Abstract: On a data recording medium which is divided into sectors and can be accessed on the sector unit basis, when encoded data is divided every predetermined length, a header is added, the data is packetized, a header is further added to the packet to thereby form the pack data, and the resultant data is recorded, if the stuffing is necessary, the stuffing data is inserted to the last of a data area of the packet. Thus, a length of pack header can be fixed. There is no need to provide a padding packet. A situation such that a PES header is encrypted is prevented and no problem occurs when encryption is performed.

Abstract: Continuous reproduction can be made possible. An encoding apparatus for executing an encoding process with an encoding system capable of at least B-pictures as pictures to be prediction-encoded comprises a timing calculation means for, anticipating that a plurality of encoded information created by performing the encoding process will be sequentially decoded on a decoding side, calculating output timing for results of decoding the encoded information, and a timing notification means for notifying the decoding side of the output timing calculated by the timing calculation means before a result of decoding corresponding encoded information is obtained.

Abstract: On a data recording medium which is divided into sectors and can be accessed on the sector unit basis, when encoded data is divided every predetermined length, a header is added, the data is packetized, a header is further added to the packet to thereby form the pack data, and the resultant data is recorded, if the stuffing is necessary, the stuffing data is inserted to the last of a data area of the packet. Thus, a length of pack header can be fixed. There is no need to provide a padding packet. A situation such that a PES header is encrypted is prevented and no problem occurs when encryption is performed.

Abstract: A flexible software-based decoding system with decoupled decoding timing and output timing. In one embodiment, a computer software implemented method of decoding a data stream comprising encoded video data is provided. In this embodiment, the software method comprises the step of maintaining a number of already decoded and ready-for-output frames in a frame buffer. The method also comprises the step of decoding a first encoded frame of the data stream to generate an additional decoded frame. The method further comprises the step of outputting a first of the decoded frames before decoding of the first encoded frame is completed if the decoding step requires more time than a predefined frame output time to complete. Moreover, in this embodiment, the method comprises the step of adding the first additional decoded frame to the frame buffer.