Apparatus and method for processing an image

Abstract

When an image inputted is displayed on the display, determined is an enhancing degree as a parameter for enhancing the sharpness of the input image by using at least one of information about a subject included in the input image and information about the display for displaying the input image. By using the enhancing degree determined, color distribution is controlled on a first principal component analysis axis obtained by analysis based on a principal component analysis in a color space. Furthermore, the texture of the subject is magnified in size and again mapped onto the subject. Due to this, the input image can be enhancement-processed to a well texture feeling easy to view.

1 . An apparatus for processing an image, comprising: 
 an interest-part input section for allowing a user observing an input image to select an interest part in the input image;    a texture-size enhancing process unit for magnifying a texture of the interest part in size; and    an enhancing processing unit for carrying out a sharpness enhancing process on the interest part magnified in the texture.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus for processing the image according to  claim 1 , wherein the sharpness enhancing process is to expand a distribution of a first principal component analysis value computed by analyzing, based on a primary component, a part or entire of the input image.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus for processing the image according to  claim 1 , wherein the sharpness enhancing process is to generate a blurred image the input image is blurred in an entire or part, and further to expand, by using the enhancing degree, a distribution of a high-frequency component of an input image first component value computed by the input image first principal component analysis value computed by analyzing, based on a primary component, an entire or part of the input image and a blurred image first principal component analysis value computed by analyzing, based on a principal component analysis, the blurred image, to which the blurred image first principal component analysis value is added.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus for processing the image according to  claim 1 , further comprising an image receiving section for receiving compressed shape data and compressed texture data, a shape data reconstructing unit for reconstructing the compressed shape data, a texture data into an input image, and a mapping unit for mapping the input image or the input processed by the sharpness enhancing process onto the shape data reconstructed.  
   
   
       5 . A system for processing an image including an apparatus for compressing the image and the apparatus for processing the image of  claim 4 , the apparatus for compressing the image comprising: 
 a data separating unit for separating the input image into shape data and texture data;    a shape data compressing unit for compressing the shape data and attaching information about compression to the compressed data;    a texture data compressing unit for compressing the texture data; and    an image transmitting unit for sending the shape data and texture data compressed.    
   
   
       6 . The system for processing the image according to  claim 5 , wherein the texture data compressing unit is to lower a resolution of the texture data.  
   
   
       7 . A method for processing an image, comprising: 
 a first step for allowing a user observing an input image to select an interest part in the input image;    a second step for magnifying a texture of the interest part in size; and    a third step for carrying out a sharpness enhancing process on the interest part magnified in the texture.    
   
   
       8 . The apparatus for processing the image according to  claim 2 , further comprising an image receiving section for receiving compressed shape data and compressed texture data, a shape data reconstructing unit for reconstructing the compressed shape data, a texture data reconstructing unit for reconstructing the compressed texture data into an input image, and a mapping unit for mapping the input image or the input image processed by the sharpness enhancing process onto the shape data reconstructed.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus for processing the image according to  claim 3 , further comprising an image receiving section for receiving compressed shape data and compressed texture data, a shape data reconstructing unit for reconstructing the compressed shape data, a texture data reconstructing unit for reconstructing the compressed texture data into an input image, and a mapping unit for mapping the input image or the input image processed by the sharpness enhancing process onto the shape data reconstructed.  
   
   
       10 . A system for processing an image including an apparatus for compressing the image and the apparatus for processing the image of  claim 8 , the apparatus for compressing the image comprising: 
 a data separating unit for separating the input image into shape data and texture data;    a shape data compressing unit for compressing the shape data and attaching information about compression to the compressed data;    a texture data compressing unit for compressing the texture data; and    an image transmitting unit for sending the shape data and texture data compressed.    
   
   
       11 . A system for processing an image including an apparatus for compressing the image and the apparatus for processing the image of  claim 9 , the apparatus for compressing the image comprising: 
 a data separating unit for separating the input image inot shape data and texture data;    a shape data compressing unit for compressing the shape data and attaching information about compression to the compressed data;    a texture data compressing unit for compressing the texture data; and    an image transmitting unit for sending the shape data and texture data compressed.    
   
   
       12 . The system for processing the image according to  claim 10 , wherein the texture data compressing unit is to lower a resolution of the texture data.  
   
   
       13 . The system for processing the image according to  claim 11 , wherein the texture data compressing unit is to lower a resolution of the texture data.