Patent ID: 7194140

Claim:
An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting image data; first discrimination means for discriminating a type of image of each of a plurality of regions, which form image data input by said input means; second discrimination means for discriminating if the image data is inputted by a continuous scan of images; selection means for selecting an encoding method used in compression of each region on the basis of discrimination results of said first and second discrimination means; and compression means for compressing image data of each region using the encoding method selected by said selection means, wherein said selection means selects a first encoding method if the type of image is a first type, regardless of whether or not the image data is inputted by the continuous scan of images, wherein said selection means selects a second encoding method if the type of image is a second type and the image data is inputted by a single scan of images, wherein said selection means selects a third encoding method if the type of image is the second type and the image data is inputted by the continuous scan of images, and wherein a compression ratio of the first encoding method is higher than a compression ratio of the second and third encoding methods and the compression ratio of the third encoding method is higher than the compression ratio of the second encoding method.