JP2006350466A - Image processor and image processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor and an image processing method for generating intermediate code image data for each plotting processing instruction, and for re-generating the intermediate code image data for forming an image corresponding to an object shown by page description data even if a logical arithmetic instruction or a clip instruction is included in the intermediate code image data, and for reducing the data quantity of the intermediate code image data. <P>SOLUTION: The intermediate code image data generated for each plotting processing instruction and stored in a memory are successively interpreted in the order of generation, and the plotting processing instruction included in each intermediate code image data is determined, and the generation of outline data and the re-generation of the intermediate code image data are executed based on the discrimination result. In detail, the generation processing of the outline data and the re-generation processing of the intermediate code image data are executed based on the plotting processing instruction of the intermediate code image data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method, and relates to an image processing apparatus and image processing for generating raster data based on intermediate code image data representing each of a plurality of objects drawn in layers according to a predetermined drawing order. Regarding the method.

  The above object means a drawing target such as a figure (graphics), a character (font), a photograph (image), a drawing area, etc., and the page description data is image data related to each object expressed in a page description language. Means.

  Conventionally, there is no memory for generating raster data based on page description data representing an object to be drawn and developing raster data corresponding to one page or a plurality of pages. In an image processing apparatus that divides a page into a plurality of bands and includes a plurality of drawing areas corresponding to the size of the band, the page description data of the object is converted into intermediate code image data, and then based on the intermediate code image data A method of generating raster data has been proposed. The intermediate code image data has an advantage that an object can be expressed with a small amount of data, and the memory used in the image processing can be saved by the above method. On the other hand, the intermediate code image for each object. Since data is generated, a large amount of intermediate code image data is generated for drawing composed of a large amount of objects such as gradation, and the total amount of intermediate code image data is larger than the amount of memory in the target drawing area. There is a problem that it takes a long time to generate raster data because the overlap area between objects is converted to intermediate code image data as it is.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, the intermediate code image data generated by generating the intermediate code image data for each object from the page description data is stored and stored. Based on the intermediate code image data for each object, contour data representing the contour of the upper layer object that masks the object drawn on the lower layer side is created from the top layer to the lower layer object, and is not masked. The intermediate code image data is regenerated from the remaining portion, that is, a portion obtained by excluding the contour region due to the contour of the object on the upper layer of each object, thereby eliminating the overlap for each object.

  Specifically, in a general drawing processing technique, as shown in FIG. 11A, each of the objects 50A, 50B, and 50C drawn in layers according to a predetermined drawing order is sequentially drawn in layers. When obtaining an output image 50D in which a plurality of objects 50A, 50B, and 50C are drawn in layers, intermediate code image data 52A, 52B, and 52C are generated and stored for each object 50A, 50B, and 50C. It was. In this case, since the intermediate code image data including a region where the objects overlap each other when the objects are drawn in layers is stored in the memory for storing the intermediate code image data, the memory storage There was a problem that the capacity had to be increased.

  In order to deal with such a problem, in the technique of Patent Document 1, for each intermediate code image data of each object, an intermediate area in which an overlapping area with an object area drawn on the upper layer side of each object is excluded from each object. The intermediate code image data is regenerated so as to be code image data.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11B, the intermediate code image data is regenerated retroactively in the drawing order of the objects, and when the intermediate code image data is regenerated, the intermediate code image data of the object on the uppermost layer is sequentially Intermediate code image data by removing the outline area of the outline data stored in the outline data holding area for holding outline data from the intermediate code image data of each object toward the object drawn on the lower layer side Is regenerated.

  The contour data stored in the contour data holding area is regenerated by the contour data generation process after each intermediate code image data is regenerated, and the intermediate code image data corresponding to the objects to be stacked is regenerated. Cleared every time the process is executed. In the contour data holding area, as shown in FIG. 11C, an object drawn on the lower layer side is masked based on each intermediate code image data (referred to as original intermediate code image data) before being regenerated. Intermediate code image data that is generated and stored at least the outline of the object on the upper layer side, and is the next regeneration process target in the drawing order of the object every time the regeneration process of the intermediate code image data is performed The contour data including the contour data of the object in the previously generated contour data is generated and stored in the contour data holding area.

  Therefore, when the intermediate code image data is reprocessed, the intermediate code obtained by removing the contour data area represented by all objects drawn on the upper layer side of the intermediate code image data object from the intermediate code image data to be processed Image data is regenerated.

  At the time of image drawing, an output image 50E that matches the output image 50D obtained by a general drawing process is obtained by drawing according to a predetermined drawing order based on the intermediate code image data regenerated for each object. be able to.

With this technology, the memory capacity of the working memory used in the process of forming the drawing data can be reduced, and unnecessary writing to the memory is eliminated, so the time for generating the raster data from the intermediate code image data is greatly increased. Shortened to
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-177657

  In the above-described prior art, intermediate code image data is generated for each object. However, in recent years, descriptions for generating intermediate code image data for each drawing processing command related to drawing processing have become widespread. The drawing processing command includes an overwrite command for overwriting a predetermined drawing region, a clip command for clipping a target drawing region, a logical operation command for executing a logical operation on the predetermined drawing region, and the like. When intermediate code image data is generated for each drawing processing command, the intermediate code image data is data including a drawing area as a component for forming an object and a drawing processing command. As described above, when the intermediate code image data includes a clip instruction or a logical operation instruction as a drawing processing instruction, the above-described conventional technique is applied to generate contour data for each intermediate code image data, When the intermediate code image data is regenerated so as to delete the contour data area from the code image data, and drawing processing is performed based on the regenerated intermediate code image data, each of the plurality of intermediate code image data is indicated. Even when one object is generated by the drawing area, since the drawing process is performed according to the intermediate code image data regenerated based on the contour data generated for each drawing area, the output image obtained is There is a problem that it is different from an output image obtained by a general drawing process.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 12B, the intermediate code image data is regenerated retroactively in the drawing order of the objects, and when the intermediate code image data is regenerated, the drawing area corresponding to the object on the uppermost layer side is regenerated. From the intermediate code image data toward the drawing area corresponding to the object drawn on the lower layer side in order, the outline area of the outline data stored in the outline data holding area for holding the outline data from each intermediate code image data The intermediate code image data is regenerated by removing.

  When the intermediate code image data includes a clip command, for example, as shown in FIG. 12B, the intermediate code image data 54B including the clip start command and the drawing area indicating the clip area to be clipped is clipped. Intermediate code image data 54C including an overwriting instruction for overwriting a drawing area and a part of the drawing area to a lower drawing area (drawing area corresponding to the object), and an intermediate code including a clip end instruction indicating clip end Image data 54D is generated.

  When the above-described conventional technique is applied to such intermediate code image data, the intermediate code image data of each object is stored in the contour data holding area for holding the contour data from the generation order of the intermediate code image data. The intermediate code image data is regenerated by removing the outline region of the existing outline data. In general, the intermediate code image data including the clip command is stored in an area different from the intermediate code image data including the drawing area serving as the clip source and the intermediate code image data including the drawing area corresponding to the object. For this reason, when the intermediate code image data including the clip command is regenerated, the intermediate code image data stored in another region is handled as it is as the regenerated intermediate code image data without deleting the contour data.

  The contour data stored in the contour data holding area is updated every time the intermediate code image data is regenerated, and the contour data holding area is regenerated as shown in FIG. Based on each of the previous intermediate code image data (hereinafter referred to as original intermediate code image data), contour data indicating at least the contour of the upper drawing area that masks the drawing area drawn on the lower layer side is generated and stored. Each time the intermediate code image data is regenerated, the contour data including the contour data of the original intermediate code image data in the previously generated contour data is generated and stored in the contour data holding region. .

  In this way, the contour data generated by generating the contour data corresponding to the drawing region of each intermediate code image data is included in the previously generated contour data, and this contour data region is included from the drawing region of the object drawn on the upper layer side. When removed, the contour data area of the drawing area as the clip source to be clipped, not the object actually stacked, is removed from the drawing area of the object drawn on the upper layer side. For this reason, when a drawing area is drawn in accordance with a predetermined drawing order based on the regenerated intermediate code image data, an output different from the output image 54E obtained by general drawing processing from the intermediate code image data before the reproduction is generated. There was a problem that the image 50F was obtained.

  Also, in the case where a logical operation instruction is included in the intermediate code image data, if the intermediate code image data generated for each drawing processing instruction (logical operation instruction) is regenerated by applying the above-described conventional technique, a plurality of Even when one object is generated by a logical operation of the drawing area shown in each of the intermediate code image data, the intermediate code image data is regenerated based on the contour data generated for each drawing area. Since drawing processing is performed, there is a problem that an output image obtained is different from an output image obtained by general drawing processing.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 13B, the intermediate code image data is regenerated retroactively in the drawing order of the objects, and when the intermediate code image data is regenerated, the drawing area corresponding to the object on the uppermost layer side is regenerated. From the intermediate code image data toward the drawing area corresponding to the object drawn on the lower layer side in order, the outline area of the outline data stored in the outline data holding area for holding the outline data from each intermediate code image data The intermediate code image data is regenerated by removing.

