Abstract: The present invention concerns a method and apparatus for building an estimate (?) of an original image (Y) from a low-quality version (Yl) of the original image and an epitome (Eh) calculated from an image.

Abstract: A method for encoding and decoding an image block, an encoder, and a decoder are provided. The method for encoding an image block comprises: determining a local dynamic range of the block; adaptively precision-extending pixel values of the block based on the local dynamic range of the block; and encoding the block with an adaptively extended precision. The method for decoding an image block comprises: determining a minimum pixel value of the block and an indicating value for indicating a precision extension factor according to precision extension information; decoding the block according to the indicating value; and de-extending precision of the decoded block based on the minimum pixel value of the block and the precision extension factor. The precision of the intermediate calculations may be improved without increasing an original intermediate bit depth used in intermediate calculations.

Abstract: A method for decoding a picture divided into blocks is disclosed. The method comprises at least one iteration of: a) determining for at least two blocks adjacent to a reconstructed part of the picture a priority level responsive at least to directional gradients computed in a causal neighborhood of the block; and b) decoding a part of the picture comprising the block whose priority level is the highest.

Abstract: A method for constructing an epitome from an image divided into non overlapping blocks is disclosed. The method comprises: determining, for each block, similar patches in the image, a similar patch being a patch with similar content; constructing at least one epitome chart for the picture from the similar patches; wherein determining, for each block, similar patches in the image comprises: a) determining, for each current block, similar blocks in the image, a similar block being a block with content similar to the content of the current block; b) determining, for one current block and for the similar blocks determined for the current block, similar patches in the image, a similar patch being a patch with content similar to the content of the current block; c) repeating step b) for a next current block for which no similar patch is determined until at least one similar patch is determined for each block in the image.