Nested Image Embedding for Deep Zoom Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current image processing systems using bit map representations face limitations in zooming capabilities due to fixed size limits in image pyramids, restricting the depth and resolution of zooming into images.
Innovation Solution
An image processing system that embeds one image inside another, allowing for the creation of arbitrarily large composite images with image pyramids for each component, enabling deep zooming and efficient memory management by storing and retrieving images in a hierarchical folder tree structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single large image is stored with fixed size limits in the image pyramid, then the system can manage memory efficiently, but the zooming depth and resolution are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds one image inside another image, creating a nested structure where an embedded image can be zoomed into independently. This allows arbitrary zooming depth by nesting images within images, effectively resolving the fixed size limit constraint while maintaining manageable memory usage through selective loading of embedded image pyramids only when zoomed in.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the large image into multiple component images that can be independently processed and stored. Each component image has its own image pyramid, allowing the system to manage memory efficiently by only loading relevant component images and their pyramids when needed, rather than pre-loading the entire large image pyramid.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple large images are embedded within each other, then arbitrary zooming depth is achieved, but memory management becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-generates image pyramids for each component image and stores them in a hierarchical folder tree structure. This preliminary action allows the system to quickly retrieve and display images at any zoom level without real-time processing, while only loading the specific pyramid levels needed for the current view into memory.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates high-resolution image pyramids only for the embedded images that are actually zoomed into, rather than pre-processing all possible embedded images. This local quality approach ensures that memory is used efficiently by maintaining high resolution only where needed, while other embedded images remain at lower resolution or are generated on-demand.
3Productivity
If the image pyramid is divided into tiles for efficient rendering, then display performance is improved, but the maximum image size and zoom depth are limited
Solution Approach 1:
By embedding images within images, the patent enables the system to exceed the fixed size limits of the parent image pyramid. When a user zooms into an embedded image, the system can access the embedded image's own pyramid structure, which is independent of the parent image's dimensions, thus achieving arbitrary zoom depth without being constrained by the parent image's tile structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a hierarchical dimension to the image structure by embedding images within images. This creates multiple independent pyramid structures at different hierarchical levels, allowing the system to navigate to any desired zoom depth by transitioning between hierarchical levels rather than being constrained to a single fixed-depth pyramid.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing system embeds at least one image inside a second image. The images are displayed together as a composite image. The first and second images are each tiled and have image pyramids comprising representations at different resolutions formed for them. The image processing system allows a user to zoom into and out of the embedded image, to a desired depth, using its image pyramid.