JP2002366332A - Picture processor and its program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a picture processor and its program which enable a reception-side terminal to process/edit additional information of picture data. SOLUTION: A scanner 5 takes in a picture to generate a picture data file. The scanner 5 provides additional information of picture data as an attendant information data file in another file. A digital color copying machine 1 receives the attendant information data file together with the picture data file. The digital color copying machine 1 is provided with a conversion condition table corresponding to attribute information of the attendant information data file. Attribute information of each received file is compared with the conversion condition table to automatically convert attribute information of the attendant information data file. Thereby, additional information of picture data can be processed/edited in the reception-side terminal.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus for performing image processing based on received image data and a program therefor. More specifically, the present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that performs output based on image data obtained by combining received image data and additional information attached to the image data, and a program therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image processing apparatus for reading an image and creating image data (hereinafter referred to as a transmitting terminal).
There has been an image processing system in which an image processing device (hereinafter referred to as a receiving terminal) that receives and outputs the image data is connected on a network. When image data is transmitted and received by this image processing system, a processing instruction for the image data and management information for managing the image data in a unit of a part (hereinafter, referred to as serial number information). May be attached by the transmitting terminal. Then, the receiving terminal that has received the image data to which the additional information is attached has performed the image data output process according to the additional information.

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned prior art has the following problems. That is, the transmitting terminal embeds the additional information in the image data,
It is transmitted as one image data. Therefore, the receiving terminal cannot expand the additional information and cannot perform a desired process such as editing / processing on the additional information. For example, as a case in which the operator of the receiving terminal replaces the serial number information with a unique format, a color is added only to the serial number information portion, or the size is set so that the serial number information portion does not stand out on the image. I couldn't make it smaller.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional technology. That is, an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus capable of processing / editing additional information of image data at a receiving terminal and a program therefor.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An image processing apparatus according to the present invention for solving this problem handles image data. When an image data file and its accompanying data file are received, the image Image attribute detecting means for detecting the image attribute information included in the file of the image data file, based on the image attribute information of the image data file detected by the image attribute detecting means and the image attribute information of the accompanying data file, And an image processing means for processing the image data in the received image data file and for processing the additional data processed by the data processing means.

In this image processing apparatus, when an image data file and its supplementary data file are received, processing for processing / editing the image attribute information is performed. First, the image attribute detecting means detects image attribute information included in both received files. This image attribute information is set on the transmission side of each data file. Next, the data processing means processes / edits the image attribute information of the detected incidental data file based on the image data file and the incidental data file. The image processing means processes the image data file and the processed incidental data file. As a result, the image attribute information included in the file can be processed / edited by the image processing apparatus on the receiving side.

Further, in this image processing apparatus, the image processing means replaces “the additional data processed by the data processing means” with “the image data in the received image data file”.
It is more preferable to combine the image data and process the image data after the combination. As a result, image data in which the image data in the image data file and the supplementary data are combined can be output.

In this image processing apparatus, the image processing means includes a color level or a resolution (hereinafter referred to as a color level) in the image attribute information detectable by the image attribute detecting means. It is better to perform conversion so that the color level and the like of the supplementary data file approaches the color level and the like of the image data file and process the supplementary data based on the converted color level and the like. As a result, it is possible to output image data having no extreme difference in the color level or the like of both data. In addition, "close conversion"
It also includes "conversion to match".

In this image processing apparatus, when the received image data includes a plurality of image data and image attribute information for each of the image data, the data processing means performs processing for each of the image data. It is preferable that the additional data is processed / edited separately, and the image processing means processes each image data together with the additional data processed / edited for each image data. Here, the plurality of image data includes a plurality of image data in a plurality of pages and a plurality of image data in a single page. Of course, the image data includes a plurality of pages including a plurality of image data in one page. As a result, the supplementary data is processed / edited for each image data, and it is possible to output image data that looks good.

In this image processing apparatus, there is provided processing condition setting means for setting a processing condition by the data processing means, and the data processing means is provided based on the processing conditions set in the processing condition setting means. It is better to process the additional data in the received additional data file. Furthermore, it is more preferable that the processing condition setting means sets whether or not to perform processing for each item of the image attribute information. Thereby, the appearance desired by the user can be set for each item of the image attribute information in the image processing apparatus.

