Patent Document ID: 9083982
Application ID: 12917192
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. An image combining and encoding method, comprising: combining a current image and a previous image at a predetermined composition ratio on a per block basis, and generating a composite image; sequentially encoding moving pictures of the composite image generated in the combining; setting a threshold value needed for sequentially determining, on a predetermined per block basis, whether or not the current image contains motion against the previous image; previously detecting motion contained in the current image against the previous image before the current and the previous images are combined in the combining; and based on a result of a comparison between the detection result of the previously detecting and the threshold value, determining to combine the current and the previous images when the detection result of the previously detecting is equal to or greater than the threshold value, and determining not to combine the current and the previous images when the detection result of the previously detecting is less than the threshold value, wherein a reference image generated in the encoding is used as the previous image in the combining, if it is determined, in the determining, that combining is to be performed, the current and the previous images are combined at the predetermined composition ratio in the combining, while if it is determined that combining is not to be performed, the current and the previous images are not combined, but the current image is used as a target image for encoding in the encoding.