Group encoding of wavelet precision

A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions, which, when executed by a computer, causes encoding of data from a set of wavelet coefficients, the set of wavelet coefficients representing an image, by:

• arranging the set of wavelet coefficients (“coefficients”) into a spatial-orientation tree data structure comprising exclusive groups of the set of coefficients (“coefficient groups”), wherein:
• each coefficient group having a parent coefficient, has a common coefficient parent;
• each coefficient having a descendant coefficient, has a descendant coefficient group comprising the descendant coefficient;
• and
• all of the coefficients of each coefficient group have a defined sub-band frequency association with other coefficients in that coefficient group;
• determining a group significance level for a subject coefficient group of the coefficient groups, the group significance level for the subject coefficient group comprising an integer value from zero to greater than one, the group significance level for the subject coefficient group comprising the highest level of a set comprising:
• (i) a member significance level for each coefficient of the subject coefficient group;
• and (ii) the group significance level for the respective descendant coefficient group of each of the coefficients of the subject coefficient group, the member significance level comprising a bit position of the most significant bit of the absolute value of the associated coefficient, the bit position comprising a bit count from zero to greater than one;
• determining the group significance level for a subject parent coefficient group comprising a parent coefficient of the subject group by repeating, for the subject parent coefficient group, the determining the group significance level for the subject parent coefficient group as the subject coefficient group;
• calculating a delta between the group significance level of the subject parent coefficient group and the group significance level of the subject coefficient group;
• encoding the delta as a bitstream;
• encoding a range of a first coefficient magnitude of the subject coefficient group, the range comprising a plurality of bit planes;
• and
• encoding, subsequent to encoding the range of the first coefficient magnitude, the range of a second magnitude of a second coefficient group of the coefficient groups.

A system for encoding data from a set of wavelet coefficients, the set of wavelet coefficients representing an image, the system comprising:

• a physical memory containing the set of wavelet coefficients to be transmitted;
• means for arranging the set of wavelet coefficients (“coefficients”) into a spatial-orientation tree data structure comprising exclusive groups of the set of coefficients (“coefficient groups”), wherein:
• each coefficient group having a parent coefficient, has a common coefficient parent;
• each coefficient having a descendant coefficient, has a descendant coefficient group comprising the descendant coefficient;
• and
• all of the coefficients of each coefficient group have a defined sub-band frequency association with other coefficients in that coefficient group;
• means for determining a group significance level for a subject coefficient group of the coefficient groups, the group significance level for the subject coefficient group comprising an integer value from zero to greater than one, the group significance level for the subject coefficient group comprising the highest level of a set comprising:
• (i) a member significance level for each coefficient of the subject coefficient group;
• and (ii) the group significance level for the respective descendant coefficient group of each of the coefficients of the subject coefficient group, the member significance level comprising a bit position of the most significant bit of the absolute value of the associated coefficient, the bit position comprising a bit count from zero to greater than one;
• means for determining the group significance level for a subject parent coefficient group comprising a parent coefficient of the subject group by repeating, for the subject parent coefficient group, the determining the group significance level for the subject parent coefficient group as the subject coefficient group;
• means for calculating a delta between the group significance level of the subject parent coefficient group and the group significance level of the subject coefficient group
• means for encoding the delta as a bitstream;
• means for encoding a range of a first coefficient magnitude of the subject coefficient group, the range comprising a plurality of bit planes;
• and
• means for encoding, subsequent to encoding the range of the first of the first coefficient magnitude, the range of a second magnitude of a second coefficient group of the coefficient groups.