JP2007060439A - Unit, system, method, and program for processing image, and facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing unit and an image processing system that can express color information in a color document with a monochrome image and can reproduce a vivid color image. <P>SOLUTION: A composite machine 100 reads color image data from the color document 1, and identifies the color information and position information of an object image contained in the color image data. The composite machine 100 generates monochrome image data in which the color information and the position information are embedded for outputting as monochrome printed matter 2. Facsimile equipment 300 reads the monochrome image data of the monochrome printed matter 2 for transmitting to facsimile equipment 500 via a telephone line 400 to output monochrome printed matter 3. The composite machine 200 reads the monochrome image data of the monochrome printed matter 3, and extracts the color information and the position one from the monochrome image data. The composite machine 200 generates the color image data from the monochrome image data and the extracted color information and the position one for outputting color printed matter 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, a facsimile apparatus, an image processing system, an image processing method, and an image processing program that express color information in a color document as a monochrome image.

  Conventionally, the use of a color facsimile is generally known as a method for transmitting a color document. However, since color facsimiles are more expensive than monochrome facsimiles, it cannot be said that they are still widely used. There was a problem that it could not be obtained.

  In order to solve such a problem, a binary image obtained by binarizing a color image is generated, and the binary image is halftoned with a dot pattern corresponding to ink characteristics of CMY (cyan, magenta, yellow). After that, a color facsimile apparatus that encodes and transmits it is disclosed (see Patent Document 1). In such a color facsimile apparatus, since color information of a color image is embedded in a halftone dot, color information can be obtained from the received monochrome image even if the facsimile receiving the image information is monochrome. Can be reproduced.

JP 2005-80034 A

  However, in Patent Document 1, since the binary image to which the color information is added is halftone, when the color information is extracted from the halftone dot of the binary image and the color image is reproduced, the halftoned binary image is reproduced. Since a color is added to the image, there is a problem that the resolution of the image is substantially reduced as compared with a binary image that is not halftone. In particular, in the case of a character, if the outline blurs by expressing it with halftone dots, the character recognition may be hindered.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus, a facsimile apparatus, an image processing system, an image processing method, and an image processing program capable of reproducing a clear color image. And

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the invention according to claim 1 includes document information acquisition means for acquiring document information including an image and the document information acquired by the document information acquisition means. Color information specifying means for specifying color information indicating the color of the image, and position information specifying for specifying position information indicating a position where the image included in the document information acquired by the document information acquiring means is disposed And monochrome image generation means for generating monochrome image information indicating the image included in the document information acquired by the document information acquisition means in monochrome based on the color information specified by the color information specification means And the color information specified by the color information specifying means and the monochrome image information generated by the monochrome image generating means Characterized in that it comprises a print information embedding means for generating a monochrome image information with the print information embedded the location information identified by the serial position information specifying means.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, binary image information is generated by binarizing pixel values in the document information acquired by the document information acquisition unit. Binary image information generating means; and target image specifying means for specifying, as the image, a group of connected areas of pixels having the same pixel value from the binary image information generated by the binary image information generating means. The color information specifying unit specifies the color information of the image specified by the target image specifying unit, and the position information specifying unit is configured to specify the color information of the image specified by the target image specifying unit. The position information is specified.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the second aspect, the target image specifying means is within a range that can be regarded as the same color based on the color information of the plurality of extracted images. If it is determined that it is a range that can be regarded as the same color, a plurality of the images are specified as one image.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the print information embedding unit includes the color of the image specified by the color information specifying unit. When the information is not black, the color information of the color and the corresponding position information are embedded in the monochrome image information.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, a printing unit that prints the monochrome image information with print information generated by the print information embedding unit. Are further provided.

  The invention according to claim 6 specifies document information storage means for storing document information including an image, and color information indicating the color of the image included in the document information stored in the document information storage means. Specified by color information specifying means, position information specifying means for specifying position information indicating a position where the image included in the document information stored in the document information storage means is located, and specified by the color information specifying means Based on the color information, monochrome image generation means for generating monochrome image information indicating the image included in the document information stored in the document information storage means in monochrome, and the monochrome image generation means generated by the monochrome image generation means The color information specified by the color information specifying means and the position information specified by the position information specifying means are embedded in monochrome image information. And print information embedding means for generating a monochrome image information with the print information I, characterized in that it comprises a.

  The invention according to claim 7 specifies document information acquisition means for acquiring document information including an image, and color information indicating the color of the image included in the document information acquired by the document information acquisition means. Color information specifying means, position information specifying means for specifying position information indicating a position where the image included in the document information acquired by the document information acquiring means is specified, and color information specifying means Based on the color information, monochrome image generation means for generating monochrome image information indicating the image included in the document information acquired by the document information acquisition means in monochrome, and the monochrome image generation means generated by the monochrome image generation means Specified in the monochrome image information by the color information specified by the color information specifying means and the position information specifying means Print information embedding means for generating monochrome image information with print information in which the position information is embedded, and the other monochrome facsimile apparatus via the telephone line with the monochrome image information with print information generated by the print information embedding means. And transmitting means for transmitting to.

  According to an eighth aspect of the invention, there is provided monochrome image information with print information in which color information indicating the color of the image and position information indicating a position where the image is arranged are embedded in monochrome image information indicating the image in monochrome. An image information acquisition unit to acquire, an information extraction unit to extract the monochrome image information, the color information, and the position information from the monochrome image information with print information acquired by the image information acquisition unit, and the information extraction unit Color image information generating means for generating color image information indicating the image arranged at the position indicated by the position information in the color indicated by the color information in the extracted monochrome image information. To do.

  The invention according to claim 9 is the image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the monochrome image information acquisition unit acquires the monochrome image information with print information from a printed matter.

  The invention according to claim 10 is the image processing apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, further comprising printing means for printing the color image information generated by the color image generation means. And

  The invention according to claim 11 is a monochrome image information with print information in which color information indicating the color of the image and position information indicating the position where the image is arranged are embedded in monochrome image information indicating the image in monochrome. Receiving means from another facsimile apparatus, information extracting means for extracting the monochrome image information, the color information and the position information from the monochrome image information with print information received by the receiving means, and the information extraction Color image information generating means for generating color image information indicating the image arranged in the position indicated by the position information in the color indicated by the color information in the monochrome image information extracted by the means; and the color image information Printing means for printing the color image information generated by the generation means.

