System and method for progessively transform coding digital data

A method of encoding image data, comprising:

• generating coefficients using a hierarchical lapped biorthogonal transform;
• reordering the coefficients by scanning blocks of the coefficients in an alternating manner between different subbands and within each block reordering the coefficients to favor groupings of similar image data in a data-independent manner;
• and
• encoding the reordered coefficients.

A method of decoding a compressed bitstream, comprising:

• extracting coefficients from the compressed bitstream using adaptive run-length decoding;
• reordering the extracted coefficients to an original order by alternate scanning of blocks of extracted coefficients from different subbands;
• and
• transforming the coefficients using an inverse hierarchical lapped biorthogonal transform.

An encoding system for processing a signal, comprising:

• a transform processor that receives the signal and generates hierarchical lapped biorthogonal transform coefficients;
• a reordering processor that reorders the transform coefficients by alternate scanning of blocks of the transform coefficients from different subbands to group similar data of the signal in a data independent manner;
• and
• a blocking processor that groups transform coefficients within the blocks into clusters of like values that result in a clustering of blocks of frequency coefficients that are most likely to be zero.

A method for encoding and decoding digital data, comprising the process actions of:

• (a) encoding digital data via an encoding process comprising the actions of,
• generating coefficients using a hierarchical lapped biorthogonal transform,
• reordering the coefficients by alternate scanning of coefficient blocks from different subbands to favor groupings of similar data in a data-independent manner, and
• compressing the reordered coefficients using adaptive run-length encoding to form a compressed bitstream;
• and
• (b) decoding digital encoded in accordance with process action (a) via a decoding process comprising the action of,
• extracting coefficients from the compressed bitstream using adaptive run-length decoding,
• reordering the extracted coefficients to their original order, and
• transforming the coefficients using an inverse hierarchical lapped biorthogonal lapped transform.

A encoding and decoding system for processing digital data, comprising:

• (a) an encoder comprising,
• a first transform module that generates coefficients from the digital data using a hierarchical lapped biorthogonal transform,
• a first recording module that alternately scans blocks of the coefficients from different subbands and groups the coefficients in a data-independent manner to favor groupings of similar data, and
• a compression module that compresses the reordered coefficients using adaptive run-length encoding to form a compressed bitstream;
• and
• (b) a decoder for decoding digital data encoded via said encoder, comprising,
• an extracting module that extracts coefficients from the compressed bitstream using adaptive run-length decoding,
• a second reordering module that reorders the extracted coefficients to mirror their original order, and
• a second transform module that transforms the coefficients back into digital data using an inverse hierarchical lapped biorthogonal transform.

A method of compressing digital data, comprising:

• generating coefficients using hierarchical lapped biorthogonal transforms;
• scanning a plurality of blocks of the coefficients within each of the subbands to obtain a first coefficient block within a first subband and a second coefficient block within a second subband;
• performing a reordering of coefficients within the first coefficient block and the second coefficient block to approximate a wavelet decomposition;
• and
• encoding the reordered coefficients using an adaptive run-length entropy encoder.