Image processing system and method

Abstract

Initial low-quality images of a progressively-displayed high-definition image are masked with corresponding progressively-revealing mask filters or masking algorithms to realistically obscure such low quality and therefore to provide a realistically appearing progressive presentation of the high-definition image.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of processing a progressively-encoded image, comprising:
 a. transmitting to a recipient a plurality of image components of the progressively-encoded image;   b. transmitting to said recipient a corresponding plurality of sets of mask parameters in correspondence with said plurality of image components, wherein each set of mask parameters of said plurality of sets of mask parameters, when used in cooperation with an associated mask filter, provides for obscuring detailed features of an image associated with a corresponding image component of said plurality of image to components, while retaining a recognizable representation of an unmasked version of said image, successive image components of said plurality of image components are associated with images of successively increasing image-quality, and corresponding successive sets of mask parameters of said plurality of sets of mask parameters provide for successively less masking of said detailed features of said images associated with said successive image components of said plurality of image components.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . A method of processing a progressively-encoded image, comprising:
 a. receiving a plurality of image components of the progressively-encoded image;   b. receiving a corresponding plurality of sets of mask parameters in correspondence with said plurality of image components, wherein each set of mask parameters of said plurality of sets of mask parameters, when used in cooperation with an associated mask filter, provides for obscuring detailed features of an image associated with a corresponding image component of said plurality of image components, while retaining a recognizable representation of an unmasked version of said image, successive image components of said plurality of image components are associated with images of successively increasing image-quality, and corresponding successive sets of mask parameters of said plurality of sets of mask parameters provide for successively less masking of said detailed features of said images associated with said successive image components of said plurality of image components;   c. masking each of said plurality of image components of said progressively-encoded image with said mask filter using a corresponding said set of mask parameters of said plurality of sets of mask parameters so as to generate a corresponding masked image; and   d. displaying said masked image on a display device.   
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . A method of processing a progressively-encoded image, comprising:
 a. receiving a plurality of image components of the progressively-encoded image, wherein successive image components of said plurality of image components are associated with images of successively increasing image-quality;   b. masking each of a plurality of images associated with said plurality of image components with a mask filter using a corresponding predetermined set of mask parameters so as to generate corresponding masked image, wherein a degree to which each image of said plurality of images is masked responsive to said predetermined set of mask parameters is inversely related to said image-quality of said image; and   c. displaying each of said plurality of images in succession on a display device.   
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A method of processing a progressively-encoded image as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a. receiving a highest-definition image;   b. progressively encoding said highest-definition image so as to generate said plurality of image components of said progressively-encoded image; and   c. storing said plurality of image components for later transmission to said recipient, wherein said later transmission is commenced upon demand from said recipient.   
     
     
         8 . A method of processing a progressively-encoded image as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said highest-definition image is received from a proprietor of a website on which said image is intended to be displayed. 
     
     
         9 . A method of processing a progressively-encoded image as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a. providing for a user to interactively adjust at least one set of mask parameters of said plurality of sets of mask parameters responsive to a display of a filtered version of a corresponding image component of said plurality of image components filtered by said mask filter responsive to said at least one set of mask parameters; and   b. storing said at least one set of mask parameters in association with said corresponding image component.   
     
     
         10 . A method of processing a progressively-encoded image as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising receiving said plurality of image components and said plurality of sets of mask parameters from a separate image processing application. 
     
     
         11 . A method of processing a progressively-encoded image as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each set of mask parameters of said plurality of sets of mask parameters comprises a value for each of at least one mask parameter selected from a measure of contrast, a measure of transparency, a measure of brightness, a measure of color, a measure of a range of tonal values, a measure of a shift of a range of tonal values, and a characterization of an associated image histogram, wherein said value for each said at least one mask parameter provides for obscuring artifacts in a corresponding said image component to an extent that is inversely related to said image-quality of said image component. 
     
     
         12 . A method of processing a progressively-encoded image as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising enhancing edge detail of at least one relatively-lower-definition image component of said plurality of image components prior to the transmission thereof to said recipient. 
     
     
         13 . A method of processing a progressively-encoded image as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of image components comprise a lowest-definition base image and a plurality of sequential image supplements, each sequential image supplement of said plurality of sequential image supplements provides for reconstructing a next progression of said progressively-encoded image from a previous progression of said progressively-encoded image, beginning with said lowest-definition base image, and said next progression of said progressively-encoded image has a higher-definition than said previous progression of said progressively-encoded image. 
     
     
         14 . A method of processing a progressively-encoded image as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of image components comprise a lowest-definition base image and a plurality of progressively-relatively-higher-definition images culminating with the image that was progressively encoded. 
     
     
         15 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A method of processing a progressively-encoded image as recited in  claim 3 , wherein each set of mask parameters of said plurality of sets of mask parameters comprises a value for each of at least one mask parameter selected from a measure of contrast, a measure of transparency, a measure of brightness, a measure of color, a measure of a range of tonal values, a measure of a shift of a range of tonal values, and a characterization of an associated image histogram; and said value for each said at least one mask parameter provides for obscuring artifacts in a corresponding said image component to an extent that is inversely related to said image-quality of said image component. 
     
     
         27 . A method of processing a progressively-encoded image as recited in  claim 3 , further comprising enhancing edge detail of at least one relatively-lower-definition unmasked image component of said plurality of unmasked image components prior to said plurality of image components being masked to obscure said detailed features of said image. 
     
     
         28 . A method of processing a progressively-encoded image as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said plurality of image components comprise a lowest-definition base image and a plurality of sequential image supplements, each sequential image supplement of said plurality of sequential image supplements provides for reconstructing a next progression of said progressively-encoded image from a previous progression of said progressively-encoded image, beginning with said lowest-definition base image, and said next progression of said progressively-encoded image has a higher-definition than said previous progression of said progressively-encoded image. 
     
     
         29 . A method of processing a progressively-encoded image as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said plurality of image components comprise a lowest-definition base image and a plurality of progressively-relatively-higher-definition images culminating with the image that was progressively encoded. 
     
     
         30 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A method of processing a progressively-encoded image as recited in  claim 5 , wherein each set of mask parameters comprises a value for each of at least one mask parameter selected from a measure of contrast, a measure of transparency, a measure of brightness, a measure of color, a measure of a range of tonal values, a measure of a shift of a range of tonal values, and a characterization of an associated image histogram; and said value for each said at least one mask parameter provides for obscuring artifacts in a corresponding image component of said plurality of image components to an extent that is inversely related to said image-quality of said image component. 
     
     
         34 . A method of processing a progressively-encoded image as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising enhancing edge detail of at least one relatively-lower-definition image component of said plurality of image components prior to said plurality of image components being masked to obscure detailed features of said progressively-encoded image. 
     
     
         35 . A method of processing a progressively-encoded image as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said plurality of image components comprise a lowest-definition base image and a plurality of sequential image supplements, each sequential image supplement of said plurality of sequential image supplements provides for reconstructing a next progression of said progressively-encoded image from a previous progression of said progressively-encoded image, beginning with said lowest-definition base image, and said next progression of said progressively-encoded image has a higher-definition than said previous progression of said progressively-encoded image. 
     
     
         36 . A method of processing a progressively-encoded image as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said plurality of image components comprise a lowest-definition base image and a plurality of progressively-relatively-higher-definition images culminating with the image that was progressively encoded. 
     
     
         37 - 42 . (canceled)