Image encoding apparatus and method, computer program, and computer-readable storage medium

An image encoding method of receiving image data and encoding the image data, comprising using a computer to implement the steps of:

• a first encoding step of lossily encoding input image data for each predetermined pixel block in accordance with a first parameter to generate lossily encoded data;
• a second encoding step of losslessly encoding input image data for the predetermined pixel block to generate losslessly encoded data;
• a first storage step of storing, of the encoded data generated in the first encoding step and the second encoding step, one of two encoded data determined based on an encode length in a predetermined first memory;
• a second storage step of storing the losslessly encoded data generated in the second encoding step in a predetermined second memory;
• a re-encoding step of decoding the losslessly encoded data in the second memory, re-encoding the decoded data in accordance with a second parameter to generate lossily encoded data, and storing, of the lossily encoded data obtained by re-encoding and the losslessly encoded data before re-encoding, one of two encoded data determined based on an encode length in the first memory;
• a monitoring step of monitoring an encoded data amount in the first memory and determining whether the encoded data amount has exceeded a predetermined data amount;
• and
• a parameter update step of, when the encoded data amount is determined in the monitoring step to have exceeded the predetermined data amount, (a) discarding the encoded data in the first memory, (b) updating the first parameter set for the first encoding step to a parameter having a high compression ratio to continue encoding of the image data, and (c) setting, as the second parameter, the same parameter as the updated first parameter for the re-encoding step to re-encode losslessly encoded data obtained before the encoded data amount exceeds the predetermined data amount.

A computer readable storage medium storing a program which is loaded and executed by a computer and functions as an image encoding apparatus for receiving image data and encoding the image data, functioning as

• first encoding means for lossily encoding input image data for each predetermined pixel block in accordance with a first parameter to generate lossily encoded data,
• second encoding means for losslessly encoding input image data for the predetermined pixel block to generate losslessly encoded data,
• first storage means for storing, of the encoded data generated by said first encoding means and said second encoding means, one of two encoded data determined based on an encode length in a predetermined first memory,
• second storage means for storing the losslessly encoded data generated by said second encoding means in a predetermined second memory,
• re-encoding means for decoding the losslessly encoded data in the second memory, re-encoding the decoded data in accordance with a second parameter to generate lossily encoded data, and storing, of the lossily encoded data obtained by re-encoding and the losslessly encoded data before re-encoding, one of two encoded data determined based on an encode length in the first memory,
• monitoring means for monitoring an encoded data amount in the first memory and determining whether the encoded data amount has exceeded a predetermined data amount, and
• parameter update means for, when said monitoring means determines that the encoded data amount has exceeded the predetermined data amount, (a) discarding the encoded data in the first memory, (b) updating the first parameter set for said first encoding means to a parameter having a high compression ratio, and causing said first encoding means to continue encoding of the image data, and (c) setting, as the second parameter, the same parameter as the updated first parameter for said re-encoding means, and causing said re-encoding means to re-encode losslessly encoded data obtained before the encoded data amount exceeds the predetermined data amount.

An image encoding apparatus which receives image data and encodes the image data, comprising:

• first encoding means for lossily encoding input image data for each predetermined pixel block in accordance with a first parameter to generate lossily encoded data;
• second encoding means for lossily encoding input image data for the predetermined pixel block in accordance with a second parameter higher in compression ratio than the first parameter to generate lossily encoded data;
• third encoding means for losslessly encoding input image data for the predetermined pixel block to generate losslessly encoded data;
• first storage means for storing, of the encoded data generated by said first encoding means and said third encoding means, encoded data of a shorter encode length in a predetermined first memory;
• second storage means for storing, of the encoded data generated by said second encoding means and said third encoding means, encoded data of a shorter encode length in a predetermined second memory;
• third storage means for storing the losslessly encoded data generated by said third encoding means in a predetermined third memory;
• re-encoding means for decoding the losslessly encoded data in the third memory, re-encoding the decoded data in accordance with a third parameter to generate lossily encoded data, and storing, of the lossily encoded data obtained by re-encoding and the losslessly encoded data before re-encoding, encoded data of a shorter encode length in the second memory;
• monitoring means for monitoring an encoded data amount in the first memory and determining whether the encoded data amount has exceeded a predetermined data amount;
• and
• parameter update means for, when said monitoring means determines that the encoded data amount has exceeded the predetermined data amount, (a) discarding the encoded data in the first memory, and transferring the encoded data in the second memory to the first memory, (b) updating the first parameter set for said first encoding means to the second parameter set for said second encoding means, and causing said first encoding means to continue encoding of the image data, (c) discarding the encoded data in the second memory, updating the second parameter set for said second encoding means to a parameter having a high compression ratio, and causing said second encoding means to continue encoding, and (d) setting, as the third parameter, the same parameter as the updated second parameter for said re-encoding means, and causing said re-encoding means to re-encode losslessly encoded data obtained before the encoded data amount exceeds the predetermined data amount.

