JP2007151062A - Image encoding device, image decoding device and image processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image encoding device, an image decoding device and an image processing system for achieving highly efficient encoding. <P>SOLUTION: A separation part 11 alternately separates a base band signal for every pixel, and generates separate images A and B. A 1/2 pixel inverse orthogonal transformation part 18 predicts the pixel signal of the separate image B by using the separate image A, and a subtraction part 19 outputs a differential signal between the pixel signal of the separate image B and the prediction signal of the separate image B. A variable length encoding part 15 encodes the pixel signal of the separate image A and the differential signal of the separate image B. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a video compression technique used for a digital broadcast service, a video distribution service via the Internet, and the like, and more particularly to a digital encoding technique for compressing a moving image with high efficiency.

  Conventionally, various encoding methods such as MPEG-2, MPEG-4, MS WMV, and BHA XVD have been proposed and standardized as digital encoding methods for compressing moving images with high efficiency. Yes. These coding methods achieve high compression by skillfully using human visual characteristics and actively reducing the amount of information, and are basically composed of the most recent n × n pixels. Code that compresses moving images with high efficiency by performing orthogonal transformation represented by DCT (Discrete Cosine Transform), quantizing orthogonal transformation coefficients, and variable-length coding Has been realized.

  In addition, research and development on pixel interpolation methods such as up-conversion (enlargement) technology and down-conversion (reduction) technology has been performed in order to generate video signals having different angles of view (see Non-Patent Document 1). For example, a technique for generating an interpolation signal at a missing pixel position without reducing the frequency band and interpolating the pixel signal using this signal is disclosed (see Patent Document 1).

Mikio Takagi, 1 other, "Image Analysis Handbook", The University of Tokyo Press, 1991 JP 2004-23384 A

  In such a conventional encoding method, the video signal is divided into small areas composed of adjacent pixels, and encoding is performed for each small area, and the degree of quantization is varied depending on the characteristics of the pixels in the small area. Yes. However, when a conventional encoding method is applied to a moving image having a scanning line number exceeding HDTV (High Definition TV), it is necessary to divide into the same small area and perform encoding. The number becomes enormous. For example, in the case of a 720 × 480 video signal in the current standard TV, there are 5400 small regions of 8 × 8 pixels which are the minimum encoding unit of MPEG-2. On the other hand, in the case of a video signal of 1920 × 1080 in HDTV, the small area is 32400, and in the case of a video signal of 7680 × 4320 in Super Hi-Vision, the small area is 518400.

  A signal included in the small area includes an area that is easy to encode and an area that is difficult to encode, and the difference in the amount of information increases as the resolution of the video signal increases. For this reason, when the number of areas where coding is easy increases, the amount of control information with respect to the information amount of video to be transmitted increases, and the coding efficiency decreases.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image encoding device, an image decoding device, and an image processing system capable of realizing high-efficiency encoding.

  In general, when the screen is divided into small areas, the difference in signal activity (complexity) between the small areas increases due to the high resolution of the video signal. This is because, by increasing the resolution of the video signal, it becomes possible to express a precise object that could not be expressed by a conventional video signal. However, at the same time, since the resolution of a flat area (an area that can be easily encoded) in the screen is increased, the signal activity in the flat area is further reduced as compared with other areas. Since this flat area has a small difference in signal properties between adjacent areas, highly efficient compression coding can be realized by coding a plurality of areas together. In this way, H.C. In standards such as the H.264 encoding method, encoding is realized by devising a small area dividing method.

  However, even if a small region dividing method is devised, the number of pixels themselves to be encoded does not change. Generally, it is known that adjacent images have high correlation and are easy to predict.

  Therefore, the present invention pays attention to this point, and when two separated images are generated, for the video signal to be encoded, the first pixel is obtained by separating and thinning out adjacent pixels having high correlation from the signal. A separated image is generated, and a second separated image which is separated and thinned with the separated image is generated. Also, the first separated image is encoded, the second separated image is predicted using the encoded signal of the first separated image, and the error of the predicted image is encoded as a difference signal.

  In this case, since the first separated image is a signal obtained by thinning out the second separated image from the original video signal, the amount of encoded information is small. Further, since the second separated image is predicted using the first separated image composed of adjacent pixels having high correlation, the prediction is made accurately and the energy of the difference signal is reduced. This makes it possible to realize high-efficiency encoding.

