Apparatus for and method of processing images
AssigneeSony Corporation
InventorYasumasa Kodama
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is an apparatus for processing images with which, when bit streams of images subjected to the MPEG coding in the form of open GOP are joined to each other, image quality is prevented from deteriorating at the joint between the bit streams. In the apparatus for processing images, when a bit stream Y is inserted in a bit stream X, before-I-picture B-pictures (B-pictures appearing before an I-picture is displayed) which are part of images forming first one of GOP's in the bit stream Y are deleted. Temporal references of the remaining images forming the first GOP are then changed. The before-I-picture B-pictures, which are otherwise predicted by using one of images forming the last GOP of the bit stream X, are not longer displayed.
Claims19
An image processing apparatus for processing a bit stream of images encoded according to the MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) coding standard including an open GOP (Group of Pictures) which is encoded with reference to another GOP, wherein a plurality of bit streams are to be joined, said apparatus comprising:
- GOP detecting means for detecting GOPs from said bit streams;
- and
- deleting means for deleting a number of images, which are to be decoded on the basis of an image in another GOP, forming said open GOP of a first bit stream which is to be joined to a second bit stream.
The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising detecting means for detecting the B-pictures in said open GOP which are deleted by said deleting means.
An image processing method for processing a bit stream of images encoded according to the MPEG (Moving Picture experts Group) coding standard including an open GOP (Group of Pictures) which is encoded with reference to another GOP, wherein a plurality of bit streams are to be joined, said method comprising the steps of:
- detecting GOPs from said bit streams;
- and
- deleting a number of images, which are to be decoded on the basis of an image in another GOP, forming said open GOP of a first bit stream which is to be joined to a second bit stream.
A recording medium produced by recording therein a bit stream of images encoded according to the MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) coding standard including an open GOP (Group of Pictures) which is encoded with reference to another GOP, wherein a plurality of bit streams are to be joined, and preventing from being recorded on said recording medium an image, which is to be decoded on the basis of an image in another GOP, of said open GOP in a first bit stream which is to be joined to a second bit stream.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.