  When the intermediate code image data includes a logical operation instruction, for example, as shown in FIG. 13B, the intermediate code image data includes a drawing area corresponding to the object and an overwrite instruction as a drawing process. Intermediate code image data 60A, and a plurality of intermediate code image data 60B, 60C, and 60D for generating one object by a series of logical operations are generated. For example, the intermediate code image data 60B includes a drawing area 62B and a logical operation (XOR), the intermediate code image data 60C includes a drawing area 62C and a logical operation (AND), and the intermediate code image data 60D includes a drawing area 62D. And logical operation (XOR).

  When the above-described conventional technique is applied to intermediate code image data including such a logical operation instruction, contour data holding for holding contour data from the intermediate code image data of each object is traced back in the generation order of the intermediate code image data. The intermediate code image data is regenerated by removing the contour region of the contour data stored in the region.

  The contour data stored in the contour data holding area is updated every time the intermediate code image data is regenerated, and the contour data holding area is regenerated as shown in FIG. 13C. Based on each of the previous intermediate code image data (hereinafter referred to as original intermediate code image data), contour data indicating at least the contour of the upper drawing area that masks the drawing area drawn on the lower layer side is generated and stored. Each time the intermediate code image data is regenerated, the contour data including the contour data of the drawing area of the intermediate code image data to be regenerated next in the drawing order is included in the previously generated contour data. It is generated and stored in the contour data holding area.

  As described above, when the contour data generated by generating the contour data corresponding to the drawing region of each intermediate code image data is included in the previously generated contour data, the contour data region is removed from the drawing region drawn on the upper layer side. The contour data is generated for each of the drawing areas of the plurality of intermediate code image data 60B, 60C, and 60D for generating one object by a series of logical operations, not the objects actually stacked, and the upper layer side The outline data area included in the outline data of the drawing area is removed from the drawing area on the virtual side. For this reason, when a drawing area is drawn according to a predetermined drawing order based on the regenerated intermediate code image data, an output different from the output image 60E obtained by general drawing processing from the intermediate code image data before the reproduction is generated. There was a problem that the image 60F was obtained.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and is a case where intermediate code image data is generated for each drawing processing instruction, and the intermediate code image data includes a logical operation instruction or a clip instruction. In addition, the image processing apparatus and the image processing capable of generating intermediate code image data for forming an image corresponding to the object indicated by the page description data and reducing the data amount of the intermediate code image data. It aims to provide a method.

  The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 represents page description data that represents each of a plurality of objects rendered in a layered manner in accordance with a predetermined rendering order and includes rendering processing instructions representing rendering processing when rendering each object. Conversion means for sequentially interpreting each instruction according to the drawing order of the objects, and converting the intermediate code image data including drawing processing instructions and a drawing area representing the object or a drawing area for generating the object; and the conversion means Storage means for storing the intermediate code image data converted by each drawing processing command, reading means for sequentially reading the intermediate code image data from the storage means by going back the generation order of the intermediate code image data, and the reading means The type of drawing command included in the intermediate code image data read by And a contour data generator for generating contour data including the contour data region of the contour data representing the contour of the drawing region in the contour data region of the previously generated contour data based on the determination result by the determination unit And the intermediate code image data read by the reading means is reproduced as intermediate code image data obtained by removing the contour data area of the contour data previously generated by the contour data generating means from the drawing area of the intermediate code image data. Intermediate code image data regenerating means.

  A page description including a rendering processing instruction that represents each of a plurality of objects rendered in layers according to a predetermined rendering order and represents rendering processing when rendering each object. The data is sequentially interpreted according to the drawing order of the object for each drawing processing command, and converted into intermediate code image data including the drawing processing command and the drawing area representing the object, or the drawing processing command and the drawing area for generating the object. . When the intermediate code image data includes a drawing process command and a drawing area representing an object, the intermediate code image data corresponds to the object to be drawn. When a drawing area for generation is included, this intermediate code image data is data for generating one object based on a plurality of intermediate code image data. An edge list, a display list, or the like can be applied as the intermediate code image data.

  The intermediate code image data converted by the conversion means is stored in the storage means for each drawing processing command. The reading unit sequentially reads the intermediate code image data from the storage unit, going back to the generation order of the intermediate code image data by the conversion unit. Since the intermediate code image data is generated by the conversion means in the order of the drawing processing commands corresponding to the drawing order of the objects, the reading means reads the intermediate code image data in the order of the drawing processing instructions that go back to the drawing order of the objects.

  When the discriminating unit determines the type of the drawing process command included in the intermediate code image data read by the reading unit, the contour data generating unit reads the intermediate data read by the reading unit based on the determination result of the discriminating unit. Contour data is generated by including the contour data region of the contour data representing the contour of the drawing region of the code image data in the contour data region of the contour data generated last time. That is, based on the determination result by the determination means, the contour representing the contour of the drawing area read by the reading means is added to the contour data area of the contour data generated last time representing the contour of the drawing area drawn on the upper layer side of the drawing area. It is determined whether or not data outline data is added.

  The intermediate code image data regenerating means is an intermediate code obtained by removing the intermediate code image data read by the reading means from the drawing area of the intermediate code image data and excluding the contour data area of the contour data previously generated by the contour data generating means. Regenerate as image data.

  In this way, the intermediate code image data generated for each drawing processing instruction is read sequentially in the order of generation of the intermediate code image data, and the intermediate code image data is drawn based on the type of drawing processing instruction for each intermediate code image data. A determination result by determining whether or not the contour data representing the contour of the region is included in the previously generated contour data representing the contour of the drawing region corresponding to the object drawn on the upper layer side of the object corresponding to the drawing region The intermediate code image is generated by generating the contour data based on the intermediate code image and excluding the contour region of the contour data generated by the previous contour data generating unit from the intermediate code image data drawing region. Regenerate to be data.

  Therefore, the data amount of the regenerated intermediate code image data can be made smaller than the data amount of the intermediate code image data before the regeneration, and the data amount of the intermediate code image data stored in the storage unit is reduced. be able to.

  Further, since it is determined whether or not the contour data representing the contour of the rendering area of the intermediate code image data is included in the previously generated contour data based on the type of the rendering processing information of the intermediate code image data, a plurality of intermediate When the intermediate code image data includes a drawing processing instruction and a drawing area for generating an object so that one object is generated by the code image data, contour data is generated from each intermediate code image data. Intermediate code image data can be regenerated so that the same image as that obtained when a plurality of objects are drawn in layers according to a predetermined drawing order can be obtained according to the page description data .

The image processing apparatus according to claim 2 is the image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit includes another intermediate code image in which the type of the drawing processing instruction included in the intermediate code image data read by the reading unit is other The intermediate code image data including a drawing area for generating the same object as the intermediate code image data when it is determined that it is a clip command representing extracting a partial area in the data drawing area Including a specifying means for specifying a clip valid section in which the clip command is valid by searching back in order,
The contour data generating means is specified by the specifying means when it is determined by the determining means that the type of the drawing process command included in the intermediate code image data read by the reading means is the clip command. From the plurality of intermediate code image data within the clip effective section, generate contour data including the contour data region representing the contour of the region extracted according to the clip command in the contour data region of the contour data generated previously,
The intermediate code image data regenerating means is determined by the specifying means when the determining means determines that the type of the drawing process command included in the intermediate code image data read by the reading means is the clip instruction. A region obtained by excluding the contour data region of the contour data previously generated by the contour data generation unit from the region extracted according to the clip command from the plurality of intermediate code image data within the specified clip effective section is defined as a drawing region. Intermediate code image data to be regenerated.

  The image processing apparatus according to claim 2 is the image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit includes another intermediate code image in which the type of the drawing processing instruction included in the intermediate code image data read by the reading unit is other When it is determined that the clip command indicates that a partial area within the data drawing area is to be extracted, the intermediate code image data including the drawing area for generating the same object as this intermediate code image data is converted. By searching retroactively to the generation order of the intermediate code image data by the means, the clip command includes a specifying means for specifying a valid clip valid section. The contour data generating means determines that the drawing processing command type included in the intermediate code image data read by the reading means by the determining means is a clip command, and is within the clip effective section specified by the specifying means. The contour data including the contour data region representing the contour of the region extracted according to the clip command from the plurality of intermediate code image data in the contour data region of the previously generated contour data is generated. That is, the contour data generating means does not generate contour data for each of the plurality of intermediate code image data in the clip effective section specified by the specifying means, but a plurality of intermediate in the clip effective section specified by the specifying means. One contour data is generated from the code image data. The contour data generated at this time is contour data including a contour data region representing the contour of the region extracted according to the clip command in the contour data region of the contour data generated last time. For this reason, the contour data generation means, when the type of the rendering process instruction of the intermediate code image data read by the reading means by the determination means is a clip instruction, the intermediate code image data including the clip instruction and the intermediate code Since one contour data is generated from the intermediate code image data including the drawing area for generating the same object as the image data, the contour of this object is determined from a plurality of intermediate code image data corresponding to one object. It is possible to generate contour data in which the contour data region of one contour data to be represented is included in the contour data region of the contour data generated last time.

