U.S. patent application number 11/135044 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-08 for bit stream separating and merging system, apparatus, method and computer program product.
Invention is credited to Hanamura, Tsuyoshi, Kasai, Hiroyuki, Nagayoshi, Isao, Tominaga, Hideyoshi.
Application Number | 20050271140 11/135044 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18830660 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050271140 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hanamura, Tsuyoshi ; et
al. |
December 8, 2005 |
Bit stream separating and merging system, apparatus, method and
computer program product
Abstract
Herein disclosed is a multiple-output bit stream separating
apparatus for inputting an original MPEG-2 bit stream to separate
into a plurality of transcoded MPEG-2 bit streams and a plurality
of differential bit streams, and a multiple-output bit stream
merging apparatus for inputting the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream
and the differential bit streams to reconstruct the original MPEG-2
bit stream. The bit rate of the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream and
the differential bit streams thus multiple times separated are much
lower than that of the original MPEG-2 bit stream. This leads to
the fact that the multiple-output bit stream separating apparatus
and the multiple-input bit stream merging apparatus can promptly
and reliably transmit and receive an original MPEG-2 bit stream
having a large bit rate by transmitting and receiving a plurality
of transcoded MPEG-2 bit streams and a plurality of differential
bit streams in place of the original MPEG-2 bit stream.
Inventors: |
Hanamura, Tsuyoshi; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Nagayoshi, Isao; (Tokyo, JP) ; Kasai,
Hiroyuki; (Tokyo, JP) ; Tominaga, Hideyoshi;
(Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
RATNERPRESTIA
P.O. BOX 1596
WILMINGTON
DE
19899
US
|
Family ID: |
18830660 |
Appl. No.: |
11/135044 |
Filed: |
May 23, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11135044 |
May 23, 2005 |
|
|
|
09995465 |
Nov 27, 2001 |
|
|
|
6901109 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
375/240.12 ;
375/240.24; 375/E7.022; 375/E7.023; 375/E7.092; 375/E7.129;
375/E7.134; 375/E7.159; 375/E7.172; 375/E7.176; 375/E7.177;
375/E7.18; 375/E7.186; 375/E7.198; 375/E7.211; 375/E7.216;
375/E7.268 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 19/187 20141101;
H04N 19/36 20141101; H04N 21/234327 20130101; H04N 19/176 20141101;
H04N 19/40 20141101; H04N 19/61 20141101; H04N 19/174 20141101;
H04N 21/2662 20130101; H04N 19/46 20141101; H04N 21/6379 20130101;
H04N 19/15 20141101; H04N 19/152 20141101; H04N 19/115 20141101;
H04N 19/18 20141101; H04N 19/162 20141101; H04N 19/126
20141101 |
Class at
Publication: |
375/240.12 ;
375/240.24 |
International
Class: |
H04N 007/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 27, 2000 |
JP |
2000-358821 |
Claims
1-25. (canceled)
26. A multi-output coded signal separating apparatus for inputting
a first coded moving picture sequence signal to separate into a
plurality of second coded moving picture sequence signals and a
plurality of differential coded moving picture sequence signals
comprising: a plurality of coded signal separating units including
a 1st coded signal separating unit up to a m-th coded signal
separating unit wherein m is an integer not less than two; said 1st
coded signal separating unit being operative to input said first
coded moving picture sequence signal to separate into a 1st second
coded moving picture sequence signal and a 1st differential coded
moving picture sequence signal, said 1st differential coded moving
picture sequence signal being a difference between said first coded
moving picture sequence signal and said 1st second coded moving
picture sequence signal, and said i-th coded signal separating unit
being operative to input an (i-1)-th second coded moving picture
sequence signal to separate into an i-th second coded moving
picture sequence signal and an i-th differential coded moving
picture sequence signal, said i-th differential coded moving
picture sequence signal being a difference between said (i-1)-th
second coded moving picture sequence signal and said i-th second
coded moving picture sequence signal wherein i is an integer equal
to or less than m, whereby said 1st coded signal separating unit
includes: 1st inputting means for inputting said first coded moving
picture sequence signal therethrough, said first coded moving
picture sequence signal generated as a result of encoding original
moving picture sequence signal and consisting of a series of first
picture information having first coefficient information, said
first coefficient information including a matrix of first
coefficients; 1st coded signal converting means for converting said
first coded moving picture sequence signal inputted through said
1st inputting means to generate a 1st second coded moving picture
sequence signal, said 1st second coded moving picture sequence
signal consisting of a series of 1st second picture information
having 1st second coefficient information, said 1st second
coefficient information including a matrix of 1st second
coefficients, each of said first coded moving picture sequence
signal, and said 1st second coded moving picture sequence signal is
in the form of a hierarchical structure including one or more
sequence layers each having a plurality of screens sharing common
information, one or more picture layers each having a plurality of
slices sharing common information with respect to one of said
screens, one or more slice layers each having a plurality of
macroblocks with respect to one of said slices, one or more
macroblock layers each having a plurality of blocks with respect to
one of said macroblocks, and one or more block layers each having
block information with respect to one of said blocks; 1st
differential coded signal generating means for inputting said first
coded moving picture sequence signal and said 1st second coded
moving picture sequence signal from said 1st coded signal
converting means to generate a 1st differential coded moving
picture sequence signal on the basis of said first coefficient
information obtained from said series of first picture information
of said first coded moving picture sequence signal, and said 1st
second coefficient information obtained from said series of said
1st second picture information of said 1st second coded moving
picture sequence signal, said 1st differential coded moving picture
sequence signal being a difference between said first coded moving
picture sequence signal and said 1st second coded moving picture
sequence signal; 1st separating storage means for selectively
storing said first coded moving picture sequence signal, said 1st
second coded moving picture sequence signal, and said 1st
differential coded moving picture sequence signal; 1st first
transmission means for selectively transmitting said first coded
moving picture sequence signal, said 1st second coded moving
picture sequence signal, and said 1st differential coded moving
picture sequence signal; 1st request signal receiving means for
receiving a request signal indicative of a requested coded moving
picture sequence signal to be transmitted, said request signal
indicative of said requested coded moving picture sequence signal
being determined on the basis of said first coded moving picture
sequence signal, said 1st second coded moving picture sequence
signal, or said 1st differential coded moving picture sequence
signal; 1st separating coded signal extracting means for extracting
said requested coded moving picture sequence signal from said 1st
separating storage means in response to said request signal; and
1st second transmission means for transmitting said requested coded
moving picture sequence signal extracted by said 1st separating
coded signal extracting means, and said i-th coded signal
separating unit includes: i-th inputting means for inputting said
(i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence signal therethrough
from said (i-1)-th coded signal separating unit, said (i-1)-th
second coded moving picture sequence signal generated as a result
of encoding original moving picture sequence signal and consisting
of a series of (i-1)-th second picture information having (i-1)-th
second coefficient information, said (i-1)-th second coefficient
information including a matrix of (i-1)-th second coefficients;
i-th coded signal converting means for converting said (i-1)-th
second coded moving picture sequence signal inputted through said
i-th inputting means to generate said i-th second coded moving
picture sequence signal, said i-th second coded moving picture
sequence signal consisting of a series of i-th second picture
information having i-th second coefficient information, said i-th
second coefficient information including a matrix of i-th second
coefficients, each of said (i-1)-th second coded moving picture
sequence signal, and said i-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal is in the form of a hierarchical structure including one or
more sequence layers each having a plurality of screens sharing
common information, one or more picture layers each having a
plurality of slices sharing common information with respect to one
of said screens, one or more slice layers each having a plurality
of macroblocks with respect to one of said slices, one or more
macroblock layers each having a plurality of blocks with respect to
one of said macroblocks, and one or more block layers each having
block information with respect to one of said blocks; i-th
differential coded signal generating means for inputting said
(i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence signal and said i-th
second coded moving picture sequence signal from said i-th coded
signal converting means to generate an i-th differential coded
moving picture sequence signal on the basis of said (i-1)-th second
coefficient information obtained from said series of (i-1)-th
second picture information of said (i-1)-th second coded moving
picture sequence signal, and said i-th second coefficient
information obtained from said series of said i-th second picture
information of said i-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal, said i-th differential coded moving picture sequence signal
being a difference between said (i-1)-th second coded moving
picture sequence signal and said i-th second coded moving picture
sequence signal; i-th separating storage means for selectively
storing said (i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence signal,
said i-th second coded moving picture sequence signal, and said
i-th differential coded moving picture sequence signal; i-th first
transmission means for selectively transmitting said (i-1)-th
second coded moving picture sequence signal, said i-th second coded
moving picture sequence signal, and said i-th differential coded
moving picture sequence signal; i-th request signal receiving means
for receiving a request signal indicative of a requested coded
moving picture sequence signal to be transmitted, said request
signal indicative of said requested coded moving picture sequence
signal being determined on the basis of said (i-1)-th second coded
moving picture sequence signal, said i-th second coded moving
picture sequence signal, or said i-th differential coded moving
picture sequence signal; i-th separating coded signal extracting
means for extracting said requested coded moving picture sequence
signal from said i-th separating storage means in response to said
request signal; and i-th second transmission means for transmitting
said requested coded moving picture sequence signal extracted by
said i-th separating coded signal extracting means.
27. A multi-input coded signal merging apparatus for inputting a
plurality of second coded moving picture sequence signals and a
plurality of differential coded moving picture sequence signals to
reconstruct a first coded moving picture sequence signal
comprising: a plurality of said coded signal merging units
including a 1st coded signal merging unit up to a m-th coded signal
merging unit wherein n is an integer not less than two, said i-th
coded signal merging unit being operative to input a i-th second
coded moving picture sequence signal and a i-th differential coded
moving picture sequence signal to reconstruct an (i-1)-th second
coded moving picture sequence signal wherein i is an integer equal
to or less than n, said i-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal generated as a result of transcoding said (i-1)-th second
coded moving picture sequence signal and consisting of a series of
i-th second picture information having i-th second coefficient
information, said i-th second coefficient information including a
matrix of i-th second coefficients, said (i-1)-th second coded
moving picture sequence signal generated as a result of encoding
original moving picture sequence signal and consisting of a series
of (i-1)-th second picture information having (i-1)-th second
coefficient information, said (i-1)-th second coefficient
information including a matrix of (i-1)-th second coefficients,
said i-th differential coded moving picture sequence signal being a
difference between said i-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal and said (i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal, said i-th differential coded moving picture sequence signal
including i-th differential coefficient information between said
i-th second coefficient information and said (i-1)-th second
coefficient information, each of said i-th second coded moving
picture sequence signal, said (i-1)-th second coded moving picture
sequence signal, and said i-th differential coded moving picture
sequence signal is in the form of a hierarchical structure
including one or more sequence layers each having a plurality of
screens sharing common information, one or more picture layers each
having a plurality of slices sharing common information with
respect to one of said screens, one or more slice layers each
having a plurality of macroblocks with respect to one of said
slices, one or more macroblock layers each having a plurality of
blocks with respect to one of said macroblocks, and one or more
block layers each having block information with respect to one of
said blocks, and said 1st coded signal merging unit being operative
to input said 1st second coded moving picture sequence signal and
said 1st differential coded moving picture sequence signal to
reconstruct said first coded moving picture sequence signal,
whereby said i-th coded signal merging unit includes: i-th first
receiving means for receiving a base coded moving picture sequence
signal, said base coded moving picture sequence signal being any
one of said i-th second coded moving picture sequence signal, said
(i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence signal, and said i-th
differential coded moving picture sequence signal; i-th merging
storage means for storing said base coded moving picture sequence
signal received by said i-th first receiving means; i-th request
signal determining means for determining a request signal for a
requested coded moving picture sequence signal on the basis of said
base coded moving picture sequence signal stored by said i-th
merging storage means; i-th request signal transmission means for
transmitting said request signal for said requested coded moving
picture sequence signal determined by said i-th request signal
determining means; i-th second receiving means for receiving said
requested coded moving picture sequence signal; i-th merging coded
signal extracting means for extracting said base coded moving
picture sequence signal from said i-th merging storage means; i-th
merging means for merging said base coded moving picture sequence
signal extracted by said i-th merging coded signal extracting means
with said requested coded moving picture sequence signal received
by said i-th second receiving means to reconstruct said (i-1)-th
second coded moving picture sequence signal on the basis of i-th
said second coefficient information obtained from said series of
i-th second picture information of said i-th second coded moving
picture sequence signal, and said i-th differential coefficient
information obtained from said i-th differential coded signal; and
i-th outputting means for inputting said reconstructed i-th second
coded moving picture sequence signal from said i-th merging means
to be outputted therethrough, said 1st coded signal merging unit
includes: 1st first receiving means for receiving a base coded
moving picture sequence signal, said base coded moving picture
sequence signal being any one of said first coded moving picture
sequence signal, said 1st second coded moving picture sequence
signal, and said 1st differential coded moving picture sequence
signal; 1st merging storage means for storing said base coded
moving picture sequence signal received by said 1st first receiving
means; 1st request signal determining means for determining a
request signal for a requested coded moving picture sequence signal
on the basis of said base coded moving picture sequence signal
stored by said 1st merging storage means; 1st request signal
transmission means for transmitting said request signal for said
requested coded moving picture sequence signal determined by said
1st request signal determining means; 1st second receiving means
for receiving said requested coded moving picture sequence signal;
1st merging coded signal extracting means for extracting said base
coded moving picture sequence signal from said 1st merging storage
means; 1st merging means for merging said base coded moving picture
sequence signal extracted by said 1st merging coded signal
extracting means with said requested coded moving picture sequence
signal received by said 1st second receiving means to reconstruct
said first coded moving picture sequence signal on the basis of
said 1st second coefficient information obtained from said series
of second picture information of said 1st second coded moving
picture sequence signal, and said 1st differential coefficient
information obtained from said 1st differential coded signal; and
1st outputting means for inputting said reconstructed first coded
moving picture sequence signal from said 1st merging means to be
outputted therethrough.
28. A multi-output coded signal separating apparatus as set forth
in claim 26, in said i-th coded signal separating units said i-th
separating storage means is operative to store said (i-1)-th
differential coded moving picture sequence signal generated by said
i-th differential coded signal generating means, said i-th first
transmission means is operative to transmit said (i-1)-th second
coded moving picture sequence signal generated by said i-th coded
signal converting means, said i-th request signal receiving means
is operative to receive said request signal indicative of a
requested (i-1)-th differential coded moving picture sequence
signal to be transmitted, said request signal indicative of said
requested (i-1)-th differential coded moving picture sequence
signal being determined on the basis of said (i-1)-th second coded
moving picture sequence signal, said i-th separating coded signal
extracting means is operative to extract said requested (i-1)-th
differential coded moving picture sequence signal from said i-th
separating storage means in response to said request signal, and
said i-th second transmission means is operative to transmit said
requested (i-1)-th differential coded moving picture sequence
signal extracted by said i-th separating coded signal extracting
means whereby said multi-output coded signal separating apparatus
is operative to input a first coded moving picture sequence signal
to separate into a plurality of second coded moving picture
sequence signals and a plurality of differential coded moving
picture sequence signals.
29. A multi-input coded signal merging apparatus as set forth in
claim 27, in said i-th coded signal merging unit, said i-th first
receiving means is operative to receive said i-th second coded
moving picture sequence signal, said i-th merging storage means is
operative to store said i-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal received by said i-th first receiving means, said i-th
request signal determining means is operative to determine a
request signal for a requested differential coded moving picture
sequence signal on the basis of said i-th second coded moving
picture sequence signal stored by said i-th merging storage means,
said i-th request signal transmission means is operative to
transmit said request signal for said requested differential coded
moving picture sequence signal determined by said i-th request
signal determining means, said i-th second receiving means is
operative to receive said requested differential coded moving
picture sequence signal, said i-th merging coded signal extracting
means is operative to extract said i-th second coded moving picture
sequence signal from said i-th merging storage means, and said i-th
merging means is operative to merge said i-th second coded moving
picture sequence signal extracted by said i-th merging coded signal
extracting means with said requested differential coded moving
picture sequence signal received by said i-th second receiving
means to reconstruct said (i-1)-th second coded moving picture
sequence signal wherein said 0-th second coded moving picture
sequence signal is said first coded moving picture sequence
signal.
30. A coded signal separating and merging system comprising: a
multi-output coded signal separating apparatus for inputting a
first coded moving picture sequence signal to separate into a
plurality of second coded moving picture sequence signals and a
plurality of differential coded moving picture sequence signals;
and a multi-input coded signal merging apparatus for inputting a
plurality of second coded moving picture sequence signals and a
plurality of differential coded moving picture sequence signals to
reconstruct said first coded moving picture sequence signal, said
multi-output coded signal separating apparatus including: a
plurality of coded signal separating units including a 1st coded
signal separating unit up to a m-th coded signal separating unit
wherein m is an integer not less than two; said multi-input coded
signal merging apparatus including: a plurality of coded signal
merging units including a 1st coded signal merging unit up to a
m-th coded signal merging unit wherein n is an integer not less
than two and equal to or less than said m, said i-th coded signal
separating unit including: i-th inputting means for inputting an
(i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence signal therethrough
from said (i-1)-th coded signal separating unit, said (i-1)-th
second coded moving picture sequence signal generated as a result
of encoding original moving picture sequence signal and consisting
of a series of (i-1)-th second picture information having (i-1)-th
second coefficient information, said (i-1)-th second coefficient
information including a matrix of (i-1)-th second coefficients
wherein i is an integer equal to or less than m, and 0-th second
coded moving picture sequence signal is said first coded moving
picture sequence signal; i-th coded signal converting means for
converting said (i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal inputted through said i-th inputting means to generate an
i-th second coded moving picture sequence signal, said i-th second
coded moving picture sequence signal consisting of a series of i-th
second picture information having i-th second coefficient
information, said i-th second coefficient information including a
matrix of second coefficients, each of said (i-1)-th second coded
moving picture sequence signal, and said i-th second coded moving
picture sequence signal is in the form of a hierarchical structure
including one or more sequence layers each having a plurality of
screens sharing common information, one or more picture layers each
having a plurality of slices sharing common information with
respect to one of said screens, one or more slice layers each
having a plurality of macroblocks with respect to one of said
slices, one or more macroblock layers each having a plurality of
blocks with respect to one of said macroblocks, and one or more
block layers each having block information with respect to one of
said blocks; i-th differential coded signal generating means for
inputting said (i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence signal
and said i-th second coded moving picture sequence signal from said
i-th coded signal converting means to generate an i-th differential
coded moving picture sequence signal on the basis of said (i-1)-th
second coefficient information obtained from said series of
(i-1)-th second picture information of said (i-1)-th second coded
moving picture sequence signal, and said i-th second coefficient
information obtained from said series of said i-th second picture
information of said i-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal, said i-th differential coded moving picture sequence signal
being a difference between said (i-1)-th second coded moving
picture sequence signal and said i-th second coded moving picture
sequence signal; i-th separating storage means for selectively
storing said (i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence signal,
said i-th second coded moving picture sequence signal, and said
i-th differential coded moving picture sequence signal; and i-th
first transmission means for selectively transmitting said (i-1)-th
second coded moving picture sequence signal, said i-th second coded
moving picture sequence signal, and said i-th differential coded
moving picture sequence signal to said i-th coded signal merging
unit; said i-th coded signal merging unit including: i-th first
receiving means for receiving a base coded moving picture sequence
signal from said i-th coded signal separating unit or said (i+1)-th
coded signal merging unit (6200i+1), said base coded moving picture
sequence signal being any one of said (i-1)-th second coded moving
picture sequence signal, said i-th second coded moving picture
sequence signal, and said i-th differential coded moving picture
sequence signal; i-th merging storage means for storing said base
coded moving picture sequence signal received by said i-th first
receiving means; i-th request signal determining means for
determining a request signal for a requested coded moving picture
sequence signal on the basis of said base coded moving picture
sequence signal stored by said i-th merging storage means; and i-th
request signal transmission means for transmitting said request
signal for said requested coded moving picture sequence signal
determined by said i-th request signal determining means to said
i-th coded signal separating unit; whereby said i-th coded signal
separating unit further includes: i-th request signal receiving
means for receiving said request signal transmitted by said i-th
request signal transmission means from said i-th coded signal
merging unit; i-th separating coded signal extracting means for
extracting said requested coded moving picture sequence signal from
said i-th separating storage means in response to said request
signal; and i-th second transmission means for transmitting said
requested coded moving picture sequence signal extracted by said
i-th separating coded signal extracting means to said i-th coded
signal merging unit; said i-th coded signal merging unit includes:
i-th second receiving means for receiving said requested coded
moving picture sequence signal transmitted by said i-th second
transmission means from said i-th coded signal separating unit;
i-th merging coded signal extracting means for extracting said base
coded moving picture sequence signal from said i-th merging storage
means; i-th merging means for merging said base coded moving
picture sequence signal extracted by said i-th merging coded signal
extracting means with said requested coded moving picture sequence
signal received by said i-th second receiving means on the basis of
said i-th second coefficient information obtained from said series
of second picture information of said i-th second coded moving
picture sequence signal, and said i-th differential coefficient
information obtained from said i-th differential coded signal to
reconstruct said (i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal; and i-th outputting means for inputting said reconstructed
(i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence signal from said i-th
merging means to be outputted therethrough.
31. A coded signal separating and merging system as set forth in
claim 30 in which said i-th separating storage means of said i-th
coded signal separating unit is operative to store said i-th
differential coded moving picture sequence signal generated by said
i-th differential coded signal generating means, said i-th first
transmission means is operative to transmit said i-th second coded
moving picture sequence signal generated by said i-th coded signal
converting means, said i-th first receiving means of said i-th
coded signal merging unit is operative to receive said i-th second
coded moving picture sequence signal from said (i+1)-th coded
signal merging unit, said i-th merging storage means is operative
to store said i-th second coded moving picture sequence signal
received by said i-th first receiving means, said i-th request
signal determining means is operative to determine a request signal
for a requested differential coded moving picture sequence signal
on the basis of said i-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal stored by said i-th merging storage means, said i-th request
signal transmission means is operative to transmit said request
signal for said requested differential coded moving picture
sequence signal determined by said i-th request signal determining
means, said i-th request signal receiving means of said i-th coded
signal separating unit is operative to receive said request signal
transmitted by said i-th request signal transmission means, said
i-th separating coded signal extracting means is operative to
extract said requested differential coded moving picture sequence
signal from said i-th separating storage means in response to said
request signal, said i-th second transmission means is operative to
transmit said requested differential coded moving picture sequence
signal extracted by said i-th separating coded signal extracting
means to said i-th coded signal merging unit, said i-th second
receiving means of said i-th coded signal merging unit is operative
to receive said requested differential coded moving picture
sequence signal transmitted by said i-th second transmission means
from said i-th coded signal separating unit, said i-th merging
coded signal extracting means is operative to extract said i-th
second coded moving picture sequence signal from said i-th merging
storage means, and said i-th merging means is operative to merge
said i-th second coded moving picture sequence signal extracted by
said i-th merging coded signal extracting means with said requested
differential coded moving picture sequence signal received by said
i-th second receiving means to reconstruct said first coded moving
picture sequence signal.
32-56. (canceled)
57. A multi-output coded signal separating method for inputting a
first coded moving picture sequence signal to separate into a
plurality of second coded moving picture sequence signals and a
plurality of differential coded moving picture sequence signals
comprising a plurality of steps (A1 to Am) including a step (A1) up
to a step (Am) wherein m is an integer not less than two; said step
(A1) is the step of inputting said first coded moving picture
sequence signal to separate into a 1st second coded moving picture
sequence signal and a 1st differential coded moving picture
sequence signal, said 1st differential coded moving picture
sequence signal being a difference between said first coded moving
picture sequence signal and said 1st second coded moving picture
sequence signal, and said step (Ai) is the step of inputting an
(i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence signal to separate
into an i-th second coded moving picture sequence signal and an
i-th differential coded moving picture sequence signal, said i-th
differential coded moving picture sequence signal being a
difference between said (i-1)-th second coded moving picture
sequence signal and said i-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal wherein i is an integer equal to or less than m, whereby
said step (A1) includes the steps of: (A1-1) inputting said first
coded moving picture sequence signal therethrough, said first coded
moving picture sequence signal generated as a result of encoding
original moving picture sequence signal and consisting of a series
of first picture information having first coefficient information,
said first coefficient information including a matrix of first
coefficients; (A1-2) converting said first coded moving picture
sequence signal inputted in said step (A1-1) to generate a 1st
second coded moving picture sequence signal, said 1st second coded
moving picture sequence signal consisting of a series of 1st second
picture information having 1st second coefficient information, said
1st second coefficient information including a matrix of 1st second
coefficients, each of said first coded moving picture sequence
signal, and said 1st second coded moving picture sequence signal is
in the form of a hierarchical structure including one or more
sequence layers each having a plurality of screens sharing common
information, one or more picture layers each having a plurality of
slices sharing common information with respect to one of said
screens, one or more slice layers each having a plurality of
macroblocks with respect to one of said slices, one or more
macroblock layers each having a plurality of blocks with respect to
one of said macroblocks, and one or more block layers each having
block information with respect to one of said blocks; (A1-3)
inputting said first coded moving picture sequence signal and said
1st second coded moving picture sequence signal from said step
(A1-2) to generate a 1st differential coded moving picture sequence
signal on the basis of said first coefficient information obtained
from said series of first picture information of said first coded
moving picture sequence signal, and said 1st second coefficient
information obtained from said series of said 1st second picture
information of said 1st second coded moving picture sequence
signal, said 1st differential coded moving picture sequence signal
being a difference between said first coded moving picture sequence
signal and said 1st second coded moving picture sequence signal;
(A1-4) selectively storing said first coded moving picture sequence
signal, said 1st second coded moving picture sequence signal, and
said 1st differential coded moving picture sequence signal; (A1-5)
selectively transmitting said first coded moving picture sequence
signal, said 1st second coded moving picture sequence signal, and
said 1st differential coded moving picture sequence signal; (A1-6)
receiving a request signal indicative of a requested coded moving
picture sequence signal to be transmitted, said request signal
indicative of said requested coded moving picture sequence signal
being determined on the basis of said first coded moving picture
sequence signal, said 1st second coded moving picture sequence
signal, or said 1st differential coded moving picture sequence
signal; (A1-7) extracting said requested coded moving picture
sequence signal from among coded moving picture sequence signals
stored in said step (A1-4) in response to said request signal; and
(A1-8) transmitting said requested coded moving picture sequence
signal extracted in said step (A1-7), and said step (Ai) includes
the steps of: (Ai-1) inputting said (i-1)-th second coded moving
picture sequence signal therethrough from said step (A(i-1)), said
(i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence signal generated as a
result of encoding original moving picture sequence signal and
consisting of a series of (i-1)-th second picture information
having (i-1)-th second coefficient information, said (i-1)-th
second coefficient information including a matrix of (i-1)-th
second coefficients; (Ai-2) converting said (i-1)-th second coded
moving picture sequence signal inputted through said step (Ai-1) to
generate said i-th second coded moving picture sequence signal,
said i-th second coded moving picture sequence signal consisting of
a series of i-th second picture information having i-th second
coefficient information, said i-th second coefficient information
including a matrix of i-th second coefficients, each of said
(i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence signal, and said i-th
second coded moving picture sequence signal is in the form of a
hierarchical structure including one or more sequence layers each
having a plurality of screens sharing common information, one or
more picture layers each having a plurality of slices sharing
common information with respect to one of said screens, one or more
slice layers each having a plurality of macroblocks with respect to
one of said slices, one or more macroblock layers each having a
plurality of blocks with respect to one of said macroblocks, and
one or more block layers each having block information with respect
to one of said blocks; (Ai-3) inputting said (i-1)-th second coded
moving picture sequence signal and said i-th second coded moving
picture sequence signal from said step (Ai-2) to generate an i-th
differential coded moving picture sequence signal on the basis of
said (i-1)-th second coefficient information obtained from said
series of (i-1)-th second picture information of said (i-1)-th
second coded moving picture sequence signal, and said i-th second
coefficient information obtained from said series of said i-th
second picture information of said i-th second coded moving picture
sequence signal, said i-th differential coded moving picture
sequence signal being a difference between said (i-1)-th second
coded moving picture sequence signal and said i-th second coded
moving picture sequence signal; (Ai-4) selectively storing said
(i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence signal, said i-th
second coded moving picture sequence signal, and said i-th
differential coded moving picture sequence signal; (Ai-5)
selectively transmitting said (i-1)-th second coded moving picture
sequence signal, said i-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal, and said i-th differential coded moving picture sequence
signal; (Ai-6) receiving a request signal indicative of a requested
coded moving picture sequence signal to be transmitted, said
request signal indicative of said requested coded moving picture
sequence signal being determined on the basis of said (i-1)-th
second coded moving picture sequence signal, said i-th second coded
moving picture sequence signal, or said i-th differential coded
moving picture sequence signal; (Ai-7) extracting said requested
coded moving picture sequence signal from among coded moving
picture sequence signals stored in said step (Ai-4) in response to
said request signal; and (Ai-8) transmitting said requested coded
moving picture sequence signal extracted in said step (Ai-7).
58. A multi-input coded signal merging method for inputting a
plurality of second coded moving picture sequence signals and a
plurality of differential coded moving picture sequence signals to
reconstruct a first coded moving picture sequence signal comprising
a plurality of steps (B1 to Bn) including a step (B1) up to a step
(Bn) wherein n is an integer not less than two, said step (Bi) has
the step of inputting a i-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal and a i-th differential coded moving picture sequence signal
to reconstruct an (i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal wherein i is an integer equal to or less than n, said i-th
second coded moving picture sequence signal generated as a result
of transcoding said (i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal and consisting of a series of i-th second picture
information having i-th second coefficient information, said i-th
second coefficient information including a matrix of i-th second
coefficients, said (i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal generated as a result of encoding original moving picture
sequence signal and consisting of a series of (i-1)-th second
picture information having (i-1)-th second coefficient information,
said (i-1)-th second coefficient information including a matrix of
(i-1)-th second coefficients, said i-th differential coded moving
picture sequence signal being a difference between said i-th second
coded moving picture sequence signal and said (i-1)-th second coded
moving picture sequence signal, said i-th differential coded moving
picture sequence signal including i-th differential coefficient
information between said i-th second coefficient information and
said (i-1)-th second coefficient information, each of said i-th
second coded moving picture sequence signal, said (i-1)-th second
coded moving picture sequence signal, and said i-th differential
coded moving picture sequence signal is in the form of a
hierarchical structure including one or more sequence layers each
having a plurality of screens sharing common information, one or
more picture layers each having a plurality of slices sharing
common information with respect to one of said screens, one or more
slice layers each having a plurality of macroblocks with respect to
one of said slices, one or more macroblock layers each having a
plurality of blocks with respect to one of said macroblocks, and
one or more block layers each having block information with respect
to one of said blocks, and said step (B1) is the step of inputting
said 1st second coded moving picture sequence signal and said 1st
differential coded moving picture sequence signal to reconstruct
said first coded moving picture sequence signal, whereby said step
(Bi) includes the steps of: (Bi-1) receiving a base coded moving
picture sequence signal, said base coded moving picture sequence
signal being any one of said i-th second coded moving picture
sequence signal, said (i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal, and said i-th differential coded moving picture sequence
signal; (Bi-2) storing said base coded moving picture sequence
signal received in said step (Bi-1); (Bi-3) determining a request
signal for a requested coded moving picture sequence signal on the
basis of said base coded moving picture sequence signal stored in
said step (Bi-2); (Bi-4) transmitting said request signal for said
requested coded moving picture sequence signal determined in said
step (Bi-3); (Bi-5) receiving said requested coded moving picture
sequence signal; (Bi-6) extracting said base coded moving picture
sequence signal from among coded moving picture sequence signals
stored in said step (Bi-2); (Bi-7) merging said base coded moving
picture sequence signal extracted in said step (Bi-6) with said
requested coded moving picture sequence signal received in said
step (Bi-5) to reconstruct said (i-1)-th second coded moving
picture sequence signal on the basis of said i-th second
coefficient information obtained from said series of i-th second
picture information of said i-th second coded moving picture
sequence signal, and said i-th differential coefficient information
obtained from said i-th differential coded signal; and (Bi-8)
inputting said reconstructed i-th second coded moving picture
sequence signal from said step (Bi-7) to be outputted therethrough,
said step (B1) includes the steps of: (B1-1) receiving a base coded
moving picture sequence signal, said base coded moving picture
sequence signal being any one of said first coded moving picture
sequence signal, said 1st second coded moving picture sequence
signal, and said 1st differential coded moving picture sequence
signal; (B1-2) storing said base coded moving picture sequence
signal received in said step (B1-1); (B1-3) determining a request
signal for a requested coded moving picture sequence signal on the
basis of said base coded moving picture sequence signal stored in
said step (B1-2); (B1-4) transmitting said request signal for said
requested coded moving picture sequence signal determined in said
step (B1-3); (B1-5) receiving said requested coded moving picture
sequence signal; (B1-6) extracting said base coded moving picture
sequence signal from among coded moving picture sequence signals
stored in said step (B1-2); (B1-7) merging said base coded moving
picture sequence signal extracted in said step (B1-6) with said
requested coded moving picture sequence signal received in said
step (B1-5) to reconstruct said first coded moving picture sequence
signal on the basis of said 1st second coefficient information
obtained from said series of 1st second picture information of said
1st second coded moving picture sequence signal, and said 1st
differential coefficient information obtained from said 1st
differential coded signal; and (B1-8) inputting said reconstructed
first coded moving picture sequence signal from said step (B1-7) to
be outputted therethrough.
59. A multi-output coded signal separating method as set forth in
claim 57, in said step (Ai), said step (Ai-4) has the step of
storing said (i-1)-th differential coded moving picture sequence
signal generated in said step (Ai-3), said step (Ai-5) has the step
of transmitting said (i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal generated in said step (Ai-2), said step (Ai-6) has the step
of receiving said request signal indicative of a requested (i-1)-th
differential coded moving picture sequence signal to be
transmitted, said request signal indicative of said requested
(i-1)-th differential coded moving picture sequence signal being
determined on the basis of said (i-1)-th second coded moving
picture sequence signal, said step (Ai-7) has the step of
extracting said requested (i-1)-th differential coded moving
picture sequence signal from among coded moving picture sequence
signals stored in said step (Ai-4) in response to said request
signal, and said step (Ai-8) has the step of transmitting said
requested (i-1)-th differential coded moving picture sequence
signal extracted in said step (Ai-7) whereby said step (A) has the
step of inputting a first coded moving picture sequence signal to
separate into a plurality of second coded moving picture sequence
signals and a plurality of differential coded moving picture
sequence signals.
60. A multi-input coded signal merging method as set forth in claim
58, in said step (Bi), said step (Bi-1) has the step of receiving
said i-th second coded moving picture sequence signal, said step
(Bi-2) has the step of storing said i-th second coded moving
picture sequence signal received in said step (Bi-1), said step
(Bi-3) has the step of determining a request signal for a requested
differential coded moving picture sequence signal on the basis of
said i-th second coded moving picture sequence signal stored in
said step (Bi-2), said step (Bi-4) has the step of transmitting
said request signal for said requested differential coded moving
picture sequence signal determined in said step (Bi-3), said step
(Bi-5) has the step of receiving said requested differential coded
moving picture sequence signal, said step (Bi-6) has the step of
extracting said i-th second coded moving picture sequence signal
from among coded moving picture sequence signals stored in said
step (Bi-2), and said step (Bi-7) has the step of merging said i-th
second coded moving picture sequence signal extracted in said step
(Bi-6) with said requested differential coded moving picture
sequence signal received in said step (Bi-5) to reconstruct said
(i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence signal wherein said
0-th second coded moving picture sequence signal is said first
coded moving picture sequence signal.
61. A coded signal separating and merging method comprising the
steps of: (A) inputting a first coded moving picture sequence
signal to separate into a plurality of second coded moving picture
sequence signals and a plurality of differential coded moving
picture sequence signals; and (B) inputting a plurality of second
coded moving picture sequence signals and a plurality of
differential coded moving picture sequence signals to reconstruct
said first coded moving picture sequence signal, said step (A)
including a plurality of steps (A1 to Am) including a step (A1) up
to a step (Am) wherein m is an integer not less than two; said step
(B) including a plurality of steps (B1 to Bn) including a step (B1)
up to a step (Bn) wherein n is an integer not less than two and
equal to or less than said m, said step (Ai) including the steps
of: (Ai-1) inputting an (i-1)-th second coded moving picture
sequence signal therethrough from said step (A(i-1)), said (i-1)-th
second coded moving picture sequence signal generated as a result
of encoding original moving picture sequence signal and consisting
of a series of (i-1)-th second picture information having (i-1)-th
second coefficient information, said (i-1)-th second coefficient
information including a matrix of (i-1)-th second coefficients
wherein i is an integer equal to or less than m, and O-th second
coded moving picture sequence signal is said first coded moving
picture sequence signal; (Ai-2) converting said (i-1)-th second
coded moving picture sequence signal inputted through said step
(Ai-1) to generate an i-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal, said i-th second coded moving picture sequence signal
consisting of a series of i-th second picture information having
i-th second coefficient information, said i-th second coefficient
information including a matrix of second coefficients, each of said
(i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence signal, and said i-th
second coded moving picture sequence signal is in the form of a
hierarchical structure including one or more sequence layers each
having a plurality of screens sharing common information, one or
more picture layers each having a plurality of slices sharing
common information with respect to one of said screens, one or more
slice layers each having a plurality of macroblocks with respect to
one of said slices, one or more macroblock layers each having a
plurality of blocks with respect to one of said macroblocks, and
one or more block layers each having block information with respect
to one of said blocks; (Ai-3) inputting said (i-1)-th second coded
moving picture sequence signal and said i-th second coded moving
picture sequence signal from said step (Ai-2) to generate an l-th
differential coded moving picture sequence signal on the basis of
said (i-1)-th second coefficient information obtained from said
series of (i-1)-th second picture information of said (i-1)-th
second coded moving picture sequence signal, and said i-th second
coefficient information obtained from said series of said i-th
second picture information of said i-th second coded moving picture
sequence signal, said i-th differential coded moving picture
sequence signal being a difference between said (i-1)-th second
coded moving picture sequence signal and said i-th second coded
moving picture sequence signal; (Ai-4) selectively storing said
(i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence signal, said i-th
second coded moving picture sequence signal, and said i-th
differential coded moving picture sequence signal; and (Ai-5)
selectively transmitting said (i-1)-th second coded moving picture
sequence signal, said i-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal, and said i-th differential coded moving picture sequence
signal to said step (Bi); said step (Bi) including the steps of:
(Bi-1) receiving a base coded moving picture sequence signal from
said step (Ai) or said step (B(i+1)), said base coded moving
picture sequence signal being any one of said (i-1)-th second coded
moving picture sequence signal, said i-th second coded moving
picture sequence signal, and said i-th differential coded moving
picture sequence signal; (Bi-2) storing said base coded moving
picture sequence signal received in said step (Bi-1); (Bi-3)
determining a request signal for a requested coded moving picture
sequence signal on the basis of said base coded moving picture
sequence signal stored in said step (Bi-2); and (Bi-4) transmitting
said request signal for said requested coded moving picture
sequence signal determined in said step (Bi-3) to said step (Ai);
whereby said step (Ai) further includes the steps of: (Ai-6)
receiving said request signal transmitted in said step (Bi-4);
(Ai-7) extracting said requested coded moving picture sequence
signal from among coded moving picture sequence signals stored in
said step (Ai-4) in response to said request signal; and (Ai-8)
transmitting said requested coded moving picture sequence signal
extracted in said step (Ai-7) to said step (Bi); said step (Bi)
includes the steps of: (Bi-5) receiving said requested coded moving
picture sequence signal transmitted in said step (Ai-8) from said
step (Ai); (Bi-6) extracting said base coded moving picture
sequence signal from among coded moving picture sequence signals
stored in said step (Bi-2); (Bi-7) merging said base coded moving
picture sequence signal extracted in said step (Bi-6) with said
requested coded moving picture sequence signal received in said
step (Bi-5) on the basis of said i-th second coefficient
information obtained from said series of second picture information
of said i-th second coded moving picture sequence signal, and said
i-th differential coefficient information obtained from said i-th
differential coded signal to reconstruct said (i-1)-th second coded
moving picture sequence signal; and (Bi-8) inputting said
reconstructed (i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence signal
from said step (Bi-7) to be outputted therethrough.
62. A coded signal separating and merging method as set forth in
claim 61 in which said step (Ai-4) has the step of storing said
i-th differential coded moving picture sequence signal generated in
said step (Ai-3), said step (Ai-5) has the step of transmitting
said i-th second coded moving picture sequence signal generated in
said step (Ai-2), said step (Bi-1) has the step of receiving said
i-th second coded moving picture sequence from said step (B(i+1)),
said step (Bi-2) has the step of storing said i-th second coded
moving picture sequence signal received in said step (Bi-1), said
step (Bi-3) has the step of determining a request signal for a
requested differential coded moving picture sequence signal on the
basis of said i-th second coded moving picture sequence signal
stored in said step (Bi-2), said step (Bi-4) has the step of
transmitting said request signal for said requested differential
coded moving picture sequence signal determined in said step
(Bi-3), said step (Ai-6) has the step of receiving said request
signal transmitted in said step (Bi-4), said step (Ai-7) has the
step of extracting said requested differential coded moving picture
sequence signal from among coded moving picture sequence signals
stored in said step (Ai-4) in response to said request signal, said
step (Ai-8) has the step of transmitting said requested
differential coded moving picture sequence signal extracted in said
step (Ai-7) to said step (Bi), said step (Bi-5) has the step of
receiving said requested differential coded moving picture sequence
signal transmitted in said step (Ai-8), said step (Bi-6) has the
step of extracting said i-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal from among coded moving picture sequence signals stored in
said step (Bi-2), and said step (Bi-7) has the step of merging said
i-th second coded moving picture sequence signal extracted in said
step (Bi-6) with said requested differential coded moving picture
sequence signal received in said step (Bi-5) to reconstruct said
first coded moving picture sequence signal.
63-87. (canceled)
88. A computer program product comprising a computer usable storage
medium having computer readable code embodied therein for inputting
a first coded moving picture sequence signal to separate into a
plurality of second coded moving picture sequence signals and a
plurality of differential coded moving picture sequence signals
comprising a plurality of computer readable program codes (A1 to
Am) including computer readable program code (A-1) up to computer
readable program codes (Am) wherein m is an integer not less than
two; said computer readable program code (A-1) is computer readable
program code for inputting said first coded moving picture sequence
signal to separate into a 1st second coded moving picture sequence
signal and a 1st differential coded moving picture sequence signal,
said 1st differential coded moving picture sequence signal being a
difference between said first coded moving picture sequence signal
and said 1st second coded moving picture sequence signal, and said
computer readable program code (Ai) is computer readable program
code for inputting an (i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal to separate into an i-th second coded moving picture
sequence signal and an i-th differential coded moving picture
sequence signal, said i-th differential coded moving picture
sequence signal being a difference between said (i-1)-th second
coded moving picture sequence signal and said i-th second coded
moving picture sequence signal wherein i is an integer equal to or
less than m, whereby said computer readable program code (A-1)
includes: (A1-1) computer readable program code for inputting said
first coded moving picture sequence signal therethrough, said first
coded moving picture sequence signal generated as a result of
encoding original moving picture sequence signal and consisting of
a series of first picture information having first coefficient
information, said first coefficient information including a matrix
of first coefficients; (A1-2) computer readable program code for
converting said first coded moving picture sequence signal inputted
by said computer readable program code (A1-1) to generate a 1st
second coded moving picture sequence signal, said 1st second coded
moving picture sequence signal consisting of a series of 1st second
picture information having 1st second coefficient information, said
1st second coefficient information including a matrix of 1st second
coefficients, each of said first coded moving picture sequence
signal, and said 1st second coded moving picture sequence signal is
in the form of a hierarchical structure including one or more
sequence layers each having a plurality of screens sharing common
information, one or more picture layers each having a plurality of
slices sharing common information with respect to one of said
screens, one or more slice layers each having a plurality of
macroblocks with respect to one of said slices, one or more
macroblock layers each having a plurality of blocks with respect to
one of said macroblocks, and one or more block layers each having
block information with respect to one of said blocks; (A1-3)
computer readable program code for inputting said first coded
moving picture sequence signal and said 1st second coded moving
picture sequence signal from said computer readable program code
(A1-2) to generate a 1st differential coded moving picture sequence
signal on the basis of said first coefficient information obtained
from said series of first picture information of said first coded
moving picture sequence signal, and said 1st second coefficient
information obtained from said series of said 1st second picture
information of said 1st second coded moving picture sequence
signal, said 1st differential coded moving picture sequence signal
being a difference between said first coded moving picture sequence
signal and said 1st second coded moving picture sequence signal;
(A1-4) computer readable program code for selectively storing said
first coded moving picture sequence signal, said 1st second coded
moving picture sequence signal, and said 1st differential coded
moving picture sequence signal; (A1-5) computer readable program
code for selectively transmitting said first coded moving picture
sequence signal, said 1st second coded moving picture sequence
signal, and said 1st differential coded moving picture sequence
signal; (A1-6) computer readable program code for receiving a
request signal indicative of a requested coded moving picture
sequence signal to be transmitted, said request signal indicative
of said requested coded moving picture sequence signal being
determined on the basis of said first coded moving picture sequence
signal, said 1st second coded moving picture sequence signal, or
said 1st differential coded moving picture sequence signal; (A1-7)
computer readable program code for extracting said requested coded
moving picture sequence signal from among coded moving picture
sequence signals stored by said computer readable program code
(A1-4) in response to said request signal; and (A1-8) computer
readable program code for transmitting said requested coded moving
picture sequence signal extracted by said computer readable program
code (A1-7), and said computer readable program code (Ai) includes:
(Ai-1) computer readable program code for inputting said (i-1)-th
second coded moving picture sequence signal therethrough from said
computer readable program code (A(i-1)), said (i-1)-th second coded
moving picture sequence signal generated as a result of encoding
original moving picture sequence signal and consisting of a series
of (i-1)-th second picture information having (i-1)-th second
coefficient information, said (i-1)-th second coefficient
information including a matrix of (i-1)-th second coefficients;
(Ai-2) computer readable program code for converting said (i-1)-th
second coded moving picture sequence signal inputted through said
computer readable program code (Ai-1) to generate said i-th second
coded moving picture sequence signal, said i-th second coded moving
picture sequence signal consisting of a series of i-th second
picture information having i-th second coefficient information,
said i-th second coefficient information including a matrix of i-th
second coefficients, each of said (i-1)-th second coded moving
picture sequence signal, and said i-th second coded moving picture
sequence signal is in the form of a hierarchical structure
including one or more sequence layers each having a plurality of
screens sharing common information, one or more picture layers each
having a plurality of slices sharing common information with
respect to one of said screens, one or more slice layers each
having a plurality of macroblocks with respect to one of said
slices, one or more macroblock layers each having a plurality of
blocks with respect to one of said macroblocks, and one or more
block layers each having block information with respect to one of
said blocks; (Ai-3) computer readable program code for inputting
said (i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence signal and said
i-th second coded moving picture sequence signal from said computer
readable program code (Ai-2) to generate an i-th differential coded
moving picture sequence signal on the basis of said (i-1)-th second
coefficient information obtained from said series of (i-1)-th
second picture information of said (i-1)-th second coded moving
picture sequence signal, and said i-th second coefficient
information obtained from said series of said i-th second picture
information of said i-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal, said i-th differential coded moving picture sequence signal
being a difference between said (i-1)-th second coded moving
picture sequence signal and said i-th second coded moving picture
sequence signal; (Ai-4) computer readable program code for
selectively storing said (i-1)-th second coded moving picture
sequence signal, said i-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal, and said i-th differential coded moving picture sequence
signal; (Ai-5) computer readable program code for selectively
transmitting said (i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal, said i-th second coded moving picture sequence signal, and
said i-th differential coded moving picture sequence signal; (Ai-6)
computer readable program code for receiving a request signal
indicative of a requested coded moving picture sequence signal to
be transmitted, said request signal indicative of said requested
coded moving picture sequence signal being determined on the basis
of said (i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence signal, said
i-th second coded moving picture sequence signal, or said i-th
differential coded moving picture sequence signal; (Ai-7) computer
readable program code for extracting said requested coded moving
picture sequence signal from among coded moving picture sequence
signals stored by said computer readable program code (Ai-4) in
response to said request signal; and (Ai-8) computer readable
program code for transmitting said requested coded moving picture
sequence signal extracted by said computer readable program code
(Ai-7).
89. A computer program product comprising a computer usable storage
medium having computer readable code embodied therein for inputting
a plurality of second coded moving picture sequence signals and a
plurality of differential coded moving picture sequence signals to
reconstruct a first coded moving picture sequence signal comprising
a plurality of computer readable program code (B1 to Bn) including
computer readable program code (B-1) up to a computer readable
program code (Bn) wherein n is an integer not less than two, said
computer readable program code (Bi) has computer readable program
code for inputting a i-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal and a i-th differential coded moving picture sequence signal
to reconstruct an (i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal wherein i is an integer equal to or less than n, said i-th
second coded moving picture sequence signal generated as a result
of transcoding said (i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal and consisting of a series of i-th second picture
information having i-th second coefficient information, said i-th
second coefficient information including a matrix of i-th second
coefficients, said (i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal generated as a result of encoding original moving picture
sequence signal and consisting of a series of (i-1)-th second
picture information having (i-1)-th second coefficient information,
said (i-1)-th second coefficient information including a matrix of
(i-1)-th second coefficients, said i-th differential coded moving
picture sequence signal being a difference between said i-th second
coded moving picture sequence signal and said (i-1)-th second coded
moving picture sequence signal, said i-th differential coded moving
picture sequence signal including i-th differential coefficient
information between said i-th second coefficient information and
said (i-1)-th second coefficient information, each of said i-th
second coded moving picture sequence signal, said (i-1)-th second
coded moving picture sequence signal, and said i-th differential
coded moving picture sequence signal is in the form of a
hierarchical structure including one or more sequence layers each
having a plurality of screens sharing common information, one or
more picture layers each having a plurality of slices sharing
common information with respect to one of said screens, one or more
slice layers each having a plurality of macroblocks with respect to
one of said slices, one or more macroblock layers each having a
plurality of blocks with respect to one of said macroblocks, and
one or more block layers each having block information with respect
to one of said blocks, and said computer readable program code
(B-1) is computer readable program code for inputting said 1st
second coded moving picture sequence signal and said 1st
differential coded moving picture sequence signal to reconstruct
said first coded moving picture sequence signal, whereby said
computer readable program code (Bi) includes: (Bi-1) computer
readable program code for receiving a base coded moving picture
sequence signal, said base coded moving picture sequence signal
being any one of said i-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal, said (i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence signal,
and said i-th differential coded moving picture sequence signal;
(Bi-2) computer readable program code for storing said base coded
moving picture sequence signal received by said computer readable
program code (Bi-1); (Bi-3) computer readable program code for
determining a request signal for a requested coded moving picture
sequence signal on the basis of said base coded moving picture
sequence signal stored by said computer readable program code
(Bi-2); (Bi-4) computer readable program code for transmitting said
request signal for said requested coded moving picture sequence
signal determined by said computer readable program code (Bi-3);
(Bi-5) computer readable program code for receiving said requested
coded moving picture sequence signal; (Bi-6) computer readable
program code for extracting said base coded moving picture sequence
signal from among coded moving picture sequence signals stored by
said computer readable program code (Bi-2); (Bi-7) computer
readable program code for merging said base coded moving picture
sequence signal extracted by said computer readable program code
(Bi-6) with said requested coded moving picture sequence signal
received by said computer readable program code (Bi-5) to
reconstruct said (i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal on the basis of said i-th second coefficient information
obtained from said series of i-th second picture information of
said i-th second coded moving picture sequence signal, and said
i-th differential coefficient information obtained from said i-th
differential coded signal; and (Bi-8) computer readable program
code for inputting said reconstructed i-th second coded moving
picture sequence signal from said computer readable program code
(Bi-7) to be outputted therethrough, said computer readable program
code (B-1) includes: (B1-1) computer readable program code for
receiving a base coded moving picture sequence signal, said base
coded moving picture sequence signal being any one of said first
coded moving picture sequence signal, said 1st second coded moving
picture sequence signal, and said 1st differential coded moving
picture sequence signal; (B1-2) computer readable program code for
storing said base coded moving picture sequence signal received by
said computer readable program code (B1-1); (B1-3) computer
readable program code for determining a request signal for a
requested coded moving picture sequence signal on the basis of said
base coded moving picture sequence signal stored by said computer
readable program code (b-12); (B1-4) computer readable program code
for transmitting said request signal for said requested coded
moving picture sequence signal determined by said computer readable
program code (B1-3); (B1-5) computer readable program code for
receiving said requested coded moving picture sequence signal;
(B1-6) computer readable program code for extracting said base
coded moving picture sequence signal from among coded moving
picture sequence signals stored by said computer readable program
code (b-12); (B1-7) computer readable program code for merging said
base coded moving picture sequence signal extracted by said
computer readable program code (B1-6) with said requested coded
moving picture sequence signal received by said computer readable
program code (B1-5) to reconstruct said first coded moving picture
sequence signal on the basis of said 1st second coefficient
information obtained from said series of 1st second picture
information of said 1st second coded moving picture sequence
signal, and said 1st differential coefficient information obtained
from said 1st differential coded signal; and (B1-8) computer
readable program code for inputting said reconstructed first coded
moving picture sequence signal from said computer readable program
code (B1-7) to be outputted therethrough.
90. A computer program product as set forth in claim 88, by said
computer readable program code (Ai), said computer readable program
code (Ai-4) has computer readable program code for storing said
(i-1)-th differential coded moving picture sequence signal
generated by said computer readable program code (Ai-3), said
computer readable program code (Ai-5) has computer readable program
code for transmitting said (i-1)-th second coded moving picture
sequence signal generated by said computer readable program code
(Ai-2), said computer readable program code (Ai-6) has computer
readable program code for receiving said request signal indicative
of a requested (i-1)-th differential coded moving picture sequence
signal to be transmitted, said request signal indicative of said
requested (i-1)-th differential coded moving picture sequence
signal being determined on the basis of said (i-1)-th second coded
moving picture sequence signal, said computer readable program code
(Ai-7) has computer readable program code for extracting said
requested (i-1)-th differential coded moving picture sequence
signal from among coded moving picture sequence signals stored by
said computer readable program code (Ai-4) in response to said
request signal, and said computer readable program code (Ai-8) has
computer readable program code for transmitting said requested
(i-1)-th differential coded moving picture sequence signal
extracted by said computer readable program code (Ai-7) whereby
said computer readable program code (A) has computer readable
program code for inputting a first coded moving picture sequence
signal to separate into a plurality of second coded moving picture
sequence signals and a plurality of differential coded moving
picture sequence signals.
91. A computer program product as set forth in claim 89, by said
computer readable program code (Bi), said computer readable program
code (Bi-1) has computer readable program code for receiving said
i-th second coded moving picture sequence signal, said computer
readable program code (Bi-2) has computer readable program code for
storing said i-th second coded moving picture sequence signal
received by said computer readable program code (Bi-1), said
computer readable program code (Bi-3) has computer readable program
code for determining a request signal for a requested differential
coded moving picture sequence signal on the basis of said i-th
second coded moving picture sequence signal stored by said computer
readable program code (Bi-2), said computer readable program code
(Bi-4) has computer readable program code for transmitting said
request signal for said requested differential coded moving picture
sequence signal determined by said computer readable program code
(Bi-3), said computer readable program code (Bi-5) has computer
readable program code for receiving said requested differential
coded moving picture sequence signal, said computer readable
program code (Bi-6) has computer readable program code for
extracting said i-th second coded moving picture sequence signal
from among coded moving picture sequence signals stored by said
computer readable program code (Bi-2), and said computer readable
program code (Bi-7) has computer readable program code for merging
said i-th second coded moving picture sequence signal extracted by
said computer readable program code (Bi-6) with said requested
differential coded moving picture sequence signal received by said
computer readable program code (Bi-5) to reconstruct said (i-1)-th
second coded moving picture sequence signal wherein said 0-th
second coded moving picture sequence signal is said first coded
moving picture sequence signal.
