Encoding device and method

An encoding device performing run-length encoding and variable-length encoding, comprising:

• an input portion for sequentially inputting one block of m×n data;
• a processor;
• a first processing portion;
• and
• a second processing portion:
• wherein the first processing portion includes:
• a comparing and determining portion for determining for each individual data unit input by the input portion whether its value is 0 (zero);
• a first information register for storing first determination result information on the results of the determination by the comparing and determining portion;
• a first data buffer for storing data input by the input portion;
• and
• a write control portion for controlling writing of the data to the first data buffer,
• wherein the second processing portion includes:
• a second data buffer for storing the second data;
• a second information register for storing second determination result information on whether the values of the second data are 0 (zero);
• a read control portion for controlling reading of the second data from the second data buffer based on the second determination result information stored in the second information register;
• a run-length encoding portion for performing run-length encoding using the second data read from the second data buffer and the second determination result information stored in the second information register;
• and
• a variable-length encoding portion for performing variable-length encoding using as a data pair the second input data and the number of consecutive second input data having a value of 0 (zero) obtained by the run-length encoding portion,
• wherein the processor reads the data from the first data buffer based on the information stored in the first information register to create second data,
• wherein the read control portion reads only the second data having a value that is not 0 (zero) from the second data buffer based on the second determination result information of the second information register, and
• wherein the run-length encoding portion outputs to the variable-length encoding portion, as the number of consecutive second data having a value of 0 (zero), the interval in which the second determination result information in the second information register indicates that the value of the second data is not 0 (zero).

An encoding device performing run-length encoding and variable-length encoding, comprising:

• an input portion for sequentially inputting one block of m×n data;
• a comparing and determining portion for determining for each individual data unit input by the input portion whether its value is 0 (zero);
• a data buffer for storing data input by the input portion;
• an address storage portion storing addresses in the data buffer of the data that are determined by the comparing and determining portion to have a value that is not 0 (zero);
• a read control portion for controlling reading of the input data from the data buffer based on the addresses stored in the address storage portion;
• a run-length encoding portion for performing run-length encoding using the input data read from the data buffer and the addresses stored in the address storage portion;
• and
• a variable-length encoding portion for performing variable-length encoding using as a data pair the data and the number of consecutive data having a value of 0 (zero) obtained by the run-length encoding portion;
• wherein the read control portion reads only the data having a value that is not 0 (zero) from the data buffer based on the addresses stored in the address storage portion, and
• wherein the run-length encoding portion outputs to the variable-length encoding portion, as the number of data units having a value of 0 (zero), the difference between the previous address read from the address storage portion and the current address read from the address storage portion.

An encoding method in which run-length encoding and variable-length encoding are performed, comprising:

• a step of sequentially inputting one block of m×n data;
• a step of determining for each individual data unit that is input whether its value is 0 (zero);
• a step of storing determination result information on the results of the determination to an information register;
• a step of storing the input data to a data buffer;
• a step of selectively reading data from the data buffer in such a manner that only input data having a value that is not 0 (zero) are read out based on the determination result information stored in the information register;
• a step of performing run-length encoding using the data read from the data buffer and the determination result information;
• and
• a step of performing variable-length encoding using as a data pair the data and the number of consecutive data having a value of 0 (zero) obtained in the step of performing run-length encoding.

An encoding method in which run-length encoding and variable-length encoding are performed, comprising:

• a first process step including:
• a step of sequentially inputting one block of m×n data;
• a step of determining whether a value of each unit of data that is input is 0 (zero);
• a step of storing determination result information on the results of the determination to a first information register;
• and
• a step of storing the input data to a first data buffer;
• and
• a second process step including:
• a step of reading the data from the first data buffer based on the determination result information stored in the first information register to create second data;
• a step of storing the second data to a second data buffer;
• a step of storing second determination result information on whether the values of the second data are 0 (zero) to a second information register;
• a step of controlling reading of the second data from the second data buffer based on the second determination result information stored in the second information register;
• a step of performing run-length encoding using the second data read from the second data buffer and the second determination result information stored in the second information register;
• and
• a step of performing variable-length encoding using as a data pair the second input data and the number of consecutive second input data having a value of 0 (zero) obtained in the step of performing run-length encoding;
• wherein only the second data having a value that is not 0 (zero) based on the second information register are read from the second data buffer, and
• wherein in the run-length encoding step, an interval in which the second determination result information in the second information register indicates that the value of the second data is not 0 (zero) is transferred to the step of performing variable-length encoding as the number of consecutive second data having a value that is 0 (zero).

An encoding method in which run-length encoding and variable-length encoding are performed, comprising:

• a step of sequentially inputting one block of m×n data;
• a step of determining whether a value of each unit of the input data is 0 (zero);
• a step of storing the input data to a data buffer;
• a step of storing addresses in the data buffer of the data that are determined to have a value that is not 0 (zero) to an address storage portion;
• a step of reading the data from the data buffer based on the addresses stored in the address storage portion;
• a step of performing run-length encoding using the data read from the data buffer and the addresses that are stored;
• and
• a step of performing variable-length encoding using as a data pair the data and the number of consecutive data having a value of 0 (zero) obtained in the step of performing run-length encoding;
• wherein only input data having a value that is not 0 (zero) based on the addresses stored in the storage portion are read from the data buffer, and the difference between the previously read address and the currently read address is transferred to the step of performing variable-length encoding as the number of input data having a value of 0 (zero).