Abstract: An image control apparatus is capable of coding an image signal with increased efficiency for improved image quality. The image control apparatus has a comparison processing unit for carrying out at least one of a first comparison process to compare a motion vector with a threshold, a second comparison process to compare a motion-compensated predictive error with a threshold, and a third comparison process to compare a difference value produced by subtracting the motion-compensated predictive error from an interframe difference with a threshold, and a repetitive number control unit for adaptively controlling the number of repeated B pictures to be inserted into a stream based on the compared result of the comparison process which is carried out by the comparison processing unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting between different video formats, which provide smooth video motion by eliminating unnatural effects which could be introduced in the process of video format conversion. A frame interpolator produces interpolated frames from a first video signal given in a first video format by using motion vectors of the first video signal. From the interpolated frames, a video signal generator produces a second video signal in a second video format that is incompatible with the first video format.

Abstract: An information transmission system where a receiving side apparatus selectively switches among a plurality of transmitting side apparatuses for connection, including a plurality of first information transmitting apparatuses, a second information transmitting apparatus for selectively receiving information from these first apparatuses, and a system clock synchronizing means comprised of a frequency information transmitting unit provided at the second transmitting apparatus side and transmitting frequency information F′ and system clock synchronizing units provided at the first information transmitting apparatus sides and using frequency information F′ distributed to them from the frequency information transmitting unit as master information, wherein shock (disturbance of information) occurring at the time of switching can be suppressed.

Abstract: A network system according to the present invention comprises an IP encoder connected with a plurality of clients through a network. The IP encoder compresses and encodes inputted video information, forms a packet comprising the compressed and encoded video information, and multicasts the formed video information to the plurality of clients.

Abstract: An image control apparatus is capable of coding an image signal with increased efficiency for improved image quality. The image control apparatus has a comparison processing unit for carrying out at least one of a first comparison process to compare a motion vector with a threshold, a second comparison process to compare a motion-compensated predictive error with a threshold, and a third comparison process to compare a difference value produced by subtracting the motion-compensated predictive error from an interframe difference with a threshold, and a repetitive number control unit for adaptively controlling the number of repeated B pictures to be inserted into a stream based on the compared result of the comparison process which is carried out by the comparison processing unit.

Abstract: A differential coding apparatus having a plurality of predictive function computing circuits and an optimum predicted value determining circuit. The optimum predicted value determining circuit determines the optimum predicted value from the plurality of predicted values by using a quantized prediction error used as an output signal of the apparatus, instead of a local decoded signal, and carries out the determining operation of the optimum predicted value in parallel with the quantized prediction error producing operation.