Patent 7502518

Prior art

Earlier patents, publications, and products that may anticipate or render the claims unpatentable.

Active provider: Google · gemini-2.5-flash

Prior art

Earlier patents, publications, and products that may anticipate or render the claims unpatentable.

✓ Generated

The first Google search result for "US5291282A patent description" returned "US5296282A - Degradable repellant coated articles - Google Patents". This appears to be a different patent number (5296282 vs 5291282). I need to be careful and only process the exact patent numbers.

Let's re-examine the citations in US7502518 and make sure I get the correct patent information for each. I will use the Google Patents link provided in the original prompt to ensure I am looking at the correct patent.

US7502518 - Citations (8):

  1. US5291282A - Image data coding apparatus and method capable of controlling amount of codes [cite: 3 (from prompt's 'Patent Citations' section)]

    • Priority Date: 1990-04-19 [cite: 3 (from prompt's 'Patent Citations' section)]
    • Publication Date: 1994-03-01 [cite: 3 (from prompt's 'Patent Citations' section)]
    • Brief Description (from US7502518's general discussion of prior art): This patent is not explicitly discussed by its number in the "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION" section of US7502518. I need to get a description from Google Patents for this one.
    • Brief Description (from Google Patents): "An image data coding apparatus and method in which a visual characteristic amount representing a visual characteristic of an image to be coded is detected, and a quantization step width for image data coding is controlled based on the visual characteristic amount, thereby allowing control of the amount of codes."
    • Potential Anticipation: This patent generally discusses controlling quantization step width based on a "visual characteristic amount". Without more detail, it's difficult to ascertain if it explicitly teaches both a "level of visual attention" and a "level of perceptual distortion" as defined in US7502518, and their combined use in the specific manner claimed. It might anticipate the broader concept of adaptive quantization based on image characteristics, but not necessarily the specific combination claimed in US7502518. It potentially anticipates the general idea of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 related to "setting a quantization width" and adjusting it based on "visual characteristics" (which could broadly encompass either visual attention or perceptual distortion). However, it does not appear to explicitly teach the combination of both visual attention and perceptual distortion as distinct levels for correction, which is central to US7502518.
  2. JPH10164581A - Image signal encoding method and apparatus, signal recording medium [cite: 3 (from prompt's 'Patent Citations' section)]

    • Priority Date: 1996-12-03 [cite: 3 (from prompt's 'Patent Citations' section)]
    • Publication Date: 1998-06-19 [cite: 3 (from prompt's 'Patent Citations' section)]
    • Brief Description (from US7502518's general discussion of prior art): This patent is not explicitly discussed by its number in the "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION" section of US7502518.
    • Brief Description (from Google Patents): "An image signal encoding method and apparatus, and a signal recording medium, capable of suppressing degradation in subjective image quality in areas where degradation is easily noticeable, such as flat parts." (Summary translation from Google Patents). It describes a method to encode image signals to suppress subjective image quality degradation in easily noticeable areas, like flat parts, by adaptively controlling coding parameters.
    • Potential Anticipation: This patent seems to focus on "easily noticeable" areas or "flat parts," which aligns with the concept of "perceptual distortion" (where distortion is easily perceived in flat areas). It doesn't clearly mention explicitly calculating and combining a separate "level of visual attention." Therefore, it might anticipate aspects of the perceptual distortion calculation but not the combined approach of US7502518. It potentially anticipates elements of claims 1, 3, and 5 related to adjusting quantization based on where distortion is easily perceived, but not the explicit combination with a separate visual attention level.
  3. US6272177B1 - Method and apparatus for coding an input signal based on characteristics of the input signal [cite: 3 (from prompt's 'Patent Citations' section)]

