JP3626669B2 - Image input method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image input method and apparatus, and more particularly to an image input method and apparatus for capturing and compressing a plurality of similar images.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A conventional image input apparatus is disclosed in, for example, “High-efficiency encoding apparatus, high-efficiency code decoding apparatus, and image transmission apparatus” of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-130710. In this prior art, a user uses a high-efficiency encoding device and an image transmission device that can perform processing of different compression ratios using the main part of the image size and compression ratio fixed high-performance encoding device and image transmission device. It is provided in an easy form.
[0003]
In such a conventional image input device, image compression is performed for each image. For this purpose, the data amount is usually reduced by using storage means and image compression means for processing one image. However, in such a conventional technique, when a plurality of images are continuously compressed, the compression rate is determined by the compression method employed because the compression is performed regardless of the similarity between the preceding and succeeding images.
[0004]
For example, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, a case where two similar images are compressed will be described as an example. When run-length compression is performed on the image shown in FIG. 8A, 15 blocks of “W19B2W7B1W7B1W7B1W7B1W7B1W7B1W27” are obtained as illustrated. Here, W is white, B is black, and the numbers after W and B indicate the number of bits. Similarly, when the image of FIG. 8B is compressed, 15 blocks of “W18B3W7B1W7B1W7B1W6B1W6B1W7B4W27” are obtained as illustrated. When these two images are compressed separately, the two images are simply added, for a total of 30 blocks.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When the similar images are continuously compressed, the images are compressed one by one even though the contents are almost the same. Therefore, the same calculation is performed on the same content portion every time, and there is a problem that processing time is wasted. This is because the image compression is performed without considering the relationship between before and after successive images. In addition, considering the adaptation to the case of transferring data to another device, the transfer data amount and the transfer time are always in a proportional relationship. Therefore, it takes a transfer time and the use amount of the data storage area (memory capacity) The large number causes a problem that all related devices are loaded.
[0006]
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image input method and apparatus capable of compressing similar images at a high compression rate to reduce the data amount and shorten the transfer time.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Image input method of the present invention takes successively by the image input unit a plurality of images similar in the image input method for compressing the image compression unit, combining the images captured by the image input unit by the bit interleaved Then, when creating multiple image composite data, multiple image composite data is created by combining images of different sizes with the first image as a reference, and image compression is performed by the image compression unit based on the multiple image composite data To do. Here, the image compression unit performs run-length compression on the multiple image composite data.
[0008]
An image input device according to the present invention includes an image input unit that continuously captures a plurality of similar images and an image compression unit that compresses an image captured by the image input unit. A plurality of image memories for storing the plurality of image data captured by the image data, and a header section for storing difference data between the number of compressed images, color image compression information or reference data size and other image data, and the image memory And a combined image memory for combining the plurality of image data stored in bit-by-bit arrangement, and the image compression unit compresses the image based on the combined image data combined by the combined image memory. Here, a data transfer unit is provided for transferring the compressed image data to a computer which is a restoring means for the image data compressed by the image compression unit .
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, in order to clarify the above-mentioned and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention, preferred embodiments of an image input method and apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0012]
FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the basic principle of an image input apparatus according to the present invention and a computer for use in conjunction with this to restore a compressed image. FIG. 2 shows a detailed configuration diagram of a preferred embodiment of an image input apparatus and an image restoration computer according to the present invention. The basic configuration of the image input apparatus 1 is an image input unit 2, an image memory 3, an image compression unit 6, and a data transfer unit 7, as shown in FIG. On the other hand, a computer 8 that restores an image compressed by the input device 1 includes a data receiving unit 9, a compression decoding unit 10, and an image 13 reproduced thereby.
[0013]
In addition, the image input device 1 of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 2 has n (plural) memories as the image memory 3. Furthermore, a composite image memory 5 is provided on the output side of the image composition unit 4. The computer 8 also has n (plural) images 13, and has a composite image memory 11 and a composite image restoration unit 12 between the images 13 and the compression decoding unit 10.
