Method and apparatus for processing digital data

A method for automatically processing digital image data consisting of a plurality of pixels each having one of a plurality of grayscale values, the method comprising the steps performed by a data processor of:

• storing the image data in the data processor;
• generating a plurality of uniquely addressable domain blocks from the stored image data, each of the domain blocks representing a different portion of the image information such that all of the image information is contained in at least one of the domain blocks;
• creating, from the stored image data, a plurality of uniquely addressable mapped range blocks corresponding to different subsets of the stored image data with each of the subsets having a unique address, the creating step including the substep of executing, for each of the mapped range blocks, a corresponding procedure upon the one of the subsets of the stored image data which corresponds to the mapped range block;
• assigning unique identifiers to corresponding ones of the mapped range blocks, each of the identifiers specifying for the corresponding mapped range block a procedure and an address of the corresponding subset of stored image data;
• selecting, for each of the domain blocks the one of the mapped range blocks which most closely corresponds according to a first predetermined criteria;
• and
• representing the image information as a set of the identifiers of the selected mapped range blocks.

A method for automatically processing digital image data consisting of image information in a data processor which includes a memory having a plurality of buffers each having a plurality of addressable areas specified by a buffer address, the method comprising the steps of:

• storing the image data in the data processor;
• generating a plurality of uniquely addressable domain blocks from the stored image data, each of the domain blocks representing a different portion of the image information such that all of the image information is contained in at least one of the domain blocks;
• creating, from the stored image data, a plurality of uniquely addressable mapped range blocks corresponding to different subsets of the stored image data with each of the subsets having a unique address, the creating step including the substep of
• executing, for each of the mapped range blocks, a corresponding procedure upon the one of the subsets of the stored image data which corresponds to the mapped range block;
• assigning unique identifiers to corresponding ones of the mapped range blocks, each of the identifiers corresponding to an addressable area in the buffers and including both a procedure and a buffer address;
• selecting, for each of the domain blocks the one of the mapped range blocks which most closely corresponds according to predetermined criteria;
• and
• representing the image information as a set of the selected identifiers;
• storing a predetermined pattern of digital data in one of the buffers designated as a source buffer;
• determining, for each of the identifiers, a pattern of data corresponding to each identifier by applying the procedure in that identifier to the portion of the source buffer indicated by the buffer address in that identifier;
• storing the pattern of data into the addressable area of another one of the buffers, designated as a destination buffer, indicated in the corresponding identifier;
• repeating the determining and destination buffer storing steps, with the destination buffer being considered as the source buffer, until predetermined criteria are met;
• and
• providing the contents of the destination buffer as data representative of an image when the predetermined criteria are met.

A method for automatically enhancing digital image data in a data processor which includes a memory having a plurality of buffers each having a plurality of addressable areas specified by a buffer address, the image data consisting of image information at a first resolution, the method comprising the steps of:

• storing the image data in a first one of the buffers;
• generating a plurality of uniquely addressable domain blocks from the stored image data, each of the domain blocks representing a different portion of the image information such that all of the image information is contained in at least one of the domain blocks;
• creating, from the stored image data, a plurality of uniquely addressable mapped range blocks corresponding to different subsets of the stored image data with each of the subsets having a unique address, the creating step including the substep of
• executing, for each of the mapped range blocks, a corresponding procedure upon the one of the subsets of the stored image data which corresponds to the mapped range block;
• assigning unique identifiers to corresponding ones of the mapped range blocks, each of the identifiers corresponding to an addressable area in the buffers and including both a procedure and a buffer address;
• selecting, for each of the domain blocks the one of the mapped range blocks which most closely corresponds according to predetermined criteria;
• and
• representing the image information as a set of the selected identifiers;
• storing a predetermined pattern of digital data in a second one of the buffers designated as a source buffer, the second buffer being larger than the first buffer;
• determining, for each of the identifiers, a pattern of data corresponding to each identifier by applying the procedure in that identifier to the portion of the source buffer indicated by the buffer address in that identifier;
• storing the pattern of data into the addressable area of a third one of the buffers, designated as a destination buffer, indicated in the corresponding identifier, the third buffer being larger than the first buffer;
• repeating the determining and destination buffer storing steps, with the destination buffer being considered as the source buffer, until predetermined criteria are met;
• and
• providing the contents of the destination buffer as output image data when the predetermined criteria are met, the output image data being representative of the input image at a second resolution higher than the first resolution.

A method for automatically generating an image by a data processor from a set of identifiers, the data processor including a memory having a plurality of buffers each having a plurality of addressable areas specified by a buffer address, and each of the identifiers corresponding to an addressable area in the buffers and including a buffer address and a procedure specification, the method comprising the steps, performed by a data processor, of:

• storing a predetermined pattern of digital data in one of the buffers designated as a source buffer;
• determining, for each of the identifiers, a pattern of data corresponding to each identifier by applying the procedure specified in that identifier to the portion of the source buffer indicated by the buffer address in that identifier;
• storing the patterns of data into the addressable area of another one of the buffers, designated as a destination buffer, indicated in the corresponding identifier;
• repeating the determining and destination buffer storing steps, with the destination buffer being considered as the source buffer, until predetermined criteria are met;
• and
• providing the contents of the destination buffer as data representative of an image when the predetermined criteria are met.

