Patent US5588069A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5588069A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Image processing apparatus for advantageously encoding blocks of data having either substantially the same or varied colors
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1995-03-02
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Granted: 1996-12-24
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Expires: 2015-03-02
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for efficiently encoding image data of a color facsimile or the like are provided. A specific color judgment unit discriminates a specific color portion such as white or blank portion of the image data inputted from an image input unit. An orthogonal transforming process is not executed to the blank block, thereby raising an encoding efficiency. A discrimination signal is subjected to a dynamic arithmetical encoding, thereby producing code data.
Inventors
- 👤 Akihiro Katayama
- 👤 Yasuhiko Yasuda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:05
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/46; H04N1/64; H04N1/642; H04N1/41; H04N1/411; H04N1/413; H04N1/415; H04N1/56
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting image data representing an image; dividing means for dividing the image data into a plurality of blocks, each of which is composed of a plurality of pixels; discriminating means for discriminating, for each block, whether that block is of a first block type or of a second block type, a first block type being one in which not all of the pixels are substantially the same predetermined color and a second block type being one in which all of the pixels are substantially the same predetermined color; encoding means for encoding, by using an orthogonal transformation, the image data in the first type blocks; and outputting means for outputting the image data in the first type blocks encoded by said encoding means, wherein the image data in the second type blocks is not outputted in orthogonally-transformed form.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting image data representing an image; dividing means for dividing the image data into a plurality of blocks, each of which is composed of a plurality of pixels; discriminating means for discriminating, for each block, whether that block is of a first block type or of a second block type, a first block type being one in which not all of the pixels are substantially the same predetermined color and a second block type being one in which all of the pixels are substantially the same predetermined color; encoding means for encoding, by using an orthogonal transformation, the image data in the first type blocks; and outputting means for outputting the image data in the first type blocks encoded by said encoding means, wherein the image data in the second type blocks is not outputted in orthogonally-transformed form.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined color is white.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further having second encoding means for encoding data indicative of a position of any block composed of pixels all of said predetermined color.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further having extracting means for extracting an edge portion from the input image data.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, further having third encoding means for entropy encoding said edge portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further having judging means for judging whether the input image data includes a color character portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, further having means for binary series converting said color character portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said orthogonal transformation is DCT.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
134 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: inputting image data representing an image; dividing the image data into a plurality of blocks, each of which is composed of a plurality of pixels; discriminating, for each block whether that block is of a first block type or of a second block type, a first block type being one in which not all of the pixels are substantially the same predetermined color and a second block type being one in which all of the pixels are substantially the same predetermined color; encoding, by using an orthogonal transformation, the image data in the first type blocks; and outputting the image data in the first type blocks encoded in said encoding step, wherein the image data in the second type blocks is not outputted in orthogonally-transformed form.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
134 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: inputting image data representing an image; dividing the image data into a plurality of blocks, each of which is composed of a plurality of pixels; discriminating, for each block whether that block is of a first block type or of a second block type, a first block type being one in which not all of the pixels are substantially the same predetermined color and a second block type being one in which all of the pixels are substantially the same predetermined color; encoding, by using an orthogonal transformation, the image data in the first type blocks; and outputting the image data in the first type blocks encoded in said encoding step, wherein the image data in the second type blocks is not outputted in orthogonally-transformed form.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
103 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting image data representing an image; dividing means for dividing the input image data into a plurality of blocks, each of which is composed of a plurality of pixels; discriminating means for discriminating a white block from said blocks; encoding means for encoding the image data in the blocks other than said white block which has been discriminated by said discriminating means by using an orthogonal transformation method; and outputting means for outputting the image data encoded by said encoding means, wherein the image data in said white block is not outputted in orthogonally-transformed form.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
103 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting image data representing an image; dividing means for dividing the input image data into a plurality of blocks, each of which is composed of a plurality of pixels; discriminating means for discriminating a white block from said blocks; encoding means for encoding the image data in the blocks other than said white block which has been discriminated by said discriminating means by using an orthogonal transformation method; and outputting means for outputting the image data encoded by said encoding means, wherein the image data in said white block is not outputted in orthogonally-transformed form.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said dividing means divides the input image data into N×N (N is a natural number) blocks.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, further having second encoding means for encoding data indicative of a position of said white block.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, further having extracting means for extracting an edge portion from input image data.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, further having third encoding means for entropy encoding said edge portion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, further having judging means for judging whether the input image data includes a color character portion.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, further having means for binary series converting said color character portion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said orthogonal transformation is a DCT.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
86 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: inputting image data representing an image; dividing the image data into a plurality of blocks, each of which is composed of a plurality of pixels; discriminating a white block from said blocks; encoding the image data in the blocks other than said white block which has been discriminated by using an orthogonal transformation method; and outputting the image data encoded in said encoding step, wherein the image data in said white block is not outputted in orthogonally-transformed form.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
86 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: inputting image data representing an image; dividing the image data into a plurality of blocks, each of which is composed of a plurality of pixels; discriminating a white block from said blocks; encoding the image data in the blocks other than said white block which has been discriminated by using an orthogonal transformation method; and outputting the image data encoded in said encoding step, wherein the image data in said white block is not outputted in orthogonally-transformed form.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
95 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting image data as pixels, wherein the image data is grouped in blocks each composed of a plurality of pixels, each pixel represented by a plurality of color components; first discriminating means for discriminating a chromatic color of a pixel in a block of the input image data; second discriminating means for discriminating image data where all pixels of a block are of another color; and encoding means for encoding the input image data in accordance with a discriminating result of said first and second discriminating means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
95 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting image data as pixels, wherein the image data is grouped in blocks each composed of a plurality of pixels, each pixel represented by a plurality of color components; first discriminating means for discriminating a chromatic color of a pixel in a block of the input image data; second discriminating means for discriminating image data where all pixels of a block are of another color; and encoding means for encoding the input image data in accordance with a discriminating result of said first and second discriminating means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said input means is an image reader comprising a CCD sensor.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said second discriminating means discriminates white image data in the block.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 19, further having extracting means for extracting an edge portion from input image data.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said encoding means performs an entropy encoding on the basis of the discrimination result by said first discriminating means and the extraction result by said extracting means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said encoding means performs an encoding using an orthogonal transformation on the basis of the discriminating result by said second discriminating means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
96 words
An image processing method comprising: an inputting step of inputting image data as pixels, wherein the image data is grouped in blocks each composed of a plurality of pixels, each pixel represented by a plurality of color components; first discriminating step of discriminating a chromatic color of a pixel in a block of the input image data; second discriminating step of discriminating image data where all pixels of a block are of another color; and encoding step of encoding the input image data in accordance with a discrimination result of said first and second discriminating steps.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
96 words
An image processing method comprising: an inputting step of inputting image data as pixels, wherein the image data is grouped in blocks each composed of a plurality of pixels, each pixel represented by a plurality of color components; first discriminating step of discriminating a chromatic color of a pixel in a block of the input image data; second discriminating step of discriminating image data where all pixels of a block are of another color; and encoding step of encoding the input image data in accordance with a discrimination result of said first and second discriminating steps.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-12-24 | 2000-06-24 | 2000-12-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-12-24 | 2004-06-24 | 2004-12-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-12-24 | 2008-06-24 | 2008-12-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |