Patent ID: 7652671

Claim:
An image processing device comprising: a storage section that respectively stores programs of a plurality of types of image processing module, the programs each functioning as an image processing module that acquires image data from a preceding stage, carries out predetermined image processing on the image data and outputs to a following stage processed image data or a result of the processing, and the programs being different from one another in type or contents of the image processing; a parallel processing control section that selects at least one image processing module from the plurality of types of image processing module, formulates a first image processing section such that first buffer modules are connected preceding and/or following the selected image processing module(s), the modules being connected in a pipeline form or a directed acyclic graph form, and performs control such that image processing is carried out mutually in parallel by the respective image processing modules of the first image processing section, each first buffer module allowing writing of image data outputted from a preceding module to a buffer of the buffer module, allowing reading of the image data stored in the buffer by a following module, and performing exclusive access control with respect to access to the buffer; a sequential processing control section that selects at least one image processing module from the plurality of types of image processing module, formulates a second image processing section such that second buffer modules are connected preceding and/or following the selected image processing modules, the modules being connected in a pipeline form or a directed acyclic graph form, and performs control such that image processing is sequentially carried out by the individual image processing modules of the second image processing section, each second buffer module allowing writing of image data outputted from a preceding module to a buffer of the buffer module, allowing reading of the image data stored in the buffer by a following module, and not performing exclusive access control with respect to access to the buffer; and a selection section that selectively operates the parallel processing control section or the sequential processing control section, and causes image processing to be carried out on the image data of a processing object by the first image processing section or the second image processing section.