JP2005011177A - Image processor, image processing method and image processing program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce processing time until output of the whole images is completed, to the utmost, while reducing time until the image is first outputted after an output start of the image. <P>SOLUTION: This image processor has: a drawing processing means 23 sequentially processing a plurality of drawing instructions to draw the image; an image data storage means 24 storing image data that are a drawing result, and dealing with periodic output of the image data to an image output device; and a drawing instruction number decision means 25 calculating time believed to be required for a process in the drawing processing means 23 in each the drawing instruction, and determining the number of the drawing instructions processed by the drawing processing means 23 during one cycle of the image data output to the image output device from the image data storage means 24 on the basis of a calculation result thereof. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Upon receiving a drawing command output from a host device or the like, the present invention interprets the drawing command, performs drawing processing, and outputs the drawing result to an image output device such as a display or a printer. The present invention relates to an image processing program.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, it has been widely and commonly performed to output an electronically created image on a computer from a display or the like, and to exchange the image through a communication network. However, particularly when performing image transfer processing via a communication network, the time required for the transfer processing becomes a problem. That is, the image output at the transfer destination is kept waiting for the time required for the transfer process. For this reason, conventionally, when outputting an image via a communication network, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the image to be processed is processed into fine blocks, and the image is output sequentially in units of blocks. Therefore, it has been proposed to shorten the time until the first image output (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-290718
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the case of sequentially outputting images in units of blocks, the time until the first image is output is shortened, but drawing processing (interpretation and output of drawing commands is possible in units of blocks for the image to be processed). Each time conversion to a data format is performed (see A to K in FIG. 7), an image output (display output, plotter output, etc.) of the drawn portion is performed (a in FIG. 7). ), The drawing process is interrupted each time the image is output, and the processing time until the output of the entire image is completed may be increased.
[0005]
With respect to this point, instead of outputting an image for each drawing process in units of blocks, for example, as shown in FIG. Conceivable. In other words, image output is performed at a periodic timing, and it is determined whether or not it is the image output timing every time the rendering process in units of blocks is completed. If the output timing is not reached, the drawing process is continued for the next block, thereby shortening the processing time until the output of the entire image is completed. However, when drawing processing for several blocks is performed collectively, the time required for drawing processing of each block is not necessarily uniform. For example, a block for text (character) and a block for image (natural image) However, since the drawing processing time is different, it is necessary to determine whether or not it is the image output timing every time the drawing processing for each block is completed. That is, useless processing for determining whether or not the image output timing is repeated many times during one cycle of the image output timing. Therefore, the processing time until the output of the entire image is increased by the wasteful processing.
[0006]
Accordingly, the present invention provides an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and an image processing program capable of reducing the processing time until the output of the entire image is completed as much as possible while reducing the time until the first image is output. The purpose is to provide.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention provides an image processing apparatus devised to achieve the above object, a rendering processing means for rendering an image by sequentially processing a plurality of rendering commands, and image data as a rendering result by the rendering processing means. The image data storage means corresponding to the periodic output of the image data to the image output device, and the time required for processing in the drawing processing means for each drawing command, A drawing command number determining unit that determines the number of drawing commands processed by the drawing processing unit during one cycle of image data output from the image data storage unit to the image output device based on a calculation result. It is a feature.
[0008]
In addition, the present invention is an image processing method devised to achieve the above object, and sequentially draws an image by processing a plurality of drawing commands, and stores the image data as the drawing result in a storage device. A drawing step, an output step of periodically outputting image data stored in the storage device to the image output device, and drawing of an image by the drawing command for each drawing command prior to the drawing step. A command number determination step for calculating a possible time and determining the number of drawing commands to be processed in the drawing step during one cycle of image data output from the storage device to the image output device based on the calculation result The method characterized by including.
[0009]
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing program devised to achieve the above object, wherein a computer performs drawing processing by sequentially processing a plurality of drawing commands, and drawing by the drawing processing unit. Image data storage means corresponding to the output of the image data as a result to the periodic output to the image output device, and the time required for processing by the drawing processing means for each drawing command And a drawing command number determination unit that determines the number of drawing commands processed by the drawing processing unit during one cycle of image data output from the image data storage unit to the image output device based on the calculation result It is made to function as.
