Method for image quality assessment using quality vectors

1. A method for assessing the image quality of image data, the method executed at least in part by a computer and comprising:

acquiring the image data;

segmenting the acquired image data into one or more spatial regions;

obtaining a plurality of image quality measures for the one or more spatial regions;

forming at least one quality vector that comprises two or more of the quality measures for the one or more spatial regions;

classifying the at least one quality vector into one of a plurality of predefined quality classes;

generating secure assurance data that is representative of the plurality of image quality measures, the quality classification, and the image data;

and

forming and storing an assured image by associating the secure assurance data with the acquired image data.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the image quality measures are obtained from the acquired image data.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the secure assurance data further comprises information that relates to performance of an image capture device used for acquiring the image data.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein classifying is performed using a supervised learning technique.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein classifying includes training on a plurality of image quality vectors corresponding to training image data that are associated with the plurality of predefined quality classes.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the image data is acquired from a digital image capture device and the training image data is representative of the image data that is produced by the digital image capture device.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein generating the secure assurance data further comprises calculating a hash value of the image data and the image quality measures and the quality classification to produce assurance data.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising encrypting the assurance data.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein associating the secure assurance data with the image data comprises forming a digital file having an image header and storing the secure assurance data in the image header.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein associating the secure assurance data with the image data comprises embedding the secure assurance data into the image data using a reversible watermarking technique.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

parsing the secure assurance data and the image data and authenticating the image quality measures, the quality classification, and the image data using the secure assurance data;

and

providing a status signal that is indicative of authenticity of at least one of the image quality measures and the quality classification.

12. A computerized method of associating an image with image quality information about said image, the method comprising:

obtaining image data at a computer;

generating secure assurance data that is representative of the obtained image data wherein the secure assurance data comprises two or more quality measures that are obtained at least from one or more spatial regions within the image data, and wherein the secure assurance data further comprises one or more assigned quality classes that are determined from the two or more quality measures;

combining the obtained image data with the generated secure assurance data to form an assured image;

and

outputting the assured image from the computer.