JP2003085548A - Information processing apparatus, image processing method of information processing apparatus, image processing system, storage medium, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To provide an information processing apparatus and the like which can execute a program with processing of a divided image at high speed even if the apparatus does not have an image processing unit. A digital multifunction peripheral (10) capable of executing image processing in units of tile images obtained by dividing a page image into tiles.
3 issues an image processing instruction to the digital MFP 1
At 03, an image processing result processed based on the image processing command is obtained.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an image processing method for an information processing apparatus, an image processing system, a storage medium, and a program capable of executing image processing in units of divided images obtained by dividing an original image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There has been proposed an image processing apparatus such as a digital multi-functional peripheral which divides an original image into tiles of a predetermined size and performs image processing on a divided tile image unit basis. By performing image processing in tile image units, it is not necessary to secure an image memory in page units, and the memory can be effectively used. Further, in the image processing apparatus, each processing function such as resolution conversion, rotation, and composition processing is often configured by hardware, but it is not necessary to secure these image processing function units in page units. It is possible to perform efficient and high-speed image processing.

On the other hand, in recent years, an image processing apparatus such as a plurality of digital multi-function peripherals and printers and a host computer such as a personal computer (hereinafter, PC) are connected via a network, and these digital multi-function peripherals are connected from the host computer. Image processing system that can control the machine
It has been widely used.

In the image processing system of this type, when the above-described digital multi-function peripheral which performs image processing in tile image units is applied, the host computer also has a function of performing image processing in tile image units. preferable.

[0005]

However, a PC used as a host computer usually does not have a hardware configuration specialized for image processing, unlike the above-mentioned digital multi-function peripheral. Therefore, when the PC processes an image divided into tiles, it is necessary to expand the raster file once by software and perform image processing on the expanded raster file. That is, the software executes the image processing instruction by using the hardware resource in which the software is executed.

Image processing in a host computer such as a PC will be briefly described with reference to FIG. When the image processing application is started, first, an image processing command is issued to its own hardware resource (CPU, memory, etc.) (S1201). Next, the tile image is once expanded into a raster file using its own hardware resource, and image processing is executed on the expanded raster file (S1202). Then, the next processing is executed by using the image processing result (S1203). When the processing for all tile images is completed, the image processing application ends.

As described above, since the PC expands the raster file by software in order to execute the processing of the tile-divided image, the expansion processing takes a huge amount of time. Further, since the PC does not have a dedicated resource for image processing, image processing instruction execution and other processing instruction execution are executed by the same resource, which may take an even longer time.

The present invention is for solving the above-mentioned problems, and issues an image processing command to an image processing apparatus capable of executing image processing in units of divided images obtained by dividing an original image, Information that enables a program with divided image processing to be executed at high speed by obtaining an image processing result processed by an image processing instruction in a processing device, even if the device does not have a dedicated image processing unit An object is to provide a processing device, an image processing method for an information processing device, an image processing system, a storage medium, and a program.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, an information processing apparatus of the present invention uses an image processing apparatus capable of executing image processing in units of divided images obtained by dividing an original image, and a communication medium. An information processing device connected to the image processing device, the first issuing means issuing an image processing command to the image processing device, and an image processing result processed by the image processing device based on the image processing command. And an acquisition unit.

Further, according to the image processing method of the information processing apparatus of the present invention, an image of the information processing apparatus connected via a communication medium to an image processing apparatus capable of executing image processing in units of divided images obtained by dividing an original image. A processing method, comprising a first issuing step of issuing an image processing command to the image processing apparatus, and an acquisition step of acquiring an image processing result processed by the image processing apparatus based on the image processing command. It is characterized by having.

The image processing system of the present invention is an image processing apparatus capable of executing image processing in units of divided images obtained by dividing an original image, and an information processing apparatus connected to the image processing apparatus via a communication medium. An image processing system including: an image processing apparatus, wherein the information processing apparatus includes a first issuing unit that issues an image processing instruction to the image processing apparatus; and an image processed by the image processing apparatus based on the image processing instruction. It has an acquisition means which acquires a processing result, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

Further, the storage medium of the present invention is a program code of an image processing method of an information processing apparatus which is connected via a communication medium to an image processing apparatus capable of executing image processing in units of divided images obtained by dividing an original image. Is a computer-readable storage medium storing therein a first issuing code for issuing an image processing command to the image processing device, and an image processing result processed by the image processing device based on the image processing command. And an acquisition code to be acquired.

