Image analysis – Image compression or coding – Pyramid – hierarchy – or tree structure
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-09
2002-11-12
Johnson, Timothy M. (Department: 2623)
Image analysis
Image compression or coding
Pyramid, hierarchy, or tree structure
C375S240280
Reexamination Certificate
active
06480630
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE ART
The present invention relates to a video encoder, video decoder, video processor and methods thereof, and more particularly to such methods and apparatuses capable of efficiently encoding a picture and further obtaining a decoded picture in an appropriate form to a monitor for displaying the picture.
BACKGROUND ART
FIG. 16
shows a structural example of a video transmission system for transmitting a picture from its transmitting side to receiving side.
On the transmitting side, in a high definition video camera
201
, an object is imaged and a high definition picture formed of 1920×1035 pixels in horizontal by longitudinal in the 16:9 aspect ratio (hereinafter, it is preferably referred to as HD picture) is outputted, for example. The HD picture for approximately 30 frames will be normally outputted per second from the video camera
201
. But here the HD picture is subjected to interlaced scanning. Therefore, the HD picture for approximately 60 fields is outputted per second from the video camera
201
.
On the transmitting side, in a standard or low definition video camera
202
, an object is imaged and a standard or low definition picture in the 4:3 aspect ratio (hereinafter, it is preferably referred to as SD picture) is outputted, for example. If the video camera
202
is in the national television system committee (NTSC) system or the phase alternation by line (PAL) system, one frame is formed of 720×480 pixels or 720×576 pixels respectively and the number of frames per second (the number of fields) is 30 (60) or 25 (50) respectively, for example.
On the transmitting side, in a progressive imager
203
, an object is scanned and the scanned picture (hereinafter, it is preferably referred to as progressive picture) is sequentially outputted. And on the transmitting side, in a computer
204
, a picture formed of, e.g., 640×480 pixels is generated and outputted as computer graphics (CG).
The ratio in horizontal to longitudinal of pixels that compose pictures to be outputted by the video cameras
201
and
202
is approximately 1:1.1. The ratio in horizontal to longitudinal of pixels that compose a picture to be outputted by the computer
204
is 1:1.
As the above, pictures different in its aspect ratio, the number of pixels, its scanned method, the ratio of pixels in horizontal and longitudinal, etc., will be outputted from the video cameras
201
and
202
, progressive imager
203
and computer
204
.
These pictures are inputted to an editor
205
. In the editor
205
, pictures from the video cameras
201
and
202
, progressive imager
203
and computer
204
are edited respectively. All the edited pictures are converted into progressive pictures formed of, e.g.,
1920
×
1080
pixels and outputted to a source encoder
206
. In the source encoder
206
, the pictures outputted from the editor
205
is coded (MPEG-coded) based on the moving picture experts group (MPEG) standard for example, and thus obtained coded data is supplied to a channel encoder
207
.
The adoption of that converting all of pictures different in the number of pixels, its scanned method, etc., into 1920×1080-pixel progressive pictures by advanced television (ATV) has been planned.
In the channel encoder
207
, channel coding is performed to improve the reliability of the coded data in transmission. That is, in the channel encoder
207
, e.g., error correcting codes (ECCs) are added to the coded data as processing for error correction, and further it is subjected to prescribed modulation or the like. The transmit data obtained by the processing in the channel encoder
207
is transmitted via a transmission line
211
.
On the receiving side, the transmit data transmitted from the transmitting side as the above is received. This transmit data is supplied to a channel decoder
208
to be channel-decoded. Specifically, prescribed demodulation is performed and further error correction using the ECCs or the like is performed, for example.
The coded data obtained as a result of the processing in the channel decoder
208
is supplied to a source decoder
209
. In the source decoder
209
, the coded is expanded by, for example, decoded (MPEG-decoded) based on the MPEG standard, and thus obtained picture data is supplied to a processor
210
.
In the processor
210
, the picture data from the source decoder
209
is processed to be matched to the format of an output device to output the picture data. That is, in the case where the picture data is displayed in an HD display device
221
for displaying HD pictures, in the processor
210
, the picture data outputted by the source decoder
209
is processed into an interlace-scanned HD picture composed of, e.g., 1920×1035 pixels in the 16:9 aspect ratio. In the case where the picture data displayed in an SD display device
222
for displaying SD pictures, in the processor
210
, the picture data outputted by the source decoder
209
is processed into an SD picture in the NTSC system or the PAL system, composed of 720×480 pixels or 720×576 pixels for example. In the case where the picture data is printed out by a printer
223
, in the processor
210
, the picture outputted by the source decoder
209
is converted into a picture of which the ratio of pixels in horizontal to longitudinal is corresponded to the printer
223
. On the other hand, in the case where the picture data is displayed on a computer display
224
, in the processor
210
, the picture data outputted by the source decoder
209
is processed into a picture composed of 640×480 pixels for example.
In the HD display device
221
, the SD display device
222
, the printer
223
and the computer display
224
, the picture from the processor
210
is displayed or printed out.
By the way, heretofore, the editing processing by the editor
205
, the compression processing by the source encoder
206
and the channel coding processing by the channel encoder
207
on the transmitting side have quasi conducted respectively and independently.
For example, the compressed data has less information amount than the data before compression processing. Thus, if the compressed data can be set to be edited, a load on the editor
205
can be reduced. However, if the picture is MPEG-coded in the source encoder
206
as described above, the bit stream obtained as its result becomes difficult to be edited unless in a group of picture (GOP) unit, and editing of that is limited to so-called cut editing by only connecting the GOPs. Since compression processing regardless of the editing processing by the editor
205
is performed in the source encoder
206
, the compressed data cannot be edited in a frame unit and it is difficult to give various effects on it.
Moreover, for example, in the source encoder
206
, compression processing is not performed in consideration of the addition of ECCs by the channel encoder
207
. Therefore, for example, if ECCs are added to the coded data obtained by the compression processing, sometimes compressibility as the entire data after the addition of ECCs has deteriorated.
As the above, heretofore, since the processing necessary for picture coding, e.g., the editing processing, compression processing and channel coding processing, etc., has not performed in consideration of the other processing, it has been difficult to perform efficient processing.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
The present invention is provided considering the above aspects which enable it to perform efficient processing.
A video encoder according to the present invention is characterized by including a processing means for performing one or plural processing necessary to encode a picture considering the other processing.
A method for encoding a picture according to the present invention is characterized by performing one or more processing among the plural processing necessary to encode a picture considering the other processing.
A video decoder according to the present invention is characterized by including a generation means for generating a decoded picture corr
Frommer William S.
Frommer & Lawrence & Haug LLP
Johnson Timothy M.
Simon Darren A.
Sony Corporation
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