"Pattern Length" Coding for Dithered Pictures

A new coding scheme for dithered halftone pictures, called `pattern length´ coding, is proposed. This scheme is based on the fact that, in dithered pictures, some special horizontal bit-patterns frequently take place. Counting the pattern strings provides coding efficiency that is as good as any other scheme presented so far. In addition, this scheme is suitable for pictures which have both ordinary document areas and halftone areas, thus keeping better compatibility with standard facsimile coding schemes.