US5440346A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mode selection for method and system for encoding images
Assignee: Intel Corp
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Filing: 1993-09-09
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Granted: 1995-08-08
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Expires: 2013-09-09
Abstract
Abstract A similarity measure is generated as a function of a plurality of values corresponding to a region of an image. An encoding mode is then selected in accordance with the similarity measure and the region is encoded in accordance with the selected encoding mode.
Inventors
- 👤 Adnan Alattar
- 👤 Michael Keith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 05:16
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N9/00; H04N9/79; H04N9/80; H04N9/804; H04N9/8042; H04N19/00; H04N19/10; H04N19/102; H04N19/132; H04N19/169; H04N19/17; H04N19/176; H04N19/186; H04N19/46; H04N19/50; H04N19/503; H04N19/507; H04N19/60; H04N19/61; H04N7/00; H04N7/24; H04N7/52; H04N7/54; H04N5/00; H04N5/76; H04N5/78; H04N5/781; H04N5/84; H04N5/85
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 96
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
A method for encoding a region of an image, the region having a plurality of corresponding values, comprising the steps of: (a) generating at least one similarity measure as a function of said values; (b) selecting an encoding mode in accordance with said at least one similarity measure; and (c) encoding said region in accordance with said selected encoding mode, wherein said values comprise a plurality of motion compensated difference values corresponding to said region and step (c) comprises the step of inter-frame encoding said region.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
86 words
A method for encoding a region of an image, the region having a plurality of corresponding values, comprising the steps of: (a) generating at least one similarity measure as a function of said values; (b) selecting an encoding mode in accordance with said at least one similarity measure; and (c) encoding said region in accordance with said selected encoding mode, wherein said values comprise a plurality of motion compensated difference values corresponding to said region and step (c) comprises the step of inter-frame encoding said region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 1, wherein: step (a) comprises the steps of: (1) generating a horizontal similarity measure S h in accordance with said values; and (2) generating a vertical similarity measure S v in accordance with said values; and step (b) comprises the step of selecting said encoding mode in accordance with said horizontal and vertical similarity measures.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
101 words
The method of claim 2, wherein step (b) comprises the steps of: (1) if said horizontal similarity measure S h is greater than a first threshold, if said vertical similarity measure S v is greater than a second threshold, and if the height and width of said region are integer multiples of eight, then selecting a first encoding mode; (2) otherwise if said vertical similarity measure S v is greater than said second threshold and if the height of said region is an integer multiple of eight, then selecting a second encoding mode; and (3) otherwise selecting a third encoding mode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) comprises the step of encoding said region in accordance with vector quantization.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for encoding a region of an image, the region having a plurality of corresponding values, comprising the steps of: (a) generating at least one similarity measure as a function of said values; (b) selecting an encoding mode in accordance with said at least one similarity measure; and (c) encoding said region in accordance with said selected encoding mode, wherein said values comprise a plurality of image pixel values corresponding to said region and step (c) comprises the step of intra-frame encoding said region.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for encoding a region of an image, the region having a plurality of corresponding values, comprising the steps of: (a) generating at least one similarity measure as a function of said values; (b) selecting an encoding mode in accordance with said at least one similarity measure; and (c) encoding said region in accordance with said selected encoding mode, wherein said values comprise a plurality of image pixel values corresponding to said region and step (c) comprises the step of intra-frame encoding said region.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 5, wherein: step (a) comprises the steps of: (1) generating a horizontal similarity measure S h in accordance with said values; and (2) generating a vertical similarity measure S v in accordance with said values; and step (b) comprises the step of selecting said encoding mode in accordance with said horizontal and vertical similarity measures.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
101 words
The method of claim 6, wherein step (b) comprises the steps of: (1) if said horizontal similarity measure S h is greater than a first threshold, if said vertical similarity measure S v is greater than a second threshold, and if the height and width of said region are integer multiples of eight, then selecting a first encoding mode; (2) otherwise if said vertical similarity measure S v is greater than said second threshold and if the height of said region is an integer multiple of eight, then selecting a second encoding mode; and (3) otherwise selecting a third encoding mode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 5, wherein step (c) comprises the step of encoding said region in accordance with vector quantization.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
210 words
