Abstract: There is provided a facsimile apparatus which transmits image data so that the image quality level of the received image can be kept in a range appropriate to the transmission signal rate without extending the transmission period of time in consideration of the data transmission rate varying with the communication conditions between transmitting and receiving facsimile apparatuses. A document is read by an image reading unit as an image having halftone densities so that the image of the document is converted into binary image data having different two or more gradients in a binary processing unit. A central processing unit conducts signal rate matching of the data transmission rate of the image data between the transmitting and receiving facsimile apparatuses through a communication line, line control unit and a modem.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus which can execute an image process which is desired by a client while minimizing a connection time and an interactive communication between the client and the image processing apparatus is provided. To accomplish the above object, according to the invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus for receiving an agent including an operation train via a network and allowing an image processing unit to execute image processes. This apparatus is constructed by: control means for controlling the image processing unit; interpreting means for interpreting the operation train of the agent; and message output means for outputting a message to the control means in response to the operation train interpreted by the interpreting means.

Abstract: A printer with a multi-segment printhead has multiple engine/controllers (10) configured to be coupled with other engine/controllers to drive the printhead (33). The controllers each have an interface (27) at which to receive compressed page data. Image decoders (28, 88) decode compressed image planes image decoders to perform an expansion, in pipeline fashion, for the received compressed page data. A half-toner/compositer (29) composites respective strips of the decoded image planes and sends output to a printhead interface (32). A printhead interface (32) interfaces with the printhead. A synchronization signal generator (89,90) may output a synchronization signal that is used to synchronize print engine/controllers. One printhead interface (32) preferably acts as master generating the synchronization signal to synchronize all the print engine/controllers to drive the printhead at any one or more of higher speed, higher input resolution, higher outlet resolution or wider format.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image reading section having a plurality of sensors with their different features, an image processing section which applies a processing to image data according to the sensors with different features acquired at the image reading section, at least one of an operation section which accepts a mode specification and a determination section which determines an original type, and a control section which selects a processing of the image processing section based on the specification of the operation section or the determination of the determination section.

Abstract: A method for transferring live video signals from a video camera of a local system to a remote video-display system via low-bandwidth communication lines is disclosed. The method is especially useful for a fixed camera located at a predetermined location, such as a security camera, for monitoring a picture of a substantially constant background. A live video system for implementation of the method is also disclosed that includes a video camera and a video displayer interconnected by a conventional telephone line.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compressing and decompressing electronic documents, with maximum intradocument independence, and maximum flexibility in optimization of compression modes. The method includes receiving documents containing unknown combinations of a plural data types, including combinations of scanned data, computer rendered data, compressed data and/or rendering tags; dividing the received image into strips of blocks determining from the image itself, which data types are present in each block; compressing data of each data type present in each block with a compression method optimized for its data type. Scanned data may be further segmented into plural scanned data types, where each data type is compressed in said compressing data step with a compression method optimized for said scanned image data type.

Abstract: An image processing system which compresses an image including both a binary image and a continuous tone image by a sub-band transform method with a high compression rate. A 2×2 pixel matrix block is extracted from image data. A transform factor having a plurality of frequency components is obtained from the 2×2 pixel matrix block data. The transform factor is quantized by a fixed-length quantizing method by deleting a predetermined number of lower order bits of each of the frequency components.

Abstract: An image coding apparatus including a context generator configured to select a reference pixel that has been coded in image data to generate a context formed of the selected reference pixel, an entropy encoder configured to code the image data based on the context to generate coded data, an evaluation value calculator configured to calculating a compression ratio based on the image data and the coded data to output the compression ratio, and an adaptive evolution processor configured to perform adaptive evolution based on the compression ratio to find optimal reference pixels for the image data, the optimal reference pixels being supplied to the context generator for optimizing the context.

Abstract: Composing image data representing an original image in an image processing device, the image processing device having an input device and a display device, including performing a block selection process on the image data to identify at least one image block and to determine a set of block attribute data for each identified image block, displaying a composite image on the display device, the composite image comprised of each identified image block superimposed on the original image, receiving a block designation command from the input device, the block designation command designating one of the identified image blocks as a designated image block, and displaying, in response to the block designation command, a function command list for the designated image block, the function command list containing a plurality of function commands based on the set of block attribute data for the designated image block.

Abstract: It is necessary that paper be moved past the printhead at a constant velocity to obtain artifact-free printing. Therefore the printhead requires a constant stream of data during printing. Whilst it is possible to rasterize the page using a page description language directly to the printhead, it is uneconomical. Hence the redering is carried out in the PC. However, the standard USB peripheral connection is the standard connection on PCs, which places a constraint on the limit of data per page that can be transmitted to the printer and still obtain a reasonable rate of printing. Thus the contone images and graphics are rendered in the PC to a pixel level, and the black text and graphics are rendered in the PC to a dot level, where the rendered data is compressed and transmitted to the printer. The transmitted data is decompressed and combined and the images overlaid and printed.

Abstract: A system and method for processing a plurality of pages comprises receiving a selection of default settings for scanning the plurality of pages, identifying at least one of the plurality of pages for special settings, and designating the special settings for each of the at least one identified pages. Each of the at least one identified pages is scanned according to the designated special settings and scanning each of the plurality of pages other than the at least one identified pages according to the default settings.

Abstract: It is necessary that paper be moved past the printhead at a constant velocity to obtain artifact-free printing. Therefore the printhead requires a constant stream of data during printing. Whilst it is possible to rasterize the page using a page description language directly to the printhead, it is uneconomical. Hence the redering is carried out in the PC. However, the standard USB peripheral connection is the standard connection on PCs, which places a constraint on the limit of data per page that can be transmitted to the printer and still obtain a reasonable rate of printing. Thus the contone images and graphics are rendered in the PC to a pixel level, and the black text and graphics are rendered in the PC to a dot level, where the rendered data is compressed and transmitted to the printer. The transmitted data is decompressed and combined and the images overlaid and printed.

Abstract: A digital multifunctional apparatus includes a printer, a scanner and a memory. A document code is stored in the memory and printed on a management document when a scanned document is stored in the memory. The document code identifies the scanned document. The apparatus comprises a receiver configured to receive data from an external data source. The memory is configured to store the data received from the external data source. A generator generates a document code that identifies the data received by the receiver. Further, a transmitter transmits the document code to the external data source to enable access by the external data source to the data in the memory identified by the document code.

Abstract: The facsimile apparatus comprises a control portion for performing control of the whole of the facsimile apparatus, an operation portion, a display portion, a RAM for image memory, a ROM for storing programs and data, a communication control portion for performing connection to the other facsimile, a JPEG coding portion for coding a transmitting color original document, a monochrome coding portion for coding the transmitting monochrome original document, and an original document reading portion. The facsimile apparatus converts the color original document to the monochrome original document when transmitting the color original document in monochrome and adds the message indicating that the color original document was transmitted in monochrome to the color original document when the facsimile apparatus tries to transmit the color original document and the other facsimile declares that the other facsimile has only an ability of receiving the color original document in monochrome.

Abstract: Ablation data of a region other than an image region, which ablation data is required for a positive-type printing plate, is added at a printing plate automatic exposure device side. Thus, a disadvantage of a time duration for transmission of job data from a PC being slowed because of the ablation data is solved. As a result, image recording operations can be made more efficient. Furthermore, the ablation data includes non-exposure portions at regions corresponding to peripheral edge portions of the printing plate. Consequently, light does not impinge on a leading end chuck, a trailing end chuck and the like, and the ablation data can be made suitable for interlaced scanning.

Abstract: An encoding method efficiently encodes information relating to a multivalue image having an arbitrary shape, i.e., a rectangular or non-rectangular shape. An image processing apparatus includes an input unit for inputting a multivalue image, a first transformation unit for transforming the multivalue image input by the input unit with a first transformation method and for generating first transformation coefficients, a second transformation unit for transforming shape information indicating a shape of the multivalue image transformed by the first transformation unit with a second transformation method different from the first transformation method and for generating second transformation coefficients, and an encoding unit for encoding each of blocks configured by the first transformation coefficients and blocks configured by the second transformation coefficients using a common encoding method.

Abstract: A method for decoding data that has been encoded in a monochrome medium utilizing the capability of the medium for grayscale resolution. A document is processed to provide an image in electronic format, in which each pixel has an assigned data value with a given bit depth. A mapping operation is performed for generating a monochrome data word (120), preferably having a reduced bit depth. The monochrome data word (120) can be used to encode multiple data fields (114, 116, 118). A printer (92) then produces a preserved document record (90) in which the appropriate monochrome data word (120) determines the grayscale value for each pixel. To decode the stored data, a scanner (86) is employed to obtain the grayscale value from the preserved document record (90). For each pixel, the grayscale value is then decomposed into multiple data fields (114, 116, 118), which can then be decoded to provide the information that was originally encoded.