  According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing system comprising: a first image processing device that outputs a printed material; and a second image processing device that uses the printed material output by the first image treatment device. The first image processing apparatus includes a document information acquisition unit that acquires document information including an image, and a color that specifies color information indicating a color of the image included in the document information acquired by the document information acquisition unit. Information specifying means; position information specifying means for specifying position information indicating a position where the image included in the document information acquired by the document information acquiring means is specified; and the information specified by the color information specifying means Based on color information, monochromatic image information for generating monochrome image information indicating the image included in the document information acquired by the document information acquisition unit in monochrome is displayed. Print information in which the color information specified by the color information specifying means and the position information specified by the position information specifying means are embedded in the monochrome image information generated by the image generating means and the monochrome image generating means Print information embedding means for generating attached monochrome image information, and printing means for printing the monochrome information with print information generated by the print information embedding means, wherein the second image processing apparatus comprises: Image information acquisition means for acquiring the monochrome image information with print information from a printed matter printed by the first image processing apparatus, and the monochrome image information from the monochrome image information with print information acquired by the image information acquisition means Information extracting means for extracting the color information and the position information; and the information extracting means In the monochrome image information, characterized in that it comprises a color image information generating means for generating color image data showing the images laid out in the position indicated by the positional information in the color indicated by the color information.

  The invention according to claim 13 includes a first facsimile apparatus that transmits image information, and a second facsimile apparatus that outputs a printed matter using the image information transmitted from the first facsimile apparatus. In the image processing system, the first facsimile apparatus includes a document information acquisition unit that acquires document information including an image, and color information that indicates a color of the image included in the document information acquired by the document information acquisition unit. Color information specifying means for specifying the position information, position information specifying means for specifying position information indicating a position where the image included in the document information acquired by the document information acquiring means is located, and color information specifying means Based on the specified color information, the image included in the document information acquired by the document information acquisition unit is monochrome. A monochrome image generating means for generating monochrome image information; and the monochrome information generated by the monochrome image generating means, the color information specified by the color information specifying means and the position information specifying means Print information embedding means for generating monochrome image information with print information in which the position information is embedded, and the other monochrome apparatus via the telephone line with the monochrome image information with print information generated by the print information embedding means. Transmitting means for transmitting to the second facsimile apparatus, the second facsimile apparatus receiving the monochrome image information with print information from the first facsimile apparatus, and the print information attached by the reception means. Information for extracting the monochrome image information, the color information and the position information from the monochrome image information. Color image information generation for generating, in the monochrome image information extracted by the information extraction means, color image information indicating the image arranged at the position indicated by the position information in a color indicated by the color information Means, and printing means for printing the color image information generated by the color image information generation means.

  The invention according to claim 14 specifies a document information acquisition step for acquiring document information including an image, and color information indicating a color of the image included in the document information acquired by the document information acquisition step. Specified by the color information specifying step, the position information specifying step for specifying the position information indicating the position where the image included in the document information acquired by the document information acquiring step is located, and the color information specifying step Based on the color information, a monochrome image generating step for generating monochrome image information indicating the image included in the document information acquired by the document information acquiring step in monochrome, and the color information specifying step specified by the color information specifying step The color information and the position information specified by the position information specifying step are And having a printing information embedding step of generating monochrome image information with the print information embedded in the monochromatic image information generated by the B image generating step.

  According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color information specifying step for specifying the color information of the image included in the document information stored in a document information storage unit that stores document information including an image, and the document information. Based on the position information specifying step for specifying the position information of the image included in the document information stored in the storage means and the color information specified by the color information specifying step, the information is stored in the document information storage means. A monochrome image generating step for generating monochrome image information indicating the image included in the document information in monochrome; the color information specified by the color information specifying step; and the position specified by the position information specifying step Print information in which information is embedded in the monochrome image information generated by the monochrome image generation step And having a printing information embedding step of generating monochrome image information.

  According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, a document information acquisition step of acquiring document information including an image, and color information indicating the color of the image included in the document information acquired by the document information acquisition step are specified. Specified by the color information specifying step, the position information specifying step for specifying the position information indicating the position where the image included in the document information acquired by the document information acquiring step is located, and the color information specifying step Based on the color information, a monochrome image generating step for generating monochrome image information indicating the image included in the document information acquired by the document information acquiring step in monochrome, and the color information specifying step specified by the color information specifying step The color information and the position information specified by the position information specifying step are Print information embedding step for generating monochrome image information with print information embedded in the monochrome image information generated by the image generation step; and monochrome image information with print information generated by the print information embedding step. And a transmission step of transmitting to another facsimile apparatus via a telephone line.

  According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided monochrome image information with print information in which color information indicating the color of the image and position information indicating the position where the image is arranged are embedded in monochrome image information indicating the image in monochrome. An image information acquisition step to acquire, an information extraction step to extract the monochrome image information, the color information and the position information from the monochrome image information with print information acquired by the image information acquisition step, and the information extraction step. A color image information generation step of generating color image information indicating the image arranged in the position indicated by the position information in the color indicated by the color information in the extracted monochrome image information. To do.

  The invention according to claim 18 is the monochrome image information with print information in which the color information indicating the color of the image and the position information indicating the position where the image is arranged are embedded in the monochrome image information indicating the image in monochrome. Receiving from another facsimile machine, information extracting step for extracting the monochrome image information, the color information and the position information from the monochrome image information with print information received by the receiving step, and the information extraction In the monochrome image information extracted in the step, color image information generation step for generating color image information indicating the image arranged at the position indicated by the position information in a color indicated by the color information; and the color image information A printing step for printing the color image information generated by the generation step. And wherein the Rukoto.

  The invention according to claim 19 causes a computer to execute the image processing method according to any one of claims 14 to 18.

  According to the first aspect of the invention, document information including an image is acquired, color information indicating the color of the image included in the acquired document information is specified, and the image included in the acquired document information is arranged. Position information indicating the position is specified, monochrome image information indicating a monochrome image included in the obtained document information is generated based on the specified color information, and the generated monochrome image information includes color information and By generating monochrome image information with print information in which position information is embedded, information necessary for printing a color print can be embedded in a monochrome image, so color printing is possible even in environments where color images cannot be output. This produces an effect that it is possible to generate various information. Further, since the color information and the position information are embedded separately from the pixels constituting the image data of the document, there is an effect that a clear color image can be generated.

  According to the invention of claim 2, binary image information obtained by binarizing pixel values in document information is generated, and pixels having the same pixel value are connected from the generated binary image information. By specifying a group of areas as an image, specifying the color information of the image, and specifying the position information of the image, the color and position are specified in units of pixels, so that a clear color print can be printed. There is an effect.

  According to the invention of claim 3, based on the color information of the plurality of extracted images, it is determined whether or not the range can be regarded as the same color. By specifying a plurality of images as one image, it is only necessary to hold one color information and position information for a plurality of target images, so that the amount of color information and position information can be reduced. There is an effect.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the color information of the image is not black, the color information of the color and the corresponding position information are embedded in the monochrome image information, so that the color information is black. Since there is no need to store the color information and position information, the amount of color information and position information can be reduced.

  According to the invention of claim 5, by printing monochrome image information with print information, it is possible to output a monochrome printed material in which information necessary for printing a color printed material is embedded. Therefore, only monochrome printing is possible. Even in the environment, there is an effect that information for printing a color print can be output. Also, by transmitting a monochrome image with a facsimile that only supports monochrome images, it is possible to transmit information for printing a color printed matter without introducing a color compatible facsimile.

