Image processing apparatus including circuit configuration and method of controlling the same

An image processing method comprising:

• at least one processor which functions as:
• accepting an image processing job which is executed using predetermined image processing functions provided by logic circuitry created on a partially reconfigurable device, wherein the partially reconfigurable device on which logic circuitry providing one or more image processing functions can be created and which can replace only a part of the logic circuitry with another logic circuitry;
• making, on the partially reconfigurable device, new logic circuitry providing at least one image processing function which is included in the predetermined image processing functions necessary for executing the accepted job and is not provided by current logic circuitry being on the partially reconfigurable device, with a part of the current logic circuitry which provides another image processing function included in the predetermined image processing functions kept on the partially reconfigurable device;
• and
• executing the accepted image processing job using both (i) the new logic circuitry which has been created on the partially reconfigurable device and provides the at least one image processing function and (ii) the part of the current logic circuitry which has been kept on the partially reconfigurable device and provide the another image processing function.

An image processing apparatus comprising:

• a partially reconfigurable device on which logic circuitry providing an image processing function can be created with another logic circuitry left on the partially reconfigurable device;
• one or more controllers which:
• executes a first image processing job using logic circuitry created on the partially reconfigurable device;
• accepts a second image processing job;
• controls the partially reconfigurable device to newly create, on the partially reconfigurable device, logic circuitry providing an image processing function which is required in the second image processing job and is not required in the first image processing job, with a common logic circuitry providing an image processing function commonly required in both of the first image processing job and the accepted second image processing job left on the partially reconfigurable device;
• and
• executes the second image processing job using the common logic circuitry left on the partially reconfigurable device and the logic circuitry newly created on the partially reconfigurable device.

A data processing method using a partially reconfigurable device on which logic circuitry providing a data processing function can be created with another logic circuitry left on the partially reconfigurable device,

• the data processing method comprising:
• executing a first data processing job using logic circuitry created on the partially reconfigurable device;
• accepting a second data processing job;
• controls the partially reconfigurable device to newly create, on the partially reconfigurable device, logic circuitry providing an data processing function which is required in the second data processing job and is not required in the first data processing job, with a common logic circuitry providing a data processing function commonly required in both of the first data processing job and the accepted second data processing job left on the partially reconfigurable device;
• and
• executing the second data processing job using the common logic circuitry left on the partially reconfigurable device and the logic circuitry newly created on the partially reconfigurable device.