Abstract: The following steps are carried out in the inventive method: estimation of movement between a current moment corresponding to the current image and a reference moment corresponding to a reference image in order to provide a movement vector, an entropic coding for a high spatial frequency signal relating in the current image, taking into account a temporal context based on the estimation of a movement, one of the parameters used to calculate the temporal context being the parity of a component of the movement vector. Applications are related to video compression with temporal prediction.

Abstract: A motion video encoding apparatus includes: a group determining unit which determines to which of a plurality of groups each block belongs; a group decode time information computing unit which computes a decode time for each of the groups; a group information appending unit which appends group information identifying the group to which each block belongs to data to be output; a code amount control unit which controls an amount of code for each block contained in the group so that data needed for decoding all the blocks contained in the group will arrive at a stream receive buffer provided in a motion video decoding apparatus by the decode time of the group when the data is transmitted to the motion video decoding apparatus at a prescribed transmission rate; and an encode processing unit which encodes each block, based on control information concerning the amount of code.

Abstract: Calibration for a plenoptic imaging system. The plenoptic imaging system includes a detector array that is subdivided into superpixels. A plenoptic image captured by the detector array of the plenoptic imaging system is accessed. For a row of superpixels, a slice is selected through the row, the selected slice having a Fourier transform with a stronger fundamental component compared to other slices through the row. A pitch of the row of superpixels is determined based on a frequency of the fundamental component of the selected slice. A rotation of the row of superpixels is determined based on a rotation of the selected slice.

Abstract: Iterative video encoding systems, methods and computer program products, where residue quantization and data packing operations of an encoding process may he repeated with various values for a quantization parameter, without repeating the determination of macroblock prediction codes. In an embodiment, the size of an actual file generated by encoding is compared to a target file size. The QP may be adjusted depending on the amount by which these file sizes differ. The quantization and packing may then be repeated with the adjusted QP. In an embodiment, a greater difference in these file sizes results in a greater adjustment to the QP.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for parsing friendly and error resilient merge flag coding in video coding are provided. In some methods, in contrast to merging candidate list size dependent coding of the merge flag in the prior art, a merge flag is always encoded in the encoded bit stream for each inter-predicted prediction unit (PU) that is not encoded using skip mode. In some methods, in contrast to the prior art that allowed the merging candidate list to be empty, one or more zero motion vector merging candidates formatted according to the prediction type of the slice containing a PU are added to the merging candidate list if needed to ensure that the list is not empty and/or to ensure that the list contains a maximum number of merging candidates.

Abstract: A position information adding apparatus includes: a reference position setting unit which sets a plurality of reference positions for each of a plurality of pictures contained in digitalized video data; a region setting unit which sets a first position information adding region at a first position defined based on at least any of the plurality of reference positions and a second position information adding region at a second position different from the first position, for each of the plurality of pictures; and a position information embedding unit which embeds a first moving pattern which moves on the pictures in a first temporal period into the first position information adding region and a second moving pattern which moves on the pictures in a second temporal period into the second position information adding region.

Abstract: Innovations described herein provide a generic encoding and decoding framework that includes some features of simulcast and some features of scalable video coding. For example, a bitstream multiplexer multiplexes component bitstreams into a multi-layer encoding (MLE) bitstream that provides temporal scalability, spatial resolution scalability and/or signal to noise ratio scalability. Each of the component bitstreams provides an alternative version of input video, and a given component bitstream can be a non-scalable bitstream or scalable bitstream. The multiplexer follows composition rules for the MLE bitstream and may rewrite values of certain syntax elements of component bitstreams using an approach that avoids bit shifting operations. A corresponding demultiplexer receives an MLE bitstream that includes component bitstreams and demultiplexes at least part of at least one of the component bitstreams from the MLE bitstream, following decomposition rules for the demultiplexing.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a video coder for processing video data includes a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to downsample at least prediction mode information of a reference layer block. In addition, the processor is configured to predict at least one of an enhancement layer block or prediction mode information of the enhancement layer block based at least on the prediction mode information of the reference layer block before the processor downsamples the prediction mode information of the reference layer block. The memory is configured to store the prediction mode information of the reference layer block. The prediction mode information of the reference layer block, for example, includes an inter-prediction mode, an intra-prediction mode, or a motion vector of the reference layer block.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing an image based on a motion of an object, the apparatus including a motion estimator configured to estimate a motion of an object included in a current image, an image determiner configured to determine a neighboring image neighboring the current image based on the motion of the object, and a pixel value determiner configured to determine a pixel value of a hole region neighboring the object based on the neighboring image is provided.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for identifying a scene-change/non-scene-change transition between frames. One embodiment takes the form of a method including receiving a first frame of video; defining a first region of the first frame, wherein the first region is associated with a first plurality of pixels of the first frame; receiving a second frame of video; defining a second region of the second frame, wherein the second region is associated with a second plurality of pixels of the second frame; using (i) a first plurality of luma values associated with the first plurality of pixels and (ii) a second plurality of luma values associated with the second plurality of pixels, as a basis to identify the pair of the first and second frames as having a particular scene-change/non-scene-change attribute; and storing in a memory an indication that the pair of the first and second frames has the identified attribute.

