Abstract: A subtraction device subtracts a predicted value generated by a predicting portion from a digital picture signal supplied through an input terminal. The subtraction device generates a difference signal as an output signal. A quantizing portion detects an activity of the difference signal, designates the number of quantizing steps corresponding to the activity, and quantizes the difference signal with the number of quantizing steps. The quantizing portion outputs side information to an output terminal.

Abstract: An image signal interpolating apparatus with a simple structure which generates an interpolation picture element value near the real value without aliasing noise is realized. Predictive coefficients D8 which correspond to the class are read-out, and interpolation data D2 are obtained based on the predictive coefficients D8, thereby, interpolation data D2 near the real value are obtained without aliasing noise. In addition, the flatness near an interpolation-addressed picture element is detected and picture elements used for classification are selected depending on the resultant detected flatness D4, thereby, the interpolation-addressed picture element is classified correctly with the least number of class. Thus the structure can be simplified.

Abstract: On a decoding side, parameters (minimum value MIN and dynamic range DR) are optimized in such a manner that a decoded error of original signal values and restored values becomes minimum. A maximum value detecting portion 2 detects the maximum value MAX of pixels of each block composed of (3.times.3) pixels. Likewise, a minimum value detecting portion 3 detects the minimum value MIN. A subtracting portion 4 generates a dynamic range DR. A subtracting portion 5 subtracts MIN from each of input pixel values y and generates normalized values. A step width calculating portion 6 calculates a quantizing step width .DELTA. with DR. A quantizing portion 7 generates quantized values x (each of which is composed of 4 bits) with .DELTA.. A least squares method based estimating portion 8 generates decoded values y' with y and x and obtains an optimized dynamic range DR' and an optimized minimum value MIN' in such a manner that the sum of square of an error (y'-y) becomes minimum.

Abstract: An input digital information signal is prediction-encoded and thereby difference signals are generated. The difference signals are block segmented. A maximum value and a minimum value of each block are detected. Whether or not the range of levels of the maximum value MAX and the minimum value MIN crosses 0, a mode determining circuit 5 determines a quantizing mode and generates a mode signal MODE that represents the determined quantizing mode. When the range of the levels crosses 0, a first quantizing mode is selected. Otherwise, a second quantizing mode is selected. In the first quantizing mode, the quantizing circuit 6 performs the normal quantizing process. In the second quantizing mode, the quantizing circuit 6 performs a code conversion in such a manner that the number of bits of quantized output data is smaller than that of the normal quantizing process.

Abstract: On a decoding side, parameters (minimum value MIN and dynamic range DR) are optimized in such a manner that a decoded error of original signal values and restored values becomes minimum. A maximum value detecting portion 2 detects the maximum value MAX of pixels of each block composed of (3.times.3) pixels. Likewise, a minimum value detecting portion 3 detects the minimum value MIN. A subtracting portion 4 generates a dynamic range DR. A subtracting portion 5 subtracts MIN from each of input pixel values y and generates normalized values. A step width calculating portion 6 calculates a quantizing step width .DELTA. with DR. A quantizing portion 7 generates quantized values x (each of which is composed of 4 bits) with .DELTA.. A least squares method based estimating portion 8 generates decoded values y' with y and x and obtains an optimized dynamic range DR' and an optimized minimum value MIN' in such a manner that the sum of square of an error (y'-y) becomes minimum.

Abstract: An input digital image signal (SD signal) is converted into a high resolution digital video signal (HD signal). A considered pixel is categorized as a class corresponding to a one-dimensional, two-dimensional, or three-dimensional level distribution of a plurality of reference pixels of the SD signal. A predicted value of the considered pixel is generated by linear combination of values of a plurality of pixels of the SD signal adjacent to the considered pixel of the HD signal and predicted coefficients that have been learnt. In the learning process, predicted coefficients are determined by linear combination of the values of pixels of the SD signal and the predicted coefficients so that the sum of squares of the predicted value and the true value is minimized. Instead of the predicted coefficients, representative values may be determined for each class. In this case, the representative values are used as predicted values corresponding to the class of the input SD signal.

