Stereoscopic Image Encoding Reducing Storage via Quality Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing MPO format for stereoscopic images does not efficiently compress data without compromising image quality, leading to significant storage space requirements due to redundant information in paired images, and lacks a standardized method for metadata storage that aligns with modern digital camera capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A method for encoding and decoding stereoscopic images using a pipeline that reduces the quality of one image during compression, allowing for efficient storage by exploiting redundancy between paired images, and utilizing a parameterized exponentially-weighted moving average model to improve the reconstructed image, along with the Kohonen block reconstruction and normalized cross-correlation for enhanced decoding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the existing MPO format stores both left and right stereoscopic images with full quality, then image quality is preserved, but storage space requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The stereoscopic image pair is segmented into a reference image and a non-reference image. The reference image is stored in full quality, while the non-reference image is stored at reduced quality. This segmentation allows the system to exploit the redundancy between the two images, storing only the essential differences, thereby reducing storage space while maintaining acceptable overall image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different quality parameters to different images in the stereoscopic pair. The reference image is encoded with high quality parameters, while the non-reference image is encoded with lower quality parameters. This parameter differentiation optimizes the trade-off between storage space and perceived image quality, as the human visual system is more sensitive to quality in the reference image.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the MPO format uses standardized metadata storage aligned with modern digital camera capabilities, then adaptability to modern devices is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the MPO format to incorporate multiple metadata tags that serve various functions: EXIF tags for camera settings, GPS tags for location data, and custom tags for stereoscopic image parameters. This multi-functional metadata structure allows the format to adapt to modern digital camera capabilities while maintaining a unified, standardized approach that doesn't significantly increase complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-defines a comprehensive metadata structure that anticipates future digital camera capabilities. By incorporating standardized tags for common modern features (GPS, EXIF, custom stereoscopic parameters) in advance, the format becomes adaptable to new devices without requiring complex modifications later, thus reducing long-term complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
In an embodiment, a first individual image and a second individual image constituting an encoded stereoscopic image, for example in JPEG format with respective levels of encoding quality and united in a multiple-image file, for example of the Multiple-Picture Object (MPO) type. The second level of encoding quality is lower than the first level of encoding quality. During decoding, the first individual image encoded with a first level of encoding quality and the second individual image encoded with a second level of encoding quality lower than the first level of encoding quality are extracted from the multiple-image file, then using information of the first extracted individual image for enhancing the second extracted individual image.