Patent ID: 7680345
Filing Date: 2010-03-16
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An image encoding apparatus which receives image data and encodes the image data, comprising: first encoding means for lossily encoding input image data for each predetermined pixel block in accordance with a first parameter to generate lossily encoded data; second encoding means for losslessly encoding input image data for the predetermined pixel block to generate losslessly encoded data; first storage means for storing, of the encoded data generated by said first encoding means and said second encoding means, one of two encoded data determined based on an encode length in a predetermined first memory; second storage means for storing the losslessly encoded data generated by said second encoding means in a predetermined second memory; re-encoding means for decoding the losslessly encoded data in the second memory, re-encoding the decoded data in accordance with a second parameter to generate lossily encoded data, and storing, of the lossily encoded data obtained by re-encoding and the losslessly encoded data before re-encoding, one of two encoded data determined based on an encode length in the first memory; monitoring means for monitoring an encoded data amount in the first memory and determining whether the encoded data amount has exceeded a predetermined data amount; and parameter update means for, when said monitoring means determines that the encoded data amount has exceeded the predetermined data amount, (a) discarding the encoded data in the first memory, (b) updating the first parameter set for said first encoding means to a parameter having a high compression ratio, and causing said first encoding means to continue encoding of the image data, and (c) setting, as the second parameter, the same parameter as the updated first parameter for said re-encoding means, and causing said re-encoding means to re-encode losslessly encoded data obtained before the encoded data amount exceeds the predetermined data amount.