JP2017087514A - Image processing device, image processing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing device advantageously reducing the number of blocks into which data is divided.SOLUTION: An image processing device for processing an image on the basis of printing data written in a page description language, comprises: creation means for creating intermediate data from print data; first setting means for setting first division positions as positions corresponding to edges of an object, for respective bands in the intermediate data; second setting means for setting second division positions, for areas exceeding a range of block width capable of rendering, out of a plurality of areas divided at the first division positions; and division means for dividing the intermediate data into a plurality of blocks on the basis of the first positions and the second positions. The second setting means determines a plurality of candidates for the block width so that the candidates satisfy the range, and sets the second division positions in a manner that the wider the block width of a candidate is, the higher the priority given to the candidate is.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing device, an image processing method, and a program.

  2. Description of the Related Art An image processing apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral that spools a raster image obtained by rendering vector format data such as a page description language and performs printing by a printer engine is known. In an image processing apparatus, there is a method of printing an image at a high speed by dividing data into a plurality of blocks and performing subsequent image processing in parallel in units of blocks. In this method, it is necessary to temporarily store the data of each divided block in the work buffer. In Patent Document 1, the buffer size of the work buffer is reduced by dividing the vector format data before rasterization, which has a smaller data amount than the raster format data, into a plurality of blocks instead of the raster format data after rasterization. A method has been proposed. In the method described in Patent Document 1, data in vector format is divided into a plurality of blocks with a constant size.

JP 2009-269355 A

  In the image processing apparatus as described above, processing for storing and reading data in the work buffer (reading and writing to the work buffer) is performed for each divided block. Therefore, in order to print an image at a higher speed, it is preferable to reduce the number of blocks into which the vector format data is divided to reduce the time required for reading / writing to the work buffer.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an advantageous technique for reducing the number of blocks into which data is divided.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is an image processing apparatus that processes an image based on print data described in a page description language, wherein intermediate data is obtained from the print data. Generating means for generating, first setting means for setting a position corresponding to the edge of the object as a first divided position for each of the plurality of bands in the intermediate data, and a plurality of areas partitioned by the first divided position A second setting unit that sets a second division position for an area that exceeds the range of the renderable block width, and a plurality of the intermediate data based on the first division position and the second division position. Dividing means for dividing into blocks, and rendering means for rendering each of the plurality of blocks, wherein the second setting means comprises a block And determining the second division position so as to be applied preferentially from the determined plurality of candidates having a wider block width. To do.

  Further objects and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the preferred embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  According to the present invention, for example, it is possible to provide an advantageous technique for reducing the number of blocks into which data is divided.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration and an example of a hardware configuration in an image processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the software structural example in an image processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the flow of the image formation process in an image processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the flow of the rendering process in an image processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows a mode that the rendering process is performed with respect to the image for 1 page. It is a figure which shows the flow of the process which produces | generates arrangement | sequence information. It is a figure which shows scan line number information. It is a figure which shows the flow of the process which determines a block width. It is a figure which shows an example of the span data spooled after the block order conversion process. It is a figure which shows the information which added the information which counted the data size of the fill to the number information of scan lines.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, in each figure, the same reference number is attached | subjected about the same member thru | or element, and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

<First Embodiment>
An image processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration according to the first embodiment. In this system, a host computer 101 and an image processing apparatus 110 are connected via a LAN 102. The user generates PDL (Page Description Language) data indicating page information to be printed in the host computer 101 and transmits the data from the host computer 101 to the image processing apparatus 110 via the LAN 102. The image processing apparatus 110 in this embodiment may be an MFP (Multi Function Printer) or an SFP (Single Function Printer). Further, the image processing apparatus 110 may be a printer other than an MFP or SFP.

[Hardware configuration in image processing apparatus]
FIG. 1B is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example in the image processing apparatus 110 according to the first embodiment. The image processing apparatus 110 includes, for example, a printer unit 111 that is an image output device. In addition, the image processing apparatus 110 acquires PDL data (print data described in a page description language) from the host computer 101 via the LAN.

