Image processing apparatus and image processing method

An image processing method for inputting low resolution information, expanding one pixel to N×M pixels (each of N and M is an integer equal to or larger than 1, excluding a case of N=1 and M=1), and resolution-converting the input image into a high resolution image, comprising:

• a first window formation step for referring to peripheral pixels including a noticeable pixel;
• a plurality of conversion steps different from each other in conversion method for converting one pixel into N×M pixels;
• and
• selection step for selecting a proper conversion step out of said plurality of conversion steps,
• wherein said conversion steps evaluate said selected conversion step in adjacent pixels including a noticeable pixel and calculate conversion values for N×M pixels of the noticeable pixel in accordance with the evaluation result, and
• wherein said conversion steps further comprise:
• a second window formation step of referring to the type of said selected conversion step in adjacent pixels including a noticeable pixel;
• and
• an evaluation step of evaluating a combination in a second window.

A computer-readable storage medium storing a program code of an image processing method for inputting low-resolution video information, expanding one pixel to N×M pixels (each of N and M is an integer equal to or larger than 1, excluding a case of N=1 and M=1), and resolution-converting the input image to a high-resolution image, having:

• a code of a first window formation step for referring to peripheral pixels including a noticeable pixel;
• codes of a plurality of conversion steps different from each other in conversion method for converting one pixel into N×M pixels;
• and
• code of a selection step for selecting a proper conversion step output the above plurality of conversion steps in accordance with a distribution state of pixel values in a first window,
• wherein the codes of the conversion steps evaluate the type of a selected conversion step in adjacent pixels including a noticeable pixel and calculate conversion values for N×M pixels of the noticeable pixel in accordance with the evaluation result, and
• wherein said codes of the plurality of conversion steps further have:
• a code of a second window formation step of referring to the type of said selected conversion step in adjacent pixels including a noticeable pixel;
• and
• a code of an evaluation step of evaluating a combination in a second window.

An image processing apparatus for inputting low-resolution video information, expanding one pixel to N×M pixels (each of N and M is an integer equal to or larger than 1, excluding a case of N=1 and M=1), comprising:

• first window formation means for referring to peripheral pixels including a noticeable pixel;
• a plurality of conversion means different in conversion method for converting one pixel into N×M pixels;
• and
• selection means for selecting a proper conversion means from said plurality of conversion means in accordance with a distribution state of pixel values in the first window,
• wherein said conversion means evaluate the type of said selected conversion means in adjacent pixels including the noticeable pixel and calculate conversion values of N×M pixels in accordance with the evaluation result, and
• wherein at least one of said plurality of conversion means performs nonlinear conversion in which a spatial change value of an interpolation point and a change value of an interpolation value are kept in a nonlinear relation.

An image processing method for inputting low-resolution video information, expanding one pixel to N×M pixels (each of N and M is an integer equal to or larger than 1, excluding a case of N=1 and M=1), comprising:

• a first window formation step of referring to peripheral pixels including a noticeable pixel;
• a plurality of conversion steps different in conversion method for converting one pixel into N×M pixels;
• and
• a selection step of selecting a proper conversion step from said plurality of conversion steps in accordance with a distribution state of pixel values in the first window,
• wherein said conversion steps evaluate the type of said selected conversion step in adjacent pixels including the noticeable pixel and calculate conversion values of N×M pixels in accordance with the evaluation result, and
• wherein at least one of said plurality of conversion steps performs nonlinear conversion in which a spatial change value of an interpolation point and a change value of an interpolation value are kept in a nonlinear relation.