Patent ID: 7130479

Claim:
A method for improving the quality of an image comprising the steps of: in an image composed of a plurality of pixels represented by image data, subjecting said image data to a mathematical operation in the position domain that improves a quality of said image by, for each individual picture element subjected to the mathematical operation, providing picture elements in an environment of said individual picture element with respective, independent first weighting factors having a magnitude dependent on a spatial distance of the respective picture element in the environment form the individual picture element, and employing said first weighting factors in the mathematical operation for said individual picture element; and additionally providing said picture elements in the environment of said individual picture element with respective, independent second weighting factors having a magnitude dependent on a difference, selected from the group consisting of an intensity difference and a color difference, of the respective picture element in the environment compared to said individual picture element, and additionally employing said second weighting factors in said mathematical operation on said individual picture element.