A moving picture coding apparatus for performing inter-picture predictive coding for pictures constituting a moving picture is provided with a coding unit for performing predictive error coding for image data; a decoding unit for performing predictive error decoding for an output from the coding unit; a reference picture memory for holding output data from the decoding unit; and a motion vector detection unit for detecting motion vectors on the basis of the decoded image data stored in the memory. When coding a B picture as a target picture, information indicating whether or not the target picture should be used as a reference picture when coding another picture is added as header information. Therefore, in a decoding apparatus for decoding a bit stream Bs outputted from the moving picture coding apparatus, management of a memory for holding the reference picture can be facilitated on the basis of the header information.

Moving picture coding method and moving picture decoding method

Decoding a multiview video signal comprises: receiving a bitstream comprising encodings of multiple views of the multiview video signal. Each view comprises multiple pictures segmented into multiple segments. The decoding also comprises extracting flag information associated with a portion of the multiview video signal from the bitstream indicating whether illumination compensation of segments within said portion of the multiview video signal is enabled. For a portion in which illumination compensation is enabled according to the extracted flag information, a value associated with a segment within the portion is extracted from the bitstream and it is determined from said extracted value whether illumination compensation of the segment is to be performed.

Processing multiview video

There are provided a coefficient number detector (109) for detecting the number of coefficients having a value other than 0 for each block from the coefficients generated, a coefficient number storage unit (110) for storing the number of coefficients detected, and a coefficient number encoder (111) for selecting a variable length encoding table according to the number of coefficients of the encoded block positioned around the block to be encoded and performing variable length encoding to the coefficient number by referencing the variable length encoding table which has been selected.

Image encoding method and image decoding method

A computer-based method and system for digital 3-dimensional imaging of an object which allows for viewing images of the object from arbitrary vantage points. The system, referred to as the Lumigraph system, collects a complete appearance of either a synthetic or real object (or a scene), stores a representation of the appearance, and uses the representation to render images of the object from any vantage point. The appearance of an object is a collection of light rays that emanate from the object in all directions. The system stores the representation of the appearance as a set of coefficients of a 4-dimensional function, referred to as the Lumigraph function. From the Lumigraph function with these coefficients, the Lumigraph system can generate 2-dimensional images of the object from any vantage point. The Lumigraph system generates an image by evaluating the Lumigraph function to identify the intensity values of light rays that would emanate from the object to form the image. The Lumigraph system then combines these intensity values to form the image.

Method and system for digital plenoptic imaging

In a system for compressing video data, the degree of global motion between a plurality of successive frames is determined for use in designating and spacing reference frames, relative to the global motion exceeding predetermined thresholds or levels of motion between certain ones of the frames.

Method and apparatus for video data compression using temporally adaptive motion interpolation

A stereoscopic image information transmission system which combines into one unit the information source coding means of the stereoscopic image, which was indispensable at the transmission side in conventional systems, and the interference fringe generating means, for generating the interference fringes expressing the stereoscopic image, into one by an image processing means utilizing a specific conversion rule effective for information compression, whereby it becomes possible to eliminate the information source decoding means which had been required at the reception side in conventional systems, which system thereby enables the hardware on the transmission side to be made much smaller and which enables the load on the transmission line from the transmission side to the reception side to be lightened.

Stereoscopic image information transmission system

PURPOSE:To attain high efficiency coding by using an optional screen of a multi-eye stereoscopic video different timewise or specially as a reference screen so as to predict compensation as coded picture quality. CONSTITUTION:Patterns are subjected to motion compensation or parallax compensation in pattern matching sections 1-1 to 1-n in a coding and an error and compensation vector is fed to a selection section 2. A reference pattern whose error is minimum is selected therein and sent to a reception side as a selection flag together with the compensation vector and given also to a coder 3. The coder 3 obtains a prediction error between a prediction value (when a reference pattern is a local decoded pattern of a preceding frame, a locally decoded value, and when a reference pattern is a current pattern, a locally decoded value of the code) corresponding to the reference pattern indicated by the selection flag and the coded pattern and sends the error to the receiver side. Thus, the adaptive compensation and prediction with the coded pattern by using the optional pattern of a multi-eye stereoscopic video image different timewise or specially as a reference pattern so as to predict compensation as coded picture quality to realize the high efficiency coding to the entire multi-eye stereoscopic video image.

High efficiency picture coding system

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a stream distributing method of efficiently distributing hierarchically coded or not coded stream data sent from one or more transmitting terminals to one or more receiving terminals as hierarchically coded stream data fit to the indicated power of each receiving terminal. SOLUTION: A stream distributor limits hierarchically coded or not coded stream data sent from one or more transmitting terminals to stream data of hierarchical levels fit to their indication capabilities, and distributes the data to a plurality of receiving terminals at once, thus indicating and outputting the steam data from each transmitting terminal to the receiving terminals at once while restraining a load on the stream distributor. It copes with not hierarchically coded stream data from the transmitting terminal, thus flexibly adapting to terminals of various capabilities. COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Stream distributing method, stream distributor, transmitting terminal, and receiving terminal

PURPOSE: To lower the bit rate of transmission information by detecting a motion vector with a small information quantity by means of a large block, and using an encoding block in proximate to the small block. CONSTITUTION: A motion vector VL of the large vector in a current picture is obtained by a large block motion detecting means 22, and by using the encoded picture element block near the small block obtained by dividing the large block, a motion vector VS is obtained at the section of the reference picture after motion compensation by a small block motion detecting means 23. By a vector VG obtained from the vectors VS and VL by means of a synthesized vector computing element 24, predictive encoding is executed for the small block. The processing is executed for the all large blocks. On a decoder side, the vector VS is obtained independently from an encoding side by a small block motion detecting means 25, while the motion is being compensated by the vector VL, and by the vector VG from the vector VL and VS by means of a synthesized vector computing element 26, the small block is reproduced by a predictive decoding means 27. Thus, the reduction of the bit rate of the transmission information is realized, and the picture quality deterioration can be prevented. COPYRIGHT: (C)1990,JPO&Japio

Compensating/predicting/encoding system for moving image

On the transmitter side, an enhancement layer is hierarchized by expanding a coefficient of orthogonal transformation to a plurality of bit planes or designating a coefficient position in a block. Then, only a coefficient in a position designated by coefficient position information is encoded and streaming distribution is performed. On the receiver side, the coefficient block is restored using the coefficient position information.

Makiko Konoshima

Papers

Stereoscopic image information transmission system

High efficiency picture coding system

Stream distributing method, stream distributor, transmitting terminal, and receiving terminal

Compensating/predicting/encoding system for moving image

Hierarchical encoding and decoding devices