JP2006157806A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor capable of adding a transmission header required in transmission to an image for transmission by simple processing without increasing an image conversion time. <P>SOLUTION: The image processor includes: a means for dividing an input image for one page into a plurality of regions of fixed sizes and holding them; a position determination means for determining a position to add one or more band-like images in a part of the image for one page; a band-like image forming means for forming an image for each of one or more band-like regions and dividing the image into a plurality of areas of the fixed sizes; and a partial image replacing means for replacing image data in an image region determined by the position determination means, among the input image held by the holding means with the band-like image data formed by the band-like image forming means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus having an image input function and an image storage function.

  In an image processing apparatus that handles color images, image data is divided into fixed areas (one area as a unit for division is referred to as a tile), each divided tile is compressed, the image is stored in a memory, and each tile code data Is added with a fixed-length header data portion, and code size information is written in this header portion.

Hereinafter, a combination of the tile image code data and the header portion is referred to as an image packet. In addition, in order to store information on the order in which image packets are arranged in the memory, data in which addresses storing image packets are collected is referred to as an image packet table, and one image packet table and a plurality of image packets are stored. Thus, one page of image data is constructed.
JP 2002-64714 A

  In the image processing apparatus as described above, a transmission header character string required when forming a transmission image such as a facsimile, a reception footer character string required when outputting a reception image, etc. It is necessary to synthesize a character string. However, since the input image is compressed, it is necessary to decode the input image in the area to be combined once and develop the character string image in the decoded area. Furthermore, when the input image is a color image and is composed of general color component data such as YUV and YcbCr, the character image must also be formed with the same color. Therefore, a large amount of memory is required for decoding, decoding → character string development → color matching → encoding, etc., and the processing becomes complicated, and image conversion time for facsimile transmission is extended, so communication is wasted. It takes time. The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide an image processing apparatus capable of high-speed processing.

  In order to solve the above problem, the present invention takes the following method.

  Means for dividing an input image of one page into image packet data and holding it together with an image packet table; position determining means for determining a position to add a plurality of tile images to a part of the image of the one page; A column is formed as an image of a band-like region, divided into tile images, the tile image is compressed in the same format as the input image packet, and an image packet is formed, and the input image held in the holding unit A partial image replacement unit that replaces the image packet data of the image area determined by the position determination unit and the image packet data formed by the band-shaped image formation unit, and updates the image packet table. Features.

  Furthermore, means for dividing an input image of one page into image packet data and holding it together with an image packet table, and position determination means for determining a position to add a plurality of tile images to a part of the image of the one page When the position determination means is outside the input image, the number of tiles is determined in accordance with the horizontal or vertical width of the input image, the character string is formed in an area corresponding to the number of tiles, and the tile image is formed. An image formed by the band-shaped image forming unit on the image packet table of the input image held in the holding unit, and a unit that divides and compresses the tile image in the same format as the input image packet and forms the image packet And partial image addition means for adding packet data and adding a band image to the input image.

  By adopting the method of the present invention, a transmission header necessary for transmission can be added to an image for transmission by a simple process without increasing the image conversion time.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the overall configuration of an image processing apparatus system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image processing apparatus 200 includes a scanner unit 2070 that is an image input device, a printer unit 2095 that is an image output device, a controller unit 2000, and an operation unit 2012 that is a user interface. The scanner unit 2070, the printer unit 2095, and the operation unit 2012 are respectively connected to the Controller Unit 2000, and the Controller Unit 2000 is connected to a network transmission unit such as a LAN 2011 and a public line. Transmission by G3 and G4 fax including color image transmission is possible from the public line. In addition, other image processing apparatuses 220 and 230 having the same device configuration as the image processing apparatus 200 can be connected to the LAN 2011. Further, a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as PC) 240 is connected, and can send and receive files and e-mails using FTP and SMB protocols. The image processing apparatuses 220 and 230 have scanner units 2270 and 2370, printer units 2295 and 2395, and operation units 2212 and 2312, respectively, which are connected to the controller unit 2200 and 2300.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the image processing apparatus. The Controller Unit 2000 is connected to a color scanner 2015 as an image input device and a color printer 2017 as an image output device, and on the other hand, is connected to a LAN 2008 or a public line (WAN) 2051 to input / output image information and device information. Controller.

