Hierarchical Image Tile Structure for Data Compression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image processing technologies face challenges in efficiently updating and rendering high-definition images, particularly in reducing data size and achieving high-speed rendering, especially when parts of the image need to be updated.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a hierarchical image data structure with quadtree organization, where images are divided into tile images of the same size across multiple layers, allowing for efficient switching and prefetching of data to manage image resolution changes, and a tile image reference table to identify redundant areas for data compression.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If image data is stored with texture mapping for high-definition display, then rendering quality is improved, but data size increases and update complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverendering qualityVSAvoiddata size
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The image data is divided into multiple layers with different resolutions (first layer, second layer, third layer, etc.), where each layer contains image data at a specific resolution level. This segmentation allows the system to store and process only the necessary resolution levels, reducing overall data size while maintaining high-definition rendering quality when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a hierarchical dimension to image data storage by organizing data across multiple resolution layers. Instead of storing a single high-resolution image, the system stores progressive resolution levels, adding a resolution-dimension to the data structure that enables efficient memory usage and faster access times.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Manufacturing precision

If high-resolution image data is stored for responsive display, then display quality is improved, but rendering speed decreases due to large data size

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay qualityVSAvoidrendering speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-processes and stores image data in multiple resolution layers in advance. When rendering is needed, the appropriate layer can be quickly selected and processed without requiring real-time compression or processing of high-resolution data, thus improving rendering speed while maintaining display quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic selection of image layers based on display requirements. The system can switch between different resolution layers depending on the current display context, allowing fast rendering when lower resolution suffices and high-quality rendering when necessary, thus optimizing rendering speed across different scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If image data is updated after initial creation, then image content can be modified, but complex processing is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage update capabilityVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting image data into discrete layers, the system allows updates to be applied to specific layers independently. When an image needs updating, only the affected layer or portions of layers need to be processed, rather than reprocessing the entire high-resolution image, thus reducing processing complexity while maintaining update capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Quantity of substance

If data compression is applied to reduce file size, then storage efficiency is improved, but image quality may be degraded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata sizeVSAvoidimage quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The hierarchical layering allows the system to apply different compression strategies to different resolution levels. Lower layers can use more aggressive compression since they represent lower resolutions, while higher layers maintain better quality. This segmented approach reduces overall data size while preserving image quality where it matters most.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2464093B1Image file generation device, image processing device, image file generation method, and image processing method
Publication Date: 2016.09.21 SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
  • EP2464093B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2464093B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2464093B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

An image hierarchy generation unit (120) of a controller (100b) reads image data stored in a hard disk drive (50) and generates and hierarchizes images having a plurality of resolutions. An image segmentation unit (122) segments images in respective hierarchies into tile images. A redundancy detection unit (124) analyzes the images in the respective hierarchies and detects redundancies of the images in the same hierarchy and between different hierarchies. A tile image reference table creation unit (126) creates a tile image reference table, in which region numbers and tile numbers are associated with each other, in consideration of the redundancies. An image file generation unit (128) generates an image file to be finally outputted, which includes image data and the tile image reference table.