A method for encoding a region of an image, the region having a plurality of corresponding values, comprising the steps of: (a) generating at least one similarity measure as a function of said values; (b) selecting an encoding mode in accordance with said at least one similarity measure; and (c) encoding said region in accordance with said selected encoding mode, wherein: step (a) comprises the steps of: (1) generating a horizontal similarity measure S h in accordance with said values; and (2) generating a vertical similarity measure S v in accordance with said values; and step (b) comprises the step of selecting said encoding mode in accordance with said horizontal and vertical similarity measures, wherein step (b) comprises the steps of: (1) if said horizontal similarity measure S h is greater than a first threshold, if said vertical similarity measure S v is greater than a second threshold, and if the height and width of said region are integer multiples of eight, then selecting a first encoding mode; (2) otherwise if said vertical similarity measure S v is greater than said second threshold and if the height of said region is an integer multiple of eight, then selecting a second encoding mode; and (3) otherwise selecting a third encoding mode.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
210 words
A method for encoding a region of an image, the region having a plurality of corresponding values, comprising the steps of: (a) generating at least one similarity measure as a function of said values; (b) selecting an encoding mode in accordance with said at least one similarity measure; and (c) encoding said region in accordance with said selected encoding mode, wherein: step (a) comprises the steps of: (1) generating a horizontal similarity measure S h in accordance with said values; and (2) generating a vertical similarity measure S v in accordance with said values; and step (b) comprises the step of selecting said encoding mode in accordance with said horizontal and vertical similarity measures, wherein step (b) comprises the steps of: (1) if said horizontal similarity measure S h is greater than a first threshold, if said vertical similarity measure S v is greater than a second threshold, and if the height and width of said region are integer multiples of eight, then selecting a first encoding mode; (2) otherwise if said vertical similarity measure S v is greater than said second threshold and if the height of said region is an integer multiple of eight, then selecting a second encoding mode; and (3) otherwise selecting a third encoding mode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said first and second thresholds are generated in accordance with desired image quality.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said first threshold T 1 and said second threshold T 2 are generated in accordance with the following equation: ##EQU11## wherein Q is a target quality measure, A is a specified minimum quality threshold; and B is generated in accordance with the following equation: ##EQU12## where C is a specified average quality threshold.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
87 words
The method of claim 9, wherein: step (a) (1) comprises the step of generating said horizontal similarity measure S h in accordance with the following equation: ##EQU13## wherein F is a function of f(i+1,j) and f(i,j), f(i,j) is a value corresponding to row i and column j of said region, N is the height of said region, and M is the width of said region; and step (a) (2) comprises the step of generating said vertical similarity measure S v in accordance with the following equation: ##EQU14##
Claim 16
Independent Claim
196 words
A method for encoding a region of an image, the region having a plurality of corresponding values, comprising the steps of: (a) generating at least one similarity measure as a function of said values; (b) selecting an encoding mode in accordance with said at least one similarity measure; and (c) encoding said region in accordance with said selected encoding mode, wherein: step (a) comprises the steps of: (1) generating a horizontal similarity measure S h in accordance with said values; and (2) generating a vertical similarity measure S v in accordance with said values; and step (b) comprises the step of selecting said encoding mode in accordance with said horizontal and vertical similarity measures, wherein: step (a) (1) comprises the step of generating said horizontal similarity measure S h in accordance with the following equation: ##EQU15## wherein F is a function of f(i+1,j) and f(i,j), f(i,j) is a value corresponding to row i and column j of said region, N is the height of said region, and M is the width of said region; and step (a) (2) comprises the step of generating said vertical similarity measure S v in accordance with the following equation: ##EQU16##
Claim 17
Independent Claim
196 words
A method for encoding a region of an image, the region having a plurality of corresponding values, comprising the steps of: (a) generating at least one similarity measure as a function of said values; (b) selecting an encoding mode in accordance with said at least one similarity measure; and (c) encoding said region in accordance with said selected encoding mode, wherein: step (a) comprises the steps of: (1) generating a horizontal similarity measure S h in accordance with said values; and (2) generating a vertical similarity measure S v in accordance with said values; and step (b) comprises the step of selecting said encoding mode in accordance with said horizontal and vertical similarity measures, wherein: step (a) (1) comprises the step of generating said horizontal similarity measure S h in accordance with the following equation: ##EQU15## wherein F is a function of f(i+1,j) and f(i,j), f(i,j) is a value corresponding to row i and column j of said region, N is the height of said region, and M is the width of said region; and step (a) (2) comprises the step of generating said vertical similarity measure S v in accordance with the following equation: ##EQU16##
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said value f(i,j) is a motion compensated difference value corresponding to row i and column j of said region, and wherein step (c) comprises the step of inter-frame encoding said region.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said value f(i,j) is a region pixel value corresponding to row i and column j of said region, and wherein step (c) comprises the step of intra-frame encoding said region.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said function F is one of the square of the difference of f(i+1,j) and f(i,j) and the absolute value of the difference of f(i+1,j) and f(i,j).
