Abstract: A method, medium, and apparatus processing depth information of a depth image. The apparatus adaptively presenting information on depth information includes a section determination unit determining which one of plural sections respective depth values for pixels of the 3D image fall within, with the plural sections being defined by a measured limit distance for the 3D image being parsed into the plural sections based on distance based depth resolution information, and an adaptive quantization unit to selectively quantize and represent each depth value based on a respective predefined quantization setting of the one section.

Abstract: Devices, methods, and other embodiments associated with cadence detection are discussed. In one embodiment, an apparatus analyzes a progressive video stream and determines a cadence pattern from the progressive video stream.

Abstract: A method, system and computer software product for improving rate-distortion performance while remaining faithful to JPEG/MPEG syntax, involving joint optimization of Huffman tables, quantization step sizes and quantized coefficients of a JPEG/MPEG encoder. This involves finding the optimal coefficient indices in the form of (run, size) pairs. By employing an interative process including this search for optimal coefficient indices, joint improvement of run-length coding, Huffman coding and quantization table selection may be achieved. Additionally, the compression of quantized DC coefficients may also be improved using a trellis-structure.

Abstract: A method and system generates and compares fingerprints for videos in a video library. The video fingerprints provide a compact representation of the spatial and sequential characteristics of the video that can be used to quickly and efficiently identify video content. Because the fingerprints are based on spatial and sequential characteristics rather than exact bit sequences, visual content of videos can be effectively compared even when there are small differences between the videos in compression factors, source resolutions, start and stop times, frame rates, and so on. Comparison of video fingerprints can be used, for example, to search for and remove copyright protected videos from a video library. Further, duplicate videos can be detected and discarded in order to preserve storage space.

Abstract: A Method and apparatus for encoding and decoding a multi-view image are provided. The method of encoding a multi-view image includes determining whether each of pictures included in multi-view image sequences is a reference picture referred to by other pictures included in the multi-view image sequences for inter-view prediction, and encoding the pictures using at least one of inter-view prediction and temporal prediction based on the determination result, thereby efficiently encoding and decoding the multi-view image at high speed.

Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus which includes a histogram generating unit that generates a histogram representing an appearance frequency distribution of a pixel value of an input image, and a quantization table generating unit that generates a quantization table including table information used to perform transform of a bit depth of the pixel value of the input image and table information used to allocate an effective pixel in which an appearance frequency in the histogram generated by the histogram generating unit is not zero to an index value after bit depth transform so that effective pixels are allocated to index values as equally as possible.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for image compression. The method includes: calculating a total bit length that is needed for compressing any one segment line and an ideal bit length that is needed for compressing any one segment; for each segment in any one segment line, acquiring a quantization parameter and a compression mode for compressing the segment and an actual bit length that is needed for compressing the segment by using the acquired quantization parameter and compression mode; distributing a redundancy bit length of one or more simple segments in the segment line to one or more complex segments in the segment line, and re-acquiring quantization parameters and compression modes for compressing every complex segment of the one or more complex segments; and compressing every segment in the segment line by using the acquired quantization parameters and compression modes.

Abstract: A method of providing CABAC compliant changes such as watermarks comprises accessing encoded data such as video which comprise at least two blocks; creating or accessing a list of changes to the encoded data that include a direct change to a block; determining motion character or motion vector differential of non-immediate block, non-immediate blocks being adjacent to an immediate block that are immediately adjacent to the block; determining change to the immediate block based on original motion character of the block and the non-immediate block and the motion character of the block that would result from the application of the change; storing the change to the list if the change does not cause a difference to the immediate block; and evaluating other potential changes if other potential changes are available, wherein the other potential changes are subjected to the same process steps as the direct change.

Abstract: Examples of the present invention provide a method and device for image compression coding. The method includes: obtaining a designated area selected from an image at a decoding side; determining quantization coefficients of the image to make an image compression ratio of the designated area lower than image compression ratios of areas in the image other than the designated area; and performing a compression coding on the image using the determined quantization coefficients of the image. By using the present invention, a video communication system may support a user to select an interested area in a video image, and clearly transmit the interested area selected by the user.

Abstract: A digital media encoder/decoder performs quantization/dequantization based on quantization parameters taken from a harmonic quantizer scale. The harmonic quantizer scale can include a normal portion consisting of quantization parameter values harmonically-related as simple fractions of each other, and a denormal portion of quantizers having a linear or other relation. The encoder/decoder further supports a scaled quantizer mode where quantization is performed based on the quantization parameter as scaled by a fractional value. A compressed domain contrast adjustment is effected by adjusting the quantization parameters in the compressed bitstream, without having to adjust and recode the digital media data in the compressed bitstream.

Abstract: Effective color-aware search of a collection of content associated with one or more images is enabled. Content and/or its associated images may be automatically associated with representative palette colors in a suite of color palettes. Color palettes may be of a variety of types and have a hierarchical structure in which lower levels enable increasingly subtle distinctions between shades of color. Color palette hierarchies may be effectively presented, and appropriate portions emphasized based on associated search result sets. Search result sets may be refined and/or reordered in accordance with color palette selections and/or representative confidences of color palette selections for items at least referenced therein.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to an image or raster compression method that includes receiving pixel data for a raster comprising a two dimensional (2D) array of pixels where each pixel is associated with a data value. The method further includes receiving a user defined parameter defining a maximum error allowable per pixel for a compression algorithm. The raster can be divided into a number of pixel blocks where each pixel can be quantized and bit stuffed based on a number of block statistics including the maximum error allowable. The method further includes executing the compression algorithm wherein for each pixel, where an error caused by the compression algorithm is equal to or less than the maximum error allowable, and encoding the pixel data based on the compression algorithm. In certain embodiments, the compression algorithm is a non-transform compression algorithm.

Abstract: A display system includes a display-color function image generator and a DCF image converter. The DCF image generator generates a DCF image from a source image. In the DCF image, each pixel is associated with a respective DCF configured to convert an input value to a display color value. The DCF image generator inputs values to respective DCFs to convert the DCF image to a displayable image having pixels associated with respective display colors.

Abstract: Effective color-aware search of a collection of content associated with one or more images is enabled. Content and/or its associated images may be automatically associated with representative palette colors in a suite of color palettes. Color palettes may be of a variety of types and have a hierarchical structure in which lower levels enable increasingly subtle distinctions between shades of color. Color palette hierarchies may be effectively presented, and appropriate portions emphasized based on associated search result sets. Search result sets may be refined and/or reordered in accordance with color palette selections and/or representative confidences of color palette selections for items at least referenced therein.

Abstract: A block of image elements is compressed by determining a parameter representative of a size of a bounding section in vector space encompassing feature vectors associated with the image elements. This size parameter is used to provide a deterministic, pseudo-random pattern of multiple representation vectors encompassed by the bounding section. A vector among multiple representation vectors is selected as representation of the feature vector of an image element. An identifier associated with selected vector is assigned to the image element and included in the compressed block which also comprises representations of the size parameter.

Abstract: A high-frequency integrator acquires a first integrated value by integrating a high-frequency component of first image data. A corrector handles second image data, which is obtained when an image processor subjects the first image data to an image process affecting frequency characteristics, and acquires a second integrated value by correcting the first integrated value acquired by the high-frequency integrator in accordance with a change in the frequency characteristics that is brought about by the image process. An encoder calculates, in accordance with the second integrated value acquired by the corrector, a quantization scale for compressing the second image data acquired by the image processor to a predefined number of bytes at once, and compresses the second image data accordingly.

Abstract: A frame of pixels is segmented into a plurality of blocks each having a block type by a method including the steps of: a) performing an initial segmentation of the frame into a set of initial blocks, thus determining, for each initial block, a block type associated with the concerned initial block; b) determining, for each block type, an associated set of quantizers based on data corresponding to pixels of blocks having said block type; c) selecting, among a plurality of possible segmentations defining an association between each block of this segmentation and an associated block type, the segmentation which minimizes an encoding cost estimated based on a measure of the rate necessary for encoding each block using the set of quantizers associated with the block type of the encoded block according to the concerned segmentation.

