Abstract: A novel method for coding and decoding video data and codec thereof are disclosed. The invented method provides an FGS (fine grained scalability) algorithm using bit plane coding technique. While conducting the bit plane encoding, the spatial and temporal dependence between bit planes is used to exploit the redundancy in the bit planes. In the embodiment of this invention, the bit plains are represented by quadtrees and bit plane prediction is made to remove the spatial and temporal redundancy in a video. The scalability of the video data is fine grained since atoms of the motion residuals do not have to be grouped as coding units.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and method for binary-coding images considering the brightness of a current pixel and a difference in brightness between pixels. The apparatus includes a detector for detecting a local adaptive critical value for a pixel according to a regional characteristic of the pixel in the image, and a comparator for comparing the local adaptive critical value with the value of the pixel and outputting a binary-coded pixel value corresponding to the pixel. In detecting the local adaptive critical value, a local average parameter FLoc related to high frequency elements is supplied after being controlled according to a locally windowed region. Frequencies for converting from black pixels to white pixels or from white pixels to black pixels are reduced in a binary-coded output image so that an image with a reduced number of high frequency elements can be obtained to improve the compressibility of the binary-coded output image.

Abstract: A system and method for capturing motion comprises a motion capture volume adapted to contain at least one actor having body markers defining plural body points and facial markers defining plural facial points. A plurality of body motion cameras and a plurality of facial motion cameras are arranged around a periphery of the motion capture volume. The facial motion cameras each have a respective field of view narrower than a corresponding field of view of the body motion cameras. The facial motion cameras are arranged such that all laterally exposed surfaces of the actor while in motion within the motion capture volume are within the field of view of at least one of the plurality of facial motion cameras at substantially all times. A motion capture processor is coupled to the plurality of facial motion cameras and the plurality of body motion cameras to produce a digital model reflecting combined body and facial motion of the actor.

Abstract: A digital preservation system (10) for accepting a digital data record as input, for providing a preview of the digital data record on a display screen (80), for writing the data record in human-readable form onto a preservation-quality medium (210), for storage of the medium (210), and for retrieval of the data record from the medium (210). The digital preservation system (10) preserves a data record in human-readable form, along with an associated metadata record, allowing the human-readable preserved data record to be readable in the distant future, independent of specific reading hardware. The preview function allows an operator to specify storage and retrieval characteristics for the data record.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a coder and a coding method that raise the possibility of improving the compression ratio of multivalued image data in which one pixel consists of a plurality of bits and are accordingly effective to increase the amount of image that is stored in a recording medium with a certain capacity. The coder according to the present invention includes an obtaining unit for obtaining a predetermined amount of image data in which one pixel consists of a plurality of bits, a developing unit for developing on the virtual plane each piece of the bit data in the obtained image data, and a coding unit for performing the entropy coding on the developed bit data.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a spatial filtering unit which applies spatial filtering to input image data to generate filtered image data such that the spatial filtering provides a broader dynamic range for outputs than for inputs, and a high-resolution conversion unit which interpolates the filtered image data in a first direction by an average of values of two pixels adjacent in the first direction, in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction by an average of values of two pixels adjacent in the second direction, and in a direction diagonal to the first and second directions by an average of four pixels surrounding a pixel of interest, thereby converting the filtered image data into high-resolution image data.

Abstract: A halftoning apparatus free of the occurrence of moiré and other artifacts under a simple technique. In the apparatus, the estimating section calculates the pixel value of the noteworthy pixel, which is to be converted into a binary value, based on other pixel values than that of the noteworthy pixel, and the binarizing section converts the multilevel value of the noteworthy pixel into a binary value.

Abstract: A method for decoding data that has been encoded in a monochrome medium utilizing the capability of the medium for grayscale resolution. A document is processed to provide an image in electronic format, in which each pixel has an assigned data value with a given bit depth. A mapping operation is performed for generating a monochrome data word (120), preferably having a reduced bit depth. The monochrome data word (120) can be used to encode multiple data fields (114, 116, 118). A printer (92) then produces a preserved document record (90) in which the appropriate monochrome data word (120) determines the grayscale value for each pixel. To decode the stored data, a scanner (86) is employed to obtain the grayscale value from the preserved document record (90). For each pixel, the grayscale value is then decomposed into multiple data fields (114, 116, 118), which can then be decoded to provide the information that was originally encoded.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image coding method and an image decoding method by which an image can be restored correctly even if part of memory management information is lost by a transmission channel error, a candidate of a reference image that can be referred to is selected more appropriately, and coding efficiency is improved.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing method using the error diffusion method to prevent jumps in a highlight part and darkening in a shadow part at high resolution. The image processing method comprises a step of calculating an average value of density values of N×M (N, M>1) pixels, a step of adding the average value and a diffused quantization error value, a step of quantizing the addition result with a predetermined number of tones, a step of selecting a quantization pattern corresponding to the quantization result, and a step of calculating the diffused quantization error value from the quantization error. The error diffusion algorithm has flexibility in outputting dots. In other words, error diffusion processing is performed in N×M pixel units, and a plurality of quantization patterns are provided, and a quantization pattern is selected based on the quantization result.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus having general versatility, for flexible quantization on multivalue image data of two or more colors to image data having a reduced number of bits in correspondence with the number of bits to be quantized, by using an error diffusion scheme. When two color multivalue data are inputted, errors distributed to the position are added to the data and inputted as I?0 and I?1 into an output determination unit 2. The input data I?0 and I?1 are quantized by using LUTs 7-0 and 7-1 into numerical values of less-value representation. The two data from the LUTs 7-0 and 7-1 are inputted into an LUT 4, as coordinate values in a two-dimensional coordinate system, and two color binarized bit data (total 2 bits) are outputted.

Abstract: An image data of M-gradations in a pixel is converted into multivalued image data of N-gradations (M>N>2) in a pixel. A remarked pixel converted into the multivalued data is determined whether to be a predetermined gradation TJ (N>TJ>2) in which a tone jump occurs. When the remarked pixel converted into the multivalued data is determined to be the predetermined gradation TJ, it is determined whether a pixel of the predetermined gradation TJ exists in pixels being adjacent to the remarked pixel. When the pixel of the predetermined gradation exists, the gradation of the remarked pixel is changed to the gradation other than the predetermined gradation so as to prevent the tone jump, and an average density after multivalued image data conversion is preserved.

Abstract: A processor performs layout analysis, and classifies pieces of bitmap data into a character area and a picture area. The processor divides each of the character area and the picture area into a plurality of tiles having a predetermined shape, thereby creating a table including information representing either character attribute or picture attribute in association with each tile number. The processor performs scalar quantization for data of each tile using a quantization coefficient for characters or pictures, based on the created table. The processor encodes the data of each tile using an SNR progressive technique or a resolution progressive technique, and performs post quantization for the data using a quantization parameter for characters or pictures. Then, the processor stores the encoded data into a storage device.

Abstract: A method for decoding a stream of data includes the steps of: identifying a relationship (100) between quality of a decoded image and a bit rate for decoding the image; selecting a desired quality (110) of images to be decoded from the stream of data; determining a bit rate (112) corresponding to the desired quality using the relationship; and decoding a minimum number of bit-planes corresponding to the determined bit rate from the stream of data.

Abstract: A method for analyzing fingerprint images includes picking up a sequence of images at very short time intervals, while a finger is being placed onto an electronic fingerprint sensor. A criterion for recognizing a live finger is extracted from variations in the images. The images are defined as a pixel raster having different gray values, with the aid of which the pixels are assigned binary values of zero or one. Significant changes in the values are detected and compared, with the aid of distinctive numbers or the like, to known typical changes that occur regularly in a particular image class.

Abstract: A method for detecting a specific pattern contained in an image. The pattern-detection method has steps of binarizing the input image data to obtain binary image data, recognizing a partial image that is contained in the binary image data, is part of the specific pattern, and has an empty inside, and determining the specific pattern contained in the image based on the recognition results. In the partial-image recognition step, a pixel-block area of predetermined size containing a target pixel is successively scanned for the binary image data, and a partial image contained in the binary image data is recognized on the condition that at least one OFF-pixel exists within a reference block consisting of the target pixel and predetermined pixels in its neighborhood within the block.

Abstract: A compression and decompression system and process for optimally compressing and decompressing multibit per pixel image regions based on the type of data contained in the image region, e.g., whether the image region contains continuous tone data, including data to be halftoned, or non-continuous tone data, including antialiased text and lineart data. Segmented bytemap data blocks are processed to provide both low spatial resolution continuous tone data and high spatial resolution non-continuous tone data. However, the high spatial resolution non-continuous tone data is generated by quantizing and packing the high resolution bytes across an edge and discarding the high resolution bytes along the edge, i.e., the multibit data is discarded only in directions parallel to the edges of marks to be rendered in the image data. Additional information indicating the directions of the edges in the image data are stored to aid in decompression.

Abstract: A multilevel image into which a color or a black-and-white image is converted is input, and a slightly indistinct binary image generating unit generates a slightly indistinct binary image that includes a slightly indistinct line pattern and does not include background noise. Additionally, a shape-preserved binary image generating unit generates a binary image that preserves the shape of a line pattern and includes background noise. These images are ANDed for each pixel, so that a binary image that preserves the shape of the line pattern and does not include the background noise is generated.

Abstract: A stochastic screening mask is provided for rendering halftone images. A filter controlled force masking method is used to vary the mask patterns from regularity to randomness. Dot size (amplitude), dot number (frequency), and dot shape are modulated integrally at each gray level during the generation of the mask. The single pixel limit for blue noise masking is broken down by this approach. The halftone patterns generated with this method can have visually pleasing blue noise attribute. This new screening method would provide flexible solutions for different types of printing processes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method, system, and program for managing calibration files in a printing system. Patches are printed using a screening algorithm and incorporating at least one output appearance factor. A calibration file is generated from measured color values of the printed patches mapping a color space for the printed patches to a color space of a printer used to print the patches. Information is associated with the calibration file indicating the printer and at least one output appearance attribute for use in selecting one calibration file to use when printing a print job.

Abstract: A method for image separation of an image, wherein the image includes pixels, and the method includes identifying kernels, whereby characteristics of the kernels are reflected by at least one of the following operators, P(x?w,y)?P(x,y)>t AND P(x+w, y)?P(x,y)>t; or P(x, y?w)?P(x,y)>t AND P(x, y+w)?P(x,y)>t; or P(x+d, y+d)?P(x,y)>t AND P(x?d, y?d)?P(x,y)>t; or P(x?d, y+d)?P(x,y)>t AND P(x+d, y?d)?P(x,y)>t, wherein the kernels include at least some of a first group of the pixels. The kernels are associated with a first layer, and pixels that are not associated with the first layer are classified as a second layer. The first layer may be text or graphics and the second layer may be a background. The first layer may be compressed with a high resolution compression technique and the second layer may be compressed with a high lossy compression technique.

Abstract: An image processing method for facilitating data transmission is provided. An image compression method is performed to convert X-bits binary digital signals to a binary compressed data in a floating-point form of (1.n)*2m. Bit m represents the first bit with logic level “1” of the X-bits binary digital signals, and n represents the bits taken from the X-bits binary digital signals after the bit m. The binary compressed data in the floating-point form of (1.n)*2m is outputted with a sequence of binary number representing a set of (m, n). The latter n bits of the sequence of binary numbers are consisted of the n bits of the X-bits digital signal. Therefore, by the present image compression method, the transmission amount of image data is reduced. The transmission time of image data and the volume of a memory for storing the image data are also reduced.

Abstract: With an encoding section 301 in an encoding apparatus, an image reading section 310 sequentially inputs binary signals by a predetermined bit length; a run counter in a run length processing section 320 outputs a run length determined within the binary signal of the predetermined bit length input by the image reading section 310 and a run length not determined within the binary signal; an adder in the run length processing section 320 adds the indeterminate run length to the first run length of a binary signal of the predetermined bit length to be subsequently input by the image reading section 310, and encoding unit 340 encodes the run length output by the run length processing section 320.

