Image processor, image processing method, and computer product

• US 7,724,986 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2005
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Murataka, Akira, Yoshizawa, Fumio, Shirata, Yasunobu, Kawamoto, Hiroyuki, Ohkawa, Satoshi, Togami, Atsushi, Fukuda, Hiroaki, Kimura, Shuji, Miyamoto, Isao
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmed; Samir A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Liu; Li
• Application Number:
  US11/219,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20060061809A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,721 Days
• Field of Search: 382/307, 382/100, 358/1.15, 358/1.13
• US Class Current: 382/307
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/00 General purpose image data processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00954 Scheduling operations or managing resources H04N1/0096 takes precedence; program initiating or switching G06F9/48; allocation of computer resources G06F9/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00962 Input arrangements for operating instructions or parameters, e.g. updating internal software program loading in general G06F9/445; network-specific protocols involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32561 using a programmed control device, e.g. a microprocessor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32571 Details of system components
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

An image processor includes a plurality of image processing devices that perform image processing, a storing unit that stores related data set for image data stored in the image processor, a translating unit that translates the related data to internal data, a converting unit that converts the internal data to information corresponding to a program and data used for image processing, and a downloading unit that downloads the information to the image processing devices. The image processing devices perform the image processing based on downloaded information.

Claims

1. An image processor comprising:

a user operable operating unit for inputting instructions to the image processor;

a storing unit that stores related data for image data stored in the image processor;

a plurality of image processing devices, operably connected to the operating unit, that individually perform image processing, the plurality of image processing devices being mounted within the image processor;

a single image processing controller configured to control downloading information corresponding to a program and data needed for image processing based on property data attached to the image data received from the operating unit and the related data read from the storing unit, the single image processing controller being further configured to control communication and input from the operating unit, the single image processing controller being mounted within the image processor;

a translating unit that translates the related data to internal data;

a converting unit that converts the internal data to information corresponding to the program and the data used for image processing; and

a downloading unit that downloads the information corresponding to the program and the data to the image processing devices, wherein

the image processing devices are configured to perform the image processing based on downloaded information and, wherein the single image processing controller is configured to control image processing by determining whether a process request can be executed using only the data from the operating unit or whether the related data from the storing unit is also required.

2. The image processor according to claim 1, wherein the downloading unit downloads the information to the image processing devices based on system information indicating types and number of the image processing devices.

3. The image processor according to claim 1, further comprising a reference-table storing unit that stores a reference table,

wherein the converting unit converts the internal data to the information by referring to the reference table.

4. The image processor according to claim 1, wherein the converting unit converts the internal data into the information by computation.

5. The image processor according to claim 1, further comprising a storage area corresponding to each of the image processing devices provided in the converting unit,

wherein the information is stored in storage areas corresponding to each of the image processing devices.

6. The image processor according to claim 1, further comprising

an acquiring unit that acquires operation data set for outputting the image data, wherein

the translating unit further translates the operation data to operation internal data, and

the converting unit converts the internal data to information based on the internal data and the operation internal data.

7. The image processor according to claim 6, wherein the translating unit translates only the operation data to operation internal data if the related data does not exist.

8. The image processor according to claim 1, wherein the related data includes at least one of color data, a manuscript mode, resolution, number of tones, start and discontinuation of a separation process, start and discontinuation of a digital Acoustic Emission (AE) process, an image size, application data, or data pertaining to a type of an image reader.

9. The image processor according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of image processing devices is a Digital Signal Processor (DSP).

10. A method performed by an image processor, comprising:

acquiring operation setting data from an operation input unit;

performing image processor resource control in response to the operation setting data;

storing related data set for image data stored in a storing unit in the image processor;

establishing services to be performed by a plurality of image processing devices mounted within the image processor based on property data attached with image data read from the operation input unit and the related data received from the storing unit;

translating the related data to internal data;

converting the internal data to information corresponding to a program and data used for the image processing; and

downloading the information corresponding to the program and the data to the plurality of image processing devices mounted within the image processor that individually perform image processing based on the property data attached to the image data, wherein

the image processing devices perform the image processing based on downloaded information and, wherein establishing services to be performed by the plurality of image processing devices includes determining whether a process request can be executed using only the data from the operation input unit or whether the related data from the storing unit is also required.

11. A computer-readable recording medium that stores therein a computer program that causes a computer to function as an image processor, the computer program causing the image processor to execute:

acquiring operation setting data from an operation input unit;

performing image processor resource control in response to the operation setting data;

storing related data set for image data stored in a storing unit in the image processor;

establishing services to be performed by a plurality of image processing devices mounted within the image processor based on property data attached with the image data read from the operation input unit and the related data received from the storing unit;

translating the related data to internal data;

converting the internal data to information corresponding to a program and data used for the image processing; and

downloading the information corresponding to the program and the data to the plurality of image processing devices, mounted within the image processor, that individually perform the image processing based on the property data attached to the image data, wherein

the image processing devices perform the image processing based on downloaded information and, wherein establishing services to be performed by the plurality of image processing devices includes determining whether a process request can be executed using only the data from the operation input unit or whether the related data from the storing unit is also required.