Method and apparatus for compression of images
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for compressing images comprising:
- precompressing a first representation of an image, said first representation based on pixels of a first type and a second type, to generate a precompressed representation of said image,identifying symbols in said precompressed representation of said image,comparing a plurality of identified symbols to each of at least one template from a library of templates to match identified symbols to templates, andgenerating a compressed representation of said image including a representation of templates, and an indication of a location and a template for symbols in said image.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An image compression method based on symbol matching is disclosed. Precompression of the image is performed prior to symbol matching to improve efficiency. A voting scheme is used in conjunction with a plurality of novel similarity tests to improve symbol matching accuracy. A template composition scheme achieves image enhancement. Other disclosed features provide further advantages. Apparatus for implementing the image compression method for image transmission, storage, and enhancement are included.
-
Citations
92 Claims
-
1. A method for compressing images comprising:
-
precompressing a first representation of an image, said first representation based on pixels of a first type and a second type, to generate a precompressed representation of said image, identifying symbols in said precompressed representation of said image, comparing a plurality of identified symbols to each of at least one template from a library of templates to match identified symbols to templates, and generating a compressed representation of said image including a representation of templates, and an indication of a location and a template for symbols in said image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
-
-
4. A method for compressing images comprising:
-
identifying symbols in a first representation of an image, comparing a plurality of identified symbols to each of at least one template from a library of templates to match identified symbols to templates, wherein said library is augmented during image compression by storing in said library symbols for which no matching template is found as new templates, and wherein each template is defined by a representation determined by a plurality of the symbols which match, wherein each template is defined by a unique spatial distribution of pixels, said distribution determined by the distributions of pixels of a plurality of the symbols which match said template, and generating a compressed representation of said image including a representation of templates, and an indication of a location and a template for symbols in said image. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 28)
-
-
7. A method for compressing images comprising:
-
identifying symbols in a first representation of an image, comparing a plurality of identified symbols to each of at least one template in a library of templates to match identified symbols to templates, said comparing step including identifying error locations, performing at least one test on said error locations and on other global features of the symbol and the template, and declaring a match between a symbol and a template only if all of the tests in at least one of a set of predetermined groups of tests are passed, and generating a compressed representation of said image including a representation of templates, and an indication of a location and a template for symbols in said image. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A method for compressing images comprising:
-
identifying symbols in a first representation of an image, comparing a plurality of identified symbols to each of at least one template in a library of templates to match identified symbols to templates, wherein each said template is defined by a representation based on a spatial distribution of pixels of a first type, and generating a compressed representation of said image including a representation of templates, and an indication of a location and a template for symbols in said image, wherein the representation of a plurality of said templates is a representation of the boundary of the spatial distribution of pixels of the first type for the templates.
-
-
24. A method for compressing images comprising:
-
identifying symbols in a first representation of an image, comparing a plurality of identified symbols to each of at least one template in a library of templates to match identified symbols to templates, and generating a compressed representation of said image including a representation of templates, and an indication of a location and a template for symbols in said image, wherein the representation of a plurality of said templates comprises a reference to a frame template for defining an outer boundary of said template and a list of hole templates with associated positions within said frame template for defining any inner boundaries of said template. - View Dependent Claims (25)
-
-
26. A method for compressing images comprising:
-
identifying symbols in a first representation of an image, comparing a plurality of identified symbols to each of at least one template in a library of templates to match identified symbols to templates, wherein the templates are indexed in said library according to template features, and wherein said step of comparing proceeds according to the index, whereby those templates more likely, based on features, to match a symbol are compared to the symbol before templates less likely to match, and those templates whose indexed features indicate that the likelihood of a match falls below a predetermined threshold are not compared, and generating a compressed representation of said image including a representation of templates, and an indication of a location and a template for symbols in said image.
-
-
51. Apparatus for compressing images comprising:
-
input means for accepting a first representation of an image, and processing means for a) precompressing said first representation of said image to generate a precompressed representation of said image, b) identifying symbols in said precompressed representation of said image, c) comparing a plurality of identified symbols to each of at least one template from a library of templates to match identified symbols to templates, and d) generating a compressed representation of said image including a representation of templates, and an indication of a location and a template corresponding to symbols in said image. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58)
-
-
52. Apparatus for compressing images comprising:
-
input means for accepting a, first representation of an image, and processing means for a) identifying symbols in said first representation of said image, b) comparing a plurality of identified symbols to each of at least one template from a library of templates to match identified symbols to templates, wherein said library is augmented during image compression by storing in said library symbols for which no matching template is found as new templates, and wherein each template is defined by representations determined by a plurality of the symbols which match, wherein each template is defined by a unique spatial distribution of pixels, said distribution determined by the distributions of pixels of a plurality of the symbols which match said template, and c) generating a compressed representation of said image including a representation of templates, and an indication of a location and a template corresponding to symbols in said image.
-
-
53. Apparatus for compressing images comprising:
-
input means for accepting a first representation of an image, and processing means for a) identifying symbols in said first presentation of said image, b) comparing a plurality of identified symbols to each of at least one template from a library of templates to match identified symbols to templates, said comparing step including identifying error locations, performing at least one test on said error locations and on other global features of the symbol and the template, and declaring a match between a symbol and a template only if all of the tests in at least one of a set of predetermined groups of tests are passed, and c) generating a compressed representation of said image including a representation of templates, and an indication of a location and a template corresponding to symbols in said image.
-
-
54. Apparatus for compressing images comprising:
-
input means for accepting a first representation of an image, and processing means for a) identifying symbols in said first representation of said image, b) comparing a plurality of identified symbols to each of at least one template from a library of templates to match identified symbols to templates, wherein each said template is defined by a representation based on a spatial distribution of pixels of a first type, and c) generating a compressed representation of said image including a representation of templates, and an indication of a location and a template corresponding to symbols in said image, wherein the representation of a plurality of said templates is a representation of the boundary of the spatial distribution of pixels of the first type for the templates.
-
-
55. Apparatus for compressing images comprising:
-
input means for accepting a first representation of an image, and processing means for a) identifying symbols in said first representation of said image, b) comparing a plurality of identified symbols to each of at least one template from a library of templates to match identified symbols to templates, and c) generating a compressed representation of said image including a representation of templates, and an indication of a location and a template corresponding to symbols in said image, wherein the representations of a plurality of said templates comprise a reference to a frame template for defining an outer boundary of the template and a list of hole templates with associated positions within said frame template for defining any inner boundaries of said template. - View Dependent Claims (59)
-
-
56. Apparatus for compressing images comprising:
-
input means for accepting a first representation of an image, and processing means for a) identifying symbols in said first representation of said image, b) comparing a plurality of identified symbols to each of at least one template from a library of templates to match identified symbols to templates, wherein the templates are indexed in said library according to template features, and wherein said step of comparing proceeds according to the index, whereby those templates more likely, based on features, to match a symbol are compared to the symbol before templates less likely to match, and those templates whose indexed features would preclude a match are not compared, and c) generating a compressed representation of said image including a representation of templates, and an indication of a location and a template corresponding to symbols in said image.
-
-
60. A method for compressing images comprising:
-
precompressing a first representation of an image, said first representation based on pixels of a first type and a second type, to generate a precompressed representation of said image, identifying symbols in said precompressed representation of said image, comparing a plurality of identified symbols to each of at least one template from a library of templates to match identified symbols to templates, and generating a compressed representation of said image including an indication of a location and a template for symbols in said image. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62)
-
-
63. A method for compressing images comprising:
-
identifying symbols in a first representation of an image, comparing a plurality of identified symbols to each of at least one template in a library of templates to match identified symbols to templates, said comparing step including identifying error locations, performing at least one test on said error locations and on other global features of the symbol and the template, and declaring a match between a symbol and a template only if all of the tests in at least one of a set of predetermined groups of tests are passed, and generating a compressed representation of said image including an indication of a location and a template for symbols in said image. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78)
-
-
79. A method for compressing images comprising:
-
identifying symbols in a first representation of an image, comparing a plurality of identified symbols to each of at least one template in a library of templates to match identified symbols to templates, wherein the templates are indexed in said library according to template features, and wherein said step of comparing proceeds according to the index, whereby those templates more likely, based on features, to match a symbol are compared to the symbol before templates less likely to match, and those templates whose indexed features indicate that the likelihood of a match falls below a predetermined threshold are not compared, and generating a compressed representation of said image including an indication of a location and a template for symbols in said image.
-
-
80. A method for compressing images comprising:
-
identifying symbols in a first representation of an image, said first representation based on rows and columns of pixels of a first type and a second type, comparing a plurality of identified symbols to each of at least one template in a library of templates to match identified symbols to templates, said comparing step including identifying error pixel locations which have a pixel of said first type in only said symbol or said template, but not both, and performing at least one test on said error pixel locations, wherein one of said at least one test is passed if the distance between each error pixel location and the nearest pixel of the first type in the template or symbol having a pixel of the second type at the error pixel location is less than a predetermined value, and generating a compressed representation of said image including a representation of templates, and an indication of a location and a template for symbols in said image.
