JPH04199980A - Image processor using ic card - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make image information confidential by reading the quantization information stored on an IC card by an IC card reading means and executing reverse quantization by using the read quantization information at the time of decoding the image coding data subjected to high-efficiency coding. CONSTITUTION:The image coding data which is stored in a memory device 4 and is inputted via an image coding data input line 64 is decoded and extended by a variable length decoding section 63 in a decoding section 6. The decoding section 6 subjects this decoded data to reverse quantization by using the quantization information of the storage part 8 of the IC card 7 which is inputted via a quantization information input line 11 and is read by an IC card reading section 9 in a reverse quantization section 62. Further, the decoding section 6 decodes the images by subjecting this reverse quantized data to the image characteristic reverse conversion, such as reverse discrete cosine conversion, in an image characteristic reverse conversion section 61 and transmits the images to an image data output line 60. The image information is made confidential in this way.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image processing device that encodes and decodes images, and particularly relates to quantization and inverse quantization in image encoding and decoding. An IC suitable for storing quantization information used in processing on an IC card and performing image processing efficiently.
The present invention relates to an image processing device using a card.

[Prior Art] Generally, an image processing device that handles image information using a computer (in two cases, an image is processed using a density value (analog value)
is converted into an electrical signal and expressed as a digital image on a two-dimensional plane. In other words, digitizing an image of analog values involves the operations of sampling the screen, quantizing the density values, and scanning to perform these two-dimensional processing.As a result of these operations, the image is expressed as a two-dimensional array of density values of sample points on a square grid on a two-dimensional plane.

In order to convert a temporally continuous analog signal into a code, it is first necessary to read the magnitude (amplitude value, image density value) from the continuously changing signal at regular time intervals. This process is called sampling. In addition, by sampling, the analog signal is converted into a pulse train whose pulse amplitude changes corresponding to the original analog signal, and in order to associate the amplitude of each pulse of this pulse train (sample pulse train) with a sign, the amplitude value It is necessary to approximate the value to a certain precision by rounding off the fraction, or rounding up or down. This process is called quantization. Furthermore, the operation of associating the amplitude width of a quantized sample pulse with a code is called encoding, and in a binary code using n pulses,
It can represent 2n numbers. The operation of reproducing the sample pulse train by obtaining the amplitude of the sample pulse from the binary code received on the receiving side is called decoding, and the receiving side reproduces the original analog signal based on this sample pulse train. I can do it. The above-described digitization of analog values is described on pages 209 to 216 of the Telecommunications Technology Edition [New Easy Telecommunications Technology J (published by the Telecommunications Association of Japan, 1977).

Using digital images encoded in this way, an image processing device can transmit images and store images.

Performs various image processing such as image conversion.

For example, in the case of transmitting one image, first, in encoding, the image signal is converted into a coded signal for the purpose of reducing the transmission cost by band compression (reducing the amount of transmitted information). In other words, “Nikkei Electronics 199
0 10-15 (no.

511) J (1990, published by Nikkei BP) No. 1
．． As described on pages 16 to 142, the image signal is
High-efficiency coding is performed using CT (discrete cosine transform) or the like, then quantization is performed, and then variable length coding such as Huffman coding is applied. In this way, redundancy of image information is removed and the transmission bit rate is lowered for transmission. Then, in decoding, the compressed image information is subjected to variable length decoding, inverse quantization, inverse DCT, etc. to restore the image.

Next, image conversion is a variety of processing that improves the quality of images, such as actively enhancing the image to enhance necessary information according to the purpose of processing, or removing harmful or unnecessary components. Image processing is performed based on the characteristics of the image, such as noise removal.

In addition, the image quality of digital images depends on quantization information,
It is common to manipulate image quality by changing quantization information.

A conventional image processing apparatus that performs image encoding and decoding including image quality manipulation using quantization information will be described below.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional image processing device.

In particular, the configuration of a portion that encodes and decodes image signals is shown.

This image processing device includes an encoding section 25 that encodes original image data, and a decoding section 26 that decodes encoded image data into original image data.

The encoding unit 25 includes an image feature conversion unit 251 that performs image feature conversion, a quantization unit 252 that performs quantization on data subjected to image feature conversion, and a variable length code that performs variable length encoding on the quantized data. It is composed of a converting section 253.