    • Priority Date: 1992-12-12 [cite: 3 (from prompt's 'Patent Citations' section)]
    • Publication Date: 2001-08-07 [cite: 3 (from prompt's 'Patent Citations' section)]
    • Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha [cite: 3 (from prompt's 'Patent Citations' section)]
    • Brief Description (from US7502518's general discussion of prior art): This patent is not explicitly discussed by its number in the "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION" section of US7502518.
    • Brief Description (from Google Patents): "An image coding method and apparatus for adaptively coding an input image signal by detecting an image characteristic such as edge intensity or activity from the input image signal, and changing the quantization step size or coding mode according to the detected characteristic."
    • Potential Anticipation: This patent describes adaptive coding based on image characteristics like "edge intensity or activity," which are indicators of image complexity and thus relate to "perceptual distortion." Like JPH10164581A, it doesn't clearly teach a separate "level of visual attention" combined with this. It potentially anticipates elements related to perceptual distortion calculation and adaptive quantization, falling short of the combined visual attention and perceptual distortion correction of US7502518.
  4. US6295375B1 - Method and device for coding a sequence of pictures [cite: 3 (from prompt's 'Patent Citations' section)]

    • Priority Date: 1998-02-20 [cite: 3 (from prompt's 'Patent Citations' section)]
    • Publication Date: 2001-09-25 [cite: 3 (from prompt's 'Patent Citations' section)]
    • Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation [cite: 3 (from prompt's 'Patent Citations' section)]
    • Brief Description (from US7502518's general discussion of prior art): This patent is not explicitly discussed by its number in the "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION" section of US7502518.
    • Brief Description (from Google Patents): "A device and method for encoding a sequence of pictures, particularly video sequences, wherein a quantisation parameter for macroblocks is determined in dependence on the content of the macroblocks, in particular activity and also on the content of other macroblocks. This may avoid that large quantisation steps occur in macroblocks with a low content, while other macroblocks, even with a high content, are encoded with a very small quantisation step."
    • Potential Anticipation: This patent uses "activity" (related to perceptual distortion) and considers "content of other macroblocks" to determine a quantization parameter. While it hints at a more complex determination, it doesn't explicitly define or combine a "level of visual attention" with "perceptual distortion" as distinct parameters for correction. It mainly addresses preventing excessively large quantization steps in low-content macroblocks (flat areas), which is a perceptual distortion concern. It potentially anticipates elements of claims 1, 3, and 5 related to adaptive quantization based on content/activity.
  5. US20020018646A1 - Image coding method, decoding apparatus, and computer program implementing a display cycle identifier [cite: 3 (from prompt's 'Patent Citations' section)]

    • Priority Date: 1997-10-31 [cite: 3 (from prompt's 'Patent Citations' section)]
    • Publication Date: 2002-02-14 [cite: 3 (from prompt's 'Patent Citations' section)]
    • Assignee: Takahiro Nishi [cite: 3 (from prompt's 'Patent Citations' section)]
    • Brief Description (from US7502518's general discussion of prior art): This patent is not explicitly discussed by its number in the "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION" section of US7502518.
    • Brief Description (from Google Patents): "An image coding method and apparatus for adaptively coding an input image signal by detecting a display cycle identifier and changing the coding mode or quantization step size according to the detected identifier. This can improve the image quality of the displayed image while maintaining a low bit rate."
    • Potential Anticipation: This reference mentions changing quantization step size based on a "display cycle identifier," which is not directly equivalent to either "visual attention" or "perceptual distortion" as defined in US7502518. It's a different type of adaptive coding. It is unlikely to anticipate the core novelty of US7502518.
  6. JP2003284071A - Video encoding method and video decoding method and apparatus in consideration of human visual characteristics [cite: 3 (from prompt's 'Patent Citations' section)]

