JPH11196283A - Image communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a peripheral equipment and a facsimile equipment to exchange color data very simply where a data transmitter sends data without the need of taking an attribute of a receiver into account. SOLUTION: A common data format is defined between input image devices 102, 103, 104, 105 and an image communication equipment 110. An image protocol processing section 112 applies analysis processing to the common data format after inter-device interface performed. A color conversion processing section 113 generates output data, based on the analysis data and a lockup table 114 set by an output control section. An output control section 120 distributes color- converted output data to a prescribed output device. Thus, free data exchange is realized independently of the characteristics of the output device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image communication apparatus, and more particularly, to a method for transferring data freely between devices having different color space characteristics without being conscious of the color characteristics of an output device.
The present invention relates to an image communication device capable of performing transmission and reception.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the spread of facsimile to companies and homes has been rapidly increasing. The facsimile use mode has also been remarkably advanced, and it has been possible to send and receive e-mail via the Internet, and use it as a printer / scanner by connecting to a personal computer.
AX, a facsimile with a PC interface function and the like have already been commercialized. Transmission and reception of data via facsimile are considered in various forms.

[0003] Such techniques include software for converting read data into an e-mail description format, and e-mail reception data into a print format, hardware, interface processing with a personal computer, and software for network processing. It is realized by a typical fusion and combination.

[0004]

However, even in such an environment, it is not always easy for a peripheral device to send and receive color data to and from a facsimile unless the facsimile uses a compression format supported by the facsimile. is not. That is, it is difficult to transfer data from a CCD camera as a scanner to a facsimile, and it is not practical to perform a data compression format conversion process by a computer for each transfer.

The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and enables a data sender to transmit data without considering a device attribute of a receiver, so that a peripheral device and a facsimile can exchange color data extremely easily. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image communication device capable of performing the operation.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image communication apparatus, comprising: a communication protocol processing unit corresponding to a plurality of different input interfaces; and an image for analyzing attribute information and data of an input image apparatus from input data. Protocol processing means, color conversion processing means for generating and outputting image data depending on a predetermined output device based on the analyzed attribute information and the data, and output control for distributing the generated and output data to the predetermined output device Means.

With this configuration, various input image device data having different device attributes are analyzed, color conversion processing suitable for a predetermined output device is performed, output image data is generated, and data is distributed to output devices having different attributes. Since the input data format can be made independent of the output device, the peripheral device and the facsimile can exchange color data very easily.

The communication protocol processing means interfaces with an input image device having a different physical layer, and is composed of hardware and communication matching processing software. The image protocol processing means analyzes the input data converted into a common format by the input image device and extracts device attribute information and data.

Further, the invention of the image communication according to claim 2 is
In the first aspect of the present invention, the color conversion processing means generates and outputs image data of an apparatus that generates and outputs image data corresponding to different output devices from a single input image data with reference to a look-up table. The configuration was adopted.

With this configuration, the image communication apparatus can easily generate and output image data from the input data to a plurality of output apparatuses having different attributes by referring to the lookup table corresponding to the output device.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image communication apparatus according to the first aspect, the color conversion processing means includes:
Multiple lookups for a single input image data
The table is sequentially switched to execute a plurality of color conversion processes, and the output control means distributes the plurality of output data subjected to the color conversion process to predetermined output devices.

With this configuration, the generated output data can be simultaneously printed on a plurality of output devices having different attributes, for example, an ink jet printer and a laser beam printer.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image communication apparatus according to the first to third aspects, wherein the input data has a unified format including attribute information and data common to the apparatuses. did.

According to this configuration, since the input / output data is described in advance in a common format between the devices, the color conversion processing in the image communication device can be executed easily and reliably, and the image data can be freely exchanged independent of the output device. Becomes

The image communication apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention employs a configuration including format conversion means for converting received facsimile data into a unified format including attribute information and data common to the apparatuses.

With this configuration, the facsimile reception data is also converted into a unified format that can be analyzed and processed in the same manner as the input device data, so that the same color conversion processing can be executed.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below more specifically with reference to the drawings. FIG.
1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The image communication device 101 is the entire device.
Scanner 102 of input image device, CCD camera 10
3. The electronic whiteboard 104 and the personal computer PC 105 are connected to the input interface unit 106 of the image communication apparatus 101 via the respective device interfaces. The display 107 of the output device and the printer 108 are connected to the output interface unit 109 via the device interface. The system control unit 110 includes a device control CPU (central processing unit) and software.

The input interface unit 106 and the output interface unit 109 are composed of hardware connected to each device and connection control software.

The communication protocol processing unit 111 includes an input interface unit 106 and an output interface unit 109
Execute the interface signal processing communication protocol.

The image protocol processing unit 112 analyzes attribute information of common format description data and data from lower layer service data of the input interface 106 and the communication protocol processing unit 111. This processing data is output to the color conversion processing unit 113 in the upper layer. This analysis processing will be described later.

The color conversion processing unit 113 refers to the color conversion table information of the look-up table 114, generates color conversion data corresponding to the output device, and stores it in the memory unit 115.

The memory unit 115 includes a system control unit 110
Is used as a shared memory, and the operation panel 116 is connected to the output setting control unit 117, and the output setting control unit 117
Is configured to change the lookup table 114 referred to by the color conversion processing unit 113 to an output device table specified on the operation panel 116. FAX communication processing section 118 executes communication with a facsimile connected via the PSTN line, and outputs received data to format generation section 119. The format generator 119 converts the received data into a common format that can be analyzed and processed internally.

The output control unit 120 includes a color conversion processing unit 113
Read out the color conversion data stored in the memory unit 115,
Output to the output interface unit 109. When a plurality of output devices are specified on the operation panel 116, the output control unit 120 performs parallel processing.

Thus, the output data of the input image device having different attributes is converted into common format data,
It is input to a facsimile machine with an image processing function. The input data is processed by analyzing attribute information and data, and after being subjected to a color conversion process corresponding to the designated output device, is supplied to each output device through an output control unit and an output interface unit. Data can be exchanged in a common format.

The format of the signal transmitted and received in the image communication configured as described above will be described more specifically with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a frame configuration of data exchanged between an image communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention and an input image apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a hierarchical diagram showing a relationship between a communication protocol and an application between the image communication apparatus and the input image apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The processing of the present invention is executed by software including an application layer 301, a communication protocol layer 302, and a physical layer 303 in the hierarchical diagram shown in FIG. The application layer 301 receives data from a communication protocol layer 302 that controls a lower physical layer 303.

The communication protocol layer 302 executes the establishment of a link connection between connected devices, data transfer, retransmission, etc., and provides data to the application layer 301. Protocols include TCP / IP, FCP (Function Control Protocol), and AV protocol.

The physical layer 303 provides a signal level interface between the connected devices via the communication medium 304. The physical layer 303 includes IEEE-1394, Eth
ernet, SCSI, RS232-C, USB, and the like. With these hierarchical structures, the upper layer application can use application data without being aware of the physical layer.

As shown in FIG. 2, a data frame used by the application layer 301 in FIG. 3 includes a start frame 201, attribute information 202, data 203, and CRC2.
04.

The start frame 201 indicates the head of data. The attribute information 202 is a description frame portion of the input image device information, and includes a device type 205, a data attribute 2
06, divided description with data type 207.

The device type 205 is a scanner, C
Devices such as CD cameras, electronic blackboards, PCs, and options are identified and classified. Data attribute 206 is Text, Phot
Processing data such as o, Image, and File are identified and classified. The data type 207 is formatted to describe details of the data attribute identified and classified by the data attribute 206.

For example, as shown in FIG.
xt, the code type (ASCII, Unico
de, JIS, etc.), and the JIS code describes code set (JISX208, JISX0212, etc.) designation and character size (Font size) designation information. In the case of the data attribute Photo, the encoding format (JP
EG, GIF, JBEG, etc.), plane size (image size), color format (RGB, Gray), color depth information (number specification), gray scale specification (number specification), gray resolution
(Specify numerical value).

The data 203 is a data string of data attributes defined in detail by the data type 207. The data 203 includes a data length indicating the frame length of the following data and data 9. Then, all frames end with a CRC 204 (check code) frame.

By using the above-described frame structure as inter-apparatus common format data and integrally converting the data format on the image communication apparatus side, the input image apparatus can output data without considering the output apparatus attributes. Become.

Next, a specific description will be given of the color conversion process performed by the image communication apparatus that has received the data in the above format. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the color conversion processing engine of the image communication device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Usually, the color conversion processing is performed by converting the data into output data by referring to a LUT (lookup table) or by referring to a unique conversion function table depending on the device. However, the LUT method has disadvantages such as a large capacity LUT memory and a long processing time, and the device-dependent conversion function table method cannot cope with other devices.

According to the present invention, the amount of LUT memory is reduced by using a three-dimensional LUT for color conversion processing and performing, by software, a complement operation of data generated based on an LUT configured with a small capacity. did. Further, by providing a plurality of conversion function tables of the output device and selecting the conversion function table as appropriate, a configuration is provided in which single input image data can be simultaneously output to a plurality of devices.

The color conversion processing engine 401 has a three-dimensional LU
T402 and a three-dimensional interpolation calculator 403,
The input data is color-converted into the color space of the output device.

The three-dimensional LUT 402 performs color space conversion with reference to conversion processing LUT data suitable for input / output data, and outputs the converted data to the three-dimensional interpolation calculator 403. The three-dimensional interpolation calculator 403 performs an interpolation process on the converted data according to a predetermined algorithm, and outputs the processed data to the output buffer memory 404. The output device is selected and designated by the output setting unit 405.

The user-defined conversion function 406 is a color space LUT table 4 prepared for n designated output devices.
07 and the three-dimensional LUT 402 are replaced with an LUT table. The data in the color space LUT table 407 is data that has been thinned out according to a predetermined rule. The buffer memory / frame memory 408 is a memory for temporarily buffering input data for performing color conversion.

The color conversion processing engine having the above configuration operates as follows.