92. A computer program product comprising a computer usable storage
medium having computer readable code embodied therein for
separating and merging coded signal comprising: (A) computer
readable program code for inputting a first coded moving picture
sequence signal to separate into a plurality of second coded moving
picture sequence signals and a plurality of differential coded
moving picture sequence signals; and (B) computer readable program
code for inputting a plurality of second coded moving picture
sequence signals and a plurality of differential coded moving
picture sequence signals to reconstruct said first coded moving
picture sequence signal, said computer readable program code (A)
including a plurality of computer readable program codes (A1 to Am)
including computer readable program code (A-1) up to computer
readable program codes (Am) wherein m is an integer not less than
two; said computer readable program code (b) including a plurality
of computer readable program code (B1 to Bn) including computer
readable program code (B-1) up to a computer readable program code
(Bn) wherein n is an integer not less than two and equal to or less
than said m, said computer readable program code (Ai) including:
(Ai-1) computer readable program code for inputting an (i-1)-th
second coded moving picture sequence signal therethrough from said
computer readable program code (A(i-1)), said (i-1)-th second coded
moving picture sequence signal generated as a result of encoding
original moving picture sequence signal and consisting of a series
of (i-1)-th second picture information having (i-1)-th second
coefficient information, said (i-1)-th second coefficient
information including a matrix of (i-1)-th second coefficients
wherein i is an integer equal to or less than m, and 0-th second
coded moving picture sequence signal is said first coded moving
picture sequence signal; (Ai-2) computer readable program code for
converting said (i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal inputted through said computer readable program code (Ai-1)
to generate an i-th second coded moving picture sequence signal,
said i-th second coded moving picture sequence signal consisting of
a series of i-th second picture information having i-th second
coefficient information, said i-th second coefficient information
including a matrix of second coefficients, each of said (i-1)-th
second coded moving picture sequence signal, and said i-th second
coded moving picture sequence signal is in the form of a
hierarchical structure including one or more sequence layers each
having a plurality of screens sharing common information, one or
more picture layers each having a plurality of slices sharing
common information with respect to one of said screens, one or more
slice layers each having a plurality of macroblocks with respect to
one of said slices, one or more macroblock layers each having a
plurality of blocks with respect to one of said macroblocks, and
one or more block layers each having block information with respect
to one of said blocks; (Ai-3) computer readable program code for
inputting said (i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence signal
and said i-th second coded moving picture sequence signal from said
computer readable program code (Ai-2) to generate an i-th
differential coded moving picture sequence signal on the basis of
said (i-1)-th second coefficient information obtained from said
series of (i-1)-th second picture information of said (i-1)-th
second coded moving picture sequence signal, and said i-th second
coefficient information obtained from said series of said i-th
second picture information of said i-th second coded moving picture
sequence signal, said i-th differential coded moving picture
sequence signal being a difference between said (i-1)-th second
coded moving picture sequence signal and said i-th second coded
moving picture sequence signal; (Ai-4) computer readable program
code for selectively storing said (i-1)-th second coded moving
picture sequence signal, said i-th second coded moving picture
sequence signal, and said i-th differential coded moving picture
sequence signal; and (Ai-5) computer readable program code for
selectively transmitting said (i-1)-th second coded moving picture
sequence signal, said i-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal, and said i-th differential coded moving picture sequence
signal to said computer readable program code (Bi); said computer
readable program code (Bi) including: (Bi-1) computer readable
program code for receiving a base coded moving picture sequence
signal from said computer readable program code (Ai) or said
computer readable program code (B(i+1)), said base coded moving
picture sequence signal being any one of said (i-1)-th second coded
moving picture sequence signal, said i-th second coded moving
picture sequence signal, and said i-th differential coded moving
picture sequence signal; (Bi-2) computer readable program code for
storing said base coded moving picture sequence signal received by
said computer readable program code (Bi-1); (Bi-3) computer
readable program code for determining a request signal for a
requested coded moving picture sequence signal on the basis of said
base coded moving picture sequence signal stored by said computer
readable program code (Bi-2); and (Bi-4) computer readable program
code for transmitting said request signal for said requested coded
moving picture sequence signal determined by said computer readable
program code (Bi-3) to said computer readable program code (Ai);
whereby said computer readable program code (Ai) further includes:
(Ai-6) computer readable program code for receiving said request
signal transmitted by said computer readable program code (Bi-4);
(Ai-7) computer readable program code for extracting said requested
coded moving picture sequence signal from among coded moving
picture sequence signals stored by said computer readable program
code (Ai-4) in response to said request signal; and (Ai-8) computer
readable program code for transmitting said requested coded moving
picture sequence signal extracted by said computer readable program
code (Ai-7) to said computer readable program code (Bi); said
computer readable program code (Bi) includes: (Bi-5) computer
readable program code for receiving said requested coded moving
picture sequence signal transmitted by said computer readable
program code (Ai-8) from said computer readable program code (Ai);
(Bi-6) computer readable program code for extracting said base
coded moving picture sequence signal from among coded moving
picture sequence signals stored by said computer readable program
code (Bi-2); (Bi-7) computer readable program code for merging said
base coded moving picture sequence signal extracted by said
computer readable program code (Bi-6) with said requested coded
moving picture sequence signal received by said computer readable
program code (Bi-5) on the basis of said i-th second coefficient
information obtained from said series of second picture information
of said i-th second coded moving picture sequence signal, and said
i-th differential coefficient information obtained from said i-th
differential coded signal to reconstruct said (i-1)-th second coded
moving picture sequence signal; and (Bi-8) computer readable
program code for inputting said reconstructed (i-1)-th second coded
moving picture sequence signal from said computer readable program
code (Bi-7) to be outputted therethrough.
93. A computer program product as set forth in claim 92 in which
said computer readable program code (Ai-4) has computer readable
program code for storing said i-th differential coded moving
picture sequence signal generated by said computer readable program
code (Ai-3), said computer readable program code (Ai-5) has
computer readable program code for transmitting said i-th second
coded moving picture sequence signal generated by said computer
readable program code (Ai-2), said computer readable program code
(Bi-1) has computer readable program code for receiving said i-th
second coded moving picture sequence signal from said computer
readable program code (B(i+1)), said computer readable program code
(Bi-2) has computer readable program code for storing said i-th
second coded moving picture sequence signal received by said
computer readable program code (Bi-1), said computer readable
program code (Bi-3) has computer readable program code for
determining a request signal for a requested differential coded
moving picture sequence signal on the basis of said i-th second
coded moving picture sequence signal stored by said computer
readable program code (Bi-2), said computer readable program code
(Bi-4) has computer readable program code for transmitting said
request signal for said requested differential coded moving picture
sequence signal determined by said computer readable program code
(Bi-3), said computer readable program code (Ai-6) has computer
readable program code for receiving said request signal transmitted
by said computer readable program code (Bi-4), said computer
readable program code (Ai-7) has computer readable program code for
extracting said requested differential coded moving picture
sequence signal from among coded moving picture sequence signals
stored by said computer readable program code (Ai-4) in response to
said request signal, said computer readable program code (Ai-8) has
computer readable program code for transmitting said requested
differential coded moving picture sequence signal extracted by said
computer readable program code (Ai-7) to said computer readable
program code (Bi), said computer readable program code (Bi-5) has
computer readable program code for receiving said requested
differential coded moving picture sequence signal transmitted by
said computer readable program code (Ai-8), said computer readable
program code (Bi-6) has computer readable program code for
extracting said i-th second coded moving picture sequence signal
from among coded moving picture sequence signals stored by said
computer readable program code (Bi-2), and said computer readable
program code (Bi-7) has computer readable program code for merging
said i-th second coded moving picture sequence signal extracted by
said computer readable program code (Bi-6) with said requested
differential coded moving picture sequence signal received by said
computer readable program code (Bi-5) to reconstruct said first
coded moving picture sequence signal.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to apparatuses, methods and
computer program products for separating and merging a coded moving
picture sequence signal, and more particularly, to apparatuses,
methods and computer program products for transcoding a first coded
moving picture sequence signal to separate into and generate a
second coded moving picture sequence signal and a differential
coded moving picture sequence signal, which is a difference between
the first coded moving picture sequence signal and the second coded
moving picture sequence signal, and merging the second coded moving
picture sequence signal and the differential coded moving picture
sequence signal to reconstruct the first coded moving picture
sequence signal.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] There have so far been proposed a wide variety of systems
for compressing and encoding a moving picture having a considerable
amount of data to produce a coded moving picture sequence signal.
The international standard, ISO-IEC 13818, was created for a system
operable to encode a digital video signal with an associated
digital audio signal and commonly called "Moving Picture Expert
Group Phase 2", i.e., "MPEG-2". In such an encoding system, the
coded moving picture sequence signal is outputted in the form of
bit streams. In particular, the bit streams conformable to the
above MPEG-2 standard will be referred to as "MPEG-2 bit streams"
hereinlater. Recently, the system of this type becomes more
utilizable for various technical fields, such as a communications
system, a television broadcasting service system, and so on.
[0005] The above MPEG-2 bit stream have a hierarchical structure
consisting of: in turn, a top, sequence layer; a GROUP OF PICTURES
layer; a picture layer; a slice layer, a macroblock layer; and a
low, block layer.
[0006] The typical encoder operates under the MPEG-2 standard
through a method of compressing and encoding a moving picture as
follows. The method comprises the steps of:
[0007] (a) inputting the moving picture sequence consisting of a
series of pictures;
[0008] (b) temporarily storing the series of pictures as frames in
memories, respectively;
[0009] (c) computing a difference between one frame and another
frame to eliminate redundancy in a time axis direction; and
[0010] (d) orthogonal transforming, e.g., discrete cosine
transforming (DCT), a plurality of picture elements within each of
the frames to eliminate redundancy in a spatial axis direction.
[0011] The encoder thus constructed can compress and encode the
moving picture to generate and output a coded moving picture
sequence signal in the form of the MPEG-2 bit stream through a
transmitting path at a predetermined bit rate. The coded moving
picture sequence signal is then transmitted from the encoder to a
decoder which is operated to decode the coded signal to reproduce
the moving picture. The typical decoder is operated to decode the
coded moving picture sequence signal through a so-called
bi-directionally predicting method which comprises the steps
of:
[0012] (a) storing one reproduced picture, generally referred to as
"intra-picture", i.e., "I-picture", in a first frame memory;
[0013] (b) estimating another picture generally referred to as
"predictive-picture", i.e., "P-picture", followed by the I-picture,
on the basis of the information on the difference between the
I-picture and P-picture;
[0014] (c) storing the estimated. P-picture in a second frame
memory; and
[0015] (d) estimating further another picture interposed between
the I-picture and P-picture, generally referred to as
"bi-directionally predictive-picture", i.e., "B-picture".
[0016] Here, the I-picture is encoded independently of the pictures
of the other types, so that an I-picture can be reproduced as a
single static image only by itself. A P-picture can be predicted on
the basis of the I-picture or another P-picture located on a
position prior to the P-picture to be encoded. I-picture is
referred to as "intra-picture" while P-picture and B-picture are
referred to as "inter-pictures".
[0017] In the above encoder, the amount of information on the coded
moving picture sequence signal is, however, variable. In
particular, the amount of information increases remarkably when a
scene is changed. The decoder is generally provided with an input
buffer for receiving the coded moving picture sequence signal from
the encoder. The input buffer of the decoder, however, has a
limited storage capacity. Therefore, when a large number of bits of
the coded moving picture sequence signal are transmitted from the
encoder to the decoder, the input buffer overflows with the bits of
the coded moving picture sequence signal thereby making the decoder
difficult to process the coded moving picture sequence signal. In
order to transmit such coded moving picture sequence signal having
a variable number of bits through the transmitting path at a
predetermined bit rate and to make it possible for any decoder to
receive the whole of the coded moving picture sequence signal
without overflow, the encoder comprises: an output buffer for
temporarily storing the coded moving picture sequence signal before
transmitting the coded moving picture sequence signal through the
transmitting path; and a rate controller for controlling the amount
of bits of the coded moving picture sequence signal stored in the
output buffer so as to keep the amount of bits of the coded moving
picture sequence signal to be transmitted to the decoder for a
predetermined time from exceeding the capacity of the input buffer
of the decoder, thereby controlling the bit rate of the coded
moving picture sequence signal.
[0018] A typical rate controlling method in MPEG-2 standard is
described in "ISO-IEC/JTC1/SC29/WG11/N0400 Test Model 5", April,
1993, hereinlater referred to as "TM-5". The rate controlling
method according to the TM-5 comprises the steps of:
[0019] (I) allocating a target number of bits to a picture of each
type on the basis of the total number of bits, i.e., R, available
to the pictures to be encoded in the GROUP OF PICTURES;
[0020] (II) computing the reference value of a quantization
parameter used for the quantization of each of macroblocks in the
picture on the basis of the utilization capacity of a "virtual
buffer" to perform the rate control; and
[0021] (III) modulating the reference value of the quantization
parameter in accordance with the spatial activity in the
macroblock.
[0022] Furthermore, there are many types of decoders. For instance,
a decoder is designed to decode the coded signal in a unique
compression format different from that of the MPEG-2 bit stream,
and another decoder is connectable to a transmitting path having a
different bit rate. The decoder of those types is therefore
required to provide with an apparatus, a so-called transcoder, for
converting the MPEG-2 bit streams into another appropriate coded
signal in a specified format having a required bit rate. The
transcoder makes it possible for the encoder to transmit the coded
signal to any types of decoders.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 14 of the drawings, there is shown a
transcoder of one typical type as a first conventional transcoder
50. The conventional transcoder 50 has an input terminal a.sub.1
electrically connected to a first transmitting path, not shown, and
an output terminal a.sub.2 electrically connected to a second
transmitting path, not shown. The conventional transcoder 50 is
designed to input first bit streams b.sub.1 at a predetermined
input bit rate through the input terminal a.sub.1, to convert the
first bit streams b.sub.1 into second bit streams b.sub.2 to be
outputted at a predetermined output bit rate, i.e., a target bit
rate, lower than the input bit rate of the inputted first bit
streams b.sub.1, and then to output the second bit streams b.sub.2
through the output terminal a.sub.2. The conventional transcoder 50
comprises a variable length decoder 51, referred to as "VLD" in the
drawings, an inverse quantizer 53, referred to as "IQ" in the
drawings, a quantizer 55, referred to as "Q" in the drawings, a
variable length encoder 57, referred to as "VLC" in the drawings,
and a rate controller 59.
[0024] The variable length decoder 51 is electrically connected to
the input terminal a.sub.1 and designed to decode a coded moving
picture sequence signal within the first bit streams b.sub.1
inputted through the input terminal a.sub.1 to reconstruct original
picture data for each of pictures including a matrix of original
quantization coefficients, referred to as "level", for each of
macroblocks within each of the pictures and an original
quantization parameter, hereinlater referred to as "first
quantization parameter Q.sub.1".
[0025] The inverse quantizer 53 is electrically connected to the
variable length decoder 51 and designed to input the matrix of
original quantization coefficients level from the variable length
decoder 51 and the first quantization parameter Q.sub.1. The
inverse quantizer 53 is further designed to inversely quantize the
inputted matrix of original quantization coefficients level with
the first quantization parameter Q.sub.1 to generate a matrix of
inverse-quantization coefficients, referred to as "dequant", i.e.,
DCT coefficients, for each of macroblocks as follows: or 1 dequant
= { 2 .times. level + sign ( level ) } .times. Q 1 .times. QM 32
equation ( a1 ) dequant = level .times. Q 1 .times. QM 16 equation
( a2 )
[0026] where the equation (a1) is used for the intra-picture while
the equation (a2) is used for the inter-picture. QM is a matrix of
quantization parameters stored in a predetermined quantization
table. The first quantization parameter Q.sub.1 and the matrix of
quantization parameters QM are derived from the inputted first bit
streams b.sub.1 by the decoder 51. Here, the original quantization
coefficients level, the inverse-quantization coefficients dequant,
the matrix of quantization parameters QM, and the first
quantization parameter Q.sub.1 are integers. The
inverse-quantization coefficients dequant calculated by the
equations (a1) and (a2) should be rounded down to the nearest
integer.
[0027] The quantizer 55 is electrically connected to the inverse
quantizer 53 and designed to input the matrix of
inverse-quantization coefficients dequant from the inverse
quantizer 53 and then quantize the inputted matrix of
inverse-quantization coefficients dequant for each of macroblocks
with a second quantization parameter, referred to as "Q.sub.2"
hereinlater, to generate a matrix of re-quantization coefficients,
referred to as "tlevel", as follows: 2 tlevel = dequant .times. 16
Q 2 .times. QM equation ( a3 ) tlevel = dequant .times. 16 Q 2
.times. QM + sign ( dequant ) .times. 1 2 equation ( a4 )
[0028] or
[0029] where the equation (a3) is used for the inter-picture, while
the equation (a4) is used for the intra-picture. The second
quantization parameter Q.sub.2 is obtained by the rate controller
59. Here, the re-quantization coefficients tlevel and the second
quantization parameter Q.sub.2 are also integers. The
re-quantization coefficients tlevel calculated by the equations
(a3) and (a4) should be rounded down to the nearest integer. Such
rounding operation for the integers will be omitted from the later
description for avoiding tedious repetition.
[0030] The variable length encoder 57 is electrically connected to
the quantizer 55 and designed to input the re-quantization
coefficients tlevel from the quantizer 55 and then encode the
inputted matrix of the re-quantization coefficients tlevel to
generate objective picture data for each of pictures to
sequentially output the objective picture data in the form of the
second bit streams b.sub.2 through the output terminal a.sub.2. The
variable length encoder 57 is further electrically connected to the
variable length decoder 51 and designed to input a diversity of
information data included in the first bit streams b.sub.1
necessary for the second bit streams b.sub.2 from the variable
length decoder 51.
[0031] The rate controller 59 is electrically connected to the
inverse quantizer 53 and designed to perform rate control process
in accordance with the TM-5 on the basis of the information
obtained from the inverse quantizer 53 as described below.
[0032] Referring to FIG. 15 of the drawings, there is shown a
flowchart of the rate controlling process in accordance with the
TM-5 carried out in the conventional transcoder 50. As shown in
FIG. 15, the rate controlling process comprises steps A1 to
A14.
[0033] In the step A1, "1" is assigned to a picture number variable
n representing the serial number of a picture within the first bit
streams b.sub.1. Hereinlater, a n-th picture in the first bit
streams b.sub.1 is referred to as "pic(n)".
[0034] In the following step A2, a global complexity measure,
referred to as X.sub.i, X.sub.p, or X.sub.b, for a picture of the
corresponding type, i.e., I, P or B-picture is computed as
follows:
X.sub.i=S.sub.i.times.Q.sub.i equation (a5)
[0035] or
X.sub.p=S.sub.p.times.Q.sup.p equation (a6)
[0036] or
X.sub.b=S.sub.b.times.Q.sub.b equation (a7)
[0037] where S.sub.i, S.sub.p, or S.sub.b is the number of bits
generated for an encoded I, P or B-picture, and Q.sub.i, Q.sub.p,
or Q.sub.b is the average quantization parameter computed by
averaging the actual quantization values used during the
quantization of the all macroblocks within I, P or B-picture. The
average quantization parameters Q.sub.i, Q.sub.p, and Q.sub.b are
normalized within a range of 1 to 31. The average quantization
parameters Q.sub.i, Q.sub.p, and Q.sub.b respectively correspond to
the first quantization parameters Q.sub.1 obtained from the
variable length decoder 51.
[0038] The global complexity measure X.sub.i, X.sub.p, or X.sub.b
of the corresponding picture is inversely proportional to the
compressing ratio of the moving picture, namely, the ratio of the
amount of information in the second bit streams b.sub.2 to that in
the first bit streams b.sub.1. Namely, as the amount of information
in the first bit streams b.sub.1 becomes larger, the compressing
ratio is decreased. Therefore, the global complexity measure
X.sub.i, X.sub.p, or X.sub.b of the corresponding picture becomes
larger, as the compressing ratio is decreased. In contrast, the
global complexity measure X.sub.i, X.sub.p, or X.sub.b of the
corresponding picture becomes smaller, as the compressing ratio is
increased.
[0039] The initial value of global complexity measure X.sub.i,
X.sub.p, or X.sub.b of the corresponding picture is given as
follows:
X.sub.i=160.times.Target_Bitrate/115 equation (a8)
[0040] or
X.sub.p=60.times.Target_Bitrate/115 equation (a9)
[0041] or
X.sub.b=42.times.Target_Bitrate/115 equation (a10)
[0042] where Target_Bitrate is measured in bits/s and corresponds
to the target bit rate of the first conventional transcoder 50.
[0043] In the following step A3, the target number of bits for a
picture of the corresponding type, i.e., I, P or B-picture to be
encoded in the current GROUP OF PICTURES, referred to as T.sub.i,
T.sub.p, or T.sub.b is computed as: 3 T i = R 1 + N p X p X i K p +
N b X b X i K b or equation ( a 11 ) T p = R N p + N b K p X b K b
X p or equation ( a12 ) T b = R N b + N p K b X p K p X b equation
( a13 )
[0044] where N.sub.p and N.sub.b are the number of P-pictures and
B-pictures remained not yet encoded in the current GROUP OF
PICTURES, respectively. K.sub.p and K.sub.b are constants computed
on the basis of the ratio of the quantization value of P-picture to
the quantization value of I-picture, and the ratio of the
quantization parameter of B-picture to the quantization value of
I-picture, respectively. It is assumed that the quality of the
whole image will be always optimized with K.sub.p=1.0 and
K.sub.b=1.4.
[0045] In the following step A4, it is judged upon whether the
picture number variable n is "1" or not, i.e., the current picture
is the first picture pic(1) or not. When it is judged that the
picture number variable n is. "1", i.e., the current picture is the
first picture pic(1), the step A4 goes forward to the step A5.
When, on the other hand, it is judged that the picture number
variable n is not "1", i.e., the current picture is not the first
picture, the step A4 goes forward to the step A6. In the step A5,
the total number of bits available to the pictures to be encoded in
the current GROUP OF PICTURES, i.e., the remaining number of bits
available to the GROUP OF PICTURES, hereinlater referred to as R,
is initialized in accordance with the following equation (a14).
This remaining number of bits available to the GROUP OF PICTURES R
before encoding the first picture pic(1) within the GROUP OF
PICTURES is computed as follows:
R=Target_Bitrate.times.NPIC/picture_rate+R equation (a14)
[0046] where NPIC is the total number of pictures of any type in
the GROUP OF PICTURES, and picture_rate is expressed in the number
of pictures decoded and indicated per second. At the start of the
sequence R=0.
[0047] In the step A6, the above remaining number of bits available
to the GROUP OF PICTURES R before encoding the current picture
pic(n) is updated as follows:
R=R-S.sub.i equation (a15)
[0048] or
R=R-S.sub.p equation (a16)
[0049] or
R=R-S.sub.b equation(a17)
[0050] where S.sub.i, S.sub.p, or S.sub.b is the number of bits
generated in the previously encoded picture pic(n-1) of the
corresponding type (L P or B).
[0051] The step A5 or A6 goes forward to the step A7 wherein "1."
is assigned to a macroblock number variable j (j>=1)
representing the serial number of a macroblock within one of the
pictures. Hereinlater, the j-th macroblock in the picture is
referred to as "MB(j)".
[0052] In the following step A8, a utilization volume of the
capacity of a virtual buffer for I, P or B-pictures, referred to as
d.sub.i), d.sub.p(j) or d.sub.b(i), before encoding the macroblock
MB(j) is computed as follows: 4 d i ( j ) = d i ( 0 ) + B ( j - 1 )
- T i .times. ( j - 1 ) NMB or equation ( a18 ) d p ( j ) = d p ( 0
) + B ( j - 1 ) - T p .times. ( j - 1 ) NMB or equation ( a19 ) d b
( j ) = d b ( 0 ) + B ( j - 1 ) - T b .times. ( j - 1 ) NMB
equation ( a20 )
[0053] where B(j-1) is the total number of bits generated for
encoded macroblocks in the picture up to and including the (j--1)th
macroblock MB(j--1). NMB is the total number of macroblocks in the
picture. d.sub.i(j), d.sub.p(j), or d.sub.b(j) is the utilization
volume of the capacity of the virtual buffer at the j-th macroblock
MB(j) for I, P, or B-picture.
[0054] d.sub.i(0), d.sub.p(0), or d.sub.b(0) is the initial
utilization volume of the virtual buffer for I, P, or B-picture and
given by:
d.sub.i(0)=10.times.r/31. equation (a21)
[0055] or
d.sub.p(0)=K.sub.p.times.di(0) equation (a22)
[0056] or
d.sub.b(0)=K.sub.b.times.d.sub.i(0) equation (a23)
[0057] where r is referred to as "reaction parameter" and used for
the control of the reaction rate of the feed back loop as
follows:
r=2.times.Target_Bitrate/picture_rate equation (a24)
[0058] The final utilization volume of the virtual buffer, referred
to as, d.sub.i(NMB), d.sub.p(NMB), or d.sub.b(NMB) of the last
macroblock, i.e., NMB-th macroblock MB(NMB) of the current picture
pic(n) will be used as the initial utilization volume of the
virtual buffer for I, P, or B-picture, i.e., d.sub.i(0),
d.sub.p(0), or d.sub.b(0) of the same type to encode the first
macroblock MB(1) within the next picture pic(n+1).
[0059] In the following step A9, the reference quantization
parameter Q(j) of the j-th macroblock MB(j) for each of the
pictures is computed on the basis of the aforesaid utilization
volume of the virtual buffer, i.e., d(j) as follows:
Q(j)=d(j).times.31/r equation (a25)
[0060] Here, the reference quantization parameter Q(j) is identical
with the aforesaid second quantization parameter Q.sub.2 of the
j-th macroblock MB(j).
[0061] In the following step A10, the j-th macroblock MB(j) is
quantized with the reference quantization parameter Q(j) computed
in the step A9. In the following step A11, the macroblock number
variable j is incremented by one. The step A11 goes forward to the
step A12 wherein it is judged upon whether the macroblock number
variable j is more than the total number of macroblocks NMB within
the n-th picture pic(n) or not. When it is judged that the
macroblock number variable j is not more than the total number of
macroblocks NMB within the n-th picture pic(n), the step A12
returns to the step A8. When, on the other hand, it is judged that
the macroblock number variable j is more than the total number of
macroblocks NMB within the n-th picture pic(n), the step A12 goes
forward to the step A13.
[0062] The macroblock number variable j thus serves as a loop
counter for repeating the process from the steps A8 to A11 to
encode all the macroblocks from the 1st macroblock MB(1) up to the
j-th macroblock MB(j) in the present picture pic(n). The entire
macroblocks starting from the first macroblock MB(1) up to the
NMB-th macroblock MB(NMB) in the n-th picture pic(n) can be thus
encoded sequentially.
[0063] In the step A13, the picture number variable n is
incremented by one. Then the step A13 goes forward to the step A14
wherein it is judged upon whether the picture number variable n is
more than the total number of pictures, i.e., NPIC or not. When it
is judged that the picture number variable n is not more than the
total number of pictures, NPIC, the step A14 returns to the step
A2. When, on the other hand, it is judged that the picture number
variable n is more than the total number of pictures, NPIC, this
routine of the rate controlling process is terminated. The picture
number variable n thus serves as a loop counter for repeating the
process from steps A2 to A13 to process all the pictures from the
first picture pic(1) to the n-th picture pic(n) in the present
GROUP OF PICTURES. The entire pictures starting from the first
picture pic(1) up to the NPIC-th picture pic(NPIC), in the present
GROUP OF PICTURES can be therefore processed sequentially.
[0064] The aforesaid conventional transcoder 50, however, can
obtain no information on the structure of GROUP OF PICTURES such as
a picture cycle of I or P-pictures within each of the GROUP OF
PICTURES, so that the transcoder 50 must estimate the structure of
GROUP OF PICTURES within the inputted moving picture sequence
signal to allocate the number of bits to pictures of each type
within the estimated structure of GROUP OF PICTURES.
[0065] Furthermore, the first conventional transcoder 50 is
required to decode the first bit streams b.sub.1 almost all over
the layers such as the sequence layer, the GROUP OF PICTURES layer,
the picture layer, the slice layer and the macroblock layer in
order to derive necessary data for transcoding the first bit
streams b.sub.1 into the second bit streams b.sub.2. The operation
takes time, thereby causing the delay in the transcoding
process.
[0066] Referring to FIG. 16 of the drawings, there is shown an
improvement of the above transcoder 50 as a second conventional
transcoder 60. The second conventional transcoder 60 is operated to
perform the rate control without estimating the structure of GROUP
OF PICTURES. As shown in FIG. 16, the second conventional
transcoder 60 comprises a delay circuit 61 and a rate controller 62
in addition to the variable length decoder 51, the inverse
quantizer 53, the quantizer 55 and the variable length encoder 57
same as those of the first conventional transcoder 50 shown in FIG.
14. The same constitutional elements are simply represented by the
same reference numerals as those of the conventional transcoder 50,
and will be thus omitted from description for avoiding tedious
repetition.
[0067] The delay circuit 61 is interposed between the variable
length decoder 51 and the inverse quantizer 53 and designed to
control the flow of the signal from the variable length decoder 51
to the inverse quantizer 53. The delay circuit 61 is operated to
delay the operation start time of the inverse quantizer 53 so that
the inverse quantizer 53 does not start the inverse-quantizing
process until the variable length decoder 51 terminates the process
of decoding one of the pictures in the coded moving picture
sequence signal.
[0068] As shown in FIG. 16, the rate controller 62 of the second
conventional transcoder 60 includes a target ratio computing unit
63, an input bit summing unit 65, a bit difference computing unit
67, a target output bit updating unit 69, and a quantization
parameter computing unit 71.
[0069] The target ratio computing unit 63 is electrically connected
to the variable length decoder 51 and designed to input an input
bit rate of the first bit streams b.sub.1, hereinlater referred to
as "Input_Bitrate", from the variable length decoder 51, and input
a target bit rate, hereinlater referred to as "Target_Bitrate"
through a terminal a.sub.3. Alternatively, the target bit rate
Target_Bitrate may have been stored in an internal memory, or
determined on the basis of internal switches. The target ratio
computing unit 63 is designed to then compute a target ratio,
hereinlater referred to as "ioRatio" of the target bit rate
Target_Bitrate to the input bit rate Input_Bitrate for each of
pictures as follows: 5 ioRatio = Target_Bitrate Input_Bitrate
equation ( a26 )
[0070] The input bit summing unit 65 is designed to sum up the
number of inputting bits of the picture decoded by the variable
length decoder 51 to produce the total number of inputting bits,
hereinlater referred to as "T.sub.in". On the other hand, the
target output bit updating unit 69 is designed to compute a target
number of outputting bits to be generated by the variable length
encoder 57, hereinlater referred to as "T.sub.out". The target
number of outputting bits T.sub.out is computed by multiplying the
total number of inputting bits T.sub.in by the target ratio ioRatio
as follows:
T.sub.out=T.sub.in.times.ioRatio equation (a27)
[0071] The bit difference computing unit 67 is electrically
connected to the variable length encoder 57 and the target output
bit updating unit 69, and designed to input a real number of
outputting bits encoded by the variable length encoder 57,
hereinlater referred to as "T.sub.real", and input the target
number of outputting bits T.sub.out. The bit difference computing
unit 67 is designed to then compute a difference between the target
number of outputting bits T.sub.out and the real number of
outputting bits T.sub.real, hereinlater referred to as a
"difference number of bits", i.e., "T.sub.diff" as follows:
T.sub.diff=T.sub.ral-T.sub.out equation (a28)
[0072] The target output bit updating unit 69 is electrically
connected to the target ratio computing unit 63, the input bit
summing unit 65, and the bit difference computing unit 67. The
target output bit updating unit 69 is designed to update the target
number of outputting bits T.sub.out on the basis of the difference
number of bits T.sub.diff as follows:
T.sub.out=T.sub.out-T.sub.diff equation (a29)
[0073] The quantization parameter computing unit 71 is electrically
connected to the target output bit updating unit 69 and designed to
compute the reference quantization parameter Q(j) for each of
macroblocks MB(j) on the basis of the target outputting bits
T.sub.out updated by the target output bit updating unit 69 in
accordance with the step II of the TM-5.
