Abstract: The processing efficiency of a process used to decode frames of an enhanced AC-3 bit stream is improved by processing each audio block in a frame only once. Audio blocks of encoded data are decoded in block order rather than in channel order. Exemplary decoding processes for enhanced bit stream coding features such as adaptive hybrid transform processing and spectral extension are disclosed.

Abstract: A hybrid block motion compensation/adaptive overlapped block motion compensation apparatus for an encoding apparatus includes: a selector for selecting between a block motion compensation BMC and an overlapped block motion compensation OBMC with respect to a current block in units of pixels according to a set criterion; an adaptive motion compensator; a scan mode setter for scanning the current block in a plurality of set scan modes and establishing a scan mode causing a smallest number of transitions between the BMC and OBMC; and an information recorder for recording transition information at locations of the pixels corresponding to the transitions between the BMC and OBMC. A decoding apparatus is disclosed including: an interpreter for scan mode information of a current block and information about transitions between the BMC and OBMC for each of pixels of the current block; and an adaptive motion compensator for operating in units of the pixels.

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

Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatus for analysis of images of direct part mark identification codes to measure and assess a print quality. Methods to assess the quality of a direct part mark identification code are presented that provide diagnostic information of a code that cannot be assessed using verification methods that require the results of a valid decoding step.

Abstract: A test and measurement instrument and method of switching waveform display styles includes acquiring an electrical signal, storing peak detect data samples from the electrical signal to one or more memory devices, storing filtered data samples or unfiltered data from the electrical signal, automatically switching to a first waveform display style having the peak detect data samples configured in a first mode when a user selects the unfiltered data, and automatically switching to a second waveform display style having the peak detect data samples configured in a second mode when the user selects the filtered data samples.

Abstract: The present invention comprises: capturing a medical image of a subject by an image-capturing unit; generating compressed image data by compressing on the basis of a plurality of pixels of uncompressed image data, where the uncompressed image data is image data of the captured medical image of the subject, by an image data compression unit; setting a search range of the compressed image data and also setting a search range of the uncompressed image data, by a search range setting unit; and setting a region of interest for the medical image on the basis of the search range of the uncompressed image data and the search range of the compressed image data, by a region-of-interest setting unit.

Abstract: Disclosed are non-imaging low frequency ultrasound apparatus and methods that extend the range of ultrasonic applications to medical testing and diagnostics. More particularly, apparatus and methods for generating, transmitting and receiving low frequency ultrasound through a test body can be used to generate non-imaging medical mapping of ultrasound signals and medical diagnostics. Typically frequencies below 1 MHz are generated by a low frequency non-imaging wide aperture transmitting transducer and received by multiple low frequency small aperture receiving transducers and processed via improved signal processing to evaluate and map the ultrasound interactions for detecting and characterizing clinical conditions in test objects.

Abstract: A computerized method of managing a collaboration space comprises partitioning the collaboration space into a plurality of tiles in a tree structure; and associating each graphic object with a tile in said tree structure; said tile being the smallest tile in the tree structure that substantially accommodate said graphic object.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for encoding video data and an apparatus and method for decoding video data are provided. The encoding method includes: splitting a current picture into at least one maximum coding unit; determining a coded depth to output an encoding result by encoding at least one split region of the at least one maximum coding unit according to operating mode of coding tool, respectively, based on a relationship among a depth of at least one coding unit of the at least one maximum coding unit, a coding tool, and an operating mode, wherein the at least one split region is generated by hierarchically splitting the at least one maximum coding unit according to depths; and outputting a bitstream including encoded video data of the coded depth, information regarding a coded depth of at least one maximum coding unit, information regarding an encoding mode, and information regarding the relationship.

Abstract: A digital camera has an integral flash and stores and displays a digital image. Under certain conditions, a flash photograph taken with the camera may result in a red-eye phenomenon due to a reflection within an eye of a subject of the photograph. A digital apparatus has a red-eye filter which analyzes at least one partial face region identified within the digital image for the red-eye phenomenon and modifies the image to eliminate the red-eye phenomenon by changing the red area to black. The modification of the image is enabled when a photograph is taken under conditions indicative of the red-eye phenomenon. The modification is subject to anti-falsing analysis which further examines the area around the red-eye area for indicia of the eye of the subject. The detection and correction can be optimized for performance and quality by operating on subsample versions of the image when appropriate.

Abstract: A method of producing a compressed video data stream (12) by compressing a stream of relatively high dynamic range video frames (2). A bilateral filter (3) extracts a base frame (4) with luminance information. The base frame (4) and the original frame (2) are used to provide a detail frame (5) with chroma information. A tone mapping operation (6) is selected (7, 11) and applied to the base frame to generate a relatively low dynamic range base frame (8), which is then compressed (9). The detail frame (5) is compressed separately. Final frame data (12) is then created, consisting of the compressed relatively low dynamic range base frame, the compressed detail frame, and stored information in respect of the tone mapping operation that had been applied to the base frame.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an encoding/decoding method using a tree structure. The encoding method for encoding image information includes: grouping predetermined areas having the image information into a plurality of groups, and generating a node value of each layer up to an uppermost layer by determining a minimum value or a maximum value of information to be encoded within grouped areas as information on the grouped areas; and encoding a difference value between the node value of each layer and a node value of an upper layer or a difference value between the node value of each layer and a value determined based on a preset criterion. Accordingly, the encoding efficiency and in turn the video compression efficiency are improved by using the tree structure in the encoding of various pieces of image information and the decoding of the resultant encoded data.

Abstract: An apparatus for encoding image information using a tree structure performs a method by: encoding a partition flag indicating whether each node, starting from a node of an uppermost layer of the tree structure, is divided into nodes of a lower layer; encoding image information of a block corresponding to a node which is not further divided; and encoding additional information including first information on a minimum block size and second information on a difference between the minimum block size and a maximum block size, wherein the first and second information are used for identifying the maximum block size corresponding to the node of the uppermost layer.

Abstract: Provided are a method and a device for encoding a video by using a data unit of a hierarchical structure, and a method and a device for decoding the same. A video encoding device includes: a hierarchical encoder configured to encode a picture of a video based on a data unit of a hierarchical structure; and an entropy coder configured to determine a context model used for entropy coding of a symbol based on hierarchical information of a data unit to which the symbol of the encoded picture belongs, and to entropy encode the symbol using the determined context model.

Abstract: The invention allows a terminal apparatus to immediately execute print job transmission even if it is impossible to execute a direct print job by a handover. When, therefore, a mobile phone functioning as a mobile terminal performs short distance wireless communication with a printing apparatus, it receives information about peer-to-peer communication via a wireless LAN and information indicating whether the printing apparatus currently executes printing. If it is determined that another user is already executing printing, the mobile phone connects to a mobile telephone line network, and transmits a print job to a printing server for transmitting a print job to the printing apparatus.

Abstract: The invention may be embodied in a time delay integration (TDI) based sensor wafer inspection system that introduces controlled blur into the sampled image to suppress high spectral frequencies and thereby mitigate the occurrence of aliasing in the sampled image. Image blur may be introduced in the scan direction by desynchronizing the image motion (scan rate) from the charge transfer rate within the TDI sensor (sample clock rate). The scan rate may be desynchronized from the TDI sample clock rate by altering the speed of wafer movement, the sample clock rate, or the magnification of the imaging optics. Image blur may be introduced in the cross-scan direction by imparting a small alignment difference between the direction of image motion (image scan direction) and the direction that charges transfer within the TDI sensor (sensor direction).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for constrained transforms for video coding and decoding having transform selection. An apparatus includes a video encoder for encoding at least a block in a picture by selecting a particular transform from at least a first transform and a second transform that is different than the first transform, and applying the particular transform to a residue of the block. Transform coefficients for the second transform are selected responsive to a deblocking filter that is present in the video encoder.

Abstract: The present technology relates to an image processing apparatus and method that are capable of enhancing encoding efficiency while suppressing a decrease in the efficiency of encoding processing. The image processing apparatus includes an encoding mode setter that sets, in units of coding units having a hierarchical structure, whether a non-compression mode is to be selected as an encoding mode for encoding image data, the non-compression mode being an encoding mode in which the image data is output as encoded data, and an encoder that encodes the image data in units of the coding units in accordance with a mode set by the encoding mode setter. The present disclosure can be applied to, for example, an image processing apparatus.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for dynamic digital image compositing using a digital image template. A request is received to generate a composite digital image at a user-specified resolution based on a master digital image. Each of a plurality of digital image templates includes image data representing a different, particular resolution of the master digital image. The digital image templates can be stored in a common file with the master digital image. One of the digital image templates associated with a resolution that is at least as high as and closest to the user-specified resolution is selected for compositing. Composite image data is then generated based on the selected digital image template. Next, the composite image is rendered based on the composite image data and scaled to the user-specified resolution.

