Showing papers on "Image file formats published in 1991"

Electronic still camera providing multi-format storage of full and reduced resolution images

Abstract: Electronic still imaging apparatus includes a digital signal processor (22) that transforms blocks of digital image signals derived from an image sensor (12) into sets of coefficient signals and encodes the coefficient signals into a stream of compressed signals. In addition, the digital processor generates reduced resolution image signals from the digital image signals and downloads both the compressed (high resolution) image signals and the reduced resolution image signals to a removable digital memory (24). By associating each high resolution image with its low resolution counterpart in a common multi-format image file, the image can be quickly accessed and a low resolution review image can be put up on a display device (116) without waiting for expansion and processing of the larger full resolution image.

Apparatus and method for communicating textual and image information between a host computer and a remote display terminal

Abstract: A system and method for storing, retrieving displaying, printing and otherwise manipulating color images stored in a central "host" computer from a realtor's remote data terminal includes a host computer which stores and maintains a database containing listings of real estate properties on the market. The host computer also optionally can store image information relating to specific properties. Images can be loaded from remote terminals over telephone lines to the host system on an interactive basis. Images can then be retrieved from the host system, also on an interactive basis, for display, printing, or storage on a storage medium associated with the remote display terminals. Images may also be deleted on an interactive basis from a remote terminal. A specific communications protocol conveys image data between the host computer and remote data terminals. This protocol includes specific "time-out" limitations, CRC error checking schemes, and a specific "handshaking" signalling sequence that must be observed before the host system will permit manipulation of image files.

Image database incorporating low resolution index image data

Abstract: A mechanism for controlling the manner in which digitized image data files are stored on a digital data storage medium, such as a compact disc, in an opto-electronic image digitizing system in which a plurality of images that have been captured on an image storage medium, such as 35 mm film, are converted into a digital image representation and stored as respective high resolution image-representative data files. For each high resolution image-representative data file, an associated low resolution digitized image is stored within a low resolution index image data file. Selected ones or all of the low resolution image-representative data files within the index file may be read out and displayed as corresponding low resolution portions of a montage image to facilitate rapid viewing of the images.

Multiresolution digital imagery photofinishing system

Abstract: A photoprocessing, photofinishing apparatus enables an unskilled consumer to personally customize and obtain high quality prints of photographic images without the intervention of a skilled technician. It also provides for the storage and retrieval of high resolution digitized color still images for playback to a variety of reproduction devices. The apparatus comprises a high resolution film scanner (12) which scans 35 mm film and outputs high resolution image signals. These signals are digitized and coupled to a host image data processing unit (14), which stores each image file in a multiresolution, hierarchical format that facilitates retrieval of images for reproduction by a variety of devices the resolution of which may vary from device to device, such as a low/moderate NTSC television monitor (16) or a very high resolution color thermal printer (24). The host processor is coupled to an interactive display terminal, through which the customer may manipulate a low resolution version of a selected image file. The apparatus may also be used by a skilled photofinishing minilab operator to produce a permanent record of images that have been digitized from one or more photographic image sources. In this application, the host computer may be coupled to drive an optical compact disc recorder (18) which writes each hierarchical image file and an appended header file to an optical compact disc (20). The customer may then play back the disc on a CD player modified for display on a home television monitor.

Metric conversion mechanism for digital images in a hierarchical, multi-resolution, multi-use environment

Abstract: A mechanism for facilitating metric conversion of digitized images intended for use with a multi-resolution, multi-application environment is integrated into the encoding and decoding mechanisms of the hierarchical database, such that stored residual image files contain metric change information. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the metric conversion operator is executed upon a relatively low spatial resolution file, thereby resulting in a substantial reduction in processing overhead, as advantage is taken of the availability of the reduced size of the lower spatial resolution base file within the hierarchical database, so that a metric conversion may be performed on the relatively small number of pixels within the base file, prior to up-converting the image to a relatively high spatial resolution image, such as a 2048 X 3072 pixel image for driving a high resolution digital thermal color printer.

Per-field classification: an example using SPOT HRV imagery

Abstract: The classification of land cover on remotely sensed imagery is usually undertaken in a per-pixel format within an image file or in a per-field format within a non-image file. The latter is more accurate but does not produce an image output and is not readily input to a vector-based geographical information system. We propose setting the pixels in each field to a representative statistic for that field and then using a per-pixel classifier to perform a per-field classification in an image file. This procedure was evaluated using SPOT high resolution visible (HRV) imagery. The highest classification accuracy of 62.1 per cent (12 class) was achieved using measures of prior probabilities and image texture within the proposed per-field format.

Image data processing method for selective partial image storage

Abstract: A retrieved image display method in an image file system in which image data records undergone a data compression and index records including positional information of the image data records are stored in a file medium. The method includes a first step to specify a partial region of a retrieved image to be displayed on a display screen, a second step to attain, based on positional information above included in an index record corresponding to the retrieved image, a recording position of an image data portion on the file medium corresponding to the partial region to be displayed and to partially read out image data from the image data record, and a third step to restore the compressed image data thus read out into the original image data and to display the restored image data on the display screen. In accordance with to the partial region specified in the first step, the operations of the second step and the third step are successively and repetitiously achieved for a plurality of retrieved images to thereby flip pages of the retrieved images on the display screen.

Image file and retrieving apparatus and method

Abstract: An image information file and retrieving apparatus and method wherein information of an image of at least one document having text information and non-text information is inputted and stored together with attribute information of a relationship of at least one of the text information and the non-text information of the at least one document. The stored image information is retrieved in accordance with a retrieval condition indicating a requested relationship between the text information and non-text information. More particularly, a fuzzy weighting function is utilized for retrieval.

Image file compression made easy

Abstract: Publisher Summary This chapter discusses a method for image file compression. A simple predictive-corrective coding filter is derived through empirical and analytical means. Passing a two dimensional (2D) image through this coder in byte-serial order yields a highly redundant data stream well-suited to subsequent serial compression, as by 1D Lempel–Ziv or Huffman coders. When used to process 2D images compacted under the well-known Unix compress tool, treated files typically show an additional 30% reduction in size. Compared to untreated originals, cumulative compression ratios of 4:1 are typical. The filter is demonstrably lossless and is specifically crafted for storage reduction on raster data sets of arbitrary bit precision. A simple encoder used as a whitening filter does not require adapting. This is redundant to the operation of any subsequent linear compressor. Its purpose is to form a fast, nonadaptive 2D prediction based on a small set of neighboring pixels while requiring no state information on past contexts. In this chapter, a method for efficient, nonlinear, algebraic prediction of 2D images is demonstrated. The method is both lossless and particularly well suited to the encoding of both synthetic and scanned raster images of arbitrary precision.

Facsimile apparatus which stores image data in a bulk storage device

Abstract: A facsimile apparatus stores image data transmitted from another facsimile apparatus to the facsimile apparatus in a corresponding image file table in a memory. The image data is correlated with the other facsimile apparatus in the image file table so that an image corresponding to the image data can be conveniently searched, permanently preserved, arranged, and erased. The image file table is automatically made every time the facsimile apparatus receives the image data from another facsimile apparatus.

X-ray image display device

Abstract: PURPOSE:To improve the image quality of blood vessel angiography images so that the position of an inserted catheter or a guide wire is accurately confirmed by employing a means for recognizing only the image of an object to be observed out of an X-ray image of a subject, a means for extracting the image of only the specific object tissue, and a means for superimposing these images. CONSTITUTION:An automatic recognition section 5 recognizes only the images of a catheter or a guide wire out of the image of an object. A selector 7 selects one of a simple angiography image as an image of a specified object tissue, and an angiography image as a subtraction image stored in advance in an image file 11, and sends the selected image to an image memory 13. The image memory 13 keeps the angiography image or the simple angiography image and gives it to a peripheral extraction section 15. The peripheral extraction section 15 extracts only the image of blood vessel periphery out of the image of the object only. An overlapping section 9 superimposes the image of the catheter or a guide wire on the image of the blood vessel periphery, outputs the superimposed image to a D/A converter 17 for conversion into analog data, and sends the data to a monitor 19.

Image handling in a multi-vendor environment

Abstract: Software developed to deal with differing image file formats, mismatched byte order and word sizes, and confusing hardcopy device interfaces is described. The SDSC Image Tool suite provides a simple, extensible, and portable mechanism for the support of a variety of common image formats so that tool-writers can concentrate on the task in hand, rather than on the quirks of a particular image file format. Users of such tools are able to work with images generated from a variety of sources, without being restricted to an arbitrary standard format. The SDSC Visualization Printing suite creates a unified view of hardcopy devices. >

Method and system for editing image

Abstract: PURPOSE:To simultaneously edit image data while observing the same image by reading the correspondent image data from an image file by a communication equipment, transmitting the data to all the terminal equipments and displaying the result of the edition processing. CONSTITUTION:Plural terminal equipments 1-3 and the communication equipment to control an image file 5a storing the plural image data are connected through a line. In this case, when the reading instruction of the desired image data stored in the image file 5a is inputted from the plural terminal equipments 1-3, the correspondent image data are read from the image file 5a and transmitted to all the terminal equipments 1-3 by the communication equipment. Corresponding to the instruction from the plural terminal equipments 1-3, the image data are edited, and the result is displayed at the plural terminal equipments 1-3 by display means. Thus, plural users can simultaneously edit the image data while observing the same image data.

Image information retrieving network system

Abstract: PURPOSE:To reduce the volume of transmission data by extracting partial areas from respective images retrieved by a file station, compressing the partial images by coding and sending the compressed data to respective terminal stations when only the specific partial areas are required from retrieving images. CONSTITUTION:The terminal stations 15A, 15B transfer screen display information such as image segmenting positions and size to the file station 2 together with image data retrieving information such as index data. The file station 2 restores the coded image data read out from an image file 11B, executes the image processing such as image segmentation of the restored image data by utilizing the screen display information transferred from the terminal stations 15A, 15B, codes the processed result again, and transfers the coded information to the terminal stations 15A, 15B. Consequently, the file station 2 can execute image processing independent of a coding method prior to the transfer of image data to a transmission line and the data volume on the transmission line can be reduced.

Initial experience with a radiology imaging network to newborn and intensive care units.

Abstract: A digital image network has been installed in the James Whitcomb Riley Hospital for Children on the Indiana University Medical Center to create a limited all digital imaging system. The system is composed of commercial components, Philips/ATT AT&T Bell Laboratories, West Long Beach, NJ) and connects an existing Philips Computed Radiology (PCR) system to two remote workstations that reside in the intensive care unit and the newborn nursery. The purpose of the system is to display images obtained from the PCR system on the remote workstations for direct viewing by referring clinicians, and to reduce many of their visits to the radiology reading room three floors away. The design criteria includes the ability to centrally control all image management functions on the remote workstations to relieve the clinicians from any image management tasks except for recalling patient images. The principal components of the system are the Philips PCR system, the acquisition module (AM), and the PCR interface to the Data Management Module (DMM). Connected to the DMM are an Enhanced Graphics Display Workstation (EGDW), an optical disk drive, and a network gateway to an ethernet link. The ethernet network is the connection to the two Results Viewing Stations (RVS) and both RVSs are approximately 100 m from the gateway. The DMM acts as an image file server and an image archive device. The DMM manages the image data base and can load images to the EGDW and the two RVSs. The system has met the initial design specifications and can successfully capture images from the PCR and direct them to the RVSs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Image reproducing method for image file device

Abstract: PURPOSE:To improve precision by displaying the whole of a vertically long image on a monitor by transferring after conforming the horizontal direction of a frame memory to the vertical direction of a display memory and reducing them. CONSTITUTION:When the image data of a still picture is stored in the frame memory 42, the image data is stored in such a way that the vertical direction of the still picture is set as the horizontal direction of the frame memory 42 at the time of the vertically long image, and an ordinary image is transferred as it is from the frame memory 42 to the display memory 46, and is displayed on the monitor 52. When the image is the vertically long one, it is transferred by conforming the horizontal direction of the frame memory to the vertical direction of the display memory, however, at such a case, the whole of the vertically long image can be displayed as the vertically long image on the monitor by transferring after reduction. In such a way, it is possible to display the vertically long image with high precision on the monitor 52.

PAPYRUS: a portable image file format

Abstract: As part of a hospital-integrated PACS at the University Hospital of Geneva, a standard file format (PAPYRUS) was developed based on the ACR-NEMA specifications on image communication (1). The purpose was to define a unique file structure that can handle images as well as the related clinical information to be used in multimodality image archiving and communication systems. The PAPYRUS format can be referred to as an “encapsulated” format for ACR-NEMA messages. The first version of the PAPYRUS format has been extensively modified after its evaluation by a technical working group of the European teleradiology project (“TELEMED” project). After several technical meetings the different partners of TELEMED came to an agreement that required a few functionalities to be added to the original proposal. Among the modifications two features supported by the SPI (Standard Product Interconnect for compatibility of Digital Imaging) were discussed: 1) the unique image identification code and 2) the image folder concept that contains references to image data sets. Related images can be distributed in separate files or directly in the folder file.

Image output device

Abstract: PURPOSE:To easily alter only part of image data regarding characters among picture data by holding non-character image data and character image data consisting of a data set of different words and phrases internally and reading out the non-character image data and a data set of words and phrases which are instructed from outside CONSTITUTION:Image data consist of non-character image data and character image data consisting of plural data sets which have the same meaning contents and represent different words and phrases and when an image file name and a display word or phrase name are inputted on a keyboard 1, a control part 10 reads out corresponding image data 9 and holds it in an image data holding part 11 Then a drawing processing part 4 reads non-character image data and data sets in addresses, instructed by the control part 10, out of the image data holding part 11 and develops the data to a graphic, etc, to draw a figure on a frame buffer memory 5 and a CRT 6 reads the contents of the frame buffer 5 out and displays them Consequently, words and phrases can be altered easily in presentation

Moving image retrieval supporting device

Abstract: PURPOSE:To quickly and surely retrieve a certain special scene and frame based on the weighting by the evaluation concerning the importance from a moving image file which have had access in the past. CONSTITUTION:This moving image retrieving supporting device 10 for reproducing a moving image is provided with an operation history holding part 15 to hold the prescribed weighted history data concerning an action mode selected by a user to the moving image file, and a history arithmetic part 16 to decide the priority of the presentation by the prescribed weighting conserning the moving image data to be presedted to the user based on the history data held in the operation history holding part 15 in response to the history request of the desired moving image data in the moving image file executed by the user.

Operation monitor for elevator

Abstract: PURPOSE:To enable the grasping of the movement of a cage in an easy manner by installing a data file originating means for hall call data, cage call data and cage state data of each elevator, an image file originating means and an image displaying means, respectively. CONSTITUTION:A group control system 1 transmits those of hall call data at constant period, cage position and state data received from each of elevator controllers 21 - 2n, cage call data and assigned hall call data to a data collecting - recording device 3. On the basis of these transmitted data, this device 3 finds those of call generating floor, generating time, duration or the like, recording these data in each file. At a data analyzing - processing device 4, elevator operating diagram data are originated from each file, thereby drawing an eleva tor operating diagram with a plotter 5. In addition, a regenerative file for being displayed on the same scope is originated from each data file, thus the operating conditions are displayed by an image display 6.

Image file retrieving method

Abstract: PURPOSE:To quickly retrieve an image file by constructing an image file for retrieval by generating plural multi-index pictures in which plural still pictures are recorded in one picture by compressing, and calling the original picture of a selected compression picture by selecting a compression picture in the multi-index picture read out from the image file CONSTITUTION:The multi-index picture 2 is formed by inserting and unifying the pictures of the still pictures 12A-1C to the picture in which, for example, 3 compression pictures compressed to 1/3 , respectively are 3 -divided, and the image file 3 for retrieval can be constructed with the plural multi-index pictures 2 formed in such way Next, the frame number of the still picture 1A that is the original picture is specified from a number attached on the compression picture 4A by displaying the multi-index picture 2 sequentially by reading out from the image file 3 for retrieval, and selecting a required compression picture 4A from read out multi-index pictures 4A, then, the still picture 1A can be called

Image data file

Abstract: PURPOSE:To easily restore the content of an index file even when it is dissipated by attaching the same data as index data at the front of an image data record in an image data file CONSTITUTION:The image data file is equipped with an image file 1 including plural variable length image data records C0-C2 and the index file 2 including the index data S0-S2 of the records C0-C2 At the front of each of the records C0-C2 in the file 1, the same data as the index data S0-S2 are included as duplicate copies A0-A2 Therefore, even when data in the neighborhood of the index data S1 in the file 2 is destroyed, the file 2 can be easily restored by referring to the duplicate copies A0-A2 in the neighborhood of the record C1

Report printing processing method

Abstract: PURPOSE:To improve a defect related to operability and processing efficiency by making beforehand a note of report information and an edited result at a designation in a report data base file. CONSTITUTION:The information of a data file 3 is read beforehand as center batch processing, and report editing processing by a working means 4 and an integrated storage means 5 is executed, and the note of the report information is made in the report data base file 6. The fetching condition of the report information desired to print is inputted from an input device 11 as each terminal processing, and a printing selection means 7 is started, and the fetching condition is designated, and the means 7 reads in the file 6 according to that condition, and edits and outputs the report information whose condition meets that condition to a printing image file 8. The printing of printing data is executed by an output device 13 under the control of a report allotting means 9.

Image file system

Abstract: PURPOSE:To improve the operability by copying the data related to an image to the other image recorder, in the case an image recorder having the data related to the image exists. CONSTITUTION:An image file system 1 is constituted of an endoscope device 2 being an image signal generating part, a first image file device 3 being an image recording/reproducing part, and a second image file device in the same way. In the case there is data related to a patient in a first image file device and a second image file device 4, the data recorded in a first image file device 3 is copied to a second image file device 4. In such a way, whether data related to an image is existing or not is retrieved, and in the case there is the image recorder in which the data is existing, the data related to the image can be registered from the image recorder to the other image recorder. In such a way, it is unnecessary to input again by an operator, and the operation becomes simple.

Segregated format processing of combined text and pictorial image data

Abstract: An imagery data and text formatting mechanism for an image processing system in which a color photographic image on a color slide is digitally encoded and stored in bit map format on a compact disc. Photographic image-representative digital data stored on the disc is readable to cause the generation of the image by an output device. When text is to be inserted into the image, an ASCII file, separate from the bit map formatted photographic image file, is incorporated into that part of the data base where control information is stored. The ASCII file contains a font descriptor and an identifier of where within the bit map the text is to be inserted. When imagery data stored on the disc is to be read out, for example, supplied to a high resolution thermal printer, a text-representative bit map file is generated in accordance with the contents of the ASCII file and combined with the bit map data file for the photographic scene image. Because the text is separate from the scene data, applying an image modifying operator to the scene will not corrupt the text or cause artifacts to be introduced into the scene as would occur with bit map text.

Device for acknowledging electronic document

Abstract: PURPOSE:To acknowledge a document prepared as an electronic document in a terminal without temporarily printing out it by synthesizing an acknowledged image with a document displayed on a display means when inputted personal identification information is decided as a valid information and the acknowledgement of the document is instructed by an instructing means. CONSTITUTION:A document body data file 2 stores the document data of plural documents, a recognition image file 3 stores an image such as a seal to be impressed on a document to be acknowledged or a sign and a password file 4 stores a password, a personal name and the name of the file 3 for storing the image of the person's seal impression or sign. When personal identification information inputted by an input means 5 is decided as a valid one by a checking means 200 and the acknowledgement of the document is instructed by the instructing means 5, a document data handling device 100 synthesizes the acknowledgement image stored in the means 3 with the document displayed on a display means 5. Consequently, the prepared document can be acknowledged in the electronized state without printing it.

Image communication equipment and image data base system using the same

Abstract: PURPOSE:To access a data base device from an on-going facsimile terminal by providing a recognition means which recognizes a password, retrieval information, and the transmission destination information of retrieved image data from a transmitted facsimile original. CONSTITUTION:An image file name desired to retrieve, a destination number and the password with which a retrieved image file is desired to transmit are entered manually on a data base access sheet 20 with the facsimile terminal 13. And the instructed content of the sheet is recognized by receiving the sheet 20 with an image data base center device 15 and performing OCR analysis on it, and a prescribed image file is retrieved from a hard disk 17 according to the above retrieval and recognition, and the image file is transmitted to the facsimile terminal 19. Thereby, on-going facsimile equipment as a terminal for data base access can be utilized, and an operation to make access the data base can be simplified.

Image distortion correction device

Abstract: PURPOSE:To obtain an accurate image input at all times by an optical reader regardless of the accuracy of the repetition of reading. CONSTITUTION:Image data on a document and a scale which are inputted from a plane scanner 2 which has a scale at a read part are recorded in a 1st image file 11. A corresponding point calculating means 5 calculates the coordinate values of points corresponding to the size of the document from the image data on the scale stored in the 1st image file 11 and stores them in a 2nd data file 14. The accurate coordinate values of specific points of the scale are already stored in a 1st data file 13 and a correction parameter calculating means 8 calculates a correction parameter from the coordinate values in the 1st data file 13 and 2nd data file 14. An image correcting means 9 corrects a document image stored in the 1st image file 11 by using the calculated correction parameter.

Image processing method

Abstract: PURPOSE:To monitor plural images with high efficiency by storing plural image data of low image resolution showing each image and displaying or recording plural images of low image resolution corresponding to those images on a signal screen. CONSTITUTION:The image data inputted via an image input device 4 are successively stored in an image data base 6 in the form of an image file in the order of low image resolution degrees coded hierarchically by a coding device 8. Meanwhile a communication controller 5 receives the image data from other terminals and stores a header part including the additional information and an image part coded herarchically into a received image memory 7. Then plural images of low image resolution are displayed or recorded on a signal screen based on the plural stored image data. Thus plural images can be monitored with high efficiency.