Apparatus and methods for digital image compression
First Claim
1. A method of digital image compression, the method comprising:
- identifying a plurality of areas of interest in a sequence of related images, wherein a size of the identified areas of interest corresponds to an angular coverage of an average human fovea at a predetermined viewing distance;
using a histogram to determine most popular identified areas of interest, wherein the most popular identified areas of interest comprise less than all of the plurality of identified areas of interest; and
encoding the most popular identified areas of interest at a first quality level and unidentified areas of the image at a second and lower quality level than the most popular identified areas to produce a single compressed copy of each image which can be decoded at a decoder.
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Abstract
Methods and systems for compression of digital images (still or motion sequences) are provided wherein predetermined criteria may be used to identify a plurality of areas of interest in the image, and each area of interest is encoded with a corresponding quality level (Q-factor). In particular, the predetermined criteria may be derived from measurements of where a viewing audience is focusing their gaze (area of interest). In addition, the predetermined criteria may be used to create areas of interest in an image in order to focus an observer'"'"'s attention to that area. Portions of the image outside of the areas of interest are encoded at a lower quality factor and bit rate. The result is higher compression ratios without adversely affecting a viewer'"'"'s perception of the overall quality of the image.
26 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of digital image compression, the method comprising:
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identifying a plurality of areas of interest in a sequence of related images, wherein a size of the identified areas of interest corresponds to an angular coverage of an average human fovea at a predetermined viewing distance; using a histogram to determine most popular identified areas of interest, wherein the most popular identified areas of interest comprise less than all of the plurality of identified areas of interest; and encoding the most popular identified areas of interest at a first quality level and unidentified areas of the image at a second and lower quality level than the most popular identified areas to produce a single compressed copy of each image which can be decoded at a decoder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for digital image compression, the system comprising:
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means for a group of viewers to identify a plurality of areas of interest in a sequence of related images provided by a display, wherein a size of the identified areas of interest corresponds to an angular coverage of an average human fovea at a predetermined viewing distance; means for using a histogram to determine most popular identified areas of interest, wherein the most popular identified areas of interest comprise less than all of the plurality of identified areas of interest; and an encoder adapted to encode the most popular identified areas of interest at a first quality level, and unidentified areas of the image at a second and lower quality level than the most popular identified areas to produce a single compressed copy of each image that can be decoded at a decoder. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification