Abstract: There are provided an image input section for inputting image data at a constant time interval on a page-by-page basis, an image compression/decompression section for compressing input image data into coded data, a hard disk for storing the coded data, a code buffer for buffering a transfer of the coded data, and an overflow/underflow detection section for detecting an overflow in the code buffer. If an overflow is detected, image processing control section instructs the code buffer to discard the coded data of the overflow-occurring page and continue transferring residual coded data of a preceding page, and causes the image input section to again input image data of the overflow-occurring page.

Abstract: An image coding apparatus wherein coding processing is performed efficiently and the generated code amount is controlled to a substantially fixed level is disclosed.