JPH0895878A - Method and device for image communication - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide an image communication method and device which can transmit data of image side that a data retrieval side requires with the irreducible minimum amount of data. CONSTITUTION: When a retrieval terminal 10 requests code data of a desired layer (e.g. layer #1), a data base control part 13 generates the code data of the requested layer #1 by using an image data base 14, and adds an ABORT code at the tail of the encoded data and sends them. The retrieval terminal 10, on the other hand, receives the code data and starts decoding the encoded data that is sent once detecting the ABORT code, thereby displaying an image. Consequently, the encoded data of the image of such a size that the terminal side requires can be sent with an irreducible minimum communication amount.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image communication method and apparatus for communicating hierarchically encoded data of binary images.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The JBIG method, which is an international standard encoding method, is known as a hierarchical encoding method for binary images. In the JBIG method, data having an image size of 1 to the nth power of 2 is generated by reduction processing, and this is encoded for each layer.

On the decoding side which has received the layer code data, it is possible to obtain image data of a required size by decoding up to a specific layer.

In the JBIG system, the format of coded data is determined, and the layer number of the lowest layer of coded data and the final layer number are written in the header part of the code.

In the normal use, the lowest layer is set to "0", and the other layers are used, for example, when an error in data transfer occurs. When retransmitting from an intermediate layer, the lowest layer is set as the layer number to start retransmission, and the coded data of the subsequent layers are transmitted continuously.

If it is desired to interrupt the encoded data,
An ABORT code as a special code can be inserted. This can be inserted at an arbitrary position in the coded data, and the coding and decoding processes can be interrupted.

In the future, it is expected that an image database search system using a public line or the like will become widespread, but such a system is required to have a function of searching data using image data smaller than the original image. Here, the reason for searching using a small image is to shorten the time of transmission and decoding processing and display an image at high speed.

[0008]

However, when the above image data is stored in the image database, all the hierarchical data are managed in a unified manner, so that the lowest layer is 0 and the last layer is 3 (4 layers) in the code header. In the case of) was described. Therefore, all the code data as described above is transmitted, and there is a problem that the communication data amount cannot be reduced.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an image communication method and apparatus capable of communicating data of an image size required by a data search side with a minimum amount of data. And

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the image communication method of the present invention has the following steps.

In an image communication method for communicating hierarchical coded data of a binary image, a requesting step of requesting coded data of a desired layer and a transmission step of generating and transmitting coded data of the requested layer. And a decoding step of decoding the transmitted encoded data and displaying an image.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the image communication apparatus according to the present invention has the following configuration.

In an image communication apparatus for communicating hierarchical coded data of a binary image, requesting means for requesting coded data of a desired layer and transmission means for generating and transmitting coded data of the requested layer. A display unit that performs a decoding process on the transmitted encoded data and displays an image.

[0014]

In this structure, the coded data of the desired layer is requested, the coded data of the requested layer is generated and transmitted, and the transmitted coded data is decoded.
Operates to display an image.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of an image database search system according to the embodiment. In the figure, 10 is a search terminal, 11 and 12 are communication control units provided on the terminal side and the database side, 13 is a database control unit, and 14 is an image database.

The processing procedure in the embodiment having the above configuration will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, in step S1, the terminal side transmits a request for transmitting layer # 0 data to the database side via the communication control unit 11. In response to this request, on the database side, the database control unit 13 searches the image database 14 in step S2, extracts the code data of the layer # 0, attaches predetermined header information, and then the layer #
The ABORT code is added to the end of the coded data of 0 and transmitted.

On the other hand, on the terminal side, JBI is executed in step S3.
When the G code data is received and ABORT is detected, it is determined that the layer # 0 code data is completed, and the decoding process is started. Then, the image data of the layer # 0 is displayed on the search terminal 10.

Next, in step S4, the terminal side similarly transmits a transmission request for layer # 1 data. In response to this request, the database side extracts the coded data of layer # 1 from the image database 14 in step S5, adds predetermined header information, and then adds an ABORT code to the end of the coded data of layer # 1. Send.

On the other hand, on the terminal side, JBI is executed in step S6.
When the G coded data is received and ABORT is detected, it is determined that the layer # 1 coded data has ended, the decoding process is started, and the layer # 1 image data is retrieved.
Display with.

By repeating the above-mentioned processing, the code data of the image of the size required by the terminal side can be sent with the minimum communication amount.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the format of JBIG code data. The code data is start code 31.
And the header part has the lowest layer number 3 of the layer code.
2 and the final layer number 33 are entered. In addition, data such as the image size of the original image is also entered. And
The code header of the code is followed by the code data of each layer.

The ABORT signal can be inserted at any position in the code data.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of code data of each layer generated by the database control means 13 in the embodiment.

In layer # 0, the lowest layer # 0, the final layer number 3, the code data of layer # 0, and finally ABORT
Composed of code.

In the layer # 1, the lowest layer # 1, the final layer number 3, the code data of the layer # 1, and finally ABORT.
Composed of code.

In the layer # 2, the lowest layer # 2, the final layer number 3, the code data of the layer # 2, and finally ABORT
Composed of code.

In the layer # 3, the lowest layer # 3, the final layer number 3, the code data of the layer # 3, and finally ABORT
Composed of code.

These data are generated from the original code data in the image database 14 in response to the transmission request layer on the terminal side.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing images of layer # 0, layer # 1, layer # 2, and layer # 3. When the original image of layer # 3 is M × N, the size of each layer is 1 /
The images are 8, 1/4, and 1/2.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of the search terminal side in the embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 60 is an operation unit for requesting coded data of a necessary layer.
Reference numeral 61 is an ABORT detection unit that detects an ABORT code added to the code data. A decoding processing unit 62 performs a decoding process of JBIG encoded data. And 6
3 is a display control unit, and 64 is a display device.

At the terminal side, the operation section 60 requests the coded data of the required layer from the database side, and when the coded data corresponding thereto is sent, the ABORT detection section 6
At 1, the end of the data is detected and the code data is confirmed. Then, the decoding processing unit 62 performs a decoding process on the sent code data, sends the image data to the display control unit 63,
Check if the image of the requested layer has been completely decoded,
When it is confirmed, the image is displayed on the display device 64.

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram showing the structure of the database side in the embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 70 denotes a data conversion unit that calls code data from the image database 14 and converts the code data into the code data shown in FIG. Reference numeral 71 is a request layer interpretation unit that interprets a request from the terminal side.

On the database side, the request layer interpreter 7
At 1, it is determined which layer of code data is requested from the terminal side, and the layer number is converted to the data conversion unit 70.
Instruct. As a result, in the data conversion unit 70, the coded data of the requested layer is extracted from the coded data of all the layers stored in the image database 14, the header information is added, and the data to which the ABORT signal is added is added to the terminal side. Send to.

<Modification 1> Further, by transmitting the code data of each layer as independent code data, it is possible to realize an image search performed between the terminal and the database.

In the above embodiment, the header information and the prescribed procedure are used to instruct that the code data is only halfway, the size of the final image data, and the next data is the previous continuation. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications are possible.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8, in addition to code data, control data indicating that different code data is one type of image data may be added.

In the example of FIG. 8, a code (control code 1) indicating the number of layers before the code data of layer # 0 and the number of layers is the original image size is sent. Also, the layer #
A code (control code 2) indicating that it is a continuation of the code of the previously transmitted layer is transmitted before the code of 1.

As a result, it becomes possible for the terminal and the database side to transmit the code data only for the request layer.

<Modification 2> It is also possible to sequentially send images of the same layer. This is a process assuming page turning of a document.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing this processing procedure.

First, in step S11, the terminal side transmits a transmission request for data of layer # 0 of image # 1. In response to this request, in step S12, the database side
The coded data in the image database is taken out, attached with predetermined header information, and the ABORT code is added to the end of the coded data of the layer # 0 of the image # 1 and transmitted. And
In step S13, when the terminal side receives the JBIG coded data and detects ABORT, it is determined that the coded data of the layer # 0 has ended, decoding is started, and the image #
1 is displayed.

Next, in step S14, the terminal side transmits a transmission request for data of layer # 0 of image # 2. In response to this request, in step S15, the database side
The coded data in the image database is taken out, attached with predetermined header information, and the ABORT code is added to the end of the coded data of the layer # 0 of the image # 2 and transmitted. And
In step S16, when the terminal side receives the JBIG coded data and detects ABORT, the terminal side determines that the coded data of the layer # 0 has ended, starts decoding, and outputs the image #
Display 2.

By repeating the above processing, it becomes possible to display and switch the image data at high speed like page turning.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device.

It goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0048]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to communicate the image size data required by the data search side with a minimum data amount.

[0049]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image database search system in an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a format of JBIG code data.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of coded data of each layer in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing images of layer # 0, layer # 1, layer # 2, and layer # 3.

6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a search terminal side shown in FIG.

7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the database side shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of code data in Modification 1.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in Modification 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 search terminal 11 communication control unit 12 communication control unit 13 database control unit 14 image database 62 decoding processing unit 63 display control unit 70 data conversion unit 71 request layer interpretation unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image communication method for communicating hierarchical coded data of a binary image, a requesting step for requesting coded data of a desired layer, and transmission for generating and transmitting coded data of the requested layer. An image communication method comprising: a step of performing a decoding process of transmitted encoded data to display an image. 2. The transmission step adds a predetermined signal to the end of the code data of the requested layer, and the display step detects the predetermined signal to judge the end of the code data. The image communication method according to claim 1, wherein the image is displayed by performing a decoding process. 3. The image communication method according to claim 1, wherein, in addition to code data of a desired layer, a code for instructing a processing procedure is added and transmitted. 4. An image communication apparatus for communicating hierarchical coded data of a binary image, requesting means for requesting coded data of a desired layer, and transmission for generating and transmitting coded data of a requested layer. An image communication apparatus comprising: a means and a display means for displaying an image by decoding the transmitted encoded data.