Patent ID: 7474841

Claim:
An image processing apparatus for processing video coded stream data in which a field picture sequence is generated by converting moving image data having a predetermined frames per 1 second by alternately generating 2-field picture data and 3-field picture data from respective frames of said moving image data and adding phase information of fields in respective pictures of the converted moving image data, comprising: first detection means for detecting the phase information of picture data at a rear end of an already-recorded first video coded stream; second detection means for detecting the phase information of picture data at a head of a second video coded stream to be recorded following said first video coded stream; determination means for determining whether or not the phase information detected by said second detection means indicates next phase of the phase information detected by said first detection means; generation means for, if said determination means determines that the phase information detected by said second detection means does not indicate the next phase of the phase information detected by said first detection means, generating a dummy stream to maintain periodicity of the phase information between said first and second video coded streams detected by said first and second detection means, where said dummy stream has combination of 2-field picture data and 3-field picture data obtained from one-field picture to cover shortfall difference between the phases detected by said first and second detection means and the length of said dummy stream is from one picture to three pictures; and recording means for, if said determination means determines that the phase information detected by said second detection means indicates the next phase of the phase information detected by said first detection means, recording the second video coded stream to a storage medium so as to link the second video coded stream to the rear end of the first video coded stream, while, if said determination means determines that the phase information detected by said second detection means does not indicate the next phase of the phase information detected by said first detection means, recording said dummy stream generated by said generation means to the storage medium, so as to insert said dummy stream between the rear end of said first video coded stream and the head of said second video coded stream.