JP2008140006A - Image processing apparatus, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an image processing apparatus and an image processing program capable of properly executing a series of processes by properly combining image processing modules even when image attributes do not match in image processing modules which are continuous when connecting a plurality image processing modules for executing a series of processes. <P>SOLUTION: When a series of processes combined with a plurality of image processes relating to image data by coupling a plurality of image processing modules for each performing a predetermined image process is executed, a series of processing systems is configured by inserting an image processing module for attribute conversion into image processing modules so as difference in the image attributes is resolved if the image attribute becomes inconsistent between two image processing modules to be continuous if the image processing modules are connected. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and a program, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus capable of executing a series of processes by connecting individual modules, and an image processing program for causing a computer to function as the image processing apparatus. .

  In an image processing device that performs image processing on input image data, a DTP (desktop publishing) system that can handle images, a print system that records an image represented by input image data on a recording material, etc. Various types of image processing such as enlargement / reduction, rotation, affine transformation, color conversion, filter processing, and image synthesis are performed on the image data. In the image processing apparatus, high-quality image data can be obtained by executing a combination of such a plurality of image processes.

  In these devices and systems, if the attributes of the input image data and the contents, procedures, parameters, etc. of the image processing for the image data are fixed, the image processing may be performed by specially designed hardware. However, when the contents, procedures, parameters, and the like of the image processing are changed variously, a configuration that can change the image processing to be executed more flexibly is necessary.

  In order to satisfy such a requirement, a pipelined image processing system is known that performs flexible image processing by connecting / initializing necessary functional modules in a pipeline order in a desired order and performing processing ( For example, see Patent Document 1.)

  However, in order to realize a desired process by such a technology, the image attributes (the number of bits, the number of channels, the color space, the encoding method, the palette, etc.) between the image processing modules before and after being connected in a series of image processing. Etc.).

  Conventionally, in order to resolve such image attribute mismatches, it has been necessary for the user himself to appropriately add and insert an appropriate image processing function for converting the image attributes. In this case, there is a problem that a user who does not have specialized knowledge for constructing an image processing apparatus has a high threshold, and it is difficult to meet the need to quickly assemble the image processing apparatus.

A method for automatically setting processing based on a combination of a set type of object (image or the like) and color processing conditions has been proposed (see Patent Document 2). However, this is a method limited to color conversion processing, and does not apply to various types of image processing.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-105020 JP 2001-292331 A

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above facts, and even when a plurality of image processing modules are connected in order to execute a series of processing, even if the image attributes do not match properly, An object is to obtain an image processing apparatus and an image processing program capable of appropriately executing a series of processes by combining image processing modules.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image processing apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention performs a series of processing in which a plurality of image processing modules that perform predetermined image processing are connected and a plurality of image processing is combined with image data. When the image attribute does not match between the image processing means to be executed and the two consecutive image processing modules when the image processing module is connected, the image processing module is set so that the mismatch of the image attributes is resolved. Control means for controlling the image processing means so that an image processing module for attribute conversion is inserted into the image processing module.

  According to such a configuration, even when a plurality of image processing modules are connected in order to execute a series of processes, even if image attributes do not match in successive image processing modules, the image processing modules are appropriately combined and appropriately A series of processing can be executed. Thus, even a user who does not have specialized knowledge about image attributes can easily construct an image processing system.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, for each of the image processing modules for attribute conversion, a storage means for storing a table storing information indicating the attribute before conversion and the attribute after conversion is further stored The control means determines whether or not attribute conversion is possible based on the table, and determines that the image processing module for attribute conversion is inserted when it is determined that attribute conversion is possible. It is characterized by controlling.

  With this table, what can be converted and what cannot be converted can be easily determined, and an image processing module for attribute conversion can be easily inserted.

  The invention of claim 3 is to set in advance whether or not to insert the image processing module for attribute conversion when the image attributes do not match in the invention of claim 1 or claim 2. Setting means, and when the setting means sets that the attribute conversion image processing module is to be inserted when the image attributes do not match, the control means performs image processing for attribute conversion. The image processing means is controlled so that a module is inserted.

  With such a configuration, since the user can set in advance whether or not to insert the image processing module for attribute conversion, the degree of freedom on the user side is increased.

  An image processing program according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is an image processing means for executing a series of processing in which a plurality of image processing modules that perform predetermined image processing are connected to a computer and a plurality of image processing is combined with image data. When the image processing module is connected, when the image attribute does not match between two consecutive image processing modules, the attribute conversion between the image processing modules is eliminated so that the image attribute mismatch is resolved. It functions as a control means for controlling the image processing means so that an image processing module is inserted.

  According to such a program, even when a plurality of image processing modules are connected in order to execute a series of processes, even if image attributes do not match in successive image processing modules, the image processing modules are appropriately combined and appropriately A series of processing can be executed. Thus, even a user who does not have specialized knowledge about image attributes can easily construct an image processing system.

  As described above, the present invention appropriately executes a series of processes by appropriately combining image processing modules even if image attributes do not match in continuous image processing modules combined to execute a series of processes. It has an excellent effect of being able to.

  Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a computer 10 that can function as an image processing apparatus according to the present invention. The computer 10 is incorporated in any image handling apparatus that needs to perform image processing internally, such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, a multifunction machine having these functions, a scanner, a photographic printer, or the like. Alternatively, it may be an independent computer such as a personal computer (PC), or may be a computer incorporated in a portable device such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or a cellular phone.

  The computer 10 includes a CPU 12, a memory 14, a display unit 16, an operation unit 18, a storage unit 20, an image data supply unit 22 and an image output unit 24, which are connected to each other via a bus 26. When the computer 10 is incorporated in the image handling device as described above, a display panel, a numeric keypad, or the like composed of an LCD or the like provided in the image handling device can be applied as the display unit 16 and the operation unit 18. When the computer 10 is an independent computer, a display, a keyboard, a mouse, or the like connected to the computer can be applied as the display unit 16 or the operation unit 18. The storage unit 20 is preferably an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), but other nonvolatile storage means such as a flash memory can be used instead.

  The image data supply unit 22 only needs to be able to supply image data to be processed. For example, an image reading unit that reads an image recorded on a recording material such as paper or photographic film, and outputs the image data. A receiving unit that receives image data from the outside via a line, an image storage unit (memory 14 or storage unit 20) that stores image data, and the like can be applied.

  The image output unit 24 may be any unit that outputs image data that has undergone image processing or an image represented by the image data. For example, the image recording unit records an image represented by the image data on a recording material such as paper or a photosensitive material. A display unit that displays an image represented by image data on a display, a writing device that writes image data to a recording medium, and a transmission unit that transmits image data via a communication line can be applied. The image output unit 24 may be an image storage unit (memory 14 or storage unit 20) that simply stores image data that has undergone image processing.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the storage unit 20 includes various programs executed by the CPU 12, such as management of resources such as the memory 14, management of execution of programs by the CPU 12, and communication between the computer 10 and the outside. A program of the system 30, an image processing program group 34 for causing the computer 10 to function as an image processing apparatus according to the present invention, and a desired image for the image processing apparatus realized by the CPU 12 executing the image processing program group. Programs of various applications 32 to be processed (represented as application program group 32 in FIG. 1) are stored.

  The image processing program group 34 reduces the development load when developing the above-described various image handling devices and portable devices, and reduces the development load when developing an image processing program usable on a PC or the like. The purpose is a program developed so that it can be commonly used in various devices (platforms) such as various image handling devices, portable devices, and PCs, and corresponds to the image processing program according to the present invention.

  The image processing apparatus realized by the image processing program group 34 constructs an image processing unit that performs image processing instructed by the application 32 in accordance with a construction instruction from the application 32, and executes the image processing unit in accordance with an execution instruction from the application 32. To perform image processing (details will be described later). The image processing program group 34 provides an interface for instructing the construction of an image processing unit (an image processing unit having a desired configuration) that performs desired image processing, or for instructing the execution of image processing by the constructed image processing unit. Application 32 is provided.

