JP2008048253A - Data processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To actualize quick reduction process without analysis of an image data and also assure that a user can discriminate, without any problem, an image having been completed the reduction process. <P>SOLUTION: Reduction process is conducted based on a reduction rate table of different reduction rates in accordance with a position in the predetermined direction of a document image (for example, in the main scanning direction). Thereby, the image data having been completed the reduction process is transmitted with facsimile and is outputted on a sheet. In the reduction rate table, a reduction rate at the center of the document image in the predetermined direction is set higher than that at the end part of the document image at least in one direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a data processing apparatus that reduces an image.

  In recent years, facsimiles used in offices or the like have been able to read and transmit large-size originals. On the other hand, facsimiles used in general homes are mainly compact facsimiles due to the problem of installation area, and large size output sheets are not accommodated in the facsimiles. Therefore, when large-size original information is transmitted and the compact facsimile receives the original information, the original image cannot be output onto the sheet at the same magnification, and the entire image is reduced at a uniform reduction ratio, and the small size is obtained. Is output on the sheet. In addition, in an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet, image data received when printing image data received from a connected terminal or copying image data read by a scanner included in the image forming apparatus is used. In some cases, the image is output after being reduced at a uniform reduction rate as a whole.

  However, when image data is reduced at a uniform reduction ratio as a whole and output on a sheet, characters and pictures become smaller, and the characters cannot be read or the detailed parts of the picture are crushed and cannot be seen. It was.

Therefore, a technique has been proposed that makes it easy to read characters and the like even if they are reduced and output on a sheet. The technique described in Patent Document 1 reads a document in a main scanning direction by a line sensor, determines a margin portion (for example, a margin portion constituted by lines) in the document, and reduces the margin portion if the margin portion is sufficient. It is a technology of processing. According to the technique described in Patent Document 1, the margin portion is reduced, but black data such as characters is not reduced, so that the problem that the characters cannot be read even if reduction processing is eliminated.
JP-A-5-328105

  However, since the technique described in Patent Document 1 analyzes image data line by line and discriminates margins and black data, it takes time to analyze one page of a document and outputs it on a sheet. Will be delayed. In addition, since the original image is often different for each page, there is a possibility that the reduction rate differs between pages, and a sheet with an uneven image size may be formed.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a data processing apparatus that can quickly reduce an image data without analyzing the image data and that allows a user to discriminate the reduced image without any problem.

In order to achieve the above object, the inventors of the present application have reached the present invention by paying attention to the fact that there is generally less important information such as margins at the end of the original image than at the center of the original image.
The data processing apparatus according to the present invention
An image reading unit for reading a document image;
An image processing unit that performs a reduction process on the document image read by the image reading unit based on a reduction rate table having a reduction rate that varies depending on a position of the document image in a predetermined direction;
A transmission unit for transmitting image data reduced by the image processing unit;
The reduction ratio of the central portion of the document image in the predetermined direction is set to be higher than at least the reduction ratio of the edge portion of the document image on one side.

The data processing apparatus according to the present invention is
An image reading unit for reading a document image;
An image processing unit that performs reduction processing on the document image read by the image reading unit, based on a reduction rate table having different reduction rates according to positions in a predetermined direction of the document image;
An output unit for outputting the image data reduced by the image processing unit on a sheet;
The reduction ratio of the central portion of the document image in the predetermined direction is set to be higher than at least the reduction ratio of the edge portion of the document image on one side.

The data processing apparatus according to the present invention is
A receiving unit for receiving image data;
An image processing unit that performs a reduction process on the image data received by the receiving unit, based on a reduction rate table having a different reduction rate depending on a position in a predetermined direction of the image data;
An output unit for outputting the image data reduced by the image processing unit on a sheet;
The reduction ratio of the central portion of the document image in the predetermined direction is set to be higher than at least the reduction ratio of the edge portion of the document image on one side.

  According to the data processing device of the present invention, it is possible to perform reduction processing quickly without analyzing image data, and the user can determine the reduced image without any trouble.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network system including a data processing apparatus according to the present invention.

