Patent ID: 8798167

Claim:
An encoding apparatus, comprising: means for generating at least one group of encoded data including a plurality of encoded data frames to be decoded in a predetermined order; means for determining a first delay time period between a time that a first of the encoded data frames to be decoded is stored in a means for storing the encoded data frames at said encoding apparatus to a time that the first of the encoded data frames is to be read from said means for storing; means for determining a second delay time period between a time that the first of the encoded data frames is to be stored to said means for storing at said encoding apparatus to a time that a decoder of a decoding destination is to read the first of the encoded data frames from a means for storing encoded data at said decoding destination and decode the first of the encoded data frames; means for reading the encoded data frames from said means for storing; means for transmitting the encoded data frames and the determined second delay time period to said decoding destination; means for suspending transmission of all of the encoded data frames and the determined second delay time period for a predetermined suspension period; and means for resuming transmission of all of the of the encoded data frames and the determined second delay time period after the predetermined suspension period, wherein said means for determining a second delay time period determines the second delay time period based on a time at which said means for reading reads the first of the encoded data frames from said means for storing at said encoding apparatus, as a reference timing.