  The intermediate code image data regenerating unit is configured to enable the clip validity specified by the specifying unit when the determination unit determines that the type of the drawing processing command included in the intermediate code image data read by the reading unit is a clip command. Intermediate code image data in which a region obtained by excluding the contour data region of the contour data previously generated by the contour data generation unit from the region extracted according to the clip command from the plurality of intermediate code image data in the section is used as a drawing region Regenerate.

  As described above, when the type of the drawing process command is the clip command, the clip for generating the same object as the intermediate code image data including the clip command is generated instead of generating the contour data for each intermediate code image data. The contour data including the contour data region of one contour data representing the contour of the object to be generated in the contour data region of the previously generated contour data is generated from a plurality of intermediate code image data within the valid section, and this clip Intermediate code image data whose drawing area is an area extracted from a plurality of intermediate code image data within an effective section in accordance with a clip command, that is, an area obtained by removing the outline data of the previously generated outline data from the drawing area representing the object. Can be regenerated.

  Therefore, the data amount of the regenerated intermediate code image data can be made smaller than the data amount of the intermediate code image data before the regeneration, and the data amount of the intermediate code image data stored in the storage means is reduced. In addition, it is possible to regenerate intermediate code image data that can obtain the same image as that obtained when a plurality of objects are drawn in layers according to a predetermined drawing order according to the page description data.

  The image processing device according to claim 3 is the image processing device according to claim 2, wherein after the contour data generating unit generates the contour data, an intermediate code image whose drawing processing command type is the clip command is used. If a deletion means for deleting data from the storage means is included, the storage capacity of the storage means can be further increased.

  The image processing apparatus according to claim 4 is the image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit is configured such that a type of a drawing processing instruction included in the intermediate code image data read by the reading unit is a logical operation instruction. When the intermediate code image data including a drawing area for generating the same object as the intermediate code image data is retrieved retroactively to the generation order, the logical operation instruction is effective. Specifying means for specifying a section; and determining means for determining intermediate code image data having clip information as a logical operation command among a plurality of intermediate code image data in the logical operation section specified by the specifying means; The contour data generating means includes drawing data included in the intermediate code image data read by the reading means by the determining means. When it is determined that the type of processing instruction is the logical operation instruction, the outline data area representing the outline of the drawing area of the intermediate code image data determined by the determination means is used as the outline data area of the previously generated outline data. And the intermediate code image data regenerating unit determines that the type of the drawing processing instruction included in the intermediate code image data read by the reading unit is the logical operation command. The intermediate code image data determined by the determining means when the intermediate code image data obtained by removing the contour data area of the contour data previously generated by the contour data generating means from the drawing area of the intermediate code image data And the specifying means other than the intermediate code image data determined by the determining means Thus, it is possible to intermediate code image data after re-generate intermediate code image data specified.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the determining means is that the type of the drawing processing instruction included in the intermediate code image data read by the reading means is a logical operation instruction. This logical operation instruction is effective by searching the intermediate code image data including the drawing area for generating the same object as the intermediate code image data retroactively to the generation order of the intermediate code image data. A specific means for specifying a logical operation interval can be included. Further, the determining means can include a determining means for determining intermediate code image data having clip information as a logical operation instruction among a plurality of intermediate code image data in the logical operation section specified by the specifying means.

  The contour data generating means is determined by the specifying means determined by the determining means when it is determined that the type of the drawing processing instruction included in the intermediate code image data read by the reading means by the determining means is a logical operation instruction. The contour data region representing the contour of the drawing region of the intermediate code image data having clip information as the logical operation command of the plurality of intermediate code image data in the specified logical operation section is used as the contour data region of the previously generated contour data. The included contour data is generated.

  The intermediate code image data regenerating unit is determined by the determining unit when it is determined that the type of the drawing processing instruction included in the intermediate code image data read by the reading unit by the determining unit is a logical operation instruction. The intermediate code image data is regenerated as intermediate code image data obtained by removing the contour data area of the contour data previously generated by the contour data generating means from the drawing area of the intermediate code image data. Further, the intermediate code image data regenerating unit reproduces the intermediate code image data identified by the identifying unit other than the intermediate code image data determined by the determining unit without performing special processing. And

  As described above, when the type of the drawing processing instruction is a logical operation instruction, the contour data is not generated for each intermediate code image data, but the same object as the intermediate code image data including the logical operation instruction is generated. The contour data including the contour data region of one contour data representing the contour of the object to be generated in the contour data region of the previously generated contour data is generated from the plurality of intermediate code image data in the logical operation section.

  Therefore, the data amount of the regenerated intermediate code image data can be made smaller than the data amount of the intermediate code image data before the regeneration, and the data amount of the intermediate code image data stored in the storage means is reduced. In addition, it is possible to regenerate intermediate code image data that can obtain the same image as that obtained when a plurality of objects are drawn in layers according to a predetermined drawing order according to the page description data.

  The image processing device according to claim 5 is the image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate code image data is omitted so as not to regenerate the intermediate code image data based on a determination result by the determination unit. A regeneration omission control means for controlling the regeneration means can be provided.

Specifically, the image processing apparatus according to claim 6 is the image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 5, wherein the determination unit includes a drawing included in the intermediate code image data read by the reading unit. Drawing for generating the same object as the intermediate code image data when it is determined that the type of processing instruction is a clip command indicating that a partial area in the drawing area of other intermediate code image data is extracted A specifying means for specifying a clip valid section in which the clip command is valid by searching the intermediate code image data including the area retroactively to the generation order;
The re-generation omission control means controls the intermediate code image data re-generation means so as to omit the re-generation of the intermediate code image data for the intermediate code image data in the clip valid section specified by the specifying means. be able to.

  As described above, the discriminating unit indicates that the type of the drawing processing instruction included in the intermediate code image data read by the reading unit extracts a partial area in the drawing area of the other intermediate code image data. When it is determined that the intermediate code image data including the drawing area for generating the same object as the intermediate code image data is traced back to the generation order of the intermediate code image data, The clip valid section where the command is valid is specified. The regeneration regenerating means controls the intermediate code image data regenerating means so as to omit the regeneration of the intermediate code image data for the intermediate code image data within the clip valid section specified by the specifying means.

  As described above, the discriminating unit indicates that the type of the drawing processing instruction included in the intermediate code image data read by the reading unit extracts a partial area in the drawing area of the other intermediate code image data. When it is determined that the intermediate code image data in the clip valid section specified by the specifying means is not regenerated, that is, the intermediate code image data regenerating means can be controlled so as not to be performed.

  Therefore, it is possible to improve the efficiency of the intermediate code image data regeneration process for the logical operation valid section and reduce the load caused by the intermediate code image data regeneration process.

  The image processing apparatus according to claim 7 is the image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 5, wherein the determination unit includes a type of a drawing processing instruction included in the intermediate code image data read by the reading unit. Is determined to be a logic operation instruction, the intermediate operation code image data including a drawing area for generating the same object as the intermediate code image data is retrieved retroactively to the generation order to obtain the logical operation instruction. Including a specifying means for specifying a valid logical operation valid section, wherein the regeneration omitting control means omits the regeneration of the intermediate code image data for the intermediate code image data in the logical calculation effective section specified by the specifying means. As described above, the intermediate code image data regenerating means can be controlled.

  When the discrimination means according to claim 7 determines that the type of the drawing processing instruction included in the intermediate code image data read by the reading means is a logical operation instruction, the regeneration omission control means The intermediate code image data regeneration means can be controlled so as to omit the regeneration of the intermediate code image data within the logical operation valid section specified by the above.

  Therefore, it is possible to improve the efficiency of the intermediate code image data regeneration process for the clip valid section and reduce the load caused by the intermediate code image data regeneration process.

  Even if the intermediate code image data is generated for each drawing processing instruction and the intermediate code image data includes a logical operation instruction or a clip instruction by the image processing method according to claim 8, the page description data It is possible to provide an image processing method capable of generating intermediate code image data for forming an image corresponding to the object indicated by, and capable of reducing the data amount of the intermediate code image data. Specifically, page description data that represents each of a plurality of objects drawn in a layered manner in accordance with a predetermined drawing order and includes a drawing processing command that represents a drawing process when each object is drawn is displayed for each drawing processing command. Are sequentially interpreted in accordance with the drawing order of the image data, converted into intermediate code image data including a drawing processing instruction and a drawing area representing an object or a drawing area for generating an object, and the converted intermediate code image data is converted for each drawing processing instruction. The intermediate code image data is sequentially read back in the generation order of the intermediate code image data, the type of the drawing processing instruction included in the read intermediate code image data is determined, and based on the determination result, The contour data area of the contour data representing the contour of the drawing area is used as the contour data of the previously generated contour data. It generates contour data including the region, the intermediate code image data read above, re-generated as intermediate code image data excluding the contour data area of the contour data previously generated from the drawing region of the intermediate code image data.

  As described above, according to the image processing apparatus and the image processing method of the present invention, the intermediate code image data generated for each drawing processing command is sequentially read back in the generation order of the intermediate code image data, and each intermediate code image data is read. Lastly, the contour data representing the contour of the drawing area of the intermediate code image data is represented based on the type of the drawing processing command of the above, and the contour of the drawing area corresponding to the object drawn on the upper layer side of the object corresponding to the drawing area is represented. Whether or not to include in the generated contour data and generating contour data based on the determination result, the intermediate code image data read by the reading means is generated from the drawing area of the intermediate code image data last time Since it is regenerated to be intermediate code image data excluding the contour area of the contour data generated by the means, it is regenerated The data amount of the intermediate code image data thus made can be made smaller than the data amount of the intermediate code image data before regeneration, the data amount of the intermediate code image data stored in the storage means can be reduced, and The time to generate raster data from the intermediate code image data is greatly shortened, and contour data representing the outline of the drawing area of the intermediate code image data is generated last time based on the type of drawing processing information of the intermediate code image data. Since it is determined whether or not to be included in the contour data, the intermediate code image data includes a drawing processing instruction and a drawing area for generating the object so as to generate one object from a plurality of intermediate code image data. In addition, it is possible to suppress the generation of contour data from each intermediate code image data, and the page description It is possible to regenerate the intermediate code image data such as image and the same image obtained when rendering a plurality of objects in layers is obtained in accordance with a predetermined rendering order, depending upon over data.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image processing apparatus 10 receives an input control unit that receives page description data described in a page description language from an external processing apparatus 40 that is connected to the image processing apparatus 10 so as to be able to exchange data and commands. 12, a print command interpretation unit 14 that interprets each print command (hereinafter referred to as a drawing processing command) as a drawing processing command representing a processing command related to drawing included in the page description data received by the input control unit 12, and various data For each drawing processing command interpreted by the memory 16 and the print command interpretation unit 14, and a data string (hereinafter referred to as coordinate information and color information for each basic element for forming the object). And the intermediate code image data including the edge list and the drawing processing command are drawn to the drawing processing command. It is configured to include an intermediate code image data generating unit 18 for generating a. An area represented by the edge list will be described as a drawing area. The memory 16 stores the page description data received by the input control unit 12, interprets the stored page description data for each drawing processing command by the print command interpretation unit 14, and generates the page description data by the intermediate code image data generation unit 18. The intermediate code image data is stored for each drawing processing command.

  In the page description data, various information such as drawing processing commands are described in the drawing order when drawing a plurality of objects in layers (that is, from the object drawn on the lower layer side toward the object drawn on the upper layer side). The intermediate code image data generation unit generates the intermediate code image data generation unit 18 after the page description data is sequentially interpreted for each drawing processing command by the print command interpretation unit 14 and stores it in the memory 16 for each drawing processing command. Remembered.

  The memory 16 includes a drawing memory 16A for storing the regenerated intermediate code image data, a clip buffer 16B for storing intermediate code image data including a clip command in the intermediate code image data, and contour data to be described later Is included including a contour data holding area 16C.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the intermediate code image data is generated for each drawing processing command by sequentially interpreting the drawing processing commands included in the page description language data. In the example shown in FIG. 2A, intermediate code image data corresponding to each command is generated in the order of a drawing command, a clip start command, a drawing command, a drawing command, a clip end command, and a drawing command as a drawing processing command. Yes.

  As another form, the intermediate code image data includes a logical operation instruction as a drawing processing instruction. Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, as rendering processing instructions, intermediate code image data corresponding to each instruction in the order of overwrite, logical operation instruction, clip information as logical operation instruction, logical operation instruction, and overwrite is obtained. Has been generated.

  Each intermediate code image data includes header information and an edge list as shown in FIG. The header information includes a type of drawing processing command and information indicating a drawing method, that is, information indicating a writing method. In the present embodiment, the types of drawing processing commands include a clip start command, a drawing command, and a clip end command. Further, in the present embodiment, description will be made assuming that there are an overwrite instruction and a logical operation instruction for drawing a drawing area on an upper layer of an object on the lower layer side as the type of writing method. Examples of logical operation instructions include AND and XOR. Note that AND functions as clip information representing a clip.

  A clip is a process of forming one object by clipping a specified area from a drawing area in other intermediate code image data, and a clip start command starts a clip process for performing this clip process. The clip end command indicates a clip end position for performing this clip processing.

  The intermediate code image data including the clip start instruction or the clip end instruction is stored in a different area (clip buffer 16B) on the memory 16 from the intermediate code image data not including the clip start instruction or the clip end instruction.

  In the present embodiment, from the intermediate code image data including the clip start instruction to the intermediate code image data generated after the intermediate code image data is generated and including the clip end instruction corresponding to the clip start instruction. The section is described as a clip effective section.

  The drawing area indicated by the edge list of the intermediate code image data including the drawing process command in the clip effective section is an area to be clipped by the drawing area included in the intermediate code image data including the clip start instruction. .

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9A, for example, the page description language data is sequentially interpreted for each drawing processing command from the page description language data by the intermediate code image data generation unit 18, and each drawing processing command. The intermediate code image data 54A, the intermediate code image data 54B, the intermediate code image data 54C, and the intermediate code image data 54D are sequentially generated. The intermediate code image data 54A includes a drawing area 56A corresponding to the object and “overwrite” as a drawing processing command. The intermediate code image data 54B includes a drawing start command as a drawing processing command and a drawing region 56B representing a region to be clipped. The intermediate code image data 54C includes an overwrite as a drawing processing command and includes a drawing area 56C clipped by the drawing area 56B. The intermediate code image data 54D includes a clip end command as a drawing processing command. The intermediate code image data 54B, the intermediate code image data 54C, and the intermediate code image data 54D are referred to as intermediate code image data in the clip effective section.

  In the conventional general drawing process, the intermediate code image data drawing area 56A is overwritten with the result of clipping the drawing area 56C of the intermediate code image data 54C by the drawing area 56B of the intermediate code image data 54B. An image 54E is obtained.

  When the intermediate code image data includes a logical operation instruction as a drawing processing instruction, for example, the intermediate code image data generation unit 18 sequentially selects the intermediate code for each drawing processing instruction as shown in FIG. Image data 60A, intermediate code image data 60B, intermediate code image data 60C, and intermediate code image data 60D are generated. The intermediate code image data 60A includes a drawing area 62A corresponding to the object and “overwrite” as a drawing processing command. The intermediate code image data 60B includes a logical operation “XOR” as a drawing processing command and a drawing region 62B representing a clipped region. The intermediate code image data 60C includes clip information “AND” as a drawing processing command, and includes a drawing area 62C representing an area clipped from either the drawing area 62B or a drawing area 62D described later. The intermediate code image data 60D includes a logical operation instruction “XOR” as a drawing processing instruction.

  In the present embodiment, a section including all of a series of intermediate code image data including a logical operation instruction for generating one object will be described as a logical operation sequence (see also FIG. 8). In the example of FIG. 10A, intermediate code image data including a logical operation instruction, which is intermediate code image data 60B, intermediate code image data 60C, and intermediate code image data 60D for generating one object, It is a series of intermediate code image data included in one logical operation sequence.

  In the conventional general drawing process, when generating bitmap drawing area data, the drawing area 62A of the intermediate code image data 60A is added to the drawing area 62A based on the logical operation and drawing area of each intermediate code image data in the logical operation sequence. An output image 60E is obtained by overwriting the generated object (drawing area).

  However, in the conventional general drawing processing, the memory capacity for storing the intermediate code image data may be a problem, and as described in the prior art, the intermediate data is removed by removing the contour data area from the intermediate code image data. In the method of regenerating and storing the code image data, when the intermediate code image data includes a logical operation instruction or a clip instruction, an output image different from an output image obtained by a general drawing process can be obtained. The intermediate code image data is regenerated.

  In the present invention, the intermediate code image data regenerator 20 generates the intermediate code image data generated by the intermediate code image data generator 18 for each drawing processing command and stored in the memory 16 in the order of generation of the intermediate code image data. The data is read back and regenerated so that the data amount of the intermediate code image data stored in the memory 16 is reduced.

  Although details will be described later, specifically, the intermediate code image data generated last by the intermediate code image data generation unit 18 among the intermediate code image data stored in the memory 16 is read, and the read intermediate code is read out. The intermediate code image data is regenerated by removing the outline data area of the outline data stored in the outline data holding area 16C from the image data.

  If the intermediate code image data includes a clip end instruction, the intermediate code image data including the clip start instruction is searched to identify the clip effective section, and the intermediate code image not including the clip instruction in the clip effective section The result of clipping the data drawing area by the drawing area included in the intermediate code image data including the clip start command is regenerated as intermediate code image data (see FIG. 9B).

  In general, the intermediate code image data including the clip start instruction or the clip end instruction is stored in a different area from the intermediate code image data not including the clip start instruction or the clip end instruction by the intermediate code image data generation unit 18. Is done. For this reason, when the intermediate code image data including the clip command is regenerated, the intermediate code image data stored in another area without deleting the contour data is handled as the regenerated intermediate code image data as it is (FIG. 9). (See (B)).

  When the intermediate code image data includes a logical operation instruction, intermediate code image data including a clip (AND) as a logical operation instruction in the logical operation sequence by the logical operation instruction is used. The intermediate code image data is regenerated so that the area obtained by removing the outline data area of the outline data stored in the outline data holding area 16C from the drawing area is set as the drawing area. For intermediate code image data including a logical operation (XOR) other than clipping as a logical operation instruction in the logical operation sequence, the original intermediate code image data is handled as it is as regenerated intermediate code image data (see FIG. 9B). ).

