US5886794A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Picture encoding apparatus
Assignee: Sony Corp
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Filing: 1997-10-22
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Granted: 1999-03-23
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Expires: 2017-10-22
Abstract
Abstract A picture encoding apparatus and the method in which the quantization step width of the lower hierarchy data having a resolution higher than that of the upper hierarchy data is determined for each predetermined block of respective hierarchy data based on the quantization step width determined by the upper hierarchy data having a low resolution, so that the additional code indicating the characteristics of quantizer can be omitted thereby the compression efficiency can be improved and the deterioration of picture quality can be reduced when picture data is hierarchical-encoded.
Inventors
- 👤 Tetsujiro Kondo
- 👤 Yasuhiro Fujimori
- 👤 Kunio Kawaguchi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 10:34
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N19/00; H04N19/90; H04N19/98; H04N19/30; H04N19/10; H04N19/102; H04N19/115; H04N19/134; H04N19/146; H04N19/60; H04N19/61; H04N19/63
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
A picture encoding apparatus for encoding inputted picture data to generate a plurality of layers of hierarchy data having a plurality of resolutions which are recursively different, comprising: first determining means for determining quantization characteristics which include at least one of a quantization step width and a quantization bit number for low hierarchy data having a resolution higher than that of upper hierarchy data which has a low resolution based on the activity of said upper hierarchy data; second determining means for determining quantization characteristics which include at least one of a quantization step width and a quantization bit number for only uppermost hierarchy data having the lowest resolution by using the pixel value of the pixel to be quantized of the uppermost hierarchy data and a number of pixel values around the pixel to be quantized; and quantizing means for quantizing each of the hierarchy data in accordance with said determined quantization characteristics of each hierarchy.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
A picture encoding apparatus for encoding inputted picture data to generate a plurality of layers of hierarchy data having a plurality of resolutions which are recursively different, comprising: first determining means for determining quantization characteristics which include at least one of a quantization step width and a quantization bit number for low hierarchy data having a resolution higher than that of upper hierarchy data which has a low resolution based on the activity of said upper hierarchy data; second determining means for determining quantization characteristics which include at least one of a quantization step width and a quantization bit number for only uppermost hierarchy data having the lowest resolution by using the pixel value of the pixel to be quantized of the uppermost hierarchy data and a number of pixel values around the pixel to be quantized; and quantizing means for quantizing each of the hierarchy data in accordance with said determined quantization characteristics of each hierarchy.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The picture encoding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: said quantizing means comprises first quantizing means for quantizing said low hierarchy data in accordance with the first quantization characteristics, and second quantizing means for quantizing said uppermost hierarchy data in accordance with the second quantization characteristics.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The picture encoding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said second determining means determines the quantization step width by calculating the pixel value of the pixel to be quantized of said uppermost hierarchy data and the pixel value of four pixels adjacent to the pixel to be quantized in horizontal and vertical directions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The picture encoding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said second determining means determines the quantization step width by calculating the pixel value of the pixel to be quantized of said uppermost hierarchy data and the pixel value of eight pixels adjacent to the pixel to be quantized.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The picture encoding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said first determining means determines, for each block of hierarchy data, the quantization step width for said low hierarchy data based on the quantization step width of said upper hierarchy data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The picture encoding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each hierarchy data excepting data at the uppermost hierarchy is a hierarchy difference data which is a difference between the hierarchy data and the upper hierarchy data.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
94 words
The picture encoding apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising means for generating upper hierarchy data having a low resolution from the low hierarchy data having a high resolution wherein: said generating means calculates, for each block of hierarchy data, the average of n pixel values (where n is an integer) in a block to generate the upper hierarchy data; and the upper hierarchy data being the average and the low hierarchy data being the pixels having the number of n-1 in a block corresponding to the average are output as the encoded data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The picture encoding apparatus according to claim 7, wherein each hierarchy data excepting data at the uppermost hierarchy is a hierarchy difference data which is a difference between the hierarchy data and the upper hierarchy data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
157 words
A picture transmitting method for encoding inputted picture data to generate a plurality of layers of hierarchy data having a plurality of resolutions which are recursively different, comprising: first determining step of determining quantization characteristics which include at least one of a quantization step width and a quantization bit number for low hierarchy data having a resolution higher than that of upper hierarchy data which has a low resolution based on the activity of said upper hierarchy data; second determining step of determining quantization characteristics which include at least one of a quantization step width and a quantization bit number for only uppermost hierarchy data having the lowest resolution by using the pixel value of the pixel to be quantized of the uppermost hierarchy data and a number of pixel values around the pixel to be quantized; and quantizing step of quantizing each of the hierarchy data in accordance with said determined quantization characteristics of each hierarchy.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
157 words
A picture transmitting method for encoding inputted picture data to generate a plurality of layers of hierarchy data having a plurality of resolutions which are recursively different, comprising: first determining step of determining quantization characteristics which include at least one of a quantization step width and a quantization bit number for low hierarchy data having a resolution higher than that of upper hierarchy data which has a low resolution based on the activity of said upper hierarchy data; second determining step of determining quantization characteristics which include at least one of a quantization step width and a quantization bit number for only uppermost hierarchy data having the lowest resolution by using the pixel value of the pixel to be quantized of the uppermost hierarchy data and a number of pixel values around the pixel to be quantized; and quantizing step of quantizing each of the hierarchy data in accordance with said determined quantization characteristics of each hierarchy.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
The picture transmitting method according to claim 9, wherein: said quantizing step comprises a first quantizing step of quantizing said low hierarchy data in accordance with the first quantization characteristics, and a second quantizing step of quantizing said uppermost hierarchy data in accordance with the second quantization characteristics.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
The picture transmitting method according to claim 10, wherein said second determining step determines the quantization step width by calculating the pixel value of the pixel to be quantized of said uppermost hierarchy data and the pixel value of four pixels adjacent to the pixel to be quantized in horizontal and vertical directions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
The picture transmitting method according to claim 10, wherein said second determining step determines the quantization step width by calculating the pixel value of the pixel to be quantized of said uppermost hierarchy data and the pixel value of eight pixels adjacent to the pixel to be quantized.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The picture transmitting method according to claim 10, wherein said first determining step determines, for each block of hierarchy data, the quantization step width for said low hierarchy data based on the quantization step width of said upper hierarchy data.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The picture transmitting method according to claim 10, wherein each hierarchy data excepting data at the uppermost hierarchy is a hierarchy difference data which is a difference between the hierarchy data and the upper hierarchy data.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
97 words
The picture transmitting method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of generating upper hierarchy data having a low resolution from the low hierarchy data having a high resolution wherein: said generating step calculates, for each block of hierarchy data, the average of n pixel values (where n is an integer) in a block to generate the upper hierarchy data; and said transmitting step transmits the upper hierarchy data being the average and the low hierarchy data being the pixels having the number of n-1 in a block corresponding to the average as the encoded data.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
The picture transmitting method according to claim 15, wherein each hierarchy data excepting data at the uppermost hierarchy is a hierarchy difference data which is a difference between the hierarchy data and the upper hierarchy data.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
160 words
A picture encoding method for encoding inputted picture data to generate a plurality of layers of hierarchy data having a plurality of resolutions which are recursively different, comprising: a first determining step of determining quantization characteristics which include at least one of a quantization step width and a quantization bit number for low hierarchy data having a resolution higher than that of upper hierarchy data which has a low resolution based on the activity of said upper hierarchy data; a second determining step of determining quantization characteristics which include at least one of a quantization step width and a quantization bit number for only uppermost hierarchy data having the lowest resolution by using the pixel value of the pixel to be quantized of the uppermost hierarchy data and a number of pixel values around the pixel to be quantized; and a quantizing step of quantizing each of the hierarchy data in accordance with said determined quantization characteristics of each hierarchy.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
160 words
A picture encoding method for encoding inputted picture data to generate a plurality of layers of hierarchy data having a plurality of resolutions which are recursively different, comprising: a first determining step of determining quantization characteristics which include at least one of a quantization step width and a quantization bit number for low hierarchy data having a resolution higher than that of upper hierarchy data which has a low resolution based on the activity of said upper hierarchy data; a second determining step of determining quantization characteristics which include at least one of a quantization step width and a quantization bit number for only uppermost hierarchy data having the lowest resolution by using the pixel value of the pixel to be quantized of the uppermost hierarchy data and a number of pixel values around the pixel to be quantized; and a quantizing step of quantizing each of the hierarchy data in accordance with said determined quantization characteristics of each hierarchy.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
48 words
The picture encoding method according to claim 17, wherein: said quantizing step comprises a first quantizing step of quantizing said low hierarchy data in accordance with the first quantization characteristics, and a second quantizing step of quantizing said uppermost hierarchy data in accordance with the second quantization characteristics.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
53 words
The picture encoding method according to claim 18, wherein said second determining step determines the quantization step width by calculating the pixel value of the pixel to be quantized of said uppermost hierarchy data and the pixel value of four pixels adjacent to the pixel to be quantized in horizontal and vertical directions.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
48 words
The picture encoding method according to claim 18, wherein said second determining step determines the quantization step width by calculating the pixel value of the pixel to be quantized of said uppermost hierarchy data and the pixel value of eight pixels adjacent to the pixel to be quantized.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
The picture encoding method according to claim 18, wherein said first determining step determines, for each block of hierarchy data, the quantization step width for said low hierarchy data based on the quantization step width of said upper hierarchy data.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
The picture encoding method according to claim 18, wherein each hierarchy data excepting data at the uppermost hierarchy is a hierarchy difference data which is a difference between the hierarchy data and the upper hierarchy data.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
95 words
The picture encoding method according to claim 18, further comprising the step for generating upper hierarchy data having a low resolution from the low hierarchy data having a high resolution wherein: said generating step calculates, for each block of hierarchy data, the average of n pixel values (where n is an integer) in a block to generate the upper hierarchy data; and the upper hierarchy data being the average and the low hierarchy data being the pixels having the number of n-1 in a block corresponding to the average are output as the encoded data.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
The picture encoding method according to claim 23, wherein each hierarchy data excepting data at the uppermost hierarchy is a hierarchy difference data which is a difference between the hierarchy data and upper hierarchy data.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-03-22 | 2002-09-21 | 2003-03-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-03-22 | 2006-09-21 | 2007-03-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-03-22 | 2010-09-21 | 2011-03-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |