JP2012165159A - Image processing apparatus, image processing control method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable common image processing parameters to be efficiently set even when common image processing is performed.SOLUTION: An image processing apparatus to which image processing means for performing image processing on image data based on image processing parameters set at a register, creates commands having different attributes from each other to perform an instruction for storing in a memory image processing parameters corresponding to image processing settings and an instruction for loading the image processing parameters stored in the memory to the register of the image processing means (S301-S311). Subsequently, in accordance with an instruction of storing, processing for setting the image processing parameters at the register of the image processing means and storing the image processing parameters in the memory is controlled. In accordance with an instruction of loading, processing for setting the image processing parameters stored in the memory at the register is controlled.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus for setting image processing parameters, a control method for the image processing apparatus, and a program.

Conventionally, an image processing apparatus such as a digital multi-function peripheral (MFP) that simultaneously realizes a plurality of functions such as copy, print, scan, and fax has various attributes such as scan / PDL, color / monochrome, and photograph / text. There are many cases of handling image data. For this reason, the image processing module (hardware) constituting the image processing apparatus executes image processing for each input page using image processing parameters optimized in accordance with the attributes of the image data.
Therefore, the image processing module needs to acquire image processing parameters between pages in advance and execute image processing using the image processing parameters on the image data for each page.

  As an example of the configuration of the image processing apparatus described above, an image processing apparatus having a configuration in which a plurality of image processing modules are connected in series via a data transmission path is known. The control CPU that controls the image processing apparatus converts the image processing parameters and the image data into commands, and transfers the generated commands to the same data transmission path.

In this case, the image processing module refers to the image processing module ID described in the command transferred via the data transmission path, and determines whether or not it is a command to be processed by itself. If the image processing module determines that the command is to be processed, the command is processed, and the command is transferred to the subsequent image processing module after the image processing.
On the other hand, when the image processing module determines that the command is not to be processed, the command is transferred to the subsequent image processing module as it is.
Based on the above configuration, the image processing module receives the commanded image processing parameters for each input page, and sets the image processing parameters in a register held by the image processing module.

  Then, the image processing module receives commanded image data for each input page, and executes image processing on the image data. In this way, by using the same data transmission path for register setting and data input, the control CPU can execute an arbitrary sequence without waiting for an interrupt from the image processing module.

  Further, if the interface for generating and transferring the above-described command is not changed, the image processing module can be implemented without changing in another system having different CPU, bus, and memory configurations.

  Further, as an improvement plan related to the generation and transfer of the command described above, a configuration for reducing the load on the control CPU by providing a DMA control device having a control unit that generates a transfer source address and a transfer destination address has been proposed. (Patent Document 1).

  As another improvement related to the generation and transfer of the command described above, the control CPU prepares only the minimum necessary data for conversion into a command on the memory, and the transfer DMAC uses the command instead of the control CPU. A configuration has been proposed (Patent Document 2).

JP 2001-162894 A JP 2009-093501 A

In the above-described image processing module, output data as a calculation result for all input data such as a look-up table (LUT) is stored in advance in a register as an image processing parameter to perform image processing such as color conversion. There is something to realize.
Specifically, there are LUTs that logarithmically convert input RGB data to CMY data and output, and direct mapping (DMP) that converts input CMY data to CMYK data and output the data.

  However, if the image processing parameters used for the LUT and DMP are converted into commands by the above-described method, the processing time required to generate and transfer the commands becomes enormous, resulting in a problem that the system performance is lowered.

As one method for solving the above problem, there is a method of holding all patterns of image processing parameters optimized in accordance with attributes in a local memory such as an SRAM provided in the image processing module.
That is, this is a method for switching the pattern of the image processing parameter to be used by switching the bank area referred to in the local memory for each page.

  Specifically, for example, in the LUT for CMY → RGB conversion, color / monochrome or photo / character attributes are referred to, and when the character portion is yellow (Y) in the monochrome mode, the decipherability is reduced. Use dedicated image processing parameters that are optimized to prevent. On the other hand, in the monochrome mode, when the character portion is not yellow (Y), normal image processing parameters are used.

Further, for example, in the DMP of CMY → CMYK conversion, color / monochrome or photo / character attributes are referred, and in the character portion in the color mode, when C = M = Y = x, C = M = Y = 0 , K = z, using image processing parameters. On the other hand, in the photographic part in the color mode, when C = M = Y = x, an image processing parameter is used for conversion while maintaining the value of C = M = Y without converting it to the value of K. .
By using the above method, the control CPU and the transfer DMAC do not need to generate and transfer a large number of image processing parameter commands in a short time between pages.

However, another problem caused by using the above method is to secure a memory capacity in the image processing module that can hold all patterns of image processing parameters.
The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism that can efficiently set common image processing parameters even when performing common image processing. is there.

The image processing apparatus of the present invention that achieves the above object has the following configuration.
An image processing apparatus to which image processing means for performing image processing on image data based on an image processing parameter set in a register is connected, and an instruction to store an image processing parameter corresponding to the image processing setting in a memory; , An instruction unit for performing an instruction to load the image processing parameter stored in the memory into the register of the image processing unit, and setting the image processing parameter in the register of the image processing unit in accordance with the store instruction by the instruction unit, And control means for controlling the processing for storing the image processing parameter in the memory, and for controlling the processing for setting the image processing parameter stored in the memory in a register of the image processing means in accordance with a load instruction by the instruction means. And.

  According to the present invention, even when common image processing is executed, common image processing parameters can be set efficiently.

It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of an image processing apparatus. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the structural example of the command handled with an image processing apparatus. It is a flowchart explaining the control method of an image processing apparatus. It is a flowchart explaining the control method of an image processing apparatus. It is a flowchart explaining the control method of an image processing apparatus.

Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
<Description of system configuration>
[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image processing apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. This example shows an example in which a plurality of image processing modules 101 to 103 are connected as image processing means for performing image processing for each page of image data based on image processing parameters set in a register.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image processing apparatus 100 includes image processing modules 101 to 103, a reception DMAC 104, a local memory 105, a transmission DMAC 106, a CPU 107, a memory controller 108, a main memory 109, and a system bus 110. In the present embodiment, the image processing modules 101 to 103 configured as hardware are pipeline-connected, and each includes a register for holding image processing parameters. The image processing modules 101 to 103 are configured to execute different image processing.

  Each of the image processing modules 101 to 103 includes registers 111 to 113 for holding image processing parameters necessary for image processing, and sequentially performs image processing according to a pipeline structure connected in series with each other via a data transmission path. An image processing unit (hardware) to be executed.

  Here, for example, the image processing module 101 is an LUT that logarithmically converts input RGB data into CMY data and outputs the CMY data. For example, the image processing module 102 is DMP (Direct Mapping) that converts CMY data into CMYK data and outputs the converted data. In addition, for example, the image processing module C103 is an image forming unit that performs intermediate length processing by screen processing or error diffusion and outputs the result.

  The reception DMAC 104 is connected to a data transmission path to the system bus 110 and the image processing modules 101 to 103, and is a transfer control unit for transferring commands held in the main memory 109 to the image processing modules 101 to 103.

  The local memory 105 is a storage unit that is connected to the reception DMAC 104 and stores a part of commands transferred by the reception DMAC 104 as a backup. The transmission DMAC 106 is connected to a data transmission path from the system bus 110 and the image processing modules 101 to 103 and is a transfer control unit for transferring commands transferred from the image processing modules 101 to 103 to the main memory 109. .

  The CPU 107 is connected to the system bus 110, and generates a command that can be processed by the image processing modules 101 to 103 based on the image processing parameters and image data held in the main memory 109, and stores the command again in the main memory 109. It is.

  The memory controller 108 is connected to the system bus 110 and the main memory 109, and is a memory control unit for the reception DMAC 104, the transmission DMAC 106, and the CPU 107 to access data held in the main memory 109 via the system bus 110. .

  The main memory 109 is a storage unit that stores system software, programs, image processing parameters, image data, commands, and the like. The system bus 110 is connected to the reception DMAC 104, the transmission DMAC 106, the CPU 107, and the memory controller 108, and is a data transmission unit that realizes data transmission between them.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration in which three image processing modules are pipeline-connected as the image processing unit has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and any type of image processing module. Any number can be connected and configured.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a configuration example of commands handled by the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.
2A to 2D show examples of bit assignment when a command is defined with 64 bits. By referring to the 63rd to 61st bits, (a) to (d) It is possible to determine which of these bit assignments corresponds to a command. First, the 63rd command identification bit is referenced. If the bit is “1”, it can be determined that the command is one of the commands (a) to (c) of FIG.
On the other hand, if the bit is “0”, it can be determined that the command is the command (d) in which the image data is converted into a command.

  Next, with respect to the commands of (a) to (c) in FIG. Here, if the bit is “1”, it is a command of either (b) or (c) including a backup instruction of either a store instruction to the local memory 105 or a load instruction from the local memory 105. Can be determined.

  On the other hand, if the bit is “0”, it can be determined that the command in FIG. 2A does not include any backup instruction of the store instruction and the load instruction described above. Further, for the command of FIG. 2B or FIG. 2C, the 61th bit load / store instruction bit is referred to.

Here, if the bit is “1”, it can be determined that the command in FIG. 2B includes a store instruction. On the other hand, if the bit is “0”, it can be determined that the command in FIG. 2C includes a load instruction.
As described above, by referring to the 63rd to 61st bits, it is possible to determine which of the bit assignments of (a) to (d) in FIG.

  FIG. 2A is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of bit assignment of a command obtained by converting an image processing parameter into a command that does not include any backup instruction of a store instruction and a load instruction. As shown in FIG. 2A, the header information of the 48th to 63rd bits is composed of a bit for determining the above-described command and an empty area. The 0th to 31st bits indicate the value of the image processing parameter to be set in the register, and the 32nd to 47th bits indicate the value of the register address to be set.

  FIG. 2B is a conceptual diagram showing an example of bit assignment of a command converted to an image processing parameter including a store instruction as a backup instruction. As shown in FIG. 2B, the header information of the 48th to 63rd bits is composed of the above-described bit for identifying the command and a backup ID for identifying a plurality of commands held in the local memory 105. It is configured.

  Similarly to FIG. 2A, the 0th to 31st bits indicate the value of the image processing parameter to be set in the register, and the 32nd to 47th bits indicate the value of the register address to be set. As described above, the command shown in FIG. 2B is composed of data contents obtained by adding a store instruction to the command shown in FIG.

  FIG. 2C is a conceptual diagram showing an example of bit assignment of a command obtained by converting an image processing parameter including a load instruction as a backup instruction into a command. As shown in FIG. 2C, the header information of the 48th to 63rd bits is composed of the above-described bit for identifying the command and a backup ID for identifying a plurality of commands held in the local memory 105. It is configured. The 0th to 47th bits are free areas. As described above, the command shown in FIG. 2C has data contents in which a load instruction is added to the command shown in FIG. 2A and the setting information of the corresponding image processing parameter is omitted. Composed.

FIG. 2D is a conceptual diagram showing an example of bit assignment of a command obtained by converting image data into a command.
As shown in FIG. 2D, the header information of the 48th to 63rd bits is a bit for determining the above-described command and a command to be processed by any of the image processing units of the image processing modules 101 to 103. And an image processing module ID indicating whether or not there is.

  For example, when the image processing module IDs corresponding to the image processing modules 101, 102, and 103 are 01, 10, and 11, respectively, the 48th to 53rd bits are referred to by 2 bits from the lower order.

  If 01, 10, or 11 is set as the corresponding image processing module ID, the image processing modules 101, 102, and 103 execute image processing for the command, and then transfer the command to the subsequent stage. .

