Image processing apparatus and image processing system using the apparatus

An image processing system in which a main memory of a CPU is used as a shared memory that is also used as an image memory, said image processing system comprising:

• an image processor including a plurality of function processing units for performing image processing, a high priority function selection part for selecting functions, execution of each of which is required by a corresponding one of said function processing units, based on a predetermined priority for each of said functions;
• and a data control unit including a data transfer part for preferentially accessing said shared memory which said function selected by said high priority function selection part requires, and a plurality of data holding parts provided between said shared memory and said plurality of function processing units, each of said plurality of data holding parts holding a predetermined amount of data which are processed by a corresponding one of said plurality of function processing units, in which each of said plurality of function processing units transmits with said data control unit separately from the others of said plurality of function processing units, and executes its function in parallel to the others of said plurality of function processing units;
• an image input unit connected to said image processor, to input data of an image;
• wherein said shared memory stores image data input from said image input unit;
• an image output unit connected to said image processor, to output data of an image obtained by processing in said image processor;
• and
• buses for connecting said image processor, said CPU, and said shared memory.