Image Compression Control for Memory-Efficient Printing Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing image processing systems face inefficiencies in memory usage and image quality when handling color image data, particularly due to irreversible compression methods like JPEG, which lead to increased memory requirements and noticeable degradation in image quality during transmission and printing.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus and method that dynamically adjusts compression rates based on the necessity of image area information for specific transmission destinations, allowing for efficient memory usage and maintaining image quality by compressing image data at a lower rate when image area information is not required.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If irreversible compression (JPEG) is applied to color image data, then memory capacity is reduced, but image quality deteriorates and block noise appears
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the compression rate adjustable rather than fixed. The compression rate is dynamically changed based on the transmission destination type: higher compression rates are used for destinations where image quality is less critical, while lower compression rates are used for destinations requiring higher quality. This resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to optimize between memory capacity and image quality according to specific usage scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the compression rate parameter based on the transmission destination. By adjusting this key parameter, the system can achieve different balances between memory efficiency and image quality. The compression rate is set to a first value for certain destinations and a second value (lower compression) for other destinations, thereby resolving the trade-off between reducing data capacity and maintaining image quality.
2Manufacturing precision
If image area information is generated for all transmission destinations, then printing quality is optimized, but memory consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and generates image area information only when necessary, specifically only for transmission destinations that require printing. For destinations that do not require printing, the image area information is not generated. This selective approach reduces memory consumption while maintaining printing quality for destinations that need it, thereby resolving the contradiction between optimization and memory usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing different processing levels to different transmission destinations. Image area information is generated only for specific destinations (those requiring printing) rather than uniformly for all destinations. This localized approach ensures high quality where needed while minimizing memory consumption elsewhere, resolving the contradiction between quality optimization and memory efficiency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If color image data is handled instead of black-and-white data, then functionality and user capability are enhanced, but data quantity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by implementing adjustable compression rates for color image data. Since color data quantity is inherently large, the system dynamically selects compression strategies based on the transmission destination. This allows the system to maintain color processing capability while managing data quantity through flexible compression rate selection, resolving the contradiction between enhanced functionality and increased data volume.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus enables efficient use of an image memory area according to processing contents set by a user. A CPU searches destinations set sequentially, and makes for each destination an image area information generating decision for searching for a destination that generates an image a printer section possibly output. After completing the image area information generating decision for all the destinations, the CPU decides whether the image area information is to be generated or not in the end. When it decides that the image area information is to be generated, it sets a compression rate of a compression expansion circuit of an image compression expansion section at a higher value, and simultaneously enables the output of the image area data buffer. When it decides that the image area information is not to be generated, it sets the compression rate of the compression expansion circuit of the image compression expansion section at a lower value, and simultaneously disables the output of the image area data buffer.