JPS60182846A - Data processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To transmit accurately various and diversified data by transmitting a picture data representing the contrast of a picture and a code data representing a character and symbol while editing them, reproducing them independently at the reception side and obtaining a synthesized picture. CONSTITUTION:The picture data representing the contrast of the picture is outputted from a picture reader 2 and a code data is outputted from document generating device 3 and they are added to a layout generating device 4. The data edited by the layout generating device 4 is transmitted to a reception station 5 via a transmission line L and the content is identified at first by a data identifier 12. The picture data is inputted to a pattern generator 8 storing 17 ways of dot patterns via a buffer memory 6 in response to the result of identification, and the code data is inputted to a character generator section 9 via a buffer memory 7. After outputs are synthesized by an OR circuit 10, the color picture is recorded on a color printer 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field] The present invention relates to a data processing system that processes different types of data, such as data such as characters and symbols and image data indicating the shading of an image.

rPrior art] When processing different types of data, such as data such as characters/symbols and image data showing the shading of an image, it is possible to transmit each data through a separate transmission path and process it based on that data. Conceivable. However, this requires a transmission path to be provided depending on the type of data, which is not very preferable because, for example, when transmitting data over a long distance, the cost becomes extremely high.

Also, when trying to transmit different types of data over a common transmission path, a large capacity memory is installed on the receiving side, and all the transmitted data is first stored in the memory, and then its contents are checked and the data It is necessary to perform discrimination and perform processing such as 5. Therefore, it is not desirable in terms of cost (also, it takes time to determine the data content, making real-time processing difficult).

Moreover, in any case, as the types of data increase, the problems become more serious.

〔the purpose〕

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a data processing system that has a simple configuration and can accurately transmit a wide variety of data.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a data processing system that can discriminate and process different types of transmitted data in real time.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a data processing system that can reliably distinguish and separate different types of mixed data.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a data processing system suitable for reproducing composite images based on different types of data.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a data processing system that can easily synthesize characters, symbols, etc. and a read image.

The above objects and other objects of the present invention, as well as the effects of the present invention, will be clear from the following description.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in more detail using the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a data transmission system to which a data transmission method according to the present invention is applied. 1 is a sending station, which sends the color-separated original image to COD.
An image reading device 2. which photoelectrically reads a color image using an image sensor such as 2. Text information consisting of characters, symbols, etc. is formed according to input from keys, tablets, etc., and code data indicating characters, symbols, etc. (for example, A S
The image data from the image reading device 2 and the code data from the word processor 3 are edited and rearranged according to routine work or manual specifications using keys, digitizers, etc.
(enlarging/reducing, erasing/extracting, etc.), and a layout creating machine 4 that outputs data. The data edited by the layout creation device 4 is output to a transmission path such as an optical fiber cable or a telephone line. Therefore, image data and character code data coexist on the transmission path. Further, data transmission on the transmission path may be performed by transmitting the NRZ signal as it is, or by transmitting a signal that has been subjected to some modulation (for example, MFM modulation). Incidentally, since the read image information is not transmitted as it is, but data indicating the density pattern is transmitted, the amount of transmission related to the image information can be reduced, and therefore the transmission efficiency is increased.

5 is a receiving station. The data transmitted to the receiving station 5 via the transmission path is first identified by the data identification device 12 by a 4-bit identification code added to the beginning of the data. Then, according to the identification results, the signals are distributed to the corresponding processing circuits.

That is, the image data is passed through the buffer memory 6, and the 17 dot patterns shown in FIG. The stored pattern is input to the pattern generator section 8. On the other hand, the code data is input via a buffer memory 7 to a character generator section 9 having a font memory storing fonts of characters, symbols, etc.

After the output from the pattern generator section 8 and the output from the character generator section 9 are synthesized by an OR circuit 1°,
Images are input into a color printer 11 such as an inkjet printer, a laser beam printer, etc., and images are synthesized with characters and symbols on a recording material such as paper that has been subjected to color signal processing such as complementary color conversion and undercolor removal. Color image recording is performed.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the format of one-word length data transmitted on a transmission path. Top 4 data) AO~
A3 is an identification code for data content identification in the data identification device 12, and the following <DO to Dn are code data or image data. In other words, the AO of the identification code is "O"
In this case, "1" indicates that DO~Dn is code data.
Indicates that it is image data.

