JP2004266392A - Color image reproducing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a high-speed color image reproducing system for shortening the transfer time in a network by reducing the data size of image data to be transferred. <P>SOLUTION: This high-speed color image reproduction system comprises an image input device 10, etc., to which an image inputting means 20, etc., can be connected and an image reproducing device 50, etc. to be connected through the network. The image input device 10 transmits to the image reproducing device 50 data for transfer obtained by selectively converting inputted image data into monochrome image data and image feature data representing the feature of an image as image data for transfer. The image reproducing device 50 selects, colorizes, and outputs a color conversion table (LUT) on the basis of the image feature data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a personal computer that can connect an image reproducing apparatus having a printout function, such as a color electrophotographic printer, a color copying apparatus, and a color inkjet printer, to an image input unit having an image reading / input function, such as a digital camera or a scanner. The present invention relates to a color image reproduction system capable of performing high-speed color image reproduction processing via a network in a network system including an image input device such as a personal computer (PC).
[0002]
[Prior art]
At present, technologies such as desktop publishing (DTP) for outputting an image taken by a digital camera or a scanner to a facsimile apparatus via a network or outputting the image to a printer are rapidly developing. In such an image processing system, transfer of image data and speeding up of print processing thereof are desired.
[0003]
For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-216, after image data transfer is performed to perform high-speed color image processing, the image data is stored in a memory such as a hard disk device (HDD) of a printer, and the same image is stored again. There is disclosed a high-speed network printing technique for reproducing an image using image data stored in the memory when outputting.
[0004]
That is, according to the disclosed technology, by reading necessary information from an information recording medium on which image data and image reproduction information indicating whether or not to reproduce the image data are recorded, image output data generation processing is performed. The image data is transferred to a printer via a network to reproduce / output the image. The image data is stored in a non-volatile memory in the printer, and when reproducing / outputting the same image, The image data stored in the non-volatile memory is reused, thereby eliminating the need for re-transferring the image data from the information recording medium and enabling high-speed reproduction output. is there.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-225514 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the network system disclosed in Patent Document 1, the problem that the time required for data transfer of image data is long is still not solved. This is because image data read by a digital camera or a scanner is image data, and the data size is large. Some users convert a color image to a monochrome image to reduce the size of data to be transferred, but there is a problem that the color effect on the image data is impaired because the reproduced color is monochrome. .
[0007]
The inventor of the present application has conducted various studies to solve the above-mentioned problems, and as a result, the color image data is converted into monochrome image data to reduce the data size, thereby shortening the transfer time of the image data, and By transferring the image feature data representing the feature together with the monochrome image data, for an image having a fixed feature such as a person or a landscape, a color conversion table (LUT) corresponding to the feature is prepared in advance. The inventors have found that it is possible to obtain a reproduced image in a certain degree of color, and have completed the present invention.
[0008]
That is, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and to provide a high-speed color image reproducing system that realizes a reduction in transfer time in a network by reducing the data size of image data to be transferred. Also, for example, as can be seen by looking at a face photograph of a person, using a color effect that a color output is more likely to enter the eyes than a monochrome output, It is an object of the present invention to provide a color image reproduction system that can improve the impression of an image by enabling a color image to be reproduced for an image in which the characteristics of the image are determined to some extent.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The above object of the present invention can be achieved by the following configurations. That is, a color image reproducing system according to the present invention includes an image input device to which image input means can be connected, and an image which is connected to the image input device via a network and reproduces image data transmitted from the image input device. A color image playback system comprising a playback device,
The image input device includes: an image data receiving unit that receives image data obtained from the image input unit; an image feature data obtaining unit that obtains image feature data of the image data; Data conversion means, transfer data creating means for creating the transfer image data by adding the image feature data, data transmission means for transferring the transfer image data to the network,
The image reproducing device is a transfer data receiving unit that receives transfer image data from a network, determines transfer data and image feature data from the transfer image data, and is obtained from the image input unit device based on the image feature data. Transfer data identifying means for designating a color conversion table for performing color reproduction of reproduced image data, image data reproducing means for reproducing color of image data according to the specified color conversion table, and outputting reproduced image data. Printing means.
[0010]
Further, in the color image reproducing system, the transfer data obtained by converting the image data is monochrome data, and the transfer image data has a configuration in which image characteristic data is added to the transfer data. And
[0011]
Further, in the above color image reproduction system, the color conversion table designation in the transfer data identification means does not allow different color conversion tables to be designated according to the characteristics of an image for each object of the image data. The data is divided into transfer data for each object and sent to the image data reproducing means.
[0012]
Still further, in the above-described color image reproducing system, the image data reproducing means has a function of reproducing and combining images using a color conversion table designated respectively corresponding to the transfer data for each object. It is characterized by having.
[0013]
According to this configuration, the data size can be reduced by selectively converting the transfer image data into monochrome image data, and a color image reproduction system that can reduce the transfer time in a network can be provided. In addition, by adding data representing the feature data of an image to the transfer image data, it is possible to easily reproduce a color image of an image whose features are determined to some extent.
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a color image reproducing system according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a color image reproducing system includes a network in which a plurality of LANs 1 and 3 including a wireless LAN 2 are connected via an Internet 4 and a PC 10 which is an image input device connected to each of the LANs 1 to 3. , 30 and a scanner 20 or a digital camera 40 as image input means that can be connected to the PCs 10 and 30, and a printer 50 and a copier 70 as image reproducing devices connected to the LAN 3 and the like. The printer 50 and the copying machine 70 are respectively provided with storage devices 51 and 71 such as magnetic disk devices.
[0015]
The minimum configuration of this color image reproduction system is such that one network has one image input device (such as a PC 10) for creating transfer data (image data), and another network has a different image reproduction device (such as a printer 50). Is one. Here, the image input unit such as the scanner 20 or the digital camera 40 assumes that the data for transfer may not be created in some cases. The configuration functioning as an input terminal has been described as an example.
[0016]
"Normal data transmission"
FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating a normal image data transmission procedure. The printer driver 11 in each of the PCs 10 and 30 is composed of four functional parts of a data receiving unit 12, a parameter setting unit 13, a transfer data creating unit 14, and a data transmitting unit 15, and is connected to the image reproducing device 50 or the like via the LAN 1 or the like. It has a function to transfer image data.
[0017]
The data receiving unit 12 receives image data from image input means such as the scanner 20 and the digital camera 40. The parameter setting unit 13 determines whether or not to convert the image data into transfer data. In addition, the user can specify, via the operation unit 16 such as a keyboard and a mouse, whether to convert the image data received by the data receiving unit 12 into data for transfer or to transmit the image data without conversion. Therefore, when the operation unit 16 specifies that the image data transferred from the data receiving unit 12 be transferred as it is, the image data is sent to the data transmission unit 15 as it is as transfer data.
[0018]
"Transmission of transfer data with reduced data size"
On the other hand, when the user specifies via the operation unit 16 to reduce the data size of the image data, convert the image data into image data for transfer, and transmit the image data, the image data is sent from the parameter setting unit 13 to the transfer data creation unit 14. Sent. If the image data is color, the transfer data creation unit 14 converts the image data into monochrome image data based on the following conversion formula (formula 1) from a color value to a luminance value.
Brightness value = 0.33R + 0.59G + 0.11B (Equation 1)
Here, R, G, and B are red, green, and blue color values, respectively.
When the image data is monochrome, the image data is used as transfer data.
[0019]
Image characteristic data is added to the transfer data thus created by the procedure described below to create transfer image data 100, which is sent to the data transmission unit 15.
That is, in the transfer data creation unit 14, the user inputs feature data from the operation unit 16 via the parameter setting unit 13, and if there is feature data, for example, a person, background, forest, etc. The object information included in the image data and the information specifying a standard color conversion table (LUT) prepared in advance for each object, or the color information and the specified range information described later are created as image feature data. Is done. On the other hand, when there is no input of the image feature data by the user, the transfer data creating unit 14 performs a contour extraction process of the image data, determines what the object included in the image data is, and prepares for each object. The image characteristic data is created by adding information specifying the standard color conversion table described above.
[0020]
For example, for image data input by the user, when the image is a person and an Oriental person, the background is blue, the clothes are red, and object information and color information or color conversion table information used for color reproduction are specified from the operation unit 16. , Image feature data is created based on the information. At this time, when color information is designated, in the present embodiment, a standard color conversion table (hereinafter simply referred to as LUT) is used in principle, but any LUT other than the standard LUT is used. It is also possible to do so.
[0021]
The schematic configuration of the transfer image data 100 created in this way is as shown in FIG. That is, the transfer image data 100 includes image feature data 110 and transfer data 120, and the image is a plurality of objects A and B. For example, the object A is a person's face and the object B is a background. In this case, feature data 110a, 110b to 110n for each object are created as the image feature data 110. The transfer data 120 is original image data or converted image data, and includes image characteristic data A (110a) of the object A, image characteristic data B (110b) of the object B, and transfer data B ( 120b) constitutes the transfer image data 100 paired with the image data 120b).
[0022]
At this time, the transfer data 120 is monochrome data when converted to monochrome image data, is input image data itself when not converted, and is color image data when the input image is a color image. If the input image is a monochrome image, it is monochrome image data.
[0023]
As described above, each of the image feature data 110a to 110n includes, in addition to object information such as a person's face and a background, color information and color range information by specifying a designated color or a color conversion table. Information that specifies whether to apply to a range), a color conversion table to be applied when outputting (printing out) the corresponding transfer data is determined based on the image feature data, and the monochrome image data Is reproduced as a colorized image output by applying the specified color conversion table.
