Abstract: The image processing device of the present invention includes: an image acquiring section (2) acquiring image data; an image data generating section (32) generating attribute data including each attribute value indicative of an attribute to which each of a plurality of pixels constituting an image indicated by the image data acquired by the image acquiring section (2) belongs among predetermined attributes; and image data reducing section (34) reducing the attribute data by converting, to one attribute value, at least two attribute values included in the attribute data generated by the attribute data generating section, according to a priority given to the each attribute value. Therefore, it becomes possible to realize an image processing device that can reduce the attribute data while keeping important information included in the attribute data, and further improve encoding efficiency of the attribute data.

Abstract: A contents data creating device is configured by equipping a computer with a contents creating software. In this contents creating software, a license information file stores license information containing information describing the permitted range of input data or output data. A GUI manager module displays a choice of options indicating the range of input data or output data unpermitted with the license information, in the mode different from that of the choice of options indicating the range of input data or output data permitted. The GUI manager module performs a conversion using the range of the input data or the output data inputted from the outside, as a parameter.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an image encoding device and decoding device which allows the maximum compression rate to be achieved with a visually uniform level of picture quality. The present invention has a characteristic pixel extractor 0309 which encodes input images by small region unit in accordance with an irreversible compression method, decodes the encoded data which is created, and utilizes the input image and decoded image obtained after decoding to extract characteristic pixels, a characteristic distortion calculator 0311 which utilizes characteristic pixels to calculate characteristic distortion of the decoded image in relation to the input image, and an encoding parameter controller 0312 which controls parameter values determining the degree of data compression in line with the extent of characteristic distortion.

Abstract: An input image is subjected to image region determination in a unit of prescribed block. Based on a result of image region determination, two or more pieces of layer data, of which validity or invalidity at the time of reproduction of the image is defined in a unit of prescribed block are generated by using data of the input image. Then, each of the two or more pieces of layer data is subjected to coding processing under a coding condition suitable for each of the generated two or more pieces of layer data, in a unit of block suitable for each of the two or more pieces of layer data.

Abstract: A data distribution system includes a plurality of data sources each capable of transmitting a data item, and a data vending machine capable of receiving the data item from the plurality of data sources and selling the received data item to a user. The data vending machine includes a data selecting apparatus operated by a user to select a desired data item, a data source selecting apparatus connected to the data selecting apparatus for selecting, among the plurality of data sources, one that holds the data item selected by the data selecting apparatus, in accordance with a specific standard, a data receiving apparatus connected to the data source selecting apparatus for receiving selected data item from the data source selected by the data source selecting apparatus, and a data updating apparatus to which an external storage device is detachably mounted, for writing the data item received by the data receiving apparatus to the external storage device.

Abstract: An image automatic display device for reading automatic operation data as one of pieces of input data has a display image data generation device and a display image data generation operation processing unit. The display image data generation device generates image data to be displayed on a display device on the basis of image data read out from an image input device. The display image data generation operation processing unit controls the display image data generation device by using user operation input data inputted through a viewer operation input device and the automatic operation data. The automatic operation data has a plurality of sets of values of various parameters used for generating an image to be displayed. A user performs an operation through the viewer operation input device, so that a desired set to be applied for image generation is designated in the automatic operation data.

Abstract: The image processing device of the present invention includes: an image acquiring section (2) acquiring image data; an image data generating section (32) generating attribute data including each attribute value indicative of an attribute to which each of a plurality of pixels constituting an image indicated by the image data acquired by the image acquiring section (2) belongs among predetermined attributes; and image data reducing section (34) reducing the attribute data by converting, to one attribute value, at least two attribute values included in the attribute data generated by the attribute data generating section, according to a priority given to the each attribute value. Therefore, it becomes possible to realize an image processing device that can reduce the attribute data while keeping important information included in the attribute data, and further improve encoding efficiency of the attribute data.

Abstract: A contents data creating device is configured by equipping a computer with a contents creating software. In this contents creating software, a license information file stores license information containing information describing the permitted range of input data or output data. A GUI manager module displays a choice of options indicating the range of input data or output data unpermitted with the license information, in the mode different from that of the choice of options indicating the range of input data or output data permitted. The GUI manager module performs a conversion using the range of the input data or the output data inputted from the outside, as a parameter.

Abstract: An electronic book display control device capable of solving the problem of a conventional page turning method of an electronic book device that pages are turned in accordance with a value predetermined by a speed controller and hence it is difficult to turn pages flexibly in accordance with the contents of the book and the characteristics of the user. The control device is provided with a CPU (1) which controls the whole device, an image data storage unit (2) in which the contents of the book are stored as image data, an image data control unit (3) which receives the image data and performs the required control, a display preparation image data memory unit (4) in which image data of the page being displayed and the page to be displayed next are stored, and a display unit (5) on which information concerning the image data and information concerning the operation of the electronic book are displayed.

