Transcoder, recorder, and transcoding method

1. A picture processing apparatus for decoding a motion picture stream encoded by using a first coding scheme, which provides intraframe coding and interframe predictive coding, and encoding the decoded motion picture stream by using a second coding scheme, the picture processing apparatus comprising:

an input unit to which the motion picture stream is inputted, the motion picture stream including a first frame which is encoded by the first coding scheme while switching between the intraframe coding scheme and the interframe predictive coding scheme for each predetermined region and sub-information for each said predetermined region indicating whether the intraframe coding scheme or the interframe predictive coding scheme is used,

a transcoder for decoding the input motion picture stream which is encoded by using the first coding scheme, and encoding the decoded input motion picture stream by using the second coding scheme, and

an output unit for outputting the encoded input motion picture stream which is encoded by using the second coding scheme;

wherein a predetermined region of the first frame of the output motion picture stream which is indicated by the sub-information as being encoded by the interframe predictive coding scheme is encoded by using the second coding scheme to reference an image of a corresponding predetermined region of a frame being referenced when the first coding scheme is performed, and other predetermined region of the first frame of the output motion picture stream which is indicated by the sub-information as being encoded by the intraframe coding scheme is encoded by using the second coding scheme to reference an image of a corresponding predetermined region of other frame which is different from the frame being referenced when the first coding scheme is performed.

2. A picture processing apparatus for decoding a motion picture stream encoded by using a first coding scheme, which provides intraframe coding and interframe predictive coding, and encoding the decoded motion picture stream by using a second coding scheme, the picture processing apparatus comprising:

an input unit to which the motion picture stream is inputted, the motion picture stream including a first frame which is encoded by the first coding scheme to reference a second frame as a reference frame while switching between the intraframe coding scheme and the interframe predictive coding scheme for each predetermined region and sub-information for each said predetermined region indicating whether the intraframe coding scheme or the interframe predictive coding scheme is used,

a transcoder for decoding the input motion picture stream which is encoded by using the first coding scheme, and encoding the decoded input motion picture stream by using the second coding scheme, and

an output unit for outputting the encoded input motion picture stream which is encoded by using the second coding scheme;

wherein a predetermined region of the first frame of the output motion picture stream which is indicated by the sub-information as being encoded by the interframe predictive coding scheme is encoded by using the second coding scheme to reference an image of a corresponding predetermined region of the second frame, and other predetermined region of the first frame of the output motion picture stream which is indicated by the sub-information as being encoded by the intraframe coding scheme is encoded by using the second coding scheme to reference an image of a corresponding predetermined region of other frame which is different from the second frame.

3. A picture processing apparatus for decoding a motion picture stream encoded by using a first coding scheme, which provides intraframe coding and interframe predictive coding, and encoding the decoded motion picture stream by using a second coding scheme, the picture processing apparatus comprising:

an input unit to which the motion picture stream is inputted, the motion picture stream including a second frame which is encoded by the first coding scheme to reference a third frame as a reference frame, a first frame which is encoded by the first coding scheme to reference the second frame as a reference frame while switching between the intraframe coding scheme and the interframe predictive coding scheme for each predetermined region, and sub-information for each said predetermined region indicating whether the intraframe coding scheme or the interframe predictive coding scheme is used,

a transcoder for decoding the input motion picture stream which is encoded by using the first coding scheme, and encoding the decoded input motion picture stream by using the second coding scheme, and

an output unit for outputting the encoded input motion picture stream which is encoded by using the second coding scheme;

wherein a predetermined region of the first frame of the output motion picture stream which is indicated by the sub-information as being encoded by the interframe predictive coding scheme is encoded by using the second coding scheme to reference an image of a corresponding predetermined region of the second frame, and other predetermined region of the first frame of the output motion picture stream which is indicated by the sub-information as being encoded by the intraframe coding scheme is encoded by using the second coding scheme to reference an image of a corresponding predetermined region of the third frame.

4. The picture processing apparatus according to claim 3 ,

wherein, when the predetermined region of the first frame of the input motion picture stream is indicated by the sub-information as being encoded by the intraframe coding scheme, the transcoder is encoded by using the second coding scheme without referencing the second frame.

5. The picture processing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein:

the third frame is an interframe-encoded I picture,

the second frame is a P picture which is interframe-predictive-coded by referencing the third frame, and

the first frame is a P picture which is interframe-predictive-coded by referencing the second frame.

6. The picture processing apparatus according to claim 3 ,

wherein the predetermined region is a macroblock.

7. The picture processing apparatus according to claim 3 ,

wherein the first coding scheme is an MPEG method, and

wherein the second coding scheme is an H.264 method.

