JP2875538B2 - Data conversion method and data conversion device using the same - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data conversion method used in a computer, a facsimile machine, and the like, and a data conversion device using the same. The present invention relates to a data conversion method for converting data into a format that can be represented by data of a smaller number of colors than the number of colors, and a data conversion device using the same.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, there has been proposed an apparatus for outputting image data read by an image reading apparatus having a multicolor reading function to an image recording apparatus having a multicolor recording function. One example of such a device is NTT® Fax-20R,
The facsimile apparatus reads red and black images on a document and records the red and black images on a thermosensitive recording paper.

Furthermore, this facsimile apparatus can perform black-only recording in addition to black-red two-color recording. In this facsimile apparatus, in the case of black recording, a thermosensitive recording paper provided with a black coloring layer on a base material is used, and in the case of black-red recording, a thermosensitive recording paper provided with a black coloring layer and a red coloring layer. The recording unit is configured so as to be able to apply heat energy necessary for the color-forming layer provided on the heat-sensitive recording paper to develop color according to the type of the heat-sensitive recording paper.

In this facsimile apparatus, in order to set only one of the two types of thermal recording paper to be used, the apparatus main body is provided with a space for accommodating the thermal recording paper. . The recording paper inlet / outlet of this space is covered with a recording paper cover which can be opened and closed, so that it is invisible from outside when used. Then, at the time of recording, a desired thermosensitive recording paper is set in the space, and the recording unit is switched to a state corresponding to the type of the thermosensitive recording paper currently used.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, when the facsimile apparatus reads and copies red and black images in a state where the thermosensitive recording paper for black is set in the space, on the thermosensitive recording paper, There was a problem that the red and black images could not be distinguished.

Further, when the facsimile apparatus capable of performing the above-described red and black reading is the transmission side and the facsimile apparatus performing the normal black-only recording is the reception side, the same problem occurs on the reception side. Also, in a computer system including a recording unit for performing monochrome recording and a reading unit for performing color reading, color image information read by the reading unit is recorded on recording paper in a single color that does not distinguish colors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and a data conversion method and a data conversion method capable of expressing input multi-color data so as to be identifiable with fewer colors than the number of colors. It is intended to provide equipment. You.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a data conversion method according to claim 1 of the present invention converts data of a plurality of colors of images, characters, and the like input via input means. A data conversion method for converting data into data that can be output by an output unit, wherein a color type detection step of detecting a type of a color that can be output by the output unit; A judging step of judging whether or not data that cannot be output is detected according to the detected color; and, in the judging step, when it is determined that the data that cannot be output is included, the output data is output to the output unit. Data that can be output as well as data that can be converted to dot pattern data that is different from the data that can be output. Data conversion step.

Further, the data conversion device according to claim 2 of the present invention,
In a data conversion device for converting data of a plurality of colors, such as images and characters, input through an input unit into data that can be output by an output unit, a color type detection that detects a type of a color that can be output by the output unit Means, determining means for determining whether or not the data input by the input means includes data that cannot be output by the color detected by the color type detecting means, and the determining means,
If it is determined that it contains data that cannot be output,
Data conversion means for replacing the unoutputtable data with data of a color that can be output by the output means and converting the data into dot pattern data different from the data of the color that can be output is provided.

[Operation] According to the data conversion method according to claim 1 of the present invention having the above configuration, when data of a plurality of colors of images, characters, and the like input through the input unit is output by the output unit. In the output unit, colors that can be output are set in advance, and in the color type detection step, the colors that can be output by the output unit are detected. Then, since there is a possibility that the data input through the input unit may include data that cannot be output by the output unit, it is determined in the determination step. If it is determined in this determination step that data that cannot be output is included, in a subsequent data conversion step,
The data that cannot be output is replaced with data of a color that can be output by the output unit, and also converted into dot pattern data that is different from the data of the color that can be output originally. Therefore, in the output result by the output means, the data portion of the color that cannot be output is replaced with the data of the color that can be output, and is output with a dot pattern different from the data of the color that can be output originally. Is represented by

