JP2001217722A - Device and method for encoding information, and computer readable storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device and a method for encoding information by which information composed of multiple bits is efficiently encoded, and to provide a computer readable storage medium therefor. SOLUTION: When encoding the image area flag information (FL) of an area image by an image area flag encoder 102, a decision part 10 counts how many times the state of making the FL inputted in the present control cycle coincident with the last value is continued and how many times the state of making the FL non-coincident is continued. An RL code generating part 11 encodes the number of times counted by the decision part 10 by referring to a prescribed code table, pairs and outputs a code corresponding to the number of times of coincident FL and identification information expressing that coincident FL. An LT code generating part 12 encodes the number of times counted by the decision part 10 by referring to a prescribed code table, pairs and outputs a code corresponding to the number of times of non-coincident FL and identification information expressing each of these multiple non-coincident FL.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information encoding device and an information encoding method for encoding information composed of a plurality of bits.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method for compressing (encoding) a color still image, a JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) using discrete cosine transform (DCT) has been used.
A method and a method using wavelet conversion are often used.

[0003] In this type of encoding system, basically, encoding is uniformly performed on the entire image, so that the characteristics (character area, photographic area, etc.) of the image to be encoded are analyzed and a plurality of areas are analyzed. If the coding method is changed for each area obtained as a result of the area division,
Image area flag information for identifying those areas is required.

In an image processing apparatus employing such a method, as the size of input image data increases,
Although the processing time is long, in recent years, a device (for example, a flatbed scanner or the like) capable of easily inputting a high-resolution and large-sized image has become easily available. When the image size is changed, the data amount of the image area flag information increases as the image size increases. For this reason, there is a need for a method capable of efficiently compressing each of the divided image areas and efficiently compressing the image area flag information itself representing the image areas. From such a viewpoint, conventionally, when switching between two states (encoding schemes) based on image area flag information, encoding in a binary state is often employed.

However, when the number of types of areas that can be identified by the area division increases, the number of bits constituting the image area flag information also needs to be represented by a plurality of bits, and a new system corresponding to this is desired. The well-known PackBits method is a simple compression method as a byte-length run-length method. However, the information source is limited to 8 bits / 1 symbol, or information composed of several bits is bundled in advance. Instead, the encoding process is performed every 8 bits (1 byte).

[0006]

However, when the encoding is performed after a plurality of bits of the image area flag information are combined into one byte, the run length of the data to be encoded does not become very long. Even if the encoding process is performed, the data size does not become much smaller than the original data size, and the encoding efficiency tends to deteriorate, which is a problem.

Further, since the occurrence probabilities of symbols indicating run lengths do not occur at equal probabilities but vary considerably, a method of allocating a fixed length code to all possible run lengths is a method of encoding efficiency. Cause deterioration.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an information encoding device, an information encoding method, and a computer-readable storage medium for efficiently encoding information composed of a plurality of bits.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, an information encoding apparatus according to the present invention has the following configuration.

That is, an information encoding apparatus for encoding information to be encoded composed of a plurality of bits, wherein when the plurality of pieces of information to be encoded successively input is the same information, the same information A first counting unit that counts the number of consecutive times when the information to be input is different, and when the plurality of pieces of encoding target information that are continuously input are different from each other, the state where different information is continuously input is different. A second counting means for counting the number of times, and a counting result by the first counting means,
A first unit that performs variable-length encoding according to predetermined first encoding information;
Encoding means, a second encoding means for performing variable length encoding according to predetermined second encoded information on a count result by the second counting means, a code output from the first encoding means, First output means for outputting identification information representing the encoding target information, which is the same information;
A second output unit that outputs a code output from the encoding unit and a plurality of pieces of identification information representing the encoding target information, which are different from each other.

The identification information output from the first and second output means may be information comprising a minimum bit string that can represent the number of types that can be taken by the information to be encoded.

Further, for example, it is preferable that a code having a longer run length is set in the first and second encoded information as the count result by the first and second counting means is smaller.

Further, for example, when the count value for the same information has reached a predetermined value, the first counting means separately performs counting for the same information following thereafter, and the first encoding means sets the predetermined value to the predetermined value. The encoding of the count value for the same information that has reached the above is performed according to the predetermined first encoded information, and the encoding of the count value separately performed for the same information is performed according to the predetermined third encoded information. And good.

