Abstract: A data compression apparatus and method suitable for image data assembles pixel values into plural groups. An encoding unit sets a maximum bit plane according to a highest value in the group, and encodes the data values sequentially along the group using iteratively reduced bit plane levels until reaching a lowest bit plane or exhausting the data values in the group, to provide a compressed dataset. Examples include recording a positional index where the bit plane level is changed within each group.

Abstract: A computer determines one or more brightness levels associated with a first set of pixels within a light source in an image. The computer determines a brightness effect on a second set of pixels in the image based on the one or more brightness levels associated with the first set of pixels within the light source. The computer receives input to alter at least one of the one or more brightness levels associated with the first set of pixels within the light source. The computer alters one or more brightness levels associated with the second set of pixels in the image based on the received input and the determined brightness effect.

Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for area-dependent image enhancement. These techniques are capable of enabling selection, through a touch-enabled mobile-device display, of an area of a photographic image through movement of a spatially-variable implement, such as brush icon moved over the image. Selected areas can be enhanced differently than other areas, such as to apply sharpening to the selected area and blurring to a non-selected area.

Abstract: An image processor includes a memory including multiple memory banks each having multiple unit storage areas and holding an image, an image processing unit that processes an image, and an access controller that controls an access from the image processing unit to the memory. In storing the image in the memory, the access controller splits the image in multiple groups of unit pixel data pieces including pixel data of multiple columns by multiple rows, and stores groups of unit pixel data pieces aligned in at least two columns in a pixel space in the same unit storage area in the same memory bank.

Abstract: There are provided method and apparatus for local illumination and color compensation without explicit signaling. An apparatus includes an encoder for encoding a picture by enabling at least one of color compensation and illumination compensation of at least one color component of a prediction for an image block of the picture without using explicit signaling. The method comprises at least the step of enabling the encoding of a picture described above in the apparatus, again without use of explicit signaling. In the description of an specific embodiment, this enabling of the color compensation and the illumination compensation is based on at least one of a group of pixels and a local signal block corresponding to the picture. Similar descriptions are provided for a method and apparatus for decoding the signal the encoded signal. There are provided method and apparatus for local illumination and color compensation without explicit signaling.

Abstract: There are provided method and apparatus for local illumination and color compensation without explicit signaling. An apparatus includes an encoder for encoding a picture by enabling at least one of color compensation and illumination compensation of at least one color component of a prediction for an image block of the picture without using explicit signaling. The method comprises at least the step of enabling the encoding of a picture described above in the apparatus, again without use of explicit signaling. In the description of an specific embodiment, this enabling of the color compensation and the illumination compensation is based on at least one of a group of pixels and a local signal block corresponding to the picture. Similar descriptions are provided for a method and apparatus for decoding the signal the encoded signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for scalable symmetric data compression and decompression (codec), optimized for real-time processing of high-resolution continuous-tone 2D input, such as video and images. Following a dyadic n-level DWT decomposition of input, the coding of subbands is spatially partitioned to enable strong parallelism that maps into concurrent encoding threads, based on typical artifacts of H-bands on initial levels—large areas of contiguous zeros interspersed with sparse and highly redundant non-zero values. Variable length codewords of both non-zero values and their positions are mapped into a linear bitstream by a combined limited sequential and parallel procedure of at most log2 n iterations, with both lossless and lossy variants enabled. The compressed bitstream of self-delimiting entries is decoded in a symmetric iterative procedure that delivers to decoding threads the non-zero values and position codewords for final image restoration.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method for image matting based on a hierarchical graph model, comprises receiving an input image including a plurality of image elements; generating a plurality of matting cells based on the input image, each cell including a group of image elements; calculating affinity values for the plurality of matting cells based on the input image; forming a graph based on the plurality of matting cells and the affinity values, the graph including a plurality of nodes representing the matting cells and a plurality of edges associated with the affinity values of the matting cells; and generating a plurality of matting components for the input image based on the graph.

Abstract: An image processing device determines a first brightness value of a first pre-specified area in proximity to an object mask of an object in a source image and a first average color value of the source image, and determines a second brightness value of a second pre-specified area in proximity to an object mask of the object in a target image and a second average color value of the target image. The brightness value of each pixel of the object in the target image is adjusted based on a ratio of the second brightness value and the first brightness value. A color value of each pixel of an object in the target image is adjusted when a difference value between the first average color value and the second average color value exceeds a threshold color value.

Abstract: Semi-automatic (instant) color image segmentation is performed on an input image for an object located near the point given by the user (e.g., touch screen contact). The size, shape, and the number of colors of the target object which is about (lying around or surrounding) the user-selected point is determined, and determinations made for which region the pixels belong to, either foreground or background. A binary object mask is generated which can be utilized for removing the material surrounding that object, or inverting the mask to remove the material of the object.

Abstract: Enhancing segmentation of objects within an image by utilizing an error cost value. Each error cost value comprises a cost value Cfb if segmentation decides on foreground for an element that should be background, and a cost value Cbf if segmentation decides on background for an element that should be in the foreground. Different areas of an image are estimated and error cost values assigned for a definite foreground (very high Cbf and very low Cfb), a definite background (very high Cfb and very low Cbf), an initial foreground (high Cbf and low Cfb), and an initial background (high Cfb and low Cbf). These error costs are utilized in combination with conventional segmentation decisions to modify those segmentation decisions and thus enhance segmentation accuracy.

Abstract: Methods, devices and computer readable instructions to generate multi-scale tone curves are disclosed. One method includes finding, for a given input image, a global tone curve that exhibits monotonic behavior. The input image may then be partitioned into a first number of sub-regions. For each sub-region, a local tone curve may be determined that has an output level that is constrained to the global tone curve at one or more first luminance levels so that each sub-region's local tone curve's output follows the global tone curve's monotonic behavior. If the resulting local tone curves provide sufficient control of shadow-boost, highlight-suppression, and contrast optimization the first number of local tone curves may be applied directly to the input image. If additional control is needed, each sub-region may again be partitioned and local tone curves determined for each of the new sub-regions.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a prediction unit generates a prediction block to be used for prediction of a coding target block, based on at least one reference block adjacent to the coding target block in the image. Each number of pixels in the coding target block and the prediction block is a power of two. A calculation unit calculates a residual block having residual pixel values between the coding target block and the prediction block. A decision unit decides whether to code the residual block, based on pixel values of at least one of the coding target block, the reference block and the prediction block. A coding unit codes the residual block by variable length coding when the residual block is decided to be coded, and codes a skip flag representing the residual block not being coded when the residual block is not decided to be coded.

Abstract: A method of enhancing the perceived sharpness of an image by controlling a spatial interpolation process. A pixel value spatial gradient measure is formed and used to generate a map of modified pixel positions. In this map, the pixel spacing is reduced when the gradient measure is high. By using this map of modified pixel positions to control an otherwise conventional interpolation process, an output image is formed having a perceived sharpness which is greater than that of the unmodified output of the interpolation process.

Abstract: An image processing device includes a first production part configured to apply a first smoothing process to an original image data by using a first edge-preserving smoothing filter to produce first image data that include a low-frequency image and an edge image, a second production part configured to apply a second smoothing process to a differential image between the original image data and the first image data to produce second image data that include a high-frequency image, and a synthesis part configured to synthesize the first image data and the second image data.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, an information processing device includes: a first division unit divides an image into a text containing region and a background region other than the text containing region; a second division unit divides a text containing region into a character region constituted by lines forming characters and a character background region other than the character region; a calculator calculates a first representative value of an attribute of the character region, a second representative value of the attribute of the character background region, and a third representative value of the attribute of the background region; a modification unit makes modification so that a first difference based on the first and third representative values, a second difference based on the first and second representative values, and a third difference based on the second and third representative values become larger; and an output unit outputs a modified image.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for providing a roof guide, the method including: receiving, via an application on the mobile device of a user, a query related to one or more of a type of a roof and a type of damage to the roof; providing the query to a central server; retrieving, from the central server, at least one first roof image responsive to the query; receiving, via the application on the mobile device of the user, user input of a second roof image of a portion of the roof; and displaying, via the application on the mobile device of the user, the at least one first roof image and the second roof image.

Abstract: An auto-contrast enhancement system includes a human visual system (HVS)-based local difference (LD) histogram unit configured to build a LD histogram with respect to intensity values; a histogram classifier configured to categorize histograms of input images based on distribution properties; and a histogram equalization (HE) unit configured to process the input image according to a result of the HVS-based LD histogram unit and the enhancement level determined in the histogram classifier.

Abstract: An image fusion system and method are provided. The system includes a plurality of cameras configured to generate a plurality of images, respectively, and an image fusion unit configured to fuse the plurality of images into a single image.

Abstract: A method involves using an adaptive wiener filter to generate a veiling estimate for a dark channel prior of each pixel in a single image having a contrast reducing scattering medium therein, where a global noise variance for the image is used to generate the veiling estimate and the global noise variance is naively estimated using all of the pixels in the image. A first contrast enhanced image is generated using a transmission calculated from the veiling estimate. The global noise variance is updated using statistics determined from the first contrast enhanced image, along with a second veiling estimate. A second contrast enhanced image is generated using the updated global noise variance, the second veiling estimate, and the local statistics from the original image.