Abstract: A data transmission device of an embodiment includes a buffer, a first determination circuit, a first flip-flop, a second flip-flop, and a second determination circuit. The buffer holds input data of a predetermined bit width. The first determination circuit determines whether or not the input data is held in the buffer. The first flip-flop receives output of the first determination circuit as input and operates at one of a rising edge and a falling edge of a second clock signal which is asynchronous with the first clock signal. The second flip-flop receives output of the first flip-flop as input and operates at another of the rising edge and the falling edge of the second clock signal. The second determination circuit determines an error based on a request signal which is synchronized with the second clock signal and output of the second flip-flop.

Abstract: A data storage system includes a host system configured to provide an I/O request stream and a data storage subsystem. The data storage subsystem has a data storage device and a processor. The processor is configured to provide streaming data in response to the I/O request stream, determine a current streaming rate of the I/O request stream, and determine a time-based read ahead size based on a time ahead duration and the current streaming rate of the I/O request stream. The time-based read ahead size may be updated while streaming, for example, after a delay period.

Abstract: Described is a method performed by an encoder of a base station system (100) of a wireless communication network, for handling a bit stream for transmission over a transmission link (165) between a remote unit (160) and a base unit (170) of the base station system. The remote unit is arranged to transmit wireless signals to and receive from mobile stations (180). The bit stream comprises a first OFDM symbol and a second OFDM symbol, each OFDM symbol comprising a number of consecutive IQ samples. The method comprises, for a first number of the IQ samples situated at a boundary between the first and the second OFDM symbol, transmitting, over the transmission link to a decoder of the base station system, the first number of IQ samples having a representation spanning a first amplitude range.

Abstract: A data processing system for calibrating a media codec comprising a sequence of time-stamped frames and comprising: an encoder subsystem configured to perform encoding in accordance with one or more encode parameters; a decoder subsystem; and a calibration system comprising: a data store for storing an encoded media stream; and a calibration monitor configured to, on the media codec entering a calibration mode, cause: the decoder subsystem to decode the encoded media stream so as to generate a decoded media stream; the encoder subsystem to re-encode said decoded media stream; and the re-encoded media stream to pass back into the decoder subsystem; the calibration monitor being configured to, through variation of the encode parameters of the encoder subsystem, identify maximal encode parameters corresponding to the greatest steady-state demand on the media codec that permits decoding of the sequence of time-stamped frames at a rate in accordance with their associated timestamps.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus configured to communicate with an image generating apparatus that generates a virtual viewpoint image that is based on a plurality of images acquired by image capturing with a plurality of cameras from a plurality of directions, comprises a transmission unit which transmits an inquiry to the image generating apparatus that is obtaining a data set for generating a virtual viewpoint image, an obtaining unit which obtains time information regarding a time corresponding to a virtual viewpoint image that can be generated by the image generating apparatus, based on a response to the inquiry transmitted by the transmission unit, and an output unit which outputs, to the image generating apparatus, a generation instruction to generate a virtual viewpoint image corresponding to a time determined based on the time information obtained by the obtaining unit.

Abstract: A system controls a transmission of a sequence of compressed video data from an encoder buffer to a network for delivery to a decoder buffer. Control of the transmission includes to: determine characteristics of a video transmission path between the encoder buffer and the decoder buffer, the characteristics comprising at least one of a buffer size of the decoder buffer, an input rate of the decoder buffer, and a buffer size of an equivalent intermediary buffer of the video transmission path; determine a transmission rate from the characteristics of the video transmission path and from the sequence of compressed video data, the transmission rate being determined such that a target quality of service value can be guaranteed for the entire sequence of compressed video data transmitted at the determined transmission rate to the decoder buffer; and control transmission of the sequence of compressed video data at the determined transmission rate.

