JP6064441B2 - Image processing apparatus and image processing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to image processing for generating a reduced image obtained by reducing an original image at a predetermined reduction rate.

Conventionally, there is an apparatus that generates a thumbnail image (reduced image) according to an original image and determines whether or not the original image is a processing target based on the thumbnail image (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Also, aliasing may become a problem due to sampling of the original image. Therefore, when generating a thumbnail image, in order to remove this aliasing, the original image is subjected to blurring processing (averaging processing), and then the number of pixels of the original image is reduced to generate a thumbnail image.

JP 2006-107008 A

  Since the thumbnail image is an image obtained by reducing the original image, the original image may be indirectly seen from the thumbnail image. Therefore, it has been desired to improve the security of thumbnail images so that the thumbnail images are not stolen.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to improve security for thumbnail images.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, in the present invention, an image processing apparatus that generates a reduced image reduced at a predetermined reduction rate based on an original image, the filter size for setting the number of pixels to be averaged Is set separately from the reduction ratio, an averaging unit that averages the component values of pixels for each number of pixels corresponding to the filter size with respect to the original image, and the averaged And an output unit that selects each pixel of the original image according to the reduction ratio and outputs the selected image as the reduced image.

In the invention configured as described above, the setting unit sets the filter size for setting the number of pixels to be averaged separately from the reduction ratio. The averaging unit averages the component values of the pixels for each number of pixels corresponding to the filter size with respect to the original image. Further, the output unit selects each pixel of the averaged original image by the number corresponding to the reduction ratio, and outputs it as a reduced image.
Therefore, since the filter size used for averaging can be set separately from the reduction ratio, the sensitivity of the reduced image can be set flexibly. Thereby, the security with respect to a reduced image can be improved.

The setting unit may select the filter size according to the sensitivity of the reduced image.
In the invention configured as described above, the filter size can be set more intuitively.

Furthermore, a configuration may be further provided with a position adjustment circuit that determines the number of average values to be output for pixels of the filter size.
In the invention configured as described above, even when the number of sampling pixels is different between the blurring process and the reduction process, it is possible to perform pixel reduction across the filters. .

A first control unit that generates a print image based on the original image; and a replication unit that replicates the original image into a first image and a second image. The control unit may perform a predetermined process on the first image to generate a processed image, and the averaging unit may average the second image.
In the invention configured as described above, even when the first control unit and the averaging unit are hardware, processing can be parallelized.

When the original image is selected as a processing target based on the temporary recording unit that records the print image and the reduced image, a predetermined process is performed on the print image recorded on the temporary recording unit. It is good also as a structure which has the process execution part which performs.
In the invention configured as described above, the processing image is recorded in the temporary recording unit in advance, and when the original image is selected based on the reduced image, the processing image is processed. The time required from the selection of the original image based on the reduced image to the processing of the processing image can be shortened.

In addition, the original image is created based on a predetermined page description language, and when the original image has a blank pixel column, the position of the blank pixel column of the original image corresponds to the blank pixel column. Further, a configuration may be adopted in which a blank band output unit that compensates the pixel column and outputs the pixel column to the averaging unit is provided.
When the original image is created in the page description language, there are cases where the blank pixel column is not output to the subsequent stage in order to reduce the processing load. On the other hand, since the reduction processing is performed with the relationship between the pixels, it is not desirable that the pixels are not output just because the pixels are blank. Even in such a case, if the configuration can output a blank pixel column, the reduction process can be performed appropriately.

  Furthermore, the present invention can be applied not only to an image processing apparatus but also to an image processing method.

It is a figure explaining an image processing device. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer. It is a figure explaining the function of a printer. It is a figure which shows expansion | deployment band data and a thumbnail band. 3 is a flowchart of print processing using the printer. It is a timing chart explaining the process of step S4 of FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration and the like of a reduction circuit 66. FIG. It is a figure which shows the relationship between each counter value and a pixel. It is a figure which shows the relationship between each counter value and a pixel. 4 is a flowchart showing processing executed by a reduction circuit 66.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order.
(1) Configuration of image processing apparatus (2) Processing by reduction circuit (3) Other embodiments

(1) Configuration of Image Processing Device FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an image processing device. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the printer. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the functions of the printer. Further, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the developed band data and the thumbnail band.

In the present embodiment, the image processing apparatus is realized as a part of the printer 10.
As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 10 is connected on a network N. The network N is a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet, and the cloud server 1 is connected to the network N.

  In the system shown in FIG. 1, the printer 10 performs a printing process that downloads original data (original image) recorded in the cloud server 1, generates print data (print image), and prints it. This original image is created by PDL (Page Description Language) such as PostScript. Furthermore, the printer 10 includes a display 20 that displays a thumbnail image (reduced image) corresponding to the original image. Therefore, the user can select a favorite image from the thumbnail images displayed on the display 20 and cause the printer 10 to print the original image.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the printer 10 includes a display 20, an operation panel 30, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 40, a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) 50, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 55, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). 60, an engine 70, and a bus 80. In the present embodiment, the printer 10 is described as a laser printer, but the printer 10 may be an ink jet printer or a printer of another type.

As shown in FIG. 1, the display 20 is provided with a part thereof exposed at the front of the housing. The display 20 includes, for example, a liquid crystal panel and a drive circuit that drives the panel.
The operation panel 30 receives an operation from the user. That is, when the user selects / deselects the thumbnail image displayed on the display 20, the user's operation is accepted through the operation panel 30. The display 20 and the operation panel 30 described above are connected to a bus 80, respectively. In the present embodiment, the display 20 and the operation panel 30 are described as being connected to the bus 80, respectively, but a touch panel having both functions of the display and the operation panel may be connected to the bus 80.

  The CPU 40 is connected to the bus 80 and performs a predetermined process based on a program recorded in the ROM 55. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the CPU 40 functionally includes a band data generation unit 41, a spool unit 42, a security setting unit 43, and a thumbnail output unit 44 by executing a program.

  The band data generation unit 41 analyzes the original data and generates expanded band data for image processing by dividing the original data into band units each having a predetermined number of rasters. The band data generation unit 41 analyzes the page description language included in the original data, and generates expanded band data.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the expanded band data is data corresponding to the pixel column in the X direction of the original data. For example, when the resolution of the original image is composed of 1024 pixels in the X direction and 768 pixels in the Y direction, the developed band data is composed of a pixel row of 1024 pixels in the X direction.

  The spool unit 42 sequentially supplies the print band (print data) to the ASIC 60. The print band is data generated from the developed band data by processing of the ASIC 60 described later.

  A security setting unit (setting unit) 43 sets a security level for thumbnail images. The security setting unit 43 sets authentication for thumbnail images and the degree of blurring of thumbnail images to be displayed.

  The thumbnail output unit 44 sequentially outputs thumbnail bands to the display 20. The thumbnail band is data generated from the expanded band data by the processing of the ASIC 60 described later. As shown in FIG. 4B, the number of pixels in one thumbnail band corresponds to the pixel column in the X direction of the thumbnail image. The number of pixels of the thumbnail image corresponds to the resolution of the display 20.

  The ASIC 60 is connected to the bus 80 and performs predetermined processing on the developed band data supplied from the CPU 40. As shown in FIG. 3, the ASIC 60 includes an IODMA 61, a blank internal output circuit 62, a branch circuit 63, a color conversion compression circuit 64, a raster buffer 65, a reduction circuit 66, and an output circuit 67 therein.

  The IODMA 61 is connected to the cloud server 1 through the network N and receives original data from the cloud server 1.

  The blank internal output circuit (blank band output unit) 62 is connected to the reduction circuit 66. When the original data analyzed by the CPU 40 includes a blank band (pixel array), the blank internal output circuit 62 converts the band corresponding to the blank band into a reduction circuit 66 according to the position of the blank band. Output to.

