Showing papers on "Image file formats published in 1993"

Compression and reconstruction of radiological images

Abstract: The present invention provides for a compression scheme tailored to the compression of large radiological images processed with image processing workstations The compression scheme is a variation of the CCITT JPEG compression scheme with special care taken to suppress blocking effects of the 8×8 discrete cosine transform used therein In accordance with the present invention, an original image is downsampled, then interpolated back to its original size, resulting in a smoothed image The difference between the smoothed image and the original image is then compressed using an 8×8 discrete cosine transform with 12 bit data Major artifacts present in the original image are due to the mismatching of the low frequency components of the image at the edges of the blocks When the low frequencies are removed by subtracting out the low frequency components, the artifacts disappear except in areas having very large dynamic changes The compression scheme of the present invention is particularly useful for archiving or telecommunicating images, achieving compression of more than 10:1 without loosing the characteristics of the radiological image that permit effective diagnosis A reconstruction scheme is also disclosed which allows recovery of the image from a compressed image file

Fault tolerant method and system for high availability document image and coded data processing

Abstract: A high availability method and system manipulate and store document images and coded data. The method and system include an image local area network and a coded data local area network. The image local area network is operated at a high utilization because of the relatively large size of the image files transmitted over it. The coded data local area network is operated at a relatively low utilization level because of a relatively small size of the coded data files transmitted over it. Two or more work group servers are connected to the image local area network. Each work group server is connected through a work group local area network to the coded data local area network. Each work group server operates in both a primary mode to service its own work group LAN and in a hot standby mode to serve as a backup processor for its corresponding work group server when the corresponding work group server is in a failure mode. When the failure mode occurs, a local area network manager reroutes image files from the first work group local area network over the under utilized coded data local area network, to the second work group local area network and its work group server which is operating in a hot standby mode. In this manner, a high availability is provided for the image file processing and coded data processing by providing alternate LAN links having adequate capacity to accommodate the large rerouted image files.

Image processing system having facilitated communication between an image data transmitter and an image processor

Abstract: In an image processing system, a file server, an image processing apparatus and a terminal unit are connected to a network. The image processing apparatus collects information on available functions, the status of the operation for image processing, and the status of failures and consumable supplies, from a detecting unit, thereby creating a status file and registers it in the file server. The user of the terminal unit obtains the status file from the file server and allows it to be displayed on a display device. This enables the user to find out the functions provided by the image processing apparatus, the status of the operation for image processing, the history of failures, and the like. On the basis of this information, the user can create an operation mode file defining specific image processing, and register it in the file server.

Electronic image pickup device

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve operability when referring to or aligning image, by easily discriminating the groups of consecutively photographed images by providing a directory preparing means for preparing a directory on a recording medium. SOLUTION: A sub directory is prepared in a route directory. A sub directory (b) is registered in that route directory, and the sub directory of a second hierarchy having a directory name (b) is secured in the low order thereof. Image data files having file names of files E-G can be registered in that sub directory (b). In this case, a sub directory (d) of a third hierarchy can be prepared in the sub directory (b). Then, files J and K, etc., can be recorded in the sub directory (d). The image files to be recorded in the respective sub directories can be registered in the directories while being sorted in the way that the images are the pictures of scenes respectively having the same theme or are pictures along with sequences by photographing terms, for example.

Motion Field Estimators and their Application to Image Interpolation

Abstract: In many video coding algorithms a subsampling of the input image sequence is considered. In fact to obtain low output data rates, with respect to the desired image quality, it is necessary to skip images at the transmitter, images that must be reconstructed at the receiver end. For example, this situation can occur when video services are provided over an ISDN network at rates under 384 Kbit/s, in the video-coding algorithm for interactive applications with digital storage media like the CD-ROM, proposed by the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) [1] and for the image sequence transmission over ATM networks [2]. Moreover an alteration of the frame rate is required in a wide number of applications, such as for standard conversion (NTSC to PAL and viceversa), conversion from interlaced to progressive image format and slow play of sequences for more precise event understanding.