Abstract: An input image is subjected to image region determination in a unit of prescribed block. Based on a result of image region determination, two or more pieces of layer data, of which validity or invalidity at the time of reproduction of the image is defined in a unit of prescribed block are generated by using data of the input image. Then, each of the two or more pieces of layer data is subjected to coding processing under a coding condition suitable for each of the generated two or more pieces of layer data, in a unit of block suitable for each of the two or more pieces of layer data.

Abstract: An image automatic display device for reading automatic operation data as one of pieces of input data has a display image data generation device and a display image data generation operation processing unit. The display image data generation device generates image data to be displayed on a display device on the basis of image data read out from an image input device. The display image data generation operation processing unit controls the display image data generation device by using user operation input data inputted through a viewer operation input device and the automatic operation data. The automatic operation data has a plurality of sets of values of various parameters used for generating an image to be displayed. A user performs an operation through the viewer operation input device, so that a desired set to be applied for image generation is designated in the automatic operation data.

Abstract: An image compression apparatus capable of efficiently encoding an image without causing color deviation to the eye compresses luminance element image data and two types of chrominance element image data each consisting of a plurality of blocks.

Abstract: A data distribution system includes a plurality of data sources each capable of transmitting a data item, and a data vending machine capable of receiving the data item from the plurality of data sources and selling the received data item to a user. The data vending machine includes a data selecting apparatus operated by a user to select a desired data item, a data source selecting apparatus connected to the data selecting apparatus for selecting, among the plurality of data sources, one that holds the data item selected by the data selecting apparatus, in accordance with a specific standard, a data receiving apparatus connected to the data source selecting apparatus for receiving selected data item from the data source selected by the data source selecting apparatus, and a data updating apparatus to which an external storage device is detachably mounted, for writing the data item received by the data receiving apparatus to the external storage device.

Abstract: An image coding apparatus corresponding to a standard scheme of binary image compression and having the compression efficiency of a gray scale image improved includes: a bit plane generator (303) dividing unitary image data into a plurality of bit planes determined according to the number of bits forming each pixel, an image preprocessor (305) connected to the bit plane generator (303) to arrange bit data of the same position forming a plurality of bit planes in close proximity to combine into a single bit plane, and a data compressor (306) connected to the image preprocessor (305) to compress an image of the single bit plane.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an image encoding device and decoding device which allows the maximum compression rate to be achieved with a visually uniform level of picture quality. The present invention has a characteristic pixel extractor 0309 which encodes input images by small region unit in accordance with an irreversible compression method, decodes the encoded data which is created, and utilises the input image and decoded image obtained after decoding to extract characteristic pixels, a characteristic distortion calculator 0311 which utilises characteristic pixels to calculate characteristic distortion of the decoded image in relation to the input image, and an encoding parameter controller 0312 which controls parameter values determining the degree of data compression in line with the extent of characteristic distortion.

Abstract: The present invention has a characteristic pixel extractor 0309 which encodes input images by small region unit in accordance with an irreversible compression method, decodes the encoded data which is created, and utilises the input image and decoded image obtained after decoding to extract characteristic pixels, a characteristic distortion calculator 0311 which utilises characteristic pixels to calculate characteristic distortion of the decoded image in relation to the input image, and an encoding parameter controller 0312 which controls parameter values determining the degree of data compression in line with the extent of characteristic distortion. The regions of picture quality of a visually uniform level thus obtained are all compressed using an image compression method with a high compression efficiency, thus allowing the maximum compression rate to be achieved.

Abstract: A video coding device capable of adaptively processing input video data according to property of the data and realizing effective progressive transmission of the coded data even if image components are different in size and/or different in the number of subbands. The above-mentioned object can be realized by the provision of a transferring-order deciding and ranging portion that can prepare an integrated component unit by forming combinations of subband-based frequency-coefficients of respective components Y, U and V and can change the number of respective elements of respective components Y, U and V.

Abstract: A video coding device capable of adaptively processing input video data according to property of the data and realizing effective progressive transmission of the coded data even if image components are different in size and/or different in the number of subbands. The above-mentioned object can be realized by the provision of a transferring-order deciding and ranging portion that can prepare an integrated component unit by forming combinations of subband-based frequency-coefficients of respective components Y, U and V and can change the number of respective elements of respective components Y, U and V.

Abstract: Conventional data displays and electronic book devices involve the problem that the operation to highlight displayed data is complex, and therefore the displayed data cannot be read easily depending on the environment where the reader (user) uses the device and on the understanding of the displayed data by the user. A data displaying device of the invention comprising storage means (1) stored with data, displaying means (2) for displaying data, and display control means (3) for controlling the display of data stored in the storage means (1) on the displaying means (2) is characterized by further comprising a highlight displaying means (4) for displaying a visual confirmation guide for highlighting a specific range of the data displayed on the displaying means (2).

Abstract: A data processing device enabling stable data processing reads digital data including object data, an identifier indicating a type of the object data, and an attached program associated with at least one identifier for performing a predetermined process for object data associated with the identifier, to process the object data. The data processing device includes a program storing unit for recording an internal program including a processing module associated with the at least one identifier, an input unit for reading the digital data, and an external program executing unit for processing the object data by one of the attached program and the processing module when the attached program associated with the identifier of the read object data is present in the digital data.