  According to the invention of claim 6, the color information indicating the color of the image included in the document information stored in the document information storage means for storing the document information including the image is specified, and the image included in the document information Is generated, monochrome image information indicating monochrome in an image included in the document information stored in the document information storage unit is generated based on the color information, and the generated monochrome image information In addition, by generating monochrome image information with print information in which color information and position information are embedded, a color document can be output as a monochrome image in which information necessary for printing a color printed matter is embedded. Even in an environment where only printing is possible, there is an effect that information for printing a color print can be output. Also, by transmitting a monochrome image with a facsimile that only supports monochrome images, it is possible to transmit information for printing a color printed matter without introducing a color compatible facsimile. Further, since the color information and the position information are embedded separately from the pixels constituting the image data of the document, there is an effect that a clear color image can be generated.

  According to the invention of claim 7, document information including an image is acquired, color information indicating the color of the image included in the acquired document information is specified, and an image included in the acquired document information is obtained. The position information indicating the position where the image is arranged is specified, and based on the specified color information, monochrome image information indicating the image included in the acquired document information is generated in monochrome. The generated monochrome image information includes color information. By generating monochrome image information with print information in which information and position information are embedded, and transmitting the generated monochrome image information with print information to another facsimile machine via a telephone line, it is necessary for printing color printed matter. Because a monochrome image with embedded information is transmitted, information for printing color printed matter is transmitted even if the transmission side or the reception side is a monochrome-compatible facsimile machine. There is an effect that it is possible. Further, since the color information and the position information are embedded separately from the pixels constituting the image data of the document, there is an effect that a clear color image can be generated.

  According to the eighth aspect of the invention, the monochrome image information with print information in which the color information indicating the color of the image and the position information indicating the position where the image is arranged are embedded in the monochrome image information indicating the image in monochrome. Obtained and extracted monochrome image information, color information and position information from the acquired monochrome image information with print information, and in the extracted monochrome image information, the color indicated by the color information indicates the image arranged at the position indicated by the position information By generating the color image information shown in (2), it is possible to extract information necessary for printing a color printed material from a monochrome image, so that it is possible to print a color printed material from a monochrome image.

  According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, since the monochrome image information with print information is acquired from the printed material, information necessary for printing the color printed material can be extracted from the monochrome image. The effect that can be printed.

  According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, information necessary for printing a color print can be extracted from a monochrome image by printing the color image information. Therefore, the color print can be printed from the monochrome image. There is an effect that can be done.

  According to the invention of claim 11, monochrome image information with print information in which color information indicating the color of the image and position information indicating the position where the image is arranged are embedded in monochrome image information indicating the image in monochrome. Is received from the other facsimile apparatus, monochrome image information, color information and position information are extracted from the received monochrome image information with print information, and an image arranged at the position indicated by the position information in the extracted monochrome image information By generating the color image information indicated by the color indicated by the color information and printing the generated color image information, it is possible to receive a monochrome image in which information necessary for printing the color printed matter is embedded. Even if the sending or receiving side is a monochrome-compatible facsimile machine, it can receive information for printing color prints. An effect that can be printed.

  According to the twelfth aspect of the invention, the first image processing apparatus acquires document information including an image, specifies color information indicating the color of the image included in the acquired document information, and acquires the document information. The position information indicating the position where the image included in the document information is arranged is specified, and monochrome image information indicating the image included in the acquired document information is generated based on the specified color information, and generated. The monochrome image information with print information in which color information and position information are embedded in the generated monochrome image information is generated, and the generated monochrome image information with print information is printed. The second image processing apparatus Monochrome image information with print information is acquired from the printed matter printed by the processing device, and monochrome image information, color information, and position information are extracted from the acquired monochrome image information with print information. In the black image information, by generating color image information in which the image arranged at the position indicated by the position information is indicated by the color indicated by the color information, information necessary for printing the color printed matter is embedded in the monochrome image and extracted. Therefore, it is possible to generate or transmit color printable information even in an environment where a color image cannot be output or transmitted.

  According to the invention of claim 13, the first facsimile device acquires document information including an image, specifies color information indicating the color of the image included in the acquired document information, and acquires the document information. The position information indicating the position where the image included in the document information is arranged is specified, and monochrome image information indicating the image included in the acquired document information in monochrome is generated based on the specified color information. The monochrome image information with print information in which the color information and the position information are embedded in the monochrome image information is generated, and the generated monochrome image information with print information is transmitted to another facsimile apparatus via a telephone line. The facsimile apparatus receives monochrome image information with print information from the first facsimile apparatus, and receives monochrome image information, color information, and color information from the received monochrome image information with print information. Position information is extracted, and in the extracted monochrome image information, color image information indicating an image arranged at a position indicated by position information in a color indicated by color information is generated, and the generated color image information is printed. Can send and receive monochrome images in which information necessary for printing color prints is embedded, so that information for printing color prints can be sent and received even if the sending or receiving side is a monochrome-compatible facsimile machine. There is an effect that a color print can be printed.

  According to the invention of claim 14, document information including an image is acquired, color information indicating the color of the image included in the acquired document information is specified, and an image included in the acquired document information is obtained. The position information indicating the arranged position is specified, monochrome image information indicating the image included in the acquired document information is generated based on the specified color information, and the color information and the position information are converted into the monochrome image. By generating monochrome image information with print information embedded in information, information necessary for printing a color print can be embedded in a monochrome image, so color printing is possible even in an environment where a color image cannot be output. There is an effect that information can be generated.

  According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the color information of the image included in the document information stored in the document information storage means for storing the document information including the image is specified, and the document stored in the document information storage means The position information of the image included in the information is specified, and based on the color information, monochrome image information indicating the image included in the document information stored in the document information storage unit in monochrome is generated, and the color information and the position information are By generating monochrome image information with print information embedded in monochrome image information, a color document can be output as a monochrome image in which information necessary for printing a color print is embedded. This also has the effect that information for printing a color print can be output. Also, by transmitting a monochrome image with a facsimile that only supports monochrome images, it is possible to transmit information for printing a color printed matter without introducing a color compatible facsimile.

  According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, document information including an image is acquired, color information indicating the color of the image included in the acquired document information is specified, and an image included in the acquired document information is obtained. Print information in which position information indicating the position of the position is specified, monochrome image information indicating a monochrome image included in the document information is generated based on the color information, and the color information and the position information are embedded in the monochrome image information Generate monochrome image information with print information, and send the generated monochrome image information with print information to another facsimile machine via a telephone line, thereby transmitting a monochrome image in which information necessary for printing a color print is embedded Therefore, even if the transmission side or the reception side is a monochrome-compatible facsimile apparatus, information for printing color printed matter can be transmitted. That.

