Encoding device and method, decoding device and method, editing device and method, recording medium, and program

An encoding method, comprising:

• generating buffer characteristics information, which includes a plurality of combinations of buffer size information and bit rate information as criteria for determining whether a bitstream is decodable using a decoder buffer size and a bit rate, the buffer size information indicating a required buffer size of a buffer that stores the bitstream during decoding of the bitstream and the bit rate information indicating an input bit rate of the buffer;
• and
• encoding an input signal to generate the bit stream including the generated buffer characteristics information.

A non-transitory computer readable storage device that includes computer readable instructions that when executed by processing circuitry performs an encoding program, the encoding program comprising:

• generating buffer characteristics information, which includes a plurality of combinations of buffer size information and bit rate information as criteria for determining whether a bitstream is decodable using a decoder buffer size and a bit rate, the buffer size information indicating a required buffer size of a buffer that stores the bitstream during decoding of the bitstream and the bit rate information indicating an input bit rate of the buffer;
• and
• encoding an input signal to generate the bit stream including the generated buffer characteristics information and the generated bitstream.