JP2005124072A - Image processor and image processing method and computer readable storage medium stored with program and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform image processing with maximum performance by enabling a single compression/decompression section to execute encoding processing and decoding processing without a trouble when image reading and image recording processing are performed in parallel. <P>SOLUTION: Image data for at least predetermined processing units read by a scanner 106 are stored into a first buffer memory, encoded image data resulting from encoding the stored image data by a JBIG CODEC 104 are stored into a storage buffer, and the encoded image data read from the storage buffer are decoded. When storing the decoded image data at least for predetermined processing units into a second buffer memory, a CPU 101 controls to prohibit either of encoding processing and decoding processing until completing the other processing for predetermined processing units. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus that uses encoded image data as accumulated data using an encoder / decoder.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image processing apparatus that uses encoded image data as accumulated data, an image processing apparatus that includes an encoding / decoding device for each of a reading control unit and a recording control unit has been proposed.

  In such an image processing apparatus, since the reading control unit and the recording control unit can perform encoding processing and decoding processing simultaneously and in parallel, one page of encoded data is prepared by the reading control unit. From before, the recording control unit can execute the decoding process.

Conventionally, Patent Document 1 has already been published as a publicly known document of this type.
JP 09-153991 A

  However, in the conventional image processing apparatus, in order to perform the decoding process by the recording control unit while the encoded data is being created by the encoding process by the reading control unit, the decoding process by the recording control unit is not performed. In order not to overtake the encoding process by the control unit, control is performed such that synchronization control is performed between both processes, or a useless code is inserted into the encoded data by the reading control unit to increase the amount of encoded data. Therefore, the maximum performance of the encoding / decoding processing unit (compressing unit) in each of the reading control unit and the recording control unit has not been obtained, and the encoding / decoding device has not functioned effectively.

  Further, since the reading control unit and the recording control unit each have an encoding processing unit and a decoding processing unit, there is a problem that the cost of the apparatus is increased.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and a first object of the present invention is provided with a reading unit that reads a document and converts it into image data, and a recording unit that records and outputs the image data. In the image processing apparatus, at least a predetermined processing unit image data read by the reading means is stored in the first buffer memory means, and the code obtained by encoding the image data stored in the first buffer memory means Storing the encoded image data in the accumulation buffer, decoding the encoded image data read from the accumulation buffer, and storing the decoded decoded image data in at least a predetermined processing unit in the second buffer memory means. By prohibiting the other process until either one of the encoding process and the decoding process is completed for a predetermined processing unit, When processing image reading and image recording in parallel, a single companding unit can execute the encoding and decoding processes without any problems, and image processing that can maintain an image processing environment that can perform image processing with maximum performance. An apparatus, an image processing method, and a storage medium storing a computer-readable program and a program are provided.

