Image encoding and transmitting system

Image processing apparatus for encoding and transmitting data representing a succession of image frames, the frame image data being divided into a plurality of block units of picture elements, selectively encoded using inter-frame encoding or intra-frame encoding, and transmitted in packet units, said apparatus comprising:

• an intra-frame/inter-frame determiner including:
• a receiver to receive the frame image data for a current frame after the frame image data has been divided into block units and before encoding,
• a first calculator to calculate first difference data as the difference between inputted frame data in each block of said current frame and data in the corresponding blocks of a preceding frame multiplied by a constant, and
• a selector to selectively output either the encoded frame data as intra-frame data, or the first difference data as inter-frame data, and
• a difference collator including:
• a second calculator to calculate second difference data as the difference between the input data for the current frame and the data for the previous frame, and
• a controller to cause said intra-frame/inter-frame determiner to compulsorily output the inter-frame data as the data for the current frame for the same block position when more than one piece of data in each block forming the second difference data are larger than a predetermined threshold.

An image processing method for encoding and transmitting data representing a succession of image frames, the frame image data being divided into a plurality of block units of picture elements, selectively encoded using an inter-frame encoding technique or an intra-frame encoding technique, and transmitted in packet units, said apparatus comprising:

• receiving the frame image data for a current frame after the frame image data has been divided into block units and before encoding,
• calculating first difference data as the difference between inputted frame data in each block of said current frame and data in the corresponding blocks of a preceding frame multiplied by a constant,
• selecting and outputting either the encoded frame data as intra-frame data, or the first difference data as inter-frame data,
• calculating second difference data as the difference between the input data for the current frame and the data for the previous frame, and
• compulsorily outputting the inter-frame data as the data for the current frame for the same block position when more than one piece of data in each block forming the second difference data are larger than a predetermined threshold.