I3A's CPIQ Initiative

Current CPIQ Participants: Please visit the CPIQ page on the I3A members site for additional CPIQ details.

The CPIQ Initiative Group is a team of technologists, marketers and strategic innovators from the mobile and traditional imaging industries whose goal is to improve camera phone image quality and enable carriers, manufacturers and consumers to evaluate and choose the right camera phones for their imaging needs. The group will accomplish this goal by providing a systematic approach for Camera Phone Image Quality testing and comparison methods for suppliers, and a means to clearly communicate the results to consumers.

• CPIQ is made up of key players in the mobile and traditional imaging industries;
• CPIQ is promoting growth of the camera phone imaging ecosystem;
• CPIQ’s results will encourage consumers to take, share, print and enjoy images captured on their camera phones.

Phase 1 of the CPIQ Initiative – Accomplishments

Phase 1 of the CPIQ initiative resulted in publication of a white paper containing an evaluation of existing best practices and industry standards and identifying key measures/metrics in each of several critical CPIQ areas. The camera phone photo-space is described and an initial subjective evaluation method for CPIQ is discussed.

Download the CPIQ white paper.

Phase 2 of the CPIQ Initiative – Accomplishments

Phase 2 defined a set of specific objective and subjective test methods for measuring camera phone image quality attributes and provided specific tools and validated test methods to facilitate standards based communication and comparison among carriers, handset manufacturers and component vendors regarding imaging performance. The objectives of phase 2 were to:

• Identify and define image quality metrics that affect overall image quality
• Separate the objective and subjective components of these image quality metrics
• Focus on the metrics that have direct impact on image quality performance
• Develop and validate test methods for image quality metrics
• Develop a framework for a consumer oriented rating system to enable the clear communication of image quality to consumers by vendors
• Promote adoption of standard measurement techniques and specifications.

The completion of CPIQ Phase 2 has resulted in the delivery of an initial set of definitions and test methods for image quality metrics that will lead to an overall Image Quality rating system for camera phones.

These IQ attributes are:

• Spatial Frequency Response (SFR) characterization
• Color Uniformity assessment
• Geometric Distortion
• Lateral Chromatic Aberration

For each of these attributes, objective metrics were defined and the required test targets and measurement procedures were described to enable the evaluation of camera phone images for these characteristics. Subjective test methods were then developed and applied to correlate and validate the impact for each of these metrics on actual perceived image quality.

I3A would like to thank the following companies for their support and participation in the development of CPIQ to date:

Phase 3 of the CPIQ Initiative – What’’s Next?

Building on the accomplishments of Phases 1 and 2, the work of the final critical phase of CPIQ will deliver the remaining essential metrics needed to meet CPIQ logo certification requirements. Members of the group will establish an approach and means for translating and distilling the complete essential set of metrics into a consumer oriented image quality rating system for camera phones. In addition to the technical work, a marketing subgroup will concentrate on the consumer facing aspects of CPIQ while aiming to build awareness and encourage industry wide adoption of all deliverables developed by the CPIQ Initiative Group; and will determine how to package the CPIQ deliverables into a coherent I3A-branded product for implementation by the mobile imaging industry.

Some of the additional metrics to be defined include:

• Texture blur (introduced by noise smoothing)
• Luminance uniformity across image field
• Signal to Noise and Dynamic Range
• Color consistency and white balance
• Sensitivity, Exposure and Tone Reproduction
• Blemishes and Artifacts
• Color: Preference and Reproduction
• Depth of field
• Veiling glare and stray light

Who Should Join Phase 3 of the CPIQ Initiative?

Carriers, handset manufacturers, component vendors, and any other interested imaging, software or hardware industry companies, from around the globe.

What are the Benefits of Being a CPIQ Participant?

• Reduce development cost by sharing them with others
• Know how your products will stack up by conducting pre-release validation testing
• Increase customer satisfaction, usage and retention.
• Demonstrate industry leadership – be a part of the team who defines the industry’s first consumer image quality rating system for camera phones.
• Gain an industry edge – be among the first companies to implement a complete image quality testing system, including methods and tools (software plug-ins, targets, etc.)
• Convey your products as being quality benchmarked to industry standards.

How Can You Participate in CPIQ Phase 3?

In order to participate in an I3A Initiative group, your company must be a member of I3A at the Participating or Strategic level.

If your company is currently an I3A member please contact I3A Standards & Initiatives Department for further information on joining the CPIQ Initiative group.

If your company is not currently a member of I3A, you will want to take the following steps:

• Review the membership benefits, By-Laws and I3A Initiative IP Policy
• Fill out the I3A membership application sign and submit to Shannon Taylor
• Submit membership dues as required on the membership application
• Review and submit a signed copy of the I3A Initiative IP Policy

After your application for I3A membership is approved, please contact Donna Cohn for a CPIQ Phase 3 Enrollment Form.

To find out more details and about the benefits of I3A membership, see the Join I3A page.

To learn more about CPIQ Phase 3, download the CPIQ Phase 3 Fact Sheet. For complete details about CPIQ please download the CPIQ Overview.