Image Data Contrast Enhancement and Color Mapping for Compression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing data compression algorithms, such as those used in the GIF format, struggle to accommodate different types of data effectively, leading to reduced compression ratios and increased data transmission times, especially for image-intensive documents.

Innovation Solution

The system processes image data before compression by enhancing data contrasts and applying custom color mapping based on dynamically selected parameters like bandwidth, zoom level, and desired image size, using tonal reproduction curves to increase correlated areas and reduce color levels, thereby enhancing data compression ratios.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If standard GIF compression is used for image-intensive documents, then the data can be transmitted with basic compression, but the compressed data size becomes much larger (e.g., 30 kB for 240×320 pixels)

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompressed data sizeVSAvoidcompression ratio
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies contrast enhancement and color mapping transformations to the image data before compression. This preliminary processing creates larger correlated areas in the data, which significantly improves the subsequent compression ratio. For example, contrast enhancement transforms pixel values to create larger uniform regions, and color mapping reduces the color space to create more predictable patterns that compress better.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically changes multiple parameters including contrast enhancement strength, color mapping tables, and tonal reproduction curves based on the image content and transmission requirements. These parameter changes optimize the data for compression by creating more predictable patterns and reducing entropy in the image data before compression is applied.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If contrast enhancement and custom color mapping are applied before compression, then compression ratio increases significantly, but additional processing steps are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompression ratioVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal processing framework that handles multiple image types (scanned documents, photographs, text-heavy images) through the same contrast enhancement and color mapping pipeline. The system dynamically selects parameters based on image analysis, making the complex processing adaptable to different content types without requiring separate processing paths for each image category.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically analyzes image content and dynamically selects optimal processing parameters without manual intervention. The contrast enhancement and color mapping parameters are self-adjusted based on the image characteristics, reducing the need for manual configuration while maintaining optimal compression ratios across different image types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Speed

If dynamic parameter selection is used based on bandwidth and zoom level, then transmission efficiency is optimized, but the system requires more complex parameter management

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission speedVSAvoidparameter management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic parameter selection that adapts to real-time conditions including network bandwidth, display zoom level, and image content characteristics. The system continuously adjusts contrast enhancement strength, color mapping parameters, and compression settings based on these dynamic factors, optimizing transmission speed and quality for each specific scenario.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from image analysis and transmission conditions to automatically adjust processing parameters. By analyzing the image content and transmission requirements, the system selects optimal parameters for contrast enhancement and color mapping, creating a closed-loop system that optimizes performance based on actual conditions rather than fixed settings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS7539341B2Systems and methods for processing image data prior to compression
Publication Date: 2009.05.26 XEROX CORP
  • US7539341B2 patent drawing
  • US7539341B2 patent drawing
  • US7539341B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Systems and methods provide data processing before data compression. The data processing includes contrast enhancement and/or custom color mapping.