Abstract: In partitioning and encoding an image into multiple regions, the degree of freedom of the region shape has generally been low and setting regions based on image features was difficult. A moving image encoding apparatus includes a region partitioning section, an encoder, and a memory for motion-compensated prediction. The region partitioning section includes a partitioning processing section and a integration processing section. The partitioning processing section partitions the input image based on a criterion relating to the state of partition. The integration processing section integrates mutually close regions based on a criterion relating to the state of integration. Thereafter, each region is encoded. A large variety of region shapes can be produced by the integration processing section.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for encoding and decoding using transformation bases of a yet higher efficiency. In a method for encoding an object signal in compliance with a transformation rule, a signal correlating to the object signal is obtained, and a transformation base that forms the transformation rule is derived based on a characteristic of the obtained reference signal. The object signal is transformed and encoded in compliance with the transformation rule based on the derived transformation base. Accordingly, the object signal is transformed in compliance with the transformation rule based on the transformation base derived from the characteristic of the reference signal. Since the reference signal is correlated to the object signal, the transformation base derived from the characteristic matches the feature of the object signal.

Abstract: In partitioning and encoding an image into multiple regions, the degree of freedom of the region shape has generally been low and setting regions based on image features was difficult. A moving image encoding apparatus includes a region partitioning section, an encoder, and a memory for motion-compensated prediction. The region partitioning section includes a partitioning processing section and a integration processing section. The partitioning processing section partitions the input image based on a criterion relating to the state of partition. The integration processing section integrates mutually close regions based on a criterion relating to the state of integration. Thereafter, each region is encoded. A large variety of region shapes can be produced by the integration processing section.

Abstract: In a picture coding apparatus, even though conditions such as a bit rate are changed, a burden of overhead information arranged in a picture signal is reduced, and the picture signal is coded according to an optimum coding mode without lowering a coding efficiency. A coding mode judging unit 2 has two coding mode tables A and B including identification numbers of coding modes selectable for a picture-to-be-coded, one of the coding mode tables 1 and 2 is selected according to coding mode table selection information, a coding mode corresponding to a better coding efficiency is selected from a plurality of coding modes of the selected coding mode table, and a coded picture signal is obtained.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to obtain a video encoder and a video decoder performing a highly accurate prediction of a picture, transformed by other than translation, within a short processing time in a small-scaled circuit. A video encoder for performing compression encoding of an input picture includes motion compensated prediction means for performing interframe motion detection. The motion compensated prediction means has a motion detector including a transformed block matching unit for transforming a reference picture portion into a picture portion having a predefined shape for performing motion detection and a motion compensator including a corresponding pel determinator for determining integer pels of real sample points of the transformed reference picture portion corresponding to an integer pel of the input picture block according to the motion parameters supplied from the motion detector as a result of the comparison so as to supply prediction picture data.

Abstract: To achieve an encoding system including a highly efficient prediction performed in response to the content of a scene, a significance, and a motion characteristic of a moving picture and the like, memories a, b, c, motion compensator 5 responsive to an arbitrary transform parameter representing the motion of a prediction picture segment for generating a predicted picture by using arbitrary data stored in the memories a, b, c based upon the transform parameter, and memory update unit 15 for allowing the content of one or more of the memories to be updated at an arbitrary period of time, are provided.

Abstract: An image coding method is provided, in which the method includes the steps of: extracting edge information which represents an edge part of an original image; obtaining density information of an edge smoothed image from the original image by smoothing the edge part; obtaining coded edge information by coding the edge information according to a first coding algorithm; obtaining coded density information by coding the density information of the edge smoothed image according to a second coding algorithm; and sending the coded edge information and the coded density information as coded information to an image decoding apparatus.

Abstract: An information delivery system and information delivery method can provide information delivery services that utilize network resources efficiently. A push server 3 transmits data associated with summary content 15 (summary of detailed content 23) to a push delivery controller 2, and a terminal 1 transmits data associated with the terminal 1 to the push delivery controller 2. According to these data, the push delivery controller 2 decides the terminal to which the summary content is to be transmitted, and notifies the push server 3 of the terminal. The push server 3 transmits the summary content to the terminal notified. When the terminal 1 wishes to acquire the detailed content corresponding to the received summary content, it sends to the pull server 4 a request to transmit the detailed content. In response to the request, the pull server 4 transmits the detailed content to the terminal 1.