Abstract: A display controller of a data processing system fetches data for surfaces to be displayed from memory of the data processing system into a local buffer or buffers of the display controller and provides that data from the local buffer or buffers of the display controller to a display for display. If the display controller determines that data to be provided to the display has not been fetched into a local buffer of the display controller, it provides data that has previously been fetched into the local buffer of the display controller to the display in place of the data that has not been fetched into a local buffer of the display controller.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods and devices for controlling speech quality, in particular by controlling end-to-end latency and by improving speech quality in case of mobility scenarios. A method 200 for controlling end-to-end latency between receiving and processing audio frames includes: receiving 201 a data packet comprising at least one coded audio frame; storing 202 the received data packet in a packet buffer; retrieving 203 the received data packet from the packet buffer and decoding the at least one coded audio frame into audio samples; and processing 204 the audio samples, wherein a scheduling of retrieving 203 the received data packet from the packet buffer and decoding the at least one coded audio frame is based on a target criterion with respect to audio quality of the audio samples and latency between receiving the data packet and processing the audio samples, and wherein the scheduling is dynamically and smoothly shifted in time in order to avoid audio distortions.

Abstract: A data processing system for calibrating a media codec comprising a sequence of time-stamped frames and comprising: an encoder subsystem configured to perform encoding in accordance with one or more encode parameters; a decoder subsystem; and a calibration system comprising: a data store for storing an encoded media stream; and a calibration monitor configured to, on the media codec entering a calibration mode, cause: the decoder subsystem to decode the encoded media stream so as to generate a decoded media stream; the encoder subsystem to re-encode said decoded media stream; and the re-encoded media stream to pass back into the decoder subsystem; the calibration monitor being configured to, through variation of the encode parameters of the encoder subsystem, identify maximal encode parameters corresponding to the greatest steady-state demand on the media codec that permits decoding of the sequence of time-stamped frames at a rate in accordance with their associated timestamps.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for rate control accuracy in video encoding and decoding. An apparatus includes a video encoder for encoding image data using rate control. The rate control involves estimating a quantization step size and adjusting a rounding offset. The rounding offset is capable of being non-constant during the encoding.

Abstract: Provided are methods and apparatuses for encoding and decoding an image. Method of encoding includes: determining a maximum size of a buffer to decode each image frame by a decoder, a number of image frames to be reordered, and latency information of an image frame having a largest difference between an encoding order and a display order from among image frames that form an image sequence, based on an encoding order the image frames that form the image sequence, an encoding order of reference frames referred to by the image frames, a display order of the image frames, and a display order of the reference frames; and adding, to a mandatory sequence parameter set, a first syntax indicating the maximum size of the buffer, a second syntax indicating the number of image frames to be reordered, and a third syntax indicating the latency information.

Abstract: Provided are methods and apparatuses for encoding and decoding an image. The method of encoding includes: determining a maximum size of a buffer to decode each image frame by a decoder, a number of image frames to be reordered, and latency information of an image frame having a largest difference between an encoding order and a display order from among image frames that form an image sequence, based on an encoding order the image frames that form the image sequence, an encoding order of reference frames referred to by the image frames, a display order of the image frames, and a display order of the reference frames; and adding, to a mandatory sequence parameter set, a first syntax indicating the maximum size of the buffer, a second syntax indicating the number of image frames to be reordered, and a third syntax indicating the latency information.

Abstract: Provided are methods and apparatuses for encoding and decoding an image. The method of encoding includes: determining a maximum size of a buffer to decode each image frame by a decoder, a number of image frames to be reordered, and latency information of an image frame having a largest difference between an encoding order and a display order from among image frames that form an image sequence, based on an encoding order the image frames that form the image sequence, an encoding order of reference frames referred to by the image frames, a display order of the image frames, and a display order of the reference frames; and adding, to a mandatory sequence parameter set, a first syntax indicating the maximum size of the buffer, a second syntax indicating the number of image frames to be reordered, and a third syntax indicating the latency information.

