Abstract: The efficient motion compensation apparatus for digital video format down-conversion with variable conversion ratio is disclosed. The apparatus is characterized by an interpolation and decimation filters derived using a number of orthogonal transforms with variable transform sizes and implemented using efficient computation architectures. The computation architecture comprises the orthogonal transform kernel selection means, frequency component computing means, coefficient weighting means and pixel reconstruction means. A simple architecture for both interpolation and decimation filtering processes has been invented. The result is the dramatic reduction of the shifting and adding/subtracting operations, making them suitable for implementation in LSI realization of the video format down-conversion of digital video systems.

Abstract: An image data processing device for scaling up or down input image data and outputting output image data includes a first image processing section for converting the input image data with a first resolution into intermediate image data with a second resolution, and a second image processing section for converting the intermediate image data into the output image data with a third resolution.

Abstract: A scramble apparatus for scrambling data including a variable length code and a descramble apparatus is for descrambling a scrambled signal, and a scramble transmission apparatus comprising the scramble apparatus and the descramble apparatus. A specific code of data is converted into a readable code having a length equal to that of an original code.

Abstract: A variable-length-code decoder of this invention decodes an input bit stream including an input bit string having a codeword of a fixed-length code and a plurality of codewords of variable-length codes combined in a predetermined format.

Abstract: A program controlled processor comprises a scalar processing unit 101 for normal data (=scalar) operations and branch processing, a plurality of vector processing units 102 of identical structure, a vector distributor 103 for distributing input data as block vectors to vector memory 304 in each vector processing unit 102, a vector coupler 104 for coupling the block vectors stored in vector memory 404 in each vector processing unit 102 to provide output vectors, an instruction memory 105 for storing the operations of these circuit blocks as an operating program, a sequencer 106 for sequentially reading the instruction memory 105, and a decoder 107 for interpreting the read instructions and outputting a control signal to each circuit block. The scalar processing unit 101 comprises a scalar bus input enabling the scalar processing unit 101 to refer scalar registers in the vector processing units 102.

Abstract: A scramble apparatus is for scrambling data including a variable length code and a descramble apparatus for descrambling a scrambled signal, and a scramble transmission apparatus comprising the scramble apparatus and the descramble apparatus. A specific code of data is converted into a readable code having a length equal to that of an original code.

Abstract: A picture coding method includes the steps of translating the data of an image into 3-dimensional blocks and detecting their movements, in which the transform coefficients of a high degree in the space associated with the 3-dimensional blocks where more movement is involved are removed for reducing spatial resolution while maintaining time resolution and also, the transform coefficients of a high degree in the time associated with the 3-dimensional blocks where less movement is involved are removed for reducing time resolution while maintaining spatial resolution, so that the effective compression of the data can be implemented without a great visual degradation in the picture quality.

Abstract: Motion vectors are determined in each frame of the input image data, and optimum motion vectors characterizing the motion are extracted from the determined motion vectors, a three-dimensional block is composed in space and in time along the extracted optimum motion vectors, and the composed three-dimensional block is block-coded by orthogonal transform or the like, according to the disclosed picture coding method.

Abstract: A method of encoding and decoding image and/or audio signals includes an encoding step comprising previously preparing a quantization table which has pairs of a sampling interval and a quantized difference value, calculating a difference value between a given initial value and a sampling point succeeding to the initial value, comparing the calculated difference value with the quantization table, and searching the most matching quantization level. The search is started from the sampling point immediately succeeding to the initial value and then stopped upon finding of the matching quantization level. The index of that matching quantization level is transmitted. The decoding step comprises preparing the same quanitization table as used in the encoding step, determining the sampling interval and the quantized difference value based on the index received, and adding the quantized difference value to the initial value to obtain a decoded value.