Patent ID: 6421134
Filing Date: 2002-07-16
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
An image processing apparatus comprising:a memory, arranged for storing image data; a compressor for compressing image data of an n-th stage of compression into image data of an (n+1)-th stage of compression, wherein the n-th stage is any of mâˆ’1 leading stages in an m-stage hierarchy of compression, each stage of compression has a respective resolution different from the resolutions of the other stages, n is an integer and m is an integer greater than n and greater than 2; a memory controller, arranged for controlling said memory to store image data compressed by said compressor; an image data designator for designating image data to be compressed by said compressor; a controller for activating said compressor and said memory controller a plurality of times so as to obtain compressed image data having a selected stage of compression from image data stored in said memory and designated by said image data designator; and a display, arranged for displaying, in succession, image data compressed in accordance with corresponding successive, non-selected, intermediate stages of compression and then the image data compressed in accordance with the selected stage of compression, wherein image data compressed in accordance with an individual non-selected intermediate stage of compression is automatically displayed temporarily until image data compressed in accordance with a next stage of compression is obtained and automatically displayed in place of the image data compressed in accordance with the individual non-selected intermediate stage of compression.