  For this reason, even when newly developing an arbitrary device that needs to perform image processing internally, regarding the development of a program for performing the image processing, the above-described interface is used to perform the image processing required for the device. It is only necessary to develop the application 32 to be used and executed by the image processing program group 34, and it is not necessary to newly develop a program for actually performing image processing, so that the development load can be reduced.

  Further, as described above, the image processing apparatus realized by the image processing program group 34 constructs an image processing unit that performs image processing instructed by the application 32 according to the construction instruction from the application 32, and constructs the constructed image processing unit. Therefore, the image processing executed by the image processing apparatus (image processing unit) can be flexibly changed according to the image data to be processed.

  Hereinafter, the image processing program group 34 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the image processing program group 34 is roughly divided into a module library 36, a program for the processing construction unit 42, and a processing management unit 46.

  As shown in FIG. 2 as an example, the processing construction unit 42 according to the present embodiment performs one or more image processing modules 38 that perform predetermined image processing and individual image processing modules 38 according to instructions from the application. And a buffer module 40 having a buffer for storing image data arranged in at least one of the preceding stage and the succeeding stage, and connected in a pipeline form or a DAG (Directed Acyclic Graph) form The processing unit 50 is constructed.

  The entity of each image processing module constituting the image processing unit 50 is a first program executed by the CPU 12 and causing the CPU 12 to perform predetermined image processing, or an external unit not shown in FIG. This is a second program for instructing execution of processing for the image processing apparatus (for example, a dedicated image processing board). In the module library 36 described above, predetermined different image processing (for example, input processing, filter processing, color conversion processing, enlargement / reduction processing, skew angle detection processing, image rotation processing, image composition processing, output processing, etc.) A plurality of types of programs of the image processing module 38 are registered. Hereinafter, in order to simplify the description, it is assumed that the individual image processing modules constituting the image processing unit 50 are the first program.

  As shown in FIG. 3A as an example, each image processing module 38 includes an image processing engine 38A that performs image processing on image data by a predetermined unit processing data amount, and a front stage and a rear stage of the image processing module 38. The control unit 38B is configured to input / output image data to / from the module and to control the image processing engine 38A.

  The unit processing data amount in each image processing module 38 is the image processing engine 38A from an arbitrary number of bytes including one line of the image, a plurality of lines of the image, one pixel of the image, one surface of the image, and the like. Is selected and set in advance in accordance with the type of image processing performed by. For example, in the image processing module 38 that performs color conversion processing and filter processing, the unit processing data amount is one pixel, and in the image processing module 38 that performs enlargement / reduction processing, the unit processing data amount is one line of an image or a plurality of images. In the image processing module 38 that performs line rotation, the image processing module 38 that performs image rotation processing sets the unit processing data amount to one image, and in the image processing module 38 that performs image compression / decompression processing, the unit processing data amount depends on the execution environment. It is said that.

  The module library 36 also registers image processing modules 38 having the same type of image processing executed by the image processing engine 38A and different contents of the image processing executed (in FIG. 1, this type of image processing is performed). Modules are indicated as “module 1” and “module 2”).

  For example, with respect to the image processing module 38 that performs enlargement / reduction processing, the image processing module 38 that performs reduction processing to reduce the input image data to 50% by thinning out every other pixel is designated for the input image data. A plurality of image processing modules 38 such as an image processing module 38 that performs enlargement / reduction processing at the enlarged / reduced rate are prepared. There are also many image processing modules 38 for converting the attributes of the image data. For example, an image processing module 38 that performs a color conversion process for converting an RGB color space into a CMY color space, an image processing module 38 that converts the color space to the opposite, and an image that performs other color space conversion such as an L * a * b * color space. There are also a processing module 38, an image processing module 38 for performing a bit number conversion process for converting the bit depth of image data from 8 bits to 16 bits, or from 16 bits to 8 bits.

  In addition, the control unit 38B of the image processing module 38 receives an image from a module (for example, the buffer module 40) in the previous stage of its own module in order to input image data necessary for the image processing engine 38A to process each unit processing data amount. The data is acquired for each unit read data amount, and the image data output from the image processing engine 38A is output to the subsequent module (for example, the buffer module 40) for each unit write data (the amount of data such as compression by the image processing engine 38A). If the image processing with increase / decrease is not performed, the unit writing data amount = the unit processing data amount) or the result of the image processing by the image processing engine 38A is output to the outside of the own module (for example, the image processing engine 38A is skewed). When image analysis processing such as corner detection processing is performed, a scan is performed instead of image data. Image analysis processing results such as corner detection results may be output), but the module library 36 has the same type and content of image processing executed by the image processing engine 38A, and the above unit processing data Image processing modules 38 having different amounts, unit read data amounts, and unit write data amounts are also registered. For example, with respect to the image processing module 38 that performs image rotation processing, the unit processing data amount is equal to one line of the image or the image processing amount other than the program of the image processing module 38 corresponding to one image as described above. A program of the image processing module 38 for a plurality of lines may be registered in the module library 36.

  The program of each image processing module 38 registered in the module library 36 is composed of a program corresponding to the image processing engine 38A and a program corresponding to the control unit 38B, but a program corresponding to the control unit 38B. The image processing module 38 having the same unit read data amount and unit write data amount among the individual image processing modules 38 is concerned with the type and content of image processing executed by the image processing engine 38A. However, the program corresponding to the control unit 38B is shared (the same program is used as the program corresponding to the control unit 38B). Thereby, the development load in developing the program of the image processing module 38 is reduced.

  In the image processing module 38, the unit read data amount and the unit write data amount are not fixed when the input image attribute is unknown, and the input image data attribute is acquired and acquired. There is a module in which the unit read data amount and the unit write data amount are determined by substituting the attribute into a predetermined arithmetic expression. As for this type of image processing module 38, a program corresponding to the control unit 38B is shared by the image processing module 38 in which the unit read data amount and the unit write data amount are derived using the same arithmetic expression. You can do it.

  The image processing program group 34 according to the present embodiment can be mounted on various devices as described above, but the number and types of image processing modules 38 registered in the module library 36 in the image processing program group 34 are described. Needless to say, addition, deletion, replacement, and the like can be appropriately performed in accordance with image processing required by various devices that implement the image processing program group 34.

  Each buffer module 40 constituting the image processing unit 50 includes a buffer 40A and a buffer control unit 40B as shown in FIG. 3B as an example. The buffer 40A is configured by a memory area secured through the operating system 30 from the memory 14 provided in the computer 10. The buffer control unit 40B performs input / output of image data with the upstream and downstream modules of the buffer module 40 and management of the buffer 40A. The buffer control unit 40B of each buffer module 40 is also a program executed by the CPU 12, and the program of the buffer control unit 40B is also registered in the module library 36 (in FIG. 1, the program of the buffer control unit 40B is registered). "Buffer module")

  Further, the processing construction unit 42 that constructs the image processing unit 50 in accordance with an instruction from the application 32 includes a plurality of types of module generation units 44 as shown in FIG. The plurality of types of module generation units 44 correspond to different image processing, and are activated by the application 32 via the processing management unit 46, whereby an image processing module 38 and a buffer module for realizing the corresponding image processing A process of generating a module group consisting of 40 is performed.

  In FIG. 1, as an example of the module generation unit 44, the module generation unit 44 corresponding to the type of image processing executed by each image processing module 38 registered in the module library 36 is shown. The image processing corresponding to the generation unit 44 may be image processing realized by a plurality of types of image processing modules 38 (for example, skew correction processing including skew angle detection processing and image rotation processing). When the required image processing is processing combining a plurality of types of image processing, the application 32 sequentially activates the module generation unit 44 corresponding to any of the plurality of types of image processing via the processing management unit 46. As a result, an image processing unit 50 that performs necessary image processing is constructed by the module generation unit 44 that is sequentially activated by the application 32.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the process management unit 46 includes a workflow management unit 46 </ b> A that controls execution of image processing in the image processing unit 50, a memory 14 by each module of the image processing unit 50, and various files of the computer 10. A resource management unit 46B that manages the use of resources and an error management unit 46C that manages errors that have occurred in the image processing unit 50 are configured.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of module generation processing executed by the application.

