Abstract: An image processing apparatus which converts input image data into a designated color, the apparatus comprises a designation unit which accepts a designated color from a user; a holding unit which holds a representation color of a block, a color layout of pixels included in the block, and an other color contained in the block except for the representation color, the block being generated by compression and including a predetermined number of pixels that form the image data; and a color conversion unit which mono-colorizes the block into the designated color by converting at least one of the representation color and the other color into the designated color designated with the designation unit in accordance with the color layout.

Abstract: A processing device receives a first set of image data comprising one or more chroma channels and a luma channel. The processing device reduces the resolution of the one or more chroma channels to produce one or more reduced-resolution chroma channels. The processing device arranges the luma channel and the one or more reduced-resolution chroma channels into a second set of image data. The spatial coordinates of the luma channel and the one or more reduced-resolution chroma channels do not overlap in spatial location of the second set of image data. The processing device transmits the second set of image data to a downstream device.

Abstract: Inter-color image prediction is based on color grading modeling. Prediction is applied to the efficient coding of images and video signals of high dynamic range. Prediction models may include a color transformation matrix that models hue and saturation color changes and a non-linear function modeling color correction changes. Under the assumption that the color grading process uses a slope, offset, and power (SOP) operations, an example non linear prediction model is presented.

Abstract: Embodiments herein provide for a pre-processing stage or mechanism for enhancing data compression of an image by splitting or separating the color channels for pixels into planar data sources. Typically, image data is displayed as an interleaved set of channel types for a color space such that each pixel within an image (such as a bitmap) has one component for each color channel. By separating the interleaved bitmap into a planar representation, each plane can be compressed independently and often times achieve higher compression ratios. This is especially true for channels that are expected to stay fairly constant throughout the bitmap most of the time. The utilization of the above embodiment can be further enhanced through manipulation of channel data or through converting the color space from one form to another.

Abstract: An image dynamic range compression with local contrast enhancement method for an image processing device is provided. The method includes the following steps. A plurality of input pixels of an image including a first input pixel are received, and an input luminance pixel value of each of the input pixels as well as a darkness intensity level of the image are obtained. A filter result of the first input pixel is obtained according to filter computation on the input luminance pixel values; an image-related parameter is obtained according to image-related computation on the darkness intensity level. The image-related parameter, the filter result of the first input pixel, and the input luminance pixel value of the first input pixel are transformed into an output luminance pixel value of the first input pixel according to a non-linear intensity transfer function and a dynamic range compression with local contrast enhancement algorithm.

Abstract: Pixel-based prediction patterns for YUV and RGB data for compression of digital images are described herein. The prediction patterns contain eight directional predictions (right right up, right up, right up up, up, left up up, left up, left left up and left) and one non-directional (DC) prediction. Prediction for each color component is performed using samples only from the same color component but at a different position. DC prediction corresponds to averaging 4 or 8 pixels in the previous line of the current sample.

Abstract: An image encoding method includes at least following steps: receiving a plurality of target pixels within a frame, wherein pixel data of each target pixel has at least one color channel data corresponding to at least one color channel; determining a bit budget of the target pixels; and performing bit-plane scanning coding upon selected pixels according to the bit budget and a scanning order, and accordingly generating encoded pixel data of the selected pixels as encoded data of the target pixels, wherein the selected pixels are derived from the target pixels, and the bit-plane scanning coding extracts partial bits of pixel data of each selected pixel as encoded pixel data of the selected pixel. In addition, a corresponding image decoding method is provided.

Abstract: A document image processing system includes an extraction portion, an estimation portion, a calculation portion, a substitution portion, and a generation portion. The extraction portion extracts first and second document elements of an inputted document image and a preprint data. The estimation portion estimates first and second representative colors due to first and second document elements in a color space, respectively. The calculation portion calculates first and second planes to separate the color space into first and second sub-spaces which each includes each of the first and second representative colors, respectively. The substitution portion substitutes a color of a first pixel of the first document elements with the first representative color and a color of a second pixel of the second document elements with the second representative color. The generation portion subtracts each of the substituted first pixel from each of the substituted second pixel to generate a difference image.

Abstract: A system and method provides video data and its corresponding alpha channel data using a single stream or file, compressed using the same format and decompression algorithm for each of the video data and the alpha channel data.

Abstract: The blocking unit generates first block property data having a first value if all pixels in the block image do not have a color of the color plane, and generates first block property data having a second value if at least one pixel in the block image has the color. The gamma correction unit performs gamma correction for the block image having the second value and does not perform gamma correction for the block image having the first value. The screen process unit generates a block dot image by performing a screen process for the block image after the gamma correction. The toner adhesion amount calculating unit identifies values of the first block property data of block images adjacent to an objective block image, and identifies the toner adhesion amount of the object block as a value changed correspondingly to the identified values of the first block property data.

Abstract: A fluoroscopy apparatus including: an illumination unit having a light source radiating illumination light and excitation light onto an observation target, a fluorescence-imaging unit acquiring a fluorescence image by imaging fluorescence generated at the observation target by the excitation light, a white-light-imaging unit acquiring a reference image by imaging light returning from the observation target by the illumination light, and an image-correction unit obtaining a correction fluorescence image by raising the luminance value of the fluorescence image to the power of a reciprocal of a first and second exponent obtained by a power approximation of a distance characteristic of luminance versus observation distance, for the fluorescence image, and that obtains a corrected fluorescence image by dividing the correction fluorescence image by the correction reference image.

Abstract: An encoding method generates an encoded image according to a predetermined encoding format. The method includes the step of, for each block of pixels, determining an average color of colors of the block of pixels in the predetermined color space; selecting at least one luminance line in dependence on an offset in the color space of the average color from the at least one luminance line; identifying a set of candidate base colors lying on the at least one luminance line; and determining, using the set of candidate base colors and the luminance offset values, the set of encoded pixel colors. The base color and the set of luminance offsets are selected in dependence on an encoding error indicative of a sum distance in the color space between the set of encoded pixel colors and the colors of the block of pixels.

Abstract: A machine may be configured to process an uncompressed image to obtain a set of intermediate images, which may be alternatively known as working images or temporary images. Such a set of intermediate images may be used as input for an image compression algorithm that, when executed by the machine or other compression engine, outputs a compressed version of the uncompressed image. For example, a compression format called “PVRTC,” which may be used on certain portable devices, accepts a set of three intermediate images as input, specifically, one full resolution, low precision version of the original uncompressed image, plus two low resolution, low frequency color versions of the original uncompressed image. A set of intermediate images for such a compression format may be generated by the machine from the original uncompressed image.

Abstract: A system implements multiple coding formats for coding pixels within a picture. The formats may be selected based on one or more of the input picture and encoding variables. The coding formats may have varying chroma sampling densities. Filtering may be applied to convert among the various formats or to convert a sampled input to a specific chroma sampling density. The format associated with various groups within a coded bitstream may be changed to adapt to evolution of the one or more variables or inputs.

Abstract: A pixel block is compressed by providing a respective color component prediction for each pixel in the block. A difference between color components of two neighboring pixels is calculated and compared to a threshold. If the difference is smaller than the threshold, the prediction is calculated based on a first linear combination of the color components of these two neighboring pixels. However, if the difference exceeds the threshold, a second or third linear combination of the color components of the neighboring pixels is employed in the prediction. A guiding bit associated with the selected linear combination may be used. A prediction error is calculated based on the color component of the pixel and the provided prediction. The compressed block comprises an encoded representation of the prediction error and any guiding bit.