  A CPU 2001 is a controller that controls the entire system. A RAM 2002 is a system work memory for the operation of the CPU 2001, and is also an image memory for temporarily storing image data. A ROM 2003 is a boot ROM, and stores a system boot program. An HDD 2004 is a hard disk drive that stores system software and image data. An operation unit I / F 2005 is an operation unit (UI) 2006 and an interface unit, and outputs image data to be displayed on the operation unit 2006 to the operation unit 2006. Also, it plays a role of transmitting information input by the system user from the operation unit 2006 to the CPU 2001. A network 2007 is connected to the LAN 2008 and inputs / outputs information. A Modem 2050 is connected to the public line 2051 and inputs / outputs image information. Binary image rotation 2052 and binary image compression / decompression 2053 are for converting the direction of an image before transmitting a binary image by Modem 2053, or converting it to a predetermined resolution or a resolution adapted to the partner's ability. It is. Compression and decompression support JBIG, MMR, MR, and MH. A DMAC 2009 is a DMA controller that reads an image stored in the RAM 2002 without using the CPU 2001 and transfers the image to the ImageBus I / F 2011 or writes an image from the image bus into the RAM 2002 without using the CPU 2001. The above devices are connected to the system bus 2008. An ImageBus 2011 is an interface for controlling high-speed image input / output via the image bus 2010. A compressor 2012 is a compressor for JPEG compression in units of 32 pixels × 32 pixels before sending an image to the image bus 2010. A decompressor 2013 is a decompressor for decompressing an image sent via the image bus 2010.

  The raster image processor (RIP) 2018 receives the PDL code from the host computer via the network 2007, and the CPU 2001 stores it in the RAM 2002 through the system bus 2008. The CPU 2001 converts the PDL into an intermediate code, inputs it again to the RIP 2018 via the system bus 2008, and develops it into a bitmap image (multi-value). The scanner image processing 2014 performs various appropriate image processing (for example, correction, processing, editing) on the color image and the black and white image from the scanner 2015 and outputs (multi-value). Similarly, the printer image processing 2016 performs binary various multi-value conversion by decompression 2013 at the time of printing for performing various kinds of image processing (for example, correction, processing, editing) to the printer 2017, so that binary and multi-value output are performed. Is possible. The image conversion unit 2030 has various image conversion functions used when converting an image on the RAM and returning it to the RAM 2030 again. A rotator 2019 can rotate an image of 32 pixels × 32 pixels unit by a specified angle, and supports binary and multi-value input / output. The magnification changer 2020 has a function (for example, from 25% to 400%) for converting the resolution of the image (for example, from 600 dpi to 200 dpi) and for changing the magnification. Before scaling, the image of 32 × 32 pixels is rearranged into an image in units of 32 lines. The color space conversion 2021 converts, for example, a YUV image on the memory into a Lab image by matrix calculation and LUT, and stores the image on the multi-valued input on the memory. Further, this color space conversion has a 3 × 8 matrix operation and a one-dimensional LUT, and can perform well-known background removal and show-through prevention. The converted image is output in multiple values. A binary multi-value conversion 2022 converts a 1-bit binary image into a multi-value 8-bit, 256 gradation. On the other hand, the multi-value / binary conversion 2025 converts, for example, an 8-bit, 256-gradation image on the memory into 1-bit, 2-gradation by a technique such as error diffusion processing, and stores it on the memory. The composition has a function of composing two multi-valued image images on the memory into one multi-valued image. For example, a company logo can be easily attached to a document image by combining the image of the company logo in the memory with the document image. The thinning 2024 is a unit that performs resolution conversion by thinning out pixels of a multivalued image, and can output 1/2, 1/4, and 1/8 multivalued images. By using it together with the variable magnification 2020, a wider range of enlargement / reduction can be performed. The movement 2025 can be output by adding a margin portion to the input binary image or multi-valued image or deleting the margin portion. The rotation 2019, scaling 2020, color space conversion 2021, binary multi-value 2022, composition 2023, thinning 2024, movement 2025, and multi-value binary 2026 can be connected to each other. When the value image is rotated and the resolution is converted, both processes can be performed without using a memory.

  FIG. 3 shows the format of the image. The image format used in the present invention uses the image packet structure disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-103473. In compression 2012, raster format images are rearranged as packets of 32 × 32 pixel units as shown in FIG. 3, and JPEG compression is performed in packet units. At the same time, information such as an ID indicating the position of the packet, a color space, a Q table ID, and a data length is added to the packet to form a header. Binary data (image area flag) indicating characters and photographs is similarly compressed and attached after JPEG. FIG. 4 shows packet data. In decompression 2013, JPEG is developed based on this header information and rearranged into a raster image. By making such a packet image, only the image inside the packet is rotated at the time of image rotation, and by changing the position of the packet ID, it can be partially rotated by decompression and compression, so it is very efficient. . All images flowing through ImageBus 2010 are packet images.

