Methods and systems for condensing binary image data

Claim 1

A method for condensing binary image data in reproducing images, comprising: obtaining data of a line-drawing pixel block composed of mxn line-drawing pixels by an input scanning means or by a computation means; and generating a "word for expressing (1) and (11) or (1) and (111) of the following, (1) data forjudging whether the pixels of the line-drawing pixel block are in a "vacant" (as herein defined) or "solid" (as herein defined) "hybrid" (as herein defined) condition, (11) run-length data of the number in one sequence of the line-drawing pixel blocks which are in the "vacant" or "solid" condition; and (111) mxn bit pattern data of a line-drawing pixel block in the "hybrid" condition.

Claim 2

A method for condensing binary image data in reproducing images, comprising: obtaining data of a line-drawing pixel block composed of mxn line-drawing pixels by an input scanning means or by a computation means; and generating a "word for expressing (1) and (11) or (1) and (111) of the following, (1) data forjudging whether the pixels of the line-drawing pixel block are in a "vacant" (as herein defined) or "solid" (as herein defined) "hybrid" (as herein defined) condition, (11) run-length data of the number in one sequence of the line-drawing pixel blocks which are in the "vacant" or "solid" condition; and (111) mxn bit pattern data of a line-drawing pixel block in the "hybrid" condition.

Claim 7

A system for condensing binary image data in reproducing image, comprising: means for obtaining data of a line-drawing pixel block composed of m xn line-drawing pixels by an input scanning means or by a computation means; and means for generating a "word" for expressing (1) and (11) or (1) and (111) of the following, (1) data for judging whether the pixels of said line-drawing pixel block are in a "vacant" (as herein defined) or "solid" (as herein defined) or "hybrid" (as herein defined) condition; (11) run-length data of the m J 7 GB 2 139 447 A 7 number in one sequence of the line-drawing pixel blocks which are in the "vacant" or "solid" 35 condition; and (111) mxn bit pattern data of a line drawing pixel block in the "hybrid" condition.

Claim 8

A system for condensing binary image data in reproducing image, comprising: means for obtaining data of a line-drawing pixel block composed of m xn line-drawing pixels by an input scanning means or by a computation means; and means for generating a "word" for expressing (1) and (11) or (1) and (111) of the following, (1) data for judging whether the pixels of said line-drawing pixel block are in a "vacant" (as herein defined) or "solid" (as herein defined) or "hybrid" (as herein defined) condition; (11) run-length data of the m J 7 GB 2 139 447 A 7 number in one sequence of the line-drawing pixel blocks which are in the "vacant" or "solid" 35 condition; and (111) mxn bit pattern data of a line drawing pixel block in the "hybrid" condition.

Claim 10

A system as claimed in Claim (7) in which the bit pattern data output means outputs the bit pattern data of line-drawing pixel blocks of which are "hybrid" in a sequence for expressing them in the "word", and the run-length data output means outputs the sequence number of the linedrawing pixel block of which are "hybrid" for expressing them in the next word.

Claim 11

A system as claimed in Claim (7) in which the judge data output means comprises: (a) a decoder for decoding the data of the line drawing pixel block; (b) two tri-state buffers which output the decoded data of the line-drawing pixel block which are "vacant" or "solid" from the decoder 65 synchronizing with an output timing of the run- length data; and (c) two other tri-state buffers which output the decoded data of the_line-drawing pixel blocks which are "hybrid" from the decoder synchronizing with an output timing of the bit pattern data. 40

Claim 12

A system as claimed in Claim (7) in which the run-length data output means comprises: (a) a counter which counts the sequence number of the line- drawing pixel blocks which are.1 vacant" or "solid"; and 45 (b) a tri- state buffer which outputs data of the count number synchronizing with an output timing of the judge data.

Claim 13

A system as claimed in Claim (10) comprising a counter for counting the sequence number of the line-drawing pixel "hybrid" blocks.

Claim 14

A system as claimed in Claim (7) in which the bit pattern data output means comprises a tristate buffer which outputs the bit pattern data of the line-drawing blocks synchronizing with the output timing of the judge data.

Claim 16

A method for condensing binary image data substantially as herein described with reference to any of the figures of the drawings.

Claim 17

A method for condensing binary image data substantially as herein described with reference to any of the figures of the drawings.

Claim 18

A system for condensing binary image data substantially as herein described with reference to any of the figures of the drawings. Printed in the United Kingdom for Her Majesty's Stationery Office, Demand No. 8818935, 1111984. Contractor's Code No. 6378. Published by the Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A lAY, from which copies may be obtained.

Claim 19

A system for condensing binary image data substantially as herein described with reference to any of the figures of the drawings. Printed in the United Kingdom for Her Majesty's Stationery Office, Demand No. 8818935, 1111984. Contractor's Code No. 6378. Published by the Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A lAY, from which copies may be obtained.