Further, the image processing program according to the present invention, when an image processing apparatus which handles image data, receives an image data file and its supplementary data file, detects image attribute information contained in those files. A data processing procedure for processing the incidental data in the received incidental data file based on the image attribute information of the image data file detected in the image attribute detecting procedure and the image attribute information of the incidental data file, and the received image data Process image data in the file,
And a program for executing an image processing procedure for processing the incidental data processed in the data processing procedure. With this program, the above-described effects can be exerted on existing image processing apparatuses.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a system according to an embodiment. In this system, digital color copier 1, host computer 2, FAX 3, PC 4, scanner 5, and server 6 are connected to a network. In the present embodiment, control of transmitting image data read by the scanner 5 to the digital color copying machine 1 and performing a printing process based on the image data in the digital color copying machine 1 will be described.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the scanner 5 and the digital color copying machine 1. In this embodiment, the scanner 5 is on the transmitting side, and the digital color copying machine 1 is on the receiving side. The scanner 5 and the digital color copying machine 1 are connected by an interface 1000 and can communicate bidirectionally.

The scanner 5 includes a CPU 51, a RAM 52,
It has a ROM 53, a scanning unit 56, and an interface unit 55, and each device is connected by a system bus 54. In the scanner 5, the scanning unit 56 reads an image, and the interface unit 55 transmits image data.

On the other hand, the digital color copying machine 1 has a CPU
11, RAM 12, ROM 13, CRT controller 1
5, CRT display 17, printer controller 1
6 and each device is connected by a system bus 14. In the digital color copying machine 1, a printer controller 16 controls communication, and a CRT controller 16 controls a CRT display 17 as a display unit.

Next, an outline of the operation of this embodiment will be described. In the scanner 5, the operator can select the serial number assignment mode. Here, the serial number assignment mode assigns serial number information, which is a management number in units of copies, to image data, and assigns the serial number information to a file different from the image data file (hereinafter referred to as an additional information data file). This is a mode in which the data is stored and transmitted in parentheses. This additional information data file stores serial number information in an image data format.

On the other hand, the digital color copying machine 1 receives image data from the scanner 5 and performs a printing process based on the image data. In the printing process, different printing processes are performed depending on whether or not the image data file includes the additional information data file.

FIG. 3 is an image diagram of an image to be printed. This image is obtained when an additional information data file as serial number information is added to the image data file. As described above, the digital color copying machine 1 combines the image data in the image data file with the additional data in the additional information data file, and performs print processing.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the contents of an image data file in the present embodiment. The image data file contains image data and attribute information. As the attribute information, a color level, a resolution, and a character format are set. Here, the color level is a ratio of a color pixel to a pixel of the entire area in the image data calculated by a generally known dot counter.
This is expressed in five stages. For example, in the case of a photographic image in which the entire area is made up of a color picture, the maximum value is “5”. On the other hand, if the entire area is a text image consisting of only black characters, the minimum value is “1”.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing the contents of the supplementary information data file in this embodiment. The additional information data file includes serial number information and attribute information that are additional data. This serial number information is stored as monochrome image data. In the attribute information, a color level, a resolution, and a character format are set similarly to the attribute information of the image data file.

The attribute information of each file is held in each file as one table. On the other hand, the digital color copying machine 1 is provided with a conversion information table corresponding to the items (color level and the like) of the table.
Then, the digital color copying machine 1 appropriately converts file attributes based on the contents of these tables. As a result, the attribute information of each file is automatically processed / edited for each attribute.

Next, image processing in the digital color copying machine 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the digital color copying machine 1 receives an image data file sent from the scanner 5 (S1). Next, it is determined whether or not an additional information data file is added to the image data file (S2). If the additional information data file has not been added (S2: NO), the printing process is performed on the received image data file (S2).
4) is performed, and the present process ends. On the other hand, if the supplementary information data file is added (S2: YES), the attribute information included in the supplementary information data file is converted as necessary (S3). Then, the image data of the image data file after the S3 processing and the additional data of the additional information data file are combined. Finally, print processing (S4) is performed on the combined image, and this processing ends.

Next, the process (S3) of judging attribute data of additional information will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the first attribute information included in the accompanying information data file is detected (S31). Next, one of the setting conditions of the conversion information table of the digital color copying machine 1 set in advance by the operator is extracted, and it is determined whether or not the detected attribute information matches the extracted setting condition (S32). ). Here, the setting condition is a condition for the user to arbitrarily change the color level, the resolution, and the like in order to improve the appearance of the output image.
If it matches the setting condition (S32: YES), it is determined whether to convert the attribute information based on the setting condition (S34). Then, the attribute information is converted based on the determination result (S35).