  According to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, the monochrome image information with print information in which the color information indicating the color of the image and the position information indicating the position where the image is arranged are embedded in the monochrome image information indicating the image in monochrome. Obtained and extracted monochrome image information, color information and position information from the acquired monochrome image information with print information, and in the extracted monochrome image information, the color indicated by the color information indicates the image arranged at the position indicated by the position information By generating the color image information shown in (2), it is possible to extract information necessary for printing a color printed material from a monochrome image, so that it is possible to print a color printed material from a monochrome image.

  According to the invention of claim 18, monochrome image information with print information in which color information indicating the color of the image and position information indicating the position where the image is arranged are embedded in monochrome image information indicating the image in monochrome. Is received from the other facsimile apparatus, monochrome image information, color information and position information are extracted from the received monochrome image information with print information, and an image arranged at the position indicated by the position information in the extracted monochrome image information In order to receive the monochrome image in which the information necessary for printing the color printed matter is received by generating the color image information indicated by the color indicated by the color information and printing the generated color image information, the transmission side or Even if the receiving side is a monochrome compatible facsimile machine, it can receive information for printing color prints and print color prints. An effect that can be.

  According to the invention of claim 19, when the computer executes the image processing method described in any one of claims 14 to 18, the image processing method of claims 14 to 18 is executed. Each effect is achieved.

  Exemplary embodiments of an image processing apparatus, a facsimile apparatus, an image processing system, an image processing method, and an image processing program according to the present invention are explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image processing system according to the first embodiment. An image processing system according to the present embodiment includes a MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) 100 that embeds information in image data, a facsimile 300 that transmits image data, and a facsimile that receives image data via a telephone line 400. 500 and an MFP 200 that extracts information from image data.

  The processing flow of the entire image processing system will be briefly described. The multi-function device 100 reads color image data from the color document 1 and specifies color information and position information of a target image included in the read color image data. The multifunction device 100 generates monochrome image data in which the specified color information and position information are embedded, and outputs the monochrome image data 2 as a monochrome printed matter 2. The facsimile apparatus 300 reads monochrome image data from the monochrome printed material 2 and transmits it to the facsimile apparatus 500 via the telephone line 400. The facsimile apparatus 500 outputs the monochrome printed material 3. The multi-function device 200 reads monochrome image data from the monochrome printed material 3 and extracts color information and position information from the read monochrome image data. The multi-function device 200 generates color image data from the monochrome image data and the extracted color information and position information, and outputs a color print 4.

  Next, details of the multifunction peripheral 100 will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the multifunction peripheral (information embedding process) according to the first embodiment. An MFP 100 according to the present embodiment includes a document information acquisition unit 101, a monochrome image generation unit 102, a binary image generation unit 103, a target image specification unit 104, a target image position specification unit 105, and a target image. A color specifying unit 106, a print information embedding unit 107, and a printing unit 108 are provided.

  The document information acquisition unit 101 acquires read color image data. This color image data is obtained by converting a color original read by a scanner into color image data. The monochrome image generation unit 102 generates monochrome image data from the color image data converted by the document information acquisition unit 101. For example, color image data is converted to monochrome image data by reducing the saturation.

  The binary image generation unit 103 generates binary image data from the color image data converted by the document information acquisition unit 101.

  The target image specifying unit 104 specifies a target image from the binary image data generated by the binary image generating unit 103. Specifically, a connected component, which is a group of connected regions of pixels having the same pixel value, is extracted from the binary image data and specified as a target image. For example, when the character “A” is extracted as a group of areas in which pixels with color information “black” are connected, the character “A” is specified as the target image.

  The target image position specifying unit 105 specifies position information indicating an area occupied by the target image specified by the target image specifying unit 104 in the read original. Specifically, the rectangle occupied by the specified target image in the document is obtained, and the lower left and upper right x and y coordinates of the rectangle are obtained.

  The target image color specifying unit 106 specifies color information of the target image specified by the target image specifying unit 104. Specifically, the color information of the target image is specified by extracting and averaging the color information of the pixels of the color image data corresponding to the positions of the pixels constituting the target image in the binary image data.

  The print information embedding unit 107 embeds the position information specified by the target image position specifying unit 105 and the color information specified by the target image color specifying unit 106 in the monochrome image data generated by the monochrome image generating unit 102. is there. Specifically, a dot pattern or QC code representing color information and position information is generated and embedded in monochrome image data. Thereby, monochrome image data to which color information and position information are added, that is, monochrome image data with print information is generated.

  The printing unit 108 prints the monochrome image data with printing information generated by the printing information embedding unit 107 as a monochrome printed material.

  Next, image processing by the multi-function device 100 configured as described above will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating image processing procedures performed by the document information acquisition unit, the monochrome image generation unit, the print information embedding unit, and the printing unit.

  The document information acquisition unit 101 acquires color image data read from the color document 1 by the scanner function (step S301). The monochrome image generation unit 102 generates monochrome image data from the color image data acquired by the document information acquisition unit 101 (step S302). Next, print information is specified from the color image data (step S303). Here, the print information refers to color information and position information for the target image. Details of the processing will be described later.

  The print information embedding unit 107 generates monochrome image data with print information in which print information is embedded in monochrome image data (step S304). The printing unit 108 prints the monochrome image data with print information generated by the print information embedding unit 107 (step S305). FIG. 5A is an explanatory diagram of an example of monochrome image data in which color information and position information are embedded with dot patterns. The dot pattern may be printed in a predetermined range in addition to printing on the entire surface as shown in the figure. FIG. 5B is an explanatory diagram of an example of monochrome image data in which color information and position information are embedded with a QC code. In addition, not only a dot pattern and a QC code, but also a digital watermark technique that can embed color information and position information may be used.

  In this way, information necessary for printing a color document as a color print can be embedded and output as a monochrome image, so even if the transmission side or the reception side is a monochrome compatible facsimile, it can be converted to color printing. By transmitting a monochrome image, a color print can be printed at the destination.

  Also, in an environment where only monochrome images can be printed, information for printing a color print is embedded in the monochrome print, so a monochrome print is obtained and the print information embedded in the monochrome print is used later. A color print can be obtained.

  Next, details of the processing in step S303 described above will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a print information specifying process performed by the binary image generating unit, the target image specifying unit, the target image position specifying unit, the target image color specifying unit, and the print information embedding unit.

  The binary image generation unit 103 generates binary image data from color image data (step S401). FIG. 6A is an explanatory diagram of an example of a color document read by the scanner. As shown in FIG. 6A, the image data “ABC” is printed or drawn in “blue”, the image data “123” is “black”, and the image data “that” is “red”. FIG. 6B is an explanatory diagram of the result of binarizing the color original. As shown in FIG. 6B, when a color document is binarized, the color of each image data is black.

  The target image specifying unit 104 extracts a connected component from the binary image data (step S402). FIG. 7A is an explanatory diagram of an example of extracting connected components from binary image data. The target image specifying unit 104 extracts the connected components 71 to 81 whose color information is “black”. Here, the connected component refers to a group in which pixels having the same pixel value (for example, pixels having color information “black”) are connected from the binary image data.