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 13, wherein step (c) comprises the step of encoding said region in accordance with vector quantization.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
75 words
A method for encoding a region of an image, the region having a plurality of corresponding values, comprising the steps of: (a) generating at least one similarity measure as a function of said values; (b) selecting an encoding mode in accordance with said at least one similarity measure; and (c) encoding said region in accordance with said selected encoding mode, wherein step (c) comprises the step of encoding said region in accordance with vector quantization.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
75 words
A method for encoding a region of an image, the region having a plurality of corresponding values, comprising the steps of: (a) generating at least one similarity measure as a function of said values; (b) selecting an encoding mode in accordance with said at least one similarity measure; and (c) encoding said region in accordance with said selected encoding mode, wherein step (c) comprises the step of encoding said region in accordance with vector quantization.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 18, wherein: step (a) comprises the steps of: (1) generating a horizontal similarity measure S h in accordance with said values; and (2) generating a vertical similarity measure S v in accordance with said values; and step (b) comprises the step of selecting said encoding mode in accordance with said horizontal and vertical similarity measures.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for decoding an encoded region corresponding to an original image, comprising the steps of: (a) providing encoded data corresponding to said encoded region, said encoded data comprising a specified encoding mode; and (b) decoding said encoded region in accordance with said specified encoding mode, said encoded region having been encoded in accordance with said specified encoding mode, said specified decoding mode having been selected in accordance with at least one similarity measure, said at least one similarity measure having been generated in accordance with a plurality of values corresponding to a region of the original image, wherein said values having comprised a plurality of motion compensated difference values corresponding to said region and said region having been inter-frame encoded.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for decoding an encoded region corresponding to an original image, comprising the steps of: (a) providing encoded data corresponding to said encoded region, said encoded data comprising a specified encoding mode; and (b) decoding said encoded region in accordance with said specified encoding mode, said encoded region having been encoded in accordance with said specified encoding mode, said specified decoding mode having been selected in accordance with at least one similarity measure, said at least one similarity measure having been generated in accordance with a plurality of values corresponding to a region of the original image, wherein said values having comprised a plurality of motion compensated difference values corresponding to said region and said region having been inter-frame encoded.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method of claim 20, wherein said specified decoding mode having been selected in accordance with a horizontal similarity measure S h and a vertical similarity measure S v , said horizontal similarity measure S h having been generated in accordance with said values, said vertical similarity measure S v having been generated in accordance with said values, said encoding mode having been selected in accordance with said horizontal and vertical similarity measures.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
94 words
The method of claim 21, wherein: a first encoding mode having been selected, if said horizontal similarity measure S h was greater than a first threshold, if said vertical similarity measure S v was greater than a second threshold, and if the height and width of said region were integer multiples of eight; otherwise a second encoding mode having been selected, if said vertical similarity measure S v was greater than said second threshold and if the height of said region was an integer multiple of eight; and otherwise selecting a third encoding mode.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 20, wherein said region was encoded in accordance with vector quantization.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
120 words
A method for decoding an encoded region corresponding to an original image, comprising the steps of: (a) providing encoded data corresponding to said encoded region, said encoded data comprising a specified encoding mode; and (b) decoding said encoded region in accordance with said specified encoding mode, said encoded region having been encoded in accordance with said specified encoding mode, said specified decoding mode having been selected in accordance with at least one similarity measure, said at least one similarity measure having been generated in accordance with a plurality of values corresponding to a region of the original image, wherein said values having comprised a plurality of image pixel values corresponding to said region and said region having been intra-frame encoded.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
120 words
A method for decoding an encoded region corresponding to an original image, comprising the steps of: (a) providing encoded data corresponding to said encoded region, said encoded data comprising a specified encoding mode; and (b) decoding said encoded region in accordance with said specified encoding mode, said encoded region having been encoded in accordance with said specified encoding mode, said specified decoding mode having been selected in accordance with at least one similarity measure, said at least one similarity measure having been generated in accordance with a plurality of values corresponding to a region of the original image, wherein said values having comprised a plurality of image pixel values corresponding to said region and said region having been intra-frame encoded.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method of claim 24, wherein said specified decoding mode having been selected in accordance with a horizontal similarity measure S h and a vertical similarity measure S v , said horizontal similarity measure S h having been generated in accordance with said values, said vertical similarity measure S v having been generated in accordance with said values, said encoding mode having been selected in accordance with said horizontal and vertical similarity measures.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
94 words
The method of claim 25, wherein: a first encoding mode having been selected, if said horizontal similarity measure S h was greater than a first threshold, if said vertical similarity measure S v was greater than a second threshold, and if the height and width of said region were integer multiples of eight; otherwise a second encoding mode having been selected, if said vertical similarity measure S v was greater than said second threshold and if the height of said region was an integer multiple of eight; and otherwise selecting a third encoding mode.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 24, wherein said region was encoded in accordance with vector quantization.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
255 words
A method for decoding an encoded region corresponding to an original image, comprising the steps of: (a) providing encoded data corresponding to said encoded region, said encoded data comprising a specified encoding mode; and (b) decoding said encoded region in accordance with said specified encoding mode, said encoded region having been encoded in accordance with said specified encoding mode, said specified decoding mode having been selected in accordance with at least one similarity measure, said at least one similarity measure having been generated in accordance with a plurality of values corresponding to a region of the original image, wherein: said specified decoding mode having been selected in accordance with a horizontal similarity measure S h and a vertical similarity measure S v , said horizontal similarity measure S h having been generated in accordance with said values, said vertical similarity measure S v having been generated in accordance with said values, said encoding mode having been selected in accordance with said horizontal and vertical similarity measures, wherein: a first encoding mode having been selected, if said horizontal similarity measure S h was greater than a first threshold, if said vertical similarity measure S v was greater than a second threshold, and if the height and width of said region were integer multiples of eight; otherwise a second encoding mode having been selected, if said vertical similarity measure S v was greater than said second threshold and if the height of said region was an integer multiple of eight; and otherwise selecting a third encoding mode.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
255 words
A method for decoding an encoded region corresponding to an original image, comprising the steps of: (a) providing encoded data corresponding to said encoded region, said encoded data comprising a specified encoding mode; and (b) decoding said encoded region in accordance with said specified encoding mode, said encoded region having been encoded in accordance with said specified encoding mode, said specified decoding mode having been selected in accordance with at least one similarity measure, said at least one similarity measure having been generated in accordance with a plurality of values corresponding to a region of the original image, wherein: said specified decoding mode having been selected in accordance with a horizontal similarity measure S h and a vertical similarity measure S v , said horizontal similarity measure S h having been generated in accordance with said values, said vertical similarity measure S v having been generated in accordance with said values, said encoding mode having been selected in accordance with said horizontal and vertical similarity measures, wherein: a first encoding mode having been selected, if said horizontal similarity measure S h was greater than a first threshold, if said vertical similarity measure S v was greater than a second threshold, and if the height and width of said region were integer multiples of eight; otherwise a second encoding mode having been selected, if said vertical similarity measure S v was greater than said second threshold and if the height of said region was an integer multiple of eight; and otherwise selecting a third encoding mode.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 28, wherein said first and second thresholds were generated in accordance with desired image quality.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 28, wherein said first threshold T 1 and said second threshold T 2 were generated in accordance with the following equation: ##EQU17## wherein Q was a target quality measure, A was a specified minimum quality threshold; and B was generated in accordance with the following equation: ##EQU18## where C was a specified average quality threshold.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method of claim 28, wherein: said horizontal similarity measure S h was generated in accordance with the following equation: ##EQU19## wherein F was a function of f(i+1,j) and f(i,j), f(i,j) was a value corresponding to row i and column j of said region, N was the height of said region, and M was the width of said region; and said vertical similarity measure S v was generated in accordance with the following equation: ##EQU20##
Claim 40
Independent Claim
236 words
A method for decoding an encoded region corresponding to an original image, comprising the steps of: (a) providing encoded data corresponding to said encoded region, said encoded data comprising a specified encoding mode; and (b) decoding said encoded region in accordance with said specified encoding mode, said encoded region having been encoded in accordance with said specified encoding mode, said specified decoding mode having been selected in accordance with at least one similarity measure, said at least one similarity measure having been generated in accordance with a plurality of values corresponding to a region of the original image, wherein: said specified decoding mode having been selected in accordance with a horizontal similarity measure S h and a vertical similarity measure S v , said horizontal similarity measure S h having been generated in accordance with said values, said vertical similarity measure S v having been generated in accordance with said values, said encoding mode having been selected in accordance with said horizontal and vertical similarity measures, wherein: said horizontal similarity measure S h was generated in accordance with the following equation: ##EQU21## wherein F was a function of f(i+1,j) and f(i,j), f(i,j) was a value corresponding to row i and column j of said region, N was the height of said region, and M was the width of said region; and said vertical similarity measure S v was generated in accordance with the following equation: ##EQU22##
Claim 41
Independent Claim
236 words
A method for decoding an encoded region corresponding to an original image, comprising the steps of: (a) providing encoded data corresponding to said encoded region, said encoded data comprising a specified encoding mode; and (b) decoding said encoded region in accordance with said specified encoding mode, said encoded region having been encoded in accordance with said specified encoding mode, said specified decoding mode having been selected in accordance with at least one similarity measure, said at least one similarity measure having been generated in accordance with a plurality of values corresponding to a region of the original image, wherein: said specified decoding mode having been selected in accordance with a horizontal similarity measure S h and a vertical similarity measure S v , said horizontal similarity measure S h having been generated in accordance with said values, said vertical similarity measure S v having been generated in accordance with said values, said encoding mode having been selected in accordance with said horizontal and vertical similarity measures, wherein: said horizontal similarity measure S h was generated in accordance with the following equation: ##EQU21## wherein F was a function of f(i+1,j) and f(i,j), f(i,j) was a value corresponding to row i and column j of said region, N was the height of said region, and M was the width of said region; and said vertical similarity measure S v was generated in accordance with the following equation: ##EQU22##
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 32, wherein said value f(i,j) was a motion compensated difference value corresponding to row i and column j of said region, and said region was inter-frame encoded.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 32, wherein said value f(i,j) was a region pixel value corresponding to row i and column j of said region, and said region was intra-frame encoded.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 32, wherein said function F was one of the square of the difference of f(i+1,j) and f(i,j) and the absolute value of the difference of f(i+1,j) and f(i,j).
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 32, wherein said region was encoded in accordance with vector quantization.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for decoding an encoded region corresponding to an original image, comprising the steps of: (a) providing encoded data corresponding to said encoded region, said encoded data comprising a specified encoding mode; and (b) decoding said encoded region in accordance with said specified encoding mode, said encoded region having been encoded in accordance with said specified encoding mode, said specified decoding mode having been selected in accordance with at least one similarity measure, said at least one similarity measure having been generated in accordance with a plurality of values corresponding to a region of the original image, wherein said region was encoded in accordance with vector quantization.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for decoding an encoded region corresponding to an original image, comprising the steps of: (a) providing encoded data corresponding to said encoded region, said encoded data comprising a specified encoding mode; and (b) decoding said encoded region in accordance with said specified encoding mode, said encoded region having been encoded in accordance with said specified encoding mode, said specified decoding mode having been selected in accordance with at least one similarity measure, said at least one similarity measure having been generated in accordance with a plurality of values corresponding to a region of the original image, wherein said region was encoded in accordance with vector quantization.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method of claim 37, wherein said specified decoding mode having been selected in accordance with a horizontal similarity measure S h and a vertical similarity measure S v , said horizontal similarity measure S h having been generated in accordance with said values, said vertical similarity measure S v having been generated in accordance with said values, said encoding mode having been selected in accordance with said horizontal and vertical similarity measures.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
88 words
An apparatus for encoding a region of an image, the region having a plurality of corresponding values, comprising: (a) means for generating at least one similarity measure as a function of said values; (b) means for selecting an encoding mode in accordance with said at least one similarity measure; and (c) means for encoding said region in accordance with said selected encoding mode, wherein said values comprise a plurality of motion compensated difference values corresponding to said region and means (c) comprises means for inter-frame encoding said region.
Claim 50
Independent Claim
88 words
An apparatus for encoding a region of an image, the region having a plurality of corresponding values, comprising: (a) means for generating at least one similarity measure as a function of said values; (b) means for selecting an encoding mode in accordance with said at least one similarity measure; and (c) means for encoding said region in accordance with said selected encoding mode, wherein said values comprise a plurality of motion compensated difference values corresponding to said region and means (c) comprises means for inter-frame encoding said region.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 39, wherein: means (a) comprises: (1) means for generating a horizontal similarity measure S h in accordance with said values; and (2) means for generating a vertical similarity measure S v in accordance with said values; and means (b) comprises means for selecting said encoding mode in accordance with said horizontal and vertical similarity measures.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
100 words
The apparatus of claim 40, wherein means (b) comprises: (1) means for selecting a first encoding mode, if said horizontal similarity measure S h is greater than a first threshold, if said vertical similarity measure S v is greater than a second threshold, and if the height and width of said region are integer multiples of eight; (2) means for selecting a second encoding mode, if said vertical similarity measure S v is greater than said second threshold and if the height of said region is an integer multiple of eight; and (3) means for selecting a third encoding mode.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 39, wherein means (c) comprises means for encoding said region in accordance with vector quantization.
Claim 54
Independent Claim
87 words
An apparatus for encoding a region of an image, the region having a plurality of corresponding values, comprising: (a) means for generating at least one similarity measure as a function of said values; (b) means for selecting an encoding mode in accordance with said at least one similarity measure; and (c) means for encoding said region in accordance with said selected encoding mode, wherein said values comprise a plurality of image pixel values corresponding to said region and means (c) comprises means for intra-frame encoding said region.
Claim 55
Independent Claim
87 words
An apparatus for encoding a region of an image, the region having a plurality of corresponding values, comprising: (a) means for generating at least one similarity measure as a function of said values; (b) means for selecting an encoding mode in accordance with said at least one similarity measure; and (c) means for encoding said region in accordance with said selected encoding mode, wherein said values comprise a plurality of image pixel values corresponding to said region and means (c) comprises means for intra-frame encoding said region.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 43, wherein: means (a) comprises: (1) means for generating a horizontal similarity measure S h in accordance with said values; and (2) means for generating a vertical similarity measure S v in accordance with said values; and means (b) comprises means for selecting said encoding mode in accordance with said horizontal and vertical similarity measures.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
100 words
The apparatus of claim 44, wherein means (b) comprises: (1) means for selecting a first encoding mode, if said horizontal similarity measure S h is greater than a first threshold, if said vertical similarity measure S v is greater than a second threshold, and if the height and width of said region are integer multiples of eight; (2) means for selecting a second encoding mode, if said vertical similarity measure S v is greater than said second threshold and if the height of said region is an integer multiple of eight; and (3) means for selecting a third encoding mode.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 43, wherein means (c) comprises means for encoding said region in accordance with vector quantization.
Claim 59
Independent Claim
212 words
An apparatus for encoding a region of an image, the region having a plurality of corresponding values, comprising: (a) means for generating at least one similarity measure as a function of said values; (b) means for selecting an encoding mode in accordance with said at least one similarity measure; and (c) means for encoding said region in accordance with said selected encoding mode, wherein: means (a) comprises: (1) means for generating a horizontal similarity measure S h in accordance with said values; and (2) means for generating a vertical similarity measure S v in accordance with said values; and means (b) comprises means for selecting said encoding mode in accordance with said horizontal and vertical similarity measures, wherein means (b) comprises: (1) means for selecting a first encoding mode, if said horizontal similarity measure S h is greater than a first threshold, if said vertical similarity measure S v is greater than a second threshold, and if the height and width of said region are integer multiples of eight; (2) means for selecting a second encoding mode, if said vertical similarity measure S v is greater than said second threshold and if the height of said region is an integer multiple of eight; and (3) means for selecting a third encoding mode.
Claim 60
Independent Claim
212 words
An apparatus for encoding a region of an image, the region having a plurality of corresponding values, comprising: (a) means for generating at least one similarity measure as a function of said values; (b) means for selecting an encoding mode in accordance with said at least one similarity measure; and (c) means for encoding said region in accordance with said selected encoding mode, wherein: means (a) comprises: (1) means for generating a horizontal similarity measure S h in accordance with said values; and (2) means for generating a vertical similarity measure S v in accordance with said values; and means (b) comprises means for selecting said encoding mode in accordance with said horizontal and vertical similarity measures, wherein means (b) comprises: (1) means for selecting a first encoding mode, if said horizontal similarity measure S h is greater than a first threshold, if said vertical similarity measure S v is greater than a second threshold, and if the height and width of said region are integer multiples of eight; (2) means for selecting a second encoding mode, if said vertical similarity measure S v is greater than said second threshold and if the height of said region is an integer multiple of eight; and (3) means for selecting a third encoding mode.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 47, wherein said first and second thresholds are generated in accordance with desired image quality.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 47, wherein said first threshold T 1 and said second threshold T 2 are generated in accordance with the following equation: ##EQU23## wherein Q is a target quality measure, A is a specified minimum quality threshold; and B is generated in accordance with the following equation: ##EQU24## where C is a specified average quality threshold.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
85 words
The apparatus of claim 47, wherein: means (a) (1) comprises means for generating said horizontal similarity measure S h in accordance with the following equation: ##EQU25## wherein F is a function of f(i+1,j) and f(i,j), f(i,j) is a value corresponding to row i and column j of said region, N is the height of said region, and M is the width of said region; and means (a) (2) comprises means for generating said vertical similarity measure S v in accordance with the following equation: ##EQU26##
Claim 64
Independent Claim
197 words
An apparatus for encoding a region of an image, the region having a plurality of corresponding values, comprising: (a) means for generating at least one similarity measure as a function of said values; (b) means for selecting an encoding mode in accordance with said at least one similarity measure; and (c) means for encoding said region in accordance with said selected encoding mode, wherein: means (a) comprises: (1) means for generating a horizontal similarity measure S h in accordance with said values; and (2) means for generating a vertical similarity measure S v in accordance with said values; and means (b) comprises means for selecting said encoding mode in accordance with said horizontal and vertical similarity measures, wherein: means (a) (1) comprises means for generating said horizontal similarity measure S h in accordance with the following equation: ##EQU27## wherein F is a function of f(i+1,j) and f(i,j), f(i,j) is a value corresponding to row i and column j of said region, N is the height of said region, and M is the width of said region; and means (a) (2) comprises means for generating said vertical similarity measure S v in accordance with the following equation: ##EQU28##
Claim 65
Independent Claim
197 words
An apparatus for encoding a region of an image, the region having a plurality of corresponding values, comprising: (a) means for generating at least one similarity measure as a function of said values; (b) means for selecting an encoding mode in accordance with said at least one similarity measure; and (c) means for encoding said region in accordance with said selected encoding mode, wherein: means (a) comprises: (1) means for generating a horizontal similarity measure S h in accordance with said values; and (2) means for generating a vertical similarity measure S v in accordance with said values; and means (b) comprises means for selecting said encoding mode in accordance with said horizontal and vertical similarity measures, wherein: means (a) (1) comprises means for generating said horizontal similarity measure S h in accordance with the following equation: ##EQU27## wherein F is a function of f(i+1,j) and f(i,j), f(i,j) is a value corresponding to row i and column j of said region, N is the height of said region, and M is the width of said region; and means (a) (2) comprises means for generating said vertical similarity measure S v in accordance with the following equation: ##EQU28##
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 51, wherein said value f(i,j) is a motion compensated difference value corresponding to row i and column j of said region, and wherein means (c) comprises means for inter-frame encoding said region.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 51, wherein said value f(i,j) is a region pixel value corresponding to row i and column j of said region, and wherein means (c) comprises means for intra-frame encoding said region.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 51, wherein said function F is one of the square of the difference of f(i+1,j) and f(i,j) and the absolute value of the difference of f(i+1,j) and f(i,j).
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 51, wherein means (c) comprises means for encoding said region in accordance with vector quantization.
Claim 70
Independent Claim
77 words
An apparatus for encoding a region of an image, the region having a plurality of corresponding values, comprising: (a) means for generating at least one similarity measure as a function of said values; (b) means for selecting an encoding mode in accordance with said at least one similarity measure; and (c) means for encoding said region in accordance with said selected encoding mode, wherein means (c) comprises means for encoding said region in accordance with vector quantization.
Claim 71
Independent Claim
77 words
An apparatus for encoding a region of an image, the region having a plurality of corresponding values, comprising: (a) means for generating at least one similarity measure as a function of said values; (b) means for selecting an encoding mode in accordance with said at least one similarity measure; and (c) means for encoding said region in accordance with said selected encoding mode, wherein means (c) comprises means for encoding said region in accordance with vector quantization.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 56, wherein: means (a) comprises: (1) means for generating a horizontal similarity measure S h in accordance with said values; and (2) means for generating a vertical similarity measure S v in accordance with said values; and means (b) comprises means for selecting said encoding mode in accordance with said horizontal and vertical similarity measures.
Claim 73
Independent Claim
122 words
An apparatus for decoding an encoded region corresponding to an original image, comprising: (a) means for providing encoded data corresponding to said encoded region, said encoded data comprising a specified encoding mode; and (b) means for decoding said encoded region in accordance with said specified encoding mode, said encoded region having been encoded in accordance with said specified encoding mode, said specified decoding mode having been selected in accordance with at least one similarity measure, said at least one similarity measure having been generated in accordance with a plurality of values corresponding to a region of the original image, wherein said values having comprised a plurality of motion compensated difference values corresponding to said region and said region having been inter-frame encoded.
Claim 74
Independent Claim
122 words
An apparatus for decoding an encoded region corresponding to an original image, comprising: (a) means for providing encoded data corresponding to said encoded region, said encoded data comprising a specified encoding mode; and (b) means for decoding said encoded region in accordance with said specified encoding mode, said encoded region having been encoded in accordance with said specified encoding mode, said specified decoding mode having been selected in accordance with at least one similarity measure, said at least one similarity measure having been generated in accordance with a plurality of values corresponding to a region of the original image, wherein said values having comprised a plurality of motion compensated difference values corresponding to said region and said region having been inter-frame encoded.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
73 words
The apparatus of claim 58, wherein said specified decoding mode having been selected in accordance with a horizontal similarity measure S h and a vertical similarity measure S v , said horizontal similarity measure S h having been generated in accordance with said values, said vertical similarity measure S v having been generated in accordance with said values, said encoding mode having been selected in accordance with said horizontal and vertical similarity measures.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
94 words
The apparatus of claim 59, wherein: a first encoding mode having been selected, if said horizontal similarity measure S h was greater than a first threshold, if said vertical similarity measure S v was greater than a second threshold, and if the height and width of said region were integer multiples of eight; otherwise a second encoding mode having been selected, if said vertical similarity measure S v was greater than said second threshold and if the height of said region was an integer multiple of eight; and otherwise selecting a third encoding mode.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 58, wherein said region was encoded in accordance with vector quantization.
Claim 78
Independent Claim
121 words
An apparatus for decoding an encoded region corresponding to an original image, comprising: (a) means for providing encoded data corresponding to said encoded region, said encoded data comprising a specified encoding mode; and (b) means for decoding said encoded region in accordance with said specified encoding mode, said encoded region having been encoded in accordance with said specified encoding mode, said specified decoding mode having been selected in accordance with at least one similarity measure, said at least one similarity measure having been generated in accordance with a plurality of values corresponding to a region of the original image, wherein said values having comprised a plurality of image pixel values corresponding to said region and said region having been intra-frame encoded.
Claim 79
Independent Claim
121 words
An apparatus for decoding an encoded region corresponding to an original image, comprising: (a) means for providing encoded data corresponding to said encoded region, said encoded data comprising a specified encoding mode; and (b) means for decoding said encoded region in accordance with said specified encoding mode, said encoded region having been encoded in accordance with said specified encoding mode, said specified decoding mode having been selected in accordance with at least one similarity measure, said at least one similarity measure having been generated in accordance with a plurality of values corresponding to a region of the original image, wherein said values having comprised a plurality of image pixel values corresponding to said region and said region having been intra-frame encoded.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
73 words
The apparatus of claim 62, wherein said specified decoding mode having been selected in accordance with a horizontal similarity measure S h and a vertical similarity measure S v , said horizontal similarity measure S h having been generated in accordance with said values, said vertical similarity measure S v having been generated in accordance with said values, said encoding mode having been selected in accordance with said horizontal and vertical similarity measures.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
94 words
The apparatus of claim 63, wherein: a first encoding mode having been selected, if said horizontal similarity measure S h was greater than a first threshold, if said vertical similarity measure S v was greater than a second threshold, and if the height and width of said region were integer multiples of eight; otherwise a second encoding mode having been selected, if said vertical similarity measure S v was greater than said second threshold and if the height of said region was an integer multiple of eight; and otherwise selecting a third encoding mode.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 62, wherein said region was encoded in accordance with vector quantization.
Claim 83
Independent Claim
256 words
An apparatus for decoding an encoded region corresponding to an original image, comprising: (a) means for providing encoded data corresponding to said encoded region, said encoded data comprising a specified encoding mode; and (b) means for decoding said encoded region in accordance with said specified encoding mode, said encoded region having been encoded in accordance with said specified encoding mode, said specified decoding mode having been selected in accordance with at least one similarity measure, said at least one similarity measure having been generated in accordance with a plurality of values corresponding to a region of the original image, wherein: said specified decoding mode having been selected in accordance with a horizontal similarity measure S h and a vertical similarity measure S v , said horizontal similarity measure S h having been generated in accordance with said values, said vertical similarity measure S v having been generated in accordance with said values, said encoding mode having been selected in accordance with said horizontal and vertical similarity measures, wherein: a first encoding mode having been selected, if said horizontal similarity measure S h was greater than a first threshold, if said vertical similarity measure S v was greater than a second threshold, and if the height and width of said region were integer multiples of eight; otherwise a second encoding mode having been selected, if said vertical similarity measure S v was greater than said second threshold and if the height of said region was an integer multiple of eight; and otherwise selecting a third encoding mode.
Claim 84
Independent Claim
256 words
An apparatus for decoding an encoded region corresponding to an original image, comprising: (a) means for providing encoded data corresponding to said encoded region, said encoded data comprising a specified encoding mode; and (b) means for decoding said encoded region in accordance with said specified encoding mode, said encoded region having been encoded in accordance with said specified encoding mode, said specified decoding mode having been selected in accordance with at least one similarity measure, said at least one similarity measure having been generated in accordance with a plurality of values corresponding to a region of the original image, wherein: said specified decoding mode having been selected in accordance with a horizontal similarity measure S h and a vertical similarity measure S v , said horizontal similarity measure S h having been generated in accordance with said values, said vertical similarity measure S v having been generated in accordance with said values, said encoding mode having been selected in accordance with said horizontal and vertical similarity measures, wherein: a first encoding mode having been selected, if said horizontal similarity measure S h was greater than a first threshold, if said vertical similarity measure S v was greater than a second threshold, and if the height and width of said region were integer multiples of eight; otherwise a second encoding mode having been selected, if said vertical similarity measure S v was greater than said second threshold and if the height of said region was an integer multiple of eight; and otherwise selecting a third encoding mode.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 66, wherein said first and second thresholds were generated in accordance with desired image quality.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 66, wherein said first threshold T 1 and said second threshold T 2 were generated in accordance with the following equation: ##EQU29## wherein Q was a target quality measure, A was a specified minimum quality threshold; and B was generated in accordance with the following equation: ##EQU30## where C was a specified average quality threshold.
