JP2015204574A - Image processing apparatus, image processing method and image processing program in the same apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing apparatus in which the configuration of the image data stored in nonvolatile storage means can be made identical, even if the input processing system is different when performing the input processing of image data in units of page, by using a main memory and a sub-memory.SOLUTION: When transferring the image data of one page stored in a main memory means 107 to nonvolatile storage means 12 in the first input processing, control means 10 transfers the image data in transfer unit of a predetermined size to the nonvolatile storage means, transfers only the last image data while adding dummy data up to the transfer unit. In the second input processing, transfer to the nonvolatile storage means is not performed until a partial image data of one page of image data stored temporarily in the main memory means reaches the transfer unit, transfer is performed every time when reaching the transfer unit, and only the last image data is transferred while adding dummy data until reaching the transfer unit.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus such as an MFP (Multi Function Peripherals) which is a multifunction digital image forming apparatus, an image processing method and an image processing program in the apparatus.

  For example, when inputting image data from a device that cannot be stopped halfway when image input is started, such as a high-speed scanner device provided in an image processing device, input of image data for one page is guaranteed. Therefore, it is necessary to provide an area for holding one page of raw data (raw data) or compressed encoded data.

  Memory installed in the image processing device can be accessed only by the CPU, and can be accessed only by DMA (Direct Memory Access) transfer. There is a sub memory in which only the necessary amount is mounted, and further, a non-volatile storage means is required as an auxiliary storage device including a hard disk device or the like for holding a large amount of encoded data.

  In terms of cost, the main memory is configured to be expandable as necessary, so that it is more expensive than the sub memory. Further, in order to secure a bandwidth necessary for image transfer, the main memory and the sub memory need to be arranged to be accessible on different channels.

  When the input of image data for one page is guaranteed in the main memory, an image can be input at high speed using an automatic document feeder attached to the scanner device. Depending on the configuration of the automatic document feeder, the number of pages guaranteed to be input varies in order to realize the maximum input speed, but generally the input speed can be improved by using many memories.

  For example, some image processing apparatuses including a dual-scan automatic document feeder are configured so that image data for four pages can be simultaneously stored in a main memory for an A3 size document. In many cases, an image processing apparatus provided with a normal automatic document feeder is configured so that image data for two pages can be simultaneously stored in the main memory.

  Since a memory area for storing images can be secured one after another in the main memory, the automatic document feeder can read a document at high speed.

  On the other hand, in order to provide a low-speed and inexpensive image processing apparatus, it is necessary to reduce the size of the expensive main memory. For this reason, storing one page of image data for an A3 size document in the main memory minimizes the size of the main memory. If one page of the original image data input from the scanner device is held in the main memory, the image data of the next original can be input only after the image data is saved in the nonvolatile storage means. Further, during the input of the image data, the image data for output cannot be read out from the auxiliary storage device, and the performance is significantly reduced.

  For this reason, a buffer for each page is provided in a cheaper sub-memory, and the data encoded in units of bands is saved to the auxiliary storage device one after another. To be able to start. Further, since the memory area of the main memory is not greatly used when image data is input, the image data can be output even during the input of the image data, and the efficiency is improved.

  As described above, an inexpensive image processing apparatus and an image processing apparatus that is sufficiently equipped with a main memory and can cope with high-speed image input have image data input methods suitable for the main memory and sub memory. The size of the memory area to be secured in the memory is also different.

  For this reason, at the manufacturing stage of the image processing apparatus, a sub memory and a main memory having a memory size capable of securing a necessary memory area are mounted according to the characteristics of the image processing apparatus. At the time of inputting image data from the scanner device, the control means of the image processing device secures memory areas for the sub-memory and the main memory, respectively, and performs image data input processing. Conventionally, such control means Are individually configured for each image processing apparatus so as to perform the intended image data input process.

  However, as described above, if the control means of the image processing apparatus is individually configured for each image processing apparatus so as to perform the input processing of the intended image data, the control means can be shared. There is a problem that it cannot be performed and causes an increase in cost.

  Therefore, the present applicant causes image data input processing to be performed even if the input processing method when performing image data input processing in units of pages using the main memory and the sub memory is different for each image processing apparatus. An image processing apparatus capable of sharing control means has been proposed (Patent Document 1).

  Specifically, a part of the image data for one page input by the image input means is stored in the sub memory, and a memory area for storing the maximum amount of image data for one page is secured in the main memory. Then, the image data stored in the sub-memory and encoded by the encoding unit is stored, and before the image data stored in the main memory is stored in the non-volatile storage unit, the next page is stored in the main memory. A first input process for securing a memory area capable of storing a maximum amount of image data, and a memory area capable of storing a maximum amount of image data for each page input by the image input means in the sub memory. The main memory temporarily stores image data obtained by encoding a part of the image data stored in the sub memory, and stores the temporarily stored image data in a nonvolatile manner. A second input processing for deleting after storing the stage, is that executes switching in accordance with the memory size of the main memory and sub-memory.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, when a temporarily stored image is divided into a plurality of blocks and compressed, the data size is accumulated in order from the first packet of the compressed block, and a packet immediately before a predetermined size is exceeded. A technique is disclosed in which a plurality of blocks are accumulated by determining, adjusting to a predetermined size, and outputting data from the first packet to the immediately previous adjusted packet as compressed data of the block to the hard disk device. ing.

Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-4673 JP 2006-174170 A

  However, the common consideration for the control means is to store the image data in the nonvolatile storage means, and the reading of the image data from the nonvolatile storage means is the same as the first input process described above. It was necessary to determine in which input process of the second input process it was saved, and to prepare a read control means according to the input process.

  Specifically, in the first input process, since a memory area for one page is secured in the main memory, a transfer unit of a predetermined size (for example, 1 MB) is transferred to the nonvolatile storage unit from there. When only the last image data for one page has a size less than the transfer unit, dummy data is added.

  On the other hand, in the second input process, a part of the image data for one page is sent in band units from the sub memory to the main memory, and therefore, transfer from the main memory to the nonvolatile storage means is also performed in band units. Therefore, when this band-unit image data is less than the transfer unit, dummy data is added and transferred each time. For this reason, dummy data unrelated to the image data is mixed in the middle of the image data for one page.

  As described above, conventionally, the first input process and the second input process have different configurations of image data for one page stored in the non-volatile storage unit, and thus separate read processes are required. It was a factor that hindered the common use of control means.

  Note that the technique described in Patent Document 2 described above does not disclose the sharing of control means for image data input processing using a sub memory and a main memory, and is a solution to the above problems. Could not provide.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem, and even if the input processing method for performing image data input processing in units of pages using the main memory and the sub memory is different, the nonvolatile memory is used. An image processing apparatus and an image processing method are provided, in which the configuration of the image data stored in the sexual storage means is the same, and the control means for reading the image data from the nonvolatile storage means can be shared. An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing program.

The above problem is solved by the following means.
(1) Image input means for inputting image data in units of pages, sub memory means for storing image data input by the image input means, and code for encoding the image data stored in the sub memory means Encoding means, main memory means for storing the image data encoded by the encoding means, nonvolatile storage means for storing the encoded image data stored in the main memory means, and the image input A part of image data for one page input by the means is stored in the sub memory means, and a memory area capable of storing image data for one page is secured in the main memory means, and the sub memory Means for storing one page of image data encoded by the encoding means, and storing the stored one page of image data in the nonvolatile memory A first input process for transferring the data to the storage means and storing the memory area in the main memory means for storing image data for the next page; and the sub-memory means by the image input means. A memory area capable of storing input page-by-page image data is secured, and the main memory means temporarily stores image data obtained by encoding a part of the image data stored in the sub-memory means. Control means for switching and executing the second input processing for transferring and storing the temporarily stored image data to the nonvolatile storage means, and the control means comprises the first In the input processing, when transferring one page of image data stored in the main memory means to the nonvolatile storage means, a transfer unit of a predetermined size set in advance is not used. Transfer to the non-volatile storage means, and transfer dummy data to the transfer unit only for the last image data for one page, and in the second input process, The transfer to the non-volatile storage means is not performed until a part of the image data of one page temporarily stored in the memory means reaches the transfer unit of the predetermined size, and is transferred every time the transfer unit is reached. The image processing apparatus is characterized in that dummy data is added and transferred only to the last image data for one page until the transfer unit is reached.
(2) The image processing apparatus according to (1), wherein the control unit determines that the image data is the last image data for one page from the size of the image data for one page and the transfer unit of the predetermined size.
(3) An image input step of inputting image data in units of pages, a step of storing image data input by the image input step in sub memory means, and encoding the image data stored in the sub memory means An encoding step, a step of storing the image data encoded by the encoding step in a main memory unit, and a storage of the encoded image data stored in the main memory unit in a nonvolatile storage unit And a part of image data for one page input in the image input step is stored in the sub-memory means, and a memory area capable of storing image data for one page is secured in the main memory means Then, the image data for one page stored in the sub-memory means and encoded by the encoding step is stored. First, the stored image data for one page is transferred to the non-volatile storage means and stored, and the main memory means further secures a memory area capable of storing the next page of image data. And a memory area capable of storing image data in units of pages input by the image input unit is secured in the sub memory unit, and the image stored in the sub memory unit is stored in the main memory unit. A second input process for temporarily storing image data obtained by encoding a part of the data and transferring the temporarily stored image data to the non-volatile storage means for switching is executed. A control step, wherein in the first input process, one page of image data stored in the main memory means is stored in the nonvolatile memory in the first input process. When transferring to the storage means, transfer to the non-volatile storage means is performed in units of a predetermined size set in advance, and dummy data up to the transfer unit only for the last image data of one page In the second input process, the non-volatile memory is used until part of the image data of one page temporarily stored in the main memory reaches the transfer unit of the predetermined size. The transfer is performed every time the transfer unit is reached without transferring to the storage means, and only the last image data for one page is transferred with dummy data added until the transfer unit is reached. An image processing method in the image processing apparatus.
(4) An image input step for inputting image data in units of pages, a step for storing image data input by the image input step in a sub memory means, and an encoding of the image data stored in the sub memory means An encoding step, a step of storing the image data encoded by the encoding step in a main memory unit, and a storage of the encoded image data stored in the main memory unit in a nonvolatile storage unit And a part of image data for one page input in the image input step is stored in the sub-memory means, and a memory area capable of storing image data for one page is secured in the main memory means Then, the image data for one page stored in the sub-memory means and encoded by the encoding step is stored. First, the stored image data for one page is transferred to the non-volatile storage means and stored, and the main memory means further secures a memory area capable of storing the next page of image data. And a memory area capable of storing image data in units of pages input by the image input unit is secured in the sub memory unit, and the image stored in the sub memory unit is stored in the main memory unit. A second input process for temporarily storing image data obtained by encoding a part of the data and transferring the temporarily stored image data to the non-volatile storage means for switching is executed. And the control step is executed by a computer of the image processing apparatus. In the control step, the first input process stores the 1 stored in the main memory means. When transferring image data for a page to the non-volatile storage means, transfer is performed to the non-volatile storage means in units of a predetermined size set in advance, and the last image data for one page is further transferred. Only for the transfer unit, dummy data is added and transferred, and in the second input process, a part of image data of one page temporarily stored in the main memory is transferred to the predetermined unit. The transfer to the non-volatile storage means is not performed until the transfer unit of the size is reached, the transfer is performed every time the transfer unit is reached, and only the last image data for one page is a dummy until the transfer unit is reached. An image processing program for causing a computer to execute a process of adding and transferring data.

  According to the invention described in (1) above, a part of the image data for one page input by the image input means is stored in the sub memory means, and the image data for one page is stored in the main memory means. A possible memory area is secured, the image data for one page stored in the sub memory means and encoded by the encoding means is stored, and the stored image data for one page is transferred to the nonvolatile storage means. In the first input processing for securing a memory area capable of storing image data for the next page in the main memory means, the image data for one page stored in the main memory means is stored in the first memory. When transferring to the non-volatile storage means, transfer is performed to the non-volatile storage means in units of a predetermined size set in advance, and the last image data for one page is further transferred. Only transfers by adding dummy data to said transfer unit of the hand. On the other hand, a memory area capable of storing image data for each page input by the image input means is secured in the sub memory means, and a part of the image data stored in the sub memory means is encoded in the main memory means. In the second input process in which the stored image data is temporarily stored and the temporarily stored image data is transferred to and stored in the non-volatile storage means, one page temporarily stored in the main memory means The transfer to the non-volatile storage means is not performed until a part of the image data reaches the transfer unit of the predetermined size, and the transfer is performed every time the transfer unit is reached, and the last image data for one page is obtained. On the other hand, dummy data is added and transferred until the transfer unit is reached.

