Abstract: An image encoding device includes a single image pickup unit generating image data by shooting a subject, an image compression unit generating digital image data by encoding the image data, a distance measuring unit measuring a distance to the subject during the shooting, and a multiplexing unit generating multiplexed data based on the digital image data and the measured distance by multiplexing distance data indicating the distance to a subject of each of given pixel blocks of the digital image data onto the digital image data.

Abstract: An image compression apparatus includes: first and second imaging sections for capturing an image of a subject to generate first and second image signals, respectively; first and second encoding sections for encoding the first and second image signals to generate first and second image data, respectively; first and second distance measuring sections for measuring a distance to the subject for each of image blocks, at the same time as the first and second imaging sections perform image capturing, to generate first and second distance information, respectively; first and second multiplexing sections for generating first and second multiplexed data on the basis of the first and second image data and the distance, respectively, by respectively multiplexing the first and second image data and first and second distance data, which are generated on the basis of the first and second distance information and indicate the distance to the subject for each of predefined pixel blocks in the first and second image data, re

Abstract: An image compression apparatus includes: first and second imaging sections for capturing an image of a subject to generate first and second image signals, respectively; first and second encoding sections for encoding the first and second image signals to generate first and second image data, respectively; first and second distance measuring sections for measuring a distance to the subject for each of image blocks, at the same time as the first and second imaging sections perform image capturing, to generate first and second distance information, respectively; first and second multiplexing sections for generating first and second multiplexed data on the basis of the first and second image data and the distance, respectively, by respectively multiplexing the first and second image data and first and second distance data, which are generated on the basis of the first and second distance information and indicate the distance to the subject for each of predefined pixel blocks in the first and second image data, re

Abstract: An image encoding device includes a single image pickup unit generating image data by shooting a subject, an image compression unit generating digital image data by encoding the image data, a distance measuring unit measuring a distance to the subject during the shooting, and a multiplexing unit generating multiplexed data based on the digital image data and the measured distance by multiplexing distance data indicating the distance to a subject of each of given pixel blocks of the digital image data onto the digital image data.

Abstract: An input video signal is coded by a 1-pass type coding system highly efficiently by taking the proportions of the components of the input image. The coding difficulty level computation circuit 33 determines the coding difficulty level d of the input moving image signal S1 and sends it to the amount of allocated bits computation circuit/controller 34. The amount of allocated bits computation circuit/controller 34 determines a reference value of amount of allocated coding bits on the basis of the coding difficulty level d and, when shifting the reference value to the actual amount of allocated coding bits b_x, it stores part of the sum of the amounts of allocated bits a per unit time for a certain period of time as virtual buffer in advance and the actual reference value of the amount of allocated coding bits is obtained by dividing the sum of the amounts of allocated coding bits per unit time less the part stored as virtual buffer by said period of time.

Abstract: An encoder to encode video streams representing a moving picture is provided whose video encoder calculates a bit storage quantity an STD video buffer should have when input of a stream ending with a first picture to the STD video buffer ends, calculates an initial bit storage quantity of a second picture of a stream concatenated to the end of the first picture and starting with the second picture, in a VBV buffer, based on the calculated bit storage quantity of the STD buffer, and encodes the stream based on the bit storage quantity. The video encoder further calculates a bit storage quantity of the STD video buffer, for decoding a picture of the stream in the STD video buffer, calculates, based on the calculated bit storage quantity, a bit storage quantity the VBV buffer should have for ending decoding of a fourth picture of a second stream concatenated to the beginning of a third picture and ending with the fourth picture, and encodes the stream based on the calculated bit storage quantity.

Abstract: An input video signal is coded by a 1-pass type coding system highly efficiently by taking the proportions of the components of the input image. The coding difficulty level computation circuit 33 determines the coding difficulty level d of the input moving image signal S1 and sends it to the amount of allocated bits computation circuit/controller 34. The amount of allocated bits computation circuit/controller 34 determines a reference value of amount of allocated coding bits on the basis of the coding difficulty level d and, when shifting the reference value to the actual amount of allocated coding bits b_x, it stores part of the sum of the amounts of allocated bits a per unit time for a certain period of time as virtual buffer in advance and the actual reference value of the amount of allocated coding bits is obtained by dividing the sum of the amounts of allocated coding bits per unit time less the part stored as virtual buffer by said period of time.