[0024]
The transfer image data 100 is passed to the data transmission unit 15, and the data transmission unit 15 converts the received transfer image data 100 into an image of a printer 50 or a copying machine 70 via a network (LAN1 to LAN3 through the Internet 4). Send to playback device.
[0025]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a printer 50 as an image reproducing device. As shown in FIG. 4, the printer 50 includes a built-in hard disk drive HDD 51, a printer controller 52, and an operation panel 57. The printer 50 processes the transfer image data 100 received by the printer controller 52, and converts the received image data 100 into output image data. The converted image is reproduced and output. As shown in FIG. 5, the built-in HDD 51 stores an LUT group 60 for reproducing the transfer image data 100 in a color image.
[0026]
The HDD 51 is a device for storing the LUT group 60 as shown in FIG. 5, and is not necessary when the LUT group 60 is stored in the ROM (not shown) of the printer. It is also possible to store the LUT group separately, such as storing only the standard LUT 61 in the ROM and storing the special object LUT (person LUT 62 etc.) in the HDD 51.
[0027]
In FIG. 4, a printer controller 52 is composed of four functional parts: a data receiving unit 53, an object information unit 54, a data converting unit 55, and a data output unit 56, and converts image data into output data and reproduced image data. It is a device for performing.
[0028]
First, the data receiving unit 53 receives the transfer image data 100 and passes it to the object information unit 54. The object information unit 54 discriminates the transfer image data 100 into image characteristic data 110 and transfer data 120, and sends the transfer data 120 to the data conversion unit 55. In addition, the HDD 51 is requested to take out an LUT to be used from the group of LUTs 60 for color reproduction based on the image feature data 110.
[0029]
The data conversion unit 55 converts the transfer data from the object information unit 54 from the information of the LUT sent from the HDD 51 to, for example, a person LUT 62 if the object is a person object, and if the object is the sun and orange is specified. Color reproduction is performed by the standard LUT 61, output image data is created, and passed to the data output unit 56. The data output unit 56 prints the received output image data. If there is no designated range information in the image feature data of the object, the outline of the object is extracted in the printer 50, and the color is reproduced and output by the LUT designated by the color designation.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the color image reproduction system of the present invention, the transfer data is converted into monochrome data, so that the data size can be reduced to about 1/3 of the color image data. Can reduce the data transfer time. Further, by adding image feature data representing the features of the image to the image data for transfer, it is possible to easily reproduce a color image for an image whose features are determined to some extent, and to use an expensive color image reading apparatus. Therefore, even if only an inexpensive monochrome image reading device is used, the image can be converted into a color image and output as a color image.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a color image reproduction system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image input device.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of image data (transfer image data) sent from an image input device to an image reproducing device.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image reproducing device.
FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of a hard disk device (HDD) storing a color conversion table (LUT).
[Explanation of symbols]
1, 3, ... LAN
2. Wireless LAN
4: Internet 10, 30: PC (image input device)
20. Scanner (image input means)
40 ... Digital camera (image input means)
11 printer driver 12 data receiving unit 13 parameter setting unit 14 transfer data creating unit 15 data transmitting unit 16 operating unit 50 printer (image reproducing device)
51 ... Storage device (HDD)
52 printer controller 53 data receiving unit 54 object information unit 55 data conversion unit 56 data output unit 60 copying machine (image reproducing device)
61 to 63: color conversion table (LUT)
100 ... Transfer image data 110 ... Image feature data 120 ... Transfer data

Claims (4)

A color image reproduction system comprising: an image input device to which image input means can be connected; and an image reproduction device connected to the image input device via a network and reproducing image data transmitted from the image input device. ,
The image input device includes: an image data receiving unit that receives image data obtained from the image input unit; an image feature data obtaining unit that obtains image feature data of the image data; Data conversion means, transfer data creating means for creating the transfer image data by adding the image feature data, data transmission means for transferring the transfer image data to the network,
The image reproducing device is a transfer data receiving unit that receives transfer image data from a network, determines transfer data and image feature data from the transfer image data, and is obtained from the image input unit device based on the image feature data. Transfer data identifying means for designating a color conversion table for performing color reproduction of reproduced image data, image data reproducing means for reproducing color of image data according to the specified color conversion table, and outputting reproduced image data. A color image reproducing system comprising a printing unit. 2. The color image according to claim 1, wherein the transfer data obtained by converting the image data is monochrome data, and the transfer image data has a configuration obtained by adding image feature data to the transfer data. Reproduction system. The color conversion table specification in the transfer data identification means enables different color conversion tables to be specified according to the characteristics of an image for each object of the image data, and the transfer data becomes transfer data for each object. 2. A color image reproducing system according to claim 1, wherein said color image reproducing system sends the divided image data to said image data reproducing means. 4. The image data reproducing unit according to claim 3, wherein the image data reproducing unit has a function of reproducing and combining images by using a color conversion table designated corresponding to the transfer data for each object. Color image playback system.

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