MECHANISM FOR ACCESSING DIGITIZED IMAGE DATABASE TO PROVIDE ITERATIVELY IMPROVED DISPLAY RESOLUTION

摘要

The "viewing delay" encountered when accessing a digital image from a relatively high resolution database stored using a digital storage device with a relatively slow transfer rate, such as a compact disc, is substantially reduced by a readout and display control mechanism that rapidly provides the viewer with an initially relatively low resolution image and thereafter increases the resolution of the displayed image. By presenting the viewer with such a "quick-view" low resolution image, the present invention enables the viewer to determine whether the image being displayed is of interest, so that the viewer has the immediate option of calling up another stored image or permitting the currently displayed low resolution image to be iteratively enhanced, so as to obtain a higher resolution image.