Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for converting a noncausal, two dimensional signal representative of a digitized image into an equivalent data format that can be filtered by recursive filters. The first step is to estimate an optimal set of parameters by: generating data representative of a potential matrix which represents the signal for a given set of parameters; filtering the potential matrix to arrive at a statistically equivalent recursive data format; inputting white noise to the recursive data format to generate k samples of the signal; obtaining an average value for the correlation {.chi..sub..tau. }; generating data representative of a gradient of a likelihood function; using that data to minimize the likelihood function; comparing the arrived at set of parameters to a previously arrived at set of parameters to determine whether the difference therebetween is within a desired tolerance; and repeating the previous steps until an optimal set of parameters is estimated.