Claim 87
Dependent Claim
75 words
The apparatus of claim 66, wherein: said horizontal similarity measure S h was generated in accordance with the following equation: ##EQU31## wherein F was a function of f(i+1,j) and f(i,j), f(i,j) was a value corresponding to row i and column j of said region, N was the height of said region, and M was the width of said region; and said vertical similarity measure S v was generated in accordance with the following equation: ##EQU32##
Claim 88
Independent Claim
237 words
An apparatus for decoding an encoded region corresponding to an original image, comprising: (a) means for providing encoded data corresponding to said encoded region, said encoded data comprising a specified encoding mode; and (b) means for decoding said encoded region in accordance with said specified encoding mode, said encoded region having been encoded in accordance with said specified encoding mode, said specified decoding mode having been selected in accordance with at least one similarity measure, said at least one similarity measure having been generated in accordance with a plurality of values corresponding to a region of the original image, wherein: said specified decoding mode having been selected in accordance with a horizontal similarity measure S h and a vertical similarity measure S v , said horizontal similarity measure S h having been generated in accordance with said values, said vertical similarity measure S v having been generated in accordance with said values, said encoding mode having been selected in accordance with said horizontal and vertical similarity measures, wherein: said horizontal similarity measure S h was generated in accordance with the following equation: ##EQU33## wherein F was a function of f(i+1,j) and f(i,j), f(i,j) was a value corresponding to row i and column j of said region, N was the height of said region, and M was the width of said region; and said vertical similarity measure S v was generated in accordance with the following equation: ##EQU34##
Claim 89
Independent Claim
237 words
An apparatus for decoding an encoded region corresponding to an original image, comprising: (a) means for providing encoded data corresponding to said encoded region, said encoded data comprising a specified encoding mode; and (b) means for decoding said encoded region in accordance with said specified encoding mode, said encoded region having been encoded in accordance with said specified encoding mode, said specified decoding mode having been selected in accordance with at least one similarity measure, said at least one similarity measure having been generated in accordance with a plurality of values corresponding to a region of the original image, wherein: said specified decoding mode having been selected in accordance with a horizontal similarity measure S h and a vertical similarity measure S v , said horizontal similarity measure S h having been generated in accordance with said values, said vertical similarity measure S v having been generated in accordance with said values, said encoding mode having been selected in accordance with said horizontal and vertical similarity measures, wherein: said horizontal similarity measure S h was generated in accordance with the following equation: ##EQU33## wherein F was a function of f(i+1,j) and f(i,j), f(i,j) was a value corresponding to row i and column j of said region, N was the height of said region, and M was the width of said region; and said vertical similarity measure S v was generated in accordance with the following equation: ##EQU34##
Claim 90
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 70, wherein said value f(i,j) was a motion compensated difference value corresponding to row i and column j of said region, and said region was interframe encoded.
Claim 91
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 70, wherein said value f(i,j) was a region pixel value corresponding to row i and column j of said region, and said region was intra-frame encoded.
Claim 92
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 70, wherein said function F was one of the square of the difference of f(i+1,j) and f(i,j) and the absolute value of the difference of f(i+1,j) and f(i,j).
Claim 93
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 70, wherein said region was encoded in accordance with vector quantization.
Claim 94
Independent Claim
109 words
An apparatus for decoding an encoded region corresponding to an original image, comprising: (a) means for providing encoded data corresponding to said encoded region, said encoded data comprising a specified encoding mode; and (b) means for decoding said encoded region in accordance with said specified encoding mode, said encoded region having been encoded in accordance with said specified encoding mode, said specified decoding mode having been selected in accordance with at least one similarity measure, said at least one similarity measure having been generated in accordance with a plurality of values corresponding to a region of the original image, wherein said region was encoded in accordance with vector quantization.
Claim 95
Independent Claim
109 words
An apparatus for decoding an encoded region corresponding to an original image, comprising: (a) means for providing encoded data corresponding to said encoded region, said encoded data comprising a specified encoding mode; and (b) means for decoding said encoded region in accordance with said specified encoding mode, said encoded region having been encoded in accordance with said specified encoding mode, said specified decoding mode having been selected in accordance with at least one similarity measure, said at least one similarity measure having been generated in accordance with a plurality of values corresponding to a region of the original image, wherein said region was encoded in accordance with vector quantization.
Claim 96
Dependent Claim
73 words
The apparatus of claim 75, wherein said specified decoding mode having been selected in accordance with a horizontal similarity measure S h and a vertical similarity measure S v , said horizontal similarity measure S h having been generated in accordance with said values, said vertical similarity measure S v having been generated in accordance with said values, said encoding mode having been selected in accordance with said horizontal and vertical similarity measures.
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