Abstract: A correspondence-between-images detection method includes the following three basic steps: (1) Error operation step based on block matching: Block matching is executed by making a search for displacement with the difference absolute sum of intensity errors reaching the minimum from within a comparison image with respect to a block of 16×16 pixels in a reference image. (2) Quadratic error function approximation step with differential operator: Assuming that the block matching result forms a curved surface is parabolic, quadratic error function approximation is executed. (3) Nonlinear iteractive minimization step with respect to planar perspective mapping parameter: The quadratic error function sum on the whole screen is found by executing a sequential recursive step of a Newton's method improved for planar perspective mapping parameter.

Abstract: This invention employs probabilistic templates, or p-templates, which probabilistically encode the rough position and extent of the tracked object's image. The p-templates track objects in the scene, one p-template per object. They can be used to incorporate three-dimensional knowledge about the scene, and to reason about occlusion between the objects tracked by the p-templates. This invention requires video capture and digitization hardware, image processing hardware such as a digital signal processor, and a method for estimating the image size of a person standing at a given location in the image.

Abstract: A computer-implemented image processing method and apparatus for combining a plurality of gel electrophoresis images. The method includes the steps of fitting the gel electrophoresis pixel intensity values for a subject pixel to a mathematical function, computing from the mathematical function a pixel intensity value according to a predetermined rule, and inserting the pixel intensity value into the composite image. The apparatus includes an image capturing device, and a computer having a memory and communicating with the image capturing device, the computer capable of receiving and storing into the memory a plurality of gel electrophoresis images from the image capturing device, the computer being further capable of fitting a plurality of intensity values of a pixel to a mathematical function over time and computing an optimal pixel intensity value for use in the composite image.

Abstract: Since images stored in an image database are encoded, they must be decoded to detect their features. For this reason, when the number of test images is large or each image size is large, the search speed lowers. To solve this problem, a shape information generation unit (4) generates query data on the basis of an image shape input by a shape input unit (3). A comparison unit (5) compares the query data with encoded data of an image read out from an image database (1). If similarity between these two data is high, the comparison unit makes a decoder (6) decode the encoded data of the image; if the similarity is low, it requests the input unit (2) to input encoded data of the next image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting encoding parameters in accordance with a perceptual metric derived from analyzing the contents of an image or video being coded. Namely, the perceptual metric is produced by comparing an original image (or image sequence) to a reconstructed image (or image sequence) and processing the comparison results using a quantitative perceptual difference measure. The difference measure results in a perceptual metric representing the “fidelity” of the reconstructed image. The metric is used to control the encoding parameters such that the coding of the image can be iteratively adjusted. Furthermore, the method and apparatus is used to provide an automated steerable image compression system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compressing a digitized image. Boundaries of regions within a digitized image are identified. Shapes are selected from a bank of shapes based on the identified boundaries to represent the regions. Position and size information based on the position and size of the regions within the digitized image are associated with the selected shapes. Values are transmitted indicating the selected shapes and the associated position and size information as a representation of the digitized image.

Abstract: A block based hybrid compression method where the input page is classified as SOLID, TEXT, SATURATED TEXT or IMAGE type, and the compression method most appropriate for each class is chosen on a block by block basis. Blocks classified as IMAGE may be compressed using Parallel Differential Pulse Code Modulation. This method allows the decompression algorithm to decode multiple pixels in parallel, thus making real time decompression significantly easier to implement. The methods shown will execute very efficiently on a Texas Instruments TMS302C82 multiprocessing Digital Signal Processor.

Abstract: A method and system for compression encoding a video signal representative of a plurality of image frames which include a starting frame, an ending frame, and at least one intermediate frame, provides for identifying key points of at least one object in the starting and ending frames. For each object, a mathematical transformation is determined which estimates a representation of the corresponding key points in each intermediate frame by mapping the feature points from the starting frame to the ending frame. The representation of the object in the starting frame and the mathematical transformation are encoded and multiplexed to form an object bit stream. Each object bit stream produced in response to a set of image frames is then multiplexed to form an image bit stream. A signal-to-noise ratio can be scaled by adjusting the number of feature points identified, which in turn allows the compression ratio to be selectively changed.

Abstract: A digital image coding method comprises the steps of: dividing an image into plural regions each having an arbitrary shape, subjecting an image signal of a required region of the plural regions to transformation so that an arbitrary shape of the required region of a boundary between the required region and a region adjacent thereto is-transformed, and compressively coding the image signal of the required region and compressively coding image signals of regions except the required region with-out subjecting them to transformation; generating identifiers for identifying respective regions; generating list information which describes an identifier of a region adjacent to the required region, which is required for restoring the transformed shape to the shape before transformation; and outputting compressively coded data in which the image signals of respective regions have been compressively coded, the identifiers of respective regions, and the list information an a coded image signal.

Abstract: In an image data processing system, an insignificant space estimation unit predicts a significant/insignificant space in a high-frequency subband on the basis of a low-frequency subband signal in a wavelet space. A deletion unit deletes data in the insignificant space which is predicted by the insignificant space estimating unit. Here, the data is contained in the high-frequency subband. An error-estimation detection unit detects presence of significant data in the space predicted to be insignificant by the insignificant space estimation unit. An adding unit adds to output data a significance attribute indicating that significant data exists in the space detected by the error-estimation detection unit.

