Method and apparatus for encoding/decoding image data

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for encoding images, more particularly to an encoding unit in conjunction with a library of pictorial entities and image qualifiers. The method and apparatus provide encoding an image by using a code factor table in conjunction with a set of element codes. The resulting image code allows the set pictorial elements of an image and their associated image qualifiers to be represented by a compact code uniquely representing a given configuration of pictorial elements. The use of the resulting image code facilitates the transmission and storage of images requiring only the code to be sent or stored. The invention further provides a computer readable medium comprising a program element that direct a computer to implement the encoding process.

1 . A medium for storing information comprising:
 at least one code defining a composite facial image.   
   
   
       2 . The medium of  claim 1 , wherein the code includes a plurality of element codes, each element code defining a respective feature in the composite facial image. 
   
   
       3 . The medium of  claim 2 , wherein the code further includes a parameter defining an attribute of at least one of the features in the composite facial image. 
   
   
       4 . The medium of  claim 3 , wherein the attribute is a size, shape, color, and position of at least one of the features. 
   
   
       5 . The medium of  claim 1 , wherein the medium is a read-only medium. 
   
   
       6 . The medium of  claim 1 , wherein the medium is a writable medium. 
   
   
       7 . The medium of  claim 1 , wherein the medium is a removable computer-readable medium. 
   
   
       8 . The medium of  claim 1 , wherein the medium is a magnetic storage medium. 
   
   
       9 . The medium of  claim 1 , wherein the medium is an optical storage medium. 
   
   
       10 . The medium of  claim 9 , wherein the optical storage medium is a CD-ROM. 
   
   
       11 . The medium of  claim 1 , wherein the medium is a non-volatile memory. 
   
   
       12 . The medium of  claim 1 , wherein the facial code is the only information stored on the medium. 
   
   
       13 . The medium of  claim 1 , wherein the medium if a machine-readable medium. 
   
   
       14 . A code stored on an information-bearing medium, comprising:
 a first code identifying a first facial feature; and   at least a second code identifying a second facial feature,   wherein the first and second codes define a composite facial image.   
   
   
       15 . The code of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a parameter indicative of an attribute of at least one of the first and second features in the composite facial image.   
   
   
       16 . The code of  claim 15 , wherein the attribute is a size, shape, color, or position of at least one of the first and second features. 
   
   
       17 . The code of  claim 14 , wherein the information-bearing medium is a read-only medium. 
   
   
       18 . The code of  claim 14 , wherein the information-bearing medium is a writable medium. 
   
   
       19 . The code of  claim 14 , wherein the information-bearing medium is a removable computer-readable medium. 
   
   
       20 . The code of  claim 14 , wherein the information-bearing medium is a magnetic storage medium. 
   
   
       21 . The code of  claim 14 , wherein the information-bearing medium is an optical storage medium. 
   
   
       22 . The code of  claim 21 , wherein the optical storage medium is a CD-ROM. 
   
   
       23 . The code of  claim 14 , wherein the information-bearing medium is a non-volatile memory. 
   
   
       24 . The code of  claim 14 , wherein the code is the only information stored on the information-bearing medium. 
   
   
       25 . The code of  claim 14 , wherein the information-bearing medium of a machine-readable medium. 
   
   
       26 . A method for forming a facial code, comprising:
 designating a first element code; and   designating at least a second element code,   wherein the first and second element codes define features in a composite facial image.   
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 designating a parameter indicative of an attribute of at least one of said features in the composite facial image.   
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the attribute is a size, shape, color, or position of at least one of said features. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the designating steps are preformed by selecting images of the features defined by the first and second element codes. 
   
   
       30 . A method, comprising:
 receiving a signal including a code defining a composite facial image; and   generating the image on a display based on the code.   
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the signal is received from a network transmission. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the code includes a plurality of element codes, each element code defining a respective feature in the composite facial image. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the code further includes:
 a parameter defining an attribute of at least one of the features in the composite facial image.   
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the attribute is a size, shape, color, and position of at least one of the features. 
   
   
       35 . A method, comprising:
 receiving a medium storing a code defining a composite facial image; and   generating the image on a display based on the code.   
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the code includes a plurality of element codes, each element code defining a respective feature in the composite facial image. 
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the code further includes:
 a parameter defining an attribute of at least one of the features in the composite facial image.   
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the attribute is a size, shape, color, and position of at least one of the features.