Computerized method for improving data resolution

Claim 1

A method for enhancing an input data set, representing a contiguous construct expressible as subsets of data coordinates representative of individual elements of the input data set, to increase resolution of the construct to an output construct resolution data set, the method comprising the steps of: choosing a first data coordinate subset of the construct; designating a set of second data coordinate subsets wherein each of the second data coordinate subsets is in a predetermined proximate relationship to said first data coordinate subset; characterizing said set of second data coordinate subsets by a first vector representative of a value related to at least one construct characterizing factor of said contiguous construct providing a data base, said data base having groups of data filters for said at least one construct characterizing factor, each of said groups of data filters having a second vector identifying at least one construct characterizing factor data filter group directly related to said at least one construct characterizing factor such that filtering a data coordinate subset of said input data set by a second vector identified group of data filters enhances the resolution of said first data coordinate subset; comparing said first vector to said second vector; selecting at least one of said groups of data filters based on a predetermined relationship of said first vector to said second vector; filtering said second data coordinate subsets with a selected group of data filters from said step of selecting to calculate a third subset of data coordinates consisting of a plurality of filtered second data coordinate subsets; substituting said third subset for said first data coordinate subset in said construct; and repeating each step of said process for each first data coordinate subset in said construct.

Claim 2

A method for enhancing an input data set, representing a contiguous construct expressible as subsets of data coordinates representative of individual elements of the input data set, to increase resolution of the construct to an output construct resolution data set, the method comprising the steps of: choosing a first data coordinate subset of the construct; designating a set of second data coordinate subsets wherein each of the second data coordinate subsets is in a predetermined proximate relationship to said first data coordinate subset; characterizing said set of second data coordinate subsets by a first vector representative of a value related to at least one construct characterizing factor of said contiguous construct providing a data base, said data base having groups of data filters for said at least one construct characterizing factor, each of said groups of data filters having a second vector identifying at least one construct characterizing factor data filter group directly related to said at least one construct characterizing factor such that filtering a data coordinate subset of said input data set by a second vector identified group of data filters enhances the resolution of said first data coordinate subset; comparing said first vector to said second vector; selecting at least one of said groups of data filters based on a predetermined relationship of said first vector to said second vector; filtering said second data coordinate subsets with a selected group of data filters from said step of selecting to calculate a third subset of data coordinates consisting of a plurality of filtered second data coordinate subsets; substituting said third subset for said first data coordinate subset in said construct; and repeating each step of said process for each first data coordinate subset in said construct.

Claim 17

A method for enhancing a graphics image by computerized enhancing of input data representative of a graphics image to increase resolution and providing resolution enhanced output data, said input data and said output data representing pixels of the graphics image, the method comprising the steps of: selecting a pixel to be enhanced; selecting a set of pixels circumscribing said pixel to be enhanced; characterizing said set of pixels by a first key representative of a value related to at least one visual perception factor of graphics images; providing a data base having a plurality of visual perception factor data filters for said at least one visual perception factor and each individual filter of said data base having a second key representative of a value related to said at least one visual perception factor; comparing said first key to said second key; selecting at least one data filter from said data base predicated on a predetermined relationship of said first key to said second key; filtering said set of pixels circumscribing said pixel to be enhanced with a selected filter from said step of selecting to calculate an increased resolution for said pixel to be enhanced and substituting a plurality of pixels for said pixel to be enhanced based upon said step of filtering said set of pixels; and outputting said plurality of pixels.

Claim 18

A method for enhancing a graphics image by computerized enhancing of input data representative of a graphics image to increase resolution and providing resolution enhanced output data, said input data and said output data representing pixels of the graphics image, the method comprising the steps of: selecting a pixel to be enhanced; selecting a set of pixels circumscribing said pixel to be enhanced; characterizing said set of pixels by a first key representative of a value related to at least one visual perception factor of graphics images; providing a data base having a plurality of visual perception factor data filters for said at least one visual perception factor and each individual filter of said data base having a second key representative of a value related to said at least one visual perception factor; comparing said first key to said second key; selecting at least one data filter from said data base predicated on a predetermined relationship of said first key to said second key; filtering said set of pixels circumscribing said pixel to be enhanced with a selected filter from said step of selecting to calculate an increased resolution for said pixel to be enhanced and substituting a plurality of pixels for said pixel to be enhanced based upon said step of filtering said set of pixels; and outputting said plurality of pixels.