  The contour data stored in the contour data holding area 16C is regenerated last time in the order of generation of the intermediate code image data every time the intermediate code image data regeneration unit 20 performs the regeneration process of each intermediate code image data. Whether or not to generate the contour data including the contour data of the drawing area of the intermediate code image data (hereinafter referred to as the original intermediate code image data) before the regeneration processing of the processed intermediate code image data included in the previously generated contour data The contour data stored in the contour data holding area is updated based on the determination result.

  Specifically, when the intermediate code image data before the regenerating process of the intermediate code image data regenerated last time is an intermediate code image data including a clip start instruction or a logical operation instruction representing a clip as a drawing process instruction, The contour data is generated so that the contour data representing the contour of the drawing region obtained by clipping by the clip start command or the logical operation command representing the clip is included in the contour data stored in the contour data holding region 16C. On the other hand, when the intermediate code image data before the regeneration process of the intermediate code image data regenerated last time is not intermediate code image data including a logical operation instruction representing a clip start instruction or a clip instruction as a drawing process instruction, contour data The next intermediate code image data regeneration process is executed without updating the contour data stored in the holding area 16C.

  It is assumed that the contour data stored in the contour data holding area 16C is cleared after the regeneration process of the intermediate code image data corresponding to a series of drawing areas drawn in layers is executed. Further, the intermediate code image data regenerated by the intermediate code image data regenerating unit 20 is stored in an area in the memory 16 for storing the regenerated intermediate code image data (not shown). After the contour data generation process is executed, the original intermediate code image data before regeneration is deleted from the memory 16.

  As described above, in the present invention, the intermediate code image data regenerator 20 sequentially interprets the intermediate code image data generated for each drawing processing instruction and stored in the memory 16 in the order in which the intermediate code image data is generated. A drawing processing command included in the code image data is discriminated, and contour data generation and intermediate code image data re-generation are executed based on the discrimination result (details will be described later). Therefore, the output image obtained when the rendering process is performed based on the regenerated intermediate code image data can be made the same as the output image obtained by the general rendering process, and the contour Since the intermediate code image data including the drawing area excluding the data can be stored in the memory 16, the data amount of the intermediate code image data can be suppressed.

  The intermediate code image data interpretation unit 22 interprets the intermediate code image data re-generated by the intermediate code image data re-generation unit 20 stored in the memory 16 and develops it into bitmap drawing area data for each band. The data is output to the band buffer 26. The compression / decompression processing unit 24 performs compression processing on the regenerated intermediate code image data stored in the memory 16 and stores it again in the memory 16 when the free capacity of the memory 16 becomes a predetermined amount or less. When each intermediate code image data is interpreted by the intermediate code image data interpretation unit 22, the compressed regenerated intermediate code image data is decompressed and then synchronized with the interpretation processing by the intermediate code image data interpretation unit 22. The bitmap drawing area data is output to the band buffer 26.

  The band buffer 26 stores the bitmap drawing area data input from the intermediate code image data interpretation unit 22 and the compression / decompression processing unit 24, and transfers the stored bitmap drawing area data to the output control unit 28. The output control unit 28 outputs the bitmap drawing area input from the band buffer 26 to the printing device 42 as video data.

  Next, intermediate code image data re-generation processing executed by the image processing apparatus 10 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in step 100, the contour data holding area 16C is cleared.

  Next, the intermediate code image data generated for each drawing processing instruction stored in the memory 16 is read out in the reverse order of generation, and the read intermediate code image data is interpreted in steps 102 to 110. Execute the process. In the present embodiment, the processing from step 104 to step 108 is executed for each intermediate code image data read back in the order of generation.

  In step 104, it is determined whether or not the type of header information drawing processing command included in the read intermediate code image data is a drawing command, and the information indicating the header information writing method is overwriting, and affirmative. Then, the process proceeds to step 106, and an intermediate code regeneration process for regenerating the read intermediate code image data is executed (details will be described later).

  In the next step 108, contour data generation processing for generating contour data in which the contour data of the drawing area of the intermediate code image data before the regeneration processing in step 106 is included in the contour data of the drawing area drawn on the upper layer side. (Details will be described later).

  In the next step 110, if the processing from step 104 to step 108 is executed for all the intermediate code image data sequentially in the order of generation of the intermediate code image data, the intermediate code image before regeneration in the memory 16 is executed. When data (hereinafter referred to as original intermediate code image data) is deleted, this routine is terminated, and intermediate code image data in which the processing from step 104 to step 108 has not been executed is stored in the memory 16. Return to step 102.

  On the other hand, when the result in step 104 is negative, the process proceeds to step 112, where it is determined whether or not the type of header information rendering command included in the intermediate code image data is a clip end command. Proceed to step 114 shown in FIG.

  For example, when affirmative in step 112, the intermediate code image data 54D shown in FIG. 9B is retrieved.

  In step 114 to step 118, since the result of step 104 is negative and step 112 is positive, the type of intermediate code image data rendering command to be processed is a clip end command. A clip start instruction search loop for searching intermediate code image data including a clip start instruction corresponding to the end instruction is executed. In this click start instruction search loop, in step 116, it is determined whether or not the drawing processing instruction included in the intermediate code image data is a clip start instruction in the order of generation of the intermediate code image data from the intermediate code image data including the clip end instruction. The intermediate code image data stored in the memory 16 is sequentially retrieved retroactively, and the clip start instruction retrieval loop is repeated until affirmative.

  By affirming in step 116, for example, the intermediate code image data 56B shown in FIG. 9B is retrieved.

  When an affirmative determination is made in step 116 and intermediate code image data including a clip start instruction corresponding to this clip end instruction is retrieved, the process proceeds to step 120 and the clip buffer 16B in the memory 16 is cleared.

  In the next step 122, the drawing area representing the clip area (see the drawing area 56B in FIG. 9B) included in the intermediate code image data including the clip start instruction searched in step 116 is clipped in the clip buffer 16B. Set as area.

  In the next step 124, the intermediate code image data included between the intermediate code image data including the clip end instruction and the intermediate code image data including the clip start instruction corresponding to the clip end instruction is set as the clip valid section. To do.

  For example, the intermediate code image data 54D, the intermediate code image data 54C, and the intermediate code image data 54B in FIG. 9B are set as the clip valid section.

  Next, in the processing from step 126 to step 128, each of the intermediate code image data set as the clip valid section in step 124 is read sequentially in the order of generation of the intermediate code image data, and in step 106, the intermediate code image data is reproduced. After performing the composition process (details will be described later), in step 108, a clip valid section loop is executed in which a contour data generation process (details will be described later) is performed.

  When the processing of step 106 and step 108 is executed for all the intermediate code image data within the clip effective period set in step 124, the process returns to step 110.

  Since the intermediate code image data regeneration process for the clip valid section is heavy, if the intermediate code image data interpretation unit 22 is configured as hardware instead of software, the intermediate code image data in the clip valid section is converted into intermediate code image data. On the other hand, it is possible to omit the regenerating process of the intermediate code image data (hereinafter referred to as skip).

  In such a case, if the result in step 104 is negative, the process proceeds to step 112, where it is determined whether or not the type of header information rendering command included in the intermediate code image data is a clip end command. Then, the process proceeds to step 113 shown in FIG.

  For example, when affirmative in step 112, the intermediate code image data 54D shown in FIG. 9B is retrieved.

  As shown in FIG. 14, in step 113, a counter for determining whether or not to regenerate the intermediate code image data is performed on the intermediate code image data in the clip effective section.

  In the next step 114 to step 118, since the result in step 104 is negative and the result in step 112 is affirmed, the type of rendering command for the intermediate code image data to be processed is a clip end command. A clip that retrieves intermediate code image data including a clip start instruction corresponding to the clip end instruction determined in step 112 from the intermediate code image data stored in the memory 16 sequentially in the order of generation of the intermediate code image data. A start instruction search loop is executed.

  In this clip start command search loop, first, in step 116, it is determined whether or not the drawing processing command included in the intermediate code image data is a clip start command.

If the result in Step 116 is negative, the retrieved intermediate code image data is a drawing command or a clip command (end). If the retrieved intermediate code image data is a drawing command, the process proceeds to step 117, and after adding the drawing area corresponding to the retrieved intermediate code image data drawing command to the counter initialized in step 113, step 116 is executed. Returning to step 116, the click start command search loop is repeated until affirmative in step 116.

On the other hand, when the result in step 116 is affirmative and intermediate code image data including a clip start command corresponding to the clip end command is retrieved, the process proceeds to step 119.

  By affirming in step 116, for example, the intermediate code image data 56B shown in FIG. 9B is retrieved, and the counter is set to the value of the total drawing area of the drawing command of the clip valid section. .

  In the next step 119, it is determined whether or not the value of the counter is larger than a predetermined threshold value. The threshold value is obtained in advance for each image processing apparatus 10 from the relationship between the regeneration processing time for the clip effective section in the intermediate code image data regeneration unit 20 and the interpretation processing time for the clip effective section in the intermediate code image data interpretation unit 22. However, it is also possible to skip the regeneration process of the intermediate code image data unconditionally for the clip valid section without providing such a threshold value.

  If the result in step 119 is negative, the process proceeds to step 120 (see FIG. 4). If the value of the counter is greater than the threshold value, the process proceeds to step 121, and the intermediate code image data in the clip valid section is regenerated. The intermediate code image data in the clip valid section is all copied to the designated area.

  In the next step 123, after the contour data holding area 16C is cleared, the process returns to step 110.

  On the other hand, when the result in Step 112 is negative and the header information rendering command type included in the intermediate code image data is a rendering command and the writing method is a logical operation command, the process proceeds to Step 130 shown in FIG.

  For example, when the result in Step 112 is negative, the intermediate code image data 60D shown in FIG. 10B is retrieved.

  In Steps 130 to 134, since the result of the determination in Step 104 is negative and the result in Step 112 is negative, the intermediate code image data to be processed includes a logical operation command as a rendering processing command. By determining the first intermediate code image data of the logical operation sequence including this logical operation instruction, a logical operation sequence search loop for searching the first intermediate code image data of the logical operation sequence is executed. In this logical operation sequence search loop, in step 132, the intermediate code image data is searched retroactively from the searched intermediate code image data (intermediate code image data 60D in FIG. 10B) in the generation order of the intermediate code image data. The logical operation sequence search loop is repeated until intermediate code image data that is generated next to intermediate code image data that does not include a logical operation instruction as intermediate image image data drawing processing instructions and includes a logical operation instruction is searched.

  By affirming in the above step 132, for example, the intermediate code image data 60B shown in FIG. 10B is retrieved.

  When an affirmative determination is made in step 132 and the intermediate code image data corresponding to the head of the logical operation sequence is searched, the process proceeds to step 136, and the logical operation sequence section searched by the logical operation sequence search loop of step 130 to step 134 Set.

  Specifically, the intermediate code image data 60D, the intermediate code image data 60C, and the intermediate code image data 60B in FIG. 10 are set as intermediate code image data corresponding to the logical operation sequence section by the process of step 136.

  Next, in the processing from step 138 to step 140, each of the intermediate code image data set as the logical operation sequence section in step 136 is sequentially read back in the generation order of the intermediate code image data, and in step 106, the intermediate code image data is read. After performing the regeneration process (details will be described later), in step 108, a logical operation sequence section loop is executed in which a contour data generation process (details will be described later) is performed.

  When the processing of step 106 and step 108 is executed for all the intermediate code image data in the logical operation sequence section set in step 136, the process returns to step 110.

  Since the intermediate code image data regeneration process for the logical operation sequence section is heavy, if the intermediate code image data interpretation unit 22 is configured by hardware instead of software, the intermediate code image data regenerating process is performed in the middle of the logical operation sequence section. For code image data, it is possible to skip the regeneration process of the intermediate code image data.

  In this case, the result is negative in step 104 (see FIG. 3) and proceeds to step 112. Further, the result is negative in step 112, and the type of header information drawing command included in the intermediate code image data is a drawing command. If the writing method is a logical operation instruction, the process may proceed to step 129 shown in FIG.

  For example, when the result in Step 112 is negative, the intermediate code image data 60D shown in FIG. 10B is retrieved.

  As shown in FIG. 15, in step 129, a counter for determining whether or not to regenerate the intermediate code image data is performed on the intermediate code image data in the logical operation sequence section.

  In the next step 130 to step 134, the result is negative in step 104 (see FIG. 3) and negative in step 112 (see FIG. 3). Since a logical operation instruction is included, the intermediate code image data at the beginning of the logical operation sequence is searched by determining (searching) the intermediate code image data positioned at the beginning of the logical operation sequence including the logical operation instruction. An arithmetic sequence search loop is executed.

  In this logical operation sequence search loop, in step 132, the intermediate code image data in the memory 16 is traced back to the generation order of the intermediate code image data from the intermediate code image data searched in step 112 (intermediate code image data 60D in FIG. 10B). The code image data is searched, and the intermediate code image data generated after (ie, after) the intermediate code image data not including the logical operation instruction as the intermediate code image data drawing processing instruction and including the logical operation instruction is searched. The logical operation sequence search loop is repeated until the logical operation sequence is repeated. In step 131, the drawing area of the intermediate code image data searched in step 132 is added to the counter initialized in step 129.

  By affirming in the above step 132, for example, the intermediate code image data 60B shown in FIG. 10B is retrieved.

  When an affirmative determination is made in step 132 and intermediate code image data corresponding to the head of the logical operation sequence is retrieved, the process proceeds to step 135 to determine whether or not the counter value is greater than the threshold value, and the result is negative and the counter value is If it is smaller than the threshold value, the same processing as step 136 to step 140 in FIG. 5 is performed.

  On the other hand, if the determination in step 135 is affirmative and the counter value is larger than the threshold value, the process proceeds to step 137, where the intermediate code image data in the logical operation sequence section is not regenerated and the intermediate code image in the logical operation sequence section is not processed. All the data is copied to a predesignated area of the memory 16 in the order of generation of the intermediate code image data.

  In the next step 139, after the contour data holding area 16C is cleared, the process returns to step 110.

  Here, the threshold value is obtained for each image processing apparatus 10 from the relationship between the regeneration processing time for the clip effective section in the intermediate code image data regenerating unit 20 and the interpretation processing time for the clip effective section in the intermediate code image data interpreting unit 22. Although it is a value, intermediate code image data regeneration processing may be skipped unconditionally for a logical operation sequence section without providing a threshold.

  Next, the intermediate code image data regeneration process executed in step 106 will be described.

  In step 200, it is determined whether or not the intermediate code image data to be processed is intermediate code image data in the clip valid section set in step 124. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 214.

  The intermediate code image data affirmed in step 200 is specifically the intermediate code image data 54D, the intermediate code image data 54C, and the intermediate code image data 54B shown in FIG. 9B.

  In the next step 214, it is determined whether or not the drawing process command included in the intermediate code image data to be processed is a clip command. If the result is affirmative, this routine is terminated. If the result is negative, step 216 is performed. Proceed to

  The intermediate code image data affirmed in step 214 is specifically the intermediate code image data 54D and the intermediate code image data 54B shown in FIG. 9B.

  Specifically, the intermediate code image data denied in step 214 is intermediate code image data 54C shown in FIG. 9B.

  In step 216, the drawing area of the intermediate code image data is clipped by the clip area set in step 122, and the contour data of the outline data stored in the outline data holding area 16C of the memory 16 from the clipped drawing area. Exclude area.

  As a result of the process of step 216, as shown in FIG. 9B, the contour data holding area of the memory 16 is obtained from the result of clipping the drawing area 56C of the intermediate code image data 54C by the drawing area 56B of the intermediate code image data 54B. A drawing data area 59C is generated by removing the outline data area of the outline data (in this case nothing is held) stored in 16C.

  In the next step 206, the intermediate code image data is regenerated so that the drawing area remaining after the processing in step 216 is set as the drawing area.

  Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 9B, the intermediate code image data 56C is regenerated so as to be the intermediate code image data 57C including the drawing area 59C left by the process of step 216.

  In the next step 208, the intermediate code image data regenerated in the above step 206 is stored in a predetermined specific area for storing the regenerated intermediate code image data in the memory 16, and then this routine is executed. finish.

  As described above, among the intermediate code image data in the clip effective section, the intermediate code image data that does not include the clip command is not generated for the intermediate code image data that includes the clip command as the drawing processing information. In this case, intermediate code image data is generated in which the outline data stored in the outline data holding area 16C and the clip area stored in the clip buffer 16B excluding the drawing area are used as a new drawing area.

  On the other hand, when the result in Step 202 is negative and the intermediate code image data to be processed is not intermediate code image data in the clip valid section set in Step 124, the process proceeds to Step 202 and the intermediate code to be processed is processed. It is determined whether or not the image data is intermediate code image data within the logical operation sequence section set in step 136.

  Specifically, the intermediate code image data affirmed in step 202 is, for example, any one of the intermediate code image data 60D, the intermediate code image data 60C, and the intermediate code image data 60B shown in FIG. It is.

  If the determination in step 202 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 210, where it is determined whether or not the drawing processing command included in the intermediate code image data to be processed is clip information. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 212.

  The case where the result is negative in step 210 is that the rendering process instruction of the intermediate code image data to be processed is a logical operation instruction and is not a clip instruction “AND”, that is, an intermediate code image including “XOR” as the logical operation instruction. This is a case where data is a processing target. That is, for example, this is a case where the intermediate code image data to be processed is either the intermediate code image data 60D or the intermediate code image data 60B shown in FIG.

  In step 212, the intermediate code image data regenerated as it is without being regenerated is stored in a predetermined specific area in the memory 16 where the regenerated intermediate code image data is stored. After that, this routine is finished.

  That is, intermediate code image data that includes a logical operation instruction as a drawing processing instruction and includes “XOR” as a logical operation instruction is stored in the memory 16 that stores the intermediate code image data regenerated without being regenerated. Stored in a specific area.

  On the other hand, when the result in Step 202 is negative and when the result in Step 210 is negative, the process proceeds to Step 204.

