JP3263209B2 - Image processing apparatus and image processing method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an image processing device and an image processing method connected to an image storage unit for storing image data and an image output unit for outputting an image based on the image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image processing system of this type which performs communication data processing between an image input / output device and a host has a communication function and prints in accordance with data transmitted from another computer through a network. Image input and output communication device that performs image input, cuts out only the image part from the image input from the image input device, performs image processing, analyzes and generates image data and page description language data transmitted from the computer There is no image input / output device that prints the image data combined with the image data.

For example, to print a document including image data such as a photograph, first place a photograph on a platen of a scanner, input image data of the entire platen, communicate with a computer, and locate the position of the photograph portion. Designate, scan the photo part, communicate the image data to the computer, enlarge or reduce the image data of the photo on the computer, create document image data including the image data of the photo, and communicate the entire data to the printer I was printing.

Further, after image processing is performed on image data stored in an external storage device or image data input from an image input device, the image data is combined with an image generated by an image generation section and printed by an image output device. Was not controlled.

Further, image processing is performed by an image processing unit on image data input from an image input device, image data stored in an external storage device, or image data generated by analyzing page description language data. And the control of storing the information in the external storage device is not performed.

Further, there has been no control to cut out only the image portion from the image input from the image input device and store the image portion in the external storage device.

[0007] Further, it has not been controlled to communicate only image data of an image portion to a computer.

Therefore, when an original such as a photograph is placed on the original platen of the scanner and the image data of only the photograph portion is stored in the external storage device, the image data of the original platen is once sent to the computer, and the operator operates the computer. Specifying the position of the photo on the screen, communicating the position designation information to the image input communication device, the image input communication device inputs the image data according to the position information, and stores it in the external storage device, which is complicated and has a small data amount. There is a problem that many communication controls have to be performed.

[0009]

Since the conventional image processing system is configured as described above, communication of image data is frequently performed, communication time and processing time are increased, and communication load is increased. Was. In particular, in the case of color, there is a problem because the data amount is large.

When a document including an image is printed, document data including image data is created and the data is sent to a printer for printing. In particular, a color image has a large data amount. There are problems that it is difficult to create document data, that communication time is increased due to data communication, and that the communication load increases.

For example, when a document such as a photograph is read by a color scanner, image processing is performed, and the image data is stored in a storage device, the image data is communicated through a network. It takes time and the communication load is large. Also,
The operator has to specify the position of the photograph, and the operation is complicated.

Further, when storing a large number of image data, there are many problems such as complicated work.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to analyze received data from a host computer to generate image data. The position information and the size information of the image to be pasted are extracted, and the image data generated based on the position information and the size information are combined with the input image data, or the position information and the size information are combined. The image data generated based on the information and the image data read from the storage unit are combined, and the image is output to the image output unit based on the combined and generated image data. The image communication processing load on the host computer is light, and it is possible to efficiently obtain a composite image of the image data generated by the simple image processing operation instruction and the input image data. Image processing apparatus and image processing method off is to provide.

[0014]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus connected to an image input unit for inputting image data and an image output unit for outputting an image based on the image data. a is, by analyzing the received data from the host computer, generates the image data, generating
Image generation means for extracting position information and size information of an image to be pasted on the generated image data;
Input processing means for inputting image data of an image to be pasted on the image input unit to the image input unit, and image data input by the input processing means based on the position information and the size information. Image processing means for synthesizing the image data generated by the image generation means, and output processing means for outputting an image to the image output unit based on the image data synthesized and generated by the image processing means It is. According to a second aspect of the present invention, the image generation means stores the generated image data in a storage unit, and the image processing means writes the image data input by the input processing means into the storage unit and synthesizes the image data. Is what you do.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the image processing means combines the image data input by the input processing means with a position indicated by the position information. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the image processing means enlarges or reduces the image data input by the input processing means based on the size information.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the image input section is a scanner. In a sixth aspect according to the present invention, the image output section is a printer.

In a seventh aspect according to the present invention, the received data is page description language data. Eighth aspect of the present invention
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage processing unit for storing image data generated by being synthesized by the image processing unit in an external storage unit.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication processing means for transmitting image data generated by being synthesized by the image processing means to a computer. A tenth invention according to the present invention is an image processing apparatus connected to an image storage unit for storing image data, and an image output unit for outputting an image based on the image data, the image processing device comprising: Image generating means for analyzing data, generating image data, and extracting position information and size information of an image to be pasted on the generated image data, and image data of the image to be pasted on the generated image data Reading processing from the image storage unit , and combining the image data read by the reading processing means and the image data generated by the image generating means based on the position information and the size information. An image processing unit for outputting an image to the image output unit based on the image data generated by the image processing unit. And it has a process unit.

