Image transfer optimisation
First Claim
1. A method of retrieving an image for display, the image being stored in a compressed wavelet-based format having blocks encoded substantially independently, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a representation of the image at a first resolution;
(b) identifying a selected portion of the representation for reproduction at a second resolution, the second resolution being a resolution higher than the first resolution;
(c) identifying a first set of the blocks at the second resolution, the first set of blocks corresponding to the selected portion;
(d) retrieving, decompressing and rendering the first set of blocks to display;
(e) identifying a second set of blocks at the second resolution, the second set of blocks being spatially adjacent to the first set of blocks;
(f) retrieving and decompressing the second set of blocks; and
(g) re-rendering the decompressed first set of blocks using the decompressed second set of blocks to thereby display the selected portion at the second resolution.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of retrieving an image for display is disclosed. The image is stored in a compressed wavelet-based format having blocks encoded substantially independently. Initially, a representation (1300) of the image is provided at a first (low) resolution (1302). The user can then select a portion (1308) of the representation for reproduction at a predetermined, generally a second (higher), resolution. A first set of blocks is then identified (1322) corresponding to the selected portion(1310), which are then retrieved, decompressed and rendered to display. A second set of blocks (associated with the first set of blocks) is then identified (1326–1340), retrieved and decompressed. The rendered first set of blocks is then modified using the decompressed second set and displayed at the predetermined/second resolution.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of retrieving an image for display, the image being stored in a compressed wavelet-based format having blocks encoded substantially independently, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a representation of the image at a first resolution; (b) identifying a selected portion of the representation for reproduction at a second resolution, the second resolution being a resolution higher than the first resolution; (c) identifying a first set of the blocks at the second resolution, the first set of blocks corresponding to the selected portion; (d) retrieving, decompressing and rendering the first set of blocks to display; (e) identifying a second set of blocks at the second resolution, the second set of blocks being spatially adjacent to the first set of blocks; (f) retrieving and decompressing the second set of blocks; and (g) re-rendering the decompressed first set of blocks using the decompressed second set of blocks to thereby display the selected portion at the second resolution. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer readable medium comprising a computer program for retrieving an image for display, the image being stored in a compressed wavelet-based format having blocks encoded substantially independently, said program comprising:
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code for providing a representation of the image at a first resolution; code for identifying a selected portion of the representation for reproduction at a second resolution, the second resolution being a resolution higher than the first resolution; code for identifying a first set of the blocks at the second resolution, the first set of blocks corresponding to the selected portion; code for retrieving, decompressing and rendering the first set of blocks to display; code for identifying a second set of blocks at the second resolution, the second set of blocks being spatially adjacent to the first set of blocks; code for retrieving and decompressing the second set of blocks; and code for re-rendering the decompressed first set of blocks using the decompressed second set of blocks to thereby display the selected portion at the second resolution.
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13. A computer readable medium comprising a computer program for retrieving an image for display, the image being stored in a compressed wavelet-based format having blocks encoded substantially independently, said program being operable upon a client computer and comprising:
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code for providing a representation of the image at a first resolution; code for identifying a selected portion of the representation for reproduction at a second resolution, the second resolution being a resolution higher than the first resolution; code for identifying a first set of the blocks at the second resolution, the first set of blocks corresponding to the selected portion; code for transmitting an identification of the first set of blocks to a source of the image; code for receiving from the source blocks of image data corresponding to the first set of blocks and for decompressing the received blocks and rendering the decompressed received blocks to display at the second resolution; code for identifying a second set of blocks at the second resolution, the second set of blocks being spatially adjacent to the first set of blocks; code for transmitting an identification of the second set of blocks to the source; code for receiving from the source further blocks of image data corresponding to the second set of blocks; and code for re-rendering the first decompressed set of blocks using a decompression of the further blocks to thereby display the selected portion at the second resolution. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A computer readable medium comprising a computer program for delivering an image for display, the image being stored in a compressed wavelet-based format having blocks encoded substantially independently, said program being operable upon a server computer at which the image is stored and comprising:
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code for supplying to a client computer a representation of the image at a first resolution; code for first receiving from the client computer an identification of a first set of blocks in the first resolution of the image; code for determining from the identification of the first set of blocks, corresponding blocks of the stored image at a second resolution, the second resolution being a resolution higher than the first resolution; code for first transmitting the corresponding blocks to the client computer; code for second receiving from the client computer an identification of the second set of blocks, the second set of blocks being spatially adjacent to the first set of blocks in the first resolution of the image; code for determining from the identification of the second set of blocks, corresponding further blocks of the stored image at a second resolution; and code for second transmitting the corresponding further blocks to the client computer, the corresponding further blocks being adapted to be used to re-render the corresponding blocks to thereby display a selected portion of the image at the second resolution, said code for second receiving being operable during operation of the code for first transmitting, said code for second transmitting being operable on conclusion of operation of the code for first transmitting. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. Apparatus for retrieving an image for display, the image being stored in a compressed wavelet-based format having blocks encoded substantially independently, said apparatus comprising:
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a representation unit, adapted to represent the image at a first resolution; a first identification unit, adapted to identify a selected portion of the representation for reproduction at a second resolution, the second resolution being a resolution higher than the first resolution; a second identification unit, adapted to identify a first set of the blocks at the second resolution, the first set of blocks corresponding to the selected portion; a first retrieval unit, adapted to retrieve, decompress and render the first set of blocks to display; a third identification unit, adapted to identify a second set of blocks, the second set of blocks being spatially adjacent to the first set of blocks, at the second resolution; a second retrieval unit, adapted to retrieve and decompress the second set of blocks; and a modification unit, adapted to re-render the decompressed first set of blocks using the decompressed second set of blocks to thereby display the selected portion at the second resolution.
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19. A system for transmitting a digital image over a communication network, said system comprising:
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(a) an image storage device for storing a digital image in a compressed wavelet-based format having blocks encoded substantially independently and having a plurality of resolutions; (b) a client computer coupled to the communication network, wherein said client computer generates at least one request for interaction with the stored digital image, the one interactive request identifying a portion of the stored image, reproduced at a first resolution by said client computer pursuant to a previous request, for reproduction at a second resolution, the second resolution being a resolution higher than the first resolution; (c) a server computer coupled to the communication network and said storage device, said server computer performing the steps of; (i) supplying the stored image at the first resolution to said client computer in response to the previous request; (ii) for each interactive request received from said client computer; (A)(1) identifying a first set of blocks at the second resolution corresponding to the identified portion at the first resolution; (2) transmitting the first set of blocks to said client computer via the communication network; and (B)(1) identifying a second set of blocks at the second resolution spatially adjacent to the first set of blocks; (2) transmitting the second set of blocks to said client computer via the communication network, such that on receipt of the transmission of step (A)(2), the client computer decompresses and renders the first set of blocks to display, and upon subsequent receipt of the transmission of step (B)(2), the client computer decompresses the second set of blocks and re-renders the decompressed first set of blocks using the decompressed second set of blocks to display the identified portion at the second resolution.
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Specification