Abstract: A mode coding unit for an image compression device includes a submode determination unit, a variable bit determination unit, and a coding unit. The submode determination unit is configured to determine a submode of an image block. The submode indicates a matching degree between an upper bit of the image block and an upper bit of a reference block. The variable bit determination unit is configured to determine a size of primary color compression information fields corresponding to primary colors in a reference pixel in the image block based on a relational size of color information of the primary colors. The coding unit is configured to generate compressed image data by coding the image block based on the submode and the size of the primary color compression information fields.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image encode controller includes a chroma component adjuster, a difference generator, a quantizer, an inverse-quantizer, and a variable codeword length encoder. The chroma component adjuster adjusts an original color component in accordance with a quantization coefficient to generate an adjusted chroma component. The difference generator generates a difference pixel component. The quantizer quantizes an output of the difference generator based on the quantization coefficient. The inverse-quantizer inversely quantizes an output of the quantizer based on the quantization coefficient. The variable codeword length encoder performs variable codeword length encoding with respect to an output of the quantizer to generate encoded data.

Abstract: In an image data processing apparatus, a conversion unit generates first image data of a first image format and second image data of a second image format and supplies the first and second image data on a time division basis with respect to each image taken by using an image sensor. An operating unit acquires the first and second image data produced on a time division basis from the conversion unit, performs a process for displaying the taken image on a display device by using the first image data, and performs a process for storing the taken image in a storage device by using the second image data.

Abstract: A method for processing pixels in rasterized image data includes a combination of text and photographic content. Each pixel having a discrete color value, a surround value based on the number of neighboring pixels having the same color value is determined. A division in blocks of two by two pixels is made and a critical number is determined based on the number of surround values lower than a predetermined threshold. This critical number has one of five possible values. Based on this critical number, a discrimination is made between noisy blocks, and flat blocks. The color values of pixels within a noisy block are replaced by an average of the color values of the pixels within the noisy block. For image data rasterized with 600 pixels per inch, this method does not deteriorate the image quality of text nor photographic content. The image data are more apt for lossless compression.

Abstract: A method is disclosed. The method includes analyzing each tile of a sheetside image to determine if one or more color values of a tile exceeds a predetermined maximum value.

Abstract: The techniques introduced here include a system and method for transcoding multimedia content based on the results of content analysis. The determination of specific transcoding parameters, used for transcoding multimedia content, can be performed by utilizing the results of content analysis of the multimedia content. One of the results of the content analysis is the determination of image type of any images included in the multimedia content. The content analysis uses one or more of several techniques, including analyzing content metadata, examining colors of contiguous pixels in the content, using histogram analysis, using compression distortion analysis, analyzing image edges, or examining user provided inputs. Transcoding the multimedia content can include adapting the content to the constraints in delivery and display, processing and storage of user computing devices.

Abstract: An encoder may implement an indexed color history that stores color values for previously encoded pixels. The encoder may obtain a current pixel or current group of pixels for encoding and determine whether to encode the current pixel using the indexed color history. In doing so, the encoder may compare a color value of the current pixel with color values of the previously coded pixels to determine whether the current pixel is sufficiently similar to a previously coded pixel color value, e.g., by satisfying one or more similarity criteria. When the similarity criteria are satisfied, the encoder may encode the current pixel as an index value referencing the entry in the indexed color history storing a color value that satisfies the similarity criteria. When the similarity criteria are not satisfied, the encoder may encode the current pixel using another encoding method or technique.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a representative color calculation unit, a color displacement calculation unit, and a similarity calculation unit. The representative color calculation unit calculates a representative color which is representative of colors in a first region having a predetermined size in an image. The color displacement calculation unit calculates, as a color displacement, a difference between the representative color calculated by the representative color calculation unit and a color in a target second region in the first region. The similarity calculation unit calculates similarity between the color displacement calculated by the color displacement calculation unit and a predetermined color displacement in an information image representing information embedded in the image.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method and apparatus for block based image compression with multiple non-uniform block encodings. In one embodiment, an image is divided into blocks of pixels. In one embodiment the blocks are four pixels by four pixels, but other block sizes are used in other embodiments. In one embodiment, a block of pixels in the original image is compressed using two different methods to produce a first and second compressed block. Thus, each block in the original image is represented by two, typically different, compressed blocks. In one embodiment, color associated with a pixel is determined by combining the compressed information about the pixel in the first compressed block with information about the pixel in the second compressed block. In another embodiment, global information about the image is combined with the information in the first and second compressed blocks.

Abstract: To reduce artifacts caused by quantization errors in image compression systems, an offset is added to quantized samples at low frequency sections of a macroblock. A decoder uses the offset after decoding to bring the decoded sample closer to the original pre-encoded and pre-quantized sample, thereby compensating for quantization errors.

Abstract: A content compression/compression system and method are disclosed in which a pre-processing step is performed before any compression and a post-processing step is performed once a compressed piece of content is decompressed.

Abstract: A method of processing digital images by transforming a set of pixels from a three-dimensional space to a normalized two-dimensional space, determining a membership class and membership class level of each pixel in the set of pixels, and selectively modifying colors of pixels in the set of pixels based on the determined membership classes and membership class levels.

Abstract: Inter-color image prediction is based on multi-channel multiple regression (MMR) models. Image prediction is applied to the efficient coding of images and video signals of high dynamic range. MMR models may include first order parameters, second order parameters, and cross-pixel parameters. MMR models using extension parameters incorporating neighbor pixel relations are also presented. Using minimum means-square error criteria, closed form solutions for the prediction parameters are presented for a variety of MMR models.

Abstract: The present invention provides a facial image display apparatus that can display moving images concentrated on the face when images of people's faces are displayed. A facial image display apparatus is provided wherein a facial area detecting unit (21) detects facial areas in which faces are displayed from within a target image for displaying a plurality of faces; a dynamic extraction area creating unit (22) creates, based on the facial areas detected by the facial area detecting means, a dynamic extraction area of which at least one of position and surface area varies over time in the target image; and a moving image output unit (27) sequentially extracts images in the dynamic extraction area and outputs the extracted images as a moving image.

Abstract: An m×n pixel cell may be obtained from an input image, each of the pixels having a respective color value. A characterization of the cell may be determined, including determining a lowest color value and a highest color value of the pixels cell. A difference between the highest color value and the lowest color value may be calculated. If the difference is less than or equal to a threshold difference, an output color value inclusively between the highest color value and the lowest color value may be selected, and a first representation of the output color value may be written to an output medium. If the difference is greater than the threshold difference, multiple output color values may be selected, and a second representation of the multiple output color values may be written to the output medium.

Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for compressing image data using mixed mode compression schemes. A mixed mode compression scheme can reduce the amount of data stored in a frame buffer to reduce power costs of an image display system. In some implementations, mixed mode compression can be suitable for compression of pixel blocks having one or two color channels exhibiting a relatively low variation in pixel intensity with the remaining channel or channels exhibiting a relatively high variation. The pixel values in each color channel of an RGB or YCoCg image can be analyzed to determine how many channels are a smooth component and how many channels are a variant component, and mixed mode compression can be selected and implemented based on the color channel analysis to adaptively and individually compress the color channels.

Abstract: A scalable video bitstream may have an H.264/AVC compatible base layer and a scalable enhancement layer, where scalability refers to color bit-depth. According to the invention, BL information is bit-depth upsampled using separate look-up tables for inverse tone mapping on two or more hierarchy levels, such as picture level, slice level or MB level. The look-up tables are differentially encoded and included in header information. Bit-depth upsampling is a process that increases the number of values that each pixel can have, corresponding to the pixels color intensity. The upsampled base layer data are used to predict the collocated enhancement layer, based on said look-up tables. The upsampling is done at the encoder side and in the same manner at the decoder side, wherein the upsampling may refer to temporal, spatial and bit depth characteristics. Thus, the bit-depth upsampling is compatible with texture upsampling.