The information encoding apparatus having the above-described configurations can be employed as an encoder that encodes image information input to an image processing apparatus as the information to be encoded. In this case, the image processing apparatus divides input image information into a plurality of area image information,
In the case where the image encoding apparatus includes an area dividing unit that generates image area attribute information indicating an attribute of each area image information, the information encoding apparatus includes a code that encodes at least the image area attribute information as the encoding target information. It is good to use as a gasifier.

In order to achieve the above object, an information encoding method according to the present invention has the following configuration.

That is, the present invention is an information encoding method for encoding encoding target information composed of a plurality of bits. A first counting step of counting the number of consecutive times that the information is input, and when the plurality of pieces of encoding target information that are consecutively input are different from each other, the state where different pieces of information are continuously input is different. A second counting step of counting the number of times, a first encoding step of performing variable length encoding according to predetermined first encoded information on the counting result in the first counting step, and a counting result in the second counting step. A second encoding step of performing variable-length encoding according to predetermined second encoded information; a code obtained in the first encoding step; and a code representing the encoding target information, which is the same information. Information and A first output step of outputting, a code obtained in the second encoding step, and a second output step of outputting a plurality of pieces of identification information representing the encoding target information, which are different from each other. It is characterized by having.

Further, a computer-readable program storing a control program code for realizing the above information encoding apparatus and information encoding method by a CPU for controlling the operation of an image processing apparatus such as a copying machine or a facsimile is stored. Features a possible storage medium.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an image processing apparatus for encoding / decoding target image data will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, the overall configuration of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, and shows a configuration of a digital image device such as a facsimile apparatus or a copying machine.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 120 denotes a CCD (Charge).
An image scanner that optically reads a document image using a coupled device or the like. Reference numeral 121 denotes a page description language rendering unit that renders data described in advance in a predetermined page description language (PDL).
100 performs general area division processing on a plurality of pixels constituting image data to be processed, and as a result of the processing, area image data representing an area of an image to which each pixel belongs; This is an image input unit that generates image area flag information indicating an attribute of an image on a pixel-by-pixel basis.

The image scanner 120 and the page description language rendering unit 121 are both provided, and the image input unit 10 is operated according to the operation of the operator.
0 may be used, but only the image scanner 120 may be used when forming a copying machine, and only the page description language rendering unit 121 may be used when an output from an external printer engine is input.

Reference numeral 101 temporarily stores the area image data output from the image input unit 100 in pixel units and the image area flag information thereof, and reads out the image data for encoding. This is a compression block line buffer that divides the image into a plurality of tiles each consisting of × M pixels.

Reference numeral 102 denotes an image area flag encoder (run-length encoder) that encodes the image area flag information of the area image data and the image area flag information input from the compression block line buffer 101. Yes (See Figure 1
With reference to later).

Reference numeral 103 denotes a first encoder (encoder 1)
In the area image data and its image area flag information input from the block line buffer 101 for compression,
This is a color image encoder that encodes a color image area. The color image encoder 103 performs a general discrete cosine transform encoding process on the input region image data to be encoded.

Reference numeral 125 denotes a second encoder (encoder 2)
Is a color image encoder that performs encoding on the input region image data to be encoded using another parameter different from that of the first encoder 103. For example, while the first encoder 103 performs encoding at a low compression rate with little distortion, the second encoder 12
In No. 5, it is sufficient to configure so as to perform encoding with a high compression rate with a lot of distortion.

In the present embodiment, it is assumed that a general encoder is used for the encoder 103 and the encoder 125 for encoding the area image data, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted. One of the encoders performs a predetermined encoding process in accordance with image area flag information attached to data of each image area input from the compression block line buffer 101.

A compression memory 104 temporarily stores coded data (hereinafter, coded data) input from the image area flag coder 102 and the first and second coder 103, 125. (Buffer).

A hard disk (HD) 105 stores various encoded data input from the compression memory 104.
It is a large-capacity external storage device such as a device.

Reference numeral 106 denotes a decoding memory (buffer) for temporarily storing encoded data read from the external storage device 105. Reference numeral 107 denotes an image area flag decoder that decodes the encoded data of the image area flag information in a procedure reverse to that of the image area flag encoder 102. Reference numeral 108 denotes a color image decoder serving as a first decoder (decoder 1) for decoding encoded data in a color image area in a procedure reverse to that of the first encoder 103. Reference numeral 126 denotes an image decoder serving as a second decoder (decoder 2), which decodes the encoded data of the image area in a procedure reverse to that of the second encoder 125. The color image decoder 108 and the image decoder 126 are used by the image area flag decoder 10 before decoding the area image.
One of the decoders is selected and used in accordance with the image area flag information decoded in 7.

Reference numeral 109 denotes an expansion block buffer for temporarily storing decoded image area data. Reference numeral 110 denotes an image output unit such as a printer or a display that generates a visible image based on image data input from the expansion block buffer 109 by a general method.

The adjustment of the overall operation and operation timing of each block (unit) of the image processing apparatus described above is performed by RA
This is realized by the CPU 1 executing a control program stored in the ROM 2 or the external storage device 105 in advance while using M3 as a work area.

The second encoder and the second decoder include a first encoder 103 and a first decoder 10.
A color image encoder that performs encoding different from that of the color image encoding unit 8 may be employed.

Next, the image area flag encoder 102 will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the image area flag encoder 102 in the present embodiment.

In the drawing, a determination unit 10 determines a predetermined number of M × M pixels constituting one tile read from the compression block line buffer 101 as one unit to determine image area flag information. Perform processing.

Here, the predetermined judgment processing will be described. The determination unit 10 determines that the image area flag information input in the current control cycle for a pixel included in a certain tile is the image area flag information of another pixel input in the previous control cycle included in the same tile. (Hereinafter, referred to as previous value data), and a data string having a predetermined data structure including the determination result (FIGS. 5 and 6).
Is transmitted to the subsequent RL code generation unit 11 and LT code generation unit 12 (details will be described later).

When all the determination results for a certain tile are the same (hereinafter, referred to as a one-color tile mode), the determination unit 10 performs an exceptional process on the one-color tile mode generation unit 15. A data string (FIG. 2) having a predetermined data structure including the determination result is transmitted in order to generate the data string (details will be described later).

The RL code generation section 11 and the LT code generation section 12 refer to data having a predetermined data structure to input a code (code) representing image area flag information into a predetermined code table. It is obtained by reference, and is output to the synthesizing unit 13 together with the counted value.

The synthesizing unit 13 synthesizes data input from the RL code generating unit 11 and the LT code generating unit 12, and outputs the synthesized data to the output unit 14 as a synthesized code.

The output section 14 generates the input image area flag compression information of the one-color or multi-color mode and outputs the information to the compression memory 104 described above.

The one-color tile mode generation unit 15 includes the determination unit 1
If the determination results at 0 are all the same (hereinafter, 1
An exceptional process is performed for the color tile mode).

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the one-color tile mode generation unit 15 in the present embodiment, and shows an example of a header configuration in the case of the one-color tile mode.

The one-color tile mode generation unit 15 includes the determination unit 1
In the case of the one-color tile mode in which all the determination results of the image area flag information at 0 are the same, as shown in FIG. 2, a predetermined identification header (12
8 hex. ) And 1-byte data representing the same image area flag information.

Next, the determination unit 10 and the RL code generation unit 11
And the details of the LT code generation unit 12 will be described.

The data configuration output by the determination unit 10 in the one-color tile mode and the multi-color tile mode may be combined into one for simplification. In this embodiment,
In the following description, an example will be described in which there are four types of image area data and the image area flag information can be represented by 2 bits.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between the length of the number of repetitions set in the data field (FIG. 6A to be described later) to be referred to by the RL code generation unit 11 and the frequency of occurrence thereof. In this case, the frequency of occurrence of a certain run length shown on the vertical axis of the figure often takes a MAX value, and the others are relatively short run lengths. Therefore, by setting the variable-length code output from the RL code generation unit 11 to be shorter in the case of this Max value, the data compression efficiency can be improved.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the length of the continuous number set in the data field to be referred to by the LT code generator 12 (FIG. 6B described later) and the appearance frequency of the value. In this case, the frequency of occurrence of a certain run length shown on the vertical axis of the figure has a higher distribution as the run length is shorter.
Therefore, by setting a shorter code as the run length is shorter as the variable length code output from the LT code generator 12, the data compression efficiency can be improved.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a header configuration of a data string output by the determination unit 10 when the mode is not the one-color tile mode (hereinafter, referred to as a multi-color tile mode). In this case, the first one-byte field indicates the above-described one-color tile mode, which indicates the multi-color mode.
A value other than is set. In the next second byte field, data indicating the number of types of image area flag information to be referred to by the RL code generation unit 11 is set. In the third and subsequent bytes, the number of types is set in the second byte field. Is set as a specific data string representing the image area flag information for which. Data indicating the number of types of image area flag information to be referred to by the LT code generation unit 12 is set in the next 1-byte field of these data strings, and the set field is set in the field following the field. A specific data string representing the number of types of image area flag information is set.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the structure of the data string output from the judging unit 10 in the present embodiment, which is added after the data string having the header structure shown in FIG.

The data sequence shown in FIG. 6A is a data sequence to be referred to by the RL code generation unit 11, and is a variable representing a run length (RUN-RL) representing the length of the same image area flag information. After the long code, 2-bit data representing image area flag information commonly included in the data of the run length is added. In this data string, the run length (RUN-
(RL) is a value obtained by counting the number of times that the result that the data of the current image area flag information is the same as the previous value data until the determination result that the data input this time is different from the previous value data is obtained by the determination unit 10. For example, FIG.
By performing variable length coding in accordance with the code table (1).

The data sequence shown in FIG. 6B is a data sequence to be referred to by the LT code generation unit 12, and is different from a variable length code indicating a run length (RUN-LT) in which different image area flag information is continuous. A data sequence in which a plurality of 2-bit data representing image area flag information included in the data of the run length is arranged is added. In this data string, the run length (RUN-LT) indicates the number of cases where the data of the image area flag information input this time and the previous value data are different from each other by the determination unit 10 between the data input this time and the previous value data. Are obtained by performing variable-length coding on a value counted until a determination result indicating that is the same value (image area flag information) is obtained, for example, according to a code table in FIG. 7 described later.

Next, data set in the data strings of FIGS. 6A and 6B will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a code table when the maximum run length (MAX value) is set to 8 in the present embodiment.

The left side of FIG. 7A shows the correspondence between the run length and the code in the RL mode.
A code having a minimum code word length is assigned to a code having a run length having a MAX value, and a code having a longer code length is sequentially assigned to a code having a run length of 2 or more. However, when the run length is 1, it is handled in the LT mode.

The right side of FIG. 7A shows the correspondence between the run length and the code in the LT mode.
A code of the minimum code word length is assigned to the run length 1 and the run length 2
Codes having a longer code length are sequentially assigned to the above.

FIG. 7B is a code table used for the run length following the RL mode in which the run length takes the MAX value, and the code taking the MAX value is assigned to the code having the minimum code word length. This is the same as in the case of FIG.
When the run length in the L mode is 2 to 7, the code length of the code to be assigned is set to 4 or 5. This is because it is assumed that when the actual run length is equal to or greater than the MAX value, it occurs with almost equal probability.

Further, in the above-mentioned code table, if the MAX value is changed according to the frequency of occurrence of the object to be coded, more efficient coding becomes possible.

Next, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a code table which can be used regardless of whether the run length of the data to be encoded is the run length following the RL mode having the MAX value. Is an integration of the two tables shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b), which makes it possible to minimize the efficiency degradation and simplify the implementation in the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. Become.

It should be noted that decoding is performed in the image area flag decoder 107 in a procedure reverse to the encoding procedure in the image area flag encoder 102 described above, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Next, in order to realize the above-described method of encoding image area flag information in the image processing apparatus, an operation procedure in which the CPU 1, which controls the overall operation of the image processing apparatus, causes the area flag encoder 102 to perform the operation. explain.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the processing when the header shown in FIG. 5 is created by the determination unit 10 in the area flag encoder 102 as the pre-encoding processing in this embodiment.

In the figure, step S1100: It is determined whether or not the image area flag information inside the tile to be coded has the same value, thereby determining whether the tile is a one-color tile. If YES (one color tile), the predetermined identification header described with reference to FIG. 2 is set, and a one-byte data value representing the image area flag information is added. On the other hand, if NO (multicolor tile) in step S1100, the process advances to step S1101.

Step S1101: Count how many types of image area flag information are generated (input), and determine the count number and the actual data content of the generated image area flag information.

