Patent ID: 6414972
Filing Date: 2002-07-02
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A signal decoding method which decodes multiplexed signals obtained by multiplexing coded signals of plural pieces of respective information constituting a composed image, the multiplexed signals to be recorded or transmitted, comprising the steps of:a priority order detecting step for obtaining priority information corresponding to the respective information from the multiplexed signals; and a decoding step for decoding the coded signals of the plural pieces of the respective information included in the multiplexed signals on the basis of the obtained priority information, wherein the decoding step includes a selecting step for selecting a predetermined number of the respective information in a composed image, the coded signals of the predetermined number of the respective information being decodable within a predetermined period by a decoding apparatus to which the multiplexed signals are input and which has a prescribed processing ability, according to the order of priorities indicated by the priority information, and a signal decoding step for decoding the coded signals corresponding to more than one piece of the respective information selected at the selecting step.