Further, the program of the present invention is for executing an image processing method of an information processing apparatus connected via a communication medium to an image processing apparatus capable of executing image processing in units of divided images obtained by dividing an original image. A first issuing step of issuing an image processing command to the image processing device, and an acquisition step of acquiring an image processing result processed by the image processing device based on the image processing command. It is characterized by having.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of an image processing system according to this embodiment. 10
Reference numeral 1 is a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) on which a program of the present invention described below is executed. PC (101)
Is a CPU, a memory, a hard disk, a network I, like a commonly used personal computer.
/ F (interface) and the like. The program of the present invention is supplied to the PC (101) by being downloaded from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM or a server device on the network, and stored in the hard disk thereof.

Reference numeral 102 is a personal computer having the same configuration as the PC (101). Reference numeral 103 denotes a digital multi-function peripheral that can perform image processing in tile units. 1
A network 04 is connected to the PCs (101), (102) and the digital multi-function peripheral (103) and enables data communication between the respective devices.

Next, details of the digital multi-function peripheral (103) will be described with reference to FIG.

The multifunction machine controller (200) is connected to a scanner (231) which is an image input device and a printer (230) which is an image output device, and through an external interface (205) such as a network or a parallel interface. PC (201) or PC
(202) etc. to exchange data with external devices,
Input and output images.

The system control unit (201) has a CPU inside.
And controls the entire multifunction peripheral. The RAM (202) is a system work memory for operating the CPU in the system control unit (201), and also an image memory for temporarily storing image data.

The ROM (203) is a boot ROM,
Contains the system boot program.

The operation unit (204) is a system control unit (20).
It is connected to 1) and provides a user interface.

The image rings (206, 207) are buses configured by a combination of a pair of unidirectional connection paths to transfer data between the system control unit (201) and the image processing unit (210). Image ring (206,20
7) is a command processing unit (215), a status processing unit (216), a tile bus () via an image data input interface (211) and an image data output interface (212) in the image processing unit (210). 226).

The command processing unit (215) is connected to the image data input interface (211), the image data output interface (212) and the register setting bus (228) and comes in through the image ring (206). Interprets a command packet (described later) issued by the system control unit (201). Then, the register write and the register read requested by the command are executed by accessing the corresponding register via the register setting bus (228). When register reading is performed, the read information is converted into a command packet again,
It is returned to the system control unit (201) via the image data output interface (212).

The status processing unit (216) monitors the status of each image data processing unit (221-224) and issues an interrupt (interrupt) to the system control unit (201) according to the status. (Described later) is generated and output to the image data output interface (212).

The tile bus switch (226) also includes
A scanner interface (220), a printer interface (219), an image composition section (221), an image data processing section 2 (222), an image data processing section 3 (223),
The image data processing unit 4 (224) is connected.

The scanner interface (220) receives the raster image data output from the scanner (231) as an input, and rasterizes it by a predetermined method set by the system control unit (201) via the register setting bus (228). The image data is structurally converted into a tile format image, and the clock is synchronized, and the tile bus switch (2
26).

The printer interface (219) receives the tile image data from the tile bus switch (226) as input, performs structural conversion to raster image data and changes the clock rate, and outputs the raster image to the printer (23).
Output to 0).

When the image processing unit (210) is used without being connected to the printer (230) or the scanner (231), the raster image data executed by the scanner interface (220) and the printer interface (219) is used. The scanner interface (220) and / or the printer interface (219) can be removed by additionally providing means for performing a format conversion function with the tile image data.

The image composition section (221) is an image composition block and performs image composition processing. Image synthesizer (22
Details of 1) will be described later.

The image data processing unit 2 (222) is a resolution conversion block, and uses the image memory (229) to change the resolution of the image.

The image data processing unit 3 (223) is a color space conversion block, and uses the image memory (229) to perform color space conversion processing of color and gray scale images.

The image data processing unit 4 (224) is an image rotation block and performs image rotation processing.