  On the other hand, if the corresponding image processing module ID is not set (set value is 00), the command is transferred to the subsequent stage via the data transmission path without executing the image processing for the command. The 0th to 47th bits are image data that holds the color values of pixels expressed in CMYK, RGB, or the like.

  In the configuration example of the command shown in FIG. 2, for the sake of simplicity, the command is defined with a fixed length of 64 bits focusing only on bit information related to the embodiment of the present invention. It is not limited to the configuration of

More realistically, for example, the header information is often defined as a fixed length of 32 bits, and the command portion excluding the header information is often defined as a variable length that is an integral multiple of 32 bits. In this way, if a command that can take an arbitrary data size according to the data amount is defined, for example, a portion that has become a free area in the command configuration example shown in FIG. 2C is generated and transferred. There is no need to do it. In addition, for example, by generating a variable amount of fixed-length commands in large quantities by changing the length of the image data in the command configuration example shown in FIG. There is no need to do it.
Therefore, since the CPU 107 and the transfer DMAC 104 need only generate and transfer a command as many times as necessary, the load of command generation and transfer can be reduced.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a control method of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. This example corresponds to the command transmission processing example of the CPU 107 in the first embodiment. Each step is realized by the CPU 107 executing a control program stored in the main memory 109. Hereinafter, a processing procedure for analyzing a job received by the CPU 107 to detect an image processing setting parameter for each page and generating a command to which a store instruction and a load instruction are added according to the detection result will be described with reference to FIG. .
First, the CPU 107 refers to the image processing setting of each page in a job composed of a plurality of pages received from a host computer (not shown) (S301).

The CPU 107 determines whether the common setting to be backed up is between a plurality of discontinuous pages (S302). If the CPU 107 determines that there is a common setting to be backed up between a plurality of discontinuous pages (Yes in S302), the process proceeds to S303, and the CPU 107 determines the first page among the pages having the common setting. The common setting is designated as a store target (S303).
Further, the CPU 107 designates the common setting of the subsequent page among the pages having the common setting as a load target (S304).
On the other hand, when the CPU 107 determines in S302 that there is no common setting to be backed up between discontinuous pages (No in S302), the process proceeds to S305.

Next, the CPU 107 determines whether or not the setting information of the command to be generated is the load target specified in S304 (S305). If the CPU 107 determines that the image is to be loaded (Yes in S305), the CPU 107 generates a command obtained by converting the image processing parameter with the load instruction shown in (c) of FIG. 2 into a command (S306).
On the other hand, if the CPU 107 determines that it is not a load target in S305 (No in S305), the process proceeds to S307.

Then, the CPU 107 determines whether or not the setting information of the command to be generated is the store target specified in S303 (S307). If the CPU 107 determines that the image is to be stored (Yes in S307), the CPU 107 generates a command obtained by converting the image processing parameter with a store instruction shown in FIG. 2B into a command (S308).
On the other hand, if the CPU 107 determines that it is not a storage target in S307 (No in S307), the CPU 107 executes a command converted into an image processing parameter including neither the store instruction nor the load instruction shown in FIG. Generate (S309).

  In step S309, the CPU 107 generates a command obtained by converting the image data illustrated in FIG. 2D into a command, and the process proceeds to step S310.

Next, the CPU 107 stores the command generated in S306, S308, or S309 on the main memory 109, activates the reception DMAC 104, and executes the transfer of the generated command to the image processing module. Is controlled (S310). Here, the CPU 107 determines whether or not there is a next command to be generated (S311). If the CPU 107 determines that there is a next command (Yes in S311), the process proceeds to S305 and S305 to S310 are performed. repeat.
On the other hand, if the CPU 107 determines in S311 that there is no next command (No in S311), the CPU 107 ends the command transmission process flow.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a control method of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. This example is an example of command reception processing of the reception DMAC 104 in the first embodiment. Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 4, the receiving DMAC 104 stores the image processing parameters based on the store instruction and the load instruction in the local memory 105 according to the image processing setting of each page, and further loads the image processing parameters from the local memory 105. The control 1 and the second control procedure will be described.

