Image coding/decoding method, image coding apparatus and image decoding apparatus

Abstract

An image coding method is provided, in which the method includes the steps of: extracting edge information which represents an edge part of an original image; obtaining density information of an edge smoothed image from the original image by smoothing the edge part; obtaining coded edge information by coding the edge information according to a first coding algorithm; obtaining coded density information by coding the density information of the edge smoothed image according to a second coding algorithm; and sending the coded edge information and the coded density information as coded information to an image decoding apparatus.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE[0001]This application is a continuation of and is based upon and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 for U.S. Ser. No. 10 / 003,113, filed Dec. 6, 2001, the entire contents of each which are incorporated herein by reference. U.S. Ser. No. 10 / 003,113 claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 from Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2001-072904, filed Mar. 14, 2001 and 2000-373462, filed Dec. 7, 2000.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to an image coding / decoding method used for coding original images such as a moving image and a still image, and decoding coded images. More particularly, the present invention relates to an image coding / decoding method which can decrease noise for decoding coded images while applying a standardized algorithm such as MPEG-1 / 2 / 4 and the like.[0004]In addition, the present invention relates to an image coding apparatus and an image decoding apparatus which per...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides an image coding / decoding method that can obtain a high-quality reproduced image even when using standard coding methods such as DCT. This is achieved by extracting edge information from the original image and smoothing the edge part of the image using a smoothing matrix. The method also includes steps of performing matrix operations on the density information of the image to obtain the smoothed image. The image coding apparatus and image decoding apparatus of this invention can sharply reproduce the edge part of the image and obtain a high-quality reproduced image even when using standard coding methods.

Problems solved by technology

On the other hand, when coding an image at a very low bit rate, quantization becomes rough so that reproducibility of coefficients becomes worse.

Thus, a problem occurs in that the base which is important for representing image signal can not be reconstructed.

In addition, DCT performs processing on the region closed in the 8×8 pixel blocks, distortion of coding tends to appear remarkably on boundaries of the block.

Due to this tendency, block distortion occurs so that components which are not visually included in the signal appears on the image.

Thus, it is detected as noise which is very conspicuous.

Thus, high frequency coefficients important for reproducing the edge are lost.

Due to such processing, conspicuous noise which is intrinsic to DCT appears in the edge part so that image degradation occurs.

However, according to the conventional image coding apparatus, the standard coding method using the existing DCT as-is can not be applied.

Images