Information transmission method and encoding/decoding apparatus and encoding-multiplexing/decoding-demultiplexing apparatus in information transmission system to which information transmission method is applied

Abstract

In an information transmission method, error robustness is provided for the bit stream itself so that decoding processing can be properly performed even in the event of an error in important information such as header information. A bit stream reconstruction circuit ( 107 ) in an encoding apparatus adds sync signals to the heads of encoded data streams, which are encoded by an encoder ( 103 ), in certain bit stream units, and then inserts designation information in each bit stream by using a designation information insertion circuit ( 106 ). Each designation information indicates the addition of information for reconstructing important header information. By inserting the designation information in the bit stream obtained, reconstruction information can be added to the bit stream. Even if, therefore, an error is introduced into the header information, and the information cannot be used for decoding processing, the decoding processing can be properly continued by using the new reconstruction information designated by the designation information as a substitute.

1 . An encoding apparatus comprising: 
 means for adding a sync signal to header information required for encoding, and encoding the information;    means for transmitting, as reconstruction information for reconstructing the encoded information, information which has already been transmitted or part of the information or information indicating contents of the information or contents of part of the information, upon adding the information to the encoded information, the encoded information containing a picture code stream obtained by compress-encoding a picture signal and the reconstruction information containing information indicating a display timing of each picture frame of the picture code stream; and    means for inserting designation information with a predetermined bit pattern which indicates addition of the reconstruction information in the header information.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein information for changing encoding processing of a portion associated with the header information from encoding processing before the portion associated with the header information to another type of encoding processing is inserted in the header information, and the information is transmitted.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the reconstruction information includes information for changing the encoding processing or information for reconstructing part of the encoding processing.  
   
   
       4 . An encoding apparatus comprising: 
 an adder to add a sync signal to header information required for encoding, and encoding the information;    a transmitter to transmit, as reconstruction information for reconstructing the encoded information, information which has already been transmitted or part of the information or information indicating contents of the information or contents of part of the information, upon adding the information to the encoded information, the encoded information containing a picture code stream obtained by compress-encoding a picture signal, and the reconstruction information containing information indicating a display timing of each picture frame of the picture code stream; and    an insertion unit configured to insert designation information with a predetermined bit pattern which indicates addition of the reconstruction information in the header information.    
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein information for changing encoding processing of a portion associated with the header information from encoding processing before the portion associated with the header information to another type of encoding processing is inserted in the header information, and the information is transmitted.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the reconstruction information includes information for changing the encoding processing or information for reconstructing part of the encoding processing.  
   
   
       7 . An encoding method comprising: 
 adding a sync signal to header information required for encoding;    encoding the information;    transmitting, as reconstruction information for reconstructing the encoded information, information which has already been transmitted or part of the information or information indicating contents of the information or contents of part of the information, upon adding the information to the encoded information, the encoded information containing a picture code stream obtained by compress-encoding a picture signal, and the reconstruction information containing information indicating a display timing of each picture frame of the picture code stream; and    inserting designation information with a predetermined bit pattern which indicates addition of the reconstruction information in the header information.    
   
   
       8 . The encoding method according to  claim 7 , further including inserting, in the header information, information for changing encoding processing of a portion associated with the header information from encoding processing before the portion associated with the header information to another type of encoding processing, and transmitting the information.  
   
   
       9 . The encoding method according to  claim 8 , wherein the reconstruction information includes information for changing the encoding processing or information for reconstructing part of the encoding processing.