Patent ID: 8681864

Claim:
A video coding apparatus comprising: a plurality of coding units to perform compression coding of a single source stream of video data by using different coding parameters; a selection decision unit to make a selection of one of coded video data outputs encoded by the coding units on a basis of coding results of the coding units, for each picture group formed from a fixed number of successive pictures including at least one intraframe coded picture; a selection unit to selectively output one of the coded video data outputs from the coding units according to the selection made by the selection decision unit; and a control unit to cause the coding units to perform the compression coding in such a way that all the coding units produce respective interframe coded pictures with identical playback times as a first-coded picture in a picture group and produce identical local decoded pictures based on the respective intraframe coded pictures; wherein the selection unit sets an output switching point at which the coded video data output of one coding unit is switched to the coded video data output of another coding unit, the output switching point being immediately before a forward interframe predictive coded picture that appears first of those in a picture group included in each of the coded video data outputs being switched.