Picture signal transmitting method and apparatus

Abstract

A picture type identifier, indicating one of intra-picture coding (an I-picture), forward or backward predictive coding (a P-picture) and bi-directionally predictive coding (a B-picture), is included with a picture signal when the signal is encoded and when the signal is decoded. Each of initial and subsequent encoding and decoding is a function of the included picture type.

1. An apparatus for processing a digital picture signal, comprising:
 means for receiving a digital picture signal having picture type data included in a data identification area of said digital picture signal indicating one of intrapicture coding, predictive coding and bidirectionally predictive coding for respective pictures represented by said digital picture signal, said picture type data identifying an encoding structure of a group of pictures represented by said digital picture signal and further identifying each respective picture within said group of pictures so as to identify the type of encoding of said digital picture signal for each said picture; and   coding means for encoding said digital picture signal as a function of said picture type data to produce an encoded digital picture signal.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said picture type data identifies previous types of coding for said respective pictures represented by said digital picture signal. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said means for receiving includes means for extracting said picture type data from said digital picture signal. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said picture type data is included in a data identification area of at least a vertical blanking interval of said digital picture signal. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising means for decoding said encoded digital picture signal as a function of said picture type data. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said coding means includes motion vector detection means for detecting motion vectors between said pictures represented by said digital picture signal as a function of said picture type data; predictive judging means for choosing one of intra-coding, forward predictive coding, backward predictive coding and bi-directionally predictive coding said digital picture signal as a function of said picture type data; and variable length coding means for encoding said picture type data in said encoded digital picture signal. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said digital picture signal includes an ancillary area in which said picture type data is included followed by a video area in which picture data representing a picture of said digital picture signal is included. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said picture type data identifies a minimum number of frames between two frames encoded either by intrapicture or predictive coding and identifies a total number of frames in said group of pictures represented by said digital picture signal. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus for processing an encoded digital picture signal, comprising:
 means for decoding said encoded digital picture signal to produce picture type data representing a type of encoding of said encoded digital picture signal and to produce a decoded digital picture signal, said picture type data identifying a previous encoding structure of a group of pictures represented by said encoded digital picture signal and further identifying each respective picture within said group of pictures represented by said decoded digital picture signal so as to identify the previous type of encoding for each picture represented by said decoded digital picture signal; and   means for including said picture type data in a data identification area of said decoded digital picture signal to produce an output signal.   
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said means for including is operable to include said picture type data in a data identification area of at least a vertical blanking interval of said decoded digital picture signal to produce said output signal. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising means for encoding said decoded digital picture signal as a function of said picture type data. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said means for decoding includes variable length decoding means for separating said picture type data from said encoded digital picture signal, and wherein said means for including is operative to include the separated picture type data in said decoded digital picture signal. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said digital picture signal includes an ancillary area in which said picture type data is included followed by a video area in which picture data representing a picture of said digital picture signal is included. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said picture type data identifies a minimum number of frames between two frames encoded either by intrapicture or predictive coding and identifies a total number of frames in said group of pictures represented by said digital picture signal. 
     
     
       15. A method of processing a digital picture signal, comprising the steps of:
 receiving a digital picture signal having picture type data included in a data identification area of said digital picture signal indicating one of intrapicture coding, predictive coding and bidirectionally predictive coding for respective pictures represented by said digital picture signal, said picture type data identifying an encoding structure of a group of pictures represented by said digital picture signal and further identifying each respective picture within said group of pictures so as to identify the type of encoding of said digital picture signal for each said picture; and   encoding said digital picture signal as a function of said picture type data to produce an encoded digital picture signal.   
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein said picture type data identifies previous types of coding for said respective pictures represented by said digital picture signal. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 15 , wherein said step of receiving is carried out by extracting said picture type data from said digital picture signal. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 15 , wherein said picture type data is included in a data identification area of at least a vertical blanking interval of said digital picture signal. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of decoding said encoded digital picture signal as a function of said picture type data. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 15 , wherein said step of encoding is carried out by detecting motion vectors between said pictures represented by said digital picture signal as a function of said picture type data; choosing one of intra-coding, forward predictive coding, backward predictive coding and bi-directionally predictive coding said digital picture signal as a function of said picture type data; and variable length encoding said picture type data in said encoded digital picture signal. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 15 , wherein said digital picture signal includes an ancillary area in which said picture type data is included followed by a video area in which picture data representing a picture of said digital picture signal is included. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 15 , wherein said picture type data identifies a minimum number of frames between two frames encoded either by intrapicture or predictive coding and identifies a total number of frames in said group of pictures represented by said digital picture signal. 
     
