Device and record medium for pattern matching encoding/decoding of binary still images

Abstract

A pattern matching encoding device for executing pattern matching encoding of binary still images and a pattern matching decoding device corresponding to the pattern matching encoding device are proposed. In the pattern matching encoding, each input pattern extracted from the input image is matched against library patterns in the library, and the input pattern is encoded using a matched library pattern as a reference pattern if the matched library pattern is found. The pattern matching encoding device comprises a pattern segmentation section for segmenting each of selected library patterns and the input pattern into two or more parts and thereby generating segmented library patterns and segmented input patterns, a matching section for matching each of the segmented input patterns against corresponding segmented library patterns, and a pattern combination section for generating a new library pattern by combining the segmented library patterns each of which has matched one of the segmented input patterns. The new library pattern is regarded as the matched library pattern and the input pattern is encoded using the new library pattern as the reference pattern. According to the devices, compression rate of the input patterns by encoding can be increased faster.