Abstract: A moving picture encoding apparatus in which a minimum picture quality may be maintained even though the bitrate of an output encoded datastream is changed. A real-time distribution system for moving pictures 1 includes a frame rate conversion unit 11 for controlling the frame rate of input moving picture data, an encoding unit 12 for encoding moving picture data, having a controlled frame rate, in accordance with the MPEG-4, a frame rate calculating unit 16 for calculating a setting value of the frame rate, a transmission unit 13 for transmitting/receiving data over a network, and a receiving unit 14. The receiving unit 14 detects the state of communication on the network and, based on the detected state of communication on the network, calculates a target bitrate. The encoding unit 12 controls the bitrate of the MPEG-4 datastream responsive to this target bitrate.

Abstract: In a data sending/receiving system (1), an information providing apparatus (2) including a content data storage unit (21) to store content data, a streaming data generator (22) to generate streaming transmission data from content data, a streaming interface (23), a download file generator (24) to generate a download file of content data and a download interface (25) for the download file, is connected to a data receiving terminal (3) including a storage control circuit (39) to control storage of content data into a content data recording unit (41), a packet information recording unit (40) to record data packet ID information and a packet resend requesting circuit (38) to request for resending a missing packet, via a network (4). Defect-free data can be transmitted with the real-time signal transmission being assured even when data is received, for recording, via a low-reliability network.

Abstract: An image encoder and its processing method for compression-encoding a dynamic image at a variable encoding rate in the case of an application required to perform real-time processing. A variable bit rate (VBR) control section (22) determines a VBR control quantizing scale VBRq according to a VBR buffer value held in a VBR buffer recording section (21). A constant bit rate (CBR) control section (23) determines a CBR control quantizing scale CBRq according to an inputted maximum bit rate BRmax. A quantizing scale comparing section (25) outputs the CBRq during constant rate encoding and outputs the larger one of the VBRq and CBRq during variable rate encoding. An image compression-encoding section (24) encodes the inputted image signal at a quantizing scale outputted from the quantizing scale comparing section (25) and outputs a bit stream (S20).

Abstract: A method and apparatus can determine the VBV delay from the bit rate without limiting the encoding time and raising the cost. An image compression-coding apparatus adapted to control the volume of generated codes on the basis of the occupied volume of the VBV buffer at the decoder side comprises an MPEG encoder 13 for computationally determining the cumulative value of the number of input bits of each frame and output as volume of generated information, a number of input bits generating section 16 for computationally determining the theoretical value of the number of input bits from the bit rate, a B(n) counter 15 for replacing the value of the volume of generated information by the theoretical value at the end of a number of frames when the theoretical value of the number of input bits becomes equal to an integer and a VBV delay computing section 14 for computationally determining the VBV delay on the basis of the occupied volume of the VBV buffer from the B(n) counter 15.

Abstract: A communication control apparatus having a server apparatus and able to simplify procedures and operations to attend party communication, wherein the server apparatus 103 receives information designating terminal apparatuses 1052 to 1054 and a request seeking that the designated communication apparatuses attend the multipoint communication via a communication circuit, outputs inquiries PAI if the designated terminals intend to attend the multipoint communication via the communication circuit, and when receiving an answer PAA from the designated terminal apparatuses that they will attend said multipoint communication, controls the multipoint communication among a plurality of the terminal apparatuses including the designated communication apparatuses.

Abstract: A video signal compressing method and a video signal compressing apparatus for compressing a video signal for a system in which for a synchronism between a plurality of compressed signals must be maintained. A presentation time stamp and/or a decode time stamp are multiplexed in a stream for transmission in which a video signal is compressed to generate a compressed signal. The following are generated as access unit information (AUI) for use in multiplexing the compressed data of the video signal: a picture size value, a picture type value, a repeat first field value, and a flag indicating the occurrence of a big picture.

Abstract: A data transmission method able to maintain the quality of a transmitted image substantially same as that of one's own image and an apparatus using the method and a data transmission system, transmitting image data accommodated in a frame of a preset frame during communication between terminals, comprising capturing an image including a target image to be transmitted, making adjustments so that the target image to be transmitted from the obtained image substantially fully fills the image frame, and compressing and transmitting the adjusted image data in the image frame.

Abstract: A data transmission method and a data transmission system not requiring a large delay unit for multiplexing and composition and capable of reducing the hardware scale, wherein when transmitting data among multiple points from a plurality of terminals arranged in a network, when the data at multiple points are transmitted to the terminals, in the network, identical packets are added different time stamps in accordance with the transmission delays, whereby the data shifted in accordance with the transmission delays are transmitted.

Abstract: A communication control apparatus capable of easily dividing channel fees including fees for use of a communication channel charged for party communication in a variety of ways among the users engaged in the party communication, wherein provision is made of a party connection control module for controlling data transmitted by terminals via a communication channel to be transmitted to other communication devices other than the terminals which transmitted the data and a user fee determination module for calculating fees to be charged for use of the communication channel by the terminals and determining fees to be charged to users based on the calculated fees and fees to be charged for the party communication connection service.

Abstract: An image encoding apparatus and method for encoding an HDTV signal to a high quality of image by using a plurality of MPEG-2 MP@ML encoding devices by simple control, which divide an input image into four at an image division device, input the divided images to divided image encoding devices, set bit rates in the divided image encoding devices at an assigned bit rate processing unit based on generated code amounts of previous frames etc. so that the sum of bit rates of the four divided image encoding devices is constant, encode the divided images at the divided image encoding devices based on the set bit rates by MP@ML, and integrate the encoded images at a video stream integration device to create and output an MP@HL video stream, and apparatus and methods relating to the same.

Abstract: An image encoding apparatus, comprising a dividing means for dividing an input image into N number of areas to generate N number of divided image signals corresponding to the areas; an encoding means for encoding the generated N number of divided image signals respectively to generate N number of encoded image signals, which encodes the image signals of the areas close to a boundary of the division by a predetermined encoding method and/or predetermined encoding conditions the same among the divided image signals giving less deterioration of the image quality in comparison with image signals of other areas; and an integrating means for integrating the generated N number of encoded image signals to generate a single encoded image signal in response to the input image.

Abstract: A data reproducing method and apparatus for providing special reproductions such as a reverse reproduction quickly when it is specified. In the data reproducing apparatus comprising a demodulator for demodulating data read out of a digital video disk by a pickup, a buffer for temporarily storing the demodulated data and a decoder for decoding the data read out of the buffer into original video signals, further included is a control circuit for controlling the buffer so that an unread data area and an already-read data area in the buffer take about half of the total memory capacity, respectively. As a result, the data necessary for reverse reproduction or the like is present in the buffer, allowing the special reproduction to run quickly.

Abstract: A data reproducing method and apparatus for providing special reproductions such as a reverse reproduction quickly when it is specified. In the data reproducing apparatus comprising a demodulator for demodulating data read out of a digital video disk by a pickup, a buffer for temporarily storing the demodulated data and a decoder for decoding the data read out of the buffer into original video signals, further included is a control circuit for controlling the buffer so that an unread data area and an already-read data area in the buffer take about half of the total memory capacity, respectively. As a result, the data necessary for reverse reproduction or the like is present in the buffer, allowing the special reproduction to run quickly.