Method, computer readable medium and apparatus for converting color image resolution

Abstract

A method, computer readable medium and apparatus for converting color image resolution including inputting an image enlarging ratio, inputting target pixel data of an image in a first color space to be enlarged in a sequence, sampling reference pixels including the target pixel and pixels at least one of which links to the target pixel, and converting the reference pixel data into a second color space data. Other functions include extracting image feature quantities from the reference pixel data, selecting one of a plurality of pixel multiplying methods according to the extracted image feature quantities, multiplying the target pixel by the selected image multiplying method with an integer value based on the input image enlarging ratio, and outputting pixel data that have been generated by the target pixel multiplying step in a sequence.

1 - 7 . (Cancelled).  
   
   
       8 . A method for converting color image resolution comprising: 
 inputting an image enlarging ratio;    inputting target pixel data of an image in a color space to be enlarged in a sequence;    sampling reference pixels including the target pixel and pixels at least one of which links to the target pixel;    extracting image feature quantities from the reference pixel data;    multiplying the target pixel with an integer value based on the input image enlarging ratio;    converting an image gradation of pixels that have been generated by the target pixel multiplying step according to the extracted image feature quantities; and    outputting the gradation converted pixel data in a sequence.    
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein one of the image feature quantities is a maximum difference among luminance of the reference pixels.  
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 generating an image gradation converting characteristic according to the extracted image feature quantities;    and wherein, converting the image gradation of pixels that have been generated by the target pixel multiplying step according to the generated image gradation converting characteristic.    
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the image gradation converting step comprises selecting one of a plurality of image gradation converting tables, and converting the image gradation of the generated pixels according to the selected converting table.  
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the input target pixel data comprises luminance data, the image feature quantities are extracted from the luminance data, the luminance data of the generated pixels are generated by a liner interpolation method, and the image gradation of the generated pixels are converted by converting the luminance data of the generated pixels.  
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the liner interpolation method comprises a first plurality of weighting coefficients, and a second plurality of weighting coefficients are selected from the first plurality of weighting coefficients according to the input enlarging ratio.  
   
   
       14 . A method for converting color image resolution comprising: 
 inputting an image enlarging ratio;    inputting target pixel data of an image in a first color space to be enlarged in a sequence;    sampling reference pixels including the target pixel and pixels at least one of which links to the target pixel;    comparing a pixel data distribution of the sampled reference pixels with a plurality of matching patterns;    outputting one of a plurality of pixel embedding patterns according to the coincided matching pattern and the image enlarging ratio.    
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 generating a plurality of embedding patterns based on a plurality of basic embedding patterns according to the input image enlarging ratio.    
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 converting the sampled reference pixel data in the first color space into reference pixel data in a second color space data;    and wherein, comparing step compares the pixel data distribution of the sampled reference pixels with the plurality of matching patterns in the second color space; and    generating filling color information for filing the pixels of the embedding pattern with colors according to the result of the comparing step; and    filling the pixels of the embedding pattern with colors of the reference pixels in the first color space according to the generated filling color information.    
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the first color space comprises red, green and blue colors, and the second color space comprises luminance information, hue information, and saturation information, and wherein, the comparing step compares the pixel data distribution of the sampled reference pixels with the plurality of matching patterns in one of luminance information, hue information, and saturation information.  
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the first color space comprises red, green and blue colors, the second color space comprises luminance information, first color difference information, and second color difference information and wherein, the comparing step compares the pixel data distribution of the sampled reference pixels with the plurality of matching patterns in one of luminance information, first color difference information, and second color difference information.  
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 dividing an area of the sampled reference pixels into plural areas;    and wherein, the comparing step compares the divided pixel data distribution of the sampled reference pixels with a plurality of matching patterns.    
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 converting the reference pixel data into bi-level reference pixel data with a threshold value.    
   
   
       21 . A method for converting color image resolution comprising: 
 inputting an image enlarging ratio;    inputting target pixel data of an image in a first color space to be enlarged in a sequence;    sampling reference pixels including the target pixel and pixels at least one of which links to the target pixel;    converting the reference pixel data into a predetermined number of bi-level reference pixel data with the predetermined number of threshold values respectively;    comparing each pixel data distributions of the predetermined number of the bi-level reference pixel data with a plurality of matching patterns;    generating the predetermined number of embedding patterns according to coincided matching patterns and the image enlarging ratio;    generating an output pixel pattern by merging the predetermined number of generated embedding patterns; and    outputting the generated pixel data.    
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 generating a plurality of embedding patterns based on a plurality of basic embedding patterns according to the input image enlarging ratio.    
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 converting the sampled reference pixel data in the first color space into reference pixel data in a second color space data;    and wherein, the comparing step compares each pixel data distributions of the predetermined number of the bi-level reference pixel data with the plurality of matching patterns in the second color space; and    generating filling color information for filing the pixels of the embedding pattern with colors in the first color space according to the result of the comparing step; and    filling the pixels of the predetermined number of generated embedding pattern with the colors of the reference pixels in the first color space according to the generated filling color information.    
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the first color space comprises red, green and blue colors, and the second color space comprises luminance information, hue information, and saturation information, and wherein, the comparing step compares each pixel data distributions of the predetermined number of the bi-level reference pixel data with the plurality of matching patterns in one of the luminance information, hue information, and saturation information.  
   
   
       25 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the first color space comprises red, green and blue colors, the second color space comprises luminance information, first color difference information, and second color difference information and wherein, the comparing step compares each pixel data distributions of the predetermined number of the bi-level reference pixel data with the plurality of matching patterns in one of the luminance information, first color difference information, and second color difference information.  
   
   
       26 . The method according to  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 dividing am area of the sampled reference pixels into plural areas;    and wherein, the comparing step compares the divided pixel data distribution of the sampled reference pixels with a plurality of matching patterns.    
   
   
       27 . The method according to  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 converting the target pixel data in the first color space into pixel data in a second color space comprising luminance data and color data;    and wherein, the comparing step compares each pixel data distributions of the predetermined number of the bi-level reference pixel data in the second color space with the plurality of matching patterns; and    converting the generated output pixel pattern in the second color space into an output pixel pattern in the first color space.    
   
   
       28 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein the comparing step compares each of luminance data distribution of the predetermined number of bi-level reference pixel data with the plurality of matching patterns.  
   
   
       29 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the predetermined number of threshold values for converting the reference pixel data is generated based on the reference pixel data.  
   
   
       30 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein the predetermined number of threshold values for converting the reference pixel data is generated based on a maximum value and a minimum value among the reference pixel data.  
   
   
       31 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the embedding pattern merging step is performed such that a relatively darker pixel pattern is overlaid over a relatively lighter pixel pattern.  
   
   
       32 . (Cancelled).  
   
   
       33 . A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions for converting color image resolution, the one or more sequences of one or more instructions including instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of: 
 inputting an image enlarging ratio;    inputting target pixel data of an image in a color space to be enlarged in a sequence;    sampling reference pixels including the target pixel and pixels at least one of which links to the target pixel;    extracting image feature quantities from the reference pixel data;    multiplying the target pixel with an integer value based on the input image enlarging ratio;    converting an image gradation of pixels that have been generated by the target pixel multiplying step according to the extracted image feature quantities; and    outputting the gradation converted pixel data in a sequence.    
   
   
       34 . A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions for converting color image resolution, the one or more sequences of one or more instructions including instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of: 
 inputting an image enlarging ratio;    inputting target pixel data of an image in a first color space to be enlarged in a sequence;    sampling reference pixels including the target pixel and pixels at least one of which links to the target pixel;    comparing a pixel data distribution of the sampled reference pixels with a plurality of matching patterns;    outputting one of a plurality of pixel embedding patterns according to the coincided matching pattern and the image enlarging ratio.    
   
   
       35 . A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions for converting color image resolution, the one or more sequences of one or more instructions including instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of: 
 inputting an image enlarging ratio;    inputting target pixel data of an image in a first color space to be enlarged in a sequence;    sampling reference pixels including the target pixel and pixels at least one of which links to the target pixel;    converting the reference pixel data into a predetermined number of bi-level reference pixel data with the predetermined number of threshold values respectively;    comparing each pixel data distributions of the predetermined number of the bi-level reference pixel data with a plurality of matching patterns;    generating the predetermined number of embedding patterns according to coincided matching patterns and the image enlarging ratio;    generating an output pixel pattern by merging the predetermined number of generated embedding patterns; and    outputting the generated output pixel data.    
   
   
       36 - 42 . (Cancelled).  
   
   
       43 . An image resolution converting apparatus comprising: 
 an enlarging ratio input device configured to input an image enlarging ratio;    an image data input device configured to input target pixel data of an image in a first color space to be enlarged in a sequence;    a pixel sampling device configured to sample reference pixels including the target pixel and pixels at least one of which links to the target pixel;    a feature quantity extracting device configured to extract image feature quantities from the reference pixel data;    a pixel multiplying device configured to generate pixels by multiplying the target pixel with an integer value based on the input image enlarging ratio;    an image gradation converting device configured to convert an image gradation of pixels that have been generated by the pixel multiplying device according to the extracted image feature quantities; and    an image data output device configured to output the gradation converted pixel data.    
   
   
       44 . The apparatus according to  claim 43 , wherein feature quantity extracting device extracts a maximum difference among image densities of the reference pixels as one of the image feature quantities.  
   
   
       45 . The apparatus according to  claim 43 , further comprising: 
 an image gradation characteristic generator configured to generate an image gradation converting characteristic according to the extracted image feature quantities;    and wherein, the image gradation converting device converts the image gradation of pixels that have been generated by the pixel multiplying device according to the generated image gradation converting characteristic.    
   
   
       46 . The apparatus according to  claim 43 , wherein the image gradation converting device comprises function of selecting one of a plurality of image gradation converting tables, and converts the image gradation of the generated pixels according to the selected converting table.  
   
   
       47 . The apparatus according to  claim 43 , wherein the input target pixel data comprises luminance data, the feature quantity extracting device extracts the image feature quantities from the luminance data, the pixel multiplying device multiplies the luminance data of the target pixel by a liner interpolation method, and the image gradation converting device converts the image gradation of the generated pixels by converting the luminance data of the generated pixels.  
   
   
       48 . The apparatus according to  claim 47 , wherein the pixel multiplying device comprises a first plurality of weighting coefficients, and selects a second plurality of weighting coefficients from the first plurality of weighting coefficients for the liner interpolating operation according to a multiplier that is determined based on the input enlarging ratio.  
   
   
       49 . A color image resolution converting apparatus comprising: 
 an enlarging ratio input device configured to input an image enlarging ratio;    an image data input device configured to input target pixel data of an image in a first color space to be enlarged in a sequence;    a pixel sampling device configured to sample reference pixels including the target pixel and pixels at least one of which links to the target pixel;    a pattern comparing device configured to compare a pixel data distribution of the sampled reference pixels with a plurality of matching patterns;    an image data output device configured to output generated and selected pixel data.    
   
   
       50 . The apparatus according to  claim 49 , further comprising: 
 an embedding pattern generating device configured to generate a plurality of embedding patterns based on a plurality of basic embedding patterns according to the input image enlarging ratio.    
   
   
       51 . The apparatus according to  claim 49 , further comprising: 
 a color space converting device configured to convert the sampled reference pixel data in the first color space into reference pixel data in a second color space data;    and wherein, the pattern comparing device compares the pixel data distribution of the sampled reference pixels with the plurality of matching patterns in the second color space; and    a filling color generating device configured to generate filling color information for filing the pixels of the embedding pattern with colors according to the output of the pattern comparing device; and    a filling device configured to fill the pixels of the embedding pattern with colors of the reference pixels in the first color space according to the generated filling color information.    
   
   
       52 . The apparatus according to  claim 49 , wherein the first color space comprises red, green and blue colors, and the second color space comprises luminance information, hue information, and saturation information, and wherein, the comparing device compares the pixel data distribution of the sampled reference pixels with the plurality of matching patterns in one of luminance information, hue information, and saturation information.  
   
   
       53 . The apparatus according to  claim 49 , wherein the first color space comprises red, green and blue colors, the second color space comprises luminance information, first color difference information, and second color difference information and wherein, the comparing device compares the pixel data distribution of the sampled reference pixels with the plurality of matching patterns in one of luminance information, first color difference information, and second color difference information.  
   
   
       54 . The apparatus according to  claim 49 , further comprising: 
 an area dividing device configured to divide an area of the sampled reference pixels into plural areas;    and wherein, the comparing device compares the divided pixel data distribution of the sampled reference pixels with a plurality of matching patterns.    
   
   
       55 . The apparatus according to  claim 49 , further comprising: 
 a bi-level data converter configured to convert the reference pixel data into bi-level reference pixel data with a threshold value.    
   
   
       56 . A color image resolution converting apparatus comprising: 
 an enlarging ratio input device configured to input an image enlarging ratio;    a pixel data input device configured to input target pixel data of an image in a first color space to be enlarged in a sequence;    a pixel sampling device configured to sample reference pixels including the target pixel and pixels at least one of which links to the target pixel;    a bi-level data converter configured to convert the reference pixel data into a predetermined number of bi-level reference pixel data with the predetermined number of threshold values respectively;    a comparing device configured to compare each pixel data distributions of the predetermined number of the bi-level reference pixel data with a plurality of matching patterns;    a pixel pattern generating device configured to generate the predetermined number of embedding patterns according to coincided matching patterns and the image enlarging ratio;    a pixel pattern merging device configured to generate an output pixel pattern by merging the predetermined number of generated embedding patterns; and    an image data output device configured to output the generated pixel data.    
   
   
       57 . The apparatus according to  claim 56 , further comprising: 
 an embedding pattern generating device configured to generate a plurality of embedding patterns based on a plurality of basic embedding patterns according to the input image enlarging ratio.    
   