When AO is rlJ, that is, image data, DO to Dn indicate one of the density patterns of 4×4 dots per pixel as shown in FIG. For example, the number of black dots constituting a 4×4 matrix may be set to 5 in the image data. According to this, data of 4×4=16 bits can be compressed to 5/16, which improves the efficiency of transmission. Further, when AO is "0", that is, code data, the next three bits A1 to A3 indicate the address code of the font memory of the character generator section 9.

In other words, if the character (symbol) font is made up of 32 dots x 32 dots as shown in Figure 3, it will be 4 dots x 32 dots in the line direction, 8 dots per dot, to match the 4 dots of the density butter y. Divide into groups LO to L7. Then, the addresses of the font memory groups LO to L7 to be accessed are specified by the identification codes Al, A2, and A3. For example, AOAIA2A3DODID2...Dn=0000X
In the case of XX...llX, among the characters represented by code data
Access the font for 32 dots.

Also, AOAIA2A3DODID2...Dn=0001X
In the case of xX@eeX, among the characters represented by the code data xxx---x, the font for group L1, that is, 4 dots x 32 dots from the 5th column to the 8th column, is accessed. Similarly, AOAIA2A3 is "0O10" and L
2, [, oollJ is L3JO100J is L4, Φ...
[At 0IIIJ, the fonts of each group of L7 are accessed.

On the other hand, when the identification code AO is "1", that is, image data, the following three pins) Al-A3 designate the color of the image data represented by DO to Dn.

For example, AOAIA2A3 is "100OJ red,""101
If 0J represents green, 1100J represents blue, [lll0J represents black, AOAIA2A3DODID21111@Dn=101
In the case of OXxx --. Also, AOAIA2A3DODID2”・Dn = 1110
XXX”-X, the input data is a black component and the brightness is XX
This indicates that the image data is a grayscale image data of X-...X'.

Further, when the identification code AOAI A2A3 is [1111J, the following shows printer control signals such as carriage return and skip regardless of the values of <DO to Dn.

At the transmission station 1, a document to be transmitted is serially scanned by a color separation line image sensor, and density data shown in FIG. 4 is formed based on the shading information of the image obtained by the scanning.

Then, AO=1 indicating image data and color identification codes A 1 -A 3 are added to the density data DO to Dn by the layout creating device 4 and transmitted. Regarding the character φ symbol, etc., as shown in FIG. 5, the document creation device 3 (FIG. 1)
, the code string 401 stored in a predetermined memory is retrieved in character string order in accordance with the created document information, and first stored in a register 4021C. Then, an address generator 40 is placed at the beginning of the codes DO to Dn stored in the register 402.
3, 3-bit codes A1 to A3, which are addresses of the font memory, are added, and AO=0 indicating that it is code data is added, and then transmitted. In addition, in Figure 5,
The address generated by the address generator 403 is incremented by 1 by the pulse input from the pulse generation circuit 404 that generates a pulse every scan (every time the carriage return signal is input). Character code corresponding to character-symbol DO-D
Repeat n 8 times and output.

In this way, when transmitting a mixture of characters, symbols, etc. and images, the amount of access to the font memory is performed line by line according to the size of the unit pixel (density pattern) of the image. For symbols, the input data can be used as is to perform recording operations in the same way as for read images.

Note that the receiving station may store the data in a magnetic or optical storage device. Further, the image data to be transmitted requires a density notation indicating the density level, as well as a de-stretching circuit that compresses the read image information. Further, since the data can be easily separated, recording or storage may be performed based on only one of the sent data.

Furthermore, the transmitting station may transmit image data read from the output of a color TV camera or from image storage means such as magnetic. Furthermore, character/symbol information is input from a word processor, office computer, or the like.

As explained above, even when image data and code data such as characters and symbols are transmitted through a common transmission path, it is possible to accurately identify them, and the size of each character image can be made to exist so that it does not look out of place with the image. can. Furthermore, according to this method, basically, the size of the font memory does not increase, and only the address increases, so that it is possible to prevent an increase in device cost.

Further, the size of the font memory is not limited to 32×32, and any size suitable for an output device such as a printer can be used.

In addition, the character/symbol data to be combined with the scanned image can be generated by a word processor or other text creation device, as well as by a date output device that indicates the transmission time, and by outputting numerical data that indicates the number of manuscripts to be transmitted (pages). It may be a device, etc.

Furthermore, in addition to recording an image on a recording material, the receiving station may display a composite image on a display device such as a CRT.

Further, the image data and the character code data transmitted over the transmission path may be transmitted in a predetermined order, for example, the image data may be transmitted together first, and then the character codes may be transmitted together. It goes without saying that it is difficult to transmit these data randomly.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing another example of the configuration of the transmitting station l shown in FIG. A reader 601 separates the original into colors, reads them photoelectrically, and outputs image signals of blue (6) and green (Gl and red RFT). 6
02 is a word processor that has a character/symbol input unit such as a keyboard, creates text information, and outputs character code data corresponding to the created text.

Each color image signal output from the reader 601 is input to a pattern data generator 603. The pattern data generator 603 outputs density pattern data of each input color image signal for each color.

Reference numeral 604 is an image file composed of a floppy disk device, a semiconductor memory device, etc., and the image data consisting of the density pattern data output from the pattern data generator 603 is added to the beginning of the image data, and a color identification code (Al-A3) is added to the original document. Multiple equinoxes can be stored.

On the other hand, the character code data output from the word processor 602 is stored in a text file 605 having the same structure as the image file described above.

FIG. 7 shows document image information read by the beam 7601 and stored in the image file and text information created by the word processor 602 and stored in the text file, that is,
(a) and (bl are document image information P1 and P2, (cl
and (di indicates text information C1 and C2.

In FIG. 6, an IC 1606 is a layout controller that rearranges and scales image information and text information input from the reader 601 and word processor 602 based on layout information input by the operator from the keyboard 607.

Perform layout operations such as deletion.

keyboard 607 on the layout control roller 606
A layout table is provided to store layout information inputted from. This layout table corresponds to the recording area on the receiving side.

This layout table is shown as 801 in FIG.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the layout of each information shown in FIG. That is, image information P1 is placed in the area defined by point A and point B.
Image information P2 is laid out in an area defined by points G and E, text information C1 is laid out in an area defined by points E and F, and text information C2 is defined by points 0 and D. It is laid out in the area where it will be used. Note that the area outside each area is a white image.

When sending the laid out information, the image file 60
4 and the text file 605, the layerer 609 is an identification code adding circuit that sets a data identification bit (the aforementioned beep AO) at the beginning of the data output from the image file 604 and the text file 605, respectively.

610 and 611 are counters that count read signals WP and We of each file output from the layout controller 606. Further, as described above, C8 is a literary position signal which sets the bits (A1-A3) indicating the access position of the character font.

When the layout controller 606 receives the transmission start command, it starts scanning the layout table 801.

That is, a no-order scan is performed for each line in the right direction from point X in FIG. 8, and finally reaches point Y. Now, a case will be described in which scanning is performed from point Ql to point Q6. Since the points Q1 to Q2 are not an image or text layout area, the layout controller 606 moves the line 61
A blank signal indicating a white image (AOAIA2A
3DOD1...1IDn=111000"0). Since the points Q2 to Q3 are the layout area of the image information P1, the image file read signal WP is output.

As mentioned above, this signal Wp is counted by the counter 610, and based on this count value, the image file 604171
) Predetermined data is output. That is, when the layout memory is scanned and the front end of the layout area P1 is scanned for the first time, the signal Wp is output, the count value of the counter 610 becomes 1, and 1 of the image data is scanned.
The first line is output from the image file 604. Then, when the next scan reaches the layout area PIK, the signal WP is output again, and the count value of the counter 610 increases to 2.
becomes. Then, when the second line of image data is output from the image file 604, a column of image data to be read from the image file 604 is selected.