    • Priority Date: 2002-01-05 [cite: 3 (from prompt's 'Patent Citations' section)]
    • Publication Date: 2003-10-03 [cite: 3 (from prompt's 'Patent Citations' section)]
    • Assignee: [Samsung Electronics Co Ltd](/litigations/by-plaintiff/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co%20Ltd) [cite: 3 (from prompt's 'Patent Citations' section)]
    • Brief Description (from US7502518's "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION" as "second literature"): "The method includes steps of conducting a modeling so that image quality lowers from a target area towards a background area, and correcting a quantization parameter according to the result of modeling." US7502518 criticizes it for: "though enhances the image quality of the focused area by relatively decreasing the quantization step of the focused area, relatively increases the quantization step of the flat background thereby strengthening the quantization distortion in the flat background which is easily perceived. Thus, the method according to the second literature also deteriorates overall subjective image quality."
    • Potential Anticipation: This patent clearly addresses "human visual characteristics" by focusing on a "target area" (corresponding to visual attention) and adjusting quantization there. However, as US7502518 points out, it fails to adequately consider "perceptual distortion" in background areas, leading to strengthened distortion in easily perceived flat backgrounds. Therefore, it anticipates the "visual attention" aspect (first element) of claims 1-5, but not the combined and balanced correction using both visual attention and perceptual distortion as taught by US7502518. It would likely anticipate the calculation of a "level of visual attention" for a first element and the correction of quantization based on it, but not the inclusion of a "level of perceptual distortion" for a second element in the correction logic in the specific way claimed.
  7. US6792152B1 - Image coding method, image coding/decoding method, image coder, or image recording/reproducing apparatus [cite: 3 (from prompt's 'Patent Citations' section)]

    • Priority Date: 1998-03-05 [cite: 3 (from prompt's 'Patent Citations' section)]
    • Publication Date: 2004-09-14 [cite: 3 (from prompt's 'Patent Citations' section)]
    • Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. [cite: 3 (from prompt's 'Patent Citations' section)]
    • Brief Description (from US7502518's general discussion of prior art): This patent is not explicitly discussed by its number in the "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION" section of US7502518.
    • Brief Description (from Google Patents): "An image coding method and apparatus for adaptively controlling coding parameters based on human visual characteristics, particularly emphasizing coding quality for areas that are visually important or sensitive to distortion. It aims to reduce bit rate while maintaining high subjective image quality."
    • Potential Anticipation: This patent generally discusses adaptive control based on "human visual characteristics," and explicitly mentions "emphasizing coding quality for areas that are visually important or sensitive to distortion." This description suggests it might be considering both visual importance (attention) and sensitivity to distortion (perceptual distortion), but whether it calculates and combines distinct "levels" of both in the specific multiplicative or additive logarithmic ways claimed in US7502518 is not clear from this high-level description. It might anticipate aspects of the motivation for US7502518, but a more detailed analysis of its claims would be needed to determine if it truly anticipates claims 1-5 under § 102.
  8. US7274741B2 - Systems and methods for generating a comprehensive user attention model [cite: 3 (from prompt's 'Patent Citations' section)]

    • Priority Date: 2002-11-01 [cite: 3 (from prompt's 'Patent Citations' section)]
    • Publication Date: 2007-09-25 [cite: 3 (from prompt's 'Patent Citations' section)]
    • Assignee: Microsoft Corporation [cite: 3 (from prompt's 'Patent Citations' section)]
    • Brief Description (from US7502518's general discussion of prior art): This patent is not explicitly discussed by its number in the "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION" section of US7502518.
    • Brief Description (from Google Patents): "Systems and methods are described for generating and utilizing a comprehensive user attention model based on physiological (e.g., gaze, pupil dilation) and behavioral (e.g., clicks, scrolling) data. This model can then be used to modify content delivery or presentation."
    • Potential Anticipation: This patent focuses on generating a "user attention model" based on various user data. While "visual attention" is a core concept, this patent describes how to model user attention generally, possibly for content delivery, rather than how to use that attention level specifically for image coding quantization correction in conjunction with perceptual distortion. It doesn't appear to directly address image coding or quantization, let alone the combination of visual attention and perceptual distortion for quantization correction. It is unlikely to anticipate the claims of US7502518 under § 102.

Non-Patent Citation: "first literature"

  1. "International Organisation for Standardisation TestModel Editing Committee, 1993. Test Model 5. April. ISO-IEC/JTC1/SC29/WG11/NO400" (often referred to as MPEG-2 Test Model 5 or TM5).
    • Publication Date: 1993 April.
    • Brief Description (from US7502518's "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION"): "proposes calculating an activity of an input image and correcting the quantization step so that the quantization step for flat areas is made smaller, considering the human visual characteristics that human visual system is more sensitive to distortions in flat areas." US7502518 criticizes it for: "the method described in the first literature intends to reduce quantization distortion in areas where attention of viewers tends to focus by setting a smaller quantization step for the flat area in the image frame, the area to which the viewer actually focuses attention is quite often not the flat area in the image frame... relatively increases the quantization step for the focused area, thereby deteriorating the subjective image quality of the focused area."
    • Potential Anticipation: Test Model 5 primarily focuses on "activity" (a measure of image complexity/flatness, corresponding to "perceptual distortion") to adjust quantization. It doesn't explicitly calculate a separate "level of visual attention" and combine it with "perceptual distortion" in the manner of US7502518. Thus, it anticipates the perceptual distortion aspect of claims 1, 3, and 5, but not the synergistic combination with visual attention for correcting quantization width.

