`Washington, DG, 20237 RECORDS BAMAGER .
`
`‘UNITED.STATEL:‘DEPARTMENT oF COMMERCE
`Patent and TrademarkGffice
`+ Address:
`‘COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS. AND TRADEMARKS.
`
`
`LEG
`DEPARTMENT 2aBo
`HEWLETT PACKARD COMPANY
`
`Poo BOX ig2ed
`,
`3616
`s
`
`
`This is a.communication from the examinerIn Charge of your application.
`COMMISSIONEROF PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS
`
`oO This action is madefinal.
`Oo Responsiveto communication filed on__-
`Ertis application has been examined
`days from the date ofthisletter.
`oe
`A shortenedstatutory period for responseto this action is set to expire
`Ss
`month(s),
`Failure to respond within the period for responsewill cause the application to become abandoned. 36 U.S.C. 133
`Part! THE FOLLOWING ATTACHMENT(S) ARE PART OF THIS ACTION:
`
`.
`
`1. Ban lotice of References Cited by Examiner, PTO-892.
`3.
`Notice of Art Cited by Applicant, PTO-1449.
`5.
`Information on How to Effect Drawing Changes, PTO-1474..
`
`2. EXtNotice of Draftsman's Patent Drawing Review, PTO-948.
`4. LI Notice of Informal Patent Application, PTO-152.
`6.
`
`Parti
`SUMMARY OF ACTION
`1. Rtclaims
`L = 3 G
`Of the above, claims
`
`2. | Claims.
`3. O Claims
`4, ExTciaims
`5. Oo Claims
`
`6. Cl Claims,
`
`(-3 6
`
`-
`
`
`
`are pending tn the application.
`are withdrawn from consideration.
`
`have been cancelled.
`are allowed.
`are rejected.
`are objected to.
`
`a
`
`are subjectto restriction or election requirement.
`
`7. oO This application has beenfiled with informal drawings under 37 C.F.R. 1.85 which are acceptable for examination purposes.
`t
`2
`
`8. | Formaldrawings are required in responseto this Office action.
`
`. Under 37 C.F.R. 1.84 these drawings
`9. Cl The corrected.or substitute drawings have been received on
`are EC) acceptable; 1 not acceptable (see explanation or Notice of Draftsman's Patent Drawing Review, PTO-948).
`
`10. Cl The proposed ‘additional or substitute sheet(s) of drawings,filed on
`examiner;
`[J-disapproved by the examiner (seeexplanation).
`
`. has (have) been COlapproved bythe
`
`11, C The proposed drawing corréction,filed
`
`, hasbeen Olapproved; O disapproved (see explanation).
`
`12. oO Acknowledgementis, madeof the claim for priority under 35 U.S.C. 119. The certified copy has C1 been received (1 not been received
`(1 beenfiled #7 parent application, serial no.
`; fed on
`:
`
`13. Cl Since this application apppearsto be-in condition for allowance except for formal matters, prosecution as to the merits is closed in
`actordance with the practice under Ex parte Quayle, 1935 C.D. 11; 453 O.G. 213.
`
`14. CI Other
`
`EXAMINER'S ACTION
`.
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 2/93) Be .
`
`OLYMPUS EX. 1016 - 457/714
`
`OLYMPUS EX. 1016 - 457/714
`
`

`

`Serial Number: 08/411,369
`
`Art Unit: 2616
`
`»U
`(Cok 4
`
`—_—
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`Page 2
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC§ 112
`Claims 25-36 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112, second paragraph, as being indefinite for
`
`L.
`
`failing to particularlypoint out and distinctly claim the subject matter which applicant regards as
`
`the invention. The claims refer to the JPEG compression standard. However, the specification
`
`does not indicate which JPEG compression standardis being referenced. Unless the date and
`
`citation number ofthe standard are provided the claims will remain indefinite dueto the indefinite
`
`reference.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`2.
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103(a) which forms the basis for all obviousness
`
`rejections set forth in this Office action:
`
`(a) A patent may not be obtained though the inventionis not identically disclosed or described asset forth in
`section 102 ofthis title, ifthe differences between the subject matter sought to be patented and theprior art are
`such that the subject matter as a whole would have been obviousat the time the invention was made to a person
`having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains. Patentability shall not be negatived by the
`mannerin which the invention was made.
`Claims 1-3, 5-9, 14-17, 20-24, 29, and 34-36 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being
`3.
`unpatentable over Sugiura (5,465,164) in view of Agarwal (5,488,570).
`
`Asto representative claims 14 and 15, and claims 1-3, 5-9, 29 and 34-36, Sugiura teaches
`
`a method of compressing and transmitting images which produces decompressed images having
`
`improved text and image quality, the method comprising:
`
`OLYMPUS EX. 1016 - 458/714
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`

