Image transmission/reception system, image transmission apparatus, image reception apparatus, image transmission/reception method, and program

An image transmission apparatus comprising:

• an image data generation section configured to generate image data representing a downscaled image obtained by downscaling an original image;
• an additional data generation section configured to generate additional data on a basis of the original image, the additional data including a feature amount of the original image and a feature amount that is a parameter used for encoding the downscaled image, the parameter being unidentifiable by the image data alone;
• and
• a data transmission section configured to transmit the image data and the additional data to an image reception apparatus including an upscaling section and a display control section, the upscaling section being configured to generate an upscaled image on a basis of the image data and the additional data, the upscaled image being higher in resolution than the downscaled image, the display control section being configured to cause the upscaled image to be displayed,
• wherein the additional data generation section is configured to determine whether or not it is necessary to perform super-resolution processing on the downscaled image, on the basis of the feature amounts,
• wherein the additional data includes data indicating the determination, and
• wherein the upscaling section generates algorithm data indicative of whether an image decoded from the received image data is suitable for super-resolution, and the algorithm data is generated on the basis of the decoded image and feature quantity data of the additional data, using an input determination function dictionary.

An image reception apparatus comprising:

• a data reception section configured to receive image data and additional data from an image transmission apparatus including an image data generation section, an additional data generation section, and a data transmission section, the image data generation section being configured to generate the image data representing a downscaled image obtained by downscaling an original image, the additional data generation section being configured to generate the additional data on a basis of the original image, the additional data including a feature amount of the original image and a feature amount that is a parameter used for encoding the downscaled image, the parameter being unidentifiable by the image data alone, the data transmission section being configured to transmit the image data and the additional data;
• an upscaling section configured to generate an upscaled image on a basis of the image data and the additional data, the upscaled image being higher in resolution than the downscaled image;
• and
• a display control section configured to cause the upscaled image to be displayed,
• wherein the additional data generation section is configured to determine whether or not it is necessary to perform super-resolution processing on the downscaled image, on the basis of the feature amounts,
• wherein the additional data includes data indicating the determination, and
• wherein the upscaling section generates algorithm data indicative of whether an image decoded from the received image data is suitable for super-resolution, and the algorithm data is generated on the basis of the decoded image and feature quantity data of the additional data, using an input determination function dictionary.

An image transmission/reception method comprising:

• causing an image transmission apparatus to generate image data representing a downscaled image obtained by downscaling an original image;
• causing the image transmission apparatus to generate additional data on a basis of the original image, the additional data including a feature amount of the original image and a feature amount that is a parameter used for encoding the downscaled image, the parameter being unidentifiable by the image data alone;
• causing the image transmission apparatus to transmit the image data and the additional data;
• causing an image reception apparatus to receive the image data and the additional data;
• causing the image reception apparatus to generate an upscaled image on a basis of the image data and the additional data, the upscaled image being higher in resolution than the downscaled image;
• and
• causing the image reception apparatus to cause the upscaled image to be displayed,
• wherein an additional data generation section is configured to determine whether or not it is necessary to perform super-resolution processing on the downscaled image, on the basis of the feature amounts,
• wherein the additional data includes data indicating the determination, and
• wherein algorithm data is generated indicative of whether an image decoded from the received image data is suitable for super-resolution, and the algorithm data is generated on the basis of the decoded image and feature quantity data of the additional data, using an input determination function dictionary.

A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium containing a computer program, which when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform an image generation and transmission method by carrying out actions, comprising:

• generating image data representing a downscaled image obtained by downscaling an original image;
• generating additional data on a basis of the original image, the additional data including a feature amount of the original image and a feature amount that is a parameter used for encoding the downscaled image, the parameter being unidentifiable by the image data alone;
• and
• transmitting the image data and the additional data to an image reception apparatus including an upscaling section and a display control section, the upscaling section being configured to generate an upscaled image on a basis of the image data and the additional data, the upscaled image being higher in resolution than the downscaled image, the display control section being configured to cause the upscaled image to be displayed,
• wherein an additional data generation section is configured to determine whether or not it is necessary to perform super-resolution processing on the downscaled image, on the basis of the feature amounts, and
• wherein the additional data includes data indicating the determination, and
• wherein the upscaling section generates algorithm data indicative of whether an image decoded from the received image data is suitable for super-resolution, and the algorithm data is generated on the basis of the decoded image and feature quantity data of the additional data, using an input determination function dictionary.

A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium containing a computer program, which when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform an image reception method by carrying out actions, comprising:

• receiving image data and additional data from an image transmission apparatus including an image data generation section, an additional data generation section, and a data transmission section, the image data generation section being configured to generate the image data representing a downscaled image obtained by downscaling an original image, the additional data generation section being configured to generate the additional data on a basis of the original image, the additional data including a feature amount of the original image and a feature amount that is a parameter used for encoding the downscaled image, the parameter being unidentifiable by the image data alone, the data transmission section being configured to transmit the image data and the additional data;
• generating an upscaled image on a basis of the image data and the additional data, the upscaled image being higher in resolution than the downscaled image;
• and
• causing the upscaled image to be displayed,
• wherein the additional data generation section is configured to determine whether or not it is necessary to perform super-resolution processing on the downscaled image, on the basis of the feature amounts,
• wherein the additional data includes data indicating the determination, and
• wherein algorithm data is generated indicative of whether an image decoded from the received image data is suitable for super-resolution, and the algorithm data is generated on the basis of the decoded image and feature quantity data of the additional data, using an input determination function dictionary.