[0014]
The image memory 3 stores images (images) in order from the image input unit 2 one by one (sheet). The image synthesizing unit 4 alternately arranges each pixel from the plurality of images in the synthesized image memory 5. The image compression unit 6 compresses the composite image in the composite image memory 5. The data transfer unit 7 transfers or transmits the compressed image to another device. The data receiving unit 9 of the compressed image restoration computer 8 receives data transmitted from the image input device 1. The compression decoding unit 10 restores the compressed data. The composite image memory 11 stores the data decoded by the compression decoding unit 10. The composite image restoration unit 12 restores the decoded composite image by dividing it into images for each sheet.
[0015]
Next, an operation example of the image input apparatus according to the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 shows an operation in which the image composition unit 4 converts the plurality of image memories 3 to the composite image memory 5. FIG. 3A shows an image input to the first image, and FIG. 3B shows an image input to the second image. FIG. 4 shows an arrangement of each pixel of the composite image. In this embodiment, since the two images are combined, the first and second images are alternately arranged pixel by pixel. FIG. 3C is a composite image when the first image shown in FIG. 3A and the second image shown in FIG. 3B are alternately arranged pixel by pixel. When this image is run-length compressed by the image compression unit 6, it becomes compressed data such as W37B7W14. Here, W represents white (or 0), and B represents black (or 1). The numerical value represents a continuous run length (number of pixels).
[0016]
Next, the operation of the preferred embodiment of the image input apparatus 1 according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. The image input device 1 is used to input or capture an image. The first image input from the image input unit 2 of the image input device 1 is stored in the image memory 3. Next, the second image input from the image input unit 2 is stored in an area different from the above-described first memory area of the image memory 3. This operation can be repeated n times. Image data stored (or stored) in the image memory 3 is extracted in order from the first image, and the image data is synthesized by the image synthesis unit 4. The data synthesized by the image synthesizing unit 4 is stored in the synthesized image memory 5. Further, the composite image data stored in the composite image memory 5 is compressed by the image compression unit 6 and transferred to the computer 8 through the data transfer unit 7 as compressed multiple image data.
[0017]
Next, the compressed multiple image data transferred from the data transfer unit 7 of the image input apparatus 1 to the computer 8 is received by the data receiving unit 9 of the computer 8, and the compressed image data is restored by the compression decoding unit 10. The restored image data is stored in the composite image memory 11. Then, the composite image restoration unit 12 distributes pixels for each image and restores the image 13 input by the image input apparatus 1.
[0018]
FIG. 3 illustrates an image composition and image compression method. For example, the image data of FIG. 3A is input to the first sheet and the image data of FIG. 3B is input to the second sheet. The two images are stored in another area of the image memory 3. Then, the first and second pixels are alternately arranged one by one as shown in FIG. 3C by the image composition unit 4 and stored in the image composition memory 5 as a plurality of image data.
[0019]
The image compression unit 6 performs run length compression on the data shown in FIG. FIG. 4 shows an example of an array format of multiple image composite data. The first few bits of the multi-image composite data are treated as a header area, and the number of image data stored is arranged. Various data of the original image can be stored in this header area. In the last bit of the header portion of the decoded image composite data, a header area final mark is arranged so as to indicate the end of the header area such as a symbol. Image data for each image is arranged after the header bit number + the header area last mark. Specifically, the first bit of the image data is arranged in order from the first image data from the number of header bits of the multiple image composite data + the header area last mark and thereafter. When the arrangement of the first bit of the image data for every n is completed, the second bit of the image data is arranged in order from the first image data from the next bit of the plurality of pieces of composite image data. This is repeated until the last bit of the image data is arranged. This is illustrated in FIG. 3 (C).
[0020]
Next, the fact that the compression rate is increased by alternately arranging pixels as shown in FIG. 4 with a plurality of similar images as one image will be described in comparison with FIG. 3 and FIG. 8. As described above, two images having similar pixel arrangements are compressed as shown in FIG. When run-length compression is performed on the image of FIG. 8A, 15 blocks are obtained as described above. Similarly, when the image of FIG. 8B is compressed, 15 blocks are obtained. When these two images are compressed separately, the total is 30 blocks. On the other hand, when pixels are alternately arranged and compressed as shown in FIG. 3C, the number of blocks becomes 21 and the compression ratio is remarkably improved.
