New Regularization Models for Image Denoising with a Spatially Dependent Regularization Parameter

We consider simultaneously estimating the restored image and the spatially dependent regularization parameter which mutually benefit from each other. Based on this idea, we refresh two well-known image denoising models: the LLT model proposed by Lysaker et al. (2003) and the hybrid model proposed by Li et al. (2007). The resulting models have the advantage of better preserving image regions containing textures and fine details while still sufficiently smoothing homogeneous features. To efficiently solve the proposed models, we consider an alternating minimization scheme to resolve the original nonconvex problem into two strictly convex ones. Preliminary convergence properties are also presented. Numerical experiments are reported to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed models and the efficiency of our numerical scheme.