[0010]
According to the image processing apparatus, the image processing program, and the image processing method according to the procedure described above, the time required for the processing is calculated for each drawing command to be processed, and the image output apparatus is based on the calculation result. Since the number of drawing commands to be processed during one cycle of image data output is determined, the number of drawing commands to be processed during that cycle can be optimized. Therefore, even if several drawing commands are processed together during one cycle of image data output, whether or not the timing of outputting image data to the image output device is reached each time each drawing command is processed. There is no need to make a determination, and the processing time until the output of the entire image is completed correspondingly. In addition, since the image data is periodically output to the image output apparatus, the image output is not waited until the processing for all the drawing commands to be processed is completed.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and an image processing program according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0012]
[First Embodiment]
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a specific configuration example for realizing the functional configuration.
[0013]
First, the schematic configuration of the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The image processing apparatus described here is realized on a computer 1 including at least a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory). An input device 2 such as a keyboard and a mouse, a display device 3 such as a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) and a liquid crystal panel, and an external storage device 4 such as a hard disk device and an optical disk device are connected to the computer 1. To do.
[0014]
The computer 1 includes an input / output hardware 11 for connecting to the input device 2, the display device 3, and the external storage device 4, an operating system 12 for comprehensively managing the entire computer 1, and electronically. An application program 13 such as document creation software or image processing software for generating an image, a rendering program 14 that performs image rendering processing in accordance with a rendering command issued by the application program 13, and a rendering result by the rendering program 14 A page memory 15 for storing certain image data. Here, the drawing command issued by the application program 13 is a command for specifying an image generated using the application program 13, and specifically, for example, a control command described in a programming language for image drawing is used. This is the case. In addition, the image data that is the drawing result for the drawing command is data in a format that can be displayed and output on the display device 3, and specifically, for example, bitmap data.
[0015]
Further, in the computer 1, by executing the application program 13 or the rendering program 14, as shown in FIG. 1, a drawing command analysis unit 21, a drawing command conversion unit 22, a drawing processing unit 23, and an image data storage unit 24 and the function as the drawing command number determination unit 25 are realized.
[0016]
The drawing command analysis unit 21 analyzes a drawing command issued by the application program 13, skips information that is not necessary for the drawing processing from the drawing command, and outputs a drawing command necessary for image display output on the display device 3. To extract.
[0017]
The drawing command conversion unit 22 converts the drawing command extracted by the drawing command analysis unit 21 into a drawing command in a format that can be interpreted by the drawing processing unit 23. Furthermore, information on the type and complexity of the drawing command that is a criterion for determining the number of drawing commands to be described later is accumulated from the drawing command.
[0018]
The drawing processing unit 23 performs image drawing by sequentially processing the drawing commands converted by the drawing command converting unit 22.
[0019]
The image data storage unit 24 stores image data, which is a drawing result of the drawing processing unit 23, in the page memory 15. Further, the image data storage unit 24 can cope with the periodic output of the image data stored in the page memory 15 to the display device 3. It is assumed that the output cycle of image data is set to be at regular intervals.
[0020]
The drawing command number determination unit 25 performs drawing for each drawing command from the information stored in the drawing command conversion unit 22, the output cycle of image data corresponding to the image data storage unit 24, and the hardware performance of the computer 1. A drawing that is calculated by the drawing processing unit 23 during one cycle of image data output from the image data storage unit 24 to the display device 3 based on the calculation result based on the calculation result. The number of instructions is determined, and the determination result is instructed to the drawing processing unit 23. Further, the determination result of the number of drawing commands is corrected from the processing result of the past drawing commands. That is, the drawing command number determination unit 25 determines the drawing determined for one cycle after the certain cycle according to the time required for the drawing processing unit 23 to process the number of drawing commands determined for the certain cycle. The number of instructions is corrected.
