Image encoding method and apparatus, image decoding method and apparatus, and image processing system

Claim 2

An image encoding method, comprising: a pattern matching step searching for a waveform vector in a predetermined group of waveform vectors based upon inner products of the waveform vectors and a partial signal waveform of an image signal; and a waveform pattern encoding step performing a compression encoding for information to identify the waveform vector searched for, an inner product value of the partial signal waveform and the waveform vector searched for, and a position in an image of the partial signal waveform in accordance with a predetermined encoding rule, wherein in a process in which the pattern matching step and the waveform pattern encoding step are iterated until a predetermined condition is satisfied, whenever encoding information is obtained at the waveform pattern encoding step, a reconstructed waveform of a partial signal waveform obtained from the encoding information is subtracted from the image signal so as to produce an image signal to be provided to the pattern matching step, and the image signal is encoded according to the encoding information obtained at the waveform pattern encoding step until the predetermined condition is satisfied, and wherein the position in the image of the partial signal waveform is encoded through replacement with position information in a predetermined partial domain of the image signal.

Claim 3

The image encoding method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein in the pattern matching step, pixels formed of a predetermined power of 2×2 of an image signal represented by a predetermined pixel unit are set as a unit, and a position in an image of a partial signal waveform to be encoded is identified.

Claim 4

The image encoding method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the predetermined partial domain is divided into unit blocks to identify a position and is stratified in a block domain formed of one unit block or a plurality of unit blocks based upon an inclusive relation, and the position in the image of the partial signal waveform is encoded based upon a sequence of bits indicating whether or not each block domain of an individual layer includes a position of a partial signal waveform to obtain an inner product value of the partial signal waveform and a waveform pattern in a group of waveform patterns.

Claim 5

The image encoding method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the image signal to be processed is information representing a source image to be encoded.

Claim 6

The image encoding method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the image signal to be processed is information representing a prediction residual image obtained by performing a motion compensation prediction for a source image to be processed.

Claim 7

The image encoding method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the image signal to be processed is an encoding distortion signal generated by encoding a source image in accordance with a predetermined encoding rule.

Claim 8

The image encoding method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the image signal to be processed is information representing a prediction residual image obtained by performing a motion compensation prediction for an encoding distortion signal generated by encoding a source image in accordance with a predetermined encoding rule.

Claim 9

The image encoding method as claimed in claim 7 , wherein when the information representing the prediction residual image is obtained, motion information detected by encoding the source image is used to perform the motion compensation prediction.

Claim 10

The image encoding method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the motion information detected by encoding the source image is set as an initial value, motion information is detected in positions adjacent to a position where a motion regarding the initial value occurs, and the motion information is used to perform the motion compensation prediction.

Claim 11

An image encoder, comprising: a pattern matching part searching for a waveform vector in a predetermined group of waveform vectors based upon inner products of the waveform vectors and a partial signal waveform of an image signal; and a waveform pattern encoding part performing a compression encoding for information to identify the waveform vector searched for, an inner product value of the partial signal waveform and the waveform vector searched for, and a position in an image of the partial signal waveform in accordance with a predetermined encoding rule, wherein in a process in which operations on the pattern matching part and the waveform pattern encoding part are iterated until a predetermined condition is satisfied, whenever encoding information is obtained at the waveform pattern encoding part, a reconstructed waveform of a partial signal waveform obtained from the encoding information is subtracted from the image signal so as to produce an image signal to be provided to the pattern matching part, and the image signal is encoded according to the encoding information obtained by the waveform pattern encoding part until the predetermined condition is satisfied, and wherein the position in the image of the partial signal waveform is encoded through replacement with position information in a predetermined partial domain of the image signal.

Claim 12

An image encoder, comprising: a pattern matching part searching for a waveform vector in a predetermined group of waveform vectors based upon inner products of the waveform vectors and a partial signal waveform of an image signal; and a waveform pattern encoding part performing a compression encoding for information to identify the waveform vector searched for, an inner product value of the partial signal waveform and the waveform vector searched for, and a position in an image of the partial signal waveform in accordance with a predetermined encoding rule, wherein in a process in which operations on the pattern matching part and the waveform pattern encoding part are iterated until a predetermined condition is satisfied, whenever encoding information is obtained at the waveform pattern encoding part, a reconstructed waveform of a partial signal waveform obtained from the encoding information is subtracted from the image signal so as to produce an image signal to be provided to the pattern matching part, and the image signal is encoded according to the encoding information obtained by the waveform pattern encoding part until the predetermined condition is satisfied, and wherein the position in the image of the partial signal waveform is encoded through replacement with position information in a predetermined partial domain of the image signal.