Abstract: An image data encoding apparatus includes a wavelet transform unit which produces a first subband coefficient and a second subband coefficient as an output in response to each of blocks of the input image data, the first and second subband coefficients being produced by performing a multiple decomposition process in which only the first subband coefficient is further decomposed. A first text transform unit produces an intensity coefficient of a first kind as well as a set of coefficients of a second kind as an output in response to each block, the intensity coefficient including significant bits, and only the intensity coefficient being further decomposed in the first text transform unit. A second text transform unit produces a set of coefficients of the second kind as an output in response to each block, one of the coefficients of the second kind including significant bits but not being further decomposed.

Abstract: New and improved apparatus and methods for video encoding, for example, to efficiently and concurrently encode video data into digital formats, such as Digital Video (DV) format. A pipelined system receives a block of video data and based on the computations and comparisons concurrently performed on the pixels within the block of video data determines which type of transformation is most appropriate for a given block of video data.

Abstract: This invention has as its object to implement efficient encoding in correspondence with the characteristics of an image in an arrangement that can transform an input image into a plurality of frequency bands. To achieve this object, an image processing apparatus has generation means for generating a plurality of sample values representing an image, transforming means for frequency-transforming the plurality of sample values into coefficients of a plurality of frequency bands, encoding means for generating first encoded data by encoding the plurality of sample values, and generating second encoded data by encoding the plurality of coefficients obtained by the transforming means, comparing means for comparing the amounts of the first and second encoded data obtained by encoding of the encoding means, and selection means for outputting one of the first and second encoded data in accordance with the comparison result of the comparing means.

Abstract: Shape information is scalably encoded and decoded by interleaved scan line (ISL) and raster scan line (RSL) methods and the encoded and decoded shape information is used for encoding texture information. The shape information of a chrominance (UV) component is encoded to compensate for the chrominance (UV) component. The encoding method is independently applied to the shape and texture component of each block. A scalable encoder of a still image using wavelets compresses pixels by using the characteristics between ISL pixels in a shape of the layer to be encoded or pixels between two layers in encoding the shape between layers. It is therefore possible to restore the shape and texture at high speed by performing the scalable encoding according to resolution, such as for searching for an image in a database/library. Also, tile coding a large image field to independently restore desired parts is fast and efficient.

Abstract: An image compression and expansion apparatus is provided which changes an appearance value of quantization table of quantizer/inverse-quantizer without actually changing values of quantization table by carrying out calculation for every processing. An image compression and expansion apparatus which compresses and expands image data comprises a quantizer which linearly quantizes a Discrete Cosine Transform coefficient by different step size for every coefficient location, an inverse-quantizer which inverse-quantizes coefficients obtained in Huffman decoding, and a quantization table which is necessary for quantization and inverse-quantization process comprising: a register for setting a necessary value in response to an outside signal; a data processing unit for carrying out an operation between values set into the register and values in the quantization table to carry out quantization and inverse-quantization operation.

Abstract: A sorting device for a variable-length code containing the following parts: a coding part 43 that converts the length value to a first bit column according to its value, a first shifter 44 that converts the first bit column input from said coding part 43 to a second bit column according to the shift parameters, a second shifter 42 that converts the code value to a third bit column according to the shift parameter, and a register 45 that has the second bit column input from said first shifter 44 and the third bit column input from said second shifter 42, and which outputs only the content of the bit at the position of the third bit column corresponding to the position of the bit indicating the prescribed value “1” of the second bit column.

Abstract: In a video signal compression method, compression ratio control signals (K) and a previous sum (Csum) are added (AD1) to generate a new sum, compression control signals (DC, en) are logically generated (CP, CNT) in dependence upon the previous sum (Csum) and the compression ratio control signals (K), and video signals are compressed (D) in dependence upon the compression control signals (DC, en) to generate compressed video signals.

Abstract: An integrative encoding system for encoding and transmitting a plurality of video signals having different resolutions that correspond to a plurality of display units. The integrative encoding system has a compression processor, an editing processor, and an integrated services digital broadcasting (ISDB) transmitter. The compression processor performs adaptive dynamic range coding (ADRC) to compress each of said plurality of video signals on a block basis by reducing the dynamic range. An adaptive decoding system receives and decodes the transmitted plurality of video signals for display by the plurality of display units.

Abstract: A digitized image is encoded by detecting edges in the image, encoding the position and sharpness of the detected edges, filtering the image by a low-pass filter to generate a low-frequency image, and encoding the low-frequency image. A digitized image encoded in this way is reconstructed by generating a horizontal edge image and a vertical edge image from the encoded edge position and sharpness information, synthesizing a pair of high-frequency images by filtering the horizontal and vertical edge images with an edge synthesis filter, decoding the low-frequency image, and performing an inverse wavelet transform on the decoded low-frequency image and the high-frequency images.

Abstract: An image information coding system is disclosed which analyzes an input image and which can make exact image quality control even when the input image has been subjected to coding and decoding in the previous stage. A coded image information decoding unit decodes coded image information and outputs both code attribute information and decoded image information. An image information dividing unit divides the decoded image information into rectangular regions consisting of a predetermined number pixels and outputs divided image information. An image information analyzing unit measures a statistic of the divided image information while making reference to the code attribute information and outputs image quality control information taking coding and decoding conditions in the previous stage into account.