When the scan is from point Q3 to Q4, the layout is again outside the layout area, so the layout controller 606 outputs the blank signal described above. Subsequently, when scanning from point Q4 to Q5, since this is the layout area of text information C1, the layout controller 606 outputs the text FI/l/read signal Ws. As mentioned above, this signal W8
is counted by a counter 611, and predetermined data of the text file 605 is output based on this count value. In this embodiment, the font memory is divided into eight groups (
Since the counter 611 is divided into LO to L7) and sequentially accessed, the counter 611 increments every time the signal Ws is counted eight times, thereby outputting character code data corresponding to the next character string from the text file 605. . Further, the signal CB is a group designation (position designation) signal for the 7-ont memory, and a position code (AI-A3) is added to the accessed character code data according to the count value of the counter 611.

In scanning from point Q5 to Q6, since the point is outside the layout area, the layout controller 606 outputs the blank value described above. And the scan is point Q6. That is, when the right end of the layout memory 801 is reached, the layout controller 606 outputs a carriage return signal via the line 612.

As described above, the layout controller 606 scans the layout memory 801 while performing 1. When the scan reaches the image layout area or text layout area, each readout signal Wp,
Output Ws and create image file 604 or text file 60
Data is read from step 6. Therefore, information containing a mixture of image data and character code data is output. Further, each counter 610, 611 is cleared at the end of the layout area.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of another embodiment of the receiving station shown in FIG. 1, which receives data sent from the transmitting station shown in FIG. 6 and records a composite image on a recording material. It is something.

Data sent from the transmitting station is input to shift register 901. When data is set in the shift register 901, the first 4 bits of the data (AO to A3
) is input to the decoder 902. As mentioned above, the decoder 902 receives the following data D with identification codes AO to A3.
Determine whether O to Dn are image data, character codes, or ultimately printer control signals, and then
If it is image data, it outputs data such as what color the data is, or if it is character code data, it outputs data such as which location in the font memory to access.

The output 09 of the decoder 902 becomes an output state when the following data DO to Dn are determined to be character code data using the AO bit, and the output 010 becomes an output state when it is determined that the data is image data. Outputs 09 and 010 enable buffer memories 904 and 903, respectively, and either of the enabled buffer memories 904 or 903 takes in data DO to Dn of shift register 9 (11). In this way,
The type of data is determined by a decoder, each buffer memory is selected, and the data is divided.

Now, if the identification code is AO or "1", the following data D
Since O to Dn are image data, the buffer memory 903 stores the data DO by the output 010 of the decoder 902.
~ Take in Dn. On the other hand, due to the identification code Al-A3,
The decoder 9 determines what color data the data DO to Dn indicate.
Outputs 02 to 01 according to the color information determined in step 02
5 is output. That is, output 02 for blue, output 03 for green, output 04 for red, and output 05 for black are independently output. Each of these outputs 02-05 selects memories 908-911 provided for each color, respectively. The selected memory becomes available for data acquisition.

As described above, the image data taken into the buffer memory 903 is data indicating the ratio of white/black dots and dots per unit area, and this data is input to the pattern generator 905. The pattern generator 905 is 1 shown in the fourth diagram.
It has a table storing seven patterns, and outputs a dot pattern according to input image data.

The dot patterns shown here are yellow (G), magenta (Goods), and cyan (C) after complementary color conversion of the B, G, and R signals.
) corresponds to each signal.

As described above, the dot pattern generated from the pattern generator 905 is stored in one of the memories 908 to 911 for each color selected by the outputs 02 to 05 of the decoder 902.

On the other hand, when the identification code AO is "0", the following data DO to Dn are character code data, so the decoder 9
The buffer memory 904 takes in the data DO to Dn by the output 09 of 02. Further, the decoder 902 determines which group of the current seven-ont memory is to be accessed based on the identification codes A1 to A3, and outputs outputs 06 to 08 indicating the group.

Outputs 06-08 are taken into buffer memory 907 which is enabled at output 09 of decoder 902.

The data taken into the buffer memory 904 is input to a character generator 906 capable of 7 digits.

As a result, 7 onts indicated by data DO to Dn are accessed. On the other hand, from the backup memory 907, 7
The position of the font is specified, and the character generator 906 outputs dot data at a predetermined position of the font accessed by data DO to Dn. In this embodiment, characters are recorded in black, and dot data from the character generator 906 is stored in a memory 911 for black.

As described above, the data D input to the shift register 901
It is determined whether O-Dn is image data or character code data, and depending on the determination, processing is performed and each is converted into a dot pattern and stored in memories 908-911.

If at least one line of dot data is stored in the memories 908 to 911, the data is transferred to the printer 912.
sent to. As is well known, the printer 912 has a memory 90
Color printing is performed according to the dot data of each color in YtMpC stored in 8 to 911. This color record is a composite of the read image and characters.

Incidentally, in the embodiments described above and below, examples have been explained in which different types of data are transmitted through a common transmission path, but some of the present invention is also applicable to cases in which different types of information are transmitted through different transmission paths. Based on this, it can also be applied to the case where a composite image is reproduced.

Also, even if the transmission order of different types of data is random,
Alternatively, it may be in a predetermined order.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing still another embodiment, in which read image information is not transmitted as a density pattern, but as a signal compressed using the Modified Huffman (MH) method.

In the figure, a reader 101 is a reader that photoelectrically reads a document to be transmitted using an image sensor such as a CCD and outputs a binary signal indicating black and white for each pixel for each line. The serial binary signal output from the reader 101 is one-dimensionally compressed by the MH method in the MH encoder 102, and then stored in an image file 103 made of a floppy disk or the like. On the other hand, text data created by the word processor 104 is stored in a text file 105 in the form of ASCII code.

As described above, the layout controller 106 performs the output layout of images and text according to the operator's instructions or routine work, and outputs the image file 103 and the text file 1.
05, and sequentially outputs compressed image data and character code data to the transmission line 107. At this time, the same job classification code as described above is added to the beginning of each data.

The type of data transmitted through the transmission path 107 is identified by an identification circuit 108 using an identification code, and the data is distributed to corresponding processing circuits.

The compressed image data is passed through a buffer memory 109, decompressed by an MHA coder 110, and converted into a dot pattern. On the other hand, character code data passes through a buffer memory 111 and is converted into a dot pattern by a character generator 112 using a 7-ont memory.

MH decoder 110 and character generator 112
The door pattern data respectively outputted from the two are combined by an OR circuit 113, and an image is recorded on a recording material by a printer 114. This recorded image is image information laid out by the layout controller 106, and therefore the image read by the reader 101 and the warp curvature 10
This is a composite of the text input in step 4.

In this embodiment as well, an image information output device such as an electronic file may be used instead of the reader, and an office computer or the like may be used instead of the word processor. Furthermore, some aspects of the present invention can be applied to cases where different transmission paths are used for each type of data.

Furthermore, the compression method is not limited to the MH method, and other compression methods such as two-dimensional compression such as the modified Read method may also be used.

Although the present invention has been described above based on examples, the present invention is not limited to these examples (and it is possible to make various modifications and changes within the scope of the claims). Of course.

〔effect〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, different types of data can be easily synthesized, and processes such as synthesizing sentences created using a word processor or the like with an image read from a manuscript can be executed accurately. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a data transmission system to which the present invention is applied, Fig. 2 is a diagram showing data formats, and Fig. 3
Figure 4 shows the configuration of the font memory, Figure 4 shows the density pattern, Figure 5 shows the transmission operation, Figure 6 is a detailed block diagram of the transmission stage, and Figure 7 shows the image and 8 is a diagram showing the state of the layout memory, FIG. 9 is a detailed block diagram of the receiving station, and FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the configuration of another embodiment of the data transmission system. 1 is a transmission station, 2 is an image reading device, 3 is a document creation device, 12 is a data identification device, 8 is a pattern generator section, and 9 is a character generator section.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A first transmission means for transmitting code data indicating characters, symbols, etc., a second transmission means for transmitting image data indicating the shading of the image, and a second transmission means for reproducing the image based on the code data transmitted by the first transmission means. a first forming means for forming the first reproduction information; a second forming means for forming the second reproduction information for image reproduction based on the image data transmitted by the second transmission means; and the first and second forming means. A data processing system comprising: image reproduction means for reproducing a composite image based on first and second reproduction information outputted by the means.