  The branch circuit (replication unit) 63 is connected to the bus 80 on the input side, and connected in parallel with the color conversion compression circuit 64 and the reduction circuit 66 on the output side. Therefore, when the development band data is supplied from the DRAM 50 to the ASIC 60, the development band data is duplicated by the branch circuit 63 (the first image data used for generating the print data and the original image data at a predetermined sampling interval. Second image used to generate reduced image data reduced in number). The copied expanded band data is supplied to the color conversion compression circuit 64 and the reduction circuit 66, respectively.

  A color conversion / compression circuit (first control unit) 64 performs color conversion and compression on the developed band data, and outputs the result to the DRAM 50 as a print band. The print band is data used for the printing process, and is formed by the same number of pixels as the number of dots formed by the engine 70 in one scan. The color conversion compression circuit 64 converts the RGB color component values of the developed band data into CMYK color component values. The color conversion / compression circuit 64 compresses the converted expanded band data and outputs it to the DRAM 50.

The reduction circuit (second control unit) 66 generates a thumbnail band from the expanded band data and outputs it to the DRAM 50. As described above, the thumbnail band is data for displaying a thumbnail image on the display 20.
When generating the thumbnail band, the reduction circuit 66 performs a reduction process after performing a blurring process (averaging process) on the developed band data. That is, by this blurring process, aliasing included by sampling the original image can be removed. Furthermore, by increasing the degree of blurring in this blurring process, the confidentiality of thumbnail images can be increased. In the reduction process, the number of pixels of the developed band data for one page is reduced according to the number of display pixels (resolution) of the display 20. Further, as will be described later, the reduction circuit 66 reduces the second image data by including the number of rasters and the number of sampling intervals in which the ratio between them is not an integer, and generates reduced image data.

  The output circuit 67 converts the print band supplied from the spool unit 42 into a signal corresponding to the engine 70. For example, the output circuit 67 converts the print band into binarized data indicating “ON” and “OFF” of the dots. In addition to this, when the printer 10 supports the change of the dot size, the output circuit 67 converts the binarized data according to the set dot size.

The engine (processing execution unit) 70 includes a semiconductor laser that generates laser light, a photosensitive unit, a transfer belt, and toners of C, M, Y, and K. The engine 70 drives each unit based on the binarized data output from the output circuit 67 to form a print image on a sheet.
When the printer 10 is an ink jet printer, the engine 70 includes a print head that ejects ink and C, M, Y, and K cartridges.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a printing process using the printer 10. FIG. 6 is a timing chart for explaining the processing in step S4 in FIG. In the processing shown in FIG. 5, an example will be described in which an image that the user likes is selected from a plurality of original data downloaded from the cloud server 1 to the printer 10 and printed.

  First, in step S1, a blurring degree is set. Here, the blurring degree indicates the number of pixels that are averaged at a time. The security setting unit 43 sets the degree of blur according to the level of confidentiality specified for the thumbnail image. For example, when the user operates the operation panel 30 and selects one of “high”, “medium”, and “low” icons indicating the level of confidentiality, the security setting unit 43 sets the degree of blurring. To do. Further, the security setting unit 43 selects a filter size used by the reduction circuit 66 according to the set degree of blurring. For example, when setting the density level from “medium” to “high”, selecting a filter size larger than the filter size when the density level is “medium” is more than when the density level is “medium”. The degree of blur increases.

  In step S <b> 2, the CPU 40 acquires the original data recorded on the cloud server 1. In step S <b> 2, original data for one page is supplied from the cloud server 1 to the printer 10. The supplied original data is recorded in the DRAM 50 through the IODMA 61.

  In step S3, the band data generation unit 41 generates expanded band data from the original data. That is, the band data generation unit 41 analyzes the page description language of the original data and generates expanded band data.

In step S <b> 4, the CPU 40 outputs the developed band data to the ASIC 60.
Inside the ASIC 60, the developed band data is duplicated by the branch circuit 63. Then, the color conversion / compression circuit 64 generates a print band from the duplicated one of the developed band data. In addition to the print band, the reduction circuit 66 generates a thumbnail band used for thumbnail generation processing from the other expanded band data.