Abstract: A predictive coding method for coding intra of frames is revealed. Firstly, an encoder divides an image frame into a plurality of macroblocks. Then the encoder sets predictive coding models corresponding to these macroblocks according to a ratio. The encoder performs predictive coding for coding each macroblock according to the corresponding predictive coding model so as to get and output a coded image. By the present invention, various predictive coding models are set and applied to code the different macroblocks so as to increase predictive coding efficiency. The intra prediction efficiency and image compression efficiency are improved simultaneously.

Abstract: An image coding method includes: (i) determining, for each of one or more associated blocks, whether to add a motion vector of the associated block to a list, and (ii) adding the motion vector of the associated block to the list when determining that the motion vector of the associated block is to be added to the list; selecting, from the list, a motion vector which is to be merged to a current block; and (i) merging the selected motion vector to the current block, and (ii) coding the current block using the merged motion vector as a motion vector of the current block, and in the determining, it is determined that the motion vector of the associated block is not to be added to the list when an associated picture and an associated reference picture match temporally or when a current picture and a current reference picture match temporally.

Abstract: An image decoding apparatus for decoding a bit stream includes a receiving unit that receives the bit stream and a weight parameter that is added to a luma quantization parameter. The image decoding apparatus also includes a decoding unit that decodes the bit stream and generates a chroma component of quantized coefficients. Further, the image decoding apparatus includes a dequantization unit that performs dequantization on the chroma component of quantized coefficients using a chroma quantization parameter calculated on the basis of a luma quantization parameter weighted by the weight parameter. In addition, the image decoding apparatus includes a transform unit that performs an inverse orthogonal transform.

Abstract: A wavelet coefficient quantization method using a human visual model in an image compression process is provided, which is particularly suitable for remote sensing image compression. A wavelet-domain visual quantization model is obtained through experiments based on human visual characteristics, so as to reflect the relation between distortion of wavelet coefficient blocks and human visual characteristics. The model includes a luminance component, a masking component and a frequency component, where the luminance component is calculated by low frequency coefficients after the kth level wavelet transform, the masking component is calculated by high frequency coefficients of the second and third levels, and the frequency component is calculated by a statistical method. The method may be used in combination with any mainstream wavelet compression method such as EZW, SPIHT or EBCOT.

Abstract: An image decoding apparatus for decoding a bit stream includes a receiving unit that receives the bit stream and a weight parameter that is added to a luma quantization parameter. Further, the image decoding apparatus includes a decoding unit that decodes the bit stream and generates a chroma component of quantized coefficients. The image decoding apparatus also includes a setting unit that sets a chroma quantization parameter calculated on the basis of the luma quantization parameter weighted by an addition operation that adds the weight parameter. Additionally, the image decoding apparatus includes a dequantization unit that performs dequantization on the chroma component of quantized coefficients using the chroma quantization parameter. In addition, the image decoding apparatus includes a transform unit that performs an inverse orthogonal transform.

Abstract: A decoding method decodes a bit stream in an image decoding apparatus. The method includes receiving a luma quantization parameter and a weight parameter that is added to the luma quantization parameter as the bit stream. The method also includes decoding, in a decoding unit in the image decoding apparatus, the bit stream, and generating a luma component of quantized coefficients and a chroma component of quantized coefficients. Further, the method includes performing, in a dequantization unit in the image decoding apparatus, dequantization on the luma component of quantized coefficients using the luma quantization parameter and the chroma component of quantized coefficients using a chroma quantization parameter calculated on the basis of the luma quantization parameter weighted by an add operation of the weight parameter.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is configured for compressing image data by combining spatial frequency conversion, quantization, and entropy coding. The apparatus includes a block division section, a spatial frequency conversion section, a quantization section, an encoding section, and a selection section. The encoding section generates code data by performing the entropy coding for each of a plurality of change candidate values. The values include a value of quantized data in a pixel block after performing the spatial frequency conversion and peripheral values within a predetermined range. The selection section selects a change value of the quantized data from the plurality of change candidate values based on a size of the code data of each of the plurality of change candidate values, and sets the code data corresponding to the selected change value as the code data.

