Green average subtraction in image data

A video camera, comprising:

• at least one memory device;
• one or more image sensors configured to convert light incident on the image sensor into mosaiced color image data, the mosaiced color image data mosaiced according to a pattern and comprising a plurality of picture element values for each of a plurality of spatially interleaved color channels, the spatially interleaved color channels comprising a first green color channel, a second green color channel, a red color channel, and a blue color channel;
• and
• a hardware image processor configured with executable instructions to:
• transform the second green color channel of the mosaiced color image data to generate transformed mosaiced color image data, wherein transforming the second green color channel comprises:
• for each respective picture element of a plurality of picture elements of the second green color channel, modifying an initial value corresponding to the respective picture element using a calculated value derived from values of a plurality of picture elements of the first green color channel that are in spatial proximity to the respective picture element;
• compress the transformed mosaiced color image data to generate compressed mosaiced color image data;
• and
• store the compressed mosaiced color image data in the memory device, the compressed mosaiced color image data including the second green color channel that has been transformed.

An apparatus for processing mosaiced color image data, comprising:

• at least one memory device;
• and
• one or more hardware processors configured with executable instructions to:
• access mosaiced color image data from the memory device, the mosaiced color image data acquired by one or more image sensors of a video camera and comprising a plurality of picture element values for each of a plurality of spatially interleaved color channels, the spatially interleaved color channels comprising a first green color channel, a second green color channel, a red color channel, and a blue color channel;
• and
• transform the second green color channel of the mosaiced color image data to generate transformed mosaiced color image data, wherein transforming the second green color channel comprises:
• for each respective picture element of a plurality of picture elements of the second green color channel, modifying an initial value corresponding to the respective picture element using a calculated value derived from values of a plurality of picture elements of the first green color channel that are in spatial proximity to the respective picture element;
• and
• compress the transformed mosaiced color image data to generate compressed mosaiced color image data, wherein the compressed mosaiced color image data can be decompressed and demosaiced and includes the second green color channel that has been transformed.

A method of decoding color image data, comprising:

• accessing encoded color image data, wherein:
• the encoded color image data was generated from mosaiced color image data initially acquired by one or more image sensors of a video camera and including a first green color channel, a second green color channel, a red color channel, and a blue color channel, and
• the encoded color image data was encoded by one or more processors of the video camera at least partly by:
• transforming the second green color channel of the mosaiced color image data at least partly by, for each respective picture element of a plurality of picture elements of the second green color channel, modifying an initial value corresponding to the respective picture element using a calculated value derived from values of a plurality of picture elements of the first green color channel of the plurality of color channels, the plurality of picture elements of the first green channel in spatial proximity to the respective picture element, and
• compressing the transformed mosaiced second green color channel;
• and
• decoding the encoded color image data to reproduce the second green color channel that has been transformed.