  The network system A shown in FIG. 1 includes digital multifunction peripherals 10 and 20 that are data processing apparatuses and a PC 30 that is a terminal.

  The digital multifunction peripherals 10 and 20 are multi-function devices having a copying function, a printer function, and a facsimile function, and can output an image on a sheet. For example, with respect to the facsimile function, it is possible to read an original image with the digital multifunction peripheral 10 and transmit the read original image to the digital multifunction peripheral 20 via a PSTN (Public Switch Telephony Network). The digital multifunction peripheral 20 is connected to the PC 30 via a local area network (LAN) 1. When receiving the image data transmitted from the PC 30, the digital multi-function peripheral 20 outputs the received image data on a sheet.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram relating to the control configuration of the digital multi-function peripherals 10 and 20, and shows a typical control configuration.

  The digital multifunction peripherals 10 and 20 have the same configuration as a control configuration. Here, the internal configuration will be described based on the digital multifunction peripheral 10.

  The CPU 100 controls the operation of the entire digital multi-function peripheral 10 and is connected to a ROM (Read Only Memory) 101, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 102, and the like via a system bus 110. The CPU 100 reads out various control programs stored in the ROM 101, develops them in the RAM 102, and controls the operation of each unit. In addition, the CPU 100 executes various processes according to the program developed in the RAM 102, stores the processing results in the RAM 102, and displays them on the operation unit 104. Then, the processing result stored in the RAM 102 is stored in a predetermined storage destination.

  The ROM 101 stores programs, data, and the like in advance, and is configured by a magnetic or optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory.

  The RAM 102 forms a work area for temporarily storing data processed by various control programs executed by the CPU 100.

  The non-volatile memory 103 functioning as a storage unit stores setting contents and machine states that need to be retained even when the power of the digital multi-function peripheral 10 is shut off. Further, profile data to be described later is also stored in the nonvolatile memory 103.

  The operation unit 104 functioning as a selection unit can set operation conditions and the like executed by the digital multi-function peripheral 10. With respect to the copy function, settings such as paper size, density, single-sided / double-sided selection, and the like can be set with respect to the facsimile function. Designation and registration of profile data, which will be described later, are executed through the operation unit 104.

  The image reading unit 105 that functions as an image reading unit optically reads an original image and converts it into an electrical signal. For example, in the case of a color image, image data having 10-bit luminance information for each pixel of RGB is obtained. Generate.

  The image processing unit 106 performs image processing so that the printing unit 107 outputs image data. For example, the image processing unit 106 performs scaling processing such as reduction and enlargement on the image data. The image processing operation is executed by a predetermined program.

  The printing unit 107 that functions as an output unit has a function of forming an image on a sheet. When forming a color image, the image reading unit 105 reads the original image and generates RGB image data. The generated RGB image data is input to the color conversion LUT, converted into CMYK image data, and sent to the printing unit 40. Then, images are formed in the order of CMYK, and a color image is formed on the sheet.

  The sheet storage unit 108 stores an image forming sheet. When an image is formed on the sheet, the sheet storage unit 108 discharges the sheet one by one.

  A communication unit 109 that functions as a transmission unit and a reception unit communicates with an external device. For example, the communication unit 109 receives image data transmitted from the digital copying machine 20, or conversely, image data toward the digital copying machine 20. Or send.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing profile data which is a reduction ratio table.

  The non-volatile memories 103 and 203 in the digital multi-function peripherals 10 and 20 store profile data that is a reduction ratio table. For example, a plurality of profile data as shown in FIGS. Yes. 3A to 3G, the horizontal axis of the profile data represents the position of the image data in the main scanning direction, and the vertical axis represents the reduction rate of the image data. The reduction ratio in the present invention means a percentage of the size of the image after reduction with respect to the size of the image before reduction. That is, a high reduction ratio corresponds to generating a larger image than when the reduction ratio is low. The profile data has different reduction ratios depending on the position in the main scanning direction. Image data transmitted / received or output by the digital multifunction peripherals 10 and 20 is reduced based on profile data under predetermined conditions. When a plurality of profile data are stored in the non-volatile memories 103 and 203, which profile data is to be reduced is selected by the user through the operation units 104 and 204, or specified by the sender of the image data Or be selected.

