Abstract: Image data is divided into blocks each of a 2×2 pixel size, and color-reduction processing is performed for the target block based on color data and attribute data of respective pixels forming the target block. A pattern flag indicating the layout pattern of color data contained in the target block is specified by comparing the color data of the respective pixels in the target block having undergone the color-reduction processing. Color data corresponding to a pixel at a position defined in advance in the block having undergone the color-reduction processing is extracted as color data of the first color. When it is determined that the number of colors in the block is one of two to four, color data of the second to fourth colors are extracted. The pattern flag, the color data of the first color of the block, and those of the second to fourth colors of the block are output.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a determination unit configured to determine whether a predetermined communication protocol is a type of communication protocol that requires a response to an inquiry command, and a control unit configured not to switch a multitask mode setting if the determination unit determines that the predetermined communication protocol is not a type that requires a response, and to switch, if the determination unit determines that the predetermined communication protocol is a type that requires a response, a multitasking mode setting on the interpretation unit to a single-tasking mode setting to cause the interpretation unit to interpret PDL data by performing single-task processing.

Abstract: Image data is divided into blocks each of a 2×2 pixel size, and color-reduction processing is performed for the target block based on color data and attribute data of respective pixels forming the target block. A pattern flag indicating the layout pattern of color data contained in the target block is specified by comparing the color data of the respective pixels in the target block having undergone the color-reduction processing. Color data corresponding to a pixel at a position defined in advance in the block having undergone the color-reduction processing is extracted as color data of the first color. When it is determined that the number of colors in the block is one of two to four, color data of the second to fourth colors are extracted. The pattern flag, the color data of the first color of the block, and those of the second to fourth colors of the block are output.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus and a control method thereof according to this invention, in a case that a received print job designates image formation on a surface of a sheet on which an image has been formed, whether image formation on the sheet based on the print job is possible is determined based on at least image information of the sheet acquired by reading the image of the sheet. If it is determined that image formation on the sheet based on the print job is impossible, the image formation on the sheet is stopped. If it is determined that the image formation on the sheet based on the print job is possible, an image is formed on the sheet in accordance with the image information of the print job.

Abstract: Processing is optimized in advance during interpretation of PDL data, so as to accelerating rendering processing during processing associated with image formation. To this end, it is determined whether or not the addition of intermediate data based on PDL data during interpretation to that which is already generated during the processing associated with image formation considerably reduces a speed of the rendering processing.

Abstract: A printer interprets the input print data and determines whether or not a rendering command targeted for reusable data included in print data depends on a placement location for placement of the rendering result in a physical coordinate space based on the interpretation result of the PDL data. When the rendering command depends on a placement location for placement of the rendering result in a physical coordinate space, the printer generates cache data without graphic processing for the rendering command targeted for reusable data and stores the generated cache data in a storage unit. When the rendering command does not depend on a placement location for placement of the rendering result in a physical coordinate space, the printer performs graphic processing for the rendering command targeted for the reusable data, generates cache data based on the result of the graphic processing, and stores the generated cache data in a storage unit.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a determination unit configured to determine whether a predetermined communication protocol is a type of communication protocol that requires a response to an inquiry command, and a control unit configured not to switch a multitask mode setting if the determination unit determines that the predetermined communication protocol is not a type that requires a response, and to switch, if the determination unit determines that the predetermined communication protocol is a type that requires a response, a multitasking mode setting on the interpretation unit to a single-tasking mode setting to cause the interpretation unit to interpret PDL data by performing single-task processing.

Abstract: In forming an image including a spot color, when an image for which a trapping process is performed does not include information of a spot color, the trapping process sometimes functions ineffectively. To solve this problem, image data having information of colors less in number than the colors included in the image is input and two adjacent regions are detected from the input image data. When the color information is color-separated into the colors, it is determined if the two regions share the color, and trapping for an adjacent portion of the two regions is controlled.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus acquires authentication information for authentication of document data and an authentication result. When the result indicates success, the document data is converted and is added with the specific information to specify the authentication apparatus and is stored. The image forming apparatus acquires the specific information from the converted data, transmits the specific information to a destination of the converted data, requests the destination to confirm establishment of a communication path from the destination to the authentication apparatus and transmits the converted data to the destination when receiving information representing establishment.

Abstract: Image data is divided into blocks each of a 2×2 pixel size, and color-reduction processing is performed for the target block based on color data and attribute data of respective pixels forming the target block. A pattern flag indicating the layout pattern of color data contained in the target block is specified by comparing the color data of the respective pixels in the target block having undergone the color-reduction processing. Color data corresponding to a pixel at a position defined in advance in the block having undergone the color-reduction processing is extracted as color data of the first color. When it is determined that the number of colors in the block is one of two to four, color data of the second to fourth colors are extracted. The pattern flag, the color data of the first color of the block, and those of the second to fourth colors of the block are output.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an identification unit configured to identify a large dot region, in which large dots consecutively exist, and a small dot region, in which small dots consecutively exist, in a read image obtained by reading an image on a sheet, a determination unit configured to determine whether a difference in degree of brightness between the large dot region and the small dot region identified by the identification unit is less than a threshold value, and a processing unit configured to disable printing using the read image if the determination unit determines that the difference is less than the threshold value, and to enable printing using the read image if the determination unit determines that the difference is equal to or greater than the threshold value.

Abstract: Processing is optimized in advance during interpretation of PDL data, so as to accelerating rendering processing during processing associated with image formation. To this end, it is determined whether or not the addition of intermediate data based on PDL data during interpretation to that which is already generated during the processing associated with image formation considerably reduces a speed of the rendering processing.

Abstract: According to the present invention, first a processing burden for image forming is estimated. Furthermore, based on this estimate, programs executed by a plurality of processing units are reloaded. Then, a plurality of processing apparatuses respectively receive data necessary for processing for image forming, and start rendering processing or image processing.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus acquires authentication information for authentication of document data and an authentication result. When the result indicates success, the document data is converted and is added with the specific information to specify the authentication apparatus and is stored. The image forming apparatus acquires the specific information from the converted data, transmits the specific information to a destination of the converted data, requests the destination to confirm establishment of a communication path from the destination to the authentication apparatus and transmits the converted data to the destination when receiving information representing establishment.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for generating image data of a page divided into small areas continuously in a predetermined direction and forming an image based on the image data, includes a detection unit configured to detect a continuous range of the image data having the same image contents in the page, the page including at least one continuous range, a specifying unit configured to specify image data of interest in the continuous range of the image data detected by the detection unit, and a first determination unit configured to determine based on the image data of interest whether the page is a blank sheet.

Abstract: In forming an image including a spot color, when an image for which a trapping process is performed does not include information of a spot color, the trapping process sometimes functions ineffectively. To solve this problem, image data having information of colors less in number than the colors included in the image is input and two adjacent regions are detected from the input image data. When the color information is color-separated into the colors, it is determined if the two regions share the color, and trapping for an adjacent portion of the two regions is controlled.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an identification unit configured to identify a large dot region, in which large dots consecutively exist, and a small dot region, in which small dots consecutively exist, in a read image obtained by reading an image on a sheet, a determination unit configured to determine whether a difference in degree of brightness between the large dot region and the small dot region identified by the identification unit is less than a threshold value, and a processing unit configured to disable printing using the read image if the determination unit determines that the difference is less than the threshold value, and to enable printing using the read image if the determination unit determines that the difference is equal to or greater than the threshold value.

Abstract: A job controller allocates a resource to a plurality of PDL analyzers and, in a case where an out-of-resource condition occurs in any of the PDL analyzers while the PDL analyzers are performing PDL data analysis in parallel, causes a PDL analyzer to interrupt the processing being performed in parallel with processing by the other PDL analyzer, releases a resource corresponding to the interrupted processing, and reallocates the released resource to the other PDL analyzer to allow the other PDL analyzer to continue processing.