Abstract: An image processing apparatus for correcting the position of a specific object included in a moving image formed by a plurality of successive images to a predetermined position on the frame, sets a reference point on the object included in the first image of the plurality of images, which serves as a reference image, detects the positions of points, which correspond to the reference point, from a plurality of second images, which are different from the first image, of the plurality of images, detects the shift amounts between the corresponding points and the reference point in units of images on the basis of the positions of the corresponding points detected from the plurality of second images, and the position of the reference point, and corrects the positions of the object included in the plurality of second images in correspondence with the shift amounts detected in units of images.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus and method wherein image data is input and separated into foreground object data and background object data, image data in a missing portion of the background object data formed by a separation of the foreground object data is interpolated by using image data around the missing portion.

Abstract: Provided are an image processing apparatus and method whereby even if shape data representing the shape of an object in a moving image undergoes a major change temporarily, a frame that is to be corrected can be detected and corrected in ideal fashion and it is possible to execute moving-image coding that is outstanding both visually and in terms of coding efficiency. In one example, a moving image composed of a plurality of frames is acquired from a image input unit (101) and the background image of the moving image is acquired by a background image generating unit (102). A background subtraction processor (103) extracts an object by comparing each of the frames constituting the moving image with the background image, and an abnormal-data discrimination unit (105) discriminates whether shape data representing the shape of the extracted object is abnormal or not. If the shape data is abnormal, a shape-data correction unit (106) corrects the shape data.

Abstract: A technique of efficiently extracting and synthesizing an object image from a plurality of images captured at different image magnifications. An image processing method of the present invention includes the steps of generating a first background image corresponding to a first image captured at a predetermined image magnification, extracting a first object image from the first image, generating a second background image corresponding to a second image captured at an image magnification higher than the predetermined image magnification, based on the first background image and the first object image, and extracting a second object image from the second image and the second background image.

Abstract: In a chroma subsampled image, since an extracted object contains a color outside the object upon extracting the object, the color of an object boundary portion becomes unnatural upon reproduction, and coding efficiency lowers. In this invention, the object is extracted while determining pixels on the object boundary as those outside the object. Upon object extraction, the value of a chroma pixels that extends across the object boundary is calculated based on the chroma values of its surrounding pixels. With this process, the coding efficiency can be improved, and natural color reproduction can be realized, since chroma data that extends across the boundary is synthesized on the basis of the ratio between background data and object data upon object synthesis.

Abstract: This invention provides an image processing apparatus and method, which can appropriately extract an object even when the focus of a camera having an automatic focus adjustment function shifts from the background to the object. To this end, frame images which are sensed by an image sensing unit and are sequential in the time axis direction are input from an input unit (1). The input frame images are smoothed by a filter unit (2). A background image generation unit (3) generates an average image of a predetermined number of smoothed frame images as a background image. An image differential unit (5) generates a differential image between the predetermined smoothed frame image and the background image. An object extraction unit extracts an object region where a predetermined object is sensed, on the basis of the differential image.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus and method wherein image data is input and separated into foreground object data and background object data, image data in a missing portion of the background object data formed by a separation of the foreground object data is interpolated by using image data around the missing portion.

Abstract: A data reproducing apparatus for recording/reproducing a multiplexed bit stream has a detection circuit for detecting information regarding attribute of data from the bit stream during reproduction and an output unit for outputting the detected information regarding the attribute of data and the bit stream.

Abstract: A specific frame is selected from a plurality of frames of moving image data, and an initial contour corresponding to an extraction target is generated in the selected frame. The initial contour is converged to the contour of the extraction target. An initial contour corresponding to the extraction target is set in an other frame on the basis of the result of the convergence. Contour convergence to the contour of the extraction target is effected on the basis of the set initial contour. As the other frame, frames preceding and subsequent to the selected frame with respect to time can be set.

Abstract: Image processing apparatus and method in which image data is inputted, the inputted image data is divided into blocks constructed by a plurality of pixels, a motion of the image data is detected every block, and at least the image data of a first object and the image data of a second object are classified from the image data in accordance with the detection result.

Abstract: This invention provides a decoding apparatus and control method therefor capable of eliminating visual flaws between frames even if several frames cannot be decoded. The first data is read out (S201), and decoding of the frame data starts (S202). During decoding processing, whether the processing time exceeds a predetermined limit time of decoding processing assigned to the packet is monitored (S204). If decoding processing does not end within the predetermined limit time, only decoded data are written in a memory (S213). This can maintain image continuity.

Abstract: A frame DWT unit makes subband segmentation of input moving image data in units of frames. Also, a field DWT unit makes subband segmentation of input moving image data in units of fields. First subbands obtained by the frame DWT unit undergo an arithmetic process, and a discrimination unit (104) determines based on a first arithmetic value obtained by the arithmetic process if the frame or field DWT unit is applied to the input moving image data.

Abstract: This invention provides an image processing apparatus and method characterized by inputting successive image data, detecting a change in the image data, generating initial contour information for extracting an object present in the image data in accordance with the detection result, and extracting object image data corresponding to the object on the basis of the generated initial contour information.

Abstract: Image data of plural objects are inputted, the inputted image data are encoded on an object basis, a priority order of code amount allocation is set for the objects, and encoding conditions for the objects in the encoding step are controlled in accordance with the priority order. The encoding conditions are controlled so that a total code amount obtained by encoding the image data of the plural objects does not exceed a predetermined code amount.

Abstract: In a recording and reproducing apparatus, a plurality of audio signal areas and audio sub-code areas for recording audio mode information of the respective areas are provided on a recording medium in a record mode. The audio mode information corresponding to the audio signal area is detected from the audio signal sub-code in the reproduction mode.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing system is arranged to record converted two-channel audio signals obtained by using all four-channel stereophonic audio signals and audio signals of two specific channels included in the four-channel stereophonic audio signals on a recording medium as four-channel recording audio signals and, at the time of reproduction, to be capable of restoring the four-channel recording audio signals to the four-channel stereophonic audio signals and also to permit either the four-channel stereophonic audio signals or the converted two-channel audio signals to be selectively outputted.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to efficiently transmit a video signal including a luminance signal and a chrominance signal. The invention includes: a first processor to extract the input luminance signal every first block which is constructed by a plurality of pixels, a second processor to extract the inputted chrominance signal every second block which is constructed by a plurality of pixels, and an encoder for encoding a predetermined macro block including the first and second blocks as a unit. Another object of the invention is to provide a movement compensating method whereby a circuit scale, a calculating time, and costs, in case of executing the movement compensation, can be reduced by using the correlation between the luminance signal and the chrominance signal.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to efficiently transmit a video signal including a luminance signal and a chrominance signal. The invention includes a first processor to extract the input luminance signal every first block which is constructed by a plurality of pixels, a second processor to extract the inputted chrominance signal every second block which is constructed by a plurality of pixels, and an encoder for encoding a predetermined macro block including the first and second blocks as a unit. Another object of the invention is to provide a movement compensating method whereby a circuit scale, a calculating time, and costs, in case of executing the movement compensation, can be reduced by using the correlation between the luminance signal and the chrominance signal.