JPH05244426A - Code data supply system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Object] The present invention relates to a code data supply system for supplying code data obtained by hierarchically encoding an image from an accumulating means to an image restoring device, and is left unprocessed on the restoring processing means side. The purpose is to suppress the discarded code data. [Structure] From a storage means 101 for storing code data obtained by dividing an image into a plurality of layers and encoding the data, a sending means 102 via a code buffer 103 restore processing means 1
In the code data supply method for supplying code data to 04, the weighing means 111 for measuring the amount of unprocessed code data remaining in the code buffer 103 as the code data that has not been restored by the restoration processing means 104; The determination unit 112 that determines whether or not the amount of unprocessed code data obtained by the unit 111 exceeds a predetermined threshold, and the code that the transmission unit 102 transmits in a certain time according to the determination result by the determination unit 112. And a sending control means 113 for adjusting the amount of data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a code data supply system for supplying code data obtained by hierarchically coding an image from an accumulating means such as an image database to an image restoring device.

Since the data amount of an image such as a halftone image or a color image is too large to be handled as it is like other numerical data, the image is encoded and the data amount is compressed with high efficiency. It is later stored in the image database or transmitted to the image restoration device.

As a method of compressing the amount of image data,
There are various methods such as a two-dimensional discrete cosine transform method (DCT method) and a predictive coding method for coding a difference between image data representing the color of each pixel and a predicted value obtained from surrounding image data. The DCT method is one in which an image is subjected to cosine transform for each block of 8 × 8 pixels and the obtained transform coefficient is coded, and a joint standard JPEG of the International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee and the International Organization for Standardization (Joint Photographi
It has also been adopted by the c Experts Groupe). In particular, an adaptive two-dimensional cosine transform method (ADCT method) in which a transform coefficient is quantized by using a threshold value adapted to the visual sense and then coded provides a high compression rate.

However, even if compression is performed using the above-mentioned method, the amount of code data obtained is much larger than the amount of other numerical data, and the time required for its transmission and processing is long. ..

Therefore, for the purpose of utilizing the image database via a communication line, the images are hierarchically encoded, first, the information on the coarse image is transmitted first, and then the detailed information is transmitted sequentially. , A method of hierarchically restoring images has also been proposed. When the hierarchical restoration method is applied, a rough image is obtained with a short waiting time, and then the image quality is gradually improved, so that the psychological burden on the user can be reduced.

On the other hand, the accuracy of the restored image required by the user varies depending on the intended use of the user. For example, in the early stages of searching an image database,
It is sufficient to view a very rough image while switching it at short intervals. However, as a final search result, a detailed image including information of all layers is required. In addition, in a case where a still image is switched at a predetermined time interval and displayed as a moving image, the time interval for switching the image is shortened in order to make the motion look smooth rather than the accuracy of the still image restored as one frame of the moving image. Required to do so.

[0007]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in addition to ordinary code data for hierarchical restoration, code data for rough images for retrieval and code data for displaying moving images are stored in an image database and stored on the receiving side. In response to a request from the image restoration device, the corresponding code data is transmitted to cope with various uses as described above.

For example, as the code data for retrieval, only the first layer is extracted from the code data for layer restoration of each image, and is stored separately from the code data for normal layer restoration. Further, as coded data for displaying a moving image, coded data obtained by extracting and coding a changed portion from each image is accumulated.

Also, as in the case of normal hierarchy restoration, the first
The image data is sequentially transmitted from the code data of the hierarchical layer to the code data of the last layer, and the image restoration device aborts the restoration process of each image at the allotted time and starts the restoration process of the next image, thereby predetermining the image. There is also a method of realizing a speedy search and moving image display by flipping through the catalog by switching the display at the time intervals of.

[0010]

By the way, if the code data for each application is stored in the image database as in the above-mentioned conventional method, a huge amount of data will be duplicated. Therefore, it is necessary to unify the code data accumulated in the image database into hierarchical code data.

However, since the conventional hierarchical restoration method is aimed at finally restoring a detailed image including information of all the layers, the conventional hierarchical restoration method is used regardless of the intended use of the user. The code data sending device is configured to send the code data of all layers to the image restoration device side.