First, the receiving DMAC 104 receives the command generated by the CPU 107 in S310 shown in FIG. 3 from the main memory 109 (S401). Subsequently, the receiving DMAC 104 determines whether or not a load instruction is added to the received command (S402). If the receiving DMAC 104 determines that a load instruction is added (Yes in S402), the receiving DMAC 104 reads a command from the local memory 105 and transfers the command to the registers A111 to C113 (S403). ). This is called loading a command from the local memory 105 to the registers A111 to C113.
On the other hand, when the receiving DMAC 104 determines that the load instruction is not added (No in S402), the process proceeds to S404.

Subsequently, the receiving DMAC 104 determines whether or not a store instruction is added to the received command (S404). If the reception DMAC 104 determines that a store instruction is added (Yes in S404), the reception DMAC 104 stores the command in the local memory 105 in parallel with the transfer of the command to the registers A111 to C113. (S405).
On the other hand, when the receiving DMAC 104 determines that a load instruction is not added in S404 (No in S404), the process proceeds to S406.

  In step S <b> 406, the reception DMAC 104 transfers the command to the image processing modules 101 to 103. Here, if the command is a command obtained by converting the image processing parameter into a command, the command is transferred to the registers 111 to 113 in the image processing modules 101 to 103.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the command is a command obtained by converting image data into a command, the reception DMAC 104 transfers the command to the image processing modules 101 to 103 as image processing target image data.

Next, the receiving DMAC 104 determines whether there is a next command to be transferred (S407). If the receiving DMAC 104 determines that there is a next command (Yes in S407), the process proceeds to S401. S401 to S406 are repeated.
On the other hand, if the receiving DMAC 104 determines that there is no next command in S407 (No in S407), the process proceeds to S408.
In step S408, the receiving DMAC 104 determines whether the command loading from the local memory 105 to the registers 111 to 113 executed in step S403 is completed.
If the receiving DMAC 104 determines that the loading has not been completed (No in S408), the receiving DMAC 104 waits until the loading is completed.

  On the other hand, when the receiving DMAC 104 determines that the loading is completed (Yes in S408), the receiving DMAC 104 transmits a command notifying that the loading is completed to the CPU 107, and the processing flow of command reception is as follows. finish.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to improve the system performance of the entire job by backing up and reusing only the necessary image processing parameters set in the register. .

  As a specific example, an LUT that logarithmically converts input RGB data to CMY data for a single job composed of a plurality of pages, and outputs a plurality of discontinuous plurals having different settings on odd / even pages. Common settings on the page can be backed up and reused.

  In other words, if there is a common setting for the character part and yellow (Y) in the monochrome mode on the first and third pages, the settings stored in the first page for backup are referred to on the third page, and the decipherability decreases. It is possible to reuse dedicated image processing parameters that are optimized to prevent this. This eliminates the need to transfer the same setting as the first page again on the third page, thereby improving the system performance as a whole job.

  As another specific example, for a single job composed of a plurality of pages, a character / photo setting is backed up even when text / photo pages are mixed in DMP with CMY → CMYK conversion. And can be reused. That is, in the character part in the color mode, when C = M = Y = x, an image processing parameter converted to C = M = Y = 0 and K = z is used, and this can be backed up and reused. .

On the other hand, in the photographic part in the color mode, when C = M = Y = x, an image processing parameter is used for conversion while maintaining the value of C = M = Y without converting it to the value of K. This can be backed up and reused. This eliminates the need to transfer the text / photo settings as commands on the pages that appear for the second time or later when the text / photo settings are switched for each page in a single job. As a system performance can be improved.
[Second Embodiment]

Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the second embodiment, an initial setting used at power-on or sleep return is designated as a backup target for performing the store instruction and the load instruction described in the first embodiment.
Specifically, the CPU 107 analyzes a job consisting of a plurality of pages and determines whether there is an initial setting to be used when the system is started or when returning from sleep. When the CPU 107 determines that there is an image processing parameter to be used when the system is activated, the CPU 107 designates the image processing parameter as a target to be stored in the memory. Similarly, when the CPU 107 determines that there is an image processing parameter to be used when returning from sleep, the CPU 107 designates the image processing parameter as a target to be loaded into the memory. Hereinafter, description will be given with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a control method of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. This example is an example of command transmission processing of the CPU 107 in the second embodiment. Each step is realized by the CPU 107 executing a control program stored in the main memory 109. The procedure for generating a command to which the store instruction and the load instruction are added according to the image processing setting of each page will be described below with reference to FIG.

