JPH09163154A - Picture processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a processor capable of reducing picture processing time without increasing the loads of a hardware by providing the respective means of input, recognition, counting and output and the respective means of first and second compression, storage and expansion. SOLUTION: By a PDL execution request from a network 21 or a computer, a CPU 10 receives data, converts the data to codes and stores them in a memory 16 or a drive 24. The CPU 10 recognizes a part plotted as texts or graphics in a PDL as picture elements for constituting the pictures of less than two tones and recognizes the part plotted as raster images as elements for constituting the pictures of more than three tones. When the PDL for one page is interpreted and a page printing instruction is received, the CPU 10 reads an intermediate code. When the read picture element is a 'first picture element', the number of the picture elements for which the 'first picture element' continues is counted and reversible compression is performed. By an encoded picture element number and the tone of the picture elements, an output command is prepared and stored in the memory 26.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a PDL (Page Des
The present invention relates to an image processing device that expands and outputs image information described in a cription language (page description language).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The lossy compression of an image in order to reduce the memory capacity required for processing a multi-valued image deteriorates the quality of a binary image such as a text or a diagram. Therefore, an image processing apparatus has been proposed in which the original image data is lossy-compressed, the original image data is binarized and reversibly compressed, and both the lossy-compressed image and the lossless-compressed image are stored. -2
50109). According to this image processing device, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the image quality of a text or a diagram by decoding and synthesizing two compressed images.

[0003]

However, the image processing apparatus described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-250109 has the following problems. First, since the original image is compressed by two methods, it takes time to compress. Large hardware is required to perform two compressions in parallel to reduce the compression time.

A large memory is required to store two types of compressed images. Furthermore, when outputting an image, two images must be expanded and combined. Since this decompression must be performed at high speed in accordance with the printing speed of the printer, the load on the hardware is large. When the attribute information indicating the image compression method is compressed, the attribute information must be decompressed at high speed, which further increases the load on the hardware. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing device that can solve such problems.

[0005]

In order to achieve such an object, the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that an input means for inputting image data and each pixel of the image data input by the input means are A recognition unit for recognizing whether the pixel is a first pixel forming a non-continuous tone image or a second pixel forming a continuous tone image, and a first pixel in which the first pixel recognized by the recognizing unit is continuous. The second number in which the number of consecutive pixels and the second pixel are consecutive
Counting means for respectively counting the number of consecutive pixels, and first compression for reversibly compressing pixel data composed of the first pixel based on the first consecutive pixel number and the gradation value of the first pixel counted by the counting means. Means, first storage means for storing the image data reversibly compressed by the first compression means and the second number of consecutive pixels counted by the counting means, and first decompressing the image data stored by the first storage means. A decompression means, a second compression means for irreversibly compressing pixel data composed of second pixels, a second storage means for storing the image data irreversibly compressed by the second compression means, and a second storage means. Second decompression means for decompressing the stored image data, and output means for outputting the image data decompressed by the first decompression means or the image data of the second continuous pixel number decompressed by the second decompression means. Characterized by comprising.

Here, the first storage means and the second storage means may use different memories or physically the same memory.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, an attribute indicating whether each pixel of the image data input by the input means is a first pixel or a second pixel. An attribute information input unit for inputting information is further provided, and the recognition unit recognizes whether each pixel is a first pixel or a second pixel based on the attribute information input by the attribute information input unit. To do.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, extraction is performed to extract image data having a gradation value difference of a predetermined value or more from the image data input by the input means. Means, and binarizing means for binarizing the image data extracted by the extracting means, wherein the counting means first binarizes the image data binarized by the binarizing means.
It is characterized in that it is counted as pixels.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, image data representing either a text or a figure is recognized from the image data input by the input means. The text / graphic image data recognizing means and the binarizing means for binarizing the image data recognized by the recognizing means are further provided, and the counting means is
The image data binarized by the binarizing means is counted as the first pixel.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the second compressing means stores the image data composed of the first pixel and the image data composed of the second pixel into non-image data. It is characterized by having a reversible compression means. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the second compression means has a means for irreversibly compressing the entire image data of one page.