  Further, when an image is handled on a memory, a packet table is used. In the packet table, one element is the start address and size of one packet, and one image is shown by arranging this in the main scanning and sub scanning. By using the packet table, even if packets constituting an image are discretely arranged on a memory, it can be handled as one image.

  When a raster image is necessary for FAX transmission, binary image rotation 2052, binary image compression, expansion 2053, or the like, conversion from a packet image to a raster image is performed by software.

  FIG. 5 shows a detailed description of the scanner image processing 2014. The RGB 8-bit luminance signal input from the scanner is converted into a standard RGB color signal independent of the filter color of the CCD by masking 2501. In the filter 2502, for example, a 9 × 9 matrix is used, and an image is blurred or sharpened. A histogram 2503 is a processing unit that samples image signal data in an input image, and is used to determine the background level of the input image. In this module, RGB data in a rectangular area surrounded by the specified start and end points in the main and sub-scan directions is sampled at a constant pitch in the main and sub-scan directions, and a histogram is created. . This histogram is read when background skipping or prevention of show-through is specified, and the background of the original is estimated from the histogram, and is stored and managed in the memory or HDD along with the image as the background skipping level. Used for image processing. In gamma 2504, processing is performed so that the density of the entire image is increased or decreased. For example, it is a part that converts the color space of the input image into an arbitrary color space or performs correction processing relating to the color of the input system. In order to determine whether the document is color or black and white, the image signal before scaling is converted into a known Lab by color space conversion 2505. Of these, a and b represent color signal components, and a 1-bit determination signal is output from the comparator 2505 as a chromatic color if it is equal to or higher than a predetermined level in the comparator 2505 and otherwise as an achromatic color. A counter 2507 measures the output from the comparator. Character / photo determination is a function that extracts a character edge from an image and separates the image into characters and a photo. As an output, a character photograph determination signal is obtained. This signal is also stored in the memory or HD together with the image and used during printing. Reference numeral 2509 denotes a specific document determination device. The specific document determination unit can compare the input image signal and the degree to which the pattern held in the determination unit matches, and can read the determination result of matching or mismatching as illustrated. The image is processed according to the determination result to prevent counterfeiting of banknotes and securities.

  FIG. 6 shows a detailed description of the printer image processing 2016.

  In 2601, the background color of the image data is skipped and unnecessary background fogging is removed. For example, the background removal is performed by a 3 × 8 matrix operation or a one-dimensional LUT. This is a function included in 2032 as described above, and is a completely equivalent circuit. Reference numeral 2602 denotes a monochrome generation unit that converts color image data, for example, RGB data into Gray single color when converting color image data into monochrome data and printing it as a single color. For example, it is composed of a 1 × 3 matrix operation that multiplies RGB by an arbitrary constant to obtain a Gray signal. An output color correction unit 2603 performs color correction in accordance with the characteristics of the printer unit that outputs image data. For example, it includes processing by 4 × 8 matrix calculation or direct mapping. A filter processing unit 2604 arbitrarily corrects the spatial frequency of the image data, and includes, for example, processing for performing a 9 × 9 matrix operation. Reference numeral 2605 denotes a process for performing gamma correction in accordance with the characteristics of the printer unit to be output, and is usually composed of a one-dimensional LUT. A processing unit 2606 performs arbitrary halftone processing in accordance with the number of gradations of the output printer unit, and is a halftone processing unit that performs arbitrary screen processing such as binarization and binarization and error diffusion processing. is there. Each process can be switched by a character / photo determination signal (not shown). The inter-drum delay memory 2607 is a memory for superimposing CMYK images by shifting the CMYK printing timing by an amount between the drums in a color printer having CMYK drums. In a color printer having four drums for each color of CMYK, it can be delayed to align the position of the image.

  An image input / output device is shown in FIG. The scanner unit 2015, which is an image input device, illuminates an image on paper serving as a document and scans a CCD line sensor (not shown), thereby converting it into an electrical signal as raster image data. The manuscript paper is set on the tray 2702 of the manuscript feeder 2701, and when the apparatus user gives a reading start instruction from the operation unit 2006, the controller CPU 2001 gives an instruction to the scanner 2015, and manuscript paper is fed one by one from the tray 2702 of the feeder 2071. Feeds and reads the original image.

