Method and apparatus for adjustable image compression

• US 20070065033A1
• Filed: 09/22/2005
• Published: 03/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Compressus, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Compressus, Inc.
• Inventors: Cooper, Gregory, Hernandez, Albert, Gasztonyi, Laszlo, Baclig, Bernadette
• Granted Patent: US 7,801,382 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/239
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/115 Selection of the code volume for a coding unit prior to coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/136 Incoming video signal characteristics or properties
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/172 the region being a picture, frame or field
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/46 Embedding additional information in the video signal during the compression process H04N19/517, H04N19/68, H04N19/70 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/60 using transform coding

Abstract

A compression rate is selected for a data file representing an image wherein an image source and an image characterization is identified. Selection of a compression rate can be based upon the image source and the image characterization. The image source can be medical imaging device such as x-ray, CT scan, MRI, mammogram, sonogram, or other types of images. The image characterization can be an anatomical content of the image, a purpose of study of the image, or a diagnostic value of the source of the image.

Claims

1. A method of processing a data file representing an image, the method comprising:

identifying an image source device associated with the image;

identifying image characterization data associated with the image; and

selecting a compression rate based upon the image source device and the image characterization data.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein image characterization data identifies an anatomical content of the image.

3. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein identifying the anatomical content of the image comprises putting image characterization data in an image data file.

4. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein identifying the anatomical content of the image comprises automatically identifying anatomical content with a computer.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein image characterization data identifies a purpose of study of the image.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein image characterization data identifies a diagnostic value of the image.

7. A method as defined in claim 6, wherein identifying the diagnostic value of the image comprises putting image characterization data on a computer interface.

8. A method as defined in claim 6, wherein identifying the diagnostic value of the image data comprises automatically identifying diagnostic value with a computer.

9. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the image source device is one of an MRI device, an x-ray device, a CT Scan device, a mammogram device, or a sonogram device.

10. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising compressing the data file using the selected compression rate.

11. A computer processing apparatus for processing a data file representing an image, the apparatus comprising:

a network communications interface that permits communications between the apparatus and a network;

a processor that receives the data file via the interface and identifies an image source device and an image characterization associated with the data file, and selects a compression rate based upon the identified image source device and the image characterization.

12. A method as defined in claim 11, wherein the image characterization data identifies an anatomical content of the image.

13. A method as defined in claim 12, wherein identifying the anatomical content of the image comprises putting image characterization data in an image data file.

14. A method as defined in claim 12, wherein identifying the anatomical content of the image comprises automatically identifying anatomical content with a computer.

15. A method as defined in claim 11, wherein image characterization data identifies a purpose of study of the image.

16. A method as defined in claim 11, wherein image characterization data identifies a diagnostic value of the image.

17. A method as defined in claim 16, wherein identifying the diagnostic value of the image comprises putting image characterization metadata on a computer in an image data file.

18. A method as defined in claim 16, wherein identifying the diagnostic value of the image data comprises automatically identifying diagnostic value with a computer.

19. A method as defined in claim 11, wherein the image source device is one of an MRI device, an x-ray device, a CT Scan device, a mammogram device, and a sonogram device.

20. A method as defined in claim 11, further comprising compressing the data file using the selected compression rate.

21. A program product comprising program code of machine readable media for causing a machine to perform operations of:

identifying an image source device associated with the image;

identifying image characterization data associated with the image; and

selecting a compression rate based upon the image source device and the image characterization data.

22. A program product as defined in claim 21, wherein image characterization data identifies an anatomical content of the image.

23. A program product as defined in claim 21, wherein image characterization data identifies a purpose of study of the image.

24. A program product as defined in claim 21 wherein image characterization data identifies a diagnostic value of the source of the image.

25. A program product as defined in claim 21, wherein the image source device is one of an MRI device, an x-ray device, a CT Scan device, a mammogram device, and a sonogram device.

26. A program product as defined in claim 21, further comprising compressing the data file using the selected compression rate.