Coding system and method, encoding device and method, decoding device and method, recording device and method, and reproducing device and method

A decoding apparatus for decoding an encoded stream, comprising:

• receiving means for receiving, when a decoding process is to be performed for an encoded stream to produce image data, past encoding parameters from a plurality of generations of past encoding/decoding processes for the encoded stream, and for receiving current encoding parameters utilized to produce the encoded stream, said receiving means further receiving selection information indicating a combination selected from the past encoding parameters and the current encoding parameters;
• and
• transmission means for transmitting the past encoding parameters and the current encoding parameters together with image data so that, when a re-encoding process is to be performed on the image data produced by decoding means included in said receiving means, the received past encoding parameters and current encoding parameters are selected according to the received selection information as utilization encoding parameters to be utilized in the re-encoding process.

A decoding method for decoding an encoded stream, comprising the steps of:

• receiving, when a decoding process is to be performed to produce image data from an encoded stream, past encoding parameters from a plurality of generations of past encoding/decoding processes for the encoded stream, current encoding parameters utilized to produce the encoded stream, and selection information indicating a combination selected from the past encoding parameters and the current encoding parameters;
• and
• transmitting the past encoding parameters and the current encoding parameters together with image data so that, when a re-encoding process is to be performed on the decoded image data, the received past encoding parameters and current encoding parameters are selected according to the received selection information as utilization encoding parameters to be utilized in the re-encoding process.

A decoding apparatus for decoding an encoded stream, comprising:

• a receiver for receiving, when a decoding process is to be performed for an encoded stream to produce image data, past encoding parameters from a plurality of generations of past encoding/decoding processes for the encoded stream, and current encoding parameters utilized to produce the encoded stream, said receiver further receiving selection information indicating a combination selected from the past encoding parameters and the current encoding parameters;
• and
• a transmitter for transmitting the past encoding parameters and the current encoding parameters together with image data so that, when a re-encoding process is to be performed on the image data produced by a decoder included in said receiver, the received past encoding parameters and current encoding parameters are selected according to the received selection information as utilization encoding parameters to be utilized in the re-encoding process.