Image processing apparatus, image processing method, image processing program, and storage medium

• US 20030098983A1
• Filed: 10/18/2002
• Published: 05/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Terada, Yoshihiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,308,155 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 9/00 Image coding bandwidth or redundancy reduction for static pictures H04N1/41; coding or decoding of static colour picture signals H04N1/64; methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals H04N19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3875 combined with enlarging or reducing enlarging or reducing per se H04N1/393
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/40 Picture signal circuits H04N1/387 takes precedence

Abstract

In case of a “N-up” function, a correcting unit executes a correcting process operation with respect to an image read by an image input unit, a editing unit executes a magnification changing process operation, and thereafter, “N” sheets of images are placed side by side to form a single synthesized image at a time when the processed image is stored into a storage unit 15. When transmitting the synthesized image, an attribute of the image set from a U/I is added to the synthesized image and the control unit transmits the resulting image to an external apparatus. As a result, a reception side can execute an optimum processing operation with respect to the synthesized image with reference to the attribute added to the image. As a consequence, even in a “network copy”, the “N-up” function can be realized in a high image quality similar to that of a “direct copy”.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a reduction unit for reducing each of a plurality of inputted images;

an image synthesizing unit for synthesizing the plurality of images to produce a single synthesized image in such a manner that the plurality of images reduced by the reduction unit are placed side by side;

an attribute information producing unit for producing attribute information corresponding to the synthesized image; and

a transmission unit for transmitting the synthesized image and the attribute information to an external device.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a conversion unit for converting the synthesized image and the attribute information into a predetermined format,

wherein the transmission unit transmits the information converted into the predetermined format by the conversion unit to the external device.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attribute information producing unit produces the attribute information every region in which the image reduced by the reduction unit before being synthesized is employed as a minimum unit.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attribute information producing unit produces single attribute information relating to the synthesized image from attribute information pieces of the plurality of images to be synthesized.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attribute information producing unit produces the attribute information in the unit of a pixel of the synthesized image.

6. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a reception unit for receiving information from an external device, the information including a synthesized image in which a plurality of images are placed side by side to form a single synthesized image and attribute information corresponding to the synthesized image;

an information extracting unit for extracting the synthesized image and the attribute information from the information received by the reception unit;

an attribute information producing unit for producing another attribute information every an area different from an area corresponding to the attribute information, based on the attribute information extracted by the information extracting unit; and

a correction unit for correcting the synthesized image based on the attribute information produced by the attribute information producing unit.

7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the attribute information producing unit produces the attribute information in which the entire synthesized image is employed as a single area from a plurality of attribute information which are added to respective small areas with respect to the synthesized image.

8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the attribute information producing unit produces the attribute information every one pixel from attribute information every an area constituted by a plurality of pixels extracted by the information extracting unit.

9. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a reduction unit for reducing each of a plurality of inputted images;

an image synthesizing unit for placing the plurality of images reduced by the reduction unit side by side to synthesize the plurality of images to form a single synthesized image every an attribute of the image; and

a transmission unit for transmitting the plurality of synthesized images to an external device.

10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a conversion unit for converting the plurality of synthesized images into a predetermined format,

wherein the transmission unit transmits the information converted into the predetermined format by the conversion unit to the external device.

11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the conversion unit compresses the plurality of synthesized images, which are formed by the image synthesizing unit, based on compression system corresponding to each of the synthesized images.

12. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a conversion unit for converting a plurality of inputted images, attribute information pieces of the plurality of the images, and a synthesis instruction information into information having a predetermined format, the synthesis instruction information indicating to place the plurality of images side by side to synthesize the plurality of images to form single image; and

a transmission means for transmitting the information converted into the predetermined format by the converting unit to an external device.

13. The image processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the conversion unit performs a reduction operation with respect to each of the plurality of images at a compression ratio, which is determined by taking it into consideration that the external device will reduce each of the plurality of images.

14. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a reception unit for receiving information from an external device, the information having a predetermined format and including a plurality of images, attribute information of the images, and synthesis instruction information indicating to place the plurality of images side by side to synthesize the plurality of images to form a single image;

an extraction unit for extracting the plurality of images and the attribute information of the images from the information having the predetermined format;

a correction unit for correcting the plurality of images extracted by the extraction unit based on the attribute information extracted by the extraction unit;

a reduction unit for reducing the plurality of images corrected by the correction unit;

a synthesizing unit for placing the plurality of images reduced by the reduction unit side by side to synthesize the plurality of reduced images to form a single image; and

an output unit for outputting the single synthesized image,

wherein the reduction unit reduces the plurality of corrected images based on the synthesis instruction information contained in the information having the predetermined format; and

wherein the synthesizing unit executes the synthesis based on the synthesis instruction information contained in the information having the predetermined format.

15. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a reception unit for receiving information from an external device, the information having a predetermined format and including a plurality of images, attribute information of the images, and synthesis instruction information indicating to place the plurality of images side by side to synthesize the plurality of images to form a single image;

an extraction unit for extracting the plurality of images and the attribute information of the images from the information having the predetermined format;

a reduction unit for reducing the plurality of images corrected by the correction unit;

a correction unit for correcting the plurality of images reduced by the reduction unit based on the attribute information extracted by the extraction unit;

a synthesizing unit for placing the plurality of images corrected by the correction unit side by side to synthesize the plurality of corrected images to form a single image when judging to synthesize the plurality of images to form a single image based on the synthesis instruction information contained in the information having the predetermined format; and

an output unit for outputting the single synthesized image,

wherein the reduction unit reduces the plurality of corrected images based on the synthesis instruction information contained in the information having the predetermined format; and

wherein the synthesizing unit executes the synthesis based on the synthesis instruction information contained in the information having the predetermined format.

16. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a reception unit for receiving information from an external device, the information having a predetermined format and including a plurality of images, attribute information of the images, and synthesis instruction information indicating to place the plurality of images side by side to synthesize the plurality of images to form a single image;

an extraction unit for extracting the plurality of images and the attribute information of the images from the information having the predetermined format;

a reduction unit for reducing the plurality of images extracted by the extracting unit;

a synthesizing unit for placing the plurality of images reduced by the reduction unit side by side to synthesize the plurality of reduced images to form a single image;

a correction unit for correcting the single synthesized image based on the attribute information of the plurality of images extracted by the extraction unit;

an output unit for outputting the single synthesized image corrected by the correction unit,

wherein the reduction unit reduces the plurality of corrected images based on the synthesis instruction information contained in the information having the predetermined format; and

wherein the synthesizing unit executes the synthesis based on the synthesis instruction information contained in the information having the predetermined format.

17. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a reduction unit for reducing a plurality of inputted images;

a conversion unit for converting the plurality of images reduced by the reduction unit and synthesis instruction information into information having a predetermined format, the synthesis instruction information indicating to place the plurality of reduced images and the plurality of images side by side to form a single image; and

a transmission unit for transmitting the information having the predetermined format converted by the conversion unit to an external device.

18. The image processing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the conversion unit converts the plurality of reduced images, the synthesis instruction information, and attribute information of the plurality of images into the information having a predetermined format.

19. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a reception unit for receiving information from an external device, the information having a predetermined format and including a plurality of images, attribute information of the images, and synthesis instruction information indicating to place the plurality of images side by side to synthesize the plurality of images to form a single image;

an extraction unit for extracting the plurality of images and the attribute information of the images from the information having the predetermined format;

a correction unit for correcting the plurality of images extracted by the extraction unit based on the attribute information extracted by the extraction unit;

a synthesizing unit for placing the plurality of images corrected by the correction unit side by side to synthesize the plurality of corrected images to form a single image when judging to synthesize the plurality of images to form a single image based on the synthesis instruction information contained in the information having the predetermined format; and

an output unit for outputting the single synthesized image.

20. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a reception unit for receiving information from an external device, the information having a predetermined format and including a plurality of images, attribute information of the images, and synthesis instruction information indicating to place the plurality of images side by side to synthesize the plurality of images to form a single image;

an extraction unit for extracting the plurality of images and the attribute information of the images from the information having the predetermined format;

a synthesizing unit for placing the plurality of images extracted by the extraction unit side by side to synthesize the plurality of corrected images to form a single image when judging to synthesize the plurality of images to form a single image based on the synthesis instruction information contained in the information having the predetermined format;

a correction unit for correcting the single synthesized image based on the attribute information extracted by the extraction unit; and

an output unit for outputting the single synthesized image.

21. An image processing method comprising the steps of:

reducing a plurality of inputted images;

synthesizing the plurality of reduced image by placing the plurality of reduced images side by side, to form a single synthesized image;

generating attribute information corresponding to the single synthesized image; and

transmitting the single synthesized image and the attribute information to an external device.

22. The image processing method according to claim 21, wherein in the generation step, the attribute information is generated every region in which the image reduced before being synthesized is employed as a minimum unit.

23. The image processing method according to claim 21, wherein in the generating step, the single attribute information corresponding to the synthesized image is generated from attribute information pieces of the plurality of images to be synthesized.

24. The image processing method according to claim 21, wherein in the generating step, the attribute information corresponding to the synthesized image is generated in the unit of a pixel of the synthesized image.

25. An image processing method comprising the steps of:

receiving information from an external device, the information including a single synthesized image synthesized by placing a plurality of images side by side and attribute information corresponding to the synthesized image;

extracting the synthesized image and the attribute information from the received information;

generating another attribute information every an area different from an area corresponding to the attribute information, based on the extracted attribute information; and

correcting the synthesized image based on the generated another attribute information.

