Video coding apparatus and method which codes information indicating whether an intraframe or interframe predictive coding mode is used

Claim 2

A computer system for video coding, comprising: prediction signal generating means for selecting one of an intraframe predictive coding method and an interframe predictive coding method for coding an input video signal divided into a plurality of regions, and for selectively generating an intraframe prediction signal with the intraframe predictive coding method and a set of an interframe prediction signal and a motion vector with the interframe predictive coding method; first coding means for coding coding mode information for each of the regions to indicate one of the intraframe and interframe predictive coding methods and to obtain plural coded coding mode information, and for coding the motion vector obtained for each of the regions by said prediction signal generating means in the interframe predictive coding method to obtain plural coded motion vectors; prediction error generating means for generating a prediction error signal for each of the regions based on one of the intraframe prediction signal and the interframe predictive signal generated by the prediction signal generating means and the input video signal; second coding means for coding the prediction error signal for each of the regions to obtain plural coded prediction error information; and code string generating means for outputting a code string including a synchronization code, a group of the plural coded coding mode information, a group of the coded motion vectors and a group of the plural coded prediction error information, which are all arranged in this order corresponding to a descending order of importance in decoding.

Claim 3

A computer system according to claim 1, further comprising: means for displaying an image.

Claim 4

A computer system according to claim 1, further comprising: means for capturing an image corresponding to the input video signal.

Claim 5

A computer system according to claim 1, further comprising: means for storing the code string output by the code string generating means.

Claim 6

A computer system according to claim 1, further comprising: means for transmitting the code string output by the code string generating means.

Claim 7

A computer system for video coding, comprising: a prediction signal generating device configured to select one of an intraframe predictive coding method and an interframe predictive coding method for coding an input video signal divided into a plurality of regions, and to selectively generate an intraframe prediction signal with the intraframe predictive coding method and a set of an interframe prediction signal and a motion vector with the interframe predictive coding method; a first coding device configured to code coding mode information for each of the regions to indicate one of the intraframe and interframe predictive coding methods and to obtain plural coded coding mode information, and to code the motion vector obtained for each of the regions by said prediction signal generating device in the interframe predictive coding method to obtain plural coded motion vectors; a prediction error generating device configured to generate a prediction error signal for each of the regions based on one of the intraframe prediction signal and the interframe predictive signal generated by the prediction signal generating device and the input video signal; a second coding device configured to code the prediction error signal for each of the regions to obtain plural coded prediction error information; and a code string generating device configured to output a code string including a synchronization code, a group of the plural coded coding mode information, a group of the coded motion vectors and a group of the plural coded prediction error information, which are all arranged in this order corresponding to a descending order of importance in decoding.

Claim 8

A computer system for video coding, comprising: a prediction signal generating device configured to select one of an intraframe predictive coding method and an interframe predictive coding method for coding an input video signal divided into a plurality of regions, and to selectively generate an intraframe prediction signal with the intraframe predictive coding method and a set of an interframe prediction signal and a motion vector with the interframe predictive coding method; a first coding device configured to code coding mode information for each of the regions to indicate one of the intraframe and interframe predictive coding methods and to obtain plural coded coding mode information, and to code the motion vector obtained for each of the regions by said prediction signal generating device in the interframe predictive coding method to obtain plural coded motion vectors; a prediction error generating device configured to generate a prediction error signal for each of the regions based on one of the intraframe prediction signal and the interframe predictive signal generated by the prediction signal generating device and the input video signal; a second coding device configured to code the prediction error signal for each of the regions to obtain plural coded prediction error information; and a code string generating device configured to output a code string including a synchronization code, a group of the plural coded coding mode information, a group of the coded motion vectors and a group of the plural coded prediction error information, which are all arranged in this order corresponding to a descending order of importance in decoding.

Claim 9

A computer system according to claim 6, further comprising: a display which displays an image.

Claim 10

A computer system according to claim 6, further comprising: a camera which captures an image corresponding to the input video signal.

Claim 11

A computer system according to claim 6, further comprising: a memory which stores the code string output by the code string generating device.

Claim 12

A computer system according to claim 6, further comprising: a transmitter configured to transmit the code string output by the code string generating device.

Claim 13

A computer system according to claim 10, wherein: the transmitter is a radio frequency transmitter.