     
       23. A method of processing an encoded digital picture signal, comprising the steps of:
 decoding said encoded digital picture signal to produce picture type data representing a type of encoding of said encoded digital picture signal and to produce a decoded digital picture signal, said picture type data identifying a previous encoding structure of a group of pictures represented by said encoded digital picture signal and further identifying each respective picture within said group of pictures represented by said decoded digital picture signal so as to identify the previous type of encoding for each picture represented by said decoded digital picture signal; and   including said picture type data in a data identification area of said decoded digital picture signal to produce an output signal.   
     
     
       24. The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein said step of including is carried out by including said picture type data in a data identification area of at least a vertical blanking interval of said decoded digital picture signal to produce said output signal. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 23 , further comprising the step of encoding said decoded digital picture signal as a function of said picture type data. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 23 , wherein said digital picture signal includes an ancillary area in which said picture type data is included followed by a video area in which picture data representing a picture of said digital picture signal is included. 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 23 , wherein said picture type data identifies a minimum number of frames between two frames encoded either by intrapicture or predictive coding and identifies a total number of frames in said group of pictures represented by said digital picture signal. 
     
     
       28. Re-encoding apparatus for re-encoding a decoded video signal obtained by decoding a previously encoded video signal, comprising:
 first receiving means for receiving an encoded video signal and structure information indicating the location within a group of pictures of a respective picture or a first picture resulting from the previous encoding of said video signal, said group of pictures containing a number of pictures of different picture types, the number of pictures in said group of pictures and the picture type of said first picture in the group not being fixed;   decoding means for decoding the received encoded video signal on the basis of said structure information to generate a decoded video signal;   transferring means for transferring the decoded video signal and said structure information;   second receiving means for receiving the transferred decoded video signal and structure information;   encoding means utilizing the structure information received by said second receiving means to re-encode the decoded video signal received by said second receiving means and generate a re-encoded video signal; and   controlling means for controlling said re-encoding by said encoding means to match the location and picture type of said respective picture or first picture in said re-encoded video signal with the location and picture type of said respective picture or first picture in said received encoded video signal.   
     
     
       29. The re-encoding apparatus according to claim 28, wherein
 said transferring means multiplexes the structure information into the decoded video signal.   
     
     
       30. The re-encoding apparatus according to claim 29, wherein
 said transferring means multiplexes the structure information in the vertical blanking interval of the decoded video signal.   
     
     
       31. The re-encoding apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the encoded video signal is encoded in accordance with an MPEG standard. 
     
     
       32. The re-encoding apparatus according to claim 28, further comprising
 output means for outputting the generated re-encoded video signal and the structure information utilized by said encoding means.   
     
     
       33. The encoding apparatus according to claim 28, wherein
 said encoding means re-encodes the decoded video signal in accordance with an MPEG standard.   
     
     
       34. The re-encoding apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the respective picture or first picture in the group of pictures is an I picture; and
 the structure information identifies the minimum number of frames between succeeding I pictures.   
     
     
       35. The re-encoding apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said group of pictures includes I and P pictures; and
 the structure information identifies the minimum number of frames between an I picture and a succeeding P picture.   
     
     
       36. The re-encoding apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the group of pictures includes P pictures; and
 the structure information identifies the minimum number of frames between P picture and P picture.   
     
