Abstract: An adaptive forward error correction technique based on noise bursts and the rate at which they occur is disclosed. The forward error correction parameters are determined using statistics describing the noise burst duration and period. The occurrence, duration and period of the noise burst are determined by the error vector magnitude calculated during the decoding process.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for detecting fade of a video signal which can detect a fade state of an image from a video signal at a high speed. It is determined that an image based on an original video signal is in a fade state when the absolute value of the difference between the total luminance value of original video signal of one frame and the total luminance value of the neighboring video signal of one frame which are neighboring just before or after the original video signal is relatively large and the number of pixel data in which the absolute value of the difference between each pixel data in the original video signal of one frame and each pixel data in the neighboring video signal is relatively small with respect to pixels existing at the spatially same position is large.

Abstract: Data (D) is compressed in dependence on a compression parameter (CPAR). An example of such data compression is coding a sequence of pictures in accordance with a standard defined by the Moving Pictures Experts Group. In the process of compressing the data (D), the following three steps are repetitively carried out. In a prediction step (PRD), it is predicted, on the basis of an initial value (VALint) of the compression parameter (CPAR), which amount of compressed data Xprd will have been obtained at a future instant of time (Tfut). In an adaptation step (ADP), the initial value (VALint) is adapted on the basis of a difference (&Dgr;X) between the predicted amount of data (Xprd) and a desired amount of data (Xdes), so as to obtain an adapted value (VALadp) of the compression parameter (CPAR). In an application step (APL), the adapted value (VALadp) of the compression parameter (CPAR) is applied until a subsequent prediction step (PRD) followed by a subsequent adaptation step (ADP) is carried out.

Abstract: In partitioning and encoding an image into multiple regions, the degree of freedom of the region shape has generally been low and setting regions based on image features was difficult. A moving image encoding apparatus includes a region partitioning section, an encoder, and a memory for motion-compensated prediction. The region partitioning section includes a partitioning processing section and a integration processing section. The partitioning processing section partitions the input image based on a criterion relating to the state of partition. The integration processing section integrates mutually close regions based on a criterion relating to the state of integration. Thereafter, each region is encoded. A large variety of region shapes can be produced by the integration processing section.

Abstract: A moving picture coding apparatus is provided which is capable of controlling a bit rate of output codes so as not to exceed a target bit rate and reducing noises in a decoded image. The apparatus comprises: a converter 13 for converting prediction errors of a plurality of pixel data into frequency components on a block basis; a quantizer 14 for quantizing converted prediction errors with reference to a quantization table; a dequantizer 15 for dequantizing quantized prediction errors with reference to a quantization table; a coder 18 for coding the quantized prediction errors to generate codes; an output buffer 19 for buffering the codes; a buffer checker 20 for checking a code occupied ratio in the output buffer; a plurality of quantization tables; and a quantization table selector 21 for selecting on quantization table from the plurality of quantization tables in accordance with the code occupied ratio.

Abstract: A system for transcoding compressed video signal, including a plurality of pictures, comprising an estimator to gather information and estimate the signal characteristics about the video signal; a decoder to completely or partially decode the compressed video signal; and an encoder to compress the reconstructed video signal according to a coding scheme devised on the estimated signal characteristics from the estimator.

Abstract: An image coding apparatus which includes a frame memory selecting unit (35) for selecting, in response to a selection signal, an image to be continuously stored in a plurality of frame memories (9, 10) as a background image and storing the background image into the plurality of frame memories (9, 10), and a background motion compensating unit (14, 39) for performing motion compensating prediction corresponding to an input image based on the background image to generate a predicted image based on the motion compensating prediction, and an image decoding apparatus corresponding to the image coding apparatus.

Abstract: Video signal processing apparatus in which at least two input video signals are combined in proportions determined by a pixel key signal to generate an output video signal for compression, at least one of the input video signals each having respective associated compression parameters from a data compression process applied to that video signal; comprises:

Abstract: An apparatus and method for encoding input video data representative of a number of group of pictures (GOPs) each having a plurality of fields or frames. The apparatus includes a first encoder for processing received input video data so as to determine difficulty data of a field or frame which is indicative of the difficulty of the video data, a computing device for determining a target code amount representative of an amount of data to be utilized in accordance with the difficulty data of a number (N) of the fields or frames, and a second encoder for encoding the received video data in accordance with the target code amount.