Sample level variation for spatial sub-sampled images

• US 8,055,087 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2008
• Issued: 11/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Paniconi, Marco
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, KANJIBHAI B
• Application Number:
  US12/111,927
• Publication Number:
  US 20090268975A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,288 Days
• Field of Search: 382/173, 382/232, 382/238, 382/254, 382/260, 382275-276, 382/293, 382/312, 382/299, 375/240.12, 375/240.21, 375/240.29, 375/287
• US Class Current: 382/232
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3935 with modification of image resolution, i.e. determining the values of picture elements at new relative positions

Abstract

A method for performing a sample level variation on an irregular sample is described herein. An initial sample level value for the sample is determined. An area of influence of the sample including pixels for which the sample is a factor in the prediction thereof is computed. Prediction errors of pixels in the area of influence are computed, along with a prediction error of the sample based on the prediction errors of the pixels. If the prediction error of the sample exceeds a prediction error threshold, a sample level change for the sample is computed based on only the prediction errors of the pixels. If the sample level change is less than a level change threshold, a new sample level value is assigned to the sample based on the sample level change.

Claims

1. A computerized method for performing a sample level variation on an irregular spatial sample, comprising:

determining an initial sample level value for the sample;

computing an area of influence of the sample, the area of influence including pixels for which the sample is a factor in a prediction thereof;

computing prediction errors of pixels in the area of influence;

computing a prediction error of the sample from the prediction errors of the pixels;

computing, if the prediction error of the sample exceeds a prediction error threshold, a sample level change for the sample based only on the prediction errors of the pixels; and

assigning, if the sample level change is less than a level change threshold, a new sample level value to the sample based on the sample level change.

2. The computerized method of claim 1, further comprising:

computing new prediction errors of the pixels if the sample level change is computed.

3. The computerized method of claim 2 wherein the area of influence includes a pixel if a filter coefficient corresponding to the pixel and the sample exceeds a sample influence threshold.

4. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which when executed by a data processing system cause the data processing system to perform operations that process data, the operations comprising:

determining an initial sample level value for the sample;

computing an area of influence of the sample, the area of influence including pixels for which the sample is a factor in a prediction thereof;

computing prediction errors of pixels in the area of influence;

computing a prediction error of the sample from the prediction errors of the pixels;

computing, if the prediction error of the sample exceeds a prediction error threshold, a sample level change for the sample based only on the prediction errors of the pixels; and

assigning, if the sample level change is less than a level change threshold, a new sample level value to the sample based on the sample level change.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 4, the operations further comprising:

computing new prediction errors of the pixels if the sample level change is computed.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 5 wherein the area of influence includes a pixel if a filter coefficient corresponding to the pixel and the sample exceeds a sample influence threshold.

7. A system comprising:

a processor coupled to a bus;

a memory coupled to the processor through the bus;

instructions executed by the processor from the memory to cause the processor

to determine an initial sample level value for the sample,

compute an area of influence of the sample, the area of influence including pixels for which the sample is a factor in a prediction thereof,

compute prediction errors of pixels in the area of influence;

compute a prediction error of the sample from the prediction errors of the pixels,

compute, if the prediction error of the sample exceeds a prediction error threshold, a sample level change for the sample based only on the prediction errors of the pixels,

and assign, if the sample level change is less than a level change threshold, a new sample level value to the sample based on the sample level change.

8. The system of claim 7, the instructions further comprising:

computing new prediction errors of the pixels if the sample level change is computed.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the area of influence includes a pixel if a filter coefficient corresponding to the pixel and the sample exceeds a sample influence threshold.

10. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving image data comprising pixels and an irregular spatial sample;

means for determining an initial sample level value for the sample;

means for computing an area of influence of the sample, the area of influence including pixels for which the sample is a factor in a prediction thereof;

means for computing prediction errors of pixels in the area of influence;

means for computing a prediction error of the sample from the prediction errors of the pixels;

means for computing, if the prediction error of the sample exceeds a prediction error threshold, a sample level change for the sample based only on the prediction errors of the pixels;

means for assigning, if the sample level change is less than a level change threshold, a new sample level value to the sample based on the sample level change; and

means for outputting the sample.