   
       58 . The apparatus according to  claim 56 , further comprising: 
 a color space converting device configured to convert the sampled reference pixel data in the first color space into reference pixel data in a second color space data;    and wherein, the comparing device compares each pixel data distributions of the predetermined number of the bi-level reference pixel data with the plurality of matching patterns in the second color space; and    a filling color generating device configured to generate filling color information for filing the pixels of the embedding pattern with colors in the first color space according to the result of the comparing step; and    a color filling device configured to fill the pixels of the predetermined number of generated embedding pattern with the colors of the reference pixels in the first color space according to the generated filling color information.    
   
   
       59 . The apparatus according to  claim 56 , wherein the first color space comprises red, green and blue colors, and the second color space comprises luminance information, hue information, and saturation information, and wherein, the comparing device compares each pixel data distributions of the predetermined number of the bi-level reference pixel data with the plurality of matching patterns in one of the luminance information, hue information, and saturation information.  
   
   
       60 . The apparatus according to  claim 56 , wherein the first color space comprises red, green and blue colors, the second color space comprises luminance information, first color difference information, and second color difference information and wherein, the comparing device compares each pixel data distributions of the predetermined number of the bi-level reference pixel data with the plurality of matching patterns in one of the luminance information, first color difference information, and second color difference information.  
   
   
       61 . The apparatus according to  claim 56 , further comprising: 
 an area dividing device configured to divide am area of the sampled reference pixels into plural areas;    and wherein, the pattern comparing device compares the divided pixel data distribution of the sampled reference pixels with a plurality of matching patterns.    
   
   
       62 . The apparatus according to  claim 56 , further comprising: 
 a color space converting device configured to convert the target pixel data in the first color space into pixel data in a second color space comprising luminance data and color data;    and wherein, the pattern comparing device compares each pixel data distributions of the predetermined number of the bi-level reference pixel data in the second color space with the plurality of matching patterns; and    a second color space converting device configured to convert the generated output pixel pattern in the second color space into an output pixel pattern in the first color space.    
   
   
       63 . The apparatus according to  claim 62 , wherein the pattern comparing device compares each of luminance data distribution of the predetermined number of bi-level reference pixel data with the plurality of matching patterns.  
   
   
       64 . The apparatus according to  claim 56 , wherein the predetermined number of threshold values for converting the reference pixel data are generated based on the reference pixel data.  
   
   
       65 . The apparatus according to  claim 64 , wherein the plural threshold values for converting the reference pixel data are generated based on a maximum value and a minimum value in the reference pixel data.  
   
   
       66 . The apparatus according to  claim 56 , wherein the output pixel patterns merging is performed such that a relatively darker pixel pattern is overlaid over a relatively lighter pixel pattern.  
   
   
       67 - 68 . (Cancelled).  
   
   
       69 . A color image resolution converting apparatus comprising: 
 means for inputting an image enlarging ratio;    means for inputting target pixel data of an image in a color space to be enlarged in a sequence;    means for sampling reference pixels including the target pixel and pixels at least one of which links to the target pixel;    means for extracting image feature quantities from the reference pixel data;    means for multiplying the target pixel with an integer value based on the input image enlarging ratio;    means for converting an image gradation of pixels that have been generated by the target pixel multiplying means according to the extracted image feature quantities; and    means for outputting the gradation converted pixel data in a sequence.    
   
   
       70 . A color image resolution converting apparatus comprising: 
 means for inputting an image enlarging ratio;    means for inputting target pixel data of an image in a color space to be enlarged in a sequence;    means for sampling reference pixels including the target pixel and pixels at least one of which links to the target pixel;    means for comparing a pixel data distribution of the sampled reference pixels with a plurality of matching patterns; and    means for outputting one of a plurality of pixel embedding patterns according to the coincided matching pattern and the image enlarging ratio.    
   
   
       71 . A color image resolution converting apparatus comprising: 
 means for inputting an image enlarging ratio;    means for inputting target pixel data of an image in a first color space to be enlarged in a sequence;    means for sampling reference pixels including the target pixel and pixels at least one of which links to the target pixel;    means converting the reference pixel data into a predetermined number of bi-level reference pixel data with the predetermined number of threshold values respectively;    means for comparing each pixel data distributions of the predetermined number of the bi-level reference pixel data with a plurality of matching patterns;    means for generating the predetermined number of embedding patterns according to coincided matching patterns and the image enlarging ratio;    generating an output pixel pattern by merging the predetermined number of generated embedding patterns; and    means for outputting the generated output pixel pattern.    
   
   
       72 . (Cancelled).