Super resolution encoding

1. A method for encoding high resolution data associated with a relatively large number of bits to an encoded form having a relatively reduced number of bits, the method comprising:

predefining a plurality of high-output-resolution output patterns;

associating respective high-output-resolution output patterns of the plurality with a respective encoded resolution bit pattern having the reduced number of bits;

receiving a block of high-input-resolution input data;

determining a respective difference between a pattern of the received block of high-input-resolution input data and each of the respective high-output-resolution output patterns;

selecting a respective high-output-resolution output pattern associated with a lowest respective difference to be a representative high-output-resolution output pattern for the received block of high-input-resolution input data; and

encoding the received block of high-input-resolution input data as the respective encoded resolution bit pattern having the reduced number of bits associated with the selected respective representative high-output-resolution output pattern.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a difference between a pattern of the received block of high-input-resolution input data and each of the respective high-output-resolution output patterns comprises:

determining a number bits that do not match between a bit pattern of the received block of high-input-resolution input data and a bit pattern of each respective high-output-resolution output pattern.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a difference between a pattern of the received block of high-input-resolution input data and each of the respective high-output-resolution output patterns comprises:

determining one of a sum of magnitudes of differences, a sum of squares of differences and a root mean square of differences between respective contone, multi-gray level or high-addressable quantization values of the received block of high-input-resolution input data and respective gray level or quantization values of each respective high-output-resolution output pattern.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a difference between a pattern of the received block of high-input-resolution input data and each of the respective high-output-resolution output patterns comprises:

determining a number of area portions that do not match between an area pattern of the received block of high-input-resolution input data and an area pattern of each respective high-output-resolution output pattern.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting a respective high-output-resolution output pattern comprises:

selecting a respective high-output-resolution output pattern associated with the lowest respective difference and a most favorable rating in a second characteristic to be the representative high resolution pattern for the received block of high-input-resolution input data.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein selecting a respective high-output-resolution output pattern associated with the lowest respective difference and the most favorable rating in a second characteristic comprises:

selecting a respective high-output-resolution output pattern associated with the lowest respective difference and a highest level of compactness.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein predefining a plurality of high-output-resolution output patterns comprises:

identifying important output patterns; and

selecting a number of the important output patterns corresponding to a number of unique bit patterns possible using the reduced number of bits.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein identifying the important output patterns comprises:

statistically analyzing blocks of a test image to determine a frequency of occurrence of patterns; and

identifying patterns that occur most frequently based on the statistical analysis.

9. A system that is operative to encode data associated with a relatively large number of bits to an encoded form having a relatively reduced number of bits, the system comprising:

a library of respective high-output-resolution output patterns associated with respective encoded resolution bit patterns having the reduced number of bits;

a data analyzer that is operative to receive a block of high-input-resolution input data and determine a respective difference between a pattern of the received block of high-input-resolution input data and each of the respective high resolution output patterns;

a block selector that is operative to select a respective high-output-resolution output pattern associated with a lowest respective difference to be a representative high-output-resolution output pattern for the received block of high-input-resolution input data; and

an encoder that is operative to encode the received block of high-input-resolution input data as the respective encoded resolution bit pattern, having the reduced number of bits, associated with the selected respective representative high-output-resolution output pattern, thereby generating an encoded block of data.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the data analyzer is operative to determine the respective difference by determining a number bits that do not match between a bit pattern of the block of high-input-resolution input data and a bit pattern each respective high-output-resolution output pattern.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the data analyzer is operative to determine the respective difference by determining one of a sum of magnitudes of differences, a sum of squares of differences and a root mean square of differences between respective contone, multi-gray level or high-addressable quantization values of the received block of high-input-resolution input data and respective contone, multi-gray level or high-addressable quantization values of each respective high-output-resolution output pattern.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the data analyzer is operative to determine the respective difference by determining a number of area portions that do not match between an area pattern of the received block of high-input-resolution input data and an area patterns of each respective high-output-resolution output pattern.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the block selector is operative to select a respective high-output-resolution output pattern associated with a lowest respective difference and a most favorable rating in a second characteristic to be a representative high-output-resolution output pattern for the received block of high-input-resolution input data.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the block selector is operative to select a respective high-output-resolution output pattern associated with the lowest difference and a highest level of compactness.

15. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

a rendering device that is operative to receive the encoded block of data, decode the encoded block of data, thereby generating a decoded block of data and render an image portion according to the decoded block of data.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the rendering device comprises:

a xerographic print engine.

17. A method for encoding input data having an input resolution to an encoded form having an encoded resolution, the method comprising:

predefining a plurality of respective output-resolution output patterns;

associating the respective output-resolution output patterns with respective encoded resolution encoded patterns, wherein the encoded resolution is lower than both the input resolution and the output resolution;

receiving input-resolution input data;

determining one of a number bits that do not match between a bit pattern of the input-resolution input data and a bit pattern of each respective output-resolution output pattern, a number of area portions that do not match between an area pattern of the input-resolution input data and an area pattern of each respective output-resolution output pattern, a sum of magnitudes of differences, a sum of squares of differences and a root mean square of differences between respective contone, multi-gray level or quantization values of the received block of input-resolution input data and respective contone, multi-gray level, or high-addressable quantization values of each output-resolution output pattern, thereby determining a respective difference between a pattern of the input-resolution input data and each of the respective output-resolution output patterns;

selecting a respective output-resolution output pattern associated with a lowest respective difference to be a representative output-resolution output pattern for the input-resolution input data; and

encoding the input-resolution input data as the respective encoded resolution encoded pattern associated with the selected respective output-resolution output pattern.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein selecting a respective output-resolution output pattern comprises:

selecting a respective output-resolution output pattern associated with the lowest respective difference and a most favorable rating in a second characteristic to be a representative output-resolution output pattern for the input-resolution input data.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein selecting the respective output-resolution output pattern associated with the lowest respective difference and the most favorable rating in a second characteristic comprises:

selecting the respective output-resolution output pattern associated with the lowest difference and a highest level of compactness.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein predefining a plurality output-resolution output patterns comprises:

identifying important output-resolution output patterns; and

selecting a number of the important output patterns corresponding to a number of encoded patterns possible using the encoded resolution.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein identifying the important output patterns comprises:

statistically analyzing blocks of a test image to determine a frequency of occurrence of patterns; and

identifying patterns that occur most frequently based on the statistical analysis.

22. A method for encoding high resolution data associated with a relatively large number of bits to an encoded form having a relatively reduced number of bits, the method comprising:

predefining a plurality of high-output-resolution output patterns;

associating respective high-output-resolution output patterns of the plurality with a respective encoded resolution bit pattern having the reduced number of bits;

receiving, in a system that encodes high resolution data to an encoded form, a block of high-input-resolution input data;

determining, in the system that encodes high resolution data to an encoded form, a respective difference between a pattern of the received block of high-input-resolution input data and each of the respective high-output-resolution output patterns;

selecting, by the system that encodes high resolution data to an encoded form, a respective high-output-resolution output pattern associated with a lowest respective difference to be a representative high-output-resolution output pattern for the received block of high-input-resolution input data; and

encoding, in the system that encodes high resolution data to an encoded form, the received block of high-input-resolution input data as the respective encoded resolution bit pattern having the reduced number of bits associated with the selected respective representative high-output-resolution output pattern.

23. A method for encoding input data having an input resolution to an encoded form having an encoded resolution, the method comprising:

predefining a plurality of respective output-resolution output patterns;

associating the respective output-resolution output patterns with respective encoded resolution encoded patterns, wherein the encoded resolution is lower than both the input resolution and the output resolution;

receiving, in a system that encodes input data having an input resolution to an encoded form having and encoded resolution; input-resolution input data;

determining, by the system that encodes input data having an input resolution to an encoded form having and encoded resolution; input-resolution input data, one of a number bits that do not match between a bit pattern of the input-resolution input data and a bit pattern of each respective output-resolution output pattern, a number of area portions that do not match between an area pattern of the input-resolution input data and an area pattern of each respective output-resolution output pattern, a sum of magnitudes of differences, a sum of squares of differences and a root mean square of differences between respective contone, multi-gray level or quantization values of the received block of input-resolution input data and respective contone, multi-gray level, or high-addressable quantization values of each output-resolution output pattern, thereby determining a respective difference between a pattern of the input-resolution input data and each of the respective output-resolution output patterns;

selecting, by the system that encodes input data having an input resolution to an encoded form having and encoded resolution; input-resolution input data, a respective output-resolution output pattern associated with a lowest respective difference to be a representative output-resolution output pattern for the input-resolution input data; and

encoding, by the system that encodes input data having an input resolution to an encoded form having and encoded resolution; input-resolution input data, the input-resolution input data as the respective encoded resolution encoded pattern associated with the selected respective output-resolution output pattern.