  The target image color specifying unit 106 specifies color information for each connected component (step S403). Specifically, the pixel value of the pixel of the color image data corresponding to each pixel extracted as the connected component is read, the average value of the color information of the entire connected component is obtained, and the average color for each connected component Information. For example, the connected components 71 to 73 are obtained as average color information in blue, the connected components 74 to 76 in black, and the connected components 77 to 81 in red as average color information.

  The target image specifying unit 104 determines whether there is an adjacent connected component (step S404). In FIG. 7A, for example, it is assumed that a connected component adjacent to the connected component 71 is searched from the left to the right, and the connected components 72, 73, and 74 are searched. When it is determined that there is an adjacent connected component (step S405: Yes), the target image specifying unit 104 determines whether the color information of the adjacent connected component is a similar color (step S406).

  As an example, it is determined whether or not the adjacent connected components 71, 72, 73, and 74 in FIG. Specifically, in order to determine whether or not the colors are similar, the RGB component values (pixel values) that are the color information of each connected component are compared. In order to determine the color of a connected component, a range of RGB values to be determined as similar colors is determined in advance for each reference color, and the RGB values of adjacent connected components are within a predetermined RGB value range. If it is included, it is determined as a similar color.

  When it is determined that the color information of adjacent connected components is a similar color (step S406: Yes), the target image specifying unit 104 specifies the adjacent connected components as one connected component (step S407). For example, since the color information of the adjacent connected components 71 to 73 in FIG. 7A is “blue”, it is determined as a similar color and is set as one connected component. However, since the color information of the adjacent connected component 74 is “black”, the color information of the connected components 71 to 73 is not determined to be a similar color, and the connected component 74 is combined with the connected components 71 to 73. Not done.

  As a result, a plurality of connected components of similar colors can be combined into one, so that it is possible to reduce the amount of color information and position information necessary for outputting a color printed matter.

  The target image position specifying unit 105 specifies position information for each connected component (step S407). Specifically, for each connected component, the x coordinate and the y coordinate with respect to a rectangular document indicating the pixel region extracted as the connected component are calculated as position information. FIG. 7B is an explanatory diagram of an example of a rectangle that is position information for each connected component. Since the connected components 71 to 73 in FIG. 7A are determined to be one connected component, the coordinates of the rectangle 82 are used as position information. Similarly, the connected components 74 to 76 have the rectangle 83 and the connected components 77 to 81 have the coordinates of the rectangle 84 as position information. The pixel area is not limited to a rectangle, and may be, for example, a polygon, a circle, or an ellipse as long as it can represent the area.

  The color information and position information for each connected component are represented by, for example, lower left coordinates (Xs, Ys), upper right coordinates (Xe, Ye), R components, G components, and B components. This is calculated by the number of connected components, and is expressed as “68, 125, 338, 225, 183, 7, 56”, “70, 350, 501, 235, 9, 17, 12” or the like. It will be.

  If it is determined in step S404 that there is no adjacent connected component (step S404: No), if it is determined in step S405 that the color information of the adjacent connected component is not a similar color (step S405: No), the process which makes a several connection component one is not performed.

  The print information embedding unit 107 determines whether the color information of the connected component is “black” (step S408). When it is determined that the color information of the connected component is not “black” (step S408: No), the color information and the position information of the connected component are set as targets to be embedded in the monochrome image data (step S409). If it is determined that the color information of the connected component is “black” (step S407: Yes), the color information and position information of the connected component are not included in the monochrome image data. Since image data whose color information is “black” is not targeted for embedding, it is possible to reduce the amount of color information and position information of connected components. For image data with color information “black”, RGB values indicating “black” are stored as color information in monochrome image data without adding color information, so a black image is reproduced on a color print. can do. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a connected component that does not embed color information and position information. The connected component 85 is excluded from the embedding target because the color information is “black”.

  In the present embodiment, the case of the multifunction peripheral 100 is described as the image processing apparatus. However, instead of the multifunction peripheral, an apparatus having a scanning function and a printing function such as a copying machine may be used.

  Next, details of the multifunction device 200 will be described. FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the multifunction peripheral (information extraction process) according to the first embodiment. The multifunction device 200 according to the present embodiment includes an image information acquisition unit 201, an information extraction unit 202, a color image generation unit 203, and a printing unit 204.

  The image information acquisition unit 201 acquires the read monochrome image data. The information extraction unit 202 extracts embedded color information and position information, and monochrome image data of a document from the monochrome image data acquired by the image information acquisition unit 201.

  The color image generation unit 203 generates color image data from the color information, position information, and monochrome image data extracted by the information extraction unit 202. The printing unit 204 prints the color image data generated by the color image generation unit 203.

  Next, image processing performed by the multifunction device 200 configured as described above will be described. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an image processing procedure performed by the image information acquisition unit, the information extraction unit, the color image generation unit, and the printing unit.

  The image information acquisition unit 201 acquires monochrome image data with print information in which color information and position information are embedded (step S1001). The information extraction unit 202 extracts color information, position information, and monochrome image data of a document for each target image from the monochrome image data with print information acquired by the image information acquisition unit 201. Specifically, when color information and position information are embedded with a dot pattern or QC code, the dot pattern or QC code and monochrome image data as document data are separated by pattern recognition or a difference in pixel value. . Each information is extracted by converting the separated dot pattern and QC code into color information and position information for the target image.

  The color image generation unit 203 generates color image data from the color information, position information, and monochrome image data of the document for each target image extracted by the image information acquisition unit 201 (step S1003). Specifically, the rectangle indicated by the position information is specified in the monochrome image data of the document. Then, black pixels existing in the rectangle are extracted, and the pixel values of the extracted black pixels are replaced with pixel values indicated in the color information. As a result, color image data is generated.

  The printing unit 204 prints the color image data generated by the color image generation unit 203 (step S1004).

  As described above, since a color printed matter can be output from a monochrome image, a color printed matter can be printed from a monochrome image transmitted to a monochrome compatible facsimile even when there is no color compatible facsimile.

  FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the MFPs 100 and 200 have a configuration in which a controller 10 and an engine unit (Engine) 60 are connected by a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) bus. The controller 10 is a controller that controls the entire MFP 100, 200, drawing, communication, and input from the operation unit 20. The engine unit 60 is a printer engine that can be connected to a PCI bus, and is, for example, a monochrome plotter, a one-drum color plotter, a four-drum color plotter, a scanner, or a fax unit. The engine unit 60 includes an image processing part such as error diffusion and gamma conversion in addition to a so-called engine part such as a plotter.

  The controller 10 includes a CPU 11, a north bridge (NB) 13, a system memory (MEM-P) 12, a south bridge (SB) 14, a local memory (MEM-C) 17, and an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). 16 and a hard disk drive (HDD) 18, and the north bridge (NB) 13 and the ASIC 16 are connected by an AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) bus 15. The MEM-P 12 further includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12a and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 12b.

