Video coding and video decoding apparatus

• US 6,330,364 B1
• Filed: 08/09/2000
• Issued: 12/11/2001
• 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:
  US09/635,335
• Time in Patent Office: 489 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, 348/409, 348/423, 348/424, 348/425, 348/441, 348/442, 348/445, 348/578, 348/580, 348/581, 348/384, 348/390, 358/432, 358/433, 358/261.3
• 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 readable storage medium in which a computer program is stored, the computer program comprising:

means for instructing a computer to receive an alpha-map signal of a whole picture including an object and a background surrounding the object, the alpha-map signal discriminating between the object and the background in accordance with information representing whether a value of the alpha-map signal is 0 and detecting a rectangular object region containing the object and a part of the background surrounding the object, from the whole picture, to obtain an alpha-map signal of the rectangular object region, a position of the rectangular object region, and a size of the rectangular object region;

means for instructing the computer to encode the alpha-map signal of the rectangular object region and the position and size of the rectangular object region to output coded alpha-map data and coded position/size data; and

means for instructing the computer to multiplex the coded alpha-map data and the coded position/size data.

2. The storage medium according to claim 1, further comprising means for instructing the computer to display the whole picture on a display of the computer.

3. The storage medium according to claim 1, further comprising means for instructing the computer to capture an image corresponding to the whole picture by an image sensor connected to a computer system.

4. A computer readable storage medium in which a computer program is stored, the computer program comprising:

means for instructing a computer to receive a binary picture signal of a whole picture including an object and a background surrounding the object, the binary picture signal discriminating between the object and the background in accordance with information representing whether a value of the binary picture signal is 0, and detecting a rectangular object region containing the object and a part of the background surrounding the object, from the whole picture, to obtain a binary picture signal of the rectangular object region, a position of the rectangular object region, and a size of the rectangular object region;

means for instructing the computer to encode the binary picture signal of the rectangular object region and the position and a size of the rectangular object region to output coded binary picture data and coded position/size data; and

means for instructing the computer to multiplex the coded binary data and the coded position/size data.

5. The storage medium according to claim 4, further comprising means for instructing the computer to display the whole picture.

6. The storage medium according to claim 4, further comprising means for instructing the computer to capture an image corresponding to the whole picture.

7. A computer readable storage medium in which a computer program is stored, the computer program comprising:

means for instructing a computer to demultiplex coded data into coded alpha-map data and coded position/size data; and

means for instructing the computer to decode 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.

8. The storage medium according to claim 7, further comprising means for instructing the computer to display the whole picture.

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

0”

or “

1”

.

10. A computer readable storage medium in which a computer program is stored, the computer program comprising:

means for instructing a computer to demultiplex coded data into coded binary picture data and coded position/size data;

means for instructing the computer to decode 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.

11. The storage medium according to claim 10, further comprising means for instructing the computer to display a whole picture.

12. The computer system according to claim 10, wherein the binary picture signal includes information for discriminating between the object and the background in accordance with a binary “

0”

or “

1”

.