Patent ID: 7433538
Filing Date: 2008-10-07
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
1. An image processing apparatus comprising: an image input unit adapted to input image data; a unit for inputting a designated quality of output image data; a parameter determination unit for determining a first parameter on the basis of the designated quality; a first noise removal unit adapted to remove noise contained in the image data using the determined first parameter; and an output unit adapted to output image data after the first noise has been removed, wherein said first noise removal unit comprises: a designation unit adapted to designate a region of the image data including of a pixel of interest and pixels around the pixel; a selection unit adapted to select in the region an arbitrary pixel to be used for comparing with the pixel of interest using pseudorandom numbers; a pixel value determination unit adapted to determine a new pixel value of the pixel of the interest by using a pixel value of the selected pixel, when a difference between the pixel value of the pixel of interest and the arbitrary pixel is less than a predetermined value; a substitution unit adapted to substitute the pixel value of the pixel of interest by the new pixel value to generate new image data; and a second noise removal unit which removes spot-type noise contained in the image data and has low correlation with surrounding pixel values, wherein said second noise removal unit removes spot-type noise before said first noise removal means removes noise.