Springer Mixed Raster Content: Segmentation, Compression, Transmission (Signals and Communication Technology)

This book presents the main concepts in handling digital images of mixed content, traditionally referenced as mixed raster content (MRC), in two main parts. The first includes introductory chapters covering the scientific and technical background aspects, whereas the second presents a set of research and development approaches to tackle key issues in MRC segmentation, compression and transmission. The book starts with a review of color theory and the mechanism of color vision in humans. In turn, the second chapter reviews data coding and compression methods so as to set the background and demonstrate the complexity involved in dealing with MRC. Chapter three addresses the segmentation of images through an extensive literature review, which highlights the various approaches used to tackle MRC segmentation. The second part of the book focuses on the segmentation of color images for optimized compression, including multi-layered decomposition and representation of MRC and the processes that can be employed to optimize the coding rates of those different layers. Rounding out the coverage, the final chapter examines the segmentation of color images for optimized transmission.     From the Back Cover This book presents the main concepts in handling digital images of mixed content, traditionally referenced as mixed raster content (MRC), in two main parts. The first includes introductory chapters covering the scientific and technical background aspects, whereas the second presents a set of research and development approaches to tackle key issues in MRC segmentation, compression and transmission. The book starts with a review of color theory and the mechanism of color vision in humans. In turn, the second chapter reviews data coding and compression methods so as to set the background and demonstrate the complexity involved in dealing with MRC. Chapter three addresses the segmentation of images through an extensive literature review, which highlights the various approaches used to tackle MRC segmentation. The second part of the book focuses on the segmentation of color images for optimized compression, including multi-layered decomposition and representation of MRC and the processes that can be employed to optimize the coding rates of those different layers. Rounding out the coverage, the final chapter examines the segmentation of color images for optimized transmission. About the Author Dr. Pavlidis received his Diploma (BSc) in Electrical Engineering from the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department (ECE) of Democritus University of Thrace (DUTh) in 1995. In 2005, he received his PhD degree from ECE/DUTh, working in the field of digital image processing, earning the distinction of the Ericsson Awards of Excellence. Since 1991 he has been working for many research and development projects with emphasis on multimedia as means and tools for knowledge, culture dissemination and learning. In many of these projects he has been the supervisor of work groups, as well as the technical and scientific supervisor. Concurrently, he has been working as a seminar instructor on ICTs and specialized multimedia production and authoring. During his work on his PhD he was assigned the teaching assistance for undergraduate courses at the ECE/DUTh. During 1996-1997 he was employed by the Research Committee of DUTh in the research projects administration office. In 2002 he joined the Cultural & Educational Technology Institute (CETI) as a special technical scientist in the Multimedia Dept. As of 2006 Dr. Pavlidis was a Researcher at CETI and as of 2012 he is a Principal Researcher at ILSP. He is now the head of the Multimedia Department and the head of research at “Clepsydra” Cultural Heritage Digitization Center. He has been an adjunct lecturer at the Departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Architectural Engineering of DUTh, as well as the Department of Informatics and Telecommunicati