  The CPU 11 performs overall control of the multifunction peripherals 100 and 200. The CPU 11 includes a chip set including the NB 13, the MEM-P 12, and the SB 14, and is connected to other devices via the chip set.

  The NB 13 is a bridge for connecting the CPU 11 to the MEM-P 12, SB 14, and AGP 15, and includes a memory controller that controls reading and writing to the MEM-P 12, a PCI master, and an AGP target.

  The MEM-P 12 is a system memory used as a memory for storing programs and data, a memory for developing programs and data, a memory for drawing a printer, and the like, and includes a ROM 12a and a RAM 12b. The ROM 12a is a read-only memory used as a memory for storing programs and data, and the RAM 12b is a writable and readable memory used as a program / data development memory, a printer drawing memory, and the like.

  The SB 14 is a bridge for connecting the NB 13 to a PCI device and peripheral devices. The SB 14 is connected to the NB 13 via a PCI bus, and a network interface (I / F) unit and the like are also connected to the PCI bus.

  The ASIC 16 is an IC (Integrated Circuit) for image processing applications having hardware elements for image processing, and has a role of a bridge for connecting the AGP 15, PCI bus, HDD 18 and MEM-C 17. The ASIC 16 includes a PCI target and an AGP master, an arbiter (ARB) that is the core of the ASIC 16, a memory controller that controls the MEM-C 17, and a plurality of DMACs (Direct Memory) that perform rotation of image data by hardware logic. Access Controller) and a PCI unit that performs data transfer between the engine unit 60 via the PCI bus. An FCU (Fax Control Unit) 30, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) 40, and an IEEE 1394 (the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 1394) interface 50 are connected to the ASIC 16 via a PCI bus.

  The MEM-C 17 is a local memory used as an image buffer for copying and a code buffer, and an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 18 is a storage for storing image data, programs, font data, and forms. It is.

  The AGP 15 is a bus interface for a graphics accelerator card proposed for speeding up graphics processing. The AGP 15 speeds up the graphics accelerator card by directly accessing the MEM-P 12 with high throughput. .

  Note that the image processing program executed by the multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment is provided by being incorporated in advance in a ROM or the like.

  The image processing program executed in the MFP of the present embodiment is an installable or executable file, such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), etc. You may comprise so that it may record and provide on a computer-readable recording medium.

  Furthermore, the image processing program executed by the multifunction peripheral according to the present embodiment may be provided by being stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and downloaded via the network. Further, the image processing program executed by the MFP according to the present embodiment may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

  The image processing program executed by the multifunction peripheral of the present embodiment includes the above-described units (document information acquisition unit, monochrome image generation unit, binary image generation unit, target image specification unit, target image position specification unit, target image color Module configuration including a specific unit, a print information embedding unit, a printing unit, an image information acquisition unit, an information extraction unit, a color image generation unit, etc., and the actual hardware includes a CPU (processor) from the ROM By reading and executing the image processing program, the above-described units are loaded onto the main storage device, and the document information acquisition unit, monochrome image generation unit, binary image generation unit, target image specification unit, target image position specification unit, target image A color specifying unit, a print information embedding unit, a printing unit, an image information acquisition unit, an information extraction unit, a color image generation unit, and the like are generated on the main storage device.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. The following embodiments will be described as other embodiments.

(Second Embodiment)
A second embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. As in the first embodiment, the image processing system according to the present embodiment includes a multifunction peripheral 1200 that embeds information in image data, a facsimile 300, a facsimile 500 that receives image data via a telephone line 400, and The MFP 200 is configured to extract information from image data.

  Here, only parts different from the first embodiment will be described. A different part from the first embodiment is a multifunction device 1200 that embeds information in image data. The MFP 1200 generates monochrome image data from document data generated by a word processor or the like, and specifies color information and position information of a target image included in the read document data. The multifunction device 1200 generates monochrome image data in which the specified color information and position information are embedded, and outputs the monochrome image data as a monochrome printed matter.

  A configuration example of a multifunction machine 1200 to which the present invention is applied will be described. FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a multifunction peripheral (information embedding process) according to the second embodiment. The copying machine 1200 according to the present embodiment includes an operation unit 1201, a document information storage unit 1209, a monochrome image generation unit 1202, a target image position specifying unit 1205, a target image color specifying unit 1206, and a print information embedding unit. 107 and a printing unit 108.

  Here, since the configurations and functions of the print information embedding unit 107 and the print unit 108 are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted.

  The document information storage unit 1209 stores document data created by a word processor or the like. The operation unit 1201 receives an instruction to print monochrome image data with print information for the document data stored in the document information storage unit 1209.

  The monochrome image generation unit 1202 generates monochrome image data from the document data stored in the document information storage unit 1209. The target image color specifying unit 1206 specifies color information of characters included in the document data stored in the document information storage unit 1209.

  The target image position specifying unit 1205 specifies the position information of characters included in the document data stored in the document information storage unit 1209. When adjacent characters are color information of the same color, the position information is specified with the adjacent characters as a group of characters.

  Next, image processing performed by the multifunction device 1200 configured as described above will be described. FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an image processing procedure performed by the operation unit, the monochrome image generation unit, the print information embedding unit, and the printing unit.

  The operation unit 1201 receives an instruction to print a monochrome image with print information for the document data (step S1301). The monochrome image generation unit 1202 generates monochrome image data from the document data stored in the document information storage unit 1209 (step S1302). Next, print information is specified from the document data (step S1303). Details of the processing will be described later.

  The print information embedding unit 107 generates monochrome image data with print information in which the print information is embedded in the monochrome image data (step S1304). The printing unit 108 prints the monochrome image data with print information generated by the print information embedding unit 107 (step S305).

  In this way, it is possible to embed and output information necessary for printing color document data as a color print in a monochrome image, so even in an environment where only monochrome print is possible, a monochrome print that can be converted to color print is generated. can do.

  Further, even in an environment where there is no color-compatible facsimile on either the transmission side or the reception side, a color printed matter can be printed on the reception side by transmitting a monochrome image that can be converted to color printing.

  Further, the details of the processing in step S1303 described above will be described. FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a print information specifying process procedure performed by the target image position specifying unit, the target image color specifying unit, and the print information embedding unit.

  The target image color specifying unit 1206 specifies color information for each character (step S1401). The target image position specifying unit 1205 determines whether there is an adjacent character (step S1402). If it is determined that there is an adjacent character (step S1402: Yes), the target image position specifying unit 1205 determines whether the color information of the adjacent character is a similar color (step S1403).

  When it is determined that the color information of the adjacent character is a similar color (step S1403: Yes), the target image position specifying unit 1205 specifies the adjacent character as one character (step S1404).

  As described above, information of a plurality of characters of similar colors can be combined into one information, so that it is possible to reduce the data amount of color information and position information necessary for outputting a color printed matter.

