Patent ID: 8331703
Filing Date: 2012-12-11
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An image encoding apparatus configured to encode image data comprising a sequence of unencoded blocks of pixels into a sequence of encoded blocks of pixels in a predetermined image encoding format, wherein each encoded block of pixels has a characteristic encoding value representative of its corresponding unencoded block of pixels, and wherein a plurality of dependently encoded blocks of pixels in said sequence each have a dependent characteristic encoding value which is defined with reference to the characteristic encoding value for a preceding encoded block of pixels, the image encoding apparatus comprising: a first encoding unit configured to perform an encoding process on a first group of said unencoded blocks of pixels and a second encoding unit configured to perform said encoding process on a second group of said unencoded blocks of pixels, wherein said encoding process generates an encoded block of pixels in said predetermined image encoding format, wherein said second group immediately follows said first group and a first block of said second group is comprised in said plurality of dependently encoded blocks of pixels, wherein said first encoding unit and said second encoding unit are configured to perform said encoding process in parallel on respective unencoded blocks of pixels in said first group and in said second group on a block-by-block basis, and wherein said image encoding apparatus is configured to perform a characteristic encoding value determination operation to determine said characteristic encoding value for a last block of pixels in said first group, before determining said dependent characteristic encoding value for said first block of said second group.