WO2014141899A1

WO2014141899A1 - Image processing device and method

Info

Publication number: WO2014141899A1
Application number: PCT/JP2014/055007
Authority: WO
Inventors: 佐藤　数史
Original assignee: ソニー株式会社
Priority date: 2013-03-12
Filing date: 2014-02-28
Publication date: 2014-09-18

Abstract

The present disclosure pertains to an image processing device and method which make parallel processing possible for the encoding and decoding of a motion vector. Motion information pertaining to E1 is deemed unavailable in the prior art, in which PU E2 processing is performed in an enhancement layer (EL) and PU E1 is in MER. This time, the present disclosure checks the availability of motion information pertaining to PU B1 in a base layer (BL) corresponding to a collocated PU (in, for example, the same position) corresponding to E1 in the enhancement layer. If motion information pertaining to B1 is available, the motion information pertaining to B1 is used in the motion-vector encoding processing/decoding processing as adjacent motion information for E2. This disclosure can be applied, for example, to an image processing device.

Description

Image processing apparatus and method

The present disclosure relates to an image processing apparatus and method, and more particularly, to an image processing apparatus and method capable of performing parallel processing or pipeline processing in motion vector 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 Part 10 (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 encoding efficiency than H.264 / AVC. Standardization of the encoding method is underway.

By the way, the conventional image coding methods such as MPEG-2 and AVC have a scalability function of layering and coding an image into a plurality of layers.

In other words, for a terminal with a low processing capacity, such as a mobile phone, image compression information of only the base layer (base layer) is transmitted, and a moving image with low spatiotemporal resolution or poor image quality is reproduced. However, 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 space-time resolution is high. Alternatively, it is possible to transmit image compression information according to the capabilities of the terminal and the network from the server without performing transcoding processing, such as playing a moving image with high image quality.

In HEVC, two motion vector information encoding methods, AMVP (Advanced Motion Vector Prediction) and Merge, are defined. In either case, a predicted value of motion vector information in the block is generated from motion vector information (peripheral motion vector information) in a peripheral PU (Prediction Unit). The peripheral motion vector information is generated using the temporal direction adjacent motion vector information and the spatial direction adjacent motion vector information of the block.

Now, suppose that the CU (Coding Unit) is divided into N × 2N PUs. Of the blocks that are vertically divided, the motion information related to the left block is the adjacent motion information in the right block. Therefore, unless the motion information related to the left block is determined, the processing of the right block cannot be started, which hinders pipeline processing.

Therefore, in HEVC, the following method proposed in Non-Patent Document 1 is adopted. That is, first, a syntax element called log2_parallel_merge_level_minus2 is transmitted in the compressed image information to be output. Then, based on the value of log2_parallel_merge_level_minus2, LCU (Largest Coding Unit) is divided into non-overlapping MER (Motion Estimation オーバー Region). MER is a square.

If the PU adjacent to the PU and the space-time (adjacent PU) belong to the same MER, the motion vector encoding process is performed assuming that the motion information related to the adjacent PU is unavailable.

However, when the MER is set to a large value such as 64 × 64 or 32 × 32 by the method according to Non-Patent Document 1, a deterioration in coding efficiency is observed. In particular, when the image frame of the input image is large, a large MER is set, and high-speed PU processing by parallel processing is required.

The present disclosure has been made in view of such a situation, and can perform parallel processing or pipeline processing in motion vector encoding or decoding.

An image processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes hierarchical image encoded data obtained by encoding a plurality of hierarchized image data, and a motion information code obtained by encoding motion information used for encoding the image data. When the receiving unit that receives the data and the current hierarchy includes a parallel or pipeline processing block adjacent to the current block in the processing block and an adjacent reference block to which motion information is referenced, A motion information decoding unit that decodes motion information encoded data received by the receiving unit with reference to motion information of a corresponding block corresponding to the adjacent reference block in a lower layer of the current layer; and the motion information decoding Using the motion information obtained by decoding the motion information encoded data by the unit, the floor received by the receiving unit. And a decoding unit for decoding the coded image data.

The motion information encoded data is encoded in the merge mode.

The motion information encoded data is encoded by AMVP (Advanced Motion Vector Prediction) mode.

The motion information decoding unit uses, as a corresponding block corresponding to the adjacent reference block, a block including a pixel corresponding to a pixel located at the center of the adjacent reference block in the current layer in the lower layer as a motion of the corresponding block. Information can be referenced.

The motion information decoding unit, as a corresponding block corresponding to the adjacent reference block, a block including a pixel corresponding to a pixel located in the upper left of the adjacent reference block in the current layer in the lower layer, the motion of the corresponding block Information can be referenced.

The motion information of the corresponding block is stored in the buffer in a compressed state.

The motion information decoding unit can decode the motion information encoded data received by the receiving unit by parallel or pipeline processing.

According to an image processing method of one aspect of the present disclosure, an image processing apparatus encodes hierarchical image encoded data obtained by encoding a plurality of hierarchized image data and motion information used for encoding the image data. In the current layer, a parallel or pipeline processing block includes an adjacent reference block that is adjacent to the current block in the processing block and to which motion information is referenced. In this case, in the lower layer of the current layer, the received motion information encoded data is decoded by referring to the motion information of the corresponding block corresponding to the adjacent reference block, and the motion information encoded data is decoded. The received hierarchical image encoded data is decoded using the motion information.

An image processing device according to another aspect of the present disclosure includes an encoding unit that encodes image data that has been hierarchized using motion information, and the processing in parallel or pipeline processing blocks in a current hierarchy. When an adjacent reference block that is adjacent to the current block in the block and to which motion information is referenced is included, in the lower hierarchy of the current hierarchy, refer to the motion information of the corresponding block corresponding to the adjacent reference block, A motion information encoding unit that encodes the motion information used for encoding the image data by the encoding unit; and hierarchical image encoded data obtained by encoding the image data by the encoding unit. And a transmission unit for transmitting the motion information encoded data obtained by encoding the motion information by the motion information encoding unit.

When the motion information encoding unit includes an adjacent reference block adjacent to the current block in the processing block and referenced to the motion information in the parallel or pipeline processing block in the merge mode And encoding the motion information used for encoding the image data by the encoding unit with reference to motion information of a corresponding block corresponding to the adjacent reference block in a lower layer of the current layer. it can.

The motion information encoding unit includes an adjacent reference block adjacent to a current block in the processing block and referred to motion information in a parallel or pipeline processing block in an AMVP (Advanced Motion Vector Prediction) mode. And encoding the motion information used for encoding the image data by the encoding unit with reference to motion information of a corresponding block corresponding to the adjacent reference block in a lower layer of the current layer can do.

The motion information encoding unit uses, as the corresponding block corresponding to the adjacent reference block, a block including a pixel corresponding to a pixel located at the center of the adjacent reference block in the current layer in the lower layer, as the corresponding block. Can be referred to.

The motion information encoding unit uses, as a corresponding block corresponding to the adjacent reference block, a block including a pixel corresponding to a pixel located in the upper left of the adjacent reference block in the current layer in the lower layer. The motion information can be referred to.

The motion information encoding unit can encode the motion information used for encoding the image data by the encoding unit by parallel or pipeline processing.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an image processing method in which an image processing apparatus encodes multiple layers of image data using motion information, and the processing is performed in parallel or pipeline processing blocks in a current layer. When an adjacent reference block that is adjacent to the current block in the block and to which motion information is referenced is included, in the lower hierarchy of the current hierarchy, refer to the motion information of the corresponding block corresponding to the adjacent reference block, Hierarchical image encoded data obtained by encoding the motion information used for encoding the image data and encoding the image data, and motion information encoding obtained by encoding the motion information Transmit data.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, hierarchical image encoded data obtained by encoding a plurality of hierarchized image data, motion information encoded data obtained by encoding motion information used for encoding the image data, Is received. In the current hierarchy, when a parallel or pipeline processing block includes an adjacent reference block adjacent to the current block in the processing block and to which motion information is referenced, The received motion information encoded data is decoded with reference to the motion information of the corresponding block corresponding to the adjacent reference block, and the motion information encoded data is received using the motion information obtained by decoding. The hierarchical image encoded data is decoded.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, multiple layers of image data are encoded using motion information, and adjacent to a current block in the processing block in a parallel or pipeline processing block in the current layer. When the adjacent reference block to which the motion information is referred is included, the motion data of the corresponding block corresponding to the adjacent reference block is referred to in the lower layer of the current layer to encode the image data. The used motion information is encoded. Then, the hierarchical image encoded data obtained by encoding the image data and the motion information encoded data obtained by encoding the motion information are transmitted.

Note that the above-described image processing apparatus may be an independent apparatus, or may be an internal block constituting one image encoding apparatus or image decoding apparatus.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an image can be decoded. In particular, parallel processing or pipeline processing can be performed in motion vector encoding or decoding.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an image can be encoded. In particular, parallel processing or pipeline processing can be performed in motion vector encoding or decoding.

It is a figure explaining the structural example of a coding unit. 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 explaining AMVP. It is a figure explaining merge (Merge). It is a figure explaining encoding of ID of a candidate list. It is a figure explaining filling of a missing number list. It is a figure explaining the hindrance of the pipeline process in a motion coding process. It is a figure explaining the operation principle of this art. It is a block diagram which shows the main structural examples of a scalable encoding 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 motion information encoding part. It is a flowchart explaining the example of the flow of an 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 a motion prediction and compensation process. It is a flowchart explaining the example of the flow of a motion information encoding process. It is a flowchart explaining the example of the flow of a merge process. It is a block diagram which shows the main structural examples of a scalable 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 main structural examples of a motion information decoding part. It is a flowchart explaining the example of the flow of a 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 a prediction process. It is a flowchart explaining the example of the flow of a motion information decoding process. It is a flowchart explaining the example of the flow of a merge process. It is a figure which shows the example of a hierarchy image coding system. It is a figure which shows the example of a multiview image encoding system. 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.

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. Other 4. Third embodiment (computer)
5. Application example 6. Application examples of scalable coding

<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 system, as shown in FIG. 1, a coding unit (CU (Coding Unit)) is defined.

CU is also called 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 Co)) included in the output encoded data, the maximum size (LCU (Largest Coding Unit)) and the minimum size (SCU (Smallest Coding Unit)) are specified. The

In 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 (PU)) that are regions (partial regions of images in units of pictures) that are processing units of intra or inter prediction, and are regions that are processing units of orthogonal transformation It is divided into transform units (Transform Unit (TU)), which is (a partial area of an image in units of pictures). 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 macro block in the AVC method, and the CU also includes a block (sub-block) in the AVC method. 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, CTU (Coding Tree Unit) is a unit that includes CTB (Coding Tree Block) of LCU (maximum number of CUs) and parameters when processing on the LCU base (level). . Further, it is assumed that CU (Coding 構成 Unit) constituting the CTU is a unit including CB (Coding パラメータ Block) and parameters 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.

As an example of such a selection method, 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.

That is, in order to perform encoding in High Complexity Mode, the parameters D and R are calculated, and therefore, it is necessary to perform temporary encoding processing 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, D is the difference energy between the predicted image and the input image, unlike the case of High Complexity Mode. 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 the Low Complexity Mode, it is necessary to perform a prediction process for each candidate mode, but it is not necessary to perform the encoding process because the decoded image is not necessary. For this reason, it is possible to realize with a calculation amount lower than that of High Complexity Mode.

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

In image hierarchization, one image is divided into a plurality of images (layers) based on a predetermined parameter. Basically, each layer is composed of difference data so that redundancy is reduced. For example, if one image is divided into two layers, a base layer and an enhancement layer, an image with lower quality than the original image can be obtained with only the base layer data, and the base layer data and the enhancement layer data are combined. Thus, the original image (that is, a high quality image) is obtained.

By layering 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 (base layer) is transmitted, and a moving image with a low spatiotemporal resolution or poor image quality is reproduced. For terminals with high processing power, such as televisions and personal computers, in addition to the base layer (base layer), image enhancement information of the enhancement layer (enhancement layer) is transmitted. 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.

As a parameter having such scalability, for example, there is a spatial resolution as shown in FIG. 2 (spatial scalability). In the case of this spatial scalability (spatial scalability), the resolution is different for each layer. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, enhancement in which each picture is synthesized with a 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.

As another parameter for providing such scalability, for example, there is temporal resolution as shown in FIG. 3 (temporal scalability). In the case of this temporal scalability (temporal scalability), the frame rate is different for each layer. That is, in this case, as shown in FIG. 3, 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, as another parameter for providing such scalability, for example, there is a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) (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. 4, 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. In other words, in the base layer image compression information, information related to the low PSNR image is transmitted, and by adding the enhancement layer image compression information to this, a high SNR image is reconstructed. 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 examples described above. For example, the base layer (base layer) consists of an 8-bit (bit) image, and by adding an enhancement layer (enhancement layer) to this, the bit-depth scalability (bit-depth scalability) can be obtained. is there.

In addition, the base layer (base より layer) consists of component images in 4: 2: 0 format, and by adding the enhancement layer (enhancement layer) to this, the chroma scalability (chroma) scalability).

Furthermore, there is multi-view as a parameter that gives scalability. In this case, the layers are hierarchized into layers of different views (viewpoints).

The layers described in the present embodiment include the above-described scalability coding spatial, temporal, SNR, bit depth, color, view, and the like.

The term “layer” used in this specification includes the above-described scalable (hierarchical) coding layer and each view when considering a multi-view multi-view.

Furthermore, the term “layer” used in this specification includes a main (corresponding to sub) layer and a sublayer. As a specific example, there is a case where the main layer is a spatial scalability layer and the sublayer is composed of a temporal scalability layer.

In the present embodiment, since the hierarchy and the layer are the same, the hierarchy is described as a layer as appropriate.

[Encoding of motion information]
A coding method of motion information defined in HEVC will be described.

In HEVC, inter-picture prediction (inter prediction) is adopted as one of the methods for generating a predicted image. As a coding method of motion information (information including motion vectors) generated at that time, AMVP ( Two methods are defined: Advanced (Motion) Vector (Prediction) and Merge.

In either case, a predicted value (also referred to as predicted motion information) of motion information in the current block is generated from motion information in a peripheral block (peripheral PU) located around the current block (PU) to be processed. In the case of the AMVP mode, a difference value between the predicted motion information and the motion information of the current block is calculated, and the difference value is included in the bit stream of the image data and transmitted as the motion information encoding result. In the merge mode, predicted motion information generated from the neighboring blocks is used as motion information for the current block. Then, index information indicating the predicted motion information is included in the bit stream of the image data and transmitted.

The predicted motion information includes motion information of a temporal peripheral block that is a peripheral block in the time direction of the current block (also referred to as temporal peripheral motion information), and a spatial peripheral block that is a peripheral block in the spatial direction. Motion information (also referred to as spatial direction peripheral motion information).

In the case of AMVP mode, for example, for the current block (CurrentPU) in FIG. 5, spatial direction peripheral motion information is the motion information of peripheral block A0, peripheral block B0, peripheral block C, peripheral block D, and peripheral block E. is there. For example, for the current block (Current の PU) in FIG. 5, the temporal direction peripheral motion information is the peripheral block CR and the peripheral block H of the picture of the collocated block (Co-located-PU).

In this AMVP mode, when generating a predicted motion information candidate from spatial direction peripheral motion information, one of the peripheral block A0 and the peripheral block E in FIG. 5 is selected as a predicted motion information candidate. One of block C, peripheral block B0, and peripheral block D is selected.

In the following, VEC1 is the motion information of the current block, ref_idx and list are the same motion information, VEC2 is the motion information of the current block, and ref_idx is the same, but the list is different motion information, and VEC3 is The motion information of the current block is different from ref_idx but the list is the same, and VEC4 is the motion information of the current block, and ref_idx and list are different motion information.

The candidates for the spatial direction peripheral motion information are searched (scanned) in the following order.

(1) Scan VEC1 of peripheral block E and peripheral block A0.
(2) Scan VEC2, 3, and 4 of peripheral block E and peripheral block A0.
(3) Scan VEC1 of peripheral block C, peripheral block B0, and peripheral block D.
(4) Scan VEC2, 3, and 4 of peripheral block C, peripheral block B0, and peripheral block D.

The scanning process ends when the corresponding motion information is detected.

Note that for

VEC

3 and 4, a scaling process such as the following equation (3) is performed.

Also, in the case of generating predicted motion information candidates from temporal direction peripheral motion information, when the motion information of the peripheral block H in FIG. 5 is unavailable, the motion information of the peripheral block CR is used as a candidate for predicted motion information. Used.

Next, the motion information encoding method in the merge mode will be described.

In the merge mode, for example, for the current block (CurrentPU) in FIG. 6, the spatial peripheral motion information is the motion information of the peripheral blocks 1 to 5. Further, for example, for the current block (Current PU) in FIG. 6, the temporal direction peripheral motion information is the peripheral block CR6 and the peripheral block H6 of the picture of the collocated block (Co-located PU).

In this merge mode, when generating predicted motion information candidates from spatial direction peripheral motion information, the motion information of the peripheral blocks 1 to 4 in FIG. 6 is used as a predicted motion information candidate, and a candidate list is generated. Is done. If at least one piece of motion information of the peripheral blocks 1 to 4 is unavailable, the motion information of the peripheral block 5 is used.

In addition, when generating motion prediction candidates from temporal direction peripheral motion information, when the motion information of the peripheral block H6 in FIG. 6 is unavailable, the motion information of the peripheral block CR6 is used.

In this way, the number of prediction motion information candidates in the merge mode (the size of the candidate list) is always fixed to five. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the list size (List Size) of the index (Merge_idx) is fixed to 5. Thereby, CABAC and motion prediction can be processed independently.

It should be noted that if there is unusable peripheral motion information, this candidate list may be missing. If missing numbers are generated in the candidate list, the encoding efficiency may be reduced. Therefore, in order to prevent missing numbers from appearing in the candidate list, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, a compensation method such as combined merge (Combined bi-directional merge) or zero vector merge (Zero vector merge) has been considered.

Combined merge is a method for generating and compensating for new candidates using motion information already used in the candidate list. Zero vector merging is a method of generating a new candidate using a zero vector and filling it.

Now, as shown in FIG. 9, it is assumed that the CU is divided into N × 2N PUs. Of the blocks that are vertically divided, the motion information related to the left block B0 is the adjacent motion information in the right block B1. Therefore, unless the motion information regarding the left block B0 is determined, the processing of the right block B1 cannot be started, which hinders pipeline processing.

Therefore, in HEVC, the following method proposed in Non-Patent Document 1 is adopted. That is, first, a syntax element called log2_parallel_merge_level_minus2 is transmitted in the compressed image information to be output. Then, based on the value of log2_parallel_merge_level_minus2, the LCU is divided into MERs (Motion Estimation Regions) that do not overlap. MER is a square.

This is also true when performing scalable encoding processing. In particular, with regard to spatial scalability, since the image frame in the enhancement layer is large, the degradation of coding efficiency is also large.

Therefore, in the present technology, regarding the adjacent motion information that becomes unavailable in the enhancement layer, if the motion information in the collocated (co-located) PU in the base layer is available (available), this is used as the adjacent motion information. Motion vector encoding / decoding processing is performed. That is, in the present technology, in the enhancement layer, when a PU adjacent to the PU and space-time (adjacent PU) belongs to the same MER, the motion vector is used for the adjacent PU using the motion information of the collocated PU in the base layer. Encoding / decoding processing is performed.

[Operation principle of this technology]
The operation principle in the present technology will be described with reference to FIG.

In the example of FIG. 10, the processing of PU E2 in the enhancement layer (EL) is performed. That is, PU E2 is the current block, and PU E1 is an adjacent block adjacent to the current block. In such a case, when PU E1 is in MER, the motion information related to E1 is handled as unavailable in the conventional method according to HEVC Version1. Note that the MER is a processing block that performs parallel processing or pipeline processing, as described in Non-Patent Document 1.

At this time, in the present technology, in the enhancement layer (EL), the availability information of the motion information related to PU B1 in the base layer (BL) corresponding to the collocated PU corresponding to E1 (for example, at the same position) is checked. Done.

If the motion information related to B1 is available, the motion information related to B1 is used for motion vector encoding / decoding processing as adjacent motion information for E2.

Since the encoding process in the base layer is completed at the time when the encoding process in the enhancement layer is performed, the motion vector by parallel processing or pipeline processing is applied by applying such a method according to the present technology. Encoding / decoding processing can be performed.

As a method of detecting B1, first, in the enhancement layer, a pixel located at the center of E1 is detected, and a PU including a pixel in the base layer corresponding to this is detected as a co-located PU corresponding to E1. Assume that B1.

Alternatively, the co-located PU B1 detection process may be performed using a pixel located in the upper left instead of the center of E1.

Note that in the case of spatial scalability, motion information scaling processing according to the scalability ratio is performed.

In Non-Patent Document 1, MER is proposed for merge, but the method according to the present technology is applied not only to merge but also to AMVP (Advanced Motion Vector Prediction) described above with reference to FIG. May be.

Next, a specific application example of the present technology as described above will be described.

<1. First Embodiment>
[Scalable encoder]
FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration example of a scalable encoding device.

A scalable encoding device 100 shown in FIG. 11 is an image information processing device that performs scalable encoding of image data, and encodes each layer of image data hierarchized into a base layer and an enhancement layer. The parameters used as the criteria for this hierarchization (parameters that give scalability) are arbitrary. The scalable encoding device 100 includes a common information generation unit 101, an encoding control unit 102, a base layer image encoding unit 103, a motion information encoding unit 104, and an enhancement layer image encoding unit 105.

The common information generation unit 101 acquires information related to encoding of image data that is stored in, for example, a NAL unit. In addition, the common information generation unit 101 acquires necessary information from the base layer image encoding unit 103, the motion information encoding unit 104, the enhancement layer image encoding unit 105, and the like as necessary. The common information generation unit 101 generates common information that is information regarding all layers based on the information. The common information includes, for example, a video parameter set. The common information generation unit 101 outputs the generated common information to the outside of the scalable encoding device 100, for example, as a NAL unit. Note that the common information generation unit 101 also supplies the generated common information to the encoding control unit 102. Furthermore, the common information generation unit 101 supplies part or all of the generated common information to the base layer image encoding unit 103 to the enhancement layer image encoding unit 105 as necessary.

The encoding control unit 102 controls the encoding of each layer by controlling the base layer image encoding unit 103 to the enhancement layer image encoding unit 105 based on the common information supplied from the common information generation unit 101. To do.

The base layer image encoding unit 103 acquires base layer image information (base layer image information). The base layer image encoding unit 103 encodes the base layer image information without using information of other layers, generates base layer encoded data (base layer encoded data), and outputs the encoded data. Further, the base layer image encoding unit 103 supplies the motion information obtained at the time of encoding to the motion information encoding unit 104.

The heel motion information encoding unit 104 generates a list of predicted motion vector information used for encoding motion information obtained by motion prediction in the enhancement layer image encoding unit 105. The motion information encoding unit 104 generates predicted motion information that is a predicted value of the motion information of the current block, using the motion information of the peripheral blocks located around the current block to be processed as the peripheral motion information. When generating such predicted motion information, the motion information encoding unit 104 uses the motion information acquired from the enhancement layer image encoding unit 105 as peripheral motion information. However, when the block adjacent to the current block is in the MER, the motion information becomes unavailable, so the motion information encoding unit 104 uses the base layer image encoding unit 103 instead of the unavailable motion information. Available motion information (specifically, motion information of a collocated block corresponding to the adjacent block) obtained from the above is used as peripheral motion information. The motion information encoding unit 104 returns the list of predicted motion information generated in this way to the enhancement layer image encoding unit 105.

The enhancement layer image encoding unit 105 acquires enhancement layer image information (enhancement layer image information). The enhancement layer image encoding unit 105 encodes the enhancement layer image information. The enhancement layer image encoding unit 105 supplies the motion information of the current block to the motion information encoding unit 104 in order to encode the motion information of the current block. Also, the enhancement layer image encoding unit 105 acquires a list of predicted motion information of the current block from the motion information encoding unit 104. The enhancement layer image encoding unit 105 encodes the motion information of the current block using the acquired list of predicted motion information. The enhancement layer image encoding unit 105 generates and outputs enhancement layer encoded data (enhancement layer encoded data) through such encoding.

[Base layer image encoding unit]
FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration example of the base layer image encoding unit 103 in FIG. 11. As shown in FIG. 12, the base layer image encoding unit 103 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 103 includes a calculation unit 120, a deblocking filter 121, a frame memory 122, a selection unit 123, an intra prediction unit 124, a motion prediction / compensation unit 125, a predicted image selection unit 126, and a rate control unit. 127. Further, the base layer image encoding unit 103 includes an adaptive offset filter 128 between the deblocking filter 121 and the frame memory 122.

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 frames in the stored display order in the order of frames for encoding according to the 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 the intra prediction mode from the intra prediction unit 124, and acquires information indicating the 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 by an arbitrary encoding method, and uses (multiplexes) a part of the encoded data (also referred to as an encoded stream). 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 cocoon 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 or the frame memory 122.

The deblocking filter 121 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 supplies the filtered image to the adaptive offset filter 128.

The adaptive offset filter 128 is an adaptive offset filter (SAO: Sample adaptive offset) that mainly removes ringing from the deblocking filter processing result (reconstructed image from which block distortion has been removed) from the deblocking filter 121. Process.

More specifically, the adaptive offset filter 128 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 128 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 128 supplies the image after the adaptive offset filter processing (hereinafter referred to as a decoded image) to the frame memory 122.

It should be noted that the deblocking filter 121 and the adaptive offset filter 128 may supply information such as filter coefficients used for the filter processing to the lossless encoding unit 116 and encode it as necessary. Further, an adaptive loop filter may be provided after the adaptive offset filter 128.

The frame memory 122 stores the reconstructed image supplied from the arithmetic unit 120 and the decoded image supplied from the adaptive offset filter 128, respectively. 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 kite 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.

The eyelid 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 motion prediction / compensation unit 125. For example, in the case of inter prediction, the selection unit 123 supplies the reference image supplied from the frame memory 122 to the motion prediction / compensation unit 125.

The intra prediction unit 124 performs intra prediction (intra-screen prediction) that generates a predicted image using a pixel value in a current picture that is a reference image supplied from the frame memory 122 via the selection unit 123. The intra prediction unit 124 performs this intra prediction in a 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.

Also, 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 for encoding.

The heel motion prediction / compensation unit 125 performs motion prediction (inter prediction) using the input image supplied from the screen rearrangement buffer 112 and the reference image supplied from the frame memory 122 via the selection unit 123. The motion prediction / compensation unit 125 performs a motion compensation process according to the detected motion vector, and generates a prediction image (inter prediction image information). The motion prediction / compensation unit 125 performs such inter prediction in a plurality of inter prediction modes prepared in advance.

The heel 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 and a flag indicating an index of the predicted motion vector as predicted motion vector information.

The predicted image selection unit 126 selects a supply source of the predicted image to be 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 rate of the quantization operation 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, for each mode, the motion prediction / compensation unit 125 supplies the motion information of the current block detected by motion prediction to the motion information encoding unit 104 as the motion information of the base layer.

[Enhancement layer image encoding unit]
FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration example of the enhancement layer image encoding unit 105 in FIG. 11. As shown in FIG. 13, the enhancement layer image encoding unit 105 has basically the same configuration as the base layer image encoding unit 103 of FIG.

However, each unit of the enhancement layer image encoding unit 105 performs processing for encoding enhancement layer image information, not the base layer. That is, the A / D conversion unit 111 of the enhancement layer image encoding unit 105 performs A / D conversion on the enhancement layer image information, and the accumulation buffer 117 of the enhancement layer image encoding unit 105 converts the enhancement layer encoded data into, for example, Then, the data is output to a recording device (recording medium), a transmission path, etc., not shown.

In addition, the enhancement layer image encoding unit 105 includes a motion prediction / compensation unit 135 instead of the motion prediction / compensation unit 125.

The heel motion prediction / compensation unit 135 uses the motion information encoding unit 104 to encode motion information. That is, the motion prediction / compensation unit 125 encodes the motion information of the current block using only the peripheral motion information of the base layer, whereas the motion prediction / compensation unit 135 uses only the peripheral motion information of the enhancement layer. Alternatively, the motion information of the current block can be encoded using the peripheral motion information of the base layer.

The motion prediction / compensation unit 135 generates, for each mode, a list of predicted motion information in the AMVP mode using the motion information around the current block detected by motion prediction. Also, the motion prediction / compensation unit 135 supplies the motion information of the current block detected by motion prediction for each mode to the motion information encoding unit 104 as enhancement layer motion information. In addition, the motion prediction / compensation unit 135 acquires a list of prediction motion information in the merge mode from the motion information encoding unit 104 for each supplied motion information.

The motion prediction / compensation unit 135 encodes motion information using the prediction motion information list in the AMVP mode and the merge mode, calculates a cost function value using the encoded result of the motion information, and selects an optimal inter prediction mode. decide.

[Motion information encoder]
FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration example of the motion information encoding unit 104 in FIG. 11. Hereinafter, a PU will be described as an example of a block of a prediction processing unit. Hereinafter, the motion information is also referred to as motion vector information.

As shown in FIG. 14, the motion information encoding unit 104 includes a parallel merge setting unit 151, a merge processing unit 152, a motion information compression unit 153, and a base layer motion information buffer 154.

The parallel merge setting unit 151 performs setting related to MER (Motion Estimation Region), that is, specifies a block size in accordance with a user operation. The MER is a block set for performing parallel or pipeline processing. In other words, the MER can be said to be a parallel or pipeline processing block.

The parallel merge setting unit 151 supplies the specified block size information (hereinafter referred to as MER information) to the MER information buffer 164 of the merge processing unit 152. More specifically, as this MER information, here, the value of log2_parallel_merge_level_minus2 described in Non-Patent Document 1 is set.

Also, this value is supplied to the lossless encoding unit 116 via the motion prediction / compensation unit 135, and is encoded by the lossless encoding unit 116 as, for example, a picture parameter set.

The merge processing unit 152 generates a candidate list of predicted motion information corresponding to the motion information of the current block of the enhancement layer in the merge mode. At that time, the merge processing unit 152 acquires the enhancement layer motion information from the motion prediction / compensation unit 135 of the enhancement layer image encoding unit 105 as peripheral motion information as necessary. Further, the merge processing unit 152 acquires the base layer motion information stored in the base layer motion information buffer 154 as peripheral motion information as necessary. The merge processing unit 152 generates a candidate list using the peripheral motion information. The merge processing unit 152 supplies the generated candidate list to the motion prediction / compensation unit 135.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, the merge processing unit 152 includes a candidate motion vector predictor buffer 161, a scaling unit 162, an adjacent motion information buffer 163, an MER information buffer 164, an in-MER determination unit 165, and an availability determination unit 166. It is configured.

The candidate predicted motion vector buffer 161 stores the adjacent PU motion information supplied from the adjacent motion information buffer 163 and the scaled motion vector information supplied from the scaling unit 162.

The candidate prediction motion vector buffer 161 is a merge mode candidate list for obtaining prediction motion information of the motion information of the current block obtained by the motion prediction / compensation unit 135 for the enhancement layer coding by the enhancement layer image coding unit 105. Is generated. The number of candidates (the length of the candidate list) is arbitrary, but is preferably a predetermined number so that CABAC and motion prediction can be processed independently. In the following description, the number of candidates is five.

The candidate motion vector predictor buffer 161 supplies the accumulated motion vector information from No. 0 to No. 4 to the motion prediction / compensation unit 135 as a candidate list.

The scaling unit 162 performs a scaling process on the base layer motion vector information supplied from the availability determination unit 166 according to the spatial scalability ratio. The scaling unit 162 supplies the scaled motion vector information to the candidate motion vector predictor buffer 161. When the spatial scalability is not achieved, the scaling unit 162 supplies motion vector information to the candidate motion vector predictor buffer 161 without scaling.

In the adjacent motion information buffer 163, the address information of the adjacent PU adjacent to the current PU from the motion prediction / compensation unit 135 and the motion vector information of the adjacent PU are available even if parallel processing or pipeline processing is performed. Supplied.

The adjacent motion information buffer 163 supplies the supplied adjacent PU address information to the in-MER determination unit 165. Also, the adjacent motion information buffer 163 supplies adjacent PU motion vector information to the candidate prediction motion vector buffer 161 in accordance with the control signal from the in-MER determination unit 165.

The MER information buffer 164 stores the MER information supplied from the parallel merge setting unit 151, and the stored MER information is supplied to the in-MER determination unit 165 at a predetermined timing.

Based on the address information of the adjacent PU from the adjacent motion information buffer 163 and the MER information stored in the MER information buffer 164, the in-MER determination unit 165 determines whether the adjacent PU is in the MER or outside the MER. Determine. When determining that the MER is out of MER, the in-MER determination unit 165 transmits a control signal to the adjacent motion information buffer 163 because the adjacent PU is available. If the in-MER determination unit 165 determines that the MER is in the MER, the adjacent PU is not available and transmits a control signal to the base layer motion information buffer 154.

The availability determination unit 166 receives the base layer motion vector information supplied from the base layer motion information buffer 154 according to the control signal from the in-MER determination unit 165. The availability determining unit 166 determines whether or not the received base layer motion vector information is available. When the availability determination unit 166 determines that the availability is available, the base layer motion vector information is supplied to the scaling unit 162.

The motion information compression unit 153 obtains a motion vector having a maximum 4 × 4 accuracy (also referred to as a pre-compression motion vector) acquired from the motion prediction / compensation unit 125 of the base layer image encoding unit 103, for example, with 16 × 16 accuracy. The motion vector after the compression (also referred to as 1 / 16-compressed motion vector) is supplied to the base layer motion information buffer 154.

The compression method of this motion vector is arbitrary. Note that the degree of compression is not limited, and compression may not be performed. For example, the motion information compression unit 153 may select a motion vector as a representative value from a plurality of motion vectors acquired from the motion prediction / compensation unit 125. For example, one motion vector as a representative value may be selected from 16 motion vectors of 4 × 4 accuracy (motion vectors of 4 × 4 blocks). By this compression, the accuracy of the motion vector becomes 16 × 16 accuracy.

Note that the method of selecting this motion vector is arbitrary. For example, the motion vector of a block at a predetermined position, such as the block at the upper left corner, may be selected, or the block at a position determined by a predetermined method, for example, a block may be selected according to the position in the image. A motion vector may be selected.

Further, the number of motion vectors to be selected is arbitrary and may be two or more.

Also, the motion information compression unit 153 may calculate the representative value by a predetermined calculation using each motion vector, for example. The method for calculating the representative value is arbitrary. For example, the average value or median value of the motion vectors of each block may be used as the representative value. The number of representative values to be calculated is arbitrary and may be two or more.

The 1 / 16-compressed motion vector (representative value of the motion vector) obtained as described above is supplied to the base layer motion information buffer 154 and stored.

Base layer motion information buffer 154 stores the compressed base layer motion information (1 / 16-compressed motion vector) supplied from motion information compression section 153. The base layer motion information buffer 154 sends the stored base layer motion information as base layer motion information to the merge processing unit 152 (availability determination unit 166) according to the control signal from the in-MER determination unit 165. Supply.

The motion prediction / compensation unit 135 uses the obtained AMVP mode candidate list and the candidate list supplied from the merge processing unit 152 to perform enhancement supplied from the motion prediction / compensation unit 135 of the enhancement layer image encoding unit 105. Set the optimal predictor for the motion information of the current block in the layer.

That is, the motion prediction / compensation unit 135 calculates the cost function value of the encoding result for each obtained candidate, and selects the candidate having the smallest value as the optimal predictor. The motion prediction / compensation unit 135 encodes the motion information of the current block using the optimal predictor. More specifically, the motion prediction / compensation unit 135 obtains a difference (difference motion information) between the motion information and the predicted motion information. The motion prediction / compensation unit 135 obtains the encoding result (differential motion information) in this way for each mode.

In the example of FIG. 14, the base layer motion information buffer 154 shows an example in which the compressed base layer motion information is stored. However, the base layer motion information is stored without being compressed. It is also possible.

As described above, scalable encoding apparatus 100, when encoding motion information of an enhancement layer, includes adjacent blocks in an enhancement layer MER (parallel or pipeline processing block) and includes adjacent blocks in the enhancement layer. Predictive motion information is obtained using the corresponding block of the base layer corresponding to the block. Thereby, parallel processing or pipeline processing can be performed in encoding or decoding of motion information.

[Encoding process flow]
Next, the flow of each process executed by the scalable encoding device 100 as described above will be described. First, an example of the flow of encoding processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The scalable encoding device 100 executes this encoding process for each picture.

When the encoding process is started, in step S101, the encoding control unit 102 of the scalable encoding device 100 sets the first layer as a processing target.

In step S102, the encoding control unit 102 determines whether or not the current layer to be processed is a base layer. If it is determined that the current layer is the base layer, the process proceeds to step S103.

In step S103, the base layer image encoding unit 103 performs base layer encoding processing. When the process of step S103 ends, the process proceeds to step S106.

If it is determined in step S102 that the current layer is an enhancement layer, the process proceeds to step S104. In step S104, the encoding control unit 102 determines a base layer corresponding to the current layer (that is, a reference destination).

In step S105, the enhancement layer image encoding unit 105 performs an enhancement layer encoding process. When the process of step S105 ends, the process proceeds to step S106.

In step S106, the encoding control unit 102 determines whether all layers have been processed. If it is determined that there is an unprocessed layer, the process proceeds to step S107.

In step S107, the encoding control unit 102 sets the next unprocessed layer as a processing target (current layer). When the process of step S107 ends, the process returns to step S102. The processing from step S102 to step S107 is repeatedly executed, and each layer is encoded.

If it is determined in step S106 that all layers have been processed, the encoding process ends.

[Flow of base layer encoding process]
Next, an example of the flow of the base layer encoding process executed in step S103 of FIG. 15 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In step S121, the A / D conversion unit 111 of the base layer image encoding unit 103 performs A / D conversion on the input base layer image information (image data). In step S122, the screen rearrangement buffer 112 stores the A / D converted base layer image information (digital data), and rearranges the pictures 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 a motion prediction / compensation process for performing motion prediction or motion compensation in the inter prediction mode. In step S <b> 125, the predicted image selection unit 126 determines an optimum mode based on the cost function values output from the intra prediction unit 124 and the motion prediction / compensation unit 125. That is, the predicted image selection unit 126 selects one of the predicted image generated by the intra prediction unit 124 and the predicted image generated by the motion prediction / compensation unit 125. In step S126, the calculation unit 113 calculates the difference between the image rearranged by the process of step S122 and the predicted image selected by the process of step S125. The data amount of the difference data is reduced 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 an orthogonal transform process on the difference information 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.

The difference information quantized by the processing in step S128 is locally decoded as follows. That is, in step S129, the inverse quantization unit 118 inversely quantizes the quantized coefficient (also referred to as a quantization coefficient) generated by the process in step S128 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 S127. In step S131, the calculation unit 120 adds the predicted image to the locally decoded difference information, and generates a locally decoded image (an image corresponding to the input to the calculation unit 113).

In step S132, the deblocking filter 121 performs deblocking filter processing on the image generated by the processing in step S131. Thereby, block distortion and the like are removed. In step S <b> 133, the adaptive offset filter 128 performs adaptive offset filter processing that mainly removes ringing on the deblocking filter processing result from the deblocking filter 121.

In step S134, the frame memory 122 stores the image from which ringing has been removed by the process of step S133. Note that an image that has not been filtered by the deblocking filter 121 and the adaptive offset filter 128 is also supplied to the frame memory 122 from the computing unit 120 and stored therein. The image stored in the frame memory 122 is used for the processing in step S123 and the processing in step S124.

In step S135, the motion information compression unit 153 of the motion information encoding unit 104 compresses the base layer motion information obtained by the process of step S124 to, for example, 16 × 16 precision, and the motion vector ( 1 / 16-compressed motion vector) is supplied to the base layer motion information buffer 154 as base layer motion information.

In step S136, the base layer motion information buffer 154 of the motion information encoding unit 104 stores the base layer motion information compressed in step S135.

In step S137, the lossless encoding unit 116 of the base layer image encoding unit 103 encodes the coefficient quantized 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 on 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.

In step S138, the accumulation buffer 117 accumulates the base layer encoded data obtained by the process in step S137. The base layer 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 S139, the rate control unit 127 determines the quantum of the quantization unit 115 so that no overflow or underflow occurs based on the code amount (generated code amount) of the encoded data accumulated in the accumulation buffer 117 in step S138. Control the rate of activation.

処理 When the process of step S139 ends, the base layer encoding process ends, and the process returns to FIG. The base layer encoding process is executed in units of pictures, for example. That is, the base layer encoding process is executed for each picture in the current layer. However, each process in the base layer encoding process is performed for each processing unit.

[Enhancement layer coding process flow]
Next, an example of the flow of the enhancement layer encoding process executed in step S105 of FIG. 15 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

Steps S151 to S153 of the enhancement layer encoding process and steps S155 to S167 are the same as steps S121 to S123, step S125 to S134, and steps S137 to S137 of the base layer encoding process of FIG. It is executed in the same manner as each process in step S139. However, each process of the enhancement layer encoding process is performed on the enhancement layer image information by each processing unit of the enhancement layer image encoding unit 105.

In step S154, the motion prediction / compensation unit 135 of the enhancement layer image encoding unit 105 performs a motion prediction / compensation process on the enhancement layer image information. Details of this motion prediction / compensation processing will be described later with reference to FIG.

処理 When the process of step S167 ends, the enhancement layer encoding process ends, and the process returns to FIG. The enhancement layer encoding process is executed in units of pictures, for example. That is, the enhancement layer encoding process is executed for each picture in the current layer. However, each process in the enhancement layer encoding process is performed for each processing unit.

[Flow of motion prediction / compensation]
Next, an example of the flow of the motion prediction / compensation process executed in step S154 in FIG. 17 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

When the enhancement layer motion prediction / compensation process is started, in step S181, the motion prediction / compensation unit 135 of the enhancement layer image encoding unit 105 performs a motion search process for each mode.

In step S182, the motion prediction / compensation unit 135 performs a motion information encoding process on the motion information in each mode obtained by the process in step S181. Details of this motion information encoding process will be described later with reference to FIG.

In step S183, the motion prediction / compensation unit 135 calculates a cost function value for each mode based on the processing results in steps S181 and S182.

In step S184, the motion prediction / compensation unit 135 determines an optimal inter prediction mode based on the cost function value of each mode calculated in step S183.

In step S185, the motion prediction / compensation unit 135 performs motion compensation in the optimal inter prediction mode selected in step S184, and generates a predicted image. The generated predicted image is supplied to the predicted image selection unit 126 together with information about the optimal inter prediction mode.

In step S186, the adjacent motion information buffer 163 of the motion information encoding unit 104 uses the current block motion information of the optimal inter prediction mode selected in step S184 as its address, as the motion information and address of the adjacent PU. Remember.

処理 When the process of step S186 ends, the motion prediction / compensation process ends, and the process returns to FIG.

[Flow of motion information encoding process]
Next, an example of the flow of the motion information encoding process executed in step S182 in FIG. 18 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

When the heel motion information encoding process is started, the motion prediction / compensation unit 135 performs AMVP processing in step S201, and sets prediction motion information candidates in AMVP mode.

In step S202, the merge processing unit 152 of the motion information encoding unit 104 performs a merge process to generate a candidate list of predicted motion information in the merge mode. Details of the merge processing will be described later with reference to FIG.

In step S203, the motion prediction / compensation unit 135 calculates a cost function value for each candidate of predicted motion information set in step S201 and step S202.

In step S204, the motion prediction / compensation unit 135 obtains an optimal predictor based on the cost function value obtained in step S203.

In step S205, the motion prediction / compensation unit 135 encodes the motion information of the current block of the enhancement layer using the optimal predictor obtained in step S204. By this encoding, the motion prediction / compensation unit 135 obtains an encoding result of the motion information (difference between motion information and predicted motion information).

処理 When the process of step S205 is finished, the motion information encoding process is finished, and the process returns to FIG.

[Flow of merge processing]
Next, an example of the flow of merge processing executed in step S202 of FIG. 19 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the heel merge process is started, the parallel merge setting unit 151 of the motion information encoding unit 104 sets MER in step S221 in accordance with a user operation. The parallel merge setting unit 151 supplies the set MER information to the in-MER determination unit 165 via the MER information buffer 164 of the merge processing unit 152.

In step S222, the in-MER determination unit 165 determines whether the adjacent PU is in the MER based on the address information of the adjacent PU from the adjacent motion information buffer 163 and the MER information stored in the MER information buffer 164. judge. If it is determined in step S222 that the adjacent PU is in the MER, the in-MER determination unit 165 transmits a control signal to the base layer motion information buffer 154, and the process proceeds to step S223.

In step S223, the base layer motion information buffer 154 detects a collocated PU in the base layer of the adjacent PU. As described above, this detection method detects a pixel located in the center of an adjacent PU in the enhancement layer, and determines a PU including a pixel in the base layer corresponding thereto as a collocated (co- located) PU.

Alternatively, the co-located PU detection process corresponding to the adjacent PU may be performed using a pixel located at the upper left instead of the center of the adjacent PU.

The base layer motion information buffer 154 supplies the co-located PU detected in step S223 to the availability determination unit 166 as base layer motion vector information.

In step S224, the availability determination unit 166 determines whether the motion information regarding the collocated PU in the base layer is available. When it is determined in step S224 that the motion information regarding the collocated PU in the base layer is available, the availability determination unit 166 supplies the base layer motion vector information to the scaling unit 162, and the process proceeds to step S225.

In step S225, the scaling unit 162 supplies the base layer motion vector information from the availability determination unit 166 to the candidate prediction motion vector buffer 161, and adds the adjacent motion information in the base layer to the candidate prediction list.

At this time, in the case of spatial scalability, the scaling unit 162 performs scaling processing according to the spatial scalability ratio on the base layer motion vector information from the availability determination unit 166.

When the process of step S225 is completed, the merge process is completed, and the process returns to FIG. If it is determined in step S224 in FIG. 20 that the motion information related to the collocated PU in the base layer is not available, step S225 is skipped, the merge process ends, and the process returns to FIG. In this case, the candidate list may be supplemented by the combined merge described above with reference to FIG.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S222 that the adjacent PU is not within the MER, that is, outside the MER, the in-MER determination unit 165 transmits a control signal to the adjacent motion information buffer 163, and the process is performed in step S226. Proceed to

In step S226, the adjacent motion information buffer 163 supplies the adjacent PU motion vector information to the candidate prediction motion vector buffer 161 according to the control signal from the in-MER determination unit 165, and the adjacent motion information in the enhancement layer is the candidate prediction list. Add to

When the process of step S226 ends, the merge process ends, and the process returns to FIG.

By executing each process as described above, the scalable encoding device 100 can perform parallel processing or pipeline processing in encoding motion vectors.

In the above description, for convenience of explanation, in the motion vector encoding process, the motion information encoding unit 104 generates a candidate list of prediction motion information in merge mode, and performs other processes (AMVP process and difference). In the example described above, the motion prediction / compensation unit 135 performs the process of generating However, for example, the motion information encoding unit 104 may perform other processes described above with reference to FIG.

<2. Second Embodiment>
[Scalable decoding device]
Next, decoding of encoded data (bit stream) that has been scalable encoded (hierarchical encoded) as described above will be described. FIG. 21 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration example of a scalable decoding device corresponding to the scalable coding device 100 of FIG. A scalable decoding device 200 shown in FIG. 21 performs scalable decoding on encoded data obtained by scalable encoding of image data by the scalable encoding device 100, for example, by a method corresponding to the encoding method.

As shown in FIG. 21, the scalable decoding device 200 includes a common information acquisition unit 201, a decoding control unit 202, a base layer image decoding unit 203, a motion information decoding unit 204, and an enhancement layer image decoding unit 205.

The common information acquisition unit 201 acquires common information (for example, a video parameter set (VPS)) transmitted from the encoding side. The common information acquisition unit 201 extracts information related to decoding from the acquired common information and supplies it to the decoding control unit 202. In addition, the common information acquisition unit 201 supplies part or all of the common information to the base layer image decoding unit 203 to the enhancement layer image decoding unit 205 as appropriate.

The decoding control unit 202 acquires information about decoding supplied from the common information acquisition unit 201, and controls the base layer image decoding unit 203 to the enhancement layer image decoding unit 205 based on the information, thereby Control decryption.

The base layer image decoding unit 203 is an image decoding unit corresponding to the base layer image encoding unit 103, and for example, base layer encoded data obtained by encoding base layer image information by the base layer image encoding unit 103. To get. The base layer image decoding unit 203 decodes the base layer encoded data without using the information of other layers, reconstructs the base layer image information, and outputs it. Further, the base layer image decoding unit 203 supplies the motion information obtained at the time of decoding to the motion information decoding unit 204.

The heel motion information decoding unit 204 generates a list of predicted motion vector information used for decoding the motion information transmitted from the encoding side, which is used in the motion compensation processing in the enhancement layer image decoding unit 205. The motion information decoding unit 204 generates predicted motion information by using the motion information of peripheral blocks located around the current block to be processed using the peripheral motion information. When generating such predicted motion information, the motion information decoding unit 204 uses the motion information acquired from the enhancement layer image decoding unit 205 as peripheral motion information. However, when the block adjacent to the current block is in the MER, the motion information becomes unavailable, so the motion information decoding unit 204 obtains from the base layer image decoding unit 203 instead of the unavailable motion information. The available motion information (specifically, the motion information of the collocated block corresponding to the adjacent block) is used as the peripheral motion information. The motion information decoding unit 204 returns the list of predicted motion information generated in this way to the enhancement layer image decoding unit 205.

The enhancement layer image decoding unit 205 is an image decoding unit corresponding to the enhancement layer image encoding unit 105, for example, enhancement layer encoded data obtained by encoding enhancement layer image information by the enhancement layer image encoding unit 105. To get. The enhancement layer image decoding unit 205 decodes the enhancement layer encoded data. At that time, the enhancement layer image decoding unit 205 displays a list of predicted motion information necessary for decoding encoded data of motion information (difference between motion information and predicted motion information) transmitted from the encoding side, as a motion information decoding unit. 204. The enhancement layer image decoding unit 205 obtains motion information from the difference transmitted from the encoding side using the list of predicted motion information. The obtained motion information is supplied to the motion information decoding unit 204 as surrounding motion information necessary for decoding other current blocks. The enhancement layer image decoding unit 205 performs motion compensation using the motion information obtained by such decoding, generates a prediction image, reconstructs the enhancement layer image information using the prediction image, and outputs it. .

[Base layer image decoding unit]
FIG. 22 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration example of the base layer image decoding unit 203 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 21, the base layer image decoding unit 203 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, and a screen rearrangement buffer 217. And a D / A converter 218. The base layer image decoding unit 203 includes a frame memory 219, a selection unit 220, an intra prediction unit 221, a motion compensation unit 222, and a selection unit 223. Furthermore, the base layer image decoding unit 203 includes an adaptive offset filter 224 between the deblocking filter 216 and the screen rearrangement buffer 217 and the frame memory 219.

Accumulation buffer 211 is also a receiving unit that receives transmitted base layer encoded data. The accumulation buffer 211 receives and accumulates the transmitted base layer 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 base layer encoded data.

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

In addition, the lossless decoding unit 212 appropriately extracts and acquires NAL units including a video parameter set (VPS), a sequence parameter set (SPS), a picture parameter set (PPS), and the like included in the base layer encoded data. The lossless decoding unit 212 extracts information on the optimum prediction mode from the information, determines whether the intra prediction mode or the inter prediction mode is selected as the optimum prediction mode based on the information, and Information regarding the optimal prediction mode is supplied to the mode determined to be selected from the intra prediction unit 221 and the motion compensation unit 222. That is, for example, when the intra prediction mode is selected as the optimal prediction mode in the base layer image encoding unit 103, 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 in the base layer image encoding unit 103, information regarding the optimal prediction mode is supplied to the motion compensation unit 222.

Furthermore, the lossless decoding unit 212 acquires the value of log2_parallel_merge_level_minus2, which is MER information, from the picture parameter set, for example, and supplies it to the motion information decoding unit 204 via the motion compensation unit 232. In addition, the lossless decoding unit 212 extracts information necessary for inverse quantization, such as a quantization matrix and a quantization parameter, from the NAL unit and supplies it 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. The inverse quantization unit 213 is a processing unit similar to the inverse quantization unit 118. That is, the description of the inverse quantization unit 213 can be applied to the inverse quantization unit 118. However, the data input / output destinations and the like need to be changed appropriately according to the device. 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 coefficient data supplied from the inverse quantization unit 213 using a method corresponding to the orthogonal transform method of the orthogonal transform unit 114. The inverse orthogonal transform unit 214 is a processing unit similar to the inverse orthogonal transform unit 119. That is, the description of the inverse orthogonal transform unit 214 can be applied to the inverse orthogonal transform unit 119. However, the data input / output destinations and the like need to be changed appropriately according to the device.

The inverse orthogonal transform unit 214 obtains decoded residual data corresponding to the residual data before being orthogonally transformed by the orthogonal transform unit 114 by the inverse orthogonal transform process. The decoded residual data obtained by the inverse orthogonal transform is supplied to the calculation unit 215. In addition, a prediction image is supplied to the calculation unit 215 from the intra prediction unit 221 or the motion compensation unit 222 via the selection unit 223.

The calculating unit 215 adds the decoded residual data and the predicted image, and obtains decoded image data corresponding to the image data before the predicted image is subtracted by the calculating unit 113. The arithmetic unit 215 supplies the decoded image data to the deblocking filter 216.

The deblocking filter 216 removes block distortion of the decoded image by performing a deblocking filter process on the decoded image. The deblocking filter 216 supplies the filtered image to the adaptive offset filter 224.

The adaptive offset filter 224 performs an adaptive offset filter (SAO: Sample adaptive offset) process that mainly removes ringing from the deblocking filter processing result (decoded image from which block distortion has been removed) from the deblocking filter 216. I do.

The adaptive offset filter 224 receives the type and offset of adaptive offset filter processing for each LCU (Largest Coding Unit), which is the maximum coding unit, from the lossless decoding unit 212 (not shown). The adaptive offset filter 224 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 224 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 and the adaptive offset filter 224. That is, part or all of the filtering process by the deblocking filter 216 can be omitted. An adaptive loop filter may be provided after the adaptive offset filter 224.

The screen rearrangement buffer 217 rearranges the decoded images. That is, the order of frames rearranged for the encoding order by the screen rearrangement buffer 112 is rearranged in the original display order. The D / A conversion unit 218 performs D / A conversion on the image supplied from the screen rearrangement buffer 217, and outputs and displays the image on a display (not shown).

The frame memory 219 stores the supplied decoded image, and uses the stored decoded image as a reference image at a predetermined timing or based on an external request such as the intra prediction unit 221 or the motion compensation unit 222. This is supplied to the selection unit 220.

The eyelid selection unit 220 selects a reference image supply destination supplied from the frame memory 219. The selection unit 220 supplies the reference image supplied from the frame memory 219 to the intra prediction unit 221 when decoding an intra-coded image. The selection unit 220 supplies the reference image supplied from the frame memory 219 to the motion compensation unit 222 when decoding an inter-encoded image.

The intra prediction unit 221 is appropriately supplied with information indicating the intra prediction mode obtained by decoding the header information from the lossless decoding unit 212. The intra prediction unit 221 performs intra prediction using the reference image acquired from the frame memory 219 in the intra prediction mode used in the intra prediction unit 124, and generates a predicted image. The intra prediction unit 221 supplies the generated predicted image to the selection unit 223.

The eyelid motion compensation unit 222 acquires information (optimum prediction mode information, reference image information, etc.) obtained by decoding the header information from the lossless decoding unit 212.

The heel motion compensation unit 222 performs motion compensation using the reference image acquired from the frame memory 219 in the inter prediction mode indicated by the optimal prediction mode information acquired from the lossless decoding unit 212, and generates a predicted image.

The eyelid motion compensation unit 222 supplies the generated predicted image to the selection unit 223. In addition, the motion compensation unit 222 supplies the motion information of the current block used for generating the predicted image (motion compensation) to the motion information decoding unit 204 as the base layer motion information.

The eyelid selection unit 223 supplies the prediction image from the intra prediction unit 221 or the prediction image from the motion compensation unit 222 to the calculation unit 215. The arithmetic unit 215 adds the predicted image generated using the motion vector and the decoded residual data (difference image information) from the inverse orthogonal transform unit 214 to decode the original image.

[Enhancement layer image decoding unit]
FIG. 22 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration example of the enhancement layer image decoding unit 205 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 22, the enhancement layer image decoding unit 205 has basically the same configuration as the base layer image decoding unit 203 of FIG.

However, each unit of the enhancement layer image decoding unit 205 performs a process for decoding enhancement layer encoded data, not the base layer. That is, the accumulation buffer 211 of the enhancement layer image decoding unit 205 stores the enhancement layer encoded data, and the D / A conversion unit 218 of the enhancement layer image decoding unit 205 displays the enhancement layer image information, for example, in the subsequent stage. Output to a recording device (recording medium) or transmission path.

In addition, the enhancement layer image decoding unit 205 includes a motion compensation unit 232 instead of the motion compensation unit 222.

The heel motion compensation unit 232 uses the motion information decoding unit 204 to decode the encoded motion information transmitted from the encoding side. That is, while the motion compensation unit 222 decodes the motion information encoded in the current block using only the peripheral motion information of the base layer, the motion compensation unit 232 uses only the peripheral motion information of the enhancement layer. In addition, the encoded motion information of the current block can be decoded using the peripheral motion information of the base layer.

The heel motion information is transmitted from the encoding side as a difference (difference motion information) of predicted motion information. The motion compensation unit 232 generates a list of AMVP mode predicted motion information using motion information around the current block. Also, the motion compensation unit 232 supplies motion information around the current block to the motion information decoding unit 204 to generate a list of merge mode predicted motion information. The motion compensation unit 232 reconstructs motion information using the difference motion information from the encoding side and the predicted motion information list in the AMVP mode and the merge mode. The reconstructed motion information is supplied to the motion information decoding unit 204 as surrounding motion information. The motion compensation unit 232 performs motion compensation using the reconstructed motion information.

[Motion information decoder]
FIG. 24 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration example of the motion information decoding unit 204 of FIG.

24, the motion information decoding unit 204 includes a parallel merge decoding unit 251, a merge processing unit 252, a motion information compression unit 253, and a base layer motion information buffer 254.

The parallel merge decoding unit 251 receives and decodes the MER information sent from the encoding side via the lossless decoding unit 212 and the motion compensation unit 232, and uses the decoded MER information as the MER information of the merge processing unit 252. This is supplied to the buffer 264.

This MER information is block size information specified on the encoding side, and is added to the encoded stream from the encoding side, for example, as the value of log2_parallel_merge_level_minus2 in the picture parameter set (described in Non-Patent Document 1). It is encoded.

