Image processing apparatus for overlapping bit map data and vector data

• US 6,690,491 B1
• Filed: 02/18/2000
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kondo, Tsuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): GARCIA, GABRIEL I
• Application Number:
  US09/506,488
• Time in Patent Office: 1,453 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.1, 358/1.2, 358/1.9, 358/3.01, 358/3.21, 358/3.23, 358/521, 358/530, 358/540, 358/447, 358/461, 382/169, 382/178, 382/197, 382/274, 382/275, 382/302, 382/305, 382/298, 382/299, 345/544, 345/589, 345/603, 345/634
• US Class Current: 358/3.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/02 using printers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1828 characterized by the kind of storage accessed

Abstract

In case the bit map portion data stored in a bit map portion data storage unit is overlapped with the vector portion data stored in a vector portion data storage unit, the image processing apparatus operates in the following manner. When the vector portion data has a bit map palette value indicative of a bit map, an overwrite process operation is not performed over the bit map portion data. On the other hand, when the vector portion data has a value except for the bit map palette value indicative of the bit map, the palette value of the vector portion data is bit-mapped using a palette dictionary over the bit map portion data to perform the overwrite process operation.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

palette producing means for producing from vector data a palette dictionary made of a palette value which is indicative of a combination of primary colors, with respect to an image data input constituted by the vector data and bit map data both of which have a plurality of overlapping attributes;

bit map palette producing means for registering one palette value specific to the bit map data in the palette dictionary as a bit map palette value, in the palette producing means;

vector portion data producing means for performing an image drawing operation for the vector data using the palette value stored in the palette dictionary produced by the palette producing means, and for the bit map data using the bit map palette value stored in the palette dictionary produced by the bit map palette producing means, when the image drawing operation is performed using the overlapping attributes of the vector data and bit map data, and producing vector portion data by overlapping two image drawings in accordance with the overlapping attributes;

vector portion data storage means for storing the vector portion data produced by the vector portion data producing means, and the palette dictionaries produced by the palette producing means and the bit map palette producing means;

bit map portion data producing means for producing bit map portion data by performing an image drawing operation for only the bit map data input using the overlapping attribute;

bit map portion data storage means for storing the bit map portion data produced by the bit map portion data producing means; and

vector portion data overlapping means for operating in a following manner in case the bit map portion data stored in the bit map portion data storage means is overlapped with the vector portion data stored in the vector portion data storage means;

when the vector portion data has the bit map palette value indicative of a bit map, an overwrite process operation is not performed over the bit map portion data, whereas when the vector portion data has a value except for the bit map palette value indicative of the bit map, the palette value of the vector portion data is bit-mapped using the palette dictionary over the bit map portion data to perform the overwrite process operation.

2. An image processing apparatus comprising:

band dividing means for allocating input image data to areas divided into bands constructed of a plurality of rasters, with respect to an image data input constituted by vector data and bit map data both of which have a plurality of overlapping attributes;

palette producing means for producing a band palette dictionary made of a palette value indicative of a combination of primary colors, based on the input vector data band-divided by the band dividing means;

bit map palette producing means for registering one palette value specific to the bit map data divided by the band dividing means, as a bit map palette value into the band palette dictionary in the palette producing means;

vector portion data producing means for performing an image drawing operation for the vector data using the palette value stored in the band palette dictionary produced by the palette producing means, and for the bit map data using the bit map palette value stored in the band palette dictionary produced by the bit map palette producing means, when the image drawing operation is performed using the overlapping attributes of the vector data and the bit map data both of which are divided into bands by the band dividing means, and producing vector portion data by overlapping two image drawings in accordance with the overlapping attributes;

vector portion data storage means for storing the vector portion data produced by the vector portion data producing means, and the band palette dictionaries produced by the palette producing means and the bit map palette producing means;

bit map portion data producing means for producing bit map portion data by performing an image drawing operation for only the bit map data input divided into bands by the band dividing means, using the overlapping attribute;

bit map portion data storage means for storing the bit map portion data produced by the bit map portion data producing means; and

vector portion data overlapping means for operating in a following manner in case the bit map portion data stored in the bit map portion data storage means is overlapped with the vector portion data stored in the vector portion data storage means every band divided by the band dividing means;

when the vector portion data has the bit map palette value indicative of a bit map, an overwrite process operation is not performed over the bit map portion data, whereas when the vector portion data has a value except for the bit map palette value indicative of the bit map, the palette value of the vector portion data is bit-mapped using the band palette dictionary over the bit map portion data to perform the overwrite process operation.