     
       37. The re-encoding apparatus according to claim 28, wherein
 the structure information identifies the total number of frames in a group of pictures.   
     
     
       38. A method for re-encoding a decoded video signal obtained by decoding a previously encoded video signal, comprising the steps of:
 receiving an encoded video signal and structure information indicating the location within a group of pictures of a respective picture or a first picture resulting from the previous encoding of said video signal, said group of pictures containing a number of pictures of different picture types, the number of pictures in said group of pictures and the picture type of said first picture in the group not being fixed;   decoding by a decoding device the received encoded video signal on the basis of said structure information to generate a decoded video signal;   transferring the decoded video signal and said structure information;   receiving the transferred decoded video signal and structure information;   using the received structure information to re-encode the decoded video signal and thereby generate a re-encoded video signal; and   controlling said re-encoding to match the location and picture type of said respective picture or first picture in said re-encoded video signal with the location and picture type of said respective picture or first picture in said received encoded video signal.   
     
     
       39. Re-encoding apparatus for re-encoding a decoded video signal obtained by decoding a previously encoded video signal, comprising:
 a first receiver for receiving an encoded video signal and structure information indicating the location within a group of pictures of a respective picture or a first picture resulting from the previous encoding of said video signal, said group of pictures containing a number of pictures of different picture types, the number of pictures in said group of pictures and the picture type of said first picture in the group not being fixed;   a decoder for decoding the received encoded video signal on the basis of said structure information to generate a decoded video signal;   a transfer unit for transferring the decoded video signal and said structure information;   a second receiver for receiving the transferred decoded video signal and structure information;   an encoder utilizing the structure information received by said second receiver to re-encode the decoded video signal received by said second receiver and generate a re-encoded video signal; and   a controller for controlling said re-encoding by said encoder to match the location and picture type of said respective picture or first picture in said re-encoded video signal with the location and picture type of said respective picture or first picture in said received encoded video signal.   
     
     
       40. Re-encoding apparatus for re-encoding a decoded video signal obtained by decoding a previously encoded video signal, comprising:
 generating means for generating structure information indicating the location within a group of pictures of a respective picture or a first picture resulting from the previous encoding of said video signal, said group of pictures containing a number of pictures of different picture types, the number of pictures in said group of pictures and the picture type of said first picture in the group not being fixed;   decoding means for decoding the received encoded video signal on the basis of said structure information to generate a decoded video signal;   transferring means for transferring the decoded video signal and said structure information;   receiving means for receiving the transferred decoded video signal and structure information;   encoding means utilizing the structure information received by said receiving means to re-encode the received decoded video signal and generate a re-encoded video signal; and   controlling means for controlling said re-encoding by said encoding means to match the location and picture type of said respective picture or first picture in said re-encoded video signal with the location and picture type of said respective picture or first picture in said previously encoded video signal.   
     
     
       41. A method of re-encoding a decoded video signal obtained by decoding a previously encoded video signal, comprising the steps of:
 generating structure information indicating the location within a group of pictures of a respective picture or a first picture resulting from the previous encoding of said video signal, said group of pictures containing a number of pictures of different picture types, the number of pictures in said group of pictures and the picture type of said first picture in the group not being fixed;   decoding by a decoding device the received encoded video signal on the basis of said structure information to generate a decoded video signal;   transferring the decoded video signal and said structure information;   receiving means for receiving the transferred decoded video signal and structure information;   using the received structure information to re-encode the received decoded video signal and generate a re-encoded video signal; and   controlling said re-encoding to match the location and picture type of said respective picture or first picture in said re-encoded video signal with the location and picture type of said respective picture or first picture in said previously encoded video signal.   
     
     
       42. Re-encoding apparatus for re-encoding a decoded video signal obtained by decoding a previously encoded video signal, comprising:
 a generator for generating structure information indicating the location within a group of pictures of a respective picture or a first picture resulting from the previous encoding of said video signal, said group of pictures containing a number of pictures of different picture types, the number of pictures in said group of pictures and the picture type of said first picture in the group not being fixed;   a decoder for decoding the received encoded video signal on the basis of said structure information to generate a decoded video signal;   a transfer unit for transferring the decoded video signal and said structure information;   a receiver for receiving the transferred decoded video signal and structure information;   an encoder utilizing the structure information received by said receiver to re-encode the received decoded video signal and generate a re-encoded video signal; and   a controller for controlling said re-encoding by said encoder to match the location and picture type of said respective picture or first picture in said re-encoded video signal with the location and picture type of said respective picture or first picture in said previously encoded video signal.   
     
     
       43. Encoding apparatus for encoding a video signal obtained by decoding a previously encoded video signal, comprising:
 receiving means for receiving said video signal and structure information indicating the location within a group of pictures of a respective picture or a first picture resulting from the previous encoding of said video signal, said group of pictures containing a number of pictures of different picture types, the number of pictures in said group of pictures and the picture type of said first picture in the group not being fixed;   encoding means for presently encoding the received video signal utilizing the structure information received by said receiving means to generate a re-encoded video signal; and   controlling means for controlling the encoding by said encoding means to match the location and picture type of said respective picture or first picture in said re-encoded video signal with the location and picture type of said respective picture or first picture in said previously encoded video signal.   
     
     
       44. The encoding apparatus according to claim 43, further comprising
 output means for outputting the re-encoded video signal generated by said encoding means and the structure information utilized by said encoding means.   
     
     
       45. The encoding apparatus according to claim 43, wherein
 said encoding means encodes the received video signal in accordance with an MPEG standard.   
     
     
       46. The encoding apparatus according to claim 43, wherein
 the previously encoded video signal was previously encoded in accordance with an MPEG standard.   
     
     
       47. The encoding apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the respective picture or first picture in the group of pictures is an I picture; and
 the structure information identifies the minimum number of frames between succeeding I pictures.   
     
     
       48. The encoding apparatus according to claim 43 wherein said group of pictures includes I and P pictures; and
 the structure information identifies the minimum number of frames between an I picture and a succeeding P picture.   
     
     
       49. The encoding apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the group of pictures includes P pictures; and
 the structure information identifies the minimum number of frames between P picture and P picture.   
     
     
       50. The encoding apparatus according to claim 43, wherein
 the structure information identifies the total number of frames in a group of pictures.   
     
     
       51. The encoding apparatus according to claim 43, wherein
 the structure information is multiplexed in the received video signal, and   said receiving means acquires the structure information from said video signal.   
     
     
       52. The encoding apparatus according to claim 51, wherein
 the structure information is multiplexed in the vertical blanking interval of said received video signal.   
     
     
       53. A method of encoding a video signal obtained by decoding a previously encoded video signal, comprising the steps of:
 receiving said video signal and structure information indicating the location within a group of pictures of a respective picture or a first picture resulting from the previous encoding of said video signal, said group of pictures containing a number of pictures of different picture types, the number of pictures in said group of pictures and the picture type of said first picture in the group not being fixed;   presently encoding by an encoding device the received video signal utilizing the received structure information to generate a re-encoded video signal; and   controlling the present encoding to match the location and picture type of said respective picture or first picture in said re-encoded video signal with the location and picture type of said respective picture or first picture in said previously encoded video signal.   
     
     
       54. Encoding apparatus for encoding a video signal obtained by decoding a previously encoded video signal, comprising:
 a receiver for receiving said video signal and structure information indicating the location within a group of pictures of a respective picture or a first picture resulting from the previous encoding of said video signal, said group of pictures containing a number of pictures of different picture types, the number of pictures in said group of pictures and the picture type of said first picture in the group not being fixed;   an encoder for presently encoding the received video signal utilizing the structure information received by said receiver to generate a re-encoded video signal; and   a controller for controlling the encoding by said encoder to match the location and picture type of said respective picture or first picture in said re-encoded video signal with the location and picture type of said respective picture or first picture in said previously encoded video signal.