Video coding and video decoding apparatus

• US 6,307,967 B1
• Filed: 08/08/2000
• Issued: 10/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Toshiaki, Ida, Takashi, Yamaguchi, Noboru, Kuratate, Takaaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Couso, Jose L.
• Application Number:
  US09/634,737
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: 382/232, 382/233, 382/234, 382/235, 382/236, 382/238, 382/239, 382/240, 382/241, 382/242, 382/243, 382/244, 358/432, 358/433, 358/261.3, 348/389, 348/390, 348/409, 348/423, 348/424, 348/425, 348/441, 348/442, 348/445, 348/578, 348/580, 348/581
• US Class Current: 382/232
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/40 Scaling of whole images or parts thereof, e.g. expanding or contracting
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 9/20 Contour coding, e.g. using detection of edges
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/21 with binary alpha-plane coding for video objects, e.g. context-based arithmetic encoding [CAE]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/29 involving scalability at the object level, e.g. video object layer [VOL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/59 involving spatial sub-sampling or interpolation, e.g. alteration of picture size or resolution

Abstract

A video encoding apparatus is provided with a resolution converting section, an encoding section, and a transmitting section. The resolution converting section enlarges or reduces a binary picture which represents the shape of an object. The encoding section encodes a binary picture reduced by the resolution converting section. The reduction ratio used by the resolution converting section is encoded, and the transmitting section transmits this encoded reduction ratio along with encoded data on the binary picture. The amount of encoded data produced from the encoding section is controlled by changing the enlargement/reduction ratio used by the resolution converting section.

Claims

1. A computer system for video decoding, comprising:

means for demultiplexing coded data into coded alpha map data and coded position/size data; and

means for decoding the coded alpha-map data into an alpha-map signal of a rectangular object region in accordance with the coded position/size data, the rectangular object region containing an object and a part of a background surrounding the object.

2. The computer system according to claim 1, further comprising means for displaying a whole picture.

3. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the alpha-map signal includes information for discriminating between the object and the background in accordance with a binary “

0”

or “

1”

.

4. The computer system according to claim 1, further comprising means for storing the coded alpha-map data and the coded position/size data.

5. The computer system according to claim 1, further comprising means for receiving the coded alpha-map data and the coded position/size data.

6. A computer system for video decoding, comprising:

means for demultiplexing coded data into coded binary picture data and coded position/size data; and

means for decoding the coded binary picture data into a binary picture signal of a rectangular object region in accordance with the coded position/size data, the rectangular object region containing an object and a part of a background surrounding the object.

7. The computer system according to claim 6, wherein the binary picture signal includes information for discriminating between the object and the background in accordance with a binary “

0”

or “

1”

.

8. The computer system according to claim 6, further comprising means for storing the coded binary picture data and the coded position/size data.

9. The computer system according to claim 6, further comprising means for receiving the coded binary picture data and the coded position/size data.

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

10. A method of decoding video using a computer system, comprising the steps of:

demultiplexing coded data into coded alpha-map data and coded position/size data; and

decoding the coded alpha-map data into an alpha-map signal of a rectangular object region in accordance with the coded position/size data, the rectangular object region containing an object and a part of a background surrounding the object.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the alpha map signal includes information for discriminating between the object and the background in accordance with a binary “

0”

or “

1”

.

12. A method of decoding video using a computer system, comprising the steps of:

demultiplexing coded data into coded binary picture data and coded position/size data; and

decoding the coded binary picture data into a binary picture signal of a rectangular object region in accordance with the coded position/size data, the rectangular object region containing an object and a part of a background surrounding the object.

13. The computer system according to claim 12, wherein the binary picture signal includes information for discriminating between the object and the background in accordance with a binary “

0”

or “

1”

.

14. A computer system for video decoding, comprising:

a demultiplexing section which demultiplexes coded data into coded alpha-map data and coded position/size data; and

a decoding section which decodes the coded alpha-map data into an alpha-map signal of a rectangular object region in accordance with the coded position/size data, the rectangular object region containing an object and a part of a background surrounding the object.

15. The computer system according to claim 14, further comprising a display which displays a whole picture.

16. The computer system according to claim 14, wherein the alpha-map signal includes information for discriminating between the object and the background in accordance with a binary “

0”

or “

1”

.

18. The computer system according to claim 14, further comprising a memory which stores a code string including the coded alpha-map data and coded position/size data.

19. The computer system according to claim 14, further comprising a receiver configured to receive a code string including the coded alpha map data and coded position/size data.

20. The computer system according to claim 19, wherein said receiver is a radio frequency receiver.

21. The computer system according to claim 20, further comprising an antenna connected to said radio frequency receiver.

22. A computer system for video decoding, comprising:

a demultiplexing section which demultiplexes coded data into coded binary picture data and coded position/size data; and

a decoding section which decodes the coded binary picture data into a binary picture signal of a rectangular object region in accordance with the coded position/size data, the rectangular object region containing an object and a part of a background surrounding the object.

23. The computer system according to claim 22, wherein the binary picture signal includes information for discriminating between the object and the background in accordance with a binary “

0”

or “

1”

.

25. The computer system according to claim 22, further comprising a memory which stores a code string including the coded binary picture data and coded position/size data.

26. The computer system according to claim 22, further comprising a receiver configured to receive a code string including the coded binary picture data and coded position/size data.

27. The computer system according to claim 26, wherein said receiver is a radio frequency receiver.

28. The computer system according to claim 27, further comprising an antenna connected to said radio frequency receiver.

24. The computer system according to clam 22, further comprising a display which displays an image.