Patent ID: 8773713

Claim:
An image processing apparatus comprising: a calculation portion that calculates a first process time period and a second process time period based on the number of pixels of image information of an input print job and contents of processes of the input print job, the first process time period being utilized where image processes are executed by a reconfiguration process mode, the reconfiguration process mode causing each of a plurality of dynamic reconfigurable processors (DRP) to fulfill different image process functions by sequentially switching the image process functions in a same order, and executing a plurality of image processes to image information, and the second process time period being utilized where the image processes are executed by a pipeline process mode, the pipeline process mode causing each of the plurality of DRPs to fulfill different image process functions at a time, and sequentially executing a plurality of image processes to the image information by outputting the image information that the image process has completed to the next DRP; and an activation portion that activates the plurality of DRPs according to the reconfiguration process mode when the first process time period is shorter than the second process time period, and activates the plurality of DRPs according to the pipeline process mode when the second process time period is equal to or shorter than the first process time period; wherein, in the pipeline process mode, a new image process is not started until a previous image process has completed.