  The printer unit 2017, which is an image output device, is a part that converts raster image data into an image on paper. The method is an electrophotographic method using a photosensitive drum or a photosensitive belt, and ink is ejected from a micro nozzle array. There is an ink jet method for printing an image directly on paper, but any method may be used. Activation of the printing operation is started by an instruction from the controller CPU 2001. The printer unit 2095 has a plurality of paper feed stages so that different paper sizes or different paper orientations can be selected, and there are paper cassettes 2703, 2704, and 2705 corresponding thereto. A paper discharge tray 2706 is a paper discharge tray for receiving the printed paper.

  The configuration of the operation unit 2006 is shown in FIG. The LCD display unit 2801 has a touch panel sheet 2802 pasted on the LCD, displays a system operation screen and soft keys, and transmits the position information to the controller CPU 2001 when the displayed keys are pressed. A start key 2014 is used to start a document image reading operation. There is a green and red two-color LED 2804 in the center of the start key 2803, and indicates whether or not the start key 2803 can be used depending on the color. A stop key 2805 functions to stop an operation in operation. An ID key 2806 is used when inputting the user ID of the user. A reset key 2807 is used when initializing settings from the operation unit.

  FIG. 9 is an initial screen in the image processing apparatus of the present embodiment, and is also a standard screen that is returned after setting each image forming function. 3101 performs screen switching for performing copy settings. 3102 performs screen switching for setting to send the scanned image by fax or electronic mail. A screen 3103 stores a scan image and a PDL image in the built-in HDD, or performs screen switching for setting the print, transmission, or editing of the stored scan image and PDL image. Reference numeral 3104 denotes a window for displaying the image reading settings set in 3105. In 3105, resolution, density, and the like at the time of image reading are set. Reference numeral 3106 denotes a timer setting at the time of timer transmission and a setting for printing on the HDD or printer. 3107 displays the transmission destination designated by 3108. 3109 displays detailed information of one destination displayed in 3107. 3110 deletes one destination displayed in 3107.

  FIG. 10 is a pop-up window displayed when 3105 is pressed. In 3201, the read original size is selected and input from the pop-up, and the set read size is displayed in 3202. Reference numeral 3203 denotes a selection of a document reading mode. When pressed, three types of color / black / automatic (ACS) can be selected. The color mode can be selected in the same way for copy and box. If the measurement result of the counter 2507 is smaller than a predetermined value, it is determined as a black and white document, and if it is larger, it is determined as a color document. If it is color, a color image is displayed, if it is black, a monochrome image is displayed. Accumulate the result of determining whether it is color or black and white. 3204 is a selection input from a pop-up for designating the resolution of reading. Reference numeral 3205 denotes a slider for adjusting the reading density of the original, and can be adjusted in nine steps. 3206 is for automatically determining the density when reading an image with a background such as a newspaper. For 3206, the same setting can be made by copying.

  FIG. 11 shows a screen when the copy tab 3101 is pressed. Reference numeral 3301 denotes whether or not copying is possible, and the number of copies set at the same time is also displayed. A function 3302 is equivalent to the function 3206, and is a button for selecting whether to automatically remove the background. Reference numeral 3303 denotes a slider having a function equivalent to that of 3205 and capable of nine levels of density adjustment. In 3304, the type of the original is selected, and a character / photo / map, text, a photographic paper photo, and a printed photo can be selected. Reference numeral 3305 denotes an application mode button which can set a reduced layout (a function for reducing and printing a plurality of originals on one sheet), a color balance (CMYK color fine adjustment), and the like. Reference numeral 3306 denotes a button for performing settings relating to various finishings, and shift sort, staple sort, and group sort can be set. Reference numeral 3307 denotes a button for performing settings relating to duplex reading and duplex printing.

  FIG. 12 shows a screen when the box tab 3103 is pressed. Reference numeral 3401 denotes each folder logically divided into HDDs. Folder numbers are assigned to the folders in advance, and 3401 becomes the 0th folder. Next to the folder number, the percentage of disk space used by the folder is displayed. Folders can be given any name, and the name is displayed here. 3402 displays the usage amount of the entire HDD.

