JP2015005893A - Image processing apparatus and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress an increase in storage capacity necessary for encoding and decoding.SOLUTION: When the input of image data comprising a plurality of layers is eight bits, if a residual signal is nine pit, which is a prediction error of the interframe prediction between a current layer and different another layer of the image data, an image encoding device sets a weighting coefficient of the residual signal to 0.5. The present disclosure can be applied to an image encoding device that encodes image data in a scalable way, or an image processing apparatus, such as an image decoding device that decodes encoded data in which image data is encoded in a scalable way.

Description

  The present disclosure relates to an image processing apparatus and method, and more particularly, to an image processing apparatus and method capable of suppressing an increase in storage capacity necessary for encoding or decoding.

  In recent years, image information has been handled as digital data, and at that time, for the purpose of efficient transmission and storage of information, encoding is performed by orthogonal transform such as discrete cosine transform and motion compensation using redundancy unique to image information. An apparatus that employs a method to compress and code an image is becoming widespread. Examples of this encoding method include MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) and H.264. H.264 and MPEG-4 Part10 (Advanced Video Coding, hereinafter referred to as AVC).

  And now H. It is called HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) by JCTVC (Joint Collaboration Team-Video Coding), a joint standardization organization of ITU-T and ISO / IEC, for the purpose of further improving coding efficiency than H.264 / AVC. Standardization of the encoding method is underway.

  By the way, the conventional image encoding methods such as MPEG-2 and AVC have a scalability function for encoding an image by layering a plurality of layers. In the HEVC, the same hierarchical coding / hierarchical decoding (also referred to as scalable coding / scalable decoding) has been proposed.

  In such scalable encoding / scalable decoding, image data to be processed is hierarchized, and a base layer that performs encoding / decoding without referring to other layers, and another layer (base An enhancement layer (enhancement layer) that performs encoding / decoding with reference to a layer or another enhancement layer is included.

  For example, in the case of spatial scalability with spatial resolution scalable (spatial resolution varies between layers), in order to use the base layer image for enhancement layer processing, the image of the base layer Need to upsample processing.

  By the way, in the scalable coding process based on the AVC coding process, a layer is used for a prediction error signal (also referred to as a residual signal) of an inter block that is a macroblock coded by inter-frame prediction coding. Inter-prediction can be performed. In scalable encoding processing based on HEVC encoding processing, it has been proposed to perform similar processing (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1).

  In this Non-Patent Document 1, when generating a final predicted image in the enhancement layer, whether or not to use the residual signal in the base layer, and how much to use when using the residual signal Has been proposed to transmit.

  Therefore, in order to use the base layer residual signal for enhancement layer processing, it is necessary to hold the base layer residual signal.

Jianle Chen, Krishna Rapaka, Xiang Li, Vadim Seregin, Liwei Guo, Marta Karczewicz, Geert Van der Auwera, Joel Sole, Xianglin Wang, Chengjie Tu, Ying Chen, "Description of scalable video coding technology proposal by Qualcomm", JCTVC-K0036 , Joint Collaborative Team on Video Coding (JCT-VC) of ITU-T SG16 WP3 and ISO / IEC JTC1 / SC29 / WG1111th Meeting: Shanghai, CN, 10-19 Oct., 2012

  However, if the input signal is 8 bits (bits), the residual signal is 9 bits with a sign. As a result, the storage capacity of the buffer for holding the residual signal may increase.

  The present disclosure has been made in view of such a situation, and can suppress an increase in storage capacity necessary for encoding or decoding.

  An image encoding device according to an aspect of the present technology, when an input signal of image data including a plurality of layers is 8 bits, is a residual error that is a prediction error of inter-frame prediction in another layer different from the current layer of the image data. When the difference signal is 9 bits, a residual prediction unit that determines the value of the weighting factor of the residual signal to 0.5, and a residual signal that has been subjected to the value of the weighting factor determined by the residual prediction unit And an encoding unit that encodes the current layer of the image data.

  A transmission unit that transmits encoded data of the image data generated by the encoding unit and weighting factor use information that is information regarding whether to use 0 or non-zero as the value of the weighting factor; be able to.

  The transmission unit can transmit the weighting factor usage information for each CU (Coding Unit).

  The transmission unit may transmit the weighting factor usage information for each LCU (Largest Coding Unit) or for each slice header.

  The residual prediction unit can determine the value of the weighting factor of the residual signal as 1 when the residual signal is 8 bits.

  The residual prediction unit can determine the value of the weighting coefficient of the residual signal as 1 or 0.5 when the residual signal is 8 bits.

  In the case where the transmission unit uses non-zero as the value of the weighting factor, and the residual signal is 8 bits, information regarding which of 1 and 0.5 is used as the value of the weighting factor of the residual signal Certain weighting factor value information can be transmitted.

  The transmission unit may transmit the weight coefficient value information for each PU (Prediction Unit).

  The transmission unit can transmit the weight coefficient value information for each CU (Coding Unit).

  The input signal for the image data may be a luminance signal.

  In the sequence parameter set of the other layer, when the value of the parameter defining the bit depth of the luminance signal is 0, the residual prediction unit is a residual that is a prediction error of inter-frame prediction in the other layer When the signal is 9 bits, the value of the weighting factor of the residual signal can be determined to be 0.5.

The input signal of the image data is a color difference signal.

  In the sequence parameter set of the other layer, when the value of the parameter that defines the bit depth of the color difference signal is 0, the residual prediction unit is a residual that is a prediction error of inter-frame prediction in the other layer. When the signal is 9 bits, the value of the weighting factor of the residual signal can be determined to be 0.5.

  An image coding method according to an aspect of the present technology is such that, when an image coding apparatus has an 8-bit input signal of image data including a plurality of layers, inter-frame prediction in another layer different from the current layer of the image data. When the residual signal that is the prediction error of 9 bits is 9 bits, the value of the weighting coefficient of the residual signal is determined to be 0.5, and the residual signal to which the determined weighting coefficient value is applied is used to determine the image. Encode the current layer of data.

  The image decoding device according to another aspect of the present technology, when an input signal of image data including a plurality of layers is 8 bits, is a residual error that is a prediction error of inter-frame prediction in another layer different from the current layer of the image data. When the difference signal is 9 bits, a residual prediction unit that determines the value of the weighting factor of the residual signal to 0.5, and a residual signal that has been subjected to the value of the weighting factor determined by the residual prediction unit And a decoding unit that decodes the current layer of the encoded data of the image data.

  A receiving unit that receives the encoded data and weighting factor use information that is information regarding whether to use 0 or non-zero as the value of the weighting factor; and the residual prediction unit includes the weighting factor If the usage information is information indicating that non-zero is used, the value of the weighting factor of the residual signal can be determined to be 0.5.

  The receiving unit can receive the weighting factor usage information for each CU (Coding Unit).

  The receiving unit can receive the weighting factor usage information for each LCU (Largest Coding Unit) or for each slice header.

  The residual prediction unit can determine the value of the weighting factor of the residual signal as 1 when the residual signal is 8 bits.

  The residual prediction unit can determine the value of the weighting coefficient of the residual signal as 1 or 0.5 when the residual signal is 8 bits.

  In the case where the receiving unit uses non-zero as the value of the weighting factor and the residual signal is 8 bits, information regarding which of 1 and 0.5 is used as the value of the weighting factor of the residual signal Certain weighting factor information can be received.

  The receiving unit can receive the weight coefficient information for each PU (Prediction Unit).

  The receiving unit can receive the weight coefficient information for each CU (Coding Unit).

  The input signal of the image data is a luminance signal.

  In the sequence parameter set of the other layer, when the value of the parameter defining the bit depth of the luminance signal is 0, the residual prediction unit is a residual that is a prediction error of inter-frame prediction in the other layer When the signal is 9 bits, the value of the weighting factor of the residual signal can be determined to be 0.5.

  The input signal of the image data is a color difference signal.

  In the sequence parameter set of the other layer, when the value of the parameter that defines the bit depth of the color difference signal is 0, the residual prediction unit is a residual that is a prediction error of inter-frame prediction in the other layer. When the signal is 9 bits, the value of the weighting factor of the residual signal can be determined to be 0.5.

  An image decoding device according to another aspect of the present technology provides inter-frame prediction in another layer different from the current layer of the image data when the input signal of the image data including a plurality of layers is 8 bits. When the residual signal which is a prediction error is 9 bits, the value of the weighting coefficient of the residual signal is determined to be 0.5, and the image data is used by using the residual signal to which the determined weighting coefficient value is applied. The current layer of the encoded data is decoded.

  In one aspect of the present technology, when an input signal of image data including a plurality of layers is 8 bits, a residual signal that is a prediction error of inter-frame prediction in another layer different from the current layer of the image data is 9 If it is a bit, the value of the weighting factor of the residual signal is determined to be 0.5. Then, the current layer of the image data is encoded using the residual signal to which the determined weight coefficient value is applied.

  In another aspect of the present technology, when an input signal of image data including a plurality of layers is 8 bits, a residual signal that is a prediction error of inter-frame prediction in another layer different from the current layer of the image data is generated. When it is 9 bits, the value of the weighting factor of the residual signal is determined to be 0.5. Then, decoding of the current layer of the encoded data of the image data is performed using the residual signal to which the determined weight coefficient value is applied.

  According to the present disclosure, an image can be encoded / decoded. In particular, an increase in storage capacity required for encoding or decoding can be suppressed.

  Note that the effects described in the present specification are merely examples and are not limited, and may have additional effects.

It is a figure explaining the structural example of a coding unit. It is a figure which shows the example of a hierarchy image coding system. It is a figure explaining the example of spatial scalable encoding. It is a figure explaining the example of temporal scalable encoding. It is a figure explaining the example of the scalable encoding of a signal noise ratio. It is a figure which shows the example of the interpolation filter for motion compensation. It is a figure explaining prediction of the residual signal in scalable coding. It is a figure explaining the example of the syntax of a sequence parameter set. FIG. 9 is a diagram subsequent to FIG. 8 for explaining an example of syntax of a sequence parameter set. It is a block diagram which shows the main structural examples of an image coding apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the main structural examples of a base layer image coding part. It is a block diagram which shows the main structural examples of an enhancement layer image coding part. It is a block diagram which shows the main structural examples of a residual prediction part. It is a flowchart explaining the example of the flow of an image encoding process. It is a flowchart explaining the example of the flow of a base layer encoding process. It is a flowchart explaining the example of the flow of an enhancement layer encoding process. It is a flowchart explaining the example of the flow of an inter prediction process. It is a flowchart explaining the other example of the flow of an inter prediction process. It is a block diagram which shows the main structural examples of an image decoding apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the main structural examples of a base layer image decoding part. It is a block diagram which shows the main structural examples of an enhancement layer image decoding part. It is a block diagram which shows the other structural example of a residual prediction part. It is a flowchart explaining the example of the flow of an image decoding process. It is a flowchart explaining the example of the flow of a base layer decoding process. It is a flowchart explaining the example of the flow of an enhancement layer decoding process. It is a flowchart explaining the example of the flow of an inter prediction process. It is a flowchart explaining the other example of the flow of an inter prediction process. It is a figure which shows the example of a multiview image encoding system. It is a figure which shows the main structural examples of the multiview image coding apparatus to which this technique is applied. It is a figure which shows the main structural examples of the multiview image decoding apparatus to which this technique is applied. And FIG. 20 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration example of a computer. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a schematic structure of a television apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a schematic structure of a mobile telephone. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a schematic structure of a recording / reproducing apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a schematic structure of an imaging device. It is a block diagram which shows an example of scalable encoding utilization. It is a block diagram which shows the other example of scalable encoding utilization. It is a block diagram which shows the further another example of scalable encoding utilization. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a schematic structure of a video set. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a schematic structure of a video processor. It is a block diagram which shows the other example of the schematic structure of a video processor. It is explanatory drawing which showed the structure of the content reproduction system. It is explanatory drawing which showed the flow of the data in a content reproduction system. It is explanatory drawing which showed the specific example of MPD. It is the functional block diagram which showed the structure of the content server of a content reproduction system. It is the functional block diagram which showed the structure of the content reproduction apparatus of a content reproduction system. It is the functional block diagram which showed the structure of the content server of a content reproduction system. It is a sequence chart which shows the example of a communication process by each apparatus of a radio | wireless communications system. It is a sequence chart which shows the example of a communication process by each apparatus of a radio | wireless communications system. It is a figure which shows typically the structural example of the frame format (frame format) transmitted / received in the communication processing by each apparatus of a radio | wireless communications system. It is a sequence chart which shows the example of a communication process by each apparatus of a radio | wireless communications system.

Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present disclosure (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described. The description will be given in the following order.
0. Overview 1. First Embodiment (Image Encoding Device)
2. Second embodiment (image decoding apparatus)
3. Third embodiment (multi-view image encoding / multi-view image decoding apparatus)
4). Fourth embodiment (computer)
5. Application example 6. 6. Application example of scalable coding Fifth embodiment (set unit module processor)
8). 8. Application example of MPEG-DASH content playback system Application example of Wi-Fi standard wireless communication system

<0. Overview>
[Encoding method]
In the following, the present technology will be described by taking as an example the case of application to HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) image encoding / decoding.

[Coding unit]
In the AVC (Advanced Video Coding) method, a hierarchical structure is defined by macroblocks and sub-macroblocks. However, a macroblock of 16 pixels × 16 pixels is not optimal for a large image frame such as UHD (Ultra High Definition; 4000 pixels × 2000 pixels), which is a target of the next generation encoding method.

  On the other hand, in the HEVC scheme, as shown in FIG. 1, a coding unit (CU (Coding Unit)) is defined.

  CU is also called a Coding Tree Block (CTB), and is a partial area of a picture unit image that plays the same role as a macroblock in the AVC method. The latter is fixed to a size of 16 × 16 pixels, whereas the size of the former is not fixed, and is specified in the image compression information in each sequence.

  For example, in the sequence parameter set (SPS (Sequence Parameter Set)) included in the output encoded data, the maximum size (LCU (Largest Coding Unit)) and minimum size ((SCU (Smallest Coding Unit)) of the CU are specified. Is done.

  Within each LCU, split-flag = 1 can be divided into smaller CUs within a range that does not fall below the SCU size. In the example of FIG. 1, the LCU size is 128 and the maximum hierarchical depth is 5. When the value of split_flag is “1”, the 2N × 2N size CU is divided into N × N size CUs that are one level below.

  Further, the CU is divided into prediction units (Prediction Units (PUs)) that are regions (partial regions of images in units of pictures) that are processing units for intra or inter prediction. The PU is divided into transform units (Transform Units (TU)), which are regions (partial regions of images in units of pictures), which are orthogonal transform processing units. At present, in the HEVC system, it is possible to use 16 × 16 and 32 × 32 orthogonal transforms in addition to 4 × 4 and 8 × 8.

  In the case of an encoding method in which a CU is defined and various processes are performed in units of the CU as in the above HEVC method, a macro block in the AVC method corresponds to an LCU, and a block (sub block) corresponds to a CU. Then you can think. A motion compensation block in the AVC method can be considered to correspond to a PU. However, since the CU has a hierarchical structure, the size of the LCU of the highest hierarchy is generally set larger than the macro block of the AVC method, for example, 128 × 128 pixels.

  Therefore, hereinafter, it is assumed that the LCU also includes a macroblock in the AVC scheme, and the CU also includes a block (sub-block) in the AVC scheme. That is, “block” used in the following description indicates an arbitrary partial area in the picture, and its size, shape, characteristics, and the like are not limited. That is, the “block” includes an arbitrary area (processing unit) such as a TU, PU, SCU, CU, LCU, sub-block, macroblock, or slice. Of course, other partial areas (processing units) are also included. When it is necessary to limit the size, processing unit, etc., it will be described as appropriate.

  Also, in this specification, a CTU (Coding Tree Unit) is a unit including a CTB (Coding Tree Block) of an LCU (maximum number of CUs) and parameters when processing on the basis of the LCU (level). . Also, a CU (Coding Unit) constituting a CTU is a unit including a CB (Coding Block) and a parameter for processing in the CU base (level).

[Mode selection]
By the way, in the AVC and HEVC encoding schemes, selection of an appropriate prediction mode is important to achieve higher encoding efficiency.

  An example of such a selection method is H.264 / MPEG-4 AVC reference software called JM (Joint Model) (published at http://iphome.hhi.de/suehring/tml/index.htm) The method implemented in can be mentioned.

  In JM, it is possible to select the following two mode determination methods: High Complexity Mode and Low Complexity Mode. In both cases, a cost function value for each prediction mode Mode is calculated, and a prediction mode that minimizes the cost function value is selected as the optimum mode for the block or macroblock.

  The cost function in High Complexity Mode is shown as the following formula (1).

  Here, Ω is the entire set of candidate modes for encoding the block or macroblock, and D is the difference energy between the decoded image and the input image when encoded in the prediction mode. λ is a Lagrange undetermined multiplier given as a function of the quantization parameter. R is the total code amount when encoding is performed in this mode, including orthogonal transform coefficients.

  In other words, in order to perform encoding in the High Complexity Mode, the parameters D and R are calculated. Therefore, it is necessary to perform a temporary encoding process once in all candidate modes, which requires a higher calculation amount.

  The cost function in Low Complexity Mode is shown as the following formula (2).

  Here, unlike the case of High Complexity Mode, D is the difference energy between the predicted image and the input image. QP2Quant (QP) is given as a function of the quantization parameter QP, and HeaderBit is a code amount related to information belonging to Header, such as a motion vector and mode, which does not include an orthogonal transform coefficient.

  That is, in Low Complexity Mode, it is necessary to perform prediction processing for each candidate mode, but it is not necessary to perform decoding processing because it is not necessary to perform decoding processing. For this reason, realization with a calculation amount lower than High Complexity Mode is possible.

[Hierarchical coding]
By the way, the conventional image coding methods such as MPEG2 and AVC have a scalability function. Scalable encoding (hierarchical encoding) is a scheme in which an image is divided into a plurality of layers (hierarchical) and encoded for each layer. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hierarchical image encoding scheme.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in image hierarchization, one image is divided into a plurality of hierarchies (layers) based on a predetermined parameter having a scalability function. That is, the hierarchized image (hierarchical image) includes images of a plurality of hierarchies (layers) having different predetermined parameter values. A plurality of layers of this hierarchical image are encoded / decoded using only the image of the own layer without using the image of the other layer, and encoded / decoded using the image of the other layer. It consists of a non-base layer (also called enhancement layer) that performs decoding. As the non-base layer, an image of the base layer may be used, or an image of another non-base layer may be used.

  In general, the non-base layer is composed of difference image data (difference data) between its own image and an image of another layer so that redundancy is reduced. For example, when one image is divided into two layers of a base layer and a non-base layer (also referred to as an enhancement layer), an image having a lower quality than the original image can be obtained using only the data of the base layer. Then, by combining the base layer data and the non-base layer data, an original image (that is, a high-quality image) is obtained.

  By hierarchizing images in this way, it is possible to easily obtain images of various qualities depending on the situation. For example, to a terminal with low processing capability, such as a mobile phone, image compression information of only the base layer is transmitted, and a moving image with low spatiotemporal resolution or poor image quality is reproduced. For terminals with high processing capabilities, such as televisions and personal computers, in addition to the base layer, the image compression information of the enhancement layer is transmitted and the spatial time resolution is high, or Image compression information corresponding to the capabilities of the terminal and the network can be transmitted from the server without performing transcoding processing, such as playing a moving image with high image quality.

[Scalable parameters]
In such hierarchical image encoding / hierarchical image decoding (scalable encoding / scalable decoding), parameters having a scalability function are arbitrary. For example, the spatial resolution as shown in FIG. 3 may be used as the parameter (spatial scalability). In the case of this spatial scalability, the resolution of the image is different for each layer. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the enhancement is such that each picture is synthesized with the base layer having a spatially lower resolution than the original image and the base layer image to obtain the original image (original spatial resolution). Layered into two layers. Of course, this number of hierarchies is an example, and the number of hierarchies can be hierarchized.

  In addition, as a parameter for providing such scalability, for example, a temporal resolution as shown in FIG. 4 may be applied (temporal scalability). In the case of this temporal scalability, the frame rate is different for each layer. That is, in this case, as shown in FIG. 4, layers are layered at different frame rates, and by adding a high frame rate layer to a low frame rate layer, a higher frame rate moving image is obtained. By adding all the layers, the original moving image (original frame rate) can be obtained. This number of hierarchies is an example and can be hierarchized to an arbitrary number of hierarchies.

  Further, for example, a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) may be applied as a parameter for providing such scalability (SNR scalability). In the case of this SNR scalability (SNR scalability), the SN ratio is different for each layer. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, each picture has two layers of enhancement layers in which the original image (original SNR) is obtained by combining the base layer with a lower SNR than the original image and the base layer image. Is layered. That is, in the base layer image compression information, information related to a low PSNR image is transmitted, and an enhancement layer image compression information is added to the information to reconstruct a high PSNR image. It is possible. Of course, this number of hierarchies is an example, and the number of hierarchies can be hierarchized.

  Of course, the parameters for providing scalability may be other than the example described above. For example, the base layer is composed of an 8-bit image, and by adding an enhancement layer to this, a bit-depth scalability for obtaining a 10-bit image is obtained. is there.

  In addition, the base layer is composed of component images in 4: 2: 0 format, and the enhancement layer (enhancement layer) is added to this, resulting in chroma scalability (chroma) scalability).

[Interpolation filter for motion compensation]
In HEVC, an interpolation filter for motion compensation as shown in FIG. 6 is defined. For example, the luminance signal is subjected to motion compensation with 1/4 pixel accuracy using an 8-tap filter. The color difference signal is subjected to motion compensation with 1/8 pixel accuracy using a 4-tap filter. In both cases, the processing is specified to be within 16-bit accuracy. These coefficients are designed by a technique called DCT-IF.

[Inter-layer prediction]
By the way, in the scalable coding process based on the AVC coding process, a layer is used for a prediction error signal (also referred to as a residual signal) of an inter block that is a macroblock coded by inter-frame prediction coding. Inter-prediction can be performed.

  For example, in FIG. 7, the residual signal [ResE] in the enhancement layer (Enhancement layer) uses the image data [CurE] of the current block of the enhancement layer and the image data [RefE] of the reference block of the enhancement layer, It is calculated as the following formula (3).

  Similarly, the residual signal [ResB] in the base layer is expressed by the following equation (4) using the image data [CurB] of the current block of the base layer and the image data [RefB] of the reference block of the base layer. Is calculated as follows.

  In scalable coding, it is considered that there is a correlation between the prediction efficiency in the enhancement layer and the prediction efficiency in the base layer. That is, in the above, when the residual signal [ResE] in the enhancement layer takes a large value, it is considered that the value of the residual signal [ResB] in the base layer is also large. Therefore, the residual signal information amount in the enhancement layer can be reduced using the residual signal in the base layer.

  However, when processing based on spatial scalability is performed, the resolution is different between the base layer and the enhancement layer. Therefore, the residual signal [ResB] in the base layer is upsampled to the resolution of the enhancement layer, and the residual signal in the enhancement layer is reduced using the upsampled residual signal in the base layer. To.

  In other words, the residual signal [ResE ′] in the enhancement layer after the calculation uses the residual signal [ResE] in the enhancement layer before the calculation and the residual signal UP [ResB] in the up-sampled base layer, It is calculated as the following formula (5).

  By calculating the residual signal in the enhancement layer in this way, the encoding efficiency in the enhancement layer can be improved.

  Non-patent document 1 proposes to perform the same processing as this in scalable encoding processing based on HEVC encoding processing.

