Abstract: A motion vector holding unit 61 holds motion vector information with respect to a backward reference frame detected beforehand and received from a motion compensation unit 60. A motion vector calculation unit 63 calculates multiple motion vectors for each macro block defined in a coding target frame with reference to the motion vector information with respect to the backward reference frame held by the motion vector holding unit 61 according to each calculation mode of a set of different calculation modes. A motion compensation prediction unit 64 performs motion compensation using motion vectors obtained for each calculation mode, thereby creating predicted images. The predicted images are output to a coding amount estimation unit 65. The coding amount estimation unit 65 estimates the coding amount of the subtraction image, which is the subtraction between the predicted image and the original image, for each calculation mode.

Abstract: With the motion vector detection for the macro blocks according to the entire macro block search method, the processing is consecutively performed for a set of adjacent upper and lower macro blocks as a target macro block group. Of the reference image data held by frame memory, pixel data of a composite search region, which is the sum of two motion vector search regions corresponding to each macro blocks included in the target macro block group, is transmitted in batch to fast memory. Then, before the processing for the next target macro block group, only the pixel data of the region, which is newly selected as a part of the composite search region, is transmitted to the fast memory.

Abstract: A motion vector search unit determines a unit area of a bidirectional prediction frame for each motion vector of a backward reference frame to pass through, and stores information on the unit area to be passed into a pass area number holding unit. A reference vector prediction unit consults the pass area number holding unit to acquire the motion vector of the backward reference frame that passes a target unit area of the bidirectional prediction frame from a motion vector holding unit, and determines a reference vector to be applied to this target unit area. The motion vector search unit applies the reference vector to the target unit area of the bidirectional prediction frame, determines a forward motion vector and a backward motion vector of the target unit area by linear prediction, and makes a motion compensated prediction on the target unit area bidirectionally to generate a predicted image.

Abstract: An original image shot by a shooting unit is read in a frame buffer and transformed by a wavelet transformer. An evaluating unit monitors the coefficients of the HL, LH, HH sub-bands generated by the wavelet transformer and checks the number of the high frequency components in the original image. If there are sufficient high frequency components, the quality of the original image is judged to be good, and if not, the image quality is judged not to be good because of camera shake or the like. The evaluating unit sends a coding indication signal to a quantizer if the image quality is good. Thereby the wavelet transformed image is coded. If the image quality is not good, the evaluating unit sends a re-shooting indication signal to the shooting unit.

Abstract: A monitoring unit monitors continuously wavelet transform component output from a wavelet transformer. When a condition “make all the components of the HH sub-band 0” is applied as a quantization strategy, the monitoring unit detects the maximum value N among the components in the HH sub-band and determines the threshold as N+1. The threshold is then sent to a quantizer.

Abstract: A region setting unit 64 sets multiple global regions in a frame image. A bit number adjustment unit 62 adjusts the number of bits of the local motion vectors LMV which are to be obtained for each global region. A local motion vector detection unit 66 detects the local motion vectors LMV with the number of bits adjusted by the bit number adjustment unit 62 in units of macro blocks for each global region. A global motion vector calculation unit 68 calculates the global motion vector GMV which represents the global motion for each global region. A local motion vector difference coding unit 72 calculates the difference ?LMV, which is the difference between each local motion vector LMV and the global motion vector GMV, for each global region, and performs coding thereof.

Abstract: A local motion vector detection unit 66 obtains a local motion vector LMV for each macro block in a coding target frame image. A region setting unit 64 sets multiple global regions in the frame image. A global motion vector calculation unit 68 calculates a global motion vector GMV which indicates the global motion within each global region. A local motion vector difference coding unit 72 performs coding of the difference ?LMV which has been obtained by making the difference between each of the local motion vectors LMV within the global region and the global motion vector GMV obtained for each global region. A global motion vector difference coding unit 74 performs coding of the difference ?GMV which has been obtained by making the difference between each of the global motion vectors GMV obtained for corresponding global region and the reference global motion vector GMVB serving as a reference.

Abstract: A wavelet transform is applied to an original image, so as to generate an image of a first hierarchy. Among the thus generated image of the first hierarchy, each of high-frequency sub-band components 1HL, 1LH and 1HH are immediately quantized and coded so as to be temporarily stored in a coded data storage. Another wavelet transform is applied to an LL sub-band component, among the image of the first hierarchy, so as to generate an image of a second hierarchy. Thereafter, an image of a third hierarchy is generated from an LL sub-band component in the image of the second hierarchy. During such a process, quantization and coding processings are performed in parallel with transformation processings. After all processings are completed and the coded data are prepared, coded image data complying with the JPEG2000 standard are generated by first reading out low-frequency components in sequence from the prepared coded data.

Abstract: When a reverse reproduction is instructed, an MPEG video stream is once decoded and is converted to image video signals by a first display circuit. Thereafter, the image video signals are again recoded by an image input circuit and an MPEG video encoder, so as to be overwritten in a storage area of a hard disk. An MPEG video decoder reads out this recoded data sequence in a reverse time-series manner and decodes it successively. Then the thus decoded data are converted to image video signals by a second display circuit, so as to be displayed on a display.

Abstract: An image coding apparatus is provided which satisfies various levels of demands on image distribution, both from image providers and from users. The image coding apparatus includes a coding block which codes predetermined image data. A separation unit separates the coded image data into basic data for reproducing contents of the coded image data as a visible image, and complementary data for complementing the basic data, so that the two pieces of data are distributed on different occasions. An adding unit adds information for independent copyright control to at least either one of the basic data and the complementary data.

Abstract: A motion vector detecting unit 24 detects a motion vector between an input image and a reference image. A reduced image creation unit 40 reads out pixel data of the reference image from the frame memory, and creates a reduced image at a lower resolution than that of the original reference image. A reduced image holding unit 42 stores a part or all of the reduced image thus created. A computation unit 44 performs matching computation between the input image and the reference image using the reduced images, thereby detecting an approximate motion vector. Subsequently, the computation unit 44 detects a motion vector using the images at the original resolution with reference to the approximate motion vector. When the computation unit 44 detects the motion vector using the reduced images, a part of the reduced image stored in the reduced image holding unit 42 is not newly created, and is read out from the reduced image holding unit 42.

Abstract: When a reverse reproduction is instructed, an MPEG video stream is once decoded and is converted to image video signals by a first display circuit. Thereafter, the image video signals are again recoded by an image input circuit and an MPEG video encoder, so as to be overwritten in a storage area of a hard disk. An MPEG video decoder reads out this recoded data sequence in a reverse time-series manner and decodes it successively. Then the thus decoded data are converted to image video signals by a second display circuit, so as to be displayed on a display.

Abstract: The digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention includes a tuning unit for outputting normal image data for performing a normal reproduction operation corresponding to a user selected channel, a memory unit for outputting background image data for performing a background reproduction operation when the normal reproduction operation cannot be performed, a data selector for receiving the normal image data and the background image data and outputting one of the normal image data and the background image data, and an MPEG video decode unit for decoding image data output by the data selector to generate an image signal. The tuning unit successively receives the respective channel selected in the background independently of the user selection, and stores the background image data corresponding to the respective channels in the memory unit.

Abstract: The digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention includes a tuning unit for outputting normal image data for performing a normal reproduction operation corresponding to a user selected channel, a memory unit for outputting background image data for performing a background reproduction operation when the normal reproduction operation cannot be performed, a data selector for receiving the normal image data and the background image data and outputting one of the normal image data and the background image data, and an MPEG video decode unit for decoding image data output by the data selector to generate an image signal. The tuning unit successively receives the respective channel selected in the background independently of the user selection, and stores the background image data corresponding to the respective channels in the memory unit.

Abstract: Coded image data which are coded hierarchically are decoded successively by an inverse wavelet transformer. During a process of decoding, images of intermediate hierarchy are stored in a frame buffer. In a case where constrains are placed on memory capacity or power capacity utilizable for a decoding processing, or resolution at an outputting end is limited, an abort processor discontinues or aborts the decoding processing in the middle. Then, the abort processor extracts intermediate-hierarchy images obtained by that time, from the frame buffer, and performs thereon an image processing such as a scaling, as appropriate, so as to be used as final decoded images. Thereby, a processing cost is markedly reduced.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus and a shooting apparatus are provided that enable a user to recognize in real time image qualities of a plurality of regions while encoding an image in such a manner that a plurality of the regions have different image qualities. When a camera is in a shooting mode, an image transformation unit transforms an image in such a manner that the image quality level of each region set by a ROI region setting unit and an image quality setting unit can be visually recognized and generates in real time a through image to be displayed on a display device. A through image generated by the image transformation unit is sent to a display circuit via a switch and displayed on the display device.

Abstract: A region of interest is set within an image, the region of interest is tracked along motion of an object marked out within the image, and coding is performed in a manner that image quality differs between the region of interest and a region other than the region of interest. A wavelet transform unit applies a low-pass filter and a high-pass filter in the respective x and y directions of an original image, and divides the image into four frequency sub-bands so as to carry out a wavelet transform. A quantization unit quantizes, with a predetermined quantizing width, the wavelet transform coefficients outputted from the wavelet transform unit. A motion detector detects the motion of an object. A ROI setting unit moves a ROI region according to this motion of an object. In the case of moving images where a viewpoint changes, the background may be separated from the object and then the ROI region may be moved according to the motion of the object and the motion of the background.

Abstract: The present invention provides a technique for reducing a period of time required for detection of a motion vector. With a method for detecting a motion vector between an input image and a reference image used for a reference of the input image, first, a two-dimensional search region having a predetermined pattern is determined, and matching is computed between a coding target block in the input image and multiple blocks represented by multiple search points included in the search region in parallel. In a case wherein the evaluated computation results exhibit optimum matching results, the motion vector is determined based upon the computation results. In a case wherein the optimum solution has not been obtained, the search region for the next matching is determined based upon the evaluation results, and search is repeated.

Abstract: The image processing apparatus comprises a wavelet transform unit, a frame buffer, a quantization unit, a bit plane coding unit, an arithmetic coding unit, and a stream generating unit, and converts an original image into coded image data hierarchically by using these units. A copyright level management table manages copyright levels to be permitted to users who use the coded image data. A copyright level recording unit records copyright level information on the corresponding profile into a header or other areas of the coded image data in consideration of such factors as users and regions to be provided.

Abstract: Header information capture section extracts information such as the numbers of dots in horizontal and vertical directions, respectively, of the picture, a frame rate and so on from a sequence header included in an MPEG video stream. Total processing amount estimation/reproduction scheme determination section receives a channel priority determined for each display mode and an output of header information capture section to estimate a total processing amount and determine a reproduction scheme for each channel. MPEG decoder receives code inputs of channels 1 to 4 in a time-dividing manner through header information capture section to perform decoding of picture codes of each channel according to a determination signal outputted from total processing amount estimation/reproduction scheme determination section.