Abstract: To estimate an image quality deterioration level at a high accuracy. An image quality deterioration level is estimated by judging whether image quality deterioration is suppressed or not by error concealment processing when decoding is not correctly performed, based on information obtained in decoding processing. When it is judged that error concealment is effectively operated, it is estimated that deterioration of an image quality even in an image region not correctly decoded is small. When it is estimated that error concealment is not effectively operated, it is estimated that image deterioration is heavy.

Abstract: An image processing device includes: a determining unit configured to determine, in accordance with two images corresponding to temporally adjacent image data input from an external device, whether or not a field area at a time of imaging has been changed; and a suppressing unit configured to generate and output suppressed image data with an amount of visually recognizable information included in the images being suppressed by performing image processing of reducing at least one of a contrast and a chroma of the images at a time the determining unit determines that the field area at the time of imaging has been changed.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices involving patterned radiation are provided in accordance with various embodiments. Some embodiments include a device for projecting pattern radiation. Some embodiments include a method for estimating coordinates of a location on an object in a 3D scene. Some embodiments include a system for estimating the coordinates of a location on an object in a 3D scene. A variety of radiation patterns are provided in accordance with various embodiments. Some embodiments may relate to the use of patterned illumination to identify the angular information that may be utilized to measure depth by triangulation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing motion estimation in a digital video system is disclosed. Specifically, the present invention discloses a system that quickly calculates estimated motion vectors in a very efficient manner. In one embodiment, a first multiplicand is determined by multiplying a first display time difference between a first video picture and a second video picture by a power of two scale value. This step scales up a numerator for a ratio. Next, the system determines a scaled ratio by dividing that scaled numerator by a second first display time difference between said second video picture and a third video picture. The scaled ratio is then stored calculating motion vector estimations. By storing the scaled ratio, all the estimated motion vectors can be calculated quickly with good precision since the scaled ratio saves significant bits and reducing the scale is performed by simple shifts.

Abstract: Approaches to re-encoding image sets using frequency-domain differences, along with corresponding approaches to reversing the re-encoding of the image sets. For example, a re-encoding tool computes frequency-domain differences between (a) quantized coefficients for a block from encoded data in a first format and (b) quantized coefficients for a prediction of the block. The re-encoding tool entropy codes the frequency-domain differences, producing encoded data in a second format for the compressed images. Such re-encoding can significantly reduce storage cost for previously compressed images, compared to the storage cost for the previously compressed images in the first format, without hurting image quality. Subsequently, the previously compressed images in the first format can be recovered from the encoded data in the second format. Or, the encoded data in the second format can be decoded to reconstruct the images.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing motion estimation for video encoding includes a selection element and a processing element. The selection element is configured to select a subset including less than all of candidate pixel locations from among a plurality of candidate pixel locations used for motion vector determination based on a relationship between a best candidate pixel location of a first level of accuracy and a best candidate pixel location of a second level of accuracy. The processing element is configured to process an input video sequence to determine a motion vector at the first level of accuracy, to refine the motion vector at the second level of accuracy, and to determine the motion vector at a third level of accuracy using only the subset of candidate pixel locations.

Abstract: An image filtering apparatus and method and a video encoding/decoding apparatus and method using the same are disclosed. The image filtering apparatus includes: a boundary identifying unit for identifying a boundary between two transform blocks included in an image; a pixel/strength selecting unit for selecting a filtering strength according to a size of at least one transform block among the two transform blocks; and a filtering unit for filtering at least one pixel included in a region adjacent to the boundary.

Abstract: Techniques for image stabilization may include detecting motion of an apparatus configured to display image data, the image data comprising one or more frames, a first frame of the one or more frames comprising a plurality of layers. The plurality of layers may be processed to correct for the detected motion. The processing may comprise applying a different degree of motion correction to a first layer of the plurality of layers than to a second layer of the plurality of layers. Such techniques may be performed via an apparatus comprising a display control unit configured to cause the image data to be displayed, and a motion correction unit configured to perform the processing.

Abstract: A method and device for determining residual data for encoding at least part of an image of an enhancement layer of video data, the video data including the enhancement layer and a base layer, the enhancement layer being composed of processing blocks and the base layer being composed of elementary units each having associated residual data, the method comprising for a processing block of the enhancement layer determining, based on at least the number of elementary units of the base layer spatially corresponding, at least partially, to the processing block, whether or not to use residual data of one or more of said spatially corresponding elementary units of the base layer for prediction of the processing block.

Abstract: A display apparatus is provided. The display apparatus includes: an image input configured to receive an image; a display panel configured to include a plurality of pixels and respectively emit light in the plurality of pixels in order to display the image; a panel driver configured to drive the display panel; and a controller configured to analyze a motion of the image and control the panel driver to drive the display panel by using different driving methods according to a size of the analyzed motion.

Abstract: A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, partitioning the image into a group of blocks, calculating principle bilateral filtered image components for a first subset of the group of blocks where the principle bilateral filtered image components are not calculated for a second subset of the group of blocks, and applying an infinite impulse response filter to the image using the principle bilateral filtered image components. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for level-based motion detection in a sequence of pictures is disclosed. Step (A) of the method may compute one or more local tonal values in an area around a sample of a target picture in the sequence of pictures. Step (B) may compare the target picture and a reference picture in the sequence of pictures in the area to compute a motion score. Step (C) generally detects a motion of the sample based on the local tonal values, the motion score and one or more gain settings with a circuit.

Abstract: A method for estimation of motion in a series of images captured by an image sensor comprising an estimation of motion vectors at a plurality of points from an image by an operation, done at each of the points from the plurality of points, of minimization of a functional of motion vectors comprising the sum of a data term and a regulation term, where the data term is made up of the product of a weighting term which is a function of the degree of regularity of the estimated motion vectors and a data linkage term which is a function of the spatial-temporal gradients of the brightness near points located in a neighborhood of a point, where the regulation term supplies a result to the minimization operation for the points near which the minimization of the data term does not allow estimating a unique solution.

Abstract: A method for comparing a target block to a reference window in motion estimation calculations, comprises the steps of: determining SAD calculations as a function of the target block and the reference window; reading the target block into registers; reading a segment of the reference window; updating the determined SAD calculations on the fly as a function of the read target block and the read segment of the reference window; and determining one or more sub-blocks of the reference window having minimum SAD values as a function of the updated SAD calculations; and if one or more of the minimum SAD values are not found, repeating the reading a segment step, the updating step and the determining step for a next segment of the reference window.

Abstract: The techniques of this disclosure may be generally related to using motion information for a corresponding block from a texture view component that corresponds with a block in a depth view component in coding the block in the depth view component. In some examples, for coding purposes, the techniques may use motion information when the spatial resolution of the texture view component is different than the spatial resolution of the depth view component.

Abstract: A video encoder (70) for coding moving pictures comprising a buffer (16c) with a plurality of memory areas capable of storing frames composed of top fields and bottom fields, a motion estimation unit (19) operable to code, field by field, inputted pictures performing moving estimation and moving compensation by referring, field by field, to the picture data stored in a memory area, a motion compensation unit (16d), a subtractor (11), a transformation unit (13) and a quantization unit (14), a memory management unit (71) operable to manage, frame by frame, a plurality of memory areas, an inverse quantization unit (16a) and inverse discrete cosine transform unit (16b) operable to decode picture data in coded fields and store the picture data in the decoded field in any of the plurality of memory areas under the management by the memory management unit (71).

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for segmenting an object in an image. The method includes obtaining a first image including the object; receiving an input signal including information about a predetermined position in the first image; selecting at least one pixel included in the first image, based on the position information; generating a second image by dividing the first image into several areas, using the selected at least one pixel; and segmenting the object in the first image by using the first image and the second image.

Abstract: A moving image processing apparatus cumulatively sums for each reference block and in a predetermined sequence, values representing differences between corresponding pixels in a first block of a reduced image of a given image and a reference block within a search range in a reduced reference image; detects a motion vector of the first block, based on a calculation result; compares the amounts of increase among intervals of the summing process when the evaluation value is calculated for the reference block represented by the motion vector; and based on the comparison, determines a sequence to be used when the evaluation value of the reference block is calculated by cumulatively summing the values that represent differences between corresponding pixels in a second block in the given image and corresponding to the first block, and in a reference block within a search range in the reference image indicated by the motion vector.

Abstract: A video encoder (70) for coding moving pictures comprising a buffer (16c) with a plurality of memory areas capable of storing frames composed of top fields and bottom fields, a motion estimation unit (19) operable to code, field by field, inputted pictures performing moving estimation and moving compensation by referring, field by field, to the picture data stored in a memory area, a motion compensation unit (16d), a subtractor (11), a transformation unit (13) and a quantization unit (14), a memory management unit (71) operable to manage, frame by frame, a plurality of memory areas, an inverse quantization unit (16a) and inverse discrete cosine transform unit (16b) operable to decode picture data in coded fields and store the picture data in the decoded field in any of the plurality of memory areas under the management by the memory management unit (71).

Abstract: A picture coding apparatus includes a motion vector estimation unit and a motion compensation unit. The motion vector estimation unit selects one method for deriving a motion vector of a block to be motion-compensated, depending on a motion vector of a block located in a corner of a decoded macroblock from among a group of blocks that compose the decoded macroblock corresponding to the current macroblock to be coded and determines the motion vector derived by the selected method for derivation to be a candidate of the motion vector of the current macroblock to be coded. The motion compensation unit generates a predictive image of the block to be motion-compensated based on the estimated motion vector.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing device and method that enable generation of a highly precise prediction image using a small amount of control information. A motion compensation circuit 51 specifies a macroblock corresponding to a prediction image in part of reference frames using a motion vector supplied from a prediction mode determination circuit 41, reads an image thereof from a frame memory 19, and extracts it as a motion compensation image. A motion prediction circuit 52 reads, from a frame memory 122, at least one or more of the remaining reference frames, performs motion prediction of the motion compensation image MC0 supplied from the motion compensation circuit 51 in each frame, reads an image of a macroblock that matches or is similar to the motion compensation image MC0 from the frame memory 122, and extracts it as a motion compensation image. The present invention can be applied to, for example, an encoding device and a decoding device.

Abstract: A method determining a position of an animal part in an animal space in at least one direction, including: obtaining a two-dimensional image containing depth information; preprocessing the image according to first and second preprocessing modes, to provide respective first and second preprocessed images; comparing the first preprocessed image and the second preprocessed image to obtain at least one image difference; if the at least one image difference is below or equal to a respective predetermined threshold, processing the first preprocessed image according to a first position determining mode, and if the at least one image difference is above the predetermined threshold, processing the second preprocessed image according to a second position determining mode, to provide the position of the animal part. If a fast but not very accurate processing mode, and a slower but more accurate mode, are available, the method can suitably select one of these modes.

Abstract: A method of depth perception based on binary laser speckle images comprises: read in binary input and reference speckle images (pattern fixed, distance known) to generate input and reference speckle windows, extract an image block of a certain size in the input speckle window, search for the matching block in the matching search window of the reference speckle window, use a method for block-based XOR (exclusive or) similarity calculation to compare and output a minimum similarity value or use a block-based IAD (inclusive and) method to compare and output a maximum similarity value to get the optimal matching block and the optimal offset, and then work out the depth information of the central point of the optimal matching block via a formula for depth calculation. The method not only can be easily implemented in hardware and greatly simplify depth calculation, but can also generate high-resolution and high-precision depth information in a fast and accurate manner.

Abstract: In a code amount estimating method, when encoding quantized values of coefficients of a larger-sized orthogonal transformation than an orthogonal transformation size assigned to a variable length encoding table, the quantized values are rearranged in a one-dimensional form, so as to obtain run-level sets. The number of groups is computed based on a proportion between an orthogonal transformation area corresponding to the orthogonal transformation size assigned to the variable length encoding table and an orthogonal transformation area for an encoding target. The Run-Level sets are classified into groups having the number of groups. Each Run is divided by the number of groups, and the obtained quotient is set as Run. A code length of each Run-Level set in each group is determined by referring to the variable length encoding table. The amount of generated code is estimated to be the total sum of the code lengths of all groups.

