EP0473414A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image processing
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1991-08-28
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-08-28
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for image processing which comprises a display (1) and controller (2), a CPU (3) connected to accept user instructions from a mouse (4), an image processor (5) arranged to process image data and a memory (6) for storing image (and other data). A user can specify a sequence of image processing operations on the display (1) using the mouse (4), and interactively modify the sequence depending on the displayed image. The apparatus operates three independent routines ("virtual machines"); a user interface routine accepting instructions and updating the screen display; a sequence evaluation routine constructing a table (20) representing the sequence graph, and evaluating the table (20) to generate corresponding image processing instructions for the image processor (5); and the image processing routine executing specified image processing operations and storing the result in the memory (6) to be accessed for display. Evaluation only occurs after an output is required.
Inventors
- 👤 David C/O Canon Res.Centre Europe Ltd. Lau-Kee
- 👤 Paul c/o Canon Res. Centre Europe Ltd. Otto
- 👤 Yasuo c/o Canon Res. Centre Europe Ltd. Kozato
- 👤 Adam c/o Canon Res. Centre Europe Ltd. Billyard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 10:27
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T19/00; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/451; G06T11/00; G06T11/60; G06T2200/00; G06T2200/24; G06T2219/00; G06T2219/028
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
Image processing apparatus comprising: processing means (5) having a repertoire of predetermined image processing operations arranged, in response to a predetermined signal, to perform a corresponding such operation from the repertoire upon image data; means (3a,3b) for accepting user instructions to specify an assembly of such operations as stages for performance in a determinate order, the arrangement being such that the assembly may be specified without the prior performance of its constituent operations; and means (1) for displaying a graphical representation of the assembly; the apparatus being arranged to accept user instructions specifying image output operations for causing the output of image data corresponding to a specified stage; in which, upon acceptance of such an image output instruction, the apparatus is arranged to be capable of the performing necessary sub-sequence of operations prior to the specified stage to generate the output image data.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, which comprises: sequence store means (20) for storing, for each stage of a sequence, a record comprising data representing the identity of the stage and data representing the identity of the stage or stages which immediately sequentially precede that stage; and evaluation means (3b) arranged after acceptance of an output instruction, to examine a record stored for a specified stage and determine whether that stage could, following the performance of those, if any, which precede it be performed; and, if so, examine each such preceding stage in the same way; and if such preceding stages could be performed, the evaluation means (3b) is arranged to generate a corresponding sequence of predetermined signals suitable for supply to the processing means (5) to cause the performance of the sequence to the specified stage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, in which the evaluation means (5) is further arranged to examine the record for the specified stage and determine whether data is available to enable that stage to be performed, and, in the event that the stage could be performed, the evaluation means (3b) is arranged to generate a predetermined signal to instruct the processing means (5) to perform the stage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
Image processing apparatus according to claim 3, in which the evaluation means (3b) is arranged not to await the completion of the performance of the stage by the image processing means (5).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 or claim 4 in which data resulting from the performance of stages is stored in a data store (6).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 in which only predetermined such resulting data are stored in dependence upon the fullness of the data store (6).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 6 in which the evaluation means (3b) is arranged so to operate upon acceptance of such an output instruction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 7, in which the evaluation means (3b) is arranged so to operate in response to a user instruction specifying an amendment of such an assembly.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 8, in which the evaluation means (3b) is arranged so to operate in response to a user instruction specifying an alteration to the image data upon which the stages are to operate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising means for cancelling output operations in response to an invalidity criterion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 10, in which the invalidity criterion comprises a user instruction altering the image data upon which the operations are to be performed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 or claim 11, in which the invalidity criterion comprises a user instruction specifying an amendment to the assembly prior to the image output operation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
71 words
Image processing apparatus comprising: processing means (5) having a repertoire of predetermined image processing operations arranged, in response to a predetermined signal, to perform a corresponding such operation from the repertoire upon image data; means for (3a,3b) accepting user instructions to specify a sequence of such operations; and means (1) for displaying a graphical representation of the sequence; the arrangement being such that the sequence may be specified to be recursive.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
108 words
Image processing apparatus comprising: processing means (5) having a repertoire of predetermined image processing operations arranged, in response to a predetermined signal, to perform a corresponding such operation from the repertoire upon image data; means (3a,3b) for accepting user instructions to specify such operations; and means (1) for displaying a graphical representation of the operations; further comprising means (1) for displaying a graphical representation of processed image data resulting from the performance of a specified sequence of such operations upon specified image data, and display control means (3a) for varying the appearance of the graphical representation, without amending the processed image data, in response to a user instruction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