Abstract: In a picture coding apparatus and a picture coding method, when a picture data is hierarchically coded, compression efficiency can be improved, and the deterioration of picture quality can be reduced. When a picture data is hierarchically coded by utilizing a recursive hierarchical representation, adaptive division of block is performed corresponding to the characteristic of the picture data and then coding is performed, and thus obtained hierarchical coded data is transmitted, so that the block of the lower hierarchy can be adaptively divided, thereby the information quantity such as a plane portion of picture can be reduced.

Abstract: A picture encoding apparatus and the method in which the quantization step width of the lower hierarchy data having a resolution higher than that of the upper hierarchy data is determined for each predetermined block of respective hierarchy data based on the quantization step width determined by the upper hierarchy data having a low resolution, so that the additional code indicating the characteristics of quantizer can be omitted thereby the compression efficiency can be improved and the deterioration of picture quality can be reduced when picture data is hierarchical-encoded.

Abstract: A picture encoding apparatus for encoding an input digital picture signal in such a manner that the amount of generated data is reduced is disclosed, that comprises a dividing unit for dividing the input digital picture signal into blocks each of which is composed of a plurality of pixels, a detecting unit for detecting the maximum value of the pixels of each block, the minimum value thereof, and a dynamic range that is the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value, a quantizing unit for quantizing each value of the pixels that has been normalized with the value of the dynamic range, and an additional code encoding unit for generating the difference of the minimum value with the minimum value and a delayed value of the minimum value and for variable-length code encoding the difference of the minimum value.

Abstract: A subtraction device subtracts a predicted value generated by a predicting portion from a digital picture signal supplied through an input terminal. The subtraction device generates a difference signal as an output signal. A quantizing portion detects an activity of the difference signal, designates the number of quantizing steps corresponding to the activity, and quantizes the difference signal with the number of quantizing steps. The quantizing portion outputs side information to an output terminal.

Abstract: Difference signals generated in the prediction encoding process for an input digital information signal are block segmented. The maximum value and minimum value of each block are detected. In addition, a quantizing step .increment. is calculated. An offset detecting circuit detects a zero position flag ZR and an offset off. The zero position flag ZR represents a quantized code that includes 0. The offset off represents the deviation between value 0 of difference signals and value 0 of restored representative values. A class category adaptive predicting circuit predicts ZR and .increment.. These values are not transmitted in other than exception process. With predicted values ZR and .increment., difference signals corrected with the offset off are quantized by a quantizing circuit.

Abstract: Difference signals generated by the prediction encoding process for an input digital information signal are block segmented and then quantized by an ADRC encoder as a first variable-length-code encoding means. Output data of the ADRC encoder is divided into bit planes by a bit plane encoding circuit. The ADRC encoder varies the number of bits assigned to a block corresponding to a dynamic range DR. A block to which 0 bit has been assigned is detected in each bit plane and data of the block is excluded. The resultant data is encoded by a variable-length-code encoder as a second variable-length-code encoding means and then transmitted.

Abstract: Difference signals generated in the prediction encoding process for an input digital information signal are block segmented. The maximum value and minimum value of each block are detected. In addition, a quantizing step .DELTA. is calculated. An offset detecting circuit detects a zero position flag ZR and an offset off. The zero position flag ZR represents a quantized code that includes 0. The offset off represents the deviation between value 0 of difference signals and value 0 of restored representative values. A class category adaptive predicting circuit predicts ZR and .DELTA.. These values are not transmitted in other than exception process. With predicted values ZR and .DELTA., difference signals corrected with the offset off are quantized by a quantizing circuit.

Abstract: A picture encoding apparatus and the method in which the quantization step width of the lower hierarchy data having a resolution higher than that of the upper hierarchy data is determined for each predetermined block of respective hierarchy data based on the quantization step width determined by the upper hierarchy data having a low resolution, so that the additional code indicating the characteristics of quantizer can be omitted thereby the compression efficiency can be improved and the deterioration of picture quality can be reduced when picture data is hierarchical-encoded.