Step S1102: When the encoding target is a multi-color tile, an encoding header (FIG. 5) to be output to the RL code generation unit 11 and the LT code generation unit 12 is generated, and the RL code generation unit is generated. 11 and output to the LT code generation unit 12. Specifically, the Floor function (Log2 (count number)) is the minimum number of bits representing the data value of the image area flag information. For example, if the number of appearing symbols is one or two, data can be represented by one bit, if there are three or four, data can be represented by two bits, and if there are five or eight, data can be represented by three bits. it can.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an encoding process performed by the area flag encoder 102. The image area flag encoder 1 is based on the above-described header data.
02 shows a processing procedure performed at step S02.

In the figure, step 1201: the judgment section 10 judges whether or not the image area flag information inputted this time from the compression block line buffer 101 matches the previous value data. If the answer is NO, the process proceeds to step S1202, and if the answer is NO (not coincident), the process proceeds to step S1203.

Step S1202, Step S120
4: The determining unit 10 increments a counter for counting the number of times of matching of the image area flag information by +1 (step S1202), and determines whether the count value after the increment is a predetermined maximum set value (MAX value). (Step S1204).

Step S1203, Step S120
5: The determination unit 10 increments a counter for counting the number of times of mismatch of the image area flag information by +1 (step S1203), and determines whether the count value after the increment is a predetermined maximum set value (MAX value). (Step S1205).

Step S1204 and step S120
In step 1205, when the count value exceeds the MAX value, the count value is reset, and the data having the data configuration shown in FIG. 11 and the LT code generation unit 12. If the counter value is 1, the continuity of the match / mismatch has been switched (match,
Since the continuation mode is represented, the value counted up to the continuity change and the data having the data configuration shown in FIG.
1 or output to the LT code generation unit 12.

Step S1206: RL code generator 1
1 and the LT code generation unit 12, out of the data having a predetermined data structure composed of the data of FIGS. Based on the data sequence (a) and the LT code generation unit 12 (data sequence in FIG. 6B), code generation is performed by referring to the table storing the code table shown in FIG. After synthesizing in the synthesizing unit 13, the output unit 14 outputs the data to the compression memory.

Step S1207: It is determined whether or not encoding of image area flag information has been completed for all tiles. If image area flag information has not been encoded yet, the process returns to step S1201. If encoding has been completed, processing is performed. To end.

As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, image area flag information composed of a plurality of bits can be efficiently compressed.

In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the encoding target information is image area flag information capable of identifying the attribute of an area image. However, the present invention is limited to this apparatus configuration. For example, when lossless encoding is performed on a set unit of specific image data, when the number of types of area image data to be encoded (4 types, 16 types, 256 types, etc.) is different for each set unit Can be applied, and similar effects can be expected not only for encoding the image area flag information but also for various input data.

[0075]

[Other Embodiments] Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus (for example, a copying machine) Machine, facsimile machine, etc.).

Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or a recording medium) in which a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded to a system or an apparatus, and a computer (a computer) of the system or the apparatus. Or a CPU or MPU) reads out and executes the program code stored in the storage medium,
Achieved. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. This also includes a case where some or all of the actual processing is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into the memory provided in the function expansion card inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is read based on the instruction of the program code. The function expansion card and the function expansion unit may include a CPU or the like which performs a part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0078]

According to the present invention described above, it is possible to provide an information encoding device, an information encoding method, and a computer-readable storage medium for efficiently encoding information composed of a plurality of bits.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an image area flag encoder 102 according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the device.

FIG. 2 shows a one-color tile mode generation unit 1 according to the embodiment.
5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a relationship between the length of a repetition number set in a data field to be referred to by an RL code generation unit 11 and its appearance frequency.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between the length of a continuous number set in a data field to be referred to by an LT code generation unit 12 and the appearance frequency of the value.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration output by a determination unit 10 in a multi-color tile mode.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a data sequence output from the synthesizing unit 13 in addition to the data sequence having the header configuration shown in FIG. 5 in the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram exemplifying a code table when a maximum run length (MAX value) is set to 8 in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a code table that can be used regardless of whether a run length of data to be encoded is a run length following an RL mode having a MAX value.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a device configuration of an image processing device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a pre-encoding process according to the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of an encoding process according to the embodiment.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5C059 ME01 ME03 ME05 ME17 PP01 SS20 SS26 SS28 UA02 UA05 UA38 UA39 5J064 AA02 BA09 BA16 BB05 BB08 BC02 BC22 BC29 BD03