  The printer unit 111 is connected to the device I / F 232 and performs a process of outputting the image data generated by the CPU 220 to a sheet (paper). The CPU 220 is a central processing unit for controlling the entire image processing apparatus (each unit). The RAM 222 is a system work memory for the CPU 220 to operate. The RAM 222 temporarily stores acquired PDL data, intermediate data generated for image formation processing, a work area that is a work area for rendering processing, and input image data. It is also memory. The ROM 221 is a boot ROM, for example, and stores a system boot program. The storage unit 223 is, for example, a hard disk drive, and stores system software for various processes and acquired PDL data.

  The operation unit I / F 225 is an interface unit for the operation unit 113 having a display unit for displaying various menus, print data information, and the like, and outputs operation screen data to the operation unit 113. The operation unit I / F 225 transmits information input by the user via the operation unit 113 to the CPU 220. The network I / F is an interface for exchanging information with an external device (for example, the host computer 101) via the LAN. The CPU 220, ROM 221, RAM 222, storage unit 223, operation unit I / F 225, and network I / F are connected to a system bus 227.

  The image bus I / F 228 is an interface for connecting the system bus 227 and the image bus 230 that transfers image data at high speed, and is a bus bridge that converts a data structure. An RIP (raster image processor) 231 and a device I / F 232 are connected to the image bus 230. The RIP 231 analyzes a PDL data code and intermediate data (display list) based on an instruction from the CPU 220 and develops an image. The device I / F 232 is an interface for transmitting data to the printer unit 111.

[Software configuration in image processing apparatus]
Next, a software configuration in the image processing apparatus 110 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a software configuration example in the image processing apparatus 110 according to the first embodiment. Each of the software modules shown in FIG. 2 can be realized, for example, by the CPU 220 expanding and executing a program stored in the ROM 221 or the storage unit 223 on the RAM 222.

  The PDL data processing unit 201 performs processing for acquiring page information and object information included in the page information from the PDL data, and supplies the acquired information to the intermediate data generation unit 202. The intermediate data generation unit 202 generates intermediate data to be used for image formation based on the page information and object information acquired by the PDL data processing unit. In addition, the image forming unit 203 causes the block order conversion unit 205 to convert the data in the block order based on the block width calculated by the block width calculation unit 206 in order to generate a bitmap image in the block order. The image forming unit 203 stores vector data (span data) used by the image forming unit 203 in the block order conversion memory 210. The block image compression / decompression unit 204 compresses the block-unit bitmap image generated by the image forming unit 203. The block order conversion unit 205 converts the vector data stored in the block order conversion memory 210 into vector data in the block order (divides it into a plurality of blocks), and supplies it to the image forming unit 203. The image forming unit 203 generates a bitmap image based on the block order vector data converted by the block order conversion unit 205, thereby generating a block order bitmap image. The block width calculation unit 206 determines the block width used by the block order conversion unit 205 based on the vector data stored in the block order conversion memory.

[Definition of terms in this embodiment]
Here, definitions of terms used in the present embodiment will be described.
The edge indicates a boundary between objects drawn on the page or a boundary between the object and the background. That is, the outline of the object.
A span indicates a closed area surrounded by edges in a single scan line.
Level refers to the vertical relationship between objects drawn on the page. Each object is assigned a different level number.
・ Fill indicates fill information (color data) for the span, and the color value is the same within the span, such as fill with different color values for each pixel such as bitmap data and shading, and solid fill. There is Phil. That is, a span has levels corresponding to the number of objects corresponding to the span, and there are different fills from each other by the number of levels.
A scan line is a line in the main scanning direction in which image data is continuously scanned in memory in the image forming process, and the height of the scan line is, for example, one pixel. A group of a plurality of scan lines is called a “band”.

  Further, a fallback process to be described later will be described. For example, when generating intermediate data from PDL data, if the data size of the acquired PDL data is too large, the memory capacity may be insufficient to store all the intermediate data. In order to prevent such shortage of memory capacity, fallback processing is performed.

  In the fallback processing, first, the CPU 220 creates intermediate data corresponding to some of the plurality of objects included in the PDL data, stores the intermediate data in the memory, and generates a bitmap image for the intermediate data. Next, the CPU 220 deletes the intermediate data used when generating the bitmap image from the memory. Further, the CPU 220 performs compression processing such as JPEG compression on the generated bitmap image by the block image compression / decompression unit 204 to reduce the data size.