Abstract: Provided are methods and apparatuses for encoding and decoding an image. The method of encoding includes: determining a maximum size of a buffer to decode each image frame by a decoder, a number of image frames to be reordered, and latency information of an image frame having a largest difference between an encoding order and a display order from among image frames that form an image sequence, based on an encoding order the image frames that form the image sequence, an encoding order of reference frames referred to by the image frames, a display order of the image frames, and a display order of the reference frames; and adding, to a mandatory sequence parameter set, a first syntax indicating the maximum size of the buffer, a second syntax indicating the number of image frames to be reordered, and a third syntax indicating the latency information.

Abstract: Provided are methods and apparatuses for encoding and decoding an image. The method of encoding includes: determining a maximum size of a buffer to decode each image frame by a decoder, a number of image frames to be reordered, and latency information of an image frame having a largest difference between an encoding order and a display order from among image frames that form an image sequence, based on an encoding order the image frames that form the image sequence, an encoding order of reference frames referred to by the image frames, a display order of the image frames, and a display order of the reference frames; and adding, to a mandatory sequence parameter set, a first syntax indicating the maximum size of the buffer, a second syntax indicating the number of image frames to be reordered, and a third syntax indicating the latency information.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a camera determines whether to acquire an image (e.g., automatically), determines whether to store the acquired image, and determines how to store the acquired image.

Abstract: Technology is provided for dynamically adjusting the delivery of content by switching streams during delivery in order to adapt to bandwidth information. A server (or set of servers) storing content transmits one or more portions of a first version of a set content to a client and monitors that transmission (or other transmission) to determine bandwidth information. The server determines whether to switch versions of the set of content based on the bandwidth information. One or more additional portions of the first version of the set of content are transmitted from the server to the client if the server determines that it should not switch versions of the set of content. One or more portions of a second version of the set of content are transmitted from the server to the client if the server determines that it should switch versions. The first version of the set of content and the second version of the set of content are at different quality levels.

Abstract: A video compression encoder which does not require a video frame buffer is disclosed. Without a frame buffer, incoming pixels can not be compared to pixels previously sent to the decoder. Instead, the disclosed encoder only stores check values for groups of pixels sent. If a group's check value has not changed, the encoder sends a command to the decoder not to change that pixel group. Also, without a frame buffer, an incoming video frame can not be captured and later sent to the decoder as network throughput permits. Instead, if throughput is insufficient to send an encoded group of pixels, the encoder leaves the check value for that group unchanged and sends a command instructing the decoder not to change those pixels. This defers updating that group until the next screen update is sent to the decoder. Grouping of pixels can be done in any fashion, for example; a group can be a single video line, a portion of a line, multiple lines or screen rectangles containing portions of multiple lines.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for operating a decoder to decode a video frame in a multi-threaded environment. A first buffer ring state is detected based on a status of a first buffer ring, and a second buffer ring state is detected based upon a status of a second buffer ring. An adjustment of priorities of a parser thread, a decoder thread, and a renderer thread is requested based on the first buffer ring state and the second buffer ring state. The first buffer ring is interacted with to receive stream data from the parser, the stream data is decoded to generate frame data, and the second buffer ring is interacted with to provide the frame data to the renderer for display.

Abstract: A deinterlacing apparatus includes a buffer to receive a plurality of consecutive fields of an interlaced video and a field combination module coupled to the buffer to deinterlace the interlaced video in accordance with cadence of the interlaced video. The deinterlacing apparatus also includes a cadence detection module to detect the cadence by (1) causing each of the fields to be combined with its preceding field into a frame and with its subsequent field into another frame to obtain a plurality of combined frames, (2) determining a comb factor of each of the combined frames to obtain a sequence of comb factors of the combined frames, and (3) determining if the sequence of comb factors of the combined frames follows a pre-determined repeating pattern. A cadence detection method is also described.

Abstract: Method, apparatus and computer program product for processing a video signal, the video signal comprising a plurality of frames, wherein the frames of the video signal are received at a jitter buffer, and the frames are output from the jitter buffer at a variable output rate to account for jitter in the received frames. Variations in the output rate are controlled in dependence upon the visual information content of the video signal, the visual information content of the video signal being the portion of the video signal that is to be displayed when the video signal is played out.

Abstract: A bit rate control apparatus applied in a video conference system is provided. The apparatus has a bit rate recording unit, configured to update a current bit rate; a bit rate reducing unit, configured to receive at least one event parameter and the current bit rate, and determine whether an event flag corresponding to the event parameters occurs; and a bit rate increasing unit, configured to increase the current bit rate periodically, wherein when the event flag occurs, the bit rate reducing unit reduces the current bit rate.

Abstract: Certain embodiments disclosed herein relate to an image signal processing system includes overflow control logic that detects an overflow condition when a destination unit when a sensor input queue and/or front-end processing unit receives back pressure from a downstream destination unit. In one embodiment, pixels of a current frame are dropped when an overflow condition occurs. The number of dropped pixels may be tracked using a counter. Upon recovery of the overflow condition, the remaining pixels of the frame are received and each dropped pixel may be replaced using a replacement pixel value.

Abstract: A method for processing digital image data is provided that includes compressing a block of the digital image data to generate a compressed block, storing the compressed block in an external memory when a number of bits in the compressed block does not exceed a first compression threshold, and storing the block in the external memory when the number of bits in the compressed block exceeds the first compression threshold.

Abstract: In one embodiment an apparatus for splicing an ad into a data stream includes an ad segmenter, an ad variant generator coupled to the ad segmenter, and an ad variant selector coupled to the ad variant generator. The ad segmenter designates end portions, including beginning and ending portions, of the ad and designates an intermediate portion between the end portions. The ad variant generator generates a plurality of variants of at least one end portion. Each variant corresponds to a unique bit-rate. The ad variant selector selects at least one variant for splicing into the data stream based on a buffer level of a data stream buffer.

Abstract: Provided is a data receiving device and method for shortening a channel switching time in a DMB system. The device includes a CDM channel for receiving a broadcasting signal from a DMB satellite, demodulating the broadcast signal, and generating a MPEG2-TS packet. a GOP buffer for receiving the MPEG2-TS packet, checking whether or not the received MPEG2-TS packet is a key frame, and, when it is determined that the received MPEG2-TS packet is the key frame, initializing the buffer and storing the received MPEG2-TS packet as a GOP unit, a channel switch for switching a channel of a DMB service to the GOP buffer, an A/V reproducing buffer for buffering a predetermined amount of A/V data to reproduce the A/V data of the GOP buffer; and an A/V decoder for receiving and decoding the A/V data.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus controlling processing for splicing first and second compressed image data at an editing point includes acquiring means for acquiring the code amounts of the first compressed image data near the start point and the second compressed image data near the end point of a first range around the editing point; analyzing means for analyzing, in accordance with the code amounts, a first locus of virtual buffer occupancies when the virtual buffer occupancy at the start point is minimum and a second locus of virtual buffer occupancies when the virtual buffer occupancy of a picture next to the end point is maximum; and determining means for determining, in accordance with the first locus and the second locus, an upper limit and a lower limit of the virtual buffer occupancy at the start point and the end point, respectively, when the first range is re-encoded.

Abstract: A real time encoder with bit rate constraint, of the type including: a capture buffer memory storing frames waiting to be processed; an encoding module receiving frames issued from the capture buffer memory and delivering compressed frames; an intermediate buffer memory, storing the compressed frames issued from the encoding module; and an emission buffer memory, storing data packets, resulting from the division of the compressed frames issued from the intermediate buffer memory, and emitting, with a controlled bit rate, the data packets on a communication channel. The encoder includes a control module, which dynamically adjusts the maximum size of the capture buffer memory, permitting the maximum size of the capture buffer memory to be temporarily increased as long as the emission buffer memory is not empty.

Abstract: A method and system of allocating code resources for a high speed physical downlink shared channel are disclosed. The method includes: recording usage states for all code resources of a system at a base station; allocating, by the base station, code resources with idle state to the HS-PDSCH when the code resources of the HS-PDSCH are not enough. The system includes a radio network controller and a base station; the radio network controller is configured to allocate code resources of a system to corresponding channels, and inform the usage states of the code resources to the base station. When there is a shortage of code resources for HS-PDSCHs, idle code resources in a same code tree may be temporarily allocated to the HS-PDSCHs. Thus, the shortage of code resources is moderated to some extent, and the efficiency of code resources in the overall system is raised.

