, and Page4) in areas 1 to 4 as shown in the drawing of the new memory area, four images are stored. Can be stored in one image data area.

For simplicity, the image area of the image data of the output image is assumed to be H (pixels) in the X direction of the image, V (pixels) in the Y direction, and Assume that the data amount is 1 Byte.

First, in order to realize the above-described image layout, the transfer destination address value D1 of the memory space in which the image is to be stored is set in the transfer destination address designation register in the device I / F 2020. Further, an image size to be transferred is designated. In this case, H / 2 is set to Y in the size designation register in the X direction.
V / 2 is set in the direction size designation register. Transfer source address S1 of the reduced Page 1 image
Also, the image size H × V / 4 (Byte) is set in three registers similarly to the transfer destination. After the above settings are made, an instruction is issued to start the layout processing realized in the present embodiment.

First, the device I / F 2020 starts reading image data sequentially from the transfer source address D1. Thereafter, the images are sequentially stored in the RAM by the following algorithm (discontinuous addressing of the transfer destination address).
Data writing is started from the start address D1 of the new memory area 2002. After the start of the transfer, the transfer destination address D (1) is expressed by Expression (1) until the transfer is performed by H / 2 (pixel).

D (1) = D1 + (H / 2) × (t−1) (1) (1 ≦ t ≦ H / 2: number of transfers) Further, the next H / 2 (pixel) transfer The transfer destination address D (2) until the transfer is performed is expressed by equation (2).

D (2) = D1 + (H / 2) × (t−1) + H (2) Similarly, H / 2 (k−1) to H / 2 × k (pixel)
The transfer destination address D (k) until the transfer is (1 ≦ k ≦ V
/ 2) It can be expressed by the following equation (3).

D (k) = D1 + (H / 2) × (t−1) + H × (k−1) (3) A configuration as shown in FIG. 14 for realizing this discontinuous addressing The counter and the register of are prepared.

CNT1 (1420) and CNT2 in FIG.
(1450) are counters for counting up the clock and the output signal from the CMP1 (1430), respectively. CMP1 (1430) and CMP2 (146)
Reference numeral 0) denotes a comparator, which compares the length in the H direction and the length in the V direction with the output from the counter. MUL (1480 is a multiplier, ADD1 (1490) and ADD2 (149
5) is an adder.

With the above configuration, as described in the present embodiment, processing in which the transfer destination address is discontinuously addressed can be performed.

Thus, it becomes possible to write an image for the area 1 in FIG. Similarly, for the area 2, a value of D1 + H / 2 is set in the transfer destination address setting register, and Page 2 is set in the transfer source address setting register.
Is set at the start address S2.
+ H × (V / 2) is set and the start address S3 of Page 2 is set in the transfer source address setting register. For region 4, a value of D1 + H / 2 + H × (V / 2) is set and the transfer source address is set. Pag is set in the address setting register.
By setting the start address S3 of e2, it is possible to write Page2, Page3, and Page4 in each area. By configuring the above-described discontinuous addressing method and configuration in the general-purpose image bus controller, it becomes possible to output a plurality of images on a single sheet when transferring images via the general-purpose image bus.

FIG. 15 is a conceptual diagram of a layout result according to the present embodiment. Each number indicates the number of each page. FIG.
5 (a) shows the rotation in the layout of two pages, and (c) shows the rotation in the layout of eight pages. When performing a rotated layout, it is necessary to perform a rotation process at the same time as the above-described image reduction. .

In this embodiment, for simplicity, the image to be handled is 1 byte per pixel. However, in order to reduce the frequency of data traffic on the system bus 2007 and the image bus 2008, a binary image of 1 bit per pixel is used. It may be handled. In this case, since the number of pixels is not equal to the image size, it is necessary to distinguish between the two.

For compressing and editing a plurality of pieces of input image information into a designated layout, an address information means for generating suitable address information is provided. A plurality of images can be stored as a single image regardless of the DMA transfer by defining the generated horizontal and vertical address information by the first term obtained according to the specified layout and a sequence of tolerances. Based on the stored data, it is possible to form an image as a single image.

(Second Embodiment) In the present embodiment, a case where one page of original image data is output on four sheets will be described.

First, the image data input from the scanner 2070 is taken into the RAM 2002 through the above-described route. In this example, since it is necessary to lay out the image data for one page on four sheets, the data of the original image is stored in the RAM 2002 at, for example, the same magnification. Next, an image for one page is actually laid out as an image for four pages. A method for realizing this layout will be described with reference to FIG.

The original image as described above is divided into four parts, and the respective areas 1, 2, 3, and 4 are separately stored in the RAM 200.
By storing each page as a different page in the two new memory areas, one image can be stored in the four image data areas. At the time of this writing operation, each divided image data is enlarged by 200% so that a new R is obtained.
Four divided four enlarged images are obtained in the memory area on the AM 2002.