  That is, an image encoding device according to the present invention is an image encoding device that performs orthogonal transform, quantization, and variable length encoding on a pixel signal for each small region constituting an image of a video signal. A separation unit that separates adjacent pixels and generates a plurality of separated images, an orthogonal transformation / quantization unit that performs orthogonal transformation and quantization on a pixel signal, and an orthogonal transformation coefficient that has undergone the orthogonal transformation and quantization , An inverse quantization unit that decodes orthogonal transform coefficients, an inverse orthogonal transform unit that predicts a separated image with respect to the result of the inverse quantization, a signal subjected to the inverse orthogonal transform, and a separation generated by the separation unit A subtractor that obtains a difference signal from an image signal, a difference signal orthogonal transformation / quantization unit that performs orthogonal transformation and quantization on the difference signal, and orthogonal transformation and quantization by the difference signal orthogonal transformation / quantization unit Was made Variable-length coding unit that performs variable-length coding on a signal that has been subjected to orthogonal transformation and quantization on a first separated image among a plurality of separated images by the orthogonal transform / quantization unit It is provided with.

  In the image encoding device according to the present invention, the inverse orthogonal transform unit performs inverse orthogonal transform on the result of inverse quantization with pixel accuracy of 1 / n (n is a natural number of 2 or more), It is characterized by prediction.

  Here, the difference signal orthogonal transform / quantization unit selects a DCT or DST (Discrete Sine Transform) method according to the correlation of adjacent pixels in the difference signal, and performs orthogonal transform according to the selected method. It is preferable to apply.

  An image decoding apparatus according to the present invention is an image decoding apparatus that receives and decodes a signal encoded by the variable length encoding unit, and after the signal is subjected to variable length decoding and inverse quantization A first inverse orthogonal transform unit that performs inverse orthogonal transform on the orthogonal transform coefficient of the signal of the first separated image, and a second inverse orthogonal transform that performs inverse orthogonal transform on the orthogonal transform coefficient of the difference signal It has the part.

  Another image decoding apparatus according to the present invention performs inverse orthogonal transform on orthogonal transform coefficients of a signal of a first separated image obtained by subjecting the encoded signal to variable length decoding and inverse quantization. 1 inverse orthogonal transform unit, a first separation unit that separates the signal transformed by the first inverse orthogonal transform unit into a decoded image of the first separated image and a prediction signal of the second separated image A second inverse orthogonal transform unit that performs inverse orthogonal transform on the orthogonal transform coefficient of the differential signal obtained by subjecting the encoded signal to variable length decoding and inverse quantization, and the second inverse orthogonal transform unit. A second separation unit that separates the converted signal into a prediction difference signal of the second separated image and a quantized error prediction signal of the first separated image; variable-length decoding is performed on the encoded signal; Using the quantization information of the first separated image, the first separation separated by the second separation unit. A limiting unit for limiting a quantization error prediction signal of an image, and a quantization error prediction of a first separated image limited by the limiting unit on a decoded image of the first separated image separated by the first separating unit. A first addition unit that adds a signal and generates a decoded image of a new first separated image; a prediction signal of the second separated image separated by the first separation unit; A second addition unit that adds a prediction difference signal of the separated second separated image to generate a decoded image of the second separated image, and a new first generated by the first addition unit A synthesis unit is provided for synthesizing the decoded image of the separated image and the decoded image of the second separated image generated by the second adding unit.

  Here, the limiting unit includes a quantization value based on the quantization information of the first separated image and an orthogonal transform coefficient value in the quantization error prediction signal of the first separated image separated by the second separating unit. When the orthogonal transform coefficient is larger than the quantized value, the orthogonal transform coefficient is limited and output, and when the orthogonal transform coefficient is equal to or smaller than the quantized value, the orthogonal transform coefficient is output. It is preferable to do.

  An image processing system according to the present invention includes the image encoding device and the image decoding device.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to realize high-efficiency encoding for a video signal. In addition, in the intra coding of a video signal, coding with a high compression rate can be realized, and it is possible to increase the usage efficiency of the recording medium and the transmission band.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[Encoder]
First, the encoding device will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an encoding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is an example in which encoding is performed by performing orthogonal transformation on an 8 × 8 pixel region having a 1/2 pixel density. . The encoding device 10 includes a separation unit 11, a rearrangement unit 12-1, an orthogonal transformation unit 13-1, a quantization unit 14-1, a variable length coding unit 15, a buffer 16, a rearrangement unit 12-2, an orthogonal unit. A conversion unit 13-2, a quantization unit 14-2, an inverse quantization unit 17, a 1/2 pixel inverse orthogonal transform unit 18, and a subtraction unit 19 are provided.