In an eleventh aspect according to the present invention, the image generating means stores the generated image data in a storage unit, and the image processing means stores the image data read by the read processing means in the storage unit. To be synthesized. In a twelfth aspect according to the present invention, the image processing means combines the image data read by the reading processing means with a position indicated by the position information.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the image processing means enlarges or reduces the image data read by the reading processing means based on the size information. In a fourteenth aspect according to the present invention, the image output section is a printer.

[0021] In a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the received data is page description language data. A sixteenth invention according to the present invention has a storage processing means for storing image data generated by being synthesized by the image processing means in an external storage unit.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication processing means for transmitting image data generated by being synthesized by the image processing means to a computer. An eighteenth invention according to the present invention is an image processing method in an image processing apparatus connected to an image input unit for inputting image data and an image output unit for outputting an image based on the image data, comprising: analyzes the received data from the computer, generates the image data, generated image
An image generation step of extracting the position information and size information of an image to be pasted to the image data, an input processing step of inputting image data of <br/> the pasted image to the generated image data to the image input unit An image processing step of combining the image data input in the input processing step and the image data generated in the image generation step based on the position information and the size information; And an output processing step of outputting an image to the image output unit based on the generated image data.

In a nineteenth aspect according to the present invention, the image input section is a scanner. In a twentieth aspect according to the present invention, the image output unit is a printer.

[0024] In a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, the received data is page description language data. A twenty-second invention according to the present invention is an image processing method in an image processing device connected to an image storage unit that stores image data, and an image output unit that outputs an image based on the image data,
Analyzes the received data from the host computer, generates the image data, an image generating step of extracting position information and size information of the generated image data to the pasting <br/> Ri attached image was generated A read processing step of reading image data of an image to be pasted on the image data from the image storage unit; and, based on the position information and the size information, the image data read by the read processing step and the image generation step. And an output processing step of outputting an image to the image output unit based on the image data generated and synthesized by the image processing step.

According to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention, the image output section is a printer. In a twenty-fourth aspect according to the present invention, the received data is page description language data.

[0026]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the arrangement of an image processing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 1 is an image processing system, 2 is a communication processing unit, 3 is an overall control unit, 4 is an output processing unit, 5 is an image generation unit, 6 is an image processing unit, 7 is an image discrimination unit, and 8 is An input processing unit, 9 is a memory unit, 10 is a print controller unit, 11 is a scanner controller unit, 12 is a k-color printer, 13 is a color scanner, and L is a communication line. In the present embodiment, the image processing system 1 communicates with another computer via the communication line L, and prints out with a connected color printer according to the received command.
Input images with a color scanner.

In the image processing system configured as described above, the image processing unit 6 cuts out image data from image information input from the color scanner 13 based on an image input instruction from the host computer, and communicates from the host computer. Performs image synthesis with image data,
The synthesized image data obtained by the image synthesis is transferred to a color printer 12.
Therefore, only the image in the document can be output at high speed without transferring the image information input from the image input device to the host.

Further, based on an image input instruction from the host computer, the image processing unit 6 cuts out image data from image information input from the color scanner 13 and generates image data generated by the image generation unit 5 based on a page description language. Since the synthesized image data obtained by the image synthesis is output from the color printer 12, a variety of synthesized images can be output at high speed only by transferring a small amount of image information from the host.

Hereinafter, each part will be described.

The communication processing unit 2 communicates with another computer via the communication line 14. An instruction is received from another computer and communicated to the overall control unit 3, and the data communicated from the overall control unit 3 is communicated to the computer. The overall control unit 3 controls the overall operation of the image input / output device, and includes a received data analysis unit. When receiving the received data from the communication processing unit 2, the received data is analyzed,
A command is sent to the output processing unit 4, the input processing unit 8, the image discriminating unit 7, and the image processing unit 6 as needed.

The data is sent to the computer through the communication processing unit 2. The output processing unit 4 sends page description language data to the image generation unit 5 to generate an image, and controls the printer controller unit 10 to print the image data in the memory unit 9.

