Facsimile and static presentation processing – Facsimile – Reduced time or bandwidth for static image communication
Reexamination Certificate
1997-10-28
2002-07-16
Wallerson, Mark (Department: 2622)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Facsimile
Reduced time or bandwidth for static image communication
C358S296000, C358S296000, C358S426010, C358S438000, C382S232000, C382S238000, C382S239000, C382S240000, C382S251000, C382S253000, C375S240030, C375S240120
Reexamination Certificate
active
06421144
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a picture encoding apparatus and the method, and is applicable to a picture encoding apparatus, for example, for dividing a predetermined picture data into a plurality of picture data having various resolutions and encoding it.
BACKGROUND ART
Heretofore, a picture encoding apparatus for encoding input picture data using a method of hierarchy encoding, for example, pyramid encoding has been provided. In this type of picture encoding apparatus, a first hierarchy data being input picture data of high resolution, a second hierarchy data of which its resolution is lower than that of the first hierarchy data, and a third hierarchy data of which its resolution is lower than that of the second hierarchy data, are sequentially and recursively formed. The plurality of hierarchy data are transmitted through one transmitting path being a communicating path or a recording/reproducing route.
In a picture decoding apparatus for decoding this plurality of hierarchy data, all of the plural picture data can be decoded, in addition to this, one of the desired hierarchy data can be selected and decoded in accordance with the resolution of the corresponding television monitor or the like. In this manner, only the desired hierarchy data is decoded out of the plurality of hierarchy data, so that the desired picture data can be obtained with the minimum amount of transmitting data at need.
Here, as shown in
FIG. 1
, in the hierarchy encoding, a picture encoding apparatus
1
for actualizing for example, four hierarchical-encoding, has decimating filters
2
,
3
, and
4
of three hierarchies and interpolating filters
5
,
6
, and
7
. The input picture data D
1
is passed through the decimating filters
2
,
3
, and
4
of the respective stages to sequentially form reduced picture data D
2
, D
3
, and D
4
having a lower resolution, and the reduced picture data D
2
, D
3
, and D
4
are passed through the interpolating filters
5
,
6
, and
7
to change the resolutions of those data to that before reducing.
Outputs D
2
to D
4
of the respective decimating filters
2
to
4
and outputs D
5
to D
7
of the respective interpolating filters
5
to
7
are input to difference circuits
8
,
9
, and
10
respectively, in order to generate difference data D
8
, D
9
, and D
10
. As a result, in the picture encoding apparatus
1
, the data quantity of hierarchy data and the signal power are reduced. Here, the difference data D
8
to D
10
and the reduced picture data D
4
have the sizes of 1, ¼, {fraction (1/16)}, and {fraction (1/64+L )} respectively in the areas.
The difference data D
8
to D
10
obtained from the difference circuits
8
to
10
and the reduced picture data D
4
obtained from the decimating filter
4
, are encoded by respective encoders
11
,
12
,
13
, and
14
and are performed compression processing. As a result, first, second, third, and fourth hierarchy data D
11
, D
12
, D
13
, and D
14
which have different resolutions respectively are sent from the respective encoders
11
,
12
,
13
, and
14
to a transmitting path in a predetermined sequence.
Thus transmitted first through fourth hierarchy data D
11
through D
14
are decoded by a picture decoding apparatus
20
shown in FIG.
2
. That is, the first through fourth hierarchy data D
11
through D
14
are decoded by decoders
21
,
22
,
23
, and
24
respectively, so that the fourth hierarchy data D
24
is output from the decoder
24
.
Further, in an adding circuit
29
, the output of the decoder
23
is added to the interpolating data of the fourth hierarchy data D
24
obtained from an interpolating filter
26
, to restore the third hierarchy data D
23
. Similarly, in an adding circuit
30
, the output of the decoder
22
is added to the interpolating data of the third hierarchy data D
23
obtained from an interpolating filter
27
, to restore the second hierarchy data D
22
. Further, in an adding circuit
31
, the output of the decoder
21
is added to the interpolating data of the second hierarchy data D
22
obtained from an interpolating filter
28
, to restore the first hierarchy data D
21
.
However, in a picture encoding apparatus realizing the above method of hierarchy encoding, the input picture data is divided into a plurality of hierarchy data and encoding it, hence, the amount of data of the hierarchy component is increased necessarily, as a result, it arises that compression efficiency decreases comparing with the case of using the high-efficiency encoding system in which hierarchy encoding is not used. Further, there is a problem that when improving the compression efficiency, the deterioration of picture quality occurs due to the respective quantizers applied to the hierarchy data.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Considering the above points, this invention provides a picture encoding apparatus such that when picture data is encoded hierarchically, the compression efficiency can be improved, and deterioration of picture quality can be reduced.
To solve such problems, according to this invention, as a first embodiment, a picture encoding apparatus
40
for encoding input picture data D
31
to generate a plurality of hierarchy data D
51
to D
55
which have recursively various resolutions, comprises: means
53
C,
55
C, . . . ,
53
D,
55
D, . . . for determining the quantization characteristic of the lower hierarchy data which has a resolution higher than that of the upper hierarchy data based on the activity of the upper hierarchy data having lower resolution in order to quantize respective hierarchy data D
44
, D
43
, D
42
, and D
41
; and a quantizing means
53
A,
55
A, . . . for quantizing respective hierarchy data in accordance with the determined quantizing characteristic.
Further, according to this invention, as a second embodiment, the picture encoding apparatus
40
for sequentially encoding input picture signal D
1
to generate a plurality of hierarchy data D
51
to D
55
which have recursively various resolutions, comprises: means
53
C,
55
C, . . . ,
53
D,
55
D, . . . for determining the quantized value of the hierarchy data in the block to be quantized based on the quantization step width E
0
, E
1
, E
2
, or E
3
determined by the upper hierarchy data having a resolution lower than that of the hierarchy data D
44
, D
43
, D
42
, or D
41
in the block to be quantized for each block corresponding to one another in each hierarchy, in order to quantize the hierarchy data D
44
, D
43
, D
42
, D
41
respectively; and a quantizing means
53
C,
55
C, . . . ,
53
D,
55
D, . . . for determining the quantization step width E
0
, E
1
, E
2
, or E
3
of the lower hierarchy data which have a resolution higher than that of the hierarchy data in the block to be quantized.
Further, according to this invention, as a third embodiment, a picture encoding apparatus
60
for sequentially encoding input picture signal to generate a plurality of hierarchy data D
51
to D
55
which have recursively various resolutions, comprises: means
53
C,
55
C, . . . ,
53
D,
55
D, . . . for determining the quantized value of the hierarchy data in the block to be quantized based on the quantization step width E
0
, E
1
, E
2
, or E
3
determined by the upper hierarchy data having a resolution lower than that of the hierarchy data D
44
, D
43
, D
42
, or D
41
in the block to be quantized in order to quantize the respective hierarchy data D
44
, D
43
, D
42
, D
41
, and for determining the quantization step width E
0
, E
1
, E
2
, or E
3
of the lower hierarchy data having a resolution higher than that of the upper hierarchy data based on a historical information of the distribution of the quantized value of the hierarchy data upper than the lower hierarchy data having a resolution higher than that of the hierarchy data in the block to be quantized.
Further, according to this invention, as a fourth embodiment, a picture encoding apparatus
70
for encoding input picture data D
31
to generate a plurality of hierarchy data D
51
to D
55
which have recursively various resolutions, comprises
Fujimori Yasuhiro
Kawaguchi Kunio
Kondo Tetsujiro
Frommer William S.
Frommer & Lawrence & Haug LLP
Smid Dennis M.
Wallerson Mark
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