Image processing system, drawing system, drawing method, medium, printer, and image display unit

• US 6,084,687 A
• Filed: 03/17/1998
• Issued: 07/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Hattori, Masateru, Miyazaki, Koichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles, Edward L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HASKINS, TWYLER LAMB
• Application Number:
  US09/043,000
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.17, 358/1.15, 358/1.1, 358/1.13
• US Class Current: 358/1.17
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/00 Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data , e.g. computer output printersprinting or plotting combined with another operation, e.g. with conveying, G06K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0014 Transforming the printer input data into internal codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0065 Page or partial page composition

Abstract

An image processing system which comprises number-of-divisions determination means, conversion means, an intermediate buffer, selection means, expansion means, and a band memory, characterized by separation means for separating the intermediate code into proper information and attribute information, attribute determination means for determining whether or not the attributes of the preceding attribute information differ from the attributes of the subsequent attribute information, control means for storing the subsequent attribute information in the intermediate buffer if the attribute determination means determines that the attributes of the preceding attribute information differ from the attributes of the subsequent attribute information, restoration means for restoring the subsequent attribute information using the preceding attribute information code when the intermediate code is output from the intermediate buffer to the expansion means, and area information addition means for adding area information indicating which band the code is valid on to the proper information and attribute information of the intermediate code.

Claims

1. An image processing system comprising:

number-of-divisions determination means for determining how many bands one page is to be divided into,

conversion means for converting code data of at least one page into intermediate code,

an intermediate buffer for storing the intermediate code,

selection means for selecting the intermediate code corresponding to a specific band out of said intermediate buffer,

expansion means for expanding the intermediate code to bit map data, and

a band memory for storing the resultant bit map data,

wherein

area information addition means for adding area information indicating which band the code is valid on to the intermediate code;

intermediate code determination means for determining whether or not elements of the preceding intermediate code differ from the corresponding elements of the subsequent intermediate code;

control means for storing the corresponding elements of the subsequent intermediate code in said intermediate buffer if said intermediate code determination means determines that the elements of the preceding intermediate code differ from the corresponding elements of the subsequent intermediate code; and

restoration means for restoring the subsequent intermediate code using the preceding intermediate code when the intermediate code is output from said intermediate buffer to said expansion means.

2. The image processing system of claim 1, further comprising:

separation means for separating the elements of the intermediate code into proper information and attribute information,

wherein

said area information addition means adds area information indicating which band the code is valid on to the proper information and attribute information of the intermediate code.

3. The image processing system of claim 1, further comprising:

separation means for separating the elements of the intermediate code into proper information and attribute information,

wherein

said area information addition means adds area information indicating which band the code is valid on to the proper information to the intermediate code.

4. An image processing system comprising:

number-of-divisions determination means for determining how many bands one page is to be divided into;

conversion means, when converting code data of at least one page into intermediate code, for adding area information indicating which band the code is valid on;

an intermediate buffer for storing the intermediate code;

selection means for selecting the intermediate code corresponding to a specific band out of said intermediate buffer based on the area information added by said conversion means;

expansion means for expanding the intermediate code to bit map data; and

a band memory for storing the resultant bit map data.

5. An image processing system comprising:

number-of-divisions determination means for determining how many bands one page is to be divided into;

conversion means for converting code data of at least one page into intermediate code;

an intermediate buffer for storing the intermediate code;

selection means for selecting the intermediate code corresponding to a specific band out of said intermediate buffer;

expansion means for expanding the intermediate code to bit map data; and

a band memory for storing the resultant bit map data,

wherein

said conversion means comprises;

intermediate code determination means for determining whether or not elements of the preceding intermediate code differ from the corresponding elements of the subsequent intermediate code; and

control means for storing the corresponding elements of the subsequent intermediate code in said intermediate buffer if said intermediate code determination means determines that the elements of the preceding intermediate code differ from the corresponding elements of the subsequent intermediate code, and wherein

said expansion means restores the subsequent intermediate code using the preceding intermediate code and expands the restored intermediate code.

6. An image processing system comprising:

number-of-divisions determination means for determining how many bands one page is to be divided into,

conversion means for converting code data of at least one page into intermediate code,

an intermediate buffer for storing the intermediate code,

selection means for selecting the intermediate code corresponding to a specific band out of said intermediate buffer,

expansion means for expanding the intermediate code to bit map data, and

a band memory for storing the resultant bit map data,

said image processing system comprising;

intermediate code preparation means for inserting management information to divide a page image into bands for expansion into input code data and preparing intermediate code;

an intermediate buffer that can be accessed at random for storing the intermediate code prepared by said intermediate code preparation means;

storage means for storing initial values of attribute information specified at the beginning of a page in the code data;

expansion means for reading the intermediate code from said intermediate buffer for each band and expanding partial images of the first band to the nth band (n is an integer of 2 or more) in sequence in the drawing memory based on the drawing information and the attribute information; and

attribute information specification means for specifying the initial values of attribute information stored in said storage means in said expansion means when said expansion means starts expansion at the top of each band.