-
-
81. A method for compressing images comprising:
-
identifying symbols in a first representation of an image, said first representation based on rows and columns of pixels of a first type and a second type, comparing a plurality of identified symbols to each of at least one template in a library of templates to match identified symbols to templates, said comparing step including identifying error pixel locations which have a pixel of said first type in only said symbol or said template, but not both, and performing at least one test on said error pixel locations, wherein one of said at least one test is passed if the distance between each error pixel location and the nearest pixel of the second type in the template or symbol having a pixel of the first type at the error pixel location is less than a predetermined value, and generating a compressed representation of said image including a representation of templates, and an indication of a location and a template for symbols in said image.
-
-
82. A method for compressing images comprising:
-
identifying symbols in a first representation of an image, said first representation based on rows and columns of pixels of a first type and a second type, comparing a plurality of identified symbols to each of at least one template in a library of templates to match identified symbols to templates, said comparing step including identifying error pixel locations which have a pixel of said first type in only said symbol or said template, but not both, and performing at least one test on said error pixel locations, wherein one of said at least one test depends on the sizes, shapes and orientations of contiguous groups of error pixel locations in some error map other than an error map consisting of all error pixel locations, and generating a compressed representation of said image including a representation of templates, and an indication of a location and a template for symbols in said image. - View Dependent Claims (83)
-
-
84. A method for compressing images comprising:
-
identifying symbols in a first representation of an image, said first representation based on rows and columns of pixels of a first type and a second type, comparing a plurality of identified symbols to each of at least one template in a library of templates to match identified symbols to templates, said comparing step including identifying error pixel locations which have a pixel of said first type in only said symbol or said template, but not both, and performing at least one test on said error pixel locations, wherein one of said at least one test is passed if inferred shifts of the symbol relative to the template are consistent, and generating a compressed representation of said image including a representation of templates, and an indication of a location and a template for symbols in said image. - View Dependent Claims (85, 86, 87)
-
-
88. A method for compressing images comprising:
-
identifying symbols in a first representation of an image, said first representation based on rows and columns of pixels of a first type and a second type, comparing a plurality of identified symbols to each of at least one template in a library of templates to match identified symbols to templates, said comparing step including identifying error pixel locations which have a pixel of said first type in only said symbol or said template, but not both, and performing at least one test on said error pixel locations, wherein one of said at least one test is passed if the difference in width between the template and the symbol is less than a predetermined value, and generating a compressed representation of said image including a representation of templates, and an indication of a location and a template for symbols in said image.
-
-
89. A method for compressing images comprising:
-
identifying symbols in a first representation of an image, said first representation based on rows and columns of pixels of a first type and a second type, comparing a plurality of identified symbols to each of at least one template in a library of templates to match identified symbols to templates, said comparing step including identifying error pixel locations which have a pixel of said first type in only said symbol or said template, but not both, and performing at least one test on said error pixel locations, wherein one of said at least one test is passed if the difference in height between the template and the symbol is less than a predetermined value, and generating a compressed representation of said image including a representation of templates, and an indication of a location and a template for symbols in said image.
-
-
90. A method for compressing images comprising:
-
identifying symbols in a first representation of an image, said first representation based on rows and columns of pixels of a first type and a second type, comparing a plurality of identified symbols to each of at least one template in a library of templates to match identified symbols to templates, said comparing step including identifying error pixel locations which have a pixel of said first type in only said symbol or said template but not both, and performing at least one test on said error pixel locations, wherein one of said at least one test is passed if the ratio of the number of pixels of the first type in the symbol and the number of pixels of the first type in the template is within a predetermined range, and generating a compressed representation of said image including a representation of templates, and an indication of a location and a template for symbols in said image.
-
-
91. A method for compressing images comprising:
-
identifying symbols in a first representation of an image, said first representation based on rows and columns of pixels of a first type and a second type, comparing a plurality of identified symbols to each of at least one template in a library of templates to match identified symbols to templates, said comparing step including identifying error pixel locations which have a pixel of said first type in only said symbol or said template, but not both, and performing at least one test on said error pixel locations, wherein one of said at least one test is passed if the ratio of the number of error pixel locations to the number of pixels of the first type in said template or said symbol, or the minimum or maximum of the two, is less than a predetermined value, and generating a compressed representation of said image including a representation of templates, and an indication of a location and a template for symbols in said image.
-
-
92. A method for compressing images comprising:
-
identifying symbols in a first representation of an image, said first representation based on rows and columns of pixels of a first type and a second type, comparing a plurality of identified symbols to each of at least one template in a library of templates to match identified symbols to templates, said comparing step including identifying error pixel locations which have a pixel of said first type in only said symbol or said template but not both, and performing at least one test on said error pixel locations, wherein one of said at least one test is passed if the ratio of the number of error pixel locations to the number of pixels of the first type adjacent to a pixel of said second type in said template or said symbol, or the minimum or maximum of the two, is less than a predetermined value, and generating a compressed representation of said image including a representation of templates, and an indication of a location and a template for symbols in said image.
-
Specification