Abstract: A Method and apparatus for encoding and decoding a multi-view image are provided. The method of encoding a multi-view image includes determining whether each of pictures included in multi-view image sequences is a reference picture referred to by other pictures included in the multi-view image sequences for inter-view prediction, and encoding the pictures using at least one of inter-view prediction and temporal prediction based on the determination result, thereby efficiently encoding and decoding the multi-view image at high speed.

Abstract: A sequence of n coefficients is compressed by determining a cost-determined sequence of n coefficient indices represented by a cost-determined sequence of (run, index derivative) pairs under a given quantization table and run-index derivative coding distribution, wherein each sequence of (run, index derivative) pairs defines a corresponding sequence of coefficient indices such that (i) each index in the corresponding sequence of coefficient indices is a digital number, (ii) the corresponding sequence of coefficient indices includes a plurality of values including a special value, and (iii) each (run, index derivative) pair defines a run value representing a number of consecutive indices of the special value, and an index-based value derived from a value of the index following the number of consecutive indices of the special value.

Abstract: Provided are a hybrid prediction apparatus and method for entropy encoding that may enhance an existing image compression scheme and prediction scheme by including and selectively using a plurality of predictors configured to perform a per-pixel prediction of an image frame, and may also supplement a performance of a prediction scheme, excessively occurring in a particular pixel.

Abstract: Nonlinear compression of high precision image data (e.g., 12-bits per subpixel) conventionally calls for a large sized lookup table (LUT). A smaller sized and tunable circuit that performs compression with piecewise linear compressing segments is disclosed. The piecewise linear data compressing process is organized so that lumping together of plural ‘used’ high precision value points into one corresponding low precision data value point is avoided or at least minimized. In one embodiment, the compressed data is image defining data being processed for display on a nonconventional display screen where the piecewise linearly compressed data can be stored adjacent to other image data in a frame buffer where a composite image is assembled.

Abstract: A method for sending compressed data representing at least part of a digital image includes the following steps: encoding (220) source data representing said part to obtain first compressed data having a given size; based at least on said size, including (210) said first compressed data either in a first slice comprising second compressed data representing other parts of the digital image or in an empty second slice; sending the slice comprising said first compressed data. A corresponding device is also described.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus determines a specific color region that includes a specific color, and a non-specific color region around which the specific color regions are present in three directions, i.e., an upper, left, and right directions, in a picture in the non-specific color regions that are not determined as including the specific color as specific regions to be subjected to predetermined image processing.

Abstract: An encoding method encodes a first image signal of a first view and a second image signal of a second view. The method includes encoding the first image signal to generate a base stream. The method also includes encoding the second image signal to generate a dependent stream, and inserting a dependent delimiter indicating a picture boundary between pictures in the dependent stream at the beginning of a picture in the dependent stream.

Abstract: A printing control device includes an input image data acquiring unit, a threshold acquiring unit, a determining unit, and a generating unit. The input image data acquiring unit acquires input image data. The input image data includes a plurality of input pixel data. Each input pixel data has an input value. The determining unit determines, for each input pixel data, a difference related value based on a difference between the input value and a threshold value corresponding to the input value. The generating unit generates print data by generating, for each input pixel data, output pixel data based on the difference related value. The output pixel data expresses density corresponding to the difference related value.

Abstract: A Method and apparatus for encoding and decoding a multi-view image are provided. The method of encoding a multi-view image includes determining whether each of pictures included in multi-view image sequences is a reference picture referred to by other pictures included in the multi-view image sequences for inter-view prediction, and encoding the pictures using at least one of inter-view prediction and temporal prediction based on the determination result, thereby efficiently encoding and decoding the multi-view image at high speed.

Abstract: A main memory stores M-bit gradation image data (M is a natural number). A correction function generating unit generates a correction function in N-bit gradation (N is a natural number, N>M) from image data. A display image generating unit generates display image data using a correction function generated by the correction function generating unit. The display image generating unit uses a correction function so as to generate display image data resulting from correcting image data obtained by decoding compressed image data in M-bit gradation with the restriction of M-bit quantization.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for optimal encoding for an image defined by image data. The quantization table, run-length coding and Huffman codebook are selected to minimize a Lagrangian cost function, wherein the minimization includes iteratively determining the optimal run-size pairs and in-category indices for minimizing a rate-distortion cost function, and wherein the rate-distortion cost function includes a perceptual weighting factor applied to a quantization error. The perceptual weighting factor adjusts the rate-distortion cost function to apply greater weight to lower frequency quantization error than to higher frequency quantization error.