Abstract: Error is distributed to pixels neighboring a pixel of interest based on a ranking of the neighboring pixels. The ranking is based on pixel values of the neighboring pixels. Optionally a spatial weighting is applied to the pixel values before ranking, to provide a preference for pixels closest to the pixel of interest or to a particular portion of a related halftone screen. Rank order based error diffusion provides compact halftone dots without patterning artifacts. An image processing system operative to perform rank order error diffusion includes a pixel ranker and an error diffuser. In a xerographic environment the image processing system includes a xerographic printer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a unique method, apparatus, system and storage medium for image binarization process, wherein an image to be processed is divided into a plurality of sub-images and an binarization threshold for each of the sub-images is determined based on the gray-levels of the edge pixels detected in respective sub-image. The image processing method of the present invention comprises: calculating a gray-level statistical distribution of pixels of an image, detecting edge pixels in an image based on an edge criterion corresponding to the gray-level statistical distribution, dividing the image into a plurality of sub-images; determining a binarization threshold for each of the sub-images based on the gray-levels of edge pixels detected in the sub-image; and performing binarization process for each of the sub-images based on the binarization threshold of the sub-image.

Abstract: We propose methods for generating a halftone image, in which each pixel takes one of two tone values. The generated image contains hidden data, which is present at data storage pixels chosen using a pseudo-random number generator. In a first case, the data is hidden within an existing halftone image by reversing the tone value at certain of the data storage pixels, and at pixels neighboring the data storage pixels. In a second case, the halftone image is generated from a grey-scale image, and data is hidden during this conversion process.

Abstract: The method for transforming a digital image (A) having several gray levels into a binary image (F) in which each pixel is coded over one bit, consists in applying, to each current pixel (P) of the digital image having several gray levels, several different parallel binarization processes (T1, T2, T3) each delivering as output a binary value for this current pixel and in combining (T4) the binary values delivered by the various binarization processes for each current pixel of the digital image having several gray levels so as to obtain a resultant binary value constituting the corresponding pixel of the binary image.

Abstract: The display method and apparatus display colors used in color information on a display unit capable of displaying gray scale. The method and apparatus convert the colors into gray scale values so as to enable differences in the colors to be identified even when the colors are displayed based on the gray scale on the display unit, and then display the color information on the display unit by utilizing the converted gray scale values as the colors. The method and apparatus can recognize meaning of the differences in original colors even in the case of displaying color information on a monochrome display (the display unit capable of displaying the gray scale).

Abstract: A method is provided for creating a binary-coding pattern to be used in binary-coding a multi-value image. The method includes the steps of: creating a basic pattern shape of the prospective binary-coding pattern by a first arithmetic operation; determining the sequence of lighting pixels composing such basic pattern by a second arithmetic operation; and creating a rectangular pattern, which serves as the prospective binary-coding pattern, based on the resultant basic pattern. Hereby, it is possible to automatically create a centralized type of binary-coding pattern, and also it is possible to facilitate creating a minimum-sized binary-coding pattern.

Abstract: A system and method for scaling and enhancing color text images utilizes a binary scaling and text enhancing technique by first converting an input color text image to a binary image, i.e., black-and-white image. The scaled and text enhanced image is subsequently converted back to a color image by selectively inserting colors into the binary image to produce a color text image that has been scaled and text enhanced. The conversion of the input color text image to a binary image allows the system and method to use one of a number of conventional binary scaling and text enhancing techniques.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for overflow error diffusion in image processing are provided. A method includes calculating error values, em, corresponding to differences between modified intensity values for a number of pixel locations and one or more threshold values, where em represents an error value associated with an mth pixel. The method further includes diffusing a calculated overflow error value associated with each calculated error value, em, to at least one pixel neighbor of the mth pixel location.

Abstract: A mobile device with the capability of imaging a natural scene or a document and transmitting the image over a network is presented. The mobile device includes a digital pixel sensor so that over-sampling of an image of a target is possible. The target may be a scene or a document and output images can be set for the appropriate target.

Abstract: After a gray scale image extracting unit converts an input document image to a gray scale image, a multi-code image binary-coding unit converts the image to a binary image having a value in which each pixel indicates either a background area or a plotting area in the image, and outputs the binary image to a binary image recognizing unit. In the multi-code binary-coding unit, a partial area extracting unit extracts one or more partial areas in the gray scale image. A partial image binary-coding unit executes a binary-coding process for each of the partial areas in the gray scale image. A binary image combining unit combines one or more partial binary images and constitutes a binary image of the entire gray scale image.