  In Non-Patent Document 1, the final predicted image P is obtained by using the predicted image Pe0 in the enhancement layer, the pixel Bb of the block in the base layer, and the predicted image Pb0 in the base layer, using the following equation (6): It is proposed to be generated as follows.

ここで、wは、残差信号の重み係数であり、0,0.5,1のいずれかの値をとり、それぞれのCU毎にどの値をとるかに関する情報が、出力となる画像圧縮情報において伝送される。

Here, w is a weighting factor of the residual signal, and takes any value of 0, 0.5, 1 and information on which value is taken for each CU is transmitted in the output image compression information Is done.

  However, in order to use the residual signal (also referred to as residual information) in the base layer for enhancement layer processing as described above, it is necessary to hold the base layer residual signal. However, when the input signal is 8 bits (bits) and the weighting factor w of the residual signal is 1, the value of w (Bb−Pb0) is 9 bits. For this reason, when performing software processing, the buffer needs to be byte aligned (byte allignment), so it becomes 16 bits, and there is a possibility that the storage capacity of the buffer for holding this residual signal may increase. It was.

[Reduction of residual signal information]
Therefore, when the input signal of image data consisting of a plurality of layers is 8 bits, the residual signal is 9 bits when the residual signal, which is the prediction error of inter-frame prediction in another layer different from the current layer of the image data, is 9 bits The value of the signal weighting factor is determined to be 0.5. For encoding / decoding of the current layer, a residual signal to which the determined weight coefficient value is applied is used.

  By doing so, an increase in the amount of information of the residual signal stored in the buffer can be avoided. That is, an increase in the storage capacity of the buffer can be avoided and the number of circuits can be reduced. That is, an increase in storage capacity necessary for encoding / decoding can be avoided.

  The “current layer” is a layer to be encoded / decoded, for example, an enhancement layer. The “other layer” refers to a layer other than the current layer that obtains a residual signal used in the processing of the current layer, and indicates, for example, a base layer or another enhancement layer.

  Specifically, first, detection regarding whether the residual signal is a value within 8 bits in the PU or CU, that is, a value in the range of -128 to 128 (range) or a value outside that range. Is done.

  As a result, when the value is within 8 bits, the value of the weight coefficient w is set to 1. If the value does not fit (that is, a 9-bit value), the weight coefficient w is set to 0.5.

  As a result, even if it cannot fit in 8 bits, when performing the processing according to the above equation (6), a residual to which w is applied is added, so that the data to be held can be 8 bits. Become. That is, the storage capacity of the buffer is not increased.

  On the encoding side, the non-zero value of w determined in this way and the cost function value when the value of w is 0 are calculated, and which is encoded using the mode determination process A decision is made as to whether

  Then, information regarding whether the weighting factor w uses 0 or non-zero (this information is hereinafter referred to as weighting factor use information) is transmitted for each CU.

  In Non-Patent Document 1, it is necessary to transmit information on whether the weighting coefficient w uses 0, 0.5, or 1 for each CU, which requires 2 bits. On the other hand, in the case of the present technology, the weighting factor usage information regarding whether the weighting factor w is 0 or non-zero may be transmitted for each CU. Thereby, it is possible to improve the efficiency of the image compression information of the enhancement layer to be output.

  In the present technology, the weighting factor usage information regarding whether to use the weighting factor w of 0 or non-zero may be transmitted for each LCU or for each Slice Header.

  Even when a non-zero weight coefficient w is used, it is independently set (determined) which one of 0.5 and 1 is used for each PU included in the CU. Therefore, compared with the proposal of Non-Patent Document 1, it is possible to perform residual prediction according to the characteristics of PU signals. Thereby, the encoding efficiency of the image compression information used as an output can be improved. Note that, when using a non-zero weighting factor w, whether to use 0.5 or 1 may be set (determined) for each CU.

  Alternatively, it is also possible to transmit information regarding whether to use 0.5 or 1 as the weighting coefficient w only in the range where the residual information is within 8 bits. The transmission unit may be for each PU or for each CU, similar to the unit determined above. Note that the information on whether to use 0.5 or 1 as the weighting factor w is distinguished from the weighting factor usage information on whether the weighting factor w is 0 or non-zero. Called.

[Luminance signal / color difference signal]
Further, the processing for reducing the information amount of the residual signal in the base layer as described above can be applied to each of the luminance signal and the color difference signal. That is, the process of reducing the information amount of the residual signal in the base layer may be performed only in encoding / decoding of the luminance signal, or may be performed only in encoding / decoding of the color difference signal. The luminance signal may be encoded / decoded and the chrominance signal may be encoded / decoded.

[Bit depth of input signal]
Further, the present technology is not limited to the bit depth of the input signal in the base layer, but the present technology is particularly effective when the input signal in the base layer is 8 bits as described above.

  Note that the present technology can be limited to a case where the input signal in the base layer is 8 bits in the syntax as follows.

  8 and 9, the syntax of the sequence parameter set is shown. Bit_depth_luma_minus8 in the sequence parameter set is a parameter that defines the bit depth of the luminance signal, and a value obtained by subtracting 8 from the bit depth is set. Also, bit_depth_chroma_minus8 in the sequence parameter set is a parameter that defines the bit depth of the color difference signal, and a value obtained by subtracting 8 from the bit depth is set.

  When the value of bit_depth_luma_minus8 is 0, the processing according to the present technology is applied to the luminance signal. Further, when the value of bit_depth_choma_minus8 is 0, the processing according to the present technology is applied to the color difference signal.

<1. First Embodiment>
[Image coding device]
Next, an apparatus and method for realizing the present technology as described above will be described. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an image encoding device that is an aspect of an image processing device to which the present technology is applied. An image encoding device 100 shown in FIG. 10 is a device that performs hierarchical image encoding. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the image encoding device 100 includes a base layer image encoding unit 101, an enhancement layer image encoding unit 102, and a multiplexing unit 103.

  The base layer image encoding unit 101 encodes a base layer image and generates a base layer image encoded stream. The enhancement layer image encoding unit 102 encodes the enhancement layer image, and generates an enhancement layer image encoded stream. The multiplexing unit 103 multiplexes the base layer image encoded stream generated by the base layer image encoding unit 101 and the enhancement layer image encoded stream generated by the enhancement layer image encoding unit 102 to generate a hierarchical image code Generate a stream. The multiplexing unit 103 transmits the generated hierarchical image encoded stream to the decoding side.

  The base layer image encoding unit 101 supplies a residual signal in the base layer to the enhancement layer image encoding unit 102 for the block on which inter prediction has been performed.

  The enhancement layer image encoding unit 102 acquires a residual signal in the base layer from the base layer image encoding unit 101. The enhancement layer image encoding unit 102 determines the value of the weighting factor of the residual signal to be 0.5 when the residual signal in the base layer is 9 bits when the input signal in the base layer is 8 bits. Process. Then, the enhancement layer image encoding unit 102 performs a prediction process in the enhancement layer encoding using the residual signal in the base layer to which the determined weight coefficient value is applied.

  Also, the enhancement layer image encoding unit 102 transmits weight coefficient use information regarding whether the weight coefficient value of the residual signal is non-zero or zero via the multiplexing unit 103 (hierarchical image encoding). As a stream) and transmitted to the decoding side.

[Base layer image encoding unit]
FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration example of the base layer image encoding unit 101 in FIG. 10. As illustrated in FIG. 11, the base layer image encoding unit 101 includes an A / D conversion unit 111, a screen rearrangement buffer 112, a calculation unit 113, an orthogonal transformation unit 114, a quantization unit 115, a lossless encoding unit 116, The storage buffer 117, the inverse quantization unit 118, and the inverse orthogonal transform unit 119 are included. The base layer image encoding unit 101 includes a calculation unit 120, a deblocking filter 121-1, an adaptive offset filter 121-2, a frame memory 122, and a selection unit 123. Furthermore, the base layer image encoding unit 101 includes an intra prediction unit 124, a motion prediction / compensation unit 125, a predicted image selection unit 126, and a rate control unit 127.

  The A / D conversion unit 111 performs A / D conversion on the input image data (base layer image information), and supplies the converted image data (digital data) to the screen rearrangement buffer 112 for storage. The screen rearrangement buffer 112 rearranges the images of the stored frames in the display order in the order of frames for encoding according to GOP (Group Of Picture), and rearranges the images in the order of the frames. It supplies to the calculating part 113. The screen rearrangement buffer 112 also supplies the image in which the frame order is rearranged to the intra prediction unit 124 and the motion prediction / compensation unit 125.

  The calculation unit 113 subtracts the predicted image supplied from the intra prediction unit 124 or the motion prediction / compensation unit 125 via the predicted image selection unit 126 from the image read from the screen rearrangement buffer 112, and the difference information Is output to the orthogonal transform unit 114. For example, in the case of an image on which intra coding is performed, the calculation unit 113 subtracts the prediction image supplied from the intra prediction unit 124 from the image read from the screen rearrangement buffer 112. For example, in the case of an image on which inter coding is performed, the calculation unit 113 subtracts the prediction image supplied from the motion prediction / compensation unit 125 from the image read from the screen rearrangement buffer 112.

  The orthogonal transform unit 114 performs orthogonal transform such as discrete cosine transform and Karhunen-Loeve transform on the difference information supplied from the computation unit 113. The orthogonal transform unit 114 supplies the transform coefficient to the quantization unit 115.

  The quantization unit 115 quantizes the transform coefficient supplied from the orthogonal transform unit 114. The quantization unit 115 sets a quantization parameter based on the information regarding the target value of the code amount supplied from the rate control unit 127, and performs the quantization. The quantization unit 115 supplies the quantized transform coefficient to the lossless encoding unit 116.

  The lossless encoding unit 116 encodes the transform coefficient quantized by the quantization unit 115 using an arbitrary encoding method. Since the coefficient data is quantized under the control of the rate control unit 127, the code amount becomes the target value set by the rate control unit 127 (or approximates the target value).

  Further, the lossless encoding unit 116 acquires information indicating an intra prediction mode from the intra prediction unit 124, and acquires information indicating an inter prediction mode, difference motion vector information, and the like from the motion prediction / compensation unit 125. Furthermore, the lossless encoding unit 116 appropriately generates a base layer NAL unit including a sequence parameter set (SPS), a picture parameter set (PPS), and the like.

  The lossless encoding unit 116 encodes these various types of information using an arbitrary encoding method, and sets (multiplexes) the encoded information (also referred to as an encoded stream) as part of the encoded data. The lossless encoding unit 116 supplies the encoded data obtained by encoding to the accumulation buffer 117 for accumulation.

  Examples of the encoding method of the lossless encoding unit 116 include variable length encoding or arithmetic encoding. Examples of variable length coding include H.264. CAVLC (Context-Adaptive Variable Length Coding) defined in the H.264 / AVC format. Examples of arithmetic coding include CABAC (Context-Adaptive Binary Arithmetic Coding).

  The accumulation buffer 117 temporarily holds the encoded data (base layer encoded data) supplied from the lossless encoding unit 116. The accumulation buffer 117 outputs the stored base layer encoded data to, for example, a recording device (recording medium) (not shown) or a transmission path at a later stage at a predetermined timing. That is, the accumulation buffer 117 is also a transmission unit that transmits encoded data.

  The transform coefficient quantized by the quantization unit 115 is also supplied to the inverse quantization unit 118. The inverse quantization unit 118 inversely quantizes the quantized transform coefficient by a method corresponding to the quantization by the quantization unit 115. The inverse quantization unit 118 supplies the obtained transform coefficient to the inverse orthogonal transform unit 119.

  The inverse orthogonal transform unit 119 performs inverse orthogonal transform on the transform coefficient supplied from the inverse quantization unit 118 by a method corresponding to the orthogonal transform processing by the orthogonal transform unit 114. The inversely orthogonal transformed output (restored difference information) is supplied to the calculation unit 120.

  The calculation unit 120 uses the prediction image selection unit 126 to perform prediction from the intra prediction unit 124 or the motion prediction / compensation unit 125 on the restored difference information, which is the inverse orthogonal transform result supplied from the inverse orthogonal transform unit 119. The images are added to obtain a locally decoded image (decoded image). The decoded image is supplied to the deblocking filter 121-1 or the frame memory 122.

  The deblocking filter 121-1 removes block distortion of the reconstructed image by performing deblocking filter processing on the reconstructed image supplied from the calculation unit 120. The deblocking filter 121-1 supplies the image subjected to the filter process to the adaptive offset filter 121-2.

  The adaptive offset filter 121-2 mainly removes ringing with respect to the deblocking filter processing result (reconstructed image from which block distortion has been removed) from the deblocking filter 121-1, and an adaptive offset filter (SAO: Sample adaptive offset) processing.

  More specifically, the adaptive offset filter 121-2 determines the type of adaptive offset filter processing for each LCU (Largest Coding Unit) which is the maximum coding unit, and obtains an offset used in the adaptive offset filter processing. The adaptive offset filter 121-2 performs the determined type of adaptive offset filter processing on the image after the adaptive deblocking filter processing, using the obtained offset. Then, the adaptive offset filter 121-2 supplies the image after the adaptive offset filter processing (hereinafter referred to as a decoded image) to the frame memory 122.

  Note that the deblocking filter 121-1 and the adaptive offset filter 121-2 supply information such as filter coefficients used for the filter processing to the lossless encoding unit 116 and encode it as necessary. You can also. Moreover, you may make it provide an adaptive loop filter in the back | latter stage of the adaptive offset filter 121-2.

  The frame memory 122 stores the supplied decoded image, and supplies the stored decoded image as a reference image to the selection unit 123 at a predetermined timing.

  More specifically, the frame memory 122 stores the reconstructed image supplied from the calculation unit 120 and the decoded image supplied from the adaptive offset filter 121-2. The frame memory 122 supplies the stored reconstructed image to the intra prediction unit 124 via the selection unit 123 at a predetermined timing or based on a request from the outside such as the intra prediction unit 124. The frame memory 122 also stores the decoded image stored at a predetermined timing or based on a request from the outside such as the motion prediction / compensation unit 125 via the selection unit 123. 125.

  The selection unit 123 selects a supply destination of the reference image supplied from the frame memory 122. For example, in the case of intra prediction, the selection unit 123 supplies the reference image (pixel value in the current picture) supplied from the frame memory 122 to the intra prediction unit 124. For example, in the case of inter prediction, the selection unit 123 supplies the reference image (pixel value outside the current picture) supplied from the frame memory 122 to the motion prediction / compensation unit 125.

  The intra prediction unit 124 performs prediction processing on a current picture that is an image of a processing target frame, and generates a predicted image. The intra prediction unit 124 performs this prediction processing for each predetermined block (using blocks as processing units). That is, the intra prediction unit 124 generates a predicted image of the current block that is the processing target of the current picture. At that time, the intra prediction unit 124 performs a prediction process (intra-screen prediction (also referred to as intra prediction)) using a reconstructed image supplied as a reference image from the frame memory 122 via the selection unit 123. That is, the intra prediction unit 124 generates a predicted image using pixel values around the current block included in the reconstructed image. The peripheral pixel value used for this intra prediction is the pixel value of the pixel processed in the past of the current picture. For this intra prediction (that is, how to generate a predicted image), a plurality of methods (also referred to as intra prediction modes) are prepared in advance as candidates. The intra prediction unit 124 performs the intra prediction in the plurality of intra prediction modes prepared in advance.

  The intra prediction unit 124 generates prediction images in all candidate intra prediction modes, evaluates the cost function value of each prediction image using the input image supplied from the screen rearrangement buffer 112, and selects the optimum mode. select. When the optimal intra prediction mode is selected, the intra prediction unit 124 supplies the predicted image generated in the optimal mode to the predicted image selection unit 126.

  Further, as described above, the intra prediction unit 124 appropriately supplies the intra prediction mode information indicating the adopted intra prediction mode to the lossless encoding unit 116 to be encoded.

  The motion prediction / compensation unit 125 performs a prediction process on the current picture and generates a predicted image. The motion prediction / compensation unit 125 performs this prediction processing for each predetermined block (with blocks as processing units). That is, the motion prediction / compensation unit 125 generates a predicted image of the current block that is the processing target of the current picture. At this time, the motion prediction / compensation unit 125 performs prediction processing using the image data of the input image supplied from the screen rearrangement buffer 112 and the image data of the decoded image supplied as a reference image from the frame memory 122. Do. This decoded image is an image of a frame processed before the current picture (another picture that is not the current picture). That is, the motion prediction / compensation unit 125 performs a prediction process (inter-screen prediction (also referred to as inter prediction)) that generates a predicted image using an image of another picture.

  This inter prediction includes motion prediction and motion compensation. More specifically, the motion prediction / compensation unit 125 performs motion prediction on the current block using the input image and the reference image, and detects a motion vector. Then, the motion prediction / compensation unit 125 performs a motion compensation process according to the detected motion vector using the reference image, and generates a prediction image (inter prediction image information) of the current block. A plurality of methods (also referred to as inter prediction modes) are prepared in advance as candidates for the inter prediction (that is, how to generate a predicted image). The motion prediction / compensation unit 125 performs such inter prediction in the plurality of inter prediction modes prepared in advance.

  The motion prediction / compensation unit 125 generates a prediction image in all candidate inter prediction modes. The motion prediction / compensation unit 125 evaluates the cost function value of each predicted image using the input image supplied from the screen rearrangement buffer 112 and information on the generated differential motion vector, and selects an optimal mode. . When the optimal inter prediction mode is selected, the motion prediction / compensation unit 125 supplies the predicted image generated in the optimal mode to the predicted image selection unit 126.

  The motion prediction / compensation unit 125 supplies information indicating the employed inter prediction mode, information necessary for performing processing in the inter prediction mode, and the like to the lossless encoding unit 116 when decoding the encoded data. And encoding. The necessary information includes, for example, information on the generated differential motion vector, a flag indicating an index of the motion vector predictor as motion vector predictor information, and the like.

  The predicted image selection unit 126 selects a supply source of the predicted image supplied to the calculation unit 113 or the calculation unit 120. For example, in the case of intra coding, the prediction image selection unit 126 selects the intra prediction unit 124 as a supply source of the prediction image, and supplies the prediction image supplied from the intra prediction unit 124 to the calculation unit 113 and the calculation unit 120. To do. For example, in the case of inter coding, the predicted image selection unit 126 selects the motion prediction / compensation unit 125 as a supply source of the predicted image, and calculates the predicted image supplied from the motion prediction / compensation unit 125 as the calculation unit 113. To the arithmetic unit 120.

  The rate control unit 127 controls the quantization operation rate of the quantization unit 115 based on the code amount of the encoded data stored in the storage buffer 117 so that no overflow or underflow occurs.

  Note that the base layer image encoding unit 101 performs encoding without referring to other layers. That is, the intra prediction unit 124 and the motion prediction / compensation unit 125 do not refer to information regarding encoding of other layers.

  Further, the base layer image encoding unit 101 <0. The above-described processing is performed in the overview>. That is, the motion prediction / compensation unit 125 supplies the inter-block residual signal encoded by inter-frame prediction encoding in the base layer to the enhancement layer image encoding unit 102. Although not shown, the decoded image in the base layer is also supplied from the frame memory 122 to the enhancement layer image encoding unit 102.

[Enhancement layer image encoding unit]
12 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration example of the enhancement layer image encoding unit 102 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 12, the enhancement layer image encoding unit 102 has basically the same configuration as the base layer image encoding unit 101 of FIG.

  That is, the enhancement layer image encoding unit 102 includes an A / D conversion unit 131, a screen rearrangement buffer 132, a calculation unit 133, an orthogonal transformation unit 134, a quantization unit 135, and a lossless encoding unit as illustrated in FIG. 136, an accumulation buffer 137, an inverse quantization unit 138, and an inverse orthogonal transform unit 139. Further, the enhancement layer image encoding unit 102 includes a calculation unit 140, a deblocking filter 141-1, an adaptive offset filter 141-2, a frame memory 142, a selection unit 143, an intra prediction unit 144, a motion prediction / compensation unit 145, and a prediction. An image selection unit 146 and a rate control unit 147 are included.

  These A / D converter 131 through rate controller 147 correspond to the A / D converter 111 through rate controller 127 in FIG. 11 and perform the same processing as the corresponding processor. However, each part of the enhancement layer image encoding unit 102 performs processing for encoding enhancement layer image information, not the base layer. Therefore, the description of the A / D conversion unit 111 to the rate control unit 127 of FIG. 11 described above can be applied as the description of the processing of the A / D conversion unit 131 to the rate control unit 147. In this case, however, the data to be processed needs to be enhancement layer data, not base layer data. In addition, the data input source and output destination processing units need to be replaced with the corresponding processing units in the A / D conversion unit 131 through the rate control unit 147 as appropriate.

  Note that the enhancement layer image encoding unit 102 performs encoding with reference to information of another layer (for example, a base layer). Then, the enhancement layer image encoding unit 102 <0. The above-described processing is performed in the overview>.

  The enhancement layer image encoding unit 102 includes a residual prediction unit 148 and an upsampling unit 149.

  The residual prediction unit 148 determines a dynamic range (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a range) of the residual signal indicating whether the base layer residual signal from the upsampling unit 149 is within 8 bits or larger. The residual prediction unit 148 determines the weighting coefficient w according to the range information that is the determination result, and supplies the determined weighting coefficient to the motion prediction / compensation unit 145. Also, the residual prediction unit 148 shifts the base layer residual signal from the upsampling unit 149 according to the range information, and supplies the shifted base layer residual information to the motion prediction / compensation unit 145.

  The up-sampling unit 149 acquires the base layer residual signal of the inter block encoded by inter-frame prediction encoding in the base layer from the base layer image encoding unit 101, and increases the acquired base layer residual signal Sample. The upsampling unit 149 supplies the upsampled base layer residual signal to the residual prediction unit 148.

  The upsample unit 149 is also supplied with the base layer decoded image from the base layer image encoding unit 101. The up-sampling unit 149 up-samples the supplied base layer decoded image to the enhancement layer resolution. The upsampling unit 149 supplies the upsampled base layer decoded image information to the frame memory 142 of the enhancement layer image encoding unit 102.

  In addition, when the encoding by the image encoding apparatus 100 is other scalable encoding that is not hierarchical encoding, the upsampling unit 149 is omitted because upsampling from the base layer is not necessary.

  The motion prediction / compensation unit 145 performs motion prediction on the current block using the input image and the reference image, and detects a motion vector. The motion prediction / compensation unit 145 generates prediction images in all candidate prediction modes.

  The motion prediction / compensation unit 145 evaluates the cost function value of the prediction image of each prediction mode using the input image supplied from the screen rearrangement buffer 112, information on the generated difference motion vector, and the like, and selects the optimum mode. Select. At that time, the motion prediction / compensation unit 145 uses the weighting coefficient from the residual prediction unit 148 and the shifted base layer residual signal, and uses the weighting coefficient of 0 and non-zero for each prediction mode. Calculate the cost function value. When the optimal inter prediction mode is selected based on the calculated cost function value, the motion prediction / compensation unit 145 supplies the predicted image generated in the optimal mode to the predicted image selection unit 126.

  The motion prediction / compensation unit 145 supplies information indicating the adopted inter prediction mode, information necessary for performing processing in the inter prediction mode, and the like to the lossless encoding unit 136 when decoding the encoded data. And encoding. Necessary information includes, for example, information on the weight coefficient of the base layer residual signal (weight coefficient) in addition to the generated difference motion vector information and the flag indicating the index of the predicted motion vector as the predicted motion vector information. Use information and weight coefficient value information).

