Abstract: A video decoder, encoder, and corresponding methods for processing video data for an image block and a particular reference picture index to predict the image block are disclosed that utilize adaptive weighting of reference pictures to enhance video compression, where a decoder includes a reference picture weighting factor unit for determining a weighting factor corresponding to the particular reference picture index; an encoder includes a reference picture weighting factor assignor for assigning a weighting factor corresponding to the particular reference picture index; and a method for decoding includes receiving a reference picture index with the data that corresponds to the image block, determining a weighting factor for each received reference picture index, retrieving a reference picture for each index, motion compensating the retrieved reference picture, and multiplying the motion compensated reference picture by the corresponding weighting factor to form a weighted motion compensated reference picture

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for selecting a mode to encode video data. The method comprises the steps of (a) transforming a source video frame into a set of coefficients, (b) partitioning said set of coefficients into a plurality of subsets of the coefficients on the basis of probability statistics corresponding to a plurality of encoding modes, wherein each of said subsets is identified for encoding by one of the plurality of encoding modes. The method comprises the further steps of (c) for each of the plurality of subsets of coefficients, computing defined parameters of an associated probability distribution for said subset, and (d) repeating steps (b) and (c) until a predetermined termination condition is satisfied. When this predetermined termination condition is satisfied, the subsets of coefficients, as they exist at that time, are output to a video encoder, which preferably is a Wyner-Ziv encoder.

Abstract: Methods, medium, and handheld, wireless devices which compress, enhance, encode, transmit, decompress and display digital video images in real time. Real time wireless videoconferences connect multiple handheld video devices. Real time compression is achieved by sub-sampling each frame of a video signal, filtering the pixel values, and encoding. Real time transmission is achieved due to high levels of effective compression. Real time decompression is achieved by decoding and decompressing the encoded data to display high quality images. A receiver can alter various setting including but not limited to the format for the compression, image size, frame rate, brightness and contrast. A zoom control can be used select a portion of interest of video being transmitted or being played back.

Abstract: A method of communicating individual packets i of K bits includes permutation mapping of the packets, with each permuted packet being denoted by ?n(i), wherein ?n is a permutation on K letters that is unique for each packet transmission. Each permuted packet ?n(i) is modulated to provide a complex vector x(?n(i)) for each packet. The packets are transmitted over a AWGN channel so each individual packet i is received as a variable of the vector x(?n(i)) in a complex vector yn=x(?n(i))+vn, wherein n represents the sequential number of the transmission attempt for a particular packet and vn represents noise. This method enables the packets to be transmitted while using an improved ARQ routine that includes soft-combining decisions and a constant constellation with a constellation complexity greater than two bits/symbol to thereby significantly improve ARQ-routine performance over the current state of the art.

Abstract: A video decoding method includes receiving video data and transforming the video data from a Huffman tree to at least one full tree and at least one one-side tree. One microcode corresponding to the video coding standard that has encoded the received video data is read where a format of the read microcode is determined. The method further includes reading video data from the transformed video data according to the consuming length of the read microcode if the format of the read microcode is a leaf, and decoding the read video data according to the decoding field of the read microcode to output a decoding result.

Abstract: A variable length coding method is comprised of: a coefficient value scanning step in which an RL sequence generation unit 203, a reordering unit 202, and a binarization unit 203 scan coefficient values within a block in a predetermined scanning order starting at a higher-frequency component toward a lower-frequency component; and an arithmetic coding step in which an arithmetic coding unit 205 and a table storage unit 204 perform arithmetic coding on the absolute values of the coefficient values according to the scanning order used in the coefficient value scanning step, by switching between probability tables 1˜4 for use, wherein, in the arithmetic coding step, a probability table to be used is switched to another probability table in one direction, when the arithmetic-coded absolute values of the coefficient values include an absolute value exceeding a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: Adaptive variable length coding techniques may be used for entropy coding of residual block coefficients produced by predictive video coding. The techniques may be applied to schemes that code positions of nonzero transform coefficients using zero runs. Coding parameters such as end of block (EOB) shift and VLC codebook selection tables may be maintained as internal states, instead of sending them with coded video slice data. Table entries may be periodically updated based on statistics collected during a coding pass. A special EOB shift table may adapt the position of a special EOB symbol in a symbol set to probability of significant coefficients with magnitude greater than one for a coding condition, such as a coding cycle. Chroma blocks may be coded independently of luma blocks using separate EOB shift, special EOB shift, and VLC codebook selection tables.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a variable bit rate audio signal is disclosed. An audio signal is encoded into a plurality of encoded audio signals at different bit rates. A variable bit rate audio signal is produced by selecting between the plurality of encoded audio frames of different bit rates in accordance with a selection criterion.