[0021]
According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, since the header portion is provided in the multi-image composite data, the original image information can be added. In addition, since the header area final mark such as a symbol is arranged at the last bit of the header portion of the decoded image composite data, the size of the decoded image composite data header portion can be changed. Accordingly, the header portion of the multiple image composite data restored by the compression decoding unit 10 is referred to restore the respective images 13 for distribution. By storing the number of compressed images, for example, the specific stored information content in the header portion of the decoded image composition data can eliminate the restriction on the number of images. Further, by storing the respective image data sizes, it is possible to compress and decompress image data of different sizes. In this way, the limitation on the number of images can be eliminated and image data of different sizes can be stored at the same time. Advantages in terms of extensibility as described above can also be obtained. Further, as shown in FIG. 3C, by alternately arranging pixels of similar images, the same calculation is reduced, compression time is wasted, and the compression rate is improved.
[0022]
The above description has been made on a monochrome image. However, the present invention is not limited to a monochrome image, but can be applied to a color image. When compressing a color image, color image compression information is added to the header area. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, in the case of a color image, it is assumed that each pixel is composed of 1 bit + RGB (red, green and blue) bits. As in the case of the monochrome image, the first bit of the first image is added after the header end symbol, and the first bit of the second image is added after the first pixel of the first image. The difference from the compression of a black and white image is that not only the color information is B (black) or W (white) but also the RGB values follow the pixel bits and can be handled in the same way as a black and white image. Similar to a monochrome image, RGB bits are alternately arranged in a plurality of pieces of image composite data in the same manner as pixel bits. This operation is repeated to create composite image data and compress it.
[0023]
Next, a case where image data having different sizes (sizes) is compressed will be described. When compressing image data of different sizes, the image size is input to the header area. This case will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 6 and FIG. FIG. 6 shows an example in which the image A is an image composed of 10 bits and the image B is an image composed of 15 bits. 6A shows image data A, FIG. 6B shows image data B, and FIG. 6C shows multi-image composite data. FIG. 7 shows a multi-image composite data array when images of different sizes are compressed.
[0024]
The reference image data size is determined based on 10 bits of the image data size of the image A. The image data size of the image B is the difference from the image A that is the reference image data size. This difference data is “15−10 = 5”. The difference data and the reference image data size are described in the header area. As a method for compressing image data having different image sizes, a plurality of pieces of composite image data are created and compressed in the same manner as in FIG. 4 described above. Since image data of different sizes are compressed, if pixel data are alternately arranged, bits of (large image data size) − (small image data size) cannot be alternately arranged. Therefore, the remaining image data is added as it is after the multi-image composite data.
[0025]
As described above, it is possible to simultaneously compress not only a monochrome image but also a color image and images of different sizes.
[0026]
Next, restoration of image data that has been combined and compressed will be described. The composite image compression data compressed by the image compression unit 6 of the image input apparatus 1 is transferred from the data transfer unit 7 to the computer 8 which is an image restoration unit. The composite image compressed data is received from the image input device 1 by the data receiving unit 9 of the computer 8. The composite image compressed data received by the data receiving unit 9 is input to the compression / decoding unit 10 and restored to a plurality of image composite data. The multi-image composite data is accumulated (or stored) in the composite image memory 11 and restored to the image input from the image input unit 2 by the composite image restoration unit 12 of the image input device 1.
[0027]
The compression decoding unit 10 restores the composite image compressed data that has been run-length compressed into a plurality of image composite data. As shown in FIG. 4, the multi-image composite data is arranged in the form of the first bit of the first image below the header part end symbol, the first bit of the second image, and so on. In order to restore the composite image compressed data to the multiple composite image data, an array such as W2B6... Described in the composite image compressed data that has been run-length compressed must be in the format of the multiple image composite data. For example, when “W2B6” is described, it is converted into an array of “white monochrome black black black black”.
[0028]
Next, a method for restoring an image input from the image input unit 2 from multiple image composite data will be described. First, the header area of the multiple image composite data stored in the composite image memory 11 is referred to. In the case of a monochrome image, since only the number n of compressed images is described in the header area, the calculation is made up to the end of the multi-image composite data in the form of a header end symbol + 1 bit, n + 1 bit, 2n + 1 bit,. Extract the image data of the first sheet. Also, in the case of the second image data, similarly to the first image, the header part end symbol +2 bits, n + 2 bits, 2n + 2 bits,... Are extracted. By performing this operation for the number of images, all of the n images 13 input by the image input device 1 can be restored.
