JP3304241B2 - Image playback device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image reproducing apparatus which receives encoded image data from a network, and decodes and reproduces an image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, ISDN (Integrated Services Di
As a new communication service, an image communication service has been realized with the spread of a gital network (service digital network). Examples are a videophone and a video conference system. Further, with the development of wireless transmission networks represented by PHS and FPCMTS, demands for further advancement, diversification, and portability of services are rapidly increasing.

In general, when transmitting image data as in a videophone or a video conference system, the amount of information of the image is enormous. It is necessary to compress and encode the amount of information and transmit the information with a reduced amount of information.

As a coding method for compressing image data, JPEG (Joint Photogr) is used as a still image coding method.
aphic Coding Experts Group). 261, MPEG as a video encoding method for storage
1 (Moving Picture Coding Expert Group), MPEG
2 has already been internationally standardized. Further 64 kbps
MPEG as the encoding method at the following ultra-low bit rate
Four standardization activities are underway.

[0005] JPEG, H. 261, MPEG1, MP
If several types of algorithms are to be processed by a method of performing encoding with a certain algorithm such as EG2, hardware and software for realizing each algorithm are required.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an encoding / decoding device of the H.261 system. This figure shows a case where the encoder operates as an encoder. This encoding / decoding device includes an encoding control unit 31 for performing encoding control, a transforming unit 32 for performing DCT transform, a quantizing unit 33 for quantizing the coefficients transformed by the transforming unit 32, and a quantized coefficient And an inverse transform unit 35 for performing an inverse DCT transform. Also, a memory 36 having a variable delay function for motion compensation used in motion compensation inter-frame prediction,
This is an in-loop filter 37 that can be turned off.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a part where the encoding / decoding device operates as a decoder. The decoder includes an inverse quantization unit 34 for inversely quantizing the image data transmitted from the encoder, an inverse transform unit 34 for performing an inverse DCT transform, a memory 36 having a variable delay function for motion compensation, and a filter 37 in a loop. Is done. The coded data is inversely quantized by the inverse quantization unit 34, inverse DCT transformed by the inverse transformation unit 35, and decoded. The memory 36 and the in-loop filter 37 are used when decoding motion compensation prediction coded data. This image reproducing device decodes the image data from the encoder according to a dedicated reproducing algorithm.

In addition to the above, moving images are reproduced on general-purpose computers such as personal computers. In this example, if a plurality of image reproduction software are prepared, a plurality of image data can be reproduced on a single computer, so that it can be regarded as a general-purpose image reproduction device.

[0009]

Although the conventional dedicated image reproducing apparatus is excellent in image reproducing ability, in order to reproduce image data reproduced by different image reproducing algorithms, an image reproducing corresponding to the image data is required. There is a problem that an apparatus must be separately prepared.

The general-purpose image reproducing apparatus is configured to execute software of a specific image reproducing algorithm on general-purpose hardware. Therefore, if software is prepared for different image reproduction algorithms, a plurality of image reproduction algorithms can be executed on one piece of hardware. In this case, there is a problem that the image reproducing ability is inferior to that of the dedicated image reproducing apparatus.

In the present invention, in order to solve these problems at the same time, the hardware processing contents and the software processing contents are reconfigured in accordance with the change of the image reproduction algorithm, and the optimum processing capability for the image reproduction algorithm is always obtained. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image reproducing apparatus having the following.

[0012]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image reproducing apparatus which reproduces an image by decoding encoded image data by an image decoding unit, wherein the program receives an image reproducing algorithm described in a logical description language. A receiving unit for
The program thus received, and a program converting unit for converting a format that can execute a process in the image reproducing apparatus, which is converted by the program conversion unit, based on a format that can execute a process, Optimize the processing content of the image decoding unit according to the processing capability of the image decoding unit.
Wherein the reconstitution.

Further, the program conversion unit divides the program described in the logical description language into a first program part describing processing by hardware and a second program part describing processing by software. and parts, first to convert the first program part into a form that can execute the processing in hardware
And a second program conversion unit for converting the second program part into a format capable of executing processing by software, based on a format capable of executing processing by the hardware. Reconfiguring the processing contents of the hardware processing of the image decoding unit, and reconfiguring the processing contents of the software processing of the image decoding unit based on a format in which the processing can be executed by the software. Features.

Further, the image decoding unit has an inverse quantization unit for inversely quantizing the quantized image data, and an inverse transformation unit for inversely transforming the transformed image data. The transformed , executable form
The content of the inverse quantization process of the inverse quantization unit and the content of the inverse transformation process of the inverse transform unit are changed according to the equation .

[0015]

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the principle of an image reproducing apparatus according to the present invention. The image reproducing device is a device that reproduces a moving image, and includes a program conversion unit 11 and a moving image decoding unit 12. A program in which a moving image reproduction algorithm is described in a logical description language is input to the program conversion unit 11 and converted into a format in which the configuration of the moving image decoding unit 12 can be changed. The moving image decoding unit 12 reconfigures a processing system of hardware processing and software processing by the converted program, decodes the encoded moving image data,
Play back a moving image.

Thus, before reproducing the moving image data,
By receiving the moving image reproducing algorithm and reconfiguring the moving image decoding unit, it becomes possible to execute a plurality of moving image reproducing algorithms with one moving image reproducing device. In addition, by reconfiguring the moving image decoding unit in accordance with the moving image reproducing algorithm, a moving image reproducing capability equivalent to that of a dedicated moving image reproducing device can be obtained.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image reproducing apparatus according to the present invention. This image playback device,
A receiving unit 16 for downloading a program for reconstructing a moving image decoding unit and encoded moving image data from a network 15; a switching unit 17 for switching a transmission destination depending on whether the received data is a program or moving image data; , a program conversion unit 11 for converting a format that can be changed configuration of a video decoding unit of the program, the moving image decoding section 12 capable of reconfiguring the processing system, the receiving unit 16
And a control unit 18 for controlling the switching unit 17, the program conversion unit 11, and the video decoding unit 12.

