{"schema_version":"1.0","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9854255","patent":{"patent_number":"US-9854255","title":"Electronic apparatus, and method and computer-readable medium for the same","assignee":null,"inventors":[],"filing_date":"2015-03-26T00:00:00.000Z","publication_date":"2017-12-26T00:00:00.000Z","cpc_codes":["H04N","H04N","H04N","H04N"],"num_claims":20,"abstract":"An electronic apparatus including an input unit configured to separate image data into pixel blocks and serially input luminance data and color difference data of each pixel block as individual pieces of block data, respectively, a quantization unit configured to serially convert each piece of the block data into quantized data, an encoding unit configured to serially convert each piece of the quantized data into encoded data, a color generation unit configured to generate compressed color image data using the encoded data, and a monochrome generation unit configured to generate compressed monochrome image data using the encoded data by performing one of deleting particular pieces of encoded data corresponding to the color difference data from a data sequence of the encoded data generated through the conversion by the encoding unit, and replacing the particular pieces of encoded data with encoded data corresponding to monochrome color difference data."},"analysis":{"summary":"The Electronic Apparatus, and Method and Computer-readable Medium for the Same patent introduces an innovative approach to image processing by enabling the generation of both compressed color and monochrome image data from a single encoded data stream. This solves the problem of inefficient image processing workflows that traditionally require separate encoding pipelines for color and monochrome images, leading to increased processing overhead and storage requirements. The core technical approach involves separating image data into pixel blocks, processing luminance and color difference data independently, and then either deleting specific encoded data corresponding to color differences or replacing it with monochrome equivalents to create monochrome images.\n\nThe business value lies in the streamlined image processing workflows, reduced storage costs, and improved bandwidth efficiency. This technology offers a significant market opportunity for businesses that rely heavily on image data, as it can lead to substantial cost savings and increased profitability. Applications span across various industries including telecommunications, healthcare, and entertainment, where efficient image transmission and storage are paramount. By optimizing the encoding process for both color and monochrome data, the system can achieve higher compression ratios without sacrificing visual fidelity, making it a compelling solution for addressing the challenges of image processing in the modern era. The innovation enables a more flexible and resource-friendly approach, particularly beneficial for devices with limited processing power or storage capacity. The ability to unify the encoding process is a key differentiator.","layman_explanation":"The Electronic Apparatus, and Method and Computer-readable Medium for the Same patent addresses a common problem in image processing: the need to handle both color and black-and-white (monochrome) images efficiently. Many systems require separate processes and storage for each type of image, which can be cumbersome and resource-intensive.\n\nThis invention provides a clever solution. Instead of creating separate image files for color and monochrome, it uses a single process to encode the image data. Think of it like this: imagine you're painting a picture. You start with a full set of colors, but if you want a black-and-white version, you simply remove the color information. The underlying structure of the image remains the same, but you've created a monochrome version without having to start from scratch. The patent describes a system that does something similar with image data, allowing for the easy generation of both color and monochrome images from the same encoded source.\n\nThis matters because it can significantly reduce storage costs and improve processing efficiency. For businesses that handle large volumes of images, such as healthcare providers, telecommunications companies, and media organizations, this can translate into substantial cost savings and improved operational performance. It also offers a competitive advantage by enabling more flexible and adaptable image processing workflows. The technology's ability to streamline image processing can lead to significant cost savings and increased profitability for businesses that rely heavily on image data. Moreover, the technology's ability to generate both color and monochrome images from a single encoded data stream provides greater flexibility and adaptability to changing market demands.