Optimized Image Compression (DCTune)

Researchers at NASA's Ames Research Center have significantly advanced the state-of-the-art of digital image compression. From cable TV to high speed copiers, a wide array of today's electronic imaging products utilize the power of digital imaging. NASA Ames has developed DCTune, a computer technology that significantly improves efficiencies in storage
and transmission of documents, pictures and videos. This technology is compatible with industry compression standards known as JPEG and MPEG. DCTune can be used as add-on modules of software to existing imaging workstation software or imaging devices, or as add-on functions to existing microchip designs.

The Technology

The DCTune technology represents a fundamental improvement on existing optimization techniques known as Quantization. Quantization selectively increases or decreases the amount of information used to render a picture. This selective allocation is based on the anticipated sensitivity of the human eye to the target portion of the image. If the eye is sensitive to the targeted
portion then more picture information will be used. Previous techniques took an averaging approach to determine the eye's sensitivity toward brightness and contrast. This leads to over allocation of information in portions of the image where the eye is not as sensitive as represented. However in the DCTune technology the sensitivity behavior of the human eye is accurately modeled and it is thus able to precisely determine the amount of information needed for each image. The net result is consistently better image quality and higher compression efficiency.

Potential Commercial Uses

• Medical applications such as storage and transmission of X-ray and MRI pictures.
• Internet multimedia.
• Cable TV, Advanced Television or HDTV.
• Motion picture transmission and archival.
• Still or motion picture editing.
• Digital copiers and scanners.
• Digital facsimile machines.
• Digital still-cameras.
• Digital video cameras.
• Personal communications services.

Benefits

• Control over desired picture quality.
• Control over desired compression efficiency.
• Optimum compression at given picture quality.
• Expect 20% to 30% higher compression efficiency.

Licensing Options

• DCTune technology is available for licensing.

Key Words

• DCT, JPEG, MPEG, image compression, optimized DCT, optimized compression, compression quality

Contact Information 

For more information regarding how this technology can help your company, please contact the Far West Regional Transfer Center either via e-mail to nasa@usc.edu or phone at 213-743-2353 or 
800-642-2872.