Encoding apparatus and method and computer readable recording medium in which encoding program has been recorded

• US 6,333,950 B1
• Filed: 04/16/1998
• Issued: 12/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Karasawa, Katsumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley, Chris
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHILIPPE, GIMS S
• Application Number:
  US09/061,230
• Time in Patent Office: 1,349 Days
• Field of Search: 348/423, 348/465, 348/584, 348/426, 348/432, 348/484, 348/423.1, 348/467, 348/411, 370/474, 370/522, 382/246, 375/240.14, 375/240.22, 375/240.23
• US Class Current: 375/240.23
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2368 Multiplexing of audio and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4341 Demultiplexing of audio and video streams

Abstract

In an encoding apparatus/method first information data which was variable length encoded is inputted, the first information data is variable length packetized by a plurality of data trains, second information data concerning the first information data is generated, and the variable length packetized first information data and the generated second information data are multiplexed to a plurality of packets of a fixed length. A packet length of the variable length packetized information train is detected, and a multiplexing process to the packets of the fixed length is controlled in accordance with the detection result. A computer readable recording medium contains an encoding program to execute the above processes.

Claims

1. An encoding apparatus comprising:

a) input means for inputting first information data which was variable length encoded;

b) first packetizing means for variable length packetizing said first information data;

c) generating means for generating second information data concerning said first information data;

d) second packetizing means for multiplexing said first information data which was variable length packetized by said first packetizing means and said second information data generated by said generating means to a plurality of packets of a fixed length;

e) counting means for counting an elapsed time required for the multiplexing of said second information data;

f) detecting means for detecting a packet length of an information train which was variable length packetized by said first packetizing means; and

g) control means for controlling a multiplexing processing of said second packetizing means to select adaptively the packet of fixed length according to an output of said counting means and an output of said detecting means and multiplex said second information data and the selected packet of fixed length.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second information data is transmission sync information.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when a count value of said counting means exceeds a predetermined value, said control means controls so as to preferentially multiplex said second information data.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in the case where the first packet data which was variable length packetized by said first packetizing means is multiplexed to said packets of fixed length, when said first packet data is less than a predetermined amount of data, said second information data is multiplexed to said same packets of the fixed length as said first packet data.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first information data is image data and said image data has been encoded according to the MPEG system.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said input means includes image pickup means for photographing an object image.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means multiplexes dummy data for stuffing in accordance with an output of said detecting means.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said control means multiplexes dummy data for stuffing in accordance with an output of said counting means.

18. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said second information data is a program clock reference.

9. An encoding apparatus comprising:

a) input means for inputting first information data which was variable length encoded;

b) first packetizing means for variable length packetizing said first information data;

c) generating means for generating second information data concerning said first information data;

d) second packetizing means for multiplexing said first information data which was variable length packetized by said first packetizing means and said second information data generated by said generating means to a plurality of packets of a fixed length;

e) detecting means for detecting a packet length of an information train which was variable length packetized by said first packetizing means; and

f) control means for controlling, in accordance with an output of said detecting means, whether or not said second information data is to be multiplexed to each of the packets of fixed length,

wherein said control means controls a multiplexing processing of said second packetizing means so as to select adaptively the packet of fixed length according to the output of said detecting means and multiplex said second information data and the selected packet of fixed length.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said second information data is transmission sync information.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said first information data is image data and said image data has been encoded according to the MPEG system.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said input means includes image pickup means for photographing an object image.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said control means multiplexes dummy data for stuffing in accordance with an output of said detecting means.

19. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said second information data is a program clock reference.

14. An encoding method comprising:

a) an input step of inputting first information data which was variable length encoded;

b) a first packetizing step of variable length packetizing said first information data;

c) a generating step of generating second information data concerning said first information data;

d) a second packetizing step of multiplexing said first information data which was variable length packetized in said first packetizing step and said second information data generated in said generating step to a plurality of packets of a fixed length;

e) a counting step of counting an elapsed time required for the multiplexing of said second information data;

f) a detecting step of detecting a packet length of an information train which was variable length packetized in said first packetizing step; and

g) a control step of controlling multiplexing processing in said second packetizing step to select adaptively the packet of fixed length according to a result of said counting step and a result of said detecting step and multiplex said second information data and the selected packet of fixed length.

20. A method according to claim 14, wherein said first information data is image data and the image data has been encoded according to an MPEG system, and said second information data is a program clock reference.

15. An encoding method comprising:

a) an input step of inputting first information data which was variable length encoded;

b) a first packetizing step of variable length packetizing said first information data;

c) a generating step of generating second information data concerning said first information data;

d) a second packetizing step of multiplexing said first information data which was variable length packetized in said first packetizing step and said second information data generated in said generating step to a plurality of packets of a fixed length;

e) a detecting step of detecting a packet length of an information train which was variable length packetized in said first packetizing step; and

f) a control step of controlling, in accordance with a result of said detecting step, whether or not said second information data is to be multiplexed to each of the packets of a fixed length,

wherein said control step includes a step of controlling a multiplexing processing in said second packetizing step so as to select adaptively the packet of fixed length according to the result of said detecting step and multiplex said second information data and the selected packet of fixed length.

21. A method according to claim 15, wherein said first information data is image data and the image data has been encoded according to an MPEG system, and said second information data is a program clock reference.

16. A computer readable recording medium in which an encoding program has been recorded, wherein said encoding program has:

a) a code of an input step of inputting first information data which was variable length encoded;

b) a code of a first packetizing step of variable length packetizing said first information data;

c) a code of a generating step of generating second information data concerning said first information data;

d) a code of a second packetizing step of multiplexing said first information data which was variable length packetized in said first packetizing step and said second information data generated by said generating step to a plurality of packets of a fixed length;

e) a code of a counting step of counting an elapsed time required for the multiplexing of said second information data;

f) a code of a detecting step of detecting a packet length of an information train which was variable length packetized in said first packetizing step; and

g) a code of a control step of controlling the multiplexing process in said second packetizing step to select adaptively the packet of fixed length according to a result of said counting step and a result of said detecting step and multiplex said second information data and the selected packet of fixed length.

22. A computer readable recording medium according to claim 16, wherein said first information data is image data and the image data has been encoded according to an MPEG system, and the second information data is a program clock reference.

17. A computer readable recording medium in which an encoding program has been recorded, wherein said encoding program has:

a) a code of an input step of inputting first information data which was variable length encoded;

b) a code of a first packetizing step of variable length packetizing said first information data by a plurality of data trains;

c) a code of a generating step of generating second information data concerning said first information data;

d) a code of a second packetizing step of multiplexing said first information data which was variable length packetized in said first packetizing step and said second information data generated in said generating step to a plurality of packets of a fixed length;

e) a code of a detecting step of detecting a packet length of an information train which was variable length packetized by said first packetizing step; and

f) a code of a control step of controlling a timing of the multiplexing process of said second information data in said second packetizing step in accordance with a result of said detecting step, whether or not the second information is to be multiplexed to each of the packets of fixed length,

wherein said control step includes a step of controlling a multiplexing processing in said second packetizing step so as to select adaptively the packet of fixed length according to the result of said detecting step and multiplex said second information data and the selected packet of fixed length.

23. A computer readable recording medium according to claim 17, wherein said first information data is image data and the image data has been encoded according to an MPEG system, and said second information data is a program clock reference.