  When the result in Step 202 is negative, the intermediate code image data to be processed is intermediate code image data outside the clip effective section set in Step 124 and the logical operation sequence set in Step 136 This is a case where the intermediate code image data is outside. Specifically, the intermediate code image data in the case where the determination in Step 200 and Step 202 is negative is intermediate code image data 54A shown in FIG. 9B and intermediate code image data 60A shown in FIG. 10B. In this case, it is intermediate code image data that does not include a logical operation instruction or a clip instruction as a drawing processing instruction and is outside the valid clip section and the logical operation sequence section.

  When the result in step 210 is affirmative, the intermediate code image data to be processed is included in the logical operation sequence set in step 136 and the intermediate code including the logical operation instruction “AND” as the drawing processing information. This is the case of image data.

  In step 204, the drawing area included in the intermediate code image data to be processed is clipped with the outline data stored in the outline data holding area 16C.

  That is, the outline data area of the outline data stored in the outline data holding area 16C is excluded from the drawing area of the intermediate code image data to be processed.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9B, the outline data area 58C of the outline data 57C stored in the outline data holding area 16C of the memory 16 is removed from the drawing area 56A of the intermediate code image data 54A. Thus, the drawing area 59A remains. As shown in FIG. 10B, the contour data area 64C of the contour data 61C stored in the contour data holding area 16C of the memory 16 is removed from the drawing area 62A of the intermediate code image data 60A. Region 67A remains. Similarly, the outline data area of the outline data 61C stored in the outline data holding area 16C (in this case, nothing is stored) is removed from the drawing area 62C of the intermediate code image data 60C, thereby drawing area 67C. Remains.

  In the next step 206, intermediate code image data is regenerated with the drawing area remaining after the processing in step 216 as the drawing area.

  Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 9B, the intermediate code image data 56A is regenerated so that the intermediate code image data 57A including the drawing area 59A remaining after the processing of step 204 is obtained. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 10B, the intermediate code image data 60A is regenerated so as to be the intermediate code image data 66A including the drawing area 67A remaining after the process of step 204. Similarly, the intermediate code image data 60 </ b> C is regenerated so that the intermediate code image data 66 </ b> C including the drawing area 67 </ b> C remaining after the process of step 204 is obtained.

  In the next step 208, the intermediate code image data regenerated in the above step 206 is stored in a predetermined specific area for storing the regenerated intermediate code image data in the memory 16, and then this routine is executed. finish.

  As described above, the intermediate code image data outside the clip effective section and outside the logical operation sequence, and the intermediate code image data including the logical operation instruction “AND” representing the clip information as the drawing processing instruction within the logical operation sequence, Intermediate code image data is generated in which the area excluding the drawing area in the outline data area of the outline data stored in the data holding area 16C is a new drawing area.

  Next, the contour data generation process executed in step 108 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in step 300, it is determined whether or not the intermediate code image data to be processed is intermediate code image data in the clip valid section set in step 124.

  If the result is affirmative in step 300 and the intermediate code image data to be processed is an intermediate code image eater within the clip effective section, the drawing processing instruction for the intermediate code image data to be processed is a clip instruction (clip start instruction or clip This routine is terminated when the result is negative, and the process proceeds to step 312 when the result is affirmative.

  The determination in step 310 can be made by determining whether or not the instruction type indicated in the header information of the intermediate code image data is a clip instruction.

  In step 312, the area obtained by clipping the drawing area of the intermediate code image data to be processed in the clip area set in step 122 stored in the clip buffer 16B is set as the outline data holding area 16C. After adding to the contour data area of the stored contour data, this routine is finished.

  9C, specifically, as shown in FIG. 9C, the outline data holding area 16C is not stored in the initial state by the process of step 100 described above. If there is an intermediate code image data 54C that does not include a clip command within the valid clip section (see contour data 57D), the drawing area 56C of the intermediate code image data 54C is set in step 122 above. The contour data 57C of the contour data region 58C representing the region clipped by the clipped region (the drawing region 56B of the intermediate code image data 54B) is stored in the contour data holding region 16C.

  Note that no contour data is generated from the intermediate code image data 54B including the clip start command and the intermediate code image data 54D including the clip end command by the processing of step 310.

  If the result in Step 300 is negative, the process proceeds to Step 302, where it is determined whether or not the intermediate code image data to be processed is intermediate code image data in the logical operation sequence set in Step 136. If the intermediate code image data to be processed is intermediate code image data in the logical operation sequence, the process proceeds to step 306, where it is determined whether or not the drawing process instruction for the intermediate code image data to be processed is clip information. Determine. The determination in step 306 can be made by determining whether or not the drawing process command for the intermediate code image data to be processed is the logical operation command “AND”.

  If the result in Step 306 is negative and the logical operation instruction is “XOR”, the routine is terminated without generating contour data. If the logical operation instruction is “AND”, the process proceeds to Step 308. After adding the contour data area representing the contour of the drawing area as the clip area of the intermediate code image data to be processed to the contour data area of the contour data stored in the contour data holding area 16C, this routine is terminated.

  As a result of the processing in step 306 and step 308, specifically, as shown in FIG. 10C, in the initial state, nothing is stored in the contour data holding area 16C by the processing in step 100 above. However, the intermediate code image data 60D and the intermediate code image data 60B that do not include the clip information “AND” in the logical operation sequence section and include “XOR” by the processing in step 308 are as follows. The intermediate code image including the clip information “AND” in the logical operation sequence section without including the contour data areas of the respective drawing areas 62B and 62D in the outline data area of the outline data stored in the outline data holding area 16C. For the data 60C, the contour data area representing the contour of the drawing area 62C is used as the contour data. Add to outline data area of the contour data stored in the data holding area 16C.

  On the other hand, if the result in Step 302 is negative and the intermediate code image data to be processed is outside the valid clip section set in Step 124 and outside the logical operation sequence section set in Step 136, Step 304 is executed. Proceed to

  In step 304, the contour data area representing the contour of the drawing area of the intermediate code image data to be processed is stored in the contour data holding area 16C in the outline data area of the outline data stored in the outline data holding area 16C of the memory 16. After adding the contour data to the contour data area, this routine is terminated.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9C, the processing of step 304 changes the contour data area of the drawing area 56A to the contour data area 54A for the intermediate code image data 54A outside the logical operation sequence section and outside the clip effective section. The outline data 57A of the outline data area 58A added to the outline data area 58C of the outline data 57C stored in the data holding area 16C is stored in the outline data holding area 16C. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 10C, for the intermediate code image data 60A outside the logical operation sequence section and outside the clip effective section, the outline data area of the drawing area 62A is stored in the outline data holding area 16C. The outline data 61A of the outline data area 64A added to the outline data area 64C of the existing outline data 61C is stored in the outline data holding area 16C.

  As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the intermediate code image data is sequentially interpreted retrospectively in the order of generation of the intermediate code image data, the intermediate code image data drawing processing command is determined, and the drawing processing command is determined. When a logical operation instruction or a clip instruction is included in the data, it is determined whether or not the contour data is to be added to the contour data already generated and held based on the content of the command, and the contour data is determined based on the determination result. And the intermediate code image data is regenerated based on the content of the instruction.

  More specifically, based on the intermediate code image data drawing processing command, contour data generation processing and intermediate code image data generation processing are performed again. When the intermediate code image data to be processed is intermediate code image data within the clip valid section and includes a clip command, the intermediate code image data is not regenerated and the contour data is not generated.

  When the intermediate code image data to be processed is intermediate code image data in the clip effective section and does not include a clip command, the intermediate code image data is stored in the clip area and contour data holding area 16C set from the drawing area of the intermediate code image data. The intermediate code image data is regenerated so that the area excluding the contour data area is a drawing area. In addition, an area obtained by clipping the drawing area of the original intermediate code image data with a clip area (a clip area represented by other intermediate code image data in the same clip valid section) is stored in the contour data holding area 16C. Contour data is generated by adding to the contour data.

  When the intermediate code image data to be processed is intermediate code image data in the logical operation sequence section and includes the clip information “AND” as a logical operation instruction, the intermediate code image data is drawn from the drawing area to the contour data holding area 16C. The intermediate code image data is regenerated so that the area excluding the stored contour data area is the drawing area.

  Further, the contour data is generated so as to become contour data obtained by adding the drawing region of the original intermediate code image data to the contour data region stored in the contour data holding region 16C. Further, when the intermediate code image data to be processed is intermediate code image data in the logical operation sequence section and includes the clip information “XOR” as the logical operation instruction, the intermediate code image in which the original intermediate code image data is regenerated as it is The regenerated intermediate code image data in the memory 16 is stored as data in an area for holding, and no contour data is generated.

  Therefore, even when the intermediate code image data includes a clip command or a logical operation command, it is possible to generate contour data corresponding to the drawing target region and to display the contour of the drawing region to be drawn. The intermediate code image data is regenerated so that the area excluding the drawing area drawn in the upper layer is used as the drawing area from the intermediate code image data including the corresponding drawing area, reducing the amount of intermediate code image data. can do.

  Further, the intermediate code image data can be regenerated so that the same output image as that obtained by a general drawing process is obtained.