According to a seventh aspect of the invention, in the image output apparatus according to the first aspect, there is further provided replacement means for replacing the first pixel with a predetermined gradation value, and the second compression means is replaced by the replacement means. The image data of the first pixel and the image data of the second pixel are lossy compressed.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the seventh aspect, the predetermined gradation value replaced by the replacing means is 0.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, there is further provided area recognition means for recognizing an area having a predetermined shape including the second pixel, and the recognition means is the area recognition means. The pixels included in the recognized area are second
It is characterized in that it has means for recognizing it as a pixel.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the ninth aspect, the area recognized by the area recognition means is a rectangle.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the ninth or tenth aspect, the area recognized by the area recognition means includes a plurality of second pixel groups in which the second pixels are continuous. Characterize.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the tenth aspect, the area recognized by the area recognition means is a minimum area including all the second pixels in one page. And

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the tenth aspect, the area recognized by the area recognition means includes all of the second pixels in the image data input by the input means. It is characterized by being the smallest area.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an input means for inputting image data, and a first pixel forming an image of non-continuous gradation in each pixel of the image data input by the input means. Recognition means for recognizing, counting means for counting the number of first continuous pixels in which the first pixels recognized by the recognition means are continuous, the first number of continuous pixels counted by the counting means and the first pixel Based on the gradation value of
First compression means for reversibly compressing pixel data composed of the first pixels, second compression means for irreversibly compressing pixel data input by the input means, and an image reversibly compressed by the first compression means. First storage means for storing data, second storage means for storing image data irreversibly compressed by the second compression means, and first decompression means for decompressing the image data stored by the first storage means. A second decompression means for decompressing the image data stored by the second storage means, and one of the image data decompressed by the first decompression means and the image data decompressed by the second decompression means. And output means for outputting.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the expansion means for expanding the image expressed in PDL, and the type of the image expanded by the expansion means based on the data included in the image expressed in PDL Identification means for identifying each part,
A compression means for compressing each of the parts by a compression method based on the identification result of the part, and a memory for storing an image of the compressed part and a compression method of compressing the part are provided.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to any one of the first to fourteenth aspects, the non-continuous gradation image is an image of two gradations or less, The image is characterized by having three or more gradations.

[0021]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an image processing apparatus of the present invention in Embodiment 1. The CPU 10 receives an image represented by PDL from the network 21 via the network controller 20. However, if an interface with the host computer is provided, the P
The DL image may be received. The interface with the network controller 20 or the host computer is
It corresponds to the "input means" described in the claims.

Software for interpreting PDL is loaded in the main memory 16. Cache memory 1
2 is the data read by the CPU 10 in the main memory 16
Cash from. The SCSI controller 22 controls the hard disk drive 24. The bus bridge 14 connects the main memory 16, the CPU bus 11, the cache memory 12, and the image data bus 19. The printer interface 36 is the output synthesizer 3
The image output from 4 is output to the printer.

Using the flow chart of FIG. 2, C of FIG.
The operation of the PU 10 will be described. When a PDL execution request is issued from the network 21 or the host computer (S
10), the CPU 10 receives the PDL data (S1)
5). Next, the received PDL data is interpreted, converted into an intermediate code, and stored in the main memory 16 or the hard disk drive 24 (S20).

The CPU 10 recognizes a portion drawn as text or a figure in PDL as a pixel forming an image having two or less gradations, that is, a "first pixel" described in the claims. Further, a portion drawn as a raster image in PDL is recognized as a pixel forming an image having three or more gradations, that is, a "second pixel" described in the claims. Here, “a pixel forming an image with three or more gradations” means that each pixel has three pixels.
Not only in the case of gradation or more, but also in the case of an image of 3 gradations or more composed of a plurality of binary pixels such as dither,
Each pixel is also applicable.

When the page print command is received by interpreting the PDL for one page (S25), the CPU 10 reads the intermediate code (S30). Read pixel is “first pixel”
In that case, the number of consecutive "first pixels" is counted and lossless compression is performed by the run length encoding method. A color output command for printing the "first pixel" is created based on the coded pixel number and the gradation value of the pixel and stored in the command memory 26 (S35).