Claim 13

The image encoder as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the pattern matching part sets pixels formed of a predetermined power of 2×2 of an image signal represented by a predetermined pixel unit as a unit and identifies a position in an image of a partial signal waveform to be encoded.

Claim 14

The image encoder as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the predetermined partial domain is divided into unit blocks to identify a position and is stratified in a block domain formed of one unit block or a plurality of unit blocks based upon an inclusive relation, and the waveform pattern encoding part encodes the position in the image of the partial signal waveform based upon a sequence of bits indicating whether or not each block domain of an individual layer includes a position of a partial signal waveform to obtain an inner product value of the partial signal waveform and a waveform pattern in a group of waveform patterns.

Claim 15

An image decoding method for receiving compressed image information and reconstructing image information by decompressing the compressed image information per predetermined partial domain, the image the steps of: decoding method comprising the steps of: decoding compressed image information regarding a predetermined partial domain in accordance with a predetermined decoding rule and obtaining information to identify a waveform vector, an inner product value of the waveform vector and a partial signal waveform, and a position in an image of the partial signal waveform; reconstructing image information based upon the waveform vector identified from a predetermined group of waveform vectors by the information to identify a waveform vector, the inner product value, and the position in the image of the partial signal waveform; and decoding the position in the image of the partial signal waveform included in the compressed image information as information per predetermined partial image domain when the compressed image information is decoded.

Claim 16

An image decoding method for receiving compressed image information and reconstructing image information by decompressing the compressed image information per predetermined partial domain, the image the steps of: decoding method comprising the steps of: decoding compressed image information regarding a predetermined partial domain in accordance with a predetermined decoding rule and obtaining information to identify a waveform vector, an inner product value of the waveform vector and a partial signal waveform, and a position in an image of the partial signal waveform; reconstructing image information based upon the waveform vector identified from a predetermined group of waveform vectors by the information to identify a waveform vector, the inner product value, and the position in the image of the partial signal waveform; and decoding the position in the image of the partial signal waveform included in the compressed image information as information per predetermined partial image domain when the compressed image information is decoded.

Claim 17

The image decoding method as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the predetermined partial domain is divided into unit blocks to identify a position and is stratified in a block domain formed of one unit block or a plurality of unit blocks based upon an inclusive relation, and position information that is encoded based upon a sequence of bits indicating whether or not each block domain of an individual layer includes a position of a partial signal waveform to obtain an inner product value of the partial signal waveform and any waveform pattern of a group of waveform patterns is decoded at the position in the image of the partial signal waveform.

Claim 18

The image decoding method as claimed in claim 13 , wherein encoded information of a source image is decoded as compressed image information.

Claim 19

The image decoding method as claimed in claim 13 , wherein encoded information of a prediction residual image obtained by performing a motion compensation prediction for a source image is decoded as compressed image information.

Claim 20

The image decoding method as claimed in claim 13 , wherein encoded information of an encoding distortion signal generated by encoding a source image in accordance with a predetermined encoding rule is decoded as compressed image information.

Claim 21

The image decoding method as claimed in claim 13 , wherein encoded information of a prediction residual image obtained by performing a motion compensation prediction for an encoding distortion signal generated by encoding a source image in accordance with a predetermined encoding rule is decoded as compressed image information.

Claim 22

The image decoding method as claimed in claim 16 , wherein when a prediction image to be added to a reconstructed prediction residual image is obtained, motion information detected in a decoding process of encoded information of a source image is used to perform a motion compensation.

Claim 23

The image decoding method as claimed in claim 19 , wherein motion information detected in a decoding process of encoded information of a source image is set as an initial value and information representing motions at positions adjacent to a position where a motion regarding the motion information occurs is decoded to perform a motion compensation.