Abstract: On a decoding side, parameters (minimum value MIN and dynamic range DR) are optimized in such a manner that a decoded error of original signal values and restored values becomes minimum. A maximum value detecting portion 2 detects the maximum value MAX of pixels of each block composed of (3.times.3) pixels. Likewise, a minimum value detecting portion 3 detects the minimum value MIN. A subtracting portion 4 generates a dynamic range DR. A subtracting portion 5 subtracts MIN from each of input pixel values y and generates normalized values. A step width calculating portion 6 calculates a quantizing step width .DELTA. with DR. A quantizing portion 7 generates quantized values x (each of which is composed of 4 bits) with .DELTA.. A least squares method based estimating portion 8 generates decoded values y' with y and x and obtains an optimized dynamic range DR' and an optimized minimum value MIN' in such a manner that the sum of square of an error (y'-y) becomes minimum.

Abstract: A difference signal generated in a prediction encoding process is block-segmented by a block segmenting circuit 2. Thus, the level distribution of the block-segmented difference signal is concentrated to a narrower portion than the level distribution of one entire screen. Reference values DR and MIN of each block of the difference signal are detected. A quantizing step width .DELTA. and shift data .DELTA.S are determined corresponding to such reference values and the number of quantizing bits N. A quantizing circuit 6 quantizes the difference signal with .DELTA.. The difference signal is shifted and quantized so that the level 0 of the difference signal is obtained as 0 on the decoding side. A flag FLG and a that represent the quantized value of the level 0 are transmitted as side information along with the quantized value Q.

Abstract: An input digital information signal is prediction-encoded and thereby difference signals are generated. The difference signals are block segmented. A maximum value and a minimum value of each block are detected. Whether or not the range of levels of the maximum value MAX and the minimum value MIN crosses 0, a mode determining circuit 5 determines a quantizing mode and generates a mode signal MODE that represents the determined quantizing mode. When the range of the levels crosses 0, a first quantizing mode is selected. Otherwise, a second quantizing mode is selected. In the first quantizing mode, the quantizing circuit 6 performs the normal quantizing process. In the second quantizing mode, the quantizing circuit 6 performs a code conversion in such a manner that the number of bits of quantized output data is smaller than that of the normal quantizing process.

Abstract: An input digital image signal (SD signal) is converted into a high resolution digital video signal (HD signal). A considered pixel is categorized as a class corresponding to a one-dimensional, two-dimensional, or three-dimensional level distribution of a plurality of reference pixels of the SD signal. A predicted value of the considered pixel is generated by linear combination of values of a plurality of pixels of the SD signal adjacent to the considered pixel of the HD signal and predicted coefficients that have been learnt. In the learning process, predicted coefficients are determined by linear combination of the values of pixels of the SD signal and the predicted coefficients so that the sum of squares of the predicted value and the true value is minimized. Instead of the predicted coefficients, representative values may be determined for each class. In this case, the representative values are used as predicted values corresponding to the class of the input SD signal.

Abstract: An adaptive dynamic range encoding method and device in which evaluation data mainly centered about the amount of the change in the spatial direction of picture data in a block is detected, and re-quantization is performed which will give a minimum value of the evaluation data. The re-quantization is performed at an optimum quantization step conforming to the picture in the block in such a manner that picture portions having the same level may remain at the same level after re-quantization. This renders it possible to eliminate quantization distortions from being produced in the reproduced picture.

Abstract: A noise eliminating circuit comprising a noise eliminating filter for moving image part to be used when an input image is of the moving image part, a noise eliminating filter for stationary image part to be used when the input image is of the station image part, these filters being adaptively selected between according to a motion of the input image, a detecting circuit for detecting the motion of the input image, and a selecting circuit for selecting between outputs of these filters based on an output of the detecting circuit, wherein the noise eliminating circuit for stationary image part outputs an average input image of number of stationary frames n to be entered. The novel constitution effectively suppresses a noise introduced in a moving image or a stationary image, generating an output signal with a good picture quality.