Abstract: An image encoding/decoding apparatus in which on the transmission side, image information is divided into at least two or more signal groups by a frequency band, the plurality of signal groups are individually high efficiency encoded, an error correction code is added to each of the plurality of encoded signal groups. The resultant signal groups are then multiplexed and transmitted. On the reception side, the transmitted multiplexed signal is divided into the signal groups for every frequency band divided on the transmission side, the error correction and the decoding of the high efficient encoded data are executed for every signal group, and the plurality of signal groups after decoding are frequency band synthesized, thereby reproducing the image information. At least two kinds of error correction codes of different error correcting abilities are used as error correction codes which are added to the plurality of signal groups on the transmission side.

Abstract: An available recording capacity is determined from various factors such as the remaining recording capacity of a tape and the length of insert-recording time, and the amount of information to be recorded is also determined. On the basis of the information thus obtained, the compression ratio of variable-length coding is controlled so that information to be recorded can be reliably accommodated into an available recording capacity, whereby information of any time length can be recorded in a recording area of desired length. In addition, it is possible to prevent a problem such as destruction of another recording.

Abstract: Disclosed are an image coding method and apparatus for coding digital image data in a highly efficient manner, and to an image decoding method and apparatus for decoding the data thus coded. Each image signal constituting the image data is partitioned into a plurality of pixel blocks, and coding of each of the image signals is performed in block units. A plurality of items of coded data obtained by such coding are gathered together to form a block (a re-sync block) corresponding to each image signal. A plurality of the re-sync blocks corresponding to the image signals of an image area of the original image data are sequentially combined, boundary-line information is inserted between mutually adjacent re-sync blocks, and an error correction code is attached to form a code for transmission. In the apparatus for receiving this code, the code is decoded into the original image data by partitioning the code into re-sync blocks and performing decoding and interpolation in re-sync block units.

Abstract: In an image encoding apparatus, conversion data obtained by converting image information onto a frequency region, and corresponding to several frames are parallelly output using a one-frame-period delay circuit. The parallelly output conversion data are quantized by a quantization circuit, and a data amount to be obtained when the quantized data are encoded is obtained by a variable-length coding circuit. The data amount information is input to a coefficient operation circuit for determining a quantization step of the next stage. Conversion data quantized according to an output from the coefficient operation circuit are encoded, and the encoded data are output.

Abstract: A reproducing method for reproducing an image from a recording medium on which are recorded (i) a plurality of basic frame image data representing a whole image, and (ii) a plurality of collateral image data representing a partial image of the whole image. The reproducing method includes the steps of discriminating a plurality of recording locations at which a plurality of basic frame image data are recorded on the recording medium, storing into a memory, the plurality of recording locations of the plurality of basic frame image data discriminated in the discriminating step, without storing a plurality of recording locations of the plurality of collateral image data, and reading a basic frame image data recorded on the recording medium in accordance with the plurality of recording locations of the plurality of basic frame image data stored in the memory to reproduce an image from the read basic frame image data.

Abstract: In an image encoding apparatus, conversion data obtained by converting image information onto a frequency region, and corresponding to several frames are parallelly output using a one-frame-period delay circuit. The parallelly output conversion data are quantized by a quantization circuit, and a data amount to be obtained when the quantized data are encoded is obtained by a variable-length coding circuit. The data amount information is input to a coefficient operation circuit for determining a quantization step of the next stage. Conversion data quantized according to an output from the coefficient operation circuit are encoded, and the encoded data are output.

Abstract: When forming a data block which includes both an image code obtained by carrying out variable length coding for each of plural regions resulting from dividing each picture provided by an image signal, and added information associated therewith, boundary information indicative of a position, in the data block, of the boundary between the image codes in two adjacent regions of the divided regions is added to the data block. There are also formed in the data block a first error detection or correction code to make up a code word which includes the boundary code, but does not include the image code, and a second error detection or correction code to make up a code word which includes both the image code and the boundary code.

Abstract: In an image encoding apparatus, conversion data obtained by converting image information onto a frequency region, and corresponding to several frames, are parallelly output using a one-frame-period delay circuit. The parallelly output conversion data are quantized by a quantization circuit, and the amount of data to be obtained when the quantized data are encoded is determined by a variable-length coding circuit. The data amount information is input to a coefficient operation circuit for determining a quantization step of the next stage. Conversion data quantized according to an output from the coefficient operation circuit are encoded, and the encoded data are output.

Abstract: Successively transmitted images are stored in frame memories the contents of which are displayed. The user can freeze a desired image in order to view it for a prolonged period of time. When the image thus frozen is released from the freeze mode, the content of the frame memory storing it continues to be displayed until anew image is stored in this frame memory. When a new image has been written in the frame memory and a stage is reached in which the image is to be displayed, display-setting information pertaining to this image is read out and the image is displayed in accordance with this information. In a case where the display-setting information indicates that the image is to be displayed in combination with a designated image transmitted earlier and it is determined that the storage destination of the designated image had previously been placed in the freeze mode, this means that an unrelated image is presently being stored at this storage location.

