One-pass encoding of connected components in multivalued images

A method of representing connected components in multivalued images is proposed, and an efficient, sequential, one-pass algorithm for generating the border-line chain code for each component is introduced. Simultaneously, the algorithm produces for each component a list of all neighboring components that are encountered during a walk around the border line, thus providing full topological information. The number of different pixel values does not affect performance.<<ETX>>