A Hybrid Data Compression Algorithm for Image Telemetry

Abstract

This paper presents an image coding algorithm using spline functions that is competitive with the more conventional orthogonal transform methods at data rates of 1 bit/pixel or less. Spline coding has the added attraction of an optical implementation arising from the fact that least squares image approximations also produces least squares approximations to the image derivatives. A first order spline is used to approximate the proper order derivative of the image whose order is determined by an analysis presented in the paper. The image derivative is then encoded and transmitted to the user who reconstructs the image by a k-1 order integration which can be done optically.