Image Representation, Indexing and Retrieval Based on Spatial Relationships and Properties of Objects

Abstract: IN THIS thesis, a new methodology is presented which supports the efficient representation, indexing and retrieval of images by content. Images may be indexed and accessed based on spatial relationships between objects, properties of individual objects, and properties of object classes. In particular, images are first decomposed into groups of objects, called “image subsets”, and are indexed by computing addresses to all such groups. All groups up to a predefined maximum size are considered. This methodology supports the efficient processing of queries by image example and avoids exhaustive searching through the entire image database. The image database consists of a “physical database” which stores the original image files and a “logical database” which stores all image subsets together with their representations. The logical database consists of a set of data files each storing subsets of equal size. Queries are resolved through the logical database. Searching is performed in two steps, namely “hypothesis generation” and “hypothesis verification”. Queries are distinguished into “direct access”, corresponding to queries specifying a number of objects which is less than or equal to the maximum size of image subsets stored, and into “indirect access”, corresponding to queries specifying more objects than the maximum size of image subsets stored. The performance of the proposed methodology has been evaluated based on simulated images, as well as images obtained with computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Measurements of the size of the answer sets and of the retrieval response times have been obtained. The results of this evaluation are presented and discussed. This work completes and extends the work of others. In particular, the image representations used in this work may be considered as extensions of the representation of “2-D strings”. The classical framework of representation of 2-D strings is specialized to the cases of scaled and unscaled images. Based on 2-D strings, an indexing scheme and a retrieval strategy are proposed, which in contrast to 2-D strings, avoid the exhaustive search through the entire image database. The performance of the proposed methodology has been compared with the performance of existing techniques of 2-D string indexing and retrieval. The results demonstrate significant retrieval performance improvements.

Recorded digital image presentation control files

Abstract: A digital image processing system digitizes and stores photographic film images in their captured orientation on film, in order to obviate the need to physically rotate the film scanner relative to the film for vertical images, thereby significantly reducing the complexity and cost of the scanner. Instead, each stored image file has an associated presentation control file, which contains orientation and aspect ratio information, so that the image playback device will know how each image has been stored on the digital image database, such as a compact disc. When the disc is inserted into a playback device for driving an output display such as a color TV monitor, the playback device is readily able to decode the playback control information in the course of reading out the digitized image, so that the image will be displayed in an upright orientation and at the correct aspect ratio for the display.

A multimedia color camera providing multi-format digital images

Abstract: A multimedia-use color camera has been developed which provides not only an analog video output but also digital images of various formats such as a CIF (common intermediate format) YC video image and an RGB (red, green, blue) still image with square pixels. In order to generate many image formats flexibly, the following technologies have been developed: (1) programmable CCD (charge coupled device) scanning, (2) programmable interpolation, and (3) programmable color matrix. >

Radiological images on personal computers: introduction and fundamental principles of digital images.

Abstract: This series of articles will explore the issues related to displaying, manipulating, and analyzing radiological images on personal computers (PC). This first article discusses the digital image data file, standard PC graphic file formats, and various methods for importing radiological images into the PC.

Bi-directional television and motion picture film to magnetic tape format digital signal converter

Abstract: A television signal format converter is provided for converting without loss of picture information a television format or a motion picture film image format to or from a given recorder/player format. An interface converts between RGB and luminance/chrominance inputs and between analog and digital inputs. The interface couples a source signal format to a plurality of pairs of memories. A clock and control circuit controls addressing of the memories for reading and writing so that conversion is performed between a source format and the format required for a given high definition digital video tape recorder or any other comparable recorder.

A portable software tool for computing digitally reconstructed radiographs

Abstract: Purpose : To develop a portable software tool for fast computation of digitally reconstructed radiographs (DRR) with a friendly user interface and versatile image format and display options. To provide a means for interfacing with commercial and custom three-dimensional (3D) treatment planning systems. To make the tool freely available to the Radiation Oncology community. Methods and Materials : A computer program for computing DRRs was enhanced with new features and rewritten to increase computational efficiency. A graphical user interface was added to improve ease of data input and DRR display. Installer, programmer, and user manuals were written, and installation test data sets were developed. The code conforms to the specifications of the Cooperative Working Group (CWG) of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Contract on Radiotherapy Treatment Planning Tools. Results : The interface allows the user to select DRR input data and image formats primarily by point-andclick mouse operations. Digitally reconstructed radiograph formats are predefined by configuration files that specify 19 calculation parameters. Enhancements include improved contrast resolution for visualizing surgical clips, an extended source model to simulate the penumbra region in a computed port film, and the ability to easily modify the CT numbers of objects contoured on the planning computed tomography (CT) scans. Conclusions : The DRR tool can be used with 3D planning systems that lack this functionality, or perhaps improve the quality and functionality of existing DRR software. The tool can be interfaced to 3D planning systems that run on most modern graphics workstations, and can also function as a stand-alone program.

Parallel storage and retrieval of pixmap images

Abstract: To fulfill the requirement of rapid access to huge amounts of uncompressed pixmap image data, a parallel image server architecture is proposed, based on arrays of intelligent disk nodes, with each disk node composed of one processor and one disk. It is shown how images can be partitioned into extents and efficiently distributed among available intelligent disk nodes. The image server's performance is analyzed according to various parameters such as the number of cooperating disk nodes, the sizes of image file extents, the available communication throughput, and the processing power of disk node and image server processors. Important image access speed improvements are obtained by image extent caching and image part extraction in disk nodes. With T800 transputer-based technology, a system composed of eight disk nodes offers access to three full-color 512*512 pixmap image parts per second (2.4 megabytes per second). For the same configuration but with the recently announced T9000 transputer, image access throughput is eight images per second (6.8 megabytes per second). >

Automating Image Format Conversion - Twelve Years and Twenty-five Formats Later

Abstract: We describe an integrated approach to extracting image data from diverse manufacturer’s formats into a common file type. The interface to the actual extraction process has been standardized through use of the MIT X11 Window System™ with the Open Software Foundation’s Motif™ graphical user environment.

Information reproduction system

Abstract: PURPOSE:To provide the information reproduction system in which different system at a remote distance to each other execute processing such as reproduction of the same dynamic image, rewinding and frame feeding synchronously with each other without use of a communication line having a sufficient transmission capacity. CONSTITUTION:A local side system 1 receives a video signal from a video deck 15, scrambles the signal to form a dynamic image data file on a hard disk 113 and sends the file to a remote system 3 through a communication line 5. The remote system stores the scrambled dynamic image file to a hard disk 313. Then the lock system 1 descrambles and reproduces the scrambled dynamic image file and sends a scramble key to descramble the file, a frame synchronizing signal and a reproduction control command such as reproduction and rewinding in real time to the remote system 3 through the communication line 5. The remote system 3 descrambles the scrambled dynamic image file according to the received information and reproduces the file synchronously with the local system.

PACS subsystems performance: centralized versus distributive

Abstract: We studied the performance characteristics of the acquisition and display subsystems of a clinical picture archiving and communication system (PACS). The PACS was configured to a centralized model and a distributed model. The performance of each subsystem in the two models were measured and compared. In both models, a control computer was designated to direct the flow of image data from the acquisition subsystem to the display subsystem so that performance of these two subsystems can be separately measured. Two image modalities, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT), were selected for the performance study. Approximately 100 gigabytes of image data from 3 MR scanners and 3 CT scanners were analyzed. The performance of the acquisition subsystem was measured in terms of the delivery time of an individual image file from an acquisition computer to the control computer. The performance of the display subsystem was measured in terms of the delivery time of an individual image file from the control computer to a display unit. Results showed that the centralized PACS model had better control and required less maintenance than the distributed PACS model. However, the performance of a centralized model degraded significantly when more input (radiologic imaging modalities) or output (display station) devices were encountered.

Advanced Graphics Programming Using C/C++

Abstract: Adding a Lighting Model An Enhanced Ray Tracer Creating a World Textures and Patterns Adding Animation Rendering Water and Clouds Rendering Fractal Mountains A PCX Toolkit TIFF: A Flexible Image File Format Image Processing Essentials Morphing Magic Appendices Index.

DCT image fidelity metric and its application to a text-based scheme for image display

Abstract: The discrete cosine transform (DCT) can be used to transform two images into a space where it is easy to obtain an estimate of their perceptual distance. We used this method to find the closest fit of the ASCII symbols (which includes the English alphabet, numbers, punctuation, and common symbols) to rectangular segments of a gray-scale image. Each segment was converted into a DCT coefficient matrix which was compared to the coefficient matrix of each ASCII symbol. The image segment was replaced with the symbol that had the least weighted Euclidean distance. Thus, a page of text was generated that resembled the original image. The text image format has the advantage that it can be displayed on a non-graphic terminal or printer. It can also be sent via electronic mail without requiring further processing by the receiver. The processing scheme can also be used to preview stored images when transmission bandwidth is limited or a graphic output device is unavailable.

Method and apparatus for printing photographs on documents

Abstract: A method and apparatus for composing documents (26) such as bank checks with a picture (30) of an account holder on each check comprising the steps of a) capturing a real time video image of the account holder at a bank site; b) converting the image to a digital image file in a personal computer (20); c) composing a picture check as a graphics image file in the personal computer; d) merging the digital image file and graphics image file to form a picture check; and e) printing one or more picture checks at the bank site and delivering the picture checks to the customer.

Structures and metrics for image storage and interchange

Abstract: There are hundreds of different image file specifications in existence. A recent informal suivey recorded almost 100 formats in use by USENET readers alone. Thus, an imaging practitioner is faced with a large and sometimes bewildering range of image file standards to choose from, which, when coupled with the sparsity of studies in the area, makes acquiring a general overview of the field a difficult task. We seek to address this problem by reviewing the overall topic of image formats, describing the most notable standards, proposing a set of related metrics, and providing a source of further information.

Selection criteria for a document image processing system for the ELINOR Electronic Library project

Abstract: The Information Centre at De Montfort University Milton Keynes is carrying out a three year research project known as the ELINOR Electronic Library project, which will work towards the creation of a large, indexed collection of electronic texts and images accessible to the students and staff via desktop workstations. The pilot phase will build on the existing information network and use the latest document image processing (DIP) and text retrieval technologies to set up a central and secure location for the data. At this stage of the project, the recommended course texts are not available in electronic formats, so the priority was to assess the suitability of a DIP system for converting printed works into machine‐readable text and image files. Each electronic document will contain a searchable table of contents, abstract, back‐of‐the‐book index data, and, appended to this information will be a folder of image pages. This paper outlines the investigative stages in evaluating and selecting a DIP system, and finally, covers the shortcomings of using a commercial DIP system for electronic libraries.

Parallel pixmap image storage and retrieval

Abstract: Professionals in various fields such as medical imaging, biology and civil engineering require rapid access to huge amounts of uncompressed pixmap image data. In order to fulfil these requirements, a parallel image server architecture is proposed, based on arrays of intelligent disk nodes, each disk node being composed of one processor and one disk. Pixmap image data is partitioned into rectangular extents, whose size and distribution among disk nodes minimize overall image access times. Disk node processors are responsible for maintaining both the data structure associated with their image file extents and an extent cache offering fast access to recently used data. Disk node processors may also be used for applying image processing operations to locally retrieved image parts. This contribution introduces the concept of an image oriented file system, where the file system is aware of image size, extent size and extent distribution. The performance of the proposed transputer-based multiprocessor-multidisk image server is compared with the performance of an ideal single processor disk array system having an infinite bandwidth between the disks and the processor's memory

Animation data preparing method

Abstract: PURPOSE:To improve efficiency for edition for the unit of a scene, to prepare animation data only with irreducible minimum data, to enable the change of constitution or the addition of a title picture, to improve user interface and further to easily specify an edited system animation file even when the number of moving image files or the number of files excepting for moving images is increased. CONSTITUTION:The class of the file is analyzed by a file class analysis/display processing S1, an icon showing the file is displayed in a multiwindow and the class of the file is displayed in the icon. A tool group is displayed in the multiwindow by a tool display processing S2, and various tools are selected from the tool group by a tool selection processing S3 while using a pointing device. The animation of the file is edited by an animation edition processing S5 while using a moving image edition tool, and the information of the file is displayed by a file information display processing S7 while using an information display tool.

Computer-system and preparation of scroll-bar changing visidual state

Abstract: PURPOSE: To provide a scroll bar which is related with a display window that secures a view in a display space. CONSTITUTION: The visually changing scroll bar 30 is related with a window 20 formed on a computer display 17 as a part of a computer system 10, and also contains a slider 32 to display a data file, an image file, an audio file, a text file or a relative position on a spread sheet. The current position of the slider 32 of the bar 30 is monitored by the system 10. A 1st area that is matched with the slider 32 is generated after a 1st prescribed sample period passed.

Considerations regarding the long-term storage of electronic images

Abstract: The proliferation of electronic photographic images and electronic imaging systems has raised questions and concerns regarding the long-term or archival electronic storage of image files. Various options and methodologies are discussed together with the limitations of all the presently available approaches.

Design considerations for wide-area distribution of digital x-ray images

Abstract: The increasing backbone speeds of Wide Area Networks, along with the growing numbers of users of these networks, have created an opportunity for the development of remotely accessible and highly data-intensive digital libraries. The National Library of Medicine is building a prototype system for the storage of several thousand digital x-ray images, while providing remote access to these images across the Internet. This paper discusses the design factors analyzed for this system, and presents performance statistics collected. The design factors considered include: network protocol selection, endpoint tuning of protocol, image compression, and application data handling. Research toward application data handling includes plans to stage groups of images from an optical archive to memory for the efficient transmission of large numbers of images. To maximize image data transmission speed, experimental protocols are being studied as alternatives to TCP/IP. TCP overhead processing is being researched, and approaches to tuning TCP performance for transmission of large image files are being analyzed. To minimize the storage capacity required and to decrease transmission time, lossy compression techniques are being considered. Research is proceeding toward the selection of a compression technique and optimum compression ratio consistent with the image quality required to produce standardized readings.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

Television with commutation of the image format from 16/9 to 4/3

Abstract: of EP0579190A television is described, comprising an image display device, of a shape being substantially rectangular, having a ratio between the equal sides substantially of 16/9; the main characteristic of the invention consists in that it provides a commutation deflection device for enabling the display on said screen having a ratio substantially equal to 16/9 also of images of a ratio substantially equal to 4/3.

Image editing system

Abstract: PURPOSE:To eliminate the need to repeat the same operation each time an image is used by registering a brief image in an image file and eliminating the need to generate the brief image each time the image is used. CONSTITUTION:This image editing system is equipped with an image input part 1 which reads an image in, a brief image generation part 2 which takes the brief image out among plural images, an image registration part 3 which registers the brief image in the image file, the image file 4 which contains the brief image, an image editing part 5 which retrieves the image file 4 according to an optional indication and takes a coincident brief image out, and an image display part 6 which outputs the brief image sent out of the image editing part 5.

Transmission control method of facsimile equipment

Abstract: PURPOSE:To enhance the utilizing efficiency of a line by sending plural pieces of image information of the same address together through single transmitting operation. CONSTITUTION:When a user specifies storage, the user is made to input the address to which an image to be stored is sent. Then a scanner 4 reads out an original image of one page and the obtained image signal is encoded compressed by an encoding and decoding part 7 and stored in an image storage device 8. When there is a sufficient free area in the image storage device 8, the document of the next page is read out and stored. When no free area is left in the image storage device 8, storage management information is generated. When more than a specific number of image files are stored, Their multiple message transmission address is called and specified as address information, and the stored image files are successively transmitted through single communicating operation.