Abstract: An information terminal that can perform image processing in consonance with the use state and the use purpose. When a retrial module is started, removal means removes part or all of the interpolation processing performed for a Bayer-type module. Thereafter, data obtained by the removal are transmitted to color interpolation means, another color interpolation process is performed for the data, and the resultant data are transmitted to image quality correction means. The image quality correction means performs another image quality correction process for the data, and transmits the obtained data to JPEG encoding means.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding (622) digital image data wherein a region of interest (606) can be specified either before the encoding process has begun or during the encoding process, such that the priority (616) of the encoder outputs are modified so as to place more emphasis on the region of interest, therefore increasing the speed and/or increasing the fidelity of the reconstructed region of interest. The system, therefore, enables more effective reconstruction of digital images over communication lines.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for processing pieces of color image data each including a plurality of sub-pieces of color image data pertaining to the plurality of color components respectively comprises: initial color image inputting means; data dividing means responsive to the initial color image data for dividing it in respect of color components and for providing pieces of mono-color image data each corresponding to one of the sub-pieces of color image data of the piece of initial color image data, the number of the pieces of mono-color image data being equal to or larger than the number of the color components; data processing means for effecting a predetermined processing on each piece of mono-color image data to provide secondary image data; and secondary image data outputting means.

Abstract: A method for carrying out a step of extracting a portion of a predetermined size from the image data, and a step of preparing a predetermined number of compressed partial data compressed with different compression parameter values by repeating preparation of compressed partial data by compressing the partial data in predetermined format for the predetermined number of times with the compression parameter value used in the predetermined format changed for each compression, on the entire image data. The method also calculates the total of the data sizes of all of the compressed partial data compressed with the same compression parameter value for each of the compression parameter values and prepares the compressed image data file from compressed partial data compressed with a compression parameter value for which the total is not larger than a given threshold and which is the closest value to the threshold.

Abstract: A method of inserting an object into an image, the method comprising the steps of assessing the homogeneity of the image; identifying one or more areas of the image having similar homogeneity according to the assessed homogeneity; and selecting a homogeneous area in which to insert the object.

Abstract: This device includes an image data creator that creates a first type of image data for test shooting and creating a second type of image data for real shooting; a compressor that compresses the image data in a predetermined compression format; and a processor; wherein the compressor has one or plural compression parameters relating to a compression rate; the creator newly supplies files of the first type to the compressor one after another; the compressor compresses at least two files among the continuously supplied first type using values of compression parameters; the processor decides the value of the compression parameter to be used for the second type according to a predetermined standard, based on two and more files of first type image data that are compressed using values of compression parameters; and the processor sets the value of the compression parameter of the compressor at the decided value.

Abstract: A camera module compresses image data and produces a thumbnail image of this image data in FIFO order (First In First Out) by several lines of the image so as to enable transmission of the image data to the host module while significantly decreasing the size of the frame buffer memory. This can be achieved by, for example, an electronic device, including: a camera module, which transmits the data acquired by photographing; and a host module, which receives the data; wherein the camera module alternately transmits a compressed small portion including the data made by compressing the small portion of the image data for one frame and a sub small portion including the data with the resolution of the small portion reduced.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding digital image data wherein region of interest can be specified either before the encoding process has begun or during the encoding process (127), such that the priority of the encoder outputs are modified so as to place more emphasis on the region of interest, therefore increasing the speed and/or increasing the fidelity of the reconstructed region of interest. The system, therefore, enables more effective reconstruction of digital images over communication lines (128).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding (622) digital image data wherein a region of interest (606) can be specified either before the encoding process has begun or during the encoding process, such that the priority (616) of the encoder outputs are modified so as to place more emphasis on the region of interest, therefore increasing the speed and/or increasing the fidelity of the reconstructed region of interest. The system, therefore, enables more effective reconstruction of digital images over communication lines.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding digital image data wherein region of interest can be specified either before the encoding process has begun or during the encoding process (127), such that the priority of the encoder outputs are modified so as to place more emphasis on the region of interest, therefore increasing the speed and/or increasing the fidelity of the reconstructed region of interest. The system, therefore, enables more effective reconstruction of digital images over communication lines (128).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding (622) digital image data wherein a region of interest (606) can be specified either before the encoding process has begun or during the encoding process, such that the priority (616) of the encoder outputs are modified so as to place more emphasis on the region of interest, therefore increasing the speed and/or increasing the fidelity of the reconstructed region of interest. The system, therefore, enables more effective reconstruction of digital images over communication lines.

