System and method for automatically processing image data to provide images of optimal perceptual quality
First Claim
1. An image processing system for receiving image data from an image data source, performing at least one image processing operation of a plurality image processing operations in connection with image processing selection information to generate psychovisually optimized processed image data, and providing the psychovisually optimized processed image data to a downstream utilization element, the image processing system characterized by:
- A. an image data processing section for performing said at least one image processing operation in connection with image data input thereto, the image data processing section performing said at least one image processing operation in relation to processing operation parameter information to generate said psychovisually optimized processed image data; and
B. a characteristic processing section for receiving source characteristic information and downstream utilization element characteristic information defining at least one selected characteristic of said image data source and downstream utilization element and for generating said processing operation parameter information in response to the image processing selection information, the source characteristic information, the downstream utilization element characteristic information, and predetermined psychovisual attributes, said processing operation parameter information enabling the image data processing section to generate the psychovisually optimized processed image data.
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Abstract
An image processing system that automatically optimizes the perceptual quality of images undergoing a series of selected image-processing operations. The automatic optimization capability allows the system to bypass expensive and time-consuming trial-and-error methods associated with interactive methods. The system consists of a set of image-processing operations, an architecture, and an intelligent control. These elements take into consideration profiles of sources from which the images are generated, profiles of intended applications, and the impact that image processing operations (individually or in concert) will have on perceived image quality. The analysis uses a body of relationships linking human perception of image quality with objective metrics (such as sharpness, grain, tone, and color) of image content. The relationships used are based upon extensive psychovisual testing, using human observers and photographic images. The intelligent control embodies the test results and thereby functions as a synthetic human observer. Controlling a collection of adjustable parameters in the requested image-processing operations, it works automatically to maximize subjective quality for the resulting picture. When optimal parameter values have been determined, the system then subjects the image data, itself, to the corresponding processing operations and provides an image to the end application. This is all achieved without operator intervention other than initially selecting the set of processing operations. The functionality of the system may be implemented in a variety of physical architectures, including computer workstations, and including communicating sets of discrete components in which the computations and control are distributed among the components.
129 Citations
31 Claims
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1. An image processing system for receiving image data from an image data source, performing at least one image processing operation of a plurality image processing operations in connection with image processing selection information to generate psychovisually optimized processed image data, and providing the psychovisually optimized processed image data to a downstream utilization element, the image processing system characterized by:
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A. an image data processing section for performing said at least one image processing operation in connection with image data input thereto, the image data processing section performing said at least one image processing operation in relation to processing operation parameter information to generate said psychovisually optimized processed image data; and B. a characteristic processing section for receiving source characteristic information and downstream utilization element characteristic information defining at least one selected characteristic of said image data source and downstream utilization element and for generating said processing operation parameter information in response to the image processing selection information, the source characteristic information, the downstream utilization element characteristic information, and predetermined psychovisual attributes, said processing operation parameter information enabling the image data processing section to generate the psychovisually optimized processed image data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An image processing method for processing image data received from an image data source, performing at least one image processing operation in connection with image processing selection information to generate psychovisually optimized processed image data, and providing the psychovisually optimized processed image data to a downstream utilization element, said method characterized by:
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A. receiving source characteristic information from the image data source and downstream utilization element charateristic information from the downstream utilization element, said source characteristic information and downstream utilization element characteristic information defining at least one selected characteristic of said image data source and said downstream utilization element, and generating processing operation parameter information in response to the image processing selection information, the source characteristic information, the downstream utilization element characteristic information, and predetermined psychovisual attributes, said processing operation parameter information enabling an image data processing section to generate the psychovisually optimized processed image data; and B. performing said at least one image processing operation in the image data processing section to generate a processed image from said psychovisually optimized processed image data in response to said processing operation parameter information. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An image processing system for receiving input image data defining an input image from image source, processing the input image data in accordance with at least one image processing operation, and generating output image data corresponding to an output image in which predetermined psychovisual attributes have been automatically optimized for a select downstream application and the at least one image processing operation, said system comprising:
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means for acquiring the input image data formatted as a plurality of input image data points corresponding, respectively, to pixels of the input image and objective metrics correlated with the predetermined psychovisual attributes of the input image; a characteristic processing section for utilizing said objective metrics to evaluate an effect that the at least one image processing operation and the select downstream application will have on said objective metrics of the input image data, automatically selecting an optimal application of the at least one image processing operation, and generating processing parameter information for dictating a sequence and degree to which said optimal application of the at least one image processing operation is to be applied to the input image data; and an image data processing section for receiving the input image data and said processing parameter information and in response thereto applying the at least one image processing operation to the input image data in accordance with said image processing parameter information to transform the input image data into the output image data for constructing the output image having optimal perceived quality.
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31. An image process method for receiving input image data defining an input image from an image source, processing the input image data in accordance with at least one image processing operation, and generating output image data defining an output image in which predetermined psychovisual attributes have been automatically optimized for a select downstream application and the at least one image processing operation, said method comprising the steps of:
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acquiring the image data formatted as a plurality of input image data points corresponding, respectively, to pixels of the input image and objective metrics con dated with the predetermined psychovisual attributes of the input image; evaluating an effect that the at least one image processing operation and the select downstream application will have on said objective metrics of the input image data; automatically selecting an optimal application of the at least one image processing operation; generating processing parameter information for dictating a sequence and degree to which the at least one image processing operation is to be applied to the input image data; and applying the at least one image processing operation to the input image data in accordance with said processing parameter information to transform the input image data into the output image data for constructing the out image having optimal/perceived image quality.
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Specification