For simplicity, the image area of the image data of the original image is assumed to be H (pixels) in the X direction of the image, V (pixels) in the Y direction, and Assume that the data amount is 1 Byte. First, a transfer source address value S1 of a memory space in which an image is to be stored in the device I / F 2020 is set in a transfer destination address designation register in order to actually implement the image layout. Further, an image size to be transferred is designated. In this case, H / 2 is set in the size designation register in the X direction, and V / 2 is set in the size designation register in the Y direction.
Are set respectively. The transfer destination address D1 of the divided Page 1 image and the image size H × V / 4 (Byte
e) is set in three registers similarly to the transfer destination. After the above settings have been made, an instruction is issued to start the layout processing realized in the present embodiment.

First, the device I / F 2020 starts reading image data of Page 1 from the transfer source address D 1. In this case, regarding the addressing for transferring the image data of only Page 1, the images are sequentially transferred from the head address D1 of the new memory area of the RAM 2002 by the following algorithm (discontinuous addressing of the transfer source address). Start writing.

After the start of the transfer, the transfer source address S (1) is represented by the equation (4) until the transfer of H / 2 (pixels).

S (1) = S1 + (H / 2) × (t−1) (4) (1 ≦ t ≦ H / 2: number of transfers) Further, the next H / 2 (pixel) transfer The transfer destination address D (2) until the transfer is performed is expressed by equation (5).

S (2) = S1 + (H / 2) × (t−1) + H (5) Similarly, H / 2 (k−1) to H / 2 × k (pixel)
The transfer destination address D (k) until the transfer is (1 ≦ k ≦ V
/ 2) It is represented by the following equation (6).

S (k) = S1 + (H / 2) × (t−1) + H × (k−1) (6) FIG. 16 shows the discontinuous addressing as described above. A counter and a register having such a configuration are prepared.

CNT1 (1620) and CNT in FIG.
Reference numeral 2 (1650) denotes a counter, which counts up a clock and an output signal from the CMP1 (1630). CMP1 (1630) and CMP2 (166
Reference numeral 0) denotes a comparator, which compares the length in the H direction and the length in the V direction with the output from the counter. MUL (1680)
Are multipliers, ADD1 (1690) and ADD2 (169)
5) is an adder.

With the above configuration, discontinuous addressing of the transfer source address can be realized as described in this embodiment. Further, the image data transferred for each area in this manner is transferred to the printer image processing unit 209.
At 0, enlargement processing is performed and the output paper size is set. Next, after the divided and enlarged image arrives at the device I / F 2020, the original image is divided into four pages and output on four sheets by outputting to an output sheet in accordance with the synchronization signal of the printer. Becomes possible.

FIG. 17 is a conceptual diagram of a layout result according to the present embodiment. Each number indicates a page number, and FIG. 17A shows a case where the page is divided and expanded into two pages.
(C) shows a layout that requires rotation when divided and enlarged into eight pages. In the rotation processing, it is necessary to perform the rotation processing in accordance with the enlargement of the image.

In this embodiment, for the sake of simplicity, the image handled is 1 byte per pixel. However, in order to reduce the frequency of data traffic on the 2007 system bus and the 2008 image bus, a binary image of 1 bit per pixel is used. It may be handled. In this case, since the number of pixels is not equal to the image size, it is necessary to distinguish between the two.

Address information generating means for generating address information for reading data from a memory at intervals suitable for the specified layout in order to divide or enlarge the input image information into a specified layout and edit the layout. Is provided. By defining the generated horizontal and vertical address information by the first term obtained according to the specified layout and a sequence of tolerances, it is possible to read one image information as a plurality of images and form an image. I do.

[0102]

[Other Embodiments] Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus (for example, a copying machine) Machine, facsimile machine, etc.).

An object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing program codes of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (or CPU) of the system or the apparatus.
And MPU) read and execute the program code stored in the storage medium.

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, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) May perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instructions of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the above-described flowcharts. Each module shown will be stored in a storage medium. That is, at least “image input module 1810”, “digital data conversion module 1820” and “address information module 1830” “data storage module 1840” “data reading module 1850” “image forming module 1”
860 ”and“ image output module 1870 ”may be stored in the storage medium.

[0109]

According to the present invention, address information means for generating suitable address information is provided for compressing and editing a plurality of pieces of input image information into a designated layout. A plurality of images can be stored as a single image regardless of the DMA transfer by defining the generated horizontal and vertical address information by the first term obtained according to the specified layout and a sequence of tolerances. Based on the stored data, it is possible to form an image as a single image.

Address information for generating address information for reading data from a memory at intervals suitable for the specified layout in order to divide or enlarge one input image information into a specified layout and edit the layout. Producing means is provided. By defining the generated horizontal and vertical address information by the first term obtained according to the specified layout and a sequence of tolerances, it is possible to read one image information as a plurality of images and form an image. I do.

