Video image processing system having variable data compression

Claim 1

A video image processing system comprising: an input store for temporarily storing input video data representing plural images of an input video sequence; data compressing means for compressing in sequence each image of the video data stored in the input store to a given initial degree to produce respective data files each comprising multiple bytes of compressed data representing the input video data in compressed form, the compressing means operating to compress the video data at a rate faster than that at which it is input for storage in the input store; an output store comprising divisions of like by storage capacity temporarily storing for output respective files of compressed data produced by the data compressing means; and processing means for comparing the number of bytes in each compressed data file with the byte storage capacity of one said division of the output store to determine whether the compressed data file will: occupy at least a desired fraction of the byte storage capacity of said one of said divisions of the output store, or less than said fraction of said one of said division, or exceed the storage capacity of one of said divisions, and for causing the compressing means when the compressed data file comprises fewer bytes than are required for occupancy of at least said fraction of the byte storage capacity of said one of said divisions or comprises more bytes than the byte storage capacity of said one of said divisions, to effect at least one repeat compressions to adjust the number of bytes in the compressed data file so that the ratio of said number of bytes of the recompressed data file to the byte capacity of said one of said divisions amounts to at least said desired fraction, thereby optimizing the utilization of storage in the output store.