Abstract: Compression apparatus is described that operates to select an optimum compression procedure to apply to received image data. The compression apparatus can be employed in a page printer having a print engine that must be provided with video data at a constant rate in order to avoid a print underrun. The page printer operates to receive print data and to convert the received print data into rasterized page strips. Some or all of these rasteized page strips can then be compressed by the compression apparatus for later conversion to video data. The compression apparatus operates to compress each received rasterized page strip by selecting a compression procedure that results in a compressed strip that will provide optimum print quality while not causing a print underrun and that is below a threshold data size.

Abstract: This invention relates to a coding method, code converting method and apparatus, and image forming apparatus and, more particularly, to a coding method, code converting method and apparatus, and image forming apparatus capable of high-speed conversion data coded by different coding method. When data is converted between different coding methods, e.g., when data encoded by a run-length coding method is re-encoded by a coding method using typical prediction, the data is conventionally temporarily decoded into original data before encoding and then re-encoded. In this invention, data subjected to coding such as MH, MR, or MMR as run-length coding is decoded into run-length information as intermediate data, and typical prediction is performed in this state. This increases the speed of conversion from run-length coded data to coded data using typical prediction.

Abstract: An apparatus for pattern matching encoding includes a pattern extracting unit for extracting patterns in input binary or multi-level image data, an accumulating/match-checking unit for accumulating each extracted pattern and executing a match-check thereof with patterns that have been accumulated, a line segment checking unit for checking each pixel in the match pattern or the extracted pattern as to which line segment in directions the pixel is positioned on, and an encoding unit for encoding the extracted pattern by selecting a template having an optimum form according to the result of the line segment checking. The codes in pattern matching encoding are reduced, and the efficiency of code transmission and code accumulation is improved.

Abstract: This invention has as its object to provide an image processing apparatus, which can obviate the need for image re-input, can effectively generate encoded data that falls within a set size, and can minimize deterioration of image quality. To this end, an image processing apparatus according to this invention includes first discrimination unit for discriminating the type of image of each of a plurality of regions, which form image data input, second discrimination unit for discriminating if the image data is inputted by a continuous scan of images, selection unit for selecting an encoding method used in compression of each region on the basis of discrimination results of the first and second discrimination unit, first compression unit for compressing image data of each region using the encoding method selected by the selection unit, and second compression unit for compressing information that pertains to the type of image of each region.

Abstract: A document transmission module is connected between a conventional document digitizing device (host unit) and a communication interface. The module receives conventional data output from its host unit and re-transmits them to a destination document transmission protocol machine in one of standard and high speed modes depending on the compatibility of the destination document transmission protocol machine. The standard mode communication employs an image data format for both text and graphics. The high speed mode distinguishes text from graphics and performs optical character recognition on suspected character information. When characters are successfully recognized, only a code, e.g. ASCII, and the location of the character is transmitted, realizing significant improvements in compression ratios over conventional data transmission. Graphics and unrecognizable characters are transmitted as bit-mapped pixels or in conventional compressed fax format.

Abstract: In a method and a system for encoding and transmission of still images having at least one region of interest (ROI), the ROI coefficients of an image transformed into the frequency domain, preferably using a wavelet transform are encoded so that they are transmitted first and can be decoded by a receiver without transmission of the boundary of the ROI. In a preferred embodiment the coefficients belonging to the ROI are shifted so that the minimum ROI coefficient is larger than the largest background coefficient. A receiver can then perform an opposite procedure and thereby obtain the ROI. By specifying how much the coefficients need to be shifted in order to avoid sending shape information several advantages are achieved. Thus, it is possible to avoid sending shape information and to avoid shape encoding at encoder side. Furthermore, there is no need for a shape decoder at receiver side, and there is no need for the receiver to produce the ROI mask.

Abstract: A communication apparatus for processing a fax signal and an audio signal includes an audio compression unit for compressing the audio signal, a fax-termination/switching control unit for terminating the fax signal and for executing control to prevent the fax signal from being compressed by the audio compression unit, a detection unit for detecting a predetermined negotiation signal used in a negotiation procedure for a fax communication from an input signal before compression within a fixed period of time starting at the beginning of the negotiation signal and an exclusion processing unit for carrying out an exclusion process on the negotiation signal upon detection of the negotiation signal.