The image memory control unit (225) is connected to the memory bus (227) and the register setting bus (228), and stores in the image memory (229) according to the request of each image data processing unit (222, 223, 224). On the other hand, operations such as writing and reading of image data are performed.

Next, the tile image, which is the processing unit in this embodiment, will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the scanner (23
1) or external interface (205),
The image 200 of one page stored as a file in the RAM (202) is divided into a plurality of rectangular areas (Tile) described later by the system control unit (201). Each tile area has a size of 32 pixels vertically and 32 pixels horizontally, and a tile image is generated for each area. Here, an A4 size document is scanned by the scanner unit (206) at 600 × 60.
Assuming that the image is read at a resolution of 0 dpi and is divided into tiles of 32 × 32 pixels, it is possible to obtain 34 pages from an A4 size document.
320 tile images are generated. As described above, the scanner interface (2
20) can also be made to perform tile generation processing. Further, the PC (101) can also realize the above-mentioned tile generation function by executing the control program of the present invention.

By giving X and Y coordinates to the generated tile image, each tile image can be uniquely identified. Here, the tile coordinates can be calculated from the pixel coordinates as follows. For example, when the tile position is determined from the upper left as shown in FIG. 3A, the upper left is 0, 0, and the coordinates and X of the tile position are X, Y in the direction of the arrow written as X or Y. Y component increases. In the figure, Tile (0, 0) and the like indicate one tile, and the parentheses in the parentheses are the X coordinate and Y indicating the tile position.
Coordinates. When the tile position is determined as shown in FIG. 3A, the conversion formula from the image position img_x, img_y [pixel] to the tile position tile_x, tile_y can be expressed as follows.

Tile_x = int (img_x / 32) tile_y = int (img_y / 32) Similarly, the generated tile image may be identified by giving a serial number. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3B, the image position img_x, i
Tile number tile_num from mg_y [pixel]
The conversion formula to can be expressed as follows.

Tile_num = int (img_x /
32 + int (img_y / 32 * 220)) In the tile image generation, the system control unit (201) can make the tile image into a shape and the number of pixels that can be easily handled according to the reading resolution and the convenience of image processing.

Next, the format of a packet used for processing image data in the multifunction machine controller (200) of this embodiment will be described.

Image processing unit (210) in this embodiment
Transfers the image data in packetized form.
Further, when the image data is handled, it is characterized in that it is handled in units of a predetermined small area (tile). By handling the image data in tile units, it is possible to perform image processing with a small memory capacity.

First, the format of the tile data packet shown in FIG. 4 will be described. The tile data packet is image data (302) in tile units divided by a predetermined number of pixels (32 pixels x 32 pixels in this embodiment).
And a header (301) in which control information to be described later is stored
And image additional information (316). In this embodiment, one tile data packet stores image data in units of one tile.

Next, the format of the command packet shown in FIG. 5 will be described. The command packet is composed of a header (401) and a command (402), and accesses a register for controlling the operation of each image data processing unit (221, 122, 123, 124) via a register setting bus (228). Is for doing. The command (402) is the address (40
5) and data (404).

Next, the format of the interrupt packet shown in FIG. 6 will be described. The interrupt packet has a header (501) and interrupt data (502).
And is used to notify an interrupt from the image processing unit (210) to the system control unit (201).
The interrupt packet is issued when an error occurs during processing, or when the scanning operation is completed by the scanner.

Next, the header (30
1, 401, 501) will be described.

The type of packet is the header (30
PacketType (Pckt Type) (1, 401, 501) (3
03), and in this embodiment, as follows,
It is assumed that the value of etType (303) corresponds to the packet type.

PacketType Type 0001 Tile Data Packet 0010 Command Packet 0100 Interrupt Packet ChipID (304) indicates the destination of the packet (the ID of the target chip). In this embodiment, Ch
It is assumed that the value of ipID (304) corresponds to the destination.

ChipID destination 0000 System control unit (201) 0001 Image processing unit (210) ImageType (305) has 1 bit Black & White /
A value indicating the data type of the image data included in the packet, such as 8bit Color RGB / 8bit Color CMYK, is stored.

PageID (306) indicates the number of pages (page number) of image data, and JobID (307) stores a Job ID for managing image processing by software.