An image encoding method of receiving image data and encoding the image data, comprising using a computer to implement the steps of:

• a first encoding step of lossily encoding input image data for each predetermined pixel block in accordance with a first parameter to generate lossily encoded data;
• a second encoding step of lossily encoding input image data for the predetermined pixel block in accordance with a second parameter higher in compression ratio than the first parameter to generate lossily encoded data;
• a third encoding step of losslessly encoding input image data for the predetermined pixel block to generate losslessly encoded data;
• a first storage step of storing, of the encoded data generated in the first encoding step and the third encoding step, encoded data of a shorter encode length in a predetermined first memory;
• a second storage step of storing, of the encoded data generated in the second encoding step and the third encoding step, encoded data of a shorter encode length in a predetermined second memory;
• a third storage step of storing the losslessly encoded data generated in the third encoding step in a predetermined third memory;
• a re-encoding step of decoding the losslessly encoded data in the third memory, re-encoding the decoded data in accordance with a third parameter to generate lossily encoded data, and storing, of the lossily encoded data obtained by re-encoding and the losslessly encoded data before re-encoding, encoded data of a shorter encode length in the second memory;
• a monitoring step of monitoring an encoded data amount in the first memory and determining whether the encoded data amount has exceeded a predetermined data amount;
• and
• a parameter update step of, when the encoded data amount is determined in the monitoring step to have exceeded the predetermined data amount, (a) discarding the encoded data in the first memory, and transferring the encoded data in the second memory to the first memory, (b) updating the first parameter set for the first encoding step to the second parameter set for the second encoding step to continue encoding of the image data, (c) discarding the encoded data in the second memory, and updating the second parameter set for the second encoding step to a parameter having a high compression ratio to continue encoding, and (d) setting, as the third parameter, the same parameter as the updated second parameter for the re-encoding step to re-encode losslessly encoded data obtained before the encoded data amount exceeds the predetermined data amount.

A computer readable storage medium storing a program which is loaded and executed by a computer and functions as an image encoding apparatus for receiving image data and encoding the image data, functioning as

• first encoding means for lossily encoding input image data for each predetermined pixel block in accordance with a first parameter to generate lossily encoded data;
• second encoding means for lossily encoding input image data for the predetermined pixel block in accordance with a second parameter higher in compression ratio than the first parameter to generate lossily encoded data;
• third encoding means for losslessly encoding input image data for the predetermined pixel block to generate losslessly encoded data;
• first storage means for storing, of the encoded data generated by said first encoding means and said third encoding means, encoded data of a shorter encode length in a predetermined first memory;
• second storage means for storing, of the encoded data generated by said second encoding means and said third encoding means, encoded data of a shorter encode length in a predetermined second memory;
• third storage means for storing the losslessly encoded data generated by said third encoding means in a predetermined third memory;
• re-encoding means for decoding the losslessly encoded data in the third memory, re-encoding the decoded data in accordance with a third parameter to generate lossily encoded data, and storing, of the lossily encoded data obtained by re-encoding and the losslessly encoded data before re-encoding, encoded data of a shorter encode length in the second memory;
• monitoring means for monitoring an encoded data amount in the first memory and determining whether the encoded data amount has exceeded a predetermined data amount;
• and
• parameter update means for, when said monitoring means determines that the encoded data amount has exceeded the predetermined data amount, (a) discarding the encoded data in the first memory, and transferring the encoded data in the second memory to the first memory, (b) updating the first parameter set for said first encoding means to the second parameter set for said second encoding means, and causing said first encoding means to continue encoding of the image data, (c) discarding the encoded data in the second memory, updating the second parameter set for said second encoding means to a parameter having a high compression ratio, and causing said second encoding means to continue encoding, and (d) setting, as the third parameter, the same parameter as the updated second parameter for said re-encoding means, and causing said re-encoding means to re-encode losslessly encoded data obtained before the encoded data amount exceeds the predetermined data amount.