Abstract: From among blocks within a region of a first image, a search is performed for a highest scoring match to a block of a second image. Searching for the highest scoring match includes penalizing scores of blocks outside a portion of the region versus scores of blocks within the portion of the region. A motion vector is coded between the block of the second image and the highest scoring match.

Abstract: A motion vector coding unit executes processing including a neighboring block specification step of specifying a neighboring block which is located in the neighborhood of a current block; a judgment step of judging whether or not the neighboring block has been coded using a motion vector of another block; a prediction step of deriving a predictive motion vector of the current block using a motion vector calculated from the motion vector of the other block as a motion vector of the neighboring block; and a coding step of coding the motion vector of the current block using the predictive motion vector.

Abstract: A method for codec-based recovery of a video, which includes recovering an image by combining image decoding information and non-overwritten image frames, is provided. The method includes: a cluster extraction step of extracting a pre-cluster region; a region extraction step of extracting, from the pre-cluster region extracted in the cluster extraction step, an M frame region encoded using an MPEG-4 visual codec and an M decoding region; a combining step of combining the M frame region and the M decoding region extracted in the region extraction step and listing the combination; and a recovering step of decoding the M frame region and the M decoding region, listed in the combining step, to be recovered as an image.

Abstract: Techniques and tools for video coding/decoding with motion resolution switching and sub-block transform coding/decoding are described. For example, a video encoder adaptively switches the resolution of motion estimation and compensation between quarter-pixel and half-pixel resolutions; a corresponding video decoder adaptively switches the resolution of motion compensation between quarter-pixel and half-pixel resolutions. For sub-block transform sizes, for example, a video encoder adaptively switches between 8×8, 8×4, and 4×8 DCTs when encoding 8×8 prediction residual blocks; a corresponding video decoder switches between 8×8, 8×4, and 4×8 inverse DCTs during decoding.

Abstract: A moving picture coding method includes: coding a coding target block using a motion vector; generating motion vector predictors; and coding the motion vector using one of the motion vector predictors generated in the generating of the motion vector predictors. In the generating of the motion vector predictors, a replacement vector which replaces a temporal motion vector predictor is added to the motion vector predictors when it is impossible to obtain the temporal motion vector predictor from a block which is included in a coded picture different from the coding target picture and corresponds to the coding target block.

Abstract: Method and system for transcoding a sequence of input images into a sequence of output images that can effectively handle one or more transcoding uses cases are presented. The embodiments of the invention exploit the incoming metadata retrieved from the decoding process to adapt the video content and to achieve a significant speed-up in comparison to the traditional cascaded approach while maintaining high quality for output images.

Abstract: A device includes an image data receiving component, a vegetation index generation component, a GLC matrix component, a plurality of classifying components and a voting component. The image data receiving component receives multiband image data of a geographic region. The vegetation index generation component generates a normalized difference vegetation index based on the received multiband image data. The GLC matrix component generates a grey level co-occurrence matrix image band based on the received multiband image data. The classifying components generate land cover classifications based on the received multiband image data, the normalized difference vegetation index and the grey level co-occurrence matrix image band. The voting component generates a final land cover classification based a majority vote of the land cover classifications.

Abstract: A video encoder (70) for coding moving pictures comprising a buffer (16c) with a plurality of memory areas capable of storing frames composed of top fields and bottom fields, a motion estimation unit (19) operable to code, field by field, inputted pictures performing moving estimation and moving compensation by referring, field by field, to the picture data stored in a memory area, a motion compensation unit (16d), a subtractor (11), a transformation unit (13) and a quantization unit (14), a memory management unit (71) operable to manage, frame by frame, a plurality of memory areas, an inverse quantization unit (16a) and inverse discrete cosine transform unit (16b) operable to decode picture data in coded fields and store the picture data in the decoded field in any of the plurality of memory areas under the management by the memory management unit (71).