`

`Serial Number: 08/411,369
`
`Art Unit: 2616
`
`Page 3
`
`compressing a source image into compressed imagedatausing a first quantization table
`
`(Qe) (Quantization Table 105 offig. 1);
`forming a second quantization table (Qd), wherein the second quantizationtable is related
`to the first quantization table (Inverse Quantization Table 115 offig. 1);
`
`transmitting the compressed image data (Interfaces 109 and 111, Communications
`
`Circuit 110 of fig. 1);
`
`decompressing the compressed image data using the second quantization table Qd
`
`(Inverse Quantization 114 and Inverse Quantization Table 115 offig. 1).
`
`Sugiura does not explicitly teach that the second quantization table is related to thefirst
`
`quantization table scaled in accordance with a predetermined function of the energy in a reference
`
`image and the energy in a scanned image. Agarwal teaches decompressing (decoding) a second
`
`video frame by relating (comparing) the energy of the scanned image (block of the encoded
`
`second video frame) to the energy of a reference image (corresponding to the scaled quantization
`
`level for the block where the energy for the quantization level is selected in accordance with
`
`training video frames)(col. 1, lines 35-60). It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary
`skill in the art at the time ofthe invention for Sugiura to decompress using a quantization table
`
`scaled in accordance with a predetermined function of the energy in a reference image and the
`energy in a scanned image as taught by Agarwalin order to decrease quantizationerrors.
`
`As to claims 16 and 17, Sugiura teaches that the second quantization table (Inverse
`
`Quantization Table) is determined independent of the order of transmission (fig. 1). It would
`
`OLYMPUS EX.1016 - 459/714
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`

`

`Serial Number: 08/411,369
`
`Art Unit: 2616
`
`Page 4
`
`have been obviousto a person of ordinary skill in the art at the time ofthe invention to scale prior
`
`or subsequent to the transmission step since the second quantization table is determined
`independent ofthe order oftransmission.
`As to claims 20-23, selecting a target image; rendering the target imageinto an imagefile:
`
`the target image having elementscritical to the quality of the image are inherent in using a
`
`reference to control the quality of the compression process. Images which havetext including
`
`text with a serif font are well knownin the art (official notice).
`
`Asto claim 24, in using a reference image to control the quality of the compression
`
`process of a scanned image it would have been obvious to a person ofordinary skill in the art at
`
`the time of the invention that scanned image could be the reference image since the reference
`
`image is readily available to be a scanned image and would serve as a check ofthe quality
`
`assurance steps.
`
`4.
`
`Claims 4, 10-13, 18, 25-28, and 30-33 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being
`
`unpatentable over Sugiura (5,465,164) and Agarwal (5,488,570) as applied above, further in view
`
`of Tzou (4,776,030).
`As to representative claim 18, and claims 4, 10-13, 25-28, and 30-33, Sugiura does not
`
`explicitly teach use of the variancein the scaling factor to reduce the quantization error. Tzou
`
`teaches that in an adaptive system the quantization of an image is ordered according to the
`
`variance of the image coefficients to reduce quantization error (col. 2, lines 21-42). It would have
`
`been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art at the time of invention to use the image
`
`OLYMPUS EX. 1016 - 460/714
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`

