Abstract: The present invention provides a unique intra prediction process which improves the efficiency of video coding. H.264/AVC uses reference pixels in a horizontal boundary located immediately above a target block to be predicted and reference pixels in a vertical boundary located immediately left of the target block. In the present invention, at least some of one of an array of horizontal boundary pixels and an array of vertical boundary pixels are retrieved. Then, the retrieved pixels are added to the other boundary pixels to extend the array thereof. Intra prediction is performed, based solely on the extended array of boundary pixels.

Abstract: The present invention provides a unique intra prediction process which improves the efficiency of video coding. H.264/AVC uses reference pixels in a horizontal boundary located immediately above a target block to be predicted and reference pixels in a vertical boundary located immediately left of the target block. In the present invention, at least some of one of an array of horizontal boundary pixels and an array of vertical boundary pixels are retrieved. Then, the retrieved pixels are added to the other boundary pixels to extend the array thereof. Intra prediction is performed, based solely on the extended array of boundary pixels.

Abstract: A moving image encoding/decoding system may include a video predictive encoding device, which may include: an encoding device which encodes each of a plurality of input pictures to generate compressed picture data including a random access picture, and encodes data about display order information of each picture; a restoration device which decodes the compressed picture data to restore a reproduced picture; a picture storage device which stores the reproduced picture as a reference picture; and a memory management device which controls the picture storage device. Following completion of an encoding process of generating the random access picture, the memory management device refreshes the picture storage device by setting every reference picture in the picture storage device, except for the random access picture, as unnecessary immediately before or immediately after encoding a picture with display order information larger than the display order information of the random access picture.

Abstract: A video predictive encoding device includes an input module to receive pictures forming a video sequence, and an encoding module to encode the pictures by either intra prediction or inter prediction to generate compressed picture data, and to packetize the compressed image data along with packet header information. The packet header information includes a picture type. The encoding module determines the picture type so as to uniquely indicate whether encoded picture data is used for reference in decoding of another picture.

Abstract: A video predictive encoding device includes an input module to receive pictures forming a video sequence, and an encoding module to encode the pictures by either intra prediction or inter prediction to generate compressed picture data, and to packetize the compressed image data along with packet header information. The packet header information includes a picture type. The encoding module determines the picture type so as to uniquely indicate whether encoded picture data is used for reference in decoding of another picture.

Abstract: A video predictive encoding device includes an input module to receive pictures forming a video sequence, and an encoding module to encode the pictures by either intra prediction or inter prediction to generate compressed picture data, and to packetize the compressed image data along with packet header information. The packet header information includes a picture type. The encoding module determines the picture type so as to uniquely indicate whether encoded picture data is used for reference in decoding of another picture.

Abstract: A moving image encoding/decoding system may include a video predictive encoding device, which may include: an encoding device which encodes each of a plurality of input pictures to generate compressed picture data including a random access picture, and encodes data about display order information of each picture; a restoration device which decodes the compressed picture data to restore a reproduced picture; a picture storage device which stores the reproduced picture as a reference picture; and a memory management device which controls the picture storage device. Following completion of an encoding process of generating the random access picture, the memory management device refreshes the picture storage device by setting every reference picture in the picture storage device, except for the random access picture, as unnecessary immediately before or immediately after encoding a picture with display order information larger than the display order information of the random access picture.

Abstract: A video prediction encoding device provided with a picture storage unit storing, as reference pictures to be used for encoding of a subsequent picture, one or more of reconstructed pictures restored from compressed picture data and a memory control unit to control a frame memory in the picture storage unit. When a frame size of input pictures is not more than 1/(2{circumflex over (?)}L) (where L is an integer of one or more) of a maximum frame size of pictures, the memory control unit determines that (2{circumflex over (?)}L) times the maximum number of reconstructed pictures are storable in the frame memory.

Abstract: In image predictive encoding according to an embodiment, one or more motion information sets are derived from plural pieces of motion information stored in a computer readable storage medium. Each of the one or more information sets includes two pieces of motion information between which any one of constituent elements differ in value. A predicted signal of a target region in a picture is generated by motion compensation, using two pieces of motion information in a motion information set selected from the one or more motion information sets. The two pieces of motion information in the selected motion information set are stored in the computer readable storage medium, and are used for generation of a predicted signal of another region.

Abstract: An encoding target region in an image can be partitioned into a plurality of prediction regions. Based on prediction information of a neighboring region neighboring a target region, the number of previously-encoded prediction regions in the target region, and previously-encoded prediction information of the target region, a candidate for motion information to be used in generation of a predicted signal of the target prediction region as a next prediction region is selected from previously-encoded motion information of regions neighboring the target prediction region. According to the number of candidates for motion information selected, merging block information to indicate generation of the predicted signal of the target prediction region using the selected candidate for motion information and motion information detected by prediction information estimation means, or either one of the merging block information or the motion information is encoded.

Abstract: A predictive coding system performs predictive encoding by determination of an optimum prediction mode from prediction methods for a pixel signal of a target block. A predicted signal is generated according to the determined mode, and a residual signal is determined. The residual signal and the optimum prediction mode are encoded to generate a compressed signal, which is decoded. The decoded signal is stored as a reconstructed picture sample. During encoding, a candidate prediction mode list is generated that contains elements of optimum prediction modes of previously-reproduced blocks neighboring the target block. A flag indicating whether the list contains an element corresponding to the optimum prediction mode is encoded, and an index to the corresponding element is encoded if the corresponding element is included in the list. The optimum prediction mode can be encoded based on identifying the elements in the list, unless no corresponding element appears on the list.