Abstract: An input video signal is coded by a 1-pass type coding system highly efficiently by taking the proportions of the components of the input image. The coding difficulty level computation circuit 33 determines the coding difficulty level d of the input moving image signal S1 and sends it to the amount of allocated bits computation circuit/controller 34. The amount of allocated bits computation circuit/controller 34 determines a reference value of amount of allocated coding bits on the basis of the coding difficulty level d and, when shifting the reference value to the actual amount of allocated coding bits b_x, it stores part of the sum of the amounts of allocated bits a per unit time for a certain period of time as virtual buffer in advance and the actual reference value of the amount of allocated coding bits is obtained by dividing the sum of the amounts of allocated coding bits per unit time less the part stored as virtual buffer by said period of time.

Abstract: An encoder to encode video streams representing a moving picture is provided whose video encoder calculates a bit storage quantity an STD video buffer should have when input of a stream ending with a first picture to the STD video buffer ends, calculates an initial bit storage quantity of a second picture of a stream concatenated to the end of the first picture and starting with the second picture, in a VBV buffer, based on the calculated bit storage quantity of the STD buffer, and encodes the stream based on the bit storage quantity. The video encoder further calculates a bit storage quantity of the STD video buffer, for decoding a picture of the stream in the STD video buffer, calculates, based on the calculated bit storage quantity, a bit storage quantity the VBV buffer should have for ending decoding of a fourth picture of a second stream concatenated to the beginning of a third picture and ending with the fourth picture, and encodes the stream based on the calculated bit storage quantity.

Abstract: A picture signal processing method and apparatus in which the block distortion as well as the mosquito noise produced on encoding/decoding a picture is to be suppressed. The picture signal processing apparatus includes a filter for filtering a picture, an encoder 5 for block-encoding the picture, a decoder 13 for decoding an encoded picture from the encoder 5 and a noise reducing unit 14 for reducing at least the block distortion of a picture decoded by the decoding unit 13 to reduce the noise otherwise produced on encoding/decoding the picture.

Abstract: An encoder to encode video streams representing a moving picture is provided whose video encoder calculates a bit storage quantity an STD video buffer should have when input of a stream ending with a first picture to the STD video buffer ends, calculates an initial bit storage quantity of a second picture of a stream concatenated to the end of the first picture and starting with the second picture, in a VBV buffer, based on the calculated bit storage quantity of the STD buffer, and encodes the stream based on the bit storage quantity. The video encoder further calculates a bit storage quantity of the STD video buffer, for decoding a picture of the stream in the STD video buffer, calculates, based on the calculated bit storage quantity, a bit storage quantity the VBV buffer should have for ending decoding of a fourth picture of a second stream concatenated to the beginning of a third picture and ending with the fourth picture, and encodes the stream based on the calculated bit storage quantity.

Abstract: An image processing system comprising a decoder 10 and an encoder 30. The decoder 10 comprises a section 12 for decoding a bit stream to generate image data, generating coding parameters for each layer and generating an error flag indicating whether the coding parameters can be effectively used. The encoder 30 comprises a control section 41, an MB-parameter calculating section 36, an encoding section 38 and a variable-length encoding section 39. The section 41 determines, from the error flag, whether or not the coding parameters can be effectively used or not. The section 36 calculates coding parameters when the coding parameters generated by the section 12 are invalid. The sections 38 and 39 encodes the image data by using the coding parameters generated by the section 12 when these parameters are valid, and by using the coding parameters calculated by the section 36 when the coding parameters generated by the section 12 are invalid.

Abstract: A bit stream generated in a first encoding process is supplied to an MPEG decoder. The MPEG decoder outputs decoded pictures. The decoded pictures are supplied as input decoded pictures to a frame memory through a recording/reproducing system. The frame memory supplies the input decoded pictures to an MPEG encoder and an MAD calculating circuit at a predetermined timing. The MAD calculating circuit calculates a MAD value (the sum of the differences between a mean value and each pixel value). A high pass filter extracts high frequency components from the input decoded pictures corresponding to the calculated result. The extracted high frequency components are supplied to a B picture determining circuit. The B picture determining circuit determines the picture type of the input decoded pictures corresponding to the high frequency components and supplies the determined result to the MPEG encoder. The MPEG encoder locks GOP phases of the input decoded pictures corresponding to the determined result.