  That is, in the conventional general drawing process (see FIG. 9A or FIG. 10A), when generating the bitmap drawing area data, the intermediate code image data is included in the logical operation sequence in the drawing area. So as to obtain the same output image as the output image (for example, the output image 54E and the output image 60E) obtained by overwriting the drawing area generated based on the logical operation and the drawing area of each intermediate code image data. In addition, the intermediate code image data is regenerated based on the contents of the drawing processing command so that the reduction of the capacity of the memory 16 due to the intermediate code image data can be prevented. In the regeneration process, the intermediate code image data is generated from the intermediate code image data drawing area based on the contents of the drawing process command and held in the contour data holding area 16C based on the contents of the intermediate code image data drawing process instruction. The intermediate code image data is regenerated so that the intermediate code image data includes a drawing area excluding the outline data area of the outline data. The intermediate code image data regenerated in this way is an intermediate code that includes, as a drawing area, an area obtained by removing the outline data area from the drawing area drawn on the upper layer side of each drawing area from the drawing area to be drawn. Since it is code image data, the output images (the output image 59E in FIG. 9 and the output image 66E in FIG. 10) corresponding to the bitmap drawing area data generated based on the regenerated intermediate code image data are the same intermediate This is the same as the output image (the output image 54E in FIG. 9 and the output image 60E in FIG. 10) obtained from the code image data by a general drawing process.

  Furthermore, since the intermediate code image data can be regenerated so as to include only the area excluding the overlapping area among the intermediate code image data held in the memory 16, the bitmap drawing area data can be generated. It can be done at high speed.

It is a functional block diagram of an image processing apparatus. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of a series of intermediate code image data including a clip command generated from page description data. It is a flowchart which shows the process in an intermediate code image data regeneration part. It is a flowchart which shows the process in an intermediate code image data regeneration part. It is a flowchart which shows the process in an intermediate code image data regeneration part. It is a flowchart showing an intermediate code image data regeneration process. It is a flowchart showing an outline data generation process. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of a series of intermediate code image data including a logical operation instruction generated from page description data. (A) is a schematic diagram showing a conventional general drawing process, and (B) is a schematic diagram showing an intermediate code image data regeneration sequence when a clip command is included in the intermediate code image data of the present invention. (C) is a schematic diagram showing a contour data generation sequence in the case where a clip command is included in the intermediate code image data of the present invention. (A) is a schematic diagram showing a conventional general drawing process, and (B) is a schematic diagram showing an intermediate code image data regeneration sequence when a logical operation instruction is included in the intermediate code image data of the present invention. FIG. 6C is a schematic diagram illustrating a contour data generation sequence when a logical operation instruction is included in the intermediate code image data of the present invention. (A) is a schematic diagram showing the conventional general drawing process, (B) is a schematic diagram showing the intermediate code image data regeneration sequence of the conventional invention (Patent Document 1), (C) is FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a contour data generation sequence of the conventional invention (Patent Document 1). (A) is a schematic diagram showing a conventional general drawing process, and (B) is an intermediate code image data regeneration when a clip command is included in the intermediate code image data of the conventional invention (Patent Document 1). It is a schematic diagram showing a sequence, and (C) is a schematic diagram showing a contour data generation sequence when a clip command is included in the intermediate code image data of the conventional invention (Patent Document 1). (A) is a schematic diagram showing a conventional general drawing process, and (B) is a reproduction of intermediate code image data when a logical operation instruction is included in the intermediate code image data of the conventional invention (Patent Document 1). It is a schematic diagram showing a composition sequence, and (C) is a schematic diagram showing a contour data generation sequence in the case where a logical operation instruction is included in the intermediate code image data of the conventional invention (Patent Document 1). It is a flowchart which shows the process in an intermediate code image data regeneration part. It is a flowchart which shows the process in an intermediate code image data regeneration part.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image processing apparatus 16 Memory 18 Intermediate code image data generation part 20 Intermediate code image data regeneration part 22 Intermediate code image data interpretation part

Claims (8)

Representing each of a plurality of objects drawn in layers according to a predetermined drawing order and including page description data including drawing processing instructions representing drawing processing when each object is drawn, according to the drawing order of the objects for each drawing processing instruction Conversion means for sequentially converting and converting to intermediate code image data including a drawing processing instruction and a drawing area representing an object or a drawing area for generating an object;
Storage means for storing the intermediate code image data converted by the conversion means for each drawing processing command;
Reading means for sequentially reading the intermediate code image data from the storage means by going back the generation order of the intermediate code image data;
A discriminating unit for discriminating a type of a drawing processing command included in the intermediate code image data read by the reading unit;
Contour data generating means for generating contour data including the contour data area of the contour data representing the contour of the drawing area in the contour data area of the previously generated contour data based on the determination result by the determining means;
The intermediate code image data read by the reading unit is regenerated as intermediate code image data obtained by removing the contour data region of the contour data previously generated by the contour data generating unit from the drawing region of the intermediate code image data. Code image data regeneration means;
An image processing apparatus. The determination unit is a clip command indicating that a type of a drawing processing command included in the intermediate code image data read by the reading unit is to extract a partial region in a drawing region of other intermediate code image data. When it is determined, a clip valid section in which the clip command is valid is specified by searching the intermediate code image data including a drawing area for generating the same object as the intermediate code image data retroactively to the generation order. Including identification means,
The contour data generating means is specified by the specifying means when it is determined by the determining means that the type of the drawing process command included in the intermediate code image data read by the reading means is the clip command. From the plurality of intermediate code image data within the clip effective section, generate contour data including the contour data region representing the contour of the region extracted according to the clip command in the contour data region of the contour data generated previously,
The intermediate code image data regenerating means is determined by the specifying means when the determining means determines that the type of the drawing process command included in the intermediate code image data read by the reading means is the clip instruction. A region obtained by excluding the contour data region of the contour data previously generated by the contour data generation unit from the region extracted according to the clip command from the plurality of intermediate code image data in the specified clip effective section is defined as a drawing region. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate code image data to be generated is regenerated.   3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the contour data generation unit includes a deletion unit that deletes, from the storage unit, intermediate code image data whose type of the drawing command is the clip command after generating the contour data. 4. . The determining unit is configured to generate the same object as the intermediate code image data when determining that the type of the drawing process command included in the intermediate code image data read by the reading unit is a logical operation command. A specifying means for specifying a logical operation section in which the logical operation instruction is valid by searching the intermediate code image data including the drawing area retroactively to the generation order; and a plurality of logical operation sections specified by the specifying means Determination means for determining intermediate code image data having clip information as a logical operation instruction in the intermediate code image data,
The contour data generating means is determined by the determining means when it is determined by the determining means that the type of the drawing processing instruction included in the intermediate code image data read by the reading means is the logical operation instruction. Generating contour data including the contour data region representing the contour of the drawing region of the intermediate code image data included in the contour data region of the previously generated contour data;
The intermediate code image data regenerating unit is configured to determine the determination unit when it is determined that the type of the drawing processing instruction included in the intermediate code image data read by the reading unit is the logical operation instruction. The intermediate code image data determined by the above is regenerated as intermediate code image data obtained by removing the contour data area of the contour data previously generated by the contour data generating means from the drawing area of the intermediate code image data, and the determining means The intermediate code image data specified by the specifying means other than the intermediate code image data determined by the intermediate code image data after the regeneration,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.   The image processing according to claim 1, further comprising: a regeneration skip control unit that controls the intermediate code image data regeneration unit so as to omit the regeneration of the intermediate code image data based on a determination result by the determination unit. apparatus. The determination unit is a clip command indicating that a type of a drawing processing command included in the intermediate code image data read by the reading unit is to extract a partial region in a drawing region of other intermediate code image data. When it is determined, the clip effective section in which the clip command is valid is specified by searching the intermediate code image data including the drawing area for generating the same object as the intermediate code image data in the generation order. Including specific means to
The re-generation omission control means controls the intermediate code image data re-generation means so as to omit the re-generation of the intermediate code image data for the intermediate code image data in the clip valid section specified by the specifying means. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 5. The determining unit is configured to generate the same object as the intermediate code image data when determining that the type of the drawing process command included in the intermediate code image data read by the reading unit is a logical operation command. Including specifying means for specifying a logical operation valid section in which the logical operation instruction is valid by searching the intermediate code image data including the drawing area retroactively to the generation order;
The re-generation omission control means controls the intermediate code image data re-generation means so as to omit the re-generation of the intermediate code image data for the intermediate code image data in the logical operation valid section specified by the specifying means. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 5. Representing each of a plurality of objects drawn in layers according to a predetermined drawing order and including page description data including drawing processing instructions representing drawing processing when each object is drawn, according to the drawing order of the objects for each drawing processing instruction Interpretation sequentially, converting to intermediate code image data including drawing processing instructions and a drawing area representing an object or a drawing area for generating an object,
Storing the converted intermediate code image data for each drawing processing command;
The intermediate code image data is sequentially read back in the generation order of the intermediate code image data,
Determining the type of drawing processing instruction included in the read intermediate code image data;
Based on the determination result, generate contour data including the contour data region of the contour data representing the contour of the drawing region in the contour data region of the contour data generated previously,
The read intermediate code image data is regenerated as intermediate code image data obtained by removing the contour data region of the contour data generated previously from the drawing region of the intermediate code image data.
Image processing method.