`

`Serial Number: 08/411,369
`
`Art Unit: 2616
`
`Page 5
`
`variances as taught by Tzou with the reference and scanned imagetoarrive at the scaling factor of
`
`Sugiura and Agarwalin order to reduce quantizationerror.
`
`. Claim 19 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over Sugiura
`5.
`(5,465,164) and Agarwal (5,488,570), further in view ofApplicant’s admissionsofthepriorart.
`
`Asto claim 19, Sugiura and Agarwaldo notexplicitly teach encapsulating the second
`
`quantization table Qd with the compressed image data to form an encapsulated datafile; and
`
`transmitting the data file. Applicant admits that the prior art teaches that the data includesthe
`
`quantization tables for use in the decompression process (p. 5, lines 1-6). It would have been
`
`obvious to a person ofordinary skill in the art to include the quantization table which will be used
`
`in the decompression process in the transmitted data file as taught by the prior art for the datafile
`
`of Sugiura and Agarwal wherethe second quantization table would be used to decompress.
`
`Conclusion
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`6.
`examiner should be directed to Brian Johnson whose telephone numberis (703) 305-3865.
`The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Thursday from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM. The
`examiner can also be reached on alternate Fridays.
`
`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner's
`supervisor, Leo H. Boudreau, can be reached on (703) 305-4706.
`
`Any inquiry of a general nature orrelating to the status of this application should be
`directed to the Group receptionist whose telephone numberis (703) 305-4700.
`
`Brian L. Johnson
`May 12, 1997
`
`OLYMPUS EX. 1016 - 461/714
`
`OLYMPUS EX. 1016 - 461/714
`
`

`

`TO SEPARATE, HOLD TOP AND BOTTOM EDGES, SNAP—APAAT AND DISCARDCARBON
`
`NOTICE OF REFERENCES CITED
`
`t
`
`[em PTO-892 RO ay) ONTTTTaTTACHMENTU.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE SERIAL NO.
`
`
`
`”
`(REV.2-92)
`PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE os/ Lf
`20
`“f
`To
`3
`fa]
`PAPER
`*
`t 1 > &4 —
`NUMBER
`APPLICANT(S}
`
`
` . ‘ U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS .
`
`
`
`
`
`Le‘Lijas Sugeest
`
`= may) m
`
`debela ie lollo [re/a/es| zou 45
`
`wv
`Hepat3
`7
`
`
`
`4 ~< “AS
`fel +
`
`N
`
`at
`
`ZO KAJ
`
`
`|sPEc..
`
`(See Manual of Patent Examining Procedure, section 707.05 (a}.)
`* A copy ofthis reference is not being furnished with this office action.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`J
`
`TelTEETTT
`
`
`
`
`SHTS.1PP,
`cLass
`suB-
`PERTINENT
`
`CLASS
`DWG_
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`OLYMPUS EX.1016 - 462/714
`
`OLYMPUS EX. 1016 - 462/714
`
`