Abstract: In an information signal processing arrangement, an information signal, to which an error detecting code has been added and a part of which other than the error detecting code has been set to a code indicating a predetermined value, is received. Error detection capability is increased by detecting an error in the information signal according to the error detecting code added to the received information signal, and detecting whether or not the part of the information signal set to the predetermined value has changed.

Abstract: In an image encoding apparatus, conversion data obtained by converting image information onto a frequency region, and corresponding to several frames, are parallelly output using a one-frame-period delay circuit. The parallelly output conversion data are quantized by a quantization circuit, and the amount of data to be obtained when the quantized data are encoded is determined by a variable-length coding circuit. The data amount information is input to a coefficient operation circuit for determining a quantization step for use in the next stage. Conversion data quantized according to an output from the coefficient operation circuit are encoded, and the encoded data are output.

Abstract: An error check or correction code coding device is disclosed. In this device, when a main information code is transmitted after an error check or correction code is added thereto, a control code is included in a code group used in calculations upon generation of the error check or correction code, and a bit pattern of the control code is selected to remove a DC component of the bit pattern of the error check or correction code.

Abstract: A phase-locked loop device for producing an output clock synchronized in phase with an input clock, wherein in addition to a loop responsive to the phase difference between an output clock of a controlled oscillator and the input clock for controlling the controlled oscillator, there is provided another loop for controlling the controlled oscillator in accordance with the frequency difference between the output clock of the controlled oscillator and a reference clock.

Abstract: A digital signal recording apparatus includes first circuitry for forming digital video data, and second circuitry for forming digital audio data. Third circuitry is provided for forming (a) video synchronizing blocks each of which comprises a predetermined number of digital video data and synchronizing data, and (b) audio synchronizing blocks each of which comprises a predetermined number of digital audio data and synchronizing data. Recording circuitry is provided for recording the video synchronizing blocks and the audio synchronizing blocks in tracks formed on a recording medium, the tracks being generally aligned in the direction of travel in the recording medium. The recording circuitry includes time-division multiplexing circuitry for time-division multiplexing a predetermined number of video synchronizing blocks and a predetermined number of audio synchronizing blocks to produce a data sequence for each of the tracks.

Abstract: A digital information transmitting and receiving system constructed of a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter includes a high efficiency encoding circuit for compressing digital information codes using correlativity among the digital information codes, and outputting compressed information codes; an error correcting code generating circuit for sampling the compressed information codes in the direction of correlativity used by the high efficiency encoding circuit, and generating an error correcting code using the sampled compressed information codes; and a transmitting unit for transmitting a code train including the compressed information codes and the error correcting code.

Abstract: A decoding method for digital data having a two-dimensional arrangement including error correction check codes in both for first and second directions, wherein, an error correcting method having a value in which the result of the arithmetic operation for error correction was added to syndromes in at least one of the first and second directions is obtained and error correction is again executed on the basis of this value. In addition, an error correcting apparatus having a plurality of syndrome calculating units are provided so that a plurality of syndromes can be simultaneously calculated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an encoding apparatus for digitizing and encoding an input image signal, the input image signal being sequentially sampled to sequentially form sample signals at respective sample points. The encoding data which respectively correspond to the sample signals at respective sample points are formed, and the plurality of resultant encoding data are sequentially output on a group unit basis of k (k being an integer equal to or greater than 2) encoding data in accordance with the order different from the forming order of the encoding data. In accordance with a combination of the k encoding data which have been output, the k encoding data are converted into the data train having less DC and low frequency components and output, so that the image signal can be highly efficiently encoded.

Abstract: A digital signal recording apparatus includes first circuitry for forming digital video data, and second circuitry for forming digital audio data. Third circuitry is provided for forming (a) video synchronizing blocks each of which comprises a predetermined number of digital video data and synchronizing data, and (b) audio synchronizing blocks each of which comprises a predetermined number of digital audio data and synchronizing data. Recording circuitry is provided for recording the video synchronizing blocks and the audio synchronizing blocks in tracks formed on a recording medium, the tracks being generally aligned in the direction of travel in the recording medium. The recording circuitry includes time-division multiplexing circuitry for time-division multiplexing a predetermined number of video synchronizing blocks and a predetermined number of audio synchronizing blocks to produce a data sequence for each of the tracks.

Abstract: An encoder is arranged to receive an image signal; to serially form sample signals by sampling the incoming image signal; to form coded data corresponding to the sample signals; and to convert an m number (m: an integer which is at least 2) of the coded data into data consisting of the same number of bits as the total number of bits of said m number of coded data. The arrangement enables the encoder to efficiently encode the image signal.