Method and system for determining statistical data for image pixels having a higher bit depth per band

A method for determining statistical data for pixels of an image, the pixels having a higher bit depth per band, wherein the higher bit depth per band comprises greater than 8 bits per band, the method comprising:

• dividing the image having pixels with the higher bit depth per band into a plurality of polygonal substantially homogenous features;
• computing statistical data for pixels within each polygonal section;
• and
• storing the statistical data with the image;
• selecting a first image within the image having pixels with the higher bit depth per band, the first image corresponding to a viewport from the image having pixels with the higher bit depth per band;
• determining, for each pixel with the higher bit depth per band within the first image, to which polygonal section in the plurality of polygonal sections each pixel belongs to;
• converting each pixel with the higher bit depth per band within the first image into a corresponding pixel of a lower bit depth per band using statistical data of a polygonal section to which the pixel with the higher bit depth per band belongs to, wherein the lower bit depth per band comprises 8 or less bits per band;
• and
• forming a second image having pixels of the lower bit depth per band.

A system for determining statistical data for pixels of an image, the pixels having a higher-bit depth per band, wherein the higher bit depth per band comprises greater than 8 bits per band, the system comprising:

• a processor configured to:
• divide the image having pixels with the higher bit depth per band into a plurality of polygonal sections, each polygonal section including substantially homogenous features;
• compute statistical data for pixels within each polygonal section;
• and
• store the statistical data with the image;
• select a first image within the image having pixels with the higher bit depth per band, the first image corresponding to a viewport from the image having pixels with the higher bit depth per band;
• determine, for each pixel of the higher bit depth per band within the first image, to which polygonal section in the plurality of polygonal sections each pixel belongs to;
• convert each pixel with the higher bit depth per band within the first image into a corresponding pixel with a lower bit depth per band using the statistical data of a polygonal section to which the pixel with the higher bit depth per band belongs to, wherein the lower bit depth per band comprises 8 or less bits per band;
• and
• form a second image having pixels of the lower bit depth per band.

A method of converting a first image within an image having pixels with a relatively higher bit depth per band into a second image having pixels with a relatively lower bit depth per band, comprising:

• selecting a first image, the first image corresponding to a viewport from an image having pixels with the higher bit depth per band, the image having pixels with the higher bit depth per band being divided into a plurality polygonal sections, each polygonal section including substantially homogenous features;
• determining, for each pixel with the higher bit depth per band within the first image, to which polygonal section in the plurality of polygonal sections each pixel belongs to;
• converting each pixel with the higher bit depth per band within the first image into a corresponding pixel of a lower bit depth per band using statistical data of a polygonal section to which each pixel belongs to;
• and
• forming the second image having pixels of the lower bit depth per band.

A system of converting a first image having a relatively higher bit depth per band into a second image having a relatively lower bit depth per band, comprising:

• a processor configured to:
• select a first image, the first image corresponding to a viewport from an image having pixels with the higher bit depth per band, the image having pixels with the higher bit depth per band being divided into a plurality polygonal sections, each polygonal section including substantially homogenous features;
• determine, for each pixel with the higher bit depth per band within the first image, to which polygonal section in the plurality of polygonal sections each pixel belongs to;
• convert each pixel with the higher bit depth per band within the first image into a corresponding pixel of a lower bit depth per band using statistical data of a polygonal section to which each pixel belongs to;
• and
• form the second image having pixels of the lower bit depth per band.