`

`AS DTS Gi fre
`
`A?
`
` United StatesPatent
`
`Sugiura et al.
`
`
`
`[19]
`
`{HOU 0008 1)ET00 ORYWUS005465164A
`[11]
`-Patent Number:
`5,465,164
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Nov. 7, 1995
`
`[54]
`. IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND
`5,189,530©2/1993. PUfit ose cseiccsecccsescesseessensserenes 358/458
`«+ 358/426
`5,216,516
`.6/1993 Tanaka et al.
`
`DEVICE FOR THE SAME
`
`
`5,216,712.6/1993 Shimada etal. . 358/133 X
`
`
`5,223,926:.6/1993 Stoneet.al. .. 358/133
`[75]
`-Inventors:. Susumu Sugiura; Atsugi;. Yoshinobu
`
`5,251,020|10/1993 Sugiyama :.:..
`Mita, Kawasaki, both of Japan
`
`5,253,055.10/1993 Civanlar et al. . .
`
`seeenee 358/458
`5,260,808
`11/1993. Fufii
`...scssssconeesssessneees
`[73] Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo,
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`Japan
`416918
`3/1991.
`European Pat: Off.
`......... HO4N 7/13
`[21]. Appl, No: 868,103
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`[22].Filed: Apr. 14, 1992
`Legeret al., “Still: Picture Compression Algorithms Evalu-
`(30}
`Foreign Application, Priority Data
`ated for International Standardisation”, IEEE Global Tele-
`
`seine 3-082403
`Apt. 15, 1991
`EP]
`Japan.
`isracenseinee
`communications Conference. vol. 2, pp. 1028-1032 (Nov.
`
`1988).
`:
`Apr. 81992.
`[JP]
`Japan Faasneavnitsspeunnevtyeoseiae 4-087114
`Grol! etal.,. ‘Using the 8 bit CCIR Recommendation 601
`Wants CLO aceeeseecsseneeeetsednepanesesiecene HOAN 1/41
`(51)
`Digital Interface”, IBC Int'l, Broad. Jayant et al., Digital
`
`[52] WS. Ce cecssssssssscerssessesns 358/448: 358/432: 358/458;
`Coding of Waveforms; Prentice Hail, pp. 351-371 (1984).
`ae
`348/384
`[58] Field of Search sevessssestebisatestesesaitiqaose BSS/448, 458,
`Primary Examiner—Paul Ip
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper &
`358/433, 56,80, 133,:135,.136,. 500,°528,
`Scinto
`434, 527, 138, 56, 426;.261.3, 261.4, 432,
`/479, 909, 13, 85, 209
`
`(S7]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`[S6]
`
`References Cited
`Disclosed is.an image processing device which comprises a
`conversion means. for converting an image data to. a space
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`frequency component, a quantization means for quantizing
`‘10/1988. Daly et al.
`ccccsccsccsccceessscceese 358/133
`4,780,761
`the space frequericy. component converted by the conversion
`11/1988. Mita’.........
`358/280
`4,782,398
`
`means, and a control means- for controlling the quantization
`
`- 3582/9
`‘Sugiura
`2/1990’
`4,905,294
`means.
`‘so: that.a quantization error produced when the
`358/133
`..
`4,974,078 11/1990" Tsai
`. converted space frequency componentis quantized by the
`
`4,984,076~~1/1991. Watanal =, 358/133
`
`
`' quantization: means is diffused to nearby space frequency
`5,060,280 10/1991 Mita et-al. 2...
`ae 382/33
`
`components.
`12/1991 Nakagawa.etal.
`5,073,820.
`358/133
`
`
`5,079,621.-1/1992 Daly etal. 12:1... a 358/13
`
`5,142,380
`8/1992 Sakagami et'al.
`358/432
`9 Claims, 10 Drawing Sheets
`
`ADCT UNIT
`
`. QUANTIZATION
`
`
`
` HUFFMAN
`CODING
`
`‘TABLE
`
`QUANTIZATION
`
`TABLE
`
` HUFFMAN
`CODING
`
`145
`
` HUFFMAN
`INVERSE
`QUANTIZATION
`DECODING
`TABLE
`TABLE
`
`
`YUV
`
`
`
`
` HUFFMAN
`
`INVERSE
`OUTPUT [|
`| INVERSE
`DECODING
`QUANTIZATION
`UNIT J]
`|__| OCT
`
`
`
`
`
`
`OLYMPUS EX.1016 - 463/714
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`
`

`

`soetH se
`
`AuelZe ds:
`
`— tA
`
`CCCel
`
`Syetselos
`X=
`ave wen we ca date Caen+l AND TRADEMARK. OFFICE
`CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION
`
`:
`PATENT NO.
`:
`DATED
`INVENTOR(S):
`
`5,465,164
`November 7, 1995
`“Susumu SUGIURA,. et al.
`
`Page 1 of 2
`
`It is certified that error appears in the above-indentified patent and that said Letters Patentis hereby
`correctedas shawn below:
`
`IN THE DRAWINGS
`
`Sheet. 7
`
`"ERRER" should read --ERROR--
`Figure 8A,
`(both. occurrences)..
`
`Column1
`
`Line 43, "an" should be deleted.
`
`Column2
`
`Line 67,
`
`"main" should read --the -main--.
`
`Column 3
`
`Line 8, . "reminder" should read --remainder--.
`Line 40, "reminder" should read
`--remainder--.
`Line 49, "reminder" should read
`--remainder--.
`
`Column4
`
`Line 13, "dominator" should read
`--denominator--.
`
`
`
`OO
`
`.
`
`OLYMPUSEX. 1016 - 464/714
`
`OLYMPUS EX. 1016 - 464/714
`
`

`

`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION
`
`5,465,164
`:
`PATENTNO.
`- November 7, 1995
`DATED
`INVENTOR(S) =~
`Susumu SUGIURA, et al.
`
`Page 2 of 2
`
`it is certified that error appears in the above-indentified:patent and that said Letters Patentis hereby
`corrected as shownbelow:
`
`Column 5
`
`Line 53, "corresponds" shoulé read. --corresponds
`to--.
`,
`.
`
`. Column 7
`
`Line 7, "values" should read --value--.
`
`Column 8
`
`Line 54, "step" should read --steps--.
`
`AttestWSnce Chin
`
`Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks
`Altesting Officer
`
`BRUCE LEHMAN
`
`Signed and Sealed this
`
`Fourteenth Day of May, 1996
`
`OLYMPUS EX. 1016 - 465/714
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`OLYMPUS EX. 1016 - 465/714
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 7, 1995
`
`Sheet 1of 10
`
`5,465,164
`
`601
`
`LINNLoay
`
`“9NIQ09alNVW4SNH
`
`NOTIVZILNVAD
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`OLYMPUS EX.1016 - 466/714
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`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`5,465,164
`
`Sheet2 of 10
`U.S. Patent Nov. 7, 1995
`FIG. 2A
`HIGH FREQUENCY WAVE =>
`10
`20
`30
`40
`50
`60
`70
`
`00
`
`FREQUENCYWAVE
`HIGH:
`
`oeosoesa}—--- (77
`
`FIG. 2B
`
`FIG. 3A
`
`[50035[45[75183]21113133]471aI ------
`
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`OTTOTOTO20[20]203030------
`
`FIG. 3C__
`
`soe
`
`OLYMPUS EX. 1016 - 467/714
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`OLYMPUS EX. 1016 - 467/714
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Noy. 7, 1995
`
`Sheet 3 of 10
`
`5,465,164
`
`FIG. 4A
`
`S50]35]45]75]83,21]13]33147]211]
`
`
`
` oe So
`
`FIG. 4B
`
`
`
`FIG. 4D.
`IstoTessa
`
`FIG. GE
`
`
`
`|35|50]75|88]29]22]35)62)23]|
`
`oe
`
`OLYMPUS EX.1016 - 468/714
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`OLYMPUS EX. 1016 - 468/714
`
`