Abstract: An image processing method for facilitating data transmission is provided. An image compression method is performed to convert X-bits binary digital signals to a binary compressed data in the form of n*2m, in which n is represented by the former Y bits of the X-bits binary digital signals, m is set to the value of (X?Y), and represented by binary numbers with [log2(X?Y+1)] bits. The binary compressed data is transmitted with a sequence of [log2(X?Y+1)]+Y bits, representing (m, n), wherein m is the former [log2(X?Y+1)] bits and n is the latter Y bits. Therefore, by the present image compression method, the transmission amount of image data is reduced. The transmission time of image data and the volume of a memory for storing the image data are also reduced.

Abstract: A method of computing a computer generated hologram (CGH) for use in displaying a holographic image of a replay object. The method of generating a first computer generated hologram corresponding to the desired replay object (step 1); subdividing the first computer generated hologram into a plurality of blocks, each representing a sub CGH (step 2); for each block or sub CGH, calculating the corresponding replay sub-image hereafter called target wavefront data set (step 3); and generating for each target wavefront data set a second constrained modulation computer generated hologram wherein that second CGH is modulated within constrained values (step 5); and combining the plurality of second constrained modulation computer generated holograms to provide a third complete constrained modulation computer generated hologram (step 6).

Abstract: A method for encoding data in a monochrome media utilizing the capability of the media for grayscale resolution. A document is processed to provide an image in electronic format, in which each pixel has an assigned data value with a given bit depth. A mapping operation is performed for generating a monochrome data word (120), preferably having a reduced bit depth. The monochrome data word (120) can be used to encode multiple data fields (114, 116, 118). A printer (92) then produces a preserved document record (90) in which the appropriate monochrome data word (120) determines the grayscale value for each pixel.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is related to a method for processing a digitally captured image that comprises an imaged document. The method may comprise: transforming the digitally captured image into a binary image; searching the binary image to detect a plurality of edges of the imaged document; and analyzing the detected plurality of edges to determine at least one corner associated with the imaged document; wherein the transforming, searching, and analyzing are performed by programmable logic associated with a processor-based system.

Abstract: An image coding method that compresses an image read through an optical system. An image separation section carries out image area decisions in tile (macro block) units to separate the image into photographic image tiles and character image tiles. A layer separation section performs layer separation pixel by pixel to separate each pixel into pixels belonging to a background and pixels belonging to a foreground. Approximation processors alleviate an increase of entropy, due to layer separation through approximation processing, and carry out JPEG-like processing on photographic images.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in a data processing system for processing graphics image. A determination is made as to whether the graphics image has more than two colors. The graphics image is compressed in response to an absence of a determination that the graphics image has more than two colors to form a compressed image. The compressed image is sent to a client.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed in which two-dimensional image compression, such as for bi-level images, is implemented.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the image compression and restoring method for binary images that can be used in binary image equipment including printers. In the present invention, an image is not compressed by each pixel but by cell that combines four pixels. And each cell is compressed in two steps. In the first step, the number of black pixels contained in the cell is compressed. And in the second step, using the number of pixels the information compressed in the previous step, the exact location of pixels that constitute the cell is compressed. By doing this, the compression rate can be increased. And even when the compressed bit rows are restored in the first step, image restoration is available with just a small degradation.

Abstract: Method of image binarization using histogram modeling, which combines spatial resolution expansion with binarization in a single integrated process using a combination of spatial expansion, histogram modeling, classification, and quantization. Each pixel of the input image is expanded into a higher resolution image, and a count of the number of times each distinct gray scale intensity value occurs in the input image is calculated from pixel values of the input image and then modeled with an approximate histogram that is computed as the sum of weighted modeling functions. The input pixel values are then classified using the modeling functions and the results of the pixel classification are used to quantize the high resolution gray scale image to create a binary output image.