The program conversion unit 11 converts the program into a format that can change the configuration of the video decoding unit.
A dividing unit 19 for dividing the program into a program part and a second program part to be performed by the control unit at the time of moving image reproduction, and a first converting unit 20 for converting the first program part into a format in which the configuration of the moving image decoding unit can be changed And a second conversion unit 21 that converts the second program into a format that can be decoded and executed by the control unit. The video decoding unit 12
Inverse quantization unit 22 capable of inversely quantizing the quantized video data and changing the content of the inverse quantization process, and inversely converting the converted video data to change the inverse transform process content And an inverse conversion unit 23. Since the inverse quantization unit 22 and the inverse transformation unit 23 must be able to rewrite the processing contents, they must be programmable elements such as FPGA.

This moving picture reproducing apparatus inputs a program describing an image reproducing algorithm and encoded moving picture data from a network, and automatically reconfigures the moving picture decoding unit 12 according to the program. The moving image is reproduced by the algorithm of the program.

The procedure when the moving picture reproducing apparatus is reconfigured is as follows. From the network 15, a moving image reproducing program and encoded moving image data are input to the moving image reproducing apparatus. First, the receiving unit 16 receives a program of a moving image reproduction algorithm described in a logical description language from the network 15. The control unit 18 controls the switching unit 17 to transmit the received data to the program conversion unit 11. First, the division unit 52 of the program conversion unit 11 divides a program into a first program part that performs hardware processing and a second program part that performs software processing. In this case, the processor in the control unit 18 performs the software processing at the time of reproducing the moving image. The part for performing the hardware processing is passed to the first conversion unit 20 and converts the FPGA into a rewritable format. Then, the control unit 18 rewrites the inverse quantization unit 22 and the inverse conversion unit 23. Also, the portion that performs software processing is passed to the second conversion unit 21, converted into a format that can be processed by the processor, and then passed to the control unit 18.

Thus, the inverse quantization unit 22 and the inverse transformation unit 23
Is formed of an element such as an FPGA whose processing program can be changed, so that the hardware processing of the video decoding unit 12 can be easily reconfigured. Moreover, since the moving picture decoding unit 12 in which the hardware is reconfigured to have the optimum processing capacity is used, a moving picture reproducing ability equivalent to that of the dedicated moving picture decoding unit can be obtained.

When a moving image is reproduced, the receiving unit 16 receives the moving image data from the network 15. The moving image data is transmitted to the moving image decoding unit 12 by the control unit 18 controlling the switching unit 17. Video decoding unit 12
The data is output as decoded data through the inverse quantization unit 22 and the inverse transformation unit 23 in the inside.

[0024]

According to the present invention, a program describing an image reproduction algorithm is input together with image data,
Since the processing system of the image decoding unit is optimally reconfigured according to the contents of the program converted by the program conversion unit, it is possible to cope with image data reproduced by a different algorithm, and an image equivalent to that of a dedicated image reproducing device. Can provide regenerative ability.

[0025]

Further , based on a first program portion in a program describing an image reproduction algorithm , an image
When reconstructing the processing contents of the hardware processing of the decoding unit
In addition, based on the second program part in the program,
The content of the software processing of the image decoding unit.
With this configuration, it is possible to reconfigure the moving image reproducing apparatus so as to have an optimum processing capability, and it is possible to provide an image reproducing capability equivalent to that of a dedicated image reproducing device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the principle of an image reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of an image reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an encoder of a conventional image reproducing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a decoder of a conventional image reproducing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 11 program conversion unit 12 video decoding unit 16 reception unit 19 division unit 20 first conversion unit 21 second conversion unit 22 inverse quantization unit 23 inverse conversion unit

Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N ^7/ 24-7/68 H03M 7/30 H04N 1/41-1/419

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A picture reproducing apparatus of the encoded image data is decoded by the image decoding unit reproduces an image, a receiving unit for receiving a program describing an image reproduction algorithm logic description language, the receiving A program conversion unit for converting the converted program into a format in which the image reproducing device can execute the processing.The program conversion unit converts the program based on the format in which the processing can be executed. An image reproducing apparatus , wherein the processing content of a decoding unit is optimally reconfigured according to the processing capability of the image decoding unit . 2. The image reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the program conversion unit includes a first program that describes a program described in the logical description language by hardware.
A program division unit that divides the program into a program part and a second program part that describes processing by software; and a first program conversion unit that converts the first program part into a format that can execute processing by hardware. A second program conversion unit that converts the second program part into a format that can execute processing by software, and the image decoding unit performs processing on the basis of a format that can execute processing by the hardware. Reconstructing the processing contents of the hardware processing of the unit, and reconstructing the processing contents of the software processing of the image decoding unit based on a format in which the processing can be executed by the software. apparatus. 3. The image reproducing device according to claim 1, wherein the image decoding unit inversely quantizes the quantized image data, and inversely transforms the converted image data. An inverse transform unit that performs an inverse quantization process of the inverse quantizer and an inverse transform of the inverse transform unit according to a format in which the process can be executed, which is converted by the program converter. An image reproducing apparatus characterized by changing processing contents.