Abstract: Techniques for rules-based content management are provided. Video on demand content is collected from a variety of sources. Business rules embedded within metadata can be retrieved where the business rules control processing and delivery of the video on demand content. The video on demand content may be selectively packaged in response to the business rules and the metadata to generate packaged video on demand content. A server can distribute the packaged video on demand content to devices. A priority for processing the packaged video on demand content can be based on a quality of service parameter and based on the metadata, the business rules, and a license embedded within the metadata where the license describes the priority. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods which provide an adaptive unified performance management (AUPM) framework for interacting with disparate network elements using techniques adaptive to operational conditions to provide network performance adaptive root cause analysis (ARCA) are shown. An AUPM framework of embodiments of the invention implements a proxy based architecture in which a plurality of proxies are utilized to connect to and perform data communication with the disparate network elements. Centralized performance management is in communication with the proxies to obtain and unify network element data for performance monitoring, alarm reporting, and/or root cause analysis. The performance monitoring, alarm reporting, and root cause analysis provided by centralized performance management of embodiments herein implements adaptive cluster-based analysis to provide robust operation adapted to accommodate various operational scenarios, such as may include time varying conditions and learning based configuration.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a display section, an input section, a control section, and an image forming section. The display section displays a printing target image as a preview. The input section receives designation of an area from a user on a preview image displayed by the display section. The control section distinguishes a region of the printing target image such that a part of a region in the designated area is one of color and monochrome and the other part of the region is the other of the color and the monochrome. The image forming section forms the printing target image on a sheet according to the distinction of the color and the monochrome by the control section.

Abstract: A method of decoding an image includes the steps of restoring a residual value by performing inverse quantization and inverse transform on the residual value by entropy decoding a received bit stream, generating a prediction unit by performing intra prediction selectively using one of a plurality of prediction modes on a prediction unit split by conducting at least one of asymmetric partitioning and geometrical partitioning, and restoring an image by adding the residual value to the prediction unit. It may be possible to enhance encoding efficiency of high-resolution images having a resolution of HD or higher by performing intra prediction on the asymmetric partitioning and/or geometrical partitioning.

Abstract: A method of decoding an image includes the steps of restoring a residual value by performing inverse quantization and inverse transform on the residual value by entropy decoding a received bit stream, generating a prediction unit by performing intra prediction selectively using one of a plurality of prediction modes on a prediction unit split by conducting at least one of asymmetric partitioning and geometrical partitioning, and restoring an image by adding the residual value to the prediction unit. It may be possible to enhance encoding efficiency of high-resolution images having a resolution of HD or higher by performing intra prediction on the asymmetric partitioning and/or geometrical partitioning.

Abstract: A method of decoding an image includes the steps of restoring a residual value by performing inverse quantization and inverse transform on the residual value by entropy decoding a received bit stream, generating a prediction unit by performing intra prediction selectively using one of a plurality of prediction modes on a prediction unit split by conducting at least one of asymmetric partitioning and geometrical partitioning, and restoring an image by adding the residual value to the prediction unit. It may be possible to enhance encoding efficiency of high-resolution images having a resolution of HD or higher by performing intra prediction on the asymmetric partitioning and/or geometrical partitioning.

Abstract: Provided are graphic processing method and apparatus. The graphic processing method receives an image divided into a plurality of primitives to generate one tree structured display list for a plurality of tiles by connecting the divided primitive with at least one next primitive to be rendered. According to the present invention, since one display list is generated and used for the entire screen or a plurality of tiles, the present invention is efficient in the aspect to a memory usage.

Abstract: A method of decoding an image includes the steps of restoring a residual value by performing inverse quantization and inverse transform on the residual value by entropy decoding a received bit stream, generating a prediction unit by performing intra prediction selectively using one of a plurality of prediction modes on a prediction unit split by conducting at least one of asymmetric partitioning and geometrical partitioning, and restoring an image by adding the residual value to the prediction unit. It may be possible to enhance encoding efficiency of high-resolution images having a resolution of HD or higher by performing intra prediction on the asymmetric partitioning and/or geometrical partitioning.

