Video coding and video decoding apparatus

• US 7,298,911 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2006
• Issued: 11/20/2007
• 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:
  US11/432,434
• Publication Number:
  US 20060204112A1
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 382/232, 382/233, 382/238, 382/243, 382/248, 382/239, 382/236, 375/240.18, 348/14.01, 348/14.08, 386/111, 235/456, 235/449, 347/248, 347/249
• US Class Current: 382/233
• 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 video decoding apparatus comprising:

a divider unit configured to divide encoded video data corresponding to a rectangular region containing an object into a plurality of macro blocks, each macro block of the macro blocks having M×

N pixels, where M indicates the number of pixels included in a row array, and N indicates the number of pixels included in a column array;

a decoder configured to decode the encoded video data for each of the blocks by scanning each macro block in a horizontal direction or a vertical direction; and

a switching device configured to switch a scanning direction between the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, wherein

the encoded video data includes scanning direction information, and

the switching device is configured to switch the scanning direction in accordance with the scanning direction information.

2. A video decoding apparatus comprising:

a divider unit configured to divide encoded video data corresponding to a rectangular region containing an object into a plurality of macro blocks, each of the macro blocks having M×

N pixels, where M indicates the number of pixels included in a row array, and N indicates the number of pixels included in a column array; and

a decoder configured to decode the encoded video data for each of the macro blocks by scanning each of the macro blocks in a scanning direction which is adaptively switched between a horizontal direction and a vertical direction in units of macro blocks, wherein

the encoded video data includes scanning direction information, and

the decoder is configured to switch the scanning direction in accordance with the scanning direction information.

3. A video decoding apparatus for decoding encoded video data corresponding to a video frame including an object and divided into a plurality of macro blocks, comprising:

a decoder configured to decode the encoded video data for each of the macro blocks by scanning each of the macro blocks in a scanning direction which is adaptively switched between a horizontal direction and a vertical direction in units of macro blocks, wherein

the encoded video data includes scanning direction information, and

the decoder is configured to switch the scanning direction in accordance with the scanning direction information.

4. A video encoding apparatus for encoding a video signal corresponding to a video frame including an object and divided into a plurality of macro blocks, comprising:

means for encoding a macro block of the plurality of macro blocks by scanning the macro block in a horizontal direction or a vertical direction to generate encoded video data; and

means for switching a scanning direction between the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, wherein

the encoded video data includes scanning direction information, and

the switching means switches the scanning direction in accordance with the scanning direction information.

5. A video decoding apparatus comprising:

means for dividing encoded video data corresponding to a rectangular region containing an object into a plurality of macro blocks, each of the macro blocks having M×

N pixels, where M indicates the number of pixels included in a row array, and N indicates the number of pixels included in a column array; and

means for decoding the encoded video data for each of the macro blocks by scanning each of the macro blocks in a scanning direction which is adaptively switched between a horizontal direction and a vertical direction in units of macro blocks, wherein

the encoded video data includes scanning direction information, and

the decoding means switches the scanning direction in accordance with the scanning direction information.

6. A video decoding apparatus for decoding encoded video data corresponding to a video frame including an object and divided into a plurality of macro blocks, comprising:

means for decoding the encoded video data for each of the macro blocks by scanning each of the macro blocks in a scanning direction which is adaptively switched between a horizontal direction and a vertical direction in units of macro blocks, wherein

the encoded video data includes scanning direction information, and

the decoding means switches the scanning direction in accordance with the scanning direction information.

7. A video decoding method comprising:

dividing encoded video data corresponding to a rectangular region containing an object into a plurality of macro blocks, each macro block of the macro blocks having M×

N pixels, where M indicates the number of pixels included in a row array, and N indicates the number of pixels included in a column array;

decoding the encoded video data for each of the macro blocks by scanning the macro block in a horizontal direction or a vertical direction; and

switching a scanning direction between the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, wherein

the encoded video data includes scanning direction information, and

the switching step switches the scanning direction in accordance with the scanning direction information.

8. A video decoding method comprising:

dividing encoded video data corresponding to a rectangular region containing an object into a plurality of macro blocks, each of the macro blocks having M×

N pixels, where M indicates the number of pixels included in a row array, and N indicates the number of pixels included in a column array; and

decoding the encoded video data for each of the macro blocks by scanning each of the macro blocks in a scanning direction which is adaptively switched between a horizontal direction and a vertical direction in units of macro blocks, wherein

the encoded video data includes scanning direction information, and

the decoding includes switching the scanning direction in accordance with the scanning direction information.

9. A video decoding method for decoding encoded video data corresponding to a video frame including an object and divided into a plurality of macro blocks, comprising:

decoding the encoded video data for each of the macro blocks by scanning each of the macro blocks in a scanning direction which is adaptively switched between a horizontal direction and a vertical direction in units of macro blocks, wherein

the encoded video data includes scanning direction information, and

the decoding includes switching the scanning direction in accordance with the scanning direction information.