Abstract: A video decoder using motion-compensated prediction has a predictor configured to predict a first subset of parameters of a plurality of motion parameters, defining the motion-compensated prediction of a predetermined region of a picture of a video, to obtain a prediction for the first subset. The video decoder further has a reconstructor configured to reconstruct the first subset of parameters from the prediction of the first subset and residual information for the first subset contained in a data stream, to obtain a reconstruction of the first subset. The predictor is further configured to predict a second subset of parameters of the plurality of motion parameters, being disjoint from the first subset, using the reconstruction of the first subset.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises a corresponding point determining unit configured to, for a plurality of points contained in a first image, search a second image for corresponding points; a transformation coefficient calculating unit configured to divide the plurality of corresponding points into groups, based on amounts of misalignment between the images at the corresponding points, and configured to calculates a coordinate transformation coefficient for each of the groups; and an image synthesizing unit configured to generate a synthesis image, using a plurality of the coordinate transformation coefficients and the second image.

Abstract: In an image coding apparatus (1), a Hadamard transform unit (11) performs horizontal Hadamard transform on a picture of uncompressed image data (21). The sum total of absolute values of AC component values obtained by the Hadamard transform is calculated as a Hadamard value (23) of the picture. A scene change determination unit (12) determines whether a scene change occurs or not in the picture on the basis of the Hadamard value (23). In a case where a scene change occurs in the picture or where a differential absolute value between the amount of generated codes in a coded GOP and the ideal amount of codes in a GOP is larger than a predetermined reference value, a quantization parameter determination unit (13) determines a quantization parameter (24) of the picture on the basis of the Hadamard value (23) and the target amount of codes of the picture. A coding unit (14) codes the picture by using the determined quantization parameter (24).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image encoding and decoding technique, and more particularly, to an image encoder and decoder using unidirectional prediction. The image encoder includes a dividing unit to divide a macro block into a plurality of sub-blocks, a unidirectional application determining unit to determine whether an identical prediction mode is applied to each of the plurality of sub-blocks, and a prediction mode determining unit to determine a prediction mode with respect to each of the plurality of sub-blocks based on a determined result of the unidirectional application determining unit.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an encoder for encoding data defining coded orientations representing a reorientation of an object based on spatio-temporal data representing a time series of orientations of the object. The encoder includes a deriver, a selector, and a coder. The deriver is configured for deriving a plurality of components describing an orientation change difference between a last coded orientation change from a second last coded orientation to a last coded orientation, and a current orientation change from the last coded orientation to a current orientation of the object. The selector is configured for selecting a component of the plurality of components describing the orientation change difference. The coder is configured for coding the current orientation of the object based on the select component of the plurality of components describing the orientation change difference, thereby defining a current coded orientation.

Abstract: A video encoder (70) for coding moving pictures comprising a buffer (16c) with a plurality of memory areas capable of storing frames composed of top fields and bottom fields, a motion estimation unit (19) operable to code, field by field, inputted pictures performing moving estimation and moving compensation by referring, field by field, to the picture data stored in a memory area, a motion compensation unit (16d), a subtractor (11), a transformation unit (13) and a quantization unit (14), a memory management unit (71) operable to manage, frame by frame, a plurality of memory areas, an inverse quantization unit (16a) and inverse discrete cosine transform unit (16b) operable to decode picture data in coded fields and store the picture data in the decoded field in any of the plurality of memory areas under the management by the memory management unit (71).

Abstract: In picture encoding that generates prediction pictures from picture information of frames previously encoded and encodes picture information for each area, the encoding efficiency is improved. A plurality of motion vector candidates are stored in advance in a motion vector storage memory (107). A motion vector selection section (109) selects a motion vector to be used from the plurality of motion vectors stored in advance in the motion vector storage memory (107). A prediction picture generation section (104) generates a prediction picture from a reference picture using the selected motion vector. A differential encoding section (103) encodes a differential between the picture information of the present area and the prediction picture. A motion vector designation encoding section (110) encodes information that designates the motion vector selected by the motion vector selection section (109).

Abstract: A video encoder (70) for coding moving pictures comprising a buffer (16c) with a plurality of memory areas capable of storing frames composed of top fields and bottom fields, a motion estimation unit (19) operable to code, field by field, inputted pictures performing moving estimation and moving compensation by referring, field by field, to the picture data stored in a memory area, a motion compensation unit (16d), a subtractor (11), a transformation unit (13) and a quantization unit (14), a memory management unit (71) operable to manage, frame by frame, a plurality of memory areas, an inverse quantization unit (16a) and inverse discrete cosine transform unit (16b) operable to decode picture data in coded fields and store the picture data in the decoded field in any of the plurality of memory areas under the management by the memory management unit (71).