  Here, an example in which image data reduction processing is performed based on the profile data of FIG.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of image data that has been reduced based on profile data.

  FIG. 4A is an explanatory diagram showing that large-size image data related to the character “A” is reduced and output to a small-size sheet. The arrow in FIG. 4A indicates the main scanning direction. Show. FIG. 4B is an explanatory diagram showing that one line of image data has been reduced based on the profile data of FIG. The upper part of FIG. 4B is the image data before the reduction process, and the lower part is the image data after the reduction process.

  In the profile data shown in FIG. 3A, the reduction rate in the region X at both ends of the image data is about 20%, and the reduction rate in the central region Y of the image data is about 80%. Therefore, when the image data is reduced based on the profile data shown in FIG. 3A, the image becomes small in the region X at both ends of the image data as shown in FIG. In the area Y, as shown in FIG. 4B, the image data in the area X is not reduced as much. As a result, even if the character image in the broken line area “A” located at the center of the image data is reduced, the character image does not become so small, and the character discrimination is hardly affected. On the other hand, since the area outside the character image area “A” corresponds to a blank portion, even if the size is reduced and reduced, the character determination is not affected.

  Reduction processing based on the profile data is executed by the image processing units 106 and 206. As a specific method, for example, profile data stored in the non-volatile memories 103 and 203 is transferred to an image reduction ASIC in the image processing units 106 and 206, and the CPU 100 or the like controls the image reduction ASIC by a predetermined program. To reduce the size. The image data is reduced at different reduction ratios according to the position of the image data in the main scanning direction, and the reduced image data is developed in a page memory to form one page of image data.

  As a specific reduction method applied to the reduction process based on the profile data, a known method such as a thinning reduction method or an interpolation reduction method can be applied. Also, different reduction methods may be used in combination depending on the reduction rate. Even when the interpolation reduction method is applied, the lower neighbor method is applied at the center of the image with a high reduction ratio, and the high-level bilinear and bicubic methods are applied at the edge of the image with a low reduction ratio. You may make it do.

  Next, the operation of the reduction process at the time of facsimile transmission or facsimile reception will be described in detail below.

  First, an operation for reducing the image data in the digital multifunction peripheral 10 on the transmission side when the digital multifunction peripheral 10 transmits the image data by facsimile to the digital multifunction peripheral 20 will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart relating to the reduction processing at the time of facsimile transmission.

  The facsimile function is selected on the operation unit 104 of the digital multi-function peripheral 10, the original image is read by the image reading unit 105 (step S1), and dialing is started with respect to the digital multi-function peripheral 20 as the transmission destination (step S2).

  Then, the capability exchange with the digital multifunction peripheral 20 as the communication partner is executed (step S3). This operation is for determining what kind of facsimile communication is possible by comparing the capabilities and specifications of the apparatuses. For example, the digital multifunction peripheral 10 obtains the maximum size information of image data that can be received by the digital multifunction peripheral 20.

  The receiving capability received from the digital multifunction peripheral 20 as the communication partner is compared with the size of the image data to be transmitted by the digital multifunction peripheral 10, and it is determined whether or not image data reduction processing is necessary at the time of transmission (step S4). ). This determination is executed by the CPU 100 using a predetermined program stored in the ROM 101.

  As a result of determining whether or not the reduction process is necessary, if it is determined that the reduction process is not necessary, the image data is transmitted as it is to the digital multifunction peripheral 20 as the communication partner without performing the reduction process (step S8). On the other hand, if it is determined that the reduction process is necessary, it is determined whether or not the reduction process is specified based on the profile data (step S5). Designation of the reduction process based on the profile data is set by the user on the operation unit 104 of the digital multi-function peripheral 10, and which profile data is used for the reduction process is set on the operation unit 104. If it is determined that the reduction process based on the profile data is not specified, the entire image data is uniformly reduced at the same reduction ratio based on the receivable size of the digital multi-function peripheral 20 (step S6). On the other hand, when it is determined that the reduction process based on the profile is designated, the reduction process is executed based on the designated profile data. Then, the image data reduced in steps S6 and S7 is transmitted to the digital multifunction peripheral 20 which is a communication partner (step S8).

  In this way, if the reduction process is performed based on the profile data when the image data is transmitted by facsimile, the reduction process can be performed quickly. Further, when the user of the digital multifunction peripheral 10 on the transmission side refers to the document image and designates profile data, even if the reduced image data is output to a sheet by the digital multifunction peripheral 20, an image such as a character or a picture is displayed. Can be discriminated without hindrance.

  Next, an operation for reducing the image data when the digital multifunction peripheral 10 copies a document will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart relating to a reduction process when copying a document.

  First, the copy function is selected on the operation unit 104 of the digital multi-function peripheral 10, and the user designates specific profile data for performing reduction processing with reference to the document image (step S11). When various settings relating to copying (sheet size setting, etc.) are completed, a print job is started (step S12), and the image reading unit 104 reads an original image (step S13). The image processing unit 106 executes a reduction process based on the profile data designated by the user (step S14), and prints the reduced image (step S15).

  As described above, even when the digital multi-function peripheral 10 performs the reduction process to copy, if the reduction process is performed based on the profile data, the reduction process can be performed quickly. Further, the user of the digital multi-function peripheral 10 can specify the profile data with reference to the original image, so that even if the reduced image data is output to the sheet, the user can discriminate images such as characters and pictures.

  Next, an operation for reducing the image data in the digital MFP 20 on the receiving side when the digital MFP 10 transmits the image data by facsimile to the digital MFP 20 will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart relating to the reduction processing at the time of facsimile reception.

  First, the digital multifunction device 20 detects a dial from the digital multifunction device 10 which is a communication partner (step S21).

  Then, the capability exchange with the digital multifunction peripheral 10 which is the communication partner is executed (step S22). This operation is for determining what kind of facsimile communication is possible by comparing the capabilities and specifications of the apparatuses.

  After performing the capability exchange with the digital multifunction peripheral 10 as the communication partner, the communication unit 209 receives the image data transmitted from the digital multifunction peripheral 10 (step S23).

  When the reception of the image data is completed, it is determined whether the received image data can be printed at the same magnification (step 24). This determination is performed by comparing the size of the received image data with the sheet size accommodated in the digital multi-function peripheral 20, and is executed by the CPU 200 using a predetermined program stored in the ROM 201.

  If it is determined that a sheet of a predetermined size is stored and printing is possible at the same magnification, the digital multifunction peripheral 20 prints the image data at the same magnification (step S25). On the other hand, if it is determined that printing at the same magnification is not possible, it is then determined whether or not the user on the transmission side has designated reduction processing based on the profile data (step S26). If the user on the transmission side does not designate a reduction process based on specific profile data, the entire image data is uniformly reduced at the same reduction ratio (step S27). On the other hand, when the user on the transmission side designates a reduction process based on specific profile data, it is next determined whether or not the reception side has received the profile data (step S28). If it is determined that the profile data is not received, the reduction process is executed based on the profile data of the receiving side based on the designation information specified by the transmitting side (step S29). The designation information is given as attribute information to the header portion of the image data. When it is determined that the profile data has been received, the profile data is preferentially handled, and the reduction process is executed based on the received profile data. The profile data is received in a form embedded in the image data or received as an attached file of the image data.

  Then, the image reduced in any of steps S27, S29, and S30 is printed (step S31).

