Patent ID: 7154949
Filing Date: 2006-12-26
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A picture coding device, for encoding a picture, comprising: orthogonal transform means for orthogonally transforming the picture and outputting orthogonal transform coefficients; quantizing means for quantizing the orthogonal transform coefficients by a predetermined quantizing step, wherein said quantizing means sets the quantizing step on the basis of a first variable for making the occurrence code of coded data obtained by encoding the picture with a predetermined target code amount, and a second variable corresponding to the complexity of the picture, the first variable being set to a fixed value during the coding of the picture of one frame; and prediction means for predicting an occurrence code amount when a picture to be next coded is coded by changing the first variable, wherein the first variable is changed on the basis of the occurrence code amount which is predicted by said prediction means, wherein said prediction means predicts the occurrence code amount on the assumption that the complexity of a picture which is currently encoded is identical to the complexity of a picture to be next encoded; and wherein said first variable corresponds to the occurrence code amount as data accumulated by a buffer, and said second variable corresponds to macroblock activity.