Abstract: A method for carrying out a step of extracting a portion of a predetermined size from the image data, and a step of preparing a predetermined number of compressed partial data compressed with different compression parameter values by repeating preparation of compressed partial data by compressing the partial data in predetermined format for the predetermined number of times with the compression parameter value used in the predetermined format changed for each compression, on the entire image data. The method also calculates the total of the data sizes of all of the compressed partial data compressed with the same compression parameter value for each of the compression parameter values and prepares the compressed image data file from compressed partial data compressed with a compression parameter value for which the total is not larger than a given threshold and which is the closest value to the threshold.

Abstract: This device includes an image data creator that creates a first type of image data for test shooting and creating a second type of image data for real shooting; a compressor that compresses the image data in a predetermined compression format; and a processor; wherein the compressor has one or plural compression parameters relating to a compression rate; the creator newly supplies files of the first type to the compressor one after another; the compressor compresses at least two files among the continuously supplied first type using values of compression parameters; the processor decides the value of the compression parameter to be used for the second type according to a predetermined standard, based on two and more files of first type image data that are compressed using values of compression parameters; and the processor sets the value of the compression parameter of the compressor at the decided value.

Abstract: A method of inserting an object into an image, the method comprising the steps of assessing the homogeneity of the image; identifying one or more areas of the image having similar homogeneity according to the assessed homogeneity; and selecting a homogeneous area in which to insert the object.

Abstract: A camera module compresses image data and produces a thumbnail image of this image data in FIFO order (First In First Out) by several lines of the image so as to enable transmission of the image data to the host module while significantly decreasing the size of the frame buffer memory. This can be achieved by, for example, an electronic device, including: a camera module, which transmits the data acquired by photographing; and a host module, which receives the data; wherein the camera module alternately transmits a compressed small portion including the data made by compressing the small portion of the image data for one frame and a sub small portion including the data with the resolution of the small portion reduced.

Abstract: An information terminal that can perform image processing in consonance with the use state and the use purpose. When a retrial module is started, removal means removes part or all of the interpolation processing performed for a Bayer-type module. Thereafter, data obtained by the removal are transmitted to color interpolation means, another color interpolation process is performed for the data, and the resultant data are transmitted to image quality correction means. The image quality correction means performs another image quality correction process for the data, and transmits the obtained data to JPEG encoding means.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for synthesizing a plurality of data that is in compressed format. According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of creating a synthesized data by synthesizing a plurality of source data that is in compressed format, the method including the steps of: extracting a portion of one of the plurality of source data; decompressing the extracted portion to create a decompressed data portion; and synthesizing two or more of the decompressed data portions derived from different said source data to create a part of said synthesized data. The extracting, decompressing and synthesizing step will be repeated until the creation of said synthesized data being completed.

Abstract: An image data compression unit and a decompression unit are offered which are capable of sending and receiving image data with a smaller amount of information. Also, programs for compressing and decompressing image data are offered. With respect to plural single-component image data sets regarding colors that can be obtained by sampling image data about a given region, the image data compression unit divides at least one of the plural single-component image data sets into plural single-component image data sets, converts the plural single-component image data sets into a greater number of single-component image data sets, and then performs compression. Compressed image data obtained by such compression is decompressed, producing plural single-component image data sets. These data sets are combined into one to convert the data sets greater in number than the plural single-component image data sets into the plural single-component image data sets, and then decompression is performed.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for processing pieces of color image data each including a plurality of sub-pieces of color image data pertaining to the plurality of color components respectively comprises: initial color image inputting means; data dividing means responsive to the initial color image data for dividing it in respect of color components and for providing pieces of mono-color image data each corresponding to one of the sub-pieces of color image data of the piece of initial color image data, the number of the pieces of mono-color image data being equal to or larger than the number of the color components; data processing means for effecting a predetermined processing on each piece of mono-color image data to provide secondary image data; and secondary image data outputting means.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding digital image data wherein region of interest can be specified either before the encoding process has begun or during the encoding process (127), such that the priority of the encoder outputs are modified so as to place more emphasis on the region of interest, therefore increasing the speed and/or increasing the fidelity of the reconstructed region of interest. The system, therefore, enables more effective reconstruction of digital images over communication lines (128).