Image analysis – Image compression or coding – Transform coding
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-28
2003-02-25
Tran, Phuoc (Department: 2621)
Image analysis
Image compression or coding
Transform coding
C382S241000, C382S243000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06526178
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to such a picture mapping apparatus and such a picture mapping apparatus to decode code word obtained by carrying out iterated transform encoding with respect to picture to restore picture to apply mapping (so-called texture mapping) to the restored picture with respect to polygon having three-dimensional shape, and a picture generation apparatus and a picture generation method for generating picture utilized for its mapping.
BACKGROUND ART
As a conventional representative picture compression system, so-called JPEG (Joint Photographic Coding Experts Group) standardized by ISO is known. As this JPEG system, in the case where DCT (Discrete Cosine Transform) is used so that relatively many bits are allocated, it is known to provide satisfactory encoded/decoded picture. However, when the number of bits to be encoded is lessened to some degree, block distortion peculiar to DCT becomes conspicuous so that degradation becomes conspicuous from a subject point of view.
Apart from this, in recent years, picture compression system utilizing Iterated Function Systems (IFS) begins to be remarked. This system is system such that in the case where a portion of its picture is taken out among the entirety of the picture, it utilizes auto self-analogousness of picture on the premise that another picture similar to picture which has been taken out exists in the form of different sizes among its picture. This repeat transform system is such that block distortion as in the above-described JPEG does not conspicuous, and, since self-analogousness between blocks of different sizes within picture is utilized, there is the merit that it does not depend upon resolution at the time of decoding. This iterated transform encoding is also called fractal encoding as another name, and it is expected that this encoding system is applied to various fields.
For example, there is known the technology that, e.g., function capable of restoring picture by less information quantity that fractal has is applied to the game machine. This technology will now be described with reference to FIG.
1
.
The game machine shown in this
FIG. 1
is of a structure such that CPU
50
, work RAM
51
, ROM
52
, external I/F (interface)
53
, fractal picture painting (drawing) section
55
, GC (Graphic Display Controller)
57
and KB (Key board) I/F
60
are connected to system bus
62
, and data from the game ROM
54
is read out through the external I/F
53
. In addition, VRAM
56
is connected to the fractal picture drawing section
55
and the GC
57
, CRT
59
is connected to the GC
57
through graphic I/F
58
, and keyboard
61
is connected to the KB (Keyboard) I/F
60
.
The operation thereof will now be described.
The game ROM
54
is attached to the external interface
53
. When power is turned ON by operation of the power supply switch, the CPU
50
reads out, by a predetermined quantity thereof, the leading portion of the game software from the game ROM
54
to store it into the work RAM
51
to transfer initial (initialization) picture included therewithin to the GC
57
. The GC
57
develops initialization picture which has been transferred onto the VRAM
56
and reads out such picture at a fixed period to transfer it to the graphic interface
58
to thereby output it to the CRT
59
. When the CPU
50
receives command that user has turned ON through the keyboard interface
60
from the keyboard
61
, it reads out graphic data corresponding thereto from the work RAM
51
in accordance with this command to transfer it to the GC
57
, or to produce movement command of display graphic, etc. to the GC
57
.
In the game software which has been read out through the external interface
53
from the game ROM
54
and has been stored into the work RAM
51
, fractal picture drawing command is included in addition to the conventional control program or graphic data. This fractal picture drawing command consists of numerical expression (algorithm) in which rule of graphic generation is determined and initial value relating to start position, etc. of generated graphic. The CPU
50
is operative so that when data which has been read out from the work RAM
51
in accordance with command, etc. which has been turned ON from the keyboard
61
is not graphic data, but is fractal picture painting (drawing) command, it transfers such command to the fractal picture painting (drawing) section
55
in place of the GC
57
. At the fractal picture drawing section
55
which has received it, graphic elements such as line segments, etc. are generated in succession in accordance with the initial value and the numeric expression to develop them onto the VRAM
56
to thereby paint or draw various graphics, e.g., graphic of natural matter such as mountain, tree or leaf, etc. or character, etc. As described above, it is possible to draw complicated graphic of large data quantity in accordance with fractal picture drawing command of small data quantity.
Meanwhile, in the above-described background technology (art), since fractal is outputted by picture drawing command, graphic which can be painted (depicted) is limited. In addition, since the above-described background technology has not function for compressing/restoring general natural picture, there was the problem that it is limited to pictures which can be represented.
In addition, apart from the above-described technology, as the compression (encoding) technique for texture (picture) in carrying out texture mapping to object shape frequently used at the personal computer or the game machine at present, the JPEG system is used. For this reason, there were the problems that since apparent or seeming resolution of texture is improved at the time of zooming of the object shape, degradation of picture becomes conspicuous and/or sharpness of picture is lost so that obscure picture is displayed.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
This invention has been made in such actual circumstances and its object is to provide a picture mapping apparatus and a picture mapping method in which picture of texture is difficult to be degraded when shape of object in which texture of general natural picture is mapped is deformed at zooming, etc. and a picture generation apparatus and a picture generation method for generating picture utilized in such mapping.
In order to solve the above-described object, this invention is characterized in that picture data which has been caused to undergo repetitive transform encoding while implementing scaling thereto to implement mapping to the repeat transform decoded decode picture with respect to picture with respect to object shape obtained while implementing scaling thereto.
Namely, the picture mapping apparatus and the picture mapping method according to this invention are characterized in that iterated transform decoding is carried out while implementing scaling to picture data which has been caused to undergo repeat transform encoding to temporarily preserve decoded picture from the repeat transform decoding unit into the buffer memory to carry out scaling of shape of a predetermined object to calculate the scaled shape of the object to implement mapping to decoded picture with respect to the scaled shape of the object.
Moreover, in the picture mapping apparatus and the picture mapping method according to this invention, picture data which has been caused to undergo repeat transform encoding consists of block No. indicating position of block and transform parameter, and the decoded picture is generated by reproducing transform source block on the basis of block No. to reproduce block located at a predetermined position to carry out scaling of the block to generate block which has been caused to undergo scaling (which will be simply referred to as scaled block as occasion may demand) to implement transform processing corresponding to conversion parameter to block picture corresponding to the scaled block to execute, a predetermined number of times, the transform decoding operations.
Further, in the picture mapping apparatus and picture mapping metho
Frommer William S.
Frommer & Lawrence & Haug LLP
Sherali Ishrat
Smid Dennis M.
Sony Corporation
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