If the read pixel is the "second pixel", the number of consecutive "second pixels" is counted. An image output command for printing the "second pixel" is created based on the counted number of pixels and stored in the command memory 26 (S35). Further, the CPU 10 stores the “second pixel” image of the counted number of pixels in the image memory 28.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the command structure. The color output command includes a 1-bit flag 60, 7-bit pixel number data 62 indicating the number of pixels, and 8 indicating the pixel color.
It has bit color data 64. In addition, 0 of the pixel number data 62 represents that the number of pixels is 120.

The image output command represents the portion drawn as a raster image in PDL. The image output command is also used when a text or graphic image and a raster image image overlap in the same area. The image output command has a 1-bit flag 60 and 15-bit pixel number data 66 indicating the number of pixels. The value of flag 60 (bit 15) of the color output command is 0
And the image output command flag 60 (bit 1
The value of 5) is 1.

Although the command memory 26 and the image memory 28 are explicitly separated in FIG. 1, they may be physically one memory. It is possible to create only the command first and store the image data immediately after the command. Further, the command memory 26 and the image memory 28
May be provided in a part of the main memory 16. In this case, the command interpreter 30 and the buffer device 32 are connected to the main memory 16.

When the creation and storage of the command for one page (S40) and the storage of the image data (S40) are completed (S45), printing is started. The command interpreter 30 reads the commands stored in the command memory 26 one by one (S50), and the flag 60
The (bit 15) is tested (S55).

If the flag 60 is 0, it is a color output command. In this case, the command interpreter 30 sets the color represented by the color data 64 in the output synthesizer 34 (S65), and outputs a signal for selecting the output of the command interpreter 30 to the output synthesizer 34 (S70).
The run length stored as the pixel number data 62 is read, and the dots of that number are output to the output synthesizing device 34. The output synthesizer 34 uses the command interpreter 3
The pixels received from 0 are output to the printer interface 36 in a preset color.

If the flag 60 is 1, it is an image output command. In this case, the command interpreter 30 outputs a signal for causing the buffer device 32 to output the number of pixels represented by the pixel number data 66 in the command.
(S60). Then, the output synthesizing device 34 reads out the designated number of pixels from the buffer device 32 and outputs the read pixels to the printer interface 36. S50 to S70 are repeated until all commands are read, and then the process returns to S10 (S80).

The buffer device 32 has a FIFO, and reads data from the image memory 28 in advance and stores it in the FIFO. When the data is read from the output synthesizer 34, the buffer device 32 reads the data from the image memory 28 and replenishes the FIFO.

(Second Embodiment) In this embodiment, image data is lossy compressed before being stored in the image memory 28. JPE is a lossy compression method for image data.
G is known. In the JPEG system, an image is compressed based on 8 × 8 matrix.

In the JPEG compression state, a plurality of image data cannot be combined. Therefore, if a plurality of image data are included in one page and they are separately compressed, it is difficult to simultaneously perform the decompression operation and the printing operation. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the maximum rectangle including all the images is obtained. The maximum rectangle may include "pixels forming an image with two or less gradations". Within the largest rectangle,
Areas where there is no image of dext, figure, or image are replaced with white image, that is, 0 of data. Treat all pixels contained in the largest rectangle as "second pixel" JPE
Compress by G method.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the image data exists only in a part of the 8 × 8 block, in order to prevent the background color from being melted and the image quality to be deteriorated by JPEG,
Make the background color in the 8x8 block the same as the outermost color of the image.

FIG. 6 shows the configuration of the image processing apparatus of the present invention in the second embodiment. Since the components corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1, their description will be omitted.
The operation until the intermediate code is created is the same as that in the first embodiment. When the creation of the intermediate code is completed, the command is created and stored in the command memory 26.

Subsequently, the maximum rectangle of the image is obtained from the address of the image data, and the highest point is stored in the X1 register 42 and Y1 register 44, and the lowest point is stored in the X2 register 46 and Y2 register 48. Next, the image data is sent to the JPEG encoder 38 and compressed and stored in the image memory 28. JPEG encoder 38
Corresponds to the "second compressing means" described in the claims.