First, the input data is buffered in the buffer memory / frame memory 408. Output setting unit 40
In 5, if you specify an inkjet printer, for example,
The user-defined conversion function 406 is a color space LUT table 4
07, the LUT for the inkjet printer is transferred to the three-dimensional LUT 402.

Next, the color conversion processing engine 401 sequentially reads the data from the buffer memory / frame memory 408 and outputs the color conversion table data of the ink jet printer LUT loaded in the three-dimensional LUT 402 to the three-dimensional interpolation calculator 403. .

The three-dimensional interpolation arithmetic unit 403 performs an interpolation process on small-capacity (coarse data) LUT data for an ink jet printer, performs a color conversion process on the data in the buffer memory / frame memory 408, and then performs an output process on the output buffer memory. Output to 404.

When a plurality of output devices are set by the output setting unit 405, the color space LUT table 407 to be loaded into the three-dimensional LUT 402 is sequentially switched to simulate a plurality of output devices. Data can be distributed at the same time.

Next, an outline of the overall operation of the image communication according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart showing the overall operation of the image communication device according to the present embodiment.

In step 501 (hereinafter, ST501),
The image communication device 101 includes a facsimile communication processing unit 118, a PS
Detect facsimile reception from TN (line).

In ST502 and ST503, if there is data input in the case of no facsimile reception, the input interface unit 106 determines whether the externally connected input image device is the scanner 102, the CCD camera 103, the electronic whiteboard 104,
The identification control is performed at the hardware level of the lowest layer as to which of the PC 105 and the like.

In ST504 to ST506, the communication protocol processing section 111 analyzes and controls the communication protocol of the connection device in the upper layer of the input interface section 106. Further, the communication protocol processing unit 111 stores the application data after the communication frame is deleted in the memory unit 115, and further analyzes the format data of the input signal. As described in FIG. 2, the frame of the input data is
Start frame 201, attribute information 202, data 20
3. CRC 203 is configured.

In ST 507 to ST 508, the operator selects and specifies a desired output device on the operation panel 116, whereby the output setting unit 117 causes the lookup table 114
And transfers the color space LUT table 407 corresponding to the specified output device to the color conversion processing unit 113.

In ST509, the color conversion processing unit 113
The color conversion processing is executed based on the transferred color space LUT table 407. The data after the color conversion is stored in the memory unit 115.
Is temporarily stored in the external output device display 107 connected to the output interface unit 109, for example.
And a designated output device such as the printer 108.

On the other hand, in ST501, FAX communication processing unit 1
When the FAX 18 detects facsimile reception of the PSTN (line), in ST511 to ST512, the FAX communication processing unit 118 executes facsimile communication according to the G3 procedure or the like, and the facsimile reception data in the communication is stored in the memory unit 115. Is stored in

In ST513, the format generation unit 11
9 separates and generates the received data into attribute information and data in the device common data format (ST513). As shown in FIG. 2, the facsimile reception data is format-converted into a data type 207 and a data attribute Image, and stored in the memory unit 115.

Thereafter, after ST504, the data analysis processing is executed by the image communication protocol processing section 112, and the same processing as the data from the external input image apparatus is executed and output.

[0058]

As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, by using a common data format between devices, different device attribute input data can be shared, and the input image device interfaces. Data can be output without being aware of the output format of the output device.

Further, since data can be simultaneously output to a plurality of output devices such as ink and laser printers, and facsimile reception data is converted into a common data format by the output device, common processing of data after reception can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a frame configuration of data exchanged between the image communication device and the input image device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a hierarchical diagram showing a relationship between a communication protocol and an application between the image communication device and the input image device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a color conversion processing engine of the image communication device according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a schematic flow chart showing the overall operation of the image communication device according to the embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

 106 Input interface unit 109 Output interface unit 110 System control unit 111 Communication protocol processing unit 112 Image protocol processing unit 113 Color conversion processing unit 114 Lookup table 115 Memory unit 116 Operation panel 117 Output setting unit 118 FAX communication processing unit 119 Format generation unit Reference Signs List 120 output control unit 401 color conversion processing engine 402 three-dimensional LUT 403 three-dimensional interpolation calculator 404 output buffer memory 405 output setting unit 406 user-defined conversion function 407 LUT table 408 buffer memory / frame memory

Claims (5)

[Claims] A communication protocol processing unit corresponding to a plurality of different input interfaces; an image protocol processing unit for analyzing attribute information and data of an input image apparatus from input data; An image communication apparatus comprising: a color conversion processing unit that generates and outputs image data dependent on a predetermined output device based on the output data; and an output control unit that distributes the generated and output data to the predetermined output device. 2. An image according to claim 1, wherein said color conversion processing means generates and outputs image data corresponding to different output devices from a single input image data with reference to a look-up table. Communication device. 3. The color conversion processing means executes a plurality of color conversion processes by sequentially switching a plurality of look-up tables for a single input image data, and the output control means executes a color conversion process. 2. The image communication device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of output data are respectively distributed to predetermined output devices. 4. The image communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input data is in a unified format including attribute information and data common to the apparatuses. 5. An image communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a format conversion means for converting the received facsimile data into a unified format comprising attribute information and data common to the apparatuses.