PacketIDY (308) and PacketIDX (30
9) indicates at which position in the entire image the image data included (or designated) in the packet corresponds to the tile. The tile position is in the Y direction (PacketIDY (3
08)) and the X direction (PacketIDX (309)) are combined and represented by YnXn.

Process Instruction (310) is 5bit
The processing unit 1-8 is composed of a unit ID (314) and a 3-bit Mode (315), and each processing unit is processed in order from the left (lower). Processed UnitID and Mode
Is discarded, and the entire Process Instruction is left 8BitShif so that the Unit ID and Mode to be processed next are located at the left end.
will be t. Unit ID for Process Instruction (310)
A maximum of 8 sets of (314) and Mode (315) are stored. The UnitID (314) specifies each unit in the image processing unit (210) as shown below, and the Mode (216) specifies the operation mode in each unit. As a result, continuous processing can be specified for a maximum of eight departments for the image data included (or specified) in one image data packet.

In this embodiment, the relationship between each unit corresponding to the Unit ID is as follows.

UnitID Corresponding processing unit 00101 Printer interface (219) 00110 Scanner interface (220) 01000 Image combining unit (221) 01001 Image data processing unit 2 (resolution conversion) (22)
2) 01010 Image data processing unit 3 (color space conversion) (22
3) 01100 Image data processing unit 4 (image rotation) (224) Further, PacketByteLength (311) indicates the total number of bytes of the packet. ImageDataByteLengh (312) indicates the number of bytes of image data included in the packet. Compre
ssFlug (313) indicates whether or not the image data is compressed. ImageDataOffset (317), ZDataOffset
(318) represents Offset from the beginning of each data packet. ZDataByteLength (319)
Represents the number of bytes of image additional information, and thumbnail (32
0) is thumbnail information of the image.

CmdType (403) indicates the type of command in the command packet. CmdNum (404) indicates the number of commands in the command packet. Address (40
5) and Data (406) indicate the address and data of the register accessed via the register setting bus.

IntChipID (503) indicates the source of the interrupt packet, and Module included in IntData (502).
0 Status-Module8 Status (504) is the status of each module that is the source of interrupt in the transmission source
Is. In the present embodiment, IntChipID (50
The value in 3) corresponds to the source.

IntChip ID sender 0000 System control unit (201) 0001 Image processing unit (210) Therefore, for example, in the image processing unit (210), the image synthesizing unit (221) and the image data processing unit 2-4 (22).
2-224) each correspond to a module, and when an interrupt occurs from a module, the image processing unit (2
10) extracts the Status of each module and
The interrupt packet stored in the dule Status (504) is created. In this case, the IntC of the interrupt packet
The hipID is "0001" indicating the image processing unit (210), and the destination ChipID (304) is "0000" indicating the system control unit (201), for example.

As an example of the image processing of the multifunction machine controller using the above configuration and packet format, the combining processing operation of the image received from the external device will be described below.

First, FIG. 7 shows the flow of the image synthesizing process in this embodiment. In the present embodiment, the multifunction device controller (200) stores an image A (601) and an image B (6) of one page each stored in the RAM 102 as original images.
02) is combined using the image combining unit (221) to generate an image C (603), which is stored in the RAM 102 again.
Note that in this embodiment, the image A
(601) and image B (602) are binary black and white images.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the multifunction machine controller (200) in the image synthesizing process. Hereinafter, the procedure for generating the composite image C from the image A and the image B will be described with reference to FIGS. The operation explained below is performed by the system control unit (201).
Internal CPU is RAM (202) or ROM (20
This can be realized by executing the program stored in 3) and controlling each unit.

First, the system control unit (201) temporarily stores, in the RAM (202), the original image divided into tile images, which is received from the external device by the external interface 205 (S801). Stored image A (601)
The image B (602) is a state in which the raster file is divided into tile-shaped tile images, as shown in FIG.

The system control unit (201) extracts, from the tiles of the divided image A (601), tiles including an image to be combined (S802). The extraction of tiles is performed by comparing the background color of the image with the pixels included in each tile. If the tile contains pixels that differ from the background color, it is identified as containing the image to be composited. The image (604) in FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the upper left end of the image A (601). As described above, in the present embodiment, since the white color is used as the background color, the tile image 605 including black pixels is extracted as the tile to be combined. The tiles are numbered and identified by a combination of coordinate positions in the X direction and coordinate positions in the Y direction, as shown in FIG.

