US5517583A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Image encoding method and apparatus
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1995-05-01
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Granted: 1996-05-14
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Expires: 2015-05-01
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to an image encoding method and apparatus and, more particularly, to determination of an encoding parameter. According to this invention, a method of determining a parameter for encoding an image to be encoded in accordance with an encoding parameter of the already encoded image is disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Izuru Horiuchi
- 👤 Taku Yamagami
- 👤 Shigeru Jinnai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 07:53
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N19/00; H04N19/10; H04N19/189; H04N19/196; H04N19/198; H04N19/102; H04N19/103; H04N19/124; H04N19/126; H04N19/134; H04N19/146; H04N19/15; H04N19/152; H04N19/169; H04N19/17; H04N19/176; H04N19/192; H04N19/197; H04N19/60; H04N19/13; H04N19/50; H04N19/90; H04N19/91
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
An image encoding method comprising the steps of: a) successively inputting image data relating to a plurality of different pictures, each of the pictures having a plurality of blocks and each of the blocks having a plurality of pixels; b) encoding the image data in units of blocks; and c) controlling an encoding parameter in units of pictures such that an amount of encoded image data of each different picture is within a predetermined value, wherein said parameter is determined by using a parameter which has been previously used for encoding a picture preceding a picture to be encoded as an initial parameter, and in the case the previously used encoding parameter does not yield encoded image data within a predetermined value, the image data is repeatedly encoded with a new encoding parameter until an encoding parameter is determined to encode the image data to be within the predetermined value.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
An image encoding method comprising the steps of: a) successively inputting image data relating to a plurality of different pictures, each of the pictures having a plurality of blocks and each of the blocks having a plurality of pixels; b) encoding the image data in units of blocks; and c) controlling an encoding parameter in units of pictures such that an amount of encoded image data of each different picture is within a predetermined value, wherein said parameter is determined by using a parameter which has been previously used for encoding a picture preceding a picture to be encoded as an initial parameter, and in the case the previously used encoding parameter does not yield encoded image data within a predetermined value, the image data is repeatedly encoded with a new encoding parameter until an encoding parameter is determined to encode the image data to be within the predetermined value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said images for the plurality of pictures are input by a CCD sensor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said encoding step includes the step of frequency-transforming the images in units of predetermined blocks.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 3, wherein said frequency transform is an orthogonal transform.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 3, wherein said encoding step includes the step of quantizing a frequency-transformed transform coefficient.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 5, wherein said parameter is a parameter associated with the quantizing step.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of storing the encoded images for a predetermined number of pictures in a memory.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
141 words
A still video camera comprising: a) input means for inputting image data corresponding to a plurality of different pictures at predetermined intervals; b) encoding means for sequentially encoding the plurality of different pictures input by said input means; and c) control means for determining an encoding parameter of said encoding means such that an amount of encoded image data of each different picture is within a predetermined value, wherein said parameter is determined in accordance with a parameter which has been previously used for encoding a picture that precedes a picture to be encoded, and in the case the previously used encoding parameter does not yield encoded image data within a predetermined value, the image data is repeatedly encoded with a new encoding parameter until an encoding parameter is determined to encode the image data to be within the predetermined value.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
141 words
A still video camera comprising: a) input means for inputting image data corresponding to a plurality of different pictures at predetermined intervals; b) encoding means for sequentially encoding the plurality of different pictures input by said input means; and c) control means for determining an encoding parameter of said encoding means such that an amount of encoded image data of each different picture is within a predetermined value, wherein said parameter is determined in accordance with a parameter which has been previously used for encoding a picture that precedes a picture to be encoded, and in the case the previously used encoding parameter does not yield encoded image data within a predetermined value, the image data is repeatedly encoded with a new encoding parameter until an encoding parameter is determined to encode the image data to be within the predetermined value.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
A camera according to claim 8, wherein said input means comprises a CCD sensor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A camera according to claim 8, wherein said encoding means includes transform means for frequency-transforming the input images in units of predetermined blocks.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
A camera according to claim 10, wherein said frequency transform is an orthogonal transform.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A camera according to claim 10, wherein said encoding means includes quantization means for quantizing a frequency-transformed transform coefficient.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
A camera according to claim 12, wherein said encoding parameter is a quantization parameter of said quantization means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A camera according to claim 8, further comprising memory means for storing the encoded images for a predetermined number of frames.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
127 words
