Abstract: A video encoding method, in which a video signal consisting of two or more signal elements is targeted to be encoded, includes a step of setting a downsampling ratio is set for a specific signal element in a frame, in accordance with the characteristics in the frame; and a step of generating a target video signal to be encoded, by subjecting the specific signal element in the frame to downsampling in accordance with the set downsampling ratio. The frame may be divided into partial areas in accordance with localized characteristics in the frame; and a downsampling ratio for a specific signal element in these partial areas may be set in accordance with the characteristics in each partial area.

Abstract: A video encoding method for generating, based on disparity information between an already-encoded reference camera image and an encoding target camera image corresponding to the reference camera image, a disparity-compensated image by means of inter-camera image prediction; and encoding a differential image between the encoding target camera image and the disparity-compensated image. The method includes selecting, for each predetermined section unit on the differential image, one of a decoded differential image group obtained by decoding a differential image between the already-encoded camera image and the disparity-compensated image and a decoded camera image group obtained by decoding the already-encoded camera image, by determining whether or not there is a disparity-compensated image at the corresponding position, that is, whether or not the corresponding pixel in the disparity-compensated image has an effective value.

Abstract: A video encoding method includes setting candidates for reference pixels to pixels within a predetermined distance range measured from an encoding target block; generating a predicted signal by sequentially selecting reference pixels used for the intra prediction of the encoding target block from among the reference pixel candidates while changing a distance condition from the encoding target block, and by generating the predicted signal based on the reference pixels for each distance condition; computing an encoding cost required for subjecting the encoding target block to intra prediction encoding using each generated predicted signal; finally determining reference pixels used for the intra prediction of the encoding target block based on each computed encoding cost; and encoding information which indicates the position of the determined reference pixels.

Abstract: An image encoding method includes determining a corresponding point on a target image for encoding, which corresponds to each pixel on a reference image, based on the distance from a camera used for obtaining the reference image to an imaged object, and a positional relationship between cameras; computing a parallax vector from the position of the pixel to the corresponding point in the pixel space; computing a target predictive vector having the same starting point as the parallax vector and components obtained by rounding off the components of the parallax vector; computing a target reference vector having the same starting point as the parallax vector and the same size and direction as a differential vector between the target predictive vector and the parallax vector; and setting a predicted pixel value of a pixel on the target encoding image, which is indicated by the target predictive vector, to a value of a pixel on the reference image, which is indicated by the target reference vector.

Abstract: A video encoding method includes selecting a reference vector target frame and a reference frame from among already-encoded frames; encoding information for designating each frame; setting a reference vector for indicating an area in the reference vector target frame with respect to an encoding target area; encoding the reference vector; performing a corresponding area search by using image information of a reference vector target area, which belongs to the reference vector target frame and is indicated by the reference vector, and the reference frame; determining a reference area in the reference frame based on the search result; generating a predicted image by using image information of the reference frame, which corresponds to the reference area; and encoding differential information between image information of the encoding target area and the predicted image.

Abstract: A video encoding method for encoding video images as a single video image by using parallax compensation which performs prediction by using parallax between the video images, and a corresponding decoding method. The number of parameters as parallax data used for the parallax compensation is selected and set for each reference image. Data of the set number of parameters is encoded, and parallax data in accordance with the number of parameters is encoded. During decoding, parallax-parameter number data, which is included in encoded data and designates the number of parameters as parallax data for each reference image, is decoded, and parallax data in accordance with the number of parameters is decoded, where the parallax data is included in the encoded data.

Abstract: Highly efficient lossless decoding is realized under the condition that codes transmitted as a base part are compatible with the H.264 standard. An orthogonal transformation section (12) performs orthogonal transformation of residual signals (Rorig), acquires transform coefficients (Xorig), and a quantization section (13) quantizes the transform coefficients. An existential space determination section (14) obtains information on upper limits and lower limits of the respective coefficients (an existential space of transform coefficients) from quantization information.

Abstract: A video encoding method for encoding a plurality of images as a video image. The method includes a reference parallax data setting step of setting reference parallax data which indicates a viewing difference between a first image and an already-encoded second image, in order to encode target encoding data assigned to a predetermined position in the first image; a corresponding position setting step of setting a corresponding position in the second image, which can correspond to the predetermined position, by using the reference parallax data; a code table setting step of setting a code table corresponding to target encoding data assigned to the corresponding position; and a target encoding data encoding step of encoding the target encoding data in the first image by using the code table.