The image generator 5 analyzes the page description language data and generates an image in the memory 9. The image processing unit 6 performs image processing such as enlargement, reduction, compression, expansion, edge enhancement, and brightness adjustment of the image.

The image discriminating section 7 performs image discrimination on the image data in the memory section 9 and communicates the number of image sections in the image data in the memory section 9 and the upper left and lower right coordinates of each image.

The input processing unit 8 includes a scanner controller 11
To input an image from the color scanner 13 and write image data into the memory unit 9. The printer controller 10 communicates with the color printer 12 to perform printing.
The scanner controller 11 communicates with the color scanner 13 and inputs image data from the color scanner 13.

The color printer 12 is an example of an image output device, and prints a color image. Color scanner 1
3 scans the original and sends image data to the scanner controller 11.

Hereinafter, image data is inputted from the color scanner 13 and only the image data of the image portion is cut out.
An operation in the case where a command for adjusting the size of the page description language data and attaching it to the image portion of the document image and receiving a print command from the computer will be described.

The communication processing section 2 sends the received data to the overall control section 3. The overall control unit 3 analyzes the received data and sends a command to the input processing unit 8 to input image data from the color scanner 13.

The input processing unit 8 receives an instruction from the general control unit 3, controls the scanner controller 11 to input image data, temporarily stores the image data in the memory unit 9, and sends a scan end to the general control unit 3 upon completion. . The overall control unit 3 sends a command to the image determination unit 7 to perform image determination.

Upon receiving the command, the image discriminating unit 7 discriminates the image of the image data in the memory unit 9 and sends the number of image units and the coordinates of the upper left and lower right of each image unit to the overall control unit 3.

Next, the overall control unit 3 sends the page description language data to the output processing unit 4. The output processing unit 4 sends the page description language data to the image generation unit 5. The image generation unit 5 analyzes the page description language data to generate an image in the memory unit 9, and sends position information and size information for attaching an image to the overall control unit 3 through the output processing unit 4. The overall control unit 3 sends to the image processing unit 6 positional information for attaching an image, size information, the number of image units received from the image discrimination unit 7, and upper left and lower right coordinates of each image unit.

The image processing section 6 adjusts the size by performing enlargement or reduction image processing from the size information for pasting the image and the coordinates of the upper left and lower right corners of the image portion, and adjusts the size to the position where the image is pasted. The image data is written, the document image is completed, and a processing end is sent to the overall control unit 3.

When the overall control unit 3 receives the processing end from the image processing unit 6, it sends a print command to the output processing unit 4. When receiving the print command, the output processing unit 4 controls the printer controller 10 to print the document image data in the memory unit 9.

In this embodiment, the image data is composed of a header part and a main part, and the header part describes the image data attributes such as the width and height of the image data, the number of bits per pixel, color black and white, and the like. The attribute of the image data can be obtained by checking the image data by the image processing unit 6.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of an image discrimination processing procedure in the image processing system according to the present invention. Note that (1) and (2) indicate each step.

In step (1), the image discriminating process routine shown in FIG. 3 is performed, and in step (2), the number of image parts and the coordinates of the upper left and lower right of each image part are communicated.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a detailed procedure of the image determination processing routine shown in FIG.
In addition, (1) to (5) indicate each step.

The image discriminating unit 7 starts scanning from the top line of the memory unit 9, and in step (1) judges whether scanning in the y-direction has been completed.

On the other hand, if the scanning in the y direction has not been completed in step (1), the line is scanned in the x direction in step (2), and the coordinates of both ends of the portion determined to be the image portion are set to the new image. Register as a department.
The portion determined to be an image portion is a continuous halftone portion having a length equal to or longer than a predetermined value.

In step (3), the distance between the newly registered image and the already registered image portion is determined. Since all image parts are considered rectangular,
Determining the distance is a simple calculation. In step (4), it is determined that the image portions whose distances are equal to or smaller than the predetermined value are continuous, and are combined to calculate new upper left and lower right coordinates. In step (5), lower one line in the y direction, and return to step (1).

The finally registered image part is the image part in the image data in the memory part.

In this embodiment, the operator only needs to communicate page description language data and an instruction to paste image data such as a photo set in the color scanner 13 from the computer to the image processing system 1. You can print a document containing images such as photos placed in, without communicating image data,
There is no need for the operator to specify the position. Therefore, a document including desired image data can be printed by a simple operation at high speed and without imposing a communication load.