[Residual Prediction Unit]
FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration example of the residual prediction unit 148 of FIG. In the example of FIG. 13, the flow of data from each unit is shown when the base layer residual signal is 9 bits.

  As illustrated in FIG. 13, the residual prediction unit 148 is configured to include a range determination unit 161, a weight coefficient determination unit 162, a shift unit 163, and a residual buffer 164.

  The range determination unit 161 determines the range of the residual signal indicating whether the base layer residual signal from the upsampling unit 149 is within 8 bits or larger. The range determination unit 161 supplies range information that is the determination result to the weight coefficient determination unit 162. The range determination unit 161 supplies the base layer residual signal and the range information to the shift unit 163.

  The weighting factor determination unit 162 determines whether the value of the weighting factor w is 0.5 or 1 according to the range information from the range determination unit 161, and determines the weighting factor w that is the value of the determined weighting factor w. Information is supplied to the motion prediction / compensation unit 145. Specifically, when the range information does not fit in 8 bits, the weight coefficient w is determined to be 0.5.

  The shift unit 163 shifts the base layer residual signal from the range determination unit 161 according to the range information from the range determination unit 161 and supplies the shifted base layer residual signal to the residual buffer 164. For example, if the base layer residual information does not fit in 8 bits, the base layer residual signal is shifted and stored in the residual buffer 164. When the base layer residual signal is within 8 bits, the base layer residual signal is stored in the residual buffer 164 as it is.

  Alternatively, if the base layer residual signal is within 8 bits, the shifted base layer residual signal and the base layer residual signal are accumulated, and the motion prediction / compensation unit 145 weights the weight coefficient w. Depending on, either residual signal is used.

  The residual buffer 164 accumulates the supplied base layer residual signal, reads it at a predetermined timing, and supplies it to the motion prediction / compensation unit 145.

  As described above, when the base layer residual signal does not fit in 8 bits, the base layer residual signal is shifted and accumulated in the residual buffer 164. Thereby, the storage capacity of the residual buffer 164 can be reduced. That is, the image encoding device 100 (enhancement layer image encoding unit 102) can suppress an increase in storage capacity necessary for encoding and decoding.

[Flow of image encoding process]
Next, the flow of each process executed by the image encoding device 100 as described above will be described. First, an example of the flow of image encoding processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the image encoding process is started, in step S101, the base layer image encoding unit 101 of the image encoding device 100 encodes base layer image data. Details of this base layer encoding process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In step S102, the enhancement layer image encoding unit 102 encodes enhancement layer image data. Details of the enhancement layer encoding process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In step S103, the multiplexing unit 103 uses the base layer image encoded stream generated by the process of step S101 and the enhancement layer image encoded stream generated by the process of step S102 (that is, the bit stream of each layer). Are multiplexed to generate a single hierarchical image encoded stream.

  When the process of step S103 ends, the image encoding device 100 ends the image encoding process. One picture is processed by such an image encoding process. Therefore, the image encoding device 100 repeatedly executes such image encoding processing for each picture of the moving image data that is hierarchized.

[Flow of base layer encoding process]
Next, an example of the flow of the base layer encoding process executed by the base layer image encoding unit 101 in step S101 of FIG. 14 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the base layer encoding process is started, the A / D conversion unit 111 of the base layer image encoding unit 101 A / D converts the image of each frame (picture) of the input moving image in step S121. .

  In step S122, the screen rearrangement buffer 112 stores the image that has been A / D converted in step S121, and rearranges the picture from the display order to the encoding order.

  In step S123, the intra prediction unit 124 performs an intra prediction process in the intra prediction mode.

  In step S124, the motion prediction / compensation unit 125 performs inter prediction processing for performing motion prediction and motion compensation in the inter prediction mode.

  In step S125, the predicted image selection unit 126 selects a predicted image based on the cost function value and the like. That is, the predicted image selection unit 126 selects either the predicted image generated by the intra prediction in step S123 or the predicted image generated by the inter prediction in step S124.

  In step S126, the calculation unit 113 calculates a difference between the input image whose frame order is rearranged by the process of step S122 and the predicted image selected by the process of step S125. That is, the calculation unit 113 generates image data of a difference image between the input image and the predicted image. The image data of the difference image obtained in this way is reduced in data amount compared to the original image data. Therefore, the data amount can be compressed as compared with the case where the image is encoded as it is.

  In step S127, the orthogonal transform unit 114 performs orthogonal transform on the image data of the difference image generated by the process in step S126.

  In step S128, the quantization unit 115 quantizes the orthogonal transform coefficient obtained by the process of step S127, using the quantization parameter calculated by the rate control unit 127.

  In step S129, the inverse quantization unit 118 inversely quantizes the quantized coefficient generated by the process in step S128 (also referred to as a quantization coefficient) with characteristics corresponding to the characteristics of the quantization unit 115.

  In step S130, the inverse orthogonal transform unit 119 performs inverse orthogonal transform on the orthogonal transform coefficient obtained by the process of step S129.

  In step S131, the arithmetic unit 120 generates image data of a reconstructed image by adding the predicted image selected by the process of step S125 to the difference image restored by the process of step S130.

  In step S132, the deblocking filter 121-1 performs deblocking filter processing on the image data of the reconstructed image generated by the processing in step S131. Thereby, block distortion of the reconstructed image is removed. In step S133, the adaptive offset filter 121-2 performs adaptive offset filter processing that mainly removes ringing on the deblocking filter processing result from the deblocking filter 121-1.

  In step S134, the frame memory 122 stores data such as a decoded image obtained by the process of step S133 and a reconstructed image obtained by the process of step S131.

  In step S135, the lossless encoding unit 116 encodes the quantized coefficient obtained by the process of step S128. That is, lossless encoding such as variable length encoding or arithmetic encoding is performed on the data corresponding to the difference image.

  At this time, the lossless encoding unit 116 encodes information related to the prediction mode of the prediction image selected by the process of step S125, and adds the encoded information to the encoded data obtained by encoding the difference image. That is, the lossless encoding unit 116 encodes and encodes the optimal intra prediction mode information supplied from the intra prediction unit 124 or the information corresponding to the optimal inter prediction mode supplied from the motion prediction / compensation unit 125. Append to data.

  Furthermore, the lossless encoding unit 116 also sets syntax elements such as various null units, encodes them, and adds them to the encoded data.

  In step S136, the accumulation buffer 117 accumulates the encoded data obtained by the process in step S135. The encoded data stored in the storage buffer 117 is appropriately read and transmitted to the decoding side via a transmission path or a recording medium.

  In step S137, the rate control unit 127 causes the quantization unit 115 to prevent overflow or underflow from occurring based on the code amount (generated code amount) of the encoded data accumulated in the accumulation buffer 117 by the process of step S136. Controls the rate of quantization operation. Further, the rate control unit 127 supplies information regarding the quantization parameter to the quantization unit 115.

  In step S138, the motion prediction / compensation unit 125 supplies the residual signal in the base layer obtained in the base layer encoding process as described above to the enhancement layer encoding process.

  When the process of step S138 ends, the base layer encoding process ends, and the process returns to FIG.

[Enhancement layer coding process flow]
Next, an example of the flow of the enhancement layer encoding process executed by the enhancement layer image encoding unit 102 in step S102 of FIG. 14 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the enhancement layer encoding process is started, the upsampling unit 149 of the enhancement layer image encoding unit 102 acquires the base layer residual signal from the base layer image encoding unit 101 and upsamples it in step S151. The upsampling unit 149 supplies the upsampled base layer residual signal to the residual prediction unit 148.

  In step S152, the A / D converter 131 performs A / D conversion on the image of each frame (picture) of the input enhancement layer moving image.

  In step S153, the screen rearrangement buffer 132 stores the image that has been A / D converted in step S152, and performs rearrangement from the display order of each picture to the encoding order.

  In step S154, the intra prediction unit 144 performs an intra prediction process.

  In step S155, the motion prediction / compensation unit 145 performs an inter prediction process. This inter prediction process will be described later with reference to FIG. 17, but in this inter prediction process, the value of the weighting factor is determined according to the range of the base layer residual signal. Further, the cost function value of each prediction mode when the value of the weight coefficient of the base layer residual signal is 0 or non-zero is calculated, and the optimal prediction mode and the value of the weight coefficient are determined.

  The processes in steps S156 to S168 correspond to the processes in steps S125 to S137 in FIG. 15 and are executed in the same manner as those processes.

  Note that the information on the optimal prediction mode determined in step S155 and the weight coefficient use information on whether the weight coefficient is 0 or non-zero are reversible when an inter prediction prediction image is selected in step S156. The data is supplied to the encoding unit 136 and encoded in step S166.

  When the process of step S168 ends, the enhancement layer encoding process ends, and the process returns to FIG.

[Inter prediction process flow]
Next, an example of the flow of inter prediction processing executed by the motion prediction / compensation unit 145 and the residual prediction unit 148 in step S155 of FIG. 16 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 16 shows an example in which the value of w is determined to be 1 when the residual signal is 8 bits.

  When the enhancement layer motion prediction / compensation process is started, in step S181, the motion prediction / compensation unit 145 of the enhancement layer image encoding unit 102 performs a motion search process for each mode.

  In step S182, the range determination unit 161 determines the range of residual information indicating whether the base layer residual signal from the upsampling unit 149 is within 8 bits or larger. This determination process is performed for each CU or PU. The range determination unit 161 supplies range information that is the determination result to the weight coefficient determination unit 162. The range determination unit 161 supplies the base layer residual signal and the range information to the shift unit 163.

  In step S183, the weighting factor determination unit 162 determines whether the value of the weighting factor w is 0.5 or 1 according to the range information from the range determination unit 161. That is, when the base layer residual information does not fit in 8 bits, the value of the weighting factor w is determined to be 0.5, and when it falls within 8 bits, the value of the weighting factor w is determined to be 1. The weighting factor determination unit 162 supplies weighting factor information that is the value of the determined weighting factor w to the motion prediction / compensation unit 145.

  In step S184, the shift unit 163 shifts the base layer residual signal from the range determination unit 161 according to the range information from the range determination unit 161, and the shifted base layer residual signal is transferred to the residual buffer 164. To supply.

  That is, when the base layer residual information does not fit in 8 bits, the base layer residual signal is shifted and accumulated in the residual buffer 164. When the base layer residual signal is within 8 bits, the base layer residual signal is stored in the residual buffer 164 as it is. The residual buffer 164 accumulates the supplied base layer residual signal, reads it at a predetermined timing, and supplies it to the motion prediction / compensation unit 145.

  In step S185, the motion prediction / compensation unit 145 uses the motion information searched in step S181, the weighting factor from the residual prediction unit 148, and the shifted base layer residual signal to set the weighting factor to 0. The cost function value for each mode when non-zero is calculated.

  In step S186, the motion prediction / compensation unit 145 performs mode determination based on the cost function value of each mode calculated in step S185. As a result, the motion prediction / compensation unit 145 determines the optimal inter prediction mode and the value of the weighting coefficient w (whether it is non-zero or zero).

  In step S187, the motion prediction / compensation unit 145 performs motion compensation in the optimal inter prediction mode selected in step S186, and generates a predicted image. The generated predicted image is supplied to the predicted image selection unit 146 together with information on the optimal inter prediction mode.

  In step S188, the motion prediction / compensation unit 145 supplies the weighting factor usage information regarding whether the determined weighting factor values are 0 and non-zero to the lossless encoding unit 136 to transmit to the decoding side. Make it.

  As described above, when the base layer residual information does not fit in 8 bits, the value of the weight coefficient w is determined to be 0.5, and the base layer residual signal is shifted to 8 bits and stored in the residual buffer 164. Is done. Thereby, an increase in the storage capacity of the residual buffer 164 can be suppressed, and an increase in the storage capacity necessary for encoding / decoding can be suppressed.

  Also, since only the weighting factor use information that is the value of the weighting factor w (whether it is non-zero or zero) is sent to the decoding side, the coding efficiency can be improved.

[Other examples of inter prediction processing flow]
Furthermore, an example of the flow of inter prediction processing executed by the motion prediction / compensation unit 145 and the residual prediction unit 148 in step S155 of FIG. 16 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Note that FIG. 18 shows an example in which either 0.5 or 1 is used as the value of w when the residual signal is 8 bits.

  When the enhancement layer motion prediction / compensation process is started, in step S191, the motion prediction / compensation unit 145 of the enhancement layer image encoding unit 102 performs a motion search process for each mode.

  In step S192, the range determination unit 161 determines the range of the residual information indicating whether the base layer residual signal from the upsampling unit 149 is within 8 bits or larger. This determination process is performed for each CU or PU. The range determination unit 161 supplies range information that is the determination result to the weight coefficient determination unit 162. Further, the range determination unit 161 supplies the base layer residual information and the range information to the shift unit 163.

  In step S193, the weight coefficient determination unit 162 refers to the range information from the range determination unit 161 and determines whether the base layer residual signal is 8 bits or less. If it is determined in step S193 that it is 8 bits or less, the process proceeds to step S194.

  In step S194, the weighting factor determination unit 162 determines whether the weighting factor is 0.5 or 1. The weighting factor determination unit 162 supplies weighting factor information that is the value of the determined weighting factor w to the motion prediction / compensation unit 145. It should be noted that both the weight coefficients of 0.5 and 1 are supplied to the motion prediction / compensation unit 145, and when it is non-zero, both cost function values are obtained for each mode to determine which one to use. May be.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S193 that it is 8 bits or less, the process proceeds to step S195. In step S195, the weighting factor determination unit 162 determines the value of the weighting factor w to be 0.5, and supplies the weighting factor information that is the determined value of the weighting factor w to the motion prediction / compensation unit 145.

  In step S196, the shift unit 163 shifts the base layer residual signal from the range determining unit 161 according to the range information from the range determining unit 161, and the shifted base layer residual signal is transferred to the residual buffer 164. To supply.

  That is, when the base layer residual information does not fit in 8 bits, the base layer residual signal is shifted and accumulated in the residual buffer 164. When the base layer residual signal is within 8 bits, for example, the base layer residual signal as it is and the shifted base layer residual signal are accumulated in the residual buffer 164. The residual buffer 164 accumulates the supplied base layer residual signal, reads out the shifted base layer residual signal and the unshifted base layer residual signal, and supplies them to the motion prediction / compensation unit 145.

  In step S197, the motion prediction / compensation unit 145 uses the motion information searched in step S191, the weighting factor from the residual prediction unit 148, and the shifted base layer residual signal to set the weighting factor to 0. The cost function value of each mode when it is non-zero is calculated.

  In step S198, the motion prediction / compensation unit 145 performs mode determination based on the cost function value of each mode calculated in step S197, and determines the optimal inter prediction mode and the value of the weight coefficient w (non-zero). Or 0).

  In step S199, the motion prediction / compensation unit 145 performs motion compensation in the optimal inter prediction mode selected in step S198, and generates a predicted image. The generated predicted image is supplied to the predicted image selection unit 146 together with information on the optimal inter prediction mode.

  In step S200, the motion prediction / compensation unit 145 supplies the weighting factor usage information regarding whether the determined weighting factor value is 0 or non-zero to the lossless encoding unit 136 to transmit to the decoding side. Make it. At this time, if the base layer residual signal is 8 bits or less, weighting factor value information indicating whether the weighting factor w is 0.5 or 1 is also supplied to the lossless encoding unit 136.

  As described above, when the base layer residual information does not fit in 8 bits, the value of the weight coefficient w is determined to be 0.5, and the base layer residual signal is shifted to 8 bits and stored in the residual buffer 164. Is done. Thereby, an increase in the storage capacity of the residual buffer 164 can be suppressed, and an increase in the storage capacity necessary for encoding / decoding can be suppressed. In the case of the example in FIG. 18, it is possible to perform residual prediction according to the characteristics of the PU signal, so that it is possible to improve the encoding efficiency of the output image compression information.

<2. Second Embodiment>
[Image decoding device]
Next, decoding of the encoded data encoded as described above will be described. FIG. 19 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration example of an image decoding apparatus corresponding to the image encoding apparatus 100 in FIG. 10, which is an aspect of an image processing apparatus to which the present technology is applied.

  The image decoding apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 19 decodes the encoded data generated by the image encoding apparatus 100 by a decoding method corresponding to the encoding method (that is, hierarchically encoded encoded data is hierarchically decoded). To do).

  As illustrated in FIG. 19, the image decoding device 200 includes a demultiplexing unit 201, a base layer image decoding unit 202, and an enhancement layer image decoding unit 203.

  The demultiplexing unit 201 receives a layered image encoded stream in which a base layer image encoded stream and an enhancement layer image encoded stream are multiplexed transmitted from the encoding side, demultiplexes them, An image encoded stream and an enhancement layer image encoded stream are extracted.

  The base layer image decoding unit 202 decodes the base layer image encoded stream extracted by the demultiplexing unit 201 to obtain a base layer image. The enhancement layer image decoding unit 203 decodes the enhancement layer image encoded stream extracted by the demultiplexing unit 201 to obtain an enhancement layer image.

  The base layer image decoding unit 202 supplies the residual signal in the base layer to the enhancement layer image decoding unit 203 for the block on which inter prediction has been performed.

  The enhancement layer image decoding unit 203 acquires a residual signal in the base layer from the base layer image decoding unit 202. The enhancement layer image decoding unit 203 determines whether the value of the weight coefficient of the residual signal in the base layer indicated by the weight coefficient use information received from the encoding side is non-zero or zero. If there is, the following processing is performed.

  That is, when the input signal in the base layer is 8 bits, the enhancement layer image decoding unit 203 determines the value of the weighting factor of the residual signal as 0.5 when the residual signal in the base layer is 9 bits. Perform the process. Then, enhancement layer image decoding section 203 performs prediction processing in enhancement layer decoding using the residual signal in the base layer to which the determined weight coefficient value is applied.

[Base layer image decoding unit]
FIG. 20 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration example of the base layer image decoding unit 202 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 20, the base layer image decoding unit 202 includes a storage buffer 211, a lossless decoding unit 212, an inverse quantization unit 213, an inverse orthogonal transform unit 214, a calculation unit 215, a deblocking filter 216-1, an adaptive offset filter. 21-2, a screen rearrangement buffer 217, and a D / A conversion unit 218. The base layer image decoding unit 202 includes a frame memory 219, a selection unit 220, an intra prediction unit 221, a motion prediction / compensation unit 222, and a predicted image selection unit 223.

  The accumulation buffer 211 is also a receiving unit that receives transmitted encoded data. The accumulation buffer 211 receives and accumulates the transmitted encoded data, and supplies the encoded data to the lossless decoding unit 212 at a predetermined timing. Information necessary for decoding such as prediction mode information is added to the encoded data.

  The lossless decoding unit 212 decodes the information supplied from the accumulation buffer 211 and encoded by the lossless encoding unit 116 of FIG. 11 using a decoding method corresponding to the encoding method. The lossless decoding unit 212 supplies the quantized coefficient data of the difference image obtained by decoding to the inverse quantization unit 213.

  Further, the lossless decoding unit 212 determines whether the intra prediction mode or the inter prediction mode is selected as the optimal prediction mode, and uses the intra prediction unit 221 and the motion prediction / compensation unit to obtain information regarding the optimal prediction mode. The data is supplied to the mode determined to be selected from 222. That is, for example, when the intra prediction mode is selected as the optimal prediction mode on the encoding side, information regarding the optimal prediction mode is supplied to the intra prediction unit 221. For example, when the inter prediction mode is selected as the optimal prediction mode on the encoding side, information regarding the optimal prediction mode is supplied to the motion prediction / compensation unit 222.

  Furthermore, the lossless decoding unit 212 supplies information necessary for inverse quantization, such as a quantization matrix and a quantization parameter, to the inverse quantization unit 213, for example.

  The inverse quantization unit 213 inversely quantizes the quantized coefficient data obtained by decoding by the lossless decoding unit 212 using a method corresponding to the quantization method of the quantization unit 115 in FIG. The inverse quantization unit 213 is a processing unit similar to the inverse quantization unit 118 in FIG.

  The inverse quantization unit 213 supplies the obtained coefficient data to the inverse orthogonal transform unit 214.

  The inverse orthogonal transform unit 214 performs inverse orthogonal transform on the orthogonal transform coefficient supplied from the inverse quantization unit 213 by a method corresponding to the orthogonal transform method of the orthogonal transform unit 114 in FIG. 11 as necessary. The inverse orthogonal transform unit 214 is a processing unit similar to the inverse orthogonal transform unit 119 in FIG.

  The image data of the difference image is restored by this inverse orthogonal transform process. The restored image data of the difference image corresponds to the image data of the difference image before being orthogonally transformed in the image encoding device. Hereinafter, the restored image data of the difference image obtained by the inverse orthogonal transform process of the inverse orthogonal transform unit 214 is also referred to as decoded residual data. The inverse orthogonal transform unit 214 supplies the decoded residual data to the calculation unit 215. Further, the image data of the predicted image is supplied from the intra prediction unit 221 or the motion prediction / compensation unit 222 to the calculation unit 215 via the predicted image selection unit 223.

  The computing unit 215 obtains image data of a reconstructed image obtained by adding the difference image and the predicted image, using the decoded residual data and the image data of the predicted image. This reconstructed image corresponds to the input image before the predicted image is subtracted by the calculation unit 113 in FIG. The computing unit 215 supplies the reconstructed image to the deblocking filter 216-1.

  The deblocking filter 216-1 removes block distortion by performing a deblocking filter process on the supplied reconstructed image. The deblocking filter 216-1 supplies the filtered image to the adaptive offset filter 216-2.

  The adaptive offset filter 216-2 mainly removes ringing from the deblocking filter processing result (decoded image from which block distortion has been removed) from the deblocking filter 216-1 (SAO: Sample). adaptive offset) processing.

  The adaptive offset filter 216-2 receives the type and offset of the adaptive offset filter processing for each LCU (Largest Coding Unit) which is the maximum coding unit from the lossless decoding unit 212. The adaptive offset filter 216-2 performs the received type of adaptive offset filter processing on the image after the adaptive deblocking filter processing, using the received offset. Then, the adaptive offset filter 216-2 supplies the image after the adaptive offset filter processing (hereinafter referred to as a decoded image) to the screen rearrangement buffer 217 and the frame memory 219.

  Note that the decoded image output from the calculation unit 215 can be supplied to the screen rearrangement buffer 217 and the frame memory 219 without passing through the deblocking filter 216-1 and the adaptive offset filter 216-2. That is, part or all of the filtering process by the deblocking filter 216-1 can be omitted. Further, an adaptive loop filter may be provided in the subsequent stage of the adaptive offset filter 216-2.

  The adaptive offset filter 216-2 supplies the decoded image (or reconstructed image) as the filter processing result to the screen rearrangement buffer 217 and the frame memory 219.

  The screen rearrangement buffer 217 rearranges the frame order of the decoded image. That is, the screen rearrangement buffer 217 rearranges the images of the frames rearranged in the encoding order by the screen rearrangement buffer 112 in FIG. 11 in the original display order. That is, the screen rearrangement buffer 217 stores the image data of the decoded images of the frames supplied in the encoding order in that order, and reads the image data of the decoded images of the frames stored in the encoding order in the display order. / A converter 218. The D / A conversion unit 218 performs D / A conversion on the decoded image (digital data) of each frame supplied from the screen rearrangement buffer 217, and outputs it as analog data to a display (not shown) for display.

  The frame memory 219 stores the supplied decoded image, and the stored decoded image is a reference image at a predetermined timing or based on an external request such as the intra prediction unit 221 or the motion prediction / compensation unit 222. As shown in FIG.

  Intra prediction mode information and the like are appropriately supplied from the lossless decoding unit 212 to the intra prediction unit 221. The intra prediction unit 221 performs intra prediction in the intra prediction mode (optimum intra prediction mode) used in the intra prediction unit 124, and generates a predicted image. At that time, the intra prediction unit 221 performs intra prediction using the image data of the reconstructed image supplied from the frame memory 219 via the selection unit 220. That is, the intra prediction unit 221 uses this reconstructed image as a reference image (neighboring pixels). The intra prediction unit 221 supplies the generated predicted image to the predicted image selection unit 223.

  The motion prediction / compensation unit 222 is appropriately supplied with optimal prediction mode information, motion information, and the like from the lossless decoding unit 212. The motion prediction / compensation unit 222 is an inter prediction mode (optimum inter prediction mode) indicated by the optimal prediction mode information acquired from the lossless decoding unit 212, and performs inter prediction using a decoded image (reference image) acquired from the frame memory 219. To generate a predicted image.

  The predicted image selection unit 223 supplies the predicted image supplied from the intra prediction unit 221 or the predicted image supplied from the motion prediction / compensation unit 222 to the calculation unit 215. Then, the calculation unit 215 adds the predicted image and the decoded residual data (difference image information) from the inverse orthogonal transform unit 214 to obtain a reconstructed image.

  Note that the base layer image decoding unit 202 performs decoding without referring to other layers. That is, the intra prediction unit 221 and the motion prediction / compensation unit 222 do not refer to information regarding encoding of other layers.

  The base layer image decoding unit 202 also <0. The above-described processing is performed in the overview>. That is, the motion prediction / compensation unit 222 supplies the inter-block residual signal encoded by inter-frame prediction encoding in the base layer to the enhancement layer image decoding unit 203.

<Enhancement layer image decoding unit>
FIG. 21 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration example of the enhancement layer image decoding unit 203 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 21, the enhancement layer image decoding unit 203 has basically the same configuration as the base layer image decoding unit 202 of FIG.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 21, the enhancement layer image decoding unit 203 includes a storage buffer 231, a lossless decoding unit 232, an inverse quantization unit 233, an inverse orthogonal transform unit 234, a calculation unit 235, a deblocking filter 236-1, It has an adaptive offset filter 236-2, a screen rearrangement buffer 237, and a D / A conversion unit 238. The enhancement layer image decoding unit 203 includes a frame memory 239, a selection unit 240, an intra prediction unit 241, a motion prediction / compensation unit 242, and a predicted image selection unit 243.

  These accumulation buffer 231 through predicted image selection unit 243 correspond to the storage buffer 211 through predicted image selection unit 223 in FIG. 20, and perform the same processing as the corresponding processing unit, respectively. However, each unit of the enhancement layer image decoding unit 203 performs processing for decoding enhancement layer image information, not the base layer. Therefore, as the description of the processing of the storage buffer 231 to the predicted image selection unit 243, the description of the storage buffer 211 to the predicted image selection unit 223 of FIG. 20 described above can be applied. It should be enhancement layer data, not base layer data. In addition, it is necessary to replace the data input source and output destination processing units with the corresponding processing units of the enhancement layer image decoding unit 203 as appropriate.

  The enhancement layer image decoding unit 203 performs decoding with reference to information on another layer (for example, a base layer). Then, the enhancement layer image decoding unit 203 performs <0. The above-described processing is performed in the overview>.

  The enhancement layer image decoding unit 203 includes a residual prediction unit 244 and an upsampling unit 245.

  Motion information, prediction mode information, and the like are supplied from the lossless decoding unit 232 to the motion prediction / compensation unit 242. Also, when encoding the enhancement layer, it is determined whether the value of the residual signal weight coefficient in the base layer is non-zero or zero, and this is lossless decoding as the residual signal weight coefficient usage information. The data is received by the unit 232 and supplied to the motion prediction / compensation unit 242.

  The motion prediction / compensation unit 242 determines whether the value of the weighting factor is non-zero or zero based on the weighting factor usage information of the residual signal from the lossless decoding unit 232, and the value of the weighting factor is In the case of 0, prediction processing in enhancement layer decoding is performed using motion information and prediction mode information from the lossless decoding unit 232.

  On the other hand, when the value of the weighting factor is non-zero, the motion prediction / compensation unit 242 causes the residual prediction unit 244 to perform the following process.

  The residual prediction unit 244 determines the range of the residual signal as to whether the base layer residual signal from the upsampling unit 245 is within 8 bits or larger. The residual prediction unit 244 determines the weighting coefficient w according to the range information that is the determination result, and supplies the determined weighting coefficient w to the motion prediction / compensation unit 242. Also, the residual prediction unit 244 shifts the base layer residual signal from the upsampling unit 245 according to the range information, and supplies the shifted base layer residual signal to the motion prediction / compensation unit 242.

  The motion prediction / compensation unit 242 uses the residual signal in the base layer to which the motion information and prediction mode information from the lossless decoding unit 232 and the weighting coefficient value determined by the residual prediction unit 244 are applied. Perform prediction processing in layer decoding.

  The up-sampling unit 245 acquires an inter-block base layer residual signal encoded by inter-frame prediction encoding in the base layer from the base layer image decoding unit 202, and up-samples the acquired base layer residual signal. To do. The upsampling unit 245 supplies the upsampled base layer residual signal to the residual prediction unit 244.

  The upsampling unit 245 is also supplied with the base layer decoded image from the base layer image decoding unit 202. The upsampling unit 245 upsamples the supplied base layer decoded image to the enhancement layer resolution. The upsampling unit 245 supplies the upsampled base layer decoded image information to the frame memory 239 of the enhancement layer image decoding unit 203.

  Note that when the encoding by the image encoding device 100 (that is, the decoding by the image decoding device 200) is other scalable encoding that is not hierarchical encoding, no up-sampling from the base layer is necessary, so the up-sampling unit 245 is omitted.

[Residual Prediction Unit]
FIG. 22 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration example of the residual prediction unit 244 of FIG. In the example of FIG. 22, the flow of data from each unit is shown when the base layer residual signal is 9 bits.

  As illustrated in FIG. 22, the residual prediction unit 244 includes a range determination unit 261, a weight coefficient determination unit 262, a shift unit 263, and a residual buffer 264.

  The motion prediction / compensation unit 242 receives weighting factor usage information regarding whether the weighting factor value of the residual signal from the lossless decoding unit 232 is non-zero or zero. When the value of the weighting factor is non-zero, the motion prediction / compensation unit 242 supplies a control signal for controlling the weighting factor determination unit 262 and the residual buffer 264 to perform an operation. On the other hand, when the value of the weighting factor is 0, no control signal is supplied to the weighting factor determining unit 262 and the residual buffer 264. Alternatively, a control signal for prohibiting the operation may be supplied.

  The range determination unit 261 determines the range of the residual signal as to whether the base layer residual signal from the upsampling unit 245 is within 8 bits or larger. The range determination unit 261 supplies range information that is the determination result to the weight coefficient determination unit 262. In addition, the range determination unit 261 supplies the base layer residual signal and the range information to the shift unit 263.

  When receiving the control signal from the motion prediction / compensation unit 242, the weighting factor determination unit 262 determines whether the value of the weighting factor w is 0.5 or 1 according to the range information from the range determination unit 161. decide. The weighting factor determination unit 262 supplies information on the weighting factor that is the value of the determined weighting factor w to the motion prediction / compensation unit 242.

  The shift unit 263 shifts the base layer residual signal from the range determination unit 261 in accordance with the range information from the range determination unit 261, and supplies the shifted base layer residual signal to the residual buffer 264. For example, if the base layer residual information does not fit in 8 bits, the base layer residual signal is shifted and stored in the residual buffer 264. When the base layer residual signal is within 8 bits, the base layer residual signal is stored in the residual buffer 264 as it is.

  Alternatively, if the base layer residual signal is within 8 bits, the shifted base layer residual signal and the base layer residual signal are accumulated, and the motion prediction / compensation unit 242 sets the non-zero value. Either residual signal is used depending on the weighting factor w in a certain case.

  The residual buffer 264 accumulates the supplied base layer residual signal, and when receiving the control signal from the motion prediction / compensation unit 242, reads it at a predetermined timing and supplies it to the motion prediction / compensation unit 242.

  As described above with reference to FIG. 18, when the base layer residual signal is within 8 bits, when the value of 0.5 or 1 is used as the value of the weighting factor w, It is sent from the encoding side as weighting coefficient value information indicating that the weighting coefficient w is either 0.5 or 1. In this case, the motion prediction / compensation unit 242 receives the weighting factor value information and supplies a control signal indicating which value is to the weighting factor determination unit 262 and the residual buffer 264.

  The weighting factor determination unit 262 determines the value of the weighting factor w in accordance with this control signal, and supplies the motion prediction / compensation unit 242. The residual buffer 264 reads out either the shifted base layer residual signal or the base layer residual signal as it is in accordance with the control signal, and supplies the read base layer residual signal to the motion prediction / compensation unit 242.

  As described above, when the base layer residual signal does not fit in 8 bits, the base layer residual signal is shifted and accumulated in the residual buffer 264. Thereby, the storage capacity of the residual buffer 164 can be reduced. That is, the image decoding apparatus 200 (enhancement layer image decoding unit 203) can suppress an increase in storage capacity necessary for encoding and decoding.

[Image decoding process flow]
Next, the flow of each process executed by the image decoding apparatus 200 as described above will be described. First, an example of the flow of image decoding processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the image decoding process is started, in step S201, the demultiplexing unit 201 of the image decoding device 200 demultiplexes the layered image encoded stream transmitted from the encoding side for each layer.

  In step S202, the base layer image decoding unit 202 decodes the base layer image encoded stream extracted by the process of step S201. The base layer image decoding unit 202 outputs base layer image data generated by this decoding. Details of this base layer decoding process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In step S203, the enhancement layer image decoding unit 203 decodes the enhancement layer image encoded stream extracted by the process of step S201. The enhancement layer image decoding unit 203 outputs enhancement layer image data generated by the decoding. Details of the enhancement layer decoding process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  When the process of step S203 ends, the image decoding device 200 ends the image decoding process. One picture is processed by such an image decoding process. Therefore, the image decoding apparatus 200 repeatedly executes such an image decoding process for each picture of hierarchized moving image data.

[Flow of base layer decoding process]
Next, an example of the flow of the base layer decoding process executed by the base layer image decoding unit 202 in step S202 of FIG. 23 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the base layer decoding process is started, in step S221, the accumulation buffer 211 accumulates the transmitted bit stream (encoded data). In step S222, the lossless decoding unit 212 decodes the bit stream (encoded data) supplied from the accumulation buffer 211. That is, image data such as an I picture, a P picture, and a B picture encoded by the lossless encoding unit 116 in FIG. 11 is decoded. At this time, various information other than the image data included in the bit stream such as header information is also decoded.

  In step S223, the inverse quantization unit 213 inversely quantizes the quantized coefficient obtained by the process in step S222.

  In step S224, the inverse orthogonal transform unit 214 performs inverse orthogonal transform on the coefficient inversely quantized in step S223.

  In step S225, the intra prediction unit 221 or the motion prediction / compensation unit 222 performs a prediction process to generate a predicted image. That is, the prediction process is performed in the prediction mode that is determined in the lossless decoding unit 212 and applied at the time of encoding. More specifically, for example, when intra prediction is applied at the time of encoding, the intra prediction unit 221 generates a prediction image in the intra prediction mode that is optimized at the time of encoding. For example, when inter prediction is applied at the time of encoding, the motion prediction / compensation unit 222 generates a prediction image in the inter prediction mode that is optimized at the time of encoding.

  In step S226, the calculation unit 215 adds the predicted image generated in step S225 to the difference image obtained by the inverse orthogonal transform in step S224. Thereby, image data of the reconstructed image is obtained.

  In step S227, the deblocking filter 216-1 performs deblocking filter processing on the image data of the reconstructed image obtained by the processing in step S226. Thereby, block distortion and the like are removed. In step S228, the adaptive offset filter 216-2 performs adaptive offset filter processing that mainly removes ringing on the deblocking filter processing result from the deblocking filter 216-1.

  In step S229, the screen rearrangement buffer 217 rearranges each frame of the reconstructed image subjected to the adaptive offset filter processing in step S228. That is, the order of frames rearranged at the time of encoding is rearranged in the original display order.

  In step S230, the D / A conversion unit 218 performs D / A conversion on the image in which the frame order is rearranged in step S229. This image is output to a display (not shown), and the image is displayed.

  In step S231, the frame memory 219 stores data such as a decoded image obtained by the process of step S228 and a reconstructed image obtained by the process of step S227.

  In step S232, the motion prediction / compensation unit 222 supplies the base layer residual signal obtained in the base layer decoding process as described above to the enhancement layer decoding process.

  When the process of step S232 ends, the base layer decoding process ends, and the process returns to FIG.

[Enhancement layer decoding process flow]
Next, an example of the flow of enhancement layer decoding processing executed by the enhancement layer image decoding unit 203 in step S203 of FIG. 23 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the enhancement layer decoding process is started, the upsampling unit 245 of the enhancement layer image decoding unit 203 acquires and upsamples the base layer residual signal obtained in the base layer decoding process in step S251. The upsampling unit 245 supplies the upsampled base layer residual signal to the residual prediction unit 244.

  In step S252, the accumulation buffer 231 accumulates the transmitted bit stream (encoded data). In step S253, the lossless decoding unit 232 decodes the bit stream (encoded data) supplied from the accumulation buffer 231. That is, image data such as an I picture, a P picture, and a B picture encoded by the lossless encoding unit 136 is decoded. At this time, various information other than the image data included in the bit stream such as header information is also decoded. For example, information on weighting factors (weighting factor usage information and weighting factor value information) is also decoded.

  In step S254, the inverse quantization unit 213 inversely quantizes the quantized coefficient obtained by the process in step S253.

  In step S255, the inverse orthogonal transform unit 214 performs inverse orthogonal transform on the coefficient inversely quantized in step S254.

  In step S256, the motion prediction / compensation unit 242 determines whether or not the prediction mode is inter prediction. When it determines with it being inter prediction, a process progresses to step S257.

  In step S257, the motion prediction / compensation unit 242 performs inter prediction processing and generates a prediction image of the current block. Details of the inter prediction process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  If it is determined in step S256 that the prediction is not inter prediction, the process proceeds to step S258. In step S258, the intra prediction unit 241 generates a prediction image in the optimal intra prediction mode that is the intra prediction mode employed at the time of encoding.

  Each process of step S259 thru | or step S264 respond | corresponds to each process of FIG.24 S226 thru | or step S231, and is performed similarly to those processes.

[Inter prediction process flow]
Next, an example of the flow of inter prediction processing executed by the motion prediction / compensation unit 242 and the residual prediction unit 244 in step S257 of FIG. 25 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The example in FIG. 25 is an example in the case where the value of w is determined to be 1 when the residual signal is 8 bits, and is an example of processing corresponding to the example in FIG.

  In step S281, the lossless decoding unit 232 receives motion information, prediction mode information, and the like from the encoding side. In addition, in step S282, the lossless decoding unit 232 receives weight coefficient use information (information on whether the value of the weight coefficient is 0 or non-zero) from the encoding side, for example, in units of CUs.

  In step S283, the motion prediction / compensation unit 242 refers to the weight coefficient use information from the lossless decoding unit 232, and determines whether or not the value of the weight coefficient is zero. If it is determined in step S283 that the value of the weighting factor is not 0, that is, non-zero, the motion prediction / compensation unit 242 sends a control signal to the weighting factor determination unit 262 and the residual buffer 264. The process proceeds to step S284.

  In step S284, the range determination unit 261 determines the range of the residual signal indicating whether the base layer residual signal from the upsampling unit 245 is within 8 bits or larger. This determination process is performed for each CU or PU. The range determination unit 261 supplies range information that is the determination result to the weight coefficient determination unit 262. In addition, the range determination unit 261 supplies base layer residual information and range information to the shift unit 263.

  In step S285, the weight coefficient determination unit 262 determines whether the value of the weight coefficient w is 0.5 based on the range information from the range determination unit 261 based on the control signal from the motion prediction / compensation unit 242. Decide if there is. That is, when the base layer residual information does not fit in 8 bits, the value of the weighting factor w is determined to be 0.5, and when it falls within 8 bits, the value of the weighting factor w is determined to be 1. The weighting factor determination unit 162 supplies weighting factor information that is the value of the determined weighting factor w to the motion prediction / compensation unit 242.

  In step S286, the shift unit 263 shifts the base layer residual signal from the range determining unit 261 according to the range information from the range determining unit 261, and the shifted base layer residual signal is transferred to the residual buffer 264. To supply.

  That is, when the base layer residual information does not fit in 8 bits, the base layer residual signal is shifted and accumulated in the residual buffer 264. When the base layer residual signal is within 8 bits, the base layer residual signal is stored in the residual buffer 264 as it is. The residual buffer 264 accumulates the supplied base layer residual signal, reads it at a predetermined timing under the control signal from the motion prediction / compensation unit 242, and supplies it to the motion prediction / compensation unit 242.

  In step S287, the motion prediction / compensation unit 242 performs prediction using the motion information and prediction mode information received in step S281, the weighting factor from the residual prediction unit 244, and the shifted base layer residual signal. Generate an image.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S283 that the value of the weighting factor is 0, the motion prediction / compensation unit 242 does not output a control signal to the weighting factor determination unit 262 and the residual buffer 264, and performs processing. Skips steps S284 to S286 and proceeds to step S287.

  In this case, in step S287, the motion prediction / compensation unit 242 generates a prediction image using the motion information and prediction mode information received in step S281.

  As described above, when the value of the weighting factor is non-zero and the base layer residual information does not fit in 8 bits, the value of the weighting factor w is determined to be 0.5, and the base layer residual signal is shifted. , 8 bits, and stored in the residual buffer 264. Thereby, an increase in the storage capacity of the residual buffer 264 can be suppressed, and an increase in the storage capacity necessary for encoding / decoding can be suppressed.

[Other examples of inter prediction processing flow]
Furthermore, an example of the flow of inter prediction processing executed by the motion prediction / compensation unit 242 and the residual prediction unit 244 in step S257 of FIG. 25 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Note that the example of FIG. 26 is an example in which either 0.5 or 1 is used as the value of w when the residual signal is 8 bits, and is an example of processing corresponding to FIG. 18 described above. is there.

  In step S291, the lossless decoding unit 232 receives motion information, prediction mode information, and the like from the encoding side. Further, in step S292, the lossless decoding unit 232 receives the weighting factor usage information (information on whether the value of the weighting factor is 0 or non-zero) from the encoding side in units of CUs.

  In step S293, the motion prediction / compensation unit 242 refers to the weighting factor usage information from the lossless decoding unit 232 and determines whether the value of the weighting factor is zero. If it is determined in step S293 that the value of the weighting factor is not 0, that is, non-zero, the motion prediction / compensation unit 242 sends a control signal to the weighting factor determination unit 262 and the residual buffer 264. The process proceeds to step S294.

  In step S294, the range determination unit 261 determines the range of the residual signal indicating whether the base layer residual signal from the upsampling unit 245 is within 8 bits or larger. This determination process is performed for each CU or PU. The range determination unit 261 supplies range information that is the determination result to the weight coefficient determination unit 262. In addition, the range determination unit 261 supplies the base layer residual signal and the range information to the shift unit 263.

  In step S295, the weight coefficient determination unit 262 refers to the range information from the range determination unit 261 under the control signal from the motion prediction / compensation unit 242, and the base layer residual signal is 8 bits or less. It is determined whether or not. If it is determined in step S295 that the number is 8 bits or less, the process proceeds to step S296.

  In step S296, the motion prediction / compensation unit 242 receives weighting factor value information indicating whether the weighting factor is 0.5 or 1 from the lossless decoding unit 232, and receives a control signal indicating which value is the weighting factor. The data is supplied to the determination unit 262 and the residual buffer 264. The weighting factor determination unit 262 determines the value of the weighting factor w in accordance with this control signal, and supplies the motion prediction / compensation unit 242.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that it is not less than 8 bits, the process of step S296 is skipped, and the process proceeds to step S297. At this time, the weighting factor determination unit 262 determines the value of the weighting factor w to be 0.5, and supplies information on the weighting factor that is the determined value of the weighting factor w to the motion prediction / compensation unit 242.

  In step S297, the shift unit 263 shifts the base layer residual signal from the range determination unit 261 according to the range information from the range determination unit 261, and the shifted base layer residual signal is transferred to the residual buffer 264. To supply.

  That is, when the base layer residual information does not fit in 8 bits, the base layer residual signal is shifted and accumulated in the residual buffer 264. When the base layer residual signal is within 8 bits, for example, the base layer residual signal as it is and the shifted base layer residual signal are accumulated in the residual buffer 264. The residual buffer 264 accumulates the supplied base layer residual signal, and a shifted base layer residual signal or an unshifted base layer residual signal according to a control signal from the motion prediction / compensation unit 242. Is supplied to the motion prediction / compensation unit 242.

  In step S298, the motion prediction / compensation unit 242 generates a prediction image using the motion information and prediction mode information received in step S281, the weighting factor, and the shifted base layer residual signal.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S293 that the value of the weighting factor is 0, the motion prediction / compensation unit 242 does not output a control signal to the weighting factor determination unit 262 and the residual buffer 264, and performs processing. Skips steps S294 to S297 and proceeds to step S298.

  In this case, in step S298, the motion prediction / compensation unit 242 generates a prediction image using the motion information and prediction mode information received in step S291.

  As described above, when the value of the weighting factor is non-zero and the base layer residual information does not fit in 8 bits, the value of the weighting factor w is determined to be 0.5, and the base layer residual signal is 8 by shifting. Bits are stored in the residual buffer 264. Thereby, an increase in the storage capacity of the residual buffer 264 can be suppressed, and an increase in the storage capacity necessary for encoding / decoding can be suppressed.

  By executing each process as described above, the image decoding apparatus 200 suppresses an increase in storage capacity of a storage unit used for storing residual signals in the base layer, and suppresses an increase in storage capacity necessary for decoding. can do. Also, it is possible to improve the encoding efficiency of the compressed image information to be output.

  In the above description, it has been described that image data is hierarchized into a plurality of layers by scalable coding, but the number of layers is arbitrary. In the above description, the enhancement layer is described as being processed using the base layer residual signal in encoding / decoding. However, the enhancement layer is not limited to this, and other enhancement layers that have been processed may be processed. The residual signal may be used for processing.

  For example, in the case of the image encoding device 100 in FIG. 10, the motion prediction / compensation unit 145 (FIG. 12) of the enhancement layer image encoding unit 102 has its enhancement layer similar to the motion prediction / compensation unit 125 (FIG. 11). The inter-block residual signal may be supplied to the enhancement layer image encoding unit 102 of another enhancement layer.

  Further, for example, in the case of the image decoding device 200 of FIG. 19, the motion prediction / compensation unit 242 (FIG. 21) of the enhancement layer image decoding unit 203 has its enhancement layer similar to the motion prediction / compensation unit 222 (FIG. 20). The inter-block residual signal may be supplied to the enhancement layer image decoding unit 203 of another enhancement layer.

  The application range of the present technology can be applied to all image encoding devices and image decoding devices based on a scalable encoding / decoding method.

  In addition, the present technology includes, for example, MPEG, H.264, and the like. When receiving image information (bitstream) compressed by orthogonal transformation such as discrete cosine transformation and motion compensation, such as 26x, via network media such as satellite broadcasting, cable television, the Internet, or mobile phones. The present invention can be applied to an image encoding device and an image decoding device used in the above. In addition, the present technology can be applied to an image encoding device and an image decoding device that are used when processing on a storage medium such as an optical, magnetic disk, and flash memory.

<3. Third Embodiment>
[Application to multi-view image coding and multi-view image decoding]
The series of processes described above can be applied to multi-view image encoding / multi-view image decoding. FIG. 28 shows an example of a multi-view image encoding method.

  As shown in FIG. 28, the multi-viewpoint image includes images of a plurality of viewpoints (views). The multiple views of this multi-viewpoint image are encoded using the base view that encodes and decodes using only the image of its own view without using the information of other views, and the information of other views. -It consists of a non-base view that performs decoding. Non-base view encoding / decoding may use base view information or other non-base view information.

  That is, the reference relationship between views in multi-view image encoding / decoding is the same as the reference relationship between layers in hierarchical image encoding / decoding. Therefore, the above-described method may be applied in encoding / decoding of a multi-viewpoint image as shown in FIG. In other words, if the base view (or other non-base view) residual signal used in non-base view encoding / decoding exceeds 8 bits, the residual signal weight coefficient w is set to 0.5 and stored. Also good. By doing in this way, similarly in the case of a multi-viewpoint image, it is possible to suppress an increase in storage capacity necessary for encoding or decoding. Also in the case of this multi-view image encoding, it is only necessary to send the weight coefficient use information whether the weight coefficient w is non-zero or zero, thereby improving the encoding efficiency of the output image compression information be able to.

[Multi-view image encoding device]
FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating a multi-view image encoding apparatus that performs the above-described multi-view image encoding. As illustrated in FIG. 29, the multi-view image encoding device 600 includes an encoding unit 601, an encoding unit 602, and a multiplexing unit 603.

  The encoding unit 601 encodes the base view image and generates a base view image encoded stream. The encoding unit 602 encodes the non-base view image and generates a non-base view image encoded stream. The multiplexing unit 603 multiplexes the base view image encoded stream generated by the encoding unit 601 and the non-base view image encoded stream generated by the encoding unit 602 to generate a multi-view image encoded stream. To do.

  Even if the base layer image encoding unit 101 (FIG. 11) is applied as the encoding unit 601 of the multi-view image encoding apparatus 600, and the enhancement layer image encoding unit 102 (FIG. 12) is applied as the encoding unit 602. Good. That is, when the residual signal of the base view (or other non-base view) used in non-base view encoding exceeds 8 bits, the residual signal weight coefficient w may be set to 0.5 and stored. . By doing so, an increase in storage capacity necessary for encoding can be suppressed. Also in the case of this multi-view image encoding, it is only necessary to send the weight coefficient use information whether the weight coefficient w is non-zero or zero, thereby improving the encoding efficiency of the output image compression information be able to.

[Multi-viewpoint image decoding device]
FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating a multi-view image decoding apparatus that performs the above-described multi-view image decoding. As illustrated in FIG. 30, the multi-view image decoding device 610 includes a demultiplexing unit 611, a decoding unit 612, and a decoding unit 613.

  The demultiplexing unit 611 demultiplexes the multi-view image encoded stream in which the base view image encoded stream and the non-base view image encoded stream are multiplexed, and the base view image encoded stream and the non-base view image The encoded stream is extracted. The decoding unit 612 decodes the base view image encoded stream extracted by the demultiplexing unit 611 to obtain a base view image. The decoding unit 613 decodes the non-base view image encoded stream extracted by the demultiplexing unit 611 to obtain a non-base view image.

  The base layer image decoding unit 202 (FIG. 20) may be applied as the decoding unit 612 of the multi-viewpoint image decoding apparatus 610, and the enhancement layer image decoding unit 203 (FIG. 21) may be applied as the decoding unit 613. That is, when the residual signal of the base view (or other non-base view) used in decoding of the non-base view exceeds 8 bits, the residual signal weight coefficient w may be set to 0.5 and stored. By doing so, an increase in storage capacity necessary for decoding can be suppressed.

<4. Fourth Embodiment>
[Computer]
The series of processes described above can be executed by hardware or can be executed by software. When a series of processing is executed by software, a program constituting the software is installed in the computer. Here, the computer includes, for example, a general-purpose personal computer that can execute various functions by installing a computer incorporated in dedicated hardware and various programs.

  FIG. 31 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of hardware of a computer that executes the above-described series of processing by a program.

  In a computer 800 shown in FIG. 31, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 801, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 802, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 803 are connected to each other via a bus 804.

  An input / output interface 805 is also connected to the bus 804. An input unit 806, an output unit 807, a storage unit 808, a communication unit 809, and a drive 810 are connected to the input / output interface 805.

  The input unit 806 includes, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, a touch panel, an input terminal, and the like. The output unit 807 includes, for example, a display, a speaker, an output terminal, and the like. The storage unit 808 includes, for example, a hard disk, a RAM disk, a nonvolatile memory, and the like. The communication unit 809 includes a network interface, for example. The drive 810 drives a removable medium 811 such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor memory.

  In the computer configured as described above, the CPU 801 loads the program stored in the storage unit 808 to the RAM 803 via the input / output interface 805 and the bus 804 and executes the program, for example. Is performed. The RAM 803 also appropriately stores data necessary for the CPU 801 to execute various processes.

  The program executed by the computer (CPU 801) can be recorded and applied to, for example, a removable medium 811 as a package medium or the like. In that case, the program can be installed in the storage unit 808 via the input / output interface 805 by attaching the removable medium 811 to the drive 810.

  This program can also be provided via a wired or wireless transmission medium such as a local area network, the Internet, or digital satellite broadcasting. In that case, the program can be received by the communication unit 809 via a wired or wireless transmission medium and installed in the storage unit 808.

  In addition, this program can be installed in the ROM 802 or the storage unit 808 in advance.

The program executed by the computer may be a program that is processed in time series in the order described in this specification, or in parallel or at a necessary timing such as when a call is made. It may be a program for processing.

  Further, in the present specification, the step of describing the program recorded on the recording medium is not limited to the processing performed in chronological order according to the described order, but may be performed in parallel or It also includes processes that are executed individually.

  In this specification, the system means a set of a plurality of components (devices, modules (parts), etc.), and it does not matter whether all the components are in the same housing. Accordingly, a plurality of devices housed in separate housings and connected via a network and a single device housing a plurality of modules in one housing are all systems. .

  In addition, in the above description, the configuration described as one device (or processing unit) may be divided and configured as a plurality of devices (or processing units). Conversely, the configurations described above as a plurality of devices (or processing units) may be combined into a single device (or processing unit). Of course, a configuration other than that described above may be added to the configuration of each device (or each processing unit). Furthermore, if the configuration and operation of the entire system are substantially the same, a part of the configuration of a certain device (or processing unit) may be included in the configuration of another device (or other processing unit). .

  The preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the technical scope of the present disclosure is not limited to such examples. It is obvious that a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field of the present disclosure can come up with various changes or modifications within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims. Of course, it is understood that it belongs to the technical scope of the present disclosure.

  For example, the present technology can take a configuration of cloud computing in which one function is shared by a plurality of devices via a network and jointly processed.

  In addition, each step described in the above flowchart can be executed by being shared by a plurality of apparatuses in addition to being executed by one apparatus.

  Furthermore, when a plurality of processes are included in one step, the plurality of processes included in the one step can be executed by being shared by a plurality of apparatuses in addition to being executed by one apparatus.

  The image encoding device and the image decoding device according to the above-described embodiments include, for example, a transmitter or a receiver in cable broadcasting such as satellite broadcasting and cable TV, distribution on the Internet, and distribution to terminals by cellular communication, The present invention can be applied to various electronic devices such as a recording device that records an image on a medium such as an optical disk, a magnetic disk, and a flash memory, or a playback device that reproduces an image from these storage media. Hereinafter, four application examples will be described.

<5. Application example>
[First application example: Television receiver]
FIG. 32 shows an example of a schematic configuration of a television apparatus to which the above-described embodiment is applied. The television apparatus 900 includes an antenna 901, a tuner 902, a demultiplexer 903, a decoder 904, a video signal processing unit 905, a display unit 906, an audio signal processing unit 907, a speaker 908, an external interface (I / F) unit 909, and a control unit. 910, a user interface (I / F) unit 911, and a bus 912.

  The tuner 902 extracts a signal of a desired channel from a broadcast signal received via the antenna 901, and demodulates the extracted signal. Then, the tuner 902 outputs the encoded bit stream obtained by the demodulation to the demultiplexer 903. That is, the tuner 902 has a role as a transmission unit in the television device 900 that receives an encoded stream in which an image is encoded.

  The demultiplexer 903 separates the video stream and audio stream of the viewing target program from the encoded bit stream, and outputs each separated stream to the decoder 904. Also, the demultiplexer 903 extracts auxiliary data such as EPG (Electronic Program Guide) from the encoded bit stream, and supplies the extracted data to the control unit 910. Note that the demultiplexer 903 may perform descrambling when the encoded bit stream is scrambled.

  The decoder 904 decodes the video stream and audio stream input from the demultiplexer 903. Then, the decoder 904 outputs the video data generated by the decoding process to the video signal processing unit 905. In addition, the decoder 904 outputs audio data generated by the decoding process to the audio signal processing unit 907.

  The video signal processing unit 905 reproduces the video data input from the decoder 904 and causes the display unit 906 to display the video. In addition, the video signal processing unit 905 may cause the display unit 906 to display an application screen supplied via a network. Further, the video signal processing unit 905 may perform additional processing such as noise removal on the video data according to the setting. Further, the video signal processing unit 905 may generate a GUI (Graphical User Interface) image such as a menu, a button, or a cursor, and superimpose the generated image on the output image.

  The display unit 906 is driven by a drive signal supplied from the video signal processing unit 905, and displays a video on a video screen of a display device (for example, a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, or an OELD (Organic ElectroLuminescence Display) (organic EL display)). Or an image is displayed.

  The audio signal processing unit 907 performs reproduction processing such as D / A conversion and amplification on the audio data input from the decoder 904 and outputs audio from the speaker 908. The audio signal processing unit 907 may perform additional processing such as noise removal on the audio data.

  The external interface unit 909 is an interface for connecting the television apparatus 900 to an external device or a network. For example, a video stream or an audio stream received via the external interface unit 909 may be decoded by the decoder 904. That is, the external interface unit 909 also has a role as a transmission unit in the television apparatus 900 that receives an encoded stream in which an image is encoded.

  The control unit 910 includes a processor such as a CPU and memories such as a RAM and a ROM. The memory stores a program executed by the CPU, program data, EPG data, data acquired via a network, and the like. For example, the program stored in the memory is read and executed by the CPU when the television apparatus 900 is activated. For example, the CPU controls the operation of the television device 900 according to an operation signal input from the user interface unit 911 by executing the program.

  The user interface unit 911 is connected to the control unit 910. The user interface unit 911 includes, for example, buttons and switches for the user to operate the television device 900, a remote control signal receiving unit, and the like. The user interface unit 911 detects an operation by the user via these components, generates an operation signal, and outputs the generated operation signal to the control unit 910.

  The bus 912 connects the tuner 902, the demultiplexer 903, the decoder 904, the video signal processing unit 905, the audio signal processing unit 907, the external interface unit 909, and the control unit 910 to each other.

  In the television device 900 configured as described above, the decoder 904 has the function of the image decoding device 200 (FIG. 19) according to the above-described embodiment. Thereby, an increase in storage capacity necessary for decoding the image in the television device 900 can be suppressed.

[Second application example: mobile phone]
FIG. 33 shows an example of a schematic configuration of a mobile phone to which the above-described embodiment is applied. A cellular phone 920 includes an antenna 921, a communication unit 922, an audio codec 923, a speaker 924, a microphone 925, a camera unit 926, an image processing unit 927, a demultiplexing unit 928, a recording / reproducing unit 929, a display unit 930, a control unit 931, an operation A portion 932 and a bus 933.

  The antenna 921 is connected to the communication unit 922. The speaker 924 and the microphone 925 are connected to the audio codec 923. The operation unit 932 is connected to the control unit 931. The bus 933 connects the communication unit 922, the audio codec 923, the camera unit 926, the image processing unit 927, the demultiplexing unit 928, the recording / reproducing unit 929, the display unit 930, and the control unit 931 to each other.

  The mobile phone 920 has various operation modes including a voice call mode, a data communication mode, a shooting mode, and a videophone mode, and is used for sending and receiving voice signals, sending and receiving e-mail or image data, taking images, and recording data. Perform the action.

  In the voice call mode, an analog voice signal generated by the microphone 925 is supplied to the voice codec 923. The audio codec 923 converts an analog audio signal into audio data, A / D converts the compressed audio data, and compresses it. Then, the audio codec 923 outputs the compressed audio data to the communication unit 922. The communication unit 922 encodes and modulates the audio data and generates a transmission signal. Then, the communication unit 922 transmits the generated transmission signal to a base station (not shown) via the antenna 921. In addition, the communication unit 922 amplifies a radio signal received via the antenna 921 and performs frequency conversion to acquire a received signal. Then, the communication unit 922 demodulates and decodes the received signal to generate audio data, and outputs the generated audio data to the audio codec 923. The audio codec 923 decompresses the audio data and performs D / A conversion to generate an analog audio signal. Then, the audio codec 923 supplies the generated audio signal to the speaker 924 to output audio.

  Further, in the data communication mode, for example, the control unit 931 generates character data that constitutes an e-mail in response to an operation by the user via the operation unit 932. In addition, the control unit 931 causes the display unit 930 to display characters. In addition, the control unit 931 generates e-mail data in response to a transmission instruction from the user via the operation unit 932, and outputs the generated e-mail data to the communication unit 922. The communication unit 922 encodes and modulates email data and generates a transmission signal. Then, the communication unit 922 transmits the generated transmission signal to a base station (not shown) via the antenna 921. In addition, the communication unit 922 amplifies a radio signal received via the antenna 921 and performs frequency conversion to acquire a received signal. Then, the communication unit 922 demodulates and decodes the received signal to restore the email data, and outputs the restored email data to the control unit 931. The control unit 931 displays the content of the electronic mail on the display unit 930 and stores the electronic mail data in the storage medium of the recording / reproducing unit 929.

  The recording / reproducing unit 929 has an arbitrary readable / writable storage medium. For example, the storage medium may be a built-in storage medium such as RAM or flash memory, and is externally mounted such as a hard disk, magnetic disk, magneto-optical disk, optical disk, USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, or memory card. It may be a storage medium.

  In the shooting mode, for example, the camera unit 926 captures an image of a subject, generates image data, and outputs the generated image data to the image processing unit 927. The image processing unit 927 encodes the image data input from the camera unit 926 and stores the encoded stream in the storage medium of the recording / playback unit 929.

  Further, in the videophone mode, for example, the demultiplexing unit 928 multiplexes the video stream encoded by the image processing unit 927 and the audio stream input from the audio codec 923, and the multiplexed stream is the communication unit 922. Output to. The communication unit 922 encodes and modulates the stream and generates a transmission signal. Then, the communication unit 922 transmits the generated transmission signal to a base station (not shown) via the antenna 921. In addition, the communication unit 922 amplifies a radio signal received via the antenna 921 and performs frequency conversion to acquire a received signal. These transmission signal and reception signal may include an encoded bit stream. Then, the communication unit 922 demodulates and decodes the received signal to restore the stream, and outputs the restored stream to the demultiplexing unit 928. The demultiplexing unit 928 separates the video stream and the audio stream from the input stream, and outputs the video stream to the image processing unit 927 and the audio stream to the audio codec 923. The image processing unit 927 decodes the video stream and generates video data. The video data is supplied to the display unit 930, and a series of images is displayed on the display unit 930. The audio codec 923 decompresses the audio stream and performs D / A conversion to generate an analog audio signal. Then, the audio codec 923 supplies the generated audio signal to the speaker 924 to output audio.

  In the mobile phone 920 configured as described above, the image processing unit 927 has the functions of the image encoding device 100 (FIG. 10) and the image decoding device 200 (FIG. 19) according to the above-described embodiment. Accordingly, an increase in storage capacity necessary for image encoding and decoding in the mobile phone 920 can be suppressed. Also, it is possible to improve the encoding efficiency of the compressed image information to be output.

[Third application example: recording / reproducing apparatus]
FIG. 34 shows an example of a schematic configuration of a recording / reproducing apparatus to which the above-described embodiment is applied. For example, the recording / reproducing device 940 encodes audio data and video data of a received broadcast program and records the encoded data on a recording medium. In addition, the recording / reproducing device 940 may encode audio data and video data acquired from another device and record them on a recording medium, for example. In addition, the recording / reproducing device 940 reproduces data recorded on the recording medium on a monitor and a speaker, for example, in accordance with a user instruction. At this time, the recording / reproducing device 940 decodes the audio data and the video data.

  The recording / reproducing apparatus 940 includes a tuner 941, an external interface (I / F) unit 942, an encoder 943, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 944, a disk drive 945, a selector 946, a decoder 947, an OSD (On-Screen Display) 948, and a control. Part 949 and a user interface (I / F) part 950.

  The tuner 941 extracts a signal of a desired channel from a broadcast signal received via an antenna (not shown), and demodulates the extracted signal. Then, the tuner 941 outputs the encoded bit stream obtained by the demodulation to the selector 946. That is, the tuner 941 serves as a transmission unit in the recording / reproducing apparatus 940.

  The external interface unit 942 is an interface for connecting the recording / reproducing apparatus 940 to an external device or a network. The external interface unit 942 may be, for example, an IEEE1394 interface, a network interface, a USB interface, or a flash memory interface. For example, video data and audio data received via the external interface unit 942 are input to the encoder 943. That is, the external interface unit 942 has a role as a transmission unit in the recording / reproducing apparatus 940.

The encoder 943 encodes the video data and the audio data when the video data and the audio data input from the external interface unit 942 are not encoded. Then, the encoder 943 outputs the encoded bit stream to the selector 946.

  The HDD 944 records an encoded bit stream in which content data such as video and audio is compressed, various programs, and other data on an internal hard disk. Further, the HDD 944 reads out these data from the hard disk when reproducing video and audio.

  The disk drive 945 performs recording and reading of data with respect to the mounted recording medium. The recording medium mounted on the disk drive 945 is, for example, a DVD disk (DVD-Video, DVD-RAM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD + R, DVD + RW, etc.) or a Blu-ray (registered trademark) disk. It may be.

  The selector 946 selects an encoded bit stream input from the tuner 941 or the encoder 943 when recording video and audio, and outputs the selected encoded bit stream to the HDD 944 or the disk drive 945. In addition, the selector 946 outputs the encoded bit stream input from the HDD 944 or the disk drive 945 to the decoder 947 during video and audio reproduction.

  The decoder 947 decodes the encoded bit stream and generates video data and audio data. Then, the decoder 947 outputs the generated video data to the OSD 948. The decoder 947 outputs the generated audio data to an external speaker.

  The OSD 948 reproduces the video data input from the decoder 947 and displays the video. Further, the OSD 948 may superimpose a GUI image such as a menu, a button, or a cursor on the video to be displayed.

  The control unit 949 includes a processor such as a CPU, and memories such as a RAM and a ROM. The memory stores a program executed by the CPU, program data, and the like. The program stored in the memory is read and executed by the CPU when the recording / reproducing apparatus 940 is activated, for example. The CPU executes the program to control the operation of the recording / reproducing device 940 in accordance with, for example, an operation signal input from the user interface unit 950.

  The user interface unit 950 is connected to the control unit 949. The user interface unit 950 includes, for example, buttons and switches for the user to operate the recording / reproducing device 940, a remote control signal receiving unit, and the like. The user interface unit 950 detects an operation by the user via these components, generates an operation signal, and outputs the generated operation signal to the control unit 949.

  In the recording / reproducing apparatus 940 configured as described above, the encoder 943 has the function of the image encoding apparatus 100 (FIG. 10) according to the above-described embodiment. The decoder 947 has the function of the image decoding device 200 (FIG. 19) according to the above-described embodiment. Thereby, it is possible to suppress an increase in storage capacity necessary for image encoding and decoding in the recording / reproducing device 940. Also, it is possible to improve the encoding efficiency of the compressed image information to be output.

[Fourth Application Example: Imaging Device]
FIG. 35 illustrates an example of a schematic configuration of an imaging apparatus to which the above-described embodiment is applied. The imaging device 960 images a subject to generate an image, encodes the image data, and records it on a recording medium.

  The imaging device 960 includes an optical block 961, an imaging unit 962, a signal processing unit 963, an image processing unit 964, a display unit 965, an external interface (I / F) unit 966, a memory 967, a media drive 968, an OSD 969, a control unit 970, A user interface (I / F) unit 971 and a bus 972 are provided.

  The optical block 961 is connected to the imaging unit 962. The imaging unit 962 is connected to the signal processing unit 963. The display unit 965 is connected to the image processing unit 964. The user interface unit 971 is connected to the control unit 970. The bus 972 connects the image processing unit 964, the external interface unit 966, the memory 967, the media drive 968, the OSD 969, and the control unit 970 to each other.

  The optical block 961 includes a focus lens and a diaphragm mechanism. The optical block 961 forms an optical image of the subject on the imaging surface of the imaging unit 962. The imaging unit 962 includes an image sensor such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor), and converts an optical image formed on the imaging surface into an image signal as an electrical signal by photoelectric conversion. Then, the imaging unit 962 outputs the image signal to the signal processing unit 963.

  The signal processing unit 963 performs various camera signal processes such as knee correction, gamma correction, and color correction on the image signal input from the imaging unit 962. The signal processing unit 963 outputs the image data after the camera signal processing to the image processing unit 964.

  The image processing unit 964 encodes the image data input from the signal processing unit 963, and generates encoded data. Then, the image processing unit 964 outputs the generated encoded data to the external interface unit 966 or the media drive 968. In addition, the image processing unit 964 decodes encoded data input from the external interface unit 966 or the media drive 968 to generate image data. Then, the image processing unit 964 outputs the generated image data to the display unit 965. In addition, the image processing unit 964 may display the image by outputting the image data input from the signal processing unit 963 to the display unit 965. Further, the image processing unit 964 may superimpose display data acquired from the OSD 969 on an image output to the display unit 965.

  The OSD 969 generates a GUI image such as a menu, a button, or a cursor, for example, and outputs the generated image to the image processing unit 964.

  The external interface unit 966 is configured as a USB input / output terminal, for example. The external interface unit 966 connects the imaging device 960 and a printer, for example, when printing an image. Further, a drive is connected to the external interface unit 966 as necessary. For example, a removable medium such as a magnetic disk or an optical disk is attached to the drive, and a program read from the removable medium can be installed in the imaging device 960. Furthermore, the external interface unit 966 may be configured as a network interface connected to a network such as a LAN or the Internet. That is, the external interface unit 966 has a role as a transmission unit in the imaging device 960.

  The recording medium mounted on the media drive 968 may be any readable / writable removable medium such as a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, an optical disk, or a semiconductor memory. Further, a recording medium may be fixedly attached to the media drive 968, and a non-portable storage unit such as a built-in hard disk drive or an SSD (Solid State Drive) may be configured.

  The control unit 970 includes a processor such as a CPU and memories such as a RAM and a ROM. The memory stores a program executed by the CPU, program data, and the like. The program stored in the memory is read and executed by the CPU when the imaging device 960 is activated, for example. For example, the CPU controls the operation of the imaging device 960 according to an operation signal input from the user interface unit 971 by executing the program.

