JP3084178B2 - Recording method of image data - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for recording image data, and more particularly to a method for reading a desired area from a document read by an image input device, editing colors and patterns, and performing editing. The present invention relates to a method for recording image data suitable for an image processing apparatus that outputs an image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image of a black-and-white (monotone) document such as a line image read by an image input device such as a scanner is edited such as a change in color and pattern based on an editing command, and the edited image is output to a printer or the like. An image processing device configured to output to an external output device has been considered.

In this type of image processing apparatus, characters,
An original image such as a figure is read by an image input device such as a scanner, and is converted into bitmap data in line units corresponding to each dot of the image. Are stored in the image memory as compressed original image data in line units, which is paired with the supplementary attributes in the above.

[0004] When editing, such as color change, for a desired designated range of an original image, the compression is performed based on desired editing command data input from an external input device such as a tablet or a light pen. The original image data is edited and becomes edited image data.

Further, the edited image data edited based on the editing command data is returned to bitmap data by a desired restoring means and output to an external output device such as a printer to obtain a desired print. I have.

After a desired print is obtained, only the edit command data is stored in an external storage device such as an FD.

[0007]

However, in the above-described conventional method of recording image data in which only the editing command data is stored in an external storage device such as an FD, the capacity of the stored data can be reduced. When a plurality of prints are obtained using the same document, the document is read again by an image input device such as a scanner, and editing command data stored in an external storage device such as an FD is superimposed.
However, when an original is read by an image input device such as a scanner, even if the original is the same,
Each time reading is performed, a slight positional deviation occurs. When the editing is performed using the stored editing data, the positional deviation of the edited image data (the deviation of the coordinate value (address) of the bit attribute change point) occurs due to the positional deviation. Occurs and does not become the same edited image data as the edited image data when the editing command data is stored. As a result, the same editing result (print) as the editing result (print) when the editing command data is stored is obtained. There was a problem that it was not possible. Such a problem occurs not only when a plurality of prints are obtained as described above, but also when re-editing using the same original and the stored editing data.

To cope with such a problem, not only the edited data but also all the data of the original image may be stored. However, storing all the data of the original image requires a large amount of expensive data. However, there is a problem in that an expensive external storage device must be applied, the economic burden increases, and a great amount of time is required for storing data.

[0009] The present invention has been made in view of these points, and overcomes the above-mentioned problems in the conventional art.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of recording image data that enables the same editing result to be easily reproduced with a small data capacity by a simple method.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided a method for recording image data, comprising the steps of: converting image data of an original image, which is bitmap data in line units, into coordinate values of bit attribute change points; And line-by-line compressed original image data with the attribute and the attribute at the attribute change point,
The compressed original image data is converted into edited image data based on the edit command data, and then the edited image data is converted into recompressed image data obtained by compressing the compressed original image data, and the edit command data and the recompressed image data are converted. Are recorded in an external storage device.

[0011]

According to the image data recording method of the present invention having the above-described configuration, the original image data is converted into small-capacity recompressed image data, and the recompressed image data and the edit command data are stored in the external storage device. Since the same editing result can be easily reproduced with a small data capacity.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below together with its operation.

FIGS. 1 to 7 show an embodiment of an image data recording method according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a flowchart, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing image data of an original image. 3 (a) to 3 (d) are schematic diagrams showing compressed original image data, FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing edit command data, and FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b) FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating image data, FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating data in which an editing area is omitted, and FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating recompressed data.

As shown in FIG. 1, when the image data recording method of the present embodiment is started, in step ST10,
The document is read by the scanner as the image input device, and the process proceeds to the next step ST11.

That is, it is assumed that there is a manuscript in which desired characters are written in black on white paper. When this original is read by a scanner, the original image data is read in line units according to the resolution of the scanner, for example, 400 dpi, and is converted into dot data (bitmap data) in line units as shown in FIG. Become.

Next, in step ST11, the read image data of the original image is compressed into compressed original image data, and the process proceeds to the next step ST12.

That is, the image data of the original image shown in FIG. 2 is converted into bit attribute change points (hereinafter, referred to as change points, also referred to as change points in the figure) as shown in FIG. Compressed original image data in line units, which is a pair of the attribute and the attribute at the change point.

That is, in the dot data of the line unit shown in FIG. 2, since the dot at the end of the line (left end in the figure, coordinate value 0) is white, the attribute (white, 0) and the coordinate value of the X coordinate are given. A pair of data, that is, data of a change point 1 of (Z1, X1) consisting of (white, 0) is first created, where the attribute is Z and the coordinate value is X. Next, since the color has changed to black at the coordinate value 4 in the traveling direction of the line, (black,
4), data of the attribute change point 2 of (Z2, X2) is created. Similarly, data of the attribute change point 3 (Z3, X3) consisting of (white, A), (black, A)
F), data of the attribute change point 4 of (Z4, X4), (white, 12) data of the attribute change point 5 of (Z5, X5)... The compressed original image data of (Zn, Xn) in line units of two words, in which the value X and the attribute Z at the attribute change point are paired.

The attribute data will be further described.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the attribute data Z of this embodiment is configured such that one word is composed of 16 bits, the first one bit is an empty area, and the next one bit is white. Is assigned to the original color with 0 as black and 1 as black, the pattern code numbers for editing (32 types from 0 to 31) are assigned to the next 5 bits, and the color code for editing is assigned to the next 9 bits. (512 colors from 0 to 511) are assigned.

The coordinate values will be further described.

As shown in FIG. 3 (C), the coordinate value X of this embodiment is such that one word is composed of 16 bits, the first 4 bits are empty, and the remaining 12 bits are changed. Point coordinate values X (0 to 4091) are assigned. The empty area is formed to facilitate data processing with one word being 16 bits, and is used as the resolution of the scanner increases.

The compressed original image data having the coordinate value X of the bit change point and the attribute Z at the change point as a pair (Zn, Xn) is represented by 1 (d) as shown in FIG.
It is hexadecimal data.

As described above, the image data of the original image is represented by the coordinate value X of the bit change point and the attribute Z at the change point.
The efficiency of compressing the original image data into a pair of (Zn, Xn) line-by-line compressed original image data is improved as the resolution when reading the document is improved. For example, the number of dots forming the image data of the original image is proportional to the square of the resolution of the scanner. On the other hand, in the compressed original image data after compression, the number of lines is proportional to the resolution of the scanner, but the coordinate value X of the changing point of the bit in one line and the attribute Z at the changing point are paired ( Zn, Xn) does not change. Therefore, if the resolution is squared, the number of dots is 4
However, the number of compressed original image data is only twice as large as the number of lines is increased.

Next, an editing operation (image editing) is performed in step ST12, and the process proceeds to the next step ST13.

This image editing, for example, coloring, is performed by processing the above-mentioned compressed original image data with a desired CPU or the like based on editing command data by an image editing command from an external input device such as a tablet.

As shown in FIG. 4, the edit command data includes a 1-byte edit mode, an X coordinate and a Y coordinate to be edited.
It is composed of X and Y addresses each having a coordinate value of one word as a coordinate value, and a one-word pattern code number / color code number.

The editing mode represents a method of designating an area where color change (color conversion) or pattern change is desired for a document placed on a tablet, for example, so-called one-point designation, two-point designation. Various pre-assigned designation methods (modes) such as designation and multi-point designation. Also, X,
Although the Y address varies depending on the editing mode, in the present embodiment, the minimum one-point specification and the maximum multi-point specification are set to 100 or less, and the size of the entire image editing data is 12 KB.

The image editing is performed as follows. For example, if the edit mode is 2 points and the X address is
9 (the Y address is omitted), the color code is C, and the editing instruction data of “color change of the original color is black” is shown in FIG.
When the compressed original image data shown in (a) is edited (color changed), the compressed original image data becomes a change point 2 (Z2, X2) consisting of (black, 4) as shown in FIG.
(Z2a, X2)
a) is added, and as a whole, (Z1, X1), (Z2, X2), (Z2a, X2)
a), (Z3, X3), (Z4, X4), (Z5, X
5) is converted into the edited image data, and becomes the hexadecimal data shown in FIG.

Thereafter, the edited image data is returned to bitmap data by a desired restoring means and output to an external output device such as a printer to obtain a desired print.

Next, in step ST13, the edited image data is recompressed image data obtained by compressing the compressed original image data, and the process proceeds to step ST14.

Step ST13 will be described in more detail.

Step ST13 includes step ST13a, step ST13b, and step ST13c.

In step ST13a, the edited image data edited based on the edit command data is compared with the attributes (here, the original color) of two change points adjacent in the X address increasing direction, and the attribute is changed. If not, the conversion point is converted to the original compressed original image data by removing the larger change point of the X address. In the edited image data shown in FIG. 5, since the original color of the change point 2a is the same as the original color of the change point 2 and has not changed, it is deleted. In this case,
When the document color is black, the pattern code number and color code number of the attribute Z are set to 0. When the document color is white, the pattern code number of the attribute Z is set to 0 and the color code number. Is set to 9.

Next, in step ST13b, data conversion is performed so that the editing area is omitted.

That is, the edit area (pattern code number and color code number) is excluded from the 2-word compressed original image data consisting of the attribute Z and the coordinate value X each having 16 bits. The data is converted into data of a one-word configuration, as shown in FIG. The empty area in FIG. 6 is similar to the empty area in FIG.

Next, in step ST13c, the original color at the change point is always alternately repeated from the characteristics of the compressed data.
Since the original color at another attribute change point can be easily restored, unnecessary original color portions and empty areas are omitted from the data in which the editing area is omitted shown in FIG. 6, and as shown in FIG. Compressed image data is stored by storing the original color of the head change point and the number of change points in a 16-bit line header part and storing only the X coordinate value of each change point in 12-bit units in the other data part following the line header part. Recompressed image data that is further compressed can be obtained.

That is, the original color of the head change point (change point 1) is assigned to the head of the 16-bit line header portion of the recompressed image data, and the number of change points (0 to 32767) is allocated to the remaining 15 bits. 32768) are allocated. And, in the data part of the 12-bit unit,
The X coordinate values after the change point 1 (4096 points from 0 to 4095) are sequentially assigned.

Next, in step ST14, the recompressed image data and the edit command data are stored in the FD serving as an external storage device, and the process ends.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the image data of the original image can be converted into small-capacity recompressed image data, and the recompressed image data and the edit command data can be stored in the external storage device. Because it is possible, unlike the past,
The image data of the original image can be easily and quickly stored in a small-capacity external storage device such as an FD, and the positional deviation of reediting can be reliably prevented.

As the external storage device, not only the FD but also a small-capacity inexpensive HDD can be used.

Next, a specific example of color conversion by designating two points will be described.

First, as described above, the original is read by the scanner.

Next, the image data of the read original image of the document is compressed into line-based compressed original image data in which the coordinate value of the bit change point and the attribute at the change point are paired. FIG. 8A is a schematic diagram showing a change point for 16 bits of the X coordinate and 10 lines of the Y coordinate in this case.
FIG. 8B is a schematic diagram showing hexadecimal compressed original image data.

Next, for example, when the editing mode is set to two points,
When the color conversion is edited by the edit command data of X address 3-7, Y address 4-8 and color code C,
The compressed original image data shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B is converted into edited image data shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B.

FIG. 10 shows an example of the relationship between the compressed original image data and the edited image data in which line 4 (Y address) is displayed in hexadecimal notation.

Next, the edited image data edited based on the edit command data is converted into the original compressed original image data by removing the change points that do not change in view of the attributes of the change points. In this case, when the document color is black, the number of the pattern code and the color code of the attribute Z are set to 0,
When the original color is white, the number of the pattern code of the attribute Z is set to 0, and the number of the color code is set to 9. As for the relationship between the edited image data and the converted original compressed original image data, a line 4 (Y address) displayed in hexadecimal is shown in FIG.
An example is shown below.

Next, data conversion is performed so that the editing area is omitted. FIG. 12 shows an example of the data in which the editing area is omitted, in which line 4 (Y address) is displayed in hexadecimal.

Next, since the original color at the change point is always alternately repeated (white → black → white...), If the original color is stored, the original color at the other attribute change point can be easily restored. Therefore, the data in which the editing area has been omitted is stored in the line header section, and the original document color of the head change point and the number of change points are stored, and only the X coordinate value of the change point is stored in the other data section following the data. This makes it possible to obtain recompressed image data that is more compressed than the compressed image data. FIG. 13 shows an example of the recompressed image data in which line 4 (Y address) is displayed in hexadecimal.

Then, the recompressed image data and the edit command data are stored in the FD, thereby ending the image data recording method of the present embodiment.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be modified as required.

[0052]

As described above, according to the image data recording method of the present invention, image data of an original image can be easily and quickly stored in a small-capacity external storage device such as an FD. At the same time, there is an extremely excellent effect that the positional deviation of the re-editing can be reliably prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of an image data recording method according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing image data of an original image.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing compressed original image data, and FIG.
Is a schematic diagram showing compressed original image data, (b) is a schematic diagram showing attribute data, (c) is a schematic diagram showing coordinate values, and (d) is a schematic diagram showing hexadecimal compressed original image data.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing editing command data.

5A and 5B are schematic diagrams illustrating edited image data, FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram illustrating edited image data, and FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram illustrating hexadecimal edited image data.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing data in which an editing area is omitted.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing recompressed data.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing compressed original image data, and FIG.
Is a schematic diagram showing a change point, and (b) is a schematic diagram showing hexadecimal compressed original image data.

9A and 9B are schematic diagrams showing edited image data, in which FIG. 9A shows a change point and is similar to FIG. 8, and FIG. 9B shows hexadecimal edited image data similar to FIG.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between compressed original image data and edited image data in which line 4 (Y address) is displayed in hexadecimal notation;

FIG. 11 is a diagram similar to FIG. 10 in which line 4 (Y address) is displayed in hexadecimal notation regarding the relationship between edited image data and original compressed original image data.

FIG. 12 is a diagram similar to FIG. 10 in which line 4 (Y address) is displayed in hexadecimal notation for data in which an editing area is omitted.

FIG. 13 is a diagram similar to FIG. 10 in which line 4 (Y address) is displayed in hexadecimal notation for recompressed image data.

[Explanation of symbols]

 X coordinate value Z Additional attribute

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yukio Sawano 2-26-30 Nishiazabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. (72) Koichi Sugiyama 1-7, Yutani-Otsuka-cho, Ota-ku, Tokyo Alps Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shuichi Aratsu 1-7 Yukitani Otsukacho, Ota-ku, Tokyo Alps Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hisaichi Fujisawa 1-7 Yukitani Otsukacho, Ota-ku, Tokyo Al (56) References JP-A-2-240772 (JP, A) JP-A-2-301873 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06T 1 / 00-17/50 H04N 1/38-1/419 H04N 1/46-1/64

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image data of an original image, which is bitmap data in line units, is compressed original image data in line units in which coordinate values of bit attribute change points and additional attributes at the attribute change points are paired. Converting the compressed original image data into edited image data based on the edit command data, and then converting the edited image data into recompressed image data obtained by compressing the compressed original image data; And storing the data in an external storage device.