Abstract: The method compresses image data into a fixed sized memory. The image is encoded in scans, where the scans are ordered from a perceptually most significant scan to a perceptually least significant scan. The scans also have an attribute 210 determining whether a scan is active or inactive. The method comprises an encoding, transferring and setting step. The encoding step 326, 348 encodes active scans of image data into scan bit-stream data. The transferring step 330, 352 transfers the encoded scan bit-stream data to the fixed size memory. The setting step 452 sets, if the fixed size memory becomes full, the attribute of a perceptually least significant scan to inactive.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for controlling a buffer in a digital audio broadcasting (DAB) communication system. The decoder buffer level limits are specified in terms of a maximum number of encoded frames (or duration). The transmitter can predict the number of encoded frames, Fpred, in the decoder buffer and transmit the value, Fpred, to the receiver with the audio data. If the transmitter determines that the decoder buffer level is becoming too high, the frames being generated by the encoder are too small and additional bits are allocated to each frame for each of the N programs. Likewise, if the transmitter determines that the decoder buffer level is becoming too low, the frames being generated by the encoder are too big and fewer bits are allocated to each frame for each of the N programs. The transmitted predicted buffer level, Fpred, can also be employed to (i) determine when the decoder should commence decoding frames; and (ii) synchronize the transmitter and the receiver.

Abstract: An encoding system capable of preventing the overflow of a buffer and performing the encoding of a VOP within a predetermined time period even where the processing time period necessary for encoding each macroblock is not constant. In order to provide the encoding system, the maximum number of bits Tmax is set for each VOP, and the output of encoding unit and the output of fixed code output unit is switched and outputted so that the number of bits Sc of the VOP may not exceed the Tmax.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for controlling a buffer in a digital audio broadcasting (DAB) communication system. An audio encoder marks a frame as “dropped” whenever a buffer overflow might occur. Only a small number of bits are utilized to process a lost frame, thereby preventing the buffer from overflowing and allowing the encoder buffer-level to quickly recover from the potential overflow condition. The audio encoder optionally sets a flag that provides an indication to the receivers that a frame has been lost. If a “frame lost” condition is detected by a receiver, the receiver can optionally employ mitigation techniques to reduce the impact of the lost frame(s).

Abstract: A real-time MPEG video coding system with information look-ahead for constant bit rate (CBR) applications, such as, for example, Video-on-Demand (VoD) over ADSL. This scheme employs two MPEG encoders. The second encoder has a buffer to delay the input by an amount of time relative to the first encoder to create a look-ahead window. In encoding, the first encoder collects the information of statistics and rate-quality characteristics. An on-line information processor then uses the collected information to derive the best coding strategy for the second encoder to encode the incoming frames in the look-ahead window. The second encoder uses the encoding parameters from the processor as the coding guide to execute the coding strategy and generate the final bitstream.

Abstract: Image data is encoded using a buffer memory, and code amount of image data occupying the buffer memory upon coding is detected and buffer information related to the detected code amount is outputted. The coded image data and the buffer information are recorded on a recording medium. In a case where additional recording or overwriting is started, the buffer information in a position immediately before a start position of the additional recording or overwriting is read out, and coding is started based on value, thereby buffer overflow can be prevented.

Abstract: A method and a system are described for achieving a desired value for the magnitude of compression when compressing the information contained in a digitized fingerprint images. A lossy compression method is used that includes use of a compression parameter whose value may be varied to adjust the amount of compression actually achieved. Briefly summarized, the method comprises selecting a first value for the compression parameter and then performing a first compression of the information contained in a digitized fingerprint image using the first value for the compression parameter and using the lossy compression method, thereby producing a first set of compressed information. Next, a first value for the magnitude of compression is computed from the quantity of information that is contained in the digitized fingerprint image and also from the quantity of information that is contained in the first set of compressed information.

