Encoding device and decoding device suitable for dubbing

An encoding apparatus, comprising:

• (a) an inputting unit, arranged to input multiplexed information in which image information and concealment information are multiplexed, the concealment information indicating whether or not the image information is concealed before the input thereof;
• (b) an error check code adding unit, arranged to add to the multiplexed information an error check code for checking an error of the multiplexed information;
• and
• (c) a transmitting unit, arranged to transmit to a transmission path the multiplexed information to which the error check code is added.

An encoding method, comprising:

• (a) an inputting step, of inputting multiplexed information in which primary information and flag information are multiplexed, the flag information indicating whether or not the primary information is concealed before the input thereof;
• (b) an error check code adding step, of adding to the multiplexed information an error check code for checking an error of the multiplexed information;
• and
• (c) a recording step, of recording on a recording medium the multiplexed information to which the error check code is added.

An encoding method, comprising:

• (a) an inputting step, of inputting multiplexed information in which image information and concealment information are multiplexed, the concealment information indicating whether or not whether the image information is concealed before the input thereof;
• (b) an error check code adding step, of adding to the multiplexed information an error check code for checking an error of the multiplexed information;
• and
• (c) a transmitting step, of transmitting to a transmission path the multiplexed information to which the error check code is added.