Information processing apparatus and method, and recording medium and program used therewith

An information processing method for an information processing apparatus for recording, in a predetermined recording medium, data output from an encoding processing unit which performs encoding processing, the information processing method comprising:

• acquiring second encoded video data;
• and
• recording the acquired second encoded video data in the recording medium, wherein a method of authoring apparatus includes
• first encoding video data in accordance with first encoding conditions, the first encoding including setting a picture type of each frame of the video data based on at least the first encoding conditions, and detecting an amount of bits generated by first encoding each frame of the video data based on the picture type of the frame,
• generating a preview of the video data in accordance with second encoding conditions including a target amount of bits for each frame of the video data for second encoding the video data and the picture type of each frame of the video data,
• accepting input of customization settings and an evaluation indicator with reference to the preview of the video data, the customization settings including instructions to change picture types of respective frames of the video data,
• calculating a total amount of data required for second encoding the video data based on the amount of bits generated by first encoding each frame of the video data,
• allocating bits in units of a group of pictures (GOP) of the video data based on the total amount of data required for second encoding the video data, to produce an allocation of bits for each GOP,
• setting the target amount of bits for each frame of the video data for second encoding the video data based on the allocation of bits for each GOP,
• updating the second encoding conditions and the target amount of bits for each frame of the video data for second encoding the video data according to the instructions to change picture types, to produce updated second encoding conditions and an updated target amount of bits for each frame of the video data, when the evaluation indicator indicates that the preview of the video data is not acceptable, and
• second encoding the video data in accordance with the updated second encoding conditions and the updated target amount of bits when the evaluation indicator indicates that the preview of the video data is acceptable, to produce the second encoded video data acquired by the acquiring second encoded video data.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing computer readable instructions thereon that, when executed by an arithmetic processor, direct the arithmetic processor to perform a method for controlling recording, in a predetermined recording medium, of data output from an encoding processing unit, the method comprising:

• acquiring second encoded video data;
• and
• recording the acquired second encoded video data in the recording medium, wherein a method of authoring apparatus includes
• first encoding video data in accordance with first encoding conditions, the first encoding including setting a picture type of each frame of the video data based on at least the first encoding conditions, and detecting an amount of bits generated by first encoding each frame of the video data based on the picture type of the frame,
• generating a preview of the video data in accordance with second encoding conditions including a target amount of bits for each frame of the video data for second encoding the video data and the picture type of each frame of the video data,
• accepting input of customization settings and an evaluation indicator with reference to the preview of the video data, the customization settings including instructions to change picture types of respective frames of the video data,
• calculating a total amount of data required for second encoding the video data based on the amount of bits generated by first encoding each frame of the video data,
• allocating bits in units of a group of pictures (GOP) of the video data based on the total amount of data required for second encoding the video data, to produce an allocation of bits for each GOP,
• setting the target amount of bits for each frame of the video data for second encoding the video data based on the allocation of bits for each GOP,
• updating the second encoding conditions and the target amount of bits for each frame of the video data for second encoding the video data according to the instructions to change picture types, to produce updated second encoding conditions and an updated target amount of bits for each frame of the video data, when the evaluation indicator indicates that the preview of the video data is not acceptable, and
• second encoding the video data in accordance with the updated second encoding conditions and the updated target amount of bits when the evaluation indicator indicates that the preview of the video data is acceptable, to produce the second encoded video data acquired by the acquiring second encoded video data.

An information processing apparatus for recording, in a predetermined recording medium, data output from an encoding processing unit, the information processing apparatus comprising:

• an acquiring section configured to acquire second encoded video data;
• and
• a recording section configured to record the second encoded video data acquired by said acquiring section in the recording medium, wherein an authoring apparatus includes
• the encoding processing unit is configured to first encode video data in accordance with first encoding conditions, the first encoding including setting a picture type of each frame of the video data based on at least the first encoding conditions, and detecting an amount of bits generated by first encoding each frame of the video data based on the picture type of the frame,
• a preview generating unit is configured to generate a preview of the video data in accordance with second encoding conditions including a target amount of bits for each frame of the video data for second encoding the video data and the picture type of each frame of the video data,
• an input accepting unit is configured to accept input of customization settings and an evaluation indicator with reference to the preview of the video data, the customization settings including instructions to change picture types of respective frames of the video data, and
• an encoding control unit is configured to
• calculate a total amount of data required for second encoding the video data based on the amount of bits generated by first encoding each frame of the video data,
• allocate bits in units of a group of pictures (GOP) of the video data based on the total amount of data required for second encoding the video data, to produce an allocation of bits for each GOP,
• set the target amount of bits for each frame of the video data for second encoding the video data based on the allocation of bits for each GOP, and
• update the second encoding conditions and the target amount of bits for each frame of the video data for second encoding the video data according to the instructions to change picture types, to produce updated second encoding conditions and an updated target amount of bits for each frame of the video data, when the evaluation indicator indicates that the preview of the video data is not acceptable,
• the encoding processing unit being further configured to second encode the video data in accordance with the updated second encoding conditions and the updated target amount of bits when the evaluation indicator indicates that the preview of the video data is acceptable, to produce the second encoded video data acquired by the acquiring section.

An information processing system for recording, in a predetermined recording medium, data output from an encoding processing unit, the information processing system comprising:

• a studio-side authoring apparatus including
• a first encoding processing unit configured to first encode video data in accordance with first encoding conditions, the first encoding including setting a picture type of each frame of the video data based on at least the first encoding conditions, and detecting an amount of bits generated by first encoding each frame of the video data based on the picture type of the frame,
• a preview generating unit configured to generate a preview of the video data in accordance with second encoding conditions including a target amount of bits for each frame of the video data for second encoding the video data and the picture type of each frame of the video data,
• an input accepting unit configured to accept input of customization settings and an evaluation indicator with reference to the preview of the video data, the customization settings including instructions to change picture types of respective frames of the video data,
• an encoding control unit configured to
• calculate a total amount of data required for second encoding the video data based on the amount of bits generated by first encoding each frame of the video data,
• allocate bits in units of a group of pictures (GOP) of the video data based on the total amount of data required for second encoding the video data, to produce an allocation of bits for each GOP,
• set the target amount of bits for each frame of the video data for second encoding the video data based on the allocation of bits for each GOP, and
• update the second encoding conditions and the target amount of bits for each frame of the video data for second encoding the video data according to the instructions to change picture types, to produce updated second encoding conditions and an updated target amount of bits for each frame of the video data, when the evaluation indicator indicates that the preview of the video data is not acceptable, and
• a second encoding processing unit configured to second encode the video data in accordance with the updated second encoding conditions and the updated target amount of bits when the evaluation indicator indicates that the preview of the video data is acceptable, to produce second encoded video data;
• and
• a plant-side authoring apparatus including
• an acquiring section configured to acquire the second encoded video data, and
• a recording section configured to record the second encoded video data in the recording medium.