Picture enhancement by utilizing quantization precision of regions

1. An apparatus for enhancing at least a region of an input picture having input pixel values, comprising:

an estimation unit arranged to identify the region of the input picture based on an estimate of a quantization precision;

a pattern analysis unit, arranged to identify positions in the input picture of changes in input pixel value of less than or equal to the quantization precision, and to output analysis information representing the identified positions; and

an adaptive filter, arranged to calculate an output picture corresponding to at least the region of the input picture, comprising output pixels being determined on the basis of adaptive combinations of input pixels, and arranged to determine the adaptive combinations in dependence on the analysis information, wherein the estimation unit is arranged to determine the quantization precision on the basis of a histogram of at least a second region of the input picture.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pattern analysis unit is arranged to apply edge detection to the input picture, to produce an image of pixel values, denoting the presence of edges in a vicinity in the input picture of the pixels, and, the pixel values indicating the presence of edges corresponding to an input pixel value change of at least one of less than or equal to the quantization precision, and the pixel values indicating the presence of edges of an input pixel value change greater than to the quantization precision.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pattern analysis unit is arranged to perform the determination of the positions in the input picture of changes in input pixel value of less than or equal to the quantization precision by means of a multi-scale analysis of the input picture.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pattern analysis unit is arranged to perform a segmentation of the picture based on the positions in the input picture of changes in input pixel value of less than or equal to the quantization precision.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pattern analysis unit is arranged to produce analysis information comprising at least one image of pixel values between a first and a second constant, for controlling a strength of the filtering at a particular pixel position performed by the adaptive filter.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the adaptive filter combines pixels of different scaled versions of the input picture.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the analysis information determines at least one of filter coefficient values, a filter support size, and a filter support shape.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the estimation unit is arranged to determine the quantization precision on the basis of an analysis of equally spaced peaks in at least a sub-range of the histogram.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , comprising a display for displaying the output picture.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , comprising an image sensor for capturing the input picture, and a unit for transmitting the output picture to one of a storage unit and a network.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the adaptive filter utilizes configuration parameters determined on the basis of the analysis information.

12. A method of enhancing at least a region of an input picture having input pixel values, the method performed by a processor, comprising acts of:

estimating on the basis of a histogram of at least a second region of the input picture a quantization precision to identify the region of the input picture based on an estimate of a quantization precision;

identifying positions in the input picture of changes in input pixel value of less than or equal to the quantization precision;

generating analysis information representing the identified positions; and

calculating an output picture corresponding to at least the region of the input picture, by determining output pixels on the basis of adaptive combinations of input pixels, the adaptive combinations depending on the analysis information.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12 , comprising an act of determining configuration parameters on the basis of the analysis information to identify filter coefficients for adapting an adaptive filter.

14. A computer program product stored a computer readable non-transitory memory medium comprising code enabling a processor to execute a method, the method comprising acts of:

estimating on the basis of a histogram of at least a second region of the input picture a quantization precision to identify the region of the input picture based on an estimate of a quantization precision;

identifying positions in the input picture of changes in input pixel value of less than or equal to the quantization precision;

generating analysis information representing the identified positions; and

calculating an output picture corresponding to at least the region of the input picture by determining output pixels on the basis of adaptive combinations of input pixels, the adaptive combinations depending on the analysis information.

15. The computer program product as claimed in claim 14 , comprising an act of determining configuration parameters for an adaptive filter on the basis of the analysis information.

16. An apparatus for enhancing at least a region of an input picture having input pixel values, comprising:

an estimation unit arranged to estimate a quantization precision of at least the region of the input picture;

a pattern analysis unit, arranged to determine positions in the input picture of changes in input pixel value of less than or equal to the quantization precision, and to output analysis information representing the positions; and

an adaptive filter, arranged to calculate an output picture corresponding to at least the region of the input picture, comprising output pixels being determined on the basis of adaptive combinations of input pixels, and arranged to determine the adaptive combinations in dependence on the analysis information, wherein the estimation unit is arranged to determine the quantization precision on the basis of a histogram of at least a second region of the input picture.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the estimation unit is arranged to determine the quantization precision on the basis of an analysis of equally spaced peaks in at least a sub-range of the histogram.