Abstract: There is provided a content recording device capable of performing content reproduction with a plurality of qualities while limiting the use of the content. The device includes a content acquisition unit for acquiring a basic layer indispensable for content reproduction which is obtained by hierarchically encoding at least one of the parameters of the resolution, bit rate. and frame rate and an extended layer for interpolating it; and an access control unit for recording the basic layer, the extended layer, and use control information, moving the basic layer recorded in a basic layer recording unit and the use control information recorded in a use control information recording unit to an external content recording device. and deleting the moved basic layer from the basic layer recording unit, thereby enabling reproduction of the content with various qualities by a plurality of devices as well as reproduction with the original quality while satisfying the use limit posed on the content.

Abstract: A video transmitting apparatus that is able to efficiently transmit and decode only the video data of the region of interest without lowering coding efficiency, and that is able to change the region of interest during reproduction of video. In this apparatus, a base layer coding section (116) codes the base layer of low resolution obtained by reducing input video of high resolution. A region map calculating section (118) calculates a region map indicating the divided region upon coding, and an enhancement layer coding section (120) performs intra-frame coding for each divided region after dividing the enhancement layer which is differential video of the input video and video obtained by decoding the base layer coded video and expanding the same to the resolution of the input video according to the region map.

Abstract: An apparatus for compressing an uncompressed motion picture to generate compressed motion picture data, and also for generating and including rate correction data to be used by another apparatus to change the bit rate of the compressed motion picture data without decoding all of the encoded packets in the compressed motion picture data.

Abstract: A video transmission system that achieves uninterrupted video transmission, even when there are large bit rate fluctuation due to receiving terminal movement and so forth, in a network such as a wireless network in which transmission bit rate fluctuations occur. In this system, when a video receiving apparatus (receiving terminal) 150 is moving, a video transmitting apparatus (transmitting terminal) 100 lowers the base layer bit rate of layered-coded data to the limit. When the base layer bit rate is lowered in this way, the bit rate of the lowest enhancement layer is raised and effects on the received image quality of other terminals due to lowering of the base layer are suppressed, or the lowest enhancement layer is divided finely and the adjustability to a bit rate under bit rate fluctuations is improved.

Abstract: A picture combining apparatus that automatically displays a picture important to a user, and moreover displays that important picture combined in a screen configuration that is highly appealing visually. In this apparatus, a picture input section 102 inputs images making up a picture on an image-by-image basis, and a picture accumulation section 110 accumulates input pictures. A trigger generation section 104 that generates a trigger indicating the importance of a picture, and a combining trigger calculation section 106 calculates a combining trigger for calculating screen combining parameters using that trigger. A screen configuration calculation section 108 determines the presence or absence of screen combining using a combining trigger and calculates a screen configuration (more specifically, screen combining parameters).

Abstract: A background separator 120 compares and finds differences between a background image intra-coded in the past and an input image and determines a background area and a non-background area. A base layer coder 130 generates a video stream of a base layer using an input image. An enhancement layer coder 140 actually codes only the image of the non-background area. A video transmitter 160 transmits a video stream of the base layer generated by the base layer coder 130. A video transmitter 170 transmits the video stream of the enhancement layer generated by the enhancement layer coder 140.

Abstract: A video transmission system, a video transmitting apparatus, a video receiving apparatus, and a video transmission method whereby, when a plurality of terminals whose characteristics differ receive video simultaneously, each terminal can receive video with quality appropriate for that terminal. In this system, a video transmitting apparatus (100) divides layered-coded data by quality and bit rate by means of a channel division section (106), and transmits data on separate channels from a video transmitting section (108) after adding priorities calculated by a priority calculation section (112). Video transmitting apparatus (100) also groups channels by quality and calculates a group list by means of a group list calculation section (114), and transmits this group list from a group list transmitting section (116).

Abstract: The present invention improves confidentiality of video without incurring increased processing load. Coefficient scanner 123 scans the orthogonal transform coefficients of the base layer in scanning orders specified by scanning order determiner 150. Coefficient scanner 133 scans the orthogonal transform coefficients of the enhancement layer in scanning orders specified by scanning order determiner 150. When scanning is implemented in a privacy mode, scanning order determiner 150 determines the privacy mode scanning orders of the base layer and the enhancement layer individually and generates scan lists that indicate the scanning orders of the base layer and the enhancement layer respectively. Scan list transmitter 180 the scan lists of the base layer and the enhancement layer, generated in scanning order determiner 150, to specific users alone.

Abstract: A de-blocking filter processing apparatus that achieves high picture quality without consuming processing apparatus power unnecessarily. A loop filter 170 used as a de-blocking filter processing apparatus first acquires a variable-size motion estimation block in a frame for which motion estimation processing is performed. Then, de-blocking filter processing is applied adaptively to a frame for which motion estimation processing is performed, in accordance with the acquired motion estimation block. Application of de-blocking filter processing is executed only at a boundary between a particular motion estimation block and a motion estimation block adjacent to that motion estimation block in a frame for which motion estimation processing is performed.

