Resolution based formatting of compressed image data

An imaging device, comprising:

• a color filter array configured to filter light and comprising a plurality of filter elements arranged in a repeating pattern according to filter element wavelength range;
• at least one image sensor configured to obtain a plurality of image frames in a motion video image sequence, the image frames in the plurality of image frames comprising image data corresponding to a plurality of data channels relating to light passing through the color filter array;
• image handling electronics configured to:
• compress the image data with an algorithm that provides compressed image data corresponding to at least first and second quality levels,
• wherein a first portion of the compressed image data includes image data for at least some of the data channels and is usable to display the first image frame at the first quality level without accessing any of the compressed image data corresponding to quality levels higher than the first quality level,
• further wherein a second portion of the compressed image data includes image data for at least some of the data channels and is usable together with the first portion to reconstruct the first image frame at a second quality level higher than the first quality level,
• the image handling electronics further configured to:
• organize the first portion together in a first group;
• organize the second portion together in a second group;
• and
• create and electronically store an index including first and second location references, the first location reference usable to locate the first portion of compressed image data on a storage device and the second location reference usable to locate the second portion of compressed image data on the storage device.

A method of storing color image data, comprising:

• electronically obtaining image data corresponding to a first image frame, the image data including a plurality of data channels corresponding to light passing through a color filter array onto one or more electronic image sensors;
• using electronics comprising digital logic circuitry, compressing the image data with an algorithm that provides compressed image data corresponding to at least first and second quality levels, wherein a first portion of the compressed image data includes image data for at least some of the data channels and is usable to display the first image frame at the first quality level without accessing any of the compressed image data corresponding to quality levels higher than the first quality level, further wherein a second portion of the compressed image data includes image data for at least some of the data channels and is usable together with the first portion to reconstruct the first image frame at a second quality level higher than the first quality level,
• organizing the first portion together in a first group;
• organizing the second portion together in a second group;
• and
• creating and electronically storing an index including first and second location references, the first location reference usable to locate the first portion of compressed image data on a storage device and the second location reference usable to locate the second portion of compressed image data on the storage device.

A method of accessing image data at a desired quality level, comprising:

• accessing an electronically stored index to obtain at least first and second location references corresponding to compressed image data stored on a memory device, the compressed image data corresponding to at least a first image frame and organized into a plurality of data channels relating to light passing through a color filter array;
• using at least the first location reference to electronically access from the memory device a first portion of the compressed image data corresponding to the first image frame, the first portion including image data for at least some of the data channels organized together in a first group, the first portion usable to reconstruct the first image frame at a first quality level without accessing any of the compressed image data corresponding to quality levels higher than the first quality level;
• using at least the second location reference to electronically access from the memory device a second portion of the compressed image data corresponding to the first image frame, the second portion including image data for at least some of the data channels organized together in a second group;
• and
• using computer hardware to reconstruct the first image frame at a second quality level higher than the first quality level using the accessed first and second portions of the compressed image data.

A system for accessing image data at a desired quality level, comprising:

• at least one memory device containing compressed image data corresponding to at least a first image frame and organized into a plurality of data channels relating to light passing through a color filter array and an index usable to obtain at least first and second location references corresponding to the compressed image data;
• computer hardware configured to:
• obtain the first and second location references from the memory device;
• using at least the first location reference, electronically access from the memory device a first portion of the compressed image data corresponding to the first image frame, the first portion including image data for at least some of the data channels organized together in a first group, the first portion usable to reconstruct the first image frame at a first quality level without accessing any of the compressed image data corresponding to quality levels higher than the first quality level;
• using at least the second location reference to electronically access from the memory device a second portion of the compressed image data corresponding to the first image frame, the second portion including image data for at least some of the data channels organized together in a second group;
• and
• reconstruct the first image frame at a second quality level higher than the first quality level using the accessed first and second portions of the compressed image data.