Patent ID: 6920252

Claim:
A method of processing data contained in a digital input image formed by pixels, said method comprising the steps of: calculating (ACT) a spatial activity value of a current pixel based on values (Y) of said current pixel and of pixels adjacent thereto, determining (NND) a non-natural uniform area (NN) if the spatial activity value of various consecutive pixels is lower than a first predetermined threshold value, gradient filtering (GF) values (Y) of the pixels adapted to detect (THR 1 ) strong edges (SE) inside the image, determining (RC) an artifact if the spatial activity value of a current pixel is higher than a second predetermined threshold value and is concentrated on said pixel, and detecting (RD) a ringing artifact if the artifact coming from the artifact determination step (RC) lies between a non-natural uniform area (NN) and a strong edge which are close together.