Patent ID: 6535556
Filing Date: 2003-03-18
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
An image encoding apparatus, comprising:coding means for compressing an input image data per picture by means of coding method according to picture type; occupancy rate calculating means for calculating the data occupancy rate of a virtual buffer corresponding to the input buffer in an image decoding apparatus for expanding an image data compressed by said coding means when coding of one picture is complete by said coding means; coding difficulty calculating means for calculating the degree of coding difficulty of a picture succeeding the picture already coded by the coding means; and picture skip controlling means for coding an object picture being coded as the picture formed by skip macro blocks in the case where the data occupancy rate being calculated by said occupancy rate calculating means is smaller than a fixed data occupancy rate judging threshold value and the degree of coding difficulty being calculated by said coding difficulty calculating means agrees with a specified standard when coding of one picture is complete by said coding means.