Patent ID: 6400768
Filing Date: 2002-06-04
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A picture encoding apparatus for encoding a picture and outputting an encoded bitstream obtained as a result of encoding said picture comprising:a hierarchy forming means for converting a sequence of objects composing said picture into a hierarchy comprising two or more hierarchical layers; a first encoding means for encoding a first hierarchical layer of said sequence of objects output by said hierarchy forming means by dividing said first hierarchical layer into a plurality of groups; and a second encoding means for encoding a second hierarchical layer of said sequence of objects output by said hierarchy forming means by dividing said second hierarchical layer into a plurality of groups in such a way that an object at said second hierarchical layer to be displayed at a time coinciding with or immediately after a display time of an object first displayed in a group pertaining to said first hierarchical layer is first displayed in a group pertaining to said second hierarchical layer.