  If it is determined in step S1403 that there is no adjacent character data (step S1403: No), if it is determined in step S1404 that the color information of the adjacent character is not a similar color (step S1404: No). ), A process of making a plurality of characters one is not performed. The target image position specifying unit 1205 specifies position information for each character (step S1405).

  The print information embedding unit 107 determines whether or not the character color information is “black” (step S1406). If it is determined that the character color information is not “black” (step S1406: No), the character color information and the position information are set as targets to be embedded in the monochrome image data (step S1407). If it is determined that the character color information is “black” (step S1406: Yes), the character color information and position information are not included in the monochrome image data.

  Thus, since the character whose color information is “black” is not targeted for embedding, the data amount of the character color information and the position information can be reduced. In addition, for a character whose color information is “black”, the RGB value indicating “black” is stored as the color information in the monochrome image data without adding the color information, so that the black image is reproduced on the color printed matter. be able to.

  As another embodiment, the image processing apparatus may be a facsimile. Such a case will be described. FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image processing system according to another embodiment. The image processing system according to the present embodiment includes a facsimile 1500 that embeds information in image data and transmits the image data, and a facsimile 1600 that receives the image data via the telephone line 400 and extracts information from the image data. It is configured. One of the configurations may be a configuration of the multifunction peripheral according to the first embodiment and a normal facsimile.

  The processing flow of the entire image processing system will be briefly described. The facsimile 1500 reads color image data from the color original 1 and specifies color information and position information of a target image included in the read color image data. The facsimile 1500 generates monochrome image data in which the specified color information and position information are embedded, and transmits the generated monochrome image data to the facsimile 1600 via the telephone line 400. The facsimile 1600 reads the received monochrome image data, and extracts color information and position information from the read monochrome image data. The facsimile machine 1600 generates color image data from the monochrome image data and the extracted color information and position information, and outputs a color print 4.

  The functions and configurations of the facsimile 1500 and the facsimile 1600 are the same as the functions and configurations of the MFP and the ordinary facsimile in the first embodiment described above, so refer to the description of the first embodiment. The description here is omitted.

  As described above, since the facsimile according to the present embodiment has the facsimile function of the multifunction machine in the first embodiment, the monochrome image data with print information can be transmitted to the facsimile or the complex without outputting the monochrome printed matter. Since it can be transmitted to the printer, useless printing can be reduced.

  Further, even if the transmission side or the reception side is a monochrome-compatible facsimile, a color printed matter can be printed at the transmission destination by transmitting a monochrome image that can be converted into color printing.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the structural example of the image processing system concerning 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the multifunctional device (information embedding process) concerning 1st Embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an image processing procedure performed by an original information acquisition unit, a monochrome image generation unit, a print information embedding unit, and a printing unit. It is a flowchart which shows the printing information specific process sequence which a binary image production | generation part, a target image specific part, a target image position specific part, a target image color specific part, and a print information embedding part performs. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the monochrome image data which embedded color information and position information with the dot pattern. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the monochrome image data which embedded color information and position information with QC code. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a color document read by a scanner. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a result of binarizing a color original. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of extraction of the connection component in binary image data. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example which connected the adjacent connection component and made it one connection component. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the connection component which does not make color information and position information into embedding object. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the multifunctional device (information extraction process) concerning 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the image processing procedure which an image information acquisition part, an information extraction part, a color image generation part, and a printing part perform. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the multifunctional device concerning this Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the multifunctional device (information embedding process) concerning 2nd Embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an image processing procedure performed by an operation unit, a monochrome image generation unit, a print information embedding unit, and a printing unit. It is a flowchart which shows the print information specific process procedure which a target image position specific part, a target image color specific part, and a print information embedding part perform. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structural example of the image processing system concerning other embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

100 1200 1500 MFP (information embedding process)
200 1600 MFP (information extraction process)
300 500 Facsimile 400 Telephone line 101 Document information acquisition unit 102 1202 Monochrome image generation unit 103 Binary image generation unit 104 Target image specification unit 105 1205 Target image position specification unit 106 1206 Target image color specification unit 107 Print information embedding unit 108 Printing Unit 1201 operation unit 1209 document information storage unit 201 image information acquisition unit 202 information extraction unit 203 color image generation unit 204 printing unit

Claims (19)