  In a device in which the image processing program group 34 is installed, when a situation where it is necessary to perform some kind of image processing, this situation is detected by a specific application 32.

  In addition, as a situation where it is necessary to perform image processing, for example, an image is read by an image reading unit as the image data supply unit 22, and is recorded as an image on a recording material by an image recording unit as the image output unit 24, or image output Whether the image is displayed on the display unit as the unit 24, the image data is written on the recording medium by the writing device as the image output unit 24, the image data is transmitted by the transmission unit as the image output unit 24, or the image output When the execution of a job to be stored in the image storage unit as the unit 24 is instructed by the user, or received by the reception unit as the image data supply unit 22 or stored in the image storage unit as the image data supply unit 22 For the image data being recorded, recording on the recording material, display on the display unit, writing to the recording medium, transmission, Any execution of a job for the storage of the image storage unit include when instructed by the user.

  In addition, the situation where image processing needs to be performed is not limited to the above. For example, in a state where the names of processes that can be executed by the application 32 in accordance with an instruction from the user are displayed in a list on the display unit 16, For example, the execution target process may be selected by the user.

  First, after detecting the above situation, the application 32 recognizes the type of the image data supply unit 22 that supplies the image data to be processed in step 100, and the recognized type is the buffer area (partial area of the memory 14). If so, the buffer module 40 including the buffer area designated as the image data supply unit 22 is generated. In the new generation of the buffer module 40, which will be described later, a buffer control unit 40B is generated by generating a process, a thread, or an object that executes a program of the buffer control unit 40B of the buffer module 40, and the buffer control unit 40B generates a buffer. This is done by securing the memory area to be used as 40A. The generation of the buffer module 40 in step 154 causes the designated buffer area to be recognized as the already secured buffer 40A (by the buffer control unit 40B). This is done by setting a parameter and generating a buffer control unit 40B. The buffer module 40 generated here functions as the image data supply unit 22.

  Subsequently, in the same manner as described above, the application 32 recognizes the type of the image output unit 24 as the output destination of the image data on which the image processing has been performed, and the recognized type is the buffer area (partial area of the memory 14). ), The buffer module 40 including the buffer area designated as the image output unit 24 is generated in the same manner as described above. The buffer module 40 generated here functions as the image output unit 24.

  Next, in step 104, the application 32 recognizes the content of the image processing to be executed, decomposes the image processing to be executed into a combination of image processing at a level corresponding to each module generation unit 44, and should be executed. The type of image processing necessary for realizing the image processing and the execution order of the individual image processing are determined. In this determination, for example, the type of image processing and the execution order of the individual image processing are registered in advance as information in association with the type of job that can be instructed by the user. Can be realized by reading out information corresponding to the type of job instructed.

  In step 106, the application 32 instructs the process management unit 46 to generate the image processing module 38 corresponding to the specific image processing based on the type and execution order of the image processing determined above. The application 32 outputs the input module identification information for identifying the input module that inputs the image data to the generated module as the information necessary for generating the module together with the instruction, and the generated module outputs the image data. Output module identification information for identifying the output module to be input, input image attribute information indicating the attribute of the input image data to be input to the generated module, and output indicating the attribute of the output image data output from the generated module The image management unit 46 is notified of image attribute information and image processing parameters to be executed. Note that if the attribute of the input image data actually input to the module to be generated does not match the attribute indicated by the input image attribute information, the module cannot perform image processing.

  In step 108, it is determined whether a generation notification is input from the module generation unit 44. If the determination is affirmative, in step 110, the application 32 has generated all image processing type modules (that is, has the construction of the image processing unit 50 that performs the required image processing completed)? Or not). If the determination is negative, the process returns to step 106 and the above process is repeated so that the next image processing module 38 is generated. If the determination in step 110 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 112 to instruct the active processing management unit 46 to execute image processing by the image processing unit 50.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a module generation control process executed by the workflow management unit 46A of the process management unit 46. This module generation control process is started when a module generation instruction is input from the application 32.

  In step 120, the workflow management unit 46A of the process management unit 46 that has received the generation instruction of the image processing module 38 receives whether or not the image attribute of the image data handled by the module to be generated is an image attribute supported, that is, the generation instruction. It is determined whether the image attribute indicated by the input image attribute information of the image processing matches the output image attribute information of the image processing module 38 generated immediately before.

  For example, when the CMY color space is designated as the color space of the output image data by the image processing parameter from the application 32, it is found that the input image data is RGB color space data based on the input image attribute information. Determines that it is necessary to generate an attribute conversion processing module 38 that performs RGB → CMY color space conversion (negative determination in step 120), and if the input image data is CMY color space data, Since the attributes of the input image data and the attributes of the output image data match with respect to the color space, the image processing module 38 that performs the color space conversion process determines that generation is not necessary (positive determination in step 120).

  If a negative determination is made in step 120, the process proceeds to step 126 to determine whether or not attribute conversion is possible. That is, the image attribute information of the image processing module 38 instructed to generate the image attribute of the image data output from the previous stage of the image processing module 38 instructed to generate and input to the image module 38 instructed to generate. It is determined whether or not it can be converted into an attribute. For example, for each of the image processing modules for attribute conversion, a table in which the attributes before conversion and the attributes after conversion are stored in association with each other is stored in the storage unit 20 or the like, and the determination can be made by referring to the table. . If a negative determination is made here, even if the image processing module 38 instructed to be generated is generated, the image processing will be stopped in the middle of the processing. The generation control process ends.

  On the other hand, if an affirmative determination is made in step 126, module generation for selecting and generating a corresponding attribute conversion module from the image processing modules 38 stored in the module library 36 in step 128 is generated. The unit 44 is activated to generate the image processing module 38 for attribute conversion. That is, before generating the image processing module instructed to generate, the image attribute indicated by the output image attribute information of the preceding image processing module 38 is changed to the image attribute indicated by the input image attribute information of the image processing that has received the generation instruction. The image processing module 38 for attribute conversion for eliminating the attribute mismatch is converted.

  Subsequently, in step 130, it is determined whether or not a generation notification is input from the module generation unit 44. If an affirmative determination is made here, the process returns to step 120. Here, even after the attribute is confirmed again and the module for attribute conversion is generated, if the attribute does not match, the processing from step 126 to step 130 is repeated. For example, when the image attribute does not match not only the color space but also the bit depth of the image data, not only the module for performing attribute conversion processing of the color space but also the module for converting the bit depth It will be generated continuously.

  When a plurality of attribute conversion image processing modules 38 are generated and inserted in this way, the insertion order can be set in advance. For example, when two processes, a process for increasing the number of bits and a process for converting the color space, are inserted, the process for converting the color space is performed after the process for increasing the number of bits is inserted. The accuracy can also be increased.

  On the other hand, if an affirmative determination is made in step 120, the module generation unit 44 for the image processing type instructed for generation from the application 32 is activated in step 122 to generate a module.

  In step 124, it is determined whether or not a generation notification is input from the module generation unit 44. When the generation notification is input, the process of this flowchart is terminated.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of module generation processing executed by the module generation unit 44. This module generation processing is not limited to the case where the image processing module 38 specified for generation by the application 32 is generated, but also the image processing specified for generation when the processing management unit 46 determines that generation is necessary for attribute conversion. The present invention is also applied when generating a module (image processing module for attribute conversion) 38.

  When the module generation unit 44 is activated by the workflow management unit 46A of the process management unit 46, the module generation unit 44 performs the module generation process shown in FIG. It should be noted that at the time of activation, input module identification information, output module identification information, input image attribute information, output image attribute information, and image processing to be executed are included as information necessary for generating a module from the workflow management unit 46A of the process management unit 46. Parameters etc. are notified.

  In the module generation process, first, in step 200, it is determined whether or not there is an image processing module 38 to be generated next by the module generation unit 44. If the determination is negative, the module generation process ends. If there is an image processing module 38 to be generated, it is determined in step 202 whether or not the buffer module 40 is necessary after the image processing module 38 to be generated. This determination is made when the subsequent stage of the image processing module is the output module (image output unit 24) (see, for example, the last stage image processing module 38 in the image processing unit 50 shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C). As an example, like the image processing module 38 that performs skew angle detection processing in the image processing unit 50 shown in FIG. 2B, the image processing module performs image processing such as analysis on the image data, and the result is the other. If it is a module to be output to the image processing module 38, it is denied, and the process proceeds to step 210 without generating the buffer module 40. However, in other cases, the determination is affirmed and the process proceeds to step 208, where buffer control is performed. By starting the unit 40B (creating a process, thread or object for executing the program of the buffer control unit 40B), Generating a buffer module 40 which connects to the subsequent processing module.

  In the next step 206, the information of the preceding module (for example, the buffer module 40), the information of the succeeding buffer module 40, the attribute of the input image data input to the image processing module 38, and the processing parameters are given. Is generated. It should be noted that the information of the subsequent buffer module 40 is not given to the image processing module 38 for which it is determined in step 206 that the subsequent buffer module 40 is unnecessary, and the processing content is fixed, for example, 50% reduction processing. If no special image processing parameter is required, no processing parameter is given.

  In this step 206, the attribute of the acquired input image data and the processing to be executed by the image processing module 38 from among a plurality of candidate modules registered in the module library 36 and usable as the image processing module 38. The image processing module 38 that matches the parameters is selected. For example, a module generation unit 44 that generates a module group for performing color conversion processing by the module generation unit 44 corresponding to the module generation processing that is being executed. The CMY color space is designated as the color space of the output image data by the processing parameter, and further input When the image data is RGB color space data, RGB → CMY color space conversion is performed from among a plurality of types of image processing modules 38 that perform various color space processing registered in the module library 36. The image processing module 38 is selected.

  The image processing module 38 is an image processing module 38 that performs enlargement / reduction processing. If the designated enlargement / reduction ratio is other than 50%, the input image data is enlarged at the designated enlargement / reduction ratio. If the image processing module 38 for performing the reduction process is selected and the designated enlargement / reduction ratio is 50%, the enlargement / reduction process specialized for the enlargement / reduction ratio of 50%, that is, the input image data is set every other pixel. An image processing module 38 that performs a reduction process for reducing the image to 50% by thinning out is selected. The selection of the image processing module 38 is not limited to the above. For example, a plurality of image processing modules 38 having different unit processing data amounts in image processing by the image processing engine 38A are registered in the module library 36, and the image processing unit The image processing module 38 having an appropriate unit processing data amount is selected according to the operating environment such as the size of the memory area that can be allocated to 50 (for example, the image processing module 38 having a smaller unit processing data amount as the size decreases). Or the application 32 or the user may select it.

  In the next step 208, the workflow management unit 46A is notified of the combination of the ID of the subsequent buffer module 40 and the ID of the generated image processing module 38 together with the module generation notification. The ID may be information that can uniquely identify each module, and may be, for example, a number given in the order of generation of each module, an address of an object of the buffer module 40 or the image processing module 38 on a memory, or the like. Information notified to the workflow management unit 46A is held in the workflow management unit 46A in a table format, a list format, an associative array format, or the like and used in later processing. Here, the description will be continued assuming that the data is held in a table format.

  In the case of the image processing module 38 that does not have the latter buffer module 40 described above, the processing is performed by the following method, for example. Like the image processing module 38 that performs output processing in FIG. 2A, when the generated image processing module 38 is one of the end points of the pipeline or the directed acyclic graph, the image processing module 38 is returned to the calling application 32 as an output of the module generation unit 44. Further, like the image processing module 38 that performs the skew angle detection processing in FIG. 2B, the image processing result in the generated image processing module 38 is the result of other image processing modules (the image rotation processing is performed in FIG. 2B). When used in the image processing module 38), the module generation unit 44 instructs the image processing module 38 to repeatedly execute the process until the process is completed, and acquires the processing result.

  In the next step 210, the module generation notification is also notified to the application 32.

  In this way, the module generation processing (FIG. 6) described above is sequentially performed by the module generation unit 44 that is sequentially activated, so that, as an example, as shown in FIGS. An image processing unit 50 that performs processing is constructed.

  Here, a JPEG image data file is input, and a series of image processing is performed by performing image processing for adjusting hue (H), saturation (S), and lightness (L) on the image data of the file. Taking the case of constructing the image processing unit 50 as an example, the construction of the image processing unit 50 of the present embodiment will be specifically described.

  FIG. 7A is a diagram showing a series of image processing of the image processing unit 50 generated without considering image attribute matching in accordance with a generation instruction from the application 32.

In FIG. 7 (A), an input processing module 38 ₁ for inputting a file of the image data of JPEG, hue (H), saturation (S), and the color adjustment image processing module 38 ₂ to adjust the lightness (L), an output processing module 38 ₃ to output a file of the image data of the JPEG is configured by connecting. Here, the illustration of the buffer module is omitted, and only the image processing realized by the image processing module is shown, and a series of image processing is simply shown.

Output color space of the input processing module 38 ₁ is YCbCr, the input / output color space of the color adjustment image processing module 38 ₂ is HSL, the input color space of the output processing module 38 ₃ has a YCbCr. Therefore, in this state, since the image attributes (in this case, the color space) are different before and after each image processing module 38, an error occurs even if the processing is executed.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7B, the process management unit 46 selects an appropriate attribute conversion image from among a plurality of attribute conversion image processing modules 38 prepared so as to match the preceding and subsequent image attributes. A processing module 38 is selected and generated and inserted at the appropriate location. In this example, between the input processing module 38 ₁ and the color adjustment image processing module 38 _2, the color space to insert the color space conversion processing module 38 ₄ to convert from YCbCr to HSL, a color adjustment image processing module 38 ₂ inserting a color space conversion processing module 38 ₅ which converts the YCbCr color space from the HSL between the output processing module 38 _3.

  Still another example will be described.

  For example, when an image processing module 38 that performs bicubic interpolation scaling that does not correspond to image data with a palette is generated after the image processing module 38 that processes image data with a palette (image data having an index value). The image processing module 38 that performs bicubic interpolation enlargement / reduction at the subsequent stage cannot process image data with a palette. Therefore, an image processing module 38 is inserted between the image processing modules 38 for converting the image data with palette into image data without palette in which pixel values are mapped.

  For example, when an image processing module 38 that outputs a run-length encoded image and an image processing module 38 that does not support a compressed image are connected in series, the compressed image data is decoded between the image processing modules 38. The image processing module 38 to be inserted is inserted.

  Accordingly, it is possible to construct the image processing unit 50 that executes a series of image processing without causing an error due to attribute mismatch. Accordingly, even a user who does not have specialized knowledge for constructing the image processing unit can quickly assemble the image processing unit without being aware of the image attributes.

  In the above description, the example in which the image processing unit 50 is constructed in consideration of whether or not the attributes always match has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and whether or not the user matches the attributes in advance. It may be possible to select whether or not to construct the image processing unit 50. For example, a screen for setting whether or not to consider attribute matching / non-matching is displayed on the display unit 16 in advance so that the user can set it. The setting result is stored in the memory 14 or the like, and the process management unit 46 generates and connects the image processing module 38 in consideration of the setting result stored in the memory 14. The setting processing program is included in the application program group 32 stored in the storage unit 20 so as to be executed by the CPU 12. Note that when the image processing unit 50 is set to be constructed without considering attribute mismatch, the process management unit 46 does not automatically perform processing for eliminating the attribute mismatch. Therefore, it is necessary to construct the image processing unit 50 so that the user himself has the same image attribute.

  After the module is generated, a series of image processing is executed by the generated module.