7. The image processing system of claim 6, further comprising:

control means, if a code amount of the intermediate code exceeds a capacity of said intermediate buffer, for controlling so that the data of the portion written into said intermediate buffer is previously expanded in the drawing memory by said expansion means, then remaining overflow data is written into said intermediate buffer and is expanded in the drawing memory by said expansion means and is merged with the portion previously expanded in the drawing memory;

second storage means for storing attribute information specified just before said intermediate buffer overflows when said intermediate buffer overflows; and

second attribute information specification means for specifying the attribute information stored in said second storage means in said expansion means when said expansion means starts expansion at the top of the overflow data written into said intermediate buffer.

8. The image processing system of claim 6, further comprising:

removal means for inputting code data containing attribute information for each drawing information piece regardless of whether or not the attribute changes, detects the presence or absence of attribute change from the code data, and removing attribute information specifying an attribute not changing from the preceding attribute from the code data.

9. The image processing system of claim 6, wherein

the storage area of said storage means is set in the top area where access to said intermediate buffer is started.

10. The image processing system of claim 7, wherein

the storage areas of said storage means and said second storage means are set in the top area where access to said intermediate buffer is started.

11. The image processing system of claim 6 comprising:

a first operation mode of drawing by a frame method for each page;

a second operation mode of dividing one page into bands and drawing by a banding method; and

switch means for determining which of the first and second operation modes is to be used for drawing.

12. The image processing system of claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

if a code amount of the intermediate code exceeds a capacity of said intermediate buffer, previously expanding the data of the portion written into said intermediate buffer in the drawing memory, then writing remaining overflow data into said intermediate buffer, expanding the data in the drawing memory, and merging the data with the portion previously expanded in the drawing memory;

storing attribute information specified just before said intermediate buffer overflows in second storage means when said intermediate buffer overflows; and

specifying the attribute information stored in said second storage means as initial values when expansion is started at the top of the overflow data written into said intermediate buffer.

13. A printer comprising:

said image processing system of claim 6 for printing out an image corresponding to the bit map data expanded in the drawing memory.

17. An image display unit comprising:

said image processing system of claim 6 for displaying an image corresponding to the bit map data expanded in the drawing memory.

14. A image processing method for converting code data of a page image consisting of drawing information at least giving a drawing instruction and attribute information specifying a new attribute after change only if an attribute of the drawing information changes into bit map data and expanding in a drawing memory, said drawing method comprising the steps of:

inserting management information to divide a page image into bands for expansion into input code data and preparing intermediate code;

storing initial values of attribute information specified at the beginning of a page in the code data in predetermined storage means;

storing the prepared intermediate code in an intermediate buffer that can be accessed at random;

reading the intermediate code from said intermediate buffer for each band and expanding partial images of the first band to the nth band in sequence in the drawing memory based on the drawing information and the attribute information; and

specifying the initial values of attribute information stored in said storage means when expansion is started at the top of each band.

15. A medium for recording a program to cause a computer to execute a procedure of converting code data of a page image consisting of drawing information at least giving a drawing instruction and attribute information specifying a new attribute after change only if an attribute of the drawing information changes into bit map data and expanding in a drawing memory, said medium for recording said program to cause the computer to execute the steps of:

inserting management information to divide a page image into bands for expansion into input code data and preparing intermediate code;

storing initial values of attribute information specified at the beginning of a page in the code data in predetermined storage means;

storing the prepared intermediate code in an intermediate buffer that can be accessed at random;

reading the intermediate code from said intermediate buffer for each band and expanding partial images of the first band to the nth band in sequence in the drawing memory based on the drawing information and the attribute information; and

specifying the initial values of attribute information stored in said storage means when expansion is started at the top of each band.

16. The medium of claim 15 for recording said program to cause the computer to further execute the steps of:

if a code amount of the intermediate code exceeds a capacity of said intermediate buffer, previously expanding the data of the portion written into said intermediate buffer in the drawing memory, then writing remaining overflow data into said intermediate buffer, expanding the data in the drawing memory, and merging the data with the portion previously expanded in the drawing memory;

storing attribute information specified just before said intermediate buffer overflows in second storage means when said intermediate buffer overflows; and

specifying the attribute information stored in said second storage means as initial values when expansion is started at the top of the overflow data written into said intermediate buffer.

