Decoding apparatus, control method therefor, and storage medium

A decoding apparatus for decoding an input signal which includes a code stream and data having time management information about decoding of the code stream, comprising:

• buffering means for buffering the input signal;
• decoding means for reading out the input signal from said buffering means, decoding the input signal, and writing decoded data in a predetermined memory;
• output means for outputting the decoded data from the predetermined memory;
• and
• control means for controlling said buffering means and said decoding means on the basis of the time management information,
• wherein said control means checks a time necessary for decoding from the time management information, checks whether processing ends within a limit time, and when the time reaches the limit time before processing of all data ends, controls said decoding means to write decoded data in the predetermined memory, and
• wherein, when the time reaches the limit time before processing of all data ends, said control means checks whether the decoded data has an image size not smaller than a preset smallest image size and, if the image size is not larger than the smallest image size, newly adds time management information to add a processing time of next data to a processing time of current data, and discards the next data.

A method of controlling a decoding apparatus for decoding an input signal which includes a code stream and data having time management information about decoding of the code stream, comprising:

• a buffering step, of buffering the input signal in a predetermined buffer;
• a decoding step, of reading out the input signal from the predetermined buffer, decoding the input signal, and writing decoded data in a predetermined memory;
• a output step, of outputting the decoded data from the predetermined memory;
• and
• a control step, of controlling at least one of said buffering step, said decoding step, and said output step on the basis of the time management information,
• wherein said control step includes determining a time necessary for decoding from the time management information, checking whether processing ends within a limit time, and when the time reaches the limit time before processing of all data ends, controlling said decoding step to write decoded data in the predetermined memory, and
• wherein said control step further includes, when the time reaches the limit time before processing of all data ends, checking whether the decoded data has an image quality not lower than a preset lowest image quality and, if the image quality is not higher than the lowest image quality, newly adding time management information to add a processing time of next data to a processing time of current data, and discarding the next data.

A method of controlling a decoding apparatus for decoding an input signal which includes a code stream and data having time management information about decoding of the code stream, comprising:

• a buffering step, of buffering the input signal in a predetermined buffer;
• a decoding step, of reading out the input signal from the predetermined buffer, decoding the input signal, and writing decoded data in a predetermined memory;
• a output step, of outputting the decoded data from the predetermined memory;
• and
• a control step, of controlling at least one of said buffering step, said decoding step, and said output step on the basis of the time management information,
• wherein said control step includes determining a time necessary for decoding from the time management information, checking whether processing ends within a limit time, and when the time reaches the limit time before processing of all data ends, controlling said decoding step to write decoded data in the predetermined memory, and
• wherein said control step further includes, when the time reaches the limit time before processing of all data ends, determining whether the decoded data has an image size not smaller than a preset smallest image size and, if the image size is not larger than the smallest image size, newly adding time management information to add a processing time of next data to a processing time of current data, and discarding the next data.

A computer readable storage medium which stores executable program codes functioning as a decoding apparatus for decoding an input signal which includes a code stream and data having time management information about decoding of the code stream, comprising:

• program code of a buffering step, of buffering the input signal in a predetermined buffer;
• program code of a decoding step, of reading out the input signal from the predetermined buffer, decoding the input signal, and writing decoded data in a predetermined memory;
• program code of an output step, of outputting the decoded data from the predetermined memory;
• and
• program code of a control step, of controlling at least one of the buffering step, the decoding step, and the output step on the basis of the time management information,
• wherein the control step includes determining a time necessary for decoding from the time management information, checking whether processing ends within a limit time, and when the time reaches the limit time before processing of all data ends, controlling execution of said program code of the decoding step to write decoded data in the predetermined memory, and
• wherein the control step further includes, when the time reaches the limit time before processing of all data ends, checking whether the decoded data has an image quality not lower than a preset lowest image quality and, if the image quality is not higher than the lowest image quality, newly adding time management information to add a processing time of next data to a processing time of current data, and discarding the next data.