Image encoding and display

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing computer readable instructions thereon, the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, casing the one or more processors to perform an image encoding method, the method comprising:

• for each of a left and a right image of a stereo pair of images, identifying, in an input image, a region of interest;
• generating at least two image representations of that input image, such that one of the image representations is a high field of view (FOV) image representation including substantially all of the input image, and another of the image representations is a low FOV image representation having a lower FOV than the high FOV image representation and including at least the region of interest;
• in which a relationship between pixel resolution and image size for the high FOV image representation and the low FOV image representation is such that, in relation to the region of interest, the low FOV image representation provides a higher amount of image detail than the high FOV image representation;
• generating one or more multiplexed images by juxtaposing at least portions of the left and right, high FOV and low FOV image representations, so as to include all image content of the left and right, high FOV and low FOV image representations in fewer than four multiplexed images;
• and
• performing one or both of transmitting or storing the multiplexed images;
• in which generating the one or more multiplexed images comprises generating a first multiplexed image by juxtaposing a whole of a first one of the left and right, high FOV and low FOV image representations next to a whole of a second one of the left and right, high FOV and low FOV image representations, and generating a second multiplexed image by juxtaposing a whole of a third one of the left and right, high FOV and low FOV image representations next to a whole of a fourth one of the left and right, high FOV and low FOV image representations.

An image encoding apparatus comprising:

• a representation generator configured, for each of a left and a right image of a stereo pair of images, to:
• identify, in an input image, a region of interest;
• and
• generate at least two image representations of the input image, such that one of the representations is a high field of view (FOV) image representation including substantially all of the input image, and another of the image representations is a low FOV image representation having a lower FOV than the high FOV image representation and including at least the region of interest;
• in which a relationship between pixel resolution and image size for the high FOV image representation and the low FOV image representation is such that, in relation to the region of interest, the low FOV image representation provides a higher amount of image detail than the high FOV image representation;
• a multiplexer operatively coupled to the representation generator and configured to generate one or more multiplexed images by juxtaposing at least portions of the left and right, high FOV and low FOV image representations, so as to include all image content of the left and right, high FOV and low FOV image representations in fewer than four multiplexed images;
• and
• an image output operatively coupled to the multiplexer and configured to output the multiplexed images;
• in which the representation generator is configured to generate the one or more multiplexed images by generating a first multiplexed image by juxtaposing a whole of a first one of the left and right, high FOV and low FOV image representations next to a whole of a second one of the left and right, high FOV and low FOV image representations, and by generating a second multiplexed image by juxtaposing a whole of a third one of the left and right, high FOV and low FOV image representations next to a whole of a fourth one of the left and right, high FOV and low FOV image representations.