US5148497A — Fractal-based image compression and interpolation

Claim 1

Independent Claim 125 words

An image interpolator for converting an original image into an enhanced image, the interpolator comprising: rule logic for embodying a rule specifying how pixel patterns associated with first subband immage data transform into corresponding pixel patterns associated with second subband image data, said first and second subband image data being spatial frequency subband image data derived from a reference image that is generated by a single sensor; and conversion logic for generating the enhanced image from the original image based upon said rule, wherein said conversion logic comprises: means for generating high resolution subband image data from the second subband image data in accordance with said rule; and means for combining the original image with the high resolution image data to generate the enhanced image.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 125 words

An image interpolator for converting an original image into an enhanced image, the interpolator comprising: rule logic for embodying a rule specifying how pixel patterns associated with first subband immage data transform into corresponding pixel patterns associated with second subband image data, said first and second subband image data being spatial frequency subband image data derived from a reference image that is generated by a single sensor; and conversion logic for generating the enhanced image from the original image based upon said rule, wherein said conversion logic comprises: means for generating high resolution subband image data from the second subband image data in accordance with said rule; and means for combining the original image with the high resolution image data to generate the enhanced image.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 16 words

The image interpolator of claim 1 wherein said reference image is derived from the original image.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 21 words

The image interpolator of claim 2 wherein said reference image is the original image or a subset of the original image.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 33 words

The image interpolator of claim 3 wherein the original image is decomposable into a pyramid of bandpass images and said first and second subband image data correspond to different images of said pyramid.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 21 words

The image interpolator of claim 4 wherein said first and second subband image data correspond to neighboring images of said pyramid.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 28 words

The image interpolator of claim 5 wherein successive images of said pyramid of bandpass images are scaled versions of the immediately preceding image from which it was derived.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 24 words

The image interpolator of claim 6 wherein a scaling factor of R relates neighboring levels of the image pyramid, R being a positive integer.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 12 words

The image interpolator of claim 7 wherein R is equal to 2.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 22 words

The image interpolator of claim 2 wherein said first and second subband image data correspond to neighboring subbands of the reference image.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 22 words

The image interpolator of claim 1 wherein said second subband image data represents higher spatial frequencies than said first subband image data.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 30 words

The image interpolator of claim 1 wherein said high resolution subband image data has a spatial frequency resolution that is higher than the spatial frequency resolution of the original image.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 41 words

The image interpolator of claim 1 wherein said rule logic further comprises: a filter for generating said first and second subband image data from the original image; and means for deriving said rule from said first and second subband image data.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 75 words

The image interpolator of claim 12 wherein said first and second subband image data are derived from the original image, said first and second subband image data corresponding respectively to a first and a second subband image; and said rule deriving means comprises table generating logic for generating a table relating each of a plurality of N×N pixel patterns from said first subband image to a corresponding M×M pixel pattern of said second subband image.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 71 words

The image interpolator of claim 13 wherein said conversion logic comprises: means for generating high resolution subband image data from the second subband image data in accordance with said rule, said high resolution subband image data having a spatial frequency resolution that is higher than the spatial frequency resolution of the original image; and means for combining the original image with the high resolution image data to generate the enhanced image.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 74 words

The image interpolator of claim 13 wherein said conversion logic comprises: selection logic for selecting an N×N pixel pattern of the second subband image; search logic for finding an N×N pixel pattern in the table which best matches the selected N×N pixel pattern; and assignment logic for assigning to corresponding locations within the high resolution subband image data an M×M pixel pattern from the table that is associated with the identified N×N pixel pattern.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 78 words

The image interpolator of claim 12 wherein said first and second subband image data are derived from the original image, said first and second subband image data corresponding respectively to a first and a second subband image; and said rule deriving means comprises neural network generating logic for generating an associative neural network relating each of a plurality of N×N pixel patterns from said first subband image to a corresponding M×M pixel pattern of said second subband image.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 79 words

