A unified approach to optimal image interpolation problems based on linear partial differential equation models

Abstract

The unified approach to optimal image interpolation problems presented provides a constructive procedure for finding explicit and closed-form optimal solutions to image interpolation problems when the type of interpolation can be either spatial or temporal-spatial. The unknown image is reconstructed from a finite set of sampled data in such a way that a mean-square error is minimized by first expressing the solution in terms of the reproducing kernel of a related Hilbert space, and then constructing this kernel using the fundamental solution of an induced linear partial differential equation, or the Green's function of the corresponding self-adjoint operator. It is proved that in most cases, closed-form fundamental solutions (or Green's functions) for the corresponding linear partial differential operators can be found in the general image reconstruction problem described by a first- or second-order linear partial differential operator. An efficient method for obtaining the corresponding closed-form fundamental solutions (or Green's functions) of the operators is presented. A computer simulation demonstrates the reconstruction procedure.