Abstract: A video coding method enabling implementation of resolution scalability while improving the coding efficiency. In the method, a band dividing section 104 performs band division on a high-resolution original image to generate a middle-resolution image, horizontal component, vertical component and diagonal component. The horizontal component is subjected to the DCT processing in horizontal layer DCT section 124, and then subjected to the bit-plane VLC processing in horizontal layer bit-plane VLC section 126. The vertical component is subjected to the DCT processing in vertical layer DCT section 130, and then subjected to the bit-plane VLC processing in vertical layer bit-plane VLC section 132. The diagonal component is subjected to the DCT processing in diagonal layer DCT section 136, and then subjected to the bit-plane VLC processing in diagonal layer bit-plane VLC section 138. In scanning, a scanning order is determined in consideration of bias in the distribution of DCT coefficients for each band component.

Abstract: A video decoding apparatus that adaptively controls post-filter filter parameters according to a characteristic quantity of priority-coded data priority-coded for individual areas classified by importance within a moving image, and improves the subjective image quality of an overall screen. In a video decoding apparatus 200, a filter parameter calculation section 213 calculates filter parameters that control the noise elimination intensity of a post-filter processing section 215 based on shift values of individual small areas set in a stepwise shift map in which the shift value decreases stepwise from an important area to the peripheral area within a screen in the video coding apparatus, and a post-filter processing section 215 performs post-filter processing of a reconstructed image by applying the calculated filter parameters.

Abstract: A moving picture coding method capable of maintaining high picture quality for an important area even in a low bit rate and gradually improving picture quality of the neighboring area as the bit rate becomes higher. According to this method, the important area detection section 122 automatically detects an important area within a frame, the gradual shift map generation section 124 generates a gradual shift map whose shift value decreases gradually from the important area toward the neighboring area. The bit shift section 130 bit-shifts DCT coefficients according to the gradual shift map. In this way, more DCT coefficients which contribute to improvement of picture quality of the important area are stored in the start portion of the enhancement layer preferentially.

Abstract: In order to enhance the picture quality of a detected area, the present invention provides a video coding apparatus. In the apparatus, a reliability indicative of the degree of coincidence of an area detected by an important area detecting section with a real important area is calculated, and a coding parameter calculating section calculates a coding parameter to be set to the detected area according to the reliability, thereby controlling the picture quality of the detected area. Consequently, a whole image has a coding bit amount which does not break the restrictions of a transmission bit rate, and a larger coding bit amount is assigned to the important area so that a picture quality thereof can be improved and a visibility can be enhanced. In addition, the picture quality is more enhanced if a probability that the detected area might be an important area is higher.

Abstract: Image coding equipment wherein no sense of incongruity occurs when domains whose image quality should be improved are selected. To the domains selected with the domain selection section 111, the gradual coding parameter calculation section 112 computes the quantization values so that the quality of image may improve gradually toward the central part from the outside of the selected domain, and a picture is coded based on the value of such a parameter.

Abstract: When the bit rate of the moving picture data is changed, and the moving picture data is newly produced, to quickly realize the moving picture data production without decoding the moving picture data, and without generating the image quality deterioration due to the motion compensation error. The non-compression moving picture data is an input, quantization means, and rate correction data producing means for producing the rate correction data which is the data to be used at the time of bit rate change, are provided, and the moving picture data having together the rate correction data other than the normal moving picture stream is produced. Thereby, by selecting and replacing the rate correction data whose bit amount is different in the input moving picture data, by adjusting to the objective bit rate, the bit rate is changed and the moving picture data can be quickly produced without decoding the moving picture data.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image recording apparatus comprising a document size detection sensor 103 for recognizing a size of an image to be recorded, an image input section 101 for reading and storing therein the image to be recorded, a paper feeder (not shown herein) for storing therein and feeding recording paper having a specified size, an image forming section 108 for forming an image on recording paper fed from the paper feeder, an image processing section 106 for dividing a read image to two portions based on a result of detection by the document size detection sensor 103 when a size of the image to be recorded is larger than recording paper having a specified size and executing image processing for displacing a central position of each image so that an edge section of each image will be aligned to an edge of a binding space of each discrete sheet of recording paper, and an image output section 107 for outputting an image processed by the image processing section 108.

Abstract: The image recording apparatus optically reads image data on a document with an image area or a plurality of image areas specified therein and synthesizes image data of another document read subsequently into the specified image area or image areas changing the size thereof as needed accordingly an image on the other document can be allocated with a desired size at an arbitrary position on the first document and printed on a sheet of recording paper, thus improving the work efficiency and convenience of the apparatus.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus including a document size detection sensor for recognizing a size of an image to be recorded, an image input section for reading and storing therein the image to be recorded, a paper feeder for feeding recording paper having a specified size, an image forming section for forming an image on recording paper fed from the paper feeder, a control means for calculating a number of sheets of recording paper to be recorded from said total number of pages, an image processing section for executing image processing for displacing a central position of each image so that an edge section of each image will be aligned to an edge of a binding space of each discrete sheet of recording paper, and an image output section for outputting an image processed by the image processing section 108.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image recording apparatus including a document size detection sensor 103 for recognizing a size of an image to be recorded. An image input section 101 reads and stores therein the image to be recorded, and a paper feeder stores therein and feeding recording paper having a specified size. An image forming section 108 forms an image on recording paper fed from the paper feeder. An image processing section 106 divides a read image into two portions based on a result of detection by the document size detection sensor 103 when a size of the image to be recorded is larger than recording paper having a specified size and executes image processing for displacing a central position of each image so that an edge section of each image will be aligned to an edge of a binding space of each discrete sheet of recording paper. One of the image portions may further be inverted. An image output section 107 outputs an image processed by the image processing section 108.