Abstract: A wavelet transform unit performs a wavelet transform on original images and a quantization unit quantizes wavelet transform coefficients. A ROI selector selects a region of interest or regions of interest in the original image, and a ROI mask generator generates ROI masks with which the wavelet transform coefficients (which are also called ROI transform coefficients) corresponding to the regions of interest are specified. By referring to the ROI masks, a lower-bit zero substitution unit substitutes low-order bits of non-ROI transform coefficients with zeros. An entropy coding unit entropy-codes the wavelet transform coefficients sequentially from high-order bit-planes, after the substitution. A coded data generator turns coded data into streams together with parameters and then outputs coded images.

Abstract: A wavelet transform unit performs a wavelet transform on original images and a quantization unit quantizes wavelet transform coefficients. A ROI selector selects a region of interest or regions of interest in the original image, and a ROI mask generator generates ROI masks with which the wavelet transform coefficients (which are also called ROI transform coefficients) corresponding to the regions of interest are specified. By referring to the ROI masks, a lower-bit zero substitution unit substitutes low-order bits of non-ROI transform coefficients with zeros. An entropy coding unit entropy-codes the wavelet transform coefficients sequentially from high-order bit-planes, after the substitution. A coded data generator turns coded data into streams together with parameters and then outputs coded images.

Abstract: In a digital camera, when snapshot shooting is instructed during recording of a moving image, a shot still image is temporarily pushed aside in a memory area for use in pushing aside (7a) in a frame buffer (7). A currently shooting motion image and a still image are displayed in parallel on a display (9), so that a user can confirm a content of a snapshot. The moving image continues to be recorded even during a push-aside operation. After a moving image processing is completed, the still image is processed by an image correcting circuit (4). The frame buffer (7) comprises a plurality of frame recording areas, and is shared on the occasions of a moving image processing and a still image processing. In a normal moving image processing, these areas are utilized in a cyclic manner, and when the still image is shot, any of areas will be utilized. Thereafter, the rest of areas are utilized in the cyclic manner for the moving images.

Abstract: In a digital camera, when snapshot shooting is instructed during recording of a moving image, a shot still image is temporarily pushed aside in a memory area for use in pushing aside (7a) in a frame buffer (7). A currently shooting motion image and a still image are displayed in parallel on a display (9), so that a user can confirm a content of a snapshot. The moving image continues to be recorded even during a push-aside operation. After a moving image processing is completed, the still image is processed by an image correcting circuit (4). The frame buffer (7) comprises a plurality of frame recording areas, and is shared on the occasions of a moving image processing and a still image processing. In a normal moving image processing, these areas are utilized in a cyclic manner, and when the still image is shot, any of areas will be utilized. Thereafter, the rest of areas are utilized in the cyclic manner for the moving images.

Abstract: A region-of-interest setting unit sets a region of interest within each frame image picked up contiguously. A coding unit codes entire-region moving images where the frame images continue, and region-of-interest moving images where images of regions of interest set by the region-of-interest setting unit continue. A recording unit records coded data of the entire-region moving images and coded data of the region-of-interest moving images both coded by the coding unit in a manner such that the coded data of the entire-region moving images and the coded data of the region-of-interest moving images are associated with each other.

Abstract: An image coding apparatus is provided which satisfies various levels of demands on image distribution, both from image providers and from users. The image coding apparatus includes a coding block which codes predetermined image data. A separation unit separates the coded image data into basic data for reproducing contents of the coded image data as a visible image, and complementary data for complementing the basic data, so that the two pieces of data are distributed on different occasions. An adding unit adds information for independent copyright control to at least either one of the basic data and the complementary data.

Abstract: A decoding unit is configured to decode one of coded data for a video of a first image quality and coded data for a video of a second image quality different from the first image quality, the videos sharing the same image content. An editing unit is configured to edit, by user control, the video of the first image quality or the video of the second image quality decoded by the decoding unit. The editing unit causes an editing operation applied to one of the video of the first image quality and the video of the second image quality to be reflected in the coded data for the other video irrespective of user control.

Abstract: A decoding unit decodes coded data produced by a coding device capable of coding a captured video both in a first image quality and a second image quality different from the first image quality, or of coding the video in one of the first image quality and the second image quality. A display control unit displays the video of the first image quality or the video of the second image quality, as decoded by the decoding unit, on a display device. When both the coded data of the first image quality and the coded data of the second image quality are available, the display control unit displays information, indicating that the video currently displayed can be displayed in the other image quality, in a screen of the display device.

Abstract: A decoding unit decodes an encoded stream in which moving images are encoded. A display unit displays the moving images decoded by the decoding unit. An acquisition unit acquires tracking information indicating identification information, which is added within the encoded stream, that indicates whether a specific object is detected within a frame image included in the moving images. In reference to detection information acquired by the acquisition unit, a control unit skips or fast-forwards at least one frame image for which tracking of the specific object has failed.

Abstract: An imaging device (1) includes: an imaging element (33) which outputs a signal expressing an optical image of an imaging object upon an imaging process; a particular object detection unit (14) which successively acquires a frame image based on an output signal of the imaging element and detects the position of the particular object contained in the imaging object on the frame image according to the image signal of the frame image; a cut-out unit (15) which sets in the frame image, a cut-out region smaller than the entire region of the frame image according to the detected position and extracts the image in the cut-out region as a cut-out image; and an image quality compensation unit (16) which improves the resolution of the cut-out image.

