# US 6,724,325 B2 · Image processing and encoding techniques > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,724,325 B2 - Document ID: US6724325B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 09/908,506 - Filed: 2001-07-18 - Published: 2002-04-11 - Granted: 2004-04-20 - Earliest claimed: 2000-07-19 - Assignees: Dynamic Digital Depth Research Pty Ltd - Inventors: Simon Richard Fox - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6724325B2 ## CPC - G06T 9/005: {Statistical coding, e.g. Huffman, run length coding} - H04N 19/597: specially adapted for multi-view video sequence encoding - H04N 13/189: Recording image signals; Reproducing recorded image signals - H04N 13/194: Transmission of image signals - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A method of compressing a stereoscopic image, using entropy coding, wherein a model derived from a first eye image is used to encode an image for a second eye, and wherein the model is determined from a first eye difference image of a first frame and a second frame of the first eye image; and a second eye difference image of a first frame and a second frame of the second eye image, will be encoded using the model. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of compressing a stereoscopic image, using adaptive optimized entropy coding, wherein a statistical coding model derived from a first eye image is used to encode an image for a second eye. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, including determining said statistical coding model from a first eye difference image of a first frame and a second frame of said first eye image; and encoding a second eye difference image of a first frame and a second frame of said second eye image using said statistical coding model. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first and second frames are consecutive frames of said stereoscopic image. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method as claimed in claim 2, including determining a difference value of said difference image by comparing red, green and blue values for each color pixel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method as claimed in claim 2, including determining a difference value of said difference image by comparing luminance values for each pixel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A method of transmitting a stereoscopic image including compressing said second eye image by the method as claimed in claim 1. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method as claimed in claim 6, including transmitting said first eye statistical coding model with the compressed second eye image. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A method for receiving stereoscopic images including compressing said second eye image using the method as claimed in claim 1; and determining the first eye statistical coding model from received first eye images to enable said second eye image to be decompressed. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A method incorporating the method as claimed in claim 1, and further including: transmitting at least the encoded image; and decoding difference data to recreate the image. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the difference data includes first and second eye difference images, said method further including quantizing said first eye difference image and said second eye difference image. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method as claimed in claim 9, further including rebuilding each damaged pixel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method as claimed in claim 10, further including rebuilding each damaged pixel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said rebuilding includes comparing each damaged pixel to a corresponding pixel in said first eye image. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said rebuilding includes comparing each damaged pixel to a corresponding pixel in said first eye image. ### Claim 15 A method of compressing a stereoscopic image including the steps of: comparing a first frame of a first eye image with a second frame of said first eye image to determine a first difference image; determining the relative composition of said first difference image to create a first eye model; comparing a first frame of a second eye image with a second frame of said second eye image to determine a second difference image; using said first eye model to encode said second difference image. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the relative composition includes a probability distribution of data in said first difference image. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the relative composition includes a ranking table of data elements in said first difference image. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said data includes red, green and blue values for each pixel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein said data includes red, green and blue values for each pixel. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein said first and second frames are consecutive frames of said stereoscopic image. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The method as claimed in claim 15, including determining said first and second difference images by comparing red, green and blue values for each color pixel. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The method as claimed in claim 15, including determining said first and second difference images are by comparing luminance values for each pixel. ### Claim 23 (depends on 15) A method of transmitting a stereoscopic image including compressing said second eye image by the method as claimed in claim 15. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method as claimed in claim 23, including transmitting said first eye model with the compressed second eye image. ### Claim 25 (depends on 15) A method for receiving stereoscopic images including compressing said second eye image using the method as claimed in claim 15; and determining the first eye model from received first eye images to enable said second eye image to be decompressed. ### Claim 26 (depends on 15) A method incorporating the method as claimed in claim 15, and further including the steps of: transmitting at least the encoded second difference image; and decoding the encoded second difference image to recreate the second difference image. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method as claimed in claim 26, including quantizing said first eye difference image and said second eye difference image. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The method as claimed in claim 26, further including rebuilding each damaged pixel. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The method as claimed in claim 27, further including rebuilding each damaged pixel. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The method as claimed in claim 28, wherein said step of rebuilding includes comparing each damaged pixel to a corresponding pixel in said first eye image. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The method as claimed in claim 29, wherein said rebuilding includes comparing each damaged pixel to a corresponding pixel in said first eye image. ### Claim 32 A hardware encoder to encode stereoscopic images including: an analysis means to determine a value of pixels in frames of a first eye and a second eye image; a delay means to enable a first frame of said first eye image and said second eye image to be compared with a respective second frame of said first eye image and said second eye image; a difference means to determine a first eye difference image and a second eye difference image between respective said first and second frames; and an encoder to encode said second eye difference image using a model derived from said first eye difference image. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The hardware encoder as claimed in claim 32, wherein said analysis means includes a principle component analysis transform. ### Claim 34 (depends on 32) The hardware encoder as claimed in claim 32, wherein said delay means includes a frame delay, and said difference means includes a subtractor. ### Claim 35 A method of compressing a stereoscopic image comprising: deriving a statistical coding model from a first eye image; and performing adaptive optimized entropy encoding on a second eye image using said statistical coding model. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The method as claimed in claim 35, further comprising: determining said statistical coding model from a first eye difference image of a first frame and a second frame of said first eye image; and encoding a second eye difference image of a first frame and a second frame of said second eye image using said statistical coding model. ### Claim 37 An apparatus for encoding stereoscopic images including: an analysis module configured to determine values of pixels in frames of a first eye and a second eye image; a frame delay configured to enable a first frame of said first eye image and said second eye image to be compared with a respective second frame of said first eye image and said second eye image; a subtractor configured to determine a first eye difference image and a second eye difference image between respective said first and second frames; and an encoder configured to encode said second eye difference image using a model derived from said first eye difference image.