  In addition to the first object, the second object is the first recording control for recording and outputting the decoded image data stored in the second buffer memory means when the page is recorded and output. By selecting the second recording control for recording and outputting the image data stored in one buffer memory means, encoding is performed by a single companding unit when image reading and image recording processing are performed in parallel. The image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer that can perform a process and a decoding process without any trouble, perform an image recording process with the maximum performance, and provide an inexpensive image processing environment that can significantly improve the first copy time. To provide a storage medium storing a possible program and a program.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus including a reading unit that reads a document and converts it into image data, and a recording unit that records and outputs the image data.
First buffer memory means (secured on the RAM 103 shown in FIG. 1) for storing image data of at least a predetermined processing unit read by the reading means, and the image stored in the first buffer memory means The compressed image data obtained by encoding the page data is stored in the accumulation buffer, the companding means (JBIGCODEC 104 shown in FIG. 1) for decoding the encoded image data read from the accumulation buffer, and the companding means A second buffer memory means (secured on the RAM 103 shown in FIG. 1) for storing the decoded image data at least for the predetermined process; and an encoding process and a decoding process by the companding means A control means (CP shown in FIG. 1) that controls to prohibit one of the other processes until one of the processes is completed for a predetermined processing unit. It characterized by having a 101) and.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first recording control means (CPU 101 shown in FIG. 1) for recording and outputting decoded image data stored in the second buffer memory means, and the first buffer. A second recording control means (CPU 101 shown in FIG. 1) for recording and outputting the image data stored in the memory means, and the first recording control means and the second recording control means in the previous period when recording and outputting. And a recording control selection unit (CPU 101 shown in FIG. 1) that performs recording output.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, when the recording control selection unit determines that encoded image data is stored in the storage buffer, the recording control selection unit selects the first recording control unit and stores the encoded image data in the storage buffer. When it is determined that encoded image data is not accumulated and image data is accumulated in the first buffer memory means, the second recording control means is selected.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing method in an image processing apparatus comprising: a reading unit that reads a document and converts it into image data; and a recording unit that records and outputs the image data. A first storage step (step S402 shown in FIG. 4) for storing at least predetermined processing unit image data in the first buffer memory means; and encoding the image data stored in the first buffer memory means. The compressed image data obtained in this manner is stored in the accumulation buffer, and the decompression step (step S406 shown in FIG. 4) for decoding the coded image data read from the accumulation buffer, and the decoding decoded by the decompression step Storage step (FIG. 2) for storing the converted image data in the second buffer memory means at least for the predetermined processing. Step S505) shown in FIG. 6 and a control step (S601 to S615 shown in FIG. 6) for controlling the other process until the encoding process and the decoding process in the companding step are completed for a predetermined processing unit. It is characterized by having.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first recording control step (step S508 shown in FIG. 5) for recording and outputting the decoded image data stored in the second buffer memory means; A second recording control step (step S510 shown in FIG. 5) for recording and outputting the image data stored in the buffer memory means, and the first recording control step and the second recording control in the case of recording output. And a recording control selection step (step S502 shown in FIG. 5) for selecting one of the steps and performing recording output.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, when the recording control selection step (step S502 shown in FIG. 5) determines that encoded image data is stored in the storage buffer, the first recording control step. And when it is determined that the encoded image data is not stored in the storage buffer and the image data is stored in the first buffer memory means, the second recording control step is selected. It is characterized by doing.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, a program for realizing the image processing method according to any one of the fourth to sixth aspects is stored in a computer-readable storage medium.

  An eighth invention according to the present invention is a program for realizing the image processing method according to any one of the fourth to sixth inventions.

  According to the present invention, in an image processing apparatus including a reading unit that converts a document into read image data and a recording unit that records and outputs the image data, the image data corresponding to at least a predetermined processing unit read by the reading unit is stored. Encoded image data stored in one buffer memory means, encoded image data obtained by encoding the image data stored in the first buffer memory means, stored in an accumulation buffer, and read out from the accumulation buffer When the decoded image data is stored in the second buffer memory means for at least a predetermined processing unit, either the encoding process or the decoding process is performed in a predetermined processing unit. The image reading process and the image recording process are performed in parallel by prohibiting the other process until the process is completed for a predetermined processing unit. To, by executing the encoding process and the decoding process without any trouble in a single draw section, serviceable image processing environment capable of performing image processing with maximum performance.

  When recording and outputting, the first recording control for recording and outputting the decoded image data stored in the second buffer memory means and the recording output of the image data stored in the first buffer means are performed. By selecting the second recording control to be performed, when the image reading process and the image recording process are performed in parallel, the encoding process and the decoding process are executed without any trouble by a single companding unit, and the maximum performance is achieved. The image recording process can be carried out with a low-cost image processing environment that can greatly improve the first copy time.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, an image processing apparatus 100 includes a CPU 101, a ROM 102, a RAM 103, a JBIG CODEC 104, a scanner I / F 105, a scanner 106, a printer I / F 107, a printer 108, and a DMAC 109. .

  The CPU 101 functions as a system control unit and controls the entire image processing apparatus 100. The ROM 102 stores a control program for the CPU 101. The control program includes a control program for executing the embodiment described below.

  The RAM 103 is composed of SRAM, DRAM, and the like, and stores program control variables and the like. The RAM 103 also stores setting values registered by the user of the data communication image processing apparatus 100, management data of the data communication image processing apparatus 100, and various work buffers.