[0111]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a network including an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a software configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an external view of a scanner unit, a printer unit, and an operation unit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an operation unit.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a scanner image processing unit.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a printer image processing unit.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an image compression processing unit.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an image rotation unit.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an image rotation process.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of an image rotation process.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a device I / F unit.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating area division.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram for realizing discontinuous addressing of a transfer destination address.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a layout example when outputting a plurality of original images on a single sheet.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram for realizing discontinuous addressing of a transfer source address.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a layout example when an original image for one page is output on a plurality of sheets.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a memory map of a storage medium.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1001 Image forming apparatus 2001 CPU 2002 RAM 2003 ROM 2030 Image rotation processing unit 2040 Image compression processing unit 2080 Scanner image processing unit 2090 Printer image processing unit

Continued on the front page F-term (reference) 2C061 AP01 BB10 HJ06 HK05 HN15 HQ12 2C087 AA18 AB08 BC05 BC07 BD01 BD06 BD07 BD46 CA02 5B021 AA01 AA02 AA05 AA19 BB00 CC05 LB07 LE06 5C073 AA03 BA01 A03 A07A04 BA04 CB02

Claims (19)

[Claims] An input unit for inputting image information via a network; a digital data conversion unit for converting the input image into digital image data; and an editing unit for editing the image information into a specified layout. Address information means for generating address information suitable for the layout; storage means for storing the converted digital image data in a memory in accordance with the generated address information; and memory in accordance with the generated address information. Reading means for reading the stored image data; image forming means for forming an image in the specified layout in accordance with the image data read by the reading means; and outputting the formed image via a network. An image forming apparatus, comprising: 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the generated address information is information calculated based on the specified layout. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the generated address information is defined by discontinuous bit intervals.
Or the image forming apparatus according to 2. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said address generation means identifies presence or absence of designation of said layout, generates continuous address information when there is no specification, and generates said discontinuous address information when there is specification. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 5. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storing means stores said image data in a memory in accordance with the address information generated by said address generating means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image is accumulated. 6. When performing image formation in which one image information is laid out on a plurality of recording media as an image obtained by dividing or enlarging one image information, said reading means accumulates in said memory in accordance with the address information generated by said address generating means. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the read image data is read. 7. The layout designating method is one of compression of using a plurality of pieces of image information as one piece of image information and division or enlargement of making one piece of image information a plurality of pieces of image information. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 8. The number of original images when the reduced image is laid out on one recording medium to form an image is 2, 4, 8, 9,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the number of the image forming apparatuses is one of sixteen. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said one image information is divided or enlarged to form an image with two images.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the number is one of 4, 8, and 9. 10. An input step for inputting image information via a network, a digital data conversion step for converting the input image into digital image data, and a step for editing the image information into a specified layout. An address information step of generating address information suitable for the layout; a storage step of storing the converted digital image data in a memory according to the generated address information; and storing the converted digital image data in the memory in accordance with the generated address information. A reading step of reading the stored image data; an image forming step of forming an image on the designated layout according to the image data read in the reading step; and outputting the formed image via a network. An image forming method. 11. The image forming method according to claim 10, wherein the generated address information is information calculated based on the specified layout. 12. The image forming method according to claim 10, wherein the generated address information is defined by discontinuous bit intervals. 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the address generation step identifies whether or not the layout is specified, generates continuous address information when no layout is specified, and generates the discontinuous address information when specified. Claims 10 to 1
3. The image forming method according to any one of 2. 14. When forming an image laid out on one recording medium by reducing a plurality of pieces of image information, the storing step stores the image data in a memory according to the address information generated in the address generating step. 14. The image forming method according to claim 10, wherein the image is accumulated. 15. When performing image formation in which one image information is laid out on a plurality of recording media as an image obtained by dividing or enlarging one image information, the reading step stores the image information in the memory according to the address information generated in the address generating step 14. The image forming method according to claim 10, wherein the read image data is read. 16. The layout designating method is one of compression, which uses a plurality of image information as one image information, and division or enlargement, which uses one image information as a plurality of image information. The image forming method according to any one of claims 10 to 15, wherein 17. The number of original images in the case of forming an image by reducing and laying out on one recording medium is 2, 4, 8,
9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the number is one of nine or sixteen.
5. The image forming method according to item 4. 18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the number of images when one image information is formed by a divided or enlarged layout is any one of 2, 4, 8, and 9. Image forming method. 19. An input step for inputting image information via a network, a digital data conversion step for converting the input image into digital image data, and a step for editing the image information into a specified layout. An address information step of generating address information suitable for the layout; a storage step of storing the converted digital image data in a memory according to the generated address information; and storing the converted digital image data in the memory in accordance with the generated address information. A reading step of reading the stored image data; an image forming step of forming an image on the designated layout according to the image data read by the reading step; and outputting the formed image via a network. The output process of and the program for executing on a computer are described. A computer-readable storage medium characterized by remembering.