  The user interface unit 971 is connected to the control unit 970. The user interface unit 971 includes, for example, buttons and switches for the user to operate the imaging device 960. The user interface unit 971 detects an operation by the user via these components, generates an operation signal, and outputs the generated operation signal to the control unit 970.

  In the imaging device 960 configured as described above, the image processing unit 964 has the functions of the image encoding device 100 (FIG. 10) and the image decoding device 200 (FIG. 19) according to the above-described embodiment. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress an increase in storage capacity necessary for image encoding and decoding in the imaging device 960. Also, it is possible to improve the encoding efficiency of the compressed image information to be output.

<6. Application example of scalable coding>
[First system]
Next, a specific usage example of scalable encoded data that has been subjected to scalable encoding (hierarchical (image) encoding) will be described. Scalable encoding is used for selection of data to be transmitted, for example, as in the example shown in FIG.

  In the data transmission system 1000 shown in FIG. 36, the distribution server 1002 reads the scalable encoded data stored in the scalable encoded data storage unit 1001, and via the network 1003, the personal computer 1004, the AV device 1005, the tablet This is distributed to the terminal device such as the device 1006 and the mobile phone 1007.

  At that time, the distribution server 1002 selects and transmits encoded data of appropriate quality according to the capability of the terminal device, the communication environment, and the like. Even if the distribution server 1002 transmits high-quality data unnecessarily, a high-quality image is not always obtained in the terminal device, which may cause a delay or an overflow. Moreover, there is a possibility that the communication band is unnecessarily occupied or the load on the terminal device is unnecessarily increased. On the other hand, even if the distribution server 1002 transmits unnecessarily low quality data, there is a possibility that an image with sufficient image quality cannot be obtained in the terminal device. Therefore, the distribution server 1002 appropriately reads and transmits the scalable encoded data stored in the scalable encoded data storage unit 1001 as encoded data having an appropriate quality with respect to the capability and communication environment of the terminal device. .

  For example, it is assumed that the scalable encoded data storage unit 1001 stores scalable encoded data (BL + EL) 1011 that is encoded in a scalable manner. The scalable encoded data (BL + EL) 1011 is encoded data including both a base layer and an enhancement layer, and is a data that can be decoded to obtain both a base layer image and an enhancement layer image. It is.

  The distribution server 1002 selects an appropriate layer according to the capability of the terminal device that transmits data, the communication environment, and the like, and reads the data of that layer. For example, the distribution server 1002 reads high-quality scalable encoded data (BL + EL) 1011 from the scalable encoded data storage unit 1001 and transmits it to the personal computer 1004 and the tablet device 1006 with high processing capability as they are. . On the other hand, for example, the distribution server 1002 extracts base layer data from the scalable encoded data (BL + EL) 1011 for the AV device 1005 and the cellular phone 1007 having a low processing capability, and performs scalable encoding. Although it is data of the same content as the data (BL + EL) 1011, it is transmitted as scalable encoded data (BL) 1012 having a lower quality than the scalable encoded data (BL + EL) 1011.

  By using scalable encoded data in this way, the amount of data can be easily adjusted, so that the occurrence of delays and overflows can be suppressed, and unnecessary increases in the load on terminal devices and communication media can be suppressed. be able to. In addition, since scalable encoded data (BL + EL) 1011 has reduced redundancy between layers, the amount of data can be reduced as compared with the case where encoded data of each layer is used as individual data. . Therefore, the storage area of the scalable encoded data storage unit 1001 can be used more efficiently.

  Note that since various devices can be applied to the terminal device, such as the personal computer 1004 to the cellular phone 1007, the hardware performance of the terminal device varies depending on the device. Moreover, since the application which a terminal device performs is also various, the capability of the software is also various. Furthermore, the network 1003 serving as a communication medium can be applied to any communication network including wired or wireless, or both, such as the Internet and a LAN (Local Area Network), for example, and has various data transmission capabilities. Furthermore, there is a risk of change due to other communications.

  Therefore, the distribution server 1002 communicates with the terminal device that is the data transmission destination before starting data transmission, and the hardware performance of the terminal device, the performance of the application (software) executed by the terminal device, etc. Information regarding the capability of the terminal device and information regarding the communication environment such as the available bandwidth of the network 1003 may be obtained. The distribution server 1002 may select an appropriate layer based on the information obtained here.

  Note that the layer extraction may be performed by the terminal device. For example, the personal computer 1004 may decode the transmitted scalable encoded data (BL + EL) 1011 and display a base layer image or an enhancement layer image. Further, for example, the personal computer 1004 extracts the base layer scalable encoded data (BL) 1012 from the transmitted scalable encoded data (BL + EL) 1011 and stores it or transfers it to another device. The base layer image may be displayed after decoding.

  Of course, the numbers of the scalable encoded data storage unit 1001, the distribution server 1002, the network 1003, and the terminal devices are arbitrary. In the above, the example in which the distribution server 1002 transmits data to the terminal device has been described, but the usage example is not limited to this. The data transmission system 1000 may be any system as long as it transmits a scalable encoded data to a terminal device by selecting an appropriate layer according to the capability of the terminal device or a communication environment. Can be applied to the system.

  Also in the data transmission system 1000 as shown in FIG. 36, by applying the present technology in the same manner as the application to the hierarchical encoding / decoding described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 27, FIG. The effect similar to the effect mentioned above with reference to can be acquired.

[Second system]
Also, scalable coding is used for transmission via a plurality of communication media, for example, as in the example shown in FIG.

  In the data transmission system 1100 shown in FIG. 37, a broadcasting station 1101 transmits base layer scalable encoded data (BL) 1121 by terrestrial broadcasting 1111. Also, the broadcast station 1101 transmits enhancement layer scalable encoded data (EL) 1122 via an arbitrary network 1112 including a wired or wireless communication network or both (for example, packetized transmission).

  The terminal device 1102 has a reception function of the terrestrial broadcast 1111 broadcasted by the broadcast station 1101, and receives base layer scalable encoded data (BL) 1121 transmitted via the terrestrial broadcast 1111. The terminal apparatus 1102 further has a communication function for performing communication via the network 1112, and receives enhancement layer scalable encoded data (EL) 1122 transmitted via the network 1112.

  The terminal device 1102 decodes the base layer scalable encoded data (BL) 1121 acquired via the terrestrial broadcast 1111 according to, for example, a user instruction, and obtains or stores a base layer image. Or transmit to other devices.

  Also, the terminal device 1102, for example, in response to a user instruction, the base layer scalable encoded data (BL) 1121 acquired via the terrestrial broadcast 1111 and the enhancement layer scalable encoded acquired via the network 1112 Data (EL) 1122 is combined to obtain scalable encoded data (BL + EL), or decoded to obtain an enhancement layer image, stored, or transmitted to another device.

  As described above, scalable encoded data can be transmitted via a different communication medium for each layer, for example. Therefore, the load can be distributed, and the occurrence of delay and overflow can be suppressed.

  Moreover, you may enable it to select the communication medium used for transmission for every layer according to a condition. For example, scalable encoded data (BL) 1121 of a base layer having a relatively large amount of data is transmitted via a communication medium having a wide bandwidth, and scalable encoded data (EL) 1122 having a relatively small amount of data is transmitted. You may make it transmit via a communication medium with a narrow bandwidth. Further, for example, the communication medium for transmitting the enhancement layer scalable encoded data (EL) 1122 is switched between the network 1112 and the terrestrial broadcast 1111 according to the available bandwidth of the network 1112. May be. Of course, the same applies to data of an arbitrary layer.

  By controlling in this way, an increase in load in data transmission can be further suppressed.

  Of course, the number of layers is arbitrary, and the number of communication media used for transmission is also arbitrary. In addition, the number of terminal devices 1102 serving as data distribution destinations is also arbitrary. Furthermore, in the above description, broadcasting from the broadcasting station 1101 has been described as an example, but the usage example is not limited to this. The data transmission system 1100 can be applied to any system as long as it is a system that divides scalable encoded data into a plurality of layers and transmits them through a plurality of lines.

  In the data transmission system 1100 as shown in FIG. 37 as described above, the present technology is applied in the same manner as the application to the hierarchical encoding / decoding described above with reference to FIGS. Effects similar to those described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 27 can be obtained.

[Third system]
Further, scalable encoding is used for storing encoded data as in the example shown in FIG. 38, for example.

  In the imaging system 1200 illustrated in FIG. 38, the imaging device 1201 performs scalable coding on image data obtained by imaging the subject 1211, and as scalable coded data (BL + EL) 1221, a scalable coded data storage device 1202. To supply.

  The scalable encoded data storage device 1202 stores the scalable encoded data (BL + EL) 1221 supplied from the imaging device 1201 with quality according to the situation. For example, in the normal case, the scalable encoded data storage device 1202 extracts base layer data from the scalable encoded data (BL + EL) 1221, and the base layer scalable encoded data ( BL) 1222. On the other hand, for example, in the case of attention, the scalable encoded data storage device 1202 stores scalable encoded data (BL + EL) 1221 with high quality and a large amount of data.

  By doing so, the scalable encoded data storage device 1202 can store an image with high image quality only when necessary, so that an increase in the amount of data can be achieved while suppressing a reduction in the value of the image due to image quality degradation. And the use efficiency of the storage area can be improved.

  For example, it is assumed that the imaging device 1201 is a surveillance camera. When the monitoring target (for example, an intruder) is not captured in the captured image (in the normal case), the content of the captured image is likely to be unimportant. Data) is stored in low quality. On the other hand, when the monitoring target appears in the captured image as the subject 1211 (at the time of attention), since the content of the captured image is likely to be important, the image quality is given priority and the image data (scalable) (Encoded data) is stored with high quality.

  Note that whether it is normal time or attention time may be determined, for example, by the scalable encoded data storage device 1202 analyzing an image. Alternatively, the imaging apparatus 1201 may make a determination, and the determination result may be transmitted to the scalable encoded data storage device 1202.

  Note that the criterion for determining whether the time is normal or the time of attention is arbitrary, and the content of the image as the criterion is arbitrary. Of course, conditions other than the contents of the image can also be used as the criterion. For example, it may be switched according to the volume or waveform of the recorded sound, may be switched at every predetermined time, or may be switched by an external instruction such as a user instruction.

  In the above, an example of switching between the normal state and the attention state has been described. However, the number of states is arbitrary, for example, normal, slightly attention, attention, very attention, etc. Alternatively, three or more states may be switched. However, the upper limit number of states to be switched depends on the number of layers of scalable encoded data.

  In addition, the imaging apparatus 1201 may determine the number of scalable coding layers according to the state. For example, in a normal case, the imaging apparatus 1201 may generate base layer scalable encoded data (BL) 1222 with low quality and a small amount of data, and supply the scalable encoded data storage apparatus 1202 to the scalable encoded data storage apparatus 1202. For example, when attention is paid, the imaging device 1201 generates scalable encoded data (BL + EL) 1221 having a high quality and a large amount of data, and supplies the scalable encoded data storage device 1202 to the scalable encoded data storage device 1202. May be.

  In the above, the monitoring camera has been described as an example, but the use of the imaging system 1200 is arbitrary and is not limited to the monitoring camera.

38 is applied to the imaging system 1200 as shown in FIG. 38 in the same manner as the application to the hierarchical encoding / decoding described above with reference to FIGS. The effect similar to the effect mentioned above with reference can be acquired.
<10. Seventh Embodiment>
[Other examples of implementation]
In the above, examples of apparatuses and systems to which the present technology is applied have been described. Integration) etc., a module using a plurality of processors, etc., a unit using a plurality of modules, etc., a set in which other functions are added to the unit, etc. (that is, a partial configuration of the apparatus) .

[Video set]
An example of implementing the present technology as a set will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 39 illustrates an example of a schematic configuration of a video set to which the present technology is applied.

  In recent years, multi-functionalization of electronic devices has progressed, and in the development and manufacture, when implementing a part of the configuration as sales or provision, etc., not only when implementing as a configuration having one function, but also related In many cases, a plurality of configurations having functions are combined and implemented as a set having a plurality of functions.

  The video set 1300 shown in FIG. 39 has such a multi-functional configuration, and a device having a function relating to image encoding and decoding (either or both of them) can be used for the function. It is a combination of devices having other related functions.

  As shown in FIG. 39, the video set 1300 includes a module group such as a video module 1311, an external memory 1312, a power management module 1313, and a front-end module 1314, and an associated module 1321, a camera 1322, a sensor 1323, and the like. And a device having a function.

  A module is a component having a coherent function by combining several component functions related to each other. The specific physical configuration is arbitrary. For example, a plurality of processors each having a function, electronic circuit elements such as resistors and capacitors, and other devices arranged on a wiring board or the like can be considered. . It is also possible to combine the module with another module, a processor, etc. to make a new module.

  In the case of the example in FIG. 39, the video module 1311 is a combination of configurations having functions related to image processing, and includes an application processor, a video processor, a broadband modem 1333, and an RF module 1334.

  The processor is a configuration in which a configuration having a predetermined function is integrated on a semiconductor chip by an SoC (System On a Chip). For example, there is a processor called a system LSI (Large Scale Integration). The configuration having the predetermined function may be a logic circuit (hardware configuration), a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and a program (software configuration) executed using them. , Or a combination of both. For example, a processor has a logic circuit and a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc., a part of the function is realized by a logic circuit (hardware configuration), and other functions are executed by the CPU (software configuration) It may be realized by.

  An application processor 1331 in FIG. 39 is a processor that executes an application relating to image processing. The application executed in the application processor 1331 not only performs arithmetic processing to realize a predetermined function, but also can control the internal and external configurations of the video module 1311 such as the video processor 1332 as necessary. .

  The video processor 1332 is a processor having a function relating to image encoding / decoding (one or both of them).

  The broadband modem 1333 is a processor (or module) that performs processing related to wired or wireless (or both) broadband communication performed via a broadband line such as the Internet or a public telephone line network. For example, the broadband modem 1333 digitally modulates data to be transmitted (digital signal) to convert it into an analog signal, or demodulates the received analog signal to convert it into data (digital signal). For example, the broadband modem 1333 can digitally modulate and demodulate arbitrary information such as image data processed by the video processor 1332, a stream obtained by encoding the image data, an application program, setting data, and the like.

  The RF module 1334 is a module that performs frequency conversion, modulation / demodulation, amplification, filter processing, and the like on an RF (Radio Frequency) signal transmitted and received via an antenna. For example, the RF module 1334 generates an RF signal by performing frequency conversion or the like on the baseband signal generated by the broadband modem 1333. Further, for example, the RF module 1334 generates a baseband signal by performing frequency conversion or the like on the RF signal received via the front end module 1314.

  Note that, as indicated by a dotted line 1341 in FIG. 39, the application processor 1331 and the video processor 1332 may be integrated into a single processor.

  The external memory 1312 is a module having a storage device that is provided outside the video module 1311 and is used by the video module 1311. The storage device of the external memory 1312 may be realized by any physical configuration, but is generally used for storing a large amount of data such as image data in units of frames. For example, it is desirable to realize it by a relatively inexpensive and large-capacity semiconductor memory such as a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory).

  The power management module 1313 manages and controls power supply to the video module 1311 (each component in the video module 1311).

  The front-end module 1314 is a module that provides the RF module 1334 with a front-end function (a circuit on a transmitting / receiving end on the antenna side). As illustrated in FIG. 39, the front end module 1314 includes, for example, an antenna unit 1351, a filter 1352, and an amplification unit 1353.

  The antenna unit 1351 has an antenna that transmits and receives radio signals and a peripheral configuration thereof. The antenna unit 1351 transmits the signal supplied from the amplification unit 1353 as a radio signal, and supplies the received radio signal to the filter 1352 as an electric signal (RF signal). The filter 1352 performs a filtering process on the RF signal received via the antenna unit 1351 and supplies the processed RF signal to the RF module 1334. The amplifying unit 1353 amplifies the RF signal supplied from the RF module 1334 and supplies the amplified RF signal to the antenna unit 1351.

  The connectivity 1321 is a module having a function related to connection with the outside. The physical configuration of the connectivity 1321 is arbitrary. For example, the connectivity 1321 has a configuration having a communication function other than the communication standard supported by the broadband modem 1333, an external input / output terminal, and the like.

  For example, the connectivity 1321 is compliant with wireless communication standards such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), IEEE 802.11 (for example, Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity, registered trademark)), NFC (Near Field Communication), IrDA (InfraRed Data Association), etc. You may make it have a module which has a function, an antenna etc. which transmit / receive the signal based on the standard. Further, for example, the connectivity 1321 has a module having a communication function conforming to a wired communication standard such as USB (Universal Serial Bus), HDMI (registered trademark) (High-Definition Multimedia Interface), or a terminal conforming to the standard. You may do it. Further, for example, the connectivity 1321 may have other data (signal) transmission functions such as analog input / output terminals.

  The connectivity 1321 may include a data (signal) transmission destination device. For example, the drive 1321 reads / writes data to / from a recording medium such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor memory (not only a removable medium drive, but also a hard disk, SSD (Solid State Drive) And NAS (Network Attached Storage) etc.). In addition, the connectivity 1321 may include an image or audio output device (a monitor, a speaker, or the like).

  The camera 1322 is a module having a function of capturing a subject and obtaining image data of the subject. Image data obtained by imaging by the camera 1322 is supplied to, for example, a video processor 1332 and encoded.

  The sensor 1323 includes, for example, a voice sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, an optical sensor, an illuminance sensor, an infrared sensor, an image sensor, a rotation sensor, an angle sensor, an angular velocity sensor, a velocity sensor, an acceleration sensor, an inclination sensor, a magnetic identification sensor, an impact sensor, It is a module having an arbitrary sensor function such as a temperature sensor. For example, the data detected by the sensor 1323 is supplied to the application processor 1331 and used by an application or the like.

  The configuration described as a module in the above may be realized as a processor, or conversely, the configuration described as a processor may be realized as a module.

  In the video set 1300 having the above configuration, the present technology can be applied to the video processor 1332 as described later. Therefore, the video set 1300 can be implemented as a set to which the present technology is applied.

[Video processor configuration example]
FIG. 40 illustrates an example of a schematic configuration of a video processor 1332 (FIG. 39) to which the present technology is applied.

  In the case of the example of FIG. 40, the video processor 1332 receives the video signal and the audio signal, encodes them in a predetermined method, decodes the encoded video data and audio data, A function of reproducing and outputting an audio signal.

  As shown in FIG. 40, the video processor 1332 includes a video input processing unit 1401, a first image enlargement / reduction unit 1402, a second image enlargement / reduction unit 1403, a video output processing unit 1404, a frame memory 1405, and a memory control unit 1406. Have The video processor 1332 includes an encoding / decoding engine 1407, video ES (Elementary Stream) buffers 1408A and 1408B, and audio ES buffers 1409A and 1409B. Further, the video processor 1332 includes an audio encoder 1410, an audio decoder 1411, a multiplexing unit (MUX (Multiplexer)) 1412, a demultiplexing unit (DMUX (Demultiplexer)) 1413, and a stream buffer 1414.

  The video input processing unit 1401 acquires a video signal input from, for example, the connectivity 1321 (FIG. 39) and converts it into digital image data. The first image enlargement / reduction unit 1402 performs format conversion, image enlargement / reduction processing, and the like on the image data. The second image enlargement / reduction unit 1403 performs image enlargement / reduction processing on the image data in accordance with the format of the output destination via the video output processing unit 1404, or is the same as the first image enlargement / reduction unit 1402. Format conversion and image enlargement / reduction processing. The video output processing unit 1404 performs format conversion, conversion to an analog signal, and the like on the image data and outputs the reproduced video signal to, for example, the connectivity 1321 (FIG. 39).

  The frame memory 1405 is a memory for image data shared by the video input processing unit 1401, the first image scaling unit 1402, the second image scaling unit 1403, the video output processing unit 1404, and the encoding / decoding engine 1407. . The frame memory 1405 is realized as a semiconductor memory such as a DRAM, for example.

  The memory control unit 1406 receives the synchronization signal from the encoding / decoding engine 1407, and controls the writing / reading access to the frame memory 1405 according to the access schedule to the frame memory 1405 written in the access management table 1406A. The access management table 1406A is updated by the memory control unit 1406 in accordance with processing executed by the encoding / decoding engine 1407, the first image enlargement / reduction unit 1402, the second image enlargement / reduction unit 1403, and the like.

  The encoding / decoding engine 1407 performs encoding processing of image data and decoding processing of a video stream which is data obtained by encoding the image data. For example, the encoding / decoding engine 1407 encodes the image data read from the frame memory 1405 and sequentially writes the data as a video stream in the video ES buffer 1408A. Further, for example, the video stream is sequentially read from the video ES buffer 1408B, decoded, and sequentially written in the frame memory 1405 as image data. The encoding / decoding engine 1407 uses the frame memory 1405 as a work area in the encoding and decoding. Also, the encoding / decoding engine 1407 outputs a synchronization signal to the memory control unit 1406, for example, at a timing at which processing for each macroblock is started.

  The video ES buffer 1408A buffers the video stream generated by the encoding / decoding engine 1407 and supplies the buffered video stream to the multiplexing unit (MUX) 1412. The video ES buffer 1408B buffers the video stream supplied from the demultiplexer (DMUX) 1413 and supplies the buffered video stream to the encoding / decoding engine 1407.

  The audio ES buffer 1409A buffers the audio stream generated by the audio encoder 1410 and supplies it to the multiplexing unit (MUX) 1412. The audio ES buffer 1409B buffers the audio stream supplied from the demultiplexer (DMUX) 1413 and supplies the buffered audio stream to the audio decoder 1411.

  The audio encoder 1410 converts, for example, an audio signal input from the connectivity 1321 (FIG. 39), for example, into a digital format, and encodes the audio signal according to a predetermined format such as an MPEG audio format or an AC3 (Audio Code number 3) format. The audio encoder 1410 sequentially writes an audio stream, which is data obtained by encoding an audio signal, in the audio ES buffer 1409A. The audio decoder 1411 decodes the audio stream supplied from the audio ES buffer 1409B, performs conversion to an analog signal, for example, and supplies the reproduced audio signal to, for example, the connectivity 1321 (FIG. 39).

  The multiplexing unit (MUX) 1412 multiplexes the video stream and the audio stream. The multiplexing method (that is, the format of the bit stream generated by multiplexing) is arbitrary. At the time of this multiplexing, the multiplexing unit (MUX) 1412 can also add predetermined header information or the like to the bit stream. That is, the multiplexing unit (MUX) 1412 can convert the stream format by multiplexing. For example, the multiplexing unit (MUX) 1412 multiplexes the video stream and the audio stream to convert it into a transport stream that is a bit stream in a transfer format. Further, for example, the multiplexing unit (MUX) 1412 multiplexes the video stream and the audio stream, thereby converting the data into file format data (file data) for recording.

  The demultiplexing unit (DMUX) 1413 demultiplexes the bit stream in which the video stream and the audio stream are multiplexed by a method corresponding to the multiplexing by the multiplexing unit (MUX) 1412. That is, the demultiplexer (DMUX) 1413 extracts the video stream and the audio stream from the bit stream read from the stream buffer 1414 (separates the video stream and the audio stream). That is, the demultiplexer (DMUX) 1413 can convert the stream format by demultiplexing (inverse conversion of the conversion by the multiplexer (MUX) 1412). For example, the demultiplexing unit (DMUX) 1413 obtains a transport stream supplied from, for example, the connectivity 1321 and the broadband modem 1333 (both in FIG. 39) via the stream buffer 1414 and demultiplexes the transport stream. Can be converted into a video stream and an audio stream. Further, for example, the demultiplexer (DMUX) 1413 obtains the file data read from various recording media by the connectivity 1321 (FIG. 39) via the stream buffer 1414 and demultiplexes it, for example. It can be converted into a video stream and an audio stream.