Abstract: A method and system of designing a digital halftoning screen for forming images on output sheets according to a set of image signals. The method generates a halftone line screen having multiple levels, each level having multiple line segments, each line segment having an equal pre-determined number of elements. The method stochastically assigns threshold values to pixels corresponding to a first element within the multiple line segments of a first level and assigns a same threshold value to a pixel corresponding to a single level to create a first element stochastic fill sequence. The method then assigns threshold values to pixels corresponding to a first element within the multiple line segments of the remaining levels of the halftone line screen according to the first element stochastic fill sequence.

Abstract: A method and system for transmitting a digital image (i.e., an array of pixels) from a digital image source to a digital image receiver. The array of pixels is converted into Image Line Bit Patterns by Frame Decomposition. Then each Image line Bit Pattern independently transformed into a corresponding Bit Mask Indicator by Image Line Encoding, followed by generation of a bit stream that includes Bit Stream Header Information and the Bit Mask Indicators. The Bit Stream Header Information includes Constant Digital Image Data. The bit stream is transmitted over a data path to the digital image receiver where the Bit Mask Indicators in the bit stream are parsed and the Bit Mask Indicators are translated into corresponding Image Line Bit Patterns. Then the digital image is restored from the Image Line Bit Patterns by Frame Recreation.

Abstract: When a plurality of image data are to be compressed, an image correlation information extraction unit extracts respective image correlation information of image data, using first image data as reference image data. An encoding unit compresses the extracted image correlation information to produce encoded data. A data output unit outputs the compressed data and the reference image data to a page memory. When the compressed data are to be restored, a data input unit supplies the image correlation data input from the page memory to an image correlation information decoding unit, and supplies the reference image data to an image restoring unit. The image correlation information decoding unit decodes the image correlation data into the respective image correlation information and supplies the image correlation information to the image restoring unit. The image restoring unit restores the plural image data from the respective image correlation information and the reference image data.

Abstract: A method for electronic imaging, consisting of forming an image having a background color and a non-background color on a plurality of pixels in a color mosaic image sensor, and receiving from each of the plurality of pixels a respective initial signal responsive to the image. The method further includes determining the background color of the image responsive to the initial signals, determining the non-background color of the image responsive to the initial signals, and calculating an adjusted signal for each pixel of the plurality of pixels responsive to the initial signal of the pixel and to at least one of the background color and the non-background color.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an image processing device and an image processing method for processing a decoded image, and its objective is to optimally binarize a decoded original. After the respective density histograms of colors R, G, and B have been drawn, the hierarchical relationship between the low-density-side peak value and high-density-side peak value is investigated. A color component which is to become a binarization object is determined based on the comparison results on the number of color components whose high-density-side peak value is/are higher and the number of color components whose low-density-side peak value is/are higher, and the color of the pixel to be outputted is determined based on the comparison of the pixel with a threshold value.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for a laser printer, wherein a halftone control through laser pulse modulation (PWM) is used in combination with distributed clustered-dot halftone processing which distributes a tone level over four clustered-dots, and the value represented by higher bits of a threshold are used to switch a PWM pulse pattern in a highlight area to a discontinuous pattern, thereby implementing the high density halftone processing, which provides a high highlight tone density and stability, only with a small scale memory and circuit.

Abstract: A system for rendering an image representation is disclosed. The system includes a halftone processor; a printer interfaced to the halftone processor; and a software routine operative on the halftone processor for a) classifying an input pixel value in either a first classification or a second classification, b) determining an output pixel value by error diffusing the input pixel value when the input pixel value is classified in the first classification, c) determining a temporary output pixel value by stochastic screening the input pixel value when the input pixel value is classified in the second classification, d) determining an adjusted input pixel value based on the input pixel value, the temporary output pixel value and a weighting value, e) determining the output pixel value by error diffusing the adjusted input pixel value, and f) rendering the output pixel value in the printer.

Abstract: The present invention presents an image processing apparatus having an input unit for inputting image data of an original image, a discriminating unit for extracting a predetermined region by using a feature of pixel of the input image data, and for discriminating an attribute of the region, a determining unit for determining the type of the image data on the basis of the distribution of the attributes of the regions, and a processing unit for processing the image data as specified depending on the type of the determined image data. In this constitution, image processing conforming to the accurate discrimination result can be applied to image data.