Predictive audio and video encoding with smooth scene switching capability

A video decoding method, comprising:

• providing difference information indicative of a difference between images captured by a video transmitter apparatus;
• providing output image data as a function of the difference information and input image data;
• deciding whether to update the input image data in response to the output image data, or independently of the output image data, wherein said deciding step includes determining whether an input video stimulus seen by the video transmitter apparatus has been changed from a first video stimulus to a second video stimulus, deciding to update the input image data in response to the output image data if the input video stimulus has not been changed, and deciding to update the input image data independently of the output image data if the input video stimulus has been changed;
• and
• updating the input image data as decided in said deciding step.

An audio decoding method, comprising:

• determining whether an input sound stimulus received by an audio transmitter apparatus has changed from a first sound stimulus to a second sound stimulus;
• setting a current state of a digital filter to a predetermined state in response to detection of a change in the sound stimulus input received by the audio transmitter;
• and
• using the digital filter in said predetermined state to perform audio decoding.

A video encoding method, comprising:

• receiving first image data corresponding to a first image in a sequence of images, thereafter receiving second image data corresponding to a second image in the sequence of images, and thereafter receiving third image data corresponding to a third image in the sequence of images;
• in response to the first and second image data, providing first difference information indicative of a difference between the first and second images;
• deciding whether to provide second difference information indicative of a difference between the second and third images, or instead to provide third difference information indicative of a difference between the third image and a further image other than the second image;
• and
• providing one of the second difference information and the third difference information as decided in said deciding step.

A video decoding apparatus, comprising:

• an output for providing output image data,
• a decode unit having an input for receiving input image data and difference information indicative of a difference between images captured by a video transmitter apparatus, said decode unit operable for producing predicted image data as a function of said input image data and said difference information;
• a scene change detector for detecting whether an input video stimulus seen by the video transmitter apparatus has been changed from a first video stimulus to a second video stimulus, wherein the scene change detector also provides an indication of whether the input video stimulus has so changed, said selector responsive to said indication to select said predicted image data if the input video stimulus has not been changed, and to select said other image data if the input video stimulus has been changed;
• and
• a selector coupled to said scene change detector and coupled between said decode unit and said output for selectively providing to said output one of said predicted image data and other image data produced independently of said input image data and said difference information.

A video decoding apparatus, comprising:

• an output for providing output image data;
• a decode unit having an input for receiving input image data and for receiving difference information indicative of a difference between images captured by a video transmitter apparatus, said decode unit responsive to said input image data and said difference information for providing said output image data as a function of said difference information and said input image data;
• a scene change detector for detecting whether an input video stimulus seen by the video transmitter apparatus has been changed from a first video stimulus to a second video stimulus, wherein the scene change detector also provides an indication of whether the input video stimulus has so changed, said selector responsive to said indication to select said output image data if the input video stimulus has not been changed, and to select said other image data if the input video stimulus has been changed;
• and
• a selector coupled to said scene change detector and coupled between said output and said decode unit input for selecting one of said output image data and other image data produced independently of said output image data, and providing the selected image data to said decode input to update said input image data.

An audio decoding apparatus, comprising:

• a change detector for determining whether an input sound stimulus received by an audio transmitter apparatus has changed from a first sound stimulus to a second sound stimulus, said change detector including an output for indicating whether the input sound stimulus has changed;
• a decode unit having an audio input for receiving audio data from the audio transmitter apparatus, a control input coupled to said change detector output, and a digital filter coupled to said audio input and said control input;
• and
• said decode unit responsive to an indication at said control input that the input sound stimulus has changed for setting a current state of said digital filter to a predetermined state, and said decode unit operable for using said digital filter in said predetermined state to perform audio decoding based on said audio data.

A video encoding apparatus, comprising:

• a first input for sequentially receiving first image data corresponding to a first image in a sequence of images, second image data corresponding to a second image in the sequence of images, and third image data corresponding to a third image in the sequence of images;
• a second input coupled to said first input for sequentially receiving therefrom said first, second and third image data;
• an encode unit coupled to said first and second inputs and operable in response to image data received at said first and second inputs for providing difference information indicative of a difference between images respectively corresponding to said image data received at said first and second inputs, said encode unit operable when said first and second image data are respectively present at said second and first data inputs for providing first difference information indicative of a difference between said first and second images;
• and
• a selector coupled between said first and second inputs and operable when said second image data is present at said first input for selecting one of said second image data and further image data other than said second image data, and for providing the selected image data to said second input.