  After generating the module, the application 32 instructs the active processing management unit 46 to execute image processing by the image processing unit 50.

  When the execution of image processing is instructed from the application 32, the processing management unit 46 executes the program of each module of the image processing unit 50 loaded in the memory 14 as a thread (or process or object) to the CPU 12 through the operating system 30. Let

  When the program of the image processing module 38 is executed as a thread, the control unit 38B of each image processing module 38 initializes its own module. In the initialization of the image processing module 38, first, the module preceding the own module is determined based on the parameters set by the module generation unit 44. No processing is performed when no module exists in the previous stage of the own module, but if the previous module is other than the buffer module 40, for example, the image data supply unit 22, a specific file, or the like, as necessary. The initialization process is performed. When the buffer module 40 exists in the previous stage of the own module, the data amount (unit read data amount) of the image data acquired by reading the image data from the previous buffer module 40 once is recognized. .

  This unit read data amount is only one if the number of buffer modules 40 in the previous stage of the own module is one, but for example, image processing for performing image composition processing in the image processing unit 50 shown in FIG. As in the case of the module 38, when there are a plurality of buffer modules 40 in the previous stage and the image processing engine 38A performs image processing using image data acquired from the plurality of buffer modules 40, the individual buffer modules in the previous stage The unit read data amount corresponding to 40 is determined according to the type and content of image processing performed by the image processing engine 38A of the own module, the number of buffer modules 40 in the previous stage, and the like. Then, the unit read data amount is set in all the buffer modules 40 existing in the preceding stage by notifying the recognized unit read data amount to all the buffer modules 40 existing in the preceding stage (FIG. 3 ( (See also A) (1)).

  Next, the module following the own module is determined. If the module subsequent to the own module is other than the buffer module 40, such as the image output unit 24 or a specific file, the initialization process is performed as necessary (for example, if the subsequent module is the image output unit 24, the unit For example, processing for notifying output of image data by the amount of data corresponding to the amount of write data). If the subsequent module is the buffer module 40, the amount of image data (unit write data amount) in one image data write is recognized, and the unit write data amount is set in the subsequent buffer module. (See also (2) in FIG. 3A). Then, the process management unit 46 is notified of the completion of initialization of the image processing module 38.

  When the program of the buffer module 40 (the buffer control unit 40B) is executed as a thread, the buffer control unit 40B of each buffer module 40 initializes its own module. When the buffer module 40 is initialized, first, the unit write data amount is notified from the image processing module 38 in the previous stage of the own module or the unit read data amount is notified from the image processing module 38 in the subsequent stage of the own module. The notified unit write data amount or unit read data amount is stored (see also (1) and (2) in FIG. 3B).

  When the unit write data amount or the unit read data amount is notified from all the image processing modules 38 connected to the own module, the unit documents set by the individual image processing modules 38 connected to the own module respectively. The size of the unit buffer area, which is the management unit of the buffer 40A of the own module, is determined based on the embedded data amount and the unit read data amount, and the determined size of the unit buffer area is stored. As the size of the unit buffer area, the maximum value of the unit write data amount and the unit read data amount set in the own module is suitable. However, the unit write data amount may be set or the unit read data amount may be set. The amount of data (the maximum value of the unit read data amount set by each image processing module 38 when a plurality of image processing modules 38 are connected to the subsequent stage of the own module) may be set. The least common multiple of the write data amount and the unit read data amount (the maximum value thereof) may be set. If the least common multiple is less than the predetermined value, the least common multiple is set. A value (for example, any one of the above-mentioned unit write data amount and unit read data amount, the unit write data amount, and the unit read data amount (the maximum value)) may be set.

  If the own module is the buffer module 40 functioning as the image data supply unit 22 or the image output unit 24, the memory area used as the buffer 40A of the own module already exists, so the unit determined previously The size of the buffer area is changed to the size of the existing memory area used as the buffer 40A of the own module. Further, valid data pointers corresponding to the individual image processing modules 38 subsequent to the module are generated, and the generated valid data pointers are initialized. This valid data pointer is the image data (valid data) that has not been read by the corresponding subsequent image processing module 38 among the image data written in the buffer 40A of the own module by the preceding image processing module of the own module. These pointers point to the start position (next read start position) and the end position, respectively. At initialization, specific information indicating that valid data does not exist is usually set, but the own module supplies image data. In the case of the buffer module 40 functioning as the unit 22, image data to be processed may already be written in the memory area used as the buffer 40A of the own module. In this case, the start position and the end of the image data Valid data corresponding to each image processing module 38 at the subsequent stage They are respectively set to the interface. With the above processing, the initialization of the buffer module 40 is completed, and the buffer control unit 40B notifies the processing management unit 46 of the completion of initialization.

  When the completion of initialization is notified from all the modules constituting the image processing unit 50, the processing management unit 46 activates a thread (or process or object) for executing the program of the workflow management unit 46A, and the workflow management unit 46 A is instructed to execute image processing by the image processing unit 50.

  In these processes, a processing request is input to the image processing module 38 constituting the image processing unit 50 to cause the image processing unit 50 to perform image processing. Prior to this, processing performed by the buffer control unit 40B of each buffer module 40 and processing performed by the control unit 38B of each image processing module 38 will be described in order.

  In this embodiment, when the image processing module 38 writes image data to the subsequent buffer module 40, a write request is input from the image processing module 38 to the buffer module 40, and the image processing module 38 receives the previous buffer module 40. When reading image data from the image processing module 38, a read request is input from the image processing module 38 to the buffer module 40.

  In the data writing process, the amount of unit write data is notified to the resource management unit 46B as the size of the memory area to be secured, and the memory area used for writing (see also the writing buffer area: FIG. 8B) Is acquired via the resource management unit 46B of the active processing management unit 46. Next, a unit buffer area (a unit buffer in which image data of the unit write data amount can be written) has an empty area larger than the unit write data amount in the storage unit buffer area constituting the buffer 40A of the own module. It is determined whether or not (region) exists. In the buffer module 40 generated by the module generation unit 44, a memory area (unit buffer area) used as the buffer 40A is not initially secured, and a unit buffer area is secured as a unit whenever a memory area shortage occurs. Therefore, when a write request is first input to the buffer module 40, there is no memory area (unit buffer area) used as the buffer 40A, and this determination is denied. Further, even after the unit buffer area used as the buffer 40A is secured through the processing described later, the free area in the unit buffer area is less than the unit write data amount as image data is written to the unit buffer area. The above determination is also denied in the case of

  If it is determined that there is no unit buffer area (unit buffer area into which image data of the unit write data amount can be written) that has an empty area greater than the unit write data amount, the size of the memory area to be secured (A size of the unit buffer area) is notified to the resource management unit 46B, and a memory area (unit buffer area used for storing image data) used as the buffer 40A of the own module is acquired via the resource management unit 46B. Then, using the previously obtained write buffer area as a write area, the start address of the write area is notified to the image processing module 38 of the write request source, and the start address that notifies the image data to be written Request to write in order. As a result, the image processing module 38 of the writing request source writes the image data in the writing buffer area notified of the head address (see also FIG. 8B).

  For example, when the size of the unit buffer area is not an integral multiple of the unit write data amount, the writing of the unit write data amount of image data to the buffer 40A (unit buffer area) is repeated, for example, as shown in FIG. ), The size of the empty area in the unit buffer area with the empty area is smaller than the unit write data amount. In this case, the area in which the image data of the unit write data amount is written extends over a plurality of unit buffer areas, but in this embodiment, the memory area used as the buffer 40A is secured in units of the unit buffer area. It is not guaranteed that the unit buffer areas secured at different timings are continuous areas on the real memory (memory 14). On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the image processing module 38 writes the image data to the writing buffer area secured separately from the unit buffer area for storage, as shown in FIG. The image data once written in the write buffer area is copied to a single unit buffer area or a plurality of unit buffer areas for storage. As described above, the notification of the write area to the image processing module 38 that is the write request source only requires notification of the head address, and the interface with the image processing module 38 is simplified.