  Accordingly, in the second input process, the image data for one page stored in the nonvolatile storage means is in a state in which dummy data is added only to the last portion of one page. Are the same as the image data stored in the nonvolatile storage means. For this reason, in order to read the image data stored in the non-volatile storage means, the same read control may be performed, and the control means can be shared.

  According to the invention described in item (2) above, it is possible to determine that the image data is the last image data for one page from the size of the image data for one page and the transfer unit of the predetermined size.

  According to the invention described in item (3) above, in the second input process, the image data for one page stored in the nonvolatile storage means has dummy data added only to the last part of one page. Since it has the same configuration as the image data stored in the nonvolatile storage means in the first input process, it is stored in the nonvolatile storage means in the first input process and the second input process. In order to read out the image data, the same readout control may be performed, and the control means can be shared.

  According to the invention described in (4) above, in the first input process and the second input process, the process of reading the image data stored in the nonvolatile storage means by the same read control is performed. Can be executed.

1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of an image processing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a control part. It is a figure for demonstrating the preservation | save process to the non-volatile memory of the image data memorize | stored in the main memory means. It is a figure for demonstrating the preservation | save process to the non-volatile memory of the image data memorize | stored in the main memory means in this embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of an image processing apparatus. Similarly, it is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image processing apparatus.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of an image processing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the above-described MFP, which is a multifunction digital image forming apparatus having a copy function, a printer function, a scan function, and the like, is used as the image processing apparatus.

  The image processing apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10, a scanner unit 11, a nonvolatile storage unit 12, a printer unit 13, an operation panel 14, a network controller (N1C) 15, and the like.

  The controller 10 controls the entire image forming apparatus 1 and controls basic functions such as a copy function, a printer function, a scan function, and a facsimile function. Further, input processing as will be described later is executed on the image data in units of pages of the document read by the scanner unit 11.

  The scanner unit 11 reads an image of a document placed on a document table (not shown) or a document continuously conveyed by an automatic document feeder (not shown) called ADF, and converts it into image data. This is one of the image input means.

  The non-volatile storage unit 12 is configured by a non-volatile storage device such as a hard disk device (HDD), for example, image data of a document read by the scanner unit 11 and input processed by the control unit 10, or other images. Data transmitted from the forming apparatus or the user terminal, various applications, and the like are stored. Since the nonvolatile storage unit 12 is a nonvolatile storage device, the stored image data is not erased even when the image processing apparatus 1 is turned off.

  The printer unit 13 prints image data of a document read by the scanner unit 11, print data from a user terminal, and the like according to an instructed mode.

  The operation panel 14 is used for various input operations and the like, and includes a display unit including a touch panel type liquid crystal display for displaying a message, an operation screen, and the like, and a key provided with a numeric keypad, a start key, a stop key, and the like. An input unit is provided.

  The network controller 15 transmits and receives data by controlling communication with other image forming apparatuses on the network and other external devices such as user terminals.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit 10.

  The control unit 10 includes a CPU 101, a ROM 102, an input interface unit (denoted as an input IF) 103, an output interface unit (denoted as an output IF) 104, a sub memory 105, and a compression / decompression unit 106. And a main memory 107 and the like.

  The CPU 101 performs overall control of the entire image processing apparatus 1 by operating according to an operation program recorded in the ROM 102 or the like. In particular, in this embodiment, input processing control of image data of a document read by the scanner unit 11, that is, control relating to securing of a memory area in the main memory 107 and sub memory 105, writing and reading of image data, and image data in the storage unit 12. Control of data writing and reading, control of erasing image data, control of compression (encoding) operation and expansion (decoding) operation of the compression / decompression unit 106, and the like are performed.

  The ROM 102 is a memory that stores an operation program of the CPU 101 and the like.

  The input interface unit 103 receives the image data sent from the scanner unit 11 or the like and sends it to the sub memory 105, and the output interface unit 104 receives the image data stored in the storage unit 12 such as an HDD. The data is sent out of the control unit 10.

  The sub memory 105 temporarily stores image data input from the outside of the control unit 10 and image data output to the outside, and functions as a buffer memory. The sub memory 105 can be accessed only by DMA (Direct Memory Access) transfer, and only a necessary amount in the apparatus configuration is mounted.

  The compression / decompression unit 106 compresses input image data in a predetermined format, and decompresses the compressed image data read from the storage unit 12.

  The main memory 107 temporarily stores the image data compressed by the compression / decompression unit 106 and the compressed image data read from the storage unit 12. The main memory 107 can be freely accessed from the CPU 101, and can be expanded as necessary. In this embodiment, one second main memory 107b can be added to the first main memory 107a having the basic configuration, but two or more second main memories 107b may be added. . As described above, the main memory 107 is configured to be expandable, and thus is generally more expensive than the sub memory 105.

In this embodiment, the main memory 107 and the sub memory 105 having a memory size corresponding to the system speed, which is the processing speed of the image processing apparatus 1, are preinstalled because of the cost of the image processing apparatus 1. Input method 1 and input method 2 are set as image data input processing methods according to the memory sizes of the mounted main memory 107 and sub memory 105.
[Description of Input Method 1]
The sub memory 105 functions as a band buffer and is used as a ring memory, and image data input via the input interface unit 103 is stored in a memory area for each part of one page in a memory unit, and then compressed / decompressed. The data is sent to the unit 106. That is, in the sub memory 105, a memory area 105c having a size capable of storing a part of one page of image data is secured.

  On the other hand, the main memory 107 has a memory area that can store image data for one page corresponding to the set image processing mode, and is compressed by the compression / decompression unit 106 into the reserved memory area. Stored image data is stored. Further, the main memory 107 has a memory area capable of storing image data for at least one next page. That is, the main memory 107 is used as a page file memory capable of storing a total of two or more pages of image data, and a memory area (about 10 to 50 MB) for n (n is 2 or more) pages is secured. .

  Since a memory area capable of storing image data for two pages or more is secured in the main memory 107, the securing of the memory area does not compete between the input of the image data by reading the document and the output of the image data. Reading and printing can be performed simultaneously.

Further, when a memory area capable of storing a total of four pages or more of image data is secured in the main memory 107, processing equivalent to that of an image processing apparatus equipped with the main memory 107 having a large memory size can be performed. There is no performance degradation when executing multi-jobs that run in parallel.
[Description of input method 2]
The sub memory 105 functions as a one-page buffer, and a memory area (for example, about 100 MB) that can store image data of the maximum capacity for one page input via the input interface unit 103 is secured.

  On the other hand, the main memory 107 is used as a one-page file memory, and is used as a ring memory when inputting image data, and a memory area 107a of about 10 MB capable of storing several bands for input is secured. Further, a memory area (about 90 MB) capable of storing image data of the maximum capacity for one page is secured for output. The CPU 101 sequentially compresses a part of the image data stored in the sub memory 105 by the compression / decompression unit 106, and then temporarily stores it in the main memory 107 in units of bands, and further stores the temporarily stored image data. Is saved in the nonvolatile storage unit 12 and then erased from the main memory 107. The image data stored in the non-volatile storage unit 12 is read page by page into the memory area 107b of the main memory 107 at the time of printing or the like, decompressed by the decompression unit 106b of the compression / decompression unit 106, and then sub-memory The data is output via the output memory area 105.

  In this embodiment, the image data for one page of the A3 size document is set to the maximum capacity image data for one page.

  In the case of this input method 2, the main memory 107 has only a memory area capable of storing a maximum capacity of image data for about one page. However, since the sub memory 105 is a one-page buffer, image data obtained by reading a document is used. Therefore, there is no conflict in securing the memory area between the input and the output of the image data, and the reading and printing of the document can be performed simultaneously, and the minimum operation speed can be guaranteed. However, as described above, it is essential to save the temporarily stored image data in the nonvolatile storage unit 12.

  The image processing apparatus 1 determines the memory size of the main memory 107 and the sub memory 105 at the time of startup, sets either the input method 1 or the input method 2, and according to the input method set when inputting image data. Process. For this reason, even if the memory sizes of the main memory 107 and the sub memory 105 are different for each model, the image input method for the memory memory 107 and the sub memory 105 is selected, and the image data input process is selected according to the selected image input method. Therefore, it is possible to configure the common control unit 100 that can be applied to both an inexpensive image processing apparatus and an image processing apparatus equipped with a main memory having a sufficient memory size. Can provide common programs that are possible.

  Next, saving (saving) processing of image data stored in the main memory 107 to the nonvolatile memory 12 will be described.

  FIG. 3 shows a conventional storage process.

  In the case of the input method 1, as shown in FIG. 3A, in order to secure image data for one page in the main memory 107, the sub memory 105 outputs the image data input from the scanner unit 11 in band units. The image data output from the sub memory 105 is compressed by the compression / decompression unit 106 and input to the main memory 107. One page of data stored in the main memory 107 is transferred and stored in the nonvolatile storage unit 12 via the HDD buffer 121 for each transfer unit of a predetermined size (1 MB in this example) set in advance. Note that the HDD buffer 121 is not necessarily provided.

  If the image data size is less than the transfer unit when the last image data for one page is transferred for each transfer unit of a predetermined size, dummy data 200 is added up to the transfer unit. The image data is transferred as the size of the transfer unit. For this reason, the image data 300 for one page stored in the nonvolatile storage unit 12 is in a state in which the dummy data 200 is added to the end of the image data.

  On the other hand, the case of the input method 2 is shown in FIG. In this example, for easy understanding, the image data for one page stored in the sub memory 105 is divided into band units.

  In the input method 2, after the image data for one band stored in the main memory 107 is transferred to the HDD buffer 121, the processing (compression) of the next band is started. Also in this case, the image data is transferred to the HDD buffer 121 in a transfer unit of a predetermined size (1 MB in this example). However, if the image data for one band is less than the transfer unit, the transfer unit for each band is transferred. The dummy data 201 to 206 have been added and transferred.

  As a result, one page of image data 301 stored in the nonvolatile storage unit 12 is in a state where dummy data 201 to 206 exist in the middle or at the end of the image data, and in the case of the input method 1, the nonvolatile storage unit 12. The configuration of the image data stored in is completely different. For this reason, a different control method is required for the reading process of the image data stored in the non-volatile storage unit 12, and the control circuit and the operation program cannot be shared among the models. In addition, since the size of the image data for one page to be stored is larger than that in the case of the input method 1, there is a problem that the performance is deteriorated due to an increase in the occupied time of the band and the capacity of the nonvolatile storage unit 12 is compressed. .

  Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, when the compression of one band of image data is completed and stored in the main memory 107 for the input method 2, the size is less than the size of the transfer unit. Waits for completion of compression of the next band without transferring, and performs transfer to the HDD buffer 121 when the sum of the image data of the next band reaches the transfer unit. This is repeated, and only the last band of image data is transferred with dummy data added until the transfer unit is satisfied. The last image data for one page may be determined from the size of the image data for one page and the transfer unit of the predetermined size. The size of the image data for one page may be obtained from the size of the read image data for one page notified from the scanner unit 11 and the compression rate by the compression / decompression unit 106. In the case of the input method 1, the method shown in FIG.

  As a result, the image data 302 for one page stored in the nonvolatile storage unit 121 by the input method 2 is in a state in which dummy data 207 is added to the end of the image data. 12 has the same configuration as the image data 300 stored in the image data 300. For this reason, the same control circuit and program can be used in the input methods 1 and 2 for reading the image data stored in the nonvolatile storage unit 12, and these can be shared.

  5 and 6 are flowcharts for explaining the operation of the image processing apparatus 1. This operation is executed by the CPU 101 of the image processing apparatus 1 operating according to an operation program stored in a recording medium such as the ROM 102.

  In FIG. 5, after the image processing apparatus 1 is started in step S01, the memory sizes of the sub memory 105 and the main memory 107 are determined in step S02, and the input method 1 is set in step S03 based on the determination result. Judge whether or not.

  In the case of the input method 1 (YES in step S03), the input method 1 is set in step S04. In the case of the input method 2 (NO in step S03), the input method 2 is set in step S05.

  In FIG. 6, when reading of a document is started by the scanner unit 11 in step S11, the set input method is checked in step S12. In the case of the input method 1, the process proceeds to step S13. After a part of the input image data is transferred to the sub memory 105, it is compressed by the compression / decompression unit 106 in step S14 and transferred to the main memory 17 in step S15. .

  Next, in step S16, it is checked whether the image data for one page has been compressed and stored in the main memory 107. If not (NO in step S16), the process returns to step S13.

  If completed (YES in step S16), it is determined in step S17 whether the size of the image data is equal to or larger than a transfer unit (eg, 1 MB) of a predetermined size. If it is larger than the predetermined size (YES in step S17), the process proceeds to step S19. If it is not larger than the predetermined size (NO in step S17), dummy data is added until the predetermined size is reached in step S18, and then the process proceeds to step S19.

  In step S19, the image data of the predetermined size is transferred to the HDD buffer 121, and then transferred to the nonvolatile storage unit 12 in step S20.

  In step S21, it is determined whether there is remaining image data. If there is remaining image data (YES in step S21), the process returns to step S17. If there is no remaining image data (NO in step S21), the process is terminated. If there is a next page, the same processing is performed.

  In the case of the input method 2 in step S12, one page of input image data is continuously transferred to the sub memory 105 in step S31.

  In step S32, it is determined whether or not the target band-unit image data can be compressed. If it is not possible (NO in step S32), it waits until it becomes possible. If possible (YES in step S32), the target band is compressed by the compression / decompression unit 106 in step S33, and the compressed image data is transferred to the main memory 107 in step S34.

  Next, in step S35, it is determined whether or not the size of the image data transferred and stored in the main memory 107 has reached a predetermined size transfer unit (for example, 1 MB) (NO in step S35), step S36 is determined. To determine whether the image data is in the last band unit. If it is not the final band unit image data (NO in step S36), the process returns to step S32, and if the next band unit image data can be compressed, it is compressed.

  The next band unit image data is compressed and transferred to the main memory 107, the current band unit image data is added to the previous band unit image data, and the image data stored in the main memory 107 has a predetermined size. When the transfer unit is reached (YES in step S35), the process proceeds to step S38, and image data for a predetermined size is transferred to the HDD buffer 121, and then transferred to the nonvolatile storage unit 12 in step S39. If it is the image data of the last band unit in step S36, after adding dummy data until it reaches a predetermined size. In step S38, image data of a predetermined size with dummy data added is transferred to the HDD buffer 121, and then transferred to the nonvolatile storage unit 12 in step S39.

  In step S40, the presence / absence of remaining image data is checked. If there is remaining image data (YES in step S40), transfer of image data for one page has not been completed, and the process returns to step S32. If there is no remaining image data (NO in step S40), the transfer of the image data for one page is completed, and the process ends. If there is a next page, the same processing is performed.

  Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the input methods 1 and 2 are switched according to the memory size of the sub memory size 105 and the main memory size 107. However, the input methods 1 and 2 may be switched according to the contents of image processing such as copying. The present invention may be applied when input processing is executed by switching between 1 and 2.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image processing apparatus 10 Control part 11 Scanner part 12 Nonvolatile memory | storage part 13 Printer part 101 CPU
102 ROM
105 Sub memory 107 Main memory

Claims (4)

Image input means for inputting image data in units of pages;
Sub memory means for storing image data input by the image input means;
Encoding means for encoding the image data stored in the sub-memory means;
Main memory means for storing image data encoded by the encoding means;
Non-volatile storage means for storing the encoded image data stored in the main memory means;
A part of image data for one page input by the image input means is stored in the sub memory means, and a memory area capable of storing image data for one page is secured in the main memory means, One page of image data stored in the sub-memory means and encoded by the encoding means is stored, and the stored one page of image data is transferred to and stored in the nonvolatile storage means. First input processing for securing a memory area capable of storing image data for the next page in the main memory means, and image data for each page input by the image input means can be stored in the sub memory means A memory area is secured, and the main memory means temporarily stores image data obtained by encoding a part of the image data stored in the sub memory means. And a second input processing to store the temporarily stored image data is transferred to the nonvolatile storage means, and control means for executing switching,
With
In the first input process, the control unit transfers a page of image data stored in the main memory unit to the nonvolatile storage unit in units of transfer units having a predetermined size. Transfer to the non-volatile storage means, and transfer dummy data to the transfer unit only for the last image data for one page, and in the second input process, The transfer to the non-volatile storage means is not performed until a part of the image data of one page temporarily stored in the memory means reaches the transfer unit of the predetermined size, and is transferred every time the transfer unit is reached. The image processing apparatus is characterized in that dummy data is added and transferred only to the last image data for one page until the transfer unit is reached.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit determines that the image data is the last image data for one page from the size of the image data for one page and the transfer unit of the predetermined size. An image input step for inputting image data in units of pages;
Storing the image data input by the image input step in a sub-memory means;
An encoding step of encoding the image data stored in the sub-memory means;
Storing the image data encoded by the encoding step in a main memory means;
Storing the encoded image data stored in the main memory means in a non-volatile storage means;
A part of the image data for one page input by the image input step is stored in the sub memory means, and the main memory means secures a memory area capable of storing image data for one page, Storing image data for one page stored in the sub-memory means and encoded by the encoding step, transferring the stored image data for one page to the nonvolatile storage means, and further storing the image data First input processing for securing a memory area capable of storing image data for the next page in the main memory means, and image data for each page input by the image input means can be stored in the sub memory means A memory area is secured, and the main memory means temporarily stores image data obtained by encoding a part of the image data stored in the sub memory means. A control step of storing, a second input processing for and storing transferred to the non-volatile memory means the temporarily stored image data, and executes switching to,
With
In the control step, in the first input process, when transferring one page of image data stored in the main memory means to the non-volatile storage means, transfer units each having a predetermined size set in advance. Transfer to the non-volatile storage means, and transfer dummy data to the transfer unit only for the last image data for one page, and in the second input process, The transfer to the non-volatile storage means is not performed until a part of the image data of one page temporarily stored in the memory reaches the transfer unit of the predetermined size. The image processing in the image processing apparatus, wherein dummy data is added and transferred only to the last image data for one page until the transfer unit is reached Law. An image input step for inputting image data in units of pages;
Storing the image data input by the image input step in a sub-memory means;
An encoding step of encoding the image data stored in the sub-memory means;
Storing the image data encoded by the encoding step in a main memory means;
Storing the encoded image data stored in the main memory means in a non-volatile storage means;
A part of the image data for one page input by the image input step is stored in the sub memory means, and the main memory means secures a memory area capable of storing image data for one page, Storing image data for one page stored in the sub-memory means and encoded by the encoding step, transferring the stored image data for one page to the nonvolatile storage means, and further storing the image data First input processing for securing a memory area capable of storing image data for the next page in the main memory means, and image data for each page input by the image input means can be stored in the sub memory means A memory area is secured, and the main memory means temporarily stores image data obtained by encoding a part of the image data stored in the sub memory means. A control step of storing, a second input processing for and storing transferred to the non-volatile memory means the temporarily stored image data, and executes switching to,
Is executed by the computer of the image processing apparatus,
In the control step, in the first input process, when transferring one page of image data stored in the main memory means to the non-volatile storage means, transfer units each having a predetermined size set in advance. Transfer to the non-volatile storage means, and transfer dummy data to the transfer unit only for the last image data for one page, and in the second input process, The transfer to the non-volatile storage means is not performed until a part of the image data of one page temporarily stored in the memory reaches the transfer unit of the predetermined size. An image for causing the computer to execute a process of adding dummy data to only the last image data for one page until the transfer unit is reached. Processing program.

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