Halftone Image Compression via Pixel Shifting for Storage Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image processing methods result in reduced compression ratios and increased storage requirements due to inefficient encoding of binary images during the printing process, leading to suboptimal use of memory units in electronic devices.
Innovation Solution
The method involves converting images into halftoned images, applying circular shifting transformations to generate first and second transformed images, and compressing these images to enhance the compression ratio, allowing for efficient storage without pixel value loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If binary image compression is applied during printing, then storage space is reduced, but compression ratio is reduced due to poor run length encoding performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary dithering conversion before binary compression, transforming the image into a halftoned format that creates more favorable patterns for run-length encoding. This preliminary transformation prepares the image data structure to achieve better compression ratios while reducing storage requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter representation of image data by converting from direct binary values to dithered patterns with specific spatial frequencies and amplitudes. This parameter transformation enables the compression algorithm to achieve longer run lengths and better compression efficiency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If image data is stored in memory units, then image processing capability is enhanced, but memory consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
By transforming image parameters through dithering with optimized frequency and amplitude characteristics, the patent achieves more compact data representation that consumes less memory while preserving essential image processing capabilities.
3Quantity of substance
If conventional binary compression is used, then storage efficiency is improved, but image quality is lost due to compression artifacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a transformed copy of the image data through dithering that preserves the essential visual information while enabling more efficient compression. The dithered representation maintains image fidelity by distributing quantization errors in a visually acceptable manner.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms image parameters through controlled dithering that preserves visual quality while enabling better compression. The parameter transformation maintains the essential image characteristics needed for quality reproduction.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a system for image compression are disclosed. An image is converted to a halftoned image. The one or more halftoned lines in the halftoned image comprise one or more pixels. A first transformed image is generated from the halftoned image based on shifting of the one or more pixels, associated with the one or more halftoned lines in the halftoned image, by a first value. A second transformed image is generated from the first transformed image based on shifting of the one or more pixels, associated with the one or more halftoned lines in the first transformed image, by a second value. Further, a compressed image is generated based on compression of the second transformed image. The compressed image is stored in a storage device. Another method and system for image conversion are disclosed that converts the compressed image back to the first transformed image.