Abstract: A picture signal processing system is disclosed, that comprises a decoder for generating the number of encoded bits and/or an average quantizing scale as representative value(s) of encoding parameters of an input encoded picture signal, decoding the input encoded picture signal, generating the decoded picture signal, and outputting the encoding parameters along with the generated decoded picture signal, and an encoder for encoding the decoded picture signal with the encoding parameters.

Abstract: A picture signal processing system is disclosed, that comprises a decoder for generating the number of encoded bits and/or an average quantizing scale as representative value(s) of encoding parameters of an input encoded picture signal, decoding the input encoded picture signal, generating the decoded picture signal, and outputting the encoding parameters along with the generated decoded picture signal, and an encoder for encoding the decoded picture signal with the encoding parameters.

Abstract: A picture signal processing method and apparatus in which the block distortion as well as the mosquito noise produced on encoding/decoding a picture is to be suppressed. The picture signal processing apparatus includes a filter for filtering a picture, an encoder 5 for block-encoding the picture, a decoder 13 for decoding an encoded picture from the encoder 5 and a noise reducing unit 14 for reducing at least the block distortion of a picture decoded by the decoding unit 13 to reduce the noise otherwise produced on encoding/decoding the picture.

Abstract: A picture signal processing method and apparatus in which the block distortion as well as the mosquito noise produced on encoding/decoding a picture is to be suppressed. The picture signal processing apparatus includes a filter for filtering a picture, an encoder 5 for block-encoding the picture, a decoder 13 for decoding an encoded picture from the encoder 5 and a noise reducing unit 14 for reducing at least the block distortion of a picture decoded by the decoding unit 13 to reduce the noise otherwise produced on encoding/decoding the picture.

Abstract: An apparatus incorporates encoding-degree-of-difficulty detecting means 3 for detecting a parameter indicating an encoding degree of difficulty from supplied image data; parameter calculating means 4 for calculating a parameter required to determine block distortion from supplied image data; block distortion determining means 6 for determining block distortion in accordance with a result of detection of the parameter indicating the encoding degree of difficulty and a result of the calculation for obtaining the parameter; correction-value calculating means 7 for calculating a correction value for reducing block distortion; and means for subjecting supplied image data to a correction using a correction value corresponding to a result of the determination of block distortion so as to produce an output.

Abstract: An edit point of an earlier GOP1 is placed after an I picture I22. In addition, the edit point is not placed immediately after an I or P picture. Thus, the GOP1 is decoded. A stream placed after the edit point (a P picture and later pictures) is discarded. B pictures B26 and B27 placed after a P picture P25 are re-encoded with a forward moving vector Fw. The remaining pictures other than B pictures B26 and B27 are re-encoded with encoding information used in a decoding process. Since an edit point of a later GOP2 is not placed before the I picture I2, the GOP2 is decoded. A stream placed before the edit point (pictures B0 to P5) is discarded. The first P picture P8 is changed to an I picture. Thereafter, the re-encoding process is performed. The P picture P8 changed from the I picture is used as a predictive reference picture. With the P picture P8, a backward moving vector Bk is obtained. With only the moving vector Bk, the B pictures B6 and B7 placed before the P picture P8 are re-encoded.

Abstract: ABSTRACT An input video signal is coded by a 1-pass type coding system highly efficiently by taking the proportions of the components of the input image. The coding difficulty level computation circuit 33 determines the coding difficulty level d of the input moving image signal S1 and sends it to the amount of allocated bits computation circuit/controller 34. The amount of allocated bits computation circuit/controller 34 determines a reference value of amount of allocated coding bits on the basis of the coding difficulty level d and, when shifting the reference value to the actual amount of allocated coding bits b_x, it stores part of the sum of the amounts of allocated bits a per unit time for a certain period of time as virtual buffer in advance and the actual reference value of the amount of allocated coding bits is obtained by dividing the sum of the amounts of allocated coding bits per unit time less the part stored as virtual buffer by said period of time.