System and method for frame-differencing video compression/decompression using perceptually-constant information and image analysis

A method of decompressing a frame differencing compressed video stream, the method including the steps performed by a computer system of:

• providing a decompressed video frame;
• establishing a pointer into pixel locations of the decompressed video frame;
• retrieving a frame differencing compressed video stream wherein the frame differencing compressed video stream includes values for color video information and values for control information;
• responsive to a value for color video information, placing the value to a pixel location indicated by the pointer and incrementing the pointer;
• and
• responsive to a value for control information, repositioning the pointer to a pixel location indicated by the control information.

A data processing system for decompressing a frame differencing compressed video stream, comprising:

• video display buffer means for storing a decompressed video frame;
• a pointer into pixel locations of the decompressed video frame;
• means for retrieving a frame differencing compressed video stream wherein the frame differencing compressed video stream includes values for color video information and values for control information;
• means responsive to a value for color video information for placing the value to a pixel location indicated by the pointer and incrementing the pointer;
• and
• means responsive to a value for control information for repositioning the pointer to a pixel location indicated by the control information.

A data processing system for compressing a color video segment, comprising:

• means for recording the color video segment as a sequence of frames, each frame comprising a plurality of pixels organized in an M.times.N array of pixel locations;
• means for determining parameters for a non-linear luminance function from a luminance values range of pixels in consecutive first and second frames in the sequence of frames;
• means for generating a luminance value for each pixel in the first and second frames by using color specification values for each pixel as inputs to the non-linear luminance function;
• means for comparing the first and second frames by comparing luminance values for pixels at corresponding pixel locations;
• means responsive to luminance values at a corresponding pixel location differing between the first and second frames for marking a corresponding pixel location in an M.times.N difference map as changed;
• means for generating a data string from the M.times.N difference map and the second frame, the means for generating including a sequential list of color values from the second frame occurring at the marked pixel locations in the M.times.N difference map;
• and
• means for inserting into the data string values unused for specification of color values to specify decompression control information.