Image encoding apparatus and method, and image decoding apparatus and method

1. A computer software product that includes a non-transitory storage medium readable by a processor, the non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon a set of instructions for performing image encoding to encode first image data in which each line includes a first number of pixels, the set of instructions comprising:

(a) a first set of instructions which, when loaded into main memory and executed by the processor, causes the processor to establish N time stretch units to arrange pixels of N channels of second image data in the order of pixels in the respective lines of the first image data, within a period obtained by stretching a one-line period of the second image data to generate third image data including N lines of the first image data, the N channels of second image data being obtained by dividing the first image data by N and being composed of a first number of bits, the N being an integer equal to or greater than 2; and

(b) a second set of instructions which, when loaded into main memory and executed by the processor, causes the processor to establish N encoders to encode each coding target pixel of the third image data outputted from the N time stretch units, using a difference between the target pixel and a peripheral pixel to generate encoded data composed of a second number of bits, which is smaller than the first number of bits.

2. The computer software product according to claim 1 , further comprising a third set of instructions which, when loaded into main memory and executed by the processor, causes the processor to establish N line memories to delay the encoded data outputted from the respective N encoders by a one-line period, wherein each of the N line memories is configured to supply the encoded data delayed by the one-line period to one of the N encoders which generate encoded data of a subsequent line to the encoded data inputted to the line memory.

3. An image encoding method to encode first image data in which each line includes a first number of pixels, comprising:

arranging pixels of N channels of second image data in memory in the order of pixels in the respective lines of the first image data, within a period obtained by stretching a one-line period of the second image data to generate third image data including N lines of the first image data, the N channels of second image data being obtained by dividing the first image data by N and being composed of a first number of bits, the N being an integer equal to or greater than 2; and

encoding each encoding target pixel of the third image data using a difference between the target pixel and a peripheral pixel to generate encoded data composed of a second number of bits, which is smaller than the first number of bits.

4. A computer software product that includes a non-transitory storage medium readable by a processor, the non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon a set of instructions for performing image decoding, the set of instructions comprising:

(a) a first set of instructions which, when loaded into main memory and executed by the processor, causes the processor to establish N decoders to decode each decoding target pixel of N channels of encoded data, in which each line includes a first number of pixels and that is composed of a first number of bits, using a difference between the target pixel and a peripheral pixel to generate first image data composed of a second number of bits which is larger than the first number of bits, the N being an integer equal to or greater than 2;

(b) a second set of instructions which, when loaded into main memory and executed by the processor, causes the processor to establish N time compressors to distribute the pixels included in each line of the first image data output from the N decoders, into parallel N channels within a period obtained by compressing a one-line period of the first image data, to generate N channels of second image data; and

(c) a third set of instructions which, when loaded into main memory and executed by the processor, causes the processor to establish N selectors to select the respective N channels of second image data outputted from the N time compressors to generate N channels of third image data.

5. The computer software product according to claim 4 , further comprising a fourth set of instructions which, when loaded into main memory and executed by the processor, causes the processor to establish N line memories configured to delay the first image data outputted from the respective N decoders by the one-line period, wherein the first image data delayed by the one-line period and outputted from the N line memories are supplied to the decoder generating a line of the first image data subsequent to the line of the first image data inputted to the line memory.

6. An image decoding method comprising:

decoding each decoding target pixel of N channels of encoded data, in which each line includes a first number of pixels, and that is composed of a first number of bits, using a difference between the target pixel and a peripheral pixel to generate first image data composed of a second number of bits, which is larger than the first number of bits, the N being an integer equal to or greater than 2;

writing the first image data in memory;

reading the first image data from the memory to distribute the pixels included in each line of the first image data into parallel N channels within a period obtained by compressing a one-line period of the first image data, to generate N channels of second image data; and

generating N channels of third image data by selecting the respective N channels of second image data.