Image Encoding Apparatus Using Segmented Resolution Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image transmission systems face issues with abnormal screen outputs when adjusting image resolution based on network speed, leading to suboptimal image quality during video on demand services.

Innovation Solution

An encoding apparatus divides images into areas, determines their attributes, and adjusts resolutions dynamically based on cost calculations, while a decoding apparatus receives and merges these areas with applied filters to generate a reconstructed image, optimizing data transmission and image quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If image resolution is adjusted based on network speed, then data transmission size is reduced, but image quality deteriorates and abnormal screen output occurs

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

Solution Approach 1:

The image is divided into multiple regions (e.g., important regions and non-important regions) and each region is processed differently. Important regions maintain high resolution while non-important regions are downscaled, resolving the contradiction between reducing data size and maintaining image quality by applying different resolution strategies to different segments of the image.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different resolution qualities are applied to different regions of the image based on their importance. Critical areas retain full resolution while less critical areas use lower resolution, allowing the system to reduce overall data transmission size while preserving essential image quality in important regions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If uniform resolution adjustment is applied to the entire image, then data transmission efficiency improves, but image quality in important areas deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission efficiencyVSAvoidimage quality in important areas
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The image is segmented into important and non-important regions, allowing differential resolution processing. This segmentation enables the system to optimize data transmission efficiency by downsampling non-critical areas while preserving high resolution in important areas, thus resolving the contradiction between transmission efficiency and image quality preservation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality differentiation by assigning different resolution levels to different image regions based on their importance. Important regions maintain high resolution quality while non-important regions use lower resolution, achieving both improved data transmission efficiency and preserved image quality where needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If high resolution is maintained for the entire image, then image quality is preserved, but data transmission size increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoiddata transmission size
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of applying uniform high resolution to the entire image, the patent applies high resolution only to important regions while using lower resolution for non-important regions. This local quality approach preserves critical image quality while significantly reducing the overall data transmission size by avoiding unnecessary high-resolution data in less important areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The image is divided into segments of different importance levels, with high resolution applied selectively to important segments and lower resolution to non-important segments. This segmentation strategy maintains essential image quality while reducing total data transmission size by eliminating redundant high-resolution data in less critical regions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10944995B2Encoding apparatus, decoding apparatus, and control methods therefor
Publication Date: 2021.03.09 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • US10944995B2 patent drawing
  • US10944995B2 patent drawing
  • US10944995B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A decoding apparatus is provided. The decoding apparatus includes a communication unit for receiving multiple encoding data respectively corresponding to multiple areas constituting one image, and reference data including attribute information of each of the multiple areas, and a processor for generating multiple divided images by decoding the multiple encoding data respectively, changing the resolutions of some divided images among the multiple divided images on the basis of the received attribute information, and generating a reconstructed image by merging the some divided images having the changed resolutions and the remaining divided images.