`

`US
`
`. Patent
`
`Nov. 7; 1995
`
`QWZ-9IZ
`
`AYOWSN
`
`Sheet 4 of 10
`
`5,465,164
`
`E15 1avi
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`
`014
`
`
`
`OLYMPUS EX.1016 - 469/714
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`OLYMPUS EX. 1016 - 469/714
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov: 7, 1995
`
`Sheet 5 of 10
`
`5,465,164
`
`aLINNLov
`91Zbl
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`OLYMPUS EX. 1016 - 470/714
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`OLYMPUS EX. 1016 - 470/714
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 7, 1995
`
`Sheet. 6 of 10
`
`5,465,164
`
`
`
`rsd014-disg
`ONILIVYLX3
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`OLYMPUS EX.1016 - 471/714
`
`OLYMPUS EX. 1016 - 471/714
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 7, 1995
`
`Sheet 7 of 10
`
`5,465,164
`
`805
`
`SANTO
`Skio
`SMUT
`
`TRACTER
`
`SUB& TRACTER
`Oras
`a TRACTER
`
`SuB-
`
`OLYMPUS EX.1016 - 472/714
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`OLYMPUS EX. 1016 - 472/714
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 7, 1995
`
`Sheet 8 of 10
`
`5,465,164
`
`FIG. 8C
`
`DIVISION RATIO
`
`i S
`
`UBJECT
`PIXEL
`
`(Re)
`
`POSITION
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`OLYMPUS EX.1016 - 473/714
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`U.S. Patent =—
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`Nov. 7, 1995
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`Sheet 9 of 10°
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`5,465,164 nO
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`OLYMPUS EX.1016 - 474/714
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`OLYMPUS EX. 1016 - 474/714
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`U
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`S. Patent
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`Nov. 7, 1995
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`Sheet 10 of 10
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`5,465,164
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`OLYMPUS EX. 1016 - 475/714
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`5,465,164
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`2
`FIGS. 3A-3C are diagrams showing a conventional quan-
`tization method;
`showing a quantization
`FIGS. 4A-4E arc diagrams
`method according 1o the present invention;
`FIG. § is a block diagram showing a characteristic portion
`of the present invention;
`FIG.6 is a diagram showing a second embodimentofthe
`present invention;
`FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams showing an embodiment
`embodying an error diffusion unit 601,
`FIGS. 8A-SEare diagrams showing another embodiment
`embodying the error diffusion unit 601;
`FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams explaining the content of
`a bit diminution unit; and
`FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the arrangement of a third
`embodiment according to the present invention.
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`5
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`30
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`1
`IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND
`DEVICE FOR THE SAME
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`L. Field of the Invention
`The presem invention relates to an image processing
`method and device for the same by which image data is
`quantized.
`2. Related Background Art
`At present, an Adaptive Discrete Cosine Transform
`ADCT (Adaptivraphic Expert Group) system is intended to
`be standardized as a compression system of a multi-value
`image data by JPEG (Joint Photographic Expert Group).
`Also, it is contemplated to use the ADCT system in the
`field of a color image communication, in particular, in the
`field of a color facsimile.
`Nevertheless, the above ADCT system has been studied to
`he applied to an image having the relatively small number of
`pixels such as an image on a CRT.
`Therefore, the application of the ADCT system,as it is, to
`a field such as the color facsimile requiring a high resolution
`gives rise to a new problem. Mare specifically, when the
`ADCT system is employed for the color facsimile,as it is,
`a deterioration cf image quality such as shade off, disioca-
`tion and spread of coloris caused in the field offine lines of
`characters, graphics and the like.
`Further, when data compressed by the ADCT system is
`compared with data prior to compression, density is not
`preserved and thus image quality is deteriorated.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`Taking the above problems into consideration, a first
`object of the present
`invention is to provide an image
`processing method and a device for the same by which
`image quality can be improved.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide an
`image processing method and a device for the same by
`which a quantized error produced in quantization is reduced,
`‘To achieve the above objects, according to a preferred
`embodiment of the present invention, there is disclosed an
`image processing device which comprises a conversion
`means for converting an image data to a space frequency
`component, a quantization means for quantizing the space
`frequency component converted by the conversion means,
`and a contro! means for controlling the quantization means
`so that a quantization error produced when the converted
`space frequency componentis quantized by the quantization
`means is diffused to nearby space frequency components.
`Further,
`the present
`invention has another object for
`further improving an image compression method referred to
`as ADCT.
`Furthermore,the present invention has a further object for
`providing an image processing method and device for the
`same by which a compression ratio as well as image quality
`are improved.
`Other objects and advantages ofthe present invention will
`become apparent from the following embodiments when
`taken in conjunction with the description of the accompa-
`nying drawings.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangementof an
`embodiment according to the present invention;
`FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams showing a zig-zag scan-
`ning:
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`65
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodimentof an
`image processing device according to the present invention,
`wherein 101 designates an image input unit composed, for
`example, of a color scanner arranged as CCD line sensors
`for R, G, B; 102 designates a coler component conversion
`unit for converting R, G, B signals of cach pixel produced
`in the image input unit 101 to YUV (lightness, chromatic-
`ness and hue) componentsignals; and 103 designates a DcT
`circuit for causing each component signal of YUV to be
`subjectedto a discrete cosine conversion to thereby perform
`an orthogonal conversion from a true space componentto a
`frequency space component, 104 designates a quantization
`unit for quantizing the orthogonally converted space fre-
`quency component by a quantization coefficient stered in a
`quantization table 105; 107 designates a line through which
`two-dimensional block data, which is quantized and made to
`linear data by zig-zag scanning, is transmitted; 108 desig-
`nates a Huffman coding circuit having a DC component
`composed of category information and a data value obtained
`from a difference signal and an AC componentclassified to
`categories based on the continuity of zero and thereafter
`provided with a data value; 106 designates a Huffman
`coding table wherein a document appearing more frequently
`is set
`to a shorter code length; and 109 designates an
`interface with a communication tine through which a com-
`pressed image data is transmitted to a circuit 110.
`On the other hand, data is received by an I/F 111 on a
`receiving side through a process completely opposite to that
`when the compressed data is transmitted. More specifically,
`the data ig Huffman decoded by a Huffman decoding unit
`112 in accordance with a coefficient set from a Huffman
`decoding table 113 arranged in the same way as that of the
`Huffman coding table 106 and then inverse quantized by an
`inverse quantizing unit 114 in accordance with a coefficient
`sei from an inverse quantizing table 115. Next,
`the thus
`obtained data is inverse DCT converted by an inverse DCT
`conversion unit 116 and converied from the YUV color
`components to the RGB color components by a color
`component conversion unit 117 so that a color image is
`formed by an image output unit 118. The image output unit
`118 can provide a soft copy such as a display andthelike and
`a hard copy printed by a laser bear printer, ink jet printer
`and the like.
`Although the above deterioration of image quality is
`caused by various factors, one of main factors is contem-
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`5,465,164
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`3
`plated to be that an error (remainder) produced in quanti-
`zation performed by a quantization table following to a
`processing performed by DCTis cut off.
`The present invention is devised to preserve the error
`amour as effectively as possible to thereby prevent the
`deterioration of image quality as much as possible.
`Thus, according to embodiments of the present invention,
`a reminder or error produced when quantization is per-
`formed by a quantization table is multi-dimensionally dif-
`fused to nearby frequency components to keep the frequency
`components of an original image as much as possible so that
`an image with less deteriorated quality can be reproduced.
`A DCT portion as a main portion of the present invention
`will be further described here prior to the description of the
`characteristic portion of the embodiments of the present
`invention.
`
`FIG. 2A shows an arrangement of frequency component
`values subjected to a discrete cosine conversion of 88
`which is a base of the DCT portion. Although this arrange-
`mentis basically a two-dimensional frequency structure,it
`can be madeto a linear frequency arrangementby a zig-zag
`scanning, as shown in FIG. 2B. In FIG. 2B, a DC compo-
`nent, and linear frequency component up to n-dimensional
`frequency componentare arrangedfrom theleft side thereof.
`Each numeral in FIG. 2B is obtained by adding an address
`in a vertical direction and an address in a horizontal direction
`in FIG. 2A, and thus these numerals in FIG, 2B show an
`address and do not show a value of a frequency component.
`FIGS. 3A-3C show a conventional quantization system,
`and FIG. 3A shows a value of a frequency componentjust
`after DCT and FIG. 3B shows a quantization table. FIG. 3C
`shows a result of quantization performed by using FIGS. 3A
`and 3B, wherein the values shown in FIG. 3A are simply
`divided by the values shown FIG. 3B and portions other than
`an integer portion are cut off, from whichit is assumed that
`a considerable error is caused by the cutting off.
`FIG. 4A-4E show a portion of an embodiment of the
`present invention.
`FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C correspond to FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C,
`respectively, and FIG. 4D shows a reminder value after
`quantization has been performed. For example, since the
`data value of a first frequency component is 35 and a
`corresponding table valuc is 10, a value 3 is obtainedafter
`quantization and thus a remainderis 5. This remainder 5 is
`shown in the second box in FIG. 4D. Therefore, a second
`frequency component 45 is made to 50 by being added with
`the remainder 5 in the previous frequency. Since this value
`$0 is divided by a table value 10, a quantized value of 5 is
`obtained with a reminder of 0. An image of good quality can
`be reproduced on a receiving side in such a manner that a
`frequency component loss caused by cutting off is reduced
`by diffusing a remaining error component
`to a nearby
`frequency component, as described above.
`FIG. § shows a specific arrangement for performing the
