SBIR-STTR Award

High quality technical signal and image compressions requires the ability to rapidly adapt a compression method to the nature of the signal or image as well as to the desired features Wavelet and wavelet packet based algorithms have the capability of fitting such needs (as demonstrated by the extensive testing of the FBI for obtaining a wavelet packet based fingerprint compression algorithm standard). Hybrid methods incorporating best wavelet packet features combined with wavelet zero tree coding have the flexibility needed for both texture and structure compression. These can be easily incorporated under the same tree based signal processing structure and are of low computational complexity promising realtime applications. Moreover the same structure enabling compression will permit image denoising before compression as well as the ability to transmit partial signals and lower resolution as required. ANTICIPATED

Benefits:
We expect in Phase I to demonstrate the feasibility of a real time platform for storage and transmission of high resolution scanned images. The corresponding hardware prototype is to be developed in Phase II. In particular we expect our device to incorporate the proposed fingerprint compression standard, improved versions of JPEG, various wavelet/wavelet-packets hybrid compression schemes.

During Phase I we have identified and compared the major methods for compression of audio, images and video. Concentrating on images and video we have developed a baseline standard for high rate image compression (See Report Phase I) as well as fast algorithmic methodologies that permit real-time compression in software at a rate of (16) sixteen 512 x 512 images per second on a HP workstation, a demonstration software platform was developed. We expect in Phase II to adapt these algorithms to a variety of broadcasting modes, and to have a prototype spread spectrum video transmission system in operation. We have currently formed a team of top experts in the USA in these areas, which in collaboration with DDC, ETC and Lockheed Martin will embed these methods in various DOD and commercial products. (See enclosed letters). The methods to be developed are expected to assist tasks. In particular the specific broadcast problem considered will apply directly to surveillance and reconnaissance tasks. The wavelet compression software toolkit developed under Phase I to be enhanced in Phase II will provide a friendly software environment for the customization of compression algorithms to specific technical needs. (as required for example for SAR and IR imaging, medical imaging, wireless communications, fingerprints, etc.) Home, business, reconaissance, wireless surveillance cameras which operated in the unlicensed 900 Mhz and 1.2 Ghz can be deployed in far greater numbers than standard analog broadcast devices. High resolution specialized scanners for technical image compression and transmission, foe medical imaging, fingerprints, police, maps, etc.