  If the own module is the buffer module 40 generated by the application 32, that is, if the memory area used as the buffer 40A is already secured, the address of the already secured memory area is written to the image processing module 38. This is notified as the address of the embedded area, and the image data is written to the memory area. When the writing of the image data to the writing area by the image processing module 38 in the previous stage is completed, the attribute information is added to the image data written in the writing buffer area, and then written in the storage buffer area as it is. If the size of the empty area in the unit buffer area with the empty area is smaller than the unit write data amount, the image data written in the write buffer area is stored as shown in FIG. Are written separately in a plurality of unit buffer areas.

  Then, the pointer indicating the end position of the valid data among the valid data pointers corresponding to the individual image processing modules 38 subsequent to the own module is moved backward by the unit write data amount by the end position of the valid data indicated by the pointer. At the same time as updating (see also FIG. 8C), the memory area previously secured as the write buffer area is released by the resource management unit 46B, and the data writing process is temporarily terminated. The write buffer area may be secured when the buffer module 40 is initialized and may be released when the buffer module 40 is erased.

  Next, a data reading process executed by the buffer control unit 40B of the buffer module 40 will be described.

  First, read request information registered at the head is extracted from the read queue, the image processing module 38 of the read request source is recognized based on the request source identification information included in the read request information, and the read request source The unit read data amount set by the image processing module 38 is recognized, and the valid data corresponding to the read request source image processing module 38 is determined based on the valid data pointer corresponding to the read request source image processing module 38. The head position and end position on the buffer 40A are recognized. Next, based on the recognized start position and end position of valid data, valid data corresponding to the read request source image processing module 38 (image data that can be read by the read request source image processing module 38) is unit read data. Judge whether there is more than the amount.

  If the valid data corresponding to the image processing module 38 of the read request source is less than the unit read data amount, whether or not the end of the valid data that can be read by the image processing module 38 of the read request source is the end of the image data to be processed judge. Valid data corresponding to the image processing module 38 of the read request source is stored in the buffer 40A at a unit read data amount or more, or valid data corresponding to the image processing module 38 of the read request source stored in the buffer 40A is stored. If the end of the valid data is the end of the image data to be processed, although it is less than the unit read data amount, the unit read corresponding to the image processing module 38 that is the read request source is the size of the memory area to be secured. In addition to notifying the resource management unit 46B of the amount of data, the resource management unit 46B is requested to secure a memory area used for reading (read buffer area: see also FIG. 9B), and read through the resource management unit 46B. Get the buffer area.

  Next, the effective data to be read is read from the buffer 40A by the amount of the unit read data and written to the read buffer area, and the head address of the read buffer area is used as the read area start address to the read request source image processing module 38. Along with the notification, the image data is requested to be read sequentially from the notified head address. As a result, the image processing module 38 as the read request source reads the image data from the read area (read buffer area) to which the head address is notified. When the effective data to be read is data corresponding to the end of the image data to be processed, the size of the image data to be read is requested at the end of the image data to be processed when the image data is requested to be read. This is also notified to the image processing module 38 of the reading request source. When the own module is the buffer module 40 generated by the application 32, the memory area (collection of unit buffer areas) used as the buffer 40A is a continuous area. The writing of the target image data to the reading buffer area may be omitted, and the subsequent image processing module 38 may read the image data directly from the unit buffer area.

  As an example, as shown in FIG. 9A, the amount of valid data stored in the unit buffer area in which the image data of the head portion of the valid data is stored is less than the unit read data amount. When the target valid data extends over a plurality of unit buffer areas, the valid data to be read this time is not necessarily stored in a continuous area on the real memory (memory 14). In the data reading process, as shown in FIGS. 9B and 9C, even in such a case, the image data to be read is once written in the reading buffer area, and then the image data is read from the reading buffer area. Therefore, regardless of whether or not the image data to be read is stored across a plurality of unit buffer areas, the notification of the read area to the image processing module 38 of the read request is made as described above. It is only necessary to notify the start address, and the interface with the image processing module 38 is simplified.

  When the completion of reading of the image data from the reading area by the image processing module 38 of the reading request source is notified, the start address and size of the memory area secured as the reading buffer area are notified to the resource management unit 46B, and the memory The area is released by the resource management unit 46B. This read buffer area may also be secured when the buffer module 40 is initialized and released when the buffer module 40 is erased. Further, by moving the pointer representing the start position of the valid data among the valid data pointers corresponding to the image processing module 38 that is the read request source, the start position of the valid data indicated by the pointer is moved backward by the unit read data amount. Update (see also FIG. 9C).

  Next, the effective data pointers corresponding to the individual image processing modules 38 in the subsequent stage are respectively referred to, and each of the subsequent stages of the stored image data is stored in the unit buffer area constituting the buffer 40A by updating the previous pointer. It is determined whether or not a unit buffer area that has been completely read by the image processing module 38, that is, a unit buffer area that does not store valid data, has appeared. If the determination is negative, the data reading process is terminated through the above-described reading queue check process (determination as to whether or not read request information is registered in the reading queue), but valid data When a unit buffer area that does not store is appeared, the unit buffer area is released by the resource management unit 46B, and then the data read process is terminated through a check process for the read queue.

  On the other hand, the amount of valid data stored in the buffer 40A and readable by the image processing module 38 that is the read request source is less than the unit read data amount, and the end of the readable valid data is the image data to be processed. If it is not the end (when no valid data that can be read is detected in (4) of FIG. 3B), a data request for requesting new image data is output to the workflow management unit 46A (FIG. 3 ( (See also (5) of B)) Read request information retrieved from the read queue is re-registered in the original queue (at the beginning or end), and then the data is read through the check process of the read queue The process ends. In this case, the workflow management unit 46A inputs a processing request to the image processing module 38 in the previous stage of the own module. As a result, until the amount of valid data that can be read exceeds the unit read data amount or until the end of the valid data that can be read is detected to be the end of the image data to be processed, the corresponding readout is performed. The request information is stored in a read queue and is periodically retrieved to repeatedly execute the requested process.

  Although details will be described later, when a data request is input from the buffer module 40, the workflow management unit 46A inputs the processing request to the image processing module 38 in the preceding stage of the buffer module 40 that is the data request source (see FIG. 3B). (See also (6)). When the processing performed by the control unit 38B of the preceding image processing module 38 using the input of the processing request as a trigger causes the preceding image processing module 38 to be able to write image data into the buffer module 40, the preceding image processing is performed. When the writing request is input from the module 38, the above-described data writing process is performed, and the image data is written from the preceding image processing module 38 to the buffer 40A of the buffer module 40 ((7) in FIG. 3B). ), See also (8)). As a result, the image data is read from the buffer 40A by the image processing module 38 in the subsequent stage (see also (9) in FIG. 3B).

  Subsequently, each time a processing request is input from the workflow management unit 46A to the individual image processing modules 38 constituting the image processing unit 50, the image processing modules respectively performed by the control unit 38B of the individual image processing module 38. The control process (FIG. 10) will be described.

  In the image processing module control process, first in step 218, the size of the memory used by the own module and the presence / absence of other resources used by the own module based on the type and contents of the image processing performed by the image processing engine 38A of the own module. Recognize Note that the memory used by the image processing module 38 is mainly a memory necessary for the image processing engine 38A to perform image processing. However, when the former module is the image data supply unit 22 or the latter module is an image. In the case of the output unit 24, a buffer memory for temporarily storing the image data may be required when the image data is transmitted to or received from the preceding or succeeding module. Further, when information such as a table is included in the processing parameter, a memory area for holding it may be required. Then, the resource management unit 46B is requested to secure a memory area of the recognized size, and the memory area secured by the resource management unit 46B is acquired from the resource management unit 46B. If the own module (the image processing engine 38A) recognizes that it needs other resources other than the memory, it requests the resource management unit 46B to secure the other resources and allocates the other resources to the resource. Obtained from the management unit 46B.