[0021]
Note that the application program 13 or the rendering program 14 that realizes each of the units 21 to 25 may be installed in the computer 1 in advance, but is provided by being stored in a computer-readable storage medium. It may be read by the computer 1 or distributed to the computer 1 via a wired or wireless communication means. That is, the functions of the units 21 to 25 described here can also be realized by an image processing program that causes a computer to function similarly. The computers referred to here include not only the computer 1 shown in FIG. 2 but also a wide range of electronic computers that execute programs.
[0022]
Next, in the computer 1 having the above configuration, an example of processing operation when the image generated by the application program 13 is displayed and output on the display device 3, that is, the image processing method according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The procedure will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the image processing method according to the present invention.
[0023]
The computer 1 performs a so-called multithread operation in which a plurality of processes can be executed simultaneously in order to shorten the processing time of the entire page of an image to be displayed and output. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, an “image output thread process” for outputting the image data in the page memory 15 to the display device 3 and a “drawing thread process” for writing the image data in the page memory 15, respectively. Perform in parallel.
[0024]
In the image output thread process, the image output is performed at a periodic timing so that the image output is not waited until the drawing process of the entire image is completed. In other words, the image data storage unit 24 uses, for example, a timer function in the computer 1 to monitor the image output timing for the image data in the page memory 15 (step 101; hereinafter, step is abbreviated as “S”). When the image output timing comes, the image data stored in the page memory 15 at that time is read out and output to the display device 3 via the input / output hardware 11 (S102). As a result, the image drawn in the page memory 15 at that time is displayed and output from the display device 3. In the image output thread process, these processes are repeated until the drawing process for the entire image is completed (S103), that is, until the image output thread process is completed.
[0025]
Assume that the period of the image output timing at this time is set so that the period of the period is uniform (for example, at intervals of 1 second). This period of one cycle may be unique to the application program 13 or the rendering program 14, but may be arbitrarily set by the user of the computer 1 from the input device 2. That is, it is conceivable to provide a function as a setting means for setting the period of the image output timing from the page memory 15 to the display device 3. In this case, the display output of the image is performed at a timing desired by the user. Since it is performed, it is highly convenient for the user.
[0026]
On the other hand, in the drawing thread process, the image data output in the image output thread process is written into the page memory 15. However, in the image output thread process and the drawing thread process, the same address in the page memory 15 is accessed, and the process cannot be performed at the same memory access timing. Therefore, in the drawing thread process, image rendering is performed according to the procedure described below in order to achieve efficient processing while avoiding interference with access to the page memory 15 in the image output thread process.
[0027]
At the start of the drawing thread process, a plurality of drawing commands required for drawing a series of drawing commands to be processed, that is, the entire page of an image to be displayed and output, already in a predetermined area in the RAM or the like of the computer 1 at that time. Assume that instructions are held. After the start of the process, the drawing command number determination unit 25 first sets the number of drawing objects (S201). The drawing object is an object (text, graphics, image, etc.) drawn in the page memory 15 as a result of processing the drawing command by the drawing processing unit 23, and the number of drawing objects is the image output thread processing. This is the number of objects drawn during one cycle of image output timing. Accordingly, the number of drawing objects matches the number of drawing commands processed by the drawing processing unit 23 during one cycle of image data output.
[0028]
The initial setting of the number of drawing objects is determined by the drawing processing unit 23 for each drawing command based on the information accumulated in the drawing command conversion unit 22, the period of one cycle of image data output, and the hardware performance of the computer 1. This may be done by calculating the time required for processing and determining how many drawing objects can be drawn during one cycle of image data output.
[0029]
Here, information stored in the drawing command conversion unit 22 that is a basis for setting the number of drawing objects will be described. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of accumulated information. As shown in the figure, in the drawing command conversion unit 22, information related to the type and complexity of the drawing command is registered in advance and stored in a table format. The information about the type and complexity of the drawing command here includes the drawing object (type) to be drawn by the drawing command and the drawing conditions (complexity) of the drawing object, as well as the drawing object drawing. Information on expected processing time that would be required is also included. As described above, in the drawing command conversion unit 22, information on several types of drawing objects assumed in advance is registered and accumulated as model pattern information.
[0030]
After the initial setting of the number of drawing objects is performed based on the accumulated information by the drawing command conversion unit 22, the drawing command analysis unit 21 corresponds to the number of drawing objects determined by the drawing command number determination unit 25. A drawing command is sequentially read from a predetermined area in the RAM (S202), the drawing command conversion unit 22 performs format conversion on the drawing command (S203), and then the drawing processing unit 23 sequentially processes the drawing command. The image data storage unit 24 stores the drawing object as the drawing result in the page memory 15 (S204). When the image data storage unit 24 stores the number of drawing objects determined by the drawing command number determination unit 25 in the page memory 15, the image data storage unit 24 enters an image output timing waiting state (S205). Here, when the image output timing comes, in the image output thread process, the image data stored in the page memory 15 at that time is read and output to the display device 3 (S102).
[0031]
Thereafter, it is determined whether or not there is a next drawing command, that is, whether or not there is an unprocessed drawing command in a predetermined area in the RAM (S206). If there is a next drawing command, the number of drawing commands is determined. The unit 25 sets the number of drawing objects to be processed during the next cycle of image data output (S207). The setting at this time, that is, the setting of the next number of drawing objects may be performed in the same manner as in the case of the initial setting already described.
[0032]
However, the time required for the drawing processing unit 23 to process the drawing command and draw the drawing object is not necessarily the same as the estimated processing time under the multi-thread operation due to the operation status of other thread processing. Not always. Therefore, the drawing command number determination unit 25 measures the waiting time from the end of the previous drawing to the image output timing when setting the next drawing object number, and the time is reflected in the setting of the next drawing object number. As described above, the number of drawing objects is corrected. Specifically, for example, the waiting time until the image output timing is added to the time of one cycle of the image data output, the total time is compared with the estimated processing time, and a number of drawing objects are within the total time. This can be done by determining whether drawing is possible.
[0033]
Then, after setting the next number of drawing objects, the above steps are repeated again (S202 to S207), and this is continuously performed until there is no next drawing command.
[0034]
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing an outline of the image output thread process and the drawing thread process processed in the above procedure. As shown in the figure, in this embodiment, for each drawing command to be processed, the time required for the processing is calculated, and the drawing command to be processed during one cycle of image data output is calculated based on the calculation result. Since the number is determined, it is possible to optimize the number of drawing commands to be processed during one cycle. Therefore, as is apparent from comparison with the prior art (see FIGS. 7 and 8), it is not necessary to determine whether or not the image data output timing has been reached each time each drawing command is processed, and the entire image is accordingly increased. The processing time until the output is completed is shortened. Furthermore, since it corresponds to periodic image data output, it is possible to start image display in a certain time after starting drawing, so it is possible to shorten the time until the first image output, Operations such as confirmation of drawing results and interruption of output by the user can be performed quickly.
[0035]
In the present embodiment, the number of drawing commands determined for the next cycle is corrected according to the time required to actually process the number of drawing commands determined for a certain cycle. Even when the processing performance of the computer 1 fluctuates due to the influence of thread processing operating in the ground, the number of drawing commands processed during one cycle of image data output can always be optimized. Become. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, when four drawing commands A to D are processed at the start of processing, seven drawing commands can actually be processed before the next image data output. If it is found that the next drawing is a drawing command of E to K that requires the same processing time, the number of drawing processes can be changed so that seven drawing commands are executed.
[0036]
In this example, the case where the waiting time has occurred in the previous cycle has been described as an example. However, depending on the influence of the operation status of other thread processing, the opposite situation may occur. That is, the processing for the determined number of drawing commands may not end during one cycle of image data output. Such a situation is not preferable because image data cannot be output at that timing. Therefore, in order to avoid the occurrence of such a situation, when optimizing the number of drawing commands, an upper limit value that considers a safety factor to prevent the actual processing time from exceeding one cycle should be set. Is desirable.