Abstract: The image predictive encoding device 10 comprises an intra frame predictive signal generation method determination section 15 which determines, for adjacent areas comprising regenerated pixel signals and adjacent to the target area, a predictive method which is derived on the basis of data corresponding to the adjacent areas as an R mode predictive method or an L mode predictive method, an intra frame predictive signal generation section 16 which generates an intra frame predictive signal on the basis of the R mode predictive method thus determined, and a subtractor 18, a transform section 19, a quantization section 20, and an entropy encoding section 25 which encode a residual signal of a pixel signal of the target area on the basis of the generated intra frame predictive signal.

Abstract: A predictive coding system performs predictive encoding by determination of an optimum prediction mode from prediction methods for a pixel signal of a target block. A predicted signal is generated according to the determined mode, and a residual signal is determined. The residual signal and the optimum prediction mode are encoded to generate a compressed signal, which is decoded. The decoded signal is stored as a reconstructed picture sample. During encoding, a candidate prediction mode list is generated that contains elements of optimum prediction modes of previously-reproduced blocks neighboring the target block. A flag indicating whether the list contains an element corresponding to the optimum prediction mode is encoded, and an index to the corresponding element is encoded if the corresponding element is included in the list. The optimum prediction mode can be encoded based on identifying the elements in the list, unless no corresponding element appears on the list.

Abstract: A video predictive encoding device can include an input device to implement input of pictures constituting a video sequence; an encoder to encode the pictures by intra-prediction or inter-prediction and to encode output order information of each picture and information about a picture type of each picture to generate compressed picture data. The compressed picture data includes a picture to serve as a random access point. The video predictive coding device can also include a reconstruction unit to decode the compressed picture data to reconstruct pictures; a picture storage unit to store one or more of the reconstructed pictures as reference pictures to be used for encoding of a subsequent picture; and a controller to determine the picture type and control the picture storage unit based on the determined picture type. The controller can label each picture as one of following three types: CRA picture, type-1 picture and type-2 picture.

Abstract: A decoding device includes a decoder that decodes information of a direction of intra-picture prediction of a target block and compression data of a residual signal, a prediction signal generator that generates an intra-picture prediction signal using the information of the direction and an previously reconstructed reference sample of an adjacent block, a residual signal restorator that restores a reconstructed residual signal of the target block, and a block storage that restores and stores a pixel signal of the target block. The prediction signal generator derives reference samples from a previously reconstructed block neighbouring the target block stored, selects two or more key reference samples, performs an interpolation process between the key reference samples for generating interpolated reference samples, and generates the intra-picture prediction signal by extrapolating the interpolated reference samples based on the direction of the intra-picture prediction.

Abstract: A decoding device includes a decoder that decodes information of a direction of intra-picture prediction of a target block and compression data of a residual signal, a prediction signal generator that generates an intra-picture prediction signal using the information of the direction and an previously reconstructed reference sample of an adjacent block, a residual signal restorator that restores a reconstructed residual signal of the target block, and a block storage that restores and stores a pixel signal of the target block. The prediction signal generator derives reference samples from a previously reconstructed block neighbouring the target block stored, selects two or more key reference samples, performs an interpolation process between the key reference samples for generating interpolated reference samples, and generates the intra-picture prediction signal by extrapolating the interpolated reference samples based on the direction of the intra-picture prediction.

Abstract: In image predictive encoding according to an embodiment, one or more motion information sets are derived from plural pieces of motion information stored in a computer readable storage medium. Each of the one or more information sets includes two pieces of motion information between which any one of constituent elements differ in value. A predicted signal of a target region in a picture is generated by motion compensation, using two pieces of motion information in a motion information set selected from the one or more motion information sets. The two pieces of motion information in the selected motion information set are stored in the computer readable storage medium, and are used for generation of a predicted signal of another region.

Abstract: In image predictive encoding according to an embodiment, one or more motion information sets are derived from plural pieces of motion information stored in a computer readable storage medium. Each of the one or more information sets includes two pieces of motion information between which any one of constituent elements differ in value. A predicted signal of a target region in a picture is generated by motion compensation, using two pieces of motion information in a motion information set selected from the one or more motion information sets. The two pieces of motion information in the selected motion information set are stored in the computer readable storage medium, and are used for generation of a predicted signal of another region.

Abstract: In image predictive encoding according to an embodiment, one or more motion information sets are derived from plural pieces of motion information stored in a computer readable storage medium. Each of the one or more information sets includes two pieces of motion information between which any one of constituent elements differ in value. A predicted signal of a target region in a picture is generated by motion compensation, using two pieces of motion information in a motion information set selected from the one or more motion information sets. The two pieces of motion information in the selected motion information set are stored in the computer readable storage medium, and are used for generation of a predicted signal of another region.

Abstract: The present invention provides a unique intra prediction process which improves the efficiency of video coding. H.264/AVC uses reference pixels in a horizontal boundary located immediately above a target block to be predicted and reference pixels in a vertical boundary located immediately left of the target block. In the present invention, at least some of one of an array of horizontal boundary pixels and an array of vertical boundary pixels are retrieved. Then, the retrieved pixels are added to the other boundary pixels to extend the array thereof. Intra prediction is performed, based solely on the extended array of boundary pixels.