[0074] FIG. 17 shows the flowchart of the rate controlling process
performed by the above conventional transcoder 60. The rate
controlling process performed in the transcoder 60 comprises the
steps B1 to B13. The steps B6 to B13 are almost the same as those
of the steps A7 to A14, respectively, in the rate controlling
process shown in FIG. 15 except for the step B7 wherein the
utilization volume of the capacity of the virtual buffer is
computed on the basis of the target number of outputting bits
T.sub.out given by the target output bit updating unit 69 instead
of the target number of bits T.sub.i, T.sub.p or T.sub.b computed
in the step A3 shown in FIG. 15. The same steps will be thus
omitted from description for avoiding tedious repetition.
[0075] In the step B1, "1" is assigned to the picture number
variable n. The step B1 then goes forward to the step B2 wherein
the target ratio ioRatio is computed by the above equation (a26).
In the following step B3, the difference number of bits T.sub.diff
is computed for the present picture pic(n) by the above equation
(a28). The step B3 then goes forward to the step B4 wherein the
number of inputting bits T.sub.diff is summed up within the first
bit streams b.sub.1. In the step B5, the target number of
outputting bits T.sub.out is computed by the above equation (a27),
and further updated by the above equation (a29).
[0076] In the second conventional transcoder 60 thus constructed,
the inverse quantizer 53, however, cannot start the
inverse-quantization process until the target transcoding frame is
completely decoded, thereby causing the delay in the transcoding
process.
[0077] Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19 of the drawings, there is shown
another improvement of the above transcoder 50 as a third
conventional transcoder 80. The third conventional transcoder 80 is
also adaptable to perform the rate control without estimating the
structure of GROUP OF PICTURES. As shown in FIG. 18, the third
conventional transcoder 80 comprises an input terminal a.sub.1
electrically connected to a first transmitting path and designed to
input an input bit streams b.sub.3 at the input bit rate, and an
output terminal a.sub.2 electrically connected to a second
transmitting path and designed to output an output bit streams
b.sub.4 at the target bit rate. In the third conventional
transcoder 80, the input bit streams b.sub.3 may have a format,
non-adaptable for the MPEG-2, different from that of the bit
streams b.sub.1 of the first and second conventional transcoders 50
and 60. The input bit streams b.sub.3 have information on the
number of coding bits previously recorded thereon by the encoder,
not shown.
[0078] The third conventional transcoder 80 comprises a variable
length decoder 81 electrically connected to the input terminal
a.sub.1, and a rate controller 82 in addition to the inverse
quantizer 53, the quantizer 55, and the variable length encoder 57
which are same in construction as those of the second transcoder 60
shown in FIG. 16. The rate controller 82 includes a target output
bit updating unit 83, and a quantization parameter computing unit
85 in addition to the target ratio computing unit 63, and the bit
difference computing unit 67 which are same as those of the second
transcoder 60 shown in FIG. 16.
[0079] The third conventional transcoder 80 thus constructed can
perform the rate control on the basis of the formation on the
number of coding bits previously recorded in the input bit streams
b.sub.3. The variable length decoder 81 is operated to decode the
coded moving picture sequence signal within the third bit streams
b.sub.3 to reconstruct the pictures and the information on the
number of coding bits, and transmit the information to the inverse
quantizer 53. The variable length decoder 81 is also operated to
transmit the number of inputting bits T.sub.in to the target output
bit updating unit 83.
[0080] The outputting bit updating unit 83 is designed to compute
the target number of outputting bits T.sub.out on the basis of the
number of inputting bits T.sub.in and the target ratio ioRatio by
the above equation (a26). The quantization parameter computing unit
85 is designed to compute the reference quantization parameter Q(j)
of the macroblocks MB(j) for each of pictures on the basis of the
target number of outputting bits T.sub.out updated by the
outputting bit updating unit 83 in accordance with the step II in
the TM-5. The quantizer 55 is then operated to quantize the j-th
macroblock MB(j) on the basis of the reference quantization
parameter Q(j) given by the quantization parameter computing unit
85.
[0081] FIG. 19 shows the flowchart of the rate controlling process
performed by the above third conventional transcoder 80. The rate
controlling process performed in the transcoder 80 comprises the
steps C1 to C13. All the steps C1 to C13 are the same as those of
the steps B1 to B13, respectively, in the rate controlling process
shown in FIG. 17 except for the step C4 wherein the number of
inputting bits T.sub.in in the current picture pic(n) is derived
from the third bit streams b.sub.3 by the decoder 81 to compute the
total number of inputting bits T.sub.in.
[0082] The third conventional transcoder 80 thus constructed has
information on the number of coding bits previously recorded in the
third bit streams b3 thereby making it possible to solve the
problem of the delay in the second conventional transcoder 60. The
third conventional transcoder 80, however, encounters another
problem to restrict the form of the inputted bit streams. Moreover,
the encoder which is linked with the third transcoder 80 must
provide with the above information on the number of coding bits to
be recorded in the bit streams, thereby causing the delay of
process in the encoder.
[0083] In the conventional transcoders 50, 60 and 80, the matrix of
the inverse-quantization coefficients dequant is necessary for only
the quantizer 55, but unnecessary for the transcoder itself to
generate the desired bit streams. In order to eliminate the
redundant matrix of the inverse-quantization coefficients dequant,
there is proposed a fourth conventional transcoder 90 comprising a
level converter 91 instead of the inverse quantizer 53 and the
quantizer 55 of the transcoder 50, as shown in FIG. 20.
[0084] The level converter 91 is interposed between the variable
length decoder 51 and the variable length encoder 57. The level
converter 91 is designed to input the original picture data for
each of pictures. The original picture data includes a matrix of
original quantization coefficients level for each of macroblocks
within the corresponding picture. The level converter 91 is
electrically connected to the rate controller 59 and designed to
input the second quantization parameter Q.sub.2 from the rate
controller 59.
[0085] The level converter 91 is further designed to convert the
original picture data for each of pictures including the matrix of
original quantization coefficients level into the objective picture
data including the matrix of re-quantization coefficients level
without generating the matrix of the inverse-quantization
coefficients dequant. The following equations (30a) and (31a) for
the matrix of re-quantization coefficients tlevel are lead by
eliminating the matrix of the inverse-quantization coefficients
dequant from the above equations (a1), (a2), (a3) and (a4). 6
tlevel = { ( level + sign ( level ) .times. 1 2 } .times. Q 1 Q 2
equation ( 30 a ) tlevel = level .times. Q 1 Q 2 + sign ( level ) 2
equation ( 31 a )
[0086] where the above equation (30a) is used for the
inter-picture, while the above equation (31 a) is used for the
intra-picture. The level converter 91 is thus operable to convert
the original picture data, for each of pictures, into the second
picture data with the first quantization parameter Q.sub.1 and the
second quantization parameter Q.sub.2. The first quantization
parameter Q.sub.1 is decoded from the first bit streams b.sub.1 by
the variable length decoder 51, while the second quantization
parameter Q.sub.2 is obtained from the rate controller 59.
[0087] In the fourth conventional transcoder 90, the rate
controller 59 is designed to perform the rate control over the
encoding process in the transcoder 90 according to the TM-5. The
variable length encoder 57 is electrically connected to the level
converter 91 and to input the above matrix of re-quantization
coefficients tlevel from the level converter 91.
[0088] The fourth conventional transcoder 90 thus constructed can
efficiently perform the transcoding process at high speed without
storing the matrix of inverse-quantization coefficients dequant in
a memory.
[0089] The above conventional transcoders 50, 60, 80 and 90,
however, encounter another problem with the rate-distortion
performance in converting the quantization level occurred as a
result of the re-quantization operation since they cannot obtain
all the information on original picture data before the
quantization operation. In short, the rate-distortion performance
in converting the quantization level is unstable and variable in
accordance with the first and second quantization parameters and
the level of the original quantization coefficients level.
Therefore, as the amount of reduced information becomes larger, the
quantization error is liable to increase, thereby causing unstable
rate control in transcoding.
[0090] The applicant of the present application filed a U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/604,973 on Jun. 28, 2000.
[0091] The applicant disclosed therein an apparatus, a method and a
computer program product for transcoding a coded moving picture
sequence signal, being operable to compute an optimized
re-quantization parameter on the basis of the inverse-quantization
parameter and the previously computed re-quantization parameter in
consideration of the characteristics of the rate-distortion
performance dependent on the re-quantization parameter and the
inverse-quantization parameter.
[0092] The apparatus disclosed therein comprising an inverse
quantizer for performing the inverse-quantization operation and a
quantizer for performing the quantization operation, is
characterized in that the apparatus further comprises quantization
parameter switching means for switching the quantization parameter
in consideration of the characteristics of the rate-distortion
performance dependent on the inputted quantization parameter,
thereby making it possible for the apparatus to minimize the
quantization error occurred when the matrix of original
quantization coefficients is transformed to the matrix of
re-quantization coefficients.
[0093] In the meantime, different techniques have been found such
as data partitioning and SNR scalability for dividing picture
signals conveying picture information into two separate picture
signals consisting of base layer picture signal indicative of basic
picture information and enhancement layer picture signal indicative
of high quality picture information in order to prevent the quality
of picture from deteriorating.
[0094] More particularly, the data partitioning provides a method
of dividing bit streams conveying picture information into two
separate bit streams consisting of base layer bit streams conveying
low-frequency DCT coefficients and enhancement layer bit streams
conveying high-frequency DCT coefficients before encoding, and the
base layer bit streams and enhancement layer bit streams thus
divided are recombined before decoding. Original picture
information can be roughly decoded and reproduced from the base
layer bit streams conveying low-frequency DCT coefficients, but not
from the enhancement layer bit streams conveying high-frequency DCT
coefficients alone. The high-quality original picture information
can be decoded and reproduced from the recombination of the base
layer bit streams conveying low-frequency DCT coefficients and the
enhancement layer bit streams conveying high-frequency DCT
coefficients.
[0095] The SNR scalability provides a method of dividing picture
signals containing picture information into two separate picture
signals consisting of base layer picture signals containing low-SNR
image information and enhancement layer picture signals containing
auxiliary information before encoding. The method of SNR
scalability will be described in detail. The original picture
signals have original DCT coefficients. The quantizer is operated
to roughly quantize base layer bit picture signals containing
low-SNR image information to generate low-SNR bit streams. The
inverse quantizer is operated to inversely quantize the low-SNR bit
streams thus generated to roughly reproduce DCT coefficients. Then,
the difference information between the original DCT coefficients
and the reproduced DCT coefficients is extracted and quantized to
generate the enhancement layer picture signals. The enhancement
layer picture signals thus generated are used as auxiliary
information in combination with the base layer picture signals
(low-SNR signals) to reproduce high-SNR signals.
[0096] The above described methods, however, encounter a problem of
reducing the quality of service, i.e., QoS. The transcoding process
above described is non-reversible. The transcoder, in general, is
operated to decode and inversely quantize DCT coefficients of input
bit streams and re-quantize the DCT coefficients thus inversely
quantized with re-quantization parameters greater then the original
quantization parameters to reduce the bit rate. This means that the
input bit streams before the transcoding operation cannot be
reproduced from the transcoded bit streams. This leads to the fact
that the QoS for the input bit streams cannot be reproduced.
[0097] The data partitioning method permits to divide bit streams
into two separate bit streams consisting of base layer bit streams
indicative of low-frequency DCT coefficients and enhancement layer
bit streams indicative of high-frequency DCT coefficients before
encoding. There is, however, provided no method of dividing MPEG-2
bit streams in conformance with MP@ML, which are not in a
hierarchical structure, into base layer bit streams and enhancement
layer bit streams. Furthermore, although the data partitioning
method may permit to divide bit streams into the base layer bit
streams and enhancement layer bit streams before encoding, a
decoder conforming to MP@ML cannot decode the base layer bit
streams and enhancement layer bit streams thus divided.
[0098] According to the syntax of the data partitioning, the code
specifying a boundary between low-frequency coefficients and
high-frequency coefficients is defined as "Priority_break_point",
which makes it possible for a decoder to distinguish the
low-frequency coefficients from the high-frequency coefficients.
The decoder conforming to MP@ML, on the other hand, cannot
recognize "Priority_break_point". Furthermore, the bit streams
indicative of low-frequency coefficients include no EOB code,
thereby making it impossible for the MP@ML decoder to reproduce the
bit streams indicative of low-frequency coefficients. This leads to
the fact that the data partitioning method requires a decoder
dedicated to the data partitioning method in place of the decoder
conforming to MP@ML.
[0099] Similarly to the data partitioning, the SNR scalability
method permits to divide bit streams into two separate bit streams
consisting of base layer bit streams containing low-SNR signals and
enhancement layer bit streams containing the auxiliary information
before encoding. An encoder conforming to MP@ML, however, cannot
divide bit streams into base layer bit streams containing low-SNR
signals and enhancement layer bit streams containing the auxiliary
information and encode the base layer bit streams and enhancement
layer bit streams thus divided. Nor can a decoder conforming to
MP@ML decode the base layer bit streams and the enhancement layer
bit streams. This leads to the fact that the SNR scalability method
requires an encoder and a decoder dedicated to the SNR scalability
in place of the encoder and decoder conforming to MP@ML.
[0100] Furthermore, the base layer bit streams and the enhancement
layer bit streams are required to be processed in parallel, thereby
making it complex and difficult to design such SNR scalability
conformable encoder and decoder. Moreover, the SNR scalability
conformable decoder is operated to receive the base layer bit
streams and the enhancement layer bit streams to reproduce and
output original picture signals but not in the form of bit streams.
This means that the picture signal thus reproduced and outputted
must be transcoded again if it is required be in the form of bit
streams.
[0101] That the above data partitioning and SNR scalability
operations require respective dedicated encoders and decoders is
attributed to the fact that the respective decoders and encoders
are operative to perform the process of dividing bit streams into
base layer bit streams and the enhancement layer bit streams, and
the process of recombining the base layer bit streams and the
enhancement layer bit streams to reconstruct original bit
streams.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0102] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide an apparatus for transcoding a first coded moving picture
sequence signal to separate into and generate a second coded moving
picture sequence signal and a differential coded moving picture
sequence signal, which is a difference between the first coded
moving picture sequence signal and the second coded moving picture
sequence signal.
[0103] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
method of transcoding a first coded moving picture sequence signal
to separate into and generate a second coded moving picture
sequence signal and a differential coded moving picture sequence
signal, which is a difference between the first coded moving
picture sequence signal and the second coded moving picture
sequence signal.
[0104] It is further object of the present invention to provide a
computer program product for transcoding a first coded moving
picture sequence signal to separate into and generate a second
coded moving picture sequence signal and a differential coded
moving picture sequence signal, which is a difference between the
first coded moving picture sequence signal and the second coded
moving picture sequence signal.
[0105] It is a still further object of the present invention to
provide an apparatus for merging a second coded moving picture
sequence signal and a differential coded moving picture sequence
signal, which is a difference between the first coded moving
picture sequence signal and a second coded moving picture sequence
signal, to reconstruct the first coded moving picture sequence
signal.
[0106] It is a yet further object of the present invention to
provide a method of merging a second coded moving picture sequence
signal and a differential coded moving picture sequence signal,
which is a difference between the first coded moving picture
sequence signal and a second coded moving picture sequence signal,
to reconstruct the first coded moving picture sequence signal.
[0107] It is further object of the present invention to provide a
computer program for merging a second coded moving picture sequence
signal and a differential coded moving picture sequence signal,
which is a difference between the first coded moving picture
sequence signal and a second coded moving picture sequence signal,
to reconstruct the first coded moving picture sequence signal.
[0108] In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is
provided a coded signal separating and merging system comprising: a
coded signal separating apparatus for inputting a first coded
moving picture sequence signal to separate into a second coded
moving picture sequence signal and a differential coded moving
picture sequence signal; and a coded signal merging apparatus for
inputting the second coded moving picture sequence signal and the
differential coded moving picture sequence signal to reconstruct
the first coded moving picture sequence signal.
[0109] The aforesaid coded signal separating apparatus includes:
inputting means for inputting the first coded moving picture
sequence signal therethrough, the first coded moving picture
sequence signal generated as a result of encoding original moving
picture sequence signal and consisting of a series of first picture
information having first coefficient information, the first
coefficient information including a matrix of first coefficients;
coded signal converting means for converting the first coded moving
picture sequence signal inputted through the inputting means to
generate the second coded moving picture sequence signal, the
second coded moving picture sequence signal consisting of a series
of second picture information having second coefficient
information, the second coefficient information including a matrix
of second coefficients, each of the first coded moving picture
sequence signal, and the second coded moving picture sequence
signal is in the form of a hierarchical structure including one or
more sequence layers each having a plurality of screens sharing
common information, one or more picture layers each having a
plurality of slices sharing common information with respect to one
of the screens, one or more slice layers each having a plurality of
macroblocks with respect to one of the slices, one or more
macroblock layers each having a plurality of blocks with respect to
one of the macroblocks, and one or more block layers each having
block information with respect to one of the blocks; differential
coded signal generating means for inputting the first coded moving
picture sequence signal and the second coded moving picture
sequence signal from the coded signal converting means to generate
a differential coded moving picture sequence signal on the basis of
the first coefficient information obtained from the series of first
picture information of the first coded moving picture sequence
signal, and the second coefficient information obtained from the
series of the second picture information of the second coded moving
picture sequence signal, the differential coded moving picture
sequence signal being a difference between the first coded moving
picture sequence signal and the second coded moving picture
sequence signal; separating storage means for selectively storing
the first coded moving picture sequence signal, the second coded
moving picture sequence signal, and the differential coded moving
picture sequence signal; and first transmission means for
selectively transmitting the first coded moving picture sequence
signal, the second coded moving picture sequence signal, and the
differential coded moving picture sequence signal to the coded
signal merging apparatus.
[0110] The aforesaid coded signal merging apparatus includes first
receiving means for receiving a base coded moving picture sequence
signal transmitted by the first transmission means from the coded
signal separating apparatus, the base coded moving picture sequence
signal being any one of the first coded moving picture sequence
signal, the second coded moving picture sequence signal, and the
differential coded moving picture sequence signal; merging storage
means for storing the base coded moving picture sequence signal
received by the first receiving means; request signal determining
means for determining a request signal for a requested coded moving
picture sequence signal on the basis of the base coded moving
picture sequence signal stored by the merging storage means; and
request signal transmission means for transmitting the request
signal for the requested coded moving picture sequence signal
determined by the request signal determining means to the coded
signal separating apparatus.
[0111] In the aforesaid coded signal separating apparatus may
further include: request signal receiving means for receiving the
request signal transmitted by the request signal transmission means
from the coded signal merging apparatus; separating coded signal
extracting means for extracting the requested coded moving picture
sequence signal from the separating storage means in response to
the request signal; and second transmission means for transmitting
the requested coded moving picture sequence signal extracted by the
separating coded signal extracting means to the coded signal
merging apparatus.
[0112] In the aforesaid coded signal merging apparatus may further
include: second receiving means for receiving the requested coded
moving picture sequence signal transmitted by the second
transmission means from the coded signal separating apparatus;
merging coded signal extracting means for extracting the base coded
moving picture sequence signal from the merging storage means;
merging means for merging the base coded moving picture sequence
signal extracted by the merging coded signal extracting means with
the requested coded moving picture sequence signal received by the
second receiving means on the basis of the second coefficient
information obtained from the series of second picture information
of the second coded moving picture sequence signal, and the
differential coefficient information obtained from the differential
coded signal to reconstruct the first coded moving picture sequence
signal; and outputting means for inputting the reconstructed first
coded moving picture sequence signal from the merging means to be
outputted therethrough.
[0113] In the above mentioned coded signal separating and merging
system, the separating storage means of the coded signal separating
apparatus is operative to store the differential coded moving
picture sequence signal generated by the differential coded signal
generating means, the first transmission means is operative to
transmit the second coded moving picture sequence signal generated
by the coded signal converting means, the first receiving means of
the coded signal merging apparatus is operative to receive the
second coded moving picture sequence signal transmitted by the
first transmission means, the merging storage means is operative to
store the second coded moving picture sequence signal received by
the first receiving means, the request signal determining means is
operative to determine a request signal for a requested
differential coded moving picture sequence signal on the basis of
the second coded moving picture sequence signal stored by the
merging storage means, the request signal transmission means is
operative to transmit the request signal for the requested
differential coded moving picture sequence signal determined by the
request signal determining means, the request signal receiving
means of the coded signal separating apparatus is operative to
receive the request signal transmitted by the request signal
transmission means, the separating coded signal extracting means is
operative to extract the requested differential coded moving
picture sequence signal from the separating storage means in
response to the request signal, the second transmission means is
operative to transmit the requested differential coded moving
picture sequence signal extracted by the separating coded signal
extracting means to the coded signal merging apparatus, the second
receiving means of the coded signal merging apparatus is operative
to receive the requested differential coded moving picture sequence
signal transmitted by the second transmission means from the coded
signal separating apparatus, the merging coded signal extracting
means is operative to extract the second coded moving picture
sequence signal from the merging storage means, and the merging
means is operative to merge the second coded moving picture
sequence signal extracted by the merging coded signal extracting
means with the requested differential coded moving picture sequence
signal received by the second receiving means to reconstruct the
first coded moving picture sequence signal.
[0114] In the above mentioned coded signal separating and merging
system, the coded signal merging apparatus further includes second
coded moving picture sequence signal decoding means for decoding
the second coded moving picture sequence signal received by the
first receiving means.
[0115] In the above mentioned coded signal separating and merging
system, the coded signal merging apparatus further includes editing
means for cutting and combining component parts of the second coded
moving picture sequence signal stored by the merging storage means
to generate an edited second coded moving picture sequence signal
in a desired size, the request signal determining means is
operative to determine a request signal for a requested
differential coded moving picture sequence signal on the basis of
the edited second coded moving picture sequence signal generated by
the editing means, the request signal transmission means is
operative to transmit the request signal for the requested
differential coded moving picture sequence signal determined by the
request signal determining means to the coded signal separating
apparatus, the separating coded signal extracting means of the
separating coded signal separating apparatus is operative to
extract the requested differential coded moving picture sequence
signal from the separating storage means in response to the request
signal, and the merging means is operative to merge the edited
second coded moving picture sequence signal generated by the
editing means with the requested differential coded moving picture
sequence signal received by the second receiving means to
reconstruct the first coded moving picture sequence signal in the
desired size.
[0116] In the above mentioned coded signal separating and merging
system, the separating storage means of the coded signal separating
apparatus is operative to store the second coded moving picture
sequence signal generated by the coded signal converting means, the
first transmission means is operative to transmit the differential
coded moving picture sequence signal generated by the differential
coded signal generating means to the coded signal merging
apparatus, the first receiving means of the coded signal merging
apparatus is operative to receive the differential coded moving
picture sequence signal transmitted by the first transmission
means, the merging storage means is operative to store the
differential coded moving picture sequence signal received by the
first receiving means, request signal determining means is
operative to determine a request signal for a requested second
coded moving picture sequence signal on the basis of the
differential coded moving picture sequence signal stored by the
merging storage means, the request signal transmission means is
operative to transmit the request signal for the requested second
coded moving picture sequence signal determined by the request
signal determining means, the request signal receiving means of the
coded signal separating apparatus is operative to receive the
request signal transmitted by the request signal transmission
means, the separating coded signal extracting means is operative to
extract the requested second coded moving picture sequence signal
from the separating storage means in response to the request
signal, the second transmission means is operative to transmit the
requested second coded moving picture sequence signal extracted by
the separating coded signal extracting means to the coded signal
merging apparatus, the second receiving means of the coded signal
merging apparatus is operative to receive the requested second
coded moving picture sequence signal transmitted by the second
transmission means from the coded signal separating apparatus, the
merging coded signal extracting means is operative to extract the
differential coded moving picture sequence signal stored by the
merging storage means, and the merging means is operative to merge
the differential coded moving picture sequence signal extracted by
the merging coded signal extracting means with the second coded
moving picture sequence signal received by the second receiving
means to reconstruct the first coded moving picture sequence
signal.
[0117] In the above mentioned coded signal separating and merging
system, the first transmission means of the coded signal separating
apparatus is operative to transmit the differential coded moving
picture sequence signal by way of broadcasting.
[0118] In the above mentioned coded signal separating and merging
system, the coded signal merging apparatus further includes
reconstructed first coded signal storage means for storing the
reconstructed first coded moving picture sequence signal
reconstructed by the merging means.
[0119] In the aforesaid coded signal separating and merging system,
the coded signal merging apparatus further includes: decoding means
for decoding the first coded moving picture sequence signal or the
second coded moving picture sequence signal; and merging coded
signal converting means for inputting the first coded moving
picture sequence signal to generate the second coded moving picture
sequence signal, the first transmission means of the coded signal
separating apparatus is operative to transmit the first coded
moving picture sequence signal, the separating storage means is
operative to store the differential coded moving picture sequence
signal generated by the differential coded signal generating means,
the first receiving means of the coded signal merging apparatus is
operative to receive the first coded moving picture sequence signal
transmitted by the first transmission means from the coded signal
separating apparatus, the decoding means is operative to decode the
first coded moving picture sequence signal received by the first
receiving means, the merging coded signal converting means is
operative to input the first coded moving picture sequence signal
received by the first receiving means to generate the second coded
moving picture sequence signal, the merging storage means is
operative to store the second coded moving picture sequence signal
generated by the merging coded signal converting means, the request
signal determining means is operative to determine a request signal
for a requested differential coded moving picture sequence signal
on the basis of the second coded moving picture sequence signal
stored by the merging storage means, the request signal
transmission means is operative to transmit the request signal for
the requested differential coded moving picture sequence signal
determined by the request signal determining means to the coded
signal separating apparatus, the request signal receiving means of
the coded signal separating apparatus is operative to receive the
request signal transmitted by the request signal transmission means
from the coded signal merging apparatus, the separating coded
signal extracting means is operative to extract the requested
differential coded moving picture sequence signal from the
separating storage means in response to the request signal, the
second transmission means is operative to transmit the requested
differential coded moving picture sequence signal extracted by the
separating coded signal extracting means to the coded signal
merging apparatus, the second receiving means of the coded signal
merging apparatus is operative to receive the requested
differential coded moving picture sequence signal transmitted by
the second transmission means from the coded signal separating
apparatus, the merging coded signal extracting means is operative
to extract the second coded moving picture sequence signal from the
merging storage means, and the merging means is operative to merge
the second coded moving picture sequence signal extracted by the
merging coded signal extracting means with the requested
differential coded moving picture sequence signal received by the
second receiving means to reconstruct the first coded moving
picture sequence signal in the desired size.
[0120] In the aforesaid coded signal separating and merging system,
the coded signal merging apparatus further includes: decoding means
for decoding the first coded moving picture sequence signal or the
second coded moving picture sequence signal; and merging
differential coded signal generating means for inputting the first
coded moving picture sequence signal to generate the differential
coded moving picture sequence signal. The first transmission means
of the coded signal separating apparatus is operative to transmit
the first coded moving picture sequence signal,
[0121] In the above mentioned coded signal separating and merging
system, the separating storage means is operative to store the
second coded moving picture sequence signal generated by the coded
signal converting means, the first receiving means of the coded
signal merging apparatus is operative to receive the first coded
moving picture sequence signal transmitted by the first
transmission means from the coded signal separating apparatus, the
decoding means is operative to decode the first coded moving
picture sequence signal received by the first receiving means, the
merging differential coded signal generating means is operative to
input the first coded moving picture sequence signal received by
the first receiving means to generate the differential coded moving
picture sequence signal, the merging storage means is operative to
store the differential coded moving picture sequence signal
generated by the merging coded signal converting means, the request
signal determining means is operative to determine a request signal
for a requested second coded moving picture sequence signal on the
basis of the differential coded moving picture sequence signal
stored by the merging storage means, the request signal
transmission means is operative to transmit the request signal for
the requested second coded moving picture sequence signal
determined by the request signal determining means to the coded
signal separating apparatus, the request signal receiving means of
the coded signal separating apparatus is operative to receive the
request signal transmitted by the request signal transmission means
from the coded signal merging apparatus, the separating coded
signal extracting means is operative to extract the requested
second coded moving picture sequence signal from the separating
storage means in response to the request signal, the second
transmission means is operative to transmit the requested second
coded moving picture sequence signal extracted by the separating
coded signal extracting means to the coded signal merging
apparatus, the second receiving means of the coded signal merging
apparatus is operative to receive the requested second coded moving
picture sequence signal transmitted by the second transmission
means from the coded signal separating apparatus, the merging coded
signal extracting means is operative to extract the differential
coded moving picture sequence signal from the merging storage
means, and the merging means is operative to merge the differential
coded moving picture sequence signal extracted by the merging coded
signal extracting means with the requested second coded moving
picture sequence signal received by the second receiving means to
reconstruct the first coded moving picture sequence signal in the
desired size.
