Abstract: For textured digital elevation model generation, a method projects swath point projection coordinates of each lidar point of texel swaths into a corresponding texel swath with normalized projection coordinates. Each texel swath includes lidar points, an optical image, and swath output projection point coordinates of the lidar points into the optical image. The method generates a projection matrix including lidar point data for each lidar point of each texel swath. The method calculates enhanced lidar coordinates for each lidar point as a function of minimizing misregistration errors. In addition, the method creates enhanced output pixel coordinates for each image pixel based on the enhanced lidar coordinates for the lidar points and the associated output pixel coordinates. The method generates a textured digital elevation model based on the enhanced output pixel coordinates for each image pixel, and the enhanced lidar coordinates.

Abstract: For textured digital elevation model generation, a method projects swath point projection coordinates of each lidar point of texel swaths into a corresponding texel swath with normalized projection coordinates. Each texel swath includes lidar points, an optical image, and swath output projection point coordinates of the lidar points into the optical image. The method generates a projection matrix including lidar point data for each lidar point of each texel swath. The method calculates enhanced lidar coordinates for each lidar point as a function of minimizing misregistration errors. In addition, the method creates enhanced output pixel coordinates for each image pixel based on the enhanced lidar coordinates for the lidar points and the associated output pixel coordinates. The method generates a textured digital elevation model based on the enhanced output pixel coordinates for each image pixel, and the enhanced lidar coordinates.

Abstract: A lidar and digital camera system collect data and generate a three-dimensional image. A lidar generates a laser beam to form a lidar shot and to receive a reflected laser beam to provide range data. A digital camera includes an array of pixels to receive optical radiation and provide electro-optical data. An optical bench passes the laser beam, reflected laser beam, and optical radiation and is positioned to align each pixel to known positions within the lidar shot. Pixels are matched to form a lidar point-cloud which is used to generate an image.

Abstract: Methods and systems for encoding, transmitting and decoding digital images by rate-distortion adaptive zerotree-based residual vector quantization are disclosed. A method of the invention includes receiving a digital image, transforming the digital image into the wavelet domain generating a pyramid hierarchy, losslessly encoding a top LL subband from the pyramid hierarchy, encoding other subbands by vector quantization based on a zerotree insignificance prediction, generating an encoded image from the lossless encoding and vector quantization encoding, transmitting the encoded image along a communications channel, receiving the encoded image transmitted along the communications channel, reconstructing a zerotree from the encoded image, vector quantization decoding subbands from the encoded image other than a top LL subband, losslessly decoding the top LL subband from the encoded image, reverse wavelet transforming the top LL subband and the vector quantization decoded subbands and outputting a decoded image.

Abstract: A lidar and digital camera system collect data and generate a three-dimensional image. A lidar generates a laser beam to form a lidar shot and to receive a reflected laser beam to provide range data. A digital camera includes an array of pixels to receive optical radiation and provide electro-optical data. An optical bench passes the laser beam, reflected laser beam, and optical radiation and is positioned to align each pixel to known positions within the lidar shot. Pixels are matched to form a lidar point-cloud which is used to generate an image.

Abstract: Methods and systems for encoding, transmitting and decoding digital images by rate-distortion adaptive zerotree-based residual vector quantization are disclosed. A method of the invention includes receiving a digital image, transforming the digital image into the wavelet domain generating a pyramid hierarchy, losslessly encoding a top LL subband from the pyramid hierarchy, encoding other subbands by vector quantization based on a zerotree insignificance prediction, generating an encoded image from the lossless encoding and vector quantization encoding, transmitting the encoded image along a communications channel, receiving the encoded image transmitted along the communications channel, reconstructing a zerotree from the encoded image, vector quantization decoding subbands from the encoded image other than a top LL subband, losslessly decoding the top LL subband from the encoded image, reverse wavelet transforming the top LL subband and the vector quantization decoded subbands and outputting a decoded image.

Abstract: Methods and systems for encoding, transmitting and decoding digital images by rate-distortion adaptive zerotree-based residual vector quantization are disclosed. A method of the invention includes receiving a digital image, transforming the digital image into the wavelet domain generating a pyramid hierarchy, losslessly encoding a top LL subband from the pyramid hierarchy, encoding other subbands by vector quantization based on a zerotree insignificance prediction, generating an encoded image from the lossless encoding and vector quantization encoding, transmitting the encoded image along a communications channel, receiving the encoded image transmitted along the communications channel, reconstructing a zerotree from the encoded image, vector quantization decoding subbands from the encoded image other than a top LL subband, losslessly decoding the top LL subband from the encoded image, reverse wavelet transforming the top LL subband and the vector quantization decoded subbands and outputting a decoded image.

Abstract: Methods and systems for encoding, transmitting and decoding digital images by rate-distortion adaptive zerotree-based residual vector quantization are disclosed. A method of the invention includes receiving a digital image, transforming the digital image into the wavelet domain generating a pyramid hierarchy, losslessly encoding a top LL subband from the pyramid hierarchy, encoding other subbands by vector quantization based on a zerotree insignificance prediction, generating an encoded image from the lossless encoding and vector quantization encoding, transmitting the encoded image along a communications channel, receiving the encoded image transmitted along the communications channel, reconstructing a zerotree from the encoded image, vector quantization decoding subbands from the encoded image other than a top LL subband, losslessly decoding the top LL subband from the encoded image, reverse wavelet transforming the top LL subband and the vector quantization decoded subbands and outputting a decoded image.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for allocating bits for representing blocks that are transmitted in an image compression system. In a preferred embodiment, a video telephone communications system includes a video transmitting/receiving (transceiving) system including local and remote processing systems separated by a communications link. The local processing system determines indices to be sent to a remote processing system to represent the image. Under one aspect of the invention, the local processing system determines an optimal bit allocation in which the following relationship may be minimized DR=D+.lambda.R, where D is the total distortion .SIGMA.d.sub.i for a frame; .lambda. is a value determined as described below; R=.SIGMA.r.sub.i .apprxeq.R.sub.d which is the desired total number of bits for the frame. The optimal bit allocation may determine .lambda. for an entire frame. Under other aspects of the invention a lambda feedback technique, with or without predecision, may be used.

Abstract: Apparatus for compressing data is disclosed in which input data is compressed by a vector quantization process and decoded by the vector quantization process. The input data and the decoded input data are compared and a difference signal as produced. A portion of the difference signal is preferably losslessly compressed and transmitted with the vector quantized input signal to a decoder over a communication channel. The decoder decodes the vector quantized portion of the signal and the compressed difference signal for reconstructing the input signal with an error which is less than that which would result from uncompensated vector quantization.