The merge processing unit 252 generates a candidate list of predicted motion information corresponding to the motion information of the current block of the enhancement layer in the merge mode. In that case, the merge process part 252 acquires the motion information of the enhancement layer memorize | stored in the motion compensation part 232 of the enhancement layer image decoding part 205 as peripheral motion information as needed. In addition, the merge processing unit 252 acquires the base layer motion information stored in the base layer motion information buffer 254 as peripheral motion information as necessary. The merge processing unit 252 generates a candidate list using the peripheral motion information. The merge processing unit 252 supplies the generated candidate list to the motion compensation unit 232.

As shown in FIG. 24, the merge processing unit 252 includes a candidate motion vector predictor buffer 261, a scaling unit 262, an adjacent motion information buffer 263, an MER information buffer 264, an in-MER determination unit 265, and an availability determination unit 266. It is configured. It should be noted that each part constituting the merge processing unit 252 is basically configured in the same manner as each part constituting the merge processing unit 152 in FIG.

The candidate predicted motion vector buffer 261 stores the adjacent PU motion information supplied from the adjacent motion information buffer 263 and the scaled motion vector information supplied from the scaling unit 262.

The candidate prediction motion vector buffer 261 generates a merge mode candidate list for obtaining prediction motion information of motion information of the current block obtained by the motion compensation unit 232 for enhancement layer decoding by the enhancement layer image decoding unit 205. The number of candidates (the length of the candidate list) is arbitrary, but is preferably a predetermined number so that CABAC and motion prediction can be processed independently. In the following description, the number of candidates is five.

The candidate motion vector predictor buffer 261 supplies the accumulated motion vector information from No. 0 to No. 4 to the motion compensation unit 232 as a candidate list.

The scaling unit 262 performs a scaling process on the base layer motion vector information supplied from the availability determination unit 266 according to the spatial scalability ratio. The scaling unit 262 supplies the scaled motion vector information to the candidate motion vector predictor buffer 261. When the spatial scalability is not achieved, the scaling unit 262 supplies the motion vector information to the candidate motion vector predictor buffer 261 without scaling.

The adjacent motion information buffer 263 is supplied with the address information of the adjacent PU adjacent to the current PU from the motion compensation unit 232 and the motion vector information of the adjacent PU when the parallel processing and the pipeline processing are available. The

The adjacent motion information buffer 263 supplies the supplied adjacent PU address information to the in-MER determination unit 265. Also, the adjacent motion information buffer 263 supplies adjacent PU motion vector information to the candidate prediction motion vector buffer 261 in accordance with the control signal from the in-MER determination unit 265.

The MER information buffer 264 stores the MER information supplied from the parallel merge decoding unit 251, and the stored MER information is supplied to the in-MER determination unit 265 at a predetermined timing.

Based on the address information of the adjacent PU from the adjacent motion information buffer 263 and the MER information stored in the MER information buffer 264, the in-MER determination unit 265 determines whether the adjacent PU is in the MER or outside the MER. Determine. When determining that the MER is out of MER, the in-MER determining unit 265 transmits a control signal to the adjacent motion information buffer 263 because the adjacent PU is available. If the in-MER determination unit 265 determines that the MER is in the MER, the adjacent PU is not available and transmits a control signal to the base layer motion information buffer 254.

The availability determination unit 266 receives the base layer motion vector information supplied from the base layer motion information buffer 254 according to the control signal from the in-MER determination unit 265. The availability determination unit 266 determines whether the received base layer motion vector information is available. When the availability determination unit 266 determines that the availability is available, the base layer motion vector information is supplied to the scaling unit 262.

The motion information compression unit 253 converts the motion vector (also referred to as a pre-compression motion vector) with the maximum 4 × 4 accuracy acquired from the motion prediction / compensation unit 222 of the base layer image encoding unit 203 to, for example, 16 × 16 accuracy. The compressed motion vector (also referred to as 1/16 compression) is supplied to the base layer motion information buffer 254 after being compressed (also referred to as 1 / 16-compressed motion vector).

The compression method of this motion vector is arbitrary. Note that the degree of compression is not limited, and compression may not be performed. For example, the motion information compression unit 253 may select a motion vector as a representative value from a plurality of motion vectors acquired from the motion compensation unit 222. For example, one motion vector as a representative value may be selected from 16 motion vectors of 4 × 4 accuracy (motion vectors of 4 × 4 blocks). By this compression, the accuracy of the motion vector becomes 16 × 16 accuracy.

Further, the motion information compression unit 253 may calculate the representative value by a predetermined calculation using each motion vector, for example. The method for calculating the representative value is arbitrary. For example, the average value or median value of the motion vectors of each block may be used as the representative value. The number of representative values to be calculated is arbitrary and may be two or more.

The 1 / 16-compressed motion vector (representative value of the motion vector) obtained as described above is supplied to the base layer motion information buffer 254 and stored.

The base layer motion information buffer 254 stores the compressed base layer motion information (1 / 16-compressed motion vector) supplied from the motion information compression unit 253. The base layer motion information buffer 254 sends the stored base layer motion information as base layer motion information to the merge processing unit 252 (availability determination unit 266) according to the control signal from the in-MER determination unit 265. Supply.

Based on the information on inter prediction supplied from the lossless decoding unit 212, the motion compensation unit 232 determines whether the enhancement layer current from the AMVP mode candidate list obtained and the candidate list supplied from the merge processing unit 252. The predicted motion information of the block is reconstructed, and the reconstructed predicted motion information is added to the difference motion information supplied from the lossless decoding unit 212 to reconstruct the motion information.

The heel motion compensation unit 232 performs motion compensation using the motion information of the current block of the enhancement layer obtained in this way, and generates a predicted image.

In the example of FIG. 24, the base layer motion information buffer 254 shows an example in which the compressed base layer motion information is stored, but the base layer motion information is stored without being compressed. It is also possible.

As described above, scalable decoding apparatus 200, when decoding motion information in enhancement layer decoding, includes adjacent neighbors in enhancement layer if the enhancement layer MER (parallel or pipeline processing block) includes an adjacent block. Predictive motion information is obtained using the corresponding block of the base layer corresponding to the block. Thereby, parallel processing or pipeline processing can be performed in encoding or decoding of motion information.

[Decoding process flow]
Next, the flow of each process executed by the scalable decoding device 200 as described above will be described. First, an example of the flow of decoding processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The scalable decoding device 200 executes this decoding process for each picture.

When the decoding process is started, in step S401, the decoding control unit 202 of the scalable decoding device 200 sets the first layer as a processing target.

In step S402, the decoding control unit 202 determines whether or not the current layer to be processed is a base layer. If it is determined that the current layer is the base layer, the process proceeds to step S403.

In step S403, the base layer image decoding unit 203 performs base layer decoding processing. When the process of step S403 ends, the process proceeds to step S406.

If it is determined in step S402 that the current layer is an enhancement layer, the process proceeds to step S404. In step S404, the decoding control unit 202 determines a base layer corresponding to the current layer (that is, a reference destination).

In step S405, the enhancement layer image decoding unit 205 performs enhancement layer decoding processing. When the process of step S405 ends, the process proceeds to step S406.

In step S406, the decoding control unit 202 determines whether all layers have been processed. If it is determined that there is an unprocessed layer, the process proceeds to step S407.

In step S407, the decoding control unit 202 sets the next unprocessed layer as a processing target (current layer). When the process of step S407 ends, the process returns to step S402. The processing from step S402 to step S407 is repeatedly executed, and each layer is decoded.

If it is determined in step S406 that all layers have been processed, the decoding process ends.

[Flow of base layer decoding process]
Next, an example of the flow of the base layer decoding process executed in step S403 of FIG. 25 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the base layer decoding process is started, in step S421, the accumulation buffer 211 of the base layer image decoding unit 203 accumulates the base layer bit stream transmitted from the encoding side. In step S422, the lossless decoding unit 212 decodes the base layer bitstream (encoded difference image information) supplied from the accumulation buffer 211. That is, the I picture, P picture, and B picture encoded by the lossless encoding unit 116 are decoded. At this time, various information other than the difference image information included in the bit stream such as header information is also decoded.

In step S423, the inverse quantization unit 213 inversely quantizes the quantized coefficient obtained by the process in step S422.

In step S424, the inverse orthogonal transform unit 214 performs inverse orthogonal transform on the current block (current TU).

In step S425, the intra prediction unit 221 or the motion 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 compensation unit 222 generates a prediction image in an inter prediction mode that is optimized at the time of encoding.

In step S426, the calculation unit 215 adds the predicted image generated in step S425 to the difference image information generated by the inverse orthogonal transform process in step S424. As a result, the original image is decoded.

In step S427, the deblocking filter 216 performs deblocking filter processing on the decoded image obtained in step S426. Thereby, block distortion and the like are removed. In step S428, the adaptive offset filter 224 performs adaptive offset filter processing that mainly removes ringing on the deblocking filter processing result from the deblocking filter 216.

In step S429, the screen rearrangement buffer 217 rearranges the images from which ringing has been removed in step S428. That is, the order of frames rearranged for encoding by the screen rearrangement buffer 112 is rearranged in the original display order.

In step S430, the D / A conversion unit 218 performs D / A conversion on the image in which the frame order is rearranged in step S429. This image is output to a display (not shown), and the image is displayed.

In step S431, the frame memory 219 stores the image that has been subjected to the adaptive offset filter processing in step S428.

In step S432, the motion information compression unit 253 of the motion information decoding unit 204 compresses the base layer motion information obtained by the prediction process in step S425 to 16 × 16 accuracy, and the compressed motion vector (1 / 16-compressed motion vectors) is supplied to the base layer motion information buffer 254 as base layer motion information.

In step S433, the base layer motion information buffer 254 of the motion information decoding unit 204 stores the base layer motion information compressed in step S432.

処理 When the process of step S433 ends, the base layer decoding process ends, and the process returns to FIG. The base layer decoding process is executed in units of pictures, for example. That is, the base layer decoding process is executed for each picture in the current layer. However, each process in the base layer decoding process is performed for each processing unit.

[Enhancement layer decoding process flow]
Next, an example of the flow of enhancement layer decoding processing executed in step S405 of FIG. 25 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

Steps S451 to S454 of enhancement layer decoding processing and steps S456 to S461 are executed in the same manner as steps S421 to S424 and steps S426 to S431 of base layer decoding processing. . However, each process of the enhancement layer decoding process is performed on the enhancement layer encoded data by each processing unit of the enhancement layer image decoding unit 205.

Note that in step S455, the intra prediction unit 221 and the motion compensation unit 232 perform prediction processing on the enhancement layer encoded data. Details of this prediction processing will be described later with reference to FIG.

処理 When the process of step S461 ends, the enhancement layer decoding process ends, and the process returns to FIG. The enhancement layer decoding process is executed in units of pictures, for example. That is, the enhancement layer decoding process is executed for each picture in the current layer. However, each process in the enhancement layer decoding process is performed for each processing unit.

[Prediction process flow]
Next, an example of the flow of prediction processing executed in step S455 of FIG. 27 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the wrinkle prediction process is started, the motion compensation unit 232 determines in step S481 whether or not the prediction mode is inter prediction. When it determines with it being inter prediction, a process progresses to step S482.

In step S482, the motion compensation unit 232 performs motion information decoding processing to reconstruct the motion information of the current block. Details of the motion information decoding process will be described later with reference to FIG.

In step S483, the motion compensation unit 232 performs motion compensation using the motion information obtained by the process in step S482, and generates a predicted image. When the predicted image is generated, the prediction process ends, and the process returns to FIG.

In addition, when it is determined in step S481 that the prediction is intra prediction, the process proceeds to step S484. In step S484, the intra prediction unit 221 generates a prediction image in the optimal intra prediction mode that is the intra prediction mode employed at the time of encoding. When the process of step S484 ends, the prediction process ends, and the process returns to FIG.

[Flow of motion information decoding process]
Next, an example of the flow of the motion information decoding process executed in step S482 in FIG. 28 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

When the motion information decoding process is started, the motion compensation unit 232 transmits the predictor information, which is information related to encoding / decoding of motion information in the enhancement layer, transmitted from the encoding side in step S501, to the lossless decoding unit 212. Get from.