Claim 14

A computer system according to claim 11, further comprising: an antenna, connected to the radio frequency transmitter.

Claim 17

A method of encoding using a computer system according to claim 13, further comprising the step of: displaying an image on a display of the computer system.

Claim 18

A method of encoding using a computer system according to claim 13, further comprising the step of: capturing an image corresponding to the input video signal.

Claim 19

A method of encoding using a computer system according to claim 13, further comprising the step of: storing the code string output by the code string generating step.

Claim 20

A method of encoding using a computer system according to claim 13, further comprising the step of: transmitting the code string output by the code string generating step.

Claim 21

A method of encoding using a computer system according to claim 17, wherein the transmitting step comprises: transmitting the code string using radio frequencies.

Claim 22

A computer system for video coding, comprising: prediction signal generating means for selecting one of an intraframe predictive coding method and an interframe predictive coding method for coding an input video signal divided into a plurality of regions, to selectively generate an intraframe prediction signal with the intraframe predictive coding method and a set of an interframe prediction signal and a motion vector with the interframe predictive coding method; first coding means for coding coding mode information for each of the regions to indicate one of the intraframe and interframe predictive coding methods and for obtaining plural coded coding mode information; second coding means for coding the motion vector obtained for each of the regions by said prediction signal generating means in the interframe predictive coding method to obtain plural coded motion vectors; prediction error generating means for generating a prediction error signal for each of the regions based on one of the intraframe prediction signal and the interframe predictive signal generated by the prediction signal generating means and the input video signal; third coding means for coding the prediction error signal for each of the regions to obtain plural coded prediction error signals; code string generating means, which operates during the intraframe predictive coding method, for outputting a code string including a synchronization code, a group of the plural coded coding mode information, and a group of the coded prediction error signals, which are all arranged in this order corresponding to a descending order of importance in decoding; and code string generating means which operates during the interframe predictive coding method, for outputting a code string including a synchronization code, a group of the plural coded coding mode information, a group of the coded motion vectors and a group of the coded prediction error signals, which are all arranged in this order corresponding to a descending order of importance in decoding.

Claim 23

A computer system for video coding, comprising: prediction signal generating means for selecting one of an intraframe predictive coding method and an interframe predictive coding method for coding an input video signal divided into a plurality of regions, to selectively generate an intraframe prediction signal with the intraframe predictive coding method and a set of an interframe prediction signal and a motion vector with the interframe predictive coding method; first coding means for coding coding mode information for each of the regions to indicate one of the intraframe and interframe predictive coding methods and for obtaining plural coded coding mode information; second coding means for coding the motion vector obtained for each of the regions by said prediction signal generating means in the interframe predictive coding method to obtain plural coded motion vectors; prediction error generating means for generating a prediction error signal for each of the regions based on one of the intraframe prediction signal and the interframe predictive signal generated by the prediction signal generating means and the input video signal; third coding means for coding the prediction error signal for each of the regions to obtain plural coded prediction error signals; code string generating means, which operates during the intraframe predictive coding method, for outputting a code string including a synchronization code, a group of the plural coded coding mode information, and a group of the coded prediction error signals, which are all arranged in this order corresponding to a descending order of importance in decoding; and code string generating means which operates during the interframe predictive coding method, for outputting a code string including a synchronization code, a group of the plural coded coding mode information, a group of the coded motion vectors and a group of the coded prediction error signals, which are all arranged in this order corresponding to a descending order of importance in decoding.

Claim 24

A computer system according to claim 19, further comprising: means for displaying an image.

Claim 25

A computer system according to claim 19, further comprising: means for capturing an image corresponding to the input video signal.

Claim 26

A computer system according to claim 19, further comprising: means for storing the code string output by the code string generating means.

Claim 27

A computer system according to claim 19, further comprising: means for transmitting the code string output by the code string generating means.

Claim 28

A computer system for video coding, comprising: a prediction signal generating device configured to select one of an intraframe predictive coding method and an interframe predictive coding method for coding an input video signal divided into a plurality of regions, to selectively generate an intraframe prediction signal with the intraframe predictive coding method and a set of an interframe prediction signal and a motion vector with the interframe predictive coding method; a first coding device configured to code coding mode information for each of the regions to indicate one of the intraframe and interframe predictive coding methods and to obtain plural coded coding mode information; a second coding device configured to code the motion vector obtained for each of the regions by said prediction signal generating device in the interframe predictive coding method to obtain plural coded motion vectors; a prediction error generating device configured to generate a prediction error signal for each of the regions based on one of the intraframe prediction signal and the interframe predictive signal generated by the prediction signal generating device and the input video signal; a third coding device configured to code the prediction error signal for each of the regions to obtain plural coded prediction error signals; and a code string generating device which outputs a code string including a synchronization code, a group of the plural coded coding mode information, and a group of the coded prediction error signals, which are all arranged in this order corresponding to a descending order of importance in decoding.

Claim 29

A computer system for video coding, comprising: a prediction signal generating device configured to select one of an intraframe predictive coding method and an interframe predictive coding method for coding an input video signal divided into a plurality of regions, to selectively generate an intraframe prediction signal with the intraframe predictive coding method and a set of an interframe prediction signal and a motion vector with the interframe predictive coding method; a first coding device configured to code coding mode information for each of the regions to indicate one of the intraframe and interframe predictive coding methods and to obtain plural coded coding mode information; a second coding device configured to code the motion vector obtained for each of the regions by said prediction signal generating device in the interframe predictive coding method to obtain plural coded motion vectors; a prediction error generating device configured to generate a prediction error signal for each of the regions based on one of the intraframe prediction signal and the interframe predictive signal generated by the prediction signal generating device and the input video signal; a third coding device configured to code the prediction error signal for each of the regions to obtain plural coded prediction error signals; and a code string generating device which outputs a code string including a synchronization code, a group of the plural coded coding mode information, and a group of the coded prediction error signals, which are all arranged in this order corresponding to a descending order of importance in decoding.

Claim 30

A computer system according to claim 24, further comprising: a display which displays an image.

Claim 31

A computer system according to claim 24, further comprising: a camera which captures an image corresponding to the input video signal.

Claim 32

A computer system according to claim 24, further comprising: a memory which stores the code string output by the code string generating device.

Claim 33

A computer system according to claim 24, further comprising: a transmitter configured to transmit the code string output by the code string generating device.

Claim 34

A computer system according to claim 28, wherein: the transmitter is a radio frequency transmitter.

Claim 35

A computer system according to claim 29, further comprising: an antenna, connected to the radio frequency transmitter.

Claim 38

A method of encoding using a computer system according to claim 31, further comprising the step of: displaying an image on a display of the computer system.

Claim 39

A method of encoding using a computer system according to claim 31, further comprising the step of: capturing an image corresponding to the input video signal.

Claim 40

A method of encoding using a computer system according to claim 31, further comprising the step of: storing the code string output by the code string generating step.

Claim 41

A method of encoding using a computer system according to claim 31, further comprising the step of: transmitting the code string output by the code string generating step.

Claim 42

A method of encoding using a computer system according to claim 35, wherein the transmitting step comprises: transmitting the code string using radio frequencies.

Claim 43

A computer system for video coding, comprising: prediction signal generating means for selecting one of an intraframe predictive coding method and an interframe predictive coding method for coding an input video signal divided into a plurality of regions, and for selectively generating an intraframe prediction signal with the intraframe predictive coding method and a set of an interframe prediction signal and a motion vector with the interframe predictive coding method; first coding means for coding coding mode information for each of the regions to indicate one of the intraframe and interframe predictive coding method and to obtain plural coded coding mode information; second coding means for coding the motion vector obtained for each of the regions by said prediction signal generating means in the interframe predictive coding method to obtain plural coded motion vectors; prediction error generating means for generating a prediction error signal for each of the regions based on one of the intraframe prediction signal and the interframe predictive signal generated by the prediction signal generating means and the input video signal; third coding means for coding the prediction error signal for each of the regions to obtain plural coded prediction error signals; and code string generating means for outputting a code string including a synchronization code, a group of the plural coded coding mode information, a group of the plural coded motion vectors, and a group of the plural coded prediction error signals, which are all arranged in this order corresponding to a descending order of importance in decoding.

Claim 44

A computer system for video coding, comprising: prediction signal generating means for selecting one of an intraframe predictive coding method and an interframe predictive coding method for coding an input video signal divided into a plurality of regions, and for selectively generating an intraframe prediction signal with the intraframe predictive coding method and a set of an interframe prediction signal and a motion vector with the interframe predictive coding method; first coding means for coding coding mode information for each of the regions to indicate one of the intraframe and interframe predictive coding method and to obtain plural coded coding mode information; second coding means for coding the motion vector obtained for each of the regions by said prediction signal generating means in the interframe predictive coding method to obtain plural coded motion vectors; prediction error generating means for generating a prediction error signal for each of the regions based on one of the intraframe prediction signal and the interframe predictive signal generated by the prediction signal generating means and the input video signal; third coding means for coding the prediction error signal for each of the regions to obtain plural coded prediction error signals; and code string generating means for outputting a code string including a synchronization code, a group of the plural coded coding mode information, a group of the plural coded motion vectors, and a group of the plural coded prediction error signals, which are all arranged in this order corresponding to a descending order of importance in decoding.

Claim 45

A computer system according to claim 37, further comprising: means for displaying an image.

Claim 46

A computer system according to claim 37, further comprising: means for capturing an image corresponding to the input video signal.

Claim 47

A computer system according to claim 37, further comprising: means for storing the code string output by the code string generating means.

Claim 48

A computer system according to claim 37, further comprising: means for transmitting the code string output by the code string generating means.

Claim 49

A computer system for video coding, comprising: a prediction signal generating device configured to select one of an intraframe predictive coding method and an interframe predictive coding method for coding an input video signal divided into a plurality of regions, and to selectively generate an intraframe prediction signal with the intraframe predictive coding method and a set of an interframe prediction signal and a motion vector with the interframe predictive coding method; a first coding device configured to code coding mode information for each of the regions to indicate one of the intraframe and interframe predictive coding method and to obtain plural coded coding mode information; a second coding device configured to code the motion vector obtained for each of the regions by said prediction signal generating device in the interframe predictive coding method to obtain plural coded motion vectors; a prediction error generating device configured to generate a prediction error signal for each of the regions based on one of the intraframe prediction signal and the interframe predictive signal generated by the prediction signal generating device and the input video signal; a third coding device configured to code the prediction error signal for each of the regions to obtain plural coded prediction error signals; and a code string generating device configured to output a code string including a synchronization code, a group of the plural coded coding mode information, a group of the plural coded motion vectors, and a group of the plural coded prediction error signals, which are all arranged in this order corresponding to a descending order of importance in decoding.

Claim 50

A computer system for video coding, comprising: a prediction signal generating device configured to select one of an intraframe predictive coding method and an interframe predictive coding method for coding an input video signal divided into a plurality of regions, and to selectively generate an intraframe prediction signal with the intraframe predictive coding method and a set of an interframe prediction signal and a motion vector with the interframe predictive coding method; a first coding device configured to code coding mode information for each of the regions to indicate one of the intraframe and interframe predictive coding method and to obtain plural coded coding mode information; a second coding device configured to code the motion vector obtained for each of the regions by said prediction signal generating device in the interframe predictive coding method to obtain plural coded motion vectors; a prediction error generating device configured to generate a prediction error signal for each of the regions based on one of the intraframe prediction signal and the interframe predictive signal generated by the prediction signal generating device and the input video signal; a third coding device configured to code the prediction error signal for each of the regions to obtain plural coded prediction error signals; and a code string generating device configured to output a code string including a synchronization code, a group of the plural coded coding mode information, a group of the plural coded motion vectors, and a group of the plural coded prediction error signals, which are all arranged in this order corresponding to a descending order of importance in decoding.

Claim 51

A computer system according to claim 42, further comprising: a display which displays an image.

Claim 52

A computer system according to claim 42, further comprising: a camera which captures an image corresponding to the input video signal.

Claim 53

A computer system according to claim 42, further comprising: a memory which stores the code string output by the code string generating device.

Claim 54

A computer system according to claim 42, further comprising: a transmitter configured to transmit the code string output by the code string generating device.

Claim 55

A computer system according to claim 42, wherein: the transmitter is a radio frequency transmitter.

Claim 56

A computer system according to claim 47, further comprising: an antenna, connected to the radio frequency transmitter.

Claim 59

A method of encoding using a computer system according to claim 49, further comprising the step of: displaying an image on a display of the computer system.

Claim 60

A method of encoding using a computer system according to claim 49, further comprising the step of: capturing an image corresponding to the input video signal.

Claim 61

A method of encoding using a computer system according to claim 49, further comprising the step of: storing the code string output by the code string generating step.

Claim 62

A method of encoding using a computer system according to claim 49, further comprising the step of: transmitting the code string output by the code string generating step.

Claim 63

A method of encoding using a computer system according to claim 53, wherein the transmitting step comprises: transmitting the code string using radio frequencies.

Claim 64

A computer system for video coding, comprising: prediction signal generating means for generating prediction signals for coding an input video signal divided into a plurality of regions; first coding means for coding coding mode information for each of the regions to obtain plural coded coding mode information which represent coding methods for each of the regions; prediction error generating means for generating a prediction error signal for each of the regions based on the prediction signal generated by the prediction signal generating means and the input video signal; DCT coefficient obtaining means for obtaining a DCT coefficient of the prediction error signal for each of the regions; second coding means for coding the DCT coefficients for each of the regions to obtain plural coded DCT coefficient; and code string generating means for outputting a code string including a synchronization code, a group of the plural coded coding mode information, a group of a DC component of the coded DCT coefficients of the prediction error signal, and a group of AC components of the coded DCT coefficients of the prediction error signal, which are all arranged in this order corresponding to a descending order of importance in decoding.

Claim 65

A computer system for video coding, comprising: prediction signal generating means for generating prediction signals for coding an input video signal divided into a plurality of regions; first coding means for coding coding mode information for each of the regions to obtain plural coded coding mode information which represent coding methods for each of the regions; prediction error generating means for generating a prediction error signal for each of the regions based on the prediction signal generated by the prediction signal generating means and the input video signal; DCT coefficient obtaining means for obtaining a DCT coefficient of the prediction error signal for each of the regions; second coding means for coding the DCT coefficients for each of the regions to obtain plural coded DCT coefficient; and code string generating means for outputting a code string including a synchronization code, a group of the plural coded coding mode information, a group of a DC component of the coded DCT coefficients of the prediction error signal, and a group of AC components of the coded DCT coefficients of the prediction error signal, which are all arranged in this order corresponding to a descending order of importance in decoding.

Claim 66

The computer system according to claim 55, wherein the DC component of the coded DCT coefficients is INTRA DC obtained by intra-coding the input video signal divided into a plurality of regions.

Claim 67

A computer system for video coding, comprising: a prediction signal generating device configured to generate prediction signals for coding an input video signal divided into a plurality of regions; a first coding device configured to code coding mode information for each of the regions to obtain plural coded coding mode information which represent coding methods for each of the regions; a prediction error generating device configured to generate a prediction error signal for each of the regions based on the prediction signal generated by the prediction signal generating device and the input video signal; a DCT coefficient obtaining device configured to obtain a DCT coefficient of the prediction error signal for each of the regions; a second coding device configured to code the DCT coefficients for each of the regions to obtain plural coded DCT coefficient; and a code string generating device configured to output a code string including a synchronization code, a group of the plural coded coding mode information, a group of a DC component of the coded DCT coefficients of the prediction error signal, and a group of AC components of the coded DCT coefficients of the prediction error signal, which are all arranged in this order corresponding to a descending order of importance in decoding.

Claim 68

A computer system for video coding, comprising: a prediction signal generating device configured to generate prediction signals for coding an input video signal divided into a plurality of regions; a first coding device configured to code coding mode information for each of the regions to obtain plural coded coding mode information which represent coding methods for each of the regions; a prediction error generating device configured to generate a prediction error signal for each of the regions based on the prediction signal generated by the prediction signal generating device and the input video signal; a DCT coefficient obtaining device configured to obtain a DCT coefficient of the prediction error signal for each of the regions; a second coding device configured to code the DCT coefficients for each of the regions to obtain plural coded DCT coefficient; and a code string generating device configured to output a code string including a synchronization code, a group of the plural coded coding mode information, a group of a DC component of the coded DCT coefficients of the prediction error signal, and a group of AC components of the coded DCT coefficients of the prediction error signal, which are all arranged in this order corresponding to a descending order of importance in decoding.

Claim 69

The computer system according to claim 57, wherein the DC component of the coded DCT coefficients is INTRA DC obtained by intra-coding the input video signal divided into a plurality of regions.

Claim 72

The method according to claim 59, wherein the DC component of the coded DCT coefficients is INTRA DC obtained by intra-coding the input video signal divided into a plurality of regions.