JP2000358144A - Picture input/output system and its control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To switch whether to store compressed data or picture data before compressing to optimally decide whether to compress data in accordance with the compressibility and compress the picture data depending on the result. SOLUTION: A picture bus I/F controller 2041 is connected with a picture has 2008 to control its bus access sequence, timing control for communicating data between with an input buffer 2042 and an output buffer 2045 and mode setting to a picture compressing part 2043. First of all, when inputted data are stored in the buffer 2042 to be a compressing unit, the data are compressed. Then, compressibility is obtained from the inputted data quantity and a data quantity after compression. The compressed data are sent to the bus 2008 when the obtained compressibility is larger than a threshold value and data before compression are sent to the bus 2008 when is smaller. Thus, data are outputted to a destination designated by an address.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image input / output system such as a digital copying machine for transferring image data using a shared bus and a control method therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a high-speed data transfer bus (for example, P
A processing system for performing image data transfer using a CI bus or IEEE 1394 has been devised. In such a processing system, the bus is used for real-time image transfer,
It is also used for network management and communication between various connected devices. Therefore, by compressing the image data, bus contention between real-time transfer of image data and other data is avoided,
Some processing systems have aimed at reducing the storage capacity for image data. Whether or not to perform such compression processing is either fixedly determined by the processing system, or the mode is set by software to switch the presence or absence of compression.

[0003]

In a processing system for performing such image compression, the amount of data to be transmitted and the storage capacity required for storing the image data are reduced, but the compressed data is also read out. Since decompression processing is required, disadvantages such as delay in processing due to compression / decompression processing occur. Conversely, in a processing system that does not perform image compression, processing delay due to image compression / expansion processing does not occur, but the transmitted image data is large, and the storage capacity required to store the image data is also small. growing. As described above, the compression of image data has advantages by performing it and advantages by not performing it. For this reason, it is desirable that whether to compress the transmitted image data is determined not only by the processing system but also in accordance with the image data. For example, compressing image data whose data does not become too small when compressed does not have the advantage of compression, only results in delay due to compression and decompression, and conversely, without compressing image data. If it is transmitted, the real-time transmission itself may break down.

However, in a conventional processing system in which the presence / absence of compression processing is fixedly determined, and whether or not compression is performed is set by setting a mode, advantages obtained by compression or obtained by not performing compression are obtained. It has not been possible to optimally determine which of the advantages should be taken, that is, whether it is better to compress the image data to be transmitted or not, depending on the processing system and data.

The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional example, and an image input / output system and an image input / output system capable of optimally deciding whether or not to perform data compression and compressing image data in accordance with the decision. It is an object to provide a control method, an image input / output system that guarantees real-time transmission, and a control method thereof.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following arrangement. That is, image input means for inputting image data, compression means for compressing image data, storage means for storing image data, and image data after compression is stored in the storage means in accordance with a compression ratio of the compression means. Switching means for switching whether to store the image data before compression in the storage means.

Preferably, the switching means compares the compression ratio with a threshold value and stores the compressed image data in the storage means or stores the image data before compression in accordance with the magnitude relation. Is stored in the storage means.

[0008] Preferably, the apparatus further comprises setting means for setting the threshold value.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises means for determining the threshold value according to the capacity of the storage means.

Alternatively, image input means for inputting image data at a predetermined speed, a bus for transferring image data input by the image input means, and a buffer provided between the image input means and the bus And a data reduction means for reducing the amount of the image data when the free space of the buffer falls below a predetermined value.

Preferably, the reducing means reduces the image data by compressing the image data.

Preferably, the reduction means reduces the image data by converting the resolution of the image data.

Preferably, a storage means for storing the image data transferred by the bus, and a resolution of a part of the image data stored by the storage means which is reduced by the reduction means and a part which is not reduced. And post-processing means for unifying the data.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises output means for outputting image data whose resolution is unified by the post-processing means.

Alternatively, a bus for transferring image data input by the image input means, an image output means for outputting image data at a predetermined speed, and a buffer provided between the image output means and the bus And a data reduction means for reducing the amount of the image data when the free space of the buffer exceeds a predetermined value. .

Preferably, the reduction means reduces the image data by converting the resolution of the image data.

Preferably, the image processing apparatus further comprises expansion means for expanding the image data whose resolution has been reduced by the reduction means before outputting the image data by the output means.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The apparatus of the present invention and its operation will be described in detail below.

<First Embodiment> [Hardware] Overall Configuration FIG. 3 shows an overall configuration diagram of a digital copying machine as an embodiment of an image input / output system according to the present invention. The controller unit 2000 is a scanner 2 which is an image input device.
070 and a printer 2095 which is an image output device, while a LAN 2011 or a public line (WAN) 2
051 is a controller for inputting and outputting image information and device information. 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. HDD
A hard disk drive 2004 stores system software and image data. Operation unit I / F 2006
Denotes an operation unit (UI) 2012 and an interface unit, which outputs image data to be displayed on the operation unit 2012 to the operation unit 2012. In addition, it plays a role of transmitting information input by the system user from the operation unit 2012 to the CPU 2001. The network 2010 is connected to the LAN 2011 to input and output information. Modem 2050 is public line 2
051 to input and output information. The above devices are arranged on the system bus 2007. Image bus I / F
A bus bridge 2005 connects the system bus 2007 to the image bus 2008 for transferring image data at high speed, and converts the data structure. Image bus 2008 is PCI
It consists of a bus or IEEE1394. Image bus 2
On 008, the following devices are arranged. A raster image processor (RIP) 2060 develops a PDL code into a bitmap image. Device I / F unit 20
Reference numeral 20 connects the controller 2000 to a scanner 2070 or a printer 2095, which is an image input / output device, and performs synchronous / asynchronous conversion of image data. The scanner image processing unit 2080 performs correction, processing, and editing on 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 value image data undergoes JBIG, MMR, and MH compression / expansion processing.

FIG. 4 shows an image input / output unit. A scanner unit 2070, which is an image input device, illuminates an image on paper serving as a document, and scans a CCD line sensor (not shown) to convert the image into raster image data 2071 into an electric signal. The original paper is in tray 2 of the original feeder 2072.
073, and when the apparatus user instructs reading and activation from the operation unit 2012, the controller CPU 2
001 gives an instruction to the scanner 2070 (2071),
The feeder 2072 feeds original sheets one by one and performs an operation of reading an original image.

A printer unit 209 serving as an image output device
Reference numeral 5 denotes a part for converting raster image data 2096 into an image on paper, which is an electrophotographic method using a photosensitive drum or a photosensitive belt, and which directly discharges an image onto paper by discharging ink from a micro nozzle array. And the like, but any method may be used. The start of the printing operation is started by an instruction 2096 from the controller CPU 2001. The printer unit 2095 has a plurality of paper feed stages so that different paper sizes or different paper orientations can be selected, and includes paper cassettes 2101, 2102, 2103, and 2104 corresponding thereto.
The paper discharge tray 2111 receives the printed paper.

Operation Unit FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the operation unit 2012. LCD display unit 20
A touch panel sheet 13 is attached on the LCD to display an operation screen of the system. When a displayed key is pressed, its position information is displayed on 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 the operation during 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.

FIG. 6 shows a configuration of the scanner image processing unit 2080. The filter processing unit 2082 performs a convolution operation using 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 negative / positive inversion on the image data in the closed area. Magnification processing unit 208
Reference numeral 4 performs enlargement and reduction by performing an interpolation operation in the main scanning direction of the raster image when changing the resolution of the read image. Zooming in the sub-scanning direction is performed by changing the scanning speed of an image reading line sensor (not shown). The table 2085 is a table conversion that is performed to convert surface 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.

Printer Image Processing Unit FIG. 7 shows the configuration of the printer image processing unit 2090. The resolution conversion unit 2092 performs resolution conversion for converting image data received from the Network 2011 or the public line 2051 into the resolution of the printer 2095. The smoothing processing unit 2093 performs jaggies of the image data after resolution conversion (roughness of an image appearing at a black and white boundary such as an oblique line).
Is performed.

FIG. 8 shows the configuration of the image compression unit 2040. Image bus I /
The F controller 2041 is connected to the image bus 2008 and controls the bus access sequence. The F controller 2041 performs timing control for exchanging data with the input buffer 2042 and the output buffer 2045 and mode setting for the image compression unit 2043. Perform control. 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 sets the settings required for image compression (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.

In accordance with this permission, the image bus I / F controller 2041 operates the RAM 2002 or the image bus 200
At the same time as the transfer of the image data from each device on the device 8 starts, the number of bytes of the image data is counted, and finally the compression ratio is calculated. If the compression ratio is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, the address control on the RAM is performed so that the uncompressed image is stored in the HDD 2002. If the compression ratio is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold, the compressed image is stored in the HDD 20.
02 is controlled so as to store the data in the RAM 02. This determination is made for each compression unit in the set compression method. For example, if the compression unit is a frame, the compression ratio is determined for each frame, and if the compression ratio is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the compressed image is stored in the HDD 2002; Store.

FIG. 71 is a flowchart of a control procedure at the time of compression by the image bus I / F controller 2041. First, if the input data is stored in the input buffer until the data becomes the compression unit, the data is compressed (step S7101). Then, a compression ratio is obtained from the input data amount and the compressed data amount (step S71).
02). If the obtained compression ratio is larger than the threshold value, the compressed data is sent to the bus 2008 (step S710).
3) If the data is small, uncompressed data is transferred to bus 200
8 (step S2004) and output to the destination specified by the address.

The threshold value used as a criterion for the determination at this time may be a fixed value, or may be settable. To set the threshold itself,
The setting can be made via the operation unit 2012 or a LAN.

If it is possible to set the threshold value, the threshold value may be directly set, or the threshold value may be obtained from another parameter and set. For example, if the free space of the HDD 2002 is used as a parameter and the threshold is given as a value proportional to the free space, the threshold increases as the free space increases. As a result, the threshold value decreases as the free space decreases, and the compressed data is stored in the HDD 2002 even when the compression ratio is relatively low. When storing data, information indicating the presence or absence of data compression, the range of data, and the like are stored together with the data.

In particular, when the real-time property of data transmission is indispensable, the remaining capacity of the image bus 2008 is set as a parameter, and the threshold value is given as a value proportional to the remaining capacity. In this way, the threshold increases as the transfer margin increases. As a result, the threshold value decreases when the transfer margin of the bus decreases, and even when the compression ratio is relatively low, the compressed data is transmitted via the image bus 2008, and the transfer rate can be easily maintained at a constant value.

Further, a time allowable for the decoding process can be given as a parameter. If the data is compressed, it takes a long decoding time, so a long decoding processing time must be allowed. Therefore, the allowable time is set by an operator or the like, and the above-described threshold is given as a value inversely proportional to the allowable time. As a result,
If the allowable time becomes longer, the threshold value becomes smaller, and even compressed image data having a relatively low compression ratio is transferred to the image bus in a compressed state and stored. Thus, the required storage capacity is reduced, but the time for decompression is increased. Conversely, shortening the allowable time increases the threshold,
Data other than data having a relatively high compression ratio is transferred / stored without being compressed. For this reason, a large storage capacity is required,
The time required for restoring data can be reduced.

At the time of the compression processing, the image data received by the compression processing unit 2040 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 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 the image data from the image bus 2008, and executes the image compression unit 2043. If it is not possible to write an image into the memory, control is performed not to transfer data (hereinafter, such control is referred to as a handshake). The image compression unit 2043 converts the received image data into
The information is temporarily stored 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 image compression is immediately sent to the output buffer 2045. The output buffer 2045 performs handshaking with the image bus I / F controller 2041 and the image compression unit 2043, and transfers image data to the image bus I / F controller 2041. Image bus I / F controller 20
At 41, the transferred compressed (or decompressed) image data is transferred to the RAM 2002 or each device on the image bus 2008. This series of processing is
This 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).

As described above, by changing the above-described threshold value, the compression processing unit 2040 processes the conflicting demands of shortening the processing time required for compression / decompression and reducing the amount of data transferred and stored. The amount of compression / expansion processing and the amount of data can be determined so as to be satisfied according to the performance of the system.

Image Rotation Unit FIG. 9 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 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 (bits).
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.times.32 (bit) image, it is necessary to perform the above-described 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 a 90-degree counterclockwise rotation, the initially transferred 32-bit image data 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.

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 which has received the image data having been subjected to the rotation processing performs the continuous addressing, and executes the RAM 2002 or the image bus 2008.
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 Here, the device I / F which is the center of the present invention will be described. FIG. 12 shows the configuration of the device I / F unit 2020.
The image bus I / F controller 2021 is connected to the image bus 20
08 and controls the bus access sequence, and controls and generates timing for each device in the device I / F unit 2020. The image switching unit 2
Generate a control signal to 026. Scan buffer 2
Reference numeral 022 temporarily stores the image data sent from the image switching unit 2026, and outputs the image data in synchronization with the image bus 2008. The serial / parallel / parallel / serial converter 2023 arranges or decomposes the image data stored in the scan buffer 2022 in order,
The data is converted into a data width of image data that can be transferred to the image bus 2008. Parallel serial / serial / parallel conversion 2
Reference numeral 024 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 outputs the image data in response to a transfer request from the image switching unit 2026.

The processing procedure at the time of image scanning is described below.
The image data sent from the scanner 2070 is sent to the image switching unit 2026 in synchronization with the timing signal sent from the scanner 2070. Image switching unit 202
6, the image received from the scanner 2070 is sent to the CPU 2
The image is sent to the transfer destination selected according to the setting from 001. Normally, the image received from the scanner 2070 is sent to the scanner image processing unit 2080, and after performing predetermined image processing, is stored in the scan buffer 2022 via the image switching unit 2026. When the image bus 2008 is a PCI bus, 32 bytes of image data are stored in the buffer.
When more than one bit is input, the image data is sent from the buffer to the serial / parallel / serial / serial converter 2023 in a first-in first-out manner for 32 bits to be converted into 32-bit image data, and is then transferred to the image bus 2008 via the image bus I / F controller 2021. Forward. Also, image bus 2
If 008 is IEEE1394, the image data in the buffer is sent from the buffer to the serial / parallel / serial / serial converter 2023 on a first-in first-out basis, and is converted into serial image data.
21 to the image bus 2008.

The processing procedure when printing an image is described below.
When the compression ratio is lower than a predetermined threshold value, the uncompressed image data from the HDD 2004 is expanded on the RAM 2002 according to the information on the calculation of the compression ratio by the image bus I / F controller 2041, and then the image bus 2008
Transfer image data via. If the compression ratio is higher than a predetermined threshold, the image data compressed from the HDD 2004 is expanded through the image compression unit 2040, and R
After being developed on the AM 2002, the image data is transferred via the image bus 2008.

When the image bus 2008 is a PCI bus, 32-bit image data sent from the image bus is received by the image bus I / F controller, sent to the parallel / serial / serial / parallel converter 2024, and input to the printer 2095. The image data is decomposed into image data of the number of data bits and stored in the print buffer 2025. When the image bus 2008 is IEEE1394, serial 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 a parallel-serial / serial-parallel converter 2024, converted into image data of the number of input data bits of the printer 2095, and stored in the print buffer 2025. The image data is sent from the print buffer 2025 to the printer image processing unit 2090 via the image switching unit 2026. After performing predetermined image processing, the printer 2
095, synchronized with the timing signal sent from
The image data in the buffer is first-in-first-out and the printer 2
095.

[Software]-Overall System FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a network system including the image processing apparatus of the present invention. The image processing apparatus 1001 is an apparatus according to the present invention shown in FIG. 3, and includes a scanner and a printer.
An image read from a scanner can be sent to a local area network 1010 (hereinafter, LAN), and an image received from the LAN can be printed out by a printer. Further, an image read from the scanner is transmitted by a facsimile transmission unit (not shown) to a public line 103 such as PSTN or ISDN.
0 and the image received from the PSTN or ISDN can be printed out by the printer. The database server 1002 manages the binary image and the multi-valued image read by the image processing apparatus 1001 as a database. The database client 1003 can browse / search image data stored in the database server 1002. The e-mail server 1004 can receive the image read by the image processing device 1001 as an image attached to the e-mail. The e-mail client 1005 is an e-mail server 100
4 can receive and view the received e-mail, and can transmit e-mail. The WWW server 1006 is an HTM
Provide the L document to the LAN. The image processing device 1001 is W
An HTML document provided by the WW server 1006 can be printed out. The router 1007 connects the LAN 1010 with the Internet / intranet 1012.
The Internet / intranet 1012 has the database server 1002, WWW server 1006,
Devices similar to the electronic mail server 1004 and the image processing device 1001 are respectively 1020, 1021,
1022, 1023.

On the other hand, the image processing apparatus 1001
Or facsimile machine 10 via ISDN 1030
31. LAN1010
A printer 1040 is also connected above, and is configured so that an image read by the image processing apparatus 1001 can be printed out.

FIG. 2 is a software block diagram of the image processing apparatus 1001.

User interface (UI) 1501
When the operator performs various operations and settings of the MFP,
This is a module that mediates with devices. This module transfers input information to various modules to be described later and requests processing or sets data in accordance with the operation of the operator.

The address book 1502 is a database module for managing data transmission destinations, communication destinations, and the like. The contents of the address book 1502 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.

The web server module 1503 is used to notify management information of the multifunction peripheral in response to a request from a web client (not shown). The management information is read via a control API 1518 described later, and is notified to a web client via an HTTP 1512, a TCP / IP 1516, and a network driver 1517 described later.

The universal send module 1504
Is a module that manages data distribution.
1 distributes the data specified by the operator to the communication (output) destination similarly specified. When the operator instructs to generate distribution data using the scanner capability of the device, a control A described later is used.
The device is operated via the PI 1518 to generate data.

The PRT module 1505 is a module that is executed when a printer is specified as an output destination in the universal send module 1504.

The e-mail module 1506 is a module executed when an e-mail address is specified as a communication destination in the universal send module 1504.

The database module 1507 is a module that is executed when a database is specified as an output destination in the universal send module 1504.

The data processor module 1508 is a module that is executed when the same multifunction peripheral as the image processing apparatus 1001 is designated as the output destination in the universal send module 1504.

The remote copy scan module 150
Reference numeral 9 denotes a module that uses the scanner function of the present apparatus, sets another MFP connected via a network or the like as an output destination, and performs processing equivalent to the copy function realized by the MFP alone.

The remote copy print module 151
Reference numeral 0 denotes a module that uses the printer function of the present apparatus, receives another MFP connected via a network or the like as an input destination, and performs processing equivalent to the Copy function implemented by the MFP alone.

Web pull print module 1511
Is a module for reading and printing information of various homepages on the Internet or an intranet.

An HTTP module 1512 is a module that is used when the multifunction peripheral communicates by HTTP, and includes a web server 1503 and a web pull print module 1 by a TCP / IP module 1516 described later.
511 to provide communication.

The lpr module 1513 has a TC
The P / IP module 1516 provides communication to the PRT module 1505 in the universal send module 1504.

The SMTP module 1514 has a T
E-mail module 15 in universal send module 1504 by CP / IP module 1516
06 is provided for communication.

The salutation manager (SLM) module 1515 includes a database module 1517 and a DP module 1 in the universal send module 1504 by a TCP / IP 1516 module described later.
518 and the remote copy scan module 150
9. Provide communication to the remote print module 1510.

The TCP / IP communication module 1516
The network communication is provided to the various modules by a network driver described later.

The network driver 1517 controls a physical connection with a network.

The control API 1518 provides an interface to an upstream module such as the universal send module 1504 and a downstream module such as a job manager 1519 described later.
And to reduce dependencies between downstream modules and enhance their diversion. Job manager 1519
Is the control API 15
It interprets the processing instructed via 18 and gives an instruction to each module described later. Further, this module centrally manages hardware processing executed in the MFP.

The CODEC manager 1520 manages and controls various types of data compression / decompression in the processing specified by the job manager 1519.

The FBE encoder 1521 converts the data read by the scan processing executed by the job manager 1519 and the scan manager 1524 into an FB.
It is compressed in the E format.

The JPEG-CODEC 1522 includes a job manager 1519, a scan process executed by the scanner manager 1524, and a print manager 1.
In the printing process executed by the 526, JPEG compression of the read data and JPEG decompression of the print data are performed.

The MMR-CODEC 1523 includes a job manager 1519, a scan process executed by the scanner manager 1524, and a print manager 1519.
In the print processing executed by the MPU 26, MMR compression of the read data and MMR decompression of the print data are performed.

The scanner manager 1524 manages and controls the scanning process specified by the job manager 1519.

The SCSI driver 1525 communicates with the scanner unit connected to the scanner manager 1524.

The printer manager 1526 manages and controls the printing process specified by the job manager 1519.

The engine I / F driver 1527 provides an interface between the printer manager 1526 and the engine unit.

The parallel port driver 1528 provides an I / F when the web pull print module 1511 outputs data to an output device (not shown) via the parallel port.

Application An embodiment of a built-in application of the image processing apparatus 1001 will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 61 shows embedded application blocks relating to data distribution by the image processing apparatus 1001. Hereinafter, the application group will be described with reference to each block. -User interface (UI) application The UI 4050 is as described above.
The address book 4051 will be described. The address book 4051 is a nonvolatile storage device (such as a nonvolatile memory or a hard disk) in the image processing apparatus 1001.
, Which describes the characteristics of the devices connected to the network. For example, it includes information as listed below.

Formal name or alias name of the device Network address of the device Network protocol that the device can process Document format that the device can process Compression type that the device can process Image resolution that the device can process Paper size, paper feed stage information Folder name that can store documents in case of server (computer) device Each application described below can determine the characteristics of the distribution destination based on the information described in address book 4051 Becomes Also, this address book 405
1 is editable and can be used by downloading or directly referencing what is stored on a server computer or the like in a network. Remote copy application The remote copy application stores resolution information that can be processed by a device designated as a distribution destination in the address book 4.
051, and the binary image read by the scanner is compressed using MMR compression in accordance with the determination.
Converted to FF (Tagged Image File Format), SLM4103
And sends it to a printer device on the network.
The SLM 4103 is a type of network protocol including device control information called a salutation manager (or a smart link manager).

Broadcast Distribution Application Unlike the remote copy application, the broadcast distribution application can transmit an image read by one image scanning to a plurality of distribution destinations. Also,
The distribution destination is not limited to the printer device, and can be directly distributed to a so-called server computer. Hereinafter, description will be made in order according to the distribution destination.

A device of a distribution destination is, for example, a known LPD (Line Printer Daem) which is a network printer protocol.
on), if it is determined by the address book 4051 that a known LIPS can be processed as a printer control command, the image is read in accordance with the image resolution determined from the address book 4051, and in this embodiment, the image is converted to a known FBE (First Binary Encoding)
Further, the data is converted into an LIPS code and transmitted to the partner device by using LPR, which is a known network printer protocol.

If the destination device can communicate with the SLM and is a server device, the address book 4051 determines the server address and the designation of the folder in the server, and the binary image read by the scanner as in the remote copy application. Is compressed using MMR compression, and
It can be converted to FF (Tagged Image File Format) and stored in a specific folder of the server device on the network through the SLM.

In the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, when the server as the partner device determines that the JPEG-compressed multi-valued image can be processed, similarly to the binary image, the multi-value read image is publicly known. It is also possible to convert the data into a well-known JFIF using JPEG compression and store it in a specific folder of a server device on the network through the SLM.

When the destination device is an e-mail server, the e-mail address described in the address book 4051 is determined, and the binary image read by the scanner is read by the MM.
Compress using R-compression and convert it to TIFF (Tagged Image
File Format) and SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Prot)
col) 4153 to send to the email server.
Subsequent distribution is performed by mail server 4550.

Web pull print application The web pull print application 4200 is an HT
The data such as an HTML document is read from the Web server 4650 of the specified URL via the TP module, and the data is printed out as, for example, PostScript (PS) format data.

Web Server Application The Web server application 4250 provides the Web browser 4700 with data such as HTML.

The above-described application is executed in accordance with the operation of the operator from the operation unit.

[Operation of Image Processing Apparatus] Image Processing Apparatus 10
FIG. 13 shows the configuration of the working part 01. LCD display (3
001), a touch panel sheet is stuck on the LCD to display an operation screen of the system, and when a displayed key is pressed, its position information is displayed on the controller C.
Tell the PU. A start key (3002) is used to start a document image reading operation. At the center of the start key, there are two-color LEDs of green and red, which indicate whether or not the start key can be used. A stop key (3003) functions to stop the operation during operation. An ID key (3004) is used to input a user ID of a user. A reset key (3005) is used to initialize settings from the operation unit.

Hereinafter, each screen displayed on the operation unit will be described in detail.

Operation screen (FIG. 14) The function provided by the image processing apparatus 1001 is copy (CO
PY) / Send (SEND) / Search (RETRIEVE)
/ Tasks (TASKS) / Management (MGMNT) / Configuration (CONFIG), which correspond to the six main tabs (3011-3016) displayed at the top of the operation screen (3010) are doing. By pressing these main tabs, switching to a screen of each category is performed. When switching to another category is not permitted, the display color of the main tab changes, and there is no response even if the main tab is pressed.

The copy function is a function of performing normal document copying using the scanner and printer of the own apparatus, and a function of copying a document using the scanner of the own apparatus and a printer connected via a network. (Remote copy). The transmission function is to send documents scanned by the scanner of the machine itself to e-mail, remote printer, fax, file transfer (FTP)
And a function to transfer to a database, and it is possible to specify a plurality of destinations. The search function is a function of acquiring an external document and printing it with a printer of the own device. WWW, e-mail, file transfer, and fax can be used as document acquisition means. The task function automatically processes documents sent from the outside, such as facsimile and Internet print, and generates and manages tasks for periodic search. The management function manages jobs, address books, bookmarks, documents, account information, and the like. In the configuration function, settings relating to the own device (network, clock, etc.) are performed.

Hereinafter, a method for setting these functions will be described by LC.
This will be described using an example of the D screen display.

ID input screen (FIG. 15) The ID input screen (3
020) is displayed. If the user ID and password are correctly input on the ID input screen and the OK button is pressed, the above-described operation screen is displayed, and the operation becomes possible. Switching between the ID input area (3021) and the password input area (3022) can be performed by directly pressing the input area.

Copy screen (FIGS. 19 to 25) When the start button is pressed when the copy screen is displayed, the scanner operates, and a copy corresponding to each setting parameter displayed on the screen is displayed from the selected printer. Is output.

The copy main screen (3100) has a printer selection button (3103) and a printer display area (310).
2), an image quality selection button (3105) and an image quality display area (3104), a copy parameter display (3101) similar to a conventional copying machine (3101), and a scaling setting button (3106, 3
107), a paper selection button (3108), a sorter setting button (3110), a two-sided copy setting button (3112),
Density indicator and density setting button (3109),
It consists of a numeric keypad (3114).

When the printer selection button (3103) is pressed, a list of available printers (printers of the own device and printers connected via a network) is displayed (FIG. 20:
3120) is displayed in a pull-down display. When a desired printer is selected from the list, the list disappears, and the selected printer name is displayed in the printer display area (3102).

When the image quality setting button (3105) is pressed, a list of image quality (FIG. 21: 3125) is displayed, from which a desired image quality can be selected.

The enlargement / reduction setting buttons (3106, 310)
7) When a copy parameter setting button such as a paper selection button (3108), a sorter setting button (3110), or a two-sided copy setting button (3112) is pressed, a sub screen (enlargement / reduction setting: 31
30 (FIG. 22), paper selection: 3140 (FIG. 23), sorter setting: 3150 (FIG. 24), double-sided copy setting: 3160
(FIG. 25) is displayed, and the parameters can be set in the same manner as the setting in the conventional copying machine. The density setting can be operated in the same manner as in a conventional copying machine.

Transmission screen (FIGS. 26 and 27) When the start button is pressed when the transmission screen is displayed, the scanner operates to start processing for transmitting the read image data to the set destination by the specified transmission method. Is done.

The transmission main screen (FIG. 26: 3200)
Destination display area (3202), detailed destination number display area (32
03), destination scroll button (3204), address book button (3208), new button (3209),
An edit button (3210), a delete button (3211), a subject input area (3205), a message input area (3206), a file name input area (3207), a cover page check button (3212), an HD write check button (3213), It comprises a print output check button (3214) and a scan setting button (3215). At the time of initialization including reset, as shown on a screen 3201 in FIG. 27, no destination is displayed in the destination display area, and an operation explanation screen is displayed.

A list of input destinations is displayed in the destination display area (3202). Inputs are added sequentially to the end. The number of destinations currently set is displayed in the detailed destination number display area (3203). When a delete button (3211) is pressed after selecting a destination from the destination display area, the selected destination is deleted.

A subject input area (3205), a message input area (3206), a file name input area (3
When 207) is pressed, a full keyboard is displayed, and each input can be performed.

Address book sub screen (FIG. 28, FIG. 2)
9) When the address book button (3208) is pressed, an address book sub screen (3220) is displayed. The destination marked with the selection mark (3232) in the address book display area (3221) is added to the destination display area (3202) of the transmission main screen by pressing the OK button (3231). The display of the address book is sorted by class, in ascending name order, and in descending name order by pressing a sort item setting button (3224 to 3226). The number of selected items is displayed in the item selection number display area (3227).

When the OK button (3231) or the cancel button (3230) is pressed, the address book sub screen is closed and the transmission main screen is displayed.

When a detail button (3229) is pressed with one item in the address book selected, a detail sub-screen (FIG. 29: 3235) is displayed. All information obtained from the address book as information on the selected item is displayed on the detail sub screen.

Search sub-screen (FIGS. 30 to 35) Search button (3228) in address book sub-screen
By pressing, a search sub-screen (32) for searching for a destination from the local address book or an external address server
40) is displayed. The upper part of the search sub screen is a search condition setting part. Search target class display area (3245),
The currently selected item is displayed in the search target attribute display area (3247), search target condition display area (3249), and search target address book display area (3252). When the search target class setting button (3246) is pressed,
A search target class list is displayed (FIG. 31: 326).
0).

The one selected from this list is displayed in the search target class display area. By pressing the search target attribute setting button (3248), a search target attribute list is displayed (FIG. 32: 3261). The attributes displayed in this list change as follows depending on the selected search target class.

Common Name Address
・ Country (Class: Person) Common Name ・ Owner ・ Locatio
n ・ Model ・ Type ・ Resolution ・ C
color / Finisher (Class: Printe
r) Common Name ・ Member (Class: Gr
push) All attributes (class: Everything) When the search target condition setting button (3250) is pressed, a search target condition list is displayed (FIG. 33: 3262), and a condition is selected from the list. When the search target address book setting button (3253) is pressed, a list of search target address books is displayed (FIG. 34: 3263), from which a list can be selected. Search target attribute value input area (3
251), a full keyboard (FIG. 17: 304) is pressed.
0) is displayed and a value can be entered.

When the search execution button (3254) is pressed,
The search is performed according to the set search conditions. The search result is displayed in the search result display area (3241), and the number of cases is displayed in the search result number display area (3244).

When the detail button (3255) is pressed while one of the items in the search result display area is selected, detailed information (3235 in FIG. 29) for that item is displayed.

A selection mark is added to items in the search result display area to be added to the destination (FIG. 35: 326).
5). When the OK button (3257) is pressed, the search sub screen is closed and the screen returns to the transmission main screen, and the item with the selection mark added is added to the destination. When the cancel button (3256) is pressed, the search sub screen is closed and the screen returns to the transmission main screen, but the destination remains unchanged.

Detailed destination sub screen (FIGS. 36 to 39) When a new button (3209) on the transmission main screen is pressed, Pe
The rson class details sub screen (FIG. 36: 3270) is displayed, and a new destination can be set. Enter the destination by the transmission method (e-mail, fax, printer, FT
P) transmission method selection buttons (3271 to 327)
4) or press the detailed destination input area (3275 to 327).
Press 8) to enter a numeric keypad (FIG. 18: 3050) for fax, or a full keyboard (FIG. 17:
3040) is displayed and input becomes possible. 3279-3
Reference numeral 282 denotes a button for performing a transmission option of each transmission method, but detailed description thereof is omitted here.

When the Edit button (3210) is pressed while the Person class destination is selected on the transmission main screen, the Person class details sub screen (FIG. 3)
7: 3290) is displayed. Detailed destination input area (32
75 to 3278), the details of the selected destination are displayed. When the keyboard is displayed by the above-described method, the destination can be edited.

When the destination of the Data Base class is selected on the transmission main screen, an edit button (321) is selected.
When 0) is pressed, a Data Base class details sub screen (3310 in FIG. 38) is displayed. The database name (331) is displayed on the database class details sub screen.
1) A folder list (3312) is displayed.

When the edit button (3210) is pressed while the destination of the Group class is selected on the transmission main screen, the Group class details sub-screen (FIG. 39: 33)
20) is displayed. A group member display (3321) is displayed on the Group class details sub screen.

HD Setting Sub-Screen (FIG. 40) When the HD write check button (3213) is pressed, an HD setting sub-screen (3330) for performing settings for transmission to the hard disk is displayed. Here, a folder to be written is specified.

Print output sub screen (FIGS. 41 to 43) When the print output check button (3214) is pressed, a print out sub screen (FIG. 41: 3340) is displayed.
The number of prints, paper size,
Set the enlargement / reduction ratio, double-sided printing, sorting, resolution, etc. When the paper size selection button (3345) is pressed, a list of paper sizes (FIG. 42: 3360) is displayed, and a selection is made therefrom. When the sorter selection button (3350) is pressed, a list of selectable sorters (FIG. 43: 3365) is displayed.

Scan setting sub-screen (FIGS. 44 to 4)
7) When the scan setting button (3215) is pressed, a scan setting sub screen (3370) is displayed. When one scan setting is selected from the preset mode selection area (3371) in the scan setting sub-screen, the corresponding preset resolution, scan mode, and density are displayed in the respective display areas (3377, 3379, 3381). You. These values can be changed manually. FIG.
The scan setting sub-screen 3390 of 5 is a screen in which a paper size selection list is displayed in a pull-down manner, and the size and orientation of the paper to be used are selected from this list. Screen 339 in FIG. 46
1 and a screen 3392 in FIG. 47 show a state in which a resolution and a scan mode list are respectively displayed in a pull-down manner.

Search Screen (FIGS. 48 to 51) The search main screen (FIG. 48: 3400) includes WWW (3
401), e-mail (3402), facsimile (34)
03), an FTP (3404) sub tab, an HD write check button (3405), and a print setting button (3406) commonly used in each sub category are displayed. Pressing a subtab will cause the corresponding WWW, E
The mail, facsimile, and FTP sub-screens are displayed. At the time of initialization including reset, a WWW sub screen is displayed.

WWW sub-screen (FIG. 48) When the start button is pressed when the WWW sub-screen is displayed, the home page is printed according to the settings displayed on the screen. However, when the start button is pressed when nothing is displayed in the URL input area, nothing functions.

When a URL input area (3411) on the WWW sub screen (3400) is pressed, a full keyboard (FIG. 1) is pressed.
7: 3040) is displayed, and direct entry of the URL is enabled. Link depth (3412) and maximum page (3
414) When the input area is pressed, a numeric keyboard (FIG. 18:
3050) is displayed, and it becomes possible to directly input a numerical value.

-Bookmark sub screen (FIG. 52) When the bookmark button (3419) is pressed, the Bookm
The ark sub screen (3460) is displayed. A list of set bookmarks is displayed in a bookmark display area (3461) in the bookmark sub-screen, and when any one of the rows is pressed, a selected display state is set. OK
When the button (3466) is pressed, the bookmark sub screen is closed, and the URL corresponding to the selected item is displayed in the URL input area of the WWW sub screen. The description of the functions of the other buttons in the book sub screen is omitted.

E-mail sub-screen (FIG. 49) On the E-mail sub-screen (3430), settings for receiving E-mail are made. Each input area (3431-433)
Pressing displays a full keyboard (3040) and allows input.

Facsimile sub screen (FIG. 50) A facsimile number is entered on the facsimile sub screen (3440). When the input area (3441) is pressed, a numeric keyboard (3050) is displayed, and a facsimile number can be input.

-FTP server sub-screen (FIG. 51) On the FTP server sub-screen (3450), settings for receiving data from the server are made. Each input area (3451
-3453), a full keyboard (3040) is displayed and input is possible.

HD setting sub screen (FIG. 40) HD write check button (3
Pressing 406) displays the HD setting sub screen (3330). The function is the same as that of the HD setting sub-screen of the transmission screen.

Print Setting Sub-Screen (FIG. 53) When a print setting button (3406) common to each category is pressed, a print setting sub-screen (3470) is displayed. The function is the same as the print output sub-screen of the transmission screen.

Task screen (FIG. 54) When the start key is pressed while the task screen is displayed, an automatic search operation is executed in accordance with the parameters set on the task screen.

On the task main screen (3500 in FIG. 54), WWW, E-mail (E-Mail), print reception (Pr
int Receive), facsimile reception (Fax)
Receive), facsimile polling (Fax)
Polling) sub-tabs (3501 to 505) are displayed. At the time of initialization including reset, a WWW sub screen (3500) is displayed.

WWW sub-screen In the WWW task list display area (3511), the tasks held in the device are displayed in the order of input. Tasks that need to be actually executed are marked with a selection mark. Tasks for which no selection mark is displayed are held in the device as tasks, but are not actually executed.

When the new button (3513) is pressed, WWW
The task details sub screen (Fig. 55: 3520) is displayed,
A new task can be entered. The WWW task details sub screen will be described later.

When an edit button (3514) is pressed while one task is selected from the WWW task list, a WWW task details sub-screen (3520) including information on the selected task is displayed, and the setting can be edited. Becomes possible.

When one of the tasks is selected from the WWW task list and the delete button (3515) is pressed, the selected task is deleted.

WWW task details sub-screen (FIG. 55) The WWW task details sub-screen (3520) has components (3521 to 533) having functions common to the search main screen and the search WWW sub-screen, and a check time display area ( 3534), a check time setting button (353)
5), change-time print check button (3536), transfer check button (3537), OK button (3539),
A cancel button (3538) is displayed. The description of the parts common to the search screen is omitted.

The check time display area (3534)
When the WWW task setting sub-screen is displayed by the new button 3513, the blank is displayed, and when the WWW task setting sub-screen is displayed by the edit button 3514, the set task execution time is displayed. Immediately after the setting is performed on the check time sub-screen described later, the set task execution time is displayed.

When the check time setting button (3535) is pressed, a check time sub-screen, which will be described later, is displayed, and it becomes possible to set the timing for executing the task.

Check time sub screen (FIGS. 56 to 5)
8) On the check time sub screen (3550), a schedule mode setting button (3551-553), a time input area (3554), an OK button (3558), and a cancel button (3557) are displayed. Once button (3551) among the schedule mode setting buttons
Is selected, a month input area (3555) and a date input area (3556) are displayed (FIG. 56). When the week button (3552) is selected, a day setting check button (3561) is displayed (FIG. 57). When the monthly button (3553) is selected, a date input area (3571) is displayed (FIG. 58). By pressing each input area,
A numeric keyboard (3050) is displayed, allowing the input of numerical values. The day setting check button allows selection of a plurality of days.

Management Function Screen (FIG. 59) Various settings are made on the management function screen 3600.

Configuration function screen (FIG. 60) The configuration is set on the configuration function screen 3700.

A full keyboard (FIG. 17) A full keyboard (3040) is displayed when a character input area is pressed. www button (3041), co
When the m button (3042) is pressed, "www",
The character "com" is input. The other keys have the same functions as in the related art, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Numeric Keyboard (FIG. 18) The numeric keyboard (3050) is displayed when a numeric input area or a month input area is pressed. Description of each key is omitted.

Error screen (FIG. 16) The error screen (3030) is displayed when there is any error. The error screen includes a message display area (3031) for displaying an error message in text, and an OK button (3032) for closing the error screen. [Device Information Service (DIS)] A database that holds setting values for jobs, functions of devices (scanners, printers, and the like), status, billing information, and the like in a controller in a data format conforming to a control API, and / F is defined as a Device Information Service (DIS). FIG. 62 shows the exchange between the DIS 7102 and the job manager 7101, and the scan manager 7103 and the print manager 7104, which are document managers.

Basically, dynamic information such as a job start command is directly instructed from the job manager 7101 to each document manager, and DIS 7102 is referred to for static information such as device functions and job contents. Static and dynamic information and events from each document manager are transmitted to the job 7101 via the DIS 7102.

When setting and acquiring data from the document managers 7103 and 7104 to the database of the DIS 7102, the internal data format of the DIS 7102 complies with the control API. Performs mutual conversion processing with possible data formats. For example, when setting status data from each document manager, the device-specific data is interpreted, converted into corresponding data defined by the control API, and written into the database of the DIS 7102.

From the job manager 7101 to the DIS 71
When setting and acquiring data in the database 02, no data conversion occurs between the job manager 7101 and the DIS 7102.

In the DIS 7102, event data is updated based on various event information notified from the document manager.

FIG. 63 shows various databases (hereinafter, referred to as DBs) held in the DIS, and each DB will be described. The round rectangles in FIG. 63 represent individual DBs.

The supervisor DB 7201 is a DB holding status and user information about the entire device.
Information that needs to be backed up, 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.

The scan component DB 7202 and the print component DB 7203 are held for each existing component. For example, in the case of a device including only a printer, only the print component DB exists. For example, in the case of a device having a FAX, the FAX component DB is stored. A document manager corresponding to each component DB sets the function and status of the component at the time of initialization.

The scan job service DB 7204 and the print job service DB 7205, similarly to the component DBs, set the functions that can be used by the corresponding document managers at the time of initialization, and the support status thereof.

Next, the job DB and the document DB will be described. The job DB includes a scan job DB 7206 and a print job DB 7207, and the document DB includes a scan document DB 7208 and a print document DB 7209. The job DB and the document DB are dynamically secured and initialized by the job manager every time a job and a document accompanying the job are generated, and necessary items are set. Each document manager reads items necessary for processing from the job DB and the document DB before starting processing of the job, and starts the job. Thereafter, when the jobs are completed, the DBs of these jobs and the documents accompanying the jobs are released.
Since a job has one or more documents, a plurality of document DBs may be reserved for a certain job.

The database 7210 holds event information notified from each document manager. The counter table 7211 records the number of scans and the number of prints of the apparatus.

Events notified from the document manager include component state transition from the scan document manager, completion of scan processing and various errors, component state transition from the print document manager, completion of print processing, and paper jam. , A paper cassette open, and the like, and an event ID for identifying each event is predetermined.

When an event is issued from the document 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 document manager, the event data designated to be released is deleted from the event database 7211. When an event is polled by the job manager, the DIS refers to the event database 7210,
The current event ID and, if necessary, detailed data attached to the event are returned to the job manager. If no current event has occurred, the fact is returned.

When the event of the completion of the scan processing and the print processing operation is notified, the counter value of the user who has 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] The details of the scan operation will be described below. FIG. 64 is a conceptual diagram of a block related to the scanning operation. CPU 8 to PCI bus 8105
101, memory 8102, image compression / decompression board 81
I / F circuit 810 that provides an I / F for connecting this system with the scanner 04 and the scanner 8107
3 are connected. A SCSI I / F circuit 8103 and a scanner (or a scanner function unit of a copying machine having a composite function) 8107 are connected by a SCSI interface cable 8106. PCI bus 810
5, an IDE controller 8108 is connected.
It is connected to an IDE hard disk 8110 via an IDE cable 8109.

FIG. 65 shows a software structure related to the scanning operation. Job manager 8201
Has the ability to classify and store application-level requirements. The DIS 8202 stores parameters required for a scan operation from the application level. The request from the application is stored in the memory 8102.
The scan operation management unit 8203 includes a job manager 820
1 and information necessary for performing a scan from the DIS8202. The scan operation management unit 8203 receives the job number and document number table data 8301 in FIG. 66 from the job manager 8201, and receives the scan parameters 8302 from the DIS 8202 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 scanning operation management unit 8203 is the DIS 82
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 SCSI controller 8207 is controlled according to the contents of the above. By operating the SCSI controller 8103 connected to the PCI 8105 in FIG. 64, the scanner 810 is connected via the SCSI cable 8106.
Scanning is performed by sending a SCSI control command to 7. Scanned image is SCSI cable 81
06 to the SCSI controller 8103,
Further, it is stored in the memory 8102 via the PCI 8105. When the scan is completed and the image is stored in the memory 8102 via the PCI 8105, the scan sequence control unit 8204 converts the scan image stored in the memory 8102 according to the content of the scan image compression format 8309 of the scan parameter 8302. A request is issued to the compression / decompression control unit 8205 to perform compression.
Upon receiving the request, the compression / decompression control unit 8205 executes the PCI8
Using a CODEC 8104 connected to the
Compression is performed by designating the scan image compression format 8309 from the scan sequence control unit 8204. The compression / decompression control unit 8205 stores the compressed image in the memory 8102 via the PCI 8105.

The scan sequence control unit 8204 has a compression / decompression control unit 8205 that performs a scan image compression format 8309.
Compresses the scanned image into the format specified by
02 in the memory 810 according to the image file type 8307 of the scan parameter 8302.
The compressed scan image stored in 2 is filed. The scan sequence control unit 8204 sends a scan parameter 830 to the file system 8206.
It is requested to make a file in the file format specified by the second image file type 8307. The file system 8206 stores the data in the memory 81 according to the image file type 8307 from the scan sequence control unit 8204.
02 into a file,
The scanned compressed image is transferred to the IDE controller 8108 via the PCI 8105, and transferred to the IDE hard disk 8110 via the IDE cable 8109, thereby converting the compressed image scanned into a file. When the file system 8206 stores the filed image on the IDE hard disk 8110, the scan sequence control unit 8204 determines that the current process of one sheet on the scanner 8107 has been completed, and sends a scan completion notification to the scan operation management unit 8203. Send it back. At this point, if there is an unscanned document on the scanner 8107 and a scan request from the job manager 8201 exists,
Scan parameter 8 stored in DIS8202
A scan operation is requested to the scan sequence control unit using 302. If there is no unscanned document on the scanner 8107, or if the job manager 8
If there is no scan request from the job manager 201, the job manager 820 determines that the scan operation has been completed.
1 is notified of a scan end.

[Print Operation] The print operation will be described in detail below.

FIG. 67 is a conceptual diagram of a block relating to the printing operation. A CPU 9001, a memory 9002, an image compression / decompression board 9004, a printer 9007, and an engine I / F board 9003 for providing an I / F for connecting this system are connected to a PCI bus 9005. An engine I / F board 9003 and a printer (or a printer function unit of a copier having a composite function) 9007 are connected to an engine interface cable 90.
06. The engine I / F board has a DPRAM inside, and through this DPRAM, sets parameters to the printer, reads out the status of the printer, and exchanges print control commands. This board has a video controller and VCLK (Vid) supplied from the printer via the engine interface cable.
EO Clock) and HSYNC, and transmits the image data developed on the PCI to the printer via the engine interface cable. FIG. 68 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. The video controller reads data for the set image width (WIDTH) from the set memory (SOURCE) on the PCI and outputs the data to the engine interface cable as a Video signal.
After repeating this for the designated line (LINES), IM
Generate an AGE_END interrupt.

As described above, when a print job instruction is passed from the application program on the CPU to the control API, the control API passes this as a job to the controller level job manager. Further, the job manager stores the job settings in the DIS, and instructs the print manager to start the job. Upon receiving the job, the print manager 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.

FIG. 69 shows the setting items of the engine I / F board.
FIG. 70 shows setting items, control commands, and status commands via the DPRAM of the printer.

For the sake of simplicity, it is assumed that this job is uncompressed, a 2-page print of a letter (11 "× 8.5") size binary image, and that the printer has a performance of 600 dpi. explain.

First, upon receiving this job, the print manager sets the width of this image (in this case, the side of 8.5 ").
Is calculated.

WIDTH = 8.5 × 600/8 ÷ 630
(Byte) Next, the number of lines is calculated.

LINES = 11 × 600 = 6600 (lines) These calculated values and the SOURCE address in which the given first page image is stored are set in WIDTH, LINES, and SOURCE shown in FIG. .
At this point, the engine I / F board has completed the 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 writes 1 as the number of output copies to a predetermined address (BookNo) of the DPRAM shown in FIG. Thereafter, a request for feeding the output sheet for the first page (FEED_REQ) is issued, and an IMAGE_REQ from the printer is awaited. Printer to IM
When AGE_REQ comes, issue IMAGE_START. In response to this, the printer starts issuing HSYNC,
The engine I / F board waiting for SYNC outputs an image. When the printer detects the trailing edge of the output paper,
AGE_END is output, and when the output paper is discharged, SH is output.
Outputs EET_OUT. The print manager receives IMAGE_END of the first page and
IDTH, LINES, SOURCE engine I / F
Set on the board, issue FEED_REQ,
Wait for E_REQ. The operation after the IMAGE_REQ of the second page arrives is the same as that of the first page.

As described above, in the image compression processing section, the image bus I / F controller 2041
At the same time as starting the transfer of the image data from the device 2002 or each device on the image bus 2008, the number of bytes of the image data is counted and the compression ratio is finally calculated. If the compression ratio is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, the address control on the RAM is performed so that the uncompressed image is stored in the HDD 2002. If the compression ratio is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold, the compressed image is stored in the HDD 2002.
Address control on M is performed. Thus, by changing the threshold value, the compression processing unit
The amount of compression / expansion processing and the amount of data can be determined so as to satisfy the conflicting demands of shortening the processing time required for decompression and reducing the amount of data to be transferred and stored in accordance with the capability of the processing system.

<Second Embodiment> Overall Configuration FIG. 72 shows an overall configuration diagram of a digital copying machine as a second embodiment of the image input / output system according to the present invention. FIG.
2 is the same as FIG. 3 of the first embodiment and the device IF unit 202
0 is different in that it has a resolution conversion unit 2029,
Other configurations are common. The function of the image compression unit 2040 is different from that of the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the description will be limited to the differences from the first embodiment.

Resolution converter 2029 is a printer image processor 2090
Is a block for performing resolution conversion (reduction) in order to reduce the amount of data transferred on the image bus, unlike the resolution conversion unit 2092 built in the image bus. Resolution converter 2
When the CPU 2001 designates the scaling ratio for resolution conversion from the CPU 2001 to the image bus IF controller 2021,
Image resolution conversion (reduction) is performed according to the designated value.

Image Compression Unit The configuration of the image compression unit 2040 is as shown in FIG. However, the image compression unit 2040 of the present embodiment
Has a function of simply compressing input data by a predetermined method, and controls the procedure shown in FIG. 71, that is, compares the compression ratio with a threshold value, and compresses the compressed data according to the result. There is no control procedure for storing or storing uncompressed data.

That is, the image bus I / F controller 2
An input buffer 2042 is connected to the image bus 2008 to control the bus access sequence.
Timing control for exchanging data with the output buffer 2045 and control such as mode setting for the image compression unit 2043 are performed. The processing procedure of the image compression processing unit will be described below.

The CPU 200 is connected 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 sets the settings required for image compression (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.

In accordance with this permission, the image bus I / F controller 2041 operates the RAM 2002 or the image bus 200
The transfer of image data from each device on 8 starts. 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 the image data from the image bus 2008, and executes the image compression unit 2043. If it is not possible to write an image into the memory, handshake control is performed so that data is not transferred. The image compression unit 2043 temporarily stores the received image data in the RAM 2044. This is because the image compression requires several lines of data depending on the type of image compression processing to be performed.
This is because image compression cannot be performed unless several lines of image data are prepared in order to compress lines. The image data subjected to image compression is immediately sent to the output buffer 2045. In the output buffer 2045, the image bus I / F controller 2041 and the image compression unit 20
43, and transfers the image data to the image bus I / F controller 2041. Image bus I /
The 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 the processing request from the CPU 2001 disappears (when processing of the required number of pages is completed).
Alternatively, the process is repeated until a stop request is issued from the image compression unit (for example, when an error occurs during compression and decompression).

Device I / F Unit FIG. 73 shows the configuration of the device I / F unit 2020 in this embodiment. Image bus I / F controller 2021
Is connected to the image bus 2008, controls the bus access sequence, and generates control and timing of each device in the device I / F unit 2020. Further, it generates a control signal to the image switching unit 2026.
The scan buffer 2022 temporarily stores the image data sent from the image switching unit 2026 and stores the image data in the image bus 20.
08 in synchronization with the image data. The serial / parallel / parallel / serial converter 2023 arranges the image data stored in the scan buffer 2022 in order,
Alternatively, the image data is decomposed and converted into a data width of image data that can be transferred to the image bus 2008. The 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
The image data sent from the image bus 2008 is temporarily stored, and the image data is output in response to a transfer request from the image switching unit 2026.

The processing procedure at the time of image scanning is shown below.
The image data sent from the scanner 2070 is sent to the image switching unit 2026 in synchronization with the timing signal sent from the scanner 2070. Image switching unit 202
6, the image received from the scanner 2070 is sent to the CPU 2
The image is sent to the transfer destination selected according to the setting from 001. Normally, the image received from the scanner 2070 is sent to the scanner image processing unit 2080, and after performing predetermined image processing, is stored in the scan buffer 2022 via the image switching unit 2026. When the image bus 2008 is a PCI bus, 32 bytes of image data are stored in the buffer.
When more than one bit is input, the image data is sent from the buffer to the serial / parallel / serial / serial converter 2023 in a first-in first-out manner for 32 bits to be converted into 32-bit image data, and is then transferred to the image bus 2008 via the image bus I / F controller 2021. Forward. Also, image bus 2
If 008 is IEEE1394, the image data in the buffer is sent from the buffer to the serial / parallel / serial / serial converter 2023 on a first-in first-out basis, and is converted into serial image data.
21 to the image bus 2008.

The processing procedure when 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. The image data is transferred from the print buffer 2025 to the printer image processing unit 209 via the image switching unit 2026.
Sent to 0. After performing predetermined image processing, the image data in the buffer is sent to the printer 2095 on a first-in first-out basis in synchronization with a timing signal sent from the printer 2095 via the image switching unit 2026.

Control of Image Switching Unit Here, control of the image switching unit, which is a feature of the image input / output system according to the present invention, will be described.

A normal scan image transfer path is as shown in FIG. That is, the image data read from the scanner is transmitted to the image bus 2080 via the scanner image processing unit 2080 and the scan buffer 2022. Image data input from the image bus 2080 is output from the printer 2095 via the print buffer 2025 and the printer image processing unit 2090. If image transfer on the bus 2008 can guarantee real-time image transfer, there is no problem if image transfer is performed along such a path. In this embodiment, the real-time system is a scanner image processing unit 2080 that performs image transfer from the scanner 2070, image transfer to the printer 2095, and performs real-time processing to access them.
The printer image processing unit 2090 corresponds.

However, when the image transfer on the bus 2008 cannot guarantee the real-time image transfer, if the image transfer is performed along the route shown in FIG. 74, the real-time image is lost. Therefore, in the present embodiment, attention is focused on a system in which the image transferred from the scanner 2070 is processed by the scanner image processing unit 2080 and the image is transferred to the scan buffer 2020 among the real-time systems.

FIG. 76 shows the configuration of scan buffer 2022.
Shown in The scan buffer 2022 includes a buffer unit 2028 that stores an image in real time, and a counter 2027 that increments each time an image is stored and decrements each time an image is read from the buffer unit 2028. The value of the counter 2027 serves to manage the number of image data that can be stored in the buffer unit 2028,
When it is determined that this value is equal to or greater than a certain threshold, the buffer unit 2028 can determine that there is no room for storing an image. For example, as described above, the bus 2008
Is not guaranteed to always be able to perform real-time image transfer, the value of the counter 2027 may be greater than or equal to the threshold. At this time, the counter 2027 is in the buffer unit 2
No. 028 outputs to the switching unit 2026 a signal IN BUFFERFULL indicating that the limit at which the image cannot be stored is approaching.

The switching unit 2026 operates as an IN BUFFER
By receiving the FULL signal, it is detected that if the image transfer is continued as it is, a trouble will occur in the scan buffer 2022, and the image transfer path up to now is shown in FIG.
Change as follows. As a result, the image data transfer increases the image data transfer delay time up to the scan buffer 2022 while passing through the path passing through the resolution conversion unit 2029, and transfers the image with reduced resolution (reduced image), thereby increasing the image transfer rate. By reducing the size, it is possible to avoid a state in which the scan buffer 2022 cannot store an image.

After transferring the reduced-resolution image (reduced image), all the images of the same resolution are mapped on the image memory 2002. Switching unit 2026
Is performed by using the resolution conversion unit 2029 via. This may be performed before the transfer of the scanner unit 2070 is completed and before the image printing operation is started, so that there is no fear that the resolution conversion process will hinder real-time image transfer.

On the other hand, after the transfer of the image having the reduced resolution (reduced image) is completed, in order to map all the images having the same resolution on the image memory 2002, the portion subjected to the resolution conversion is processed. The image may be expanded by interpolation or the like using the resolution conversion unit 2029 via the image switching unit 2026. This may be performed before the transfer of the scanner unit 2070 is completed and before the image printing operation is started, so that there is no fear that the resolution conversion process will hinder real-time image transfer.

As described above, by switching the image transfer path according to the state of the buffer, the image data to be transmitted is reduced according to the free space of the buffer 2028.
Real-time image transfer from the scanner can be performed without failure.

Further, when reproducing the image data whose resolution has been converted, a portion where the resolution conversion has not been performed during the reproduction is distinguished from a portion where the resolution conversion has been performed. Play the image after expanding it. In this way, even if all the images are not at the same resolution, the entire image can be reproduced at a unified resolution. For this,
An identifier for distinguishing the presence or absence of resolution conversion is stored together with the image data.

<Third Embodiment> Overall Configuration FIG. 77 shows an overall configuration diagram of a digital copying machine as a third embodiment of the image input / output system according to the present invention. FIG.
7 is the same as FIG. 3 of the first embodiment and the device IF unit 202
0 is different in that it has an image compression unit 2040, and other configurations are common. Hereinafter, the description will be limited to the differences from the first embodiment.

Image Compression Unit FIG. 78 shows the image compression unit 2040. The image compression unit 2040 of the present embodiment is “connected to the device IF unit 2020 without passing through the image bus 2080. The processing procedure is described below.

The CPU 200 is connected via the image bus 2008
1 to the image bus I / F controller 2021 for setting for image compression control. With this setting, the image bus I /
The F controller 2021 sets the image compression unit 2043 with settings necessary for image compression (for example, MMR compression / JBIG
Elongation etc.). After making the necessary settings,
U2001 permits image data transfer to the image bus I / F controller 2021.

According to this permission, the image bus I / F controller 2021 operates the RAM 2002 or the image bus 200
8 to the image switching unit 2026 (FIG. 79).
The transfer of the image data is started through the following. 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 is the image bus I / F controller 2021 and the image compression unit 2
043, it is determined whether image data can be transferred. If reading of the image data from the image bus 2008 and writing of the image to the image compression unit 2043 are impossible, data transfer is performed. Perform handshake control that does not exist. The image compression unit 2043 temporarily stores the received image data in the RAM 2044. This depends on the type of image compression processing performed when performing image compression.
This is because data for several lines is required, and image compression for several lines must be prepared in order to perform compression for the first line. The image data subjected to the image compression is immediately output to the output buffer 20.
Sent to 45. The output buffer 2045 performs handshaking with the image bus I / F controller 2021 and the image compression unit 2043, and transfers image data to the image bus I / F controller 2021 via the image switching unit 2026.
Transfer to The image bus I / F controller 2021 converts the transferred compressed (or decompressed) image data into R
The data is transferred to the AM 2002 or each device on the image bus 2008. Such a series of processing is performed by the CPU 2
This processing is repeated until there is no processing request from 001 (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).

Device I / F Unit FIG. 79 shows the configuration of the device I / F unit 2020 in this embodiment. Image bus I / F controller 2021
Is connected to the image bus 2008, controls the bus access sequence, and generates control and timing of each device in the device I / F unit 2020. Further, it generates a control signal to the image switching unit 2026.
The scan buffer 2022 temporarily stores the image data sent from the image switching unit 2026 and stores the image data in the image bus 20.
08 in synchronization with the image data. The serial / parallel / parallel / serial converter 2023 arranges the image data stored in the scan buffer 2022 in order,
Alternatively, the image data is decomposed and converted into a data width of image data that can be transferred to the image bus 2008. The 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
The image data sent from the image bus 2008 is temporarily stored, and the image data is output in response to a transfer request from the image switching unit 2026.

The processing procedure at the time of image scanning is described below.
The image data sent from the scanner 2070 is sent to the image switching unit 2026 in synchronization with the timing signal sent from the scanner 2070. Image switching unit 202
6, the image received from the scanner 2070 is sent to the CPU 2
The image is sent to the transfer destination selected according to the setting from 001. Normally, the image received from the scanner 2070 is sent to the scanner image processing unit 2080, and after performing predetermined image processing, is stored in the scan buffer 2022 via the image switching unit 2026. When the image bus 2008 is a PCI bus, 32 bytes of image data are stored in the buffer.
When more than one bit is input, the image data is sent from the buffer to the serial / parallel / serial / serial converter 2023 in a first-in first-out manner for 32 bits to be converted into 32-bit image data, and is then transferred to the image bus 2008 via the image bus I / F controller 2021. Forward. Also, image bus 2
If 008 is IEEE1394, the image data in the buffer is sent from the buffer to the serial / parallel / serial / serial converter 2023 on a first-in first-out basis, and is converted into serial image data.
21 to the image bus 2008.

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. The image data is transferred from the print buffer 2025 to the printer image processing unit 209 via the image switching unit 2026.
Sent to 0. After performing predetermined image processing, the image data in the buffer is sent to the printer 2095 on a first-in first-out basis in synchronization with a timing signal sent from the printer 2095 via the image switching unit 2026.

Control of Image Switching Unit Here, control of the image switching unit, which is a feature of the present embodiment, will be described. The transfer path of a normal scan image is as described above, and is summarized as shown in FIG. If image transfer on the bus 2008 can guarantee real-time image transfer, there is no problem if image transfer is performed along such a path. In this embodiment, the real-time system corresponds to a scanner image processing unit 2080 and a printer image processing unit 2090 that perform image transfer from the scanner 2070, image transfer to the printer 2095, and perform real-time processing to access them. .

However, as in the present invention, the bus 2008
If the above image transfer cannot guarantee the real-time image transfer, the real-time image will be lost if the image transfer is performed along the route shown in FIG. In this case, among real-time systems, attention is paid to a system in which the image transferred from the scanner 2070 is processed by the scanner image processing unit 2080 and the image is transferred to the scan buffer 2020.

The configuration of the scan buffer 2022
As in the embodiment shown in FIG. The scan buffer 2022 includes a buffer unit 2028 that stores an image in real time and a counter 2027 that increments each time an image is stored and decrements each time an image is read from the buffer unit 2028. The value of the counter 2027 plays a role in managing the number of image data that can be stored in the buffer unit 2028, and when it is determined that this value has exceeded a certain threshold, the buffer unit 202
8 can determine that there is no room to store the image. For example, as described above, when there is no guarantee that the bus 2008 can always perform real-time image transfer, the value of the counter 2027 may exceed the threshold. At this time, the counter 2027 switches the signal IN BUFFER FULL indicating that the limit at which the buffer unit 2028 cannot store an image is approaching.
Output to

The switching unit 2026 operates as an IN BUFFER
By receiving the FULL signal, it is detected that if the image transfer is continued in this state, a trouble will occur in the scan buffer 2022, and the image transfer path up to now is shown in FIG.
Change as follows. As a result, the image data transfer increases the delay time of the image data transfer to the scan buffer 2022 while passing through the path passing through the image compression unit 2040, and reduces the image transfer rate by transferring the compressed image. It is possible to avoid a state in which an image cannot be stored.

After the transfer of the compressed image is completed, the image is expanded by the image compression unit 2040 via the image switching unit 2026 in order to map the image before compression on the image memory 2002. This is the scanner unit 2070
The transfer may be performed before the image print operation is started after the transfer of the image data is completed, so that there is no fear that the image decompression operation may hinder real-time image transfer.

As described above, by switching the image transfer path in accordance with the state of the buffer, the image data to be transmitted is compressed in accordance with the free space of the buffer 2028.
Real-time image transfer from the scanner can be performed without failure.

<Fourth Embodiment> Entire Configuration As a fourth embodiment of the image input / output system according to the present invention, the transfer rate of image data to be printed is reduced to such an extent that real-time performance cannot be guaranteed. A device that prevents the above will be described. The overall configuration of the present embodiment is the same as the first embodiment, but may be the same as the second embodiment or the same as the third embodiment.
However, the configuration of the print buffer 2025 and the control procedure by the image bus IF 2005 and the printer image processing unit 2090 are different from the above-described embodiment.

Printer image processing unit In the printer image processing unit 2090, the resolution conversion unit 2
092 is the network 2011 or the public line 20
Resolution conversion for converting the image data coming from 51 into the resolution of the printer 2095 is performed. This is the same as in the other embodiments. In addition, when a situation occurs in which the data transfer on the image data transfer bus cannot satisfy the conditions required by the printer, the resolution is converted (reduced) by the image data transfer bus IF unit 2005 as described later. The image data is interpolated. 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.

Control of Image Switching Unit Here, control of the image switching unit, which is a feature of the image input / output system according to the present invention, will be described.

The transfer path of the image data is as shown in FIG. That is, the image data read from the scanner is transferred to the scanner image processing unit 2080 and the scan buffer 2.
022 to the image bus 2080. Also,
Image data input from the image bus 2080 is output from the printer 2095 via the print buffer 2025 and the printer image processing unit 2090. Bus 2008
If the above image transfer can guarantee real-time image transfer, there is no problem if image transfer is performed along such a path. In this embodiment, the real-time system is the scanner 2
A scanner image processing unit 2080 and a printer image processing unit 2090 that perform image transfer from the printer 070, image transfer to the printer 2095, and perform real-time processing to access them.

However, in the case where the image transfer on the bus 2008 cannot guarantee the real-time image transfer, if the image transfer is performed along the route shown in FIG. 82, the real-time image is lost. Therefore, in the present embodiment, attention is paid to a system that transfers an image to the printer 2095 among real-time systems.

The structure of the print buffer 2025 is shown in FIG.
Shown in The print buffer 2025 includes a buffer unit 2028 that stores an image in real time, and a counter 2027 that increments each time an image is stored and decrements each time an image is read from the buffer unit 2028. The value of the counter 2027 serves to manage the number of image data that can be stored in the buffer unit 2028,
When it is determined that this value has become equal to or smaller than a certain threshold value, the buffer unit 2028 can determine that the state in which the part that does not store the image is to be read is approaching.
For example, as described above, when there is no guarantee that the bus 2008 can always perform real-time image transfer,
It is conceivable that the value of 027 becomes equal to or less than the threshold value. At this time, the counter 2027 outputs the signal OUT BUFFER EMPTY indicating that the state in which the buffer unit 2028 is trying to read out the portion where no image is stored is approaching the image bus IF unit 2005 and the printer image processing unit 2090.
Output to

The image bus IF unit 2005 outputs the OUT BU
By receiving the FFER EMPTY signal, for example, the image data on the RAM 2002 is transferred on the bus 2008 in a state where the image data is thinned out, and the image transfer rate on the bus is reduced. Also, the image switching unit 2026 outputs
By receiving the BUFFER EMPTY, the image data is transferred to the IF controller 202 at a frequency corresponding to the thinning.
Request from 1. Further, a printer image processing unit 2090
Then, by performing interpolation and smoothing processing of the thinned image data so as to match the resolution required by the printer, the deterioration of the image quality due to the reduction of the image data is covered.

As described above, by switching the image transfer rate according to the state of the buffer, the image data transferred according to the free space of the buffer 2028 in the print buffer unit is reduced, thereby real-time image transfer from the scanner is performed. The transfer can be performed without failure. Further, by interpolating the reduced image in the printer image processing unit, the deterioration of the image due to the reduction of the image is prevented.

[0207]

[Other Embodiments] The present invention can be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), and can be applied to a single device (for example, a copying machine). Machine, facsimile machine, etc.).

An object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium (or recording medium) on which the program code of FIG. 71 or FIGS.
Is supplied to a system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reads out and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the function of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. By executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. This also includes a case where some or all of the actual processing is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in the memory provided in the function expansion card inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is read based on the instruction of the program code. This also includes the case where the CPU provided in the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0211]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Whether to store compressed data or uncompressed data can be determined according to the compression ratio, and whether to perform data compression can be determined according to the processing system and data characteristics. In addition, the state of the real-time transfer is monitored based on the contents of the buffer, and if it becomes difficult to perform the real-time transfer, the data to be transferred is compressed or reduced to ensure the real-time transfer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a system including an image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

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

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an image processing 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 showing each screen of the operation unit.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an operation screen.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an ID input screen.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an error screen.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a full keyboard screen.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a numeric keyboard screen.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a copy main screen.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a printer list screen.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an image quality list screen.

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an enlargement / reduction setting sub-screen.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a paper selection sub-screen.

FIG. 24 is a view showing a sorter setting sub screen.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a duplex copy sub screen.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a sen domain screen.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing a send initial screen.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an address book screen.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing a detailed information screen.

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing an address search screen.

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing a search target class list screen.

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing a search target attribute list screen.

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing a search target condition list screen.

FIG. 34 is a diagram showing a search target address book list screen.

FIG. 35 is a diagram showing a search result screen.

FIG. 36 is a diagram showing a detailed destination screen.

FIG. 37 is a diagram showing a detailed destination screen.

FIG. 38 is a diagram showing a detailed destination screen.

FIG. 39 is a diagram showing a detailed destination screen.

FIG. 40 is a diagram showing a hard disk setting screen.

FIG. 41 is a diagram showing a print setting screen.

FIG. 42 is a diagram showing a paper size list screen.

FIG. 43 is a view showing a sorter list screen.

FIG. 44 is a diagram showing a scan setting screen.

FIG. 45 is a diagram showing a paper size list screen.

FIG. 46 is a diagram showing a resolution list screen.

FIG. 47 is a diagram showing a scan mode list screen.

FIG. 48 is a diagram showing a search main screen.

FIG. 49 is a diagram showing an e-mail screen.

FIG. 50 is a diagram showing a facsimile screen.

FIG. 51 is a diagram showing an FTP screen.

FIG. 52 is a diagram showing a bookmark screen.

FIG. 53 is a diagram showing a search-print setting screen.

FIG. 54 is a diagram showing a task main screen.

FIG. 55 is a diagram showing a WWW detailed setting screen.

FIG. 56 is a diagram showing a check time sub screen (Once).

FIG. 57 is a diagram showing a check time sub screen (weekly).

FIG. 58 is a diagram showing a check time sub screen (monthly).

FIG. 59 is a diagram showing a management sub screen.

FIG. 60 is a diagram showing a configuration sub screen.

FIG. 61 illustrates an embedded application block related to data distribution by the image processing apparatus 1001.

FIG. 62 is a diagram illustrating exchange between DIS and a job manager, a print manager, and a scan manager.

FIG. 63 is a diagram showing a database and counters inside the DIS.

FIG. 64 is a block diagram of hardware control related to scanning.

FIG. 65 is a block diagram of software control in scanning.

FIG. 66 is a schematic diagram of a parameter table in scanning.

FIG. 67 is a block diagram related to printing.

FIG. 68 is a timing chart of transfer of print image data.

FIG. 69 is a diagram illustrating a print parameter register table in the engine I / F board.

FIG. 70 is a diagram illustrating a communication command table between the printer and the engine I / F board.

FIG. 71 is a flowchart of a control procedure by the image compression unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 72 is a configuration diagram of a system including an image processing apparatus according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 73 is a block diagram of a device I / F unit and its periphery according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 74 is an image switching unit 202 according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an ordinary scanner data input path according to FIG. 6.

FIG. 75 is an image switching unit 202 according to the second embodiment.
6 is a diagram showing an input path of scanner data at the time of resolution conversion according to FIG.

FIG. 76 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a signal IN BUFFER EMPTY indicating that the scanner buffer is becoming empty is issued in the second embodiment.

FIG. 77 is a configuration diagram of a system including an image processing device according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 78 is a block diagram of an image compression processing unit according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 79 is a block diagram of a device I / F unit and its periphery according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 80 is an image switching unit 202 according to the third embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an ordinary scanner data input path according to FIG. 6.

FIG. 81 is an image switching unit 202 according to the third embodiment.
6 is a diagram showing an input path of scanner data at the time of image compression according to FIG.

FIG. 82 is an image switching unit 202 according to the fourth embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a data path according to No. 6;

FIG. 83 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a signal OUT BUFFER EMPTY indicating that the print buffer is empty is issued in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 84 is a flowchart of a control procedure by the image bus IF unit according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 85 is a flowchart of a control procedure by the printer image processing unit in the fourth embodiment.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 1/41 H04N 1/41 Z 9A001 F term (Reference) 2C087 AB05 BC06 BD40 5B069 AA01 BA04 BB16 BC02 CA03 CA19 LA03 LA08 LA11 LA18 5C073 BB01 BC02 CA01 CC01 CE02 CE10 5C078 BA01 BA21 CA01 CA35 DA01 DA02 5E501 AA06 AA07 AB04 AB16 AC25 AC37 BA01 BA02 BA05 CA04 CB05 CB13 EA05 EA12 EB05 FA23 FA43 FB43 9A001 BB06 DD15 EE04 H23

Claims (19)

[Claims] An image input unit for inputting image data, a compression unit for compressing the image data, a storage unit for storing the image data, and the image data after the compression according to a compression ratio of the compression unit. Switching means for switching between storing in the storage means and storing image data before compression in the storage means. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switching unit compares the compression ratio with a threshold value and stores the image data after compression in the storage unit or stores the image data before compression in accordance with the magnitude relation. 2. The image input / output system according to claim 1, wherein whether to store in the storage means is switched. 3. The image input / output system according to claim 2, further comprising setting means for setting said threshold value. 4. The image input / output system according to claim 2, further comprising means for determining said threshold value according to the capacity of said storage means. 5. An image input unit for inputting image data at a predetermined speed, a bus for transferring image data input by the image input unit, and a buffer provided between the image input unit and the bus And if the free space of the buffer falls below a predetermined value,
An image input / output system comprising: a data reduction unit configured to reduce an amount of the image data. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the reducing unit reduces the image data by compressing the image data.
2. The image input / output system according to 1. 7. The image input / output system according to claim 5, wherein the reduction unit reduces the image data by converting the resolution of the image data. 8. A storage unit for storing image data transferred by the bus, and the image data stored by the storage unit are unified in resolution for a part reduced by the reduction unit and a part not reduced. The image input / output system according to claim 5, further comprising a post-processing unit that performs the processing. 9. The image input / output system according to claim 8, further comprising output means for outputting image data whose resolution is unified by said post-processing means. 10. A bus for transferring image data input by the image input means, an image output means for outputting image data at a predetermined speed, and a buffer provided between the image output means and the bus And when the free space of the buffer exceeds a predetermined value,
An image input / output system comprising: a data reduction unit configured to reduce an amount of the image data. 11. The image input / output system according to claim 10, wherein said reduction unit reduces the image data by converting the resolution of the image data. 12. The image input / output system according to claim 11, further comprising an expansion unit that expands the image data whose resolution has been reduced by the reduction unit before outputting the image data by the output unit. 13. A control method of an image input / output system for storing image data input by an image input means by a storage means, comprising: a compression step of compressing image data; A switching step of switching between storing image data after compression in the storage unit and storing image data before compression in the storage unit. 14. The switching step includes: comparing the compression ratio with a threshold value, and storing the compressed image data in the storage unit, or storing the image data before compression in accordance with the magnitude relation. 14. The control method for an image input / output system according to claim 13, wherein whether to store the data in the storage unit is switched. 15. A method for controlling an image input / output system for transferring image data input at a predetermined speed via a buffer and a bus, the method comprising: when an available capacity of the buffer falls below a predetermined value,
A method of controlling an image input / output system, wherein the amount of image data is reduced. 16. A method for controlling an image input / output system for outputting image data to be transferred via a buffer and a bus at a predetermined speed, the method comprising: when a free space of the buffer exceeds a predetermined value,
A method of controlling an image input / output system, wherein the amount of image data is reduced. 17. A compression step of compressing image data by a computer, and a switching step of switching between storing compressed image data and storing uncompressed image data according to a compression ratio in the compression step. And a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program for executing the steps. 18. When image data input at a predetermined speed is transferred by a computer via a buffer and a bus, if the free space of the buffer falls below a predetermined value, the amount of the image data is reduced. A computer-readable storage medium for storing a computer program for reducing a computer. 19. When a computer outputs image data to be transferred via a buffer and a bus at a predetermined speed, if the free space in the buffer exceeds a predetermined value, the amount of the image data is reduced. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program for causing a computer to execute the program.