Abstract: An object of the present invention is to enable a real-time distribution even if the band of a network varies. A distributing apparatus receives a packet retransmission request or a packet restoration notification, which is transmitted from a receiving apparatus, with an error information receiving unit. If the number of received retransmission requests or that of restoration notifications becomes equal to or larger than a certain value, a distribution band controlling unit decreases a band used to distribute a packet by a certain band.

Abstract: An IP-data transmitting apparatus performs an error correction coding by classifying data into a layer indicative of the priority order of the data based on importance and vulnerability of information included in the data, and combining a plurality of data components into combination patterns. The number of the combination patterns is specified with respect to each layer with predetermined priority order.

Abstract: A receiving unit receives a group of packets transmitted from a transmitting apparatus. A detecting unit detects a missing packet based on the received group of packets. A first output unit outputs data corresponding to the group of packets, irrespective of a result of the detection by the detecting unit. A transmitting unit transmits a retransmission request for the missing packet to the transmitting apparatus. A re-receiving unit receives the missing packet retransmitted from the transmitting apparatus in response to the retransmission request. A second output unit outputs data corresponding to the group of packets and the retransmitted packet.

Abstract: A receiving unit receives a group of packets transmitted from a transmitting apparatus. A detecting unit detects a missing packet based on the received group of packets. A first output unit outputs data corresponding to the group of packets, irrespective of a result of the detection by the detecting unit. A transmitting unit transmits a retransmission request for the missing packet to the transmitting apparatus. A re-receiving unit receives the missing packet retransmitted from the transmitting apparatus in response to the retransmission request. A second output unit outputs data corresponding to the group of packets and the retransmitted packet.

Abstract: To provide a technology for easily distributing an image in a requested photograph direction. Photograph images, which are photographed by turning a photographing apparatus and continuously photographing the periphery of the photographing apparatus, are stored in a storing region. Any direction in a photograph range of the photographing apparatus is specified and a distribution request of an image photographed in the specified direction is received. A reading start position on one image is determined from the continuous photograph images in accordance with the specified direction of the distribution request. A part of the photograph image is read out from the start position as a distribution image. The distribution images are read out from the positions moved correspondingly to the turns from the start position on the image following the photograph image. The distribution images are distributed to request destinations of the distribution requests.

Abstract: Content data is distributed by distributing enciphered content data from a higher (upper) distribution source through a relay node to a lower information processing device; obtaining a decoding key data for decoding by the lower information device content data associated with a viewing/listening area managed by the relay node; and distributing the decoding key data to the lower information processing device.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to enable a real-time distribution even if the band of a network varies. A distributing apparatus receives a packet retransmission request or a packet restoration notification, which is transmitted from a receiving apparatus, with an error information receiving unit. If the number of received retransmission requests or that of restoration notifications becomes equal to or larger than a certain value, a distribution band controlling unit decreases a band used to distribute a packet by a certain band.

Abstract: An IP-data transmitting apparatus performs an error correction coding by classifying data into a layer indicative of the priority order of the data based on importance and vulnerability of information included in the data, and combining a plurality of data components into combination patterns. The number of the combination patterns is specified with respect to each layer with predetermined priority order.

Abstract: A panorama image generation program allows a computer to execute a panorama image generation method that generates a panorama image based on video encoded data obtained by encoding a motion picture photographed by means of a moving camera, the program allowing the computer to execute: a decoding processing step that decodes the video encoded data to acquire a frame image and motion vectors; a camera position information generation step that calculates the movement information of the frame image based on the motion vectors and calculates camera position information representing the position of the camera based on the movement information of the frame image; and a display data generation step that generates display data obtained by processing the frame image based on the camera position information corresponding to the frame image.

Abstract: To provide a technology for easily distributing an image in a requested photograph direction. Photograph images, which are photographed by turning a photographing apparatus and continuously photographing the periphery of the photographing apparatus, are stored in a storing region. Any direction in a photograph range of the photographing apparatus is specified and a distribution request of an image photographed in the specified direction is received. A reading start position on one image is determined from the continuous photograph images in accordance with the specified direction of the distribution request. A part of the photograph image is read out from the start position as a distribution image. The distribution images are read out from the positions moved correspondingly to the turns from the start position on the image following the photograph image. The distribution images are distributed to request destinations of the distribution requests.