[0029]
On the other hand, in the case of a color image, since color image compression information is described in the header area, it can be seen that the image is compressed as a color image. Since the color image is the same as the monochrome image except for the header area of the decoded image synthesis data, it can be restored by the same method as the restoration of the monochrome image.
[0030]
When restoring images of different sizes, first, the image data size of each image is extracted based on the reference image data size. Since the first image has the reference image size, it is not necessary to restore it. However, since the difference data described above is described for the second and subsequent images, the second and subsequent image sizes are extracted. The extraction calculation formula is (reference image data size) + (difference data). The extraction of each image data is the same as the data extraction method for black and white images. First, extraction is performed for the reference image data size of the first image. Extraction for the second image size is performed. By repeating this operation, it is possible to restore a plurality of images of different sizes to the input image.
[0031]
In each of the embodiments described above, since the header portion is provided for the multiple image composite data, data such as the original image data and the number of compressed images can be added. It is also possible to change the size of the decoded image synthesized data header part by arranging a symbol or the like in the last bit of the decoded image synthesized data header part. At the time of image restoration, the header portion of the multi-image composite data restored by the compression decoding unit 10 is referred to restore the respective images 13 and perform distribution. For example, it is possible to eliminate the restriction on the number of images by storing the number of compressed images in the decoded image synthesis data header part. Further, by storing the respective image data sizes, it is possible to compress and decompress image data of different sizes. In this way, the limitation on the number of images can be eliminated and image data of different sizes can be stored simultaneously. Advantages in terms of extensibility as described above can also be obtained. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3C, by alternately arranging the pixels of a plurality of images, the compression rate can be improved by reducing the same calculation at the time of compression in a similar image and eliminating waste of compression time. .
[0032]
The configuration and operation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention have been described in detail above. However, it should be noted that such embodiments are merely examples of the present invention and do not limit the present invention in any way. Those skilled in the art will readily understand that various modifications and changes can be made according to a specific application without departing from the gist of the present invention.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
As understood from the above description, according to the present invention, the following remarkable effects in practical use can be obtained. In similar images, it is possible to improve the compression rate by reducing the same computation and eliminating wasted compression time. Further, it is possible to expand the compressed data by having no limitation on the number of images to be combined, changing the header size of the multiple image combined data, and adding various original image data.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a basic configuration of an image compression input device and a decompression device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a preferred embodiment of an image compression input device and a decompression device according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a data array example illustrating a multiple image composition and compression technique in the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a multi-image composite data array in the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an example of a multi-image composite data array including color image compression information in the present invention.
FIG. 6 is an example of a multi-image composite data array of image data of different sizes in the present invention.
FIG. 7 is an example of a multi-image composite data array when images of different sizes are compressed according to the present invention.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional example of image data compression technology.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image input device 2 Image input part 3 Image memory 4 Image composition part 5 Composition image memory 6 Image compression part 7 Data transfer part 8 Computer (image restoration means)
9 Data receiver 10 Compression decoder 11 Composite image memory 12 Composite image restoration unit 13 Image

Claims (4)

In an image input method in which a plurality of similar images are successively captured by an image input unit and compressed by an image compression unit.
When creating multiple image composite data by combining multiple images captured by the image input unit using bit alternate arrangement, create multiple image composite data by combining images of different sizes based on the first image An image input method comprising: compressing an image by the image compression unit based on the composite image data. The image input method according to claim 1, wherein the image compression unit performs run-length compression on the plurality of combined image data. In an image input apparatus having an image input unit that continuously captures a plurality of similar images and an image compression unit that compresses an image captured by the image input unit,
A plurality of image memories that store the plurality of image data captured by the image input unit; and a header unit that stores difference data between the number of compressed images, color image compression information or reference data size and other image data. And a composite image memory for combining a plurality of image data stored in the image memory by alternately arranging bits, and compressing the image by the image compression unit based on the composite image data combined by the composite image memory An image input apparatus characterized by that . The image input apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a data transfer unit that transfers the compressed image data to a computer that is a restoration unit of the image data compressed by the image compression unit.

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