Claim 24

An image decoder for receiving compressed image information and reconstructing image information by decompressing the compressed image information per predetermined partial domain, comprising: a first part decoding compressed image information regarding a predetermined partial domain in accordance with a predetermined decoding rule and obtaining information to identify a waveform vector, an inner product value of the waveform vector and a partial signal waveform, and a position in an image of the partial signal waveform; and a second part reconstructing image information based upon the waveform vector identified by the information to identify the waveform vector from a predetermined group of waveform vectors, the inner product value, and the position in the image of the partial signal waveform, wherein the first part decodes the position in the image of the partial signal waveform included in the compressed image information as information per predetermined partial image domain when the compressed image information is decoded.

Claim 25

An image decoder for receiving compressed image information and reconstructing image information by decompressing the compressed image information per predetermined partial domain, comprising: a first part decoding compressed image information regarding a predetermined partial domain in accordance with a predetermined decoding rule and obtaining information to identify a waveform vector, an inner product value of the waveform vector and a partial signal waveform, and a position in an image of the partial signal waveform; and a second part reconstructing image information based upon the waveform vector identified by the information to identify the waveform vector from a predetermined group of waveform vectors, the inner product value, and the position in the image of the partial signal waveform, wherein the first part decodes the position in the image of the partial signal waveform included in the compressed image information as information per predetermined partial image domain when the compressed image information is decoded.

Claim 26

The image decoder as claimed in claim 21 , wherein the predetermined partial domain is divided into unit blocks to identify a position and is stratified in a block domain formed of one unit block or a plurality of unit blocks based upon an inclusive relation, and the first part decodes position information that is encoded based upon a sequence of bits indicating whether or not each block domain of an individual layer includes a position of a partial signal waveform to obtain an inner product value of the partial signal waveform and any waveform pattern of a group of waveform patterns at the position in the image of the partial signal waveform.

Claim 27

The image decoder as claimed in claim 21 , wherein the first part decodes encoded information of a source image as compressed image information.

Claim 28

The image decoder as claimed in claim 21 , wherein the first part decodes encoded information of a prediction residual image obtained by performing a motion compensation prediction for a source image as compressed image information.

Claim 29

The image decoder as claimed in claim 21 , wherein the first part decodes encoding information of an encoding distortion signal generated by encoding a source image in accordance with a predetermined encoding rule as compressed image information.

Claim 30

The image decoder as claimed in claim 21 , wherein the first part decodes encoding information of a prediction residual image obtained by performing a motion compensation prediction for an encoding distortion signal generated by encoding a source image in accordance with a predetermined encoding rule as compressed image information.

Claim 31

The image decoder as claimed in claim 24 , wherein the second part contains a motion prediction part performing a motion compensation by using motion information detected in a decoding process of encoded information of a source image when a prediction image to be added to a reconstructed prediction residual image is obtained.

Claim 32

The image decoder as claimed in claim 27 , wherein the motion prediction part uses motion information detected in a decoding process of encoded information of a source image as an initial value and performs a motion compensation by decoding information representing motions at positions adjacent to a position where a motion regarding the motion information occurs.

Claim 33

An image decoding method, comprising: a first image decoding step receiving a first compressed image and reconstructing first image information by decompressing the first compressed image information per predetermined partial domain; a second image decoding step receiving a second compressed image and reconstructing second image information by decompressing the second compressed image information per predetermined partial signal waveform; and an image synthesizing step obtaining output image information by synthesizing the first image information and the second image information, wherein in the second image decoding step, by decoding the second compressed image information in accordance with a predetermined decoding rule, information to identify a waveform vector, an inner product value of the waveform vector and a partial signal waveform, and a position in an image of the partial signal waveform are obtained, and a group of waveform vectors to be used is selected among a plurality of predetermined groups of waveform vectors based upon a code parameter included in the first compressed image information provided to the first image decoding step and the position in the image of the partial signal waveform, and wherein the second image information is generated based upon the waveform vector identified by the information to identify the waveform vector in the selected group of waveform vectors, the inner product value and the position in the image of the partial signal waveform.

