Methods and system for sectionalized complexity-based process selection

1. A method for processing a digital image, said method comprising:

a) dividing a non-object-based image data set into sections;

b) performing segmentation on a section of said sections;

c) estimating a complexity measure for said section based on the results of said segmentation;

d) determining a cumulative complexity measure that represents the complexity of sections upon which segmentation has been performed;

e) repeating steps b-d until all sections are segmented or until said cumulative complexity measure meets a criterion;

f) terminating said method and performing a first image enhancement process when said complexity measure meets said criterion; and

g) performing a second image enhancement process when said complexity measure does not meet said criterion.

2. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said criterion is met when said complexity measure exceeds a threshold value.

3. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said first image enhancement process is global image enhancement.

4. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said second image enhancement process is segmentation-based image enhancement.

5. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said performing segmentation, said estimating a complexity measure and said determining a cumulative complexity measure are performed serially on said sections such that unnecessary processing of subsequent sections may be avoided once said cumulative complexity measure has met said criterion.

6. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said sections are processed in order of complexity based on an initial complexity estimate, which is determined before segmentation.

7. A method for processing a digital image, said method comprising:

a) dividing a digital image into sections;

b) obtaining process performance data for a plurality of image enhancement processes comprising a first image enhancement process and a second image enhancement process wherein said performance data relates to image complexity;

c) performing segmentation on a section of said sections;

d) estimating a complexity measure for said section based on the results of said segmentation and said process performance data;

e) determining a cumulative complexity measure that represents the complexity of sections upon which segmentation has been performed;

f) repeating steps c-e until all sections are segmented or until said cumulative complexity measure meets a criterion;

g) terminating said method and performing said first image enhancement process when said complexity measure meets said criterion; and

h) performing said second image enhancement process when said complexity measure does not meet said criterion.

8. A method as described in claim 7 wherein said criterion is met when said complexity measure exceeds a threshold value.

9. A method as described in claim 7 wherein said first image enhancement process is global image enhancement.

10. A method as described in claim 7 wherein said second image enhancement process is segmentation-based image enhancement.

11. A method as described in claim 7 wherein said performing segmentation, said estimating a complexity measure and said determining a cumulative complexity measure are performed serially on said sections such that unnecessary processing of subsequent sections may be avoided once said cumulative complexity measure has met said criterion.

12. A method as described in claim 7 wherein said sections are processed in order of complexity based on an initial complexity estimate, which is determined before segmentation.

13. A method for processing a digital image, said method comprising:

a) dividing a non-object-based image data set into sections;

b) performing segmentation on a section of said sections;

c) obtaining process performance data for a plurality of image enhancement processes comprising a first image enhancement process and a second image enhancement process wherein said performance data relates to image complexity;

d) estimating a complexity measure for said section based on the results of said segmentation and said process performance data;

e) determining a cumulative complexity measure that represents the complexity of sections upon which segmentation has been performed;

f) repeating steps b-e until all sections are segmented or until said cumulative complexity measure meets a criterion;

g) terminating said method and performing said first image enhancement process when said complexity measure meets said criterion; and

h) performing said second image enhancement process when said complexity measure does not meet said criterion.

14. An apparatus for processing of a digital image, said apparatus comprising:

a) a divider for dividing a non-object-based image data set into sections;

b) a segmenter for performing segmentation on a section of said sections;

c) an estimator for estimating a complexity measure for said section based on the results of said segmentation;

d) an accumulator for determining a cumulative complexity measure that represents the complexity of all sections upon which segmentation has been performed;

e) wherein said segmenter, said estimator and said accumulator perform their functions on subsequent sections until all sections are segmented or until said cumulative complexity measure meets a criterion;

f) a processor for performing a first image enhancement process when said complexity measure meets said criterion and for performing a second image enhancement process when said complexity measure does not meet said criterion.

15. An apparatus for selectively processing a digital image, said apparatus comprising:

a) a divider for dividing an image into sections;

b) a segmenter for performing segmentation on a section of said sections;

c) an estimator for estimating a complexity measure for said section based on the results of said segmentation;

d) an accumulator for determining a cumulative complexity measure that represents the complexity of all sections upon which segmentation has been performed;

e) wherein said segmenter, said estimator and said accumulator perform their functions on subsequent sections until all sections are segmented or until said cumulative complexity measure meets a criterion;

f) a processor for terminating said method and performing a first image enhancement process when said complexity measure meets said criterion and for performing a second image enhancement process when said complexity measure does not meet said criterion.