Abstract: A coding method for an ordered series of quantized transform coefficients of a block of image data, including a context adaptive position coding process to encode the position of clusters of non-zero-valued coefficients, e.g., a multidimensional position coder that uses one of a plurality of code mappings selected according to at least one criterion including at least one context-based criterion, and an amplitude encoding process to encode any amplitudes remaining to be coded, the amplitude coding using one or a plurality of amplitude code mappings selected according to at least one criterion, including a context-based criterion. A context-based selection criterion means a criterion that during encoding is known or derivable from one or more previously encoded items of information. Also a coding apparatus, a decoding apparatus, a computer readable medium configured with instructions that when executed implement a coding method, and another medium for a decoding method.

Abstract: An image coding apparatus for coding image data. The image coding apparatus includes: a first coding mechanism predicting a quantization parameter and a quantization matrix to be used for calculating a target amount of code for the image data by coding the image data; a second coding mechanism correcting the quantization parameter predicted by the first coding means from an error between an amount of generated code produced by coding using the quantization parameter and the quantization matrix predicted by the first coding mechanism and the target amount of code; and a third coding mechanism coding the image data using the quantization parameter corrected by the second coding mechanism.

Abstract: A method, system and computer software product for improving rate-distortion performance while remaining faithful to JPEG/MPEG syntax, involving joint optimization of Huffman tables, quantization step sizes and quantized coefficients of a JPEG/MPEG encoder. This involves finding the optimal coefficient indices in the form of (run, size) pairs. By employing an interative process including this search for optimal coefficient indices, joint improvement of run-length coding, Huffman coding and quantization table selection may be achieved. Additionally, the compression of quantized DC coefficients may also be improved using a trellis-structure.

Abstract: An image compression device which compresses image data, including: a first quantization unit which performs a quantization mode 1 to quantize pixel values using two values A1 and B1 (A1<B1), in one range defined by A1 and B1; a second quantization unit which performs a quantization mode 2 to quantize the pixel values using two values A2 and B2 (A2>B2), in two ranges defined by A2 and B2; and a compressed data generation unit which generates compressed data including a value A, a value B, and quantized values of the pixel values quantized in a selected quantization mode, wherein the compressed data generation unit generates the compressed data using: A1 and B1 as A and B, respectively, when the quantization mode 1 is selected; and A2 and B2 as A and B, respectively, when the quantization mode 2 is selected.

Abstract: A decoding method decodes a base stream generated by encoding a first image signal of a first view and a dependent stream generated by encoding a second image signal of a second view. The method includes detecting, on the basis of a dependent delimiter indicating a picture boundary between pictures in the dependent stream, the picture boundary in the dependent stream configured by inserting the dependent delimiter at the beginning of a picture in the dependent stream. Further, the method includes decoding the base stream and the dependent stream on the basis of the detected picture boundary in the dependent stream.

Abstract: This invention makes it possible to reduce power consumption of an encoding device while more appropriately encoding a video image in the first frame. An image capturing apparatus includes a camera unit which photo-electrically converts object light and outputs a video signal, an encoding unit which encodes the video signal, a camera information acquisition unit which acquires information associated with the operation status of the camera unit, and a calculation unit which calculates, on the basis of the information acquired by the camera information acquisition unit, an initial parameter serving as an encoding parameter for an initial encoding operation of the encoding unit before the start of an encoding operation of the encoding unit.

Abstract: Provided are methods and apparatuses for transforming and inverse-transforming an image. The method of transforming an image includes: generating a substituted N×N transformation matrix by substituting elements of an N×N transformation matrix used for a 1-dimensional (1D) discrete cosine transform (DCT) of a N×N block of the image with values based on N variables, where N is an integer; obtaining a multiplication matrix of the substituted N×N transformation matrix and a transposed matrix of the substituted N×N transformation matrix; obtaining the N variables that enable a sum of squares of elements excluding diagonal components of the obtained multiplication matrix to be a minimum; and transforming the N×N block by using the substituted N×N transformation matrix, which is substituted with the values based on the obtained N variables.