  When the encoding device 10 stores the baseband signal of the video in the frame memory, the separation unit 11 reads out the baseband signal of a small area for each 16 × 15 pixel area from the frame memory. Then, the square pixel signal of the baseband signal is alternately separated for each pixel, and two separated images A and B are generated and developed in the frame memory. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the function of the separation unit 11. In FIG. 2, it is assumed that the baseband signal of the video of the 16 × 15 pixel region is composed of pixels indicated by black circles and pixels indicated by white circles. The separation unit 11 alternately separates the baseband signal for each pixel, and generates a separated image A including pixels indicated by black circles and a separated image B including pixels indicated by white circles. In this case, the coordinates of each pixel do not change.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the rearranging unit 12-1 receives the separated image A separated by the separating unit 11 and rearranges the pixels of the separated image A into 8 × 8 square pixels. Specifically, the rearrangement unit 12-1 reads out the pixels of the separated image A from the frame memory in a coding unit, and performs the orthogonal transformation in the orthogonal transformation unit 13-1, so that the pixel arrangement is changed. Do not write to frame memory.

  The orthogonal transform unit 13-1 receives a pixel signal of an 8 × 8 square pixel from the rearrangement unit 12-1, performs DCT on the 8 × 8 pixel region, performs orthogonal transform, and uses an orthogonal transform coefficient. A certain DCT coefficient is output. Also, the quantization unit 14-1 receives the buffer amount from the buffer 16, performs quantization according to the target bit rate on the DCT coefficient that is the result of DCT by the orthogonal transform unit 13-1, and obtains the quantization coefficient. Is output. The quantization coefficient output by the quantization unit 14-1 is input to the variable length encoding unit 15 and the inverse quantization unit 17.

  The inverse quantization unit 17 receives the quantization coefficient from the quantization unit 14-1, performs inverse quantization, and outputs a DCT coefficient. The 1/2 pixel inverse orthogonal transform unit 18 inputs the DCT coefficient inversely quantized by the inverse quantization unit 17, and performs inverse orthogonal transform on the DCT coefficient with 1/2 pixel accuracy according to equation (3) described later. To obtain pixel information of 16 × 16 pixels. Then, the 1/2 pixel inverse orthogonal transform unit 18 outputs the 16 × 16 pixel image information as a prediction signal. Here, regarding the 16 × 16 pixel image information output by the 1/2 pixel inverse orthogonal transform unit 18, the pixel corresponding to the coordinates of the separated image B generated by being separated by the separating unit 11 among the image signals. The portion becomes the prediction signal of the separated image B. Note that the inverse quantization unit 17 may perform inverse orthogonal transform only on the pixel portion (pixel portion corresponding to the separated image B) arranged by the rearrangement unit 12-2 described later. Thereby, the calculation amount of inverse orthogonal transform can be reduced.

また、通常のＩＤＣＴ（後述する図６の逆直交変換部３５によるＩＤＣＴ）の変換式は、以下のとおりである。

Here, equations of DCT, IDCT (Inverse DCT: Inverse Discrete Cosine Transform), DST (Discrete Sine Transform), IDST (Inverse DST: Inverse Discrete Sine Transform) are shown below. f (x, y) is a pixel signal, x and y are pixel coordinates, F (u, v) is a DCT coefficient or DST coefficient (orthogonal transform coefficient) obtained by DCT or DST, u is a horizontal frequency, and v is The vertical frequency. The conversion formulas of normal DCT (DCT by the orthogonal transform unit 13-1 and DCT by the DCT unit 24 in FIG. 3 described later) are as follows.

Moreover, the conversion formula of normal IDCT (IDCT by the inverse orthogonal transform part 35 of FIG. 6 mentioned later) is as follows.

Also, the 1/2 pixel accuracy inverse transform equation (IDCT transform equation by the 1/2 pixel inverse orthogonal transform unit 18 and IDCT transform equation by the 1/2 pixel inverse orthogonal transform unit 33 in FIG. 6 described later) is as follows. It is as follows.

また、ＩＤＳＴ（後述する図６の逆直交変換部３５によるＩＤＳＴ）の変換式は、以下のとおりである、

Further, the conversion formula of DST (DST by the DST unit 25 in FIG. 3 described later) is as follows.

Moreover, the conversion formula of IDST (IDST by the inverse orthogonal transform unit 35 in FIG. 6 described later) is as follows.

  The rearrangement unit 12-2 receives the separated image B that is the other pixel signal separated by the separation unit 11, and rearranges the pixels of the separated image B into 8 × 8 square pixels. Specifically, the rearrangement unit 12-2 reads out the pixels of the separated image B from a memory (not shown) as an encoding unit, and changes the pixel arrangement so that the orthogonal transformation unit 13-2 can perform orthogonal transformation. Write to a working memory (not shown).

  The subtracting unit 19 inputs the 8 × 8 pixel separated image B signal from the rearranging unit 12-2 and the 16 × 16 pixel prediction signal from the 1/2 pixel inverse orthogonal transform unit 18, respectively. A difference signal between the signal of the separated image B of the pixel and the prediction signal in the pixel portion corresponding to the signal is generated.