The image interpolator of claim 12 wherein said first and second subband image data are derived from the original image, said first and second subband image data corresponding respectively to a first and a second subband image; and said rule deriving means comprises coefficient generating logic for generating coefficients for a set of equations relating each of a plurality of N×N pixel patterns from said first subband image to a corresponding M×M pixel pattern of said second subband image.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 22 words

The image interpolator of claim 12 wherein said filter employs a Gaussian-like filter to generate said first and second subband image data.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 23 words

The image interpolator of claim 12 wherein said filter employs a quadrature mirror filter to generate said first and second subband image data.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 120 words

A method for converting an original image into an enhanced image, the method comprising: determining a rule according to which pixel patterns associated with first subband image data are transformed into corresponding pixel patterns associated with second subband image data, said first and second subband image data being spatial frequency subband image data derived from a reference image that is generated by a single sensor; and generating the enhanced image from the original image based upon said rule, wherein said step of generating the enhanced image comprises: generating high resolution subband image data from the second subband image data in accordance with said rule; and combining the original image with the high resolution image data to generate the enhanced image.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 120 words

A method for converting an original image into an enhanced image, the method comprising: determining a rule according to which pixel patterns associated with first subband image data are transformed into corresponding pixel patterns associated with second subband image data, said first and second subband image data being spatial frequency subband image data derived from a reference image that is generated by a single sensor; and generating the enhanced image from the original image based upon said rule, wherein said step of generating the enhanced image comprises: generating high resolution subband image data from the second subband image data in accordance with said rule; and combining the original image with the high resolution image data to generate the enhanced image.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 20 wherein said reference image is derived from the original image.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 21 wherein said reference image is the original image or a subset of the original image.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 33 words

The image interpolator of claim 22 wherein the original image is decomposable into a pyramid of bandpass images and said first and second subband image data correspond to different images of said pyramid.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 21 words

The image interpolator of claim 23 wherein said first and second subband image data correspond to neighboring images of said pyramid.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 28 words

The image interpolator of claim 24 wherein successive images of said pyramid of bandpass images are scaled versions of the immediately preceding image from which it was derived.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 24 words

The image interpolator of claim 25 wherein a scaling factor or R relates neighboring levels of the image pyramid, R being a positive integer.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 12 words

The image interpolator of claim 26 wherein R is equal to 2.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 22 words

The image interpolator of claim 21 wherein said first and second subband image data correspond to neighboring subbands of the reference image.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 20 wherein said second subband image data represents higher spatial frequencies than said first subband image data.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 20 wherein said high resolution subband image data has a spatial frequency resolution that is higher than the spatial frequency resolution of the original image.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 20 wherein said rule determining step further comprises: filtering said original image to generate said first and second subband image data; and deriving said rule from said first and second subband image data.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 57 words

The method of claim 31 wherein said first and second subband image data correspond respectively to a first and a second subband image; and said rule deriving step comprises generating a table relating each of a plurality of N×N pixel patterns from said first subband image to a corresponding M×M pixel pattern of said second subband image.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 68 words

The method of claim 32 wherein said enhanced image generating step comprises: generating high resolution subband image data from the second subband image data in accordance with said rule, said high resolution subband image data having a spatial frequency resolution that is higher than the spatial frequency resolution of the original image; and combining the original image with the high resolution image data to generate the enhanced image.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 66 words

The method of claim 32 wherein said enhanced image generating step comprises: selecting an N×N pixel pattern of the second subband image; finding an N×N pixel pattern in the table which best matches the selected N×N pixel pattern; and assigning to corresponding locations within the high resolution subband image data an M×M pixel pattern from the table that is associated with the identified N×N pixel pattern.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 31 wherein said filtering step employs a Gaussian-like filter to generate said first and second subband image data.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 31 wherein said filtering step employs a quadrature mirror filter to generate said first and second subband image data.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1995-09-15	1996-03-16	1996-09-15	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1999-09-15	2000-03-16	2000-09-15	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2003-09-15	2004-03-16	2004-09-15	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Fractal-based image compression and interpolation

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