Manuscript information obtaining means for obtaining manuscript information including an image;
Color information specifying means for specifying color information indicating the color of the image included in the document information acquired by the document information acquiring means;
Position information specifying means for specifying position information indicating a position where the image included in the document information acquired by the document information acquiring means is disposed;
Monochrome image generation means for generating monochrome image information indicating the image included in the document information acquired by the document information acquisition means in monochrome based on the color information specified by the color information specification means;
Monochrome image information with print information in which the color information specified by the color information specifying means and the position information specified by the position information specifying means are embedded in the monochrome image information generated by the monochrome image generating means. Print information embedding means to generate;
An image processing apparatus comprising: Binary image information generation means for generating binary image information obtained by binarizing pixel values in the original information acquired by the original information acquisition means;
A target image specifying means for specifying a connected region of connected pixels having the same pixel value from the binary image information generated by the binary image information generating means as the image;
The color information specifying unit specifies the color information of the image specified by the target image specifying unit,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position information specifying unit specifies the position information of the image specified by the target image specifying unit.   The target image specifying means determines whether or not the range can be regarded as the same color based on the color information of the extracted plurality of images, and determines that the range is regarded as the same color. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image is specified as one image.   The print information embedding unit embeds the color information of the color and the corresponding position information in the monochrome image information when the color information of the image specified by the color information specifying unit is not black. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a printing unit that prints the monochrome image information with print information generated by the print information embedding unit. Document information storage means for storing document information including images;
Color information specifying means for specifying color information indicating the color of the image included in the document information stored in the document information storage means;
Position information specifying means for specifying position information indicating a position where the image included in the document information stored in the document information storage means is disposed;
Monochrome image generation means for generating monochrome image information indicating the image included in the document information stored in the document information storage means in monochrome based on the color information specified by the color information specification means;
Monochrome image information with print information in which the color information specified by the color information specifying means and the position information specified by the position information specifying means are embedded in the monochrome image information generated by the monochrome image generating means. Print information embedding means to generate;
An image processing apparatus comprising: Manuscript information obtaining means for obtaining manuscript information including an image;
Color information specifying means for specifying color information indicating the color of the image included in the document information acquired by the document information acquiring means;
Position information specifying means for specifying position information indicating a position where the image included in the document information acquired by the document information acquiring means is disposed;
Monochrome image generation means for generating monochrome image information indicating the image included in the document information acquired by the document information acquisition means in monochrome based on the color information specified by the color information specification means;
Monochrome image information with print information in which the color information specified by the color information specifying means and the position information specified by the position information specifying means are embedded in the monochrome image information generated by the monochrome image generating means. Print information embedding means to generate;
Transmitting means for transmitting the monochrome image information with print information generated by the print information embedding means to another facsimile machine via a telephone line;
A facsimile apparatus comprising: Image information acquisition means for acquiring monochrome image information with print information in which color information indicating the color of the image and position information indicating the position where the image is arranged are embedded in monochrome image information indicating the image in monochrome;
Information extraction means for extracting the monochrome image information, the color information and the position information from the monochrome information with print information acquired by the image information acquisition means;
Color image information generating means for generating color image information indicating the image arranged in the position indicated by the position information in the color indicated by the color information in the monochrome image information extracted by the information extracting means;
An image processing apparatus comprising:   The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the monochrome image information acquisition unit acquires the monochrome image information with print information from a printed material.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a printing unit that prints the color image information generated by the color image generation unit. Receiving means for receiving monochrome image information with print information in which color information indicating the color of the image and position information indicating the position where the image is arranged are embedded in monochrome image information indicating the image in monochrome from another facsimile apparatus When,
Information extraction means for extracting the monochrome image information, the color information and the position information from the monochrome information with print information received by the reception means;
Color image information generating means for generating color image information indicating the image arranged in the position indicated by the position information in the color indicated by the color information in the monochrome image information extracted by the information extracting means;
Printing means for printing the color image information generated by the color image information generating means;
A facsimile apparatus comprising: In an image processing system comprising: a first image processing device that outputs a printed material; and a second image processing device that uses the printed material output by the first image treatment device.
The first image processing apparatus includes:
Manuscript information obtaining means for obtaining manuscript information including an image;
Color information specifying means for specifying color information indicating the color of the image included in the document information acquired by the document information acquiring means;
Position information specifying means for specifying position information indicating a position where the image included in the document information acquired by the document information acquiring means is disposed;
Monochrome image generation means for generating monochrome image information indicating the image included in the document information acquired by the document information acquisition means in monochrome based on the color information specified by the color information specification means;
Monochrome image information with print information in which the color information specified by the color information specifying means and the position information specified by the position information specifying means are embedded in the monochrome image information generated by the monochrome image generating means. Print information embedding means to generate;
Printing means for printing the monochrome image information with print information generated by the print information embedding means,
The second image processing apparatus includes:
Image information acquisition means for acquiring the monochrome image information with print information from a printed matter printed by the first image processing apparatus;
Information extraction means for extracting the monochrome image information, the color information and the position information from the monochrome information with print information acquired by the image information acquisition means;
Color image information generating means for generating color image information indicating the image arranged in the position indicated by the position information in the color indicated by the color information in the monochrome image information extracted by the information extracting means; An image processing system comprising: In an image processing system comprising: a first facsimile device that transmits image information; and a second facsimile device that outputs printed matter using the image information transmitted from the first facsimile device.
The first facsimile machine is
Manuscript information obtaining means for obtaining manuscript information including an image;
Color information specifying means for specifying color information indicating the color of the image included in the document information acquired by the document information acquiring means;
Position information specifying means for specifying position information indicating a position where the image included in the document information acquired by the document information acquiring means is disposed;
Monochrome image generation means for generating monochrome image information indicating the image included in the document information acquired by the document information acquisition means in monochrome based on the color information specified by the color information specification means;
Monochrome image information with print information in which the color information specified by the color information specifying means and the position information specified by the position information specifying means are embedded in the monochrome image information generated by the monochrome image generating means. Print information embedding means to generate;
Transmission means for transmitting the monochrome image information with print information generated by the print information embedding means to another facsimile machine via a telephone line,
The second facsimile machine is
Receiving means for receiving the monochrome image information with print information from the first facsimile device;
Information extraction means for extracting the monochrome image information, the color information and the position information from the monochrome information with print information received by the reception means;
Color image information generating means for generating color image information indicating the image arranged in the position indicated by the position information in the color indicated by the color information in the monochrome image information extracted by the information extracting means;
An image processing system comprising: a printing unit that prints the color image information generated by the color image information generation unit. An original information acquisition step for acquiring original information including an image;
A color information specifying step for specifying color information indicating the color of the image included in the document information acquired by the document information acquiring step;
A position information specifying step for specifying position information indicating a position where the image included in the document information acquired by the document information acquiring step is disposed;
A monochrome image generation step of generating monochrome image information indicating the image included in the document information acquired by the document information acquisition step in monochrome based on the color information specified by the color information specification step;
Monochrome image information with print information in which the color information specified in the color information specifying step and the position information specified in the position information specifying step are embedded in the monochrome image information generated in the monochrome image generating step. A print information embedding step to be generated; and
An image processing method comprising: A color information specifying step for specifying the color information of the image included in the document information stored in the document information storage means for storing the document information including the image;
A position information specifying step for specifying the position information of the image included in the document information stored in the document information storage means;
A monochrome image generating step of generating monochrome image information indicating the image included in the document information stored in the document information storage unit in monochrome based on the color information specified by the color information specifying step;
Monochrome image information with print information in which the color information specified in the color information specifying step and the position information specified in the position information specifying step are embedded in the monochrome image information generated in the monochrome image generating step. A print information embedding step to be generated; and
An image processing method comprising: An original information acquisition step for acquiring original information including an image;
A color information specifying step for specifying color information indicating the color of the image included in the document information acquired by the document information acquiring step;
A position information specifying step for specifying position information indicating a position where the image included in the document information acquired by the document information acquiring step is disposed;
A monochrome image generation step of generating monochrome image information indicating the image included in the document information acquired by the document information acquisition step in monochrome based on the color information specified by the color information specification step;
Monochrome image information with print information in which the color information specified in the color information specifying step and the position information specified in the position information specifying step are embedded in the monochrome image information generated in the monochrome image generating step. A print information embedding step to be generated; and
A transmission step of transmitting the monochrome image information with print information generated by the print information embedding step to another facsimile device via a telephone line;
An image processing method comprising: An image information acquisition step for acquiring monochrome image information with print information in which color information indicating the color of the image and position information indicating a position where the image is arranged are embedded in monochrome image information indicating the image in monochrome;
An information extraction step of extracting the monochrome image information, the color information, and the position information from the monochrome image information with print information acquired by the image information acquisition step;
In the monochrome image information extracted by the information extraction step, a color image information generation step of generating color image information indicating the image arranged in the position indicated by the position information in a color indicated by the color information;
An image processing method comprising: A receiving step of receiving monochrome image information with print information in which color information indicating the color of the image and position information indicating the position where the image is arranged are embedded in monochrome image information indicating the image in monochrome from another facsimile apparatus When,
An information extracting step of extracting the monochrome image information, the color information and the position information from the monochrome image information with print information received by the receiving step;
In the monochrome image information extracted by the information extraction step, a color image information generation step of generating color image information indicating the image arranged in the position indicated by the position information in a color indicated by the color information;
A printing step for printing the color image information generated by the color image information generation step;
An image processing method comprising:   An image processing program causing a computer to execute the image processing method according to any one of claims 14 to 18.

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