8. A picture processing method for decoding a motion picture stream encoded by using a first coding scheme, which provides intraframe coding and interframe predictive coding, and for encoding the decoded motion picture stream by using a second coding scheme, the picture processing method comprising:

accepting input of the motion picture stream, the motion picture stream including a first frame which is encoded by the first coding scheme while switching between the intraframe coding scheme and the interframe predictive coding scheme for each predetermined region and sub-information for each said predetermined region indicating whether the intraframe coding scheme or the interframe predictive coding scheme is used,

decoding, via a transcoder, the input motion picture stream which is encoded by using the first coding scheme, and encoding the decoded input motion picture stream by using the second coding scheme, and

outputting the encoded input motion picture stream which is encoded by using the second coding scheme;

wherein a predetermined region of the first frame of the output motion picture stream which is indicated by the sub-information as being encoded by the interframe predictive coding scheme is encoded by using the second coding scheme to reference an image of a corresponding predetermined region of a frame being referenced when the first coding scheme is performed, and other predetermined region of the first frame of the output motion picture stream which is indicated by the sub-information as being encoded by the intraframe coding scheme is encoded by using the second coding scheme to reference an image of a corresponding predetermined region of other frame which is different from the frame being referenced when the first coding scheme is performed.

9. A picture processing method for decoding a motion picture stream encoded by using a first coding scheme, which provides intraframe coding and interframe predictive coding, and for encoding the decoded motion picture stream by using a second coding scheme, the picture processing method comprising:

accepting input of the motion picture stream, the motion picture stream including a first frame which is encoded by the first coding scheme to reference a second frame as a reference frame while switching between the intraframe coding scheme and the interframe predictive coding scheme for each predetermined region and sub-information for each said predetermined region indicating whether the intraframe coding scheme or the interframe predictive coding scheme is used,

decoding, via a transcoder, the input motion picture stream which is encoded by using the first coding scheme, and encoding the decoded input motion picture stream by using the second coding scheme, and

outputting the encoded input motion picture stream which is encoded by using the second coding scheme;

wherein a predetermined region of the first frame of the output motion picture stream which is indicated by the sub-information as being encoded by the interframe predictive coding scheme is encoded by using the second coding scheme to reference an image of a corresponding predetermined region of the second frame, and other predetermined region of the first frame of the output motion picture stream which is indicated by the sub-information as being encoded by the intraframe coding scheme is encoded by using the second coding scheme to reference an image of a corresponding predetermined region of other frame which is different from the second frame.

10. A picture processing method for decoding a motion picture stream encoded by using a first coding scheme, which provides intraframe coding and interframe predictive coding, and for encoding the decoded motion picture stream by using a second coding scheme, the picture processing method comprising:

accepting input of the motion picture stream, the motion picture stream including a second frame which is encoded by the first coding scheme to reference a third frame as a reference frame, a first frame which is encoded by the first coding scheme to reference the second frame as a reference frame while switching between the intraframe coding scheme and the interframe predictive coding scheme for each predetermined region, and sub-information for each said predetermined region indicating whether the intraframe coding scheme or the interframe predictive coding scheme is used,

decoding, via a transcoder, the input motion picture stream which is encoded by using the first coding scheme, and encoding the decoded input motion picture stream by using the second coding scheme, and

an output unit for outputting the encoded input motion picture stream which is encoded by using the second coding scheme;

wherein a predetermined region of the first frame of the output motion picture stream which is indicated by the sub-information as being encoded by the interframe predictive coding scheme is encoded by using the second coding scheme to reference an image of a corresponding predetermined region of the second frame, and other predetermined region of the first frame of the output motion picture stream which is indicated by the sub-information as being encoded by the intraframe coding scheme is encoded by using the second coding scheme to reference an image of a corresponding predetermined region of the third frame.

11. The picture processing method according to claim 10 ,

wherein, when the predetermined region of the first frame of the input motion picture stream is indicated by the sub-information as being encoded by the intraframe coding scheme, the transcoder is encoded by using the second coding scheme without referencing the second frame.

12. The picture processing method according to claim 10 , wherein:

the third frame is an interframe-encoded I picture,

the second frame is a P picture which is interframe-predictive-coded by referencing the third frame, and

the first frame is a P picture which is interframe-predictive-coded by referencing the second frame.

13. The picture processing method according to claim 10 ,

wherein the predetermined region is a macroblock.

14. The picture processing method according to claim 10 ,

wherein the first coding scheme is an MPEG method, and

wherein the second coding scheme is an H.264 method.