Patent Application
20100034472
This Application claims priority of Taiwan Patent Application No. 97130513, filed on Aug. 11, 2008, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to an image quality processing apparatus, and more particularly, to an image quality processing apparatus for real-time processing of internet images.
2. Description of the Related Art
Driven by the development of the internet, a great deal of internet-related applications has been introduced, such as on-line video programs and video conferences. In general, video-related applications require much greater bandwidth than other types of application to maintain stable image quality. For instance, many on-line programs or video conferences require bandwidth of around 350K to 400K in order to maintain stable image quality. However, internet bandwidth is often variable and affected by a plurality of factors. For example, internet bandwidth is affected by the amount of users accessing the internet. Thus, the more users that access the internet through one bandwidth, the more the bandwidth is limited. Additionally, the type and size of files being downloaded or uploaded through the internet, affects available bandwidth. For example, larger files downloaded or uploaded from the internet causes greater limiting of the internet bandwidth utilized thereof. Therefore, image quality for users accessing the internet is directly affected by available bandwidth.
In light of the previously described problems, the invention discloses an image quality processing apparatus, processing an image and transmitting the image through the internet. The image quality processing apparatus comprises an image module, a bandwidth detection module, an image control module, an image compression module and an image-outputting module. The image module receives an image. The bandwidth detection module detects a bandwidth of the internet. The image control module is coupled to the image module and the bandwidth detection module, determines the range of the bandwidth and issues a result according to the determined range. The image compression module compresses the image according to the result and generates a compressed image. The image-outputting module outputs the compressed image to the internet.
Furthermore, the invention discloses an image quality processing method, processing an image and transmitting the image through the internet. The method comprises receiving an image, detecting a bandwidth of the internet, determining the range of the bandwidth, compressing the image according to the determined range of the bandwidth and generating a compressed image, and outputting the compressed image to the internet.
The invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The following description is of the best-contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. This description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and should not be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is best determined by reference to the appended claims.
The image module 11 is electrically connected to an image-fetching module or internet for receiving an image IMG. The image IMG comprises a first area A1 and a second area A2. As shown in
In another case, the bandwidth BW of the internet detected by the bandwidth detection module 13 might be lower than 350K, i.e. 310K, for example. In this example, the image control module 14 determines that the bandwidth BW (310K) of the internet falls within a first bandwidth range, say, from 300K to 350K. Because the first bandwidth range (300K to 350K) is merely a little bit lower than the 350K required for maintaining a stable image quality, the image control module 14 issues a second result S2 to the image compression module 15 for instructions to perform the following: (1) compress the data corresponding to the second area A2 (central part) of the image IMG with a predetermined compression quality, and (2) compress the data corresponding to the first area A1 (outer part) of the image IMG with a compression quality lower than the predetermined compression quality. Because the detected bandwidth BW (310K) of the internet is just somewhat lower than the bandwidth (350K) required for maintaining the stable image quality, the strategy in this case is to maintain good compression quality for the more important parts of the image IMG by sacrificing compression quality for the more less important parts of the image IMG (usually, the less important part of an image would be the outer part). Finally, the image compression module 15 generates a compressed image IMAGE which is further output to the internet by the image-outputting module 16.
The non-limiting embodiment previously described discloses that the bandwidth BW of the internet is detected to be 310K. However, the bandwidth BW of the internet detected by the bandwidth detection module 13 might be even lower, i.e. 280K, for example. In this embodiment, the image control module 14 determines that the bandwidth BW (280K) of the internet falls within a second bandwidth range, say, from 250K to 300K. Since the second bandwidth range (250K to 300K) is lower than 350K by a certain amount, the image control module 14 issues a third result S3 to the image compression module 15 for instructions to perform the following: (1) compress the data corresponding to the second area A2 (central part) of the image IMG with a predetermined compression quality, (2) compress the data corresponding to a part of the first area A1 (outer part) of the image IMG with a compression quality lower than the predetermined compression quality, and (3) dump the data corresponding to another part of the first area A1. As shown in
It should be noted that, in the above embodiment, even though the data corresponding to the upper and lower parts of the first area A1 is dumped, any corresponding parts of data in the first area A1 may be dumped.
The non-limiting embodiment previously described discloses that the bandwidth BW of the internet is detected to be 280K. However, the bandwidth BW of the internet detected by the bandwidth detection module 13 might be even lower than 280K, such as 220K, for example. In this embodiment, the image control module 14 determines that the bandwidth BW (220K) of the internet falls within a third bandwidth range, say, from 200K to 250K. Because the third bandwidth range (200K to 250K) is much lower than 350K, the image control module 14 issues a fourth result S4 to the image compression module 15 for instructions to perform the following: (1) compress the data corresponding to the second area A2 (central part) of the image IMG with a predetermined compression quality, and (2) dump all of the data corresponding to the first area A1 (outer part) of the image IMG, as shown in
Above embodiments disclose different strategies for dealing with different cases where different bandwidths are detected. Although the first area A1 and the second area A2 in the above embodiments are disclosed to be respectively the outer and inner parts of the image IMG, they may still be other parts of the image IMG (say left and right parts) different from each other. In addition, in the second embodiment where the bandwidth BW of the internet is detected to be 280K, even though the data corresponding to the upper and lower parts of the first area A1 is dumped by the image compression module 15, the data to be dumped is not necessarily limited to the upper and lower parts, meaning that it can be any part of the first area A1.
Furthermore, although the data corresponding to the important part (the second area A2) of the image IMG is compressed with a predetermined compression quality in the above embodiment, a compression quality higher than the predetermined compression quality can also be used if necessary. Therefore, the concept of the invention is not only restricted to compressing the data corresponding to a certain part of the image with a predetermined compression quality, or dumping the data corresponding to a certain part of the image, but also increasing the compression quality of the image.
Finally, it is noted that the first, second and third bandwidth ranges are determined according to the default bandwidth. Each bandwidth range is indicative of the distance between the internet bandwidth and the default bandwidth required for maintaining a stable image quality. Therefore, the invention employs different compression strategies depending upon the internet bandwidth range.
While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 97130513 | Aug 2008 | TW | national |
