Environmental Systems Research Institute (esri)

Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc.

Peng Gao

Peter Becker

Thomas Maurer

Embodiments of the invention relate to an image or raster compression method for a multi-dimensional array of pixels. A user specifies a maximum error allowable per pixel for the compression algorithm. The raster is divided into a number of pixel blocks where each pixel is quantized and bit stuffed based on a number of block statistics including the maximum error allowable. The size of the pixel blocks is limited to two (e.g., 8&#xd7;8 and 16&#xd7;16) to save processing time with little difference in compression. A Look-Up Table (LUT) is used instead for certain types of data where it is more efficient.

Limited error raster compression

Embodiments of the invention relate to an image or raster compression method that includes receiving pixel data for a raster comprising a two dimensional (2D) array of pixels where each pixel is associated with a data value. The method further includes receiving a user defined parameter defining a maximum error allowable per pixel for a compression algorithm. The raster can be divided into a number of pixel blocks where each pixel can be quantized and bit stuffed based on a number of block statistics including the maximum error allowable. The method further includes executing the compression algorithm wherein for each pixel, where an error caused by the compression algorithm is equal to or less than the maximum error allowable, and encoding the pixel data based on the compression algorithm. In certain embodiments, the compression algorithm is a non-transform compression algorithm.

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Redlands, CA, United States of America

Peng Gao