Abstract: A system and method to adaptively control a process of distributing video information over a network. Each client data terminal subscribing to video services has a performance level reporting unit which sends a performance level message Da indicating what resources and computing power the terminal has. Each terminal also has an error status monitor which sends an error status message De. A video coder produces coded data Dc by coding source video signals, based on the received performance level messages Da and error status messages De. The traffic of this coded data Dc is dynamically varied by a dynamic traffic controller, and a distribution unit transmits the resultant video stream Di over the network, using IP multicasting techniques. A video decoder in each client terminal adaptively decodes the received video stream Di.

Abstract: An image, which is captured by a camera that a worker, etc., carries, is once stored in a ring buffer memory for storing image signals. The image is extracted from the ring buffer memory, and a quasi-moving image is generated. In a normal state, the quasi-moving image is displayed on a monitor of a center such as a control room, etc. via codecs on transmitting and receiving sides. When a user viewing the monitor makes a request to view a sharp image of a particular frame, or the high-quality motion of a subject while viewing the frames preceding or succeeding a particular frame, the image frame or frames are read from the buffer memory for storing image signals, and displayed on the monitor.

Abstract: In a data broadcast material transmission system for ground wave digital broadcasting which cannot be achieved without simultaneously transmitting to many locations (places) nationwide via a cable communications network of a communication provider, redundant information having a data carousel (rotating carousel) format used by a data broadcasting service for the ground wave digital broadcasting is eliminated and transferred to a digital broadcast material relay network serving as the cable communications network to be simultaneously broadcasted, and on each receiving side, the original data carousel is restored.

Abstract: A multiple picture composing method for composing video signals from a plurality of video signal sources which operate asynchronously to each other includes the steps of (a) successively selecting the video signals from the video signal sources, (b) reading the selected video signals in units of frames while maintaining horizontal and vertical synchronization of the selected video signals, (c) reducing the video signals in the units of frames in correspondence with areas allocated for each of pictures to be composed in a composed picture, (d) writing the reduced video signal in blocks of a picture composing memory corresponding to the areas allocated for each of the pictures to be composed, and (e) composing the video signals stored in the picture composing memory to obtain a composed video signal related to a composed picture and subjecting the composed video signal to at least one of an encoding process and a transmission process.

Abstract: A system generating composed signals of stable multiple pictures reduces a scale of hardware required for forming video signals sent from a plurality of terminals into one composed picture on a video conference system. A system generating composed signals of multiple pictures for use in a video conference system includes video conference terminals connected via a network, a multi-point control unit connected to the network for controlling transmission of video signals among the video conference terminals, and a multiple picture composer connected to the multi-point control unit for receiving video signals sent out from the video conference terminals through the multi-point control unit, and information showing a reducing ratio and display positions of the video signals.

Abstract: In a multipoint videoconferencing system including a plurality of visual telephone terminals and a multipoint control unit (MCU) connected thereto, shares of the respective visual telephone terminals are determined in the MCU, based on determination of a speaker determined from voice levels and/or amount of movement in the respective visual telephone terminals. The respective telephone terminals generate pictures at picture rates defined by the respective shares, and generate video data from the pictures at data rates defined by the respective shares. Video data generated in each visual telephone terminal are multiplexed in time division multiplexer in the MCU, and are distributed to the other terminals.

Abstract: A transmission system is provided having a sender side apparatus, a receiver side apparatus, and a transmission line connecting the sender and receiver side apparatuses. The sender side apparatus provides a selector for receiving image data signals of a plurality of channels in parallel and, frame by frame, selects an image data signal of one of the plurality of channels for each frame. The selector discards the image data signals of the other of the plurality of channels. A coding unit codes the image data signal which is selected for each frame by the selector, by interframe difference coding. A monitoring unit monitor data amounts of interframe differences in the image data signals of the respective channels. A control unit determines which one of said plurality of channels is to be selected by the selector, based on the data amounts of interframe differences in the image data signals of the respective channels, and adaptively controls the selector in accordance with this determination.