Abstract: An apparatus usable in an image encoding and/or decoding system includes a segmentation unit to convert a first image of a first resolution into a second image of a second resolution, to segment the second image of the second resolution with one or more blocks of a binary mask layer having a foreground and a background, and to convert the segmented second image into a third image of a third resolution as a segmented image.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method encoding a video stream having a plurality of frames, each frame having a plurality of blocks is disclosed. The method can include selecting a current block from a current frame of the plurality of frames, the current block being in at least one of a top row or a left column of the current frame, determining one or more assumed values based on a prediction mode of the current block, creating a residual block using the current block, prediction mode of the current block, and the one or more determined assumed values, and encoding the current block using the residual block.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image compression method, comprising: determining non-edge portions of an image to be compressed by performing an image edge detection on the image to be compressed; dividing each of non-edge portions into a plurality of connected domains of pixels according to color similarity of the pixels in the non-edge portion, wherein each of the connected domains of pixels is composed of a pixel selected during the division into the connected domains of pixels and the pixels similar in color to and continuously adjacent to the selected pixel; setting the color of each of the connected domains of pixels to be the color of the selected pixel; merging the colors of a plurality of divided connected domains of pixels according to similarity of the colors of the connected domains of pixels; and compressing the image to be compressed by using the merged colors.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for encoding and decoding an image are provided. The image decoding method includes decoding luma blocks according to a predetermined decoding mode of each of the luma blocks, and decoding chroma blocks according to the predetermined decoding mode of each of the luma blocks.

Abstract: Image data systems and methods combine a plurality of images into a single multiple-palette image data file, or generate a selected image from the multiple-palette image data file. An exemplary embodiment receives first pixel information for a first pixel of a first image, the first pixel having a first color; receives second pixel information for a like-located second pixel of a second image, the second pixel having a second color; and specifies a color palette location value that identifies a first color palette array element in a first color palette of the first image and identifies a second like-located color palette array element in a second color palette of the second image. First color information stored in the first color palette array element defines the first pixel color. Second color information stored in the second image data color palette array element defines the second pixel color.

Abstract: A method is described to greatly improve the efficiency of and reduce the complexity of image compression when using single-sensor color imagers for video acquisition. The method in addition allows for this new image compression type to be compatible with existing video processing tools, improving the workflow for film and television production.

Abstract: A method of auto-determination a three-dimensional image format includes a processor receiving an image signal; the processor capturing a plurality of frames from the image signal; the processor determining whether a red sub-pixel gray-level, a green sub-pixel gray-level, and a blue sub-pixel gray-level of each pixel of a right half side of each frame of the plurality of frames are the same; and the processor determining that the image signal has a two-dimensional image plus depth information three-dimensional image format when the red sub-pixel gray-level, the green sub-pixel gray-level, and the blue sub-pixel gray-level of the pixel are the same.

Abstract: Signals are provided which allow colors in a wider color range than predetermined standards, which can be handled by apparatus according to such predetermined standards. A primary color converter converts first color signals having primary color points in a wider color range than the primary color points according to BT.709 into second color signals based on the primary colors according to BT.709. A photoelectric transducer converts the second color signals into third color signals according to photoelectric transducer characteristics defined in a numerical range wider than a range from 0 to 1.0 of color signals corresponding to a luminance signal and color difference signals according to BT.709. A color signal converter converts the third color signals into a luminance signal and color difference signals. A corrector incorporated in the color signal converter corrects the color difference signals into color difference signals.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods, devices, software, and systems for identifying a person based on relatively permanent pigmented or vascular skin mark (RPPVSM) patterns in images. Locations of RPPVSMs in different images of people are point matched, and a correspondence probability that the point matched RPPVSMs are from different people is calculated. Other embodiments are also described. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide image compression based on parameter-assisted inpainting. In one implementation of an encoder, an image is partitioned into blocks and the blocks classified as smooth or unsmooth, based on the degree of visual edge content and chromatic variation in each block. Image content of the unsmooth blocks is compressed, while image content of the smooth blocks is summarized by parameters, but not compressed. The parameters, once obtained, may also be compressed. At a decoder, the compressed image content of the unsmooth blocks and the compressed parameters of the smooth blocks are each decompressed. Each smooth block is then reconstructed by inpainting, guided by the parameters in order to impart visual detail from the original image that cannot be implied from the image content of neighboring blocks that have been decoded.

