Image decoding apparatus, image decoding method, and printing apparatus

An image decoding method for an image decoding apparatus which receives encoded image information and decodes the encoded image information, comprising:

• storing the image information in a memory;
• a first decoding step of receiving, from the memory, first image data to be decoded from the image information stored in the memory, and neighboring image data for an image area near the image data to be decoded, and decoding said first image data to be decoded based on said neighboring image data;
• a second decoding step of receiving the decoded image data decoded in the first decoding step, and receiving, from the memory, further image data to be decoded based on the decoded image data, and decoding the further image data received from the memory on the basis of the decoded image data;
• and
• repetitively decoding first image data in the first decoding step and decoding further image data in the second decoding step in parallel.

A printing apparatus having an image decoding unit which externally receives image information from an external source and decodes the encoded image information, wherein

• the image decoding unit comprises
• a storage unit configured to store the image information,
• a first decoder configured to receive, from said storage unit, first image data to be decoded from the image information stored in said storage unit and neighboring image data for an image area near the image data to be decoded, and operable to decode the first image data to be decoded based on the neighboring image data,
• a second decoder configured to receive the decoded image data decoded by said first decoder, to receive, from said storage unit, further image data to be decoded based on the decoded image data, and decoding the further image data received from said storage unit on the basis of the decoded image data, and
• a decoding controller operable to control said first decoder and said second decoder to repetitively execute decoding of first image data by said first decoder and decoding of further image data by said second decoder in parallel, and
• a printing unit adapted to print image information decoded by the image decoding unit.

A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program which, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to carry out a method for externally receiving encoded image information and decoding the encoded image information, comprising:

• a storage step of storing the image information in a memory;
• a first decoding step of receiving, from the memory, image data to be decoded out of the image information stored in the memory and neighboring image data for an image area near the image data to be decoded, and decoding image data to be decoded based on neighboring image data;
• a second decoding step of receiving the decoded image data decoded in the first decoding step, and receiving, from the memory, image data to be decoded based on the decoded image data, and decoding the image data received from the memory on the basis of the decoded image data;
• and
• a control step of controlling to repetitively execute decoding of image data in the first decoding step and decoding of image data in the second decoding step in parallel.