Abstract: Signal processing techniques utilize operations performed in linear transform domains to perform operations including noise reduction, noise shaping, and gradient integration. The standard wavelet shrinkage method may be altered to constrain the modification of wavelet coefficients towards an initial estimate of the adjusted coefficients. The initial estimates can be computed by applying an edge detection filter to an input image. The wavelet shrinkage method may additionally be altered to include a noise preservation factor that enables an amount of noise to be preserved to avoid the production of artifacts. Integration of modified multi-dimensional gradients may also be performed in the wavelet (or other linear transform) domain by performing simple integration of the gradient (summing) separately in each dimension, obtaining a linear transform representation of the resulting signals, and combining the linear transforms.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods and storage medium associated with operating an application are disclosed herein. In embodiments, a method may include locally creating on a client computing device, by a client side of the application, a graphics context of the application. The graphics context may include a plurality of rendering resources associated with generating display frames of the application. The client side of the application may cause creation of a copy of the graphics context, by a remote side of the application, on a collection of remote computing resources. The client side of the application may then adaptively cause generation of a display frame locally or remotely. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Abstract: A method of processing a motion blurred image from an imaging device to recover a latent sharp image. The method includes capturing a motion blurred image signal through the imaging device, computing a second signal as a two-dimensional wavelet transform of the motion blurred image signal, and using the second signal to perform a first autocorrelation analysis to estimate the blur kernel. After estimating the blur kernel, a local autocorrelation analysis yields a blur kernel length and direction at each pixel location of the motion blurred image. In addition, the second signal is denoised and the discrete wavelet transform coefficients reconstructed from the blur kernel length and direction. Performing an inverse discrete wavelet transform of the discrete wavelet transform coefficients recovers the latent sharp image.

Abstract: A mobile video device includes a transceiver module that receives an independent video layer stream and at least one dependent video layer streams that require the independent video layer for decoding. A decoder module produces a decoded video signal from at least one separate video stream chosen, based on the device parameter, from the independent video layer stream and at least one dependent video layer streams.

Abstract: Method For Implementing A Quantizer In A Multimedia Compression And Encoding System is disclosed. In the Quantizer system of the present invention, several new quantization ideas are disclosed. In one embodiment, adjacent macroblocks are grouped together into macroblock groups. The macroblock groups are then assigned a common quantizer value. The common quantizer value may be selected based upon how the macroblocks are encoded, the type of macroblocks within the macroblock group (intra-blocks or inter-blocks), the history of the motion vectors associated with the macroblocks in the macroblock group, the residuals of the macroblocks in the macroblock group, and the energy of the macroblocks in the macroblock group. The quantizer value may be adjusted in a manner that is dependent on the current quantizer value. Specifically, if the quantizer value is at the low end of the quantizer scale, then only small adjustments are made.

Abstract: A method includes: obtaining, by a client, a media presentation description file, where the media presentation description file includes a priority level of a coding representation group of media; selecting a coding representation group according to the priority level of the coding representation group and a current network bandwidth, and selecting one coding representation from each selected coding representation group; and requesting, according to address information that is of the selected coding representation and is obtained by parsing the media presentation description file, a media segment of the coding representation from a server that is indicated by the address information.

Abstract: A method for enhancing local contrast of an image. The method comprises receiving a component of an image, computing a wavelets decomposition of the received component into wavelet coefficients, determining at least three subsets of wavelets coefficients based on a first threshold, a second threshold and computed wavelet coefficients, modifying the determined at least three subsets by applying at least a sharpening transformation on wavelet coefficients of at least one subset in said at least three subsets, recombining the at least three subsets into final wavelet coefficients, and reconstructing a new component based on the final wavelet coefficients.