Abstract: A motion vector detector detect a motion vector of each macroblock in an I frame. A control unit controls a quantization unit in such manner that the quantization scale in a quantization table referenced in the quantization processing is adaptively varied for a first macroblock whose motion vector detected is smaller than a prescribed threshold value.

Abstract: A region of interest is set within an image, the region of interest is tracked along motion of an object marked out within the image, and coding is performed in a manner that image quality differs between the region of interest and a region other than the region of interest. A wavelet transform unit applies a low-pass filter and a high-pass filter in the respective x and y directions of an original image, and divides the image into four frequency sub-bands so as to carry out a wavelet transform. A quantization unit quantizes, with a predetermined quantizing width, the wavelet transform coefficients outputted from the wavelet transform unit. A motion detector detects the motion of an object. A ROI setting unit moves a ROI region according to this motion of an object. In the case of moving images where a viewpoint changes, the background may be separated from the object and then the ROI region may be moved according to the motion of the object and the motion of the background.

Abstract: A region of interest is set within an image, the region of interest is tracked along motion of an object marked out within the image, and coding is performed in a manner that image quality differs between the region of interest and a region other than the region of interest. A wavelet transform unit applies a low-pass filter and a high-pass filter in the respective x and y directions of an original image, and divides the image into four frequency sub-bands so as to carry out a wavelet transform. A quantization unit quantizes, with a predetermined quantizing width, the wavelet transform coefficients outputted from the wavelet transform unit. A motion detector detects the motion of an object. A ROI setting unit moves a ROI region according to this motion of an object. In the case of moving images where a viewpoint changes, the background may be separated from the object and then the ROI region may be moved according to the motion of the object and the motion of the background.

Abstract: When a reverse reproduction is instructed, B pictures and P pictures in an MPEG video stream are once decoded and are again recoded into B pictures by an MPEG video encoder. Combined with I picture in the MPEG video stream, thereafter, a recoded data sequence comprised of I pictures and B pictures is generated, so as to be overwritten in a storage area of a hard disk. An MPEG video decoder reads out this recoded data sequence in a reverse time-series manner, and decodes this successively and outputs it to a display circuit.

Abstract: The moving images under reproduction are displayed in a main screen and a plurality of thumbnail images that serve as indexes by which to search for a desired scene are displayed. Moreover, the thus displayed thumbnail images are updated at a predetermined timing according as the moving images progress.

Abstract: In an image coding apparatus 100, a ROI setting unit sets a ROI region in an image. A ROI information coding unit 24 encodes information for specifying the ROI region by referring to difference information between frames. An entropy coding unit 14 entropy-codes the image. A codestream generator 16 generates a codestream in a manner that the coded image and the coded information for specifying a region of interest are included in the codestream.

Abstract: Structure information on picture within a GOP of a coded data sequence is acquired beforehand. At the time of high-speed reproduction, a high-speed reproduction mode judging unit judges by referring to the picture structure information whether a high-speed smooth reproduction is possible or not. If the high-speed reproduction is possible, a high-speed smooth reproduction control unit performs the high-speed smooth reproduction. If not possible, a high-speed skip reproduction control unit performs high-speed skip reproduction. For reverse reproduction, image data for one GPO, for example, are recoded by an MPEG encoder and then the recoded image data are stored in a storage. Then, a coded data amount predicted from the structure information on the picture within the GOP is compared with the capacity of the storage, and a countermeasure such as raising a compression ratio is taken if the estimated coded data amount exceeds the capacity of the storage.

Abstract: The moving images under reproduction are displayed in a main screen and a plurality of thumbnail images that serve as indexes by which to search for a desired scene are displayed. Moreover, the thus displayed thumbnail images are updated at a predetermined timing according as the moving images progress.

Abstract: An encoding apparatus 100 performs intra-frame encoding or inter-frame encoding using a predetermined scheme, or performs an orthogonal transform on an image as one process in the intra-frame encoding or the inter-frame encoding. In order to perform the intra-frame encoding, the inter-frame encoding, or the orthogonal transform, various parameters to be specified by the encoding apparatus are specified as an abbreviated parameter which uses a number of bits less than the number of bits that is assigned by the specification. This enables to reduce the data amount of a parameter in the coded data.

Abstract: In a digital camera, when snapshot shooting is instructed during recording of a moving image, a shot still image is temporarily pushed aside in a memory area for use in pushing aside (7a) in a frame buffer (7). A currently shooting motion image and a still image are displayed in parallel on a display (9), so that a user can confirm a content of a snapshot. The moving image continues to be recorded even during a push-aside operation. After a moving image processing is completed, the still image is processed by an image correcting circuit (4) The frame buffer (7) comprises a plurality of frame recording areas, and is shared on the occasions of a moving image processing and a still image processing. In a normal moving image processing, these areas are utilized in a cyclic manner, and when the still image is shot, any of areas will be utilized. Thereafter, the rest of areas are utilized in the cyclic manner for the moving images.