Encoding apparatus, encoding method, decoding apparatus, decoding method, transmission system, receiving apparatus, and program

An encoding method executed by encoding circuitry, the method comprising:

• encoding tactile signals using different data formats for different regions of a human body, wherein the encoding includes:
• encoding a first tactile signal for a first region of the human body using a first data format;
• encoding a second tactile signal for a second region of the human body using a second data format different from the first data format;
• and
• combining the encoded first and second tactile signals into a data stream for transmission, wherein the first data format and the second data format utilize different quantization bit lengths based on regions of the human body having different tactile characteristics.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by encoding circuitry, perform an encoding method comprising:

• encoding tactile signals using different data formats for different regions of a human body, wherein the encoding includes:
• encoding a first tactile signal for a first region of the human body using a first data format;
• encoding a second tactile signal for a second region of the human body using a second data format different from the first data format;
• and
• combining the encoded first and second tactile signals into a data stream for transmission, wherein the first data format and the second data format utilize different quantization bit lengths based on regions of the human body having different tactile characteristics.

A decoding apparatus comprising:

• decoding circuitry configured to decode tactile signals encoded using different data formats for different regions of a human body, the decoding circuitry being configured to:
• acquire a data stream including a first encoded tactile signal having a first data format and a second encoded tactile signal having a second data format different from the first data format;
• decode the first encoded tactile signal using the first data format;
• and
• decode the second encoded tactile signal using the second data format, wherein the first data format and the second data format utilize different quantization bit lengths based on regions of the human body having different tactile characteristics.

A decoding method executed by decoding circuitry, the method comprising:

• decoding tactile signals encoded using different data formats for different regions of a human body, wherein the decoding includes:
• acquiring a data stream including a first encoded tactile signal having a first data format and a second encoded tactile signal having a second data format different from the first data format;
• decoding the first encoded tactile signal using the first data format;
• and
• decoding the second encoded tactile signal using the second data format, wherein the first data format and the second data format utilize different quantization bit lengths based on regions of the human body having different tactile characteristics.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by decoding circuitry, perform a decoding method comprising:

• decoding tactile signals encoded using different data formats for different regions of a human body, wherein the decoding includes:
• acquiring a data stream including a first encoded tactile signal having a first data format and a second encoded tactile signal having a second data format different from the first data format;
• decoding the first encoded tactile signal using the first data format;
• and
• decoding the second encoded tactile signal using the second data format, wherein the first data format and the second data format utilize different quantization bit lengths based on regions of the human body having different tactile characteristics.