Method and apparatus for encoding images using a specified data format

Claim 1

A method for encoding image data, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving said image data; (b) generating an OPERATING SYSTEM header for said image data; (c) generating a BITSTREAM header in accordance with said image data; (d) generating at least one image component data field in accordance with said image data; and (e) transmitting said OPERATING SYSTEM header, said BITSTREAM header, and said at least one image component data field, wherein step (d) comprises the steps of: (1) generating a Y-COMPONENT DATA field in accordance with said image data; (2) generating a U-COMPONENT DATA field in accordance with said image data; and (3) generating a V-COMPONENT DATA field in accordance with said image data, wherein: step (d) (1) comprises the steps of: (A) generating a Y-component four-byte MC VECTOR COUNT field; (B) generating a Y-component MC VECTORS field; and (C) generating a Y-component ENCODED DATA field, comprising interleaved binary tree codes and region codings; step (d) (2) comprises the steps of: (A) generating a U-component four-byte MC VECTOR COUNT field; (B) generating a U-component MC VECTORS field; and (C) generating a U-component ENCODED DATA field, comprising interleaved binary tree codes and region codes; and step (d) (3) comprises the steps of: (A) generating a V-component four-byte MC VECTOR COUNT field; (B) generating a V-component MC VECTORS field; and (C) generating a V-component ENCODED DATA field, comprising interleaved binary tree codes and region codes.

Claim 2

A method for encoding image data, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving said image data; (b) generating an OPERATING SYSTEM header for said image data; (c) generating a BITSTREAM header in accordance with said image data; (d) generating at least one image component data field in accordance with said image data; and (e) transmitting said OPERATING SYSTEM header, said BITSTREAM header, and said at least one image component data field, wherein step (d) comprises the steps of: (1) generating a Y-COMPONENT DATA field in accordance with said image data; (2) generating a U-COMPONENT DATA field in accordance with said image data; and (3) generating a V-COMPONENT DATA field in accordance with said image data, wherein: step (d) (1) comprises the steps of: (A) generating a Y-component four-byte MC VECTOR COUNT field; (B) generating a Y-component MC VECTORS field; and (C) generating a Y-component ENCODED DATA field, comprising interleaved binary tree codes and region codings; step (d) (2) comprises the steps of: (A) generating a U-component four-byte MC VECTOR COUNT field; (B) generating a U-component MC VECTORS field; and (C) generating a U-component ENCODED DATA field, comprising interleaved binary tree codes and region codes; and step (d) (3) comprises the steps of: (A) generating a V-component four-byte MC VECTOR COUNT field; (B) generating a V-component MC VECTORS field; and (C) generating a V-component ENCODED DATA field, comprising interleaved binary tree codes and region codes.

Claim 10

A method for encoding image data, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving said image data; (b) generating an OPERATING SYSTEM header for said image data; (c) generating a BITSTREAM header in accordance with said image data, wherein step (c) comprises the steps of: (1) generating a two-byte unsigned FLAGS field, wherein step (c) (1) comprises the steps of: (A) generating a BSSTILLPERIOD bit; (B) generating a BSSTILL bit; (C) generating a BSSTILLNEXT bit; (D) generating a BSMCOFF bit; (E) generating a BSDISPOSABLE bit; and (F) generating a BSBUFFER bit; (2) generating a four-byte integer DATA SIZE field; (3) generating a one-byte integer CB OFFSET field; (4) generating a two-byte integer IMAGE HEIGHT field; (5) generating a two-byte integer IMAGE WIDTH field; (6) generating a four-byte integer Y DATA OFFSET field; (7) generating a four-byte integer U DATA OFFSET field; (8) generating a four-byte integer V DATA OFFSET field; and (9) generating a sixteen-byte integer ALT QUANT field, wherein step (c) (9) comprises the step of generating one or more one-byte pairs of vector-quantization table numbers, wherein the high-order bits of each byte correspond to a primary vector-quantization table and the low-order bits of each byte correspond to a secondary vector-quantization table; (d) generating a Y-COMPONENT DATA field in accordance with said image data, wherein step (d) comprises the steps of: (1) generating a Y-component four-byte MC VECTOR COUNT field; (2) generating a Y-component MC VECTORS field; and (3) generating a Y-component ENCODED DATA field, comprising interleaved binary tree codes and region codes; (e) generating a U-COMPONENT DATA field in accordance with said image data, wherein step (e) comprises the steps of: (1) generating a U-component four-byte MC VECTOR COUNT field; (2) generating a U-component MC VECTORS field; and (3) generating a U-component ENCODED DATA field, comprising interleaved binary tree codes and region codes; (f) generating a V-COMPONENT DATA field in accordance with said image data, wherein step (f) comprises the steps of: (1) generating a V-component four-byte MC VECTOR COUNT field; (2) generating a V-component MC VECTORS field; and (3) generating a V-component ENCODED DATA field, comprising interleaved binary tree codes and region codes; and (g) transmitting said OPERATING SYSTEM header, said BITSTREAM header, said Y-COMPONENT DATA field, said U-COMPONENT DATA field, and said V-COMPONENT DATA field.

Claim 11

A method for encoding image data, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving said image data; (b) generating an OPERATING SYSTEM header for said image data; (c) generating a BITSTREAM header in accordance with said image data, wherein step (c) comprises the steps of: (1) generating a two-byte unsigned FLAGS field, wherein step (c) (1) comprises the steps of: (A) generating a BSSTILLPERIOD bit; (B) generating a BSSTILL bit; (C) generating a BSSTILLNEXT bit; (D) generating a BSMCOFF bit; (E) generating a BSDISPOSABLE bit; and (F) generating a BSBUFFER bit; (2) generating a four-byte integer DATA SIZE field; (3) generating a one-byte integer CB OFFSET field; (4) generating a two-byte integer IMAGE HEIGHT field; (5) generating a two-byte integer IMAGE WIDTH field; (6) generating a four-byte integer Y DATA OFFSET field; (7) generating a four-byte integer U DATA OFFSET field; (8) generating a four-byte integer V DATA OFFSET field; and (9) generating a sixteen-byte integer ALT QUANT field, wherein step (c) (9) comprises the step of generating one or more one-byte pairs of vector-quantization table numbers, wherein the high-order bits of each byte correspond to a primary vector-quantization table and the low-order bits of each byte correspond to a secondary vector-quantization table; (d) generating a Y-COMPONENT DATA field in accordance with said image data, wherein step (d) comprises the steps of: (1) generating a Y-component four-byte MC VECTOR COUNT field; (2) generating a Y-component MC VECTORS field; and (3) generating a Y-component ENCODED DATA field, comprising interleaved binary tree codes and region codes; (e) generating a U-COMPONENT DATA field in accordance with said image data, wherein step (e) comprises the steps of: (1) generating a U-component four-byte MC VECTOR COUNT field; (2) generating a U-component MC VECTORS field; and (3) generating a U-component ENCODED DATA field, comprising interleaved binary tree codes and region codes; (f) generating a V-COMPONENT DATA field in accordance with said image data, wherein step (f) comprises the steps of: (1) generating a V-component four-byte MC VECTOR COUNT field; (2) generating a V-component MC VECTORS field; and (3) generating a V-component ENCODED DATA field, comprising interleaved binary tree codes and region codes; and (g) transmitting said OPERATING SYSTEM header, said BITSTREAM header, said Y-COMPONENT DATA field, said U-COMPONENT DATA field, and said V-COMPONENT DATA field.

Claim 14

An apparatus for encoding image data, comprising: (a) means for receiving said image data; (b) means for generating an OPERATING SYSTEM header for said image data; (c) means for generating a BITSTREAM header in accordance with said image data; (d) means for generating at least one image component data field in accordance with said image data; and (e) means for transmitting said OPERATING SYSTEM header, said BITSTREAM header, and said at least one image component data field, wherein means (d) comprises: (1) means for generating a Y-COMPONENT DATA field in accordance with said image data; (2) means for generating a U-COMPONENT DATA field in accordance with said image data; and (3) means for generating a V-COMPONENT DATA field in accordance with said image data, wherein: means (d) (1) comprises: (A) means for generating a Y-component four-byte MC VECTOR COUNT field; (B) means for generating a Y-component MC VECTORS field; and (C) means for generating a Y-component ENCODED DATA field, comprising interleaved binary tree codes and region codes; means (d) (2) comprises: (A) means for generating a U-component four-byte MC VECTOR COUNT field; (B) means for generating a U-component MC VECTORS field; and (C) means for generating a U-component ENCODED DATA field, comprising interleaved binary tree codes and region codes; and means (d) (3) comprises: (A) means for generating a V-component four-byte MC VECTOR COUNT field; (B) means for generating a V-component MC VECTORS field; and (C) means for generating a V-component ENCODED DATA field, comprising interleaved binary tree codes and region codes.

Claim 15

An apparatus for encoding image data, comprising: (a) means for receiving said image data; (b) means for generating an OPERATING SYSTEM header for said image data; (c) means for generating a BITSTREAM header in accordance with said image data; (d) means for generating at least one image component data field in accordance with said image data; and (e) means for transmitting said OPERATING SYSTEM header, said BITSTREAM header, and said at least one image component data field, wherein means (d) comprises: (1) means for generating a Y-COMPONENT DATA field in accordance with said image data; (2) means for generating a U-COMPONENT DATA field in accordance with said image data; and (3) means for generating a V-COMPONENT DATA field in accordance with said image data, wherein: means (d) (1) comprises: (A) means for generating a Y-component four-byte MC VECTOR COUNT field; (B) means for generating a Y-component MC VECTORS field; and (C) means for generating a Y-component ENCODED DATA field, comprising interleaved binary tree codes and region codes; means (d) (2) comprises: (A) means for generating a U-component four-byte MC VECTOR COUNT field; (B) means for generating a U-component MC VECTORS field; and (C) means for generating a U-component ENCODED DATA field, comprising interleaved binary tree codes and region codes; and means (d) (3) comprises: (A) means for generating a V-component four-byte MC VECTOR COUNT field; (B) means for generating a V-component MC VECTORS field; and (C) means for generating a V-component ENCODED DATA field, comprising interleaved binary tree codes and region codes.

Claim 23

An apparatus for encoding image data, comprising: (a) means for receiving said image data; (b) means for generating an OPERATING SYSTEM header for said image data; (c) means for generating a BITSTREAM header in accordance with said image data, wherein means (c) comprises: (1) means for generating a two-byte unsigned FLAGS field, wherein means (c) (1) comprises: (A) means for generating a BSSTILLPERIOD bit; (B) means for generating a BSSTILL bit; (C) means for generating a BSSTILLNEXT bit; (D) means for generating a BSMCOFF bit; (E) means for generating a BSDISPOSABLE bit; and (F) means for generating a BSBUFFER bit; (2) means for generating a four-byte integer DATA SIZE field; (3) means for generating a one-byte integer CB OFFSET field; (4) means for generating a two-byte integer IMAGE HEIGHT field; (5) means for generating a two-byte integer IMAGE WIDTH field; (6) means for generating a four-byte integer Y DATA OFFSET field; (7) means for generating a four-byte integer U DATA OFFSET field; (8) means for generating a four-byte integer V DATA OFFSET field; and (9) means for generating a sixteen-byte integer ALT QUANT field, wherein means (c)(9) comprises means for generating one or more one-byte pairs of vector-quantization table numbers, wherein the high-order bits of each byte correspond to a primary vector-quantization table and the low-order bits of each byte correspond to a secondary vector-quantization table; (d) means for generating a Y-COMPONENT DATA field in accordance with said image data, wherein means (d) comprises: (1) means for generating a Y-component four-byte MC VECTOR COUNT field; (2) means for generating a Y-component MC VECTORS field; and (3) means for generating a Y-component ENCODED DATA field, comprising interleaved binary tree codes and region codes; (e) means for generating a U-COMPONENT DATA field in accordance with said image data, wherein means (e) comprises: (1) means for generating a U-component four-byte MC VECTOR COUNT field; (2) means for generating a U-component MC VECTORS field; and (3) means for generating a U-component ENCODED DATA field, comprising interleaved binary tree codes and region codes; (f) means for generating a V-COMPONENT DATA field in accordance with said image data, wherein means (f) comprises: (1) means for generating a V-component four-byte MC VECTOR COUNT field; (2) means for generating a V-component MC VECTORS field; and (3) means for generating a V-component ENCODED DATA field, comprising interleaved binary tree codes and region codes; and (g) means for transmitting said OPERATING SYSTEM header, said BITSTREAM header, said Y-COMPONENT DATA field, said U-COMPONENT DATA field, and said V-COMPONENT DATA field.

Claim 24

An apparatus for encoding image data, comprising: (a) means for receiving said image data; (b) means for generating an OPERATING SYSTEM header for said image data; (c) means for generating a BITSTREAM header in accordance with said image data, wherein means (c) comprises: (1) means for generating a two-byte unsigned FLAGS field, wherein means (c) (1) comprises: (A) means for generating a BSSTILLPERIOD bit; (B) means for generating a BSSTILL bit; (C) means for generating a BSSTILLNEXT bit; (D) means for generating a BSMCOFF bit; (E) means for generating a BSDISPOSABLE bit; and (F) means for generating a BSBUFFER bit; (2) means for generating a four-byte integer DATA SIZE field; (3) means for generating a one-byte integer CB OFFSET field; (4) means for generating a two-byte integer IMAGE HEIGHT field; (5) means for generating a two-byte integer IMAGE WIDTH field; (6) means for generating a four-byte integer Y DATA OFFSET field; (7) means for generating a four-byte integer U DATA OFFSET field; (8) means for generating a four-byte integer V DATA OFFSET field; and (9) means for generating a sixteen-byte integer ALT QUANT field, wherein means (c)(9) comprises means for generating one or more one-byte pairs of vector-quantization table numbers, wherein the high-order bits of each byte correspond to a primary vector-quantization table and the low-order bits of each byte correspond to a secondary vector-quantization table; (d) means for generating a Y-COMPONENT DATA field in accordance with said image data, wherein means (d) comprises: (1) means for generating a Y-component four-byte MC VECTOR COUNT field; (2) means for generating a Y-component MC VECTORS field; and (3) means for generating a Y-component ENCODED DATA field, comprising interleaved binary tree codes and region codes; (e) means for generating a U-COMPONENT DATA field in accordance with said image data, wherein means (e) comprises: (1) means for generating a U-component four-byte MC VECTOR COUNT field; (2) means for generating a U-component MC VECTORS field; and (3) means for generating a U-component ENCODED DATA field, comprising interleaved binary tree codes and region codes; (f) means for generating a V-COMPONENT DATA field in accordance with said image data, wherein means (f) comprises: (1) means for generating a V-component four-byte MC VECTOR COUNT field; (2) means for generating a V-component MC VECTORS field; and (3) means for generating a V-component ENCODED DATA field, comprising interleaved binary tree codes and region codes; and (g) means for transmitting said OPERATING SYSTEM header, said BITSTREAM header, said Y-COMPONENT DATA field, said U-COMPONENT DATA field, and said V-COMPONENT DATA field.

Claim 27

A method for encoding image data, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving said image data; (b) generating an OPERATING SYSTEM header for said image data; (c) generating a BITSTREAM header in accordance with said image data; (d) generating at least one image component data field in accordance with said image data; and (e) transmitting said OPERATING SYSTEM header, said BITSTREAM header, and said at least one image component data field, wherein step (c) comprises the steps of: (1) generating a two-byte unsigned FLAGS field; (2) generating a four-byte integer DATA SIZE field; (3) generating a one-byte integer CB OFFSET field; (4) generating a two-byte integer IMAGE HEIGHT field; (5) generating a two-byte integer IMAGE WIDTH field; (6) generating a four-byte integer Y DATA OFFSET field; (7) generating a four-byte integer U DATA OFFSET field; (8) generating a four-byte integer V DATA OFFSET field; and (9) generating a sixteen-byte integer ALT QUANT field.

