Method and apparatus for generating user preference data regarding color characteristic of image and method and apparatus for converting image color preference using the method and apparatus

An apparatus for generating user preference data regarding a color characteristic of an image, the apparatus comprising:

• color characteristic calculating unit, which, when an image converted to have a color characteristic that a user prefers with respect to a predetermined image is referred to as a preference image and the predetermined image is referred to as a reference image, obtains an image color characteristic value of the preference image and the reference image, and when a color characteristic value of the preference image is referred to as a preference value and a color characteristic value of the reference image is referred to as a reference value, generates {preference value, reference value} which corresponds to a pair of the preference value and the reference value;
• and
• a meta-data generating unit, which generates the pair {preference value, reference value} generated in the color characteristic calculating unit as preference meta-data having at least one feature block,
• wherein the feature block comprises:
• a block header including a feature identifier corresponding to information identifying a color characteristic;
• and
• at least one feature descriptor including the preference value and the reference value.

An apparatus for converting image color preference, the apparatus comprising:

• an input image color characteristic calculating unit, which calculates a color characteristic value with respect to an input image;
• a color preference data unit, which generates preference meta-data having at least one feature block, the feature block comprising a block header including a feature identifier corresponding to information identifying a color characteristic and at least one feature descriptor including the preference value and the reference value;
• an image color characteristic mapping unit, which determines a target color characteristic value with respect to the input image using the color characteristic value of the input image calculated by the input image color characteristic calculating unit and the color preference data output from the color preference data unit;
• and
• an image color characteristic converting unit, which converts the color characteristic of the input image so that the input image has a color characteristic value obtained from the image color characteristic mapping unit.

A method for converting image color preference, the method comprising:

• (a) calculating a color characteristic value with respect to an input image;
• (b) generating preference meta-data having at least one feature block, the feature block comprising a block header including a feature identifier corresponding to information identifying a color characteristic and at least one feature descriptor including the preference value and the reference value;
• (c) determining a target color characteristic value with respect to the input image using the color characteristic value of the input image calculated in step (a) and the color preference data output in step (b);
• and
• (d) converting the color characteristic of the input image so that the input image has the color characteristic value obtained in step (c).