  First, the CPU 107 refers to the image processing setting of each page in a job composed of a plurality of pages (S501). Here, if there is an initial setting at the time of power-on that should be a backup target to be used even when returning from sleep (Yes in S502), the initial setting is designated as a store target (S503). Furthermore, the initial setting at the return from sleep is designated as a load target (S504). On the other hand, if there is no initial setting at the time of turning on the power to be backed up (No in S502), the process proceeds to S505.

  Note that steps S505 to S511 in FIG. 5 are exactly the same as the steps S305 to S311 in FIG. The command reception process of the reception DMAC 104 is the same as that in FIG.

  In the second embodiment, the reception DMAC 104 stores the image processing parameters based on the store instruction and the load instruction in the local memory 105 according to the initial setting when the power is turned on, and further loads from the local memory 105.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, when returning from sleep for a while after the power is turned on, only necessary image processing parameters set in the register are backed up and reused. , The return time from the sleep state can be shortened.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment to which the present invention described in detail can be applied, even when data handled by an application is different, it is possible to perform migration accompanied by deletion of unnecessary data by a data definition file at the time of installation.

Each process of the present invention can also be realized by executing software (program) acquired via a network or various storage media by a processing device (CPU, processor) such as a personal computer (computer).
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications (including organic combinations of the embodiments) are possible based on the spirit of the present invention, and these are excluded from the scope of the present invention. is not.
In this embodiment, the image processing apparatus has been described as an example. However, the present invention can be applied when an information processing apparatus that performs image processing has a configuration in which pipeline processing is performed by a plurality of image processing modules. It is.

100 Image Processing Devices 101 to 103 Image Processing Module 104 Reception DMAC
105 Local memory 107 CPU
109 Main memory

Claims (7)

An image processing apparatus to which image processing means for performing image processing on image data based on image processing parameters set in a register is connected,
Instruction means for performing an instruction to store image processing parameters corresponding to image processing settings in a memory and an instruction to load image processing parameters stored in the memory into a register of the image processing means;
According to the store instruction by the instruction unit, the image processing parameter is set in the register of the image processing unit, and the process of storing the image processing parameter in the memory is controlled, and according to the load instruction by the instruction unit, Control means for controlling processing for setting the image processing parameters stored in the memory in a register of the image processing means;
An image processing apparatus comprising:   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a detection unit configured to detect an image processing setting common to a plurality of pages.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the instruction unit instructs to store an image processing parameter on a first page of the plurality of pages.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the instruction unit issues an instruction to load an image processing parameter on a subsequent page of the plurality of pages.   5. The instruction unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an instruction to store an image processing parameter used at system startup in a memory is issued, and an instruction to load the image processing parameter into the memory is performed at a return from sleep. The image processing apparatus according to item 1. A control method of an image processing apparatus to which image processing means for performing image processing on image data based on an image processing parameter set in a register is connected,
An instruction step for performing an instruction to store an image processing parameter corresponding to an image processing setting in a memory and an instruction to load the image processing parameter stored in the memory into a register of an image processing unit;
In accordance with a store instruction, a first control step for setting the image processing parameter in a register of the image processing means and controlling the processing for storing the image processing parameter in the memory;
A second control step for controlling a process of setting the image processing parameter stored in the memory in a register of the image processing means in accordance with a load instruction;
An image processing apparatus control method comprising:   A program causing a computer to execute the control method of the image processing apparatus according to claim 6.

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