Patent · US Expired

Block size assignment using local contrast ratio

US6996283B2 · kind B2 · utility

14Cited by
11References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 15, 2002
Grant dateFeb 7, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 28, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N19/96
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus and method for determining a block size assignment for a block of pixels is claimed. A mean for a given block of pixels and a neighborhood mean for adjacent blocks of pixels is determined. A contrast ratio is then determined, as a function of the mean and the neighborhood mean. A variance threshold is determined as a function of the contrast ratio. Then, various sub-block sizes within the block of pixels is determined as a function of the variance threshold. As such, a pixel block is considered in the context of adjacent pixel blocks rather than in isolation, which narrows the spread of block variances and allows for a more robust subdivision of pixel blocks.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.