18. A drawing system for converting code data of a page image consisting of drawing information at least giving a drawing instruction and attribute information specifying a new attribute after change only if an attribute of the drawing information changes into bit map data and expanding in a drawing memory, said drawing system comprising:

intermediate code preparation means for inserting management information to divide a page image into bands for expansion into input code data and preparing intermediate code;

an intermediate buffer that can be accessed at random for storing the intermediate code prepared by said intermediate code preparation means;

storage means for storing initial values of attribute information specified at the beginning of a page in the code data;

expansion means for reading the intermediate code from said intermediate buffer for each band and expanding partial images of the first band to the nth band (n is an integer of 2 or more) in sequence in the drawing memory based on the drawing information and the attribute information; and

attribute information specification means for specifying the initial values of attribute information stored in said storage means in said expansion means when said expansion means starts expansion at the top of each band.

19. The drawing system of claim 18, further comprising:

control means, if a code amount of the intermediate code exceeds a capacity of said intermediate buffer, for controlling so that the data of the portion written into said intermediate buffer is previously expanded in the drawing memory by said expansion means, then remaining overflow data is written into said intermediate buffer and is expanded in the drawing memory by said expansion means and is merged with the portion previously expanded in the drawing memory;

second storage means for storing attribute information specified just before said intermediate buffer overflows when said intermediate buffer overflows; and

second attribute information specification means for specifying the attribute information stored in said second storage means in said expansion means when said expansion means starts expansion at the top of the overflow data written into said intermediate buffer.

20. The drawing system of claim 18, further comprising:

removal means for inputting code data containing attribute information for each drawing information piece regardless of whether or not the attribute changes, detects the presence or absence of attribute change from the code data, and removing attribute information specifying an attribute not changing from the preceding attribute from the code data.

21. The drawing system of claim 18, wherein

the storage area of said storage means is set in the top area where access to said intermediate buffer is started.

22. The drawing system of claim 19, wherein

the storage areas of said storage means and said second storage means are set in the top area where access to said intermediate buffer is started.

23. The drawing system of claim 18 comprising:

a first operation mode of drawing by a frame method for each page;

a second operation mode of dividing one page into bands and drawing by a banding method; and

switch means for determining which of the first and second operation modes is to be used for drawing.

24. The drawing system of claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

if a code amount of the intermediate code exceeds a capacity of said intermediate buffer, previously expanding the data of the portion written into said intermediate buffer in the drawing memory, then writing remaining overflow data into said intermediate buffer, expanding the data in the drawing memory, and merging the data with the portion previously expanded in the drawing memory;

storing attribute information specified just before said intermediate buffer overflows in second storage means when said intermediate buffer overflows; and

specifying the attribute information stored in said second storage means as initial values when expansion is started at the top of the overflow data written into said intermediate buffer.

25. A printer comprising:

a drawing system of claim 18 for printing out an image corresponding to the bit map data expanded in the drawing memory.

26. An image display unit comprising:

a drawing system of claim 18 for displaying an image corresponding to the bit map data expanded in the drawing memory.

27. A drawing method for converting code data of a page image consisting of drawing information at least giving a drawing instruction and attribute information specifying a new attribute after change only if an attribute of the drawing information changes into bit map data and expanding in a drawing memory, said drawing method comprising the steps of:

inserting management information to divide a page image into bands for expansion into input code data and preparing intermediate code;

storing initial values of attribute information specified at the beginning of a page in the code data in predetermined storage means;

storing the prepared intermediate code in an intermediate buffer that can be accessed at random;

reading the intermediate code from said intermediate buffer for each band and expanding partial images of the first band to the nth band in sequence in the drawing memory based on the drawing information and the attribute information; and

specifying the initial values of attribute information stored in said storage means when expansion is started at the top of each band.

28. A medium for recording a program to cause a computer to execute a procedure of converting code data of a page image consisting of drawing information at least giving a drawing instruction and attribute information specifying a new attribute after change only if an attribute of the drawing information changes into bit map data and expanding in a drawing memory, said medium for recording said program to cause the computer to execute the steps of:

inserting management information to divide a page image into bands for expansion into input code data and preparing intermediate code;

storing initial values of attribute information specified at the beginning of a page in the code data in predetermined storage means;

storing the prepared intermediate code in an intermediate buffer that can be accessed at random;

reading the intermediate code from said intermediate buffer for each band and expanding partial images of the first band to the nth band in sequence in the drawing memory based on the drawing information and the attribute information; and

specifying the initial values of attribute information stored in said storage means when expansion is started at the top of each band.

29. The medium of claim 28 for recording said program to cause the computer to further execute the steps of:

if a code amount of the intermediate code exceeds a capacity of said intermediate buffer, previously expanding the data of the portion written into said intermediate buffer in the drawing memory, then writing remaining overflow data into said intermediate buffer, expanding the data in the drawing memory, and merging the data with the portion previously expanded in the drawing memory;

storing attribute information specified just before said intermediate buffer overflows in second storage means when said intermediate buffer overflows; and

specifying the attribute information stored in said second storage means as initial values when expansion is started at the top of the overflow data written into said intermediate buffer.