  The color conversion / compression circuit 64 converts the color component values (R, G, B) of the pixels constituting the development band data into color component values (C, M, Y, K) corresponding to the toner color, and prints them. Generate a band. Then, the color conversion compression circuit 64 compresses the print band and outputs it to the DRAM 50. The processing by the color conversion compression circuit 64 is performed on the developed band data for one page, and a print band for one page is generated. The generated print bands are sequentially recorded in the DRAM 50. Therefore, the DRAM 50 implements the temporary recording unit of the present invention.

  On the other hand, the reduction circuit 66 generates a thumbnail band based on the developed band data. Therefore, first, the reduction circuit 66 performs a blurring process on the developed band data. In this blurring process, a process according to the filter size set in step S1 is performed. Next, the reduction circuit 66 performs a reduction process on the developed band data after the blurring process. By this reduction processing, the number of pixels of the developed band data corresponds to the number of pixels in the scanning direction of the display 20. Then, the reduction circuit 66 outputs the reduced expanded band data to the DRAM 50 as a thumbnail band. The processing by the reduction circuit 66 is performed on the developed band data for one page, and a thumbnail band for one page is generated.

  Further, when the specification of the print language of the original image is to skip the blank image, the blank internal output circuit 62 also reduces the reduction circuit even when the developed band data is blank (for example, RGB = 0, 0, 0). 66 outputs blank expanded band data. This is because in the blurring process and the reduction process executed by the reduction circuit 66, if a blank pixel is skipped, a coordinate shift occurs, which may hinder the blurring process and the reduction process.

  FIG. 6 shows the time required for processing in each circuit when the horizontal axis is time. The processing by the color conversion / compression circuit 64 and the processing by the reduction circuit 66 are executed for different expanded band data copied from one expanded band data. That is, generation of a print band for one page by the color conversion compression circuit 64 (FIG. 6A) and generation of a thumbnail band for one page by the reduction circuit 66 (FIG. 6B) are parallel processing. Become.

  In step S <b> 5, the thumbnail output unit 44 displays the thumbnail image on the display 20. The thumbnail output unit 44 sequentially outputs the thumbnail bands for one page recorded in the DRAM 50 to the display 20. Therefore, the display 20 displays a thumbnail image based on the output thumbnail band.

In step S6, when a thumbnail image is selected as a print target by an operation input from the user using the operation panel 30 (step S6: YES), in step S8, the spool unit 42 is recorded in the DRAM 50 (FIG. 6 (c)) The print band for one page is sequentially output to the ASIC 60. That is, the spool unit 42 outputs a print band having the same original data as the thumbnail image to the ASIC 60.
At this time, as shown in FIG. 6D, in response to an operation input from the user using the operation panel 30, the spool unit 42 outputs a print band already recorded in the DRAM 50, so that the printing process is started. Time can be shortened. Then, the printing process by the ASIC and the engine 70 is started (FIG. 6E).

When the print band is supplied to the ASIC 60, the binarization process or the like by the output circuit 67 is performed on the print band in the ASIC 60.
When the engine 70 receives the binarized data, the engine 70 forms a toner image on the photosensitive belt drum using a semiconductor laser and C, M, Y, and K toners. The C, M, Y, and K toner images are transferred onto a sheet by a transfer drum to form a print image.

  On the other hand, if the thumbnail image is not selected as a print target due to an operation input from the user even after the predetermined timing has elapsed (step S6: NO), the spool unit 42 proceeds to step S7 and is recorded in the DRAM 50. The print band for one page is discarded. Then, the CPU 40 returns to step S <b> 2 and acquires the original data from the cloud server 1 again. That is, the CPU 40 acquires the original data that is the next print candidate from the cloud server 1. Similarly to the above, in step S5, a thumbnail image of the newly acquired original data is displayed.

(2) Processing by Reduction Circuit Next, thumbnail band generation processing performed by the reduction circuit 66 will be described in detail.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the internal configuration of the reduction circuit 66 and the like. FIGS. 8 and 9 are diagrams showing the relationship between each counter value and pixels when a unit having 16 rasters is set as one band unit.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the reduction circuit 66 includes a sampling circuit 661, an averaging circuit 662, filter counters 663 and 664, reduction size counters 665 and 666, carry counters 667 and 668, and a position adjustment circuit 669. . The reduction circuit 66 is connected to the raster buffer 65.

