Abstract: The present invention provides an encoder and a decoder of digital picture data, and the encoder/decoder can realize high precision transform with less quantity of transferred data, when a parameter of the digital picture data is not an integer but has numbers of digits, to which the Affine transformation can be applicable.

Abstract: The present invention provides an encoder and a decoder of digital picture data, and the encoder/decoder can realize high precision transform with less quantity of transferred data, when a parameter of the digital picture data is not an integer but has numbers of digits, to which the Affine transformation can be applicable. The encoder/decoder comprises the following elements: (a) picture compression means for encoding an input picture and compressing the data, (b) coordinates transform means for outputting coordinate data which is obtained by decoding the compressed data and transforming the decoded data into a coordinate system, (c) transformation parameter producing means for producing transformation parameters from the coordinates data, (d) predicted picture producing means for producing predicted picture from the input picture by the transformation parameter, and (e) transmission means for transmitting the compressed picture and the coordinates data.

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: A digital image coding apparatus includes a first encoder for performing difference coding to a low-resolution texture signal, and a second encoder for performing difference coding to a high-resolution texture signal. When difference coding is performed on a high-resolution texture signal using its prediction signal, padding processing in which insignificant sample values of a low-resolution texture signal that has been regenerated by the first encoder are replaced with pseudo sample values that are obtained from significant sample values thereof. A padding unit in the first encoder generates the prediction signal corresponding to the high-resolution texture signal on the basis of the regenerative low-resolution texture signal which has been subjected to the padding process.

Abstract: There is provided an image decoding apparatus for decoding a coded image signal having an image identifier based on a data structure of the image signal. This apparatus comprises a data analyzer for analyzing the coded image signal with reference to the image identifier to decide whether the coded image signal is a coded arbitrary shape signal including both of coded shape bit streams obtained by coding a shape signal which represents the shape of each object as one of the components of a display image and coded pixel value bit streams obtained by coding a pixel value signal representing the gradation of the object, or a coded binary signal including only coded shape bit streams obtained by coding a shape signal representing a display image of binary information; a first decoder for decoding the coded shape bit streams by a first decoding process; and a second decoder for decoding the coded pixel value bit streams by a second decoding process.

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: There is provided an image decoding apparatus for decoding a coded image signal having an image identifier based on a data structure of the image signal. This apparatus comprises a data analyzer for analyzing the coded image signal with reference to the image identifier to decide whether the coded image signal is a coded arbitrary shape signal including both of coded shape bit streams obtained by coding a shape signal which represents the shape of each object as one of the components of a display image and coded pixel value bit streams obtained by coding a pixel value signal representing the gradation of the object, or a coded binary signal including only coded shape bit streams obtained by coding a shape signal representing a display image of binary information; a first decoder for decoding the coded shape bit streams by a first decoding process; and a second decoder for decoding the coded pixel value bit streams by a second decoding process.

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: A video processing system is provided with video encoding apparatus 1 and video decoding apparatus 2. The encoding apparatus 1 outputs a maximum delay time that is incurred by backward prediction, in addition to encoded data D1 resulting from encoding of video data D0. The decoding apparatus 2 effects input of the maximum delay time that is incurred by backward prediction, in addition to encoded data D1 from the encoding apparatus 1. Then the decoding apparatus 2 decodes the encoded data D1 with reference to the input maximum delay time to generate motion video data D2.

Abstract: A desired electronic content can be acquired easily by proper means from anther user. A method for transacting an electronic content between a server and at least two first and second terminals. This method comprises a step at which a second terminal (105) receives an electronic content from a first terminal (103) having the electronic content, a step at which the information that the second terminal (105) has received the electronic content is transmitted to the server (101), and a step at which after having received the information of having received the electronic content from the second terminal (105), the server (101) generates a piece of charging information upon a rebate for the provision of the electronic content to the first terminal (103).

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: In the digital image padding method according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, every other pixels in an original image space 301 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 401-404, and pixels values in these small image spaces are padded.

Abstract: The optimum predictive image is selected as follows for the entire area of an image sequence comprising a luminance signal expressing each pixel value, and a transmittance signal expressing the transparency of each pixel value, and described by the transmittance signal of the target image to be coded as the area to be coded. The target image to be coded is predicted from at least one template typical of the image sequence, thereby generating a first predictive image. The target image to be coded is also predicted from the image displayed chronologically before the target image, thereby generating a second predictive image. It is then determined whether the first or the second predictive image has the least difference to the target image to be coded, and the predictive image with the least difference is selected as the optimum predictive 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: There is provided an image decoding apparatus for decoding a coded image signal having an image identifier based on a data structure of the image signal. This apparatus comprises a data analyzer for analyzing the coded image signal with reference to the image identifier to decide whether the coded image signal is a coded arbitrary shape signal including both of coded shape bit streams obtained by coding a shape signal which represents the shape of each object as one of the components of a display image and coded pixel value bit streams obtained by coding a pixel value signal representing the gradation of the object, or a coded binary signal including only coded shape bit streams obtained by coding a shape signal representing a display image of binary information; a first decoder for decoding the coded shape bit streams by a first decoding process; and a second decoder for decoding the coded pixel value bit streams by a second decoding process.

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: 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: 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: Disclosed is an image predictive decoding method in which image data obtained by compressively coding a variable-size image using a prescribed method is input, a prediction image is generated using, as a reference image, at least one reproduced image which has been reproduced before an image being an object of decoding, and the object image is subjected to predictive decoding. In this method, the prediction image is generated using, as a reference image, at least one reproduced image which has been recently reproduced and includes significant image data to be referred to. Therefore, when plural objects constituting an image are subjected to compressive coding and transmitted object by object to increase the compression efficiency, it is avoided that a variable-size image which has already disappeared is used as the reference image for predictive decoding. As a result, coded data obtained by efficient compressive coding that suppresses the code quantity can be appropriately decoded.

Abstract: The optimum predictive image is selected as follows for the entire area of an image sequence comprising a luminance signal expressing each pixel value, and a transmittance signal expressing the transparency of each pixel value, and described by the transmittance signal of the target image to be coded as the area to be coded. The target image to be coded is predicted from at least one template typical of the image sequence, thereby generating a first predictive image. The target image to be coded is also predicted from the image displayed chronologically before the target image, thereby generating a second predictive image. It is then determined whether the first or the second predictive image has the least difference to the target image to be coded, and the predictive image with the least difference is selected as the optimum predictive image.