Image Processing Apparatus Geometric Correction Consistency

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Solution Overview

Problem

In the image processing workflow of print-on-demand services, there is a discrepancy in correction results between original images and those that have undergone geometric transformations, leading to resource wastage due to unnecessary data transmission and processing loads, especially in album printing where large amounts of data are involved.

Innovation Solution

An image processing apparatus that evaluates the difference in correction results between geometrically transformed and untransformed images, adjusts the geometric transformation parameters to minimize differences, and transmits only the necessary data for downstream processing, ensuring consistent correction results while reducing data transfer and processing loads.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If geometric transformation processing is performed on image data before transmission, then data transmission volume is reduced and downstream processing load is decreased, but correction result consistency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission volumeVSAvoidcorrection result consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The upstream processing apparatus performs geometric transformation processing on image data before transmission to reduce data volume. By evaluating the difference between corrected images with and without geometric transformation in advance, the system prepares optimized image data and correction parameters for downstream processing, achieving both data reduction and correction consistency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes parameters by evaluating the difference between first image data (with geometric transformation) and second image data (without geometric transformation). Based on this evaluation, the upstream processing apparatus transmits appropriate correction parameters along with the geometrically transformed image data, ensuring that downstream processing can achieve consistent correction results while working with reduced data volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If geometric transformation processing is performed on image data, then processing efficiency is improved by reducing data size, but correction accuracy deteriorates due to mismatched correction results

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing efficiencyVSAvoidcorrection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The upstream processing apparatus evaluates the difference between corrected images with and without geometric transformation as feedback. Based on this evaluation, the system determines whether to perform geometric transformation and transmits appropriate correction parameters to downstream processing, ensuring correction accuracy is maintained while improving processing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs geometric transformation processing and correction parameter determination in advance during upstream processing. This preliminary action allows the downstream processing apparatus to work with pre-optimized image data and correction parameters, maintaining correction accuracy while improving overall processing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of energy

If geometric transformation processing is performed on large image data for album printing, then data transmission load is reduced, but resource waste increases due to unnecessary data transmission

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission loadVSAvoidresource waste

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The upstream processing apparatus performs geometric transformation processing selectively based on evaluation of the difference between corrected images with and without transformation. Instead of always transforming or never transforming, the system applies transformation only when appropriate, avoiding unnecessary processing and transmission of data that would not benefit from geometric transformation, thus reducing both transmission load and resource waste.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS8705889B2Image processing apparatus, image forming system, and image forming method with geometric processing

Publication Date: 2014.04.22 CANON KK

AI summary

An upstream image processing apparatus determines, when geometric conversion is instructed, whether the result of downstream correction processing changes due to the geometric conversion, and if it changes, the apparatus changes the conversion to geometric conversion that does not cause a change in the correction result. Then, the geometric conversion is performed on a target image, and the resultant image is transmitted to a downstream image processing apparatus. Together therewith, instruction information indicating an instruction for correction processing and instruction information indicating geometric transformation processing for performing geometric transformation processing to the instructed degree are transmitted to the downstream image processing apparatus. The downstream image processing apparatus adds an instruction for image processing as appropriate, and thereafter transmits the resultant data to an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus forms an image by performing correction processing and geometric transformation processing that have been instructed.