A method for automatically generating an image by a data processor from a set of identifiers, the data processor including a memory having a plurality of buffers each having a plurality of addressable areas specified by a buffer address, and each of the identifiers corresponding to an addressable area in the buffers and including a buffer address, the method comprising the steps, performed by a data processor, of:

• storing a predetermined pattern of digital data in one of the buffers designated as a source buffer;
• determining, for each of the identifiers, a pattern of data corresponding to each identifier by the portion of the source buffer indicated by the buffer address in that identifier;
• storing the patterns of data into the addressable area of another one of the buffers, designated as a destination buffer, indicated in the corresponding identifier;
• repeating the determining and destination buffer storing steps, with the destination buffer being considered as the source buffer, until predetermined criteria are met;
• and
• providing the contents of the destination buffer as data representative of an image when the predetermined criteria are met.

A method for generating an image by a data processor from a set of identifiers, the data processor including a memory having a buffer with a plurality of addressable areas specified by a buffer address, and each of the identifiers corresponding to an addressable area in the buffer and including both a procedure and a buffer address, the method comprising the steps, performed by a data processor, of:

• storing a predetermined pattern of digital data in the buffer;
• determining, for each of the identifiers, a pattern of data corresponding to each identifier by applying the procedure specified in that identifier to the portion of the buffer indicated by the buffer address in that identifier;
• storing the patterns of data into the addressable areas indicated in the corresponding identifiers;
• repeating the determining and buffer storing steps until predetermined criteria are met;
• and
• providing the contents of the buffer as data representative of an image when the predetermined criteria are met.

A method for automatically generating a digital data representation of a motion picture having a plurality of individual sequential frames each containing frame image information, comprising the steps performed by a data processor of:

• initializing first and second processing buffers in the data processor;
• digitizing image information contained in a frame to produce digitized image data;
• storing the digitized image data into the first processing buffer;
• creating in the first processing buffer a plurality of uniquely addressable domain blocks from the stored image data of the first processing buffer, each of the domain blocks representing a different portion of the frame image information such that all of the frame image information is contained in at least one of the domain blocks;
• creating in the second processing buffer, from the data stored in the second processing buffer, a plurality of uniquely addressable mapped range blocks corresponding to different subsets of the stored second processing buffer data with each of the subsets having a unique address, the creating step including the substep of
• executing, for each of the mapped range blocks, a corresponding procedure upon the one of the subsets of the second processing buffer data which corresponds to the mapped range block;
• assigning unique identifiers to corresponding ones of the mapped range blocks, each of the identifiers specifying for the corresponding mapped range block a procedure and an address of the corresponding subset of stored second processing buffer data;
• selecting, for each of the domain blocks of the first processing buffer, the one of the mapped range blocks of the second processing buffer which most closely corresponds according to predetermined criteria;
• replacing each of the domain blocks with the corresponding selected mapped range block;
• forming a current transform as a set of the identifiers of the selected mapped range blocks;
• copying the contents of the first processing buffer into the second processing buffer;
• repeating the digitizing, storing, first and second processing buffer creating, assigning, selecting, replacing, forming, and copying steps until all of the frames have been digitized;
• and
• supplying the sequence of current transforms for each of the frames as a compressed representation of image information in the motion picture.

A method for automatically generating digital data representing the frames of a motion picture by a data processor from a sequence of current transforms each having a set of identifiers comprising compressed digital data representative of the frames, the data processor including a memory having a plurality of buffers each having a plurality of addressable areas specified by a buffer address, and each of the identifiers corresponding to an addressable area in the buffers and including a buffer address and a procedure specification, the method comprising the steps, performed by the data processor, of:

• initializing a predetermined pattern of digital data into one of the buffers designated as a source buffer;
• inputting a current transform and storing the current transform in another of the buffers designated as the destination buffer;
• determining, for each of the identifiers, a pattern of data corresponding to each identifier by applying the procedure specified in that identifier to the portion of the source buffer indicated by the buffer address in that identifier;
• storing the patterns of data into the addressable areas of the destination buffer which are specified by the corresponding identifiers;
• providing the contents of the destination buffer as data representative of an image in a frame;
• copying the contents of the destination buffer into the source buffer;
• and
• repeating the inputting, determining, storing, providing, and copying steps for each current transform of the sequence.

Apparatus for generating compressed digital data representative of frames of video image information to be transmitted over a standard telephone line, comprising:

• frame grabber means for receiving video data and for storing frame data comprising image data representative of image information in a single frame of video data;
• a video encoder, the video encoder comprising means for:
• storing the image data in the video encoder;
• generating a plurality of uniquely addressable domain blocks from the stored image data, each of the domain blocks representing a different portion of the image information such that data representing all of the image information is contained in at least one of the domain blocks,
• creating, from the stored image data, a plurality of uniquely addressable mapped range blocks corresponding to different subsets of the stored image data with each of the subsets having a unique address, the creating step including the substep of
• executing, for each of the mapped range blocks, a corresponding procedure upon the one of the subsets of the stored image data which corresponds to the mapped range block;
• assigning unique identifiers to corresponding ones of the mapped range blocks, each of the identifiers specifying for the corresponding mapped range block a procedure and an address of the corresponding subset of image data,
• selecting, for each of the domain blocks, the one of the mapped range blocks which most closely corresponds according to predetermined criteria and
• representing the image information as a set of the identifiers of the selected mapped range blocks;
• and
• control means coupled to the frame grabber means and the video encoder for supplying the frame data to the video encoder and for commanding the video encoder to generate compressed digital data comprising the set of the identifiers of the selected mapped range blocks representing the frame data.

Apparatus for producing video data for display on a video output device from a sequence of current transforms received over a standard telephone line and each having a set of identifiers comprising compressed digital data representative of the frames, comprising:

• a data input circuit for receiving and accumulating the compressed digital data;
• a video decoder coupled to the data input circuit, the video decoder comprising:
• a memory having a plurality of buffers each having a plurality of addressable areas specified by a buffer address, and each of the identifiers corresponding to an addressable area in the buffers and including a buffer address and a procedure specification, and means for:
• storing a predetermined pattern of digital data in one of the buffers designated as a source buffer,
• determining, for each of the identifiers, a pattern of data corresponding to each identifier by applying the procedure specified in that identifier to the portion of the source buffer indicated by the buffer address in that identifier,
• storing the patterns of data into the addressable area of another one of the buffers, designated as a destination buffer, indicated in the corresponding identifier, and
• providing the contents of the destination buffer as decompressed digital data representative of a frame of image information;
• a video output circuit coupled to the video decoder for converting digital data into signals for display of an image on a video display device;
• and
• control means coupled to the data input circuit and the video decoder for supplying the accumulated digital data to the video decoder and for commanding the video decoder to produce and supply the decompressed digital data to the video output circuit.

A method for automatically processing digital image data consisting of image information, the method comprising the steps performed by a data processor of:

• storing the image data in the data processor;
• generating a plurality of uniquely addressable domain blocks from the stored image data, each of the domain blocks representing a different portion of the image information such that all of the image information is contained in at least one of the domain blocks;
• creating, from the stored image data, a plurality of uniquely addressable mapped range blocks corresponding to different subsets of the stored image data with each of the subsets having a unique address, the creating step including the substep of
• executing, for each of the mapped range blocks, a procedure upon the one of the subsets of the stored image data which corresponds to the mapped range block;
• assigning unique identifiers to corresponding ones of the mapped range blocks, each of the identifiers specifying for the corresponding mapped range block an address of the corresponding subset of stored image data;
• selecting, for each of the domain blocks, the one of the mapped range blocks which most closely corresponds according to predetermined criteria;
• and
• representing the image information as a set of the identifiers of the selected mapped range blocks.

A method for automatically processing digital image data consisting of a plurality of pixels each having one of a plurality of grayscale values, the method comprising the steps performed by a data processor of:

• storing the image data in the data processor;
• generating a plurality of uniquely addressable domain blocks from the stored image data, each of the domain blocks representing a different portion of the image information such that all of the image information is contained in at least one of the domain blocks;
• creating, from the stored image data, a plurality of uniquely addressable mapped range blocks corresponding to different subsets of the stored image data with each of the subsets having a unique address, the creating step including the substep of executing, for each of the mapped range blocks, a corresponding procedure upon the one of the subsets of the stored image data which corresponds to the mapped range block;
• assigning unique identifiers to corresponding ones of the mapped range blocks, each of the identifiers specifying for the corresponding mapped range block an address of the corresponding subset of stored image data;
• selecting, for each of the domain blocks the one of the mapped range blocks which most closely corresponds according to a first predetermined criteria;
• and
• representing the image information as a set of the identifiers of the selected mapped range blocks.

Apparatus for automatically processing digital image data consisting of image information, comprising:

• means for storing the image data;
• means for generating a plurality of uniquely addressable domain blocks from the stored image data, each of the domain blocks representing a different portion of the image information such that all of the image information is contained in at least one of the domain blocks;
• means for creating, from the stored image data, a plurality of uniquely addressable mapped range blocks corresponding to different subsets of the stored image data with each of the subsets having a unique address, the creating means including means for executing, for each of the mapped range blocks, a procedure upon the one of the subsets of the stored image data which corresponds to the mapped range block;
• means for assigning unique identifiers to corresponding ones of the mapped range blocks, each of the identifiers specifying for the corresponding mapped range block an address of the corresponding subset of stored image data;
• means for selecting, for each of the domain blocks, the one of the mapped range blocks which most closely corresponds according to predetermined criteria;
• and
• means for representing the image information as a set of the identifiers of the selected mapped range blocks.