According to the data conversion device of the second aspect of the present invention, when outputting data of a plurality of colors of images, characters, and the like input through the input means by the output means, Since the colors that can be output are set in advance, the color that can be output is detected by the output unit in the color type detection unit. Since there is a possibility that the data input through the input unit may include data that cannot be output by the output unit, the data is determined by the determination unit. If the determining means determines that data that cannot be output is included, the subsequent data converting means replaces the data that cannot be output with data of a color that can be output by the output means and outputs the data. The data is converted into dot pattern data different from the data of the possible colors. Therefore, in the output result of the output means, the data portion of the color that cannot be output is replaced with the data of the color that can be output, but is output in a dot pattern different from the data of the color that can be output originally. Expressed as possible.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a facsimile apparatus capable of transmitting and receiving will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the facsimile apparatus 10 includes a network control unit 12 (hereinafter, referred to as NCU) connected to a telephone line L as a transmission path, a CPU 14, and a ROM 1.
6 and a computer unit 20 using the backup RAM 18 as a means
And a recording unit 22 that can record only black or red and black images on the above-described thermal recording paper, and a reading unit 24 that can read red and black images on a document. The NCU 12 calls the facsimile machine on the receiving side where the operator intends to transmit the data (transmission data) of the image displayed on the document as the image display medium by the telephone 30 and, if the receiving side accepts this, the facsimile machine It has a function of establishing communication between the telephone 10 and the receiving side via the telephone line L. Further, when called by the transmitting facsimile apparatus which desires to transmit image data, the NCU automatically communicates via the telephone line L between the transmitting facsimile apparatus and the facsimile apparatus 10. Has the function of establishing In the backup RAM 18, a first memory 40 and a second memory 42 are formed. The first memory 40 stores data read by the reading unit 24, and the second memory 42 stores data to be output to the recording unit 22.

At the time of transmission, the facsimile apparatus 10 includes a reading unit 24, a computer unit 20, and a modem 50 that constitute input means for inputting image information of a document set at a predetermined position of the facsimile apparatus 10.
After that, the image data is transmitted to the receiving facsimile apparatus via the NCU 12 and the telephone line L. On the other hand, at the time of reception, image data from the facsimile apparatus on the transmission side is sent to the facsimile apparatus 10 via the telephone line L and the like, and the recording section constituting the modem 50, the computer section 20, and the output means is almost in reverse to the time of transmission. The image information is converted into image information by 22, and the image of the original on the transmission side is reproduced on the recording paper set at a predetermined position of the facsimile machine 10.

Next, an image data processing method when the image recording unit 22 has a multicolor recording function in the copy mode of the facsimile machine 10 will be described.

First, the operation of the CPU 14 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4. The CPU 14 controls the reading unit 24 to perform color reading on a document (step S1). CPU1
4 stores the image data read by the reading unit 24 in the first memory 40 (step S2). CPU 14 is recording unit 2
The multicolor recording function 2 is detected (step 3 (corresponding to the color type detection step of the present invention)). The CPU 14 has a recording unit 22
Determines whether two-color printing is possible (step 4 (corresponding to the determining step of the present invention)), and if YES, the CPU 14 stores the data stored in the first memory 40 in the second memory 42. The image data is sent to the recording unit 22 via the output unit 14d (step S5). If NO in step S4, CPU 1
4 converts the data stored in the first memory 40 as described above and sends it to the second memory 41 (step 6 (corresponding to the data conversion step of the present invention)), and the recording unit via the output unit 14d. The image data is sent to 22 (step S7).

As an example, in the case of two-color data of X and Y colors (in this case, the X color is red and the Y color is black), the two-color data read by the reading unit 24 is input to the image data input unit of the CPU 14. 1
Through 4a, one scan line of X color data (hereinafter referred to as X data) and one scan line of Y color data (hereinafter Y
(Referred to as data) in the first memory 40 of the RAM 18. Referring to the explanatory diagram of the data format at the time of the above-mentioned operation in FIG. 2, one scanning line on a document has an X-color portion and a Y-color portion mixed on a white background (see FIG. 2A). The image data read by the reading unit 24 is stored in the first memory 40 in the RAM 18 as shown in FIG. CPU14
Functions as a multicolor recording function detection unit 14b (constituting a color type detection unit of the present invention) for detecting the multicolor recording function of the recording unit 22 when executing Step S3. In this case, the recording unit 22
Detects that two-color printing can be performed. The CPU 14 functions as the data processing unit 14c (constituting the determination unit and the data conversion unit of the present invention) when executing Step S6.
In this case, the CPU 14 does not perform the data conversion and the first memory 40
Is sent to the second memory 42 (FIG. 2 (c)).
The image data is sent to the recording unit 22 via the output unit 14d, and the same two-color recording results of X and Y as the original are obtained (see FIG. 2 (d)).

Next, an image data processing method when the recording unit 22 does not have a multicolor recording function will be described.

As an example, a case of a two-color original of X color and Y color will be described. When the multi-color recording function detecting unit 14b detects that the recording unit 22 has only the X-color recording function, it will be described with reference to FIG. Then, the recording unit 2 is detected by the multicolor recording function detecting unit 14b.
2 detects that it has only the X-color recording function, the reading unit 24 performs two-color reading of X and Y colors (see FIG. 3A), and the image data is transmitted through the image data input unit 14a. The data is taken into the first memory 40 (see FIG. 3B). The data processing unit 14c outputs the Y data “111...
Replace `` 11 '' with, for example, `` 11 '' with `` 10 '' and `` 1010
... 10 "pattern to create Y 'data. Logically add X 'data to Y' data, and
Forty X data and Y data are converted into X data containing Y data information (see FIG. 3C) and stored in the second memory 42 (see FIG. 3D). Output unit 1
When the data is output to the recording unit 22 through 4d (see FIG. 3 (d)), since the memory 42 has the data format of X data, X
Recording can be performed by the image recording unit 22 having only the color recording function. The recording result is one color of X color, but the two-color information of the document can be identified by the difference of the recording pattern.