The system control unit (201) reads the tile B (X, Y) of the image B (602) corresponding to the tile A (X, Y) included in the extracted tile image (605), and the tile A ( A data packet is generated from (X, Y) and tile B (X, Y) (S803). After that, tile A
A data packet including (X, Y) is a data packet A,
A data packet including the tile B (X, Y) is called a data packet B. At this time, ProcessInstracti in the header (301) added to the data packets A and B
The UnitID of on (310) and the ChipID (304) are both Unit ID 1 = “1000” (image synthesis unit), and the Uni
t ID 2-8 = “00000”, ChipID = “0001”
(Image processing unit). Also, Process Instruction
A mode for performing image synthesis is set in Mode (3020) in (3011). Regarding the tile position (X, Y), the Y direction is PacketIDY (308) and the X direction is Pac.
It is set to ketIDX (309).

The system control unit (201) sends the generated data packets A and B via the image ring (206).
It is transmitted to the image synthesizing unit (221) (image processing unit) (S8).
04). An image data input interface (211) in the image processing unit (210) receives the data packets A and B, analyzes ProcessInstraction (310) of the header, and Unit ID 1 to be processed first is the image synthesis unit (22).
1) is shown, the data packets A and B are sent to the image compositing unit (221) via the tile bus (226).

When the image synthesizing unit (221) receives the two packets of the data packets A and B, the process of the packets
Read the Instruction (3011). Here, the UnitID (3019) of each header represents the image composition unit (221).
Determine if it matches the ID. Then, as described above, since the IDs match in this case, the image synthesizing unit (221) determines whether the tile positions (X, Y) match in the Y direction with PacketID.
The determination is made by observing the PacketIDX (309) in the X direction on the Y (308), and the tile positions also match here. And
Next, the tiles A (X, Y) and B (X, Y) contained in the data packet are combined according to the setting of Mode (3020) (S805). Here, the image composition unit (221)
Tiles A (X, Y) and B extracted from the packet
With respect to (X, Y), an OR process is performed on each pixel included in the tile to generate a composite image tile C (X, Y).

Next, the image composition section (221) determines whether or not the image composition in step S805 has been completed normally (S806). Here, in the case of normal end (S80
6, Yes), the process proceeds to step S807, and in the case of abnormal termination (S806, No), step S described later
The processing shifts to 813.

The image composition section (221) uses the tile A (X,
When the composition of Y) and B (X, Y) is completed normally, the data packet C is generated by adding the header information of tile B (X, Y) to the composition result C (X, Y). (S
807). Where the Process Inst of the generated packet
ruction (3011) is shifted by 8 bits,
t ID 1-8 = "00000", and ChipID (3
005) is an ID representing the system control unit (201), "00"
00 ".

The image synthesizing section (221) transmits the generated data packet C to the system control section (201) (S808). Here, the data packet C includes a tile bus (226) and an image data output interface (21
2), the system control unit (2
01).

Further, the image synthesizing unit (221) extracts only the header information of the data packet A, and the ChipID (300
5) is converted into an ID representing the system control unit (201), and the data packet A2 including only header information is transmitted to the system control unit (201) (S809).

The system control unit (201) displays the synthesis result C
When two packets of the data packet C including (X, Y) and the data packet A2 are received, the tile A (X,
Y) and B (X, Y) are transmitted normally, and it is determined that the image composition unit (221) has successfully completed composition, and whether or not composition processing has been completed for all tiles to be combined. Is determined (S811). If it is determined that the tiles have not been completed (S811, No), the process returns to step S803, and the system control unit (221) determines the tiles A (X ′, Y ′) and B (X ′, tiles to be combined next. Y ') is added with header information, and in step S804, it is transmitted to the image combining unit (221) in the form of a packet, and thereafter, the same processing as described above is repeated.

