Patent ID: 6748108
Filing Date: 2004-06-08
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A method of selecting colors to be assigned to pixels in an image, comprising the steps of:a) 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; b) identifying at least one largest pixel cluster in a block, wherein said largest pixel cluster includes a largest number of pixels having substantially the same luminance, chrominance, and hue value, said largest pixel cluster being determined as including the largest number of pixels in a pixel value range by: b1) performing a histogram analysis of three or more dimensions of said block to designate one or more pixel value ranges, each pixel in said block thereby being assignable to a selected pixel value range, b2) associating the pixels assigned to each one or more signal value ranges with a respective one or more clusters, b3) determining which of the one or more clusters includes the greatest number of pixels; c) designating a largest pixel cluster signal value associated with said largest pixel cluster for a first assignment to said block and setting a value of all pixels in said largest cluster equal to said largest pixel cluster signal value; and d) calculating an average luminance, chrominance and hue value for pixels outside of said largest pixel cluster, and designating a resulting average outside pixel signal value for a next assignment to said block.