JP2007235851A - Image processing device, image processing method, program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing device, an image processing method, a program, and a recording medium which divide an image per predetermined line and compress the image. <P>SOLUTION: In order to solve the problem, the image processing device is provided with: a division means dividing image data into a plurality of data per line; a compression means compressing the image data divided by the division means per predetermined line number; and an output means outputting compressed image data compressed by the compression means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, a program, and a recording medium provided with a means for compressing an image.

In order to display a huge image appropriately and enable viewing, the image is subjected to resolution conversion processing and division processing, and the number of divisions by the division processing is changed to the size of the image display area and the resolution after the resolution conversion processing. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-228561 describes a method of controlling in response.
JP-A-2005-92110

  However, the background art described above has the following problems.

  For example, in an image forming apparatus including an image processing apparatus, when a long image is read by an image reading device, for example, a scanner, image data corresponding to the long image is input from the scanner without interruption. For this reason, there is a problem that the input from the scanner cannot be stopped even when an image is divided to create a JPEG code or the like.

  In this case, the image processing apparatus must generate an independent code for each divided image block. Therefore, the JPEG encoder has a problem that it must output all the internal data at the break of the divided image block and return to the initial state. This is because it depends on the JPEG encoding algorithm.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, a program, and a recording medium that can divide and compress an image for each predetermined line.

  In order to solve the above problems, an image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a dividing unit that divides image data into a plurality of lines, and a compression that compresses the image data divided by the dividing unit for each predetermined number of lines. And an output unit for outputting the compressed image data compressed by the compression unit.

  By configuring in this way, the image data of the read original is divided into a plurality of lines as a unit, the divided image data is compressed for each predetermined number of lines, and the compressed image data is output. Can do.

  The image processing method of the present invention includes a reading step of reading a document and generating image data, a dividing step of dividing the image data into a plurality of lines as a unit, and the divided image data for a predetermined number of lines. One of the features is that it has a compression step for compressing each time and a compressed image data storage step for storing the compressed image data that has been compressed.

  By doing so, it is possible to divide the read image data of the original into a plurality of lines, compress the divided image data for each predetermined number of lines, and store the compressed image data. it can.

  The program of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute the above-described image processing method.

  The recording medium of the present invention is a computer-readable recording medium that records the above-described program.

  According to the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to realize an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, a program, and a recording medium that can divide and compress an image for each predetermined line.

Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described based on the following embodiments with reference to the drawings.
In all the drawings for explaining the embodiments, the same reference numerals are used for those having the same function, and repeated explanation is omitted.

  An image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  An image processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is provided in, for example, an image forming apparatus, and divides image data of a document read by an image reading apparatus, for example, a scanner into a plurality of lines in units of lines. Compression is performed for each predetermined number of lines, and the compressed image data is stored.

  In the present embodiment, as an example, a case where an image of 8 lines in the sub scanning direction is divided into 4 lines and 4 lines will be described. In this case, as shown in FIG. 1, an image of 8 lines in the sub-scanning direction is divided into two and encoded respectively. For example, four lines are regarded as one image, JPEG encoding is performed, and two JPEG files (JPEG (1) and (2)) are created.

  Next, the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  The image processing apparatus 100 includes a scanner I / F 102, a compression control device 104 as a dividing unit to which an output signal of the scanner I / F 102 is input, and a compression unit and an output unit to which an output signal of the compression control device 104 is input. JPEG encoding device 106. A part of the output signal of the JPEG encoding device 106 is input to the compression control device 104.

  In the present embodiment, a case where a document image is read by a scanner will be described as an example, but other image reading devices may be applied. In this embodiment, a case where compression is performed by JPEG will be described as an example, but other compression methods may be applied.

  The scanner I / F 102 includes, for example, a scanner as a reading unit and an I / F that exchanges information between the scanner and the compression control device 104. The scanner I / F 102 reads a document image, for example, a long document by the scanner, generates image data, and outputs the image data to the subsequent stage, that is, the compression control device 104. The scanner I / F 102 inputs Page_enable_0 indicating an effective period signal of one page (sub-scanning direction), Line_enable_0 indicating an effective period signal of one line (main scanning direction), and data_0 indicating image data to the compression controller 104.

  The compression control device 104 receives the image data from the scanner I / F 102, divides the image data into a plurality of units in units of lines, and outputs them to the subsequent stage, that is, the JPEG encoding device 106. For example, the compression control device 104 divides the image data when the sub-scanning length of the document is larger than a predetermined value. The compression control device 104 inputs Page_enable_1 indicating the effective period signal of one page (sub-scanning direction), Line_enable_1 indicating the effective period signal of one line (main scanning direction), and data_1 indicating the image data to the JPEG encoding device 106. .

  The compression control device 104 negates Page_enable_1 with the set predetermined number of lines, that is, makes it invalid. Further, when image data is input from the scanner I / F 102 even after negating Page_enable_1, the compression control device 104 asserts Page_enable_1 again, that is, makes it valid. This control is continued until Page_enable_0 is negated. As a result, image data is input to the JPEG encoding device 106 for each predetermined number of lines set. This predetermined number of lines is set by the user.

  In this embodiment, an image of 8 lines in the sub scanning direction is divided into 4 lines and 4 lines. For this reason, after outputting the data of the fourth line, the compression control device 104 once negates Page_enable_1 and asserts Page_enable_1 again.

  Further, ret is output to the JPEG encoding device 106 based on a Page_enable_2 signal output from the JPEG encoding device 106 described later. As a result, the JPEG encoding device 106 is in a state before image data is input.

  The JPEG encoding device 106 compresses and encodes the divided image data for each predetermined number of lines. Image data is input to the JPEG encoding device 106 for each predetermined number of lines set. The JPEG encoding device 106 performs compression for each predetermined number of lines. Therefore, when compressing the image data of 8 lines every 4 lines, two compressed image data are generated as a result of compressing the image data of one original.

  The JPEG encoding device 106 outputs Page_enable_2 indicating the effective period signal of one page (sub-scanning direction), Code_enable_0 indicating the effective period signal of the JPEG code, and data_2 indicating the JPEG code data. This Page_enable_2 signal is controlled according to Page_enable_1. For example, the JPEG encoding device 106 asserts Page_enable_2 when detecting that Page_enable_1 is asserted, and negates Page_enable_2 when detecting that Page_enable_1 is negated. Therefore, Page_enable_2 is once negated and re-asserted every time the set number of lines of image data is input. This control is continued until Page_enable_0 is negated.

  Also, the compressed image data corresponding to the line compressed immediately before is reset, for example, erased, by the rst input by the compression controller 104, that is, the reset signal. The JPEG encoding device 106 has a memory for storing the compressed image data compressed immediately before, and performs compression by referring to the compressed image data stored in the memory. Accordingly, when new compressed image data is generated after the compressed image data corresponding to the set predetermined line is generated, it is necessary to reset the compressed image data stored in the memory. In this way, by resetting the reference line for each set predetermined line, it is possible to prevent the above-described problems when the JPEG compression method is applied. That is, the JPEG encoder can output all the internal data at the break of the divided image block and return to the initial state, and can generate an independent code for each divided image block.

  The compressed and encoded compressed image data output for each predetermined number of lines by the JPEG encoding device 106, that is, data_2, is stored in a storage device as compressed image data storage means.

  As described above, in the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, it is possible to divide an image and create a JPEG code or the like without stopping a long image input from an image reading apparatus, for example, a scanner, without interruption. It becomes.

  Here, the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment can be realized by an embedded device. This embedded device includes a CPU that performs arithmetic processing according to a program, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), an auxiliary storage device such as a flexible disk device, and a large capacity external storage such as a hard disk device. Equipment.

  A program for causing a computer to function as an image processing apparatus is provided in a state of being recorded on a recording medium such as a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, or a memory card. When this recording medium is inserted into an auxiliary storage device of a computer, a program recorded on the recording medium is read. Then, the CPU writes the read program into the RAM or storage device, and executes processing according to this program.

  In this case, the program causes the computer to read a document and generate image data, a division step to divide the image data into a plurality of lines, and the divided image data for each predetermined number of lines. A compression step for compression and a compressed image data storage step for storing compressed compressed image data are executed.

  Further, the program may cause the computer to execute the division of the image data when the sub-scanning length of the document read in the reading step is larger than a predetermined value in the dividing step.

  Further, the program may cause the computer to store the compressed image data corresponding to the line compressed immediately before in the compression step, and execute the compression process with reference to the memory.

  Further, the program may cause the computer to execute resetting of the memory after the compression processing of the divided image data in the compression step.

  Further, the program causes the computer to execute a compression unit setting step for setting the number of lines as a unit to be compressed in the compression step, and to execute the compression in the compression step according to the set number of lines. You may do it.

  Next, the operation of the image processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing the operation of each signal during data transfer.

The scanner I / F 102 reads a document, for example, a long document, and generates image data. Page_enable_0 and Line_enable_0 are asserted, and the image data of the first line is input from the scanner I / F 102 to the compression controller 104 ((1) of data_0).
The compression control device 104 divides the input image data into a plurality of lines in units of lines. In the present embodiment, the compression controller 104 divides the input image data every four lines. The compression control device 104 asserts Page_enable_1 and Line_enable_1, and outputs the first line data to the JPEG encoding device 106 (data_1 (1)).

  Similarly, the image data from the second line to the fourth line is input from the scanner I / F 102 to the compression control device 104 and from the compression control device 104 to the JPEG encoding device 106 (from (2) to (4) of data_0, (2) to (4) of data_1.

  Since it is set to divide by 4 lines, the compression controller 104 negates Page_enable_1 after outputting the data of the 4th line. In this case, Page_enable_0 from the scanner I / F 102 remains asserted.

  The JPEG encoding device 106 negates Page_enable_2 output to the subsequent stage because Page_enable_1 input from the compression control device 104 is negated when encoding of the image data up to the fourth line is completed.

  Page_enable_2 is fed back to the compression controller 104. The compression control device 104 inputs the rst signal to the JPEG encoding device 106 based on Page_enable_2. That is, the compression control apparatus 104 applies rst to the JPEG encoding apparatus 106 when the Page_enable_2 is negated. As a result, the JPEG encoding device 106 is in a state before image data is input, and the compressed image data stored in the memory is reset.

  The JPEG encoding device 106 encodes the image data input from the compression control device 104 into JPEG code data, and outputs the JPEG data to the subsequent stage. For example, the JPEG encoding device 106 asserts code_enable_0 and outputs the compressed data to the storage device (JPEG (1) of data_2).

  Data on the fifth line is input from the scanner I / F 102 to the compression controller 104 ((5) of data_0).

  When receiving the fifth line data from the scanner I / F 102, the compression control device 104 asserts Page_enable_1 to the JPEG encoding device 106 again and transfers the fifth line data. As a result, Page_enable_1 and Line_enable_1 are asserted, and data on the fifth line is output to the JPEG encoding device 106 ((5) of data_1).

  Similarly, image data from the 6th line to the 8th line is input from the scanner I / F 102 to the compression control device 104, and from the compression control device 104 to the JPEG encoding device 106 (from (6) to (8) of data_0, (6) to (8) of data_1.

  The scanner I / F 102 negates Page_enable_0 since the image is completed after inputting the image data of the eighth line.

  Since the setting is made to divide by 4 lines, the compression controller 104 negates Page_enable_1 after outputting the data of the 8th line.

  The JPEG encoding device 106 negates the Page_enable_2 output to the subsequent stage because the Page_enable_1 input from the compression control device 104 is negated when the encoding of data up to the eighth line is completed.

  Page_enable_2 is fed back to the compression controller 104. The compression control device 104 inputs the rst signal to the JPEG encoding device 106 based on Page_enable_2. As a result, the JPEG encoding device 106 is in a state before image data is input, and the compressed image data stored in the memory is reset.

  The JPEG encoding device 106 encodes the image data input from the compression control device 104 into JPEG code data, and outputs the JPEG data to the subsequent stage. For example, the JPEG encoding device 106 asserts code_enable_0 and outputs the compressed data to the storage device (JPEG (2) of data_2).

  In this embodiment, since the data of 8 lines is divided into 4 lines and 4 lines, and the divided data is compressed every 4 lines, the dividing operation is completed.

  In practice, the following processing is performed until the input data from the scanner I / F 102 is completed. The scanner I / F 102 transfers image data to the image control apparatus 104. The compression control device 104 negates Page_enable_1 after transferring image data to the JPEG encoding device 106 up to the designated number of lines, confirms the negation of Page_enable_2 of the JPEG encoding device 106, and resets the JPEG encoding device 106.

  In the present embodiment, the document image data is divided into four lines and four lines and compressed every four lines. However, the present invention can also be applied to the case where the document image data is divided into three or more. It can also be applied to the case where compression is performed for each line or more.

  According to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to divide an image and create a JPEG code or the like without stopping a long image input from an image reading apparatus, for example, a scanner, without interruption.

  In addition, since the JPEG encoder can output all internal data and return to the initial state at the break of the divided image block, it is possible to generate an independent code for each divided image block. .

  The present invention can be applied to an image processing apparatus.

It is a schematic diagram of image division in the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the image processing apparatus concerning the Example of this invention. 6 is a timing chart illustrating an operation of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

  100 Image processing apparatus

Claims (12)

A dividing means for dividing the image data into a plurality of units in units of lines;
Compression means for compressing the image data divided by the dividing means for each predetermined number of lines;
An image processing apparatus comprising: output means for outputting compressed image data compressed by the compression means. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.
Reading means for reading a document and generating image data;
Storage means for storing the compressed image data output by the output means,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the dividing unit divides the image data when a sub-scanning length of a document read by the reading unit is larger than a predetermined value. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
It has a memory to store the compressed image data corresponding to the line compressed immediately before,
The image processing apparatus, wherein the compression means executes compression processing with reference to the memory. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3.
The image processing apparatus, wherein the compression unit resets the memory after compression processing of the divided image data. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
An image processing apparatus comprising compression unit setting means for setting the number of lines as a unit to be compressed by the compression means. A reading step for reading an original and generating image data;
A division step of dividing the image data into a plurality of units in units of lines;
A compression step of compressing the divided image data for each predetermined number of lines;
A compressed image data storage step for storing compressed compressed image data. The image processing method according to claim 6,
The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the image data is divided when the sub-scanning length of the document read in the reading step is larger than a predetermined value. The image processing method according to claim 6 or 7,
The image processing method characterized in that the compression step stores compressed image data corresponding to a line compressed immediately before in a memory and executes compression processing with reference to the memory. The image processing method according to claim 8.
In the compression step, the memory is reset after compression processing of the divided image data. The image processing method according to any one of claims 6 to 9,
A compression unit setting step for setting the number of lines as a unit to be compressed by the compression step;
The image processing method characterized in that the compression step compresses image data according to a set number of lines. A program for causing a computer to execute the image processing method according to any one of claims 6 to 10. The computer-readable recording medium which recorded the program of Claim 11.

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