Video coding and video decoding apparatus according to a reduction ratio setting information signal

• US 6,339,620 B1
• Filed: 11/28/2000
• Issued: 01/15/2002
• 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): LEE, Y YOUNG
• Application Number:
  US09/722,816
• Time in Patent Office: 413 Days
• Field of Search: 375/240.01, 375/240.02, 375/240.08, 375/240.12, 375/240.18, 375/240.26
• US Class Current: 375/240.26
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/40 Scaling of whole images or parts thereof, e.g. expanding or contracting
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/4023 based on decimating pixels or lines of pixels; based on inserting pixels or lines of pixels
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/20 using video object coding
• 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, land 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 medium storing a program for causing a computer to encode pictures, said program including:

instruction means for instructing the computer to reduce an input picture signal to obtain a reduced picture signal and control an amount of generated codes of the picture signal by changing a resolution conversion according to a reduction ratio setting information signal and indicating a conversion ratio of 1, 1/2 or 1/4, the picture signal indicating information for discriminating a picture between an object region and a background region;

instruction means for instructing the computer to encode the reduced picture signal in accordance with the reduction ratio setting information signal to obtain coded picture data;

instruction means for instructing the computer to multiplex the coded picture data and the reduction ratio setting information signal to obtain a multiplexed signal; and

instruction means for instructing the computer to receive the reduced picture signal and the reduction ratio setting information signal and output a local decoded signal which has been enlarged by an amount which inversely corresponds to the reduction ratio setting information signal indicating the conversion ratio of 1, 1/2 or 1/4.

2. A computer readable medium according to claim 1, wherein the instruction means for instructing the computer to reduce an input picture signal includes instruction means for instructing the computer to reduce an alpha map signal as the input picture signal, to obtain a reduced alpha map signal.

3. A computer readable medium according to claim 1, wherein the instruction means for instructing the computer to reduce an input picture signal includes instruction means for instructing the computer to reduce a binary signal as the input picture signal, to obtain a reduced alpha map signal.