Methods and apparatus for resolution independent image collaboration

A method for image collaboration among a host computer and at least one client computer, the method comprising the steps of:

• generating transform data, defined by a plurality of coefficient coordinates, to transform a source image into a hierarchical representation comprising a plurality of levels, wherein a level of the hierarchical representation comprises transform data sufficient to reconstruct the source data at a resolution corresponding to the level;
• generating, from the transform data of the source image, a first display image at a first resolution defined by a first set of coefficient coordinates;
• displaying on the host computer the first display image;
• generating a resolution independent description of the first display image from at least a portion of the first set of coefficient coordinates;
• transmitting, from the host computer to the client computer, the resolution independent description of the first display image;
• generating from the resolution independent description a second set of coefficient coordinates to define a second display image comprising a second resolution, different from the first resolution, wherein the second display image comprises at least a portion of the first display image;
• and
• displaying at the client computer the second display image,
• whereby display of the image at the first resolution at the host computer and display of the at least a portion of the image at the second resolution permits image collaboration independent of display resolution.

A computer readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions, which when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform the steps of:

• a) storing transform data of a source image so as to permit construction from the transform data of at least portions of the source image at different resolutions;
• b) displaying, at a first resolution on the host computer, a first display image constructed from the transform data of the source image;
• c) generating a resolution independent description of the first display image that describes the first display image relative to the transform data of the source image;
• d) broadcasting the resolution independent description of the first display image to at least one client computer;
• e) determining at the client computer, from the resolution independent description of the first display image, select portions of the transform data of the source image necessary to display a second display image at a second resolution, different than the first resolution;
• f) reconstructing the second display image at the client computer from the select portions of the transform data of the source image;
• and
• g) displaying at the client computer the second display image in the second resolution.