An image encoding apparatus having a first mode for encoding image data and a second mode for encoding image data which is different from the first mode, comprising: a) encoding means for sequentially encoding image data corresponding to a plurality of different pictures; and b) selecting means for selecting the first mode for determining an encoding parameter such that an amount of encoded image data of each different picture is within a predetermined value by using a default value, and the second mode for determining an encoding parameter such that an amount of encoded image data of each different picture is within a predetermined value on the basis of a parameter which has been previously used for encoding a picture that precedes a picture to be encoded.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
127 words
An image encoding apparatus having a first mode for encoding image data and a second mode for encoding image data which is different from the first mode, comprising: a) encoding means for sequentially encoding image data corresponding to a plurality of different pictures; and b) selecting means for selecting the first mode for determining an encoding parameter such that an amount of encoded image data of each different picture is within a predetermined value by using a default value, and the second mode for determining an encoding parameter such that an amount of encoded image data of each different picture is within a predetermined value on the basis of a parameter which has been previously used for encoding a picture that precedes a picture to be encoded.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said encoding means includes transform means for frequency-transforming the input images in units of predetermined blocks.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said frequency transform is an orthogonal transform.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said encoding means includes quantization means for quantizing a frequency-transformed transform coefficient.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said encoding parameter is a quantization parameter of said quantization means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising memory means for storing the encoded images for a predetermined number of pictures.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
103 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: a) encoding input image data in accordance with an encoding parameter; b) measuring an amount of encoded image data; c) judging whether the amount of encoded image data is within a predetermined amount; and d) repeating steps a) through c) for the same image data to determine the encoding parameter for said encoding step capable of obtaining said predetermined amount of encoded image data, wherein the encoding parameter is determined by using an encoding parameter which has been previously used for encoding a picture preceding a picture to be encoded as an initial encoding parameter.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
103 words
An image processing method comprising the steps of: a) encoding input image data in accordance with an encoding parameter; b) measuring an amount of encoded image data; c) judging whether the amount of encoded image data is within a predetermined amount; and d) repeating steps a) through c) for the same image data to determine the encoding parameter for said encoding step capable of obtaining said predetermined amount of encoded image data, wherein the encoding parameter is determined by using an encoding parameter which has been previously used for encoding a picture preceding a picture to be encoded as an initial encoding parameter.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 21, wherein said encoding step includes the step of frequency-transforming the images in units of predetermined blocks.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 22, wherein said frequency transform is an orthogonal transform.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 22, wherein said encoding step includes the step of quantizing a frequency-transformed transform coefficient.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 24, wherein said parameter is a parameter associated with the quantizing step.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 21, further comprising the step of storing the encoded images for a predetermined number of frames in a memory.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 21, wherein an encoding parameter of an already encoded image is used as an initial value of the encoding parameter in said encoding step.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
114 words
An image encoding apparatus comprising: a) input means for inputting image data corresponding to a plurality of different pictures at predetermined intervals; b) encoding means for sequentially encoding the plurality of different pictures input by said input means; c) memory means for storing an encoding parameter which has been previously used for encoding a picture preceding a picture to be encoded; and d) control means for determining an encoding parameter for encoding the picture to be encoded by repeatedly encoding the image data with a different encoding parameter in each encoding until such time an encoding parameter is determined, wherein the encoding parameter stored in said memory means is used as an initial parameter.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
114 words
An image encoding apparatus comprising: a) input means for inputting image data corresponding to a plurality of different pictures at predetermined intervals; b) encoding means for sequentially encoding the plurality of different pictures input by said input means; c) memory means for storing an encoding parameter which has been previously used for encoding a picture preceding a picture to be encoded; and d) control means for determining an encoding parameter for encoding the picture to be encoded by repeatedly encoding the image data with a different encoding parameter in each encoding until such time an encoding parameter is determined, wherein the encoding parameter stored in said memory means is used as an initial parameter.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said input means comprises a CCD sensor.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said encoding means includes transform means for frequency-transforming the input images in units of predetermined.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said frequency transform is an orthogonal transform.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said encoding means includes quantization means for quantizing a frequency-transformed transform coefficient.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the encoding parameter is a quantization parameter of said quantization means.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 28, further comprising memory means for storing the enclosed images for a predetermined number of frames.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-05-14 | 1999-11-13 | 2000-05-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-05-14 | 2003-11-13 | 2004-05-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-05-14 | 2007-11-13 | 2008-05-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |