Image Data Compression and Decompression

A method for decompressing compressed image data, comprising:

• receiving the compressed image data, wherein the compressed image data comprises a first image of an object;
• determining if the compressed image data is divided into portions including parts of the object and portions not including parts of the object;
• decompressing the compressed image data based on said determining,
• wherein if the image data is divided into portions including parts of the object and portions not including parts of the object:
• each portion including a part of the object is decompressed using a first decompression method;
• each portion not including a part of the object is generated based on background information;
• wherein if the image data is not divided into portions including parts of the object and portions not including parts of the object:
• each portion is decompressed using the first decompression method;
• storing the decompressed image.

A computer accessible memory medium storing program instructions for compressing image data, wherein the program instructions are executable by a processor to:

• receive the image data, wherein the image data comprises a first image of an object;
• divide the first image into portions;
• for each portion, determine whether the portion includes a part of the object;
• compress the image data based on said determining,
• wherein, if a compression condition is met, said compressing is performed according to a first compression scheme, wherein, in the first compression scheme:
• portions including a part of the object are compressed according to a first compression method;
• and
• portions not including a part of the object are discarded, wherein background information is stored for the portions not including a part of the object;
• wherein, if the compression condition is not met, said compressing is performed according to a second compression scheme, wherein, in the second compression scheme:
• each portion of the object is compressed according to the first compression method;
• and
• store the compressed image data.

A computer accessible memory medium storing program instructions for decompressing compressed image data, wherein the program instructions are executable by a processor to:

• receive the compressed image data, wherein the compressed image data comprises a first image of an object;
• determine if the compressed image data is divided into portions including parts of the object and portions not including parts of the object;
• decompress the compressed image data based on said determining,
• wherein if the image data is divided into portions including parts of the object and portions not including parts of the object:
• each portion including a part of the object is decompressed using a first decompression method;
• each portion not including a part of the object is generated based on background information;
• wherein if the image data is not divided into portions including parts of the object and portions not including parts of the object:
• each portion is decompressed using the first decompression method;
• store the decompressed image.