Abstract: A control device 3 determines whether an image generated by merging concurrently picked-up several images has consistent image quality on a display device 2. If determined No, image quality parameters set in each image pickup device 1 are so controlled as to make the image quality of the merged image consistent. Therefore, the merged image can assuredly have consistent image quality.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for coding moving pictures, which reduces a delay time generated by buffering of a decoding apparatus in compressive coding of the moving pictures. In this invention, the target number of bits of one picture P as a target value of the number of generated bits per one picture is set as well as the upper limit number of bits uCg as an upper limit value of the number of generated bits of the picture is set. Then, when the cumulative number of generated bits Cg generated from the first macroblock to a macroblock which is being coded in the picture exceeds the upper limit number of bits uCg in the middle of the picture which is being coded, the coding of a macroblock is skipped to avoid underflow.

Abstract: An MPEG2 conforming encoding apparatus and method wherein a control unit adjusts a target number of bits depending on the result of dividing by at least 2 the error between a target number of bits corresponding to the target bit rate and the number of generated bits required for encoding an immediately preceding image segment group, and controls a quantizing parameter for encoding the image segment group in accordance with the adjusted target number of bits.

Abstract: An MPEG2 conforming encoding apparatus and method wherein a control unit adjusts a target number of bits depending on the result of dividing by at least 2 the error between a target number of bits corresponding to the target bit rate and the number of generated bits required for encoding an immediately preceding image segment group, and controls a quantizing parameter for encoding the image segment group in accordance with the adjusted target number of bits.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an image compression/encoding apparatus for determining a quantization width by which a video signal is encoded so as to encode the video signal based on the quantization width is provided. The apparatus includes control means for determining an actual bit generation number which has been consumed for encoding the video signal, determining a target bit generation number in accordance with a target bit rate, determining a bit generation error as a difference between the actual bit generation number and the target bit generation number, determining a quantization width with respect to the bit generation error, setting a characteristic in a predetermined range of the bit generation error where the quantization width varies slightly with respect to the bit generation error, and determining the quantization width with respect to the bit generation error based on the characteristic.

Abstract: A scrambling apparatus has at least one of the following processing units: a signal inserting processor for inserting a dummy pattern indicating the quantization width in the compressed video data; a conversion processor for scrambling a signal specifying whether field or frame processing is used; a DCT coefficient conversion processor for scrambling a part of the code defining the DCT coefficient; an intra.sub.-- dc.sub.-- precision conversion processor for scrambling the intra.sub.-- dc.sub.-- precision signal; and an alternate.sub.-- scan conversion processor for scrambling the alternate .sub.-- scan signal. A descrambling apparatus reverses the conversion process on the video data scrambled by the scrambling apparatus to restore the video data to the original unscrambled state.

Abstract: A scrambling system includes a scrambling apparatus and a descrambling apparatus for scrambling and descrambling digital audio codes having plural sub-band units. Each sub-band unit includes at least a scale factor and a quantized sample data which is quantized after scaling with the scale factor. In the scrambling apparatus, a sample period during which the quantized sample data is present is detected, and only the quantized sample data is scrambled at the sample period. In particular, the quantized sample data and data other than the quantized sample data are separated, and the separated quantized sample data is applied to a scrambler, and the other data is applied to a delay circuit. The separated and scrambled quantized sample data and the delayed data are synthesized. The descrambling apparatus also detects a sample period during which the quantized sample data is present, and descrambles only the scrambled quantized sample data at the sample period.

Abstract: A scramble apparatus for scrambling data including a variable length code and a descramble apparatus is for descrambling a scrambled signal, and a scramble transmission apparatus comprising the scramble apparatus and the descramble apparatus. A specific code of data is converted into a readable code having a length equal to that of an original code.

Abstract: A scrambled transmission system for transmitting a digital data containing variable length coding conforming to a MPEG standard includes a scramble key generator for generating a scramble key at a timing of each GOP head. A GOP head detector detects each GOP head and causes the scramble key generator to refresh the scramble key. A seed generator generates a scramble seed based on said scramble key at a timing of each slice head. A slice head detector detects each slice head and causes the seed generator to refresh the scramble seed. A random number generator scrambles the digital data based on the scramble seed. A multiplexer embeds the scramble key in the extension.sub.-- and.sub.-- user.sub.-- data of the scrambled data.

Abstract: A scrambling system has a scrambling apparatus and a descrambling apparatus for scrambling and descrambling a digital audio signal having a plurality of 16-bit long sample data units. The scrambling apparatus has a detector for detecting, in each sample data unit, a meaningless portion which is a portion including the MSB and a meaningful portion which is a portion including the LSB, and applying scrambling only to the meaningful portion. Since the meaningless portion is not scrambled, no error data will appear in the meaningless portion. Thus, an unexpected abrupt change in sound caused by a bit error in the meaningless portion which has bits with greater weighted value can be avoided.

Abstract: A scramble system of the present invention including a scramble apparatus and a descramble apparatus is applied to a recording and reproducing system or a transmission and receiving system wherein a frame of a digital video signal composed of a plurality of frames is divided into a plurality of predetermined fundamental video blocks corresponding to recording and reproducing processes. Either one of the recording and reproducing system and the transmission and receiving system executes a reconstruction process such as an interpolation process, a high speed playback process or the like.

Abstract: The occurrence of malfunction on the reproduction side is avoided by preventing a scrambled signal from being coincided with a reserved word in the signal when a scramble process is carried out in order to release a transmission signal to specific users. The scramble process includes at least one of methods of (1) bit-inverting specified codes of the transmission signal code by code, (2) limiting bits to be scrambled from a specified position in the transmission signal, and (3) limiting codes to be scrambled to specific codes.

Abstract: A scramble apparatus is for scrambling data including a variable length code and a descramble apparatus for descrambling a scrambled signal, and a scramble transmission apparatus comprising the scramble apparatus and the descramble apparatus. A specific code of data is converted into a readable code having a length equal to that of an original code.