Abstract: A video codec system, a data processing method for processing data between the system and an external host system, and an encoding/decoding control method in the system are provided. The video codec system includes an encoder buffer; a decoder buffer; a task status register for writing the task statuses of the encoder, decoder, encoder buffer and decoder buffer; a command identification register for writing a command to be executed by the encoder and decoder; and an interface and control manager for parsing the command sent from the host system, writing the command in the command identification register, checking each task through the task status register, and then controlling the encoder and decoder through the command identification register. Therefore, the video codec system enhances the performance and reliability of the video code and makes the control of the encoding and decoding tasks easier.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for controlling a display device having a display scan line rate by storing incoming data in a buffer, the buffer having a usage level measure; comparing the usage level to the display scan line rate; and adjusting a width of a display scan line to avoid buffer overflow or underflow. The system avoids a costly external frame buffer and automatically handles uncertainties such as jitter in input and output clocks when the system operates in different environments.

Abstract: A video encoding method includes executing a first encoding of encoding an input video signal in units of one frame, determining at least one of the number-of-bits allocation and a quantization scale allocation for each frame according to statistical data, determining a frame skip allocation showing presence of execution of a frame skip for each frame according to the statistical data, and executing a second encoding of encoding the input video signal according to at least one of the number-of-bits allocation and a quantization scale allocation and a frame skip allocation, to generate a bitstream.

Abstract: Decoders A and B decode MPEG-2 bitstreams A and B. A switch (S1) switches from decoded stream A to decoded stream B to achieve a splice. The resulting bitstream is re-encoded in an encoder 4. A new transitional GOP is defined beginning at the splice. The new GOP is defined by picture type decision rules which may have the effect of changing the GOP compared to the GOPs of streams A and B. The new GOP provides an initial prediction of the position in stream B where the occupancy value of stream C should coincide with that of B. A target for the new number of bits in the new GOP is calculated as the sum of the normal allocation of bits for the new GOP plus the difference between the occupancy value of stream C at the splice and a prediction of the occupancy of stream B at the predicted position. The occupancy value of stream C is controlled in accordance with the target so that it tends towards the occupancy value of stream B at the predicted position.

Abstract: A database managing apparatus, which can immediately obtain desired data from a database. A database managing apparatus includes a CPU, an input/output device, a main memory and an external memory. The CPU has a controller that initially obtains one article record from stored records via the input/output device. The controller reads out definition data in a database definition file. Then, the controller classifies the obtained records according to attributions based on the definition data. The controller does not compress the data regarding the record group belonging to the attribution A, which is the record group to be searched, but compresses data regarding the record groups belonging to the attributions B-E, which are the record groups other than the record group to be searched. As a result, the controller can reduce the unnecessary decompression of record data belonging to other attributions than the attribution to be searched. As a result, the controller can quickly retrieve the requested record.

Abstract: After completion of a prediction process for a single line in an image of size S, the DC components and AC components, held in a lower stage part of a predicted luminance value storage are copied into a line part. This copying is done to use the DC components and AC components that have been copied into line part as reference values for the prediction process of the target macro blocks of the next single line. Performing the prediction process while repeating such copying eliminates the need to secure the area for storing of the DC components and AC components of the entire image size in predicted luminance value storage for the prediction process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for processing blocks of coded data included in a sequence of coded digital images (ES) according to a block-based coding technique, said device comprising a post-processing circuit DFD (33). Such a device effectively corrects the blocking artifacts while minimizing the bandwidth used, the decoder directly transmitting decoded data blocks (B) to the post-processing circuit. In addition, such a device introduces no or little drift during the decoding since the decoder continues to use reference images (RB) during a motion compensation step. This is because the reference images are no longer the decoded images but the completely processed images as the post-processing circuit is situated in the decoding loop.