Abstract: A method of fixed bit-rate image compression/decompression based on 2×2 image unit encodes an image that is divided into a plurality of 2×2 coding units. The method determines whether a 2×2 coding unit has one of first to seven man-made patterns. When the 2×2 coding unit has one of the first to seven man-made patterns, a differential error encoding and a quantization and look-up are performed on the 2×2 coding unit for generating a first coded data. Otherwise, the 2×2 coding unit is a natural pattern, and the method sequentially performs a color domain transform, a discrete cosine transform, and a quantization and look-up on the 2×2 coding unit for generating a second coded data.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention may provide a apparatus and method for compressing image data by dividing the data into color components data streams, taking the differences between successive pixels in the data streams, and coding these differences into a compressed data stream using a Huffman coding scheme. The compressed data may be transmitted to a decompressor over an interface. The decompressor may divide the compressed data stream back into color component data streams and decompress the pixels by adding the coded differences to reference values corresponding to previously decompressed pixels of the same color component to generate successive pixels of that color component. Merge registers may then recombined the decompressed data into the original image data. According to embodiments of the present invention, the compression/decompression process may be lossless.

Abstract: A method, in one embodiment, can include performing difference transformation of image samples. In addition, the method can also include performing length selection. Furthermore; the method can include performing packing that includes utilizing varying sized bit fields to produce a compressed representation.

Abstract: A system, medium, and method compressing and/or restoring images. Such a data compression method may include selecting a mode from among a plurality of modes for compressing current data, according to predetermined criteria, and calculating a difference between the current data and reference data, according to the selected mode, and compressing the current data, or truncating a part of the current data and compressing the current data. Accordingly, it is possible to significantly lower the complexity of an image encoder/decoder system and exactly meet a picture-based CBR required by LCD DCC devices/systems.

Abstract: Inter-color image prediction is based on color grading modeling. Prediction is applied to the efficient coding of images and video signals of high dynamic range. Prediction models may include a color transformation matrix that models hue and saturation color changes and a non-linear function modeling color correction changes. Under the assumption that the color grading process uses a slope, offset, and power (SOP) operations, an example non linear prediction model is presented.

Abstract: An image sensor apparatus is disclosed. The image sensor apparatus includes an image sensor for generating pixel data corresponding to a scene under a scene illuminant and a processor. The processor includes an illuminant estimation module for receiving a subset of the pixel data associated with a subset of a color space and finding a chromaticity trend in the pixel data subset to estimate the scene illuminant. A white balance and color correction module in the processor applies white balance and color correction coefficients to the pixel data according to the estimated scene illuminant.

Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, regarding plural character areas in the character image of each color, an image compressing unit 6 includes one of the character areas from which a distance to another one of the character areas is either equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value into a character image other than the character image in which the other one of the character areas is included, and compresses image data of the other one of the character areas separately from other image data.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product that may use a cache in the decompression of block compressed image data. Each data entry in the cache may represent decompressed image data corresponding to a compressed block of an image. The indices of the cache are keys, where each key is the output of a hash process that is performed on the corresponding compressed block. Decompression of a compressed block may be performed by hashing the compressed block to generate the key. The key may be used to access the cache. The decompressed data indexed by the key may be read and used as the decompressed version of the compressed block. If no data corresponds to the key, or if the cached data indexed by this key is otherwise invalid, then a conventional decompression process may be applied to the compressed block to yield the decompressed data. This decompressed data may then be written to the cache, at a location corresponding to the key.