Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
217 words
A device for encoding a video signal as a group of pictures including at least one independent picture (I) and a plurality of motion-compensated differential pictures (P, B), said group of pictures being encoded using substantially a desired number of bits, comprising: means for dividing each picture of said group into a plurality of sub-pictures; an encoder for selectively encoding independent pictures (I) of said group and motion-compensated pictures (P, B) of said group, the encoder comprising a picture transformer for transforming each said sub-picture into coefficients, and a quantizer for quantizing the coefficients using an applied quantization step size; an additional encoder for encoding each said picture of said group in accordance with its type (I, P, B) using a fixed quantization step size; computing means for computing a target value (T) for the number of bits to be produced by said encoder for each said picture in dependence upon the number of bits produced by said additional encoder for each said picture, the type (I, P, B) of said picture, and said desired number of bits for said group of pictures; and control means for controlling said applied quantization step size in accordance with said target value (T), whereby said group of pictures is encoded by said encoder with substantially said desired number of bits.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
217 words
A device for encoding a video signal as a group of pictures including at least one independent picture (I) and a plurality of motion-compensated differential pictures (P, B), said group of pictures being encoded using substantially a desired number of bits, comprising: means for dividing each picture of said group into a plurality of sub-pictures; an encoder for selectively encoding independent pictures (I) of said group and motion-compensated pictures (P, B) of said group, the encoder comprising a picture transformer for transforming each said sub-picture into coefficients, and a quantizer for quantizing the coefficients using an applied quantization step size; an additional encoder for encoding each said picture of said group in accordance with its type (I, P, B) using a fixed quantization step size; computing means for computing a target value (T) for the number of bits to be produced by said encoder for each said picture in dependence upon the number of bits produced by said additional encoder for each said picture, the type (I, P, B) of said picture, and said desired number of bits for said group of pictures; and control means for controlling said applied quantization step size in accordance with said target value (T), whereby said group of pictures is encoded by said encoder with substantially said desired number of bits.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fixed quantization step size comprises an average quantization step size with which a previous P picture has been encoded.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fixed quantization step size comprises an average quantization step size with which a previous picture of the same type (I, P, B) has been encoded.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said fixed quantization step size for the first I picture following a change of scenes comprises the average quantization step size with which a previous P picture has been encoded.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said computing means comprise a distribution circuit for proportionally distributing said target value (T) among local target values (T n ) for each sub-picture in proportion to the number of bits generated for said sub-pictures by said additional encoder, said control means being adapted to control said applied quantization step size in accordance with the local target value (T n ) for each sub-picture.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein a series of quantization-dependent and a series of quantization-independent bits are formed for each sub-picture, wherein said distribution circuit is adapted to distribute said target value (T) among said sub-pictures in proportion to the number of quantization-dependent bits generated for said sub-pictures by said additional encoder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said control means comprises means for forming a control signal which is representative of the difference between the cumulative target values (T n ) for each sub-picture and the number of bits produced by said encoder, and a proportionally integrating control circuit to which said control signal is applied.