Abstract: Techniques are provided herein to produce encoded video bitstreams and to similarly decode encoded video bitstreams according to a coding standard not supported by an on-chip encoder/decoder. For purposes of encoding, a video sequence is received at a first device. A first bitstream is generated at the first device by encoding the video sequence according to a first coding standard and information associated with the video sequence is generated at the first device according to a second coding standard. The first bitstream and the information are then transmitted to a second device. At the second device the first bitstream is decoded to produce a second bitstream. The second bitstream and the information are combined by removing syntax elements associated with the first coding standard from the second bitstream and adding the information to produce a third bitstream according to the second coding standard. Similar techniques are provided for decoding an encoded bitstream to recover a video sequence.

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an image coding apparatus configured to encode moving image data including: a coding unit configured to encode each picture in the moving image data in a unit of a first block; a luminance change detection unit configured to divide the moving image data into a plurality of second blocks and to detect a luminance change block in which a luminance change occurred from the plurality of the second blocks in one picture; and a code amount adjustment unit configured to increase an amount of code allocated to the first block if the first block corresponds to the luminance change block detected by the luminance change detection unit.

Abstract: A method for concatenating MPEG-4 or H.263 segments is provided. The method includes extracting and comparing the VOL or picture header information of each segment. If the two segments have the same VOL or picture header information, the method merges the two segments directly by appending one segment to another to form a new bit stream. If the two segments have the different resolution, the method completely decodes and re-encodes the segments and then merges the segments. Otherwise the method takes the VOL or picture header information of one segment as reference to produce the new bit stream. The method parses the other segment frame at a time, re-encapsulates it according to the reference VOL or picture header information, and appends it to the one segment. During the process, the method only uses VLD to parse the other segment without using the tools of DCT, IDCT, ME, and MC.

Abstract: A coding method, apparatus, and medium with software encoded thereon to implement a coding method. The coding method includes encoding the position of non-zero-valued coefficients in an ordered series of quantized transform coefficients of a block of image data, including encoding events using variable length coding using a plurality of variable length code mappings that each maps events to codewords, the position encoding including switching between the code mappings based on the context. The coding method further includes encoding amplitudes of the non-zero-valued coefficients using variable dimensional amplitude coding in the reverse order of the original ordering of the series.

Abstract: Techniques and tools for adjusting quality and bit rate of multiple chunks of media delivered over a network are described. For example, each of the multiple chunks is encoded as multiple layers (e.g., a base layer and multiple embedded residual layers) for fine-grained scalability at different rate/quality points. A server stores the encoded data for the layers of chunks as well as curve information that parameterizes rate-distortion curves for the chunks. The server sends the curve information to a client. For the multiple chunks, the client uses the curve information to determine rate-distortion preferences for the respective chunks, then sends feedback indicating the rate-distortion preferences to the server. For each of the multiple chunks, the server, based at least in part upon the feedback, selects one or more scalable layers of the chunk to deliver to the client.

Abstract: A moving picture decoding apparatus includes one or more variable-length decoding units, a data buffer configured to store data output from the one or more variable-length decoding units, and a plurality of image decoding units configured to read the data from the data buffer and to perform image decoding the data.

Abstract: This invention provides a technique of easily encoding image data to generate encoded data having high image quality within a target code amount using a small memory capacity by image encoding processing of performing frequency transform and quantization of each pixel block. A frequency transform unit separates image data into low frequency band data and high frequency band data. A coefficient quantizing unit, coefficient encoder, and code amount controller operate to encode the high frequency band data within a predetermined amount. When the encoding processing of the high frequency band data has ended, the quantization parameter of the low frequency band data is set based on the generated code amount of the high frequency band data. A coefficient quantizing unit, coefficient encoder, code amount detector, and quantization parameter updating unit operate to encode the low frequency band data into codes within a low frequency band target code amount.

Abstract: Methods are provided for an apparatus which encodes items of data by variable-length coding and which stores the encoded items of data in a memory, wherein a size of one of the items of encoded data is variable by varying a value of a control parameter of the variable-length coding. One method includes: determining an amount of available memory space in the memory; determining a value of the control parameter for the variable-length coding of the items of data; and determining a number of items of encoded data that can be stored in the available memory space, based on an upper limit of the size of one of the items of encoded data at the determined value of the control parameter.

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: A video decoder receiving an encoded bit stream includes a header decoder which receives the encoded bit stream, a variable length decoder connected to the header decoder which receives the header decoded data, a quantizer and compensator connected to the variable length decoder, for, during backward decoding, performing inverse quantization, transformation and motion compensation of the variable length decoded data.

Abstract: An entropy decoding method includes retrieving video data corresponding to an microcode, operating an entropy decoding operation on the video data to acquire a result, and retrieving video data corresponding to a subsequent microcode according to a MPS synchronously. The method further includes determining if the MPS matches the result, and operating an entropy decoding operation according to the subsequent microcode on the video data corresponding to the subsequent microcode if the MPS matches the result.

Abstract: Methods and systems for receiving, processing and/or decoding digital video transmissions are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of a method of processing a digital video signal includes the steps of applying an initial set of video transmission parameter values to one or more digital video signal processes, decoding video transmission parameter information from the digital video signal, and updating the initial set of video transmission parameter values with the decoded video transmission parameter information. Embodiments of the present invention can advantageously demodulate and decode a digital video signal before transmission parameters embedded in the signal are completely decoded. Thus, the time to acquire and/or scan a digital video channel is improved.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a decoder configured to obtain a block type of the second block, and determine whether the second block has non-zero transform coefficient information if the obtained block type of the second block is not an intra-coded block. The decoder is configured to determine a non-zero filter strength value based on the obtained coded block type of the second block and the determination of whether the second block has non-zero transform coefficient information, and is configured to remove the blocking phenomenon in the first block according to the filter strength value.

Abstract: A coding device is comprised of an initial resolution coding unit for coding an initial resolution image sub-sampled from an image at every interval of predetermined pixels, and a high resolution coding unit for coding images at sub-sampling intervals sequentially halved, wherein said high resolution coding unit comprises a pixel value predicting means for, out of the pixels that should be coded in present resolution, predicting a value of a pixel being positioned at a center of its adjacent four pixels already coded in previous resolution from said adjacent four pixels with a linear interpolation, and predicting a value of a remaining pixel from its adjacent four pixels having the above pixel at a center thereof with the linear interpolation, said adjacent four pixels being positioned in an upper, lower, left and right sides of the above pixel, a prediction error calculating means for obtaining a residual between the pixel value of the to-be-coded pixel and the predicted value, and a variable length coding m

Abstract: One embodiment of the apparatus includes a decoder configured to obtain a coded block pattern of first and second blocks. The coded block pattern is one of a plurality of coded block patterns, the plurality of coded block patterns includes an intra-coded block, and the second block is adjacent to the first block. The decoder is configured to determine a non-zero filter strength value based on the obtained coded block pattern of the first and second block, a determination of whether the first block has non-zero transform coefficient information, and an obtained motion vector difference. The decoder is configured to remove the blocking phenomenon according to the filter strength value.

Abstract: A method and system for coding a multi-view video having multiple views based on temporal decomposition and view decomposition is provided. A multi-view video coding (“MVC”) system provides a disparity compensated view filter based on a generic lifting transform that is used in conjunction with a motion compensated temporal filtering and a two-dimensional spatial discrete wavelet transform to decompose a multi-view video into four-dimensional wavelet coefficients. The MVC system performs a hierarchy of decompositions for each view that may be a combination of temporal decompositions and view decompositions.

Abstract: A method comprises determining a plurality of time intervals Tp and Tn within a variable bit rate (VBR) representation of an image sequence. The time intervals Tp are those in which a number of blocks of information per unit time is greater than a baseline value. The time intervals Tn are those in which a number of blocks of information per unit time is less than the baseline value. A second representation of the image sequence is created in which some blocks of information Bp are removed from the time intervals Tp and interlaced with blocks of information Bn in the time intervals Tn to reduce a variation in a number of blocks of information per unit time between the time intervals Tp and Tn.

Abstract: Methods and systems for reducing channel change startup delays for multicast digital video streams are described. Packets of a multicast digital video transport stream having a plurality of normal Group of Pictures are received. Further, a channel change request is received and a speed-up Group of Pictures is inserted in the stream in response to the channel change request. In one embodiment, video stream specific information is also inserted in the stream. The packets are processed and transmitted.

Abstract: A method for high/low usage is provided. The method receives a macroblock data structure and a syntax element at a digital signal processing engine. Further, the method classifies the syntax element as high use or low use. In addition, the method sends the syntax element from the digital signal processing engine to a logic unit, distinct from the digital processing engine, for binarization if the syntax element is high use.

Abstract: Efficient operations in image or video decoding. For example, a tool such as an image or video decoder receives and decodes encoded data for a picture in a bitstream. As part of the decoding, the tool adapts a multi-symbol lookup table to use in decoding of symbols then decodes the symbols using the multi-symbol lookup table, producing exactly correct results. The tool can also perform selectively truncated inverse frequency transforms. For a given block, the tool identifies upper horizontal and vertical frequencies among non-zero coefficients for the block and, based on the upper frequency values, selectively applies a simplified inverse frequency transform to transform coefficients for the block without hurting decoding quality. Using restart markers in the bitstream, the tool can organize multiple blocks of the picture as partitions. The tool decodes at least some of the partitions in parallel on a partition-by-partition basis using multiple processing cores.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for coding transform coefficients for a block of video data. According to some aspects of this disclosure, an encoder or decoder may map between a code number cn and last_pos and level_ID syntax elements associated with a block of video data based on a scaling factor S. The scaling factor S may be based on a size of the block of video data being coded.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for correcting artifacts that occur along a boundary of a substitute video unit generated using video unit substitution, e.g., motion-compensated video unit interpolation or extrapolation. In accordance with the techniques described in this disclosure, a frame substitution unit identifies first locations within a substitute video unit that correspond with a boundary that exists within a reference video unit and should exist within the substitute video unit, and corrects boundary artifacts in the first locations using a first boundary artifact correction technique. The frame substitution unit also identifies second locations within the substitute video unit that correspond with a boundary that exists within the substitute video unit and does not exist within the reference video unit and corrects boundary artifacts in the second locations using a second boundary artifact correction technique.

Abstract: The invention relates to a video coding method of exploiting the temporal redundancy between successive frames in a video sequence. A reference frame, called I-frame, is first approximated by a collection of geometric features, called atoms. The following predicted frames called, P-frames, are approximated by the geometric transformations of the geometric features (atoms) describing the previous frame. Preferably, the I-frame is approximated by a linear combination of N atoms (formula), selected in a redundant, structured library. They are indexed by a string of parameters representing the geometric transformations applied to the generating mother function g(x,y) and the cn are weighting coefficients.

Abstract: In one example, this disclosure describes a method of codeword adaptation for variable length coding. The method comprises determining if a number codewords stored in a variable length coding (VLC) table satisfies a threshold; selecting a codeword adaptation scheme from a group of two or more codeword adaptation schemes based on whether the number of codewords satisfies the threshold; and applying the selected adaptation scheme to the codewords stored in the VLC table.

Abstract: In one example, this disclosure describes a method of codeword adaptation for variable length coding. The method comprises applying a first codeword adaptation scheme to a first group of codewords of a variable length coding (VLC) table to change a mapping of codewords to events in the VLC table; and applying a second codeword adaptation scheme to a second group of codewords of the VLC table to change the mapping of the codewords to the events in the VLC table.

Abstract: An image decoding apparatus includes a first decoding unit configured to decode a bit stream that is generated by using a first variable length encoding system, so as to generate an intermediate stream, a second decoding unit configured to decode a bit stream that is generated by using a second variable length encoding system, so as to generate a syntax element, a syntax conversion unit configured to convert the syntax element that is generated, from syntax of the second variable length encoding system into syntax of the first variable length encoding system, and a first encoding unit configured to encode the syntax element that is syntax-converted, so as to generate the intermediate stream.

Abstract: For spatial resolution conversion of an image signal, a magnitude of a motion vector is compared to a threshold value. Single channel interpolation is performed if the magnitude of the motion vector is greater than a threshold value, and multi-channel interpolation is performed otherwise. In addition, single channel interpolation is performed for spatial resolution conversion of any frame that does not refer to another frame.