In step S502, the motion compensation unit 232 determines whether the employed predicted motion information is in the AMVP mode based on the predictor information. If it is determined that the AMVP mode is set, the process proceeds to step S503.

In step S503, the motion compensation unit 232 performs AMVP processing and sets a candidate for predicted motion information in the AMVP mode. When the AMVP process ends, the process proceeds to step S505.

If it is determined in step S502 that the mode is not AMVP mode, the process proceeds to step S504.

In step S504, the merge processing unit 252 performs a merge process, and sets prediction motion information candidates in the merge mode. Details of the merge processing will be described later with reference to FIG. When the merge process ends, the process proceeds to step S505.

In step S505, the motion compensation unit 232 reconstructs the predicted motion information of the current block using the processing result in step S503 or step S504.

In step S506, the motion compensation unit 232 reconstructs the motion information of the current block using the predicted motion information obtained in step S505 and the difference motion information acquired from the lossless decoding unit 212. The motion compensation unit 232 generates a predicted image using the motion information.

In step S507, the adjacent motion information buffer 263 stores the motion information of the current block of the enhancement layer.

処理 When the process of step S507 ends, the motion information decoding process ends, and the process returns to FIG.

[Flow of merge processing]
Next, an example of the flow of merge processing executed in step S504 in FIG. 29 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

When the merge processing is started, the parallel merge decoding unit 251 receives the MER information sent from the encoding side via the lossless decoding unit 212 and the motion compensation unit 232 in step S521 and performs decoding. The parallel merge decoding unit 251 supplies the decoded MER information to the in-MER determination unit 265 via the MER information buffer 264 of the merge processing unit 252.

In step S522, the in-MER determination unit 265 determines whether the adjacent PU is in the MER based on the address information of the adjacent PU from the adjacent motion information buffer 263 and the MER information stored in the MER information buffer 264. judge. If it is determined in step S522 that the adjacent PU is in the MER, the in-MER determination unit 265 transmits a control signal to the base layer motion information buffer 254, and the process proceeds to step S523.

In step S523, the base layer motion information buffer 254 detects a collocated PU in the base layer of the adjacent PU. As described above, this detection method detects a pixel located in the center of an adjacent PU in the enhancement layer, and determines a PU including a pixel in the base layer corresponding thereto as a collocated (co- located) PU.

The base layer motion information buffer 254 supplies the co-located PU detected in step S523 to the availability determination unit 266 as base layer motion vector information.

In step S524, the availability determination unit 266 determines whether or not the motion information regarding the collocated PU in the base layer is available. When it is determined in step S524 that the motion information regarding the collocated PU in the base layer is available, the availability determination unit 266 supplies the base layer motion vector information to the scaling unit 262, and the process proceeds to step S525.

In step S525, the scaling unit 262 supplies the base layer motion vector information from the availability determination unit 266 to the candidate motion vector predictor buffer 261, and adds adjacent motion information in the base layer to the candidate prediction list.

At this time, in the case of spatial scalability, the scaling unit 262 performs scaling processing according to the spatial scalability ratio on the base layer motion vector information from the availability determination unit 266.

When the process of step S525 is completed, the merge process is completed, and the process returns to FIG. If it is determined in step S524 of FIG. 30 that the motion information related to the collocated PU in the base layer is not available, step S525 is skipped, the merge process ends, and the process returns to FIG. In this case, for example, the candidate list is supplemented by the combined merge described above with reference to FIG.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S522 that the adjacent PU is not in the MER, that is, outside the MER, the in-MER determination unit 265 transmits a control signal to the adjacent motion information buffer 263, and the process is performed in step S526. Proceed to

In step S526, the adjacent motion information buffer 263 supplies the adjacent PU motion vector information to the candidate prediction motion vector buffer 261 according to the control signal from the in-MER determination unit 265, and the adjacent motion information in the enhancement layer is the candidate prediction list. Add to

When the process of step S526 is completed, the merge process is completed, and the process returns to FIG.

By executing each process as described above, the scalable decoding device 200 can perform parallel processing or pipeline processing in motion vector decoding.

In the above description, for convenience of explanation, in the motion vector decoding process, the motion information decoding unit 204 generates a candidate list of prediction motion information in merge mode, and performs other processes (AMVP process and motion vector In the example described above, the reconstruction processing) is performed by the motion compensation unit 232. However, for example, the motion compensation unit 232 may perform other processing described above with reference to FIG.

In the above description, an example in which the present technology is applied to merging has been described, but the present technology can also be applied to AMVP.

<3. Other>
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. Further, for example, as shown in the example of FIG. 31, some pictures may be hierarchized. Further, in the above description, in the encoding / decoding, the enhancement layer has been described as being processed using the information of the base layer. However, the enhancement layer is not limited to this, and other enhancement layers that have been processed are processed. Processing may be performed using information.

In addition, the layers described above include views in multi-view image encoding / decoding. That is, the present technology can be applied to multi-view image encoding / multi-view image decoding. FIG. 32 shows an example of the multi-view image encoding method.

As shown in FIG. 32, a multi-viewpoint image includes images of a plurality of viewpoints (views), and an image of a predetermined one viewpoint among the plurality of viewpoints is designated as a base-view image. Each viewpoint image other than the base view image is treated as a non-base view image.

When encoding / decoding a multi-view image as shown in FIG. 32, each view image is encoded / decoded. The above-described method may be applied to the encoding / decoding of each view. Good. That is, motion information or the like may be shared among a plurality of views in such multi-viewpoint encoding / decoding.

For example, for the base view, prediction motion information candidates are generated using only the motion information of the own view, and for the non-base view, the motion information of the base view is also used to generate the prediction motion information. To.

By doing this, parallel processing or pipeline processing can be performed in motion vector encoding or decoding in multi-view encoding / decoding as in the case of hierarchical encoding / decoding described above.

As described above, the application range of the present technology can be applied to any image encoding device and image decoding device based on a scalable encoding / decoding method.

本 Moreover, the present technology is disclosed in, 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.

<4. Third 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. 33 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a computer that executes the above-described series of processing by a program.

In a computer 800 shown in FIG. 33, 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 810 is also connected to the bus 804. An input unit 811, an output unit 812, a storage unit 813, a communication unit 814, and a drive 815 are connected to the input / output interface 810.

The bag input unit 811 includes, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, a touch panel, an input terminal, and the like. The output unit 812 includes, for example, a display, a speaker, an output terminal, and the like. The storage unit 813 includes, for example, a hard disk, a RAM disk, a nonvolatile memory, and the like. The communication unit 814 includes a network interface, for example. The drive 815 drives a removable medium 821 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 813 into the RAM 803 via the input / output interface 810 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 821 as a package medium or the like. The program can be provided via a wired or wireless transmission medium such as a local area network, the Internet, or digital satellite broadcasting.

In the computer, the program can be installed in the storage unit 813 via the input / output interface 810 by attaching the removable medium 821 to the drive 815. The program can be received by the communication unit 814 via a wired or wireless transmission medium and installed in the storage unit 813. In addition, the program can be installed in the ROM 802 or the storage unit 813 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 addition, 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 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 above in detail 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 is jointly processed.

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

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.

An image encoding device and an image decoding device according to the above-described embodiments include a transmitter or a receiver in optical broadcasting, satellite broadcasting, cable broadcasting such as cable TV, distribution on the Internet, and distribution to terminals by cellular communication, etc. The present invention can be applied to various electronic devices such as a recording device that records an image on a medium such as 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. 34 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 909, a control unit 910, a user interface 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. Further, 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. Furthermore, 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 an image 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 909 is an interface for connecting the television device 900 to an external device or a network. For example, a video stream or an audio stream received via the external interface 909 may be decoded by the decoder 904. That is, the external interface 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 bag 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. The CPU executes the program to control the operation of the television device 900 according to an operation signal input from the user interface 911, for example.

The user interface 911 is connected to the control unit 910. The user interface 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 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.

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

In the television device 900 configured as described above, the decoder 904 has the function of the scalable decoding device 200 according to the above-described embodiment. Thereby, when decoding an image by the television apparatus 900, parallel processing or pipeline processing can be performed in encoding or decoding of a motion vector.

[Second application example: mobile phone]
FIG. 35 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 cage 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, the 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.

In addition, in the data communication mode, for example, the control unit 931 generates character data constituting 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 a readable / writable arbitrary storage medium. For example, the storage medium may be a built-in storage medium such as a RAM or a flash memory, or an externally mounted type 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 images a subject to generate 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 storage / 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 cellular phone 920 configured as described above, the image processing unit 927 has the functions of the scalable encoding device 100 and the scalable decoding device 200 according to the above-described embodiment. Accordingly, when encoding and decoding an image with the mobile phone 920, parallel processing or pipeline processing can be performed in encoding or decoding of a motion vector.

[Third application example: recording / reproducing apparatus]
FIG. 36 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 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, a control unit 949, and a user interface. 950.

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 942 is an interface for connecting the recording / reproducing device 940 to an external device or a network. The external interface 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 942 are input to the encoder 943. That is, the external interface 942 serves as a transmission unit in the recording / reproducing device 940.

Encoder 943 encodes video data and audio data when video data and audio data input from external interface 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 are 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 records and reads data to and from 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 904 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 bag 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 controls the operation of the recording / reproducing apparatus 940 in accordance with an operation signal input from the user interface 950, for example, by executing the program.

The user interface 950 is connected to the control unit 949. The user interface 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 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 above, the encoder 943 has the function of the scalable encoding apparatus 100 according to the above-described embodiment. The decoder 947 has the function of the scalable decoding device 200 according to the above-described embodiment. Thereby, when encoding and decoding an image in the recording / reproducing apparatus 940, parallel processing or pipeline processing can be performed in encoding or decoding of a motion vector.

[Fourth Application Example: Imaging Device]
FIG. 37 shows 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 966, a memory 967, a media drive 968, an OSD 969, a control unit 970, a user interface 971, and a bus. 972.

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 971 is connected to the control unit 970. The bus 972 connects the image processing unit 964, the external interface 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 eyelid signal processing unit 963 performs various camera signal processing 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 haze image processing unit 964 encodes the image data input from the signal processing unit 963 to generate encoded data. Then, the image processing unit 964 outputs the generated encoded data to the external interface 966 or the media drive 968. The image processing unit 964 also decodes encoded data input from the external interface 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 966 is configured as a USB input / output terminal, for example. The external interface 966 connects the imaging device 960 and a printer, for example, when printing an image. Further, a drive is connected to the external interface 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. Further, the external interface 966 may be configured as a network interface connected to a network such as a LAN or the Internet. That is, the external interface 966 has a role as a transmission unit in the imaging device 960.

The recording medium loaded in 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. In addition, a recording medium may be fixedly mounted on the media drive 968, and a non-portable storage unit such as an internal hard disk drive or an SSD (Solid State Drive) may be configured.

The bag 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 971 by executing the program.

The user interface 971 is connected to the control unit 970. The user interface 971 includes, for example, buttons and switches for the user to operate the imaging device 960. The user interface 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 scalable encoding device 100 and the scalable decoding device 200 according to the above-described embodiment. Thereby, when encoding and decoding an image by the imaging device 960, parallel processing or pipeline processing can be performed in encoding or decoding of a motion vector.

<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 encoding) will be described. The scalable coding 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. 38, 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 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.

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 mobile 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, wireless, or both, such as the Internet and a LAN (Local Area Network), 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 number 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.

In the data transmission system 1000 as described above, the present technology is applied in the same manner as the application to the hierarchical encoding / decoding described above in the first embodiment and the second embodiment. Effects similar to those described above in the first embodiment and the second embodiment can be obtained.

[Second system]
Also, scalable coding is used for transmission via a plurality of communication media as in the example shown in FIG. 39, for example.

39. In the data transmission system 1100 shown in FIG. 39, 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).

Terminal device 1102 has a reception function of terrestrial broadcast 1111 broadcasted by broadcast station 1101 and receives base layer scalable encoded data (BL) 1121 transmitted via 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, the scalable encoded data can be transmitted via, for example, different communication media for each layer. Therefore, the load can be distributed, and the occurrence of delay and overflow can be suppressed.

In addition, depending on the situation, a communication medium used for transmission may be selected for each layer. 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.

制御 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 described above, the present technology is applied in the same manner as the application to the hierarchical encoding / decoding described above in the first and second embodiments. Effects similar to those described above in the first embodiment and the second embodiment can be obtained.

[Third system]
Further, scalable encoding is used for storing encoded data as in the example shown in FIG. 40, for example.

In the imaging system 1200 illustrated in FIG. 40, the imaging device 1201 performs scalable coding on image data obtained by imaging the subject 1211, and as a 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 shown in the captured image (in the normal case), the content of the captured image is likely to be unimportant, so reduction of the data amount is given priority, and the image data (scalable coding) 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.

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

It should be noted that the criterion for determining whether the time is normal or noting 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 layers for scalable coding 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 description, the surveillance camera has been described as an example. However, the use of the imaging system 1200 is arbitrary and is not limited to the surveillance camera.

In the imaging system 1200 as described above, the first technique and the second embodiment are applied in the same manner as the application to the hierarchical encoding / decoding described above, whereby the first technique is applied. Effects similar to those described above in the second embodiment and the second embodiment can be obtained.

Note that the present technology can also be applied to HTTP streaming such as MPEGASHDASH, for example, by selecting an appropriate piece of data from a plurality of encoded data with different resolutions prepared in advance. Can do. That is, information regarding encoding and decoding can be shared among a plurality of such encoded data.

In addition, 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.

The preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present disclosure is not limited to such examples. It is obvious that a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present disclosure belongs 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 these also belong to the technical scope of the present disclosure.

In addition, this technique can also take the following structures.
(1) a receiving unit that receives hierarchical image encoded data obtained by encoding image data that has been formed into a plurality of hierarchies, and motion information encoded data obtained by encoding motion information used for encoding the image data; ,
In the current hierarchy, when a parallel or pipeline processing block includes an adjacent reference block that is adjacent to the current block in the processing block and to which motion information is referred, the lower hierarchy of the current hierarchy A motion information decoding unit that references the motion information of the corresponding block corresponding to the adjacent reference block and decodes the motion information encoded data received by the receiving unit;
An image processing apparatus comprising: a decoding unit that decodes the hierarchical image encoded data received by the receiving unit using motion information obtained by decoding motion information encoded data by the motion information decoding unit.
(2) The image processing device according to (1), wherein the motion information encoded data is encoded in a merge mode.
(3) The image processing device according to (1), wherein the motion information encoded data is encoded by an AMVP (Advanced Motion Vector Prediction) mode.
(4) In the lower hierarchy, the motion information decoding unit defines, as a corresponding block corresponding to the adjacent reference block, a block including a pixel corresponding to a pixel located in the center of the adjacent reference block in the current hierarchy as the corresponding block. The image processing device according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein block motion information is referred to.
(5) The motion information decoding unit, as the corresponding block corresponding to the adjacent reference block, the block including the pixel corresponding to the pixel located in the upper left of the adjacent reference block in the current layer in the lower layer The image processing device according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein block motion information is referred to.
(6) The image processing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein the motion information of the corresponding block is stored in a buffer in a compressed state.
(7) The image processing device according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein the motion information decoding unit decodes the motion information encoded data received by the receiving unit by parallel or pipeline processing. .
(8) The image processing apparatus is
Receiving hierarchical image encoded data obtained by encoding a plurality of hierarchized image data, and motion information encoded data obtained by encoding motion information used for encoding the image data;
In the current hierarchy, when a parallel or pipeline processing block includes an adjacent reference block that is adjacent to the current block in the processing block and to which motion information is referred, the lower hierarchy of the current hierarchy Referring to the motion information of the corresponding block corresponding to the adjacent reference block, decoding the received motion information encoded data;
An image processing method comprising: decoding received hierarchical image encoded data using motion information obtained by decoding motion information encoded data.
(9) an encoding unit that encodes image data that has been hierarchized using motion information;
In the current hierarchy, when a parallel or pipeline processing block includes an adjacent reference block that is adjacent to the current block in the processing block and to which motion information is referred, the lower hierarchy of the current hierarchy A motion information encoding unit that references the motion information of a corresponding block corresponding to an adjacent reference block and encodes the motion information used for encoding the image data by the encoding unit;
The encoded image data obtained by encoding the image data by the encoding unit and the motion information encoded data obtained by encoding the motion information by the motion information encoding unit are transmitted. An image processing apparatus comprising: a transmission unit.
(10) The motion information encoding unit includes an adjacent reference block adjacent to a current block in the processing block and referred to motion information in a merge or parallel processing block in a merge mode. And encoding the motion information used for encoding the image data by the encoding unit with reference to motion information of a corresponding block corresponding to the adjacent reference block in a lower layer of the current layer The image processing apparatus according to (9).
(11) The motion information encoding unit is adjacent to the current block in the processing block in a parallel or pipeline processing block in an AMVP (Advanced Motion Vector Prediction) mode, and an adjacent reference block to which motion information is referred. In the lower layer of the current layer, the motion information used for encoding the image data by the encoding unit with reference to the motion information of the corresponding block corresponding to the adjacent reference block The image processing apparatus according to (9).
(12) The motion information encoding unit may include, as the corresponding block corresponding to the adjacent reference block, a block including a pixel corresponding to a pixel located at the center of the adjacent reference block in the current layer in the lower layer. The image processing device according to any one of (9) to (11), wherein the motion information of the corresponding block is referred to.
(13) The motion information encoding unit may include, as the corresponding block corresponding to the adjacent reference block, a block including a pixel corresponding to a pixel located in the upper left of the adjacent reference block in the current layer in the lower layer. The image processing device according to any one of (9) to (11), wherein the motion information of the corresponding block is referred to.
(14) The image processing apparatus according to any one of (9) to (13), wherein the motion information of the corresponding block is stored in a buffer in a compressed state.
(15) The motion information encoding unit encodes the motion information used for encoding the image data by the encoding unit through parallel or pipeline processing. (9) to (14) The image processing apparatus according to any one of the above.
(16) The image processing apparatus
Encode multi-layered image data using motion information,
In the current hierarchy, when a parallel or pipeline processing block includes an adjacent reference block that is adjacent to the current block in the processing block and to which motion information is referred, the lower hierarchy of the current hierarchy Referring to the motion information of the corresponding block corresponding to the adjacent reference block, encoding the motion information used for encoding the image data;
An image processing method for transmitting hierarchical image encoded data obtained by encoding the image data and motion information encoded data obtained by encoding the motion information.

100 ケー scalable encoding device, 101 common information generation unit, 102 encoding control unit, 103 base layer image encoding unit, 104 motion information encoding unit, 105 enhancement layer image encoding unit, 116 lossless encoding unit, 125 motion prediction・ Compensation unit, 135 motion prediction / compensation unit, 151 parallel merge setting unit, 152 merge processing unit, 153 motion information compression unit, 154 base layer motion information buffer, 161 candidate prediction motion vector buffer unit, 162 scaling unit, 163 adjacent motion Information buffer, 164 MER information buffer, 165 decision unit within MER, 166 availability determination unit, 200 scalable decoding device, 201 common information acquisition unit, 202 decoding control unit, 203 base layer image decoding unit, 204 motion information decoding unit, 205 enhancement layer image decoding unit, 212 reversible decoding unit, 222 motion compensation unit, 232 motion compensation unit, 251 parallel merge decoding unit, 252 merge processing unit , 253 motion information compression unit, 254 base layer motion information buffer, 261 candidate prediction motion vector buffer, 262 scaling unit, 263 neighboring motion information buffer, 264 MER information buffer, 265 intra-MER determination unit, 266 availability determination unit

Claims

A receiving unit that receives hierarchical image encoded data obtained by encoding a plurality of hierarchized image data, and motion information encoded data obtained by encoding motion information used for encoding the image data;
In the current hierarchy, when a parallel or pipeline processing block includes an adjacent reference block that is adjacent to the current block in the processing block and to which motion information is referred, the lower hierarchy of the current hierarchy A motion information decoding unit that references the motion information of the corresponding block corresponding to the adjacent reference block and decodes the motion information encoded data received by the receiving unit;
An image processing apparatus comprising: a decoding unit that decodes the hierarchical image encoded data received by the receiving unit using motion information obtained by decoding motion information encoded data by the motion information decoding unit.
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the motion information encoded data is encoded in a merge mode.
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the motion information encoded data is encoded by an AMVP (Advanced Motion Vector Prediction) mode.
The motion information decoding unit uses, as a corresponding block corresponding to the adjacent reference block, a block including a pixel corresponding to a pixel located at the center of the adjacent reference block in the current layer in the lower layer as a motion of the corresponding block. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein information is referred to.
The motion information decoding unit, as a corresponding block corresponding to the adjacent reference block, a block including a pixel corresponding to a pixel located in the upper left of the adjacent reference block in the current layer in the lower layer, the motion of the corresponding block The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein information is referred to.
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the motion information of the corresponding block is stored in a buffer in a compressed state.
The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the motion information decoding unit decodes the motion information encoded data received by the receiving unit by parallel or pipeline processing.
The image processing device
Receiving hierarchical image encoded data obtained by encoding a plurality of hierarchized image data, and motion information encoded data obtained by encoding motion information used for encoding the image data;
In the current hierarchy, when a parallel or pipeline processing block includes an adjacent reference block that is adjacent to the current block in the processing block and to which motion information is referred, the lower hierarchy of the current hierarchy Referring to the motion information of the corresponding block corresponding to the adjacent reference block, decoding the received motion information encoded data;
An image processing method comprising: decoding received hierarchical image encoded data using motion information obtained by decoding motion information encoded data.
An encoding unit that encodes the multi-layered image data using motion information;
In the current hierarchy, when a parallel or pipeline processing block includes an adjacent reference block that is adjacent to the current block in the processing block and to which motion information is referred, the lower hierarchy of the current hierarchy A motion information encoding unit that references the motion information of a corresponding block corresponding to an adjacent reference block and encodes the motion information used for encoding the image data by the encoding unit;
The encoded image data obtained by encoding the image data by the encoding unit and the motion information encoded data obtained by encoding the motion information by the motion information encoding unit are transmitted. An image processing apparatus comprising: a transmission unit.
When the motion information encoding unit includes an adjacent reference block adjacent to the current block in the processing block and referenced to the motion information in the parallel or pipeline processing block in the merge mode The motion information used for encoding the image data by the encoding unit is encoded with reference to motion information of a corresponding block corresponding to the adjacent reference block in a lower layer of the current layer. The image processing apparatus according to 9.
The motion information encoding unit includes an adjacent reference block adjacent to a current block in the processing block and referred to motion information in a parallel or pipeline processing block in an AMVP (Advanced Motion Vector Prediction) mode. And encoding the motion information used for encoding the image data by the encoding unit with reference to motion information of a corresponding block corresponding to the adjacent reference block in a lower layer of the current layer The image processing apparatus according to claim 9.
The motion information encoding unit includes, as a corresponding block corresponding to the adjacent reference block, a block including a pixel corresponding to a pixel located at the center of the adjacent reference block in the current layer in the lower layer, The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein motion information is referred to.
The motion information encoding unit uses, as a corresponding block corresponding to the adjacent reference block, a block including a pixel corresponding to a pixel located in the upper left of the adjacent reference block in the current layer in the lower layer. The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein motion information is referred to.
The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the motion information of the corresponding block is stored in a buffer in a compressed state.
The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the motion information encoding unit encodes the motion information used for encoding the image data by the encoding unit by parallel or pipeline processing.
The image processing device
Encode multi-layered image data using motion information,
In the current hierarchy, when a parallel or pipeline processing block includes an adjacent reference block that is adjacent to the current block in the processing block and to which motion information is referred, the lower hierarchy of the current hierarchy Referring to the motion information of the corresponding block corresponding to the adjacent reference block, encoding the motion information used for encoding the image data;
An image processing method for transmitting hierarchical image encoded data obtained by encoding the image data and motion information encoded data obtained by encoding the motion information.