Image encoder and image encoding method

An image encoder for encoding moving images, comprising:

• an encoder which compressively encodes moving-image data so as to produce pictures and outputs the pictures to a buffer;
• a first counter which counts the pictures produced by said encoding unit so as to obtain first numbers respectively corresponding to the pictures;
• a frame-information memory which holds frame information items unique to individual frames in said moving-image data, in association with said first numbers, respectively;
• a header-information insertion circuit which receives the pictures produced by said encoder from the buffer, and inserts a header information item into data of each of the pictures;
• a second counter which counts the pictures received from the buffer by the header-information insertion circuit and outputs second numbers each one corresponding to each of the pictures;
• a scene-change detection circuit which detects presence or absence of a scene change based on frame data or field data and outputs scene-change information;
• a scene-change information processing circuit which associates the scene-change information with one of the first numbers and stores the scene-change information and the one of the first numbers in the frame-information memory;
• and
• a matching circuit which receives one of the second numbers, refers to the scene change information, which corresponds to the first number identical to the received one of the second numbers, in the frame-information memory to determine whether or not a scene change occurs at a picture corresponding to the received one of the second numbers and outputs from the frame-information memory the scene-change information,
• wherein, when the header-information insertion circuit receives the picture from the buffer, the matching circuit receives the second number from the second counter and outputs from the frame-information memory the scene-change information which corresponds to the first number identical to the received second number, and the header-information insertion circuit inserts the scene-change information from the matching circuit into the data of the received picture.