A generalized zooming technique for pictorial database systems

Pictorial information processing relies heavily on the establishment of an efficient pictorial database system. Present-day database management systems are designed primarily for efficient storage, retrieval and manipulation of alphanumeric data. Until very recently, little attention has been paid to the storage, retrieval and manipulation of non-alphanumeric information such as digitized images which require a large amount of storage even for pictures of average complexity. With the growing list of new applications in picture processing, such as geographic data processing, demographic data processing, computed tomography, whole-body scanner, earth resources survey satellite (LANDSAT) image processing, regional economic and health data processing, cartographic and mapping applications, etc., the problem of efficient, economical storage, retrieval and manipulation of vast amounts of pictorial information becomes more important and requires careful considerations.