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. An information encoding apparatus for encoding information to be encoded composed of a plurality of bits, wherein when the information to be encoded continuously inputted is the same information, the same information A first counting means for counting the number of consecutive times when the information to be inputted is different from each other; A second counting unit that counts the number of times, a first encoding unit that performs a variable-length encoding on the count result by the first counting unit in accordance with predetermined first encoding information, and a counting result by the second counting unit. A second encoding unit for performing variable length encoding according to predetermined second encoded information; a code output from the first encoding unit; and an identification representing the encoding target information which is the same information. Out with information A first output unit, and a code output from the second encoding unit, and a second output unit that outputs a plurality of pieces of identification information representing the encoding target information, which are different from each other. An information encoding device, comprising: 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the identification information output from the first and second output means is information comprising a minimum bit string capable of expressing the number of types that the encoding target information can take. Item 2. The information encoding device according to Item 1. 3. A code having a longer run length is set in the first and second encoded information as the result of counting by the first and second counting means is smaller. 2. The information encoding device according to 1. 4. The first counting means, when the count value for the same information reaches a predetermined value, performs a separate count for the same information thereafter, and the first encoding means sets the count to the predetermined value. The encoding of the count value for the reached identical information is performed in accordance with the predetermined first encoded information, and the encoding of the count value separately performed for the identical information is performed in accordance with predetermined third encoded information. The information encoding device according to claim 1, wherein: 5. A method according to claim 5, wherein at least the predetermined first encoded information is set as a code corresponding to the predetermined value, the code having the shortest run length that can be output from the first encoding means. The information encoding device according to claim 4, wherein 6. A code having a run length for realizing semi-fixed encoding is set as the code other than the code corresponding to the predetermined value in the predetermined third encoded information. The information encoding device according to claim 4, wherein 7. The information encoding apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said predetermined value is variable. 8. The information encoding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information encoding apparatus is an encoder that encodes image information input to an image processing apparatus as the encoding target information. apparatus. 9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an area dividing unit configured to divide the input image information into a plurality of area image information and generate image area attribute information indicating an attribute of each area image information. The information encoding device according to claim 1, wherein the information encoding device is an encoder that encodes at least the image area attribute information as the encoding target information. 10. An information encoding method for encoding encoding target information composed of a plurality of bits, wherein when the encoding target information inputted continuously plural times is the same information, the same information A first counting step of counting the number of consecutive times when the information to be input is different from each other; A second counting step of counting the number of times, a first encoding step of performing variable-length encoding on the count result in the first counting step according to predetermined first encoding information, and a counting result in the second counting step. A second encoding step of performing variable-length encoding in accordance with predetermined second encoded information; and a code obtained in the first encoding step, and an identification representing the encoding target information that is the same information. Information and A first output step of outputting, a code obtained in the second encoding step, and a second output step of outputting a plurality of pieces of identification information representing the encoding target information, which are different from each other, An information encoding method comprising: 11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the identification information output in the first and second output steps is constituted by a minimum bit string capable of expressing the number of types that the encoding target information can take. Described information encoding method. 12. A code having a longer run length is set in the first and second encoded information as the count results in the first and second count steps are smaller. 10. The information encoding method according to item 10. 13. In the first counting step, when the count value for the same information reaches a predetermined value, counting for the subsequent same information is performed separately, and in the first encoding step, the predetermined value is The encoding of the count value for the same information that has reached the above is performed according to the predetermined first encoded information, and the encoding of the count value separately performed for the same information is performed according to the predetermined third encoded information. The information encoding method according to claim 10, wherein: 14. A code having a shortest run length to be output in the first encoding step is set as a code corresponding to the predetermined value in at least the predetermined first encoded information. 14. The information encoding method according to claim 13, wherein: 15. A code having a run length for realizing semi-fixed encoding is set as the code other than the code corresponding to the predetermined value in the predetermined third encoded information. 14. The information encoding method according to claim 13, wherein: 16. A computer-readable storage medium storing a control program code for realizing the information encoding device according to claim 1. Description: 17. A computer-readable storage medium storing a control program code for realizing the information encoding method according to claim 10. Description: