Method of coding image segments of any shape

Abstract

A method of coding digital image data of an original image for transmission and reproduction. The original image is subdivided into partial image regions whose shapes are adapted to local image structures. For each partial image region, a set of two-dimensional, lineraly independent basis functions is provided. The areal expanse of the basis functions approximately corresponds to the size of a rectangle circumscribing the partial image region to be coded and the raster of the sampled values of the basis functions corresponds to the pixel raster of the original image. The sampled values of the basis functions disposed within the area defined by the partial image region are orthogonalized in order to obtain a set of new, orthogonal basis functions, with the set including as many orthogonal basis functions as there are pixels within the partial image region. Coefficients of the orthogonalized basis functions describing the partial image region are then calculated. The coefficients correspond to the rectangular image regions in the partial image region and represent the gray scale values of the partial image region and thus an approximation of the original image. In a preferred embodiment, the contour of the partial image region is coded and transmitted along with the coefficients to a receiving location, where the orthogonal basis functions are generated based on the contour and the image is reproduced with the orthogonal basis functions and the coefficients.