Then, the encoding unit 25 converts the original image data input from the image data input line 250 into the image feature converting unit 25.
1 performs image feature transformation such as discrete cosine transformation and predictive coding, and the quantization unit 252 performs quantization on the data transformed by the image feature transformation unit 251, which is stored in the memory 20 in advance. Quantization is performed according to the information, and the quantized data is then sent to the variable length encoder 2.
53, the data is variable-length encoded using a Huffman encoding method, compressed, and sent to the one-image encoded data output line 254.

The encoded image data sent out in this manner is stored in, for example, a storage device.

On the other hand, the decoding unit 26 includes: a variable length decoding unit 263 that decodes image encoded data, a dequantization unit 262 that performs dequantization on the decoded data, and a dequantized data It is comprised of an image feature inverse transformer 261 that performs image feature inverse transform on the image.

The decoding unit 26 decodes and expands the encoded image data stored in a storage device or the like and input via the encoded image data input line 264 using the variable length decoding unit 263, and The inverse quantization unit 262 performs inverse quantization on the decoded data based on the quantization information read out from the memory 20, and further applies the image feature inverse transformation unit to the inverse quantized data. 261 performs image feature inverse transformation such as inverse discrete cosine transformation, and sends it to an image data output line 260.

The image data sent in this manner is displayed on a display device such as a graphics display device, for example.

In this way, in the conventional image processing device, quantization information is stored in the memory 20, and when decoding and encoding an image, the quantization information is read from the memory 20.
Performed quantization and inverse quantization.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

The image quality of a compressed image depends on quantization information, and it is common to manipulate the image quality by changing the quantization information.

However, because conventional image processing devices store quantization information in built-in memory, it is difficult to add or change quantization information during image data encoding and decoding processing, resulting in poor image quality. could not be operated easily. Furthermore, since the quantization information is stored within the device, image data can be processed by any operator, making it difficult to conceal or maintain confidentiality of the image information.

The purpose of the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art, to use an IC card to store quantized information, to easily manipulate image quality based on correction of quantized information, and to conceal image information in an efficient manner. An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing device using an IC card that enables image processing.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, an image processing device using an IC card of the present invention includes an IC card that stores quantization information used to quantize image encoded data obtained by highly efficient encoding of image data, and An IC card reader is provided to read the quantized information stored in the IC card, and when decoding the image encoded data encoded with high efficiency, the IC card reader reads the quantized information stored in the IC card. It is characterized by performing inverse quantization using the quantization information obtained.

[For use] In the present invention, the image processing device is provided with an IC card reading section, and the IC card is used as a means for recording quantization information.
Use cards. Then, the quantization information is read from the IC7:- card by the IC card reading section.

Then, one type of quantization information is stored in one IC card.

When changing the quantization information, replace the IC card inserted into the IC card reading section. Furthermore, when adding quantization information, the quantization information is written to a new IC card.

This makes it possible to easily change or add quantization information. Furthermore, since it is necessary to use the same IC card as the one used for quantization during dequantization, image information can be kept confidential.

〔Example] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the configuration of an image processing system according to the present invention.

In particular, the configuration of the part related to encoding/decoding of image signals according to the present invention is shown, and the image processing system of this embodiment includes an image processing device 1 provided with the present invention, and a scanner device that reads image data from an image document. 2, a display device 3 such as a graphics display device that displays image data, and a storage device 4 that stores decoded image data encoded and compressed by the image processing device 1. Further, the image processing device 1 includes a scanner device 2, a display device 3, a storage device 4, an image data input line 50, an image data output line 60, an image encoded data output line 54, and an image encoded data input line 64, respectively. connected by.

Further, the image processing device l includes an encoding unit 5 that encodes original image data, a decoding unit 6 that decodes the encoded original image data, and, which is the present invention, an encoding unit 5 that encodes original image data, a decoding unit 6 that decodes the encoded original image data, and, which is the present invention, It is composed of an IC card 7 for storing data and an IC card reading section 9 for reading the stored contents of the IC card 7.

The IC card 7 has a storage section 8, which stores quantization information and the like. The stored contents of the IC card 7, that is, the quantization information, are read by the IC card reading section 9 and sent to the encoding section 5 and the encoding section 6, respectively, via the quantization information input line 1O111. .

Note that IC cards are used, for example, as external storage media in notebook computers, and in electronic notebooks, such as English-Japanese dictionaries and information management cards. This kind of IC
For example, the card may contain "Nikkei Electronics 198
9 9-18 no.

482J (1989, published by Nikkei BP), pages 120 to 141, there are two types: one with only a memory function and one with a built-in microprocessor. You may use the one from

In the image processing device 1 of this embodiment, the configurations of the encoding section 5 and the decoding section 6 are the same as those of the prior art. That is, the encoding unit 5 includes an image feature conversion unit 51 that performs image feature conversion of input image data, a quantization unit 52 that quantizes the converted data, and a variable length code that performs variable length encoding of the quantized data. The decoding unit 6 includes a variable length decoding unit 63 that decodes input image encoded data, an inverse quantization unit 62 that performs inverse quantization of the decoded data, and an inverse quantization unit 62 that dequantizes the decoded data. The image feature inverse transform unit 61 performs image feature inverse transform on converted data.

However, the quantization section 52 of the encoding section 5 and the dequantization section 62 of the decoding section 6 perform quantization and dequantization, respectively, based on the quantization information stored in the IC card 7.

That is, in the encoding unit 5, the image feature converting unit 51
performs processes such as discrete cosine transformation and predictive coding on the original image data input from the scanner device 2 via the image data input line 50, extracts image features, and inputs them to the quantization unit 52. . Then, the encoding unit 5 reads out the quantization for this image feature by the quantization unit 52 through the quantization information input line 10 into the storage unit 8 of the IC card 7 . This is done using the quantization information of Furthermore, the encoding unit 5 inputs the quantized image features to the variable length encoding unit 53, performs variable length encoding and compression using a Huffman encoding method, etc., and converts the image features into image encoding. The data is sent to the data output line 54.

The encoded image data thus sent out is stored in the storage device 4.

On the other hand, in the decoding unit 6, the data is stored in the storage device 4,
The encoded image data input via the encoded image data input line 64 is decoded and expanded by the variable length decoding section 63. In addition, the decoding unit 6 uses the dequantization unit 62 to read out the decoded data by the IC card reading unit 9 inputted via the quantization information input line 11 to the storage unit of the IC card 7. Inverse quantization is performed using the quantization information of 8. Further, the decoding unit 6 performs image feature inverse transformation such as inverse discrete cosine transformation on this inverse quantized data using an image feature inverse transformation unit 61 to restore the image and send it to the image data output line 60. do.

The image data sent out in this manner is displayed on the display device 3.

In this way, in the image processing device l of this embodiment, quantization information is stored in the IC card 7, and when decoding and encoding an image, the quantization information is stored in the IC card 7, and the
The quantization information is read from the card 7, and quantization and inverse quantization are performed.

In this way, it is possible to use an IC card having quantization information different from that of the IC card 7, and change the quantization information.
Additions can be made easily.

Furthermore, since it is necessary to use the same IC card as the one used for quantization during dequantization, image information can be kept confidential.

In this embodiment, the IC card reading section is provided inside the image processing apparatus, but the IC card reading section may be provided outside the image processing apparatus.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, an IC card is used to store quantization information, image quality can be easily manipulated based on correction of quantization information, and image information can be concealed easily, allowing efficient image processing. becomes.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the configuration of an image processing system according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional image processing apparatus. l Image processing device, 2. Scanner device, 3: Display device,
4 storage device, 5: encoding section, 6 decoding section, 7.IC
Card, 8 Storage section, 9: IC card reading section, 10
~1 is the quantization information input line. 20 memory, 25: encoding section, 26: decoding section. 50 Image data input line, 51: Image feature conversion section. 52: Quantization unit, 53・Variable length encoding unit, 54: Image encoded data output line, 60・Image data output line, 610 Image feature inverse conversion unit, 62. Inverse quantization section. 63, variable length decoding unit, 64: image encoded data input line, 250+image data input line, 251 image feature conversion unit, 252/quantization unit, 253: variable length encoding unit, 254
- Image encoded data output line. 260 Image data output line, 261: Image feature inverse transformation unit, 262: Inverse quantization unit, 263 Variable length decoding unit, 2
64 Image encoded data input line.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) Quantization information used to quantize image coded data obtained by highly efficient coding of image data is stored in a built-in memory, and when decoding the image coded data obtained by highly efficient coding, the above In an image processing device that performs inverse quantization of the encoded image data using quantization information stored in a memory, an IC card that stores the quantization information in place of the memory; IC card reading means for reading quantization information is provided, and when decoding the image encoded data encoded with high efficiency, the IC card reading means reads the quantization information stored in the IC card, and the read quantization information is read by the IC card reading means. An image processing device using an IC card, characterized in that the inverse quantization is performed using quantization information.