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Video encoding/decoding method and apparatusRelated Patent Categories: Pulse Or Digital Communications, Bandwidth Reduction Or ExpansionVideo encoding/decoding method and apparatus description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070160130, Video encoding/decoding method and apparatus. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This is a Divisional of and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 120 from U.S. application Ser. No. 10/754,535, filed Jan. 12, 2004, and is a Continuation Application of PCT Application No. PCT/JP03/04992, filed Apr. 18, 2003, which was not published under PCT Article 21 (2) in English. [0002] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Applications No. 2002-116718, filed Apr. 18, 2002; and No. 2002-340042, filed Nov. 22, 2002, the entire contents of both of which are incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] 1. Field of the Invention [0004] The present invention relates to a video encoding/decoding method and apparatus which encode/decode a fade video and dissolving video, in particular, at high efficiency. [0005] 2. Description of the Related Art [0006] Motion compensation predictive inter-frame encoding is used as one of encoding modes in a video encoding standard scheme such as ITU-TH.261, H.263, ISO/IEC MPEG-2, or MPEG-4. As a predictive model in motion compensation predictive inter-frame encoding, a model that exhibits the highest predictive efficiency when no change in brightness occurs in the time direction is used. In the case of a fade video which changes in the brightness of pictures, there is no method known up to now which makes a proper prediction against a change in the brightness of pictures when, for example, a normal picture fades in from a black picture. In order to maintain picture quality in a fade video as well, therefore, a large number of bits are required. [0007] In order to solve this problem, for example, in Japanese Patent No. 3166716, "Fade Countermeasure Video Encoder and Encoding Method", a fade video part is detected to change the allocation of the number of bits. More specifically, in the case of a fadeout video, a large number of bits are allocated to the start part of fadeout that changes in luminance. In general, the last part of fadeout becomes a monochrome picture, and hence can be easily encoded. For this reason, the number of bits allocated to this part is reduced. This makes it possible to improve the overall picture quality without excessively increasing the total number of bits. [0008] In Japanese Patent No. 2938412, "Video Luminance Change Compensation Method, Video Encoding Apparatus, Video Decoding Apparatus, Recording Medium on Which Video Encoding or Decoding Program Is Recorded, and Recording Medium on Which Encoded Data of Video Is Recorded", there is proposed an encoding scheme of properly coping with a fade video by compensating for a reference picture in accordance with two parameters, i.e., a luminance change amount and contrast change amount. [0009] In Thomas Wiegand and Berand Girod, "Multi-frame motion-compensated prediction for video transmission", Kluwer Academic Publishers 2001, an encoding scheme based on a plurality of frame buffers is proposed. In this scheme, an attempt has been made to improve the predictive efficiency by selectively generating a prediction picture from a plurality of reference frames held in the frame buffers. [0010] According to the conventional techniques, in order to encode a fade video or dissolving video while maintaining high picture quality, a large number of bits are required. Therefore, an improvement in encoding efficiency cannot be expected. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0011] It is an object of the present invention to provide a video encoding/decoding method and apparatus which can encode a video which changes in luminance over time, e.g., a fade video or dissolving video, in particular, at high efficiency. [0012] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video encoding method of subjecting an input videos signal to motion compensation predictive encoding by using a reference picture signal representing at least one reference picture and a motion vector between the input video signal and the reference picture signal, comprising: selecting one combination, for each block of the input video signal, from a plurality of combinations each including a predictive parameter and at least one reference picture number determined in advance for the reference picture; generating a prediction picture signal in accordance with the reference picture number and predictive parameter of the selected combination; generating a predictive error signal representing an error between the input video signal and the prediction picture signal; and encoding the predictive error signal, information of the motion vector, and index information indicating the selected combination. [0013] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video decoding method comprising: decoding encoded data including a predictive error signal representing an error in a prediction picture signal with respect to a video signal, motion vector information, and index information indicating a combination of at least one reference picture number and a predictive parameter; generating a prediction picture signal in accordance with the reference picture number and predictive parameter of the combination indicated by the decoded index information; and generating a reproduction video signal by using the predictive error signal and the prediction picture signal. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING [0014] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a video encoding apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention; [0015] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the detailed arrangement of a frame memory/prediction picture generator in FIG. 1; [0016] FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of a table of combinations of reference frame numbers and predictive parameters, which is used in the first embodiment; [0017] FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an example of a sequence for selecting a predictive scheme (a combination of a reference frame number and a predictive parameter) for each macroblock and determining an encoding mode in the first embodiment; [0018] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a video decoding apparatus according to the first embodiment; [0019] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the detailed arrangement of the frame memory/prediction picture generator in FIG. 5; [0020] FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of a table of combinations of predictive parameters in a case wherein the number of reference frames is one and a reference frame number is sent as mode information according to the second embodiment of the present invention; Continue reading about Video encoding/decoding method and apparatus... Full patent description for Video encoding/decoding method and apparatus Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Video encoding/decoding method and apparatus patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Video encoding/decoding method and apparatus or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Video decoding apparatus and video decoding method Next Patent Application: Video encoding/decoding method and apparatus Industry Class: Pulse or digital communications ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Video encoding/decoding method and apparatus patent info. 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