3. An image processing apparatus comprising:

band dividing means for allocating input image data to areas divided into bands constructed of a plurality of rasters, with respect to an image data input constituted by vector data and bit map data both of which have a plurality of overlapping attributes;

palette producing means for producing a band palette dictionary made of a palette value indicative of a combination of primary colors, based on the input vector data band-divided by the band dividing means;

bit map palette producing means for registering one palette value specific to the bit map data divided by the band dividing means, as a bit map palette value into the band palette dictionary in the palette producing means;

vector portion data producing means for performing an image drawing operation for the vector data using the palette value stored in the band palette dictionary produced by the palette producing means, and for the bit map data using the bit map palette value stored in the band palette dictionary produced by the bit map palette producing means, when the image drawing operation is performed using the overlapping attributes of the vector data and the bit map data both of which are divided into bands by the band dividing means, and producing vector portion data by overlapping two image drawings in accordance with the overlapping attributes;

block dividing means for dividing the vector portion data produced by the vector portion data producing means, into blocks constructed of a plurality of pixels;

vector portion block code allocating means for producing vector portion block code data by allocating codes to the vector portion data divided into blocks by the block dividing means, in response to the number of sorts of palette values within the blocks, and producing a block palette dictionary indicative of a combination between the palette value and a code value;

vector portion data storage means for storing the vector portion block code data and the block palette dictionary both of which are produced by the vector portion block code allocating means, and the band palette dictionaries produced by the palette producing means and the bit map palette producing means;

bit map portion data producing means for producing bit map portion data by performing an image drawing operation for only the bit map data input divided into bands by the band dividing means, using the overlapping attribute;

bit map portion data storage means for storing the bit map portion data produced by the bit map portion data producing means; and

vector portion data overlapping means for operating in a following manner in case the bit map portion data stored in the bit map portion data storage means is overlapped with the vector portion data stored in the vector portion data storage means every band divided by the band dividing means;

the vector portion data is expanded into a palette value using the vector portion block code data and the block palette dictionary, and when the vector portion data has the bit map palette value indicative of a bit map, an overwrite process operation is not performed over the bit map portion data, whereas when the vector portion data has a value except for the bit map palette value indicative of the bit map, the palette value of the vector portion data is bit-mapped using the band palette dictionary over the bit map portion data to perform the overwrite process operation.

4. An image processing apparatus comprising:

band dividing means for allocating input image data to areas divided into bands constructed of a plurality of rasters, with respect to an image data input constituted by vector data and bit map data both of which have a plurality of overlapping attributes;

palette producing means for producing a band palette dictionary made of a palette value indicative of a combination of primary colors, based on the input vector data band-divided by the band dividing means;

bit map palette producing means for registering one palette value specific to the bit map data divided by the band dividing means, as a bit map palette value into the band palette dictionary in the palette producing means;

vector portion data producing means for performing an image drawing operation for the vector data using the palette value stored in the band palette dictionary produced by the palette producing means, and for the bit map data using the bit map palette value stored in the band palette dictionary produced by the bit map palette producing means, when the image drawing operation is performed using the overlapping attributes of the vector data and the bit map data both of which are divided into bands by the band dividing means, and producing vector portion data by overlapping two image drawings in accordance with the overlapping attributes;

block dividing means for dividing the vector portion data produced by the vector portion data producing means, into blocks constructed of a plurality of pixels;

palette sort calculating means for calculating as a palette number, a sort of a palette value of the vector portion data divided into blocks by the block dividing means;

vector portion block code allocating means for producing the vector portion data divided into the blocks by the block dividing means using only the palette value as data when the palette number calculated by the palette sort calculating means is equal to “

1”

, whereas for performing a production of vector portion block code data for which a code is allocated in response to the number of sorts of the palette values when the palette number calculated by the palette sort calculating means is equal to any number other than “

1”

, and for producing a block palette dictionary indicative of a combination between a palette value and a code value;

vector portion data storage means for storing the vector portion block code data and the block palette dictionary both of which are produced by the vector portion block code allocating means, and the band palette dictionaries produced by the palette producing means and the bit map palette producing means;

bit map portion data producing means for producing bit map portion data by performing an image drawing operation for only the bit map data input divided into bands by the band dividing means, using the overlapping attribute;

bit map portion data storage means for storing the bit map portion data produced by the bit map portion data producing means; and

vector portion data overlapping means for operating in a following manner in case the bit map portion data stored in the bit map portion data storage means is overlapped with the vector portion data stored in the vector portion data storage means every band divided by the band dividing means;

the vector portion data is expanded into a palette value using the vector portion block code data and the block palette dictionary, and when the vector portion data has the bit map palette value indicative of a bit map, an overwrite process operation is not performed over the bit map portion data, whereas when the vector portion data has a value except for the bit map palette value indicative of the bit map, the palette value of the vector portion data is bit-mapped using the band palette dictionary over the bit map portion data to perform the overwrite process operation.

5. An image processing apparatus comprising:

band dividing means for allocating input image data to areas divided into bands constructed of a plurality of rasters, with respect to an image data input constituted by vector data and bit map data both of which have a plurality of overlapping attributes;

palette producing means for producing a band palette dictionary made of a palette value indicative of a combination of primary colors, based on the input vector data band-divided by the band dividing means;

bit map palette producing means for registering one palette value specific to the bit map data divided by the band dividing means, as a bit map palette value into the band palette dictionary in the palette producing means;

vector portion data producing means for performing an image drawing operation for the vector data using the palette value stored in the band palette dictionary produced by the palette producing means, and for the bit map data using the bit map palette value stored in the band palette dictionary produced by the bit map palette producing means, when the image drawing operation is performed using the overlapping attributes of the vector data and the bit map data both of which are divided into bands by the band dividing means, and producing vector portion data by overlapping two image drawings in accordance with the overlapping attributes;

block dividing means for dividing the vector portion data produced by the vector portion data producing means, into blocks constructed of a plurality of pixels;

palette sort calculating means for calculating as a palette number, a sort of a palette value of the vector portion data divided into blocks by the block dividing means;

palette number limiting means for setting a palette number limit value corresponding to the number of the sorts of the palette values within the blocks of the vector portion data divided into the blocks by the block dividing means;

vector portion block code allocating means for performing a production of vector portion block code data for which a code is allocated in response to the number of sorts of the palette values and a production of a block palette dictionary indicative of a combination between a palette value and a code value when the palette number calculated by the palette sort calculating means is smaller than the palette number limiting value of the palette number limiting means, whereas for replacing a palette value whose occurrence frequency degree is low with another palette value whose occurrence frequency degree is high and which is located around the palette value, suppressing the number of the sorts of the palette values to the number smaller than, or equal to the palette number limiting value, and then performing a production of vector portion block code data for which a code is allocated in response to the number of sorts of the palette values and a production of a block palette dictionary indicative of a combination between a palette value and a code value when the palette number calculated by the palette sort calculating means is larger than, or equal to the palette number limiting value;

vector portion data storage means for storing the vector portion block code data and the block palette dictionary both of which are produced by the vector portion block code allocating means, and the band palette dictionaries produced by the palette producing means and the bit map palette producing means;

bit map portion data producing means for producing bit map portion data by performing an image drawing operation for only the bit map data input divided into bands by the band dividing means, using the overlapping attribute;

bit map portion data storage means for storing the bit map portion data produced by the bit map portion data producing means; and

vector portion data overlapping means for operating in a following manner in case the bit map portion data stored in the bit map portion data storage means is overlapped with the vector portion data stored in the vector portion data storage means every band divided by the band dividing means;

the vector portion data is expanded into a palette value using the vector portion block code data and the block palette dictionary, and when the vector portion data has the bit map palette value indicative of a bit map, an overwrite process operation is not performed over the bit map portion data, whereas when the vector portion data has a value except for the bit map palette value indicative of the bit map, the palette value of the vector portion data is bit-mapped using the band palette dictionary over the bit map portion data to perform the overwrite process operation.

6. An image processing apparatus comprising:

palette producing means for producing a band palette dictionary made of a palette value indicative of a combination of primary colors, based on input vector data, with respect to an image data input constituted by vector data and bit map data both of which have a plurality of overlapping attributes;

bit map palette producing means for registering one palette value specific to the bit map data, as a bit map palette value into the palette dictionary in the palette producing means;

vector portion data producing means for performing an image drawing operation for the vector data using the palette value stored in the palette dictionary produced by the palette producing means, and for the bit map data using the bit map palette value stored in the palette dictionary produced by the bit map palette producing means, when the image drawing operation is performed using the overlapping attributes of the vector data and the bit map data, and producing vector portion data by overlapping two image drawings in accordance with the overlapping attributes;

vector portion data storage means for storing the vector portion data produced by the vector portion data producing means, and the palette dictionaries produced by the palette producing means and the bit map palette producing means;

bit map portion data producing means for producing bit map portion data by performing an image drawing operation for only the bit map data input using the overlapping attribute;

image characteristic setting means for specifying an image output characteristic of the bit map data set by a user, with respect to the bit map portion data produced by the bit map portion data producing means;

bit map portion coding means for performing a coding operation in accordance with the specification of the image characteristic setting means;

bit map portion data storage means for storing code data produced by the bit map portion data coding means;

bit map portion expanding means for expanding the code data of the bit map portion data storage means in accordance with the specification of the image characteristic setting means; and

vector portion data overlapping means for operating in a following manner in case the bit map portion data expanded by the bit map portion expanding means is overlapped with the vector portion data stored in the vector portion data storage means;

when the vector portion data has the bit map palette value indicative of a bit map, an overwrite process operation is not performed over the bit map portion data, whereas when the vector portion data has a value except for the bit map palette value indicative of the bit map, the palette value of the vector portion data is bit-mapped using the palette dictionary over the bit map portion data to perform the overwrite process operation.