`processing shown in FIG. 4, wherein 501 designates color
`decomposition data of three colors YUV input from the
`color component conversion unit 102, S02 designates a
`buffer memory composed, for example, of an FIFO for a
`plurality of lines for extracting data fer each block of 8x8
`pixel from the color decomposition data of the three colors;
`503 designates a DCT conversion circuit, 504 designates a
`zig-zag memory [or storing a space frequency component
`produced by being subjected to the discrete cosine conver-
`sion and further subjected to the zig-zag scanning conver-
`sion as described above: and 505 designates an adder for
`adding data from the zig-zag memory 504 with dala delayed
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`by a clock and supplied from a register 508 and outputting
`resultant data. This addition operation of the adder 505
`corresponds to an addition operation of the remainder value
`and next data in FIG. 4. The data from the adder 505 is
`divided by a divider 506 and only the integer portion of
`resultant data is output as 513. Designated at 507 is a
`subtracter for subtracting a value obtained by multiplying
`data of $513 made to integer by a quantization ccefficient (an
`output from a multiplier $14) from data supplied from the
`adder 505 to thereby create remainder data. The remainder
`data calculated by the subtracter $07 is stored in the register
`508 after delayed by a clock. On the other hand, a value of
`the dominator in the divider 506 is a memory portion in
`which quantization data stored in 509 is stored. Designated
`at $10 and 511 are address counters for extracting data from
`509. These address counters $10 and S11 are operated in
`synchronism with a clock fram a clock generator 512
`together with the buffer memory 502, DCT conversion
`circuit 503, memory 504, and register 508,
`Note, although a system based on a linear error diffusion
`is described in the above example, it is apparent that the
`same effect can be cbtained in such a mannerthat errors are
`two-dimensionally diffused about the line connecting the
`point 00, 00 to the point 70, 07 in FIG. 2A, and this is also
`included in the present invention.
`According to this embodiment, since a frequency com-
`ponent conventionally cut off by the DCT quantization
`portion is accumulated to a nearby frequency component
`and corrected, a reproduced image is less deteriorated and
`thus a reproduced image of good quality can be obtained.
`Moreover, since the basic requirements of the ADCT are
`observed, a special extension circuit is not required on a
`recciving side and thusthis invention is expected to greatly
`contribute to a communication of a color image hereinafter.
`Next, FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing another embodi-
`ment according to the present invention, wherein 101 des-
`ignates an image input unit composed, for example, of a
`color scanner arranged as CCD line sensors for R, G, B.
`An output from the image input unit 101 is processed in
`an error diffusion unit 601 such that the bit number of the
`image data in the input unit 1041 is diminished and an error
`produced in the process of diminishing the bit number is
`diffused to some nearby pixels of a subject pixel. Therefore,
`an output from the error diffusion unit 601 is obtained in
`such a mannerthat a result obtained by diffusing the errors
`of the nearby pixels is added to the value of the subject pixel
`and the number of bits of the subject pixel is diminished,
`This output is processed such that the RGB signals thereof
`are converted tn YUV (lightness, chromaticness, hue) com-
`ponent signals by 6 color component conversion unit 102,
`next each component signal of the YUV is subjected to a
`discrete cosine conversion by a DCT circuit 103 and thus a
`ime space component is orthogonally converted to a f{re-
`quency space component. Designated at 104 is a quantiza-
`lion unit for quantizing the orthogonally converted space
`frequency componentby a quantization coefficient stored in
`a quantization table 105; 107 designates a line through
`which two-dimensional block data, which is quantized and
`made to Hnear data by zig-zag scanning,
`is transmitted:
`designated at 108 is a Huffman coding circuit having a DC
`component composed of category information and a data
`value obtained from a difference signal and an AC compo-
`nent classified to categories based on the continuity of zero
`and thereafter provided with a data value designated at 106
`is a Huffman coding table whercin a document appearing
`more frequently is set to a shorter code length: and desig-
`nated at 109 is an interface with a communication linc
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`5,465,164
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`§
`through which a compressed image data is transmitted lo a
`circuit 110.
`Qn the other hand, data is received by an VF 111 on a
`receiving side through a process completely opposite to that
`when the compressed data is transmitted. More specifically,
`the data is Huffman decoded by a Huffman decoding unit
`112 in accordance with a coefficient sex from a Huffman
`decoding table 113 arranged in the same way asthat of the
`Huffman coding table 106 and then inverse quantized by an
`inverse quantizing unit 114 in accordance with a coefficient
`set from an inverse quantizing table 115. Next, the thus
`obtained data is inverse DCT converted by an inverse DCT
`conversion unit 116 and converted from the YUV color
`components to the RGB color components by a color
`component conversion unit 117 so that a color image is
`formed by an image output unit 118. The image output unit
`118 can provide a soft copy such as a display andthelike and
`a hard copy printed by a laser beam printer, ink jet printer
`and the like.
`Therefore, in this embodiment, an input image of high
`quality can be compressed by an ADCT conversion circuit
`without being affected by the numberof bits of the input
`image in such a manner that the input image is read by the
`input unit 101, the number of bits thereof is diminished
`without