Abstract: Some embodiments facilitate encoding/decoding of a frame by organizing frame data in a storage structure in a novel manner. Specifically, in a portion of the storage structure allocated for a frame slice, used partition entries are stored in a first section of the allocated portion and unused partition entries are stored in a second section of the allocated portion, the first and second sections each comprising a continuous area of storage in the storage structure so that used partition entries are not interspersed with nonused partition entries. In some embodiments, additional data useful in the encoding or decoding of video data is determined and stored into the unused bytes of used partition entries (such as macroblock header data or canonical reference frame index data). In some embodiments, two or more identical partitions of a macroblock are coalesced into a single partition.

Abstract: A method, system and computer software product for improving rate-distortion performance while remaining faithful to JPEG/MPEG syntax, involving joint optimization of Huffman tables, quantization step sizes and quantized coefficients of a JPEG/MPEG encoder. This involves finding the optimal coefficient indices in the form of (run, size) pairs. By employing an interative process including this search for optimal coefficient indices, joint improvement of run-length coding, Huffman coding and quantization table selection may be achieved. Additionally, the compression of quantized DC coefficients may also be improved using a trellis-structure.

Abstract: A decoding method and device for decoding a coefficient data row subjected to orthogonal transform processing in a predetermined coding processing unit from an input bit stream in which using a table selected corresponding to the number of unprocessed coefficient data of a specific value in the coefficient data row, at least a specific syntax element indicating the number of continuous coefficient data of the specific value in the coefficient data row is assigned for every coefficient data which is not the specific value.

Abstract: Statistical content block matching for video pre-processing, for example in fast motion estimation, uses a second-order distortion criterion for processing steps such as identifying a best reference image portion for comparison with a current image portion. The second-order distortion criterion is a Lagrange-optimized combination of a mean squared error criterion with an entropy criterion. Then a fast motion estimation search advantageously includes performing a diamond search using the second-order distortion criterion to identify a candidate best reference image portion, and performing a nearest neighbor search starting using said second-order distortion criterion to identify the best reference image portion within a search range limited by an adaptive search range cap. A better motion vector can then be calculated.

Abstract: An apparatus for decoding residual data based on a bit plane and a method thereof, capable of achieving a significant reduction in data traffic between a memory and a functional module in a parallel decoding system, include a variable length decoding module configured to generate residual data for each macroblock from a bit stream, divide the residual data into groups, and generate a bit plane regarding each of the groups, and a variable length decoding memory configured to store the bit plane generated from the variable length decoding module and store the residual data of the groups according to a value of the bit plane.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for an adaptive systolic array structure is initially configured for motion estimation calculations and optionally reconfigured as the motion estimation algorithm progresses. A scheduling map of the processing element (PE) calculations for a given motion estimation algorithm is generated. A systolic array structure may then be generated from the scheduling map, whereby the size and shape of a processing element array is configured to generate the search pattern that is to be used during the search. In addition, delay elements may be implemented within the systolic array structure, so as to preserve the pixels of a current macroblock that are reused in accordance with the scheduling map. The systolic array structure may also be adapted by the motion estimation algorithm during subsequent search stages to accommodate refinements required by the search strategy.

Abstract: Techniques and tools for encoding and decoding a block of frequency coefficients are presented. An encoder selects a scan order from multiple available scan orders and then applies the selected scan order to a two-dimensional matrix of transform coefficients, grouping non-zero values of the frequency coefficients together in a one-dimensional string. The encoder entropy encodes the one-dimensional string of coefficient values according to a multi-level nested set representation. In decoding, a decoder entropy decodes the one-dimensional string of coefficient values from the multi-level nested set representation. The decoder selects the scan order from among multiple available scan orders and then reorders the coefficients back into a two-dimensional matrix using the selected scan order.

Abstract: Transcoder chip having a buffer for temporarily storing decoded macroblocks and compressed domain parameters. A video decoding module of the transcoding chip decodes and stores the decoded macroblocks in the buffer in a first sequence. The video encoding module then reads the data from the buffer in a second sequence different from the first sequence to encode the macroblocks in a different format. The buffer can also be used for deblocking the macroblocks and for filtering motion vectors. By using the buffer, data traffic between the transcoding chip and external memory is reduced, increasing the speed for transcoding a video sequence from one format to another.

Abstract: A method for rate-shaping media streams; the method includes: receiving multiple input media streams, transmission parameters, wired transmission limitations and wireless transmission limitations that represent a current status of a wireless medium; and rate-shaping at least one input media stream out of the multiple input media streams, in response to: (i) the transmission parameters, (ii) the wireless transmission limitations, and (iiii) input media stream parameters. A system for processing media streams; the system includes: a controller, adapted to determine rate-shaping parameters in response to: (i) the transmission parameters, (ii) the wireless transmission limitations, and (iii) input media stream parameters; and a rate-shaper, connected to the processor, adapted to receive multiple input media streams and perform rate-shaping according to the rate-shaping parameters.

Abstract: Data of both MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 is generated simultaneously with a small circuit scale and a small power consumption. A moving picture encoding apparatus for encoding a moving picture through motion-compensated inter-frame prediction has: a MPEG-2 encoding unit including a motion vector estimator, a frame memory, a forward prediction circuit, a bidirectional prediction circuit, a prediction selection circuit, an intra-frame encoding circuit and a local decoding circuit; a MPEG-4 encoding unit including a frame extraction circuit for extracting a predetermined MPEG-2 frame and a transcoder for encoding the extracted frame; a motion vector calculator calculating a motion vector to be used for MPEG-4 prediction from a motion vector to be used for MPEG-2 prediction; and a prediction mode controller controlling the prediction mode of the MPEG-2 encoding unit in such that the MPEG-2 prediction mode becomes coincident with the MPEG-4 prediction mode.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for variable accuracy inter-picture timing specification for digital video encoding is disclosed. Specifically, the present invention discloses a system that allows the relative timing of nearby video pictures to be encoded in a very efficient manner. In one embodiment, the display time difference between a current video picture and a nearby video picture is determined. The display time difference is then encoded into a digital representation of the video picture. In a preferred embodiment, the nearby video picture is the most recently transmitted stored picture. For coding efficiency, the display time difference may be encoded using a variable length coding system or arithmetic coding. In an alternate embodiment, the display time difference is encoded as a power of two to reduce the number of bits transmitted.

Abstract: A stream transmitting system for transmitting a data stream, which has first layer including base data and second layer including data supplementing the base data, includes a transmitting device and a receiving device. The transmitting device includes: a transmission control unit for packetizing the data of the first layer and the data of the second layer to output a data packet of the first layer and a data packet of the second layer; first transmitting unit for transmitting the data packet of the first layer to the receiving device through first transmission path; and second transmitting unit for transmitting the data packet of the second layer to the receiving device through second transmission path. The receiving device includes: first receiving units for receiving the data packet transmitted through the first transmission paths; and a reception control unit for reconstructing a hierarchically-encoded data stream.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for variable accuracy inter-picture timing specification for digital video encoding is disclosed. Specifically, the present invention discloses a system that allows the relative timing of nearby video pictures to be encoded in a very efficient manner. In one embodiment, the display time difference between a current video picture and a nearby video picture is determined. The display time difference is then encoded into a digital representation of the video picture. In a preferred embodiment, the nearby video picture is the most recently transmitted stored picture. For coding efficiency, the display time difference may be encoded using a variable length coding system or arithmetic coding. In an alternate embodiment, the display time difference is encoded as a power of two to reduce the number of bits transmitted.

Abstract: There is provided a method and a device for encoding a digital representation of an image into a single encoded image, comprising: generating at least two subsequent image data sequences each representing a portion of the digital representation of the image, inputting to an encoder (104) each of said subsequent image data sequences as if each image data sequence is an individual digital representations of an image, encoding each subsequent image data sequence into a variable length coded image, thereby generating at least two variable length coded images each representing a portion of the single encoded image, inserting a restart marker as terminating data of at least one of the variable length coded images, inserting an end of image marker as terminating data of one of the variable length coded images representing a final portion of the single encoded image, and associating the variable length coded images with each other by arranging them as subsequent parts of a single encoded data sequence representing th

Abstract: An image decoding device and an image coding device are each capable of using spatial dependence across a boundary between slices to smoothly execute parallel processing. The image decoding device includes: a first decoding unit (801) decoding a block in a first slice; a second decoding unit (802) decoding a block in a second slice; and a first storage unit (811) storing inter-slice neighboring information (i) generated by decoding a boundary block included in the first slice and adjacent to the second slice and (ii) referenced when a boundary neighboring block included in the second slice and adjacent to the boundary block is decoded. The first decoding unit (801) generates the inter-slice neighboring information by decoding the boundary block and stores the generated information into the first storage unit (811). The second decoding unit (802) decodes the boundary neighboring block by reference to the stored inter-slice neighboring information.