Pattern-based image data compression
AssigneeImagination Technologies Limited
InventorXile Yang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and compression units for compressing a two-dimensional block of image element values. The method includes: dividing the two-dimensional block of image element values into a plurality of sub-blocks of image element values; identifying which pattern of a plurality of patterns is formed by the image element values of a first sub-block of the plurality of sub-blocks; and forming a compressed block of image element values by encoding the first sub-block in the compressed block of image element values with: (i) information identifying the pattern, and (ii) the image element values of the first sub-block forming the pattern.
Claims18
A method of compressing a two-dimensional block of image element values, the method comprising:
- dividing the two-dimensional block of image element values into a plurality of sub-blocks of image element values;
- identifying which pattern of a plurality of patterns is formed by the image element values of a first sub-block of the plurality of sub-blocks;
- forming a compressed block of image element values by encoding the first sub-block in the compressed block of image element values with:
- (i) information identifying the pattern, and (ii) the image element values of the first sub-block forming the pattern;
- determining from a mask a set of one or more sub-blocks of the plurality of sub-blocks that have one of one or more predetermined relationships with the first sub-block;
- determining whether each sub-block in the set of one or more sub-blocks matches the first sub-block;
- and
- in response to determining that each sub-block of the set of one or more sub-blocks matches the first sub-block, encoding each sub-block of the set of one or more sub-blocks in the compressed block of image element values with information identifying that the sub-block belongs to a set of sub-blocks that match the first sub-block.
A compression unit configured to compress a two-dimensional block of image element values, the two-dimensional block of image element values divisible into a plurality of sub-blocks of image element values, the compression unit comprising:
- a pattern selection unit configured to identify which pattern of a plurality of patterns is formed by the image element values of a first sub-block of the plurality of sub-blocks;
- an image element value selection unit configured to identify the image element values of the first sub-block forming the identified pattern;
- a compressed block generation unit configured to form a compressed block of image element values by encoding the first sub-block in the compressed block of image element values with:
- (i) information identifying the identified pattern, and (ii) the identified image element values;
- and
- a matching unit configured to:
- determine from a mask a set of one or more sub-blocks of the plurality of sub-blocks that have one of one or more predetermined relationships with the first sub-block,
- determine whether each sub-block in the set of one or more sub-blocks matches the first sub-block, and
- in response to determining that each sub-block of the set of one or more sub-blocks matches the first sub-block, encode each sub-block of the set of one or more sub-blocks in the compressed block of image element values with information identifying that the sub-block belongs to a set of sub-blocks that match the first sub-block.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.