[0037]
Further, in the present embodiment, only the case where the image data output to the display device 3 is periodically performed has been described as an example. However, the image data output is periodically performed, or the drawing processing unit 23 performs the processing. The user of the computer 1 arbitrarily selects from the input device 2 whether to perform batch processing after processing for all power drawing commands (for example, a plurality of drawing commands necessary for drawing the entire page of an image) is completed. It is also possible to get it. In this case, the selection from the input device 2 may be performed prior to the start of the drawing thread process or may be performed after the start of the drawing thread process. If the user determines that periodic image output is not necessary during the rendering process, it is possible to switch to batch rendering in the middle and to reduce the processing time for the entire page thereafter.
[0038]
Further, in the present embodiment, the case where the image processing apparatus according to the present invention is realized on the computer 1 is described as an example. However, this embodiment corresponds to interpreting a drawing command, performing an image drawing process, and displaying the image. Any other electronic device such as a mobile phone can be applied in the same manner.
[0039]
[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. However, here, only differences from the first embodiment described above will be described. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration example of the image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The image processing apparatus described here is realized on a printer 5 including at least a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM.
[0040]
Upon receiving a drawing command from the host computer 1 ', the printer 5 performs a drawing process according to the drawing command and prints out the drawing result on a recording sheet. For this purpose, the printer 5 includes control hardware 51 for receiving a drawing command from the host computer 1 ′, a rendering program 52 that performs image drawing processing in accordance with the drawing command received by the control hardware 51, and the rendering thereof. A buffer memory 53 for storing image data as a drawing result by the program 52, and a printer engine 54 for converting the image data into a visible image and printing it on a recording sheet are provided.
[0041]
Of these, unlike the normal page printer, the printer engine 54 supports periodic print output. Examples of the printer 5 including the printer engine 54 include a pen plotter and an ink jet printer that can output the image data in the buffer memory 53 in a plurality of times. Further, even a type such as a laser printer can cope with periodic print output by performing laser irradiation in a plurality of times.
[0042]
On the other hand, the host computer 1 ′ has substantially the same configuration as the computer 1 in the first embodiment, but includes a printer driver 16 for giving an operation instruction to the printer 5 instead of the rendering program 14 and the page memory 15. And the point that the control hardware 51 of the printer 5 is connected to the input / output hardware 11 is different from the case of the first embodiment.
[0043]
The host computer 1 'functions as the drawing command analysis unit 21, the drawing command conversion unit 22, the drawing processing unit 23, the image data storage unit 24, and the drawing command number determination unit 25 described in the first embodiment. It does not have to be provided. The functions of the drawing command analysis unit 21, the drawing command conversion unit 22, the drawing processing unit 23, the image data storage unit 24, and the drawing command number determination unit 25 are controlled by the control hardware 51 or the rendering program 14 in the printer 5 and the printer. 5 is assumed to be realized.
[0044]
Also in the printer 5 configured as described above, the same processing operation as that of the computer 1 in the first embodiment described above is performed. That is, for each drawing command to be printed, the time required for the printing process is calculated, and the number of drawing commands to be processed in one cycle of the print output in the printer engine 54 is determined based on the calculation result. To do. Furthermore, the number of drawing commands determined for the next one cycle is corrected according to the time required to actually print the number of drawing commands determined for a certain cycle.
[0045]
Accordingly, in this embodiment as well, as in the first embodiment, even when several drawing commands are processed together during one cycle of image printout, for example, the printer 5 Even if the processing performance of the printer changes, the number of drawing commands processed during one cycle of image printout can be optimized, and the time until the first image is printed out is shortened. Further, it is possible to shorten the processing time until the printout of the entire image is completed as much as possible.
[0046]
In the present embodiment, the case where the image processing apparatus according to the present invention is realized on the printer 5 is described as an example. However, for example, the image processing apparatus is realized on the printer driver 16 of the host computer 1 ′ that gives an operation instruction to the printer 5. It is also possible.
[0047]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the image processing device, the image processing method, and the image processing program according to the present invention, the time required for the processing is calculated for each drawing command to be processed, and the calculation result is based on the calculation result. Since the number of drawing commands to be processed during one cycle of image data output to the image output device is determined, even when several drawing commands are processed collectively during one cycle of image data output The number of drawing commands processed during the one cycle can be optimized. That is, it is not necessary to determine whether or not it is the timing of outputting image data to the image output device every time each rendering command is processed, and the processing time until the output of the entire image is completed accordingly, In addition, since the image data is periodically output to the image output apparatus, the image output is not waited until the processing for all the plurality of drawing commands to be processed is completed. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the processing time until the output of the entire image is completed as much as possible while reducing the time until the first image is output.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a specific configuration example of the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure of an image processing method according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of accumulated information in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing an overview of an image output thread process and a drawing thread process which are processed in the procedure of the image processing method according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a specific configuration example of an image processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory view schematically showing an outline of conventional periodic image data output.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing an outline of a modified example of periodic image data output.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Computer, 1 '... Host computer, 2 ... Input device 2, 3 ... Display device, 4 ... External storage device, 5 ... Printer, 11 ... Input / output hardware, 12 ... Operating system, 13 ... Application program, 14 ... Rendering program, 15: Page memory, 21: Drawing command analysis unit, 22: Drawing command conversion unit, 23: Drawing processing unit, 24: Image data storage unit, 25: Drawing command number determination unit, 51: Control hardware, 52 ... Rendering program, 53 ... Buffer memory, 54 ... Printer engine

Claims (12)

Drawing processing means for sequentially drawing a plurality of drawing commands and drawing an image;
Storing image data which is a drawing result by the drawing processing means, and image data storage means corresponding to the output of the image data to a periodic image output device;
For each drawing command, the time required for processing in the drawing processing unit is calculated, and the image data output from the image data storage unit to the image output device is performed during one cycle based on the calculation result. An image processing apparatus comprising: a drawing command number determining unit that determines the number of drawing commands processed by the drawing processing unit. The drawing command number determining unit is configured to determine a drawing command to be determined for one cycle after the certain cycle in accordance with a time required for the drawing processing unit to process the number of drawing commands determined for a certain cycle. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number is corrected. In order to select whether to periodically output image data from the image data storage means to the image output device, or to perform batch processing after all drawing commands to be processed by the drawing processing means are completed. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a selection unit. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising setting means for setting a period when image data output from the image data storage means to the image output apparatus is performed periodically. A drawing step of sequentially processing a plurality of drawing commands to draw an image and storing image data as a drawing result in a storage device;
An output step of periodically outputting image data stored in the storage device to an image output device;
Prior to the drawing step, a time required to draw an image according to the drawing command is calculated for each drawing command, and one cycle of image data output from the storage device to the image output device based on the calculation result And an instruction number determination step for determining the number of drawing instructions to be processed in the drawing step. In the command number determining step, the number of drawing commands to be determined for one cycle following the certain cycle according to the time required for processing the number of drawing commands determined for the certain cycle in the drawing step The image processing method according to claim 5, wherein the correction is performed. The image data output to the image output device in the output step is selected to be performed periodically or collectively after the processing for all drawing commands to be processed in the drawing step is completed. The image processing method according to claim 5 or 6. 8. The image processing method according to claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein a period when image data output to the image output apparatus in the output step is periodically performed is set from a user interface unit. Computer
Drawing processing means for sequentially drawing a plurality of drawing commands and drawing an image;
Storing image data which is a drawing result by the drawing processing means, and image data storage means corresponding to the output of the image data to a periodic image output device;
For each drawing command, the time required for processing in the drawing processing unit is calculated, and the image data output from the image data storage unit to the image output device is performed during one cycle based on the calculation result. An image processing program that functions as a drawing command number determination unit that determines the number of drawing commands processed by a drawing processing unit. The drawing command number determining unit is configured to determine a drawing command to be determined for one cycle after the certain cycle in accordance with a time required for the drawing processing unit to process the number of drawing commands determined for a certain cycle. The image processing program according to claim 9, wherein the number is corrected. In order to select whether to periodically output image data from the image data storage means to the image output device, or to perform batch processing after all drawing commands to be processed by the drawing processing means are completed. The image processing program according to claim 9 or 10, further comprising: 12. The image processing program according to claim 9, further comprising setting means for setting a period when image data output from the image data storage means to the image output apparatus is performed periodically.

Images