Patent ID: 6104756
Filing Date: 2000-08-15
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A sound-picture synchronous compression device comprising:sound compression means for compressing sound information;picture compression means for compressing picture information;control means for controlling the sound compression means and the picture compression means in such a way that the sound information and the picture information are respectively compressed in a synchronized manner; andtransmission means for transmitting compressed sound information and compressed picture information, said transmission means including means for holding the compressed sound information until the compressed sound information is transmitted,wherein the control means further comprises:picture compression instruction means for designating a prescribed amount of picture information in a picture compression instruction that is supplied to the picture compression means;calculation means, which is activated after the picture compression means performs picture compression on the prescribed amount of picture information in response to the picture compression instruction, for making a decision as to whether an untransmitted amount of the compressed sound information is less than a prescribed threshold value and, if so, the calculation means calculates an amount of sound information that will need to be additionally compressed to make the resulting untransmitted amount of the compressed sound information greater than the prescribed threshold value;sound compression instruction means for designating the calculated amount of sound information in a sound compression instruction that is supplied to the sound compression means; andmeans for instructing the picture compression means to continue the picture compression.