Patent ID: 6385337
Filing Date: 2002-05-07
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A method of selecting colors to be assigned to pixels in an image, the method comprising:dividing the image into a plurality of blocks wherein each block is comprised of a plurality of pixels and each pixel has a value that represents the luminance, chrominance and hue at a discrete location in an image; identifying at least one largest pixel cluster in a block, wherein said largest pixel cluster includes a plurality of pixels that have substantially the same luminance, chrominance and hue value, and said largest pixel cluster including the largest number of pixels; designating a signal value associated with said largest pixel cluster for an assignment to said block and setting a value of all pixels in said largest cluster equal to said largest pixel cluster signal value; calculating an average luminance, chrominance and hue value for pixels outside of said largest pixel cluster, and designating said average outside pixel signal value for a next assignment to said block; selecting a next largest pixel cluster that includes a number of pixels second in size to said largest pixel cluster; setting a value of all pixels in said next largest pixel cluster equal to said next largest pixel cluster signal value; and in said step of calculating an average luminance, chrominance and hue value for pixels outside of said largest pixel cluster, performing said calculation for pixels outside of said largest pixel cluster and said next largest pixel cluster, and setting a value of all pixels located outside of said largest cluster and said next largest pixel cluster equal to said average luminance, chrominance and hue value.