Patent ID: 7139428
Filing Date: 2006-11-21
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
1. An image encoder comprising: an analyzer which analyzes image data including at least one character area and at least one picture area, and classifies a plurality of unit areas of the image data into a character attribute indicating that the image data is in the at least one character area or a picture attribute indicating that the image data is in the at least one picture area; an encoder which encodes the image data, wherein, for each of the plurality of unit areas that are classified by the analyzer, the encoder encodes a unit area of the image data using signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) progression encoding if the unit area of the image data is classified into the character attribute by the analyzer and the encoder encodes the unit area of the image data using resolution progressive encoding if the unit area of the image data is classified into the picture attribute by the analyzer; and a storage section which stores the image data that is encoded by said encoder.