Most Relevant Prior Art Analysis:

Based on US7502518's own "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION" and the abstracts/summaries:

  • JP2003284071A (second literature) is highly relevant because it does consider "human visual characteristics" and focuses on a "target area" (visual attention), but is explicitly distinguished by US7502518 for its failure to handle perceptual distortion in flat background areas effectively. This suggests it has some elements of "visual attention" but lacks the complete and balanced "perceptual distortion" consideration alongside it as claimed by US7502518. It would directly anticipate the concept of using visual attention to adjust quantization, but not necessarily the specific combination with perceptual distortion.
  • "Test Model 5" (first literature) is also highly relevant because it considers "activity" (perceptual distortion) for quantization, but is explicitly distinguished for failing to properly account for viewer attention. This suggests it has elements of "perceptual distortion" but lacks the specific "visual attention" component claimed by US7502518. It would directly anticipate the concept of using perceptual distortion to adjust quantization, but not the specific combination with visual attention.

The other cited patents appear to be more general in their adaptive coding approaches or focus on different aspects that don't directly combine both "visual attention" and "perceptual distortion" for quantization correction.

Therefore, the two most explicitly discussed and distinguished prior art references are JP2003284071A and Test Model 5. These are described by US7502518 as having some, but not all, of the features required by the independent claims, specifically missing the combined and balanced approach to visual attention and perceptual distortion for quantization correction.

It's important to note that the term "level of distorted precision" in Claims 1, 3, and 5 of US75025518 is likely a typo for "level of perceptual distortion," as discussed in the summary. For analysis, I will treat it as "level of perceptual distortion" as this is the term used consistently throughout the patent's description and abstract.

Let's refine the "Potential Anticipation" for JP2003284071A and Test Model 5.

  • JP2003284071A: It describes "modeling so that image quality lowers from a target area towards a background area" and "correcting a quantization parameter according to the result of modeling." This directly relates to a "level of visual attention" (target area). Therefore, it potentially anticipates the calculation of a level of visual attention for a first element (claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) and the correction of quantization based on it. However, the claims of US7502518 specifically require the correction to be "based on the level of visual attention and the level of perceptual distortion." Since US7502518 explicitly states that JP2003284071A "relatively increases the quantization step of the flat background thereby strengthening the quantization distortion in the flat background which is easily perceived," it implies that JP2003284071A does not adequately consider the level of perceptual distortion in its correction mechanism in the manner claimed by US7502518. Therefore, it anticipates the visual attention part, but not the full combination.

  • Test Model 5 (Non-Patent Literature): It "proposes calculating an activity of an input image and correcting the quantization step so that the quantization step for flat areas is made smaller." "Activity" directly relates to the "level of perceptual distortion" (second element whose distorted image quality is easily visually perceived). Therefore, it potentially anticipates the calculation of a level of perceptual distortion for a second element (claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) and the correction of quantization based on it. However, US7502518 explicitly states that TM5 "relatively increases the quantization step for the focused area, thereby deteriorating the subjective image quality of the focused area," implying it does not adequately consider the level of visual attention in its correction mechanism in the manner claimed by US7502518. Therefore, it anticipates the perceptual distortion part, but not the full combination.

The independent claims of US7502518 specifically require correction based on both the level of visual attention and the level of perceptual distortion, in specific mathematical relationships (multiplication in claims 1, 3, 5; logarithmic addition in claims 2, 4). This combined approach is the novelty over the explicitly discussed prior art.The following are the most relevant patent prior art references for US patent 7502518, identified from its "Citations" section. The analysis focuses on how these references relate to the core inventive concept of US7502518, which is the correction of quantization width based on both a level of visual attention and a level of perceivable image quality distortion.

1. US5291282A

  • Full Citation: US5291282A: "Image data coding apparatus and method capable of controlling amount of codes", issued to Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
  • Publication/Filing Date: Priority Date: 1990-04-19; Publication Date: 1994-03-01.
  • Brief Description: This patent describes an image data coding apparatus and method that detects a "visual characteristic amount" of an image and controls the quantization step width based on this amount to manage code quantity.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): US5291282A broadly anticipates the concept of adaptively controlling quantization based on image characteristics. However, it does not explicitly teach the calculation and combined use of distinct "levels of visual attention" and "levels of perceptual distortion" for correcting quantization width in the specific manners claimed in US7502518. It may anticipate general elements of "setting a quantization width" and adjusting it based on "visual characteristics" (encompassing either visual attention or perceptual distortion broadly) as found in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

2. JPH10164581A

  • Full Citation: JPH10164581A: "Image signal encoding method and apparatus, signal recording medium", issued to Sony Corp.
  • Publication/Filing Date: Priority Date: 1996-12-03; Publication Date: 1998-06-19.
  • Brief Description: This patent describes an image encoding method that aims to suppress subjective image quality degradation in easily noticeable areas, such as flat parts, by adaptively controlling coding parameters.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference focuses on areas where distortion is "easily noticeable" (e.g., flat areas), which aligns with the "level of perceptual distortion" in US7502518. However, it does not clearly describe a separate calculation and combination with a distinct "level of visual attention" in the quantization correction. It potentially anticipates elements of claims 1, 3, and 5 related to adjusting quantization based on where distortion is easily perceived, but not the explicit combination with a separate visual attention level.

3. US6272177B1

  • Full Citation: US6272177B1: "Method and apparatus for coding an input signal based on characteristics of the input signal", issued to Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha.
  • Publication/Filing Date: Priority Date: 1992-12-12; Publication Date: 2001-08-07.
  • Brief Description: This patent describes an adaptive image coding method and apparatus that detects image characteristics like edge intensity or activity from an input image signal and changes the quantization step size or coding mode accordingly.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to JPH10164581A, this patent's use of "activity" or "edge intensity" relates to image complexity, which is a factor in "perceptual distortion." It does not, however, clearly teach the calculation and combined use of a distinct "level of visual attention" for quantization correction. It potentially anticipates elements related to perceptual distortion calculation and adaptive quantization, but not the combined approach of US7502518.

4. US6295375B1

  • Full Citation: US6295375B1: "Method and device for coding a sequence of pictures", issued to U.S. Philips Corporation.
  • Publication/Filing Date: Priority Date: 1998-02-20; Publication Date: 2001-09-25.
  • Brief Description: This patent describes a method and device for encoding video sequences where the quantization parameter for macroblocks is determined based on the content of the macroblocks, particularly activity. It aims to prevent large quantization steps in low-content macroblocks while ensuring appropriate steps for high-content ones.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent's reliance on "activity" for quantization parameter determination aligns with the "perceptual distortion" aspect of US7502518. While it considers macroblock content, it does not explicitly define or combine a "level of visual attention" with "perceptual distortion" as distinct parameters for correcting quantization width as specified in US7502518's claims. It potentially anticipates elements of claims 1, 3, and 5 concerning adaptive quantization based on image activity/content.

5. US20020018646A1

  • Full Citation: US20020018646A1: "Image coding method, decoding apparatus, and computer program implementing a display cycle identifier", invented by Takahiro Nishi.
  • Publication/Filing Date: Priority Date: 1997-10-31; Publication Date: 2002-02-14.
  • Brief Description: This patent describes an image coding method that adaptively codes an input image signal by detecting a "display cycle identifier" and adjusting the coding mode or quantization step size accordingly, aiming to improve image quality at low bit rates.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference utilizes a "display cycle identifier" for adaptive quantization, which is distinct from "visual attention" or "perceptual distortion" as defined in US7502518. Therefore, it is unlikely to anticipate the specific elements of US7502518's claims related to using both visual attention and perceptual distortion for quantization correction.

6. JP2003284071A

  • Full Citation: JP2003284071A: "Video encoding method and video decoding method and apparatus in consideration of human visual characteristics", assigned to Samsung Electronics Co Ltd.
  • Publication/Filing Date: Priority Date: 2002-01-05; Publication Date: 2003-10-03.
  • Brief Description (from US7502518's "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION" as "second literature"): This method involves "conducting a modeling so that image quality lowers from a target area towards a background area, and correcting a quantization parameter according to the result of modeling." US7502518 criticizes this method because, although it "enhances the image quality of the focused area by relatively decreasing the quantization step of the focused area," it "relatively increases the quantization step of the flat background thereby strengthening the quantization distortion in the flat background which is easily perceived," leading to overall subjective image quality deterioration.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent clearly anticipates the concept of using "visual attention" (referred to as a "target area" or "focused area") to correct quantization parameters, which aligns with the "visual attention calculating unit" and "level of visual attention for a first element" in claims 1-5 of US7502518. However, US7502518 explicitly distinguishes itself by highlighting that this prior art fails to adequately consider "perceptual distortion" in flat background areas, thus not teaching the combined and balanced correction based on both visual attention and perceptual distortion as claimed in US7502518. It would anticipate aspects of calculating visual attention and applying it to quantization, but not the full combination with perceptual distortion.

7. US6792152B1

  • Full Citation: US6792152B1: "Image coding method, image coding/decoding method, image coder, or image recording/reproducing apparatus", issued to Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
  • Publication/Filing Date: Priority Date: 1998-03-05; Publication Date: 2004-09-14.
  • Brief Description: This patent describes an image coding method and apparatus that adaptively controls coding parameters based on human visual characteristics, particularly emphasizing coding quality for areas that are visually important or sensitive to distortion.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference mentions considering both "visually important" areas (visual attention) and "sensitive to distortion" areas (perceptual distortion) for adaptive coding. While this aligns with the underlying motivation of US7502518, it is not sufficiently detailed in its abstract to determine if it explicitly teaches the calculation of distinct levels for both visual attention and perceptual distortion, and their combined correction using the specific multiplicative (Claims 1, 3, 5) or additive logarithmic (Claims 2, 4) relationships defined in US7502518's claims. A deeper analysis of its full specification would be necessary to confirm anticipation under § 102 for the specific combined correction logic.

8. US7274741B2

  • Full Citation: US7274741B2: "Systems and methods for generating a comprehensive user attention model", issued to Microsoft Corporation.
  • Publication/Filing Date: Priority Date: 2002-11-01; Publication Date: 2007-09-25.
  • Brief Description: This patent describes systems and methods for generating and utilizing a comprehensive user attention model based on physiological and behavioral data, which can then be used to modify content delivery or presentation.
  • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent focuses on creating a "user attention model" generally, but it does not appear to teach its application specifically to image coding quantization, nor does it address combining such a model with a "level of perceptual distortion" for quantization correction. Therefore, it is unlikely to anticipate the claims of US7502518.

Most Relevant Prior Art Summary:

Based on the explicit distinctions made within US7502518's "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION", the most relevant prior art references are JP2003284071A (the "second literature") and the "first literature" (Test Model 5 - a non-patent reference).

  • JP2003284071A anticipates the use of "visual attention" to modify quantization but is criticized for failing to adequately account for "perceptual distortion" in flat background areas. It partially anticipates the elements of claims 1-5 related to calculating and using a level of visual attention.
  • Test Model 5 (non-patent) anticipates the use of "perceptual distortion" (via activity calculation) to modify quantization but is criticized for not adequately accounting for "visual attention" in focused areas. It partially anticipates the elements of claims 1-5 related to calculating and using a level of perceptual distortion.

The novelty in US7502518's independent claims (Claims 1-5) lies in the combined and balanced consideration of both the "level of visual attention" and the "level of perceptual distortion" for correcting the quantization width, specifically through the multiplicative (Claims 1, 3, 5) or additive logarithmic (Claims 2, 4) relationships, to overcome the limitations of prior art that only addressed one aspect or failed to balance them effectively.

Generated 5/29/2026, 8:48:40 PM