Abstract: An efficient video encoder and a compression encoding of an input picture includes motion compensated prediction means for performing interframe motion detection. The motion compensated prediction means has a motion detector and a motion compensator. The motion detector includes an image transforming unit that transforms a reference picture portion into a picture portion having a predefined shape. The motion compensator includes a pel determinator for determining integer pels of real sample points of the transformed reference picture portion that corresponds to an integer pel of the input picture block according to the motion parameters supplied from the motion detector as a result of the comparison so as to supply prediction picture data. The video encoder and a decoder having a motion compensator that performs operations similar to the video encoder are combined to form a video encoding and decoding system.

Abstract: An image decoding device is provided which performs expansion processing and reverse orthogonal conversion in fixed block units with respect to image compression data. The image decoding device is provided with an error block detection means (error block detection section 4) which receives a threshold value and an image signal in frequency domains, which determines whether or not an error is contained in block data based on the threshold value and the image signal in the frequency domain and which outputs a detection state in the block data.

Abstract: An image coding apparatus which includes a frame memory selecting unit (35) for selecting, in response to a selection signal, an image to be continuously stored in a plurality of frame memories (9, 10) as a background image and storing the background image into the plurality of frame memories (9, 10), and a background motion compensating unit (14, 39) for performing motion compensating prediction corresponding to an input image based on the background image to generate a predicted image based on the motion compensating prediction, and an image decoding apparatus corresponding to the image coding apparatus.

Abstract: A mobile terminal is provided with an imaging unit for acquiring a plurality of frames of images including a search object and a feature descriptor generating unit for generating a feature descriptor from an image of a search object included in the frames. The mobile terminal transmits the feature descriptor generated by the feature descriptor generating unit to a search server. The search server has a matching processing unit. The matching processing unit searches for a record matching with the feature descriptor received from the mobile terminal from a database of the content server.

Abstract: In order to reduce the amount of coded data to be generated without deteriorating the visually significant image quality of the image area, the input image signal 1 is first input to the area divider 2. Then, the input image signal 1 is divided into a plurality of areas in accordance with the initial area shape retrieved from the external memory. The initial area shape is the area shape of the frame immediately previous to the current frame. The area divider 2 subdivides the areas based on the activity of each area, and integrates areas so as to reduce the coding cost between one area and its adjacent area. Information, such as the area shape information 3 which is determined by the area divider, is coded by the encoder 7 and converted into the bit stream 11. The encoder 7 outputs the local decoded image 8 which is written in the external memory 9. The local decoded image 8 is used as the reference image 10 during the area dividing and the coding processes.

Abstract: When a retrieval condition of an attribute list is input from a user interface unit to a retrieval processing unit, the attribute list stored in an attribute list storing unit is retrieved in the retrieval processing unit. Thereafter, attribute information conforming to the retrieval condition is output to and displayed on a displaying unit. Thereafter, when a retrieval condition of the similarity retrieval is input from the user interface unit to the retrieval processing unit, image data stored in the image information storing unit is retrieved in the retrieval processing unit, and specific image data relating to a characteristic descriptor set conforming to the retrieval condition is selected in the retrieval processing unit. Thereafter, the specific image data is output to and displayed on the displaying unit.

Abstract: A motion picture encoding system comprising a frame-based shape motion detecting unit (24) and a frame-based shape motion compensation unit (26) which make motion compensated prediction for the shape data (2) of each alpha block included in an interlaced frame comprised of a pair of top and bottom fields so as to generate a frame-based prediction data for shape. In addition, a field-based shape motion detecting unit (28) and a field-based shape motion compensation unit (30) make motion compensated prediction for the shape data (2) of each alpha block included in each of the two fields of the frame independently so as to generate a field-based prediction data for shape. An arithmetic encoding unit (32) can inter-code the shape data using the frame-based prediction data for shape, and inter-code the shape data using the field-based prediction data for shape. The arithmetic encoding unit (32) then selects one of the coded results having the shortest code length.

Abstract: If an error is detected during the decoding of motion image data a portion of the image is lost and image quality deteriorates even after correction. When motion compensation prediction is used the image quality of subsequent pictures can also be adversely affected. This apparatus has a bit stream analysis portion for analyzing each macro block of a moving image, a contaminated region registering portion for registering a region as a contaminated region if an error has been detected during analysis, a motion vector selection portion for determining a predicted image to be used for motion compensation prediction, a contaminated region judging portion for judging whether or not a predicted image is contaminated and a loop filter portion for filtering a predicted image which is contaminated, so that it is smoother for decoding.