Image processing apparatus according to claim 14, in which the display control means (3a) allows a user to specify an area within the image to which the processed image data relates for display as the graphical representation thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 or claim 15, in which the display control means (3a) is arranged to allow a user to specify the displayed size of the graphical representation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus according to any one of claims 14 to 16, in which the display control means (3a) is arranged to vary the appearance of the graphical representation incrementally towards that specified by the user instruction, so as to provide a relatively smooth transition in appearance.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to any one of claims 14 to 17, arranged to vary at least two separate aspects of the graphical representation simultaneously.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus according to any one of claims 14 to 18, arranged to specify the image data upon which the processing means (5) will perform the sequence in response to user instructions specifying the appearance of the graphical representation of the processed image data resulting from the performance of the specified such sequence.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus according to claim 19 when appended to claim 15, in which, for a specified input image array, the apparatus is arranged to instruct the processing means (5) to process only a subset of the input image array which corresponds to the area of the processed image data displayed as the graphical representation thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
95 words
Image processing apparatus comprising: processing means (5) having a repertoire of predetermined image processing operations arranged, in response to a predetermined signal, to perform a corresponding such operation from the repertoire upon image data; means (3a,3b) for accepting user instructions to specify a plurality of such operations for sequential execution and means (1) for displaying a graphical representation of the sequence; in which the means (3a,3b) for accepting user instructions is arranged to determine whether a specified operation could validly be performed following its specified precursor; and, if not, to so indicate to the user.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 21, in which the means (3a,3b) for accepting user instructions is arranged so to determine prior to executing the specified operation.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus according to claim 22, arranged also to accept user instructions to specify operations upon data in formats other than that of image data, in which the means (3a,3b) for accepting user instructions is arranged so to determine in dependence upon whether the data resulting from the performance of the specified precursor is in a suitable format for the performance of the operation.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
115 words
Image processing apparatus comprising: processing means (5) having a repertoire of predetermined image processing operations arranged, in response to a predetermined signal, to perform a corresponding such operation from the repertoire upon image data; means (3a,3b) for accepting user instructions to specify such operations; and means (1) for displaying a graphical representation of the specified operations; in which the processing means (5) is further arranged, in response to predetermined signals, to perform corresponding operations upon data arranged in a non-image format; and the means for displaying a graphical representation is arranged to represent a given operation in a manner which is substantially independent of the format of data upon which it is specified to operate.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to claim 24, in which the graphical representation comprises graphical representations of the operations linked by lines; and, where a line links one or more operations which are defined with respect to a particular data format, the graphical representation of the line indicates that format.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
162 words
Image processing apparatus comprising; processing means (5) having a repertoire of predetermined image processing operations aranged, in response to a predetermined signal, to perform a corresponding such operation from the repertoire upon image data; means (3a,3b) for accepting user instructions to specify an assembly of operations to be performed in a determinate order; and means (1) for displaying graphical representations of the operations; in which the means comprise programmable processing means (3) arranged to execute; a first process (3a) comprising the steps of periodically reading user instructions, and displaying graphical representations in response to the instructions; a second process (3b) comprising the steps of maintaining a table specifying the assembly, determining the order of performance thereof, and issuing predetermined signals to instruct the performance of a sequence of image processing operations from the repertoire in accordance with the order; and a third process (5) comprising periodically accepting such instructions and performing such operations; the processes being executable substantially independently of each other.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus according to claim 26, in which the first and second processes (3a,3b) are executed in a time-alternating fashion upon a first programmable processing means (3), and the third process is executed upon an image processing means (5), physically separate from the programmable processing means and connected thereto via a physical data channel.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
77 words
Image processing apparatus comprising; user interface means (3a) arranged to accept user instructions specifying stages of a series of image processing tasks, for displaying a graphical symbolic representation of such tasks, and for displaying, if required, output image data corresponding to that produced by the performance of such tasks; and sequence evaluation and performance means (3b) for generating said output image data, in which the user interface means operates substantially independently of the evaluation and performance means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
37 words
A user terminal for image processing apparatus according to any preceeding claim, comprising means (3) for supplying predetermined signals to a data channel for connection to processing means (5) having a repertoire of predetermined image processing operations.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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