Patent ID: 6944228
Filing Date: 2005-09-13
Classification: G06F,H04N

Abstract:
1. A method of encoding at least a portion of an image, comprising the steps of: (a) defining a region of an image having pixels at locations identifiable by two non-collinear axes, each pixel having an appearance; (b) analyzing axis-wise said pixels to determine sequences of pixels having substantially identical appearance; (c) comparing a sequence of pixels occurring along a first axis-wise traverse with a sequence of pixels occurring along a successive axis-wise traverse; (d) in the event that said comparison discloses two or more successive traverses having an identical number of distinct appearances in an identical progression, recording a number corresponding to the number of such successive traverses, recording for said first traverse a series of ordered pairs comprising a first value representing the appearance and a second value representing the number of successive pixels having said appearance, and recording for each successive traverse a series of values corresponding to said second value of each ordered pair; (e) in the event that said comparison fails to disclose two or more successive traverses having an identical number of distinct appearances in an identical progression, recording the number one and recording for said traverse a series of ordered pairs comprising a first value representing the appearance and a second value representing the number of successive pixels having said appearance; and (f) repeating steps (c), (d) and (e) until said pixels of said region are completely encoded, wherein the recording of each successive traverse includes recording the series of values corresponding to said second value of each ordered pair without recording the first value representing the appearance.