Claim 28

A method for encoding image data, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving said image data; (b) generating an OPERATING SYSTEM header for said image data; (c) generating a BITSTREAM header in accordance with said image data; (d) generating at least one image component data field in accordance with said image data; and (e) transmitting said OPERATING SYSTEM header, said BITSTREAM header, and said at least one image component data field, wherein step (c) comprises the steps of: (1) generating a two-byte unsigned FLAGS field; (2) generating a four-byte integer DATA SIZE field; (3) generating a one-byte integer CB OFFSET field; (4) generating a two-byte integer IMAGE HEIGHT field; (5) generating a two-byte integer IMAGE WIDTH field; (6) generating a four-byte integer Y DATA OFFSET field; (7) generating a four-byte integer U DATA OFFSET field; (8) generating a four-byte integer V DATA OFFSET field; and (9) generating a sixteen-byte integer ALT QUANT field.

Claim 37

A method for encoding image data, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving said image data; (b) generating an OPERATING SYSTEM header for said image data; (c) generating a BITSTREAM header in accordance with said image data; (d) generating at least one image component data field in accordance with said image data; and (e) transmitting said OPERATING SYSTEM header, said BITSTREAM header, and said at least one image component data field, wherein step (a) comprises the step of receiving said image data in an unencoded format.

Claim 38

A method for encoding image data, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving said image data; (b) generating an OPERATING SYSTEM header for said image data; (c) generating a BITSTREAM header in accordance with said image data; (d) generating at least one image component data field in accordance with said image data; and (e) transmitting said OPERATING SYSTEM header, said BITSTREAM header, and said at least one image component data field, wherein step (a) comprises the step of receiving said image data in an unencoded format.

Claim 45

An apparatus for encoding image data, comprising: (a) means for receiving said image data; (b) means for generating an OPERATING SYSTEM header for said image data; (c) means for generating a BITSTREAM header in accordance with said image data; (d) means for generating at least one image component data field in accordance with said image data; and (e) means for transmitting said OPERATING SYSTEM header, said BITSTREAM header, and said at least one image component data field, wherein means (c) comprises: (1) means for generating a two-byte unsigned FLAGS field; (2) means for generating a four-byte integer DATA SIZE field; (3) means for generating a one-byte integer CB OFFSET field; (4) means for generating a two-byte integer IMAGE HEIGHT field; (5) means for generating a two-byte integer IMAGE WIDTH field; (6) means for generating a four-byte integer Y DATA OFFSET field; (7) means for generating a four-byte integer U DATA OFFSET field; (8) means for generating a four-byte integer V DATA OFFSET field; and (9) means for generating a sixteen-byte integer ALT QUANT field.

Claim 46

An apparatus for encoding image data, comprising: (a) means for receiving said image data; (b) means for generating an OPERATING SYSTEM header for said image data; (c) means for generating a BITSTREAM header in accordance with said image data; (d) means for generating at least one image component data field in accordance with said image data; and (e) means for transmitting said OPERATING SYSTEM header, said BITSTREAM header, and said at least one image component data field, wherein means (c) comprises: (1) means for generating a two-byte unsigned FLAGS field; (2) means for generating a four-byte integer DATA SIZE field; (3) means for generating a one-byte integer CB OFFSET field; (4) means for generating a two-byte integer IMAGE HEIGHT field; (5) means for generating a two-byte integer IMAGE WIDTH field; (6) means for generating a four-byte integer Y DATA OFFSET field; (7) means for generating a four-byte integer U DATA OFFSET field; (8) means for generating a four-byte integer V DATA OFFSET field; and (9) means for generating a sixteen-byte integer ALT QUANT field.

Claim 55

An apparatus for encoding image data, comprising: (a) means for receiving said image data; (b) means for generating an OPERATING SYSTEM header for said image data; (c) means for generating a BITSTREAM header in accordance with said image data; (d) means for generating at least one image component data field in accordance with said image data; and (e) means for transmitting said OPERATING SYSTEM header, said BITSTREAM header, and said at least one image component data field, wherein means (a) comprises means for receiving said image data in an unencoded format.

Claim 56

An apparatus for encoding image data, comprising: (a) means for receiving said image data; (b) means for generating an OPERATING SYSTEM header for said image data; (c) means for generating a BITSTREAM header in accordance with said image data; (d) means for generating at least one image component data field in accordance with said image data; and (e) means for transmitting said OPERATING SYSTEM header, said BITSTREAM header, and said at least one image component data field, wherein means (a) comprises means for receiving said image data in an unencoded format.