On the other hand, if it does not match the extracted setting condition (S32: NO), it is determined whether there is another setting condition (S33). If there is another setting condition (S33: YE
S), it is determined again whether or not the set condition matches the detected attribute information (S32). That is, S32 and S
At 33, it is determined whether or not the detected attribute information matches a preset setting condition.

If there is no other setting condition after the processing of S35 or in the processing of S33 (S33: NO), it is determined whether or not there is other attribute information (S36). If there is another attribute information (S36: YES), it is determined again whether the attribute information matches a condition set by the operator in advance (S32). If there is no other attribute information (S36: N
O), end this processing. That is, in S32 and S36, it is determined whether or not all the attribute information is to be converted.

Next, the process of determining whether or not to convert attribute information (S34) will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the setting condition corresponding to the detected attribute information is read from the conversion information table (S34).
1). Next, the conditions read from the table, the attribute information of the image data file, and the attribute information of the supplementary information data file are collated to determine whether to convert the attribute information of the supplementary information data file (S342). less than,
An output example of the image processing will be described with reference to Tables 1 to 3.

[Output Example 1] In this output example, the serial number assigning mode is selected by the scanner 5, the photograph is read by the scanning unit 56, and the read image is printed by the digital color copying machine 1. The conversion process will be described. When the serial number assignment mode is selected, the serial number information is stored in an additional information data file different from the image data file, and the file is transmitted to the digital color copying machine 1 together with the image data file. In this output example, the image data of the image data file is image data as shown in FIG. 4, and the additional data of the additional information data file is described as “AP-10” as shown in FIG. Assume image data. That is, in this output example, image data obtained by synthesizing the image data (FIG. 4) and the image data (FIG. 5) is output.

FIG. 13 is a table showing a list of image data files, additional information data files, and conversion conditions of the additional information data files. The conversion condition in the lowest row in the table indicates a condition for converting the image data in the additional information data file based on the attribute information of the image data file and the attribute information of the additional information data file. In the process of S34 in FIG. 11, first, the table of FIG. 13 is referred to (S341). And based on that table,
The conversion processing of the image data in the incidental information data file is determined for the attribute information in both the selected files (S342). Thereby, it is determined whether to convert the supplementary information data file.

For example, for attribute 1 in the table, the condition is set to "convert if file exists". Here, the file is an additional information data file. In this output example, since the supplementary information data file is sent together with the image data file and the supplementary information data file exists, the file is converted. That is, in the attribute 1, only the determination as to whether or not to perform the conversion is performed, and the converted content of each attribute information refers to the content of the attribute 2 and thereafter.

For attribute 2, the condition is set to "match color levels". In this output example, the color level of the image data file and the color level of the supplementary information data file are different. Therefore, the color level of the image data of the supplementary information data file is converted from 1 to 5.

For attribute 3, the condition is set to "match resolution". In this output example, the resolution of the image data file and the resolution of the additional information data file have the same value. Therefore, the resolution of the image data of the supplementary information data file remains unchanged at 600 dpi.

Regarding attributes 4 to 6, both the image data file and the supplementary information data file are image data, and are not converted because there is no attribute information on the character format. That is, in this output example, the color level is converted, and the other attributes are not converted.

When the attached information data file is converted,
The image data of the file and the image data of the image data file are combined to create output image data.
The output image in this output example is an image shown in FIG. At the upper left of FIG. 3, the image data of the auxiliary data file whose color level has been converted is output.

[Output Example 2] In this output example, a description will be given of a conversion process in the case where the object serving as the image data of output example 1 is changed from a photograph to text information. In this output example, the image data of the image data file is image data as shown in FIG. 6, and the additional data of the additional information data file is described as “AP-10” as shown in FIG. Assume image data. That is, in this output example, image data obtained by synthesizing the image data (FIG. 6) and the image data (FIG. 5) is output.

FIG. 14 is a table showing a list of conversion conditions of the supplementary information data file similar to FIG. For attribute 1 in the table, the condition is set to "convert if file exists". In this output example, since the additional information data file is sent together with the image data file, the additional information data file is converted.

For attribute 2, the condition is set to "match color levels". In this output example, the color level of the image data file and the color level of the supplementary information data file are different. Therefore, the color level of the image data of the supplementary information data file is converted from 1 to 3.

For attribute 3, the condition is set to "match resolution". In this output example, the resolution of the image data file and the resolution of the additional information data file have the same value. Therefore, the resolution of the image data of the supplementary information data file remains unchanged at 600 dpi.

For attribute 4, the condition is set to "match character format". In this output example, the character format of the image data file and the character format of the supplementary information data file are different. Therefore, the character font of the supplementary information data file is converted from Mincho to Gothic.

The attribute 5 and the attribute 6 are not converted because the setting is "not converted" based on the user's judgment that there is not much effect from the viewpoint of appearance. That is, in this output example, the color level and the character format 1 character font are converted, and the other attribute information is not converted.

When the attached information data file is converted,
The image data of the file and the image data of the image data file are combined to create output image data.
The output image in this output example is an image shown in FIG. At the upper left of FIG. 7, the image data of the accompanying data file in which the color level and the character font have been converted is output.

[Output Example 3] In this output example, it is assumed that the scanner 5 adds the overlay information, the character information is read by the scanning unit 56, and the read image is printed by the digital color copying machine 1. Will be described. In this output example, the image data of the image data file is image data as shown in FIG. 6, and the additional data of the additional information data file is described as “Development Department confidential information” as shown in FIG. Image data. That is, in this output example, image data obtained by synthesizing the image data (FIG. 6) and the image data (FIG. 8) is output.

FIG. 15 is a table showing a list of conversion conditions of the supplementary information data file as in FIG. For attribute 1 in the table, the condition is set to "convert if file exists". In this output example, since the additional information data file is sent together with the image data file, the additional information data file is converted.

For attribute 2, the condition is set to "convert according to value difference". In this output example, it is assumed that the conversion is set when the color level difference is 2 or more. In this output example, the difference between the color level of the image data file and the color level of the supplementary information data file is 2. Therefore, the color level of the image data of the supplementary information data file is converted from 1 to 3.

For attribute 3, the condition is set to "convert according to difference in value". In this output example, it is assumed that conversion is set when the difference in resolution is 400 dpi or more. In this output example, the difference between the resolution of the image data file and the resolution of the additional information data file is 200d.
pi. Therefore, the resolution of the image data of the supplementary information data file remains at 400 dpi without being converted.

The attribute 4 to the attribute 6 are not converted because the condition is set to "no conversion" based on the user's judgment that there is not much effect from the viewpoint of appearance.
That is, in this output example, the color level is converted, and other attribute information is not converted.

When the attached information data file is converted,
The image data of the file and the image data of the image data file are combined to create output image data.
The output image in this output example is an image shown in FIG. At the center of FIG. 9, the image data of the supplementary data file whose color level has been converted is output.

Next, a case where the image data in the image data file is composed of images of a plurality of pages will be described. FIG. 16 is an image diagram in the case of an image file having four pages of images of the same color level on the entire surface. The color level of each page is color level 2 for the first page, color level 3 for the second page, color levels 2 and 4 for the third page.
The page is color level 4.

As a specific example of the conversion processing, the conversion conditions are shown in FIG.
The conversion of the color level of the supplementary information data file in Table 5 will be described. The supplementary information data file is the serial number information of the text data and has the color level 1. First, the first and third pages have a color level of 2
And the difference from the color level of the supplementary information data file is 1. Therefore, the color level is not converted. On the other hand, the color level of the second page is 3, and the difference from the color level of the accompanying information data file is 2. Therefore, the color level is converted from 1 to 3.
On the fourth page, since the difference from the color level of the supplementary information data file is 3, the color level is converted from 1 to 4.

Next, a case where the image data in the image data file is composed of an image having a plurality of areas in a page will be described. FIG. 17 is an image diagram of an image file having two pages of image data having two areas of different color levels in a page. The color level of each area is as follows: area A of the first page is color level 2, area B is color level 3, area C of page 2 is color level 2, and area D is color level 4.

As a specific example of the conversion processing, the conversion conditions are shown in FIG.
The conversion of the color level of the supplementary information data file in Table 5 will be described. The collateral information data file is overlay information of image data and has a color level of 1. First, the color level of the area A and the area C is 2, and the difference from the color level of the supplementary information data file is 1. Therefore, the color level is not converted. On the other hand, the color level of the area B is 3, and the difference from the color level of the supplementary information data file is 2. Therefore, the color level is converted from 1 to 3. In the area D, since the difference from the color level of the supplementary information data file is 3, the color level is converted from 1 to 4.

As described in detail above, in this embodiment, the additional information of the image data is provided as a supplementary information data file in another file. The digital color copying machine 1 receives the supplementary information data file together with the image data file. Further, the digital color copying machine 1 has a conversion condition table corresponding to the attribute information of the supplementary information data file. And
By comparing the received attribute information of each file with the conversion condition table, the attribute information of the accompanying information data file is automatically converted. As a result, an image processing apparatus capable of processing / editing additional information of image data at a receiving terminal and a program therefor are realized.

When the image data in the image data file is composed of a plurality of pages or a plurality of areas, the data is converted for each page or each area. As a result, a more attractive print process can be performed.

The present embodiment is merely an example, and does not limit the present invention. Therefore, naturally, the present invention can be variously modified and modified without departing from the gist thereof. For example, although one table is provided for each file, a plurality of tables may be provided. Also, the attribute information is not limited to six, and other attribute information may be added. The conversion condition may be converted according to the function of the copying machine in addition to the conversion according to the value or the difference. When performing 2 in 1 printing, conversion may be performed according to the position where the additional information is displayed.

[0054]

As apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus capable of processing / editing additional information of image data at a receiving terminal, and a program therefor.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a scanner and a digital color copying machine.

FIG. 3 is an image diagram of an image subjected to print processing in the present embodiment (output example 1).

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the contents of an image data file in the present embodiment (output example 1).

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing the contents of a supplementary information data file in the present embodiment (output example 1 and output example 2).

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing the contents of an image data file in the present embodiment (output example 2 and output example 3).

FIG. 7 is an image diagram of an image to be printed according to the embodiment (output example 2).

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram showing the contents of an additional information data file in the present embodiment (output example 3).

FIG. 9 is an image diagram of an image subjected to print processing in the present embodiment (output example 3).

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of image processing in the digital color copying machine.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of an attribute determination process.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a conversion process determination.

FIG. 13 is a table showing a list of conversion processing in output example 1;

FIG. 14 is a table showing a list of conversion processing in output example 2;

FIG. 15 is a table showing a list of conversion processing in output example 3;

FIG. 16 is an image diagram for an image file having four pages of image data of different color levels.

FIG. 17 is an image diagram of an image file having a plurality of areas of different color levels in a page.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 digital color copier 5 scanner

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 1/46 H04N 1/46 Z (72) Inventor Masaya Hashimoto 2-3-13 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi No. 2 Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kazuhiro Araki 2-313 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka City Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroshi Murakami Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka City 2-3-1-3 Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd.F-term (reference) BA07 CB05 5C079 HA03 LA02 LA06 LA31 LA37 LA40 MA04 NA06 PA02

Claims (8)

[Claims] An image processing apparatus for processing image data, wherein, when an image data file and its supplementary data file are received, image attribute detecting means for detecting image attribute information contained in the file, and the image attribute detecting means. Data processing means for processing the incidental data in the received incidental data file based on the image attribute information of the image data file detected by the means and the image attribute information of the incidental data file, and image data in the received image data file And an image processing means for processing incidental data processed by the data processing means. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing means combines the incidental data processed by the data processing means with image data in a received image data file, and outputs the synthesized image. An image processing apparatus for performing processing on data. 3. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image attribute information detectable by said image attribute detecting means includes a color level, and said data processing means includes a color level of an auxiliary data file. An image processing apparatus, which performs conversion so that a level approaches a color level of an image data file, and processes incidental data based on the converted color level. 4. One of claims 1 to 3
In the image processing device described in (1), resolution is included in the image attribute information that can be detected by the image attribute detection means, and the data processing means performs conversion to make the resolution of the accompanying data file close to the resolution of the image data file, An image processing apparatus for processing incidental data based on a resolution after conversion. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein:
In the image processing apparatus described in (1), if the received image data includes a plurality of image data and image attribute information for each image data, the data processing unit separates the image data for each image data. An image processing apparatus, wherein the image processing means processes each image data together with the additional data processed for each image data. 6. Any one of claims 1 to 5
In the image processing apparatus described in (1), there is provided processing condition setting means for setting processing conditions by the data processing means, and the data processing means is also configured to perform processing based on the processing conditions set in the processing condition setting means. An image processing device for processing the additional data in the received additional data file. 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said processing condition setting means sets whether or not to perform processing for each item of image attribute information. apparatus. 8. An image processing apparatus for handling image data,
When an image data file and its accompanying data file are received, an image attribute detecting procedure for detecting image attribute information contained in the files, and image attribute information and accompanying data of the image data file detected in the image attribute detecting procedure A data processing procedure for processing the incidental data in the received incidental data file based on the image attribute information of the file; a data processing procedure for processing the image data in the received image data file; And an image processing procedure for processing.