Claim 34

An image decoding method, comprising: a first image decoding step receiving a first compressed image and reconstructing first image information by decompressing the first compressed image information per predetermined partial domain; a second image decoding step receiving a second compressed image and reconstructing second image information by decompressing the second compressed image information per predetermined partial signal waveform; and an image synthesizing step obtaining output image information by synthesizing the first image information and the second image information, wherein in the second image decoding step, by decoding the second compressed image information in accordance with a predetermined decoding rule, information to identify a waveform vector, an inner product value of the waveform vector and a partial signal waveform, and a position in an image of the partial signal waveform are obtained, and a group of waveform vectors to be used is selected among a plurality of predetermined groups of waveform vectors based upon a code parameter included in the first compressed image information provided to the first image decoding step and the position in the image of the partial signal waveform, and wherein the second image information is generated based upon the waveform vector identified by the information to identify the waveform vector in the selected group of waveform vectors, the inner product value and the position in the image of the partial signal waveform.

Claim 35

The image decoding method as claimed in claim 29 , wherein when the second compressed image information is decoded at the second image decoding step, the position in the image of the partial signal waveform included in the second compressed image information is decoded as information per predetermined partial image domain.

Claim 36

The image decoding method as claimed in claim 30 , wherein the predetermined partial domain is divided into unit blocks to identify a position and is stratified in a block domain formed of one unit block or a plurality of unit blocks based upon an inclusive relation, and position information that is encoded based upon a sequence of bits indicating whether or not each block domain of an individual layer includes a position of a partial signal waveform to obtain an inner product value of the partial signal waveform and any waveform pattern in a group of waveform patterns is decoded at the position in the image of the partial signal waveform.

Claim 37

An image decoder, comprising: a first image decoding part receiving a first compressed image and reconstructing first image information by decompressing the first compressed image information per predetermined partial domain; a second image decoding part receiving a second compressed image and reconstructing second image information by decompressing the second compressed image information per predetermined partial signal waveform; and an image synthesizing part obtaining output image information by synthesizing the first image information and the second image information, wherein the second image decoding part comprises a plurality of predetermined groups of waveform vectors; a first part decoding the second compressed image information in accordance with a predetermined decoding rule and obtaining information to identify a waveform vector, an inner product value of a partial signal waveform and the waveform vector, and a position in an image of the partial signal waveform; a second part selecting a group of waveform vectors to be used among a plurality of predetermined groups of waveform vectors based upon a code parameter included in the first compressed image information provided to the first image decoding part and the position in the image of the partial signal waveform; and a third part generating the second image information based upon the waveform vector identified by the information to identify the waveform vector from the selected group of waveform vectors, the inner product value, and the position in the image of the partial signal waveform.

Claim 38

An image decoder, comprising: a first image decoding part receiving a first compressed image and reconstructing first image information by decompressing the first compressed image information per predetermined partial domain; a second image decoding part receiving a second compressed image and reconstructing second image information by decompressing the second compressed image information per predetermined partial signal waveform; and an image synthesizing part obtaining output image information by synthesizing the first image information and the second image information, wherein the second image decoding part comprises a plurality of predetermined groups of waveform vectors; a first part decoding the second compressed image information in accordance with a predetermined decoding rule and obtaining information to identify a waveform vector, an inner product value of a partial signal waveform and the waveform vector, and a position in an image of the partial signal waveform; a second part selecting a group of waveform vectors to be used among a plurality of predetermined groups of waveform vectors based upon a code parameter included in the first compressed image information provided to the first image decoding part and the position in the image of the partial signal waveform; and a third part generating the second image information based upon the waveform vector identified by the information to identify the waveform vector from the selected group of waveform vectors, the inner product value, and the position in the image of the partial signal waveform.

Claim 39

The image decoder as claimed in claim 32 , wherein when the second image decoding part decodes the second compressed image information, the second image decoding part decodes the position in the image of the partial signal waveform included in the second compressed image information as information per predetermined partial image domain.

Claim 40

The image decoder as claimed in claim 33 , wherein the predetermined partial domain is divided into unit blocks to identify a position and is stratified in a block domain formed of one unit block or a plurality of unit blocks based upon an inclusive relation, and the second image decoding part decodes position information that is encoded based upon a sequence of bits indicating whether or not each block domain of an individual layer includes a position of a partial signal waveform to obtain an inner product value of the partial signal waveform and any waveform pattern in a group of waveform patterns at the position in the image of the partial signal waveform.

Claim 41

The image decoder as claimed in claim 32 , wherein the first compressed image information provided to the first image decoding part is set as encoded information of a source image and the second compressed image information provided to the second image decoding part is set as encoded information of an encoding distortion signal generated by encoding the source image, and wherein the image synthesizing part obtains an output image by synthesizing the first image information regarding the source image obtained by the first image decoding part and the second image information regarding the encoding distortion signal obtained by the second image decoding part.

Claim 42

The image decoder as claimed in claim 35 , wherein the second compressed image information provided to the second image decoding part is set as encoded information of a prediction residual image obtained by performing a motion prediction compensation for the encoding distortion signal generated by encoding the source image.

Claim 43

The image decoder as claimed in claim 36 , wherein when a prediction image to be added to a reconstructed prediction residual image is obtained, the second image decoding part uses motion information detected in a decoding process of encoded information of a source image at the first image decoding part to perform a motion compensation.

Claim 44

The image decoder as claimed in claim 37 , wherein the motion information detected in the decoding process of encoded information of a source image by the first image decoding part is used as an initial value and information representing motions at positions adjacent to a position where a motion regarding the motion information occurs is decoded to perform a motion compensation.

Claim 45

An image processing system, comprising: an image encoder having a pattern matching part searching for a waveform vector in a predetermined group of waveform vectors based upon inner products of the waveform vectors and a partial signal waveform of an image signal and a waveform pattern encoding part encoding information to identify the waveform vector searched for, an inner product value of the partial signal waveform and the waveform vector searched for, and a position in an image of the partial signal waveform in accordance with a predetermined encoding rule, wherein the waveform pattern encoding part encodes the position in the image of the partial signal waveform through replacement with position information in a predetermined partial domain of the image signal, and wherein in a process in which operations on the pattern matching part and the waveform pattern encoding part are iterated until a predetermined condition is satisfied, whenever encoding information is obtained at the waveform pattern encoding part, a reconstructed waveform of a partial signal waveform obtained from the encoding information is subtracted from the image signal so as to produce an image signal to be provided to the pattern matching part and compressed image information for the image signal is generated according to the encoding information obtained by the waveform pattern encoding part until the predetermined condition is satisfied; and an image decoder having a first part receiving compressed image information and reconstructing image information by decompressing the compressed image information per predetermined partial domain, decoding compressed image information in a predetermined partial domain in accordance with a predetermined decoding rule and obtaining information to identify a waveform vector, an inner product value of the waveform vector and a partial signal waveform and a position in an image of the partial signal waveform, and a second part reconstructing image information based upon a waveform vector identified by the information to identify a waveform vector from a predetermined group of waveform vectors, the inner product value, and the position in the image of the partial signal waveform, wherein the first part decodes the position in the image of the partial signal waveform included in the compressed image information as information per predetermined partial image domain when the compressed image information is decoded.

Claim 46

An image processing system, comprising: an image encoder having a pattern matching part searching for a waveform vector in a predetermined group of waveform vectors based upon inner products of the waveform vectors and a partial signal waveform of an image signal and a waveform pattern encoding part encoding information to identify the waveform vector searched for, an inner product value of the partial signal waveform and the waveform vector searched for, and a position in an image of the partial signal waveform in accordance with a predetermined encoding rule, wherein the waveform pattern encoding part encodes the position in the image of the partial signal waveform through replacement with position information in a predetermined partial domain of the image signal, and wherein in a process in which operations on the pattern matching part and the waveform pattern encoding part are iterated until a predetermined condition is satisfied, whenever encoding information is obtained at the waveform pattern encoding part, a reconstructed waveform of a partial signal waveform obtained from the encoding information is subtracted from the image signal so as to produce an image signal to be provided to the pattern matching part and compressed image information for the image signal is generated according to the encoding information obtained by the waveform pattern encoding part until the predetermined condition is satisfied; and an image decoder having a first part receiving compressed image information and reconstructing image information by decompressing the compressed image information per predetermined partial domain, decoding compressed image information in a predetermined partial domain in accordance with a predetermined decoding rule and obtaining information to identify a waveform vector, an inner product value of the waveform vector and a partial signal waveform and a position in an image of the partial signal waveform, and a second part reconstructing image information based upon a waveform vector identified by the information to identify a waveform vector from a predetermined group of waveform vectors, the inner product value, and the position in the image of the partial signal waveform, wherein the first part decodes the position in the image of the partial signal waveform included in the compressed image information as information per predetermined partial image domain when the compressed image information is decoded.