Image processing apparatus and image processing method

An image processing apparatus which has a plurality of image processing means for performing predetermined image processing on input image data and for outputting the image data and which performs a plurality of device function operations in parallel using a connected external device, said image processing apparatus comprising:

• first creation means for adding to the image data a header in which image processing information is described corresponding to a first device function operation in order to create first packet data;
• second creation means for adding to the image data a header in which image processing information is described corresponding to a second device function operation in order to create second packet data;
• and
• transfer means for transferring packet data among said first creation means, said second creation means, and each image processing means,
• wherein said plurality of image processing means comprise first image processing means which inputs the first packet data from said transfer means, which performs image processing on image data on a basis of the image processing information described in the header, which creates packet data by adding a header in which the image processing information is rewritten to the image data after processing, and which outputs the packet data to said transfer means, and second image processing means, while processing related to said first packet data is being performed in said first image processing means, which inputs the second packet data from said transfer means, which performs image processing on image data on a basis of the image processing information described in the header, which creates packet data by adding a header in which the image processing information is rewritten to the image data after processing, and which outputs the packet data to said transfer means.

An image processing apparatus which is connected to a predetermined data bus and which transfers packet data to and from an external device via said data bus, the packet data being such that a header in which image processing information is described is added to image data, said image processing apparatus comprising:

• input means for inputting packet data in such a manner that the data is divided into a header and image data, to which packet data is added to the header in which identification information of a device and processing content information corresponding to the identification information are described in sequence from a beginning of the header in accordance with a position in the sequence of a device which performs processing;
• header analysis means for analyzing processing content information described at the beginning of the header input by said input means;
• image processing means for performing image processing on image data input by said input means on a basis of an analysis result by said header analysis means;
• header creation means for creating a new header such that the identification information of an external device which next performs image processing and processing content information corresponding to the identification information are located at the beginning of the header;
• and
• output means for newly creating packet data from the image data processed by said image processing means and from the new header created by said header creation means and for outputting the packet data.

An image processing method which is performed by using a plurality of image processing means for performing predetermined image processing on input image data and for outputting processed image data, said image processing method comprising:

• a creating step of creating packet data by adding to the image data a header in which image processing information is described;
• a transfer step of transferring the packet data created in said creation step between image processing means;
• and
• an image processing step in which said plurality of image processing sections inputs said packet data, performs image processing on the image data on a basis of the image processing information described in the header, recreates packet data by adding a header in which the image processing information is rewritten to the image data after processing, and outputs the recreated packet data.

An image processing method using a plurality of image processing sections for performing predetermined image processing on input image data and for outputting the image data when a plurality of device function operations using an external device is performed in parallel, said image processing method comprising:

• a first creation step of creating first packet data by adding to image data a header in which image processing information is described corresponding to a first device function operation;
• a second creation step of creating second packet data by adding to the image data a header in which image processing information is described corresponding to a second device function operation;
• a transfer step of transferring the first packet data created in said first creation step and the second packet data created in said second creation step, between image processing sections;
• and
• an image processing step in which, while an image processing section contained in said plurality of image processing sections inputs the first packet data, performs image processing on image data on a basis of the image processing information described in the header, creates packet data by adding a header in which the image processing information is rewritten to the image data after processing, and outputs the packet data, another image processing section inputs the second packet data, performs image processing on image data on a basis of the image processing information described in the header, creates packet data by adding a header in which the image processing information is rewritten to the image data after processing, and outputs the packet data.

An image processing method for use with an image processing apparatus which is connected to a predetermined data bus and transfers packet data to and from an external device via said data bus, the packet data being such that a header in which image processing information is described is added to image data, said image processing method comprising:

• an input step of inputting packet data in such a manner that the data is divided into a header and image data, to which packet data is added to a header in which identification information of a device and processing content information corresponding to the identification information are described from a beginning thereof in sequence in accordance with a position in the sequence of a device which performs processing;
• a header analysis step of analyzing processing content information described at the beginning of the header input in said input step;
• an image processing step of performing image processing on the image data input in said input step on a basis of an analysis result in said header analysis step;
• a header creation step of creating a new header such that the identification information of an external device which next performs image processing, and processing content information corresponding to the identification information are located at the beginning of the header;
• and
• an output step of newly creating packet data from the image data processed in said image processing step and from the new header created in said header creation step and for outputting the packet data.

An image processing apparatus having an image processing unit including N, where N is an integer, function processing sections for performing N different processing functions, and which sequentially transfers a header and image data between the N function processing sections, the header including in sequence first through Nth header parts, each of the N header parts including an ID portion identifying one of the different N processing functions performed by one of the N processing sections, wherein each of said N processing sections comprises:

• an input device which inputs the header and image data, and separates the header from the image data;
• a header analysis device which identifies which processing function is to be performed based on the ID portion in the first header part of the header;
• a processor which processes the separated image data according to the processing function identified by the ID portion in the first header part of the header as identified by said header analysis device;
• a header creation device which creates a new header from the input header, including in sequence the second through Nth header parts, with the first header part being deleted;
• and
• an output device for combining and outputting the new header and the processed image from said processor for provision to the processing section identified in the second header part of the new header.