Claim 36

A system for generating graphics images, including rendered alphanumeric text images, said system including a memory device for storing and operating an image resolution enhancement method, said method comprising the steps of: a) receiving a source data set of pixel data for each pixel of a graphics image, said source data having a form of spatial coordinates; b) determining if said data set is an upscaled data set, and when said data set is an upscaled data set, downscaling said data set; c) selecting a window of pixels, including a target pixel and at least some pixels contiguous to said target pixels; d) comparing the variation of a spatial coordinate of said contiguous pixels to a same spatial coordinate of said target pixel with respect to a variation threshold value, and if no variation exceeds said variation threshold value, replacing the target pixel with a plurality of higher resolution pixels generated in a known manner and returning to step c), and if a variation exceed said variation threshold vale, continuing with step e); e) calculating an image characteristic factor for each of the pixels of said window; f) comparing the variation of the image characteristic factor for said contiguous pixels to a same image characteristic factor for said target pixel to a range of image characteristic factors, and if said variation is within said range, replacing the target pixel with a plurality of higher resolution pixels generated in a known manner and returning to step c), and if said variation is above said range, continuing with step g); g) providing a data base of groups of data filters, each of said groups of data filters being classified by a mean vector related to said image characteristic factor; h) calculating a cluster vector for said window related to said image characteristic factor; i) sequentially comparing said cluster vector to each said mean vector; j) selecting at least one group of data filters based on a predetermined relationship of said cluster vector to at least one mean vector; k) applying said at least one group of data filters selected in step j) and calculating a plurality of pixels to replace said target pixel therefrom; l) replacing said target pixel with said plurality of pixels; m) sending said plurality of pixels to an output device for generating a resolution enhanced visual image, and n) returning to step c), and continuing said process until all pixels of said image have been selected.

Claim 37

A system for generating graphics images, including rendered alphanumeric text images, said system including a memory device for storing and operating an image resolution enhancement method, said method comprising the steps of: a) receiving a source data set of pixel data for each pixel of a graphics image, said source data having a form of spatial coordinates; b) determining if said data set is an upscaled data set, and when said data set is an upscaled data set, downscaling said data set; c) selecting a window of pixels, including a target pixel and at least some pixels contiguous to said target pixels; d) comparing the variation of a spatial coordinate of said contiguous pixels to a same spatial coordinate of said target pixel with respect to a variation threshold value, and if no variation exceeds said variation threshold value, replacing the target pixel with a plurality of higher resolution pixels generated in a known manner and returning to step c), and if a variation exceed said variation threshold vale, continuing with step e); e) calculating an image characteristic factor for each of the pixels of said window; f) comparing the variation of the image characteristic factor for said contiguous pixels to a same image characteristic factor for said target pixel to a range of image characteristic factors, and if said variation is within said range, replacing the target pixel with a plurality of higher resolution pixels generated in a known manner and returning to step c), and if said variation is above said range, continuing with step g); g) providing a data base of groups of data filters, each of said groups of data filters being classified by a mean vector related to said image characteristic factor; h) calculating a cluster vector for said window related to said image characteristic factor; i) sequentially comparing said cluster vector to each said mean vector; j) selecting at least one group of data filters based on a predetermined relationship of said cluster vector to at least one mean vector; k) applying said at least one group of data filters selected in step j) and calculating a plurality of pixels to replace said target pixel therefrom; l) replacing said target pixel with said plurality of pixels; m) sending said plurality of pixels to an output device for generating a resolution enhanced visual image, and n) returning to step c), and continuing said process until all pixels of said image have been selected.