  In the next step 220, when a module (buffer module 40, image data supply unit 22, image processing module 38, etc.) exists in the previous stage of its own module, data (image data or analysis) is sent to the preceding module. Image processing result). In the next step 222, it is determined whether data can be acquired from the previous module. If the determination in step 222 is negative, it is determined in step 224 whether the end of the entire process has been notified. If the determination in step 224 is negative, the process returns to step 222, and steps 222 and 224 are repeated until data can be acquired from the preceding module. If the determination in step 222 is affirmative, data acquisition processing for acquiring data from the previous module in step 226 and writing the acquired data in the memory area for temporary storage of data in the memory area acquired in step 218 I do.

  Here, if the previous module of the own module is the buffer module 40, when data is requested in the previous step 220 (read request), the readable valid data is transferred to the buffer 40A of the buffer module 40 in the unit read data amount. As long as the end of the valid data that has been stored or readable matches the end of the image data to be processed, the image processing module 38 in the previous stage of the buffer module 40 immediately returns to the state of the image data to be processed. After the image data is written in the buffer 40A of the buffer module 40, the state is changed to the above state, and then the start address of the reading area is notified from the buffer module 40 and the reading of the image data is requested. As a result, the determination at step 222 is affirmed and the routine proceeds to step 226, where image data of a unit read data amount (or a data amount less than that) is read from the read area in which the head address is notified from the preceding buffer module 40, Data acquisition processing to be written in the temporary storage memory area is performed (see also (3) in FIG. 3A).

  If the previous module of the own module is the image data supply unit 22, when the data request is output in the previous step 220, it is immediately notified from the previous image data supply unit 22 that the image data can be acquired. As a result, the determination in step 222 is affirmed, and the process proceeds to step 226. Image data acquisition processing for acquiring image data of a unit read data amount from the preceding image data supply unit 22 and writing it to the temporary storage memory area is performed. Do. If the previous module of the own module is the image processing module 38, a data request (processing request) is output in the previous step 220. If the previous image processing module 38 is ready to perform image processing, the data request is written. Since it is notified that the data (image processing result) can be acquired by inputting the load request, the determination in step 222 is affirmed and the process proceeds to step 226. The data acquisition process for writing the data output from the image processing module 38 in the previous stage to the temporary storage memory area is performed by notifying the address of the temporary storage memory area where the data is written and requesting the writing.

  In the next step 228, it is determined whether or not a plurality of modules are connected to the previous stage of the own module. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 232 without performing any processing. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 230, and whether or not data has been acquired from all modules connected in the previous stage. To determine. If the determination in step 230 is negative, the process returns to step 220, and steps 220 to 230 are repeated until the determination in step 230 is positive. When all the data to be acquired from the previous module is obtained, the determination in step 228 is denied or the determination in step 230 is affirmed, and the process proceeds to step 232.

  In the next step 232, an area for data output is requested to the module subsequent to the module, and the determination is repeated until the data output area can be acquired in step 232 (until the start address of the data output area is notified). . If the subsequent module is the buffer module 40, the request for the data output area is made by outputting a write request to the buffer module 40. Once the data output area (the write area in which the start address is notified from the buffer module 40 if the subsequent module is the buffer module 40) can be obtained (see also (4) in FIG. 3A), the next step In 236, the memory area for image processing by the image processing engine among the data acquired in the previous data acquisition process, the data output area acquired from the subsequent module (first address), and the memory area acquired in the previous step 218 ( Is input to the image processing engine 38A, and the input data is subjected to predetermined image processing using a memory area for image processing (see also (5) in FIG. 3A). At the same time, the processed data is written in the data output area (see also (6) in FIG. 3A). When the input of the unit read data amount to the image processing engine 38A is completed and all the data output from the image processing engine 38A is written in the data output area, the subsequent step 238 indicates that the output has been completed. Notify the module.

  The processing (unit processing) for the data of the unit processing data amount in the image processing module 38 is completed by the above steps 220 to 238. However, in the processing request input from the workflow management unit 46A to the image processing module 38, the workflow management unit The number of executions of unit processing may be specified by 46A. Therefore, in step 240, it is determined whether the number of executions of the unit process has reached the number of executions instructed by the input processing request. If the number of executions of the instructed unit process is 1, this determination is unconditionally affirmed. However, if the number of executions of the instructed unit process is 2 or more, the process returns to Step 220, and the determination in Step 240 is performed. Steps 220 to 240 are repeated until affirmative. If the determination in step 240 is affirmed, the process proceeds to step 242 to output a processing completion notification to the workflow management unit 46A, thereby notifying the workflow management unit 46A that the processing corresponding to the input processing request has been completed. Then, the image processing module control process ends.

  Further, when the processing image data is processed to the end by repeating the above-described processing every time a processing request is input from the workflow management unit 46A, the end of the processing target image data is notified from the preceding module. Thus, the determination in step 224 is affirmed, and the process proceeds to step 244. The image data to be processed (note that the image data to be processed is often image data for one page, but is image data for a plurality of pages. An overall process end notification that means that the process for (which may be present) has ended is output to the workflow management unit 46A and the subsequent module. In the next step 246, a process for requesting the release of all acquired resources and deleting the own module is performed, and the image processing module control process is terminated.

  When the execution of image processing is instructed, the workflow management unit 46A performs the block unit control processing 1 shown in FIG. 11A, and each time a data request is input from the buffer module 40, the workflow management unit 46A shown in FIG. When the block unit control process 2 is performed and a process completion notification is input from the image processing module 38, the block unit control process 3 shown in FIG. 11C is performed, and the entire process end notification is input from the image processing module 38. A block unit control process 4 shown in FIG. 11D is performed every time.

  As described above, in the block unit control process 1, the number of executions of the unit process can be specified by inputting a process request to each image processing module 38 of the image processing unit 50 by the workflow management unit 46A. However, in step 500, the number of executions of the unit process designated by one processing request is determined for each image processing module 38. The number of executions of unit processing per processing request can be determined so that, for example, the number of processing requests input to individual image processing modules 38 during the processing of the entire image data to be processed is averaged. However, it may be determined according to other criteria. In the next step 502, a processing request is input to the last image processing module 38 in the image processing unit 50 (see also (1) in FIG. 12), and the block unit control processing 1 is terminated.

Here, in the image processing unit 50 shown in FIG. 12, when the process from the workflow management unit 46A to the image processing module 38 ₄ of the last stage request is input, the control unit 38B of the image processing module 38 ₄ preceding buffer module 40 _A read request is input to ₃ (see (2) in FIG. 12). At this time, since the image processing module 38 ₄ readable valid data in the buffer 40A of the buffer module 40 ₃ (image data) is not stored, the buffer controller 40B of the buffer module 40 ₃ data in the workflow management unit 46A A request is input (see (3) in FIG. 12).

Every time a data request is input from the buffer module 40, the workflow management unit 46A performs the block unit control process 2 shown in FIG. In this block unit control processing 2, in step 504, the image processing module 38 (here, the image processing module 38 ₃ ) of the preceding stage of the buffer module 40 (here, the buffer module 40 ₃ ) of the data request input is recognized and recognized. A processing request is input to the preceding image processing module 38 (see (4) in FIG. 12), and the processing ends.

Control unit 38B of the image processing module 38 _3, the processing request is input to the input a read request preceding the buffer module 40 ₂ (see (5) in FIG. 12), read in the buffer 40A of the buffer module 40 ₂ since possible image data is not stored, the buffer controller 40B of the buffer module 40 ₂ inputs the data request to the workflow management unit 46A (see (6) in FIG. 12). Workflow management unit 46A, even if the data request is input from the buffer module 40 _2, by performing the block unit control processing 2 described above again, enter the processing request to the image processing module 38 ₂ of the previous stage (FIG. 12 (7)), the control unit 38B of the image processing module 38 ₃ inputs the read request to the buffer module 40 ₁ of the front reference ((8 in FIG. 12)). Further, since the readable image data to the buffer 40A of the buffer module 40 ₁ is not stored, the buffer controller 40B of the buffer module 40 ₁ also inputs the data request to the workflow management unit 46A (in FIG. 12 (9) reference). Even when a data request is input from the buffer module 40 ₁ , the workflow management unit 46A performs the block unit control processing 2 again to input the processing request to the preceding image processing module 38 ₁ (FIG. 12). (See (10)).

Here, since the previous module of the image processing module 38 ₁ is the image data supply unit 22, the control unit 38 B of the image processing module 38 ₁ inputs a data request to the image data supply unit 22, and thereby the image data supply unit 22. The image data of the unit read data amount is acquired from the image data 22 (see (11) in FIG. 12), and the image data obtained by the image processing engine 38A performing image processing on the acquired image data is stored in the subsequent buffer. write module 40 _first buffer 40A (see (12) in FIG. 12).

Further, the buffer control unit 40B of the buffer module 40 ₁ requests the image processing module 38 ₂ to read when valid data exceeding the unit read data amount that can be read by the subsequent image processing module 38 ₂ is written. the image processing module 38 _{and second} control unit 38B with the reads image data of the unit read data amount from the buffer module 40 ₁ of buffer 40A (see (13) in FIG. 12), the image processing engine on the acquired image data 38A is an image data obtained by performing image processing, written in the following buffer module 40 _second buffer 40A (see (14) in FIG. 12). The buffer control unit 40B of the buffer module 40 ₂ requests the image processing module 38 ₃ to read when valid data exceeding the unit read data amount that can be read by the subsequent image processing module 38 ₃ is written, and the image processing module 38 _3. the control unit 38B of the (see (15) in FIG. 12) reads out the image data of the unit read data amount from the buffer module 40 ₂ of the buffer 40A, the image processing engine 38A on the acquired image data to perform image processing the image data obtained by, written to the subsequent buffer module 40 _third buffer 40A (see (16) in FIG. 12).

Furthermore, the buffer controller 40B of the buffer module 40 ₃ may request a read to the image processing module 38 ₄ When the subsequent image processing module 38 ₄ readable unit read data amount or more valid data is written, which control unit 38B of the image processing module 38 ₄ with the reads the image data of the unit read data amount from the buffer module 40 _third buffer 40A (see (17) in FIG. 12), the image processing engine on the acquired image data The image data obtained by the image processing performed by 38A is output to the image output unit 24, which is a subsequent module (see (18) in FIG. 12).

  In addition, when the control unit 38B of each image processing module 38 completes the writing of the image data to the buffer 40A of the subsequent buffer module 40, the control unit 38B inputs a processing completion notification to the workflow management unit 46A. The workflow management unit 46A performs block unit control processing 3 shown in FIG. 11C every time a processing completion notification is input from the image processing module 38. In this block unit control process 3, first, in step 506, it is determined whether or not the process completion notification source image processing module 38 is the last stage image processing module 38. If the determination is negative, the block unit control process 3 is terminated without performing any process. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 508, where the processing request is input again to the image processing module 38 that is the processing completion notification source, and the processing ends.

  The workflow management unit 46A performs the block unit control process 4 shown in FIG. 11D every time an overall process end notification is input from the image processing module 38. In this block unit control process 4, in step 510, it is determined whether or not the image processing module 38 that is the input source of the overall process end notification is the last stage image processing module 38. If the determination is negative, the process ends without performing any process, but all the image data that has undergone the necessary image processing on the image data to be processed is output to the image output unit 24. When an overall process end notification is input from the last-stage image processing module 38, the determination in step 510 is affirmed, the process proceeds to step 512, the application 32 is notified of the completion of image processing, and block unit control is performed. The process ends. The application 32 notified of the completion of the image processing notifies the user of the completion of the image processing.

  As described above, in the block unit processing, when the processing request input to the last-stage image processing module 38 goes back to the preceding-stage image processing module 38 and reaches the foremost-stage image processing module 38, the foremost-stage image processing module 38 At 38, image processing is performed and data is written into the subsequent buffer module 40. If the data is sufficient, a series of image processing is performed in such a manner that the processing proceeds to the subsequent module.

  In the above description, the individual image processing modules 38 of the image processing unit operate so as to perform image processing while transferring image data to the subsequent stage in units of data amount smaller than one image surface. Although the aspect in which the workflow management unit 46A controls to perform block unit processing as a whole has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and the individual image processing modules 38 of the image processing unit are replaced by the previous image processing module 38. After the image processing for the image data for one image is completed, the image processing module 38 in the subsequent stage is operated so as to perform image processing for the image data for one image, so that the image processing unit as a whole performs surface unit processing. The workflow management unit 46A may be configured so that the above can be performed.

  Further, while the workflow management unit 46A performs control as described above, the error management unit 46C of the process management unit 46 also operates. When an error occurs while the image processing unit 50 is executing image processing, the error management unit 46C acquires error information such as the type and location of the error that has occurred, and the image processing program group 34 is installed. The device environment information representing the type or configuration of the device in which the computer 10 is incorporated is acquired from the storage unit 20 or the like, and an error notification method according to the device environment represented by the acquired device environment information is determined and determined. Performs processing to notify the occurrence of an error using the error notification method.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the program of the processing management unit 46 is fixedly stored in the storage unit 20 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. A new program for the processing management unit may be added or an already registered program for the processing management unit may be overwritten and updated via an external storage device or a communication line.

  In the above description, the image processing program group 34 corresponding to the image processing program according to the present invention is stored (installed) in the storage unit 20 in advance. However, the image processing program according to the present invention is a CD-ROM. It is also possible to provide the information in a form recorded on a recording medium such as DVD-ROM.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the computer (image processing apparatus) which concerns on this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of an image process part. (A) is an image processing module, and (B) is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a buffer module and processing to be executed. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the module production | generation process which an application performs. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the module production | generation control processing which the workflow management part of a process management part performs. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the module production | generation process performed with a module production | generation part. (A) is a diagram showing a series of image processing of the image processing unit generated without considering image attribute matching in accordance with a generation instruction from the application, and (B) considers image attribute matching. It is a figure which shows a series of image processes of the produced | generated image processing part. It is the schematic explaining the case where the image data to be written straddles a plurality of storage unit buffer areas. It is the schematic explaining the case where the image data to be read straddles a plurality of storage unit buffer areas. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the image processing module control process performed by the control part of an image processing module. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the block unit control process performed by the workflow management part of a process management part. It is the schematic explaining the flow of the image processing in an image process part.

Explanation of symbols

10 Computer 12 CPU
20 Storage Unit 22 Image Data Supply Unit 24 Image Output Unit 34 Image Processing Program Group 38 Image Processing Module 40 Buffer Module 46 Processing Management Unit

Claims (4)

Image processing means for executing a series of processes in which a plurality of image processing modules that perform predetermined image processing are connected to combine image processing on image data;
Image processing for attribute conversion between the image processing modules so that the mismatch of the image attributes is resolved when the image attributes are mismatched between two consecutive image processing modules when the image processing modules are connected Control means for controlling the image processing means so that a module is inserted;
An image processing apparatus. For each image processing module for attribute conversion, the image processing module further includes a storage unit that stores a table storing information indicating attributes before and after conversion in association with each other.
The control means determines whether or not attribute conversion is possible based on the table, and controls the image processing means to insert the attribute conversion image processing module when it is determined that the attribute conversion is possible. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1. A setting unit for setting in advance whether or not to insert the image processing module for attribute conversion when the image attribute does not match;
The control means is configured to insert the image processing module for attribute conversion when the setting means sets to insert the image processing module for attribute conversion when the image attributes do not match. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing unit is controlled. Computer
Image processing means for connecting a plurality of image processing modules for performing predetermined image processing and executing a series of processes in which a plurality of image processes are combined with image data;
When the image processing module is connected, when the image attribute does not match between two consecutive image processing modules, the attribute conversion between the image processing modules is eliminated so that the image attribute mismatch is resolved. Control means for controlling the image processing means so that an image processing module is inserted;
An image processing program that functions as

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