Abstract: A digital still camera with video playback capabilities including a hybrid buffer for variable length frame decoding, the hybrid having two buffers with each buffer having full/not-full indicators and filling plus a single circular read out position indicator.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus to realize high quality image signal encoding at a variable bit rate, which is provided by the first quantization scale—maximum data volume calculation unit that calculates the maximum data volume and the first quantization scale based on encoding results of an encoded image frame, the quantization control buffer calculation unit that calculates a predicted data volume for a given encoding block that belongs to the encoding target image frame from the maximum data volume while receiving the originated data volume of the image frame that is quantized, encoding block (macroblock) by encoding unit (macroblock), by the quantization scale and calculates the second quantization scale based on the difference between the predicted data volume and the originated data volume, and the quantization control unit 10 that compares the first quantization scale with the second quantization scale to output the larger of the two scales.

Abstract: An encoder to encode video streams representing a moving picture is provided whose video encoder calculates a bit storage quantity an STD video buffer should have when input of a stream ending with a first picture to the STD video buffer ends, calculates an initial bit storage quantity of a second picture of a stream concatenated to the end of the first picture and starting with the second picture, in a VBV buffer, based on the calculated bit storage quantity of the STD buffer, and encodes the stream based on the bit storage quantity. The video encoder further calculates a bit storage quantity of the STD video buffer, for decoding a picture of the stream in the STD video buffer, calculates, based on the calculated bit storage quantity, a bit storage quantity the VBV buffer should have for ending decoding of a fourth picture of a second stream concatenated to the beginning of a third picture and ending with the fourth picture, and encodes the stream based on the calculated bit storage quantity.

Abstract: A variable length encoding apparatus such as an encoding apparatus using the MPEG standard, wherein without degrading the precision of quantization step, the generated code bit amount is limited. Encoding is performed at the quantization step of required picture quality by an encoding part 106, and a bit stream 141 is written in an external memory 101. The generated encoded bit amount is measured from the increment of a write pointer 121 increased because of the writing in the external memory 101 by a control unit 107. If the amount is larger than a preset value, the data is replaced with data leading to the same decoding result as those of the preceding or following reference picture by using a replacement pattern in accordance with the picture type and the position on a times series, and the data is written in the external memory 101, thus outputting the data as an output bit stream 111 controlled to the generated code amount within an upper limit value.

Abstract: A system and method that prevent an input of variable length codes in which short length codes continue from being interrupted without an increase of a circuit scale are provided. The system comprises a variable length decoding device for decoding variable length codes, a buffer for buffering the variable length codes to be supplied to the variable length decoding device, a detector for detecting whether or not a occupation rate of the variable length codes in the buffer has increased, and a discarder for discarding the variable length codes to be supplied to the buffer when the detected result by the detector represents that the occupation rate of the variable length codes in the buffer has increased. The system further comprises an elementary stream extractor, disposed between the discarding device and the buffer, for extracting an elementary stream defined in MPEG standard.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention comprise a new device and method to realize an improved video frame memory reduction for a video decoder. In one embodiment, this improvement is achieved by a removal of the rate controller and the utilization of both a block compression technique and a fixed storage allocation technique, in order to lower the overall system cost, and to lower the frame memory requirements. In a preferred embodiment, this improvement is achieved by performing a hierarchical transform, for example, a Haar transform, that operates on the previously decoded frames. Then, the coefficients obtained from this transformation are quantized and then run-length coded, utilizing variable-length codes. The hierarchical transform preferably operates on an N×N block size with L levels of hierarchical decomposition, where N and L can be selected in advance. For example, in one preferred embodiment, N may equal 8, and L may equal 3.

Abstract: A progressive image signal compression coding method and apparatus are provided. If a progressive image signal composed of frames is input in units of fields, the input signal is compression-coded such that one field is compression-coded using only data from itself, and the other field is compression-coded using differential data between the previous field and that field without consideration of a motion vector, based on the characteristics of the input progressive image signal composed of frames. In such a manner, the amount of output data of the second field can be considerably reduced, so that the amount of output data of the first field increases.