Although the image generator 5 is provided in the embodiment, it is not always necessary to provide the image generator. In the image processing system 1 not provided with the image generation unit 5, the operator simply communicates the image data not including the image portion and the information of the position and size of the image to be pasted, such as the photograph set on the color scanner 13, for example. It can be combined with image data and printed.

In a general document, the character portion is black. Even if the character portion is image data, if the image is compressed like a facsimile, the data amount is not so large, the speed is high, the communication load is not applied, and the character portion is simple. A document including desired image data can be printed by the operation.

In the above-described embodiment, the image data is input from the color scanner 13 in one scan, the image is determined by the image determining unit 7, and the image portion is cut out. Is performed at a low resolution of, for example, 50 dpi, the position of the image portion is determined by performing image discrimination processing, and the second scan is performed by scanning only the position of the image at a high resolution of, for example, 400 dpi, and inputting image data. Good.

As a result, since it is not necessary to scan the entire image at a high resolution, the image input / output communication device can operate even when the memory section is small.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the image data in the memory unit 9 is printed by the printer.
, And may communicate with another computer by communication.

Thus, document image data including color image data can be communicated like a facsimile.

In the above embodiment, the image data in the memory section 9 is printed by the color printer 12, but an external storage device may be provided to store the image data.

Thus, document image data including image data can be stored.

Further, in the above embodiment, the image data is inputted from the color scanner.
Image data may be input from the external storage device.

As a result, the image data stored in the external storage device is read out and stored in the memory unit 9 for performing image processing and image synthesis.

As a result, image data that has already been converted into data can be handled in a similar manner, instead of manuscripts such as photographs.

According to the present embodiment, the image input / output communication device includes the reception data analyzing unit, the image discriminating unit 7 and the image processing unit 6, so that image data is input from the image input device and the image discriminating unit is used. The image portion is cut out by the unit 7, image processing is performed by the image processing unit 6, the image is synthesized with the image transmitted from the computer, and the image can be printed by the printer.

Therefore, there is no need to communicate the image data input from the image input device, no communication time is required, there is no communication load, and the operator does not need to specify the position, so that the operation is simple.

Further, by providing the image generation unit 5 for analyzing the page description language data to generate an image, the computer only needs to communicate the page description language data instead of the image data. Absent.
Therefore, the communication time is further reduced, and there is no communication load, which is convenient. [Second Embodiment] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of an image processing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 11-1 is the image processing system main body, 12-1 is the communication processing unit, 13-1 is the overall control unit,
14 is an output processing unit, 15 is an image generation unit, 16 is an image processing unit, 17 is an input processing unit, 18 is a memory unit, 19 is a printer controller unit, 20 is a disk controller unit,
1 is a scanner controller, 22 is a color printer,
23 is a magneto-optical disk device, 24 is a scanner, and 25 is a communication line.

In the image processing system configured as described above, the image processing section 16 operates the scanner 24 and the magneto-optical disk drive 2 based on an image input instruction from the host computer.
(3) The predetermined image processing is performed on any of the image data of the image generation unit 15 and the image-processed image data is stored in the magneto-optical disk device 23, so that the image-processed data is not communicated from the host. , Can be stored in external storage means.

The image processing section 16 cuts out image data from the image information input from the scanner 24 based on the image input instruction of the instruction means, and stores the extracted image data in the magneto-optical disk device 23. So
Only the image data in the input image information can be stored in the external storage means without communication from the host.

The image processing system 11-1 of this embodiment is
It communicates with another computer via a communication line 25 and prints out with a connected printer, inputs an image with a scanner 24, and executes image processing in accordance with a received command.
In step 6, image processing is performed, and image data is stored in or read from the magneto-optical disk of the magneto-optical disk device 23.

Hereinafter, each part will be described.

The communication processing unit 12-1 communicates with another computer through the communication line 25. While receiving instructions from other computers and communicating with the overall control unit 13-1,
The data transmitted from the overall control unit 13-1 is transmitted to the computer. The overall control unit 13-1 is a part that controls the overall operation of the image processing system 11, and includes a received data analysis unit.

When receiving the received data from the communication processing unit 12-1, it analyzes the received data, creates an instruction table,
Output processing unit 14 and image processing unit 1 according to the instruction table
6. Send a command to the input processing unit 17. The output processing unit 14 receives an instruction from the overall control unit 13-1, and outputs the command to the image generation unit 15-1.
To analyze the page description language to create image data in the memory unit 18, control the printer controller 19 to print the data in the memory unit 18 with a printer, and control the disk controller 20 to store the data in the memory unit 18. Is stored in the magneto-optical disk device 23. The image generation unit 15 receives the page description language data from the output processing unit 14, analyzes the data, and creates image data in the memory unit 18. The image processing unit 16 receives an instruction from the overall control unit 13-1 and enlarges,
Image processing such as reduction, clipping, image compression, expansion of a compressed image, edge enhancement, brightness adjustment, and color / monochrome conversion is performed.

The input processing unit 17 receives an instruction from the general control unit 13-1, controls the scanner controller unit 21 to input an image from the scanner 24, and
1, communicating image data to a computer through the communication processing unit 12, writing image data to the memory unit 18,
By controlling the disk controller 20, image data of the magneto-optical disk of the magneto-optical disk device 23 is input and written into the memory unit 18.

The printer controller 19 communicates with the color printer 22 and prints on the color printer 22.
The disk controller 20 communicates with the magneto-optical disk device 23 to read and write data.

The scanner controller 21 is the scanner 2
4 and input image data from the scanner 24.
The color printer 22 prints image data. The magneto-optical disk device 23 is an example of an external storage device, and stores and reads data. The scanner 24 scans a document and sends image data to the scanner controller 21.

Hereinafter, the page description language data and a command for enlarging the image stored on the magneto-optical disk by a factor of 2 and attaching it to a document image created by analyzing the page description language data are received from the computer. The operation in the case of doing this will be described.

The communication processing section 12-1 sends the received data to the overall control section 13-1. The overall control unit 13-1 receives the data, reads the designated image data of the magneto-optical disk by the input processing unit 17, writes the read image data in the memory unit 18, enlarges the image twice by the image processing unit 16, the image processing unit 1
6, the image of the memory unit is stored as a temporary file on the magneto-optical disk, the output processing unit 14 analyzes the page description language data to create image data in the memory unit 18, and the input processing unit 17 temporarily stores the image on the magneto-optical disk. File data reading, writing to a designated position in the memory unit 18, printing of image data in the memory unit 18 by the color printer 22 by the output processing unit 14, erasing of a temporary file on the magneto-optical disk by the output processing unit 14, Make an instruction table.

Thereafter, according to the instruction table, an instruction is sent to each processing unit, and the processing proceeds. When all the commands have been processed, the overall control unit 13-1 notifies the computer via the communication processing unit 12-1 that the processing has been completed.

In this embodiment, the image data is composed of a header portion and a main body portion, and the header portion describes image data attributes such as the width and height of the image data, the number of bits per pixel, color black and white, and the like. It is assumed that

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a data processing procedure of the image processing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Note that (1) to (3) indicate each step.

First, received data is received in step (1). In step (2), the received data is analyzed and an instruction table is created. In step (3), an instruction is sent to each processing unit according to the instruction table, and the processing is executed.

In this embodiment, the user inserts the magneto-optical disk storing the image data into the magneto-optical disk device, and writes data in a page description language, a command for performing image processing on the image data, and a page description language. By transmitting an instruction for embedding image data in a document image, a document including image data can be printed without communicating image data.

Therefore, even when printing a document including a color image having a large data amount, high-speed and reliable printing can be performed without imposing a communication load.

In the above embodiment, the image data obtained by synthesizing the images in the memory unit 18 is printed by a printer. However, if there is a command from a computer, the image data may be stored in a magneto-optical disk.

Further, the image data may be inputted from the scanner to the memory section 18, processed for image processing, and stored in the magneto-optical disk.

Thus, the image data desired by the user can be created and stored in the storage device without communicating the image data through the network, so that the data can be stored at high speed without imposing a communication load.

It goes without saying that the magneto-optical disk can be taken out of the magneto-optical disk device 23 and carried.

In the above embodiment, the magneto-optical disk drive 23 is connected, but a fixed hard disk may be used as the external storage device.

Thus, it is necessary to store the image data in advance, but once the image data is stored, it can be used many times, which is convenient when the same image data is used for various document images.

Further, in the above embodiment, the printer and the scanner are connected to the image input / output communication device. However, an image input / output device having both functions of the scanner and the printer may be connected.

According to this embodiment, the image input / output communication device includes the reception data analysis unit, the image generation unit, the image processing unit, the external storage device, and the means for controlling the external storage device. In accordance with the received data, image processing is performed on the image data stored in the external storage device or the image data input from the image input device, and then combined with the image generated by the image generation unit and printed by the image output device. A document containing image data can be printed without communicating the image data above. The image processing unit performs image processing on image data input from an image input device, image data stored in an external storage device, or image data generated by analyzing page description language data. By storing the image data in the storage device, the image data can be stored in the storage device without communicating the image data over a network. [Third Embodiment] FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of an image processing system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 31 is an image processing system, 3
2 is a communication processing unit, 33 is an overall control unit, 34 is an image determination unit, 35 is an input processing unit, 36 is a memory unit, 37 is a disk controller unit, 38 is a scanner controller unit,
39 is a disk device, 40 is a color scanner, and 41 is a communication line.

The image processing system 31 of this embodiment communicates with another computer via the communication line 41, inputs an image with the connected color scanner 40, and outputs image data to the disk device 39 in accordance with the received command. Store and read. In the image processing system thus configured, the input processing unit 35 cuts out image data from image information input from the color scanner 40 based on an image input instruction from the host computer, and converts the cut out image data. Since the image data is stored in the disk device 35, it is possible to store only the image data in the input image information in the external storage unit without communication from the host.

Further, based on an image input instruction from the host computer, the input processing section 35 cuts out image data from the image information input from the color scanner 40, and outputs the cut out image data from the communication processing section 32. Since the image data is transmitted to the host computer, only the desired image data can be transferred in a short time without transferring the entire image information input from the image input unit to the host.

Hereinafter, each part will be described.

The communication processing unit 32 communicates with another computer via the communication line 41. An instruction is received from another computer and communicated to the overall control unit 33, and data transmitted from the overall control unit 33 is communicated to the computer. The overall control unit 33 controls the overall operation of the image input device, and includes a received data analysis unit.

When receiving the received data from the communication processing section 32, the received data is analyzed and, if necessary, the input processing section 3
5. Send a command to the image discriminating unit 34. The data is sent to the computer through the communication processing unit 32.

The image discriminating section 34 receives an instruction from the overall control section 33, performs image discrimination on the image data in the memory section 36, and determines the number of image sections in the image data in the memory section 36 and the upper left and right of each image. The lower coordinate is sent to the overall control unit 33.

The input processing unit 35 receives an instruction from the overall control unit 33, controls the scanner controller 38 to input an image from the color scanner 40, writes image data in the memory unit 36, and controls the disk controller 37. The image data is stored in the disk device 39.

The disk controller 37 communicates with the disk device 39 to read and write data.

The scanner controller 38 communicates with the color scanner 40 and inputs image data from the color scanner 40. The disk device 39 is an example of an external storage device, and stores and reads data.

The color scanner 40 scans a document and sends image data to the scanner controller 38.

The operation when image data is input from the color scanner 38 and an instruction to store only the image data of the image portion in the disk device 39 is received from the computer will be described below.

The communication processing section 32 sends the received data to the overall control section 33. The overall control unit 33 analyzes the received data and sends a command to the input processing unit 35 to input image data from the color scanner 40. The input processing unit 35 receives an instruction from the general control unit 33, controls the scanner controller 38 to input image data, temporarily stores the image data in the memory unit 36, and when finished, terminates scanning.
Send to 3. The overall control unit 33 sends a command to the image determination unit 34 to perform image determination. Image discriminator 3
4 receives the instruction, performs image discrimination on the image data in the memory unit 36, and sends the number of image units and the coordinates of the upper left and lower right of each image unit to the overall control unit 33. The overall control unit 33 sends the input processing unit 35 the number of image units and the coordinates of the upper left and lower right of each image unit, and sends an instruction to store the image data of the image units in the disk device 39. The input processing unit 35 includes a disk controller 37
To store the image data of each image portion in the disk drive 3
9, and when the processing is completed, the processing end is notified to the overall control unit 33.
Send to The overall control unit 33 notifies the computer of the end of the process.

In this embodiment, the image data is composed of a header portion and a main body portion, and the header portion describes image data attributes such as the width and height of the image data, the number of bits per pixel, color black and white, and the like. By examining the image data, the attribute of the image data can be obtained. Note that (1) and (2) indicate each step.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a data processing procedure in the image processing system according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

First, an image discriminating process routine is performed in step (1), and in step (2) the number of image portions,
The upper left and lower right coordinates of each image part are communicated.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the detailed procedure of the image discrimination processing routine shown in FIG.
In addition, (1) to (5) indicate each step.

The image discriminating process starts scanning from the top line in the memory unit 36. In step (1), it is discriminated whether the scanning in the y direction has been completed. If not completed, in step (2), the line is scanned in the x direction, and the coordinates of both ends of the portion determined to be an image portion are registered as a new image portion. The portion determined to be an image portion is a continuous halftone portion having a fixed length or more. Step (3)
Then, the distance between the newly registered image and the already registered image part is obtained. Since all the image parts are considered to be rectangular, the distance can be obtained by a simple calculation. In step (4), it is determined that the image portions whose distances are equal to or less than the fixed position are continuous, are combined, and new upper left and lower right coordinates are calculated. 1 in the y direction in step (5)
Lower the line and return to step (1).

The image part finally registered is the image part in the image data in the memory unit 36.

Thus, the operator inputs image data from the color scanner 40, and only transmits an instruction to store only the image data of the image portion in the disk device 39 from the computer to the image processing system 31. Image data such as a photograph placed on a table can be stored in the storage device, and there is no need to communicate the image data and the operator does not need to specify the position.

As a result, the image data can be stored in the storage device at a high speed and with a simple operation without applying a communication load.

In the above embodiment, the input processing section stores the image data of the image section in the external storage device. However, the input processing section may communicate with the computer through the overall control section and the communication processing section. Thus, the operator can input the image data from the color scanner 40, and can obtain the image data of the image portion only by communicating the command to communicate only the image data of the image portion to the computer from the computer to the image input communication device. . Therefore, unnecessary data is not communicated, the communication time is shortened, and the communication load is not increased.

In the above embodiment, the image data is input from the color scanner 40 in one scan, the image is discriminated by the image discriminator 34, the image portion is cut out, and the image data is stored in the external storage device. Performs two scans and performs the first scan at, for example, 50 dpi.
Is performed at a low resolution, and an image discriminating process is performed to determine the position of the image portion.
Only the position of the image may be scanned at a high resolution of i and image data may be input.

As a result, since it is not necessary to scan the entire image at a high resolution, it is possible to operate even when the memory section of the image input communication device is small.

According to the present embodiment, the image input communication device includes the reception data analysis unit, the image discrimination unit, the external storage device, and the means for controlling the external storage device. If there is a command to input only the image portion from the external storage device and store the image data in the external storage device, input the image data from the image input device, cut out the image portion by the image discriminating section, and store the image in the external storage device. Data can be stored. Therefore, there is no need to communicate image data, and there is no communication time, no communication load, and
Since there is no need for the operator to specify the position, the operation is simple. Further, only the image data of the image portion can be communicated to the computer. For example, when it is desired to cut out only a face portion from a portrait of a person, first, only the image data of the image portion is transmitted to the computer, and the operator can designate a desired position.
Since only the image data of the image portion is communicated, the data amount is smaller than in the case of communicating the image data of the entire document table, so that the communication time is short and the communication load is not increased.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the scanner is connected to the image processing system has been described. However, a printer may be further connected, and the image data of the image portion may be controlled to be printed.

As a result, the image data can be automatically printed for checking the image data stored in the external storage device.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

Further, as described in each of the above embodiments, the application of the present invention is not hindered by whether the printing method of the printer is the ink jet method or the laser printing method for executing the electrophotographic process.

[0122]

As described above, the first embodiment according to the present invention is described.
According to the twenty-fourth aspect, image data is generated by analyzing data received from the host computer. At this time, position information and size information of an image to be pasted on the image data are extracted, And image data generated based on the size information and the input image data, or image data generated based on the position information and the size information and an image read from the storage unit. Since the image data is combined with the image data and the image is output to the image output unit based on the image data generated by the combination, the image communication processing load on the host computer side is reduced by a simple operation, and a simple image processing operation instruction Thus, it is possible to efficiently obtain a composite image of the image data generated in step (1) and the input image data.

[0123]

[0124]

[0125]

[0126]

[0127]

[0128]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an image determination processing procedure in the image processing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a detailed procedure of an image determination processing routine illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a data processing procedure of an image processing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a data processing procedure in an image processing system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a detailed procedure of an image determination processing routine illustrated in FIG. 7;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image processing system 2 Communication processing part 3 Overall control part 4 Output processing part 5 Image generation part 6 Image processing part 7 Image discrimination part 8 Input processing part 9 Memory part 10 Printer controller 11 Scanner controller 12 Color printer 13 Color scanner

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1/38-1/393 G06T 11/60 100

Claims (24)

(57) [Claims] An image processing apparatus connected to an image input unit for inputting image data and an image output unit for outputting an image based on the image data, wherein the image processing apparatus analyzes received data from a host computer. Generating image data, extracting image position information and size information of an image to be pasted on the generated image data, and image data of the image to be pasted on the generated image data.
Input processing means for inputting to the image input unit; and image data input by the input processing means and image data generated by the image generation means, based on the position information and the size information. An image processing apparatus comprising: an image processing unit; and an output processing unit that outputs an image to the image output unit based on image data generated by being synthesized by the image processing unit. 2. The image generation means stores the generated image data in a storage unit, and the image processing means writes and combines the image data input by the input processing means into the storage unit. The image processing device according to claim 1. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing unit combines the image data input by the input processing unit with a position indicated by the position information.
The image processing apparatus. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing unit performs an enlargement / reduction process on the image data input by the input processing unit based on the size information. Image processing device. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image input unit is a scanner. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image output unit is a printer. 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the received data is page description language data. 8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a storage processing unit that stores the image data generated by the image processing unit in an external storage unit. 9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a communication processing unit that transmits image data generated by being synthesized by the image processing unit to a computer. 10. An image storage unit for storing image data,
An image processing apparatus connected to an image output unit that outputs an image based on image data, wherein the image processing apparatus analyzes data received from a host computer, generates image data, and pastes the image data into the generated image data. image generating means for extracting position information and size information of an image to be pasted; reading processing means for reading out image data of the image to be pasted onto the generated image data from the image storage unit; Image processing means for combining image data read by the read processing means and image data generated by the image generation means, based on the size information and the size information; An image processing apparatus comprising output processing means for outputting an image to the image output unit based on the obtained image data. 11. The image generation unit stores the generated image data in a storage unit, and the image processing unit writes and combines the image data read by the read processing unit into the storage unit. The image processing device according to claim 10. 12. The image processing means, the image processing apparatus according to the image data read by the reading process unit, to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the synthesis in the position indicated by the positional information. 13. The image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the image processing unit performs an enlargement / reduction process on the image data read by the reading processing unit based on the size information. The image processing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims. 14. The image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the image output unit is a printer. 15. The image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the received data is page description language data. 16. The image processing apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a storage processing unit that stores the image data generated by the image processing unit in an external storage unit. 17. The image processing apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a communication processing unit that transmits image data generated by the image processing unit to a computer. 18. An image input unit for inputting image data,
An image processing method in an image processing apparatus connected to an image output unit that outputs an image based on image data, analyzes the data received from the host computer, generates the image data was generated an image generation step of extracting the position information and size information of <br/> Ri attached image pasted to the image data, the image data of the pasted image to the generated image data
Based on the input processing step to be input to the image input unit, and the position information and the size information, the image data input in the input processing step and the image data generated in the image generation step are combined. An image processing method, comprising: an image processing step; and an output processing step of outputting an image to the image output unit based on image data generated by being combined in the image processing step. 19. The image processing method according to claim 18, wherein the image input unit is a scanner. 20. The image processing method according to claim 18, wherein the image output unit is a printer. 21. The image processing method according to claim 18, wherein the received data is page description language data. 22. An image storage unit for storing image data,
An image processing method in an image processing apparatus connected to an image output unit that outputs an image based on image data, analyzes the data received from the host computer, generates the image data was generated an image generation step of extracting the position information and size information of <br/> Ri attached image pasted to the image data, the image data of the pasted image to the generated image data
A read processing step for reading from the image storage unit ; and combining the image data read in the read processing step and the image data generated in the image generation step based on the position information and the size information. An image processing method, comprising: an image processing step; and an output processing step of outputting an image to the image output unit based on image data generated by being combined in the image processing step. 23. The image processing method according to claim 22, wherein the image output unit is a printer. 24. The received data, image processing method according to claim 22 or 23 characterized in that it is a page description language data.