  The CPU 220 generates intermediate data including the compressed bitmap image as a background image from the remaining objects included in the PDL data, and stores the generated intermediate data in the memory. Then, the CPU 220 generates a new bitmap image from the intermediate data including the compressed bitmap image stored in the memory as a background image.

  Whether or not to perform such fallback processing is determined by whether or not the total amount of intermediate data stored in the memory exceeds a predetermined threshold. That is, in the present embodiment, the fallback process can be executed when the total size of the intermediate data stored in the memory exceeds a predetermined threshold when generating the intermediate data from the PDL data. Since the fallback process is executed in response to a shortage of memory capacity for storing intermediate data, it can be executed a plurality of times even when a bitmap image is generated from one page of PDL data. At this time, the block image compressing / decompressing unit 204 receives and compresses the block unit bitmap image generated by the image forming unit 203, and decompresses the block unit image compressed by the fallback processing to generate an image forming unit. It will be handed over to 203.

[Image formation processing]
Next, image forming processing in the image processing apparatus 110 of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a flow of image forming processing in the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment. Note that the processing described below is realized by the CPU 220 reading a control program stored in advance in the ROM 221 or the storage unit 223 into the RAM 222 and executing it. In addition, each step in the following flow can be controlled by the CPU 220.

  In S301, the CPU 220 stores the PDL data transmitted from the host computer 101 in the storage unit 223, and analyzes the transmitted PDL data. In step S302, the CPU 220 generates intermediate data necessary for generating a bitmap image based on the analyzed PDL data information. A known technique can be used to generate the intermediate data in S302. In S303, the CPU 220 performs a rendering process with a block order conversion process, which will be described later, based on the generated intermediate data, and generates a bitmap image representing a page image. The generated bitmap image is block image data in which page images are arranged in block order, and this block image data can be subjected to image processing in units of blocks.

[About rendering]
Next, details of the step S303 in FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a rendering process flow in the image processing apparatus 110 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state in which rendering processing is performed on an image for one page having a width of 384 [pixel] and a height of 512 [pixel]. In FIG. 5, it is assumed that data (PDL data 500) including three types of objects 501 to 503 in the drawing area is transmitted from the host computer 101. In this case, the intermediate data 510 generated in S302 based on the PDL data 500 is handled in the rendering process in S303. The intermediate data 510 includes information on the edges of the objects 501 to 503 included in the drawing area of the data 500, and fill information within the edges.

  Here, as described above, the rendering process in the image processing apparatus 110 according to the first embodiment includes the block order conversion process for dividing the intermediate data generated in S302 into a plurality of blocks. Note that the processing described below can be realized by the CPU 220 reading a control program stored in advance in the ROM 221 or the storage unit 223 into the RAM 222 and executing it. Here, in the present embodiment, it is assumed that the initial values of the width and height of the block into which the intermediate data is divided are set in advance to 64 [pixel] × 64 [pixel]. The height of one band is assumed to be 64 [pixel].

  In S401, the CPU 220 generates span data based on the intermediate data generated in S302. In FIG. 5, data 520 corresponds to span data generated based on the intermediate data 510. The span data can be composed of information indicating a closed region (span) divided by the edge of the object and fill information within the span. Here, the span length is expressed by the number of pixels, for example. In S401, span data corresponding to one scan line can be generated sequentially from the first scan line.

  In S402, the CPU 220 spools the span data generated in S401 to the block order conversion memory 210. At this time, the CPU 220 spools the span data in a linked list format in which each span is a node. For example, if the CPU 220 spools the head scan data of the fourth band in the data 520 (span data) in FIG. 5, the spooled span data is as shown in FIG.

  In S <b> 403, the CPU 220 determines whether span data for one band height has been spooled in the block order conversion memory 210. When the span data for one band height is spooled, the process proceeds to S404, and when the span data for one band height is not spooled, the process returns to S401 and the processes of S401 to S403 are repeated.

