Image coding method and apparatus and image decoding method and apparatus

An image coding method, comprising:

• receiving key frame data comprising a plurality of key frames, wherein each key frame has an intended timing;
• detecting when two key frames bracket a scene change therebetween;
• generating correspondence data for at least key frames which do not bracket a scene change;
• and
• generating disable data indicating prohibition of correspondence for key frames which bracket a scene change;
• generating a data stream incorporating correspondence data for key frames which do not bracket a scene change and disable data for key frames which bracket a scene change, wherein the before key frame is to be output a plurality of times from an intended timing of the before key frame until a predetermined change timing and the after key frame is to be output a plurality of times from the predetermined change timing until an intended timing of the after key frame.

An image decoding apparatus, comprising:

• a key frame data unit which receives key frame data, wherein the key frame data comprises a plurality of key frames and each key frame has an intended timing;
• a stream input unit which receives an input data stream including correspondence data for the key frames;
• an intermediate image generator which generates intermediate frames between key frames, based on the correspondence data and key frame data;
• a scene change detector which detects a scene change between key frames based on the input data stream, wherein a key frame that is before a scene change is referred to as a before key frame while a key frame that is after the scene change is referred to as an after key frame;
• and
• an output unit which outputs key frames and intermediate frames wherein, when a scene change is detected, the intermediate image generator outputs the before key frame a plurality of times from the intended timing of the before key frame until a predetermined timing and outputs the after key frame a plurality of times from the predetermined timing until the intended timing of the after key frame.

An image decoding method, comprising:

• receiving key frame data, wherein the key frame data comprises a plurality of key frames and each key frame has an intended timing;
• receiving an input data stream including at least correspondence data between key frames;
• generating one or more intermediate frames between key frames, based on the correspondence data and key frame data;
• detecting a scene change between key frames based on the input data stream, wherein a key frame that is before a scene change is referred to as a before key frame while a key frame that is after the scene change is referred to as an after key frame;
• and
• outputting key frames and intermediate images wherein, when a scene change is detected, the before key frame is output a plurality of times from the intended timing of the before key frame until a predetermined timing and the after key frame is output a plurality of times from the predetermined timing until the intended timing of the after key frame.

A physical computer readable medium including computer executable instructions which, when executed on a computing device, cause the computing device to perform the functions of:

• receiving key frame data comprising a plurality of key frames, wherein each key frame has an intended timing;
• detecting when two key frames bracket a scene change therebetween;
• generating correspondence data for at least key frames which do not bracket a scene change;
• and
• generating disable data indicating prohibition of correspondence for key frames which bracket a scene change;
• generating a data stream incorporating correspondence data for key frames which do not bracket a scene change and disable data for key frames which bracket a scene change, wherein the before key frame is to be output a plurality of times from an intended timing of the before key frame until a predetermined change timing and the after key frame is to be output a plurality of times from the predetermined change timing until an intended timing of the after key frame.

A physical computer readable medium including computer executable instructions which, when executed on a computing device, cause the computing device to perform the functions of:

• receiving key frame data, wherein the key frame data comprises a plurality of key frames and each key frame has an intended timing;
• receiving an input data stream including at least correspondence data between key frames;
• generating one or more intermediate frames between key frames, based on the correspondence data and key frame data;
• detecting a scene change between key frames based on the input data stream, wherein a key frame that is before a scene change is referred to as a before key frame while a key frame that is after the scene change is referred to as an after key frame;
• and
• outputting key frames and intermediate images wherein, when a scene change is detected, the before key frame is output a plurality of times from the intended timing of the before key frame until a predetermined timing and the after key frame is output a plurality of times from the predetermined timing until the intended timing of the after key frame.