New algorithm for preserving edges and removing compression artifacts in low bit-rates wavelet based image

Compression artifacts are the results of an aggressive data compression scheme applied to an image that discards some data which is determined by an algorithm to be of lesser importance to the overall content but which is nonetheless discernible and objectionable to the user. In this paper we present a progressive algorithm that focus on preserving the clarity of important image features, such as edges, and reducing the compression artifacts around edges at compression ratios of 100:1 and greater. The algorithm extracts the locations of straight line edges in the image at the encoder, and the decoder applies edge extraction, combination, artifacts reduction and linear edge-enhancement procedure to improve the clarity of the edges. With this algorithm, edges in the images that may be important for recognition are well preserved, and compression artifacts are reduced even at very low bit-rates