  In S404, the CPU 220 generates, for each band, array information used to divide the intermediate data into a plurality of blocks based on the span data generated in S401. The array information is information indicating a position corresponding to the edge of the object. That is, S404 is a step of generating information in which a position corresponding to the edge of the object is set as a division position (first division position) for dividing the intermediate data for each of a plurality of bands in the intermediate data. For example, the CPU 220 calculates the position (X coordinate) of the span edge for each scan line in the band, and the scan line in which the span edge is arranged for each of a plurality of preset positions (X coordinate). Sequence information is generated by counting the number. Here, the band is obtained by bundling scan lines for a block height set in advance as an initial value, and each of the plurality of positions (X coordinates) is, for example, a multiple of the block width set in advance as an initial value. It is.

  Details of the step of generating sequence information in S404 will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a flow of processing for generating array information. Note that the processing described below can be realized by the CPU 220 reading a control program stored in advance in the ROM 221 or the storage unit 223 into the RAM 222 and executing it.

  In S <b> 601, the CPU 220 displays information indicating the relationship between a plurality of positions (coordinates) set in advance in the scan line and the number of scan lines at which the span edges are arranged at the plurality of positions (hereinafter, scan line number information). Is called). FIG. 7A is a diagram showing the initialized number of scan lines for the second band in the span data 520 shown in FIG. A plurality of positions (coordinates) in the scan line number information can be set based on a page width (384 [pixel]) and a block width (64 [pixel]) preset as an initial value. That is, the plurality of positions are set such that their pitches are set to block widths set in advance as initial values. Here, in the first embodiment, the plurality of positions are set based on a block width set in advance as an initial value, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the plurality of positions may be set based on the minimum value in the range of the renderable block width. In other words, the plurality of positions may be set so that their pitches become the minimum value in the range of the renderable block width.

  In S602, the CPU 220 initializes the value of the variable indicating the current Y coordinate to “0”. The current Y coordinate is a coordinate indicating the position of the scan line within the band in the height direction of the page. In S603, the CPU 220 initializes the value of the variable indicating the current X coordinate to “0”. The current X coordinate is a coordinate indicating a position on the scan line in a direction along the scan line. In S604, the CPU 220 analyzes the span data generated in S401. Specifically, the CPU 220 acquires the span length in the generated span data.

  In S605, the CPU 220 adds the span length acquired in S604 to the current X coordinate, and updates the current X coordinate. In S606, the CPU 220 adds “1” to the number of scan lines (increments the number of scan lines) at the position corresponding to the current X coordinate updated in S605 among the plurality of positions in the scan line number information. . In S607, the CPU 220 determines whether or not the current X coordinate is greater than or equal to the page width. If the current X coordinate is smaller than the page width, the process returns to S604, and if the current X coordinate is greater than or equal to the page width, the process proceeds to S608. In S608, the CPU 220 adds “1” to the current Y coordinate (increments the current Y coordinate), and updates the current Y coordinate. In S609, the CPU 220 determines whether or not the current Y coordinate is equal to or higher than the band height (that is, the height of the block set in advance as an initial value). If the current Y coordinate is smaller than the band height, the process returns to S603, and steps S603 to S608 are performed for the next scan line. On the other hand, if the current Y coordinate is greater than or equal to the band height, the process ends.

  By performing the process shown in FIG. 6, the CPU 220 can obtain the scan line number information shown in FIG. 7B. FIG. 7B shows scan line number information for the second band in the span data 520 shown in FIG. For example, the CPU 220 can obtain array information by setting a predetermined position when the number of scan lines is equal to or greater than a threshold as a division position (first division position) for dividing the intermediate data. That is, the CPU 220 can obtain the array information in which the X coordinate is 64, 320, and the position of 384 [pixel] is set as the first division position. Here, the threshold value can be set arbitrarily. For example, when the position (coordinates) where the number of scan lines on which the edge is arranged is even one is set as the first division position, it is set to “1”. sell.

  Returning to FIG. 4, in S <b> 405, the CPU 220 determines the width of a block to be divided for one band based on the array information generated in S <b> 404. For example, based on the arrangement information, the CPU 220 determines a second division position for dividing an area exceeding the range of the renderable block width among a plurality of areas divided at the first division position. At this time, the CPU 220 determines a plurality of candidates for the block width satisfying the range, and determines the second division position so as to be applied preferentially from the determined plurality of candidates having a larger block width. .

  Details of the step of determining the block width in S405 will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a flow of processing for determining the block width. Note that the processing described below can be realized by the CPU 220 reading a control program stored in advance in the ROM 221 or the storage unit 223 into the RAM 222 and executing it.

  In step S <b> 801, the CPU 220 determines a plurality of candidates for a block width that satisfies a range of renderable block widths. At this time, the CPU 220 may determine a plurality of candidates for the block width so as to include the first width and the second width that is an integer multiple of the first width.

  The minimum value in the range of the renderable block width is, for example, the minimum value that can be processed by the block image compression / decompression unit 204. When JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) compression is executed by the block image compression / decompression unit 204, an image is divided into 8 [pixel] × 8 [pixel] blocks, and conversion processing is executed for each block. That is, in this case, the minimum value in the range of the renderable block width is 8 [pixel].

  Further, the maximum value in the range of the block width that can be rendered is, for example, the maximum value that can be processed by the block image compression / decompression unit 204, the processing load in the block image compression / decompression unit 204, the total amount of internal memory, and the free space It can be determined from the capacity. For example, it is assumed that the total amount of internal memory of the block image compression / decompression unit 204 is 32 Kbytes (corresponding to an uncompressed CMYK image of 128 [pixel] × 64 [pixel]). In this case, when the above-described fallback processing does not occur, the maximum value in the range of renderable block width is 128 [pixel]. Accordingly, the range of the block width that can be rendered is in the range of 8 to 128 [pixel], and the CPU 220 sets the block width to 64 [pixel] and 128 [pixel] that are integer multiples of the preset block width as the initial value. Determine as a candidate for.

  In S802, the CPU 220 initializes the value of the variable indicating the current X coordinate to “0”. In step S803, the CPU 220 acquires (reads) the array information generated in step S404 for a target band for determining a block width (hereinafter referred to as a target band).

  In S804, the CPU 220 determines a division position for dividing the intermediate data into a plurality of blocks based on the arrangement information acquired in S803 and the block width candidates determined in S801. For example, the CPU 220 scans the target band and proceeds to S805 if the first division position appears. On the other hand, if the CPU 220 scans the target band and the first division position does not appear even when the block width range that can be rendered is exceeded, priority is given to the candidate having the larger block width among the plurality of candidates determined in S801. The second division position is determined so as to be applied. That is, the CPU 220 preferentially selects a plurality of candidates determined in step S801 from those having a larger block width with respect to a region exceeding the range of the renderable block width among the plurality of regions divided at the first division position. 2nd division position is determined so that it may be applied. After determining the second division position, the CPU 220 proceeds to S805.

  In S805, the CPU 220 updates the current X coordinate. In S806, the CPU 220 determines whether or not the current X coordinate is equal to or greater than the page width. If the current X coordinate is smaller than the page width, the process returns to S803, and if the current X coordinate is greater than or equal to the page width, the process ends. By determining the division position for each band through such processing, as shown in the data 550 in FIG. 5, as compared with dividing the intermediate data only with the block width set in advance as an initial value (data 503). Thus, the number of divided blocks can be reduced. Data 550 in FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a division position in the intermediate data determined in the image processing apparatus 110 of the first embodiment. In the data 550 in FIG. 5, white circles (◯) are division positions (first division positions). Or the second division position).

  Returning to FIG. 4, in S406, the CPU 220 reads the span data for one band height spooled in S402. In S407, the CPU 220 performs a so-called block order conversion process in which the span data (intermediate data) read in S406 is divided into a plurality of blocks based on the first division position and the second division position. An example of span data spooled after the block order conversion process will be described with reference to FIGS. The spooled span data of the fourth band (FIG. 9A) in the data 520 in FIG. 5 is converted to Span3 in FIG. 9C and Span3 and Span4 in FIG. Divided and spooled. The processing up to S403 is performed for each scan line in the page, but the processing after S408 is performed for each scan line in the block.

