Non-linear aggregation mapping compression of image data and method
First Claim
1. A method of non-linearly aggregating pixel data into aggregation segments and storing the pixel data comprising the steps of:
- retrieving pixel data from a data source, the pixel data having levels of intensity scale defining information contained within the pixel data, the intensity scale levels extending along a scale of intensity from a minimum intensity end to a maximum intensity end with center intensity scale levels therebetween;
defining a non-linear series of short and extended aggregation segments along the scale of intensity of the retrieved pixel data, the short segments in the series having the same length formed by S levels of intensity scale, and the extended segments in the series having varying lengths formed by more than S levels of intensity scale;
determining an aggregation level within each aggregation segment of the segmented scale of intensity, each aggregation level corresponding to an intensity scale level within the aggregation segment;
aggregating the intensity scale levels within each aggregation segment of the segmented scale of intensity, by setting all of the intensity scale levels therein to the aggregation level for that segment, which introduces partial loss of intensity scale information in the aggregation segments, the amount of intensity scale information lost from each aggregation segment is greater for the extended segments; and
storing the non-linearly aggregated pixel data in data storage means.
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Abstract
General apparatus 10 for carrying out non-linear aggregation compression and storage of pixel data is presented. Scanner device 10S receives record documents 10R containing record images 10D for providing analog data 10A. Analog-to-digital converter 12A digitizes the amplitudes of the analog data to provide digital data stream 12D. Mapping device 14 defines a non-linear series of aggregation segments (A, B, C . . . X, Y, and Z) along the scale of intensity which are aggregated to an aggregation level (a, b, c, . . . x, y, or z) within each segment. The basic steps of the general method are: Retrieving pixel image data from a data source to form data stream 12D; Defining a non-linear series of aggregation segments; Determining an aggregation level within each aggregation segment; Aggregating the intensity scale levels within each aggregation segment; Compressing the aggregated pixel data; and Storing the non-linearly aggregated pixel data in a memory device.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. A method of non-linearly aggregating pixel data into aggregation segments and storing the pixel data comprising the steps of:
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retrieving pixel data from a data source, the pixel data having levels of intensity scale defining information contained within the pixel data, the intensity scale levels extending along a scale of intensity from a minimum intensity end to a maximum intensity end with center intensity scale levels therebetween; defining a non-linear series of short and extended aggregation segments along the scale of intensity of the retrieved pixel data, the short segments in the series having the same length formed by S levels of intensity scale, and the extended segments in the series having varying lengths formed by more than S levels of intensity scale; determining an aggregation level within each aggregation segment of the segmented scale of intensity, each aggregation level corresponding to an intensity scale level within the aggregation segment; aggregating the intensity scale levels within each aggregation segment of the segmented scale of intensity, by setting all of the intensity scale levels therein to the aggregation level for that segment, which introduces partial loss of intensity scale information in the aggregation segments, the amount of intensity scale information lost from each aggregation segment is greater for the extended segments; and storing the non-linearly aggregated pixel data in data storage means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. Apparatus for non-linearly aggregating pixel data into aggregation segments and the storing pixel data, comprising:
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data source means providing the pixel data having levels of intensity scale which define the information contained within the pixel data, the intensity scale levels extending along a scale of intensity from a minimum intensity end to a maximum intensity end with center intensity scale levels therebetween; retrieval means for retrieving the pixel data from the data source means; definition means responsive to the pixel data retrieved by the retrieval means, for defining a non-linear series of short and extended aggregation segments along the scale of intensity, the short segments in the series having the same length formed by S levels of intensity scale, and the extended segments in the series having varying lengths formed by more than S levels of intensity scale; determination means responsive to the series of aggregation segments from the definition means, for determining an aggregation level within each aggregation segment, each aggregation level corresponding to an intensity scale level within the aggregation segment; aggregation means responsive to the aggregation segments and the aggregation levels therein, for aggregating the intensity scale levels within each aggregation segment by setting all of the intensity scale levels to the aggregation level for that segment, which introduces partial loss of intensity scale information in the aggregation segments, the amount of intensity scale information lost from each aggregation segment is greater for the extended segments; and data storage means for storing the non-linearly aggregated pixel data in data storage means. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method of processing a pixel image comprising the steps of:
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retrieving an input pixel image having levels of intensity extending along a scale of intensity from a minimum intensity end to a maximum intensity end with center intensity scale levels therebetween; generating an intensity histogram of the input pixel image having N intensity levels along the scale of intensity; defining M segments of intensity levels in the input image based on the intensity histogram, including a foreground segment formed by pixels near one end of the scale of intensity and a background segment formed by pixels near the other end of the scale of intensity and center segments therebetween, in which is M<
N;setting an aggregation level value within each of the M segments of intensity levels defining a non-linear series of M aggregation levels; and converting the input image of N intensity levels to a converted image of M intensity levels. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47)
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Specification