Abstract: A content caching and delivering apparatus transmits and receives communication signals in between a content delivering apparatus delivering content on a telecommunications network and communication terminals. A content storage stores content delivered by the content caching and delivering apparatus. A delivery controller receives a content delivery request for the content stored in the content storage, and maps information on the position of the requested content to information on the content for each terminal and manages the mapping. The delivery controller delivers the requested content to the communication terminal.

Abstract: A content caching and delivering apparatus transmits and receives communication signals in between a content delivering apparatus delivering content on a telecommunications network and communication terminals. A content storage stores content delivered by the content caching and delivering apparatus. A delivery controller receives a content delivery request for the content stored in the content storage, and maps information on the position of the requested content to information on the content for each terminal and manages the mapping. The delivery controller delivers the requested content to the communication terminal.

Abstract: A motion vector detection apparatus that obtains, for each of the blocks of a predetermined size into which one frame is divided, motion vector information in units of a plurality of partitions of differing rectangular shapes and differing sizes, up to the size of the blocks, has a partition connector means (23) that, when motion vectors for a plurality of partitions are obtained for one of the blocks, decides whether or not to connect a plurality of the partitions for which the motion vectors are obtained, and if the partitions are connected, includes motion vector information about the resulting connected partition in the motion vector information output from the motion vector detection apparatus. The motion vector encoding rate can be reduced.

Abstract: A moving picture coding apparatus divides each frame of a moving picture into parts and assigns the parts to different coding units, which compressively code their respective parts. The coding process includes motion compensation with respect to a reference frame. Each coding unit has its own reference frame memory. To generate reference frame data, each coding unit receives, decodes, and decompresses the coded data generated by at least one other coding unit, as well as decompressing the data it has coded itself. Consequently, only ordinary coded data have to be passed between different coding units, which saves bandwidth and eliminates the need for special coding hardware and development and testing tools.

Abstract: A motion vector detection apparatus that obtains, for each of the blocks of a predetermined size into which one frame is divided, motion vector information in units of a plurality of partitions of differing rectangular shapes and differing sizes, up to the size of the blocks, has a partition connector means (23) that, when motion vectors for a plurality of partitions are obtained for one of the blocks, decides whether or not to connect a plurality of the partitions for which the motion vectors are obtained, and if the partitions are connected, includes motion vector information about the resulting connected partition in the motion vector information output from the motion vector detection apparatus. The motion vector encoding rate can be reduced.

Abstract: A moving picture coding apparatus divides each frame of a moving picture into parts and assigns the parts to different coding units, which compressively code their respective parts. The coding process includes motion compensation with respect to a reference frame. Each coding unit has its own reference frame memory. To generate reference frame data, each coding unit receives, decodes, and decompresses the coded data generated by at least one other coding unit, as well as decompressing the data it has coded itself. Consequently, only ordinary coded data have to be passed between different coding units, which saves bandwidth and eliminates the need for special coding hardware and development and testing tools.