Patent ID: 6347117
Filing Date: 2002-02-12
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
An image encoding apparatus for executing a processing as a first coding processing which intra-codes a first image of a predetermined picture unit assigned as the first image coding type from among video signals, for executing a processing as a second coding processing which directionally predictive codes a second image of a predetermined picture unit assigned as the second image coding type from among said video signals, and for executing a processing as a third coding processing which bidirectionally predictive codes a third image of a predetermined picture unit assigned as the third image coding type from among said video signals, and transmitting said coded video signals to the image decoding apparatus, said image encoding apparatus comprising:image coding type judging means for judging image coding type of object image to be coded; coding means for executing said first, second or third coding processing based on the output of said image coding type judging means; and coding control means for controlling said coding means to calculate the code generation volume of said coded image, and based on this calculation, to stop said first, second or third coding processing being executed at present in the case of the volume of codes generated that the data occupancy rate in a virtual buffer corresponding to the input buffer of said image decoding apparatus is smaller than the first, second or third threshold value corresponding to said first, second or third image currently being coded from among the first, second and third threshold values of said data occupancy rate set corresponding to said first, second and third coded images.