Patent ID: 6185330
Filing Date: 2001-02-06
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A pattern matching encoding device for executing pattern matching encoding of binary still images in which each input pattern extracted from an input image is matched against library patterns which have been registered in a library so far and said input pattern is encoded using a matched library pattern as a reference pattern if said matched library pattern is found, comprising:library pattern selection means for selecting library patterns which can be matched against said input pattern, from said library patterns which have been registered in said library so far;pattern segmentation means for segmenting each of said library patterns selected by said library pattern selection means into two or more parts and segmenting said input pattern into two or more parts and thereby generating segmented library patterns and segmented input patterns;matching means for matching each of said segmented input patterns against corresponding segmented library patterns;pattern combination means for generating a new library pattern by combining said segmented library patterns each of which has matched one of said segmented input patterns in said matching executed by said matching means; andencoding means for regarding said new library pattern as said matched library pattern and encoding said input pattern using said new library pattern as said reference pattern, wherein if there are no library patterns which match the input pattern, said device attempts to match a portion of the input pattern with the same portion of a library pattern of approximately a same size.