  In S408, the CPU 220 performs a rendering process on each block divided in S407. The rendering process can include, for example, a fill process in S408-1 and a composite process in S408-2. In the fill process (S408-1), the CPU 220 generates a color specified by the fill information existing in the span for each of the divided blocks. In the composite process (S408-2), the CPU 220 performs a composition process for the color generated by the fill process.

  In step S409, the CPU 220 determines whether rendering processing has been performed for all spans in the block. If rendering processing has been performed for all spans in the block, the process proceeds to S410. If there is a span for which rendering processing has not been performed, the process returns to S406. In S410, the CPU 220 determines whether or not rendering processing has been performed on all blocks in the band. If rendering processing has been performed on all blocks in the band, the process proceeds to S411, and if there is a block that has not been subjected to rendering processing, the process returns to S405. In S411, the CPU 220 determines whether or not rendering processing has been performed for all the bands in the page. If the rendering process has been performed on all the bands in the page, the process ends. If there is a band that has not been subjected to the rendering process, the process returns to S401.

  By performing the processing as described above, the image processing apparatus 110 according to the first embodiment can determine the division position so that the number of division blocks is reduced. Thereby, the image processing apparatus 110 of 1st Embodiment can reduce the number of blocks divided | segmented compared with the conventional process. That is, when rendering processing is performed on each block, it is possible to reduce the total time required for reading and writing to the work buffer performed for each divided block, and to print an image at a higher speed.

  Here, the effect when the above-described processing is performed will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 9. The left side of the branch of the span data 520 in FIG. 5 shows the span data 530 and the run length data 540 divided into a plurality of blocks by performing conventional processing. The right side of the branch shows span data 550 and run-length data 560 that are divided into a plurality of blocks by performing the processing of this embodiment. In the conventional process, the intermediate data is divided into a plurality of blocks with a constant block width, whereas in the process of the present embodiment, the block widths of the plurality of blocks are different from each other, and the number of blocks is reduced. For example, the span data of the fourth band (FIG. 9A) is divided into 6 blocks as shown in FIG. 9B in the conventional processing, whereas in the processing of this embodiment, As shown in FIG. 9C, the block is divided into four blocks.

  For example, it is assumed that 8 [bytes] are required for designating a drawing range (number of pixels) and 8 [bytes] are required for color values (including color composition and gradation specification) for one span. In this case, at least 16 [bytes] of reading (reading) and writing (writing) occur for each block in one span division. It is assumed that a rendering process is performed on an image (9921 [pixel] × 14048 [pixel]) of an A4 size (width 210 mm, height 297 mm) having a print resolution of 1200 dpi. In the conventional process, it is divided into 155 blocks per band, whereas in the process of the present embodiment, it is divided into 78 blocks. In this case, the read / write of data, which required about 3.5 [Mbyte] for the entire page in the conventional processing, is reduced to about 1.8 “Mbyte” by applying the processing of this embodiment. Can do. When the image processing apparatus 110 is required to have a processing speed of 100 ppm (page / minutes), the conventional processing requires a transfer band of at least about 3.5 [Mbyte / sec] for reading and writing data. On the other hand, in the processing of the present embodiment, it is about 1.8 [Mbyte / sec], and the transfer band can be greatly reduced.

Second Embodiment
In the first embodiment, the method for determining the block width based on the information on the number of scan lines in which the edges of the span are arranged has been described. In the second embodiment, a method of determining a block width based on not only information on the number of scan lines on which span edges are arranged but also information on fill (color data) included in span data will be described. Here, since the image processing apparatus and software configuration of the second embodiment are the same as the image processing apparatus 110 and software configuration of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted here. The image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment performs image forming processing according to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 6, and 8. Hereinafter, steps different from the processing in the image processing apparatus 110 of the first embodiment (S604, S606 in FIG. 6 and S804 in FIG. 8) will be described.

  In S604 of FIG. 6, the CPU 220 analyzes the span data generated in S401. Specifically, the CPU 220 acquires information on the fill data size in addition to the span length in the generated span data. In S606 of FIG. 6, the CPU 220 adds “1” to the number of scan lines at the position corresponding to the current X coordinate updated in S605 among the plurality of positions set in the scan line number information (scan line). Increment the number). The CPU 220 counts the fill data size between a plurality of positions set in the scan line number information. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating information obtained by adding information obtained by counting the fill data size to the scan line number information of the fifth band in the span data 520 illustrated in FIG. 5. In the information illustrated in FIG. 10, the fill data size to be divided is counted as “8” with respect to the positions of 128 [pixel], 192 [pixel], and 256 [pixel]. That is, the information shown in FIG. 10 indicates that it is necessary to divide the area between 64 and 128 [pixel], between 128 and 192 [pixel], and between 192 and 256 [pixel], respectively. Yes.

  In S804 of FIG. 8, the CPU 220 determines a division position for dividing the intermediate data into a plurality of blocks based on the arrangement information acquired in S803 and the block width candidates determined in S801. For example, in the information shown in FIG. 10, the number of scan lines is 64 at the position of 64 [pixel] and the position of 128 [pixel]. However, the count value of the fill data size to be divided is “0” at the position of 64 [pixel], and the count value of the fill data size to be divided is “8” at the position of 128 [pixel]. That is, after the step of dividing span data into a plurality of blocks (S407), it is necessary to further divide the range from 64 to 128 [pixel] into eight. Therefore, in order to reduce the processing load in division based on fill data, it is preferable to set the position of 64 [pixel] where the count value of the fill data size changes as the division position (position of 64 [pixel]). Then, it has already been set as the first division position). Further, the count value of the fill data size to be divided is “8” at the position of 256 [pixel], and the count value of the fill data size to be divided is “0” at the position of 320 [pixel]. Therefore, it is preferable to set the position of 256 [pixel] where the count value of the fill data size changes as the division position (second division position).

<Other examples>
The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program This process can be realized. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to these embodiment, A various deformation | transformation and change are possible within the range of the summary.

101: Host computer, 110: Image processing device, 220: CPU, 221: ROM, 222: RAM, 223: Storage unit

Claims (11)

An image processing apparatus that processes an image based on print data described in a page description language,
Generating means for generating intermediate data from the print data;
First setting means for setting a position corresponding to an edge of the object as a first divided position for each of the plurality of bands in the intermediate data;
Second setting means for setting a second division position for an area that exceeds a range of a renderable block width among a plurality of areas divided by the first division position;
Division means for dividing the intermediate data into a plurality of blocks based on the first division position and the second division position;
Rendering means for rendering each of the plurality of blocks;
Including
The second setting means determines a plurality of candidates for a block width so as to satisfy the range, and applies the second division so as to be applied with priority from the determined plurality of candidates having a larger block width. An image processing apparatus characterized by setting a position.   The said 2nd setting means determines the said several candidate so that the 2nd width | variety which has a 1st width | variety and the width | variety of the said 1st integral multiple may be included. Image processing device.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first width is a block width set in advance to divide the intermediate data.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of bands includes a plurality of scan lines.   The first setting means counts the number of positions of the edge in each scan line of one band for each of a plurality of positions set along the scan line, and the counted number of the plurality of positions. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a position where is equal to or greater than a threshold is set as the first division position for the one band.   The second setting means counts the data size of the color data for each of a plurality of positions set along the scan line, and selects a position where the count value of the data size of the color data changes among the plurality of positions. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second division position is determined.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of positions are set such that their pitches have a block width set in advance to divide the intermediate data. .   The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of positions are set such that their pitches become a minimum value in the range.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the generation unit generates the intermediate data in a vector format from the print data. An image processing method for processing an image based on print data described in a page description language,
A generating step for generating intermediate data from the print data;
A first setting step in which a first setting unit sets a position corresponding to an edge of the object as a first divided position for each of the plurality of bands in the intermediate data;
A second setting step in which a second setting means sets a second division position for an area exceeding a renderable block width range among the plurality of areas divided by the first division position;
A dividing step of dividing the intermediate data into a plurality of blocks based on the first dividing position and the second dividing position;
A rendering step in which rendering means renders each of the plurality of blocks;
Including
In the second setting step, a plurality of candidates for the block width are determined so as to satisfy the range, and the second division is performed so as to be applied preferentially from the determined candidates having a larger block width. An image processing method characterized by setting a position.   The program for making a computer perform each process of the image processing method of Claim 10.

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