Method and apparatus for encoding an image signal having an object by

Abstract

A processing block is processed by using an extension-interpolation ('E-I') method, wherein the processing block consisting of N.times.N pixels which are classified into object pixels and background pixels and the E-I method comprises the steps of: (A) selecting L rows of the processing block, each having at least one object pixels; (B) for each selected row, determining M representing a number of object pixels included in said each selected row and providing a first vector representing the M object pixels; (C) for each first vector, selecting an extension matrix among a multiplicity of predetermined extension matrices based on the M and N values and multiplying the selected extension matrix to the first vector to provide an extended first vector; (D) providing a first extended processing block which includes L rows, each row representing each of the extended first vectors; (E) for each column of the first extended processing block, providing a corresponding L-dimensional second vector; (F) selecting an extension matrix among a multiplicity of the predetermined extension matrices based on the L and N values; and (G) multiplying the extension matrix selected at step (F) to each of the second vectors, to provide N extended second vectors.