[0122] In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a coded signal separating apparatus for inputting
a first coded moving picture sequence signal to separate into a
second coded moving picture sequence signal and a differential
coded moving picture sequence signal comprising: inputting means
for inputting the first coded moving picture sequence signal
therethrough, the first coded moving picture sequence signal
generated as a result of encoding original moving picture sequence
signal and consisting of a series of first picture information
having first coefficient information, the first coefficient
information including a matrix of first coefficients; coded signal
converting means for converting the first coded moving picture
sequence signal inputted through the inputting means to generate
the second coded moving picture sequence signal, the second coded
moving picture sequence signal consisting of a series of second
picture information having second coefficient information, the
second coefficient information including a matrix of second
coefficients, each of the first coded moving picture sequence
signal, and the second coded moving picture sequence signal is in
the form of a hierarchical structure including one or more sequence
layers each having a plurality of screens sharing common
information, one or more picture layers each having a plurality of
slices sharing common information with respect to one of the
screens, one or more slice layers each having a plurality of
macroblocks with respect to one of the slices, one or more
macroblock layers each having a plurality of blocks with respect to
one of the macroblocks, and one or more block layers each having
block information with respect to one of the blocks; differential
coded signal generating means for inputting the first coded moving
picture sequence signal and the second coded moving picture
sequence signal from the coded signal converting means to generate
a differential coded moving picture sequence signal on the basis of
the first coefficient information obtained from the series of first
picture information of the first coded moving picture sequence
signal, and the second coefficient information obtained from the
series of the second picture information of the second coded moving
picture sequence signal, the differential coded moving picture
sequence signal being a difference between the first coded moving
picture sequence signal and the second coded moving picture
sequence signal; separating storage means for selectively storing
the first coded moving picture sequence signal, the second coded
moving picture sequence signal, and the differential coded moving
picture sequence signal; first transmission means for selectively
transmitting the first coded moving picture sequence signal, the
second coded moving picture sequence signal, and the differential
coded moving picture sequence signal; request signal receiving
means for receiving a request signal indicative of a requested
coded moving picture sequence signal to be transmitted, the request
signal indicative of the requested coded moving picture sequence
signal being determined on the basis of the first coded moving
picture sequence signal, the second coded moving picture sequence
signal, or the differential coded moving picture sequence signal;
separating coded signal extracting means for extracting the
requested coded moving picture sequence signal from the separating
storage means in response to the request signal; and second
transmission means for transmitting the requested coded moving
picture sequence signal extracted by the separating coded signal
extracting means.
[0123] In the aforesaid coded signal separating apparatus, the
separating storage means is operative to store the differential
coded moving picture sequence signal generated by the differential
coded signal generating means, the first transmission means is
operative to transmit the second coded moving picture sequence
signal generated by the coded signal converting means, the request
signal receiving means is operative to receive the request signal
indicative of a requested differential coded moving picture
sequence signal to be transmitted, the request signal indicative of
the requested differential coded moving picture sequence signal
being determined on the basis of the second coded moving picture
sequence signal, the separating coded signal extracting means is
operative to extract the requested differential coded moving
picture sequence signal from the separating storage means in
response to the request signal, and the second transmission means
is operative to transmit the requested differential coded moving
picture sequence signal extracted by the separating coded signal
extracting means.
[0124] In the aforesaid coded signal separating apparatus, the
request signal receiving means is operative to receive the request
signal indicative of the requested differential coded moving
picture sequence signal to be transmitted, the request signal
indicative of the requested differential coded moving picture
sequence signal being determined on the basis of an edited second
coded moving picture sequence signal generated by cutting and
combining component parts of the second coded moving picture
sequence signal, the separating coded signal extracting means is
operative to extract the requested differential coded moving
picture sequence signal from the separating storage means in
response to the request signal, and the second transmission means
is operative to transmit the requested differential coded moving
picture sequence signal extracted by the separating coded signal
extracting means.
[0125] In the aforesaid coded signal separating apparatus, the
separating storage means is operative to store the second coded
moving picture sequence signal generated by the coded signal
converting means, the first transmission means is operative to
transmit the differential coded moving picture sequence signal
generated by the differential coded signal generating means, the
request signal receiving means is operative to receive the request
signal indicative of the requested second coded moving picture
sequence signal to be transmitted, the request signal indicative of
the requested second coded moving picture sequence signal being
determined on the basis of the differential coded moving picture
sequence signal, the separating coded signal extracting means is
operative to extract the requested second coded moving picture
sequence signal from the separating storage means in response to
the request signal, and the second transmission means is operative
to transmit the requested second coded moving picture sequence
signal extracted by the separating coded signal extracting
means.
[0126] In the aforesaid coded signal separating apparatus, the
first transmission means is operative to transmit the differential
coded moving picture sequence signal by way of broadcasting.
[0127] In the aforesaid coded signal separating apparatus, the
first transmission means is operative to transmit the first coded
moving picture sequence signal, the separating storage means is
operative to store the differential coded moving picture sequence
signal generated by the differential coded signal generating means,
the request signal receiving means is operative to receive the
request signal indicative of a requested differential coded moving
picture sequence signal to be transmitted, the request signal
indicative of the requested differential coded moving picture
sequence signal being determined on the basis of a second coded
moving picture sequence signal generated in accordance with the
first: coded moving picture sequence signal, the separating coded
signal extracting means is operative to extract the requested
differential coded moving picture sequence signal from the
separating storage means in response to the request signal, and the
second transmission means is operative to transmit the requested
differential coded moving picture sequence signal extracted by the
separating coded signal extracting means.
[0128] In the aforesaid coded signal separating apparatus, the
first transmission means is operative to transmit the first coded
moving picture sequence signal, the separating storage means is
operative to store the second coded moving picture sequence signal
generated by the coded signal converting means, the request signal
receiving means is operative to receive the request signal
indicative of a requested second coded moving picture sequence
signal to be transmitted, the request signal indicative of the
requested second coded moving picture sequence signal being
determined on the basis of a differential coded moving picture
sequence signal generated in accordance with the first coded moving
picture sequence signal, the separating coded signal extracting
means is operative to extract the requested second coded moving
picture sequence signal from the separating storage means in
response to the request signal, and the second transmission means
is operative to transmit the requested second coded moving picture
sequence signal extracted by the separating coded signal extracting
means.
[0129] In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a coded signal merging apparatus for inputting a
second coded moving picture sequence signal and a differential
coded moving picture sequence signal to reconstruct a first coded
moving picture sequence signal, the second coded moving picture
sequence signal generated as a result of transcoding the first
coded moving picture sequence signal and consisting of a series of
second picture information having second coefficient information,
the second coefficient information including a matrix of second
coefficients, the first coded moving picture sequence signal
generated as a result of encoding original moving picture sequence
signal and consisting of a series of first picture information
having first coefficient information, the first coefficient
information including a matrix of first coefficients, the
differential coded moving picture sequence signal being a
difference between the first coded moving picture sequence signal
and the second coded moving picture sequence signal, the
differential coded moving picture sequence signal including
differential coefficient information between the first coefficient
information and the second coefficient information, each of the
first coded moving picture sequence signal, the second coded moving
picture sequence signal, and the differential coded moving picture
sequence signal is in the form of a hierarchical structure
including one or more sequence layers each having a plurality of
screens sharing common information, one or more picture layers each
having a plurality of slices sharing common information with
respect to one of the screens, one or more slice layers each having
a plurality of macroblocks with respect to one of the slices, one
or more macroblock layers each having a plurality of blocks with
respect to one of the macroblocks, and one or more block layers
each having block information with respect to one of the blocks,
the coded signal merging apparatus comprising: first receiving
means for receiving a base coded moving picture sequence signal,
the base coded moving picture sequence signal being any one of the
first coded moving picture sequence signal, the second coded moving
picture sequence signal, and the differential coded moving picture
sequence signal; merging storage means for storing the base coded
moving picture sequence signal received by the first receiving
means; request signal determining means for determining a request
signal for a requested coded moving picture sequence signal on the
basis of the base coded moving picture sequence signal stored by
the merging storage means; request signal transmission means for
transmitting the request signal for the requested coded moving
picture sequence signal determined by the request signal
determining means; second receiving means for receiving the
requested coded moving picture sequence signal; merging coded
signal extracting means for extracting the base coded moving
picture sequence signal from the merging storage means; merging
means for merging the base coded moving picture sequence signal
extracted by the merging coded signal extracting means with the
requested coded moving picture sequence signal received by the
second receiving means to reconstruct the first coded moving
picture sequence signal on the basis of the second coefficient
information obtained from the series of second picture information
of the second coded moving picture sequence signal, and the
differential coefficient information obtained from the differential
coded signal; and outputting means for inputting the reconstructed
first coded moving picture sequence signal from the merging means
to be outputted therethrough.
[0130] In the aforesaid coded signal merging apparatus, the first
receiving means is operative to receive the second coded moving
picture sequence signal, the merging storage means is operative to
store the second coded moving picture sequence signal received by
the first receiving means, the request signal determining means is
operative to determine a request signal for a requested
differential coded moving picture sequence signal on the basis of
the second coded moving picture sequence signal stored by the
merging storage means, the request signal transmission means is
operative to transmit a request signal for the requested
differential coded moving picture sequence signal determined by the
request signal determining means, the second receiving means is
operative to receive the requested differential coded moving
picture sequence signal, the merging coded signal extracting means
is operative to extract the second coded moving picture sequence
signal from the merging storage means, and the merging means is
operative to merge the second coded moving picture sequence signal
extracted by the merging coded signal extracting means with the
requested differential coded moving picture sequence signal
received by the second receiving means to reconstruct the first
coded moving picture sequence signal.
[0131] The aforesaid coded signal merging apparatus may further
comprise second coded moving picture sequence signal decoding means
for decoding the second coded moving picture sequence signal
received by the first receiving means.
[0132] The aforesaid coded signal merging apparatus may further
comprise editing means for cutting and combining component parts of
the second coded moving picture sequence signal stored by the
merging storage means to generate an edited second coded moving
picture sequence signal in a desired size, in which the request
signal determining means is operative to determine a request signal
for a requested differential coded moving picture sequence signal
on the basis of the edited second coded moving picture sequence
signal generated by the editing means, the request signal
transmission means is operative to transmit the request signal for
the requested differential coded moving picture sequence signal
determined by the request signal determining means, and the merging
means is operative to merge the edited second coded moving picture
sequence signal generated by the editing means with the requested
differential coded moving picture sequence signal received by the
second receiving means to reconstruct the first coded moving
picture sequence signal in the desired size.
[0133] In the aforesaid coded signal merging apparatus, the first
receiving means is operative to receive the differential coded
moving picture sequence signal, the merging storage means is
operative to store the differential coded moving picture sequence
signal received by the first receiving means, the request signal
determining means is operative to determine a request signal for a
requested second coded moving picture sequence signal on the basis
of the differential coded moving picture sequence signal stored by
the merging storage means, the request signal transmission means is
operative to transmit the request signal for the requested second
coded moving picture sequence signal determined by the request
signal determining means, the second receiving means is operative
to receive the requested second coded moving picture sequence
signal, the merging coded signal extracting means is operative to
extract the differential coded moving picture sequence signal
stored by the merging storage means, and the merging means is
operative to merge the differential coded moving picture sequence
signal extracted by the merging coded signal extracting means with
the second coded moving picture sequence signal received by the
second receiving means to reconstruct the first coded moving
picture sequence signal.
[0134] In the aforesaid coded signal merging apparatus, the first
receiving means is operative to receive the differential coded
moving picture sequence signal by way of broadcasting.
[0135] The aforesaid coded signal merging apparatus may further
comprise reconstructed first coded signal storage means for storing
the reconstructed first coded moving picture sequence signal
reconstructed by the merging means.
[0136] The aforesaid coded signal merging apparatus may further
comprise: decoding means for decoding the first coded moving
picture sequence signal or the second coded moving picture sequence
signal; and merging coded signal converting means for inputting the
first coded moving picture sequence signal to generate the second
coded moving picture sequence signal, in which the first receiving
means is operative to receive the first coded moving picture
sequence signal, the decoding means is operative to decode the
first coded moving picture sequence signal received by the first
receiving means, the merging coded signal converting means is
operative to input the first coded moving picture sequence signal
received by the first receiving means to generate the second coded
moving picture sequence signal, the merging storage means is
operative to store the second coded moving picture sequence signal
generated by the merging coded signal converting means, the request
signal determining means is operative to determine a request signal
for a requested differential coded moving picture sequence signal
on the basis of the second coded moving picture sequence signal
stored by the merging storage means, the request signal
transmission means is operative to transmit the request signal for
the requested differential coded moving picture sequence signal
determined by the request signal determining means, the second
receiving means is operative to receive the requested differential
coded moving picture sequence signal, the merging coded signal
extracting means is operative to extract the second coded moving
picture sequence signal from the merging storage means, and the
merging means is operative to merge the second coded moving picture
sequence signal extracted by the merging coded signal extracting
means with the requested differential coded moving picture sequence
signal received by the second receiving means to reconstruct the
first coded moving picture sequence signal in the desired size.
[0137] The aforesaid coded signal merging apparatus may further
comprise: decoding means for decoding the first coded moving
picture sequence signal or the second coded moving picture sequence
signal; and merging differential coded signal generating means for
inputting the first coded moving picture sequence signal to
generate the differential coded moving picture sequence signal, the
first receiving means is operative to receive the first coded
moving picture sequence signal, the decoding means is operative to
decode the first coded moving picture sequence signal received by
the first receiving means, the merging differential coded signal
generating means is operative to input the first coded moving
picture sequence signal received by the first receiving means to
generate the differential coded moving picture sequence signal, the
merging storage means is operative to store the differential coded
moving picture sequence signal generated by the merging coded
signal converting means, the request signal determining means is
operative to determine a request signal for a requested second
coded moving picture sequence signal on the basis of the
differential coded moving picture sequence signal stored by the
merging storage means, the request signal transmission means is
operative to transmit the request signal for the requested second
coded moving picture sequence signal determined by the request
signal determining means, the second receiving means is operative
to receive the requested second coded moving picture sequence
signal, the merging coded signal extracting means is operative to
extract the differential coded moving picture sequence signal from
the merging storage means, and the merging means is operative to
merge the differential coded moving picture sequence signal
extracted by the merging coded signal extracting means with the
requested second coded moving picture sequence signal received by
the second receiving means to reconstruct the first coded moving
picture sequence signal in the desired size.
[0138] In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a multi-output coded signal separating apparatus
for inputting a first coded moving picture sequence signal to
separate into a plurality of second coded moving picture sequence
signals and a plurality of differential coded moving picture
sequence signals comprising: a plurality of coded signal separating
units including a 1st coded signal separating unit up to a m-th
coded signal separating unit wherein m is an integer not less than
two; the 1st coded signal separating unit being operative to input
the first coded moving picture sequence signal to separate into a
1st second coded moving picture sequence signal and a 1st
differential coded moving picture sequence signal, the 1st
differential coded moving picture sequence signal being a
difference between the first coded moving picture sequence signal
and the 1st second coded moving picture sequence signal, and the
i-th coded signal separating unit being operative to input an
(i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence signal to separate
into an i-th second coded moving picture sequence signal and an
i-th differential coded moving picture sequence signal, the i-th
differential coded moving picture sequence signal being a
difference between the (i-1)-th second coded moving picture
sequence signal and the i-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal wherein i is an integer equal to or less than m.
[0139] The aforesaid 1st coded signal separating unit includes: 1st
inputting means for inputting the first coded moving picture
sequence signal therethrough, the first coded moving picture
sequence signal generated as a result of encoding original moving
picture sequence signal and consisting of a series of first picture
information having first coefficient information, the first
coefficient information including a matrix of first coefficients;
1st coded signal converting means for converting the first coded
moving picture sequence signal inputted through the 1st inputting
means to generate a 1st second coded moving picture sequence
signal, the 1st second coded moving picture sequence signal
consisting of a series of 1st second picture information having 1st
second coefficient information, the 1st second coefficient
information including a matrix of 1st second coefficients, each of
the first coded moving picture sequence signal, and the 1st second
coded moving picture sequence signal is in the form of a
hierarchical structure including one or more sequence layers each
having a plurality of screens sharing common information, one or
more picture layers each having a plurality of slices sharing
common information with respect to one of the screens, one or more
slice layers each having a plurality of macroblocks with respect to
one of the slices, one or more macroblock layers each having a
plurality of blocks with respect to one of the macroblocks, and one
or more block layers each having block information with respect to
one of the blocks; 1st differential coded signal generating means
for inputting the first coded moving picture sequence signal and
the 1st second coded moving picture sequence signal from the 1st
coded signal converting means to generate a 1st differential coded
moving picture sequence signal on the basis of the first
coefficient information obtained from the series of first picture
information of the first coded moving picture sequence signal, and
the 1st second coefficient information obtained from the series of
the 1st second picture information of the 1st second coded moving
picture sequence signal, the 1st differential coded moving picture
sequence signal being a difference between the first coded moving
picture sequence signal and the 1st second coded moving picture
sequence signal; 1st separating storage means for selectively
storing the first coded moving picture sequence signal, the 1st
second coded moving picture sequence signal, and the 1st
differential coded moving picture sequence signal; 1st first
transmission means for selectively transmitting the first coded
moving picture sequence signal, the 1st second coded moving picture
sequence signal, and the 1st differential coded moving picture
sequence signal; 1st request signal receiving means for receiving a
request signal indicative of a requested coded moving picture
sequence signal to be transmitted, the request signal indicative of
the requested coded moving picture sequence signal being determined
on the basis of the first coded moving picture sequence signal, the
1st second coded moving picture sequence signal, or the 1st
differential coded moving picture sequence signal; 1st separating
coded signal extracting means for extracting the requested coded
moving picture sequence signal from the 1st separating storage
means in response to the request signal; and 1st second
transmission means for transmitting the requested coded moving
picture sequence signal extracted by the 1st separating coded
signal extracting means.
[0140] The aforesaid i-th coded signal separating unit includes:
i-th inputting means for inputting the (i-1)-th second coded moving
picture sequence signal therethrough from the (i-1)-th coded signal
separating unit, the (i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal generated as a result of encoding original moving picture
sequence signal and consisting of a series of (i-1)-th second
picture information having (i-1)-th second coefficient information,
the (i-1)-th second coefficient information including a matrix of
(i-1)-th second coefficients; i-th coded signal converting means
for converting the (i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal inputted through the i-th inputting means to generate the
i-th second coded moving picture sequence signal, the i-th second
coded moving picture sequence signal consisting of a series of i-th
second picture information having i-th second coefficient
information, the i-th second coefficient information including a
matrix of i-th second coefficients, each of the (i-1)-th second
coded moving picture sequence signal, and the i-th second coded
moving picture sequence signal is in the form of a hierarchical
structure including one or more sequence layers each having a
plurality of screens sharing common information, one or more
picture layers each having a plurality of slices sharing common
information with respect to one of the screens, one or more slice
layers each having a plurality of macroblocks with respect to one
of the slices, one or more macroblock layers each having a
plurality of blocks with respect to one of the macroblocks, and one
or more block layers each having block information with respect to
one of the blocks; i-th differential coded signal generating means
for inputting the (i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal and the i-th second coded moving picture sequence signal
from the i-th coded signal converting means to generate an i-th
differential coded moving picture sequence signal on the basis of
the (i-1)-th second coefficient information obtained from the
series of (i-1)-th second picture information of the (i-1)-th
second coded moving picture sequence signal, and the i-th second
coefficient information obtained from the series of the i-th second
picture information of the i-th second coded moving picture
sequence signal, the i-th differential coded moving picture
sequence signal being a difference between the (i-1)-th second
coded moving picture sequence signal and the i-th second coded
moving picture sequence signal; i-th separating storage means for
selectively storing the (i-1)-th second coded moving picture
sequence signal, the i-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal, and the i-th differential coded moving picture sequence
signal; i-th first transmission means for selectively transmitting
the (i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence signal, the i-th
second coded moving picture sequence signal, and the i-th
differential coded moving picture sequence signal; i-th request
signal receiving means for receiving a request signal indicative of
a requested coded moving picture sequence signal to be transmitted,
the request signal indicative of the requested coded moving picture
sequence signal being determined on the basis of the (i-1)-th
second coded moving picture sequence signal, the i-th second coded
moving picture sequence signal, or the i-th differential coded
moving picture sequence signal; i-th separating coded signal
extracting means for extracting the requested coded moving picture
sequence signal from the i-th separating storage means in response
to the request signal; and i-th second transmission means for
transmitting the requested coded moving picture sequence signal
extracted by the i-th separating coded signal extracting means.
[0141] In accordance with a fifth aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a multi-input coded signal merging apparatus for
inputting a plurality of second coded moving picture sequence
signals and a plurality of differential coded moving picture
sequence signals to reconstruct a first coded moving picture
sequence signal comprising: a plurality of the coded signal merging
units including a 1st coded signal merging unit up to a n-th coded
signal merging unit wherein n is an integer not less than two, in
which the i-th coded signal merging unit is operative to input an
i-th second coded moving picture sequence signal and an i-th
differential coded moving picture sequence signal to reconstruct an
(i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence signal wherein i is
an integer equal to or less than n, the i-th second coded moving
picture sequence signal generated as a result of transcoding the
(i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence signal and consisting
of a series of i-th second picture information having i-th second
coefficient information, the i-th second coefficient information
including a matrix of i-th second coefficients, the (i-1)-th second
coded moving picture sequence signal generated as a result of
encoding original moving picture sequence signal and consisting of
a series of (i-1)-th second picture information having (i-1)-th
second coefficient information, the (i-1)-th second coefficient
information including a matrix of (i-1)-th second coefficients, the
i-th differential coded moving picture sequence signal being a
difference between the i-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal and the (i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal, the i-th differential coded moving picture sequence signal
including i-th differential coefficient information between the
i-th second coefficient information and the (i-1)-th second
coefficient information, each of the i-th second coded moving
picture sequence signal, the (i-1)-th second coded moving picture
sequence signal, and the i-th differential coded moving picture
sequence signal is in the form of a hierarchical structure
including one or more sequence layers each having a plurality of
screens sharing common information, one or more picture layers each
having a plurality of slices sharing common information with
respect to one of the screens, one or more slice layers each having
a plurality of macroblocks with respect to one of the slices, one
or more macroblock layers each having a plurality of blocks with
respect to one of the macroblocks, and one or more block layers
each having block information with respect to one of the blocks,
and the 1st coded signal merging unit is operative to input the 1st
second coded moving picture sequence signal and the 1st
differential coded moving picture sequence signal to reconstruct
the first coded moving picture sequence signal.
[0142] The aforesaid i-th coded signal merging unit includes: i-th
first receiving means for receiving a base coded moving picture
sequence signal, the base coded moving picture sequence signal
being any one of the i-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal, the (i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence signal,
and the i-th differential coded moving picture sequence signal;
i-th merging storage means for storing the base coded moving
picture sequence signal received by the i-th first receiving means;
i-th request signal determining means for determining a request
signal for a requested coded moving picture sequence signal on the
basis of the base coded moving picture sequence signal stored by
the i-th merging storage means; i-th request signal transmission
means for transmitting the request signal for the requested coded
moving picture sequence signal determined by the i-th request
signal determining means; i-th second receiving means for receiving
the requested coded moving picture sequence signal; i-th merging
coded signal extracting means for extracting the base coded moving
picture sequence signal from the i-th merging storage means; i-th
merging means for merging the base coded moving picture sequence
signal extracted by the i-th merging coded signal extracting means
with the requested coded moving picture sequence signal received by
the i-th second receiving means to reconstruct the (i-1)-th second
coded moving picture sequence signal on the basis of the second
coefficient information obtained from the series of second picture
information of the i-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal, and the i-th differential coefficient information obtained
from the i-th differential bit stream; and i-th outputting means
for inputting the reconstructed i-th second coded moving picture
sequence signal from the i-th merging means to be outputted
therethrough.
[0143] The aforesaid 1st coded signal merging unit includes: 1st
first receiving means for receiving a base coded moving picture
sequence signal, the base coded moving picture sequence signal
being any one of the first coded moving picture sequence signal,
the 1st second coded moving picture sequence signal, and the 1st
differential coded moving picture sequence signal; 1st merging
storage means for storing the base coded moving picture sequence
signal received by the 1st first receiving means; 1st request
signal determining means for determining a request signal for a
requested coded moving picture sequence signal on the basis of the
base coded moving picture sequence signal stored by the 1st merging
storage means; 1st request signal transmission means for
transmitting the request signal for the requested coded moving
picture sequence signal determined by the 1st request signal
determining means; 1st second receiving means for receiving the
requested coded moving picture sequence signal; 1st merging coded
signal extracting means for extracting the base coded moving
picture sequence signal from the 1st merging storage means; 1st
merging means for merging the base coded moving picture sequence
signal extracted by the 1st merging coded signal extracting means
with the requested coded moving picture sequence signal received by
the 1st second receiving means to reconstruct the first coded
moving picture sequence signal on the basis of the 1st second
coefficient information obtained from the series of second picture
information of the 1st second coded moving picture sequence signal,
and the 1st differential coefficient information obtained from the
1st differential coded signal; and 1st outputting means for
inputting the reconstructed first coded moving picture sequence
signal from the 1 st merging means to be outputted
therethrough.
[0144] In the above mentioned the i-th coded signal separating
unit, the i-th separating storage means is operative to store the
(i-1)-th differential coded moving picture sequence signal
generated by the i-th differential coded signal generating means,
the i-th first transmission means is operative to transmit the
(i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence signal generated by
the i-th coded signal converting means, the i-th request signal
receiving means is operative to receive the request signal
indicative of a requested (i-1)-th differential coded moving
picture sequence signal to be transmitted, the request signal
indicative of the requested (i-1)-th differential coded moving
picture sequence signal being determined on the basis of the
(i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence signal, the i-th
separating coded signal extracting means is operative to extract
the requested (i-1)-th differential coded moving picture sequence
signal from the i-th separating storage means in response to the
request signal, and the i-th second transmission means is operative
to transmit the requested (i-1)-th differential coded moving
picture sequence signal extracted by the i-th separating coded
signal extracting means, and the aforesaid multi-output coded
signal separating apparatus is operative to input a first coded
moving picture sequence signal to separate into a plurality of
second coded moving picture sequence signals and a plurality of
differential coded moving picture sequence signals.
[0145] In the above described the i-th coded signal separating
unit, the i-th first receiving means is operative to receive the
i-th second coded moving picture sequence signal, the i-th merging
storage means is operative to store the i-th second coded moving
picture sequence signal received by the i-th first receiving means,
the i-th request signal determining means is operative to determine
a request signal for a requested differential coded moving picture
sequence signal on the basis of the i-th second coded moving
picture sequence signal stored by the i-th merging storage means,
the i-th request signal transmission means is operative to transmit
the request signal for the requested differential coded moving
picture sequence signal determined by the i-th request signal
determining means, the i-th second receiving means is operative to
receive the requested differential coded moving picture sequence
signal, the i-th merging coded signal extracting means is operative
to extract the i-th second coded moving picture sequence signal
from the i-th merging storage means, and the i-th merging means is
operative to merge the i-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal extracted by the i-th merging coded signal extracting means
with the requested differential coded moving picture sequence
signal received by the i-th second receiving means to reconstruct
the (i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence signal wherein
the 0-th second coded moving picture sequence signal is the first
coded moving picture sequence signal.
[0146] In accordance with a sixth aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a coded signal separating and merging system
comprising: a multi-output coded signal separating apparatus for
inputting a first coded moving picture sequence signal to separate
into a plurality of second coded moving picture sequence signals
and a plurality of differential coded moving picture sequence
signals; and a multi-input coded signal merging apparatus for
inputting a plurality of second coded moving picture sequence
signals and a plurality of differential coded moving picture
sequence signals to reconstruct the first coded moving picture
sequence signal. The above multi-output coded signal separating
apparatus includes: a plurality of coded signal separating units
including a 1st coded signal separating unit up to a m-th coded
signal separating unit wherein m is an integer not less than two.
The above multi-input coded signal merging apparatus includes: a
plurality of coded signal merging units including a 1st coded
signal merging unit up to a n-th coded signal merging unit wherein
n is an integer not less than two and equal to or less than the
m.
[0147] The above i-th coded signal separating unit includes: i-th
inputting means for inputting an (i-1)-th second coded moving
picture sequence signal therethrough from the (i-1)-th coded signal
separating unit, the (i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal generated as a result of encoding original moving picture
sequence signal and consisting of a series of (i-1)-th second
picture information having (i-1)-th second coefficient information,
the (i-1)-th second coefficient information including a matrix of
(i-1)-th second coefficients wherein i is an integer equal to or
less than m, and 0-th second coded moving picture sequence signal
is the first coded moving picture sequence signal; i-th coded
signal converting means for converting the (i-1)-th second coded
moving picture sequence signal inputted through the i-th inputting
means to generate an i-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal, the i-th second coded moving picture sequence signal
consisting of a series of i-th second picture information having
i-th second coefficient information, the i-th second coefficient
information including a matrix of second coefficients, each of the
(i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence signal, and the i-th
second coded moving picture sequence signal is in the form of a
hierarchical structure including one or more sequence layers each
having a plurality of screens sharing common information, one or
more picture layers each having a plurality of slices sharing
common information with respect to one of the screens, one or more
slice layers each having a plurality of macroblocks with respect to
one of the slices, one or more macroblock layers each having a
plurality of blocks with respect to one of the macroblocks, and one
or more block layers each having block information with respect to
one of the blocks; i-th differential coded signal generating means
for inputting the (i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal and the i-th second coded moving picture sequence signal
from the i-th coded signal converting means to generate an i-th
differential coded moving picture sequence signal on the basis of
the (i-1)-th second coefficient information obtained from the
series of (i-1)-th second picture information of the (i-1)-th
second coded moving picture sequence signal, and the i-th second
coefficient information obtained from the series of the i-th second
picture information of the i-th second coded moving picture
sequence signal, the i-th differential coded moving picture
sequence signal being a difference between the (i-1)-th second
coded moving picture sequence signal and the i-th second coded
moving picture sequence signal; i-th separating storage means for
selectively storing the (i-1)-th second coded moving picture
sequence signal, the i-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal, and the i-th differential coded moving picture sequence
signal; and i-th first transmission means for selectively
transmitting the (i-1)-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal, the i-th second coded moving picture sequence signal, and
the i-th differential coded moving picture sequence signal to the
i-th coded signal merging unit.