  As described above, if the reduction process is performed based on the profile data when the image data is received by facsimile, the reduction process can be performed quickly. Further, when the user of the digital multifunction peripheral 10 on the transmission side refers to the document image and designates profile data, even if the reduced image data is output to a sheet by the digital multifunction peripheral 20, an image such as a character or a picture is displayed. Can be identified without any problem.

  Next, when the digital multi-function peripheral 10 transmits image data to the digital multi-function peripheral 20 by facsimile, an operation for reducing the image data by determining the communication partner in the receiving digital multi-function peripheral 20 will be described. .

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart for executing the reduction process by determining the communication partner at the time of facsimile reception.

  The operation from step S41 to S43 in FIG. 8 is the same as the operation from step S21 to S23 described in FIG.

  After receiving the image data, the communication partner is identified (step S44). Identification of the communication partner is executed by the CPU 200 by a predetermined program based on the dial number or the like.

  Next, it is determined whether the received image data can be printed at the same magnification (step 45). This is executed by comparing the size of the received image data with the sheet size accommodated in the digital multi-function peripheral 20. When it is determined that a sheet of a predetermined size is stored and printing is possible at the same magnification, the digital multi-function peripheral 20 prints the image data at the same magnification (step S46).

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the same size printing is not possible, it is next determined whether or not the communication partner is a predetermined partner (step S47). The image data transmitted from a predetermined communication partner may be image data in a fixed format at all times. In such a case, if reduction processing is performed based on profile data suitable for the communication partner, characters and the like are discriminated. Since an appropriate reduction process can be performed, the determination in step S47 is performed. If it is determined that the communication partner is not a predetermined partner, the entire image data is uniformly reduced at the same reduction rate (step S48).

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the communication partner is a predetermined partner, a reduction process is executed based on predetermined profile data associated with the communication partner (step S49). The operation in step S49 will be described in detail. The list shown in FIG. 9 is stored in the non-volatile memory 203 of the digital multifunction device 20. Profile data Nos. 1 to 5 are, for example, profile data (a) to (e) shown in FIG. The list shown in FIG. 9 associates a communication partner with a TEL number and profile data. For example, if the communication partner is Fax No1, the reduction process is performed using the profile data of No1. As described above, when profile data is associated with each communication partner, appropriate reduction processing can be automatically performed for each user. The determination of which profile data is used by the communication partner is executed by the CPU 200 according to a predetermined program, and the image processing unit 206 performs reduction processing.

  When the image data is reduced in either step S48 or S49, the reduced image is printed (step S50).

  As described above, if the reduction process is performed based on the profile data when the image data is received by facsimile, the reduction process can be performed quickly. Further, if profile data set for each communication partner is used, reduction processing considering the communication partner can be executed, and even if the digital multifunction device 20 outputs the data to a sheet, the user can discriminate images such as characters and pictures. .

  Next, an operation for reducing the image data transmitted from the PC 30 by the digital multi-function peripheral 20 will be described.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart for executing the reduction process during the printing operation.

  When the reduction process is executed based on the profile data when printing, the reduction process is set on the printer driver of the PC 30 connected to the digital multi-function peripheral 20 via the LAN 1.

  The digital multi-function peripheral 20 receives the image data transmitted from the PC 30 (step S51) and starts a print job (step S52).

  Next, it is determined whether printing is possible at the same magnification (step S53). If it is determined that printing is possible at the same magnification, the digital multi-function peripheral 20 prints the image data at the same magnification (step S54).

  If it is determined that printing at the same magnification is not possible, it is determined whether or not reduction processing based on profile data is specified (step S55). If there is no reduction processing specification based on profile data, the entire image data is reduced by the same reduction. Reduction processing is uniformly performed at a rate (step S56). On the other hand, if it is determined that the reduction process is specified based on the profile data, the reduction process is executed using the specified profile data (step S57). Profile data is stored in the nonvolatile memory 203.

  When the image data is reduced in either step S56 or S57, the reduced image is printed (step S58).

  As described above, when the image data is printed, if the reduction process is performed based on the profile data, the reduction process can be performed quickly. Further, even if the reduced image is output to a sheet by the digital multi-function peripheral 20, the user can discriminate images such as characters and pictures without any trouble.

  Although the present embodiment has been described based on a digital multi-function peripheral as a data processing apparatus, it may be a copier, a printer, or a facsimile machine having each function alone, instead of a multi-function apparatus.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment, and modifications and additions within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention are included in the present invention.

1 is a schematic diagram of a network system including a data processing apparatus according to the present invention. 2 is a block diagram relating to a control configuration of the digital multi-function peripherals 10 and 20. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the profile data which is a reduction ratio table. It is explanatory drawing of the image data reduced-processed based on profile data. It is a flowchart regarding the reduction process at the time of facsimile transmission. FIG. 10 is a flowchart regarding reduction processing when copying a document. It is a flowchart regarding the reduction process at the time of facsimile reception. FIG. 10 is a flowchart for executing reduction processing by determining a communication partner when receiving a facsimile. It is explanatory drawing of the list with which the other party and profile data were linked | related. FIG. 9 is a flowchart for executing reduction processing during a printing operation.

Explanation of symbols

1 LAN
10, 20 Digital MFP 30 PC
100, 200 CPU
103, 203 Non-volatile memory 104, 204 Operation unit 105, 205 Image reading unit 106, 206 Image processing unit 107, 207 Printing unit 109, 209 Communication unit

Claims (11)

An image reading unit for reading a document image;
An image processing unit that performs a reduction process on the document image read by the image reading unit based on a reduction rate table having a reduction rate that varies depending on a position of the document image in a predetermined direction;
A transmission unit for transmitting the image data reduced by the image processing unit;
And a reduction ratio of the central portion of the document image in the predetermined direction is set higher than at least the reduction ratio of the edge portion of the document image on one side. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit that stores the reduction ratio table. A selection unit for selecting the reduction ratio table;
The storage unit stores a plurality of the reduction rate tables,
The data processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the selection unit selects the reduction rate table to be reduced by the image processing unit from the plurality of reduction rate tables stored in the storage unit. An image reading unit for reading a document image;
An image processing unit that performs reduction processing on the document image read by the image reading unit, based on a reduction rate table having different reduction rates according to positions in a predetermined direction of the document image;
An output unit for outputting the image data reduced by the image processing unit on a sheet;
And a reduction ratio of the central portion of the document image in the predetermined direction is set higher than at least the reduction ratio of the edge portion of the document image on one side. The data processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a storage unit that stores the reduction ratio table. A selection unit for selecting the reduction ratio table;
The storage unit stores a plurality of the reduction rate tables,
6. The data processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the selection unit selects the reduction rate table to be reduced by the image processing unit from the plurality of reduction rate tables stored in the storage unit. A receiving unit for receiving image data;
An image processing unit that performs a reduction process on the image data received by the receiving unit, based on a reduction rate table having a different reduction rate depending on a position in a predetermined direction of the image data;
An output unit for outputting the image data reduced by the image processing unit on a sheet;
And a reduction ratio of the central portion of the document image in the predetermined direction is set higher than at least the reduction ratio of the edge portion of the document image on one side. The data processing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a storage unit that stores the reduction ratio table. The storage unit stores a plurality of the reduction rate tables,
The receiving unit receives specification information specifying the reduction ratio table,
9. The image processing unit according to claim 8, wherein the image processing unit selects the reduction rate table based on the designation information, and reduces the image data received by the receiving unit based on the selected reduction rate table. Data processing device. The reduction ratio table is stored in the storage unit corresponding to the partner receiving the image data,
9. The image processing unit according to claim 8, wherein the image processing unit selects the reduction rate table from information about a partner to be received, and reduces the image data received by the receiving unit based on the selected reduction rate table. Data processing equipment. The reduction unit receives the reduction rate table,
The data processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the image processing unit performs reduction processing on the image data received by the receiving unit based on the reduction rate table received by the receiving unit.

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