  The stream buffer 1414 buffers the bit stream. For example, the stream buffer 1414 buffers the transport stream supplied from the multiplexing unit (MUX) 1412 and, for example, at the predetermined timing or based on a request from the outside, for example, the connectivity 1321 or the broadband modem 1333 (whichever Are also supplied to FIG.

  Further, for example, the stream buffer 1414 buffers the file data supplied from the multiplexing unit (MUX) 1412 and, for example, connectivity 1321 (FIG. 39) or the like at a predetermined timing or based on an external request or the like. To be recorded on various recording media.

  Further, the stream buffer 1414 buffers the transport stream acquired through, for example, the connectivity 1321 and the broadband modem 1333 (both in FIG. 39), and reverses the stream at a predetermined timing or based on an external request or the like. The data is supplied to a multiplexing unit (DMUX) 1413.

  In addition, the stream buffer 1414 buffers file data read from various recording media in the connectivity 1321 (FIG. 39), for example, and at a predetermined timing or based on an external request or the like, a demultiplexing unit (DMUX) 1413.

  Next, an example of the operation of the video processor 1332 having such a configuration will be described. For example, a video signal input from the connectivity 1321 (FIG. 39) or the like to the video processor 1332 is converted into digital image data of a predetermined format such as 4: 2: 2Y / Cb / Cr format by the video input processing unit 1401. The data is sequentially written into the frame memory 1405. This digital image data is read by the first image enlargement / reduction unit 1402 or the second image enlargement / reduction unit 1403, and format conversion to a predetermined method such as 4: 2: 0Y / Cb / Cr method and enlargement / reduction processing are performed. Is written again in the frame memory 1405. This image data is encoded by the encoding / decoding engine 1407 and written as a video stream in the video ES buffer 1408A.

  Also, an audio signal input to the video processor 1332 from the connectivity 1321 (FIG. 39) or the like is encoded by the audio encoder 1410 and written as an audio stream in the audio ES buffer 1409A.

  The video stream of the video ES buffer 1408A and the audio stream of the audio ES buffer 1409A are read and multiplexed by the multiplexing unit (MUX) 1412 and converted into a transport stream or file data. The transport stream generated by the multiplexing unit (MUX) 1412 is buffered in the stream buffer 1414 and then output to the external network via, for example, the connectivity 1321 or the broadband modem 1333 (both of which are shown in FIG. 52). Further, the file data generated by the multiplexing unit (MUX) 1412 is buffered in the stream buffer 1414, and then output to, for example, the connectivity 1321 (FIG. 39) and recorded on various recording media.

  Further, for example, a transport stream input from an external network to the video processor 1332 via the connectivity 1321 or the broadband modem 1333 (both in FIG. 39) is buffered in the stream buffer 1414 and then demultiplexed (DMUX). 1413 is demultiplexed. For example, file data read from various recording media in the connectivity 1321 (FIG. 39) and input to the video processor 1332 is buffered in the stream buffer 1414 and then demultiplexed by the demultiplexer (DMUX) 1413. It becomes. That is, the transport stream or file data input to the video processor 1332 is separated into a video stream and an audio stream by the demultiplexer (DMUX) 1413.

  The audio stream is supplied to the audio decoder 1411 via the audio ES buffer 1409B, decoded, and an audio signal is reproduced. The video stream is written to the video ES buffer 1408B, and then sequentially read and decoded by the encoding / decoding engine 1407, and written to the frame memory 1405. The decoded image data is enlarged / reduced by the second image enlargement / reduction unit 1403 and written to the frame memory 1405. The decoded image data is read out to the video output processing unit 1404, format-converted to a predetermined system such as 4: 2: 2Y / Cb / Cr system, and further converted into an analog signal to be converted into a video signal. Is played out.

  When the present technology is applied to the video processor 1332 configured as described above, the present technology according to each embodiment described above may be applied to the encoding / decoding engine 1407. That is, for example, the encoding / decoding engine 1407 has the functions of the image encoding device 100 (FIG. 10) according to the first embodiment and the image decoding device 200 (FIG. 19) according to the second embodiment. You can do it. Further, for example, the encoding / decoding engine 1407 may have the functions of the multi-view image encoding device 600 (FIG. 29) and the multi-view image decoding device 610 (FIG. 30) according to the third embodiment. . In this way, the video processor 1332 can obtain the same effects as those described above with reference to FIGS.

  In the encoding / decoding engine 1407, the present technology (that is, the functions of the image encoding device and the image decoding device according to each embodiment described above) may be realized by hardware such as a logic circuit. It may be realized by software such as an embedded program, or may be realized by both of them.

[Other configuration examples of video processor]
FIG. 41 illustrates another example of a schematic configuration of the video processor 1332 (FIG. 39) to which the present technology is applied. In the example of FIG. 41, the video processor 1332 has a function of encoding / decoding video data by a predetermined method.

  More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 41, the video processor 1332 includes a control unit 1511, a display interface 1512, a display engine 1513, an image processing engine 1514, and an internal memory 1515. The video processor 1332 includes a codec engine 1516, a memory interface 1517, a multiplexing / demultiplexing unit (MUX DMUX) 1518, a network interface 1519, and a video interface 1520.

  The control unit 1511 controls the operation of each processing unit in the video processor 1332 such as the display interface 1512, the display engine 1513, the image processing engine 1514, and the codec engine 1516.

  As illustrated in FIG. 41, the control unit 1511 includes, for example, a main CPU 1531, a sub CPU 1532, and a system controller 1533. The main CPU 1531 executes a program and the like for controlling the operation of each processing unit in the video processor 1332. The main CPU 1531 generates a control signal according to the program and supplies it to each processing unit (that is, controls the operation of each processing unit). The sub CPU 1532 plays an auxiliary role of the main CPU 1531. For example, the sub CPU 1532 executes a child process such as a program executed by the main CPU 1531, a subroutine, or the like. The system controller 1533 controls operations of the main CPU 1531 and the sub CPU 1532 such as designating a program to be executed by the main CPU 1531 and the sub CPU 1532.

  The display interface 1512 outputs the image data to, for example, the connectivity 1321 (FIG. 39) or the like under the control of the control unit 1511. For example, the display interface 1512 converts image data of digital data into an analog signal, and outputs it to a monitor device or the like of the connectivity 1321 (FIG. 39) as a reproduced video signal or as image data of the digital data.

  Under the control of the control unit 1511, the display engine 1513 performs various conversion processes such as format conversion, size conversion, color gamut conversion, and the like so as to match the image data with hardware specifications such as a monitor device that displays the image. I do.

  The image processing engine 1514 performs predetermined image processing such as filter processing for improving image quality on the image data under the control of the control unit 1511.

  The internal memory 1515 is a memory provided in the video processor 1332 that is shared by the display engine 1513, the image processing engine 1514, and the codec engine 1516. The internal memory 1515 is used, for example, for data exchange performed between the display engine 1513, the image processing engine 1514, and the codec engine 1516. For example, the internal memory 1515 stores data supplied from the display engine 1513, the image processing engine 1514, or the codec engine 1516, and stores the data as needed (eg, upon request). This is supplied to the image processing engine 1514 or the codec engine 1516. The internal memory 1515 may be realized by any storage device, but is generally used for storing a small amount of data such as image data or parameters in units of blocks. It is desirable to realize it by a semiconductor memory such as a static random access memory that has a relatively small capacity (eg, compared to the external memory 1312) but a high response speed.

  The codec engine 1516 performs processing related to encoding and decoding of image data. The encoding / decoding scheme supported by the codec engine 1516 is arbitrary, and the number thereof may be one or plural. For example, the codec engine 1516 may be provided with codec functions of a plurality of encoding / decoding schemes, and may be configured to perform encoding of image data or decoding of encoded data using one selected from them.

  In the example shown in FIG. 41, the codec engine 1516 includes, for example, MPEG-2 Video 1541, AVC / H.2641542, HEVC / H.2651543, HEVC / H.265 (Scalable) 1544, as function blocks for processing related to the codec. HEVC / H.265 (Multi-view) 1545 and MPEG-DASH 1551 are included.

  MPEG-2 Video 1541 is a functional block that encodes and decodes image data in the MPEG-2 format. AVC / H.2641542 is a functional block that encodes and decodes image data using the AVC method. HEVC / H.2651543 is a functional block that encodes and decodes image data using the HEVC method. HEVC / H.265 (Scalable) 1544 is a functional block that performs scalable encoding and scalable decoding of image data using the HEVC method. HEVC / H.265 (Multi-view) 1545 is a functional block that multi-view encodes or multi-view decodes image data using the HEVC method.

  MPEG-DASH 1551 is a functional block that transmits and receives image data by the MPEG-DASH (MPEG-Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP) method. MPEG-DASH is a technology for streaming video using HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol), and selects and transmits appropriate data from multiple encoded data with different resolutions prepared in segments. This is one of the features. MPEG-DASH 1551 generates a stream conforming to the standard, controls transmission of the stream, and the like. For encoding / decoding of image data, MPEG-2 Video 1541 to HEVC / H.265 (Multi-view) 1545 described above are used. Is used.

  The memory interface 1517 is an interface for the external memory 1312. Data supplied from the image processing engine 1514 or the codec engine 1516 is supplied to the external memory 1312 via the memory interface 1517. The data read from the external memory 1312 is supplied to the video processor 1332 (the image processing engine 1514 or the codec engine 1516) via the memory interface 1517.

  A multiplexing / demultiplexing unit (MUX DMUX) 1518 multiplexes and demultiplexes various data related to images such as a bit stream of encoded data, image data, and a video signal. This multiplexing / demultiplexing method is arbitrary. For example, at the time of multiplexing, the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit (MUX DMUX) 1518 can not only combine a plurality of data into one but also add predetermined header information or the like to the data. Further, in the demultiplexing, the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit (MUX DMUX) 1518 not only divides one data into a plurality of data but also adds predetermined header information or the like to each divided data. it can. That is, the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit (MUX DMUX) 1518 can convert the data format by multiplexing / demultiplexing. For example, the multiplexing / demultiplexing unit (MUX DMUX) 1518 multiplexes the bit stream, thereby transporting a transport stream that is a bit stream in a transfer format and data in a file format for recording (file data). Can be converted to Of course, the inverse transformation is also possible by demultiplexing.

  The network interface 1519 is an interface for a broadband modem 1333, connectivity 1321 (both in FIG. 39) and the like. The video interface 1520 is an interface for connectivity 1321 and a camera 1322 (both are FIG. 39), for example.

  Next, an example of the operation of the video processor 1332 will be described. For example, when a transport stream is received from an external network via, for example, the connectivity 1321 or the broadband modem 1333 (both of which are shown in FIG. 39), the transport stream is multiplexed / demultiplexed (MUX) via the network interface 1519. DMUX) 1518 is demultiplexed and decoded by the codec engine 1516. For example, the image data obtained by decoding by the codec engine 1516 is subjected to predetermined image processing by the image processing engine 1514, subjected to predetermined conversion by the display engine 1513, and connected to, for example, the connectivity 1321 (see FIG. 39) etc., and the image is displayed on the monitor. Further, for example, image data obtained by decoding by the codec engine 1516 is re-encoded by the codec engine 1516, multiplexed by a multiplexing / demultiplexing unit (MUX DMUX) 1518, converted into file data, and video data The data is output to, for example, the connectivity 1321 (FIG. 39) through the interface 1520 and recorded on various recording media.

  Further, for example, encoded data file data obtained by encoding image data read from a recording medium (not shown) by the connectivity 1321 (FIG. 39) is multiplexed / demultiplexed via the video interface 1520. Is supplied to a unit (MUX DMUX) 1518, demultiplexed, and decoded by a codec engine 1516. Image data obtained by decoding by the codec engine 1516 is subjected to predetermined image processing by the image processing engine 1514, subjected to predetermined conversion by the display engine 1513, and, for example, connectivity 1321 (FIG. 39) via the display interface 1512. And the image is displayed on the monitor. Further, for example, image data obtained by decoding by the codec engine 1516 is re-encoded by the codec engine 1516, multiplexed by a multiplexing / demultiplexing unit (MUX DMUX) 1518, and converted into a transport stream, For example, the connectivity 1321 and the broadband modem 1333 (both in FIG. 39) are supplied via the network interface 1519 and transmitted to another device (not shown).

  Note that transfer of image data and other data between the processing units in the video processor 1332 is performed using, for example, the internal memory 1515 and the external memory 1312. The power management module 1313 controls power supply to the control unit 1511, for example.

  When the present technology is applied to the video processor 1332 configured as described above, the present technology according to each of the above-described embodiments may be applied to the codec engine 1516. That is, for example, the codec engine 1516 includes functional blocks that implement the image encoding device 100 (FIG. 10) according to the first embodiment and the image decoding device 200 (FIG. 19) according to the second embodiment. What should I do? Further, for example, the codec engine 1516 may include functional blocks that implement the multi-view image encoding device 600 (FIG. 29) and the multi-view image decoding device 610 (FIG. 30) according to the third embodiment. Good. In this way, the video processor 1332 can obtain the same effects as those described above with reference to FIGS.

  Note that in the codec engine 1516, the present technology (that is, the functions of the image encoding device and the image decoding device according to each of the above-described embodiments) may be realized by hardware such as a logic circuit or an embedded program. It may be realized by software such as the above, or may be realized by both of them.

  Two examples of the configuration of the video processor 1332 have been described above, but the configuration of the video processor 1332 is arbitrary and may be other than the two examples described above. The video processor 1332 may be configured as one semiconductor chip, but may be configured as a plurality of semiconductor chips. For example, a three-dimensional stacked LSI in which a plurality of semiconductors are stacked may be used. Further, it may be realized by a plurality of LSIs.

    [Example of application to equipment]

  Video set 1300 can be incorporated into various devices that process image data. For example, the video set 1300 can be incorporated in the television device 900 (FIG. 32), the mobile phone 920 (FIG. 33), the recording / reproducing device 940 (FIG. 34), the imaging device 960 (FIG. 35), or the like. By incorporating the video set 1300, the apparatus can obtain an effect similar to that described above with reference to FIGS.

  In addition, the video set 1300 includes, for example, terminal devices such as the personal computer 1004, the AV device 1005, the tablet device 1006, and the mobile phone 1007 in the data transmission system 1000 in FIG. 36, the broadcasting station 1101 in the data transmission system 1100 in FIG. It can also be incorporated into the terminal device 1102, the imaging device 1201 in the imaging system 1200 of FIG. 39, the scalable encoded data storage device 1202, and the like. By incorporating the video set 1300, the apparatus can obtain an effect similar to that described above with reference to FIGS. Furthermore, it can also be incorporated into each device in the content reproduction system of FIG. 42 and the wireless communication system of FIG.

  Note that even a part of each configuration of the video set 1300 described above can be implemented as a configuration to which the present technology is applied as long as it includes the video processor 1332. For example, only the video processor 1332 can be implemented as a video processor to which the present technology is applied. Further, for example, as described above, the processor, the video module 1311 and the like indicated by the dotted line 1341 can be implemented as a processor or a module to which the present technology is applied. Furthermore, for example, the video module 1311, the external memory 1312, the power management module 1313, and the front end module 1314 can be combined and implemented as a video unit 1361 to which the present technology is applied. In any case, the same effects as those described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 27 can be obtained.

  That is, any configuration including the video processor 1332 can be incorporated into various devices that process image data, as in the case of the video set 1300. For example, a video processor 1332, a processor indicated by a dotted line 1341, a video module 1311, or a video unit 1361, a television device 900 (FIG. 32), a mobile phone 920 (FIG. 33), a recording / playback device 940 (FIG. 34), Imaging device 960 (FIG. 35), terminal devices such as personal computer 1004, AV device 1005, tablet device 1006, and mobile phone 1007 in data transmission system 1000 in FIG. 36, broadcast station 1101 and terminal in data transmission system 1100 in FIG. It can be incorporated in the apparatus 1102, the imaging apparatus 1201 in the imaging system 1200 of FIG. 38, the scalable encoded data storage apparatus 1202, and the like. Then, by incorporating any configuration to which the present technology is applied, the apparatus can obtain the same effects as those described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 27 as in the case of the video set 1300. .

  In addition, this technique selects and uses an appropriate one of a plurality of pieces of encoded data having different resolutions prepared in advance for each segment, for example, an HTTP streaming content such as MPEG DASH to be described later The present invention can also be applied to a reproduction system and a Wi-Fi standard wireless communication system.

<8. Application example of MPEG-DASH>
[Outline of content playback system]
First, a content playback system to which the present technology can be applied will be schematically described with reference to FIGS.

  In the following, first, a basic configuration common to each of such embodiments will be described with reference to FIGS. 42 and 43.

  FIG. 42 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the content reproduction system. As shown in FIG. 42, the content reproduction system includes content servers 1610 and 1611, a network 1612, and a content reproduction device 1620 (client device).

  The content servers 1610 and 1611 and the content playback device 1620 are connected via a network 1612. The network 1612 is a wired or wireless transmission path for information transmitted from a device connected to the network 1612.

  For example, the network 1612 may include a public line network such as the Internet, a telephone line network, and a satellite communication network, various local area networks (LANs) including Ethernet (registered trademark), a wide area network (WAN), and the like. The network 1612 may include a dedicated line network such as an IP-VPN (Internet Protocol-Virtual Private Network).

  The content server 1610 encodes content data, and generates and stores encoded data and a data file including meta information of the encoded data. When the content server 1610 generates an MP4 format data file, the encoded data corresponds to “mdat” and the meta information corresponds to “moov”.

  Further, the content data may be music data such as music, lectures and radio programs, video data such as movies, television programs, video programs, photographs, documents, pictures and charts, games and software, etc. .

  Here, the content server 1610 generates a plurality of data files at different bit rates for the same content. In response to a content playback request from the content playback device 1620, the content server 1611 includes the URL information of the content server 1610 in the content playback device 1620, including information on parameters to be added to the URL by the content playback device 1620. Send. Hereinafter, the matter will be specifically described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 43 is an explanatory diagram showing a data flow in the content reproduction system of FIG. The content server 1610 encodes the same content data at different bit rates, and generates, for example, a 2 Mbps file A, a 1.5 Mbps file B, and a 1 Mbps file C as shown in FIG. In comparison, file A has a high bit rate, file B has a standard bit rate, and file C has a low bit rate.

  As shown in FIG. 43, the encoded data of each file is divided into a plurality of segments. For example, the encoded data of file A is divided into segments “A1”, “A2”, “A3”,... “An”, and the encoded data of file B is “B1”, “B2”, “B3”,... “Bn” is segmented, and the encoded data of file C is segmented as “C1”, “C2”, “C3”,. .

  Each segment is composed of one or more video encoded data and audio encoded data that can be reproduced independently, starting with an MP4 sync sample (for example, IDR-picture in the case of AVC / H.264 video encoding). It may be constituted by. For example, when video data of 30 frames per second is encoded by a GOP (Group of Picture) having a fixed length of 15 frames, each segment is encoded video and audio data for 2 seconds corresponding to 4 GOP. Alternatively, it may be video and audio encoded data for 10 seconds corresponding to 20 GOP.

  In addition, the reproduction range (the range of the time position from the beginning of the content) by the segments having the same arrangement order in each file is the same. For example, when the playback ranges of the segment “A2”, the segment “B2”, and the segment “C2” are the same and each segment is encoded data for 2 seconds, the segment “A2”, the segment “B2”, and The playback range of the segment “C2” is 2 to 4 seconds for the content.

  When the content server 1610 generates the files A to C composed of such a plurality of segments, the content server 1610 stores the files A to C. Then, as shown in FIG. 43, the content server 1610 sequentially transmits segments constituting different files to the content playback device 1620, and the content playback device 1620 performs streaming playback of the received segments.

  Here, the content server 1610 according to the present embodiment transmits a playlist file (MPD: Media Presentation Description) including the bit rate information and access information of each encoded data to the content playback device 1620, and the content playback device 1620. Selects one of a plurality of bit rates based on the MPD, and requests the content server 1610 to transmit a segment corresponding to the selected bit rate.

  In FIG. 42, only one content server 1610 is illustrated, but it goes without saying that the present disclosure is not limited to such an example.

  FIG. 44 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of MPD. As shown in FIG. 44, MPD includes access information regarding a plurality of encoded data having different bit rates (BANDWIDTH). For example, the MPD shown in FIG. 44 indicates that each encoded data of 256 Kbps, 1.024 Mbps, 1.384 Mbps, 1.536 Mbps, and 2.048 Mbps exists, and includes access information regarding each encoded data. . The content playback device 1620 can dynamically change the bit rate of encoded data to be streamed based on such MPD.

  42 shows a portable terminal as an example of the content playback device 1620, the content playback device 1620 is not limited to such an example. For example, the content playback device 1620 is an information processing device such as a PC (Personal Computer), a home video processing device (DVD recorder, VCR, etc.), a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), a home game device, or a home appliance. Also good. The content playback device 1620 may be an information processing device such as a mobile phone, a PHS (Personal Handyphone System), a portable music playback device, a portable video processing device, or a portable game device.

[Configuration of Content Server 1610]
The outline of the content reproduction system has been described above with reference to FIGS. Next, the configuration of the content server 1610 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 45 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the content server 1610. As illustrated in FIG. 45, the content server 1610 includes a file generation unit 1631, a storage unit 1632, and a communication unit 1633.

  The file generation unit 1631 includes an encoder 1641 that encodes content data, and generates a plurality of encoded data having the same content and different bit rates, and the MPD described above. For example, if the file generation unit 1631 generates encoded data of 256 Kbps, 1.024 Mbps, 1.384 Mbps, 1.536 Mbps, and 2.048 Mbps, the MPD as illustrated in FIG. 44 is generated.

  The storage unit 1632 stores a plurality of encoded data and MPD having different bit rates generated by the file generation unit 1631. The storage unit 1632 may be a storage medium such as a nonvolatile memory, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, and an MO (Magneto Optical) disk. Examples of the nonvolatile memory include EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) and EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM). Examples of the magnetic disk include a hard disk and a disk type magnetic disk. Examples of the optical disk include CD (Compact Disc, DVD-R (Digital Versatile Disc Recordable)) and BD (Blu-Ray Disc (registered trademark)).

  The communication unit 1633 is an interface with the content reproduction device 1620 and communicates with the content reproduction device 1620 via the network 1612. More specifically, the communication unit 1633 has a function as an HTTP server that communicates with the content reproduction device 1620 according to HTTP. For example, the communication unit 1633 transmits the MPD to the content reproduction device 1620, extracts encoded data requested from the content reproduction device 1620 based on the MPD according to HTTP from the storage unit 1632, and transmits the encoded data to the content reproduction device 1620 as an HTTP response. Transmit encoded data.

[Configuration of Content Playback Device 1620]
The configuration of the content server 1610 according to the present embodiment has been described above. Next, the configuration of the content reproduction device 1620 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 46 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the content reproduction apparatus 1620. As illustrated in FIG. 46, the content reproduction device 1620 includes a communication unit 1651, a storage unit 1652, a reproduction unit 1653, a selection unit 1654, and a current location acquisition unit 1656.

  The communication unit 1651 is an interface with the content server 1610, requests data from the content server 1610, and acquires data from the content server 1610. More specifically, the communication unit 1651 has a function as an HTTP client that communicates with the content reproduction device 1620 according to HTTP. For example, the communication unit 1651 can selectively acquire an MPD or encoded data segment from the content server 1610 by using HTTP Range.

