Image coding method and apparatus and image decoding method and apparatus

• US 7,212,572 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2002
• Issued: 05/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: JBF Partners Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Monolith Company Limited
• Inventors: Akiyoshi, Nobuo, Akiyoshi, Kozo
• Primary Examiner(s): DIEP, NHON THANH
• Application Number:
  US10/200,157
• Publication Number:
  US 20030068090A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,743 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 375/240.11
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/186 the unit being a colour or a chrominance component
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/33 in the spatial domain
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/51 Motion estimation or motion compensation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/523 with sub-pixel accuracy
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/53 Multi-resolution motion estimation; Hierarchical motion estimation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/54 using feature points or meshes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/577 Motion compensation with bidirectional frame interpolation, i.e. using B-pictures

Abstract

An image processing method and apparatus for encoding and decoding image data in which the coding and decoding method may be simplified based on factors such as processing speed requirements. In encoding, an image input unit receives a first image and a second image (key frames). A matching processor begins performing a multiresolutional analysis using pixel-by-pixel matching between the images but, due to predetermined factors or settings, either discontinues the analysis or switches to a simplified method of analysis prior to the final resolution level. If the analysis is discontinued during encoding (i.e. at the encoding side), the analysis may be completed at the decoding side prior to conducting the decoding and the decoding side may be arranged accordingly.

Claims

1. An image coding apparatus configured to analyze images, said images comprising a first image and a second image, in a multiresolutional manner, characterized in that:

the analyzing images in a multiresolutional manner comprises a plurality of stages corresponding to a plurality of resolutions, said plurality of stages comprising at least a first stage and a final stage, and wherein said analyzing comprises at least a standard method and a simplified method; and

the analyzing is switched to the simplified method at a stage prior to the final stage;

the image coding apparatus comprising;

a matching processor which generates corresponding point data based on said analysis of said first image and second image in a multiresolutional manner; and

a stream generator which outputs, as coded data, the corresponding point data generated by said matching processor;

wherein said matching processor switches the analyzing to the simplified method at a stage prior to reaching a final resolution of the first and second images, and corresponding point data that have been generated prior to switching to the simplified method are output on the assumption that the simplified method is to be executed at a decoding side.

2. An image coding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the simplified method comprises projecting corresponding point data of the first and second images at non-final resolution onto the first and second images at final resolution.

3. An image coding apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a key frame compressing unit which compresses the first and second images respectively in an intra-frame format,

wherein compressed data from said key frame compressing unit are output in a manner that the compressed data are incorporated into the coded data.

4. An image coding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the simplified method comprises acquiring corresponding point data at a final resolution by performing block matching based on corresponding point data of the first and second images at a non-final resolution.

10. image coding method according to claim 1, wherein the simplified method comprises acquiring corresponding point data at a final resolution by performing block matching based on corresponding point data of the first and second images at a non-final resolution.

5. A computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program for image coding, which when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform the functions of:

preparing a multiresolutional image for a first image and a second image;

conducting analysis on the multiresolutional image, wherein the analysis comprises a plurality of stages corresponding to a plurality of resolutions, said plurality of stages comprising at least a first stage and a final stage and wherein said analysis comprises at least a standard method and a simplified method; and

switching the analysis to the simplified method at a stage prior to the final stage;

generating corresponding point data based on said analysis of said first image and second image in a multiresolutional manner; and

outputting the corresponding point data generated by said generating, wherein said switching the analysis comprises switching to the simplified method at a stage prior to reaching a final resolution of the first and second images, and corresponding point data that have been generated prior to switching to a simplified method are output on the assumption that the simplified method is to be executed at a decoding side.

6. An image coding method, comprising:

analyzing a first image and a second image in a multiresolutional manner, wherein said multiresolutional manner comprises a plurality of stages corresponding to a plurality of resolutions, said plurality of stages comprising at least a first stage and a final stage and wherein said analyzing comprises at least a standard method and a simplified method;

switching the analysis to the simplified method at a stage prior to the final stage;

generating corresponding point data based on said analysis of said first image and second image in a multiresolutional manner; and

outputting the corresponding point data generated by said generating, wherein said switching the analysis comprises switching to the simplified method at a stage prior to reaching a final resolution of the first and second images, and corresponding point data that have been generated prior to switching to a simplified method are output on the assumption that the simplified method is to be executed at a decoding side.

7. An image coding method according to claim 6, wherein said plurality of resolutions comprises a multiresolutional image hierarchy and said analyzing comprises conducting analysis on the multiresolutional image hierarchy.

8. An image coding method according to claim 6, wherein the simplified method comprises projecting corresponding point data of the first and second images at non-final resolution onto the first and second images at final resolution.

9. An image coding method according to claim 6, further comprising:

compressing the first and second images respectively in an intra-frame format; and

outputting compressed data obtained by said compressing together with the corresponding point data.

11. An image coding method, comprising:

analyzing an image in a multiresolutional manner, wherein said multiresolutional manner comprises a plurality of stages corresponding to a plurality of resolutions, said plurality of stages comprising at least a first stage and a final stage and wherein said analyzing comprises at least a standard method and a simplified method;

switching the analysis to the simplified method at a stage prior to the final stage;

generating analysis data based on said analysis in a multiresolutional manner; and

outputting the analysis data generated by said generating;

wherein the analysis data that have been generated prior to switching to a simplified method are output on the assumption that the simplified method is to be executed at a decoding side.