Video coding and video decoding apparatus

• US 7,031,532 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2004
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• 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): Do, Anh Hong
• Application Number:
  US10/972,415
• Publication Number:
  US 20050084159A1
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 348/445, 348/584, 348/558, 348/469, 348/390.1, 348/413.1, 375/240.25, 382/248, 382/232, 382/299
• 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 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, 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 picture encoding apparatus comprising:

an object region detector configured 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 configured to detect 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 and a position of the rectangular object region and a size thereof;

an encoder configured to encode the binary picture signal of the rectangular object region and the position and size of the rectangular object region, and configured to output coded binary picture data and coded position/size data; and

a multiplexer configured to multiplex the coded binary picture data and the coded position/size data.

2. The picture coding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the encoder is configured to encode an address of a corner of the object region and dimensions thereof in horizontal and vertical directions.

3. The picture coding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the object region includes a plurality of blocks, each of which is a processing unit for encoding.

4. The picture coding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the object region includes an integral number of blocks, each of which is a processing unit for encoding.

5. A picture encoding apparatus comprising:

a signal receiver configured 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;

an object region detector configured to detect 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 and a position of the rectangular object region and a size thereof;

an encoder configured to encode the alpha-map signal of the rectangular object region and the position and size of the rectangular object region, and configured to output coded alpha-map data and coded position/size data; and

a multiplexer configured to multiplex the coded alpha-map data and the coded position/size data.

6. The picture coding apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the encoder is configured to encode an address of a corner of the object region and dimensions thereof in horizontal and vertical directions.

7. The picture coding apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the object region includes a plurality of blocks, each of which is a processing unit for encoding.

8. The picture coding apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the object region includes an integral number of blocks, each of which is a processing unit for encoding.

9. A picture encoding apparatus comprising:

a signal receiver configured 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;

an object region detector configured to detect 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 and a position of the rectangular object region and a size thereof;

an encoder configured to encode the binary picture signal of the rectangular object region and the position and size of the rectangular object region, and configured to output coded binary picture data and coded position/size data; and

a multiplexer configured to multiplex the coded binary picture data and the coded position/size data.

10. The picture coding apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the encoder is configured to encode an address of a corner of the object region and dimensions thereof in horizontal and vertical directions.

11. The picture coding apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the object region includes a plurality of blocks, each of which is a processing unit for encoding.

12. The picture coding apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the object region includes an integral number of blocks, each of which is a processing unit for encoding.

13. A picture encoding apparatus for encoding an alpha-map signal for discriminating between an object and a background surrounding the object, comprising:

an object region detector configured to detect a rectangular object region containing the object and a part of the background surrounding the object from a whole picture including the object and the background, and configured to obtain an alpha-map signal of the rectangular object region and a position of the rectangular object region and a size thereof, 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;

an encoder configured to encode the alpha-map signal of the rectangular object region and the position and size of the rectangular object region, and configured to output coded alpha-map data and coded position/size data; and

a multiplexer configured to multiplex the coded alpha-map data and the coded position/size data.

14. The picture coding apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the encoder is configured to encode an address of a corner of the object region and dimensions thereof in horizontal and vertical directions.

15. The picture coding apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the object region includes a plurality of blocks, each of which is a processing unit for encoding.

16. The picture coding apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the object region includes an integral number of blocks, each of which is a processing unit for encoding.

17. The picture coding apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the object region includes an integral number of blocks, each of which is a processing unit for encoding.

18. A picture encoding apparatus for encoding a binary picture signal for discriminating between an object and a background surrounding the object, comprising:

an object region detector configured to detect a rectangular object region containing the object and a part of the background surrounding the object from a whole picture including the object and the background, and configured to obtain a binary picture signal of the rectangular object region and a position of the rectangular object region and a size thereof, 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;

an encoder configured to encode the binary picture signal of the rectangular object region and the position and size of the rectangular object region, and configured to output coded binary picture data and coded position/size data; and

a multiplexer configured to multiplex the coded binary picture data and the coded position/size data.

19. The picture coding apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the encoder is configured to encode an address of a corner of the object region and dimensions thereof in horizontal and vertical directions.

20. The picture coding apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the object region includes a plurality of blocks, each of which is a processing unit for encoding.