  FIG. 13 shows a screen when 3401 is pressed. Reference numerals 3501 and 3502 denote documents stored in folders. A document is composed of a plurality of pages. Reference numeral 3501 denotes a scanned document, which displays an icon display indicating a scanned document, an HDD usage amount, and a document name display that can be arbitrarily set by the user. An icon 3502 is a PDL document stored from the PDL. By depressing the icon, it is shown in reverse video that the document has been selected. Reference numeral 3503 denotes a button for transmitting the selected document. Reference numeral 3504 denotes a button for reading a document from the scanner and generating a document. Reference numeral 3505 denotes a button for selecting all the documents in the folder. Reference numeral 3506 denotes a button for deleting the selected document. Reference numeral 3507 denotes a button for printing the selected document. Reference numeral 3508 denotes a button for editing the selected document. For example, it has a function of selecting and combining two documents, saving them as one document, and deleting a specific page. Reference numeral 3509 denotes a button for displaying detailed information of the last selected document. In addition to the document name, information such as resolution, document size, and color can be viewed.

  FIG. 14 shows a software configuration diagram. Reference numeral 4010 denotes a UI control unit that controls the display operation unit, a copy application unit 4020 that receives an instruction from the UI control unit, and executes a copy operation, a transmission operation, a scan from a box screen, and a print, a transmission application unit 4021, and a BOX application unit 4022. There is also a PDL application unit 4023 that receives PDL print data from the network application 4120 and inputs a PDL print job. Reference numeral 4030 denotes a common interface part for absorbing a device-dependent part of the device control part, and 4040 denotes a job manager that organizes job information received from the common interface and transmits it to a lower-level document processing unit. If the document processing unit is a local copy, the scan manager 4050 and the print manager 4090, a remote copy transmission job or a transmission job, the scan manager 4050 and the file store manager 4100, and a remote copy reception job, the file read manager 4060. And a print manager 4090, and PDL manager 4070 and print manager 4090 for PDL printing such as LIPS and PostScript. An image processing request to the image manager 4110 that performs synchronization between the document managers and performs various image processing is performed via the sync manager 4080. The image manager 4110 performs image processing and image file storage during scanning and printing.

  First, local copy software processing will be described. A copy setting is transmitted from the UI control unit 4010 to the copy application unit 4020 together with a copy instruction in accordance with a user instruction. The copy application unit 4020 transmits information from the UI control unit 4010 to the job manager 4040 that performs device control via the common interface 4030. The job manager 4040 transmits job information to the scan manager 4050 and the print manager 4090. The scan manager 4050 issues a scan request to the scanner 2070 via a device I / F (not shown) (the device I / F is a serial I / F connecting the controller 2000 and the scanner 2015 and the controller 2000 and the printer 2017). At the same time, an image processing request for scanning is issued to the image manager 4110 via the sync manager 4080. The image manager 4110 sets the scanner image processing unit 2014 in accordance with an instruction from the scan manager 4050. When the setting is completed, a scan preparation completion is notified via the sync manager 4080. Thereafter, the scan manager 4050 instructs the scanner 2070 to scan. The completion of scan image transfer is transmitted to the image manager 4110 by an interrupt signal from hardware (not shown). Upon receiving the scan completion from the image manager 4110, the sync manager 4080 notifies the scan manager 4050 and the print manager 4090 of the scan completion. At the same time, the sync manager 4080 instructs the image manager 4110 to file the compressed image stored in the RAM 2002 into the HDD 2004. The image manager 4110 stores the image (including the character / photo determination signal) on the memory in the HDD 2004 according to the instruction. A color determination / monochrome determination result, a background skip level for performing background skip, a scanned image, and a color space RGB as an image input source are also stored in an SRAM (not shown) as accompanying information of the image. When the storage in the HDD 2004 is completed and the scan completion from the scanner 2070 is received, the scan manager 4050 is notified of the completion of file formation via the sync manager 4080. The scan manager 4050 returns an end notification to the job manager 4040, and the job manager 4040 returns it to the copy application unit 4020 via the common interface 4030. The print manager 4090 issues a print request to the printer 2095 via the device I / F when an image is stored in the memory. At the same time, a print image processing request is sent to the sync manager 4080. Upon receiving a request from the print manager 4090, the sync manager 4080 requests the image manager 4110 for image processing settings. The image manager 4110 sets the printer image processing unit 2015 according to the accompanying information of the image, and notifies the print manager 4090 that the print preparation is complete via the sync manager 4080. The print manager 4090 issues a print instruction to the printer. The completion of print image transfer is transmitted to the image manager 4110 by an interrupt signal from hardware (not shown). In response to the print completion from the image manager 4110, the sync manager 4080 notifies the print manager 4090 of the print completion. The print manager 4090 receives the completion of paper discharge from the printer unit, returns an end notification to the job manager 4040, and the job manager 4040 returns it to the copy application unit 4020 via the common interface 4030. The copy application unit 4020 notifies the UI control unit of the end of the job when scanning and printing are completed.

