Lossy JPEG compression/reconstruction using principal components transformation

Abstract

The present invention is a system, method, and computer program product for compression and reconstruction of a color image using principal components transformation. The method is performed on a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus. The method is performed in combination with the standard JPEG image compression technique. According to the invention, the method receives color image information. The received color image information is converted into intrinsic color information. The intrinsic color information is based on the color image's intrinsic and unique color distribution.

1 - 29 . (Cancelled)  
     
     
         30 . A system for compressing a color image comprising: 
 a memory for storing color information of the color image; and    at least one processor, the at least one processor performs the functions of converting the color information into approximate color values.    
     
     
         31 . The system according to  claim 30 , wherein, in the converting step, the at least one processing performs the functions of: 
 sampling the color information of the color image;    generating a mean vector for the color image using sampled color information;    calculating a covariance matrix using the generated mean vector;    establishing principal components spacing using the calculated covariance matrix;    generating intrinsic color values that characterize the color image in the principal component space;    determining the scale factors for coordinates in the principal component space; and    mapping principal components space coordinates into a range of integer byte values.    
     
     
         32 . A system for processing a color image comprising: 
 a memory for storing color information of the color image; and    at least one processor, the at least one processing performs the functions of 1) converting color information in the color image to intrinsic color information, 2) transforming the intrinsic color information into a plurality of approximation values in accordance with JPEG discrete cosine transform compression standard, 3) detransforming the intrinsic color information, 4) determining a first intrinsic image space associated with a first image coordinate system, and 5) converting the intrinsic color information to a second image space.    
     
     
         33 . The system according to  claim 32 , wherein, in the converting step, the at least one processing performs the functions of: 
 sampling the color information of the color image;    generating a mean vector for the color image using sampled color information;    calculating a covariance matrix using the generated mean vector;    establishing principal components spacing using the calculated covariance matrix;    generating intrinsic color values that characterize the color image in the principal component space;    determining the scale factors for coordinates in the principal component space; and    mapping principal components space coordinates into a range of integer byte values.    
     
     
         34 . A system for processing a color image that has been compressed by converting color information into color to intrinsic color information and transforming that intrinsic color information into a plurality of approximation values, comprising: 
 a memory for storing color information in the color image; and    at least one processor, the at least one processor for 1) detransforming the intrinsic color information, 2) determining a first intrinsic image space associated with a first image coordinate system, and 3) converting the intrinsic color information into a second image space.    
     
     
         35 . Computer-executable process steps stored on a computer-readable medium, the steps for performing compression of a color image, comprising: 
 converting the color information in the color image to intrinsic color information; and    transforming the intrinsic color information into a plurality of approximation values in accordance with a JPEG discrete cosine transform compression standard.    
     
     
         36 . The computer-executable process steps of  claim 35 , wherein the steps of converting the color information in the color image to intrinsic color information comprises the steps of: 
 sampling the color information of the color image;    generating a mean vector for the color image using the sampled color information;    calculating a covariance matrix using the generated mean vector;    establishing principal component space using the calculated covariance matrix;    generating intrinsic color values that characterize the color image in the principal component space;    determining scale factors for coordinates in principal component space; and    mapping principal component space coordinates into a range of integer byte values.    
     
     
         37 . Computer executable process steps stored on a computer readable medium, the steps for processing of a color image, comprising: 
 converting color information in the color image to intrinsic color information;    transforming the intrinsic color information into a plurality of approximation values in accordance with JPEG discrete cosine transform compression standard;    detransforming the intrinsic color information;    determining a first intrinsic image space associated with a first image coordinate system; and    converting the intrinsic color information to a second image space.    
     
     
         38 . Computer-executable process steps stored on a computer-readable medium, the steps for performing processing of a color image that has been compressed by converting color information in the color image to intrinsic color information and transforming that intrinsic color information into a plurality of approximation values, said steps comprising: 
 detransforming the intrinsic color information;    determining a first intrinsic image space associated with a first image coordinate system based on a detransformed intrinsic color information; and    converting the intrinsic color image to a second image space.