  The sampling circuit 661 samples each pixel of the expanded band data at a predetermined number of sampling intervals. By this sampling, the X-direction position (i) and Y-direction position (j) of the pixels constituting the development band data, and the color component values (R, G, B) of each pixel are acquired.

  The averaging circuit 662 performs a blurring process on the developed band data. The averaging circuit 662 calculates each average value Aver of the color component values (R, G, B) of the pixels for each filter size with an arbitrary filter size set according to the degree of blurring.

The filter counters 663 and 664 count pixels (Cx1, Cy1) corresponding to the respective filter sizes in the X direction or the Y direction. For example, the filter counter x663 changes the count value Cx1 to 1, 2, 3,... According to the number of pixels sampled by the sampling circuit 661. Then, the count value Cx1 = the number of filters in the X direction, and the count value Cx1 corresponding to the next pixel is reset to “1”. For example, when the number of filters is 4 × 4, the count value Cx1 is set to “1” at the 5th (4 + 1) th pixel, which is the next pixel after the 4th pixel (i = “4”) of the developed band data. "
Further, the filter counter y664 changes the count value Cy1 to 1, 2, 3,... For each developed band data for which sampling is started by the sampling circuit 661. Then, the count value Cy1 corresponding to the next pixel is reset to “1” with the count value Cy1 = the number of filters in the Y direction.

The reduction size counters 665 and 666 count the number of pixels reduced at a time (Cx2, Cy2). The reduced size counter x665 changes the count value Cx2 to 0, 1, 2,... According to the number of pixels sampled by the sampling circuit 661. When the count value Cx2 = the reduction ratio in the X direction, the count value Cx2 is reset to “0”.
Further, the reduction size counter y666 changes the count value Cy2 to 1, 2, 3,... For every y-direction pixel number (j) where sampling is started by the sampling circuit 661. When the count value Cy2 = Y direction reduction rate, the count Cy2 is reset to “0”.

The carry counters 667 and 668 determine the number of output times of the average value (avrX, avrY) of the pixels within the filter size. Carry counter x666 sets (A) if count value Cx1 ≦ reduction ratio, count value Cx3 = “1”, and adds “1” to count value Cx3 every time the number of sampling pixels (i) exceeds the reduction ratio. To do.
Further, (B) when the count value CX1 = the number of filters in the X direction, the count value of the next pixel is reset to “0”. When (A) and (B) are performed simultaneously, the count value Cx3 = reset “0”.
The carry counter y667 sets (C) to “1” if the count value Cy1 ≦ the reduction ratio, and adds “1” to the count value Cy3 every time the number of development band data to be sampled exceeds the Y direction reduction ratio. . Also, (D) when the count value Cy1 = the number of Y-direction filters, the count value Cy3 of the next pixel is reset to “0”. If (C) and (D) are performed simultaneously, the count value Cy is reset to “0”.

  The position adjustment circuit 669 determines the number of average values Aver output from the pixels for each filter size, and outputs them to the DRAM 50.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing processing executed by the reduction circuit 66.

  First, in step S11, a filter size is selected. The selected filter size is set according to the blurring degree set in step S1 of FIG.

  Next, in step S12, sampling of the developed band data is performed by the sampling circuit 661. First, the X-direction position (i) of pixels included in one development band data and the color component values (R, G, B) of each pixel are acquired. In accordance with this sampling, the respective count values in the filter counters 663 and 664, the reduced size counters 665 and 666, and the carry counters 667 and 668 change.

  In step S13, the averaging circuit 662 calculates an average value Aver for each X-direction filter size. For example, in the case of a 4 × 4 filter size, the averaging circuit 662 calculates an average value Aver for every four pixels in the thumbnail band. Then, the averaging circuit 662 records the calculated Aver in the raster buffer 65 for each filter size. Note that the calculation timing of the average value Aver is determined by the count value Cx1 of the filter counter x663.

