Image transmitting apparatus

An image processing apparatus, comprising:

• division means for dividing input image information into blocks;
• encoding means for variable-length encoding the blocks divided by said division means on a unit basis of one block;
• and
• forming means for forming synchronization blocks from data encoded by said encoding means on a unit basis of a predetermined data amount, said forming means providing in each synchronization block a predetermined area for storing boundary information indicating a position of a boundary between the image information of each block divided by said division means, and said forming means storing data other than the boundary information in said predetermined area.

An image processing apparatus, comprising:

• input means for inputting synchronization blocks, the input synchronization blocks including first synchronization blocks of encoded image data and second synchronization blocks of encoded audio data, each of the first and second synchronization blocks having been formed on a unit basis of a predetermined data amount, respectively,
• said input means inputting a first number of the first synchronization blocks and a second number of the second synchronization blocks per predetermined time period, wherein the first number and the second number are changeable from predetermined time period to predetermined time period;
• and
• decoding means for decoding the encoded image data in the input first synchronization blocks and the encoded audio data in the input second synchronization blocks.

An image processing method, comprising the steps of:

• inputting variable-length encoded image information and fixed-length encoded audio information;
• forming synchronization blocks of the image information and synchronization blocks of the audio information on a unit basis of a predetermined data amount, respectively;
• transmitting the synchronization blocks formed in said forming step;
• and
• selectively changing a number of the synchronization blocks of the image information and a number of the synchronization blocks of the audio information to be transmitted in a predetermined amount of time by said transmitting step.

An image processing method, comprising the steps of:

• inputting synchronization blocks, the input synchronization blocks including first synchronization blocks of encoded image data and second synchronization blocks of encoded audio data, each of the first and second synchronization blocks having been formed on a unit basis of a predetermined data amount, respectively,
• said input step inputting a first number of the first synchronization blocks and a second number of the second synchronization blocks per predetermined time period, wherein the first number and the second number are changeable from predetermined time period to predetermined time period;
• and
• decoding the encoded image data in the input first synchronization blocks and the encoded audio data in the input second synchronization blocks.