Encoding processing apparatus and method for a moving image

1. An encoding processing apparatus comprising:

an encoder, which encodes a moving image into a plurality of intraframes and interframes so as to generate a video code stream;

a request manager, which receives from a receiver of the video code stream a request signal for requesting to send an intraframe when a frame of the moving image is not properly received by the receiver,

wherein, when the request manager receives the request signal, the request manager signals the encoder to set a frame setting as an intraframe setting while the encoder is encoding the video code stream so that the encoder encodes a subsequent frame of the moving image that is received by the encoder immediately after the request manager signals the encoder as an intraframe regardless of whether the subsequent frame is to be an intraframe or an interframe according to a predetermined order; and

a bit-rate adjuster which provides the encoder with an instruction to temporarily lower the bit rate of the video code stream when the request manager receives a plurality of request signals successively,

wherein the encoder encodes the moving image at a lowered bit rate upon receiving the instruction from the bit-rate adjuster, and

wherein the bit rate of the video code stream is increased by the bit-rate adjuster when an interval of received request signals is equal to or greater than a predetermined duration.

2. An encoding processing apparatus comprising:

an encoder, which encodes a moving image into a plurality of intraframes and interframes so as to generate a video code stream;

a request manager, which receives from at least one of a plurality of receivers of the video code stream a request signal for requesting to send an intraframe when a frame of the moving image is not properly received by at least one of the receivers, and which determines whether or not to accept the received request signal,

wherein, when the request manager determines to accept the request signal, the request manager signals the encoder to set a frame setting as an intraframe setting while the encoder is encoding the video code stream so that the encoder encodes a subsequent frame of the moving image that is received by the encoder immediately after the request manager signals the encoder as an intraframe regardless of whether the subsequent frame is to be an intraframe or an interframe according to a predetermined order; and

a bit-rate adjuster which provides the encoder with an instruction to temporarily lower the bit rate of the video code stream when the request manager receives a plurality of request signals successively,

wherein the encoder encodes the moving image at a lowered bit rate upon receiving the instruction from the bit-rate adjuster, and

wherein the bit rate of the video code stream is increased by the bit-rate adjuster when an interval of received request signals is equal to or greater than a predetermined duration.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the request manager refuses to accept any of the request signals during a refusal-of-accept period provided as a period for which none of the received request signals are accepted.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the refusal-of-accept period is a period which starts when a request signal is accepted and extends for a predefined number of frames.

5. An encoding processing method comprising:

encoding a moving image into a plurality of intraframes and interframes so as to generate a video code stream;

receiving from a receiver of the video code stream a request signal for requesting to send an intraframe when a frame of the moving image is not properly received by the receiver,

wherein, when the request signal is received, a frame setting is set during the encoding of the video code stream that encodes a subsequent frame of the moving image that is encountered for encoding immediately after the request signal has been received as an intraframe regardless of whether the subsequent frame is to be an intraframe or an interframe according to a predetermined order; and

lowering a bit rate of the video code stream to temporarily encode the moving image at a lowered bit rate when a plurality of request signals are received successively,

wherein the bit rate of the video code stream is increased when an interval of received request signals is equal to or greater than a predetermined duration.

6. An encoding processing method comprising:

encoding a moving image into a plurality of intraframes and interframes so as to generate a video code stream; and

receiving from at least one of a plurality of receivers of the video code stream a request signal for requesting to send an intraframe when a frame of the moving image is not properly received by at least one of the receivers;

determining whether or not to accept the received request signal,

wherein, when the request signal is accepted, a frame setting is set during the encoding of the video code stream that encodes a subsequent frame of the moving image that is encountered for encoding immediately after the request signal has been received as an intraframe regardless of whether the subsequent frame is to be an intraframe or an interframe according to a predetermined order; and

wherein a bit rate of the video code stream is temporarily encoded at a lowered bit rate when a plurality of request signals are accepted successively, and

wherein the bit rate of the video code stream is increased when an interval of received request signals is equal to or greater than a predetermined duration.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium with a computer program product thereon, the computer program product comprising:

an encoding module for encoding a moving image into a plurality of intraframes and interframes so as to generate a video code stream;

a request managing module for receiving from a receiver of the video code stream a request signal for requesting to send an intraframe when a frame of the moving image is not properly received by the receiver,

wherein, when the request signal is received, a frame setting is set in the encoding module during the encoding of the video code stream for encoding a subsequent frame of the moving image that is received by the encoding module immediately after the request managing module signals the encoding module as an intraframe regardless of whether the subsequent frame is to be an intraframe or an interframe according to a predetermined order; and

a bit-rate adjusting module which provides the encoding module with an instruction to temporarily lower the bit rate of the video code stream when the request managing module receives a plurality of request signals successively,

wherein the encoding module encodes the moving image at a lowered bit rate upon receiving the instruction from the bit-rate adjusting module,

wherein the bit rate of the video code stream is increased by the bit-rate adjusting module when an interval of received request signals is equal to or greater than a predetermined duration.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium with a computer program product thereon, the computer program product comprising:

an encoding module for encoding a moving image into a plurality of intraframes and interframes so as to generate a video code stream; and

a request receiving module for receiving from at least one of a plurality of receivers of the video code stream a request signal for requesting to send an intraframe when a frame of the moving image is not properly received by at least one of the receivers; and

a request managing module for determining whether or not to accept the received request signal,

wherein, when the request signal is accepted, a frame setting is set in the encoding module during the encoding of the video code stream for encoding a subsequent frame of the moving image that is received by the encoding module immediately after the request managing module signals the encoding module as an intraframe regardless of whether the subsequent frame is to be an intraframe or an interframe according to a predetermined order; and

a bit-rate adjusting module which provides the encoding module with an instruction to temporarily lower the bit rate of the video code stream when the request managing module receives a plurality of request signals successively,

wherein the encoding module encodes the moving image at a lowered bit rate upon receiving the instruction from the bit-rate adjusting module, and

wherein the bit rate of the video code stream is increased by the bit-rate adjusting module when an interval of received request signals is equal to or greater than a predetermined duration.