Efficient browsing of encoded images

Claim 2

A computer-implemented method for browsing encoded images, comprising the steps of: (a) encoding at least one image with an encoding system to provide at least one encoded image, wherein the encoding comprises the step of transforming an image of the at least one image in accordance with a transform to provide a plurality of transform coefficients; (b) quantizing the plurality of transform coefficients to form a plurality of quantized transform coefficients: (c) selecting a subset of the plurality of quantized transform coefficients corresponding to a selected image to form a subset of quantized transform coefficients; and (d) transmitting the subset of quantized transform coefficients to a remote computer system, wherein the subset of quantized transform coefficients corresponds to a low quality version of the selected image, the subset of quantized transform coefficients comprising the DC components and the first-order AC components of the plurality of quantized transform coefficients.

Claim 3

The method of claim 1, wherein the selected image is selected in accordance with a selection of a user of the remote computer system, the method further comprising the step of: (e) transmitting encoded image signals corresponding to a high quality version of the selected image to the remote computer system in response to a request by the user of the remote computer system.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2, wherein the encoded image signals comprise the plurality of quantized transform coefficients.

Claim 5

The method of claim 2, wherein the encoded image signals comprise quantized transform coefficients of the plurality of quantized transform coefficients other than the subset of quantized transform coefficients.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the selected image is selected in accordance with a selection of a user of the remote computer apparatus, the apparatus further comprising: (e) means for transmitting encoded image signals corresponding to a high quality version of the selected image to the remote computer apparatus in response to a request by the user of the remote computer apparatus.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the encoded image signals comprise the plurality of quantized transform coefficients.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the encoded image signals comprise quantized transform coefficients of the plurality of quantized transform coefficients other than the subset of quantized transform coefficients.

Claim 11

A computer-readable memory device having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by a processor of a source computer, cause the processor to perform the steps of: (a) encoding at least one image with an encoding system to provide at least one encoded image, wherein the encoding comprises the step of transforming an image of the at least one image in accordance with a transform to provide a plurality of transform coefficients; (b) quantizing the plurality of transform coefficients to form a plurality of quantized transform coefficients; (c) selecting a subset of the plurality of quantized transform coefficients corresponding to a selected image to form a subset of quantized transform coefficients; and (d) transmitting the subset of quantized transform coefficients to a remote computer system, wherein the subset of quantized transform coefficients corresponds to a low quality version of the selected image, the subset of quantized transform coefficients comprising the DC components and the first-order AC components of the plurality of quantized transform coefficients.

Claim 12

A computer-readable memory device having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by a processor of a source computer, cause the processor to perform the steps of: (a) encoding at least one image with an encoding system to provide at least one encoded image, wherein the encoding comprises the step of transforming an image of the at least one image in accordance with a transform to provide a plurality of transform coefficients; (b) quantizing the plurality of transform coefficients to form a plurality of quantized transform coefficients; (c) selecting a subset of the plurality of quantized transform coefficients corresponding to a selected image to form a subset of quantized transform coefficients; and (d) transmitting the subset of quantized transform coefficients to a remote computer system, wherein the subset of quantized transform coefficients corresponds to a low quality version of the selected image, the subset of quantized transform coefficients comprising the DC components and the first-order AC components of the plurality of quantized transform coefficients.

Claim 13

The computer-readable memory device of claim 9, wherein the selected image is selected in accordance with a selection of a user of the remote computer system and the plurality of instructions cause the processor to perform the step of: (e) transmitting encoded image signals corresponding to a high quality version of the selected image to the remote computer system in response to a request by the user of the remote computer system.

Claim 14

The computer-readable memory device of claim 10, wherein the encoded image signals comprise the plurality of quantized transform coefficients.

Claim 15

The computer-readable memory device of claim 10, wherein the encoded image signals comprise quantized transform coefficients of the plurality of quantized transform coefficients other than the subset of quantized transform coefficients.

Claim 16

A computer-implemented method for browsing encoded images, comprising the steps of: (a) encoding at least one image with an encoding system to provide at least one encoded image, wherein the encoding comprises the step of transforming an image of the at least one image in accordance with a transform to provide a plurality of transform coefficients; step (a) comprising the steps of: (1) quantizing the plurality of transform coefficients to provide a plurality of quantized transform coefficients; (2) run-length encoding the plurality of quantized transform coefficients; and (3) Huffman encoding the run-length-encoded plurality of quantized transform coefficients; and (b) transmitting a subset of the plurality of quantized transform coefficients corresponding to a selected image to a remote computer system, wherein the subset corresponds to a low quality version of the selected image; step (b) comprising the steps of: (1) reversing the Huffman encoding of step (a)(3) and the run-length encoding of step (a)(2) to provide the plurality of quantized transform coefficients; and (2) selecting selected quantized transform coefficients of the plurality of quantized transform coefficients to form the subset of the plurality of transform coefficients.

Claim 17

A computer-implemented method for browsing encoded images, comprising the steps of: (a) encoding at least one image with an encoding system to provide at least one encoded image, wherein the encoding comprises the step of transforming an image of the at least one image in accordance with a transform to provide a plurality of transform coefficients; step (a) comprising the steps of: (1) quantizing the plurality of transform coefficients to provide a plurality of quantized transform coefficients; (2) run-length encoding the plurality of quantized transform coefficients; and (3) Huffman encoding the run-length-encoded plurality of quantized transform coefficients; and (b) transmitting a subset of the plurality of quantized transform coefficients corresponding to a selected image to a remote computer system, wherein the subset corresponds to a low quality version of the selected image; step (b) comprising the steps of: (1) reversing the Huffman encoding of step (a)(3) and the run-length encoding of step (a)(2) to provide the plurality of quantized transform coefficients; and (2) selecting selected quantized transform coefficients of the plurality of quantized transform coefficients to form the subset of the plurality of transform coefficients.

Claim 18

The method of claim 13, wherein the selected image is selected in accordance with a selection of a user of the remote computer system, the method further comprising the step of: (c) transmitting encoded image signals corresponding to a high quality version of the selected image to the remote computer system in response to a request by the user of the remote computer system.

Claim 19

The method of claim 14, wherein the encoded image signals comprise the plurality of transform coefficients.

Claim 20

The method of claim 14, wherein the encoded image signals comprise transform coefficients of the plurality of transform coefficients other than the subset of the plurality of transform coefficients.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the selected image is selected in accordance with a selection of a user of the remote computer system, the apparatus further comprising: (c) means for transmitting encoded image signals corresponding to a high quality version of the selected image to the remote computer system in response to a request by the user of the remote computer system.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the encoded image signals comprise the plurality of transform coefficients.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the encoded image signals comprise transform coefficients of the plurality of transform coefficients other than the subset of the plurality of transform coefficients.

Claim 26

A computer-readable memory device having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by a processor of a source computer, cause the processor to perform the steps of: (a) encoding at least one image with an encoding system to provide at least one encoded image, wherein the encoding comprises the step of transforming an image of the at least one image in accordance with a transform to provide a plurality of transform coefficients; step (a) comprising the steps of: (1) quantizing the plurality of transform coefficients to provide a plurality of quantized transform coefficients; (2) run-length encoding the plurality of quantized transform coefficients; and (3) Huffman encoding the run-length-encoded plurality of quantized transform coefficients; and (b) transmitting a subset of the plurality of quantized transform coefficients corresponding to a selected image to a remote computer system, wherein the subset corresponds to a low quality version of the selected image; step (b) comprising the steps of: (1) reversing the Huffman encoding of step (a)(3) and the run-length encoding of step (a)(2) to provide the plurality of quantized transform coefficients; and (2) selecting selected quantized transform coefficients of the plurality of quantized transform coefficients to form the subset of the plurality of transform coefficients.

Claim 27

A computer-readable memory device having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by a processor of a source computer, cause the processor to perform the steps of: (a) encoding at least one image with an encoding system to provide at least one encoded image, wherein the encoding comprises the step of transforming an image of the at least one image in accordance with a transform to provide a plurality of transform coefficients; step (a) comprising the steps of: (1) quantizing the plurality of transform coefficients to provide a plurality of quantized transform coefficients; (2) run-length encoding the plurality of quantized transform coefficients; and (3) Huffman encoding the run-length-encoded plurality of quantized transform coefficients; and (b) transmitting a subset of the plurality of quantized transform coefficients corresponding to a selected image to a remote computer system, wherein the subset corresponds to a low quality version of the selected image; step (b) comprising the steps of: (1) reversing the Huffman encoding of step (a)(3) and the run-length encoding of step (a)(2) to provide the plurality of quantized transform coefficients; and (2) selecting selected quantized transform coefficients of the plurality of quantized transform coefficients to form the subset of the plurality of transform coefficients.

Claim 28

The computer-readable memory device of claim 21, wherein the selected image is selected in accordance with a selection of a user of the remote computer system and the plurality of instructions cause the processor to perform the step of: (c) transmitting encoded image signals corresponding to a high quality version of the selected image to the remote computer system in response to a request by the user of the remote computer system.

Claim 29

The computer-readable memory device of claim 22, wherein the encoded image signals comprise the plurality of transform coefficients.

Claim 30

The computer-readable memory device of claim 22, wherein the encoded image signals comprise transform coefficients of the plurality of transform coefficients other than the subset of the plurality of transform coefficients.