Patent ID: 6766061
Filing Date: 2004-07-20
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A digital image coding apparatus comprising:resolution conversion means for converting an input image signal having an arbitrary shaped object and comprising plural pixels, to generate first and second input image signals having different temporal resolution; a first coding unit for coding the first input image signal; and a second coding unit for coding the second input image signal having different temporal resolution from that of the first input image signal; wherein the first coding unit includes: first coding means for performing coding processing to each of unit regions into which the first input image is divided, in which coding processing the first input image signal is compressively coded to generate a compressed first image signal, and the compressed first image signal is decompressed to generate a first regenerative image signal; and padding means for performing padding processing in which insignificant pixel values are replaced with pseudo pixel values obtained by a specified method, to the first regenerative image signal corresponding to each unit region; and the second coding unit includes: prediction signal generating means for generating a prediction signal for the second input image signal corresponding to each unit region; and second coding means for performing difference coding processing to each of unit regions into which the second input image is divided, in which difference coding processing a difference signal between the second input image signal corresponding to each unit region and the prediction signal is compressively coded to generate a compressed difference signal, and the compressed difference signal is decompressed to generate a decompressed difference signal, and the prediction signal and the decompressed difference signal are added to generate a second regenerative image signal; wherein the prediction signal generating means comprises: first prediction signal generating means for generating a first prediction signal for the second input image signal corresponding to each unit region on the basis of the first regenerative image signal which has been subjected to the padding processing; second prediction signal generating means for generating a second prediction signal for the second input image signal corresponding to each unit region on the basis of the second regenerative image signal; selecting means for selecting the first prediction signal generating means or the second prediction signal generating means on the basis of a control information; and outputting means for outputting the first prediction signal or the second prediction signal for the second input image signal corresponding to each unit region as the prediction signal, according to the selected means selected by the selecting means.