When the image data is included only in a part of the block, the outermost color of the image is sent to the JPEG encoder 38 as shown in FIG. However, the data of the block that does not include any image data is replaced with 0 (white). Printing starts when the command and image data are stored in the memory. The X counter 52 and the Y counter 54 count the clocks output from the command interpreter 30. This count number indicates the address currently being printed.

The comparator 50 compares the values of the X1, Y1, X2, and Y2 registers 42 to 48 indicating the maximum rectangle of the image with the values of the X and Y counters 52 and 54, and the address currently being printed is the maximum of the image. A signal indicating whether it is inside or outside the rectangle is sent to the buffer device 32. Buffer device 32
Stores the decompressed image data output from the JPEG decoder 40 in the FIFO. When the FIFO becomes full, a signal indicating this is sent to the JPEG decoder 40.

The JPEG decoder 40 reads the compressed data stored in the image memory 28, decompresses it, and sends it to the buffer device 32. If the FIFO of the buffer device 32 is not full, this operation is repeated. That is, the JPEG decoder 40 operates asynchronously with the output to the printer.

When the output of the comparator 50 indicates that the address being printed is inside the image maximum rectangle, the buffer device 32 outputs the image data stored in the FIFO to the output synthesizing device 34. If it is displayed outside the maximum rectangle, the image data is not output.

The output synthesizing device 34 selects the output of the command interpreter 30 or the buffer device 32 according to the instruction of the command interpreter 30 and sends it to the printer interface 36. Even if the address currently being printed is within the maximum rectangle of the image, if the command interpreter 30 instructs the output of the command interpreter 30 to be selected, the image data sent from the buffer device 32 is discarded.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of an image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. In this embodiment, 1
Treat the entire page as image data and perform lossy compression. This has the same effect as when the maximum rectangle is one page. The lossy compressed image is stored in the image memory 28. The command representing the “first pixel” is stored in the command memory 26 as in the first and second embodiments.

When the image composed of the "first pixel" is read from the command memory 26 at the time of printing the image, the output synthesizer 34 is made to select the output of the command interpreter 30. The pixels stored in the buffer device 32 are skipped by the number of read pixels. Other operations are the same as those in the second embodiment.

Compared to the second embodiment, the third embodiment does not require the registers 42 to 48, the comparator 50, and the counters 52 and 54. Instead, the compression rate of the image data becomes low. Therefore, the trade-off between the memory cost and the cost of the peripheral circuit allows the second embodiment or the third embodiment.
Either form is selected. According to this embodiment, the image processing apparatus can be configured at low cost when the cost of the memory is low.

(Fourth Embodiment) FIG. 8 shows the arrangement of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention in the fourth embodiment. Compared with the configuration of the first embodiment, a color register 56 is added to the present embodiment. FIG. 9 shows the structure of the command in this embodiment. The configuration of the color output command is the first to the first embodiments.
Same as 3. The pre-color repeat command and the image output command include 2-bit flags 68 and 14.
It has bit pixel number data 70.

The command interpreter 30 is the first 2B.
It is operated by decoding it (bit 15 and bit 14). If the first 2 bits are 01 or 00,
The command interpreter 30 sets the color data information in the command in the color register 56, and the output synthesizer 3
4 is instructed to select the value of the color register.

When the first two bits are 10, the command interpreter 30 does not change the color register 56 and instructs the output synthesizer 34 to select the value of the color register 56. Next, the output synthesizer 34 is caused to output the number of pixels indicated by the pixel number data 70. Since the pixel number data 70 of the previous color repeat command has a large number of bits, a large number of pixels can be output by one command.

If the first 2 bits are 11, the command interpreter 30 does not set the color register 56 but instructs the output synthesizer 34 to select the image data. Further, the number of pixels indicated by the pixel number data 70 is read from the buffer device 32.

(Fifth Embodiment) The configuration of the image processing apparatus of the present invention in the fifth embodiment is the same as that of the fourth embodiment. However, this embodiment has seven commands, unlike the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 10 shows the structure of the command in this embodiment. The White output command outputs white (data 0) without setting the color register. Blac
The k output command outputs black (data 1) without setting the color register. The End of Line command marks the end of a line and causes a 0 to be output for the rest of the line. The End of Page command marks the end of the page and causes a 0 to be printed for the rest of the page. A flag T / G indicating whether the output is a character (Text) or a graphic (Graphic) is added to the color output command. The command interpreter also outputs a T / G / I switching signal indicating whether the color data output to the printer is a character or a graphic based on the T / G flag or the image output command.
The contents of the processing executed by the previous color repeat command and the image output command are the same as in the fourth embodiment.

These commands are identified by flags of 1 to 3 bits. If bit 15 is 0, it is a color output command. When bits 15, 14, and 13 are 100, it is a White output command unless all of bits 12 to 0 are 0, and when all of bits 12 to 0 are 0, E
This is the nd of Line command.

When bits 15, 14, and 13 are 101, it is a Black output command unless all of bits 12 to 0 are 0, and when all of bits 12 to 0 are 0.
It is the End of Page command. Bits 15, 14, 13
If is 110, previous color repeat command, bit 1
If 5, 14, 13 are 111, it is an image output command.

Since the flag is longer than in the fourth embodiment, the maximum number of pixels that can be counted is small. Therefore, the number of commands required to output the image is larger than that in the fourth embodiment.
However, the number of commands required to output black or white is smaller than that in the fourth embodiment. Since black or white is often output, the number of commands required as a whole can be reduced.

(Other) In the above embodiment, "input means"
Input a PDL image. However, as another embodiment, the “input means” described in the claims may input a raster-expanded image or a compressed raster image. In this case, the "input means" inputs the attribute information indicating whether each pixel of the input image forms an image of 2 gradations or less or an image of 3 gradations or more from the network 21 or the host computer. . The "identifying means" judges the image compression method according to the inputted attribute information.

It is also possible to extract characters or diagrams from the raster-developed image. The gradation value in the part of the character or diagram changes greatly. Therefore, first, the difference between the gradation values of adjacent pixels in the raster-developed image, that is, the differential value of the gradation values is obtained. A portion having a differential value equal to or larger than a predetermined value is extracted, and pixels of the extracted portion are binarized and losslessly compressed.
According to this method, the text and the diagram in the image given as the image can also be compressed as the binary image at a high rate.

The method of "reversible compression" described in the claims is not limited to the compression method using run length coding. For example, in another embodiment, the number of pixels may be Huffman coded.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the technical scope of the invention according to the present application is not limited to the above embodiments. The invention described in the claims can be implemented by adding various changes to the above embodiment. It is obvious from the description of the claims that such an invention belongs to the technical scope of the invention according to the present application.

[0060]

As is apparent from the above description, the image data is separated into two parts, that is, the text or graphic part and the image part, and the command and the image data are used to print the image data. The image processing apparatus can be configured with the extension synthesis hardware.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image processing apparatus of the present invention in a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a command configuration according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an image compression method according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating image processing according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image processing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image processing device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a command configuration according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a command structure according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image processing device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 CPU 11 CPU Bus 12 Cache Memory 14 Bus Bridge 16 Main Memory 18 Data Buffer LSI 19 Image Data Bus 20 Network Controller 21 Network 22 SCSI Controller 24 Hard Disk Drive (HDD) 26 Command Memory 28 Image Memory 30 Command Interpreter 32 Buffer Device 34 Output Synthesizer 36 Printer interface 38 JPEG encoder 40 JPEG decoder 42 X1 register 44 Y1 register 46 X2 register 48 Y2 register 50 Comparator 52 X counter 54 Y counter 56 Color register 60 Flag 62 Pixel number data 64 Color data 66 Pixel number data 68 Flag 70 Pixel count data

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location H04N 1/41 G06F 15/62 A

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. An input unit for inputting image data, and each pixel of the image data input by the input unit is a first pixel forming a non-continuous tone image or a continuous tone tone. Recognizing means for recognizing whether the pixel is a second pixel constituting the above image, a first continuous pixel number in which the first pixel recognized by the recognizing means is continuous, and a second continuous pixel in which the second pixel is continuous. Counting means for respectively counting the number, and losslessly compressing pixel data composed of the first pixel based on the first continuous pixel number and the gradation value of the first pixel counted by the counting means. 1 compression means, 1st storage means for storing the image data reversibly compressed by said 1st compression means and said 2nd continuous pixel number counted by said counting means, and image stored by said 1st storage means data First decompression means for decompression, second compression means for irreversibly compressing pixel data composed of the second pixels, and second storage means for storing image data irreversibly compressed by the second compression means Second decompression means for decompressing the image data stored by the second storage means, image data decompressed by the first decompression means and the second continuous pixel number decompressed by the second decompression means. An image processing apparatus comprising: an output unit that outputs one of image data. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein attribute information indicating whether each pixel of the image data input by the input unit is the first pixel or the second pixel is input. Further comprising: attribute information inputting means for recognizing whether each pixel is the first pixel or the second pixel based on the attribute information input by the attribute information inputting means. An image processing device characterized by: 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data input by the input unit is extracted with image data having a gradation value difference of a predetermined value or more, and the extracting unit. Binarizing means for binarizing the image data extracted by the above, wherein the counting means counts the image data binarized by the binarizing means as the first pixel. Image processing device. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: text / graphics image data for recognizing image data expressing one of a text and a figure from the image data input by the input means. The image forming apparatus further includes a recognizing unit and a binarizing unit that binarizes the image data recognized by the recognizing unit, and the counting unit converts the image data binarized by the binarizing unit into the first pixel. An image processing device characterized by counting as. 5. The second compression means comprises means for irreversibly compressing image data composed of the first pixel and image data composed of the second pixel. Image processing device. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second compression unit has a unit for irreversibly compressing the entire image data of one page. 7. The image output device according to claim 1, further comprising a replacement unit that replaces the first pixel with a predetermined gradation value, and the second compression unit replaces the first compression unit by the replacement unit. An image processing device characterized by irreversibly compressing image data of a pixel and image data of the second pixel. 8. The predetermined gradation value to be replaced by the replacing means is 0.
An image processing apparatus according to claim 1. 9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising area recognition means for recognizing an area of a predetermined shape including the second pixel, wherein the recognition means is recognized by the area recognition means. An image processing apparatus comprising means for recognizing a pixel included in the area of the predetermined shape as the second pixel. 10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined shape is a rectangle. 11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the area having the predetermined shape includes a plurality of second pixel groups in which the second pixels are continuous. 12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the area of the predetermined shape is a minimum area including all of the second pixels in one page. 13. The area of the predetermined shape is a minimum area including all of the second pixels in the image input by the input means.
The image processing device according to any one of the above. 14. Input means for inputting image data; recognition means for recognizing a first pixel forming a non-continuous tone image among pixels of the image data input by said input means; Counting means for counting the number of first continuous pixels in which the first pixels recognized by the recognition means are continuous, and based on the number of first continuous pixels and the gradation value of the first pixels counted by the counting means. A first compression means for reversibly compressing the pixel data composed of the first pixels, a second compression means for irreversibly compressing the pixel data input by the input means, and a reversible compression by the first compression means. A first storage unit for storing image data; a second storage unit for storing the image data lossy-compressed by the second compression unit; and a first unit for expanding the image data stored by the first storage unit. One of the image data expanded by the first expansion means and the image data expanded by the second expansion means; An image processing apparatus comprising: an output unit that outputs one of the two. 15. An expanding unit for expanding an image expressed in a predetermined page description language, and a type of an image expanded by the expanding unit based on data included in the image expressed in the page description language. Identifying means for identifying each portion of the image, compression means for compressing each of the portions by a compression method based on the identification result of the portion by the identifying means, and of the portion compressed by the compressing means. An image processing apparatus comprising: an image and a memory that stores the compression method that compresses the image. 16. The non-continuous gradation image is an image having two or less gradations, and the continuous gradation image is an image having three or more gradations. The image processing device according to item 1.