  In the case of a remote copy scan job or transmission job, the store manager 4100 receives a request from the job manager 4040 instead of the print manager 4090. When the scan image has been stored in the HDD, a storage completion notification is received from the sync manager 4080, and this is notified via the common interface 4030 to the copy application unit 4020 for remote copying and to the transmission application unit 4021 for transmission jobs. After this notification, the copy application unit 4020 and the transmission application 4021 request the network application 4420 to transmit the file stored in the HDD. The network application 4420 that has received the request transmits the file. The network application 4420 receives setting information related to copying from the copy application unit 4020 at the start of the job, and also notifies the remote device of the setting information. In the case of remote copy, the network application 4420 performs transmission using a device-specific communication protocol. In the case of a transmission job, a standard file transfer protocol such as FTP or SMB is used.

  In the case of fax transmission, after the file is stored, the transmission application 4021 instructs the FAX manager 4041 to transmit via the common interface 4030 and the job manager 4040. The FAX manager 4041 negotiates with the other device via the Modem 2050, requests the image manager 4110 to perform necessary image processing (color-> black and white conversion, multi-value binary conversion, rotation, scaling), and converts the converted image. Send using Modem.

  If there is a printer at the transmission destination, the transmission application issues a print instruction as a print job via the common interface 4000. The operation at that time is the same as that of the remote copy print job described below. When the transmission destination is a box destination in the device, the file store manager 4100 stores it in the file system in the device.

  At the time of FAX reception, the FAX manager receives an image using Modem and stores it in the HDD 2004 as an image file. When the box application 4021 is notified after the HDD 2004 is stored, a reception print instruction is issued from the box application 4021 to the job manager 4040 via the common interface 4030. Thereafter, the operation is the same as that of a normal box print job, and the description is omitted.

  In the case of a remote copy print job, the network application 4420 saves an image from the transmission side in the HDD and issues a job to the copy application unit 4020. The copy application unit 4020 submits a print job to the job manager 4040 via the common interface 4030. Unlike local copy, the file read manager 4060 receives a request from the job manager 4040 instead of the scan manager 4050. A request for expanding the received image from the HDD to the memory is sent to the image manager 4110 via the sync manager 4080. The image manager 4110 expands the image in the memory. When the development is completed, the image manager 4110 notifies the file read manager 4060 and the print manager 4090 of the completion of the development via the sync manager 4080. When an image is stored in the memory, the print manager 4090 selects a paper feed stage instructed by the job manager or a stage having the paper size via the device I / F, and issues a print request. In the case of automatic paper, the paper feed stage is determined from the image size and a print request is issued. At the same time, a print image processing request is sent to the sync manager 4080. Upon receiving a request from the print manager 4090, the sync manager 4080 requests the image manager 4110 to set print image processing. (At this time, for example, if the optimum size sheet runs out and rotation is necessary, a rotation instruction is also requested. If there is a rotation instruction, the image manager rotates the image using the image rotation 2019.) The image manager 4110 The printer image processing unit 2090 is set, and the print manager 4090 is notified of completion of print preparation via the sync manager 4080. The print manager 4090 issues a print instruction to the printer. The completion of print image transfer is transmitted to the image manager 4110 by an interrupt signal from hardware (not shown). Upon receiving the print completion from the image manager 4110, the sync manager 4080 notifies the file read manager 4060 and the print manager 4090 of the print completion. The file read manager 4060 returns an end notification to the job manager 4040. In response to the completion of paper discharge from the printer unit, the print manager 4090 returns an end notification to the job manager 4040. The job manager 4040 returns an end notification to the copy application unit 4020 via the common interface 4030. The copy application unit 4020 notifies the UI control unit of the end of the job when scanning and printing are completed.