26. An image processing method comprising the steps of:

reducing a plurality of inputted images;

synthesizing the plurality of reduced image by placing the plurality of reduced images side by side, to form a single synthesized image every attribution information of the image;

transmitting the plurality of synthesized images to an external device.

27. The image processing method according to claim 26, wherein after the plurality of synthesized images have been compressed based on compression systems corresponding to each of synthesized images, the reduced synthesized images are transmitted to the external device.

28. An image processing method comprising the steps of:

converting a plurality of inputted images, attribution information of the images, and synthesis instruction information into information having a predetermined format, the synthesis instruction information indicating to place the plurality of images side by side to form a single synthesized image; and

transmitting the converted information having the predetermined format to an external device.

29. The image processing method according to claim 28, further comprising the steps of reducing the plurality of images at a compression ratio, which is determined by taking it into consideration that the external device will reduce each of the plurality of images,

wherein the converting step is performed after the reducing step.

30. An image processing method comprising the steps of:

receiving information having a predetermined format from an external device, the information including a plurality of images, attribute information of the images, and synthesis instruction information indicating to place the plurality of images side by side to synthesize the plurality of images to form a single synthesized image;

extracting the plurality of images and the attribute information of the images from the information having the predetermined format;

correcting the plurality of extracted images based on the extracted attribute information;

reducing the plurality of corrected images based on the synthesis instruction information;

synthesizing the plurality of reduced image by placing the plurality of reduced images side by side, to form a single synthesized image; and

outputting the synthesized image.

31. An image processing method comprising the steps of:

receiving information having a predetermined format from an external device, the information including a plurality of images, attribute information of the images, and synthesis instruction information indicating to place the plurality of images side by side to synthesize the plurality of images to form a single synthesized image;

extracting the plurality of images and the attribute information of the images from the information having the predetermined format;

reducing the plurality of extracted images based on the synthesize instruction information;

correcting the plurality of extracted images based on the extracted attribute information;

synthesizing the plurality of corrected images by placing the plurality of corrected images side by side based on the synthesizing instruction information to form a single synthesized image; and

outputting the synthesized image.

32. An image processing method comprising the steps of:

receiving information having a predetermined format from an external device, the information including a plurality of images, attribute information of the images, and synthesis instruction information indicating to place the plurality of images side by side to synthesize the plurality of images to form a single synthesized image;

extracting the plurality of images and the attribute information of the images from the information having the predetermined format;

reducing the plurality of extracted images based on the synthesize instruction information;

synthesizing the plurality of extracted images by placing the plurality of extracted images side by side based on the synthesis instruction information to form a single synthesized image;

correcting the synthesized image based on the attribute information of each of extracted images; and

outputting the corrected synthesized image.

33. An image processing method comprising the steps of:

reducing a plurality of inputted images;

converting the plurality of reduced images and synthesis instruction information into information having a predetermined format, the synthesis instruction information indicating to synthesize the plurality of images by placing the plurality of images side by side to form a single synthesized image; and

outputting the converted information having the predetermined format to an external device.

34. The image processing method according to claim 33, in the converting step, the plurality of images, the synthesis instruction information, and attribute information of the plurality of images are converted into the information having the predetermined format.

35. An image processing method comprising the steps of:

receiving information having a predetermined format from an external device, the information including a plurality of images, attribute information of the images, and synthesis instruction information indicating to place the plurality of images side by side to synthesize the plurality of images to form a single synthesized image;

extracting the plurality of images and the attribute information of the images from the information having the predetermined format;

correcting the plurality of extracted images based on the extracted attribute information;

synthesizing the plurality of corrected images by placing the plurality of corrected images side by side based on the synthesis instruction information to form a single synthesized image;

outputting the synthesized image.

36. An image processing method comprising the steps of:

receiving information having a predetermined format from an external device, the information including a plurality of images, attribute information of the images, and synthesis instruction information indicating to place the plurality of images side by side to synthesize the plurality of images to form a single synthesized image;

extracting the plurality of images and the attribute information of the images from the information having the predetermined format;

synthesizing the plurality of extracted images by placing the plurality of extracted images side by side based on the synthesis instruction information to form a single synthesized image;

correcting the synthesized image based on the extracted attribute information of the plurality of images; and

outputting the corrected synthesized image.

37. An image processing program causing a computer to execute an image processing method comprising the steps of:

reducing a plurality of inputted images;

synthesizing the plurality of reduced image by placing the plurality of reduced images side by side, to form a single synthesized image;

generating attribute information corresponding to the single synthesized image; and

transmitting the single synthesized image and the attribute information to an external device.

38. A computer readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute an image processing method comprising the steps of:

reducing a plurality of inputted images;

synthesizing the plurality of reduced image by placing the plurality of reduced images side by side, to form a single synthesized image;

generating attribute information corresponding to the single synthesized image; and

transmitting the single synthesized image and the attribute information to an external device.