Dean's Innovation Challenge: Researching the JPEG 2000 Image Decoder

Abstract

The goal of this thesis is to analyze the current commercialization process of the University of Arizona as well as the Office of Technology Transfer, or OTT, and potential opportunities for strengthening the process. This will be done through an initial review of a patented technology, JPEG 2000 Corrupt Codestream Decoder, as well as its parent technology, JPEG 2000 image standard. The JPEG 2000 decoder is used to decode corrupt images that are transferred in real time, in order to utilize the "usable" information as efficiently as possible. The technology itself will be analyzed, including the strengths and weaknesses, and areas of opportunities. Next, the commercialization history of the technology will also be looked upon, such as patent dates, related licensees, and direction of the technology. Emphasis will be placed on processes and environments that helped the technology, as well as those that have hindered it. More specifically, since the technology was never implemented in a commercialized setting, there will be a glance as to why the technology was not successfully licensed and commercialized. Finally, the commercialization process of OTT will be examined, in a broader context that applies to all technologies that OTT deals with. This will look at the tasks of OTT, shortfalls of the Office, as well as the process of commercialization. Once all items are addressed, areas of recommendations will be described with the aim of improving the efficiency and resourcefulness of OTT.