Abstract: In uniform superposition of two predictions toward a weighted superposition, such as in coding B frames, weighting is based on reliability of a reference picture used for determination of the prediction. Since there is a relationship between the reliability and the respective quantization parameter, coupling to the quantization parameter that is also known in the receiver also can be effected advantageously.

Abstract: The method and apparatus have a shape-adapted transformation coding is in which in the intra-image coding and the inter-image coding different shape-adapted transformation codings are carried out. A first shape-adapted transformation coding takes place in the intra-image coding, and a second shape-adapted transformation coding, different from the first shape-adapted image coding, takes place in the inter-image coding.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are proposed for the signal extrapolation of brightness values and/or color values of pixels of a first image segment onto pixels of a second image segment, which may each have any desired shape. The extrapolation is carried out in such a way (202) that a signal profile of the brightness values and/or of the color values of the pixels of the second image segment is smoothed (203) and that the signal profile of the brightness values and/or the color values of the pixels of the second image segment is adapted (204) to the brightness values and/or to the color values of the pixels of the first image segment in a boundary region between the first image segment and the second image segment.

Abstract: In the transmission of moving images in accordance with an MPEG, H.261, or H.263 standard, a region that satisfies a predetermined criterion of the image that is to be transmitted is coded with a higher image quality than the rest of the image. The region satisfies the criterion when it has a predetermined color, preferably a color similar to human skin. The higher image quality of the region that satisfies the criterion is guaranteed by a lower quantization value, a higher topical resolution, or a higher repetition rate.

Abstract: Digitized pictures are subjected to shape-adaptive transformation coding and a inverse, shaped transformation coding. The signal energy of the coding information of the pixels to be transformed is, in the local area, approximately identical to the signal energy of the coding information of the transformed pixels in the frequency domain.

Abstract: A method for coding a digitized picture includes the steps of providing a picture having a picture object with associated object pixels located in the picture object, dividing the picture at least partly into picture blocks, determining the picture object in the picture, determining at least one object picture block, the at least one object picture block being at least one picture block with at least one object pixel, performing the step of determining the at least one object picture block such that a relative position of an edge of an object picture block of the picture in relation to the picture corresponds to a relative position of an edge of an object picture block of a chronologically preceding picture in relation to the chronologically preceding picture, and coding the picture by using the at least one object picture block. A method for decoding a coded digitized picture as well as configurations for coding and decoding digitized pictures are also provided.

Abstract: In a method for image encoding of a digitalized image, in a method for image decoding of a digitalized image, and in an arrangement for the implementation of the methods, both in motion estimating as well as in motion compensation, a padding is implemented only for picture elements of an object edge image block that are located within an image object. No padding is implemented for other picture elements located outside the image object.

Abstract: Brightness values of picture elements of an image segment are subjected to a conformal imaging, so that the brightness values of the picture elements that are located at an edge of the image segment are imaged onto picture elements of an edge of a target image segment having a prescribable shape. Interpolation of the brightness values is undertaken between the imaged brightness values of the target image segment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enhancing decoded images which have been encoded checks the neighboring picture elements of a picture element which are located in the region of the picture element to see whether the brightness values and/or the color values of the neighboring picture elements is similar enough to brightness values and/or color values of the picture element in question according to a similarity criterion such as a threshold. When the similarity is within the threshold, then the corresponding neighboring picture element is taken into consideration in determining a new brightness value for the picture element in question. Neighboring picture elements are taken into consideration when the neighboring picture element and the picture element are located in different image blocks of the image which has been decoded from a block-based encoding process.

Abstract: In a method for forming an image transformation matrix for an arbitrarily shaped image segment of a digital image with a computer, a prescribable scan sequence is determined for the picture elements of an image segment of the digital image, a covariance matrix for the picture elements is determined on the basis of this scan sequence. An image transformation matrix is derived from the covariance matrix on the basis of the eigenvectors of the covariance matrix.