JP2006259913A - Image processing device and method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem of high costs caused by storage of images of different formats in different storage devices. <P>SOLUTION: Image data of RGB is read out by a reading portion 11, and the read image data is compressed by a compression expansion portion 17 executing compression corresponding to the image data of RGB. Then the compressed image data is stored in an image storage portion 18. On the other hand, image data of CMYK drawn and created by an image drawing portion 21 is compressed by a compression expansion portion 19 executing compression expansion corresponding to CMYK on the basis of a instruction from an external PC 30. Then the compressed image data are stored in the image storage portion 18. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and an image processing program that store image information.

  Conventionally, an image copying system includes an image storage device that stores a read image (for example, Patent Document 1). The data read from the scanner is often stored in the RGB data format from the point of subsequent reuse, while the printer output data often accumulates CMYK data from the viewpoint of the memory usage efficiency of the tandem color image system. . In recent image copying systems, the scanned scanner image data is stored inside the MFP and transferred to an external PC or displayed on an operation panel inside the MFP.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-1000096

  By the way, the above-described conventional technique has a problem that the cost increases because images of different formats are stored in different storage devices.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and an object thereof is to provide an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and an image processing program that are low in cost.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the invention according to claim 1 is an image processing apparatus for storing image information, and performs compression / decompression for performing compression / decompression corresponding to each of a plurality of different types of image information. And storage means for storing the image information compressed and expanded by the compression / expansion means.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the above invention, an image quality correction unit that performs image quality correction on the image information, and a general-purpose compression that compresses image information corrected by the image quality correction unit using a general-purpose compression method. And image data compressed by the general-purpose compression means, and transmission means for transmitting image information by switching processing parameters of image quality processing in accordance with an output destination apparatus.

  The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned invention, after the image processing that has been drawn and generated is stored in the storage means, correction processing suitable for the plotter is performed and the processed image is transmitted to the plotter.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the above invention, the image processing method for storing image information is a compression / decompression step for performing compression / decompression corresponding to each of a plurality of different types of image information, and the compression / decompression process. And an accumulation process for accumulating image information compressed and expanded by the process.

  The invention according to claim 5 is an image processing program for causing a computer to execute an image processing method for accumulating image information in the above invention, and performs compression / decompression corresponding to each of a plurality of different types of image information. It is characterized by causing a computer to execute a compression / decompression procedure and a storage procedure for storing image information compressed and expanded by the compression / decompression procedure.

  According to the first, fourth, or fifth aspect of the present invention, an image quality optimum for each application is obtained by adopting a configuration in which appropriate image compression is performed for each of the different image formats and stored in a common image storage device. The storage device can be used effectively and the cost can be reduced.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a function of performing image quality correction processing for transmission on RGB format data read and accumulated from a scanner and outputting the data to an external PC.

  According to the invention of claim 3, the CMYK 8-bit data drawn for plotter output by the image drawing device is once stored in the image storage device, and then printed out by using the plotter correction device used in the copy process. The purpose is to obtain consistency in image quality between copy images and printer images.

  Embodiments of an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and an image processing program according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  First, the outline and features of the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

  The image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment is summarized as storing image information. The image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment performs compression / decompression corresponding to each of a plurality of different types of image information, and stores the compressed / decompressed image information.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment reads, for example, RGB image data by the reading unit 11 and compresses and decompresses the read image data corresponding to the RGB image data. Compression is performed by the unit 17. The compressed image data is stored in the image storage unit 18.

  On the other hand, in accordance with an instruction from the external PC 30, the CMYK image data drawn and generated by the image drawing unit 21 is compressed by the compression / decompression unit 19 that performs compression / decompression corresponding to CMYK. The compressed image data is stored in the image storage unit 18. The compression / decompression units 17 and 19 correspond to the “compression / decompression unit” described in the claims, and the image storage unit 18 corresponds to the “storage unit” described in the claims.

  As described above, the RGB image data and the CMYK image data are appropriately compressed and stored in the common image storage unit 18, so that the optimum image for each application is held and the storage device is effectively used. It can be used and the cost can be reduced.

  Next, the configuration and processing of the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The reading unit 11 reads an image. The RGB image data is sent to the scanner correction unit 12. The scanner correction unit 12 performs scanner γ correction, color correction, spatial filter, and scaling as shown in FIG. In this color correction, color conversion is performed from the RGB signal specific to the device read by the scanner to the RGB signal in the standard color space.

  The RGB signal after the scanner correction is sent to the memory control unit 13. The image data sent to the memory control unit 13 is compressed by the compression / decompression unit 17. The compression / decompression unit 17 uses a variable length lossy compression device such as JPEG. The compressed data is stored in the main memory 18a. This data is stored in a larger capacity HDD 18b as required.

  Next, the operation of the copy application will be described. Image data in the main memory 18 a is expanded by the compression / expansion unit 17 and sent to the color correction unit 14 by the memory control unit 13. Here, the standard color space RGB data is converted into CMYK 8-bit data taking printer characteristics into consideration. The CMYK data is subjected to printer γ processing and halftone processing in the plotter correction unit 15 shown in FIG.

  Next, the operation of the printer application will be described. In FIG. 1, the image drawing unit 21 in the device converts the printer language into raster image data of 1 to 4 bits for each color of CMYK according to an instruction from the printer driver of the external PC 30. This data is sent to the memory control unit 20. The image data sent to the memory control unit 20 is compressed by the compression / decompression unit 19. The compression / decompression unit 19 uses a reversible compression device such as JBIG. The compressed data is stored in the same main memory as the copy scanner system. This data is stored in a larger capacity HDD 18b as required.

  The printer drawing device can also draw in RGB, but since it takes time to access the memory to generate 8-bit data for each RGB color, the CMYK colors are processed to 1 to 4 bits and then stored in the memory. This is because the performance of the image drawing unit 21 can be easily obtained.

  Since the image data of the scanner system is 8 bits for each plane when stored, the amount of data is large, and therefore, an irreversible variable length compression method such as JPEG having a high compression rate is used. Since the original image is a natural image read by a scanner, deterioration in image quality is not noticeable. On the other hand, image data sent from the printer drawing apparatus is 1 to 4 bits for each CMYK plane. Although the amount of data is small, image quality deterioration due to compression tends to lead to image quality deterioration. Therefore, a reversible compression method is essential. Although these formats are different, the main memory 18a and the HDD 18b can be reduced by being managed by one image storage unit 18. It is also easy to handle when trying to reuse each other's data.

  Next, Example 2 will be described with reference to FIG. The case of scanner application output will be described. Of the image data stored in the main memory 18a, the RGB format image data compressed by the compression / expansion unit 17 is expanded again by the compression / expansion unit 17 and sent to the image quality correction unit 22 for the transmission application by the memory control unit 13. It is done.

  In the image quality correction unit 22 for the transmission application, resolution conversion, spatial filter processing, γ conversion processing, and color correction processing are performed as shown in FIG. Then, it is sent to the NIC (network control device) and sent to the external network. Today, image data is transmitted to a wide variety of destinations such as notebook PCs, PDAs, and mobile phones in addition to general desktop PCs. The appropriate resolution and color space are different for each, and the aim of the image is also different. For example, it is preferable to transmit an electronic image that looks as much as possible to the original document image to the desktop PC. On the other hand, since PDAs and mobile phones have limited display screens, it is considered important that there is no missing character information even if the picture image becomes unclear. In this manner, a useful transmission image can be obtained by appropriately changing the image quality processing parameters in accordance with the output destination device.

  Next, Example 3 will be described with reference to FIG. The operation of the copy application is the same as that of claim 1. The operation of the printer application will be described. In FIG. 3, the image drawing apparatus in the apparatus converts the printer language into 8-bit raster image data of each color of CMYK according to the instruction of the printer driver of the external PC. This data is sent to the memory control unit 20. The image data sent to the memory control unit 20 is compressed by the compression / decompression unit 19. In the third embodiment, the compression / decompression unit 19 is assumed to be a lossless compression device such as JBIG, but it is also possible to use lossy compression such as JPEG in a trade-off with image quality. The compressed data is stored in the same main memory 18a as the copy scanner system. This data is stored in the HDD 18b having a larger capacity as necessary.

  Since the printer drawing device generates data of 8 bits for each color of CMYK, it takes time to access the memory. Therefore, it is difficult to obtain the performance of the drawing device. However, by storing images with 8 bits for each color of CMYK, even if the characteristics of the plotter fluctuate and deviate from the expected γ characteristics, the γ characteristics can be corrected by the γ conversion unit of the plotter correction unit. Is possible. Therefore, there is an advantage that it is easy to guarantee the image quality of the accumulated printer image data.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described so far, the present invention may be implemented in various different forms other than the embodiments described above. Therefore, different embodiments will be described below by dividing the image forming apparatus according to the fourth embodiment into (1) system configuration and (2) hardware configuration, respectively.

(1) System configuration, etc. Of the processes described in this embodiment, all or part of the processes described as being automatically performed can be performed manually, or can be performed manually. All or part of the described processing can be automatically performed by a known method. In addition, the processing procedure, control procedure, specific name, and information including various data and parameters shown in the above-described document and drawings can be arbitrarily changed unless otherwise specified.

  Further, each component of each illustrated apparatus is functionally conceptual, and does not necessarily need to be physically configured as illustrated. In other words, the specific form of distribution / integration of each device is not limited to that shown in the figure, and all or a part thereof may be functionally or physically distributed or arbitrarily distributed in arbitrary units according to various loads or usage conditions. Can be integrated and configured. Further, all or any part of each processing function performed in each device may be realized by a CPU and a program analyzed and executed by the CPU, or may be realized as hardware by wired logic.

(2) Hardware Configuration FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment. As shown in the figure, this image processing apparatus has a configuration in which a controller 100 and an engine unit (Engine) 600 are connected by a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) bus. The controller 100 is a controller that controls overall control, drawing, communication, and input from an operation unit (not shown). The engine unit 600 is a printer engine that can be connected to a PCI bus, and is, for example, a monochrome plotter, a one-drum color plotter, a four-drum color plotter, a scanner, or a fax unit. The engine unit 600 includes an image processing part such as error diffusion and gamma conversion in addition to a so-called engine part such as a plotter.

  The controller 100 includes a CPU 110, a north bridge (NB) 130, a system memory (MEM-P) 120, a south bridge (SB) 140, a local memory (MEM-C) 170, and an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). 160 and a hard disk drive (HDD) 180, and the north bridge (NB) 130 and the ASIC 160 are connected by an AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) bus 150. The MEM-P 120 further includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) 120a and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 120b.

  The CPU 110 performs overall control of image processing, has a chip set including the NB 130, the MEM-P 120, and the SB 140, and is connected to other devices via the chip set.

  The NB 130 is a bridge for connecting the CPU 110 to the MEM-P 120, the SB 140, and the AGP 150, and includes a memory controller that controls reading and writing with respect to the MEM-P 12, a PCI master, and an AGP target.

  The MEM-P 120 is a system memory used as a memory for storing programs and data, a memory for developing programs and data, a memory for drawing a printer, and the like, and includes a ROM 120a and a RAM 120b. The ROM 120a is a read-only memory used as a memory for storing programs and data, and the RAM 120b is a writable and readable memory used as a program / data development memory, a printer drawing memory, and the like.

  The SB 140 is a bridge for connecting the NB 130 to a PCI device and peripheral devices. The SB 140 is connected to the NB 130 via a PCI bus, and a network interface (I / F) unit and the like are also connected to the PCI bus.

  The ASIC 160 is an IC (Integrated Circuit) for image processing applications having hardware elements for image processing, and has a role of a bridge for connecting the AGP 150, the PCI bus, the HDD 180, and the MEM-C 170, respectively. The ASIC 160 includes a PCI target and an AGP master, an arbiter (ARB) that forms the core of the ASIC 160, a memory controller that controls the MEM-C 170, and a plurality of DMACs (Direct Memory) that rotate image data using hardware logic. Access Controller) and a PCI unit that performs data transfer between the engine unit 600 via the PCI bus. An FCU (Fax Control Unit) 300, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) 400, and an IEEE 1394 (the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 1394) interface 500 are connected to the ASIC 160 via a PCI bus.

  The MEM-C 170 is a local memory used as a copy image buffer and a code buffer. An HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 180 is a storage for storing image data, programs, font data, and forms. It is.

  The AGP 150 is a bus interface for a graphics accelerator card proposed for speeding up graphics processing. The AGP 150 speeds up the graphics accelerator card by directly accessing the MEM-P 120 with high throughput. .

  As described above, the image processing device, the image processing method, and the image processing program according to the present invention are useful for storing different types of images in the same storage device, and in particular, maintain an image quality optimal for an application. The storage device can be used effectively and is suitable for cost reduction.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to a first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to a second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to a third embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a processing procedure of a scanner correction unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a processing procedure of a plotter correction unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a processing procedure of an image quality correction unit according to the second embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of an image processor.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Reading part 12 Scanner correction part 13, 20 Memory control part 14 Color correction part 15 Plotter correction part 16 Plotter 17, 19 Compression / decompression part 18 Image storage part 18a Main memory 18b HDD
21 Image Drawing Unit 22 Image Quality Correction Unit 23 Compression Unit 24 NIC
30 External PC
40 TablePC
50 PDA

Claims (5)

An image processing apparatus for storing image information,
Compression / decompression means for performing compression / decompression corresponding to each of a plurality of different types of image information;
Storage means for storing image information compressed and expanded by the compression and expansion means;
An image processing apparatus comprising: An image quality correction means for performing image quality correction on the image information;
General-purpose compression means for compressing the image information whose image quality has been corrected by the image quality correction means using a general-purpose compression method;
Transmission means for transmitting image information by switching processing parameters of image quality processing according to an output destination apparatus for image information compressed by the general-purpose compression means;
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing that has been drawn and generated is stored in the storage unit, and then correction processing suitable for the plotter is performed and the image processing apparatus is transmitted to the plotter. An image processing method for storing image information,
A compression / decompression process for performing compression / decompression corresponding to each of a plurality of different types of image information;
An accumulation step of accumulating the image information compressed and expanded by the compression and expansion step;
An image processing method comprising: An image processing program for causing a computer to execute an image processing method for storing image information,
A compression / decompression procedure for performing compression / decompression corresponding to each of a plurality of different types of image information;
An accumulation procedure for accumulating image information compressed and expanded by the compression / decompression procedure;
An image processing program for causing a computer to execute.

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