Digital image reconstruction using inverse spatial filtering

1. A method for processing a source digital image, comprising using a processor or computer to perform steps of:

accessing the source digital image comprised of a plurality of pixels;

applying a spatial filter to the source digital image to produce an enhanced digital image, wherein the spatial filter changes pixel values of the source digital image based on neighboring pixel values in the source digital image;

applying an inverse spatial filter to the enhanced digital image to produce an estimated digital image, wherein the inverse spatial filter changes pixel values of the enhanced digital image based on neighboring pixel values in the enhanced digital image, the inverse spatial filter being matched to the spatial filter; and

producing a difference digital image from the estimated digital image and the source digital image, the difference digital image being representative of a difference between the source digital image and the estimated digital image.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

transmitting the difference digital image and the enhanced digital image from a first device to a second device remote from the first device; and

generating a reconstructed digital image from the difference digital image and the enhanced digital image at the second device, the reconstructed digital image being substantially equivalent to the source digital image.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the steps of:

identifying a set of image processing parameters employed in the application of the spatial filter;

transmitting the set of image processing parameters from the first device to the second device; and

using the set of image processing parameters to generate the reconstructed digital image.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the difference digital image and the enhanced digital image are transmitted by means of a communications network.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising the steps of:

compressing the difference digital image at the first device prior to the step of transmitting; and

uncompressing the difference digital image at the second device prior to the step of generating the reconstructed digital image.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of transmitting the enhanced digital image without data compression.

7. An apparatus adapted to process a source digital image, comprising:

means for accessing the source digital image comprised of a plurality of pixels;

means for applying a spatial filter to the source digital image to produce an enhanced digital image, wherein the spatial filter changes pixel values of the source digital image based on neighboring pixel values in the source digital image;

means for applying an inverse spatial filter to the enhanced digital image to produce an estimated digital image, wherein the inverse spatial filter changes pixel values of the enhanced digital image based on neighboring pixel values in the enhanced digital image, the inverse spatial filter being matched to the spatial filter; and

means for producing a difference digital image from the estimated digital image and the source digital image, the difference digital image being representative of a difference between the source digital image and the estimated digital image.

8. A method for processing a source digital image, comprising using a processor or computer to perform steps of:

accessing the source digital image comprised of a plurality of pixels;

applying an image enhancement processor to the source digital image to produce an enhanced digital image, the image enhancement processor including application of a spatial filtering operation, wherein the spatial filtering operation changes pixel values of the source digital image based on neighboring pixel values in the source digital image;

applying an inverse processor to the enhanced digital image to produce an estimated digital image, the inverse processor including application of an inverse spatial filtering operation, wherein the inverse spatial filtering operation changes pixel values of the enhanced digital image based on neighboring pixel values in the enhanced digital image, the inverse spatial filtering operation being matched to the spatial filtering operation; and

producing a difference digital image from the estimated digital image and the source digital image, the difference representing the difference between the source digital image and the estimated digital image.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of:

transmitting the difference digital image and the enhanced digital image from a first device to a second device remote from the first device; and

generating a reconstructed digital image from the difference digital image and the enhanced digital image at the second device, the reconstructed digital image being substantially equivalent to the source digital image.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of:

identifying a set of image processing parameters employed by the image enhancement processor;

transmitting the set of image processing parameters from the first device to the second device; and

using the set of image processing parameters to generate the reconstructed digital image.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the difference digital image and the enhanced digital image are transmitted by means of a communications network.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of:

compressing the difference digital image at the first device prior to the step of transmitting; and

uncompressing the difference digital image at the second device prior to the step of generating the reconstructed digital image.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of:

transmitting the enhanced digital image without data compression,

compressing the difference digital image at the first device prior to the step of transmitting; and

uncompressing the difference digital image at the second device prior to the step of generating the reconstructed digital image.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of applying an image enhancement processor further comprises the steps of:

applying an exposure adjustment operation to the source digital image; and

applying a tone scale adjustment operation to the source image.

15. A method for processing a source digital image, comprising using a processor or computer to perform steps of:

accessing the source digital image comprised of a plurality of pixels;

applying an image enhancement processor to the source digital image to produce an enhanced digital image, the application comprising the steps of: (a) applying a spatial filter, (b) applying exposure adjustment, and (c) applying a tone scale function;

applying an inverse processor to the enhanced digital image to produce an estimated digital image, the application comprising the steps of: (a) applying an inverse tone scale function, (b) applying an inverse exposure adjustment, and (c) applying an inverse spatial filter wherein the inverse spatial filter is matched to the spatial filter; and

producing a difference digital image from the estimated digital image and the source digital image, the difference representing the difference between the source digital image and the estimated digital image.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of:

transmitting the difference digital image and the enhanced digital image from a first device to a second device remote from the first device; and

generating a reconstructed digital image from the difference digital image and the enhanced digital image at the second device, the reconstructed digital image being substantially equivalent to the source digital image.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the steps of:

identifying a set of image processing parameters employed by the image enhancement processor;

transmitting the set of image processing parameters from the first device to the second device; and

using the set of image processing parameters to generate the reconstructed digital image.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising the steps of:

compressing the difference digital image at the first device prior to the step of transmitting; and

uncompressing the difference digital image at the second device prior to the step of generating the reconstructed digital image.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising the steps of:

transmitting the enhanced digital image without data compression,

compressing the difference digital image at the first device prior to the step of transmitting; and

uncompressing the difference digital image at the second device prior to the step of generating the reconstructed digital image.

20. A method for processing a source digital image, comprising using a processor or computer to perform steps of:

accessing the source digital image comprised of a plurality of pixels;

applying an image enhancement processor to the source digital image to produce an enhanced digital image, the image enhancement processor including application of a spatial filtering operation;

applying an inverse processor to the enhanced digital image to produce an estimated digital image, the inverse processor including application of (a) an inverse spatial filtering operation, the inverse spatial filtering operation being matched to the spatial filtering operation, (b) an inverse exposure adjustment operation, and (c) an inverse tone scale adjustment; and

producing a difference digital image from the estimated digital image and the source digital image, the difference representing the difference between the source digital image and the estimated digital image.