Enhancing image quality

An apparatus comprising:

• an encoder to encode a digital image into an encoded image capable of being processed to provide a higher resolution decoding of the digital image and to provide a lower resolution decoding of the digital image;
• and
• a second encoder to encode additional information for enhancing the lower resolution decoding to provide an enhanced lower resolution image.

An apparatus comprising:

• means for encoding a digital image into an encoded image capable of being processed to provide a higher resolution decoding of the digital image and to provide a lower resolution decoding of the digital image;
• and
• means for encoding additional information for enhancing the lower resolution decoding to provide an enhanced lower resolution image.

A program storage device having an application program tangibly embodied thereon, the application program including instructions for performing at least the following:

• encoding a digital image into an encoded image capable of being processed to provide a higher resolution decoding of the digital image and to provide a lower resolution decoding of the digital image;
• and
• encoding additional information for enhancing the lower resolution decoding to provide an enhanced lower resolution image.

A method comprising:

• accessing encoded image data capable of being processed to provide a higher resolution decoding of an image and to provide a lower resolution decoding of the image;
• and
• accessing additional encoded information for enhancing the lower resolution decoding of the image to provide an enhanced lower resolution image.

An apparatus comprising:

• means for accessing encoded image data capable of being processed to provide a higher resolution decoding of an image and to provide a lower resolution decoding of the image;
• and
• means for accessing additional encoded information for enhancing the lower resolution decoding of the image to provide an enhanced lower resolution image.

A program storage device having an application program tangibly embodied thereon, the application program including instructions for performing at least the following:

• accessing encoded image data capable of being processed to provide a higher resolution decoding of an image and to provide a lower resolution decoding of the image;
• and
• accessing additional encoded information for enhancing the lower resolution decoding of the image to provide an enhanced lower resolution image.

A signal representing information, the signal comprising:

• a first signal portion representing encoded data for an encoded image, the encoded data capable of being processed to produce a higher resolution decoding of the encoded image and to produce a lower resolution decoding of the encoded image;
• and
• a second signal portion representing additional encoded information for enhancing the lower resolution decoding.