Therefore, if the time allotted to the restoration process of one image on the image restoration device side is limited in the case of use such as retrieval or moving image display, depending on the processing capability of the image restoration device, one of the transmitted code data Parts may be discarded without being restored.

In particular, when the image restoration device having a small processing capacity and the image database are connected via a line capable of high-speed transmission such as an integrated service digital network, a large number of codes are transmitted from the code data transmission device on the image database side. Even though the data is supplied to the image restoration device, the code data that can be processed on the image restoration device side is a very small part, so most of the code data is discarded without being processed.

As described above, if at least a part of the code data to be transmitted becomes useless data, the communication time and communication fee required for transmitting this useless data become useless, which is uneconomical. Therefore, there is a need for a code data supply system that efficiently supplies code data to an image restoration device.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a code data supply system capable of supplying code data while suppressing the amount of code data that is unprocessed and discarded on the restoration processing means side.

[0016]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of the code data supply system according to the first and second aspects.

According to the first aspect of the invention, from the storage means 101 for storing the code data obtained by dividing the image into a plurality of layers and encoding, the sending means 102 causes the restoration processing means 104 via the code buffer 103. In the code data supply method for supplying code data, a weighing means 111 for measuring the amount of unprocessed code data remaining in the code buffer 103 as code data that has not been restored by the restoration processing means 104, and a weighing means 111. The determination unit 112 that determines whether or not the amount of unprocessed code data obtained in step 1 has exceeded a predetermined threshold value, and the determination unit 112 determines whether the code data to be transmitted by the transmission unit 102 in a certain period of time. And a sending control means 113 for adjusting the amount.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the code data supply system according to the first aspect, the determination means 112 needs to determine a time required for the restoration processing of the amount of unprocessed code data obtained by the weighing means 111. The time calculating means 121 compares the required time with a predetermined threshold for this required time, and outputs the comparison result as a determination result indicating whether or not the amount of unprocessed code data exceeds the predetermined threshold. And 122.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the code data supply system according to the third and fourth aspects. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the coded data supply system according to the first aspect, a predetermined time is set, and the restoration processing unit 104 performs restoration processing of one image according to the lapse of the set time. A threshold value used by the determination unit 112 to determine the amount of unprocessed code data based on the timer 131 that instructs the end and the start of the next image restoration process, and the remaining time set in the timer 131. Changing means 132 for changing the value of
It is characterized by having and.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the code data supply method according to the third aspect, the threshold value changing means 132 restores from the remaining time set in the timer 131 by the restoring processing means 104 within the remaining time. Estimating means 141 for estimating the amount of code data that can be processed, and threshold determining means 1 for determining a threshold value according to the estimated value obtained by the estimating means 141.
And a configuration including 42.

[0021]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the determination means 112 and the transmission control means 113 according to the amount of unprocessed code data obtained from the weighing means 111 send the code data stored in the storage means 101. Since the transmission amount by 102 is adjusted, the amount of unprocessed code data in the code buffer 103 can be suppressed to about the threshold value used by the determination unit 112. Therefore, even when the restoration processing by the restoration processing unit 104 is terminated after the end of the allotted time, the amount of code data remaining in the code buffer 103 is reduced, and the amount of code data discarded as unprocessed is suppressed. It is possible.

According to the invention of claim 2, required time calculating means 12
The comparison means 122 compares the required time obtained by 1 with the threshold value for this required time to determine the amount of unprocessed code data. Here, since it is easy to obtain an appropriate threshold value for the required time from the allocation time for the restoration processing by the restoration processing means 104, the range that can be allowed as a waste of communication time, etc. By adjusting the data transmission amount, it is possible to effectively suppress the amount of unprocessed code data that is discarded.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the threshold value changing unit 132 changes the threshold value used by the judging unit 112 for judging the amount of unprocessed code data according to the remaining time of the timer 131, and based on this threshold value, Judging means 112 and sending control means 11
By adjusting the transmission amount of the code data by 3, the remaining time can be reduced and the amount of unprocessed code data remaining in the code buffer 103 can be reduced. That is, it is possible to minimize the amount of unprocessed code data remaining in the code buffer 103 at the end of the allotted time.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the threshold value determining means 142 determines the threshold value corresponding to the remaining time in accordance with the estimated value of the processable code data amount obtained by the estimating means 141, and the restoration processing means 104. It is possible to adjust the transmission amount of code data by using a reasonable threshold in consideration of the processing capability of.

[0025]

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of an embodiment of a code data transmission device and an image restoration device to which the code data supply system of the invention of claim 1 is applied.

In FIG. 3, code data storage unit 201
Corresponds to the accumulating means 101 and stores code data of each layer of a plurality of images as independent files.

Here, as the layered code data, for example, the conversion result obtained by the ADCT method is divided into a plurality of layers for each spatial frequency component using the spectral selection method, and is divided into each layer. It is sufficient to store Huffman-coded components.

Information regarding the storage location of each file is provided in the file management unit 202 as a table corresponding to the image number indicating each image and the layer number indicating the layer. Therefore, if the read control unit 211 of the code data transmission device specifies the image number and the layer number and requests the file management unit 202 to perform the read process, the file management unit 202 reads the corresponding file,
The coded data is transferred to the communication processing unit 212 of the coded data transmission device.

This code data is used as the communication processing unit 2 described above.
12 is sent to the image restoration device via the line, and is stored in the code buffer 103 via the communication processing unit 221 of the image restoration device. That is, the file management unit 202 and the communication processing units 212 and 221 described above fulfill the function of the sending unit 102, and the code data sent by the sending unit 102 is the code buffer 103.
It is configured to be transferred to the restoration processing means 104 via.

In the restoration processing means 104, the decoding unit 222
The input coded data is decoded to obtain a quantized transform coefficient, and the quantized transform coefficient is dequantized by the inverse quantization unit 223.
Dequantizes and restores the original transform coefficient, and the cumulative addition unit 225 uses the result obtained by performing the inverse DCT transform on the obtained transform coefficient by the inverse DCT transform unit 224 and the image data restored up to that point. The image data including all information up to the current layer is restored.

The image data restored by the above-mentioned restoration processing means 104 is input to the CRT display (CRT) 227 via the display control section 226, and the restored image is displayed on the CRT display 227. It is composed.

Further, in FIG. 3, the counter 232 is
The communication processing unit 22 corresponds to the weighing means 111.
The count value is added each time one word of code data is transferred from 1 to the code buffer 222, and the count value is subtracted each time one word of code data is transferred from the code buffer 222 to the restoration processing means 104. Thus, the number of unprocessed code data words remaining in the code buffer 222 is calculated.

The above-mentioned communication processing section 212 sends the coded data from the file management section 202 to the image restoration apparatus via the line and, in response to an instruction from the main control section 213, the image restoration apparatus will be described later. Requesting the transmission of the control information, and the control information obtained as a response is sent to the main controller 213
It is configured to be transferred to.

Further, the communication processing section 221 receives the coded data from the line and transfers it to the code buffer 103, and at the same time notifies the main control section 231 of the image restoration device to the main control section 231. The generated control information is sent as a response to the code data sending device.

The main control section 231 has a communication processing section 221.
When it is notified that there is a request for control information, the count value of the above-mentioned counter 232 is read out, and control information relating to the amount of unprocessed code data in the code buffer 103 is created from this count value. The communication processing unit 221 is configured to request the transmission of this control information.

When the user gives an instruction to search the image database or display a moving image through the operation panel 233, the above-mentioned main control section 231 holds the image number specified by the user in the memory 234. In addition, the timer 2 allocates time for restoration processing according to the use of the restored image.
It is set to 35. In response to the notification from the timer 235, the main control unit 231 instructs each unit of the restoration processing unit 104 to end the operation, sequentially reads the image numbers from the memory 234, and creates a transmission request in which the image numbers are designated. Then, the data is transmitted to the code data transmission device via the communication processing unit 221. As a result, the code data from the code data transmission device can be switched at each set time,
Restoration processing of a new image is started. On the other hand, the memory 23
After requesting the transmission of the code data for all the image numbers in 4, the main control unit 231 may make a request for ending the code data transmission operation, and may similarly transmit it to the code data transmission device.

The code data transmission operation according to the code data transmission system of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the code data sending operation.

In response to a code data transmission request from the image restoration apparatus side, the code data transmission apparatus starts its operation. First, the main control unit 213 extracts the image number from the above-mentioned transmission request and the read control unit. Notify 211 (step 30)
1). In response to this, the read control unit 211 sequentially designates, to the file management unit 202, files for one layer from the files corresponding to the coded data of the corresponding image notified in step 301 (step Thirty
2) In response, the code data for one layer read by the file management unit 202 is sent to the image restoration apparatus via the communication processing unit 212 (step 303).

Each time the code data for one layer is transmitted in step 303 described above, the main control unit 213 determines whether or not there is a request for transmitting a new image or a request for ending the transmitting operation from the image restoration device side. (Step 30
4).

In the case of a negative determination at step 304,
The main control unit 213 requests the communication processing unit 212 to send a control information notification request, and in response to this, the image restoration apparatus side notifies the control information indicating the unprocessed code data amount (step 305). ..

Next, the main controller 213 determines the judging means 112.
And as the sending control means 113, step 30
It is determined whether the amount of unprocessed code data obtained in 5 exceeds a preset threshold Th (step 306),
The read control unit 211 and the communication processing unit 212 are controlled according to the determination result. In the case of a positive determination in step 306, the main control unit 213 waits for a predetermined time τ (step 307), then returns to step 304, and the process proceeds to step 30 until a negative determination is made in step 306 described above.
4 to step 307 are repeated. Therefore, while the unprocessed code data amount exceeding the threshold value Th remains in the code buffer 103, the operation of sending the code data is stopped, and when the unprocessed code data amount becomes equal to or less than the threshold value Th, Returning to 302, the transmission process of the code data of the next layer is performed.

In this way, the amount of code data sent by the sending means 102 can be adjusted at a fixed time according to the amount of unprocessed code data accumulated in the code buffer 103. It is possible to prevent the unprocessed code data that greatly exceeds the threshold Th from being accumulated in the code buffer 103. That is, when the time allotted to the restoration processing of one image ends on the image restoration device side, the amount of code data to be discarded without being restored can be suppressed to the threshold value Th described above. Therefore, if an appropriate number of words is set as the above-mentioned threshold Th, the amount of useless code data can be significantly reduced, and the code data can be efficiently supplied to the image restoration device.

Further, when it is determined in step 306 described above that the unprocessed code data amount exceeds the threshold value Th, the threshold value used in this step 306 is changed to a value smaller than the threshold value th described above, and the new threshold value is used. Also, when the amount of unprocessed code data becomes small, the threshold value is returned to the original threshold value Th, and the negative determination in step 306 is performed in step 30.
It is also possible to return to 2 and restart the transmission of code data. In this way, by providing the code data transmission control with hysteresis, it is possible to stabilize the code data transmission operation.

On the other hand, in step 304 described above,
If it is determined that there is any request from the image restoration device side (affirmative determination), the type of request is determined in step 308, and if it is a transmission request, the process returns to step 301 and transmission of code data of a new image is started. If it is a termination request, the sending operation may be terminated.

When the affirmative determination is made in step 306, step 30 is repeated until the negative determination is made in step 306.
Instead of repeating 4 to step 307, the communication processing unit 2
The transmission rate of the code data by 12 is changed to a slower rate than the normal rate, and thereafter, when the negative determination is made in step 306, the transmission rate of the code data is adjusted by returning to the original transmission rate. Good.

Also in this case, the amount of useless code data can be reduced, and the code data can be efficiently supplied to the image restoration device. Further, as described above, when the transmission amount of code data is adjusted according to the amount of unprocessed code data in the code buffer 103, the amount of code data corresponding to the processing capacity of the image restoration device is supplied. can do. Therefore, when applied to the image restoration apparatus having the communication processing unit 221 capable of receiving the code data transmitted at high speed from the code data transmission apparatus and having the restoration processing means 104 capable of high-speed processing, the image restoration apparatus has high quality. A restored image is obtained, and the processing capacity of the restoration processing unit 104 can be utilized.

Further, by applying the above-described code data supply system, the useless generation of code data when the hierarchical code data is used for various purposes such as image database search processing and moving image display processing is greatly reduced. Can be reduced to. This makes it possible to unify the format of the code data stored in the image database, and
It is possible to promote the use of the image database that stores the hierarchical coded data.

It should be noted that the amount of code data that remains unprocessed in the code buffer 103 may be obtained by the metering means 111 in units of layers. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the two EOB detection units 241a and 241b detect the EOB from the code data input to the code buffer 103 and the code data output from the code buffer 103, respectively.
A code is detected, and two counters 242a and 242b count the number of blocks of corresponding code data according to the detection results, and each time the count value becomes the number N of blocks forming one image, The counter 243 may be configured to instruct addition (COUNT UP) and subtraction (COUNT DOWN) of the count value, respectively.

In this case, since the number of layers of unprocessed code data is obtained as the count value of the counter 243, the main control unit 231 creates control information from this count value and the code is transmitted via the communication processing unit 221. It may be sent to the data sending device.

Here, when the inverse DCT conversion section 224 of the restoration processing means 104 is configured to mechanically execute matrix operation, the time required for the restoration processing of code data for n layers depends on the number of pixels of the image. It is known that if they are equal, they are almost constant regardless of the image. By using this relationship, it is possible to roughly understand the amount of code data that can be allowed as useless code data from the side of communication time and communication charge, and therefore, the unprocessed code data obtained as control information An appropriate value can be set as the value of the threshold Th to be compared with the amount.

Further, based on the above-mentioned relationship, the required time t for processing the unprocessed code data is obtained from the amount of the unprocessed code data obtained by the measuring means 111, and the value of the required time t. According to the above, the configuration may be such that the transmission amount of code data is adjusted.

FIG. 6 shows the configuration of an embodiment of a code data transmission device and an image restoration device to which the code data supply system of claim 2 is applied. In FIG. 6, the code data transmission device is
It is configured by adding a required time table 251 to the code data transmitting device 210 shown in FIG. The required time table 251 stores the estimated value of the time required to process the code data for the number of layers corresponding to the number of layers,
It is configured to be accessible from the main control unit 213.

Further, the image restoration apparatus comprises the weighing means 111 shown in FIG. 5, and the main control section 231.
Is configured to perform transmission processing of control information indicating the count value of the counter 243 in response to a control information notification request from the code data transmission device.

In this case, the main control unit 213 of the code data transmission device performs steps 301 to 301 as in the above-described embodiment.
When the process of step 305 is performed and the control information is notified, a process of searching the required time table 251 for the required time t corresponding to the number of layers indicated by the control information may be added. As a result, the function of the required time calculation means 121 is fulfilled by the main control unit 213 and the required time table 251.

Next, the main control unit 213, a required time t obtained may be determined whether it exceeds a predetermined threshold value Th ₁ for the required time. In this way, the main control unit 213 performs the function of the comparison unit 122, and depending on the determination result, the read control unit 211 and the communication processing unit 2
The transmission amount of the code data is adjusted by stopping the operation with 12, or changing the transmission speed of the code data by the communication processing unit 212.

[0056] As the threshold Th ₁ for the required time as described above, may be set to limit acceptable in terms of the communication time and communication fee, because it is easy to set an appropriate threshold, the transmission amount of encoded data It can be adjusted effectively and supplied efficiently.

The image restoration apparatus side is provided with a required time table 251, and the main control section 231 refers to the required time table 251 to create control information, and this control is performed in response to a request from the code data transmission apparatus. It may be configured to send information. In this case, the main controller 2 on the image restoration device side
31 and the required time table 251 perform the function of the required time calculating means 121.

By the way, when the time allotted to the restoration processing of one image is limited on the image restoration device side, the amount of code data that can be further processed during the allotted time decreases with the passage of time. Therefore, in order to minimize the amount of code data remaining in the code buffer 103 at the end of the allotted time, it is necessary to adjust the amount of code data to be sent in consideration of the remaining time that can be used for the restoration process.

FIG. 7 shows the configuration of an embodiment of a code data transmission device and an image restoration device to which the code data supply system of claim 3 is applied. In FIG. 7, the code data transmission device is
A threshold value table 252 is provided in the code data transmission device shown in FIG.
Is added. This threshold table 252
Stores a threshold value corresponding to the remaining time, and is configured to be accessible from the main control unit 213 of the code data transmission device.

Here, as each threshold value, a value having a predetermined proportional relationship with the remaining time may be stored. That is, a smaller threshold value may be associated with a decrease in the numerical value indicating the remaining time.

In this case, similarly to the above-described embodiment, when the code data transmission device side requests the notification of the control information, the main control unit 231 of the image restoration device refers to the count value of the counter 232. At the same time, the remaining time of the timer 235 is referred to, control information including the amount of unprocessed code data and the remaining time is created, and the control information may be returned to the code data transmitting device via the communication processing unit 221. That is, the timer 1 is controlled by the timer 235 and the main controller 231 described above.
31 functions are performed, and the remaining time is the communication processing unit 221,
It is notified to the main control unit 213 of the code data transmission device via 212.

In response to this, the main control unit 213 of the coded data transmission device first extracts the information regarding the remaining time from the obtained control information, searches the above threshold table 252 for the corresponding threshold value, and proceeds to step 306. Then, the value of the threshold Th to be compared with the amount of unprocessed code data may be set.

In this way, the function of the threshold value changing means 132 is realized by the main control portion 213 and the threshold value table 252, and the judging means 112 and the sending control means 113 send the coded data based on this threshold value. It is possible to adjust the supply amount of code data in consideration of the remaining time by controlling the.

As described above, since the threshold value stored in the threshold value table 252 is a value proportional to the size of the numerical value indicating the remaining time, the value of the threshold value Th in step 306 is increased as the allotted time elapses. Is set to a small value. Therefore, by adjusting the supply amount of the code data while changing the value of the threshold value Th in this way, the amount of the code data remaining in the code buffer 103 is gradually suppressed, and the unprocessed data at the end of the allocation time is processed. It is possible to minimize the amount of code data. As a result, the code data can be efficiently supplied to the image restoration device.

The invention of claim 3 may be applied to a code data transmitting device and an image restoration device to which the code data supply system of claim 2 is applied. In this case, the main control unit 213 of the code data transmission device sets the remaining time obtained as the control information from the image restoration device as the threshold value Th ₁ as it is, and the required time obtained from the amount of unprocessed code data. It suffices to control the code data transmission operation according to the comparison result. Further, the threshold value Th ₁ smaller than the original remaining time may be calculated by subtracting a predetermined constant from the obtained remaining time or multiplying it by a predetermined coefficient smaller than ₁ .

If the relationship between the code data for each number of layers and the time required for the restoration process is used, the image restoration device performs processing within the remaining time based on the remaining time obtained from the image restoration device. The amount of possible code data can be estimated in units of layers. If the above-mentioned threshold value is determined according to this estimated value, a threshold value suitable for the remaining time can be obtained, and the supply amount of code data can be adjusted more rationally.

FIG. 8 shows the configuration of an embodiment of a code data transmission device and an image restoration device to which the code data supply system of claim 4 is applied. In FIG. 8, the code data transmission device is
Threshold table 252 of the code data transmission device shown in FIG.
Instead of the estimated value table 2 corresponding to the estimation means 141
It is provided with 53. This estimated value table 25
3 stores the estimated value (the number of layers) of the amount of code data that can be processed within the remaining time, corresponding to the remaining time.
The main control unit 213 is accessible.

Further, the image restoration apparatus comprises the weighing means 111 shown in FIG. 5, and in response to a control information notification request from the code data transmission apparatus, the main control section 231.
However, the control information including the amount of unprocessed code data (the number of layers) obtained by the measuring means 111 and the remaining time of the timer 235 is created and transmitted via the communication processing unit 221. There is.

In this case, the main control unit 213 of the coded data transmission device extracts the remaining time from the control information notified from the image restoration device, searches the above-mentioned estimated value table 253, and obtains the corresponding estimated value. .. Next, the main controller 213
Operates as the threshold value determination unit 142, and the estimated value may be set as it is or a value smaller than the estimated value as a new threshold value and set as the threshold value Th in step 306.

In this way, the amount of code data to be transmitted is rationally adjusted by using the threshold value indicating the amount of code data that can be processed in the remaining time that can be used for the restoration process of each image as time passes. can do. This makes it possible to minimize the amount of unprocessed code data remaining in the code buffer 103 after the allotted time has elapsed, and the code data can be supplied to the image restoration device with better efficiency.

[0071]

As described above, according to the present invention, the restoration processing is performed by adjusting the transmission amount of the code data to the restoration processing means side according to the amount of unprocessed code data remaining in the code buffer. It is possible to suppress the amount of code data that is discarded unprocessed on the means side, and the code data can be efficiently supplied to the image restoration device.

In particular, the decompression processing means changes the threshold value for adjusting the transmission amount of code data according to the remaining time available for the decompression process of each image, so that the allocation time set in the timer ends. In this case, the amount of unprocessed code data remaining in the code buffer can be minimized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a code data supply system according to claim 1 and claim 2;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a code data supply system according to claims 3 and 4;

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of a code data transmission device and an image restoration device to which the code data supply system of claim 1 is applied.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a code data transmission operation.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the weighing means.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a code data transmission device and an image restoration device to which the code data supply system of claim 2 is applied.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of a code data transmission device and an image restoration device to which the code data supply system of claim 3 is applied.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a code data transmission device and an image restoration device to which the code data supply system of claim 4 is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 storage means 102 transmission means 103 code buffer 104 restoration processing means 111 weighing means 112 determination means 113 transmission control means 121 required time calculation means 122 comparison means 131 timer 132 threshold value change means 141 estimation means 142 threshold value determination means 201 coded data storage section 202 File management unit 211 Read control unit 212,221 Communication processing unit 213,231 Main control unit 222 Decoding unit 223 Dequantization unit 224 Inverse DCT conversion unit 225 Cumulative addition unit 226 Display control unit 227 CRT display (CRT) 232, 242, 242 243 counter 233 operation panel 234 memory 235 timer 241 EOB detector 251 required time table 252 threshold value table 253 estimated value table

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── --- Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Masahiro Mori 1015 Kamiodanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Fujitsu Limited

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A storage means (101) for storing code data obtained by dividing an image into a plurality of layers and encoding the data, and a sending means (102) through a code buffer (103) to restore processing means (101). In the code data supply method for supplying code data to the code buffer (104), the restoration processing means (1) is provided in the code buffer (103).
04) to measure the amount of unprocessed code data remaining as code data that has not been restored.
1), a determination means (112) for determining whether or not the amount of unprocessed code data obtained by the measurement means (111) exceeds a predetermined threshold value, and a determination result by the determination means (112). Accordingly, the code data supply system is provided with a sending control means (113) for adjusting the amount of code data sent by the sending means (102) in a fixed time. 2. The code data supply system according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit (112) determines a time required to restore the unprocessed code data amount obtained by the weighing unit (111). Calculation means (12
1) and the required time and a predetermined threshold value for this required time are compared, and the comparison result is output as a determination result indicating whether or not the amount of unprocessed code data exceeds a predetermined threshold value ( 122), and a code data supply system. 3. The coded data supply method according to claim 1, wherein a predetermined time is set, and the restoration processing means (104) performs restoration processing of one image according to the lapse of the set time. On the basis of the timer (131) that gives an instruction to end and the instruction to start the restoration processing of the next image, and the determination means (112) uses the unprocessed code data based on the remaining time set in the timer (131). Threshold changing means (13) for changing the value of the threshold used to determine the amount of
2) A code data supply system characterized by comprising: 4. The code data supply system according to claim 3, wherein the threshold value changing means (132) is configured such that the restoration processing means (104) within the remaining time from the remaining time set in the timer (131). A configuration including an estimation unit (141) that estimates the amount of code data that can be restored, and a threshold determination unit (142) that determines a threshold value according to the estimated value obtained by the estimation unit (141). A code data supply method characterized by the following.