[0148] The above i-th coded signal merging unit includes: i-th
first receiving means for receiving a base coded moving picture
sequence signal from the i-th coded signal separating unit or the
(i+1)-th coded signal merging unit 6200i+1, the base coded moving
picture sequence signal being any one of the (i-1)-th second coded
moving picture sequence signal, the i-th second coded moving
picture sequence signal, and the i-th differential coded moving
picture sequence signal; i-th merging storage means for storing the
base coded moving picture sequence signal received by the i-th
first receiving means; i-th request signal determining means for
determining a request signal for a requested coded moving picture
sequence signal on the basis of the base coded moving picture
sequence signal stored by the i-th merging storage means; and i-th
request signal transmission means for transmitting the request
signal for the requested coded moving picture sequence signal
determined by the i-th request signal determining means to the i-th
coded signal separating unit.
[0149] The above i-th coded signal separating unit further
includes: i-th request signal receiving means for receiving the
request signal transmitted by the i-th request signal transmission
means from the i-th coded signal merging unit; i-th separating
coded signal extracting means for extracting the requested coded
moving picture sequence signal from the i-th separating storage
means in response to the request signal; and i-th second
transmission means for transmitting the requested coded moving
picture sequence signal extracted by the i-th separating coded
signal extracting means to the i-th coded signal merging unit. The
above i-th coded signal merging unit includes: i-th second
receiving means for receiving the requested coded moving picture
sequence signal transmitted by the i-th second transmission means
from the i-th coded signal separating unit; i-th merging coded
signal extracting means for extracting the base coded moving
picture sequence signal from the i-th merging storage means; i-th
merging means for merging the base coded moving picture sequence
signal extracted by the i-th merging coded signal extracting means
with the requested coded moving picture sequence signal received by
the i-th second receiving means on the basis of the i-th second
coefficient information obtained from the series of second picture
information of the i-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal, and the i-th differential coefficient information obtained
from the differential coded signal to reconstruct the (i-1)-th
second coded moving picture sequence signal; and i-th outputting
means for inputting the reconstructed (i-1)-th second coded moving
picture sequence signal from the i-th merging means to be outputted
therethrough.
[0150] In the aforesaid coded signal separating and merging system,
the i-th separating storage means of the i-th coded signal
separating unit is operative to store the i-th differential coded
moving picture sequence signal generated by the i-th differential
coded signal generating means, the i-th first transmission means is
operative to transmit the i-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal generated by the i-th coded signal converting means, the
i-th first receiving means of the i-th coded signal merging unit is
operative to receive the i-th second coded moving picture sequence
signal (i+1)-th coded signal merging unit, the i-th merging storage
means is operative to store the i-th second coded moving picture
sequence signal received by the i-th first receiving means, the
i-th request signal determining means is operative to determine a
request signal for a requested differential coded moving picture
sequence signal on the basis of the i-th second coded moving
picture sequence signal stored by the i-th merging storage means,
the i-th request signal transmission means is operative to transmit
the request signal for the requested differential coded moving
picture sequence signal determined by the i-th request signal
determining means, the i-th request signal receiving means of the
i-th coded signal separating unit is operative to receive the
request signal transmitted by the i-th request signal transmission
means, the i-th separating coded signal extracting means is
operative to extract the requested differential coded moving
picture sequence signal from the i-th separating storage means in
response to the request signal, the i-th second transmission means
is operative to transmit the requested differential coded moving
picture sequence signal extracted by the i-th separating coded
signal extracting means to the i-th coded signal merging unit, the
i-th second receiving means of the i-th coded signal merging unit
is operative to receive the requested differential coded moving
picture sequence signal transmitted by the i-th second transmission
means from the i-th coded signal separating unit, the i-th merging
coded signal extracting means is operative to extract the i-th
second coded moving picture sequence signal from the i-th merging
storage means, and the i-th merging means is operative to merge the
i-th second coded moving picture sequence signal extracted by the
i-th merging coded signal extracting means with the requested
differential coded moving picture sequence signal received by the
i-th second receiving means to reconstruct the first coded moving
picture sequence signal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0151] The present invention and many of the advantages thereof
will be better understood from the following detailed description
when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings,
wherein:
[0152] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first preferred embodiment of
a bit stream separating and merging system 1000 according to the
present invention;
[0153] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of a bit
stream separating apparatus 1100 according to the present
invention;
[0154] FIG. 3 is a data structural diagram showing the hierarchical
structure of a differential bit stream;
[0155] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of a bit
stream merging apparatus 1200 according to the present
invention;
[0156] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing renderings of an environment in
which a preferred embodiment of a bit stream separating and merging
system 1000 according to the present invention is utilized;
[0157] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a second preferred embodiment
of a bit stream separating and merging system 2000 according to the
present invention;
[0158] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a third preferred embodiment of
a bit stream separating and merging system 3000 according to the
present invention;
[0159] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a fourth preferred embodiment
of a bit stream separating and merging system 4000 according to the
present invention;
[0160] FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a fifth preferred embodiment of
a bit stream separating and merging system 5000 according to the
present invention;
[0161] FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a sixth preferred embodiment
of a bit stream separating and merging system 6000 according to the
present invention;
[0162] FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a seventh preferred embodiment
of a bit stream separating and merging system 7000 according to the
present invention;
[0163] FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a multi-output bit stream
separating apparatus 7100 according to the present invention;
[0164] FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a multi-input bit stream
merging apparatus 7200 according to the present invention;
[0165] FIG. 14 is a schematic block diagram showing a first
conventional transcoder 50;
[0166] FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the flow of the rate control
operation of MPEG-2 performed by the first conventional transcoder
50 shown in FIG. 14;
[0167] FIG. 16 is a schematic block diagram showing a second
conventional transcoder 60;
[0168] FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the flow of the rate control
operation of MPEG-2 performed by the second conventional transcoder
60 shown in FIG. 16;
[0169] FIG. 18 is a schematic block diagram showing a third
conventional transcoder 80;
[0170] FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the flow of the rate control
operation of MPEG-2 performed by the third conventional transcoder
80 shown in FIG. 18;
[0171] FIG. 20 is a schematic block diagram showing a fourth
conventional transcoder 90.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0172] Throughout the following detailed description, similar
reference characters refer to similar elements in all figures of
the drawings.
[0173] I. First Embodiment of Bit Stream Separating and Merging
System 1000
[0174] Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown a first
preferred embodiment of a bit stream separating and merging system
1000 according to the present invention.
[0175] The first preferred embodiment of the bit stream separating
and merging system 1000 according to the present invention is shown
in FIG. 1 as comprising a bit stream separating apparatus 1100 and
a bit stream merging apparatus 1200.
[0176] Some moving picture information is not required to have a
high picture quality. Demo video moving picture information, for
instance, is required to be promptly transmitted to audiences. Upon
receiving the demo video moving picture information, the audiences
can preview the demo video moving picture information as long as
the demo video moving picture information has a minimum picture
quality.
[0177] In the first preferred embodiment of the bit stream
separating and merging system 1000 according to the present
invention, the bit stream separating apparatus 1100 is operated to
input an original MPEG-2 bit stream to separate into a transcoded
MPEG-2 bit stream and a differential bit stream, and then store the
differential bit stream in the bit stream separating apparatus 1100
and transmit only the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream to the bit
stream merging apparatus 1200. The bit rate of the transcoded
MPEG-2 bit stream is lower than that of the original MPEG-2 bit
stream, thereby making it possible for the bit stream separating
apparatus 1100 to transmit the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream to the
bit stream merging apparatus 1200 faster than the original MPEG-2
bit stream.
[0178] The bit stream merging apparatus 1200, on the other hand,
can receive the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream to reproduce moving
picture information of a low picture quality, for instance, to be
used as demo video moving picture information. If a user decides to
watch the moving picture information of a high quality, the bit
stream merging apparatus 1200 can transmit a request signal for a
differential bit stream corresponding to the transcoded MPEG-2 bit
stream already received to the bit stream separating apparatus
2100. In response to the request for the requested differential bit
stream, the bit stream separating apparatus 1100 is operated to
extract the requested differential bit stream from among the stored
bit streams, and transmit the requested differential bit stream to
the bit stream merging apparatus 1200.
[0179] Upon receiving the requested differential bit stream, the
bit stream merging apparatus 1200 is operated to merge the
transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream already received and the requested
differential bit stream just received to reconstruct the original
MPEG-2 bit stream.
[0180] This means that a user may receive the transcoded MPEG-2 bit
stream at a bit rate lower than that of the original MPEG-2 bit
stream to reproduce low-quality moving picture information to be
previewed, and later receive the differential bit stream to be
merged with the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream earlier received to
reproduce high-quality moving picture information to be
watched.
[0181] Once the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream has already been
arrived, the bit stream separating apparatus 1100 is not required
to retransmit the original MPEG-2 bit stream but the differential
bit stream alone, thereby effectively utilize the transcoded MPEG-2
bit streams and the transmitting paths.
[0182] The constructions of the bit stream separating apparatus
1100 and the bit stream merging apparatus 1200 will be described in
detail before describing the operation of the bit stream separating
and merging system 1000.
[0183] I-A Bit Stream Separating Apparatus 1100
[0184] Referring to FIG. 2 of the drawings, there is shown a
preferred embodiment of a bit stream separating apparatus 1100. As
shown in FIG. 2, the bit stream separating apparatus 1100 comprises
an inputting terminal a1, bit stream converting means 111,
differential bit stream generating means 112, separating storage
means 120, first transmission means 141, request signal receiving
means 142, bit stream extracting means 130, second transmission
means 143, and outputting interfaces OUT1, OUT2. The bit stream
converting means 111, differential bit stream generating means 112
collectively constitute a separating means 110 for: inputting an
original MPEG-2 bit stream to separate into a transcoded MPEG-2 bit
stream and a differential bit stream. The first transmission means
141, the request signal receiving means 142, and the second
transmission means 143 collectively constitute a communication
means 140 for transmitting and receiving bit streams and signals.
The bit stream separating apparatus 1100 constitutes the coded
signal separating apparatus according to the present invention. The
inputting terminal a1, the bit stream converting means 111, the
differential bit stream generating means 112, the bit stream
extracting means 130 respectively constitute inputting means, coded
signal converting means, differential coded signal generating
means, and separating coded signal extracting means according to
the present invention.
[0185] The inputting terminal a1 is adapted to input an original
MPEG-2 bit stream therethrough. The original MPEG-2 bit stream is
generated as a result of encoding original moving picture sequence
signal and consisting of a series of first picture information
having first coefficient information. The first coefficient
information includes a matrix of first coefficients.
[0186] The bit stream converting means 111 is adapted to input the
original MPEG-2 bit stream through the inputting terminal a1 and
convert the original MPEG-2 bit stream inputted through the
inputting terminal a1 to generate a transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream.
The bit stream converting means 111 can output the transcoded
MPEG-2 bit stream thus generated to the differential bit stream
generating means 112 and the separating storage means 120 through
an interface out1.
[0187] In the bit stream separating apparatus 1100 according to the
present invention, the bit stream converting means 111 may directly
transmit the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream to the first transmission
means 141 through an interface out1. Furthermore, the bit stream
converting means 111 may output the original MPEG-2 bit stream
inputted through the inputting means a1 to the differential bit
stream generating means 112.
[0188] The transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream consists of a series of
second picture information having second coefficient information.
The second coefficient information includes a matrix of second
coefficients. Each of the original MPEG-2 bit stream, and the
transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream is in the form of a hierarchical
structure including one or more sequence layers each having a
plurality of screens sharing common information, one or more
picture layers each having a plurality of slices sharing common
information with respect to one of the screens, one or more slice
layers each having a plurality of macroblocks with respect to one
of the slices, one or more macroblock layers each having a
plurality of blocks with respect to one of the macroblocks, and one
or more block layers each having block information with respect to
one of the blocks.
[0189] The differential bit stream generating means 112 is adapted
to input the original MPEG-2 bit stream and the transcoded MPEG-2
bit stream from the bit stream converting means 111 to generate a
differential bit stream on the basis of the first coefficient
information obtained from the series of first picture information
of the original MPEG-2 bit stream, and the second coefficient
information obtained from the series of the second picture
information of the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream. The differential
bit stream generating means 112 is adapted to output the
differential bit stream thus generated to the separating storage
means 120 through an interface out2. Here, the differential bit
stream is intended to mean a difference between the original MPEG-2
bit stream and the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream.
[0190] More specifically, the differential bit stream, thus
generated by the differential bit stream generating means 112, is
in the form of the hierarchical structure including the sequence
layers, the picture layers, the slice layers, the macroblock
layers, and the block layers, similar to the original MPEG-2 bit
streams and the transcoded MPEG-2 bit streams as shown in FIG. 3.
The differential bit stream starts from a sequence header of the
sequence layer. Followed by the sequence header, picture layer data
elements continue for the number of pictures contained in the
sequence layer. The picture layer data element comprises a picture
header and picture data elements. The picture data element includes
a plurality of slice layer data elements. The slice layer data
element comprises a slice header and a plurality of MB layer data
elements. The MB layer data element comprises MB attribute
information and block layer data elements. Block layer data element
contains coefficient information. The coefficient information
includes a matrix of coefficients.
[0191] The separating storage means 120 is adapted to selectively
input and store the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream through the
interface out1, and the differential bit stream through the
interface out2. In the bit stream separating apparatus 1100, the
separating storage means 120 may input and store the original
MPEG-2 bit stream through the inputting means a1.
[0192] The first transmission means 141 is adapted to selectively
transmit a base bit stream, which will be described later, to a bit
stream merging apparatus 1200 through the outputting interface
OUT1.
[0193] The request signal receiving means 142 is adapted to receive
a request signal indicative of a requested bit stream, which will
be described later.
[0194] The second transmission means 143 is adapted to transmit the
requested bit stream, which will be described later, through the
outputting interface OUT2.
[0195] The bit stream extracting means 130 is adapted to extract
the requested bit stream from among bit streams stored in the
separating storage means 120 in response to the request signal.
[0196] The bit stream separating apparatus 1100 thus constructed is
adapted to input an original MPEG-2 bit stream through the
inputting terminal a1 to separate into and output a transcoded
MPEG-2 bit stream and a differential bit stream through the
outputting interfaces OUTI and OUT2.
[0197] I-B Bit Stream Merging Apparatus 1200
[0198] Referring then to FIG. 4 of the drawings, there is shown a
preferred embodiment of a bit stream merging apparatus 1200. As
shown in FIG. 4, the bit stream merging apparatus 1200 comprises
inputting interfaces IN1, IN2, first receiving means 211, merging
storage means 220, request signal determining means 230, request
signal transmission means 213, second receiving means 212, merging
bit stream extracting means 241, merging means 242, and an
outputting terminal b1. The first receiving means 211, the second
receiving means 212, and the request signal transmission means 213
collectively constitute the communication means 210. The merging
bit stream extracting means 241 and the merging means 242
collectively constitute the merging means 240. The bit stream
merging apparatus 1200 constitutes the coded signal merging
apparatus according to the present invention. The merging bit
stream extracting means 241 constitutes merging coded signal
extracting means according to the present invention.
[0199] The first receiving means 211 is adapted to receive the base
bit stream transmitted by the first transmission means 141 of the
bit stream separating apparatus 1100 through the inputting
interface IN1. Here, the base bit stream is intended to mean any
one of the original MPEG-2 bit stream, the transcoded MPEG-2 bit
stream, and the differential bit stream transmitted by the first
transmission means 141.
[0200] The merging storage means 220 is adapted to input and store
the base bit stream received by the first receiving means 211.
[0201] The request signal determining means 230 is adapted to
determine a request signal for a requested bit stream on the basis
of the base bit stream stored by the merging storage means 220.
More specifically, the request signal determining means 230 is
adapted to determine a requested bit stream, which is to be merged
with the base bit stream to reconstruct the original MPEG-2 bit
stream, on the basis of the base bit stream stored by the merging
storage means 220 and then determine a request signal.
[0202] The request signal transmission means 213 is adapted to
transmit the request signal for the requested bit stream determined
by the request signal determining means 230 to the bit stream
separating apparatus 1100.
[0203] The second receiving means 212 is adapted to receive the
requested bit stream transmitted by the second transmission means
143 of the bit stream separating apparatus 1100 through the
inputting interface IN2.
[0204] The merging bit stream extracting means 241 is adapted to
extract the base bit stream from among bit streams stored in the
merging storage means 220.
[0205] The merging means 242 is adapted to merge the base bit
stream extracted by the merging bit stream extracting means 241
with the requested bit stream received by the second receiving
means 212 on the basis of the second coefficient information
obtained from the series of second picture information of the
transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream, and the differential coefficient
information obtained from the differential bit stream to
reconstruct the original MPEG-2 bit stream.
[0206] The outputting terminal b1 is adapted to input the
reconstructed original MPEG-2 bit stream from the merging means 242
to be outputted therethrough.
[0207] The bit stream merging apparatus 1200 thus constructed can
input a transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream and a differential bit stream
through the inputting interfaces IN1 and IN2 to reconstruct and
output the original MPEG-2 bit stream through the outputting
terminal b1.
[0208] Renderings of an environment in which a preferred embodiment
of bit stream separating and merging system 1000 comprising the bit
stream separating apparatus 1100 and the bit stream merging
apparatus 1200 is utilized are shown in FIG. 5.
[0209] As best shown in FIG. 5, there are provided the bit stream
separating apparatus 1100 according to the present invention, the
bit stream merging apparatus 1200 according to the present
invention, an encoder 60, and transmitting paths.
[0210] The encoder 60 is adapted to input original moving picture
sequence information, i.e., high-quality moving picture sequence
information to output high-quality MPEG-2 bit streams, i.e.,
original MPEG-2 bit streams. The bit stream separating apparatus
1100 is adapted to input the original MPEG-2 bit streams from the
encoder 60, and transcode and separate the original MPEG-2 bit
streams to generate transcoded MPEG-2 bit streams and differential
bit streams. The differential bit streams are differences between
the original MPEG-2 bit streams and the transcoded MPEG-2 bit
streams. The transcoded MPEG-2 bit streams and differential bit
streams thus generated are transmitted through the transmitting
paths to users.
[0211] A user may operate a conventional decoder, not shown, to
decode the transcoded MPEG-2 bit streams to reproduce low-quality
moving picture sequence information as shown in FIG. 5.
[0212] A user, on the other hand, can operate the bit stream
merging apparatus 1200 according to present invention to merge the
transcoded MPEG-2 bit streams and the differential bit streams to
reconstruct the original MPEG-2 bit streams, i.e., high-quality
MPEG-2 bit streams, thereby enabling to reproduce the original,
high-quality moving picture sequence information. The differential
bit streams may be transmitted simultaneously with the transcoded
MPEG-2 bit streams or may be transmitted after the transcoded
MPEG-2 bit streams are transmitted.
[0213] Conventionally, it is required to transmit the original
MPEG-2 bit streams in addition to the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream
through the transmitting path for reproducing the original,
high-quality moving picture sequence information.
[0214] The bit stream separating apparatus 1100 according to the
present invention, on the other hand, enables to transcode and
separate the original MPEG-2 bit stream to generate the
differential bit stream in addition to the transcoded MPEG-2 bit
stream. The bit stream merging apparatus 1200 according to the
present invention enables to reproduce the original, high-quality
moving picture sequence information from the transcoded MPEG-2 bit
stream and the differential bit stream.
[0215] The bit stream merging apparatus 1200 makes it possible to
reconstruct the original MPEG-2 bit stream to reproduce the high
quality moving picture sequence information, for instance, from the
transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream earlier received and stored and the
differential bit stream later received, thereby eliminating the
time and effort to transmit the original MPEG-2 bit stream in
addition to the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream through the
transmitting path. This leads to the fact that the bit stream
separating apparatus 1100 and the bit stream merging apparatus 1200
according to the present invention make it possible to effectively
utilize the transcoded MPEG-2 bit streams and the transmitting
paths.
[0216] Alternatively, the bit stream merging apparatus 1200 may
further comprises original bit stream storage means, not shown,
which is adapted to input and store the reconstructed original
MPEG-2 bit stream reconstructed by the merging means 242. The
original bit stream storage means of the bit stream merging
apparatus 1200 according to the present invention enables a user to
store the reconstructed original MPEG-2 bit stream, thereby
eliminating the time and effort to send the original MPEG-2 bit
stream or resend the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream or the
differential bit stream. The original bit stream storage means
constitute the reconstructed first coded signal storage means
according to the present invention.
[0217] I-C Operation of Bit Stream Separating and Merging System
1000
[0218] Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown a first
preferred embodiment of a bit stream separating and merging system
1000 according to the present invention.
[0219] The first preferred embodiment of the bit stream separating
and merging system 1000 according to the present invention is shown
in FIG. 1 as comprising a bit stream separating apparatus 1100 for
inputting an original MPEG-2 bit stream to separate into a
transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream and a differential bit stream, and a
bit stream merging apparatus 1200 for inputting the transcoded
MPEG-2 bit stream and the differential bit stream.
[0220] The constructions of the bit stream separating apparatus
1100 and the bit stream merging apparatus 2100 have already been
mentioned.
[0221] The operation of the bit stream separating and merging
system 1000 will be described hereinlater in reference to FIG. 1,
FIG. 2, and FIG. 4.
[0222] In the bit stream separating apparatus 1100, the inputting
means a1 is operated to input the original MPEG-2 bit stream
therethrough.
[0223] The bit stream converting means 111 of the separating means
110 is operated to convert the original MPEG-2 bit stream inputted
through the inputting means a1 to generate the transcoded MPEG-2
bit stream.
[0224] The differential bit stream generating means 112 is operated
to input the original MPEG-2 bit stream and the transcoded MPEG-2
bit stream from the bit stream converting means 111 to generate a
differential bit stream on the basis of the first coefficient
information obtained from the series of first picture information
of the original MPEG-2 bit stream, and the second coefficient
information obtained from the series of the second picture
information of the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream.
[0225] The separating storage means 120 is operated to selectively
store the original MPEG-2 bit stream inputted through the inputting
means a1, the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream generated by the bit
stream converting means 111, and the differential bit stream
generated by differential bit stream generating means 110.
[0226] The first transmission means 141 is operated to transmit a
base bit stream to the bit stream merging apparatus 1200. Here, the
base bit stream is intended to mean any one of the original MPEG-2
bit stream, the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream, and the differential
bit stream.
[0227] In the bit stream merging apparatus 1200, the first
receiving means 211 is operated to receive the base bit stream
transmitted by the first transmission means 141 of the bit stream
separating apparatus 1100.
[0228] The merging storage means 220 is operated to store the base
bit stream received by the first receiving means 211.
[0229] The request signal determining means 230 is operated to
determine a request signal for a requested bit stream on the basis
of the base bit stream stored by the merging storage means 220.
[0230] The request signal transmission means 213 is operated to
transmit the request signal for the requested bit stream determined
by the request signal determining means 230 to the bit stream
separating apparatus 1100.
[0231] In the bit stream separating apparatus 1100, the request
signal receiving means 142 is operated to receive the request
signal transmitted by the request signal transmission means 213 of
the bit stream merging apparatus 1200.
[0232] The separating bit stream extracting means 130 is operated
to extract the requested bit stream from among bit streams stored
in the separating storage means 120 in response to the request
signal.
[0233] The second transmission means 143 is operated to transmit
the requested bit stream extracted by the separating bit stream
extracting means 130 to the bit stream merging apparatus 1200.
[0234] In the bit stream merging apparatus 1200, the second
receiving means 212 is operated to receive the requested bit stream
transmitted by the second transmission means 143 of the bit stream
separating apparatus 1100.
[0235] The merging bit stream extracting means 241 is operated to
extract the base bit stream from among bit streams stored in the
merging storage means 220.
[0236] The merging means 242 is operated to merge the base bit
stream extracted by the merging bit stream extracting means 241
with the requested bit stream received by the second receiving
means 212 on the basis of the second coefficient information
obtained from the series of second picture information of the
transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream, and the differential coefficient
information obtained from the differential bit stream to
reconstruct the original MPEG-2 bit stream.
[0237] The outputting means b1 is operated to input the
reconstructed original MPEG-2 bit stream from the merging means 242
to be outputted therethrough.
[0238] The first embodiment of the bit stream separating and
merging system 1000 thus constructed makes it possible for a user
to receive a transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream at a bit rate lower than
that of an original MPEG-2 bit stream to decode, reproduce, and
preview low-quality picture information, and later receive a
differential bit stream to be merged with the transcoded MPEG-2 bit
stream earlier received to reproduce high-quality picture
information, thereby eliminating the time and effort to transmit
the original MPEG-2 bit stream, and thus effectively utilize the
transcoded MPEG-2 bit streams and the transmitting paths.
[0239] Furthermore, in the bit stream separating and merging system
1000 according to the present invention, the bit stream separating
apparatus 1100 can firstly transmit the differential bit stream and
later transmit the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream, and the bit stream
merging apparatus 1200 can firstly receive the differential bit
stream and later receive the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream.
[0240] II. Second Embodiment of Bit Stream Separating and Merging
System 2000
[0241] Referring to FIG. 6 of the drawings, there is shown a second
preferred embodiment of a bit stream separating and merging system
2000 according to the present invention.
[0242] The second preferred embodiment of the bit stream separating
and merging system 2000 according to the present invention is shown
in FIG. 6 as comprising a bit stream separating apparatus 2100 for
inputting an original MPEG-2 bit stream to separate into a
transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream and a differential bit stream, and a
bit stream merging apparatus 2200 for inputting the transcoded
MPEG-2 bit stream and the differential bit stream to reconstruct
the original MPEG-2 bit stream.
[0243] The bit stream separating apparatus 2100 and the bit stream
merging apparatus 2200 are similar in construction as the bit
stream separating apparatus 1100 and the bit stream merging
apparatus 1200 except for the fact that the bit stream separating
apparatus 2100 is adapted to store the differential bit stream in
the separating storage means 120 and transmit the transcoded MPEG-2
bit stream to the bit stream merging apparatus 2200, and the bit
stream merging apparatus 2200 is adapted to firstly receive the
transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream and later receive the differential bit
stream.
[0244] The operation of the bit stream separating and merging
system 2000 will be described with reference to FIG. 6 hereinlater.
The same constitutional elements are simply represented by the same
reference numerals as those of the bit stream separating apparatus
1100 and the bit stream merging apparatus 1200, and will be thus
omitted from description for avoiding tedious repetition.
[0245] In the bit stream separating apparatus 2100, the inputting
means a1 is operated to input an original MPEG-2 bit stream 11
therethrough to be outputted to the bit stream converting means
111.
[0246] The bit stream converting means 111 is operated to convert
the original MPEG-2 bit stream 11 inputted through the inputting
means a1 to generate the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 12 to be
outputted to the differential bit stream generating means 112 and
the first transmission means 141 through the interface out1. The
bit stream converting means 111 is also operated to output the
original MPEG-2 bit stream 11 inputted through the inputting means
a1 to the differential bit stream generating means 112.
[0247] The differential bit stream generating means 112 is operated
to input the original MPEG-2 bit stream 11 and the transcoded
MPEG-2 bit stream 12 from the bit stream converting means 111 to
generate a differential bit stream 13 to be outputted to the
separating storage means 120 through the interface out2.
[0248] The separating storage means 120 is operated to store the
differential bit stream 13 generated by the differential bit stream
generating means 112.
[0249] The first transmission means 141 is operated to transmit the
transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 12 generated by the bit stream
converting means 111 to the bit stream merging apparatus 2200.
[0250] In the bit stream merging apparatus 2200, the first
receiving means 211 is operated to receive the transcoded MPEG-2
bit stream 12 transmitted by the first transmission means 141.
[0251] The merging storage means 220 is operated to store the
transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 12 received by the first receiving
means 211.
[0252] The request signal determining means 230 is operated to
determine a request signal 15 for a requested differential bit
stream 16 on the basis of the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 12
stored by the merging storage means 220. This means that the
request signal determining means 230 is operated determine a
requested differential bit stream 16 and a request signal 15 for
the requested differential bit stream 16 on the basis of the
transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 12 stored by the merging storage means
220.
[0253] The request signal transmission means 213 is operated to
transmit the request signal 15 for the requested differential bit
stream 16 determined by the request signal determining means
230.
[0254] In the bit stream separating apparatus 2100, the request
signal receiving means 142 is operated to receive the request
signal 15 for the requested differential bit stream 16 transmitted
by the request signal transmission means 213 of the bit stream
merging apparatus 2200.
[0255] The bit stream extracting means 130 is operated to extract
the requested differential bit stream 16 from among bit streams
stored in the separating storage means 120 in response to the
request signal.
[0256] The second transmission means 143 is operated to transmit
the requested differential bit stream 16 extracted by the bit
stream extracting means 130 from among bit streams stored in the
separating storage means 120 to the bit stream merging apparatus
2200,
[0257] In the bit stream merging apparatus 2200, the second
receiving means 212 is operated to receive the requested
differential bit stream 16 transmitted by the second transmission
means 143 of the bit stream separating apparatus 2100.
[0258] The merging bit stream extracting means 241 is operated to
extract the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 14 from among bit streams
stored in the merging storage means 220.
[0259] The merging means 242 is operated to merge the transcoded
MPEG-2 bit stream 14 extracted by the merging bit stream extracting
means 241 with the requested differential bit stream 16 received by
the second receiving means 212 to reconstruct the original MPEG-2
bit stream 17.
[0260] The outputting means b1 is operated to input the
reconstructed original MPEG-2 bit stream 17 from the merging means
242 to be outputted therethrough.
[0261] According to the present invention, the bit stream merging
apparatus 2200 may further comprise a decoding means 225 for
decoding the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 12 received by the first
receiving means 211.
[0262] The second embodiment of the bit stream separating and
merging system 1000 thus constructed makes it possible for a user
to receive a transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream at a bit rate lower than
that of an original MPEG-2 bit stream to decode, reproduce, and
preview low-quality picture information, and later receive a
differential bit stream to be merged with the transcoded MPEG-2 bit
stream earlier received to reproduce high-quality picture
information, thereby effectively utilize the transcoded MPEG-2 bit
streams and the transmitting paths.
[0263] The bit stream merging apparatus 2200 according to the
present invention, may comprise original bit stream storage means,
not shown, for inputting and storing the reconstructed original
MPEG-2 bit stream 17 reconstructed by the merging means 242.
Alternatively, the merging storage means 220 of the bit stream
merging apparatus 2200 according to the present invention may input
and store the reconstructed original MPEG-2 bit stream
reconstructed by the merging means 242. The bit stream merging
apparatus 2200 thus constructed enables to store the reconstructed
original MPEG-2 bit stream once reconstructed, thereby eliminating
the time and effort to resend the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream or
the differential bit stream. The original bit stream storage means
constitute the reconstructed first coded signal storage means
according to the present invention.
[0264] III. Third Embodiment of Bit Stream Separating and Merging
System 3000
[0265] Referring to FIG. 7 of the drawings, there is shown a third
preferred embodiment of a bit stream separating and merging system
3000 according to the present invention.
[0266] The third preferred embodiment of the bit stream separating
and merging system 3000 according to the present invention is shown
in FIG. 7 as comprising a bit stream separating apparatus 3100 and
a bit stream merging apparatus 3200. The bit stream separating
apparatus 3100 and the bit stream merging apparatus 3200 are
similar in construction as the bit stream separating apparatus 2100
and the bit stream merging apparatus 2200 except for the fact that
the bit stream merging apparatus 3200 further comprises editing
means 235 in addition to the request signal determining means
230.
[0267] The editing means 235 is adapted to cut and combine
component parts of the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream stored by the
merging storage means 220 to generate an edited MPEG-2 bit stream
in a desired size.
[0268] Some moving picture information is required to be promptly
transmitted but not required to maintain a high picture quality.
News moving picture information, for instance, is required to be
instantaneously transmitted to editors. The editors, on the other
hand, can review and edit the news moving picture information as
long as the news moving picture information has a minimum picture
quality.
[0269] In the third preferred embodiment of the bit stream
separating and merging system 3000 according to the present
invention, the bit stream separating apparatus 3100 is adapted to
input an original MPEG-2 bit stream 31 to separate into a
transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 32 and a differential bit stream 33,
and store the differential bit stream 33 in the separating storage
means 120 and transmit the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 32 to the
bit stream merging apparatus 3200. The bit rate of the transcoded
MPEG-2 bit stream 32 is lower than that of the original MPEG-2 bit
stream 31, thereby making it possible for the bit stream separating
apparatus 3100 to transmit the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 32 to
the bit stream merging apparatus 3200 faster than the original
MPEG-2 bit stream 31.
[0270] The bit stream merging apparatus 3200, on the other hand,
can edit the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 32 thus received to
generate an edited transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 32.5 in a desired
size. The request signal determining means 230 is adapted to
determine a requested differential bit stream 36 to be merged with
the edited transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 32.5, and a request signal
35 for the requested differential bit stream 36 on the basis of the
edited transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 32.5, and then transmit the
request signal 35 for the requested differential bit stream 36 to
the bit stream separating apparatus 3100.
[0271] In response to the request signal 35 for the requested
differential bit stream 36, the bit stream separating apparatus
3100 is adapted to extract the requested differential bit stream 36
from among the stored differential bit stream, and transmit the
requested differential bit stream 36 to the bit stream merging
apparatus 3200.
[0272] Upon receiving the requested differential bit stream 36, the
bit stream merging apparatus 3200 is adapted to merge the edited
transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 32.5 and the requested differential
bit stream 36 to reconstruct the original MPEG-2 bit stream 37 in
the desired size.
[0273] The bit stream separating and merging system 3000 makes it
possible for a user to firstly receive and edit the transcoded
MPEG-2 bit stream 32 and then later receive the differential bit
stream 36 corresponding to the edited MPEG-2 bit stream 32.5 to
reconstruct the original MPEG-b bit stream 37 used to reproduce
high-quality moving picture information in the edited size.
[0274] The bit stream separating apparatus 3100 is not required to
transmit all of the differential bit stream but requested parts of
the differential bit stream only, thereby reducing the volume of
the differential bit stream to be transmitted.
[0275] The operation of the bit stream separating and merging
system 3000 will be described with reference to FIG. 7 hereinlater.
The same operation as that of the bit stream separating and merging
system 2000 will be omitted for avoiding tedious repetition.
[0276] The editing means 235 is operated to cut and combine
component parts of the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 32 stored by
the merging storage means 220 to generate an edited transcoded
MPEG-2 bit stream 32.5 in a desired size.
[0277] The request signal determining means 230 is operated to
determine a request signal 35 for a requested differential bit
stream 36 on the basis of the edited transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream
32.5 generated by the editing means 235. This means that the
request signal determining means 230 is operated to determine a
requested differential bit stream 36 and a request signal 35 for
the requested differential bit stream 36 on the basis of the edited
transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 32.5 generated by the editing means
235.
[0278] The request signal transmission means 213 is operated to
transmit the request signal 35 for the requested differential bit
stream 36 determined by the request signal determining means 230 to
the bit stream separating apparatus 3100.
[0279] In the bit stream separating apparatus 3100, the separating
bit stream extracting means 130 is operative to extract the
requested differential bit stream 36 from among bit streams stored
in the separating storage means 120 in response to the request
signal 35.
[0280] The merging bit stream extracting means 241 is operated to
extract the edited transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 34 from among bit
streams stored in the merging storage means 220.
[0281] The merging means 242 is operated to merge the edited
transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 34 extracted by the bit stream
extracting means 241 with the requested differential bit stream 36
received by the second receiving means 212 to reconstruct the
original MPEG-2 bit stream 37 in the desired size.
[0282] The third embodiment of the bit stream separating and
merging system 3000 thus constructed makes it possible for a user
to firstly receive and edit a transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream and then
later receive a differential bit stream corresponding to the MPEG-2
bit stream thus edited to reconstruct an original MPEG-2 bit stream
and reproduce high-quality moving picture information in an edited
size, thereby enabling to promptly edit the original MPEG-2 bit
stream and reduce the volume of the differential bit stream to be
transmitted.
[0283] IV. Fourth Embodiment of Bit Stream Separating and Merging
System 4000
[0284] Referring to FIG. 8 of the drawings, there is shown a fourth
preferred embodiment of a bit stream separating and merging system
4000 according to the present invention.
[0285] The fourth preferred embodiment of the bit stream separating
and merging system 4000 according to the present invention is shown
in FIG. 8 as comprising a bit stream separating apparatus 4100 and
a bit stream merging apparatus 4200.
[0286] The bit stream separating apparatus 4100 and the bit stream
merging apparatus 4200 are similar in construction as the bit
stream separating apparatus 1100 and the bit stream merging
apparatus 1200 except for the fact that the bit stream separating
apparatus 4100 is adapted to store the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream
in the separating storage means 120 and transmit the differential
bit stream to the bit stream merging apparatus 2200, and the bit
stream merging apparatus 4200 is adapted to firstly receive the
differential MPEG-2 bit stream and later receive the transcoded
MPEG-2 bit stream.
[0287] In the second embodiment of the bit stream separating and
merging system 2000, the bit stream separating apparatus 2100 is
adapted to firstly transmit the transcoded MPEG-2 bit streams to
the bit stream merging apparatus 2200 and later transmit the
differential bit streams to the bit stream merging apparatus 2200
in response to the request signal transmitted by the bit stream
merging apparatus 2200.
[0288] In the embodiment of the bit stream separating and merging
system 4000 according to the present invention, the bit stream
separating apparatus 4100, on the other hand, is adapted to firstly
transmit the differential bit streams to the bit stream merging
apparatus 4200 and later transmit the transcoded MPEG-2 bit streams
in response to the request signal transmitted by the bit stream
merging apparatus 4200.
[0289] A program provider, i.e., a broadcast station, for instance,
can deliver differential bit streams to a plurality of subscribers
in their homes. The differential bit streams delivered are
automatically stored in home servers or local storages in
respective homes.
[0290] When a subscriber wants to watch a specific film program,
the subscriber can transmit a request signal for a requested
transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream to be merged with the differential bit
stream earlier delivered containing the film program to be watched,
to the broadcast station. In response to the request signal, the
broadcast station can transmit the requested transcoded MPEG-2 bit
stream to the subscriber and the subscriber can watch the program
by merging the requested transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream just received
and the differential bit stream already stored. The subscriber can
receive the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream faster than the original
MPEG-2 bit stream since the bit rate of the transcoded MPEG-2 bit
stream is lower than that of the original MPEG-2 bit stream. This
means that the bit stream separating and merging system 4000 can
promptly deliver the moving picture information to subscribers.
[0291] Furthermore, the differential bit stream earlier delivered
to subscribers cannot be decoded, thereby preventing the illegal
copy of the moving picture information.
[0292] The operation of the bit stream separating and merging
system 4000 will be described with reference to FIG. 8 hereinlater.
The same operation as that of the bit stream separating and merging
system 1000 will be omitted.
[0293] In the bit stream separating apparatus 4100, the inputting
means al is operated to input an original MPEG-2 bit stream 41
therethrough to be outputted to the bit stream converting means
111.
[0294] The bit stream converting means 111 is operated to convert
the original MPEG-2 bit stream 41 inputted through the inputting
means a1 to generate the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 43 to be
outputted to the differential bit stream generating means 112 and
the separating storage means 120 through the interface out1. The
bit stream converting means 111 is also operated to output the
original MPEG-2 bit stream 41 inputted through the inputting means
a1 to the differential bit stream generating means 112.
[0295] The differential bit stream generating means 112 is operated
to input the original MPEG-2 bit stream 41 and the transcoded
MPEG-2 bit stream 43 from the bit stream converting means 111 to
generate a differential bit stream 42 to be outputted to the first
transmission means 141 through the interface out2.
[0296] The separating storage means 120 is operated to input and
store the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 43 generated by the bit
stream converting means 111.
[0297] The first transmission means 141 is operated to input and
transmit the differential bit stream 42 generated by the
differential bit stream generating means 112 to the bit stream
merging apparatus 4200.
[0298] In the bit stream merging apparatus 4200, the first
receiving means 211 is operated to receive the differential bit
stream 42 transmitted by the first transmission means 141.
[0299] The merging storage means 220 is operated to store the
differential bit stream 42 received by the first receiving means
211.
[0300] The request signal determining means 230 is operated to
determine a requested transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 45 and a request
signal 44 for the requested transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 45 on the
basis of the differential bit stream 42 stored by the merging
storage means 220.
[0301] The request signal transmission means 213 is operated to
transmit the request signal 44 for the requested transcoded MPEG-2
bit stream 45 determined by the request signal determining means
230.
[0302] In the bit stream separating apparatus 4100, the request
signal receiving 142 is operated to receive the request signal 44
transmitted by the request signal transmission means 213.
[0303] The separating bit stream extracting means 130 is operated
to extract the requested transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 45 from among
bit streams stored in the separating storage means 120 in response
to the request signal 44.
[0304] The second transmission means 143 is operated to transmit
the requested transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 45 extracted by the
separating bit stream extracting means 130 to the bit stream
merging apparatus 4200.
[0305] In the bit stream merging apparatus 4200, the second
receiving means 212 is operated to receive the requested transcoded
MPEG-2 bit stream 45 transmitted by the second transmission means
143 of the bit stream separating apparatus 4100.
[0306] The merging bit stream extracting means 241 is operated to
extract the differential bit stream 46 stored by the merging
storage means 220.
[0307] The merging means 242 is operated to merge the differential
bit stream 46 extracted by the merging bit stream extracting means
241 with the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 45 received by the second
receiving means 212 to reconstruct the original MPEG-2 bit stream
47.
[0308] According to the present invention, the first transmission
means 141 of the bit stream separating apparatus 4100 and the first
receiving means 211 of the bit stream merging apparatus 4200 may
transmit and receive bit streams by way of broadcasting.
[0309] The fourth embodiment of the bit stream separating and
merging system 4000 thus constructed enables to firstly deliver the
differential bit stream to a user in their homes and later transmit
the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream to the user in response to the
request signal, thereby promptly delivering moving picture
information and preventing the illegal copy of the moving picture
information.
[0310] V. Fifth Embodiment of Bit Stream Separating and Merging
System 5000
[0311] Referring FIG. 9 of the drawings, there is shown a fifth
preferred embodiment of a bit stream separating and merging system
5000 according to the present invention. The same constitutional
elements are simply represented by the same reference numerals as
those of the bit stream separating apparatus 1100 and the bit
stream merging apparatus 1200, and will be thus omitted from
description for avoiding tedious repetition.
[0312] The fifth preferred embodiment of the bit stream separating
and merging system 5000 according to the present invention is shown
in FIG. 9 as comprising a bit stream separating means 5100 and a
bit stream merging apparatus 5200.
[0313] The bit stream merging apparatus 5200 further comprises a
decoding means 280 for decoding MPEG-2 bit streams and merging bit
stream converting means 271 for transcoding the original MPEG-2 bit
stream to generate a transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream. The merging bit
stream converting means 271 constitutes bit stream converting means
according to the present invention.
[0314] In the fifth embodiment of the bit stream separating and
merging system 5000 according to the present invention, the bit
stream separating apparatus 5100 is adapted to transmit the
original MPEG-2 bit stream to the bit stream merging apparatus
5200.
[0315] The bit stream merging apparatus 5200 thus constructed is
adapted to decode and reproduce high quality moving picture
information from the original MPEG-2 bit stream 51 transmitted by
the bit stream separating apparatus 5100, and transcode the
original MPEG-2 bit stream 51 to generate the transcoded MPEG-2 bit
stream 53 to be stored in the merging storage means 220. The bit
stream separating apparatus 5100 is adapted to store the
differential bit stream 52 in the separating storage means 120.
[0316] The bit stream separating and merging system 5000 thus
constructed does not need to store the original MPEG-2 bit stream
51, which has a large bit rate in comparison with bit rates of the
transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 53 and the differential bit stream 52,
thereby enabling to save the storage capacity of the bit stream
separating apparatus 5100 and the bit stream merging apparatus
5200.
[0317] The operation of the bit stream separating and merging
system 5000 will be described with reference to FIG. 9 hereinlater.
The same operation as that of the bit stream separating and merging
system 1000 will be omitted.
[0318] In the bit stream separating apparatus 5100, the inputting
means a1 is operated to input an original MPEG-2 bit stream 51
therethrough to be outputted to the bit stream converting means 111
and the first transmission means 141.
[0319] The bit stream converting means 111 is operated to convert
the original MPEG-2 bit stream 51 inputted through the inputting
means a1 to generate the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream to be
outputted to the differential bit stream generating means 112. The
bit stream converting means 111 is also operated to output the
original MPEG-2 bit stream 51 inputted through the inputting means
a1 to the differential bit stream generating means 112.
[0320] The differential bit stream generating means 112 is operated
to input the original MPEG-2 bit stream 51 and the transcoded
MPEG-2 bit stream from the bit stream converting means 111 to
generate a differential bit stream 52 to be outputted to the
separating storage means 120 through the interface out2.
[0321] The separating storage means 120 is operated to input and
store the differential bit stream 52 generated by the differential
bit stream generating means 112.
[0322] The first transmission means 141 is operated to input and
transmit the original MPEG-2 bit stream 51 inputted through the
inputting means a1 to the bit stream merging apparatus 5200.
[0323] In the bit stream merging apparatus 5200, the first
receiving means 211 is adapted to receive the original MPEG-2 bit
stream 51 transmitted by the first transmission means 141 of the
bit stream separating apparatus 5100.
[0324] The decoding means 280 is operated to input and decode the
original MPEG-2 bit stream 51 received by the first receiving means
211.
[0325] The merging bit stream converting means 271 is operated to
input the original MPEG-2 bit stream 51 received by the first
receiving means 211 to generate a transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream
53.
[0326] The merging storage means 220 is operated to input and store
the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 53 generated by the merging bit
stream converting means 271.
[0327] The request signal determining means 230 is operated to
determine a requested differential bit stream 55 and a request
signal 54 for the requested differential bit stream 55 on the basis
of the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 53 stored by the merging
storage means 220.
[0328] The request signal transmission means 213 is operated to
transmit the request signal 54 for the requested differential bit
stream 55 determined by the request signal determining means 230 to
the bit stream separating apparatus 5100.
[0329] In the bit stream separating apparatus 5100, the request
signal receiving means 142 is operated to receive the request
signal 54 transmitted by the request signal transmission means 213
of the bit stream merging apparatus 5200.
[0330] The separating bit stream extracting means 130 is operated
to extract the requested differential bit stream 55 from among bit
streams stored in the separating storage means 120 in response to
the request signal 54.
[0331] The second transmission means 143 is operated to transmit
the requested differential bit stream 55 extracted by the
separating bit stream extracting means 130 to the bit stream
merging apparatus 5200.
[0332] In the bit stream merging apparatus 5200, the second
receiving means 212 is operated to receive the requested
differential bit stream 55 transmitted by the second transmission
means 143 of the bit stream separating apparatus 5100.
[0333] The merging bit stream extracting means 241 is operated to
extract the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 56 from among bit streams
stored in the merging storage means 220.
[0334] The merging means 242 is operated to merge the transcoded
MPEG-2 bit stream 56 extracted by the merging bit stream extracting
means 241 with the requested differential bit stream 55 received by
the second receiving means 212 to reconstruct the original MPEG-2
bit stream 57 in the desired size.
[0335] The bit stream separating and merging system 5000 thus
constructed does not need to store the original MPEG-2 bit stream,
which has a large bit rate in comparison with bit rates of the
transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream and the differential bit stream,
thereby enabling to save the storage capacity of the bit stream
separating apparatus 5100 and the bit stream merging apparatus
5200.
[0336] VI. Sixth Embodiment of Bit Stream Separating and Merging
System 6000
[0337] Referring to FIG. 10 of the drawings, there is shown a sixth
preferred embodiment of a bit stream separating and merging system
6000 according to the present invention.
[0338] The sixth preferred embodiment of the bit stream separating
and merging system 6000 according to the present invention is shown
in FIG. 10 as comprising a bit stream separating apparatus 6100 and
a bit stream merging apparatus 6200. The same constitutional
elements are simply represented by the same reference numerals as
those of the bit stream separating apparatus 1100 and the bit
stream merging apparatus 1200, and will be thus omitted from
description.
[0339] The construction of the sixth embodiment of the bit stream
separating and merging system 6000 is similar to that of the fourth
embodiment of the bit stream separating and merging system 4000
except for the facts that the bit stream separating apparatus 6100
is adapted to transmit the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 61 and the
bit stream merging apparatus 6200 is adapted to receive the
original MPEG-2 bit stream 61 to generate a differential bit stream
63 and store the differential bit stream 63 thus generated.
[0340] The bit stream merging apparatus 6200 further comprises
decoding means 280 and merging separating means 270. The decoding
means 280 is adapted to decode a MPEG-2 bit stream. The merging
separating means 270 is adapted to input the original MPEG-2 bit
stream 61 to generate a differential bit stream 64. The merging
separating means 270 constitutes merging differential coded signal
generating means according to the present invention.
[0341] More specifically, the merging separating means 270 includes
bit stream converting means 271 and differential bit stream
generating means 272 as shown in FIG. 10. The bit stream converting
means 271 is adapted to input the original MPEG-2 bit stream 60 to
generate a transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream. The bit stream converting
means 271 is adapted to output the original MPEG-2 bit stream 61
and the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream thus generated to the
differential bit stream generating means 272. The differential bit
stream generating means 272 is adapted to input the original MPEG-2
bit stream 61 and the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream from the bit
stream converting means 271 to generate a differential bit stream
64.
[0342] The bit stream separating and merging system 6000 thus
constructed does not need to store the original MPEG-2 bit stream,
which has a large bit rate in comparison with bit rates of the
transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream and the differential bit stream,
thereby enabling to save the storage capacity of the bit stream
separating apparatus 6100 and the bit stream merging apparatus
6200.
[0343] The operation of the bit stream separating and merging
system 6000 will be described with reference to FIG. 10
hereinlater. The same operation described hereinearlier will be
omitted.
[0344] In the bit stream separating apparatus 6100, the inputting
means al is operated to input an original MPEG-2 bit stream 61
therethrough to be outputted to the bit stream converting means 111
and the first transmission means 141.
[0345] The bit stream converting means 111 is operated to convert
the original MPEG-2 bit stream 61 inputted through the inputting
means a1 to generate a transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 62 to be
outputted to the merging storage means 120 through the interface
out1.
[0346] The separating storage means 120 is operated to input and
store the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 62 generated by the bit
stream converting means 111.
[0347] The first transmission means 141 is operated to transmit the
original MPEG-2 bit stream 61 inputted through inputting means a1
to the bit stream merging apparatus 6200.
[0348] In the bit stream merging apparatus 6200, the first
receiving means 211 is operated to receive the original MPEG-2 bit
stream 61 transmitted by the first transmission means 141 of the
bit stream separating apparatus 6100.
[0349] The decoding means 280 is operated to decode the original
MPEG-2 bit stream 61 received by the first receiving means 211.
[0350] The merging bit stream converting means 271 is operated to
input the original MPEG-2 bit stream 61 received by the first
receiving means 211 to generate a transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream.
[0351] The merging differential bit stream generating means 272 is
operated to input the original MPEG-2 bit stream 61 received by the
first receiving means 211 and the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream
generated by the merging bit stream converting means 271 to
generate the differential bit stream 63.
[0352] The merging storage means 220 is operated to store the
differential bit stream 63 thus generated by the merging separating
means 270.
[0353] The request signal determining means 230 is operated to
determine a requested transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 65 and a request
signal 64 for the requested transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 65 on the
basis of the differential bit stream 63 stored by the merging
storage means 220.
[0354] The request signal transmission means 213 is operated to
transmit the request signal 64 for the requested transcoded MPEG-2
bit stream 65 determined by the request signal determining means
230 to the bit stream separating apparatus 6100.
[0355] In the bit stream separating apparatus 6100, the request
signal receiving means 142 is operated to receive the request
signal 64 transmitted by the request signal transmission means 213
of the bit stream merging apparatus 6200.
[0356] The separating bit stream extracting means 130 is operated
to extract the requested transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 65 from among
bit streams stored in the separating storage means 120 in response
to the request signal 64.
[0357] The second transmission means 143 is operated to transmit
the requested transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 65 extracted by the
separating bit stream extracting means 130 to the bit stream
merging apparatus 6200.
[0358] In the bit stream merging apparatus 6200, the second
receiving means 212 is operated to receive the requested transcoded
MPEG-2 bit stream 65 transmitted by the second transmission means
143 of the bit stream separating apparatus 6100.
[0359] The merging bit stream extracting means 241 is operated to
extract the differential MPEG-2 bit stream 66 from among bit
streams stored in the merging storage means 220.
[0360] The merging means 242 is operated to merge the differential
bit stream 66 extracted by the merging bit stream extracting means
241 with the requested transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 65 received by
the second receiving means 212 to reconstruct the original MPEG-2
bit stream 67 in the desired size.
[0361] The bit stream separating and merging system 6000 thus
constructed does not need to store the original MPEG-2 bit stream,
which has a large bit rate in comparison with bit rates of the
transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream and the differential bit stream,
thereby enabling to save the storage capacity of the bit stream
separating apparatus 6100 and the bit stream merging apparatus
6200.
[0362] VII. Seventh Embodiment of Bit Stream Separating and Merging
System 7000
[0363] Referring to FIG. 11 of the drawings, there is shown a
seventh preferred embodiment of a bit stream separating and merging
system 7000 according to the present invention.
[0364] Each of the above described embodiments of the bit stream
separating and merging systems 1000 to 6000 comprises a single bit
stream separating apparatus for inputting an original MPEG-2 bit
stream to separate into a transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream and a
differential bit stream, and a single bit stream merging apparatus
for inputting a transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream and a differential
MPEG-2 bit stream to reconstruct an original MPEG-2 bit stream.
[0365] The seventh preferred embodiment of the bit stream
separating and merging system 7000, on the other hand, as best
shown in FIG. 11, comprises a multi-output bit stream separating
apparatus 7100 for inputting an original MPEG-2 bit stream to
separate into a plurality of transcoded MPEG-2 bit streams and a
plurality of differential bit streams; and a multi-input bit stream
merging apparatus 7200 for inputting a plurality of transcoded
MPEG-2 bit streams and a plurality of differential bit streams to
reconstruct the original MPEG-2 bit. According to the present
invention, the multi-input bit stream merging apparatus 7200 can
also output a plurality of transcoded MPEG-2 bit streams.
[0366] In the bit stream separating and merging system 7000 thus
constructed, the multi-output bit stream separating apparatus 7100
can input, for instance, an original MPEG-2 bit stream having a
large bit rate to separate into and transmit one or more transcoded
MPEG-2 bit streams and a plurality of differential bit streams and
the multi-input bit stream merging apparatus 7200 can input and
merge the one or more transcoded MPEG-2 bit streams and the
differential bit streams thus multiple-times separated to
reconstruct the original MPEG-2 bit stream of the large bit rate.
Alternatively, the multi-input bit stream merging apparatus 7200
can reconstruct and output a plurality of transcoded MPEG-2 bit
stream in addition to the original MPE-2 bit stream. Each of the
transcoded MPEG-2 bit streams and the differential bit streams thus
multiple-times separated has a small bit rate in comparison with a
bit rate of the original MPEG-2 bit stream. The bit stream
separating and merging system 7000 makes it possible to promptly-
and reliably transmit and receive an original MPEG-2 bit stream
having a large bit rate by transmitting and receiving one or more
transcoded MPEG-2 bit streams and a plurality of differential bit
streams in place of the original MPEG-2 bit stream.
[0367] The constructions of the multi-output bit stream separating
apparatus 7100 and the multi-input bit stream merging unit 7200
will be described in detail before describing the operation of the
bit stream separating and merging system 7000.
[0368] VII-A Multi-Output Bit Stream Separating Apparatus 7100
[0369] Referring to FIG. 12 of the drawings, there is shown a
multi-output bit stream separating apparatus 7100 for inputting an
original MPEG-2 bit stream 71 to separate into one transcoded
MPEG-2 bit streams and a plurality of differential bit streams. As
shown in FIG. 12, the multi-output bit stream separating apparatus
7100 comprises a plurality (the number m) of bit stream separating
units 71001 to 7100m including a 1st bit stream separating unit
71001 up to a m-th bit stream separating unit 7100m wherein m is an
integer not less than two.
[0370] Each of the bit stream separating units 71001 to 7100m is
entirely same in construction as that of the bit stream separating
apparatus 1100 according to the present invention, which has
previously been mentioned, and adapted to input a MPEG-2 bit stream
to be transcoded, to separate into a transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream
and a differential bit stream, which is a difference between the
transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream and the MPEG-2 bit stream. The same
constitutional elements are simply represented by the same
reference numerals as those of the bit stream separating apparatus
1100 and will be thus omitted from description.
[0371] The multi-output bit stream separating apparatus 7100 will
be described in reference to FIG. 12, hereinlater.
[0372] The 1st bit stream separating unit 71001 is adapted to input
the original MPEG-2 bit stream 71 having a bit rate of 10 Mbps to
separate into a 1st transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.1 having a bit
rate of 8 Mbps and a 1st differential bit stream 73.1 having a bit
rate of 2 Mbps. The 1st differential bit stream 73.1 is a
difference between the original MPEG-2 bit stream 71 and the 1st
transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.1. The 1st bit stream separating
unit 71001 is adapted to output the 1st transcoded MPEG-2 bit
stream 72.1 to the 2nd bit stream separating unit 71002.
[0373] The 2nd bit stream separating unit 71002 is adapted to input
the 1st transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.1 having a bit rate of 8
Mbps from the 1st bit stream separating unit 71001 to separate into
a 2nd transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.2 having a bit rate of 6 Mbps
and a 2nd differential bit stream 73.2 having a bit rate of 2 Mbps.