Next, an operation in the facsimile machine 10 when data transmission is applied from a transmission partner will be described. In this case, communication via the telephone line L between the facsimile machine 10 and the transmitting facsimile machine is established by the NCU 12,
This established state passes through the dialer 52 and the CP of the computer unit 20.
U14 is informed. Then, by executing the program in the computer section 20, the facsimile apparatus 10 transmits data such as the types of colors that can be recorded by the facsimile apparatus 10 to the transmission-side facsimile apparatus. The transmitting side selects an optimal mode according to these, and notifies the facsimile apparatus 10 that image data is to be transmitted in that mode. Facsimile machine in this way
After the selection of the ten receiving modes is performed, the image data is transmitted from the transmitting facsimile apparatus to the facsimile apparatus 10. Thereafter, when communication of the image information starts, the facsimile apparatus 10 performs the same operation as in the above-described copy mode.

In the above description, the case of the two-color reading device and the single-color recording device has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. If a control means for converting color data into different pattern data and outputting the converted data to an output device is provided, for example, a computer system including a multicolor reading device and a single-color recording device, and a multicolor reading device (m colors) And a multi-color display device (n colors) (when m> n).

Also, regarding the conversion pattern, "111 ... 11"
Has been described above as an example, it goes without saying that conversion to an arbitrary pattern is possible.

Further, when the present invention is used, the data amount of the second memory 42 shown in FIG. 2 (c) decreases like the data amount of the second memory 42 shown in FIG. 3 (d). It becomes possible.

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present embodiment, even in a recording unit having a multicolor recording function smaller than the number of color identifications of the reading unit, the same color number information as the number of color identifications of the reading unit is used. Can be obtained.

Further, by combining the X data and the Y data to reduce the data amount, the data transfer time to the recording unit can be reduced.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the data conversion method according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is determined that the data input through the input unit includes data that cannot be output by the output unit. In the later data conversion step,
The data that cannot be output is replaced with data of a color that can be output by the output unit, and is converted into dot pattern data that is different from the data of the color that can be output originally, so that the output result of the output unit is a color that cannot be output. The data portion is replaced with data of a color that can be output, and is output with a dot pattern different from the data of the color that can be output originally, so that it is identifiably expressed.
Therefore, the input multi-color data can be identifiably represented by fewer colors than the number of colors.

According to the data conversion device of the second aspect of the present invention, when it is determined that the data input through the input unit includes data that cannot be output by the output unit, the subsequent In the data conversion unit, the data that cannot be output is replaced with data of a color that can be output by the output unit, and the data is converted into dot pattern data different from the data of the color that can be output originally. The portion of the data that was not output in color is replaced with data of colors that can be output, and is output in a dot pattern different from the data of colors that can be output originally. Therefore, for example, when such a data conversion device is used in combination with a reading device and a recording device,
When the number of colors of the data read by the reading device is larger than the number of colors that can be recorded by the recording device, for the data of the color that cannot be recorded by the recording device, the data conversion device Since the data is converted into data and further converted into a dot pattern that can be distinguished from the originally recordable data, the recording device can record the data read by the reading device with fewer colors than the number of colors.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment embodying the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a data format when the multi-color reading function of the reading device and the multi-color recording function of the recording device are the same. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating that the multi-color reading function of the reading device is different from that of the recording device. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the data format in the case of a high value, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart of this embodiment. In the figure, 10 is a facsimile machine, 16 is a ROM, 18 is a RAM, 22 is a recording unit, and 24 is a reading unit.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yu Tanaka 1-6 Uchisaiwai-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation Examiner Masaki Hashizume (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) ) H04N 1/46-1/64 H04N 1/40-1/409

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A data conversion method for converting data of a plurality of colors of images, characters, and the like input through an input unit into data that can be output by an output unit. A color type detection step to be detected; a determination step of determining whether data input by the input unit includes data that cannot be output by the color detected by the color type detection step; and If it is determined that data that cannot be output is included, the data that cannot be output is replaced with data of a color that can be output by the output unit, and data that is converted into dot pattern data different from the data of the color that can be output. A data conversion method, comprising: a conversion step. 2. A data conversion device for converting data of a plurality of colors, such as images and characters, input through an input means into data that can be output by an output means, wherein a type of a color that can be output by the output means is determined. A color type detection unit to detect, a determination unit to determine whether or not the data input by the input unit includes data that cannot be output due to the color detected by the color type detection unit, and the determination unit When it is determined that the data that cannot be output is included, the data that cannot be output is replaced with data of a color that can be output by the output unit, and data that is converted into dot pattern data different from the data of the output color. Means, and a data conversion device, comprising: