Patent ID: 8069048

Claim:
A scalable encoding apparatus comprising: a scalable encoder to encode a base layer, a first enhancement layer, and a second enhancement layer in a frame having the base layer; and an encoding frame generator to generate an encoded frame by synthesizing the encoded results, wherein the base layer comprises higher bits among bits by which data belonging to a low frequency band of the frame is represented, the second enhancement layer comprises lower bits other than the higher bits among bits by which data belonging to the low frequency band of the frame is represented, the first enhancement layer comprises lower bits other than the higher bits among bits by which data belonging to a high frequency band of the frame is represented, a division direction of the second enhancement layer is determined on a basis of a distribution pattern of data belonging to the second enhancement layer, and the second enhancement layer is divided into a plurality of layers according to the determined division direction, and wherein the determined division direction is a horizontal direction or a vertical direction.