Method and apparatus for encoding photographic images

1. A method of encoding images, the method comprising the steps of:

retrieving a source image file including pixel data;

transforming the source image file pixel data into a destination data set of pixel data representative of a modified partial equi-rectangular projection, wherein transforming the source image file pixel data comprises the steps of transforming the source image file pixel data into a first data set of pixel data representative of an ortho-annular projection, and transforming the pixel data from the first data set into a second data set of pixel data representative of the modified partial equi-rectangular projection; and

outputting the pixel data from the destination data set as a destination image file.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the source image file comprises an annular source image file.

3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of transforming the source image file pixel data into a destination data set of pixel data comprises the step of:

arranging the destination data set of pixel data such that a compression artifact source will occur on a perimeter of at least one macro-block of pixel data.

4. A method according to claim 3 , wherein the step of arranging the destination data set of pixel data includes the step of dividing the source image file pixel data into equi-rectangular blocks of pixels having a width substantially equal to a width of the at least one macro-block of pixel data and a length substantially equal to an integer multiple of a length of the at least one macro-block of pixel data.

5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of transforming the source image file pixel data into the destination data set of pixel data comprises the step of:

arranging the destination data set of pixel data into a form that may be accessed by a data storage device.

6. A method according to claim 5 , wherein the destination data set of pixel data is arranged to include equi-rectangular blocks of pixels having a width substantially equal to a width of a macro-block of pixel data and a length substantially equal to an integer multiple of a length of a macro-block of pixel data.

7. A method according to claim 5 , wherein the destination data set of pixel data is arranged in one of: a four sectors phi major pattern, a linear increasing phi major pattern, an alternating sectors pattern, and a random pattern.

8. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

creating a data table containing pixel attribute data corresponding to source image pixel data; and

storing the data table with the destination data set of pixel data as the destination image file.

9. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the source image file comprises an annular source image file, and wherein the step of transforming the source image file pixel data into the first data set of pixel data campuses the steps of:

dividing the pixel data of the annular source image file into a plurality of wedge shaped sectors; and

converting each wedge shaped sector to a triangle shaped sector.

10. A method according to claim 9 , wherein the pixel data of the annular source image file is further divided into a plurality of substantially concentric bands each having a width substantially equal to a width of a macro-block of pixel data.

11. A method according to claim 9 , wherein each wedge shaped sector is converted to a triangle shaped sector by transforming an arced side of the wedge shaped sector into a substantially straight line segment.

12. A method according to claim 11 , wherein the length of the arced side is substantially equal to the length of the line segment.

13. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the ortho-annular projection is substantially in the shape of one of: a square or a rectangle.

14. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of adding border pixel data to the source image file.

15. An apparatus for encoding images, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a source image file including pixel data; and

a processor for transforming the source image file pixel data into a destination data set of pixel data representative of a modified partial equi-rectangular projection, and outputting the pixel data from the destination data set as a destination image file, wherein the processor further serves as means for transforming the source image file pixel data into a first data set of pixel data representative of an ortho-annular projection, transforming the pixel data from the first data set into a second data set of pixel data representative of the partial equi-rectangular projection.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the source image file is an annular source image file.

17. An apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the processor further serves as means for:

arranging the source image file pixel data such that a compression artifact source will occur on a perimeter of at least one macro-block of pixel data.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the processor further serves as a means for dividing the source image file pixel data into equi-rectangular blocks of pixels having a width substantially equal to a width of the at least one macro-block of pixel data and a length substantially equal to an integer multiple of a length of the at least one macro-block of pixel data.

19. An apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the processor further serves as means for:

arranging the destination data set of pixel data such that the destination data set of pixel data may be accessed in a data storage device.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein the destination data set of pixel data is arranged to include equi-rectangular blocks of pixels having a width substantially equal to a width of a macro-block of pixel data and a length substantially equal to an integer multiple of a length of a macro-block of pixel data.

21. An apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein the destination data set of pixel data is arranged in one of: a four sectors phi major pattern, a linear increasing phi major pattern, an alternating sectors pattern, or a random pattern.

22. An apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the processor further serves as means for:

dividing the source image file pixel data into a plurality of wedge shaped sectors; and

converting each wedge shaped sector to a triangle shaped sector.

23. An apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein the source image file pixel data is further divided into a plurality of substantially concentric bands each having a width substantially equal to a width of a macro-block of pixel data.

24. An apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein each wedge shaped sector is converted to a triangle shaped sector by transforming an arced side of the wedge shaped sector into a substantially straight line segment.

25. An apparatus according to claim 24 , wherein the length of the arced side is substantially equal to the length of the line segment.

26. An apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the processor further serves as means for:

creating a data table containing pixel attribute data corresponding to the source image file pixel data and storing the data table in the destination image file.

27. An apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the ortho-annular projection is in the shape of one of: a square or a rectangle.

28. An apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the source image file includes border pixel data.

29. An apparatus for encoding images, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a source image file including pixel data; and

a processor for transforming the source image file pixel data into a destination data set of pixel data representative of a modified partial equi-rectangular projection, and outputting the pixel data from the destination data set as a destination image file, wherein the processor further serves as means for:

dividing the source image file pixel data into a plurality of wedge shaped sectors; and

converting each wedge shaped sector to a triangle shaped sector.