Load allocation when executing image processing using parallel processing

An image processing device comprising:

• M processing units where M is an integer of at least two, wherein the image processing device
• receives a plurality of process segment sets each having N unit process segments where N is an integer of at least three and greater than M, the N unit process segments including a first-type process segment using a first processing method and a second-type process segment using a second processing method different from the first processing method;
• and
• executes the N unit process segments of each process segment set using the M processing units, wherein selected M unit process segments among the N unit process segments are first executed in parallel by the M processing units, the M unit process segments including at least one first-type process segment and at least one second-type segment.

A computer program product for image processing comprising:

• a computer readable medium;
• and
• a computer program stored on the computer readable medium, the computer program comprising:
• a portion for receives a plurality of process segment sets each having N unit process segments where N is an integer of at least three, the N unit process segments including a first-type process segment using a first processing method and a second-type process segment using a second processing method different from the first processing method;
• and
• a portion for executing the N unit process segments of each process segment set using M processing units where M is an integer of at least two and less than N, wherein selected M unit process segments among the N unit process segments are first executed in parallel by the M processing units, the M unit process segments including at least one first-type process segment and at least one second-type segment.