Abstract: There is disclosed image predictive coding apparatus and method, image predictive decoding apparatus and method, and recording medium which stores therein the image predictive coding method or the image predictive decoding method, of which the transform efficiency is remarkably improved in comparison with the prior art.

Abstract: In a video encoding method according to the present invention, an encoding mode controller 102 determines an encoding mode of each image on the occasion of encoding a moving picture consisting of a plurality of images, and a region partitioning unit 104 determines a region structural unit for partitioning the image into multiple regions, based on the encoding mode. A region determining unit 116 defines the regions on the basis of the region structural unit and information thereof is encoded. Then an encoder 105 compression-encodes pixel data included in the regions, in encoding units to generate compression-encoded data according to the encoding mode, and outputs the resultant data.

Abstract: An image adjustment amount determination device comprises: processing target image determination means for receiving an input video signal which comprises a plurality of frame images and which is input from the outside, for dividing the input video signal into the plurality of frame images, and for determining a processing target image which is to be the target of image processing and one or more neighboring images which are located in the vicinity of the processing target image in the display order, on the basis of a predetermined criterion from the plurality of frame images; image characteristic extraction means for extracting a feature quantity relating to the neighboring images thus determined; and image adjustment amount determination means for determining at least one adjustment amount of the amplitude and bandwidth of a spatial frequency component relating to the processing target image thus determined, on the basis of the feature quantity that relates to the neighboring images thus extracted.

Abstract: In an image coding method of the present invention, after a process such as DCT is performed to digital image data, quantization process is performed, and then, to resultant quantized transform coefficients, variable length coding process is performed with reference to a variable length code table showing how variable length codes are allocated, and in a comparison process between an event derived from the quantized transform coefficients and a reference event included in the variable length code table, transformation process is performed to increase a possibility of performing variable length coding with satisfactory coding efficiency.

Abstract: A video processing system 100 is provided with video encoding device 10 and video decoding device 20. The video encoding device 10 implements backward interframe prediction from a temporally subsequent frame and outputs information indicating that an option to eliminate use of a decoded image of the temporally subsequent frame was chosen. The video decoding device 20 eliminates use of the decoded image of the frame on the basis of this information, in conjunction with input of the information for eliminating use of the decoded image of the temporally subsequent frame.

Abstract: In a video encoding method according to the present invention, an encoding mode controller 102 determines an encoding mode of each image on the occasion of encoding a moving picture consisting of a plurality of images, and a region partitioning unit 104 determines a region structural unit for partitioning the image into multiple regions, based on the encoding mode. A region determining unit 116 defines the regions on the basis of the region structural unit and information thereof is encoded. Then an encoder 105 compression-encodes pixel data included in the regions, in encoding units to generate compression-encoded data according to the encoding mode, and outputs the resultant data.

Abstract: A signal encoding method according to the present invention is a signal encoding method of dividing a coding target signal as an object of coding into partition units and performing arithmetic coding based on probability-related information in the partition units, which comprises (1) a configuration information deriving step of analyzing the coding target signal in each of the partition units to derive as configuration information, information about an initial value of the probability-related information used for the arithmetic coding of the coding target signal in the partition unit in question; (2) a coding step of performing the arithmetic coding of the coding target signal in each of the partition units, based on the configuration information derived in the configuration information deriving step; and (3) a configuration information adding step of adding a header containing the configuration information to the arithmetic-coded signal in each of the partition units.

Abstract: In an image coding method of the present invention, after a process such as DCT is performed to digital image data, quantization process is performed, and then, to resultant quantized transform coefficients, variable length coding process is performed with reference to a variable length code table showing how variable length codes are allocated, and in a comparison process between an event derived from the quantized transform coefficients and a reference event included in the variable length code table, transformation process is performed to increase a possibility of performing variable length coding with satisfactory coding efficiency.

Abstract: A signal encoding method according to the present invention is a signal encoding method of dividing a coding target signal as an object of coding into partition units and performing arithmetic coding based on probability-related information in the partition units, which comprises (1) a configuration information deriving step of analyzing the coding target signal in each of the partition units to derive as configuration information, information about an initial value of the probability-related information used for the arithmetic coding of the coding target signal in the partition unit in question; (2) a coding step of performing the arithmetic coding of the coding target signal in each of the partition units, based on the configuration information derived in the configuration information deriving step; and (3) a configuration information adding step of adding a header containing the configuration information to the arithmetic-coded signal in each of the partition units.

Abstract: In an image transmission method of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, when compressed image data Dv obtained by compressively coding digital image data corresponding to a moving picture is transmitted, an identification flag Hfd indicating whether or not the compressed image data is suitable for use in random and independent reproduction, is transmitted subsequently to a synchronous signal Hsd positioned at the beginning of a header Hv. At a reproducing end for reproducing the compressed image data transmitted according to the image transmission method, when analyzing the header Hv added to the compressed image data Dv corresponding to one moving picture, it is decided whether or not the compressed image data Dv is suitable for use in the random reproduction in a short time, by analysis of the identification flag Hfd.

Abstract: In an image coding method of the present invention, after a process such as DCT is performed to digital image data, quantization process is performed, and then, to resultant quantized transform coefficients, variable length coding process is performed with reference to a variable length code table showing how variable length codes are allocated, and in a comparison process between an event derived from the quantized transform coefficients and a reference event included in the variable length code table, transformation process is performed to increase a possibility of performing variable length coding with satisfactory coding efficiency.

Abstract: In the digital image padding method according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, every other pixels in an original image space corresponding to an input digital image signal are extracted in the horizontal direction, and every other pixels are extracted in the vertical direction, the extracted plural pixels are rearranged to form four small image spaces, and pixels values in these small image spaces are padded. In the digital image padding method thus constructed, padding of pixel values is performed to plural small image spaces where there is high correlation of pixel values between adjacent scanning lines rather than to an original image space where there is low correlation of pixel values between adjacent scanning lines. That is, in the padded small image spaces, there is high correlation of the pixel values.

Abstract: A method for decoding a bitstream data obtained by encoding a target image comprises the steps of: (a) extracting from the bitstream data, coordinates point date indicating frame coordinates points of the reference image, coordinates number data indicating a number of the frame coordinates points and a compressed image signal related to a target image to be decoded; (b) selecting an image transformation parameter used for obtaining a predicted image, based on the extracted coordinates number data; (c) obtaining the predicted image from the reference picture, based on the selected image transformation parameter and the extracted coordinate point data; (d) obtaining a decompressed differential image by decoding the compressed image signal; and (e) reproducing a reproduced image by summing the predicted image and the decompressed differential image.

Abstract: A data structure of an image signal includes a reproduction cycle identifier indicating whether the cycle of image display for each frame is variable or not. When the display cycle identifier indicates that the display cycle is fixed, display cycle data is inserted in a header of the coded image data, and data relating to the frame number is inserted in each frame. On the other hand, when the display cycle identifier indicates that the display cycle is variable, display time data is inserted for each frame. Therefore, when decoding and displaying the coded image data having a fixed display cycle, the decoded image data can be displayed by a simple circuit structure, i.e., based on the display cycle data and the frame number data having a relatively small data quantity (bit number), without referring to the display time data having a relatively large data quantity for each frame. Furthermore, this data structure can be applied to a coded image signal having a variable display cycle.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of supplementing a digital picture with a shorter delay time and less calculations. The padding method is applied to a picture having a great motion, and results in producing a prediction signal with small errors. The present invention also provides an apparatus using the same method. To be more specific about the method, in a digital picture data including picture information indicating an object, a picture is resolved into a plurality of regions adjoining with each other, and each of the insignificant sample value of a region containing the boundary of the object shape is supplemented (padded) by the values obtained from transforming of the significant pixels near to the insignificant pixels.

Abstract: When video signals are composed so that one video signal can be defined by (i) inputting plural video signals, (ii) attaching a picture identifier to the respective video signals for identifying the video signals, and (iii) composing some of the plural video signals, a picture coding method including the following processes is proposed. 1. Prepare composing information such as a composing sequence. 2. Encode at least the video signals having picture identifiers together with the composing information. A coding apparatus using this method, a picture decoding method that decodes the video signals coded with this method, a decoding apparatus using this decoding method are also proposed. A recording medium that records the data implementing the above methods is proposed.

Abstract: There is disclosed image predictive coding apparatus and method, image predictive decoding apparatus and method, and recording medium which stores therein the image predictive coding method or the image predictive decoding method, of which the transform efficiency is remarkably improved in comparison with the prior art.

Abstract: In the motion compensation prediction unit 2 of the video encoding apparatus 1, complexity information which indicates a degree of complexity of movement from the reference frame for each of the plurality of blocks in which a coding target image is divided. The predicted image is generated by using a prediction reference image to which filtering pixels are provided in accordance with the complexity information on the basis of a predetermined rule which increases the number of the filtering pixels which have pixel values produced by applying low-pass filter with strong high-frequency cutoff characteristics among a plurality of low-pass filters with different high-frequency cutoff characteristics to neighborhood integer pixels.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to increase efficiency of information compression in coding and decoding. A moving picture encoding apparatus 10 of the present invention has a motion vector predicting part for performing, based on a temporal relation among adjacent reference frame images 703a, 703b, 703c referred to for detecting motion vectors of adjacent blocks adjacent to a coding target block, a target reference frame image 702 referred to for detecting a motion vector of the target block, and a target frame image 701 being the frame image of the coding target, or based on time information thereof, a correction of scaling the motion vectors 751a, 751b, 751c of the adjacent blocks on the basis of the target reference frame image 702; and a determination of an optimum predicted motion vector based on the motion vectors of the adjacent blocks, and thereby predicting the optimum predicted motion vector after the correction.

Abstract: An image processing method for dividing a digital image signal into plural image signals corresponding to plural blocks constituting a single display screen, and performing block-by-block coding of the image signals of the respective blocks, comprises transforming an image signal of a coding target block to be subjected to coding into frequency components by frame-by-frame frequency transformation on a frame basis or field-by-field frequency transformation on a field basis; setting a processing order for coding the frequency components corresponding to the image signal of the coding target block, according as the image signal of the coding target block has been subjected to the frame-by-frame frequency transformation or the field-by-field frequency transformation; and successively coding the frequency components corresponding to the image signal of the coding target block according to the order which has been set.