The 2nd differential bit stream 73.2 is a difference between the
1st transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.1 and the 2nd transcoded MPEG-2
bit stream 72.2. The 2nd bit stream separating unit 71002 is
adapted to output the 2nd transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.3 to the
3rd bit stream separating unit 71003.
[0374] The multi-output bit stream separating apparatus 7100 thus
constructed can transmit the original MPEG-2 bit stream having a
bit rate of 10 Mbps by transmitting one transcoded MPEG-2 bit
stream and a plurality of differential bit streams each having a
bit rate lower than 10 Mbps.
[0375] Any one of the bit stream separating units 71001 to 7100m is
hereinlater referred to as i-th bit stream separating unit 7100i
wherein i is an integer equal to or less than m.
[0376] The i-th bit stream separating unit 7100i is adapted to
input an (i-1)-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.(i-1) from the
(i-1) th bit stream separating unit 7100i-1 to separate into an
i-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.i and an i-th differential bit
stream 73.i. The i-th bit stream separating unit 7100i is adapted
to output the i-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.i to the
(i+1)-th bit stream separating unit 7100i+1. Here, the i-th
differential bit stream 73.i is intended to mean a difference
between the (i-1)-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.(i-1) and the
i-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.i.
[0377] According to the present invention, any one of the bit
stream separating units 71001 to 7100m, i.e., an i-th bit stream
separating unit 7100i can transmit i-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit
stream 72.1 to an external device such as a decoder. The
multi-output bit stream separating apparatus 7100 thus constructed
can input an original MPEG-2 bit stream to output a plurality of
transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream and a plurality of differential bit
streams.
[0378] For better understanding, the multi-output bit stream
separating apparatus 7100 will be described in detail in reference
to the i-th bit stream separating unit 7100i.
[0379] The i-th bit stream separating unit 7100i is similar in
construction as the bit stream separating apparatus 1100 shown in
FIG. 2 as comprising an inputting terminal INi, i-th bit stream
converting means 111i, i-th differential bit stream generating
means 112i, i-th separating storage means 120i, i-th first
transmission means 141i, i-th request signal receiving means 142i,
i-th bit stream extracting means 130i, i-th second transmission
means 143i, and i-th outputting interface OUTi.
[0380] The i-th inputting means INi is adapted to input the
(i-1)-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.(i-1) therethrough from
the (i-1)-th bit stream separating unit 7100i-1. Here, 0-th
transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream is the original MPEG-2 bit stream.
0-th bit stream separating unit is intended to mean the inputting
means a1.
[0381] The (i-1)-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.(i-1) is
generated as a result of encoding original moving picture sequence
signal and consists of a series of (i-1)-th picture information
having (i-1)-th coefficient information. The (i-1)-th coefficient
information includes a matrix of (i-1)-th coefficients.
[0382] The i-th bit stream converting means 111i is adapted to
convert the (i-1)-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.(i-1) inputted
through the i-th inputting means INI to generate the i-th
transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.i. The i-th bit stream converting
means 111i is adapted to output the i-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit
stream 72.i thus generated to the (i+1)-th inputting means INi+1 of
the (i+1)-th bit stream separating unit 7100i+1 through the
interface out1. The i-th bit stream converting means 111i is also
adapted to output the (i-1)-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream
72.(i-1) and the i-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.i to the i-th
differential bit stream generating means 112i.
[0383] The i-th differential bit stream generating means 112i is
adapted to input the (i-1)-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.(i-1)
and the i-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.i from the bit stream
converting means 111i to generate an i-th differential bit stream
73.i on the basis of the (i-1)-th second coefficient information
obtained from the series of (i-1)-th second picture information of
the (i-1)-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.(i-1), and the i-th
second coefficient information obtained from the series of the i-th
second picture information of the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream
72.i. The i-th differential bit stream 73.i is intended to mean a
difference between the (i-1)-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream
72.(i-1) and the i-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.i.
[0384] The i-th separating storage means 120i is adapted to
selectively store the (i-1)-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream
72.(i-1), the i-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.i, and the i-th
differential bit stream 73.i.
[0385] The i-th first transmission means 141i is adapted to
selectively transmit the (i-1)-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream, the
i-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.i, and the i-th differential
bit stream 73.i to an external device such as, for instance, the
i-th bit stream merging unit 7200i of the multi-input bit stream
merging apparatus 7200.
[0386] The i-th request signal receiving means 142i is adapted to
receive a request signal indicative of a requested bit stream to be
transmitted. The request signal indicative of the requested bit
stream is determined on the basis of a base signal, which is any
one of the (i-1)-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.(i-1), the i-th
transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.i, or the i-th differential bit
stream 73.i.
[0387] The i-th separating bit stream extracting means 130i is
adapted to extract the requested bit stream from among bit streams
stored in the i-th separating storage means 120i in response to the
request signal.
[0388] The i-th second transmission means 143i is adapted to
transmit the requested bit stream extracted by the i-th separating
bit stream extracting means 130i.
[0389] VII-B Multi-Input Bit Stream Merging Apparatus 7200
[0390] Referring to FIG. 13 of the drawings, there is shown a
multi-input bit stream merging apparatus 7200 for inputting one or
more transcoded MPEG-2 bit streams and a plurality of differential
bit streams to reconstruct an original MPEG-2 bit stream. As shown
in FIG. 13, the multi-input bit stream merging apparatus 7200
comprises a plurality (the number n) of bit stream merging units
72001 to 7200n including a 1st bit stream merging unit 72001 up to
a n-th bit stream merging unit 7200i wherein n is an integer not
less than two.
[0391] Each of the bit stream merging units 72001 to 7200n is
entirely same in construction as the bit stream merging apparatus
1200 according to the present invention, which has previously been
mentioned, and adapted to input a transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream and
a differential bit stream to reconstruct a MPEG-2 bit stream before
separated into the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream and the
differential bit stream. The same constitutional elements are
simply represented by the same reference numerals as those of the
bit stream separating apparatus 1100 and will be thus omitted from
description.
[0392] The multi-input bit stream merging apparatus 7200 will be
described in reference to FIG. 13 hereinlater.
[0393] The 2nd bit stream merging unit 72002 is adapted to input
the 2nd transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.2 having a bit rate of 6
Mbps from the 3rd bit stream merging unit 72003, and the 2nd
differential bit stream 73.2 having a bit rate of 2 Mbps from an
external device such as, for instance, the 2nd bit stream
separating unit 71002, to reconstruct the 1st transcoded MPEG-2 bit
stream 72.1 having a bit rate of 8 Mbps. The 2nd bit stream merging
unit 72002 is adapted to output the 1 st transcoded MPEG-2 bit
stream thus reconstructed to the 1st bit stream merging unit
72001.
[0394] The 1st bit stream merging unit 72001 is adapted to input
the 1st transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.1 having a bit rate of 8
Mbps from the 2nd bit stream merging unit 72002, and the 1st
differential bit stream 73.1 having a bit rate of 2 Mbps from an
external device such as, for instance, the 1st bit stream
separating unit 71001 to reconstruct the original MPEG-2 bit stream
71 having a bit rate of 10 Mbps.
[0395] Any one of the bit stream separating units 81001 to 8100m is
hereinlater referred to as i-th bit stream separating unit 8100i
wherein i is an integer equal to or less than n. This means that
the i-th bit stream merging unit 7200i is adapted to input an i-th
transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.i and an i-th differential bit
stream 73.i to reconstruct a (i-1)-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream
wherein i is an integer equal to or less than n.
[0396] In this embodiment, the i-th bit stream merging unit 7200i
is adapted to input the i-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.i from
the (i+1)-th bit stream merging unit 7200i+1 and the i-th
differential bit stream 73.i from an external device such as, for
instance, the i-th bit stream separating unit 7100i. The i-th bit
stream merging unit 7200i is adapted to output the (i-1)-th
transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream thus reconstructed to the (i-1)-th bit
stream merging unit 7200i-1.
[0397] The multi-input bit stream merging apparatus 7200 thus
constructed can receive an original MPEG-2 bit stream having a bit
rate of, for instance, 10 Mbps by receiving one single transcoded
MPEG-2 bit stream and a plurality of differential bit streams each
having a bit rate lower than 10 Mbps.
[0398] The i-th bit stream merging unit 7200i can, however, input
any one of the i-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.i and the i-th
differential bit stream 73.i from the (i+1)-th bit stream merging
unit 7200i+1 and the other one of them from an external device such
as, for instance, the i-th bit stream separating unit 7100i.
Furthermore, the i-th bit stream merging unit 7200i can output the
(i-1)-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream thus reconstructed to an
external device such as a decoder.
[0399] The multi-input bit stream merging apparatus 7200 thus
constructed can input a plurality of transcoded MPEG-2 bit streams
and a plurality of differential bit streams to output a plurality
of transcoded MPEG-2 bit streams.
[0400] For better understanding, the multi-input bit stream merging
apparatus 7200 will be described in detail in reference to the i-th
bit stream merging unit 7200i will be described in detail.
[0401] The i-th bit stream merging unit 7200i is similar in
construction as the bit stream separating apparatus 1200 shown in
FIG. 4 as comprising inputting interfaces, i-th first receiving
means 211i, i-th merging-storage means 220i, i-th request signal
determining means 230i, i-th request signal transmission means
213i, i-th second receiving means 212i, i-th merging bit stream
extracting means 241i, i-th merging means 242i, and outputting
means OUTi.
[0402] The i-th first receiving means 211i is adapted to receive a
base bit stream. In this embodiment, the base bit stream is an i-th
transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.i. This means that the i-th first
receiving means 211i is adapted to receive the base bit stream,
i.e., the i-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.i from the (i+1)-th
bit stream merging unit 7200i+1.
[0403] The i-th first receiving means 211i may receive the base bit
stream from the i-th bit stream separating unit 7100i, and the base
bit stream may be any one of the i-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream
72.i, the (i-1)-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.(i-1), and the
i-th differential bit stream 73.i.
[0404] The i-th merging storage means 220i is adapted to store the
base bit stream received by the i-th first receiving means
211i.
[0405] The i-th request signal determining means 230i is adapted to
determine a requested bit stream and a request signal for the
requested bit stream on the basis of the base bit stream stored by
the i-th merging storage means 220i. If the base bit stream is the
(i-1)-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.(i-1), the i-th request
signal determining means 230i is adapted to determine no request
signal, and the i-th bit stream merging unit 7200i is adapted to
output the (i-1)-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.(i-1)
therethrough. In this embodiment, the base bit stream is the i-th
transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.i, and the i-th request signal
determining means 230i is adapted to determine a requested bit
stream, i.e., an i-th differential bit stream 73.i, and a request
signal for the requested bit stream on the basis of the i-th
transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.i stored by the i-th merging
storage means 220i.
[0406] The i-th request signal transmission means 213i is adapted
to transmit the request signal for the requested bit stream
determined by the i-th request signal determining means 230i to the
bit stream separating unit 7100i.
[0407] The i-th second receiving means 212i is adapted to receive
the requested bit stream.
[0408] The i-th merging bit stream extracting means 241i is adapted
to extract the base bit stream from among bit streams stored in the
i-th merging storage means 220i.
[0409] The i-th merging means 242i is adapted to merge the base bit
stream, i.e., the i-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.i, extracted
by the i-th merging bit stream extracting means 241i with the
requested bit stream, i.e., i-th differential bit stream 73.i,
received by the i-th second receiving means 212i to reconstruct the
(i-1)-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.(i-1) on the basis of the
i-th second coefficient information obtained from the series of
i-th second picture information of the i-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit
stream 72.i, and the i-th differential coefficient information
obtained from the i-th differential bit stream 73.i.
[0410] The i-th outputting means OUTi is adapted to input the
reconstructed (i-1)-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream from the i-th
merging means 242i to be outputted therethrough to the (i-1)-th bit
stream merging unit 7200i-1.
[0411] According to the present invention, the i-th outputting
means OUTi can output the reconstructed (i-1)-th transcoded MPEG-2
bit stream to an external device, such as a decoder as well.
[0412] As will be seen from the foregoing description, the
multi-input bit stream merging apparatus 7200 thus constructed can
input one or more transcoded MPEG-2 bit streams and a plurality of
differential bit streams to one or more MPEG-2 bit streams before
transcoded, thereby making it possible for a user to selectively
decode transcoded MPEG-bit streams to reproduce a moving picture
information of a desired picture quality.
[0413] VII-C Operation of Bit Stream Separating and Merging System
7000
[0414] Referring to FIG. 11 of the drawings, there is shown a
seventh preferred embodiment of a bit stream separating and merging
system 7000 according to the present invention.
[0415] The seventh preferred embodiment of the bit stream
separating and merging system 7000 is shown in FIG. 11 as
comprising a multi-output bit stream separating apparatus 7100 for
inputting an original MPEG-2 bit stream to separate into one or
more transcoded MPEG-2 bit streams and a plurality of differential
bit streams; and a multi-input bit stream merging apparatus 7200
for inputting one or more transcoded MPEG-2 bit streams and a
plurality of differential bit streams to reconstruct the original
MPEG-2 bit stream.
[0416] The multi-output bit stream separating apparatus 7100
comprises a plurality (the number m) of bit stream separating units
71001 to 7100m including a 1st bit stream separating unit 71001 up
to a m-th bit stream separating unit 7100m wherein m is an integer
not less than two.
[0417] The multi-input bit stream merging apparatus 7200 comprises
a plurality (the number n) of the bit stream merging units 72001 to
7200n including a 1st bit stream merging unit 72001 up to a n-th
bit stream merging unit 7200n wherein n is an integer not less than
two. Furthermore, n can be equal to or less than m.
[0418] The constructions of the bit stream separating apparatus
7100 and the bit stream merging apparatus 7200 have already been
described.
[0419] The operation of the seventh preferred embodiment of the bit
stream separating and merging system 7000 will be described
hereinlater, with reference to the i-th bit stream separating unit
7100i, and the i-th bit stream merging unit 7200i.
[0420] According to the present invention, the multi-output bit
stream separating apparatus 7100 is adapted to input an original
MPEG-2 bit stream to separate into a plurality of transcoded MPEG-2
bit streams and a plurality of differential bit streams; and a
multi-input bit stream merging apparatus 7200 is adapted to input a
plurality of transcoded MPEG-2 bit streams and a plurality of
differential bit streams to reconstruct the original MPEG-2 bit
stream.
[0421] In this embodiment, the multi-output bit stream separating
apparatus 7100, however, is operated to input an original MPEG-2
bit stream to separate into one transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream and a
plurality of differential bit streams; and a multi-input bit stream
merging apparatus 7200 is operated to input one transcoded MPEG-2
bit streams and a plurality of differential bit streams to
reconstruct the original MPEG-2 bit stream.
[0422] In the i-th bit stream merging unit 7200i, the i-th
inputting means INi is operated to input an (i-1)-th transcoded
MPEG-2 bit stream 72.(i-1) therethrough from the (i-1)-th bit
stream separating unit 7100i-1.
[0423] The i-th bit stream converting means 111i is operated to
convert the (i-1)-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.(i-1) inputted
through the i-th inputting means INi to generate an i-th transcoded
MPEG-2 bit stream 72.i. The i-th bit stream converting means 111i
is also operated to output the i-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream
72.i thus generated to the (i+1)-th inputting means INi+1 of the
(i+1)-th bit stream separating unit 7100i+1 through the interface
i-th out1. The i-th bit stream converting means 111i is also
operated to output the (i-1)-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream
72.(i-1) and the i-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.i to the i-th
differential bit stream generating means 112i.
[0424] The i-th differential bit stream generating means 112i is
operated to input the (i-1)-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.i-1
and the i-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.i from the i-th bit
stream converting means 111i to generate an i-th differential bit
stream 73.i on the basis of the (i-1)-th second coefficient
information obtained from the series of (i-1)-th second picture
information of the (i-1)-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.i-1,
and the i-th second coefficient information obtained from the
series of the i-th second picture information of the i-th
transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.i.
[0425] The i-th separating storage means 120i is adapted to
selectively store the (i-1)-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.i-1,
the i-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.i, and the i-th
differential bit stream 73.i. In this embodiment, the i-th
separating storage means 120i is operated to store the the i-th
differential bit stream 73.i.
[0426] The i-th first transmission means 141i is adapted to
selectively transmit the (i-1)-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream
72.i-1, the i-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.i, and the i-th
differential bit stream 73.i to the i-th bit stream merging unit
7200i.
[0427] In the i-th bit stream merging unit 7200i, the i-th first
receiving means 211i is operated to receive a base bit stream,
i.e., an i-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.i, from the (i+1)-th
bit stream merging unit 7200i+1.
[0428] The i-th merging storage means 220i is operated to store the
base bit stream received by the i-th first receiving means
211i.
[0429] The i-th request signal determining means 230i is operated
to determine a requested bit stream, and a request signal for the
requested bit stream, i.e., an i-th differential bit stream 73.i,
on the basis of the base bit stream stored by the i-th merging
storage means 220i.
[0430] The i-th request signal transmission means 213i is operated
to transmit the request signal for the requested bit stream
determined by the i-th request signal determining means 230i to the
i-th bit stream separating unit 7100i.
[0431] In the i-th bit stream separating unit 7100i, the i-th
request signal receiving means 142i is operated to receive the
request signal transmitted by the i-th request signal transmission
means 213i of the i-th bit stream merging unit 7200i.
[0432] The i-th separating bit stream extracting means 130i is
operated to extract the requested bit stream, i.e., an i-th
differential bit stream 73.i, from among bit streams stored in the
i-th separating storage means 120i in response to the request
signal.
[0433] The i-th second transmission means 143i is operated to
transmit the requested bit stream extracted by the i-th separating
bit stream extracting means 130i to the i-th bit stream merging
unit 7200i.
[0434] In the i-th bit stream merging unit 7200i, the i-th second
receiving means 212i is operated to receiving the requested bit
stream transmitted by the i-th second transmission means 143i from
the i-th bit stream separating unit 7100i.
[0435] The i-th merging bit stream extracting means 241i is
operated to extract the base bit stream from the i-th merging
storage means 220i;
[0436] The i-th merging means 242i is operated to merge the base
bit stream, i.e., i-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.i, extracted
by the i-th merging bit stream extracting means 241i with the
requested bit stream, i.e., an i-th differential bit stream 73.i,
received by the i-th second receiving means 212i on the basis of
the i-th second coefficient information obtained from the series of
second picture information of the i-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream
72.i, and the i-th differential coefficient information obtained
from the i-th differential bit stream 73.i to reconstruct the
(i-1)-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.(i-1).
[0437] The i-th outputting means OUTi is operated to input the
reconstructed (i-1)-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.(i-1) from
the i-th merging means 242i to be outputted therethrough to the
(i-1)-th bit stream merging unit 7200i-1.
[0438] Furthermore, the number of the bit stream merging units
72001 to 7200n can be less than that of the bit stream separating
units 71001 to 7100m, i.e., n is less than m.
[0439] This means that the n-th bit stream merging unit 7200n can
input the n-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream-and n-th differential
bit stream from the n-th bit stream separating unit 7100n to
reconstruct the (n-1)-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream.
[0440] In the bit stream separating and merging system 7000 thus
constructed, the multi-output bit stream separating apparatus 7100
can input, for instance, an original MPEG-2 bit stream having a
large bit rate to separate into and transmit one or more transcoded
MPEG-2 bit streams and a plurality of differential bit streams and
the multi-input bit stream merging apparatus 7200 can input and
merge the one or more transcoded MPEG-2 bit streams and the
differential bit streams thus multiple-times separated to
reconstruct the original MPEG-2 bit stream of the large bit rate.
Each of the one or more transcoded MPEG-2 bit streams and the
differential bit streams thus multiple-times separated has a bit
rate lower than that of the original MPEG-2 bit stream. The bit
stream separating and merging system 7000 therefore makes it
possible to promptly and reliably transmit and receive an original
MPEG-2 bit stream having a large bit rate by transmitting and
receiving a plurality of transcoded MPEG-2 bit streams and a
plurality of differential bit streams multiple-times separated in
place of the original MPEG-2 bit stream.
[0441] Furthermore, the i-th outputting means OUTi of the i-th bit
stream merging unit 7200i of the multi-input bit stream merging
apparatus 7200 according to the present invention can output the
reconstructed (i-1)-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream to an external
device, such as a decoder. The multi-input bit stream merging
apparatus 7200 thus constructed can input one or more transcoded
MPEG-2 bit streams and a plurality of differential bit streams to
output a plurality of transcoded MPEG-2 bit streams, thereby making
it possible for a user to selectively decode a transcoded MPEG-bit
stream having a desired bit rate to reproduce an original moving
picture information of a desired picture quality.
[0442] VIII. Eighth Embodiment of Bit Stream Separating and Merging
System 8000
[0443] There is provided an eighth preferred embodiment of the bit
stream separating and merging system 8000 comprising a multi-output
bit stream separating apparatus 8100 for inputting an original
MPEG-2 bit stream to separate into one or more transcoded MPEG-2
bit streams and a plurality of differential bit streams; and a
multi-input bit stream merging apparatus 8200 for inputting a one
or more transcoded MPEG-2 bit streams and a plurality of
differential bit streams to reconstruct the original MPEG-2 bit
stream.
[0444] The multi-output bit stream separating apparatus 8100
comprises a plurality of bit stream separating units 81001 to 8100m
including a 1st bit stream separating unit 81001 up to a m-th bit
stream separating unit 8100m wherein m is an integer not less than
two.
[0445] The multi-input bit stream merging apparatus 8200 comprises
a plurality of bit stream merging units 82001 to 8200n including a
1st bit stream merging unit 81001 up to a n-th bit stream merging
unit 8100n wherein n is an integer not less than two.
[0446] The multi-output bit stream separating apparatus according
to the present invention may comprise one or more of bit stream
separating units which are the same in construction as any one or
more of the bit stream separating apparatuses 1100, 2100, 3100,
4100, 5100, and 6100.
[0447] Similarly, the multi-input bit stream merging apparatus
according to the present invention may comprise one or more of bit
stream merging units which are the same in construction as any one
or more of the bit stream merging apparatus 1200, 1200, 2200, 3200,
4200, 5200, and 6200.
[0448] The multi-output bit stream separating apparatus 8100
comprises a plurality of bit stream separating units 81001 to
8100m. Any one of the bit stream separating units 81001 to 8100m is
hereinlater referred to as i-th bit stream separating unit 8100i
wherein i is an integer equal to or less than m.
[0449] The i-th bit stream separating units of the bit stream
separating units 81001 to 8100m of the multi-output bit stream
separating apparatus 8100 is same in the construction as the bit
stream separating apparatus 2100 shown in FIG. 6 as comprising as
comprising an inputting terminal INi, i-th bit stream converting
means 111i, i-th differential bit stream generating means 112i,
i-th separating storage means 120i, i-th first transmission means
141i, i-th request signal receiving means 142i, i-th bit stream
extracting means 130i, i-th second transmission means 143i, and
i-th outputting interface OUTi.
[0450] The multi-input bit stream merging apparatus 8200 comprises
a plurality of bit stream merging units 82001 to 8200m. Any one of
the bit stream merging units 82001 to 8200m is hereinlater referred
to as i-th bit stream merging unit 8200i wherein i is an integer
equal to or less than m.
[0451] The i-th bit stream merging units of the bit stream merging
units 82001 to 8200m of the multi-output bit stream merging
apparatus 8200 is same in the construction as the bit stream
merging apparatus 2200 shown in FIG. 6 as comprising inputting
interfaces, i-th first receiving means 211i, i-th merging storage
means 220i, i-th decoding means 225i, i-th request signal
determining means 230i, i-th request signal transmission means
213i, i-th second receiving means 212i, i-th merging bit stream
extracting means 241i, i-th merging means 242i, and outputting
means OUTi.
[0452] This means that the bit stream separating units 81001 to
8100n-1 are adapted to store differential bit streams in their
respective separating storage means and transmit transcoded MPEG-2
bit streams to subsequently placed bit stream separating units
82002 to 8200n. The bit stream separating unit n is adapted to
transmit the transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream to the bit stream merging
unit n. The bit stream merging unit 8200n is adapted to receive the
transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream and the differential bit stream from
the bit stream separating unit n, and the bit stream merging units
8200n-1 to 82001 are adapted to receive the transcoded MPEG-2 bit
streams from the previously placed bit stream merging units 8200n
to 82002 and bit streams from the respective bit stream merging
units 8200n-1 to 82001.
[0453] The operation of the bit stream separating and merging
system 8000 according to the present invention will be described
hereinlater with reference to the i-th bit stream separating unit
8100i, and the i-th bit stream merging unit 8200i. The operation of
the bit stream separating and merging system 8000 as those of the
bit stream separating and merging system 6000 will be omitted for
avoiding tedious repetition. The same constitutional elements are
simply represented by the same reference numerals.
[0454] In the i-th bit stream separating unit 8100i, the i-th
inputting terminal INi is operated to receive an (i-1)-th
transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.(i-1) from a (i-1)th bit stream
separating unit 8100i-1.
[0455] The i-th bit stream converting means 111i is operated to
convert the (i-1)-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.(i-1) inputted
through the i-th inputting means INI to generate an i-th transcoded
MPEG-2 bit stream 72.i. The i-th bit stream converting means 111i
is operated to output the i-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.i
thus generated to the (i+1)-th inputting means INi+1 of the
(i+1)-th bit stream separating unit 8100i+1 through the interface
out1. The i-th bit stream converting means 111i is also operated to
output the (i-1)-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.(i-1) and the
i-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.i to the i-th differential bit
stream generating means 112i.
[0456] The i-th differential bit stream generating means 112i is
operated to input the (i-1)-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.i-1
and the i-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.i from the i-th bit
stream converting means 111i to generate an i-th differential bit
stream 73.i on the basis of the (i-1)-th second coefficient
information obtained from the series of (i-1)-th second picture
information of the (i-1)-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.i-1,
and the i-th second coefficient information obtained from the
series of the i-th second picture information of the i-th
transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.i.
[0457] The i-th separating storage means 120i is operated to store
the i-th differential bit stream 73.i generated by the i-th
differential bit stream generating means 112i.
[0458] In the i-th bit stream merging unit 8200i, the i-th first
receiving means 211i is operated to receive the i-th transcoded
MPEG-2 bit stream 72.i from outputting means OUTi+1 of the (i+1)-th
bit stream merging unit 8200i+1.
[0459] The i-th decoding means 225i is operated to decode the i-th
transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.i.
[0460] The i-th merging storage means 220i is operated to store the
i-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.i received by the i-th first
receiving means 211i.
[0461] The i-th request signal determining means 230i is operated
to determine a requested differential bit stream and a request
signal for the requested differential bit stream on the basis of
the i-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.i stored by the i-th
merging storage means 220i.
[0462] The i-th request signal transmission means 213i is operated
to transmit the request signal for the requested differential bit
stream determined by the i-th request signal determining means
230i.
[0463] In the i-th bit stream separating unit 8100i, the i-th
request signal receiving means 142i is operated to receive the
request signal transmitted by the i-th request signal transmission
means 213i.
[0464] The i-th separating bit stream extracting means 130i is
operated to extract the requested differential bit stream from the
i-th separating storage means 120i in response to the request
signal.
[0465] The i-th second transmission means 143i is operated to
transmit the requested differential bit stream extracted by the
i-th separating bit stream extracting means 130i to the i-th bit
stream merging unit 8200i.
[0466] In the i-th bit stream merging unit 8200i, the i-th second
receiving means 212i is operated to receive the requested
differential bit stream transmitted by the i-th second transmission
means 143i from the i-th bit stream separating unit 8100i.
[0467] The i-th merging bit stream extracting means 241i is
operated to extract the i-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.i from
the i-th merging storage means 220i.
[0468] The i-th merging means 242i is operated to merge the i-th
transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream 72.i extracted by the i-th merging bit
stream extracting means 241i with the requested differential bit
stream received by the i-th second receiving means 212i to
reconstruct the (i-1)-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream to be
outputted to the outputting means OUT1i.
[0469] The outputting means OUTi is operated to input the the
(i-1)-th transcoded MPEG-2 bit stream thus reconstructed to an
(i-1)-th bit stream merging apparatus 8200i-1.
[0470] As will be seen from the foregoing description, the bit
stream separating and merging system 8000 thus constructed makes it
possible for a user to receive one or more transcoded MPEG-2 bit
streams at bit rates much lower than that of the original MPEG-2
bit stream to decode, reproduce, and preview low-quality picture
information, and later receive a plurality of differential bit
streams at bit rates much lower than that of the original MPEG-2
bit stream to reproduce high-quality picture information in
combining with the transcoded MPEG-2 bit streams earlier received
thereby effectively utilize the transcoded MPEG-2 bit streams and
the transmitting paths.
[0471] According to the present invention, the bit stream
separating and merging system may comprise multi-output bit stream
separating apparatus including one or more of bit stream separating
units same in construction as any one or more of the first to the
sixth embodiment of bit stream separating apparatuses 1100, 2100,
3100, 4100, 5100, and 6100 and the multi-input bit stream merging
apparatus including one or more of bit stream merging units which
are the same in construction as any one or more of the first to the
sixth embodiment of bit stream merging apparatus 1200, 1200, 2200,
3200, 4200, 5200, and 6200.
[0472] The many features and advantages of the invention are
apparent from the detailed specification, and thus it is intended
by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of
the invention which fall within the true spirit and scope thereof.
Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily
occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the
invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and
described herein, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and
equivalents may be construed as being encompassed within the scope
of the invention.
* * * * *