Patent ID: 6862101

Claim:
An image processing apparatus comprising: an input unit which converts read-in image data to digitized image signals or image information generated as digital information to image signals; an output unit which can output the digitized image signals as a printed image; and a programmable image processing unit which subjects the digitized image signals to image processing, wherein said image processing unit comprises: a first storage section which stores image data for an object to be image-processed; a second storage section in which a sequence of image processing and data for image processing are rewritably written; an image processing section which grabs image data for an object to be image-processed from said first storage section, and performs data processing by referring to the sequence of image processing and the data for image processing written in the second storage section; a third storage section which temporarily stores a sequence of image processing and data for image processing to be added or updated, that are transferred from an external microprocessor; and a transfer control section which transfers the sequence of image processing and data for image processing to be added or updated from said third storage section to said second storage section during idle cycle time that said image processing section does not execute image processing, and said transfer control section provides controls for transfer so as to split the sequence of image processing and data for image processing to be added or updated into blocks for a plurality of transfer times and transfer the blocks from said third storage section to said second storage section.