Efficient methodology for scaling and transferring images

摘要

In an embodiment of the invention, a method of downscaling an original image by generating a number of pixels comprising first, second, and third sets. Each pixel comprises a number of components. The method operates by determining all of the components in each pixel of the first set, determining some of the components in each pixel of the second set, and pixels in the third set having no components determined. The scaled image is thus partially determined, with the second and third sets having missing components. The missing components may then be determined by conventional interpolation. Mathematical operators are applied to regions of the image to yield the first, second and third sets of pixels that define the scaled image, without generating an intermediate image in which all three components are determined. The operators may combine interpolation and low pass filtering using a Hamming filter. In certain system applications such as the digital camera, components in the first set and the second set are determined by the digital camera and then transferred to a data processing system (e.g. a personal computer) before the missing components of the second and third sets are determined.