  In the present embodiment, a reading page buffer memory, a recording page buffer memory, and an encoded image data storage memory are secured on the RAM 103.

  The JBIG CODEC 104 is a module that performs JPEG encoding and decoding, and is a processing unit that executes image data compression / decompression processing conforming to a predetermined standard.

  A scanner I / F 105 is an image processing unit for converting electrical image data obtained by optically reading a document by the scanner 106, and includes an image processing device and a horizontal synchronization signal generating device. The image data is corrected by the scanner I / F 105 and becomes high-definition image data.

  The printer 108 is a device that records image data on recording paper, and the recording data is transferred via the printer I / F 107.

  The DMAC 109 is a direct memory access controller (DMAC) that performs data transfer directly between the memory and the peripheral IO-memory without the processing of the CPU 101.

  2 and 3 are diagrams for explaining an example of image data processing in the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example in which encoded image data obtained by compressing image data input from a scanner is stored in a storage buffer. FIG. 3 is a first input / output process example in which the image data is decompressed again and transferred to the printer as image data. FIG. 3 shows the first input image data input from the scanner to the printer without being compressed. It is an example of an input output process.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a first data processing procedure in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to the reading control procedure. S401 to S409 indicate each step. Each procedure is stored in the ROM 102 shown in FIG. 1 and realized by the CPU 101 loading the control program based on the procedure onto the RAM 103 and executing it.

  If the CPU 101 determines in step S401 that there is a reading start request, the CPU 101 controls the scanner 106 in step S402 to start reading a document. Here, the read image data is stored in a read page buffer PB1 secured on the RAM 103, as shown in FIGS.

  In step S403, it is determined whether or not the page reading has been completed. If it is determined that the page has not been completed, the process waits for completion. If it is determined that the page has been completed, JBIG CODEC is determined in step S404. Make an acquisition request.

  In step S405, the acquisition response of the JBIG CODEC 104 is waited. When the acquisition response is received, JBIG encoding is started in step S406.

  2 and 3, the read image data (raw image data) of the read page buffer PB2 is subjected to JBIG encoding processing by the JBIG CODEC 104, whereby the encoded image data storage buffer BUF is JBIG encoded. Data is accumulated.

  In step S407, it is determined whether JBIG encoding has been completed. If it is determined that JBIG encoding has not ended, the process waits for completion. If it is determined that JBIG encoding has ended, JBIG CODEC 104 is determined in step S408. Request release.

  In step S409, it is determined whether or not there is a next page. If it is determined that there is a next page, the process returns to step S402 to start reading the next page of the document.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S409 that there is no next page, the process returns to step S401 to wait for the next reading start request.

  Here, as in step 402 to step S408, the image of the page is read to acquire JBIG CODEC, and JBIG CODEC is released at the end of encoding of the page, but this is not restrictive. For example, an image may be read for each predetermined processing unit to acquire JBIG CODEC, and JBIG CODEC may be released upon completion of encoding of the predetermined processing unit.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a second data processing procedure in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to the recording control procedure. S501 to S510 indicate each step. Each procedure is stored in the ROM 102 shown in FIG. 1 and realized by the CPU 101 loading the control program based on the procedure onto the RAM 103 and executing it.

  First, when it is determined in step S501 that there is recordable page information, it is determined in step S502 whether JBIG encoded data for one page is stored in the encoded image data storage buffer BUF shown in FIG. When it is determined that JBIG encoded data for one page is accumulated, a request for acquiring the JBIG CODEC 104 is made in step S503.

  In step S504, after waiting for the acquisition response of the JBIG CODEC 104 and receiving the acquisition response, in step S505, the JBIG decoding process is started.

  Here, the encoded image data of the encoded image data storage buffer BUF in FIG. 2 is subjected to JBIG decoding processing by the JBIG CODEC 104, whereby the decoded image data (raw image data) is stored in the recording page buffer PB2. Is done.

  In step S506, it is determined whether or not JBIG decoding has been completed. If it is determined that JBIG decoding has been completed, a JBIG CODEC release request is issued in step S507, and the decoded image data is transferred to the printer I in step S508. By transferring to / F107, recording output by the printer 108 is performed, and the process returns to step S501.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S502 that JBIG encoded data for one page has not been accumulated, in step S509, the read image data (raw image data) is stored in the read page buffer PB1 shown in FIG. Wait for it to accumulate until it can start recording.

  If it is determined in step S509 that recording output is possible, the read image data (raw image data) is transferred from the read page buffer PB1 to the printer I / F 107 in step S510 as shown in FIG. As a result, the recording output by the printer 108 is performed, and the process returns to step S501.

    Here, as in steps S501 to S508, JBIG CODEC is acquired to record the image of the page, and JBIG CODEC is released at the end of decoding of the page. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, JBIG CODEC may be acquired for each predetermined processing unit, and JBIG CODEC may be released upon completion of decoding of the predetermined processing unit.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a third data processing procedure in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to a control procedure by exclusive control of the JBIG CODEC 104. S601 to S615 indicate each step.

  In step S <b> 601, “READY” indicating that the JBIG CODEC 104 is available (available) is set.

  The state of the JBIG CODEC 104 includes “BUSY” indicating that it cannot be used (no space available) in addition to “READY”.

  Next, in step S602, it waits for an acquisition and release request for the JBIG CODEC 104. When the request is received, in step S603, the current state is referred to, it is determined whether or not it is in the “READY” state, and if it is determined that it is in the “READY” state, the received request is JBIG CODEC in step S604. If it is determined whether the request is an acquisition request and if it is determined that the request is a JBIG CODEC acquisition request, the status is set to “BUSY” in step S605, and a JBIG CODEC acquisition response is returned to the acquisition request source in step S606. The process returns to step S602.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S604 that the received request is not a JBIG CODEC acquisition request, the process returns to step S602 to wait for the next request.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S603 that the state is not “READY”, that is, “BUSY”, it is determined in step S607 whether the received request is an acquisition request for JBIG CODEC 104, and a JBIG CODEC acquisition request is determined. If it is determined, the requests are accumulated in a queue secured on the RAM 103, and the process returns to step S602.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S607 that the received request is not a JBIG CODEC acquisition request, it is determined in step S609 whether it is a JBIG CODEC release request, and if it is determined that it is a JBIG CODEC release request, acquisition is performed in step S610. Determine if there is data in the request queue.

  If it is determined in step S610 that there is no data in the acquisition request queue, the state is set to “READY” in step S615, and the process returns to step S602.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S610 that there is data in the acquisition request queue, the acquisition request is extracted from the queue in step S611. In step S612, it is determined whether there is data in the acquisition request queue. If it is determined in step S612 that there is no data in the acquisition request queue, the status is set to “READY” in step S613, a JBIG CODEC acquisition response is returned to the request source in step S614, and the process returns to step S602.

  According to the above embodiment, the hardware cost can be reduced by sharing and using one encoder / decoder by the reading control unit and the recording control unit.

  In addition, the maximum performance of the encoder / decoder can be obtained by preparing a page buffer of at least one page in each of the reading control unit and the recording control unit.

  In addition, by preparing two recording passes, a pass for decoding and storing the encoded accumulated data, and a pass for directly recording and outputting the read raw image data, one encoding / decoding unit is read and controlled. Even if the recording control unit shares and uses the same, it is possible to obtain an FCOT (first copy time) equivalent to the conventional one.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  The configuration of a data processing program that can be read by the image processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the memory map shown in FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs readable by the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

  Although not particularly illustrated, information for managing a program group stored in the storage medium, for example, version information, creator, etc. is also stored, and information depending on the OS on the program reading side, for example, a program is identified and displayed. Icons may also be stored.

  Further, data depending on various programs is also managed in the directory. In addition, a program for installing various programs in the computer, and a program for decompressing when the program to be installed is compressed may be stored.

  The functions shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 in this embodiment may be performed by a host computer by a program installed from the outside. In this case, the present invention is applied even when an information group including a program is supplied to the output device from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, or an FD, or from an external storage medium via a network. Is.

  As described above, a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the storage medium in the storage medium. It goes without saying that the object of the present invention can also be achieved by reading and executing the programmed program code.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  Therefore, as long as it has the function of the program, the form of the program such as an object code, a program executed by an interpreter, or script data supplied to the OS is not limited.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program, for example, a flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, MO, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, DVD, etc. Can be used.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  As another program supply method, a browser of a client computer is used to connect to a homepage on the Internet, and the computer program itself of the present invention or a compressed file including an automatic installation function is stored on a recording medium such as a hard disk from the homepage. It can also be supplied by downloading. It can also be realized by dividing the program code constituting the program of the present invention into a plurality of files and downloading each file from a different homepage. That is, a WWW server, an ftp server, and the like that allow a plurality of users to download a program file for realizing the functional processing of the present invention on a computer are also included in the claims of the present invention.

  In addition, the program of the present invention is encrypted, stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, distributed to users, and key information for decryption is downloaded from a homepage via the Internet to users who have cleared predetermined conditions. It is also possible to execute the encrypted program by using the key information and install the program on a computer.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) or the like running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.

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

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications (including organic combinations of the embodiments) are possible based on the spirit of the present invention, and these are excluded from the scope of the present invention. is not.

  Although various examples and embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will not limit the spirit and scope of the present invention to the specific description in the present specification.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure explaining the example of image data processing in the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure explaining the example of image data processing in the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the 1st data processing procedure in the image processing apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the 2nd data processing procedure in the image processing apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the 3rd data processing procedure in the image processing apparatus which concerns on this invention. 2 is a memory map of a storage medium for storing various data processing programs readable by the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

100 Image processing apparatus 101 CPU
103 RAM
104 JBIGCODEC
105 Scanner I / F
106 Scanner 107 Printer I / F
108 Printer 109 DMAC

Claims (8)

An image processing apparatus comprising: a reading unit that converts a document into read image data; and a recording unit that records and outputs image data.
First buffer memory means for storing image data of at least a predetermined processing unit read by the reading means;
Companding means for storing encoded image data obtained by encoding the image data stored in the first buffer memory means in an accumulation buffer, and decoding the encoded image data read from the accumulation buffer;
Second buffer memory means for storing at least the predetermined processing of the decoded image data decoded by the companding means;
Control means for performing control to prohibit the other process until either one of the encoding process and the decoding process by the companding means is completed for a predetermined processing unit;
An image processing apparatus comprising: First recording control means for recording and outputting decoded image data stored in the second buffer memory means;
Second recording control means for recording and outputting image data stored in the first buffer memory means;
A recording control selection unit that selects one of the first recording control unit and the second recording control unit to perform recording output when recording is output;
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:   When the recording control selection unit determines that the encoded image data is stored in the storage buffer, the recording control selection unit selects the first recording control unit, and the encoded image data is not stored in the storage buffer. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when it is determined that image data is stored in the first buffer memory means, the second recording control means is selected. An image processing method in an image processing apparatus, comprising: a reading unit that converts a document into read image data; and a recording unit that records and outputs the image data.
A first storage step of storing image data of at least a predetermined processing unit read by the reading unit in a first buffer memory unit;
A companding step of storing encoded image data obtained by encoding the image page data stored in the first buffer memory means in an accumulation buffer, and decoding the encoded image data read from the accumulation buffer; ,
A second storage step of storing the decoded image data decoded by the companding step in a second buffer memory means for at least a predetermined process;
A control step for performing control to prohibit the other process until one of the encoding process and the decoding process by the companding step is completed for a predetermined processing unit;
An image processing method comprising: A first recording control step for recording and outputting the decoded image page data stored in the second buffer memory means;
A second recording control step for recording and outputting the image page data stored in the first buffer memory means;
A recording control selection step of selecting one of the first recording control step and the second recording control step to perform recording output when recording output;
The image processing method according to claim 4, further comprising:   In the recording control selection step, when it is determined that the encoded image data is stored in the storage buffer, the first recording control step is selected, and the encoded image data is not stored in the storage buffer. 6. The image processing method according to claim 5, wherein when it is determined that image page data is stored in the first buffer memory means, the second recording control step is selected.   A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for realizing the image processing method according to claim 4.   The program which implement | achieves the image processing method in any one of Claims 4-6.

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