Abstract: The method for transmitting video data encoded in a scalable video stream representing said video data in a plurality of layers, comprises, for at least one layer: a step of obtaining (317) pre-encoded macroblocks of said scalable video stream representing said video data in a plurality of layers, a step of grouping (319) macroblocks, used for inter layer prediction, of the pre-encoded macroblocks obtained by the obtaining step, into first groups of macroblocks, a step of grouping (319) macroblocks, not used for inter layer prediction, of the pre-encoded macroblocks obtained by the obtaining step, into second groups of macroblocks, a step of estimating a loss variability over a network, a step of selecting (331) groups of macroblocks from the first and second groups of macroblocks based on the loss variability estimated by the estimating step and a step of transmitting (333) the groups of macroblocks selected by the selecting step over the network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for coding a signal from images, the images being split into sub-blocks of pixels. The method includes grouping at least two sub-blocks into at least one block of larger size, when the sub-blocks comply with at least one predetermined grouping criterion. A prediction is performed by applying at least one mode of motion prediction using at least two distinct motion prediction vectors, for at least one block of larger size, the motion prediction vectors being associated respectively with sub-sets of the block of larger size, comprising at least one of the sub-blocks of the block of larger size. The sub-sets are predefined and distinct.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method of encoding a video stream having a plurality of frames, each frame having a plurality of blocks is disclosed. The method includes selecting a group of blocks from a current frame of the plurality of frames, determining a plurality of first stage transform coefficient matrices for the group of blocks using a first transform technique, determining a DC second stage transform coefficient matrix for the group of blocks based on at least some of the plurality of first stage transform coefficient matrices and using a second transform technique on a processor, and encoding the group of blocks into an encoding format using the DC second stage coefficient matrix and the first stage coefficient matrices.

Abstract: In a block-based motion compensated system, coding noises may arise due to lossy operations such as quantization. Deblocking is often used to alleviate visibility of coding artifacts by applying filtering across block boundaries adaptively. In the recent HEVC development, adaptive loop filtering (ALF) is being adopted to process deblocked reconstruction frames. Adaptive loop filtering is applied to reconstructed video data across multiple frames to reduce visibility of coding artifacts in the temporal domain. In a HEVC system, conventional ALF can be selectively turned ON or OFF for each block in a frame or a slice. The advanced ALF disclosed here allows a choice of multiple filter sets that can be applied to the reconstructed video data adaptively. Furthermore, the advanced ALF adopts a new unit for the filtering process to apply so that more flexible and/or localized processing can be provided.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present disclosure provide techniques for efficiently processing and transmitting graphics data when sub-regions of the screen represented by the graphics data are updated at different relative update rates. In an embodiment, when the screen is divided into tiles and a plurality of the tiles have been determined as being changed, some of the sublevels resulting from the image transform may not be encoded and transmitted. The decoding process may use zeroes for any data not received. The rendering subsystem may render the image with the partial data, and the remaining data may be received in subsequent transmissions.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatuses for encoding/decoding high resolution images, which involve setting the size of the prediction unit to be encoded to an expanded macro-block size in accordance with the temporal frequency characteristics or spatial frequency characteristics among pictures to be encoded, and performing motion prediction motion compensation, and transformation on the basis of a set prediction unit size. In addition, the methods and the apparatuses of the present invention involve dividing a macro-block having a pixel size of 32*32 or 64*64 into at least one partition on the basis of an edge, and performing encoding processes for each partition. Accordingly, encoding efficiency can be improved for high definition (HD) or higher resolution high-resolution images.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatuses for encoding/decoding high resolution images, which involve setting the size of the prediction unit to be encoded to an expanded macro-block size in accordance with the temporal frequency characteristics or spatial frequency characteristics among pictures to be encoded, and performing motion prediction motion compensation, and transformation on the basis of a set prediction unit size. In addition, the methods and the apparatuses of the present invention involve dividing a macro-block having a pixel size of 32*32 or 64*64 into at least one partition on the basis of an edge, and performing encoding processes for each partition. Accordingly, encoding efficiency can be improved for high definition (HD) or higher resolution high-resolution images.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatuses for encoding/decoding high resolution images, which involve setting the size of the prediction unit to be encoded to an expanded macro-block size in accordance with the temporal frequency characteristics or spatial frequency characteristics among pictures to be encoded, and performing motion prediction motion compensation, and transformation on the basis of a set prediction unit size. In addition, the methods and the apparatuses of the present invention involve dividing a macro-block having a pixel size of 32*32 or 64*64 into at least one partition on the basis of an edge, and performing encoding processes for each partition. Accordingly, encoding efficiency can be improved for high definition (HD) or higher resolution high-resolution images.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatuses for encoding/decoding high resolution images, which involve setting the size of the prediction unit to be encoded to an expanded macro-block size in accordance with the temporal frequency characteristics or spatial frequency characteristics among pictures to be encoded, and performing motion prediction motion compensation, and transformation on the basis of a set prediction unit size. In addition, the methods and the apparatuses of the present invention involve dividing a macro-block having a pixel size of 32*32 or 64*64 into at least one partition on the basis of an edge, and performing encoding processes for each partition. Accordingly, encoding efficiency can be improved for high definition (HD) or higher resolution high-resolution images.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide for a region-of-interest compression methodology wherein a variety of encoders may be utilized to perform video compression on a plurality of filtered video frames without the need to generate specific instructions for each of the variety of encoders. Embodiments of the present invention receive a video frame and create a region-of-interest map based on the received video frame. The region-of-interest map is utilized to create a filtered video frame based on the received video frame. This process may be repeated for each video frame within a video stream, thereby creating a plurality of filtered video frames. The plurality of filtered video frames is transmitted to an encoder for video compression.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide an apparatus for providing a digital image by embedding recovery feature. The apparatus may include an input unit, an extraction unit, an embedding unit, and an output unit. The input unit may be configured to receive a digital image. The extraction unit may be configured to extract recovery feature from the received digital image using quad-tree decomposition. The recovery feature may be binary data that represents unique characteristics of the received digital image. The embedding unit may be configured to embed the extracted recovery feature into the received digital image. The output unit may be configured to output the digital image embedded with the recovery feature as a feature hidden image.