  In the case of a PDL data development storage job, a request from the host PC that has input the PDL print is transmitted to the PDL application 4023 via the network application 4120. The PDL application instructs the job manager 4040 via the common interface 4030 for a PDL data development storage job. At this time, the PDL manager 4070 and the store manager 4100 receive a request from the job manager 4040. An image input portion after completion of RIP of the image is the same as that of the above-described scan job. The image on the memory (including the character / photo determination signal) is stored in the HDD 2004. Color / monochrome information is stored in an unillustrated SRAM as image accompanying information, and a PDL image, color space CMYK or RGB is also stored as an image input source. When the storage of the PDL image in the HDD 2004 is completed, a storage completion notification is received from the sync manager 4080 and is notified to the PDL application 4023 via the common interface 4030. After this notification, the PDL application 4023 notifies the network application 4420 of completion of storage in the HDD, and this information is transmitted to the host PC that has entered the PDL print. In the case of a PDL print job, an image developed on the memory is printed by the PDL manager 4070 and the print manager.

  To print an image stored in the PDL format, a stored document instructed to be printed by the UI is issued as a print job to the BOX application. The BOX application unit 4022 inputs a print job to the job manager 4040 via the common interface 4030. Unlike local copy, the file read manager 4060 receives a request from the job manager 4040 instead of the scan manager 4050. A request for expanding an image instructed to be printed from the HDD to the memory is made to the image manager 4110 via the sync manager 4080. The subsequent operation is the same as that described in the remote copy print job, and is therefore omitted.

  Next, a method for synthesizing a character string image when generating a transmission image in the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating the flow of processing in an example in which an image read and accumulated is read out to a memory and transmitted by color fax or color internet fax. The read image is stored in the HDD 2004 as the above-described image packet data and image packet table data in units of pages. First, data to be read is determined in step 5001. In step 5002, the image packet data and the image packet table data are read into the RAM 2002 described above. For example, the read image is packet JPEG having a YUV color component having an average size of about 17 MB, and is data having an image size of A3 and a resolution of 600 × 600 DPI (step 5003). Next, in step 5004, in order to convert the data in step 5003 for transmission, the decompressor 2013, the image converter 2030, and the compressor 2012 are used to perform resolution conversion, YUV → RGB color space conversion, and rotation. To do. The converted image is packet JPEG having RGB color components having an average size of about 2 MB, and is data having an image size of A4 and a resolution of 200 × 200 DPI (step 5005).

  Next, in step 5006, RGB to Lab color space conversion is executed again using the decompressor 2013, the image converter 2030, and the compressor 2012. The converted image is a packet JPEG having Lab color components having an average size of about 2 MB, and is data having an image size of A4 and a resolution of 200 × 200 DPI (step 5007). Next, in step 5008, a header is added to the packet image of the present invention by software processing, and blanking or margining is performed as necessary so that the size can be transmitted, and the decompressor 2013 and the compressor 2012 are used. Then, the packet image is converted into a raster image for transmission. The converted image data for transmission is a raster JPEG format having Lab color components having an average size of about 2 MB, and has an image size of A4 and a resolution of 200 × 200 DPI (step 5009).

  Finally, in step 5010, a raster image for transmission is transmitted.

  FIG. 16 illustrates a transmission header added at the time of image transmission or reception image printing and a reception footer added at the time of reception image printing. The normal transmission header is a band-like image added to the original image at the start of transmission or when the received image is printed. Is included. FIG. 16A shows a transmission image and a reception image, 5101 indicates a transmission header, and 5102 indicates an image to be transmitted. Reference numeral 5103 denotes the received transmission header information of the partner machine, 5104 denotes the received image, and 5105 denotes the reception footer. FIG. 10B is a diagram illustrating an example of a received image in an external header mode in which a transmission header 5101 is added to the outside of the image 5102. In this case, a header is added to the head of the image without changing the transmission image. (C) is a figure which shows the example of a received image of the internal header mode which added the header in the image. The beginning of the transmitted image is missing for the same length as the header. (D) is a figure which shows the example of a received image of the headerless mode which does not add a header. In this case, the image is transmitted without modification.

  There are external, internal, and non-attached modes during reception printing, which are the same as the received image example during transmission. However, there is a mode in which a reception footer is additionally attached during reception printing, and FIG. 16E shows an example of a reception print image in the case of selecting a sender record external attachment and a reception footer.

