Multiplex Method and Associated Functional Data Structure for Combining Digital Video Signals

Abstract

Functional data structure for coding a set of digital images which are divided into macroblocks ofpixels coded with colour value statements, including intraprediction macroblocks, wherein each of the images is compressed into at least-one first data stream portion, which comprises a portion of the macroblocks reduced by physical redundancies, and-one second data stream portion, which describes the redundancies, wherein for the intraprediction macroblocks-the first data stream portion is reduced by colour value statements with correlations to colour values from rows of pixels outside and at one edge of the intraprediction macroblock and for which, in the case of pixels outside the compressed image, a colour value default is assumed,-and the second data stream comprises intrapredictors for describing the correlations, with coding of an area which is divided into first areas, each of which is occupied by the macroblocks of one of the digital images, and a second area which spaces apart the first areas and is occupied by pixels with the colour value default.

1 . A method for encoding a set of at least two digital images that are divided into macroblocks of pixels encoded with color value specifications, including intraprediction macroblocks, comprising compressing each image in at least
 a first data stream portion, comprising a portion of the macroblocks reduced by at least spatial redundancies, and   a second data stream portion that is assigned to the first data stream portion and describes the redundancies,   
       wherein, for each of the intraprediction macroblocks,
 the first data stream portion is reduced by color value specifications with correlations to color values from at least one row of pixels, which is outside of and assigned to one edge of the intraprediction macroblock and for which, in the case of pixels outside of the compressed image, a default color value is assumed, 
 and the second data stream comprises intrapredictors to describe the correlations, 
 
       distinguished by the encoding of one space, which is divided into first spaces, each of which is occupied by the macroblocks for one of the digital images, and a second space that separates the first spaces from each other and is occupied by pixels with the default color value. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the macroblocks have square spaces of the same size, each with the same number of pixels. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the second space separates every two of the first spaces parallel at a distance corresponding to one of the square macroblocks. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising locating the second space on one edge of the space divided into the second and first spaces. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising reducing the first data stream is reduced by color value specifications with correlations to color values from at least one row of pixels, which is outside of and assigned to one edge of the intraprediction macroblock. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , comprising the row of pixels to an upper or left edge. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the digital images are time-synchronized images with differently timed image sequences. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  7 , comprising reducing the first data stream by space and time redundancies. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , comprising reducing the first data stream by at least one method which is selected from the group consisting of compression based on a frequency analysis, compression based on quantification, and compression based on entropy coding. 
     
     
         10 . A multiplex method for compiling digital video signals, comprising implementing the method of  claim 7  and compiling digital video signals. 
     
     
         11 . Encoding software comprising a unit with program steps that, when performed, carry out the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . The encoding software of  claim 11 , comprising:
 a unit for receiving compressed images via a telecommunication network and   a unit for sending data encoded by the encoding software via the telecommunication network.   
     
     
         13 . A functional data structure for encoding a set of at least two digital images that are divided into macroblocks of pixels encoded with position and color value specifications, including intraprediction macroblocks, wherein each image is compressed in at least
 a first data stream portion, which includes a portion of the macroblocks reduced by at least spatial redundancies, and   a second data stream portion that is assigned to the first data stream portion and describes the redundancies,   
       wherein, for each of the intraprediction macroblocks,
 the first data stream portion is reduced by color value specifications with correlations to color values from at least one row of pixels, which is located outside and at one edge of the intraprediction macroblock and for which, in the case of pixels outside of the compressed image, a default color value is assumed, 
 and the second data stream comprises intrapredictors to describe the correlations, 
 
       distinguished by the encoding of one space, which is divided into first spaces, each of which is occupied by the macroblocks for one of the digital images, and a second space that separates the first spaces from each other and is occupied by pixels with the default color value. 
     
     
         14 . A data storage medium storing, encoding software of  claim 11 . 
     
     
         15 . A processing system comprising encoding software of  claim 11 , wherein said encoding software is present on a storage medium.