\n\nLooking ahead, this technology could be integrated into a wide range of applications, from mobile devices to cloud-based image processing services. The timeline for market adoption will depend on factors such as licensing agreements, integration efforts, and market demand. From an investment perspective, this patent represents an opportunity to capitalize on the growing need for efficient image processing solutions in a data-driven world.","technical_analysis":"The Electronic Apparatus, and Method and Computer-readable Medium for the Same patent details a system designed to efficiently process image data and generate both color and monochrome images from a single source. The technical architecture involves several key stages: input, quantization, encoding, and color/monochrome generation. The input unit separates image data into pixel blocks, processing luminance and color difference data as individual pieces. The quantization unit converts each piece of block data into quantized data, which is then encoded. The encoding unit serializes each piece of quantized data into encoded data. The color generation unit uses this encoded data to generate compressed color images. The monochrome generation unit, a key innovation, creates compressed monochrome images by either deleting the encoded data associated with color difference or replacing it with data corresponding to monochrome color difference data.\n\nThe implementation hinges on efficient algorithms for quantization and encoding. The choice of encoding scheme (e.g., Huffman coding, arithmetic coding) can significantly impact compression ratios and processing speed. The deletion or replacement of color difference data must be performed carefully to minimize artifacts in the resulting monochrome image. Integration with existing image processing pipelines requires careful consideration of data formats and communication protocols. Performance characteristics are heavily dependent on the complexity of the image data and the efficiency of the encoding algorithms. The unified encoding process, allowing for both color and monochrome output, is a key performance differentiator. Code-level implications involve optimized data structures and algorithms for efficient data manipulation and encoding/decoding. The system aims to reduce processing overhead and storage requirements compared to traditional approaches.","business_analysis":"The Electronic Apparatus, and Method and Computer-readable Medium for the Same patent presents a significant market opportunity within the image processing and data compression sectors. The core value proposition lies in the system's ability to generate both color and monochrome images from a single encoded data stream, reducing storage costs and processing overhead. The market opportunity size is substantial, encompassing industries such as telecommunications, healthcare, entertainment, and security, all of which rely heavily on image data.\n\nThe competitive advantages stem from the unified encoding process, which eliminates the need for separate encoding pipelines for color and monochrome images. This results in lower infrastructure costs and streamlined workflows. The revenue potential is significant, as businesses can leverage this technology to reduce storage and bandwidth costs, improve image quality, and offer more flexible image processing solutions. Potential business models include licensing the technology to device manufacturers, offering cloud-based image processing services, and integrating the technology into existing image processing software.\n\nStrategically, this technology positions a company as an innovator in the image processing space. It allows for differentiation from competitors by offering a more efficient and cost-effective solution. ROI projections are favorable, as the reduced storage and bandwidth costs can lead to significant cost savings over time. The technology aligns with the growing demand for efficient image processing solutions and the increasing importance of data compression in a data-intensive world.","faqs":null,"topics":["image processing","image compression","monochrome images","color images","unified encoding","electronic","apparatus","method"],"tech_cluster":null},"seo":{"title":"Electronic Apparatus, and Method for Image Processing - Patent US-9854255","description":"Discover the Electronic Apparatus, and Method and Computer-readable Medium for the Same patent, enabling efficient color and monochrome image generation from a single source. Full analysis and claims.","keywords":["image processing","image compression","monochrome images","color images","unified encoding","patent US-9854255","patent","image data","data compression","encoding"]},"attribution":{"source":"Patentable","source_url":"https://patentable.app","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9854255","license":"CC-BY-4.0-like","license_terms":"AI-generated analysis on this page (summary, layman_explanation, technical_analysis, business_analysis, faqs) may be reused with attribution and a visible link back to the canonical URL above. Patent abstracts, claims, and bibliographic data are USPTO public domain.","required_link":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9854255","citation_suggestion":"Patentable. \"Electronic apparatus, and method and computer-readable medium for the same\" (US-9854255). https://patentable.app/patents/US-9854255","copyright_holder":"Nomic Interactive Technology LLC"},"links":{"html":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9854255","json":"https://patentable.app/api/llm-context/US-9854255","site":"https://patentable.app","llms_txt":"https://patentable.app/llms.txt"},"generated_at":"2026-05-30T01:53:11.409Z"}