Video encoding system, program bank device, and video encoding method

A program bank device that accumulates video/voice data of a program for broadcasting, comprising:

• one or more encoders that perform compression coding on the video/voice data of the program and extract an image feature value of video data of the program;
• a program database that accumulates both the video/voice data of the program and the extracted image feature value, the video/voice data being compression-coded by the encoders;
• one or more decoders that decode the video/voice data relating to the program accumulated in the program database and output the decoded video/voice data to a delivery encoder, when a program delivery time indicated by program operation information supplied from a program operation management server operating in cooperation is reached, the delivery encoder being configured to encode the video/voice data into a state compatible with a transport stream format;
• and
• a unit that retrieves the image feature value of the video data relating to the program accumulated in the program database and notifies the statistical multiplexing controller of the retrieved image feature value, when a time earlier by a predetermined time than the program delivery time indicated by the program operation information is reached.

A video encoding method that retrieves video/voice data of a program to be delivered from a program bank device that accumulates video/voice data of a program for broadcasting, in accordance with program operation information supplied from a program operation management server operating in cooperation, to encode, by one or more delivery encoders, the video/voice data into a state compatible with a transport stream format, and outputs the encoded video/voice data, the method comprising:

• extracting an image feature value of video data of the program when the video/voice data of the program is accumulated in the program bank device;
• accumulating the extracted image feature value with the video/voice data of the program;
• retrieving the image feature value relating to the accumulated program when a time earlier by a predetermined time than a delivery time of the program indicated by the program operation information is reached, and performing statistical multiplexing analysis processing to preliminarily calculate a video encoding bit rate for use in decoding the video data in the delivery encoders;
• and outputting the video/voice data of the program accumulated in the program bank device to the delivery encoders and outputting the preliminarily calculated video encoding bit rate to the delivery encoders, when the program delivery time indicated by the program operation information is reached.