Image analysis – Image compression or coding – Interframe coding
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-28
2004-05-04
Do, Anh Hong (Department: 2624)
Image analysis
Image compression or coding
Interframe coding
C382S232000, C375S240100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06731809
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a moving picture data compression device for reading and compressing moving picture data recorded on a recording medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
Along with the diversification of communication equipment in recent years, there have been proposals for various technologies performing communications and the like by using moving picture data after compressing it to reduce the data volume. One example of a moving picture data compression method well known in the art Is the MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) method.
Conventional recording media for recording moving picture data include videotapes, laser discs, and the Like. In recent years, such media as a hard disk and a video file (for example, ITU-R656 format video file) have also been used to store moving picture data. The videotape and the laser disc are known an realtime recording media because they can record moving picture data to be read sequentially according to the passage of time. The hard disk and video file are known as non-realtime recording media because they can record moving picture data to be read without concern for the passage of time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There are two types of MPEG moving picture data compression device: a first type that compresses video data in real time; and a second type (software type) that performs its entire compression operation by executing a software process.
The first type of moving picture data compression device, however, has the capability of compressing only moving picture data read from a realtime recording medium. Accordingly, when a user desires to compress moving picture date from a non-realtime recording medium, he/she has to use the second type of compression device. Thus, according to the kind of data to be compressed, the user has to change the compression device to be used. This in troublesome for the user.
Considering this problem, it is conceivable to use the first type of device also to compress data from non-realtime data recording medium. According to this conceivable method, moving picture data read from a non-realtime recording medium (hereinafter referred to an non-realtime data) is first converted into moving picture data that can be recorded on a realtime recording medium (hereinafter referred to as realtime data). The resultant non-realtime data is then recorded temporarily onto a realtime recording medium such as a videotape. The recorded realtime data is then played beck on a video player or the like and is compressed by the moving picture data compression device of the first type. This method can pave the way for compressing non-realtime data using the moving picture data compression device of the first type. However, it requires a troublesome operation to compress non-realtime data.
It is also conceivable to execute editing processes such as noise elimination and gamma correction on non-realtime data in a manner described below. That is, non-realtime data in first converted to realtime data and then recorded onto a realtime recording medium. Subsequently, an editing device, corresponding to the desired editing process, is connected to the moving picture data compression device. Then, the realtime data is played beak and inputted to the moving picture data compression device. According to this operation, troublesome and complex operation is needed.
Hence, in order to perform several types of editing on non-realtime data, it is necessary not only to perform the above complex operations, but also to prepare individual editing equipment for handling each process.
Further, editing in performed after converting non-realtime data to realtime data. As a result, the same extremely difficult problems associated with processing ordinary realtime data, such as performing time lapse and rewind processes, are present in this case as well.
Even in order to perform relatively simple editing processes such as brightness adjustment, gamma correction, fade in, fade out, and the like, it is still necessary to prepare separate editing devices for each process. As a result, it in still necessary to perform complex operations in order to edit non-realtime data.
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved moving picture data compression device that is capable of compressing not only moving picture data read from realtime recording media (realtime data), but also moving picture data read from non-realtime recording media (non-realtime data) by a simple operation.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved moving picture data compression device that is capable of facilitating the process of editing non-realtime data and of broadening the scope of such editing.
In order to attain the above and other objects, the present invention provides a moving picture data compression device for compressing moving picture data read from a recording medium recorded with moving picture data, comprising: non-realtime data receiving means for receiving moving picture data read from a non-realtime data recording medium, which is recorded with moving picture data that is capable of being read unrelated to the passage of time; synchronization signal generating means for generating a synchronization signal based on moving picture data received by the non-realtime data receiving means; realtime data receiving means for receiving moving picture data that is read from a realtime data recording medium, which is recorded with moving picture data capable of being read sequentially according to the actual passage of time; additional synchronization signal generating means for generating a synchronization signal according to the receiving operation by the reltime data receiving means; and compressing means for selectively executing either non-realtime data compression operations for compressing moving picture data received by the non-realtime data receiving means according to the synchronization signal generated by the synchronization signal generating means or realtime data compression operations for compressing moving picture data received by the realtime data receiving means according to the synchronization signal generated by the additional synchronization signal generating means.
The synchronization signal generating means produces a synchronization signal based on moving picture data (non-realtime data) received from the non-realtime data recording medium. Although this synchronization signal is not always generated at a uniform interval, the compressing means is configured to be capable of executing non-realtime data compression operations onto the non-realtime data, according to the synchronization signal generated by the synchronization signal generating means. For this reason, the moving picture data compression device of the present invention is capable of easily compressing non-realtime data accurately and reliably.
The compressing means is configured to be capable of selectively executing either realtime data compression operations or non-realtime data compression operations. When executing realtime data compression operations, the compressing means can compress moving picture data (realtime data), in accordance with the synchronization signal generated by the additional synchronization signal generating means. When executing non-realtime data compression operations, the compressing means can compress moving picture data (non-realtime data), in accordance with the synchronization signal generated by the synchronization signal generating means. Hence, the Compressing means can easily compress both realtime and non-realtime data. Hence, the present invention can easily compress moving picture data recorded on various types of recording media and can provide this compressed data for various applications such as communications.
The non-realtime data receiving means may include non-realtime data reading means for reading moving picture data from the non-realtime data recording medium, wherein said synchronization signal generating
Matsuda Makoto
Tagawa Norio
Taniguchi Toshinori
Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Do Anh Hong
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