The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 02, 2002
Filed:
Apr. 03, 1996
Kazuhiro Suzuki, Kanagawa, JP;
Satoshi Mitsuhashi, Tokyo, JP;
Sony Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A method for picture compression which may be used with advantage for compressing a picture. The picture compression apparatus includes a compression unit for compressing input picture data, a basic compression ratio setting unit for setting the basic compression ratio in compressing the input picture data by the compression unit, a designating unit for designating an optional area in the input picture, a designated area importance setting unit for setting the importance in compressing the input picture data corresponding to the area designated by the designation unit and a compression ratio modifying unit for modifying the basic compression ratio based upon the importance for the designated area as set by the designated area importance setting unit. An optional area in an input picture is designated, and importance attached to the designated area is set, so that the picture in the designated area can be compressed with the desired importance. The post-compression bit rate can be accommodated within the target bit rate by modifying the basic compression ratio based upon the importance of the designated area. A corresponding apparatus for compressing an input picture data is also disclosed.