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: 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.