On the other hand, when the image composition unit (221) determines that the composition of tiles A (X, Y) and B (X, Y) has abnormally ended (S806, No), the image composition unit (221). ), The status processing unit (216) generates an interrupt packet and transmits it to the system control unit (201) (S813). Further, the image synthesizing unit (221) extracts only the header information of the tile A (X, Y), converts the ChipID (3005) into the ID of the system control unit (201), and converts the data packet A3 including only the header information into the system. Send to the control unit (201) (S
814).

When the system control unit (201) receives two packets of the interrupt packet and the packet of only the header information of the tile A (X, Y) (S815), the tiles A (X, Y) and B (X, Y) are received. It is determined that the composition of () is abnormally terminated, and the status of the image composition unit (221) is initialized (S816). Here, the initialization of the status is performed using a command packet. Specifically, first, the system control unit generates a command packet in which a command for initializing the status of the image composition unit (221) is described, and the generated command packet is used as the image processing unit (21).
0), the command processing unit (215) of the image processing unit (210) interprets the received command packet, and performs setting to initialize the status of the image synthesis unit (221) via the register setting bus. .

After the status is initialized, the tiles A (X, Y) and B (X, Y) are again combined into the image synthesizing unit (221).
To (S817) and returns to step S815 again,
Perform image composition.

As described above, the image combining process is repeated for each tile, and when all the tiles to be combined are combined (S811, Yes), the system control unit (20)
1) is a synthesis result received from the image synthesis unit (221),
The tile image of the composite result image C of the images A and B is obtained from the tiles that are not used for the composition of the image B (S812), and the series of processes is completed.

Next, the image processing operation in the host computer PC101, which is a feature of the present invention, will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. Note that the CPU of the PC 101 reads out and executes a program, which is stored in advance in the hard disk and involves processing of an image divided into tiles, so that the processing operation of the image processing program described below is realized.

When the PC 101 executes the program accompanied by the processing of the image divided into tiles and starts the image processing command, the program first issues the image processing command to the digital multi-function peripheral 103 (S901).

Next, a response to the image processing command from the digital multi-function peripheral 103 is received, and based on the received response,
It is determined whether the image processing command issued from the program is currently executable by the digital multi-function peripheral 103 (S902).

In step S902, if the image processing dedicated unit (image processing unit 210 in FIG. 2) of the digital multifunction peripheral 103 determines that the image processing instruction can be executed, the issued image processing instruction is the digital multifunction peripheral. 103
Passed to. Further, the tile image to be processed is transmitted from the PC 101 to the digital multi-function peripheral 103 (S90).
3). In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the image combining process described with reference to FIG. 7 is performed, and the image A (601) and the image B (60
2) is transmitted to the digital multi-function peripheral 103 in a state of being divided into the tile images shown in FIG. Further, the image processing command passed to the digital multi-function peripheral 103 is an image processing command for effecting image composition.

Upon receiving the tile image and the image processing command, the digital multi-function peripheral 103 executes the image combining process similar to that shown in FIG. 8 on the tile image according to the image processing command.

When the image processing is completed, the digital multifunction peripheral 1
The image processing result such as the composite image C is returned from 03 to the program, and the program acquires the image processing result (tile image), and then uses the result to continue the next processing (S904).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S902 that the digital multi-function peripheral 103 cannot be used,
The image processing command issued by the program is passed to the PC 101 that is executing the program, the tile image is expanded into a raster file, and the processing process is executed according to the image processing command (S905).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the tile image processing command issued by the program is executed by the digital multi-function peripheral via the network, and the execution result is acquired as the image processing result. Because I did
Since the software eliminates the need to develop the raster file, it is possible to execute a program with tile image processing at high speed even when the PC does not have a unit dedicated to image processing.

When the digital multi-function peripheral cannot execute the image processing command, the PC executes the image processing based on the image processing command, so that the image processing operation itself becomes impossible or is significantly delayed. Can be prevented.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 10 shows an image processing system of this embodiment. The image processing system of this embodiment is different from that of the first embodiment in that the system is configured by a plurality of digital multi-function peripherals. Note that the digital multi-function peripheral 105 in FIG. 10 has the same configuration as the digital multi-function peripheral 103 described in the first embodiment.

Next, the image processing by the host computer PC101 in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described in detail using 1. Similar to the first embodiment,
The CPU of the PC 101 executes the program stored in the hard disk to operate the image processing program of this embodiment.

In the PC 101, when a program accompanied by processing of an image divided into tiles is executed and an image processing command is started, the program is first transmitted to all digital multi-function peripherals on the network as shown in FIG. On the other hand, a request to execute the image processing instruction is issued (S100).
1).

Next, as shown in FIG. 10, the image processing program judges whether or not there is a response from the digital multi-function peripheral on the network to the request (S110).
2).

If it is determined in step S1102 that there is a response, as shown in FIG. 10, an image processing command is issued to the digital multi-function peripheral that responds earliest via the network (S1103). Here, when the digital multi-function peripheral 103 responds earliest, the issued image processing command is passed to the digital multi-function peripheral 103. Also, P
The tile image to be processed from C101 is the digital multi-function peripheral 1
03 (S1104). In the present embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, it is assumed that the tile image and the image processing command for the image combination processing are issued.

Upon receiving the tile image and the image processing command, the digital multi-function peripheral 103 executes the image combining process similar to that shown in FIG. 8 on the tile image in accordance with the image processing command.

When the image processing is completed, the image processing result is returned from the digital multi-function peripheral 103 to the program as shown in FIG. 10, and the program obtains the image processing result (tile image) and then returns the result. The next processing is continued by using the information (S1105).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1102 that the digital multi-function peripheral 103 is unusable, the image processing command issued by the program is issued to the PC 101 executing the program (S11).
06), the tile image is expanded into a raster file, and further processing is executed according to the image processing command (S11).
07).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the request for executing the processing instruction of the tiled image is issued to all the digital multi-function peripherals on the network, and the image processing is performed earliest. Since the image processing is performed by the digital multi-function peripheral, the high-speed image processing using the digital multi-function peripheral can always be executed.

When the digital multi-function peripheral cannot execute the image processing instruction, the PC executes the image processing based on the image processing instruction, so that the image processing operation itself becomes impossible or is significantly delayed. Can be prevented.

(Other Embodiments) In the above embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a personal computer has been described. However, the present invention is applicable to an information processing device having any other arbitrary configuration. Of course, it is needless to say that it can be applied to a digital multi-function peripheral used as an image processing apparatus.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the image synthesizing process is described as an example of the image process executed by the image processing program, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is not limited to the resolution conversion and rotation. It goes without saying that the present invention can be similarly applied to other image processing such as processing.

Further, in the above embodiment, the original image is described as an image of one page, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is an image obtained by performing area designation for an image of one page. Any image that can be divided into tile images may be used.

The present invention supplies a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the storage medium (eg, RAM 1 in the above-described present embodiment
Needless to say, it is completed by reading and executing the program code stored in 02).

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, an optical disk,
A magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a non-volatile memory card, and a ROM can be used. In addition, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the OS or the like running on the computer executes actual processing based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where some or all is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing is also included.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is instructed to the next program code. Based on this, the case where a CPU or the like included in an expansion board or an expansion unit performs the expansion function to perform a part or all of the actual processing and the processing realizes the function of the above-described embodiment is also included. Needless to say.

Similarly, the present invention supplies the system or device by downloading it from an external device (for example, a server device) that stores the program code of the software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments via a network. Needless to say, it can be completed by reading and executing the program code stored in the computer of the system or apparatus.

[0098]

As described above, according to the present invention, an image processing command is issued to an image processing apparatus capable of executing image processing in units of divided images obtained by dividing an original image, and the image processing apparatus is issued. By acquiring the image processing result processed based on the image processing command in (1), there is an effect that a program involving the processing of divided images can be executed at high speed even if the apparatus does not have a unit dedicated to image processing.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining details of a digital multi-function peripheral (103).

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a tile image.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a format of a tile data packet.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a format of a command packet.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a format of an interrupt packet.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the flow of image combination processing.

FIG. 8 is a multifunction machine controller (2
00) is a flowchart for explaining the operation of (00).

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining an image processing operation in the host computer PC101.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an image processing system according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining image processing by the host computer PC101 in the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining image processing in a conventional host computer such as a PC.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 Personal computer (PC) 102 Personal computer (PC) 103 Digital multifunction device 104 network 200 Multifunction machine controller 201 System control unit 210 Image processing unit

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 2C087 AA09 AB06 AC08 BA02 BA03                       BA14 BB10 BD07 BD20 BD40                 5B021 AA19 BB01 BB02 DD04                 5B057 AA20 CA12 CA16 CB12 CB16                       CC02 CE08 CE09 CH01 CH11                       CH14 CH16                 5C076 AA12 AA21 AA22 AA24 AA36                       BA03 BA04 BA06

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus that is connected via a communication medium to an image processing apparatus capable of executing image processing in units of divided images obtained by dividing an original image, and an image processing command to the image processing apparatus. First to issue
And an acquisition unit that acquires the image processing result processed based on the image processing command in the image processing apparatus. 2. The image processing apparatus further comprises a transmitting means for transmitting the divided image, wherein the acquiring means is transmitted to the image processing apparatus by the transmitting means, and based on the image processing command. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processed divided image is acquired. 3. The image processing apparatus further comprises first determining means for determining whether or not the image processing apparatus can execute the image processing instruction based on a response from the image processing apparatus to the image processing instruction. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the image processing apparatus determines that the image processing instruction cannot be executed by the determination unit 1, the image processing apparatus executes image processing based on the image processing instruction. Processing equipment. 4. A second issuing unit for issuing an image processing execution request to a plurality of image processing apparatuses, wherein the first issuing unit responds earliest to the image processing execution request. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image processing command is issued to the existing image processing apparatus. 5. The image processing apparatus further comprises second determining means for determining whether or not there is a response from the image processing apparatus to the image processing execution request, wherein the second determining means determines whether the response from the image processing apparatus is received. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first issuing unit issues an image processing instruction to the apparatus itself and executes image processing based on the image processing instruction when it is determined that there is no image processing instruction. . 6. An image processing method for an information processing apparatus, which is connected via a communication medium to an image processing apparatus capable of executing image processing in units of divided images obtained by dividing an original image, the image processing apparatus comprising: First issue image processing instruction
And an acquisition step of acquiring an image processing result processed based on the image processing command in the image processing apparatus. 7. A transmission step of transmitting the divided image to the image processing apparatus, wherein the acquisition step is transmitted to the image processing apparatus by the transmission step, and based on the image processing command. The image processing method for an information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the processed divided image is acquired. 8. The method further comprises a first determining step of determining whether the image processing apparatus can execute the image processing instruction based on a response from the image processing apparatus to the image processing instruction. The information according to claim 7, wherein when the image processing apparatus determines that the image processing instruction cannot be executed in the determination step of No. 1, the image processing apparatus executes image processing based on the image processing instruction in its own apparatus. Image processing method of processing device. 9. A second issuing step for issuing an image processing execution request to a plurality of image processing apparatuses, wherein the first issuing step has the earliest response to the image processing execution request. The image processing method for an information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the image processing command is issued to the existing image processing apparatus. 10. The method further comprises a second determining step of determining whether or not there is a response from the image processing apparatus to the image processing execution request, wherein the response from the image processing apparatus is determined by the second determining step. 10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein when it is determined that the image processing instruction is not present, the first issuing step issues an image processing instruction to the apparatus itself and executes image processing based on the image processing instruction. Image processing method. 11. An image processing system including an image processing apparatus capable of performing image processing in units of divided images obtained by dividing an original image, and an information processing apparatus connected to the image processing apparatus via a communication medium. A first information processing device that issues an image processing command to the image processing device;
And an acquisition unit that acquires an image processing result processed by the image processing apparatus based on the image processing instruction. 12. A computer-readable storage in which a program code of an image processing method of an information processing apparatus connected via a communication medium to an image processing apparatus capable of executing image processing in units of divided images obtained by dividing an original image is stored. A medium for issuing an image processing command to the image processing apparatus,
And an acquisition code for acquiring an image processing result processed by the image processing apparatus based on the image processing command. 13. A program for executing an image processing method of an information processing apparatus connected via a communication medium to an image processing apparatus capable of performing image processing in units of divided images obtained by dividing an original image, A first issuing an image processing instruction to the image processing apparatus;
And an acquisition step of acquiring an image processing result processed by the image processing apparatus based on the image processing command.