  FIG. 17 shows a flow of processing for adding a header to a packet image when forming an image for transmission in step 5008 described above. First, if it is determined in step 5201 that a header is not attached, the process ends without performing anything. If not, the process proceeds to step 5202 to determine header character string data to be added. Next, proceeding to step 5203, a memory area in which a character string is developed is determined and acquired according to the number of pixels and resolution of the transmission image, and is initialized with the background color. In step 5204, the character string is developed as a bitmap image in the memory area described above. In step 5205, the bitmap image is converted into a tile image, and encoding is performed for each tile in the transmission image encoding format. In step 5206, a packet header is added to each tile image to create packet data. Next, in step 5207, it is determined whether the packet header is to be added or not. If it is determined that a packet header is to be added, the process proceeds to step 5208 to delete the image packet data to be replaced with the header image in the transmission image, and the packet data generated in step 5206 is written here. In step 5209, the packet table is updated to indicate the packet data generated in step 5208, and the process ends. If it is determined in step 5207 that a header is to be added, the process proceeds to step 5210, where the packet data generated in step 5206 is written at the end of the transmission image data, and the packet ID of the transmission image data is appended to the header packet data. Update to be. In step 5209, the packet table is updated to indicate the packet data generated in step 5210, and the process ends.

  FIG. 18 shows a header in which transmission header images of 34 main scanning packets and 2 sub scanning packets are added to transmission images of 34 main scanning and 8 sub scanning packets to generate images of 34 main scanning and 10 sub scanning images. It is a schematic diagram when an external image generation example and the header 2 internal image are generated by replacing the first two packet lines of the transmission image of 34 main scanning packets and 8 sub scanning packets with a transmission header image.

  The packet table at the time when the transmission image is read indicates 272 data packets, the header image corresponds to the transmission image for 34 tiles in the main scan, and the sub-scan does not lose the character string. Packet data is generated by expanding it into a minimum area (for two tiles in this example). The packet table is updated to indicate the data packets of these two images. If the transmission header is external, update the packet table so that the transmission header is aligned at the beginning of the transmission image. If it is internal, delete the packet data at the beginning of the transmission image and align the transmission header at the beginning. Update the packet table.

The figure which shows the whole structure of an image processing system The figure which shows the whole structure of an image processing apparatus Relationship between packet image and whole image Diagram showing structure of packet image Block diagram of scanner image processing of the present invention Block diagram of printer image processing of the present invention External view of input / output device of image processing device External view of operation unit of image processing device Explanatory drawing of the transmission screen of the operation part of this invention Detailed explanatory diagram of the transmission screen of the operation unit of the present invention Explanatory drawing of the copy screen of the operation unit of the present invention Explanatory drawing of the box screen of the operation unit of the present invention Detailed explanatory diagram of the box screen of the operation unit of the present invention Software configuration diagram showing the software configuration of the present invention Processing flowchart at the time of image transmission of the image processing apparatus of the present invention (A) (b) (c) (d) (e) Explanatory drawing of a known transmission header and reception footer Processing flowchart when adding header of image processing apparatus of the present invention Explanatory drawing of the image formation method at the time of header addition of this invention

Explanation of symbols

200 Image Processing Device 2000 Controller Unit
2011 LAN
2070 Scanner unit 2095 Printer unit

Claims (5)

Means for dividing and holding an input image of one page into a plurality of fixed-size areas;
Position determining means for determining a position to add one or more belt-like images to a part of the image of one page;
A belt-shaped image forming unit that forms an image for each of the one or more belt-shaped regions and divides the image into a plurality of regions of the fixed size;
A partial image replacement unit that replaces the image data of the image region determined by the position determination unit in the input image held in the holding unit and the band-shaped image data formed by the band-shaped image forming unit;
An image processing apparatus comprising: Means for dividing and holding an input image of one page into a plurality of fixed-size areas;
Position determining means for determining a position to add one or more belt-like images to a part of the image of one page;
When the position determining means is outside the input image, a band-shaped image is formed by forming a band-shaped image with a margin in the same area as the horizontal or vertical width of the input image, and dividing the image into a plurality of fixed-size areas. Image forming means;
A partial image adding means for adding to the image data of the image area determined by the position determining means in the input image held by the holding means and the belt-like image data formed by the belt-like image forming means;
An image processing apparatus comprising: 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the belt-shaped image forming unit is formed so as to have the same compression format, color space, quantization parameter, and resolution as an input image.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the belt-like image is a transmission header image to be added to a header portion of a page when image information is transmitted.   4. The image processing according to claim 1, wherein the belt-like image is a reception header / footer image to be added to a header and footer portion of a page when reception image information is printed. apparatus.