Abstract: A method for compressing an image includes decomposing the image into one or more regions. A region of the image is selected to be evaluated. The selected region is transformed and quantized if the region does not meet a predetermined compression acceptability criteria. The predetermined compression acceptability criteria may include a specific bit rate, a specific image quality, or combinations thereof. If the region does not meet the predetermined compression acceptability criteria after the region has been transformed and quantized, then the transformation and quantization settings are adjusted and the region is transformed and quantized using the adjusted settings. The region is then encoded when the predetermined compression acceptability criteria has been reached. The encoding may include additional compression stages.

Abstract: A method for removing boundary distortion includes receiving a one-dimensional input signal and determining whether the one-dimensional input signal includes an even number of data elements. If the one-dimensional input signal includes an even number of data elements, an extrapolation operation is performed on one of a first or second boundary of the one-dimensional input signal. The extrapolation operation produces one additional data element. The method may further include performing a mirroring operation on the signal data resulting from the extrapolation operation to produce a mirrored signal, and performing a transform operation the mirrored signal.

Abstract: Hybrid image format techniques are described in which multiple resolution images are concatenated to a standard bitmap image to create a hybrid image file. The hybrid image file is created through combining a relatively low resolution image with the additional images in a multi-frame format having higher resolution. The hybrid image file may contain data detectable to signal that higher resolution images are available in the hybrid image file. A hybrid aware application may be configured to detect and output a higher resolution image from the hybrid image file based on detection of the data. A legacy application that is not configured to detect the data may be unaware of higher resolution images contained in the hybrid image file, and accordingly outputs the relatively low resolution image.

Abstract: To encode and compress a data array 30, the data array 30 is first divided into a plurality of blocks 31. A quadtree representation is then generated for each block 31 by initializing each leaf node of the quadtree to the value of the data element of the block 31 of the data array 30 that the leaf node corresponds to, and initializing each non-leaf node to the minimum value of its child nodes, and then subtracting from each node except the root node the value of its parent node. A set of data indicating the differences between respective parent and child node values in the quadtree representing the block of the data array is then generated and stored, together with a set of data representing a quadtree indicating the number of bits that have been used to signal the respective difference values.

Abstract: A codec includes an encoder having a quantization level generator that defines a quantization level specific to a block of values (e.g., transform coefficients), a quantizer that quantizes the block of transform coefficients according to the block-specific quantization level, a run-length encoder, and an entropy encoder. The quantization level is defined to result in at least a predetermined number (k) of quantized coefficients having a predetermined value. The amount of data compression by the encoder is proportional to (k). The codec also includes a decoder having entropy and run-length decoding sections whose throughputs are proportional to (k). The decoder takes advantage of this increased throughput by further decoding coefficients in parallel using a plurality of decoding channels. Methods for encoding and decoding data are also disclosed. The invention is well-suited to quantization, entropy, and/or run-length-based codecs, such as JPEG.