  The orthogonal transformation unit 13-2 receives the difference signal generated by the subtraction unit 19 and performs orthogonal transformation on the 8 × 8 pixel region. Here, the orthogonal transformation unit 13-2 can select either DCT or DST as the orthogonal transformation method. DCT and DST are methods generally used as orthogonal transform. In general, in consideration of coding efficiency, DCT is used for a signal having a high correlation and DST is used for a signal having a low correlation. In the case of a video signal, since the pixel correlation is relatively high, DCT is widely used. The orthogonal transform unit 13-2 performs orthogonal transform on the video difference signal. However, since the difference signal is different from the video signal itself, the correlation is not always high. Therefore, by selecting one of DCT and DST according to the correlation of the difference signal, processing with high coding efficiency is realized.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the orthogonal transform unit 13-2. The orthogonal transform unit 13-2 includes a delay unit 21, a determination unit 22, a switch 23, a DCT unit 24, a DST unit 25, and a switch 26. The determination unit 22 receives the difference signal generated by the subtraction unit 19 and calculates a pixel correlation between adjacent pixels. If the correlation value σ is greater than or equal to the set value α, DCT is selected, and if the correlation value σ is less than the set value α, DST is selected. For example, α = 0.5. The delay unit 21 adjusts the delay amount due to the processing of the determination unit 22. The switches 23 and 26 select the DCT unit 24 side when the determination unit 22 selects DCT, and select the DST unit 25 side when DST is selected. The DCT unit 24 receives the difference signal, performs DCT, performs orthogonal transform, and outputs DCT coefficients. Further, the DST unit 25 receives the difference signal, performs DST to perform orthogonal transform, and outputs a DST coefficient.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the quantization unit 14-2 receives the buffer amount from the buffer 16, and sets the target bit for the DCT coefficient or the DST coefficient orthogonal transform coefficient that is the result of the orthogonal transform by the orthogonal transform unit 13-2. Quantizes according to the rate and outputs the quantized coefficients.

  The variable length coding unit 15 receives the quantized coefficients from the quantizing units 14-1 and 14-2, and for each quantized coefficient, for example, a quantized orthogonal transform coefficient in the standard of ISO / IEC13818-2 Is encoded by an encoding method using run-length encoding, and is output as a bit stream signal converted into a variable-length code via the buffer 16. This bit stream signal is added after the code for identifying the information of the separated image A (upper layer), the variable length code of the quantization coefficient, and the variable length code of the last quantization coefficient. A code for identifying the signal of the separated image A constituted by the end code for indicating the end and the information of the separated image B (lower layer), used by the orthogonal transform unit 13-2 shown in FIG. A code for identifying the orthogonal transform (DCT or DST), a variable-length code for the quantization coefficient, and an end code for indicating the end of the quantization coefficient added after the variable-length code for the last quantization coefficient. The separated image B signal. That is, the variable length coding unit 15 outputs a code for identifying the separated image A by variable length coding, outputs a variable length code of the quantization coefficient, and indicates the end of the quantization coefficient. Is output, a code for identifying the separated image B is output, a code for identifying orthogonal transformation is output, a variable length code of the quantization coefficient is output, and the quantization coefficient is output. An end code for indicating the end of is output.

  As described above, according to the encoding device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the separation unit 11 generates the separated images A and B by alternately separating the baseband signal for each pixel, and reverses the 1/2 pixel. The orthogonal transformation unit 18 predicts the pixel signal of the separation image B using the separation image A, and the subtraction unit 19 outputs a difference signal between the pixel signal of the separation image B and the prediction signal of the separation image B, and has a variable length. The encoding unit 15 encodes the pixel signal of the separated image A and the difference signal of the separated image B. Since the prediction signal of the separated image B is generated using the separated image A composed of neighboring pixels for the pixels of the separated image B, it can be a relatively accurate signal. For this reason, since the differential signal of the separated image B is a flat signal with low activity, the coding efficiency is higher than when the separated image B is coded as it is. Further, since the pixel signal of the separated image A is a signal obtained by thinning the separated image B from the baseband signal, the amount of encoded information is halved. That is, according to the encoding device 10, it is possible to realize highly efficient encoding as compared with the case where the separated images A and B are encoded as they are.

  The separation unit 11 included in the encoding device 10 separates the baseband signal into the separated images A and B. However, for example, when separating into a rectangular shape, the separating unit 11 may separate the baseband signal into four separated images. The number of images to be separated is not limited. In addition, although the separation unit 11 reads the baseband signal of the small area for each 16 × 15 pixel area from the frame memory, the reading unit is not limited to this.

  Moreover, although the orthogonal transformation part 13-2 was set as the structure which selects the DCT part 24 and the DST part 25, you may make it be the structure which has only any one orthogonal transformation function. Thus, encoding can be realized by a small-scale circuit, and a simple configuration can be obtained.

  Moreover, although the orthogonal transformation part 13-1 performed orthogonal transformation by DCT, you may make it select either DCT or DST like the orthogonal transformation part 13-2. In this case, the orthogonal transform units 13-1 and 13-2 both have the above-described selection function, but as shown in FIG. 1, the first (first) calculation, that is, the orthogonal transform unit 13-1 is changed to DCT. By fixing the circuit, the circuit can be reduced in size.

  Further, the quantization unit 14-2 may not output the quantization coefficient when all the input orthogonal transform coefficients are quantized to 0. In this case, since the variable length coding unit 15 does not input the quantization coefficient from the quantization unit 14-2, it is not necessary to perform coding on the quantization unit 14-2 side. As a result, since the output bit stream signal is only the signal on the quantization unit 14-1 side, the encoded information can be substantially halved.

  Further, the separation unit 11 may read the baseband signal so that the pixel signal rotates in the 45 ° direction when reading the baseband signal from the frame memory. Specifically, the separation unit 11 reads the pixel signal of the squarely arranged (2 × (n−1)) × (2 × n) region (n = 8) shown in the upper part of FIG. 4 from the frame memory. , 45 ° rotation processing is performed and read out as a pixel signal shown in the lower part of FIG. Then, the separation unit 11 converts the pixel signal in the frame shown in the lower part of FIG. 4 into an 8 × 8 square pixel signal for the separated image C and an 8 × 8 square pixel for the separated image D as shown in FIG. Separated into signal. Thereby, rhombus orthogonal transformation is realizable. Note that the decoding device needs to write in the frame memory so that the pixel signal rotates in the 45 ° direction during the decoding process.

  In general, encoding is performed in units of rectangular areas. When quantization is performed on the rectangular area at different compression rates, image degradation may be noticeable at the boundary of the area. Further, it is known that the human visual characteristics are most inferior in the sensitivity of the oblique pattern inclined by 45 ° compared to the horizontal and vertical patterns. Therefore, when encoding is performed for each rhombus region having an oblique pattern inclined by 45 °, even if the boundary image of the oblique pattern is deteriorated, there is no problem in human visual characteristics. Therefore, by adopting the rhombus orthogonal transform coding method using the transform unit and the separation unit described above, the coding region is not a rectangle but a rhombus rhombus, and the boundary between adjacent regions is an oblique pattern, The amount of coding distortion detected can be reduced.

[Decoding device]
Next, the decoding device will be described. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the decoding apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. The decoding device 30 includes a variable length decoding unit 31, an inverse quantization unit 32, a 1/2 pixel inverse orthogonal transform unit 33, a delay unit 34, an inverse orthogonal transform unit 35, an addition unit 36, and a rearrangement unit 37. Yes. The decoding device 30 described below is applied when the orthogonal transform unit 13-1 of the encoding device 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 performs orthogonal transform by DCT and the orthogonal transform unit 13-2 performs orthogonal transform by DST. Shall. In addition, when both the orthogonal transformation parts 13-1 and 13-2 have a DCT or DST selection function, you may make it have an inverse orthogonal transformation part corresponding to these conversion processes.

  The variable length decoding unit 31 receives the bit stream signal from the encoding device 10 shown in FIG. 1 and performs variable length decoding. The inverse quantization unit 32 performs inverse quantization on the result of variable length decoding by the variable length decoding unit 31. The 1/2 pixel inverse orthogonal transform unit 33 receives the result of inverse quantization by the inverse quantization unit 32, identifies the upper layer and lower layer identification codes, and if the upper layer is the upper layer (3 ) To perform inverse orthogonal transform with 1/2 pixel accuracy. The delay unit 34 absorbs the difference between the processing time of the 1/2 pixel inverse orthogonal transform unit 33 and the processing time of the inverse orthogonal transform unit 35, so that the inverse orthogonal to the processing of the 1/2 pixel inverse orthogonal transform unit 33 is performed. The amount of processing delay of the conversion unit 35 is adjusted.

  On the other hand, the inverse orthogonal transform unit 35 receives the result of inverse quantization by the inverse quantization unit 32, identifies the identification code of the upper layer and the lower layer, and identifies the used orthogonal transform in the case of the lower layer. A code is identified, IDCT or IDST is selected from the identification code, and inverse orthogonal transformation is performed according to the above-described equation (2) or (5).

  The adder 36 inputs the result of the inverse orthogonal transform of the upper layer from the 1/2 pixel inverse orthogonal transform unit 33 and the delay unit 34, and the result of the inverse orthogonal transform of the lower layer from the inverse orthogonal transform unit 35, respectively. to add. The rearrangement unit 37 receives the addition result from the addition unit 36, rearranges the pixel information, and develops it as a baseband signal in a memory (not shown).

  Next, another example of the decoding device will be described. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of another example of the decoding device according to the embodiment of the present invention. The decoding device 40 includes a variable length decoding unit 41, inverse quantization units 42 and 45, 1/2 pixel inverse DCT unit 43, 1/2 pixel inverse orthogonal transform unit 46, separation units 44 and 47, addition units 48 and 49. The limiting unit 50 and the combining unit 51 are provided.

  The variable length decoding unit 41 receives the bit stream signal from the encoding device 10 shown in FIG. 1 and performs variable length decoding. Specifically, information for identifying an upper layer and a lower layer, quantization information, information for identifying a DCT or DST orthogonal transform type, orthogonal transform coefficient information, and the like are decoded. The inverse quantization unit 42 identifies the upper layer and the lower layer. When the upper layer is the upper layer, the inverse quantization unit 42 performs inverse quantization on the result of the upper layer subjected to variable length decoding by the variable length decoding unit 41. The 1/2 pixel inverse DCT unit 43 receives the result of inverse quantization by the inverse quantization unit 42, and performs inverse orthogonal transform by DCT with 1/2 pixel accuracy according to the above-described equation (3). That is, when the variable length decoding unit 41 starts decoding from the beginning of the bit stream signal, the variable length decoding unit 41 obtains the quantization information of the separated image A of the upper layer and the quantized orthogonal transform coefficient information. Then, the inverse quantization unit 42 and the 1/2 pixel inverse DCT unit 43 generate 16 × 16 pixel image information from the 8 × 8 DCT coefficient information of the separated image A. The separation unit 44 receives the 16 × 16 pixel image information generated by the 1/2 pixel inverse DCT unit 43 and separates it into a decoded image of the separated image A and a prediction signal of the separated image B.

すなわち、可変長復号部４１がビットストリーム信号の先頭から復号を始めた場合には、可変長復号部４１により、前述の上位レイヤの分離画像Ａの量子化情報及び量子化された直交変換係数情報に引き続き、下位レイヤの分離画像Ｂの量子化された直交変換係数情報が復号され、そして、逆量子化部４５及び１／２画素逆直交変換部４６により、分離画像Ｂの８×８直交変換係数情報から１６×１６画素の画像情報が生成される。分離部４７は、１／２画素逆直交変換部４６により生成された１６×１６画素の画像情報を入力し、分離画像Ｂの予測差分信号と分離画像Ａの量子化誤差予測信号とに分離する。 The inverse quantization unit 45 identifies the upper layer and the lower layer. When the lower layer is the lower layer, the inverse quantization unit 45 performs inverse quantization on the result of the lower layer subjected to variable length decoding by the variable length decoding unit 41. The 1/2 pixel inverse orthogonal transform unit 46 receives the result of inverse quantization by the inverse quantization unit 42, identifies the type of orthogonal transform used, selects IDCT or IDST, and the above-described equation (3) Alternatively, inverse orthogonal transformation is performed according to the following equation (6).

That is, when the variable length decoding unit 41 starts decoding from the beginning of the bit stream signal, the variable length decoding unit 41 performs quantization information on the above-described separated image A of the upper layer and quantized orthogonal transform coefficient information. Subsequently, the quantized orthogonal transform coefficient information of the separated image B of the lower layer is decoded, and then the 8 × 8 orthogonal transform of the separated image B is performed by the inverse quantization unit 45 and the 1/2 pixel inverse orthogonal transform unit 46. Image information of 16 × 16 pixels is generated from the coefficient information. The separation unit 47 receives the 16 × 16 pixel image information generated by the 1/2 pixel inverse orthogonal transform unit 46 and separates the prediction difference signal of the separation image B and the quantization error prediction signal of the separation image A. .

  Note that the ½ pixel inverse orthogonal transform unit 46 may perform inverse transform only on the pixels corresponding to the separated images A and B. As a result, the number of inverse transform operations can be reduced to half.

  The restriction unit 50 receives the quantization information of the separated image A decoded by the variable length decoding unit 41, receives the quantization error prediction signal of the separated image A from the separation unit 47, compares both, and separates the separated image. When the quantization error prediction signal of A is a signal within a predetermined quantization range, the quantization error prediction signal of the separation image A is output, and when it is not within the quantization range, the quantum of the separation image A is output. A signal based on the conversion information is output.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the limiting unit 50 shown in FIG. The restriction unit 50 includes a DCT unit 61, a comparison unit 62, and an IDCT unit 63. The DCT unit 61 inputs the quantization error difference signal (8 × 8 pixel image information at the position corresponding to Block 1) of the separated image A from the separating unit 47, performs DCT, performs orthogonal transform, and outputs a DCT coefficient.

The comparison unit 62 receives the quantization information of the separated image A from the variable length decoding unit 41 and the DCT coefficient from the DCT unit 61, and compares the two. When the quantization value for each component in the quantization information is Q [u] [v] and the value of each component in the DCT coefficient is DCT [u] [v], for example, the following comparison restriction is performed.
for (u = 0; u <8; u ++) {
for (v = 0; v <8; v ++) {
if (DCT [u] [v]> Q [u] [v] / a) DCT [u] [v] = Q [u] [v] / a;
}
}
Here, a is a variable preset by system design, for example, a = 2.0. That is, when DCT [u] [v]> Q [u] [v] / a, the DCT unit 61 outputs Q [u] [v] / a (a limited DCT coefficient) and DCT [u ] [V] ≦ Q [u] [v] / a, DCT [u] [v] (DCT coefficient) is output.

  The IDCT unit 63 receives the DCT coefficient or the limited DCT coefficient from the comparison unit 62, performs IDCT, performs inverse orthogonal transform, converts the pixel information, and outputs the pixel information to the addition unit 48.

  Returning to FIG. 7, the adding unit 48 receives the decoded image of the separated image A from the separating unit 44 and the pixel information from the limiting unit 50, adds them, and outputs a decoded image of the new separated image A. . That is, the adder 48 adds the quantized error prediction signal of the separated image A or the limited quantized error prediction signal to the decoded image of the separated image A, and outputs a new decoded image of the separated image A. The adder 49 receives the prediction signal of the separated image B (8 × 8 pixel image information at the position corresponding to Block 2) from the separation unit 44 and the prediction difference signal of the separated image B from the separation unit 47, respectively. The decoded image of the separated image B is output by addition. That is, the adding unit 49 adds the prediction difference signal of the separated image B to the predicted signal of the separated image B, and outputs a decoded image of the separated image B.

  The synthesizing unit 51 receives the decoded image of the new separated image A from the adding unit 48 and the decoded image of the separated image B from the adding unit 49, synthesizes these decoded images with the original image arrangement, and generates a baseband signal. As shown in FIG.

  As described above, according to the decoding device 40 according to the embodiment of the present invention, a decoded image of the separated image A is generated by using the quantization error prediction signal of the separated image A or the limited quantization error prediction signal. The decoded image of the separated image B is generated by using the prediction difference signal of the separated image B. Accordingly, the decoding device 40 is compared with the decoding device 30 shown in FIG. 6 that adds the result of the separated image A obtained by 1/2 inverse orthogonal transformation and the result of the separated image B obtained by inverse orthogonal transformation. Thus, an image with further improved reproduction quality can be obtained.

  The present invention has been described with reference to the embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the technical idea thereof. For example, the above embodiment has described the encoding method when the pixel density to be encoded is halved. That is, in the encoding device 10, the separation unit 11 generates separated images A and B having a pixel density of 1/2, and the 1/2 pixel inverse orthogonal transform unit 18 performs 1/2 pixel inverse orthogonal transform. . In contrast, the separation unit 11 generates a separation image having a pixel density of 1/4, 1/16, and the like, and a variable density inverse direct orthogonal transformation unit (1 / n pixel inverse orthogonal transformation unit) (not shown) is 1/4. Pixel inverse orthogonal transform such as 1/16 may be performed. In this case, the subtraction unit 19 generates a difference signal between the prediction signal from the 1 / n pixel inverse orthogonal transform unit and the separated image signal, and the variable length encoding unit 15 repeatedly uses the difference signal. By encoding, variable density orthogonal transform encoding can be realized.

また、１／ｎ画素逆直交変換部は、１／ｎ画素のＩＤＳＴにも適用することができる。 A 1 / n pixel inverse orthogonal transform unit that replaces the 1/2 pixel inverse orthogonal transform unit 18 shown in FIG. 1 only needs to set the signals x and y in increments of 1 / n in the above-described IDCT equation (2). , X is x / n, and y is y / n. In this case, the 1 / n pixel accuracy inverse conversion formula is as follows.

The 1 / n pixel inverse orthogonal transform unit can also be applied to 1 / n pixel IDST.

  Moreover, you may make it comprise the image processing system provided with the encoding apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1, and the decoding apparatus 30 shown in FIG.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the encoding apparatus by embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the function of the isolation | separation part 11 of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the orthogonal transformation part 13-2 of FIG. It is a figure explaining 45 degree rotation of the pixel signal for rhombus orthogonal transformation. It is a figure explaining isolation | separation of the pixel signal for a rhombus orthogonal transformation. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the decoding apparatus by embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the other example of the decoding apparatus by embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the restriction | limiting part 50 of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Encoding apparatus 11 Separation part 12 Rearrangement part 13 Orthogonal transformation part 14 Quantization part 15 Variable length coding part 16 Buffer 17 Dequantization part 18 1/2 pixel inverse orthogonal transformation part 19 Subtraction part 21 Delay part 22 Determination part 23, 26 Switch 24 DCT unit 25 DST unit 30, 40 Decoding device 31, 41 Variable length decoding unit 32, 42, 45 Inverse quantization unit 33, 46 1/2 pixel inverse orthogonal transform unit 34 Delay unit 35 Inverse orthogonal transform unit 36, 48, 49 Addition unit 37 Rearrangement unit 43 1/2 pixel inverse DCT unit 44, 47 Separation unit 50 Restriction unit 51 Synthesis unit 61 DCT unit 62 Comparison unit 63 IDCT unit

Claims (7)

In an image encoding device that performs orthogonal transform, quantization, and variable-length encoding on pixel signals for each small area constituting an image of a video signal,
A separation unit that separates adjacent pixels with respect to the pixel signal for each small region and generates a plurality of separated images;
An orthogonal transform / quantization unit that performs orthogonal transform and quantization on a pixel signal;
An inverse quantization unit that performs inverse quantization on the signal subjected to the orthogonal transformation and quantization;
An inverse orthogonal transform unit that performs inverse orthogonal transform on the result of the inverse quantization and predicts a separated image;
A subtractor for obtaining a differential signal between the signal subjected to the inverse orthogonal transform and the signal of the separated image generated by the separation unit;
A differential signal orthogonal transform / quantization unit for performing orthogonal transform and quantization on the differential signal; and
Orthogonal transformation and quantization are performed on the signal subjected to orthogonal transformation and quantization by the differential signal orthogonal transformation / quantization unit and the first separated image of the plurality of separated images by the orthogonal transformation / quantization unit. An image coding apparatus comprising: a variable length coding unit that performs variable length coding on a given signal. The encoding device according to claim 1, wherein
The inverse orthogonal transform unit performs inverse orthogonal transform on the result of inverse quantization with a pixel accuracy of 1 / n (n is a natural number of 2 or more), and predicts a separated image. . The image encoding device according to claim 1 or 2,
The difference signal orthogonal transform / quantization unit selects a DCT or DST method according to the correlation of adjacent pixels in the difference signal, and performs orthogonal transform according to the selected method. An image decoding device that receives and decodes a signal encoded by the variable length encoding unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
After the signal has been subjected to variable length decoding and inverse quantization,
A first inverse orthogonal transform unit that performs inverse orthogonal transform on the orthogonal transform coefficient of the signal of the first separated image, and a second inverse orthogonal transform unit that performs inverse orthogonal transform on the orthogonal transform coefficient of the difference signal An image decoding apparatus comprising: An image decoding device that receives and decodes a signal encoded by the variable length encoding unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A first inverse orthogonal transform unit that performs inverse orthogonal transform on an orthogonal transform coefficient of a signal of a first separated image obtained by subjecting the encoded signal to variable length decoding and inverse quantization;
A first separation unit for separating the signal transformed by the first inverse orthogonal transformation unit into a decoded image of the first separated image and a prediction signal of the second separated image;
A second inverse orthogonal transform unit that performs an inverse orthogonal transform on an orthogonal transform coefficient of a differential signal obtained by subjecting the encoded signal to variable length decoding and inverse quantization;
A second separation unit that separates the signal transformed by the second inverse orthogonal transform unit into a prediction difference signal of the second separated image and a quantization error prediction signal of the first separated image;
The quantization error prediction signal of the first separated image separated by the second separation unit is limited using quantization information of the first separated image obtained by performing variable length decoding on the encoded signal. Restriction part,
The quantized error prediction signal of the first separated image restricted by the restriction unit is added to the decoded image of the first separated image separated by the first separation unit, and a new first separated image is obtained. A first adder for generating a decoded image;
A prediction difference signal of the second separated image separated by the second separation unit is added to a prediction signal of the second separated image separated by the first separation unit, and a decoded image of the second separated image A second adder for generating
A synthesis unit for synthesizing the decoded image of the new first separated image generated by the first adding unit and the decoded image of the second separated image generated by the second adding unit; An image decoding apparatus characterized by the above. The image decoding device according to claim 5,
The limiting unit compares the quantized value based on the quantization information of the first separated image with the orthogonal transform coefficient value in the quantization error prediction signal of the first separated image separated by the second separating unit. When the orthogonal transform coefficient is larger than the quantized value, the orthogonal transform coefficient is limited and output, and when the orthogonal transform coefficient is equal to or smaller than the quantized value, the orthogonal transform coefficient is output. A featured image decoding apparatus.   An image processing system comprising: the image encoding device according to any one of claims 1 to 3; and the image decoding device according to any one of claims 4 to 6.

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