Abstract: In a video encoder (100), a motion estimation module (102) identifies for a portion of a frame to be encoded, a similar portion in a reference frame. The reference frame is a decoded version of an already encoded frame. A reference frame compression module (104) independently encodes respective portions of the reference frame so as to obtain respective encoded portions of the reference frame. The respective portions of the reference frame that are independently encoded are at least as large as the portion of the frame to be encoded. A reference frame memory (108) temporarily stores the respective encoded portions of the reference frame as an encoded representation of the reference frame. A reference frame decompression module (105) decodes an encoded portion of the reference frame stored in the reference frame memory (108), so as to obtain a decoded version of the encoded portion of the reference frame.

Abstract: In a method in which the data related to the image are read in successive blocks, then subjected to orthogonal transformation, the coefficients of the transform obtained being quantized and analyzed according to a certain order and applied in the form of binary signals to a redundancy reducing coder, the signals representing the coefficients of the transform are stored in a memory organized in several blocks, and the contents of said memory are analyzed such that the signals applied to the redundancy reducing coder comprise sets of signals of coefficients taken from a group of blocks, the signals of each coefficient in each set being taken from a separate block belonging to said group of blocks.