  The storage unit 1652 stores various information related to content reproduction. For example, the segments acquired from the content server 1610 by the communication unit 1651 are sequentially buffered. The encoded data segments buffered in the storage unit 1652 are sequentially supplied to the reproduction unit 1653 by FIFO (First In First Out).

  The storage unit 1652 adds a parameter to the URL by the communication unit 1651 based on an instruction to add a parameter to the URL of the content described in the MPD requested from the content server 1611 described later, and accesses the URL. The definition to do is memorized.

  The playback unit 1653 sequentially plays back the segments supplied from the storage unit 1652. Specifically, the playback unit 1653 performs segment decoding, DA conversion, rendering, and the like.

  The selection unit 1654 sequentially selects, in the same content, which segment of encoded data corresponding to which bit rate included in the MPD is to be acquired. For example, when the selection unit 1654 sequentially selects the segments “A1”, “B2”, and “A3” according to the bandwidth of the network 1612, the communication unit 1651 causes the segment “A1” from the content server 1610 as illustrated in FIG. ”,“ B2 ”, and“ A3 ”are acquired sequentially.

  The current location acquisition unit 1656 acquires the current position of the content playback device 1620, and may be configured by a module that acquires the current location, such as a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver. The current location acquisition unit 1656 may acquire the current position of the content reproduction device 1620 using a wireless network.

[Configuration of Content Server 1611]
FIG. 47 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of the content server 1611. As illustrated in FIG. 47, the content server 1611 includes a storage unit 1671 and a communication unit 1672.

  The storage unit 1671 stores MPD URL information. The MPD URL information is transmitted from the content server 1611 to the content reproduction device 1620 in response to a request from the content reproduction device 1620 that requests content reproduction. In addition, when providing the MPD URL information to the content playback device 1620, the storage unit 1671 stores definition information when the content playback device 1620 adds a parameter to the URL described in the MPD.

  The communication unit 1672 is an interface with the content reproduction device 1620 and communicates with the content reproduction device 1620 via the network 1612. That is, the communication unit 1672 receives an MPD URL information request from the content reproduction device 1620 that requests content reproduction, and transmits the MPD URL information to the content reproduction device 1620. The MPD URL transmitted from the communication unit 1672 includes information for adding a parameter by the content reproduction device 1620.

  The parameters to be added to the MPD URL by the content reproduction device 1620 can be variously set by definition information shared by the content server 1611 and the content reproduction device 1620. For example, information such as the current position of the content playback device 1620, the user ID of the user who uses the content playback device 1620, the memory size of the content playback device 1620, the storage capacity of the content playback device 1620, and the like. Can be added to the MPD URL.

  In the content reproduction system configured as described above, by applying the present technology as described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 47, the same effects as those described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 27 are obtained. be able to.

  That is, the encoder 1641 of the content server 1610 has the function of the image encoding device 100 (FIG. 10) according to the above-described embodiment. Further, the playback unit 1653 of the content playback device 1620 has the function of the image decoding device 200 (FIG. 17) according to the above-described embodiment. Thereby, it is possible to suppress an increase in storage capacity necessary for image encoding and decoding in the content reproduction system.

  Also, in the content reproduction system, the encoding efficiency of the image compression information to be output can be improved by transmitting and receiving data encoded by the present technology.

<9. Examples of Wi-Fi standard wireless communication systems>
[Example of basic operation of wireless communication device]
A basic operation example of a wireless communication device in a wireless communication system to which the present technology can be applied will be described.

  First, wireless packet transmission / reception is performed until a specific application is operated after a P2P (Peer to Peer) connection is established.

  Next, before connecting in the second layer, wireless packet transmission / reception is performed from the time when a specific application to be used is specified until the P2P connection is established and the specific application is operated. Thereafter, after connection in the second layer, radio packet transmission / reception is performed when a specific application is started.

[Communication example at the start of specific application operation]
48 and 49 are examples of wireless packet transmission / reception from the establishment of the above-described P2P (Peer to Peer) connection until a specific application is operated, and shows an example of communication processing by each device serving as the basis of wireless communication. It is a sequence chart. Specifically, an example of a procedure for establishing a direct connection leading to a connection based on the Wi-Fi Direct (Direct) standard (sometimes referred to as Wi-Fi P2P) standardized by the Wi-Fi Alliance is shown.

  Here, in Wi-Fi Direct, a plurality of wireless communication devices detect each other's presence (Device Discovery, Service Discovery). When a connected device is selected, direct connection is established between the selected devices by performing device authentication using WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup). Further, in Wi-Fi Direct, a communication group is formed by determining whether a plurality of wireless communication devices serve as a parent device (Group Owner) or a child device (Client).

  However, in this communication processing example, some packet transmission / reception is omitted. For example, at the time of the initial connection, as described above, packet exchange for using WPS is necessary, and packet exchange is also necessary for exchange of Authentication Request / Response. However, in FIG. 48 and FIG. 49, illustration of these packet exchanges is omitted, and only the second and subsequent connections are shown.

  48 and 49 show examples of communication processing between the first wireless communication device 1701 and the second wireless communication device 1702, the same applies to communication processing between other wireless communication devices.

  First, Device Discovery is performed between the first wireless communication device 1701 and the second wireless communication device 1702 (1711). For example, the first wireless communication apparatus 1701 transmits a probe request (response request signal) and receives a probe response (response signal) for the probe request from the second wireless communication apparatus 1702. Thereby, the first wireless communication device 1701 and the second wireless communication device 1702 can discover each other's presence. Device Discovery can also acquire the device name and type (TV, PC, smartphone, etc.) of the other party.

  Subsequently, Service Discovery is performed between the first wireless communication device 1701 and the second wireless communication device 1702 (1712). For example, the first wireless communication apparatus 1701 transmits a Service Discovery Query that inquires about a service supported by the second wireless communication apparatus 1702 discovered by Device Discovery. Then, the first wireless communication apparatus 1701 receives a service discovery response from the second wireless communication apparatus 1702, thereby acquiring a service supported by the second wireless communication apparatus 1702. In other words, services that can be executed by the other party can be acquired by Service Discovery. Services that can be executed by the other party are, for example, service and protocol (DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) DMR (Digital Media Renderer) and the like).

  Subsequently, a connection partner selection operation (connection partner selection operation) is performed by the user (1713). This connection partner selection operation may occur only in one of the first wireless communication device 1701 and the second wireless communication device 1702. For example, a connection partner selection screen is displayed on the display unit of the first wireless communication device 1701, and the second wireless communication device 1702 is selected as a connection partner on the connection partner selection screen by a user operation.

  When the connection partner selection operation is performed by the user (1713), Group Owner Negotiation is performed between the first wireless communication device 1701 and the second wireless communication device 1702 (1714). 48 and 49 show an example in which the first wireless communication device 1701 becomes a group owner (Group Owner) 1715 and the second wireless communication device 1702 becomes a client (Client) 1716 based on the Group Owner Negotiation result.

  Subsequently, direct processing is established by performing each processing (1717 to 1720) between the first wireless communication device 1701 and the second wireless communication device 1702. That is, Association (L2 (second layer) link establishment) (1717) and Secure link establishment (1718) are sequentially performed. Further, L4 setup (1720) on L3 is sequentially performed by IP Address Assignment (1719), SSDP (Simple Service Discovery Protocol), or the like. L2 (layer 2) means the second layer (data link layer), L3 (layer 3) means the third layer (network layer), and L4 (layer 4) means the fourth layer (transport layer). ).

  Subsequently, the user designates or activates a specific application (application designation / activation operation) (1721). This application designation / activation operation may occur only in one of the first wireless communication device 1701 and the second wireless communication device 1702. For example, an application designation / startup operation screen is displayed on the display unit of the first wireless communication apparatus 1701, and a specific application is selected by a user operation on the application designation / startup operation screen.

  When an application designation / startup operation is performed by the user (1721), a specific application corresponding to the application designation / startup operation is executed between the first wireless communication device 1701 and the second wireless communication device 1702 (1722).

  Here, it is assumed that the connection between AP (Access Point) and STA (Station) is performed within the range of the specification before the Wi-Fi Direct standard (specification standardized by IEEE 802.11). In this case, before connecting in the second layer (before association in the IEEE 802.11 terminology), it was impossible to know in advance what kind of device to connect to.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 48 and 49, in Wi-Fi Direct, connection partner information can be acquired when searching for a connection candidate partner in Device discovery or Service Discovery (option). The information of the connection partner is, for example, a basic device type, a corresponding specific application, or the like. And based on the acquired information of a connection other party, a user can be made to select a connection other party.

  This mechanism can be expanded to realize a wireless communication system in which a specific application is specified before connection at the second layer, a connection partner is selected, and the specific application is automatically started after this selection. Is possible. An example of the sequence leading to the connection in such a case is shown in FIG. FIG. 50 shows a configuration example of a frame format transmitted / received in this communication process.

[Frame format configuration example]
FIG. 50 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration example of a frame format transmitted / received in communication processing by each device that is the basis of the present technology. That is, FIG. 50 shows a configuration example of a MAC frame for establishing a connection in the second layer. Specifically, it is an example of a frame format of Association Request / Response (1787) for realizing the sequence shown in FIG.

  Note that Frame Control (1751) to Sequence Control (1756) are MAC headers. When transmitting an Association Request, B3B2 = “0b00” and B7B6B5B4 = “0b0000” are set in Frame Control (1751). Further, when Encapsulating the Association Response, B3B2 = “0b00” and B7B6B5B4 = “0b0001” are set in the Frame Control (1751). Note that “0b00” indicates “00” in binary, “0b0000” indicates “0000” in binary, and “0b0001” indicates “0001” in binary. Indicates that

  Here, the MAC frame shown in FIG. 50 is basically the Association Request / Response frame format described in sections 7.2.3.4 and 7.2.3.5 of the IEEE802.11-2007 specification. However, the difference is that it includes not only the Information Element (hereinafter abbreviated as IE) defined in the IEEE802.11 specification, but also its own extended IE.

  Further, in order to indicate that it is Vendor Specific IE (1760), 127 is set in decimal in IE Type (Information Element ID (1761)). In this case, according to the IEEE802.11-2007 specification section 7.3.2.26, the Length field (1762) and the OUI field (1763) follow, followed by the vendor specific content (1764).

  As the content of the vendor specific content (1764), a field (IE type (1765)) indicating the type of vendor specific IE is provided first. Then, it is conceivable that a plurality of subelements (1766) can be stored thereafter.

  It is conceivable that the contents of the subelement (1766) include the name (1767) of a specific application to be used and the role of the device (1768) during operation of the specific application. In addition, information such as a port number used for the control of a specific application (information for L4 setup) (1769) and information about Capability (Capability information) in the specific application may be included. Conceivable. Here, the Capability information is information for specifying, for example, that audio transmission / reproduction is supported, video transmission / reproduction, and the like when the specific application to be specified is DLNA.

  In the radio communication system configured as described above, by applying the present technology as described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 27, the same effects as those described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 27 are obtained. be able to. That is, an increase in storage capacity necessary for image encoding and decoding in the wireless communication system can be suppressed. Further, in the above-described wireless communication system, it is possible to improve the encoding efficiency of the image compression information to be output by transmitting / receiving data encoded by the present technology.

  In the present specification, an example in which various types of information are multiplexed into an encoded stream and transmitted from the encoding side to the decoding side has been described. However, the method for transmitting such information is not limited to such an example. For example, these pieces of information may be transmitted or recorded as separate data associated with the encoded bitstream without being multiplexed into the encoded bitstream. Here, the term “associate” means that an image (which may be a part of an image such as a slice or a block) included in the bitstream and information corresponding to the image can be linked at the time of decoding. Means. That is, information may be transmitted on a transmission path different from that of the image (or bit stream). Information may be recorded on a recording medium (or another recording area of the same recording medium) different from the image (or bit stream). Furthermore, the information and the image (or bit stream) may be associated with each other in an arbitrary unit such as a plurality of frames, one frame, or a part of the frame.

In addition, this technique can also take the following structures.
(1) When an input signal of image data consisting of a plurality of layers is 8 bits, a residual signal that is a prediction error of inter-frame prediction in another layer different from the current layer of the image data is 9 bits. A residual prediction unit that determines the value of the weighting factor of the residual signal to be 0.5,
An image encoding apparatus comprising: an encoding unit that encodes the current layer of the image data using a residual signal to which the weight coefficient value determined by the residual prediction unit is applied.
(2) A transmission unit that transmits encoded data of the image data generated by the encoding unit and weighting factor use information that is information regarding whether to use 0 or non-zero as the value of the weighting factor The image encoding apparatus according to (1), further comprising:
(3) The transmission unit according to (2), wherein the transmission unit transmits the weighting factor usage information for each CU (Coding Unit).
(4) The image encoding device according to (2), wherein the transmission unit transmits the weighting factor usage information for each LCU (Largest Coding Unit) or slice header.
(5) When the residual signal is 8 bits, the residual prediction unit determines a value of a weighting factor of the residual signal as 1 (1) to (4) Device.
(6) The residual prediction unit determines a value of a weighting factor of the residual signal to be 1 or 0.5 when the residual signal is 8 bits. (1) to (4) Image encoding device.
(7) When the transmission unit uses non-zero as the value of the weighting factor and the residual signal is 8 bits, which of 1 and 0.5 is used as the value of the weighting factor of the residual signal? The image coding apparatus according to (6), wherein weight coefficient value information that is information on the information is transmitted.
(8) The image encoding device according to (7), wherein the transmission unit transmits the weight coefficient value information for each PU (Prediction Unit).
(9) The image encoding device according to (7), wherein the transmission unit transmits the weight coefficient value information for each CU (Coding Unit).
(10) The image encoding device according to any one of (1) to (9), wherein the input signal of the image data is a luminance signal.
(11) In the sequence parameter set of the other layer, when the value of the parameter that defines the bit depth of the luminance signal is 0, the residual prediction unit is a prediction error of inter-frame prediction in the other layer. The image coding apparatus according to (10), wherein when a residual signal is 9 bits, a value of a weighting factor of the residual signal is determined to be 0.5.
(12) The image encoding device according to any one of (1) to (9), wherein an input signal of the image data is a color difference signal.
(13) In the sequence parameter set of the other layer, when the value of the parameter that defines the bit depth of the color difference signal is 0, the residual prediction unit is a prediction error of inter-frame prediction in the other layer. The image coding device according to (12), wherein when a residual signal is 9 bits, a value of a weighting factor of the residual signal is determined to be 0.5.
(14) The image encoding device is
When an input signal of image data consisting of a plurality of layers is 8 bits, when the residual signal that is a prediction error of inter-frame prediction in another layer different from the current layer of the image data is 9 bits, the residual Determine the value of the signal weighting factor to 0.5,
An image encoding method for encoding the current layer of the image data using a residual signal to which the determined weight coefficient value is applied.
(15) When an input signal of image data composed of a plurality of layers is 8 bits, when a residual signal that is a prediction error of inter-frame prediction in another layer different from the current layer of the image data is 9 bits, A residual prediction unit that determines the value of the weighting factor of the residual signal to be 0.5,
An image decoding apparatus comprising: a decoding unit configured to decode the current layer of the encoded data of the image data using a residual signal to which the weight coefficient value determined by the residual prediction unit is applied.
(16) A receiving unit that receives the encoded data and weighting factor usage information that is information regarding whether to use 0 or non-zero as the value of the weighting factor,
The image decoding apparatus according to (15), wherein the residual prediction unit determines the value of the weighting factor of the residual signal to be 0.5 when the weighting factor usage information is information indicating that non-zero is used.
(17) The image decoding device according to (16), wherein the reception unit receives the weight coefficient use information for each CU (Coding Unit).
(18) The image decoding device according to (16), wherein the reception unit receives the weighting factor use information for each LCU (Largest Coding Unit) or for each slice header.
(19) When the residual signal is 8 bits, the residual prediction unit determines the value of the weighting factor of the residual signal as 1 (15) to (18). apparatus.
(20) The residual prediction unit determines a value of a weighting factor of the residual signal to be 1 or 0.5 when the residual signal is 8 bits. (15) to (18) Image decoding device.
(21) In the case where the receiving unit uses non-zero as the value of the weighting factor and the residual signal is 8 bits, which of 1 and 0.5 is used as the value of the weighting factor of the residual signal The image decoding device according to (20), wherein weight coefficient value information that is information related to the information is received.
(22) The image decoding device according to (21), wherein the reception unit receives the weight coefficient value information for each PU (Prediction Unit).
(23) The image decoding device according to (21), wherein the reception unit receives the weight coefficient value information for each CU (Coding Unit).
(24) The image decoding device according to any one of (15) to (23), wherein the input signal of the previous image data is a luminance signal.
(25) In the sequence parameter set of the other layer, when the value of the parameter that defines the bit depth of the luminance signal is 0, the residual prediction unit is a prediction error of inter-frame prediction in the other layer. The image decoding device according to (24), wherein when a residual signal is 9 bits, a value of a weighting factor of the residual signal is determined to be 0.5.
(26) The image decoding device according to any one of (15) to (23), wherein the input signal of the previous image data is a color difference signal.
(27) In the sequence parameter set of the other layer, when the value of the parameter that defines the bit depth of the color difference signal is 0, the residual prediction unit is a prediction error of inter-frame prediction in the other layer. The image decoding device according to (26), wherein when a residual signal is 9 bits, a value of a weighting factor of the residual signal is determined to be 0.5.
(28) The image decoding device
When an input signal of image data consisting of a plurality of layers is 8 bits, when the residual signal that is a prediction error of inter-frame prediction in another layer different from the current layer of the image data is 9 bits, the residual Determine the value of the signal weighting factor to 0.5,
An image decoding method for performing decoding of the current layer of encoded data of the image data using a residual signal to which the determined weight coefficient value is applied.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image coding apparatus, 101 Base layer image coding part, 102 Enhancement layer image coding part, 103 Multiplexing part, 148 Residual prediction part, 149 Upsampling part, 161 Range determination part, 162 Weight coefficient determination part, 163 Shift unit, 164 residual buffer, 200 image decoding device, 201 demultiplexing unit, 202 base layer image decoding unit, 203 enhancement layer image decoding unit, 244 residual prediction unit, 245 upsampling unit, 261 range determination unit, 262 Weight coefficient determination unit

Claims (28)

When an input signal of image data consisting of a plurality of layers is 8 bits, when the residual signal that is a prediction error of inter-frame prediction in another layer different from the current layer of the image data is 9 bits, the residual A residual prediction unit that determines the value of the weighting factor of the signal to be 0.5,
An image encoding apparatus comprising: an encoding unit that encodes the current layer of the image data using a residual signal to which the weight coefficient value determined by the residual prediction unit is applied. A transmission unit that transmits encoded data of the image data generated by the encoding unit and weighting factor use information that is information regarding whether to use 0 or non-zero as the value of the weighting factor The image encoding device according to claim 1. The image encoding device according to claim 2, wherein the transmission unit transmits the weighting factor use information for each CU (Coding Unit). The image encoding device according to claim 2, wherein the transmission unit transmits the weighting factor use information for each LCU (Largest Coding Unit) or slice header. The image coding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the residual prediction unit determines a value of a weighting factor of the residual signal as 1 when the residual signal is 8 bits. The image coding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the residual prediction unit determines a value of a weighting factor of the residual signal to be 1 or 0.5 when the residual signal is 8 bits. In the case where the transmission unit uses non-zero as the value of the weighting factor, and the residual signal is 8 bits, information regarding which of 1 and 0.5 is used as the value of the weighting factor of the residual signal The image coding apparatus according to claim 6, wherein certain weight coefficient value information is transmitted. The image encoding device according to claim 7, wherein the transmission unit transmits the weight coefficient value information for each PU (Prediction Unit). The image encoding device according to claim 7, wherein the transmission unit transmits the weight coefficient value information for each CU (Coding Unit). The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the input signal of the image data is a luminance signal. In the sequence parameter set of the other layer, when the value of the parameter defining the bit depth of the luminance signal is 0, the residual prediction unit is a residual that is a prediction error of inter-frame prediction in the other layer The image encoding device according to claim 10, wherein when the signal is 9 bits, the value of the weighting factor of the residual signal is determined to be 0.5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an input signal of the image data is a color difference signal. In the sequence parameter set of the other layer, when the value of the parameter that defines the bit depth of the color difference signal is 0, the residual prediction unit is a residual that is a prediction error of inter-frame prediction in the other layer. The image encoding device according to claim 12, wherein when the signal is 9 bits, the value of the weighting factor of the residual signal is determined to be 0.5. An image encoding device
When an input signal of image data consisting of a plurality of layers is 8 bits, when the residual signal that is a prediction error of inter-frame prediction in another layer different from the current layer of the image data is 9 bits, the residual Determine the value of the signal weighting factor to 0.5,
An image encoding method for encoding the current layer of the image data using a residual signal to which the determined weight coefficient value is applied. When an input signal of image data consisting of a plurality of layers is 8 bits, when the residual signal that is a prediction error of inter-frame prediction in another layer different from the current layer of the image data is 9 bits, the residual A residual prediction unit that determines the value of the weighting factor of the signal to be 0.5,
An image decoding apparatus comprising: a decoding unit configured to decode the current layer of the encoded data of the image data using a residual signal to which the weight coefficient value determined by the residual prediction unit is applied. A receiving unit that receives the encoded data and weighting factor use information that is information on whether to use 0 or non-zero as the value of the weighting factor;
The image decoding device according to claim 15, wherein the residual prediction unit determines the value of the weighting factor of the residual signal to be 0.5 when the weighting factor use information is information indicating that non-zero is used. The image decoding device according to claim 16, wherein the receiving unit receives the weighting factor usage information for each CU (Coding Unit). The image decoding device according to claim 16, wherein the receiving unit receives the weighting factor use information for each LCU (Largest Coding Unit) or for each slice header. The image coding apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the residual prediction unit determines a value of a weighting factor of the residual signal as 1 when the residual signal is 8 bits. The image encoding device according to claim 16, wherein the residual prediction unit determines a value of a weighting factor of the residual signal to be 1 or 0.5 when the residual signal is 8 bits. In the case where the receiving unit uses non-zero as the value of the weighting factor and the residual signal is 8 bits, information regarding which of 1 and 0.5 is used as the value of the weighting factor of the residual signal The image encoding device according to claim 20, wherein certain weight coefficient value information is received. The image encoding device according to claim 21, wherein the receiving unit receives the weight coefficient value information for each PU (Prediction Unit). The image encoding device according to claim 21, wherein the reception unit receives the weight coefficient value information for each CU (Coding Unit). The image processing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the input signal of the image data is a luminance signal. In the sequence parameter set of the other layer, when the value of the parameter defining the bit depth of the luminance signal is 0, the residual prediction unit is a residual that is a prediction error of inter-frame prediction in the other layer The image coding device according to claim 24, wherein when the signal is 9 bits, the value of the weighting factor of the residual signal is determined to be 0.5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein an input signal of the image data is a color difference signal. In the sequence parameter set of the other layer, when the value of the parameter that defines the bit depth of the color difference signal is 0, the residual prediction unit is a residual that is a prediction error of inter-frame prediction in the other layer. The image coding apparatus according to claim 26, wherein when the signal is 9 bits, the value of the weighting factor of the residual signal is determined to be 0.5. Image decoding device
When an input signal of image data consisting of a plurality of layers is 8 bits, when the residual signal that is a prediction error of inter-frame prediction in another layer different from the current layer of the image data is 9 bits, the residual Determine the value of the signal weighting factor to 0.5,
An image decoding method for performing decoding of the current layer of encoded data of the image data using a residual signal to which the determined weight coefficient value is applied.

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