  In step S14, the averaging circuit 662 determines whether or not the count value Cy1 of the filter counter y664 has reached the Y-direction filter size. Here, assuming that the number of samplings in the Y direction has not reached the Y direction filter size (4 pixels), the process proceeds to step S15.

  In step S15, the averaging circuit 662 reads the integrated value of the average value Aver of the pixels for each X-direction filter size recorded in the raster buffer 65, and the integrated value (average value) with the average value Aver calculated in step S13. Is calculated.

  And it returns to step S12 and the process to S15 is repeated. Thereafter, when the count value Cy1 of the filter counter y664 reaches the Y-direction filter size (step S14: YES), the position adjustment circuit 669 proceeds to step S16. By the processing from step S13 to step S15, the reduction circuit 66 includes the second image data including the number of rasters and the number of sampling intervals in which the ratio of the predetermined number of sampling intervals is not an integer (for example, FIG. 8, FIG. 9). As shown in FIG. 5, reduced image data can be generated even when the number of rasters per band is 16 and the number of sampling intervals is 5.

When the number of sampling pixels is different between the blurring process and the reduction process, the pixel may be reduced across the filters. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, pixel (xi, yj) = (1, 5) has an average value Aver due to 16 sampling pixels from pixel (1, 5) to pixel (4, 8). Calculated. On the other hand, pixel (1, 5) is included in 25 sampling pixels from pixel (1, 1) to (5, 5) in the reduction process.
In such a case, since the number of pixels is reduced by pixels having different average values Aver, a thumbnail image may not be generated correctly.

  For this reason, in this embodiment, the number of times of output of the average value Aver output from the pixels within the filter size is determined while taking a predetermined value for the reduction ratio. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the pixels from being reduced across different filters.

  Here, the count values (Cx3, Cy3) indicate how many leading pixels of the pixel group to be reduced at once are included in the pixel group to be blurred at once (that is, pixels within the filter size). Indicates. For example, in FIG. 8, a pixel (i, j) = (1, 1) to (4, 4) sampled with a filter size of 4 × 4 is reduced at a reduction ratio (1/5). Only the first pixel (x1, y1) of the sampling pixel (5 × 5) is included (indicated by “●” in the figure). Therefore, an average value Aver of one pixel is output from the pixels of this filter size.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9, pixels (i, j) = (1, 1) to (8, 8) sampled with a filter size of 8 × 8 are reduced at a reduction ratio (1/5). In this case, the first pixel (1, 1), (6, 1), (1, 6), (6, 6) of the sampling pixel (5 × 5) is included (indicated by “●” in the figure). . Therefore, an average value Aver of 4 pixels is output from the pixels within the filter size.

  In step S16, the position adjustment circuit 669 multiplies the count values Cx3 and Cy3 to determine the average number Aver output from the pixels for each filter size.

In step S17, the position adjustment circuit 669 outputs the average value Aver according to the number of outputs set in step S16. For example, in FIG. 8, the position adjustment circuit 669 outputs an average value once for pixels (i, j) = (1, 1) to (4, 4). Therefore, each average value Aver is output five times according to the pixel group constituting the four rows of development band data, and the final pixel reduction ratio can be (1/5).
That is, the position adjustment circuit determines how many times the average value within the filter size is output to the subsequent stage based on the values of the filter counter, the reduced size counter, and the carry counter in the X direction or the Y direction, respectively. Even when the number of sampling pixels is different between the blurring process and the reduction process, the pixels can be reduced across the filters.

In step S18, when the development band data for one page is not processed (step S18: NO), the process returns to step S12. That is, the processes from S12 to S17 are repeated for all the developed band data input to the reduction circuit 66.
On the other hand, when the development band data for one page is processed (step S18: YES), the process is terminated.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to perform the processing for the print band and the processing for the thumbnail band by using different copied development bands, and processing is performed as compared with the case where the two processes are performed in order. Can be shortened.
Further, the reduction circuit 66 can be matched as a processing unit in hardware even if the number of rasters and the number of sampling intervals in which the ratio between them is not an integer, can be matched as a processing unit in hardware, and at an arbitrary reduction rate. Reduced image data can be generated.
Since the reduction circuit and the blurring degree can be set separately from the reduction ratio, the confidentiality of the reduced image can be increased.

(3) Other Embodiments The description of a printer as an example of the image processing apparatus is merely an example. In addition to the printer, a scanner device or a FAX device may be used as long as the device generates thumbnail images and processing images. The processing for the thumbnail band may be performed in the main scanning and sub-scanning directions of the printer, or when the main scanning and sub-scanning directions of the printer are different from the main scanning and sub-scanning directions of the display that displays the thumbnail image. Alternatively, thumbnail images may be rotated separately. In the present embodiment, the color conversion compression circuit 64 converts the color component values (R, G, B) of the pixels constituting the development band data into the color component values (C, M, Y, K) corresponding to the toner colors. However, when the original image data is monochrome, it may be a compression circuit that does not involve color conversion.

  As a method for determining the original image based on the thumbnail image, various methods other than selecting the thumbnail image displayed on the display by the user's visual observation as in the embodiment are assumed. For example, the CPU 40 of the printer 10 may extract the feature amount of the thumbnail image and make a determination.

Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.
That is, the mutually replaceable members and configurations started in the above embodiments may be applied by changing the combination as appropriate.
Members and structures that are known techniques and can be mutually replaced with the members and structures disclosed in the above-described embodiments may be appropriately replaced, and combinations thereof may be changed and applied.
Those skilled in the art may appropriately replace the members and structures that can be assumed as substitutes for the members and structures disclosed in the above-described embodiments based on known techniques and the like, and change the combinations thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Cloud server, 10 ... Printer, 20 ... Display, 30 ... Operation panel, 40 ... CPU, 41 ... Band data generation part, 42 ... Spool part, 43 ... Security setting part, 44 ... Thumbnail output part, 50 ... DRAM, 55 ... ROM, 60 ... ASIC, 62 ... Blank internal output circuit, 63 ... Branch circuit, 64 ... Color conversion compression circuit, 65 ... Raster buffer, 66 ... Reduction circuit, 67 ... Output circuit, 70 ... Engine, 80 ... Bus, 661 ... Sampling circuit, 662 ... Averaging circuit, 663 ... Filter counter x, 664 ... Filter counter y, 665 ... Reduced size counter x, 666 ... Reduced size counter y, 667 ... Carry counter x, 668 ... Carry counter y, 669 ... Position adjustment circuit

Claims (7)

An image processing apparatus that generates a reduced image reduced at a predetermined reduction rate based on an original image,
A setting unit for setting a filter size for setting the number of pixels to be averaged separately from the reduction ratio;
For the original image, an averaging unit that averages the component values of the pixels for each number of pixels corresponding to the filter size;
An image processing apparatus comprising: an output unit that selects each pixel of the averaged original image in a number corresponding to the reduction ratio and outputs the selected image as the reduced image.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit selects the filter size according to sensitivity of the reduced image. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a position adjustment circuit that determines a number of times of outputting an average value of component values of pixels sampled with the filter size with respect to the original image . A replication unit that replicates the original image into a first image and a second image; and a first control unit that generates a print image based on the original image;
The first control unit performs a predetermined process on the first image to generate a processed image,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the averaging unit performs averaging on the second image. A temporary recording unit for recording the print image;
Based on the reduced image, if the original image is selected for processing, with a processing execution unit for performing predetermined processing for the recorded the printed image on the temporary recording unit, the 請 Motomeko 4 The image processing apparatus described. The original image is created based on a predetermined page description language,
When the original image has a blank pixel column, a blank band output unit is provided that supplements a pixel column corresponding to the blank pixel column at the position of the blank pixel column of the original image and outputs the blank pixel column to the averaging unit. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5. An image processing method by an image processing apparatus that generates a reduced image corresponding to a predetermined reduction ratio based on an original image,
The image processing apparatus sets a filter size for setting the number of pixels to be averaged separately from the reduction ratio,
For the original image, pixel component values are averaged for each number of pixels corresponding to the filter size,
An image processing method of selecting each pixel of the averaged original image by a number corresponding to the reduction ratio and outputting the selected image as the reduced image.

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