Abstract: A method and system for processing image data in an image processing device for a plurality of pixel positions within a plurality of scanlines. The method and system includes storing a starting stamp value and a plurality of delta stamp values for the scanline. The stored values being used to generate a pixel stamp value for an input pixel in the scanline, by adding a starting value or previous pixel stamp value and the stored delta stamp value for the input pixel. Further includes receiving an input pixel intensity value for the input pixel and determining an output pixel intensity value. Subsequently, if the output pixel intensity value for the input pixel is equal to a value for a dot or hole the delta stamp values for at least one pixel having a location previous or subsequent to the input pixel can be updated.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and processor executable code for high quality wide-range multi-layer image compression of a sequence of video images. A non-transient electronic storage media stores the processor executable code configured and is capable of causing one or more processors to compress a sequence of digitized video images. The method includes generating a hierarchy of processed images from a digitized video image, determining a plurality of regions within each processed image, each region being selected based on lossless coding efficiency; and applying a lossless variable-length coding independently to each such region.

Abstract: An image processing device includes: a significant digit number encoding unit designating a set of a predetermined number of coefficient data items generated from image data. The maximum number of significant digits of coefficient data for each set every cycle is obtained, and information regarding the maximum number is encoded. A zero run encoding unit encodes zero runs formed by sets that include only coefficient data whose value is 0 at a cycle that differs from the cycle of encoding the significant digit number. The absolute value for the maximum number of significant digits other than the zero runs is extracted and encoded. The positive or negative sign of each coefficient data item whose absolute value is not 0 in a set at a cycle that differs from a cycle in relation to coefficient data other than the zero runs is encoded.

Abstract: A method implemented in a graphics engine for decoding image blocks to derive an original image is provided. The method comprises receiving at least one encoded image data block at a block decoder, the at least one encoded image data block comprising a plurality of codewords and a bitmap. The method further comprises determining a block type based on the plurality of codewords and selecting a decoder unit among a plurality of decoder units in accordance with the block type.

Abstract: A significant digit number encoding unit designates a predetermined number of coefficient data items generated from image data as a set. The maximum number of significant digits that have the greatest absolute value in relation to each set every cycle is obtained and information is encoded regarding the maximum number. An absolute value is extracted for the maximum number of each coefficient data item in a set; and the absolute value is encoded at a cycle different from that of the significant digit number encoding unit. A sign encoding unit encodes a positive or negative sign of each coefficient data item in a set whose absolute value is not 0 at a cycle different from that of the absolute value encoding unit.

Abstract: A decoding method decodes a bit stream including a base stream and a dependent stream. The method includes decoding, by identifying a start position of a picture in the base stream based on an access unit delimiter indicating a boundary between access units in the base stream at the beginning of a picture in the base stream, the base stream configured by inserting the access unit delimiter as a NAL unit including nal_unit_type. The method also includes decoding, by identifying a start position of a picture in the dependent stream based on a dependent delimiter indicating a picture boundary between pictures in the dependent stream at the beginning of a picture in the dependent stream, the dependent stream configured by inserting the dependent delimiter as a NAL unit including nal_unit_type with a value which is different from the nal_unit_type of the access unit delimiter.

Abstract: A server device compares an image before changing with an image after changing and specifies a difference image that is an image part different between the two images. The server device determines patterns of boxes (rectangles) enclosing the difference image. In image transmission from the server device, the box becomes a macro block being a unit of image compression. The server device specifies from among the patterns of the enclosing box group, an optimal box group that is a pattern of the enclosing box group requiring the shortest response time. The server device sets each of the boxes that make up the specified optimal box group as a unit of macro block, and performs compression coding of the difference image in the set units. The server device transmits partial image information including the compression-coded difference image and the coordinates of the difference image to the client device.

Abstract: A method of compressing a digital image defined by a plurality of pixel values in each of one or more channels includes adjusting each pixel value in each of the one or more channels by an average pixel value for that channel. The method further includes splitting each adjusted channel into one or more image blocks, and converting each image block into a frequency block that is a frequency-domain representation of that image block.